HomeSeer's HSTouch (Beta) is Now Available

[BraveSirRobbin]

HomeSeer's long awaited HSTouch, graphical user interface for HomeSeer is now available for purchase (special price during its beta roll out). I was able to see the devolopment work in progress during the last CES show in Las Vegas and was very impressed.

From HomeSeer's HSTouch Site:

HSTouch™ is an advanced graphical user interface (GUI) system for HomeSeer home automation software and controllers. It is comprised of a Windows-based "designer" program, a run-time "client" for Windows and WinCE/Mobile devices and a "plug-in" to integrate the designer and client(s) with any HomeSeer system. Projects are created with the designer and then deployed to the client(s) for use.

FEATURES:
• Fully customizable buttons, backgrounds, themes!
• Tightly integrated with HomeSeer systems!
• IP-enabled designer and client for use anywhere in the world!
• Supports remote design and deployment!
• Supports Windows, Window CE and Windows Mobile clients
• Supports RSS data feeds and NetCam video
• Supports custom groups

Please visit the HomeSeer Website for details.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

HomeSeer now has a Webinar describing HSTouch and its features.

There is also a dedicated forum on the HomeSeer boards.

 

[Skibum]

Anyone else find the price just a tad higher than they expected? :angry:

 

[123]

So that makes it about $350 for full functionality: automation plus UI design. Add several plugins and you're almost in CQC's neighborhood. Overall, it is fairly priced.

 

[Skibum]

I guess I am just out of touch then... :angry:
Both are too pricy for me.

 

[123]

If you compare the price of the combo with competing products, the price is not out of line.

I guess I am just out of touch then... :angry:
Both are too pricy for me.

Me too.
I use free software and it works well for me.

 

[DeLicious]

I think we're essentially paying for the front end. I don't see how much different this is than jon00's touchscreen plug-in, except you have to edit the ini files yourself.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

I believe there is a market for this product. It may not be for everyone, but no product is.

Anyway, consider that this product is an alternative to using a graphic front end such as MainLobby. Then consider that the MLHSPLugin (HomeSeer's MainLobby plugin that lets HomeSeer devices interface with MainLobby) is one of the top selling plugins for HomeSeer, and you will see that there is indeed a large number of people wanting a "display interface" product.

The cost of using MainLobby with HomeSeer is as follows:

MainLobby/MLServer: $180
MLHSPlugin for HomeSeer: $40

So the total cost is $220.

Now consider that a number of these people might not want all the other "theater" capabilities of MainLobby (i.e. just the "front end" part to HomeSeer) and desire an easy to use interface/designer. These people (in my opinion) are the market for this product (and the $150 dollar price is a lot cheaper than $220).

No doubt, there are cheaper solutions as mentioned above, I was just demonstrating my methodology in determining a need for a product like HSTouch!

Now consider the other alternative of using say CQC in place of HomeSeer (CQC has their "front end" included in their package).

The cost of HomeSeer and HSTouch combined would be $200 + $150 = $350.

CQC's total cost is $695.

Now, of course there are other pros and cons that go along with all these packages so this may not be an apples to apples comparison for some users. For instance, CQC supports SageTV and HomeSeer does not, so for the SageTV user, CQC would be worth the extra cost. Plus the cost of HomeSeer as stated above does not include any plugins that a user might want depending on their various interface needs

If one were a MainLobby theater user, their cost of using HomeSeer with MainLobby might make more sense.

Of course there are other alternatives such as PowerHome, Premise, etc... There are also other alternatives for front ends for HomeSeer such as web page programming (roll your own via code), Jon00's interface, Rover, etc...

But for the user that wants a HomeSeer graphical front end with an easy to use designer, then this product fits the bill. :angry:

 

[jwilson56]

Hey what the heck. I am sure there are those with HS that will love this product. Those that for some reason did not venture down Mainlobby, CQC or Netremote for a GUI front end. It looks like it certainly simplifies the creation of a GUI front end for HS. But with simplification comes limitations. Lets hope they are not debilitating to those that go to use it. The designer tool looks a little like Netremote Designer.

