News

Life|ware enhancements and partnerships make life easier for installers and users (4/10/2007)

CEDIA US Expo 2007

Software improvements bring drag-and-drop simplicity to configurations, while partner products offer additional access points and functionality to Life|ware home networks.

Aiming to further simplify the installation process, Life|ware(tm) announces a new tool for even easier creation of Life|ware configurations, while introducing compatible partner products that elevate the controllability and functionality of a Life|ware home network.

With more dealers supporting the Windows(r) Media Center platform than ever before, Life|ware is committed to refining the software configuration process so that it runs as smoothly as its home automation software. Relying heavily on drag-and-drop capabilities, Life|ware's new configuration tool presents a single-step configuration process, making installs quicker and more efficient. Once all hardware and subsystems are installed, the new configuration tool offers a drag-and-drop, "what-you-see-is-what-you-get" user interface creator. Configurations become more visual; and installers can customize user interfaces by browsing icon libraries to determine what they and the end user prefer to see on the interface.

The configuration tool also enables drag-and-drop capabilities for advanced Life|scene(tm) creation. Life|ware installers will now be able to set triggers, schedules and scripts for their clients via a user-friendly drag-and-drop menu. Life|scenes enact multiple events happening in sequence, based on a single command from anywhere on the system. For example, activating the "Goodbye" setting on a security system may communicate to the rest of the house that the shades need to go down, all TVs and electronics need to shut off and thermostats regulate to a higher or lower temperature, depending on the season. The tool makes creating Life|scenes and other time- or action-specific events (e.g., lights turn on at dusk) extremely simple, even when done remotely.

"The majority of the industry has accepted Windows Media Center as a stable and secure platform to manage a home network," said Life|ware's Vice President of Marketing Mike Seamons. "While building support for Media Center is still a major objective for us, we also want new dealers to understand our commitment to making the install process as seamless, intuitive and efficient as possible. Our new configuration tool exemplifies the steps we've taken to make installations easier while giving the end user options regarding how they want it to look and feel."

While developing tools that make life easier for installers is a priority for Life|ware, forging partnerships with forward-thinking companies who can contribute to a Life|ware home network is equally important. Life|ware has created a new connecting technology branded Life|control that enables third party keypads and remote controls to become Life|control points. When an installer configures a Life|ware system and creates a menu, that menu can now be expressed not only on Media Centers and Life|ware's Life|point panels, but on text-based audio keypads and remote controls as well.

NuVo was the first Life|ware partner to integrate with Life|control technology on their Grand Concerto ControlPad keypad. Users can see and control what is playing on any media center from a NuVo ControlPad, as well as activate Life|scenes as naturally as changing the volume.

Not to be outdone, Russound has announced its new E-series multi room audio system will not only employ Life|control technology to enable their keypads to be Life|control points, but they are also embedding the Life|ware endorsed Web Service for Device standard as a native communication protocol.

In a similar development, Life|ware has joined the Philips Pronto partnership program, enabling the Pronto TSU9600 and SRM7500 remote controls to become Life|control points. Philips' Life|ware connected remote controls add to the growing list of compatible devices homeowners can use to control digital entertainment and automation throughout their homes.

In addition, Sirius Satellite Radio made an announcement that will be "music to the ears" of Life|ware customers, its radio dock (model #SC-H1) now can be a native source in a Lifeware network. Users can access and play content from the satellite radio provider in any part of the house connected to the Life|ware network. With a distributed audio system, users can push broadcasts of their favorite talk or music stations to the entire home or just to specific areas, moving from room to room without missing a beat, agenda-laden rant or score update.

www.life-ware.com