News

CasaTools Integrates Microsoft Windows Media Center with Whole House Music Systems (15/8/2007)

Enables Users to Enjoy Their PC Music Collection throughout Their Home

CasaTools announced today the availability of CasaTunes version 2.0, designed to bridge together Microsoft Windows Media Center and several popular whole house music systems from Russound and Nuvo Technologies. Using CasaTunes, installers can configure Microsoft Windows Media Center as a multi-source music server for whole house music systems and provide users with complete control over their whole house music system using a simple remote control device.

"Purchasing CasaTunes was the best decision I made for my multi-room system. It made the process of connecting my MP3's library to my system a breeze," said Mike Schwartz of Portland, Oregon. "Now I can play and control my entire collection from any PC or controller. There simply was no other solution for the cost and features that CasaTunes gave me."

Offering a sophisticated PC based multi-source music server with an easy-to-use interface, users can now listen to their Windows Media and iPod music collections throughout the home. With support for playing multiple play lists concurrently through different rooms in the home, each family member can now select and listen to his/her own music. Using the existing keypads, a remote control or a browser, users can quickly search and select songs by album, artist, genre, song title or play list and select and play songs from the PC or iPod.

Further, with CasaTunes built-in support for playing songs protected with Microsoft's Digital Rights Management (DRM), users now have access to a virtually unlimited collection of music available from several online music sites, including MTV's URGE, Walmart, Yahoo, AOL, Napster, MusicGiants, Rhapsody and others. With support for Russound and Nuvo Technologies tuners, CasaTunes allows users to directly select the station they want to listen to, select a tuner preset, or select a favorite station organized by category.

"When I built my home, I had a whole house music system installed but quickly realized that I would like to be able to access my music collection on my Windows Media Center PC and to play songs from this collection through out my house," said David Krinker, CEO of CasaTools. "CasaTunes makes this possible with out-of-the-box support for popular whole house music systems, providing a cost-effective, easy to install and use solution."

Ideal for the mid-tier multi-room music system market and sold through a nationwide network of resellers, integrators, installers and distributors as well as direct to the DIY (do it yourself) market, CasaTunes is designed to work with the latest multi-room music controllers from Russound and Nuvo Technologies, including Russound's CAV/M 6.6 family, CAA66, CAS44 and Nuvo Technologies Grand Concerto and Concerto controllers.

CasaTunes is available immediately with a suggested list price of $249. CasaTunes supports Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Business and Ultimate, and Windows XP Media Center Edition.

www.casatools.com