Myro Control Releases 8″ In-Wall Touchpanel and v1.5 of Myro:Home

Myro Control has announced the availability of their 8″ in-wall touchscreen panel and version 1.5 of the Myro:Home interface control software.   The in-wall touchscreen panel features a fan-less design that is both energy efficient and elegant looking while the latest software release adds support and features from HAI’s new firmware 3.0 (or greater) release.  If you have a HAI OmniPro Home Automation system running firmware 3.0 (or greater) you should do yourself a favor and check out Myro Control today.

The 8″ in-wall panel with software retails for $1999 and the software only option retails for $249 and $498 depending on features needed.

- Myro Control Releases New 8″ In-Wall Panel

Crestron Prodigy – Low-Cost Media Control/Automation Solution?

Crestron has announced the release of their entry level automation solution aimed at competing with Control4. In a nutshell, the Crestron Prodigy is a media controller with a remote that retails for around $700. There is also an in-wall touchscreen option which will cost less than $700. The system supports up to 16 zones of audio and wireless dimmers will sell for about $99.  Overall, this sounds like an interesting price-point and system.  Not sure how this will play out for Crestron as they are considered the “Rolls-Royce Of Automation” and we don’t see Rolls-Royce coming out with an economy car… yet.

For the complete story check out CE Pro: Crestron’s Low-Cost Prodigy to Compete with Control4

DYMO RHINO 3000 Label Printer – My Favorite Tools – July 2009

One of my pet peeves is having unlabeled wires and cables.  It drives me bonkers!  That’s why the Dymo Rhino 3000 is My Favorite Tool for July 2009.  This little tools lets you label all your wires and cables very simply.  If you are asking yourself what makes the Rhino better than say a Brother P-Touch? Well, it’s all in the adhesive and printing layout.

First, the adhesive on these labels is meant to be wrapped around cables and wires so you can be sure they won’t pop off.  The label actually feels like it “shrinks” onto the cable (they do have true heat-shrink versions too).

Second, this rugged labeler was designed to print labels for A/V and Networking cables and wires so the way it prints the text is meant for easy reading when wrapped around the cable. Here are even more reasons.

If you have an A/V rack or network closet you owe it to yourself and anyone that works on your stuff properly labeled and organized wires.   The Dymo Rhino 3000 is the tool that can make it happen… it will be the best $80 you’ve ever spent!

- DYMO RHINO 3000 Label Printer 15605

Energy Inc’s TED 5000 : Whole House Power Monitor

Energy Inc. has introduced their next generation of whole house energy monitoring, the TED 5000 Series.   The system provides all the benefits of the TED 1000 (more here and here and here) series along with a new look and improved functionality. Featuring a sleek handheld display unit and the brand new Gateway component which allows you to view the data directly from a web browser without the need of the display unit.  The Gateway component will also allow for easy integration into home automation systems or interfaces like Myro:Home!

I will have a full video review of this product so stay tuned!

Zeo Personal Sleep Coach

Since having a baby both my wife and I feel like we don’t get the quality of sleep we once used to — go figure.  Wonder if the Zeo Personal Sleep Coach can fix that.   Here’s how the Zeo works… you wear the the headband to sleep, the headband sends the data wirelessly to the display unit.  Then you can monitor your sleep patterns on the unit or for further analysis you can transfer the data via SD card to your computer and using the software provided you can look at graphs and history in greater detail.

Zeo Personal Sleep Coach costs $399 which includes the headband with SoftWave™ sensor pad and the Zeo bedside display w/SmartWake.  The package also includes 6-months of sleep coaching.  You can order it at Zeo’s website and has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

CLO Wine Bar’s Interactive Wine Menu Using Ceiling Mounted Projectors and IR For Mouse

Gary Vaynerchuk visited a wine bar in NYC called CLO which features a pretty cool interactive menu system.  There are projectors mounted in the ceiling which project what looks like a Flash application onto the white bar tops and using an infrared sensor, it tracks your hand/finger for navigation.  Check out the video of the system in action at about 1:40 — it’s also a great wine review to boot!

Now this great use of technology, however, I wonder how useful it is when the bar is jam packed?

ZeeVee ZvBox 100 & ZvBox 150: Distribute/Modulate HD Content Over Digital Cable (QAM)

There are two products that have come to my attention that can come in handy for people trying to distribute HD content over the coax as a Digital cable (QAM) channel inserted onto any empty channel.  The products are by a company called Zeevee.  The first product is called the ZvBox 100 bundle which includes:

• One ZvBox™ – build your own HDTV channel and localcast your computer to all your HDTVs
• One ZvRemote™ – Control your computer from anywhere in the home
• One ZvReceiver™ – Connects the ZvRemote to your computer
• One VGA cable – Video connection from your computer to the ZvBox
• One USB cable – Digital Audio from your computer to the ZvBox
• Four 2 meter COAX cables – Helps you connect ZvBox and your TVs to your cable
• Two cable splitters – Helps you tap into the cable wiring of your home

This allows you to take any video from a VGA source (say a computer monitor output) and broadcast it via coax to any empty digital cable channel.  The remote allows you to control your computer so even if the source is in a remote part of your home, you can still control the mouse as if you were locally.   The ZeeVee ZvBox 100 Bundle
sells for $399.

