BraveSirRobbin
Moderator
Please read THIS General CES 2006 Update Disclaimer FIRST:
Visited the Digital Media Research booth (part of the ZWave display) and spoke with John Muchnicki, CEO on their latest product which represents a whole house solution for home automation and home theater using ZWave devices.
Basically they have one main server (they call it a "set top box") which operates under an Windows XP platform with their proprietary software. This set top box had a very cool LCD display on its front panel. This box can then talk to their "remote" boxes via the home network. They also offer a wireless remote control to interface with their set top box.
This system employs a totally wireless network (Pre-N) technology.
Their media capability can handle up to seven satellite televisions and are then able to stream them over your home network in DVD quality to the client boxes.
Plus, whatever you can do with the remote control, you can do via an external PC.
You can download stored media content remotely (movies and musis) on your laptop or cell phone. Thus when you are tired of listening to the songs currently on your MP3 enabled cell phone, dial into your home and download new songs. (They exclaim, why carry an IPOD?)
Any ZWave enabled device can be used with this system. Setup is very easy. Just take the device, place it within two feet of the set top box, then a software dialog appears that shows the device and asks if you would like to add it to your system. If you say yes, it is then encrypted and added as an icon, which you can then drag and drop to your floor plan display, and its ready to go!
They offer their main set top box, plus individual client boxes for different locations throughout your home (all connected via the wireless network).
You can also use your existing PC, but you must have their proprietary software installed on it.
I then spoke with Mike Calcaterra about their interface to non-ZWave devices and he said there was a box that was available which offers an interface to legacy (say RS-232) style equipment that makes them compatible with their system. This box was the "Control Think" box and was designed by Chris Walker.
He also mentioned an IP to ZWave deivce from Boca devices which can be used (review will be posted shortly).
He also mentioned that if you have existing media (movies and music) you can easily download them into the set top box so they are available to use with this system.
Pricing was not disclosed at this time.
Set Top Box and the Left plus Two Client Boxes on the Right:
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Media Software Interface Screen Shot:
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Channel Selection Screen Shot:
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Internet Radio Selection Screen Shot (They also had Internet TV menus):
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Another Picture of their Set Top Box:
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
For more information visit the Digital Media Research site.
Visited the Digital Media Research booth (part of the ZWave display) and spoke with John Muchnicki, CEO on their latest product which represents a whole house solution for home automation and home theater using ZWave devices.
Basically they have one main server (they call it a "set top box") which operates under an Windows XP platform with their proprietary software. This set top box had a very cool LCD display on its front panel. This box can then talk to their "remote" boxes via the home network. They also offer a wireless remote control to interface with their set top box.
This system employs a totally wireless network (Pre-N) technology.
Their media capability can handle up to seven satellite televisions and are then able to stream them over your home network in DVD quality to the client boxes.
Plus, whatever you can do with the remote control, you can do via an external PC.
You can download stored media content remotely (movies and musis) on your laptop or cell phone. Thus when you are tired of listening to the songs currently on your MP3 enabled cell phone, dial into your home and download new songs. (They exclaim, why carry an IPOD?)
Any ZWave enabled device can be used with this system. Setup is very easy. Just take the device, place it within two feet of the set top box, then a software dialog appears that shows the device and asks if you would like to add it to your system. If you say yes, it is then encrypted and added as an icon, which you can then drag and drop to your floor plan display, and its ready to go!
They offer their main set top box, plus individual client boxes for different locations throughout your home (all connected via the wireless network).
You can also use your existing PC, but you must have their proprietary software installed on it.
I then spoke with Mike Calcaterra about their interface to non-ZWave devices and he said there was a box that was available which offers an interface to legacy (say RS-232) style equipment that makes them compatible with their system. This box was the "Control Think" box and was designed by Chris Walker.
He also mentioned an IP to ZWave deivce from Boca devices which can be used (review will be posted shortly).
He also mentioned that if you have existing media (movies and music) you can easily download them into the set top box so they are available to use with this system.
Pricing was not disclosed at this time.
Set Top Box and the Left plus Two Client Boxes on the Right:
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Media Software Interface Screen Shot:
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Channel Selection Screen Shot:
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Internet Radio Selection Screen Shot (They also had Internet TV menus):
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
Another Picture of their Set Top Box:
(Click on Picture for Full Sized Image)
For more information visit the Digital Media Research site.