 

[GadgetBoy]

I will probably continue to play around with NetRemote. I really needed the NR to control the various zones within my setup, and Homeseer never really provided me with an easy front end to control music across different zones.

 

[Rupp]

I will probably continue to play around with NetRemote. I really needed the NR to control the various zones within my setup, and Homeseer never really provided me with an easy front end to control music across different zones.

If you have something you like stick with it but this HSTouch is one of the neatest products I've used in a while.
http://board.homeseer.com/showpost.php?p=8...mp;postcount=11

 

[jwilson56]

I will probably continue to play around with NetRemote. I really needed the NR to control the various zones within my setup, and Homeseer never really provided me with an easy front end to control music across different zones.

Well the lack of good integration for JRMC which does true multizone well was why I went to Netremote in the first place. If all you want to do is to have a GUI to turn lights on and off and don't have a media library and multizones then there are many ways to do this.

I have said it many times... I like Netremote but I do not have the opinion that one application is for everyone. They all have their pros and cons. As a former HS user I really enjoyed 1.7 but felt it got bloated in 2.x and as the price skyrocketed they still did not have a GUI interface and the poor music integration led me to other solutions. For the same price as HSTouch you can get Netremote, Girder 5 and Netremote Designer Pro levels bundled together. So those starting out and really wanting a whole house audio system with true multizone will have to look at functions and price.

Rupp I know you love HST and find this product attractive... but I have my doubts I could duplicate my Now Playing project with HSTouch.

So I am not putting down HSTouch but I am saying it might not be enough for some people. For me its too little too late in the game. Music lovers will probably look elsewhere.

 

[upstatemike]

You guys have got me thinking now about using these products in a multi-room audio setup. Let's assume I want to use the soon to be released ASUS touch screen PC plus a pair of AudioEngine speakers in each of several rooms to give me a simple high fidelity, wireless multi-zone, tabletop audio system (assuming ASUS uses technology from their Zoner D2 soundcard and the touch screen is actually capable of high fidelity output).

Which software solution would be best to give me:

-Easy access to my audio library
-Ability to play multiple zones in perfect sync
-Ability to display album track info OR alternative screens such as streaming feed from my IP security cameras
-Simplified menu so I don't have to explain to people how to use the system
-Ability to mute music and insert a Home automation announcement then resume playback
-Ability to change the touch screen display in response to external input at the HA server such as switching from music screen to camera screen when the doorbell rings

 

[jwilson56]

Doubt you will ever get "Ability to play multiple zones in perfect sync" using any form of streaming. I do not even use the software sync built into JRMC as it still have a slight delay. I use a hardware based sync and all my amps are centralized with only speaker wires running to all the zones. So the touchscreens are just used for controlling and displaying. My library sits on my Girder/JRMC server and outputs the audio through 6 paired sound channels into 6 amps each capable of a minimum of 100 watts RMS per channel.

 

[upstatemike]

Doubt you will ever get "Ability to play multiple zones in perfect sync" using any form of streaming. I do not even use the software sync built into JRMC as it still have a slight delay. I use a hardware based sync and all my amps are centralized with only speaker wires running to all the zones. So the touchscreens are just used for controlling and displaying. My library sits on my Girder/JRMC server and outputs the audio through 6 paired sound channels into 6 amps each capable of a minimum of 100 watts RMS per channel.

I understand the multi-zone amp approach but I have moved away from that and am committed to streaming solutions. Sonos, Olive, and SqueezeCenter all do synchronized streaming just fine although they each use some proprietary hardware. The next version of Squeezecenter will have a PC client that syncs accurately but support for SqueezeCenter by applications like Homeseer, Girder, and CQC have ranged between Half-hearted minimalist implementations and No support at all.

I guess right now the closest solution is a wi-fi connected touch screen PC running a Homeseer interface (HSTouch?) sitting on top of a Sonos Zone Player. Maybe the new SqueezeCenter client will allow the same thing without the need for the Sonos box.