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NuVo Technologies beefs up integration with Life|ware
NuVo Technologies and Exceptional Innovation have apparently found it within their hearts to team up in order to provide better integration between wares; after all, there's at least a decent chance that anyone with a remarkable home automation system is using kit from both of these firms. Starting now, NuVo Grand Concerto multi-room audio Control Pads now can also control Life|ware home automation scenes, meaning that Control Pads can now dictate Life|ware-connected lighting, shades, climate, security, etc. What's it take to bring the couple together? A $399 NuVoNet Adapter (NV-NNA) and Life|ware's Visual Project configuration tool, both of which are available now. Full release is after the break.
EI breaks the 8 CableCard / 10 Extenders barrier too with Life|media 810
Niveus Media wasn't the only show in Denver offering up a new HTPC that can handle eight simultaneously CableCARD streams while dishing out content to some ten Media Center Extenders -- oh no, Exceptional Innovation showed up with a slightly less powerful, albeit equally effective alternative of its own. If you'll recall, EI shined last year by boasting a swank quad-CableCARD rig, and this year, the LMS-810 Life|media server raises the bar by handling twice that. The $30,000 box comes with 12TB of internal storage, two internal CableCARD slots, a USB add-on box (Life|tuner) with six other CableCARD slots and a Blu-ray writer. Those unaffected by sticker shock can look for it to ship in "early 2009." For now, you can peep the gallery below to see it in action. %Gallery-31198%
EI introduces Life|point HD touch panel
Exceptional Innovation -- the same firm responsible for that quad-CableCARD media center -- is looking to give you a new weapon of choice to control your Life|ware home network. The new Life|point touch panel is available in 8.9- and 12.1-inch sizes, and both high-definition versions rock 16:9 formats, integrated stereo speakers / microphone and an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts screen brightness depending on room lighting. Additionally, the panels are available in black, silver, cream, white and field-finish ready, and each one gives you in-wall control of your home theater, multi-room audio, lighting, security system(s) and temperature. 'Course, it's up to you to decide whether such a convenience is worth $6,000 (and up).[Via Electronic House]
Life|ware's quad-CableCARD Life|media systems get (more) official
Earlier this month, we gave you a glance at Exceptional Innovation's (producer of Life|Ware) quad-CableCARD media server, and now the outfit is finally making things (extra) official. Two machines will initially be offered up with (count 'em) four CableCARD tuners within, and neither are likely to run ya cheap. Up first is the flagship LMS-754, which packs a quad-core Intel Core 2 Extreme processor, 4GB of RAM, 4TB of hard drive space in a RAID 5 array, Ethernet, a slew of USB 2.0 ports, audio in / out, and a FireWire connector to boot. The slightly more affordable LMS-654 will probably ratchet things down a bit in the storage and CPU department, and while no specific prices are given, we are told that the Life|Media line now ranges from $3,500 to $15,000. Additionally, the firm introduced 8.9-inch and 12.1-inch widescreen Life|point touch panels with the new Life|slide function, both of which offer up 720p resolution and enable the user to "gesture right or left to quickly navigate the Life|ware gallery." Click on through for a shot of the front.
Hands-on with EI's four-CableCARD 754 LifeMedia Server
Just as expected, Exceptional Innovation was showing off its new Model 754 LifeMedia Server at CEDIA, and sure enough, that bad boy was sportin' no fewer than four CableCARD slots. According to an on-site representative, this very machine should start shipping out to consumers within a month or so, and while we can only imagine how pricey this niche system will be, we're certain there's a few hardcore television viewers out there that will gleefully pony up.%Gallery-7072%
Exceptional Innovation intros new Life|ware hardware
Modestly-named Exceptional Innovation went all out at CEDIA last week, announcing a complete line of hardware to go along with its Life|ware Media Center-based home control solution. The beast of the bunch is the the Life|storage digital media server, packing an ample 1.5 terabytes of RAID 5 storage in a rack mounted unit, with a Pentium D processor and 2GB of RAM to power the Windows XP embedded OS. The Life|vision digital TV server should compliment that nicely, also based on Windows XP Embedded with a Pentinum D and 2GB of RAM but, naturally, adding some TV tuners to the mix (up to four analog or digital to suit your prefs), as well as some basic DVR functionality. But to really give your home that dated-in-two-years look, you'll need to trick it out with touchpanels in every room, and EI will gladly hook you up there with its Life|point 16:9 in-wall touchscreens (available in 8.9-inch and 12.1-inch models), which'll let you control every connected bit of your house and access your stored media. Also announced were the Life|controller home automation system controller and the Life|link Web Services for Devices (WSD) module, both of which will allow for various other systems (like lighting and security) to be integrated into your setup. No word on prices for any of this gear, but it's really more the sort of thing you get a quote on instead of checking the weekend flyers for the cheapest prices.
