Fort Collins, Colo. –
has upgraded its
music-server-based multiroom-audio system, making it possible to more easily integrate
A/V receivers and third-party music sources such a satellite-TV receivers.
The company also added iTunes in the
Cloud to the system and launched its first Android Honeycomb app, enabling
Android tablets to control its systems via Wi-Fi. The Android tablet app joins
CasaTunes apps for Apple mobile devices and Android smartphones. .
With A/V receiver integration, consumers
will be able to use the company’s in-wall controllers to turn on and control an
existing A/V receiver and play music from a central CasaTunes music server
through it.
CasaTunes systems ship with
out-of-the-box support for A/V receivers from Denon, Harman Kardon, Marantz,
Onkyo, Integra and Pioneer. Installers can integrate other-brand AVRs by
writing a text-based control file. The CasaTunes upgrade works with receivers equipped
with RS-232 port or network IP control. For IR-only receivers, CasaTunes offers
similar functionality when using CasaTunes in combination with BitWise Controls
automation controllers.
The AVR integration capability is also
available in CasaTunes music servers integrated with multiroom-audio systems
from ChannelVision, NuVo and Russound.
To integrate a home’s other existing
music sources to a CasaTunes system, the company now enables installers to
create a custom GUI for almost any component using BitWise Controls’ Project
Editor software. These GUIs can be displayed within the CasaTunes, Android and web-browser
interfaces.
To go with Apple’s new iTunes in the
Cloud service, a CasaTunes system will automatically detect when a new song or
other audio file is added to a consumer’s iTunes in the Cloud account, enabling
the track to be accessed by the CasaTunes system.
The company’s first Android app for
controlling its multiroom-audio system is available for tablets based on the
tablet-specific Honeycomb (3.0) OS. The company already offers control apps for
Apple devices and Android smartphones.
systems allow for multizone
audio installations from six to 48 rooms. The CasaTunes Music Server stores
music and also accesses music from PCs , iTunes (in the Cloud), multiple Apple
iOS-based mobile devices, and various Internet music and radio services. It
also features Apple’s AirPlay.