The ZvBox 150 has the same capabilities as the ZvBox 100 but it also adds the ability to plug in any component HD video source as well.  You can combine many ZvBoxes to distribute many HD channels in your location, on the same simple coax cabling.  Once configured, the ZvBox 150, no computer or Internet connection required.  A quick google search reveals that the ZvBox 150 is priced higher than the ZvBox 100, at around $1000.

Depending on your situation these two products can be the answer all your HD cable distribution/modulation needs — definitely check these products out!

More People Still Own More HD DVD Players Than Blu-ray?

Here’s one that will throw you off a bit… There are more HD DVD players than Blu-ray players in American homes.   Below is an excerpt taken from the Harris Poll report which can be read in full here.

While Blu-ray was declared the big “winner” in the high definition format war last year, consumers may be slow to be part of the winning team. In fact, Americans are not jumping on board with any of the high definition DVD players. Just one in ten Americans (11%) own a HD DVD player while 7% own a Blu-ray player. Looking at the other devices for playing HD DVDs, 9% own a Sony PLAYSTATION®3 (which plays Blu-ray ) and 3% have the external HD DVD drive for the Xbox® 360 (which plays HD DVDs). 

These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,401 U.S. adults surveyed online between April 13 and 21, 2009 by Harris Interactive. While slow to catch on, ownership of all these high definition disc players is up from May 2008. Interestingly, while Blu-ray was the clear “format war” winner over HD DVD, sales of HD DVD players (11% in 2009 vs. 6% in 2008) are up over 2008 by about the same margin as Blu-ray players (7% in 2009 vs. 4% in 2008). Both were rivaled by the Sony PLAYSTATION®3 (9% vs. 5%). However, only 3% purchased the external HD DVD drive for the Xbox® 360, up from 1% in 2008. There is no expected surge of interest pending — only 7% of non-Blu-ray player owners report a likely purchase of a Blu-ray disc player within the next year, down from 9% in May 2008 

As we are seeing more HD content delivered via IP who really cares anymore?

[via Andy Pennell's Blog]

Meridian Sooloos Control 10

If you are sitting pretty well financially in these times then why not stimulate the economy by purchasing a Meridian Sooloos Control 10 ($5000)?   Meridian is known for their audiophile speakers and processors and now have gotten into the digital media space thanks to the purchase of Sooloos.  The Sooloos System is made up of a storage unit, a playback unit and an interface device which together give you greater quality and control over your digital media.  The Control 10 is one of the many ways to control the system and offers a 17″ LCD touchscreen that displays your media in an intuitive way.  You can also access the system via a web browser, iPhone/Touch and Crestron system.

For more information about the Control 10 and Meridian’s Sooloos Media System click here.

Meridian Sooloos – Get In Touch With Your Music

Bosch PS40-2, The Best Power Driver – My Favorite Tools – June 2009

Here’s a fun fact about me, I’ve been around construction tools and machinery all my life.  My dad is a Master Carpenter and General Contractor so I’ve pretty much seen power tools evolve over the last 20+ years.  I even remember his first cordless drill, which barely had enough power to drive a screw without pre-drilling.    So this months favorite tool is the Bosch PS40-2.  The Bosch PS40-2 is a 12-volt Lithium-Ion Impact Driver that is very well balanced, light weight and very powerful.  If you have never used an impact driver, you’re in for a treat.  The sound of it “impacting” when driving a screw or bolt is normal (some think the sound is a defect).    Don’t judge it by it’s compact look this drill is a monster… it’s small enough to carry with your and use in tight places but powerful enough to drive a screw without drilling.  The battery life is also great… I typically charge it and can use it for the full day before needing to recharge.  Just keep in mind that this is a driver, not a typical “drill” so if you want to drill something this isn’t the best tool for the job.  Bosch offers a PS30-2A (drill/driver) for that kind of job.

Here are some specs on the PS40-2:
- Hammer and anvil system produces 800 in-lbs of torque
- Delivers 1,800 RPM/3,000 BPM with 60 per cent more torque than 18V drill-driver; 800 in.-lbs of max torque.
- 3 LEDs illuminate work area for use in dark areas.
- Spring-Loaded Impact Mechanism.
- Aluminum gear housing with protective rubber front and a 1/4″ hex drive with quick release.
- Ergonomic Soft Grip Handle; bumpers on side of tool.
- Variable speed trigger.

The Bosch PS40-2A also will make a GREAT father’s day gift! 

AMAZON.COM - Bosch PS40-2A 12-Volt Max Lithium-Ion Impact Driver
BOSCH TOOLS - 10.8V Litheon™ Impactor Fastening Driver