Russound has announced a new product for controlling their multizone audio system as well as other peripherals. The UNO-TS2D Desktop Color Touchscreen is a simple-to-use interface that can be set near a bedside table, kitchen counter, desk, or wherever you want to control your multiroom entertainment system. The controller is based on Russound’s wall-mounted UNO-TS2 Color Touchscreen, which basically looks the same, minus the rear bulge. The UNO-TS2D is scheduled to ship the first quarter of 2006, the UNO-TS2D will be available in a choice of black or white for a U.S. MAP of $1,499.

Well folks… I think Windows Media Center is finally going to kick some DVR ass! When I first saw the review of ATI’s OCUR Digital Cable HDTV Tuner over at Anandtech, I went into ganster talk mode, bursting out loud… “Ooooooh, $h*t!” and “damn Gina!”, even “take that MSFT playa haters” came out. This is major news, sure, it’s still a preproduction device, but it’s working, beeyatches! Microsoft is officially saying it should be available “Holiday Season 2006″. For a full review and write up, check out the post at Anandtech – do it now! MORE »

I heard about this a while back from my HAI Distributor, but didn’t want to post anything until I was sure it was going to be released. It’s being released and the HAI OmniTouch with Video (HAI32A00-5) is finally on it’s way to distributors – ready for shipment by the end of the year. The HAI OmniTouch with Video is the same form factor as the original OmniTouch, but adds video support. This will be a great way to monitor security cameras without the need of an additional monitor. The OmniTouch with Video is wired up using Cat5 cable, which carries the power, controller data, and video signal from the encoder board. Up to 6 cameras can be connected to the hub/video encoder (HAI32A30-2). This unit takes the NTSC video signal and encodes it into a digital stream which is then sent to the OmniTouch. I don’t have solid retail pricing yet, but I expect the whole package (HAI32A00-5 and HAI32A30-2) to be under $2000.

A properly calibrated display is like sleeping in clean sheets. You get a better nights sleep and it just feels right. In the past, you’d need to get a DVD calibration disc, like Digital Video Essentials or The AVIA Guide to Home Theate, but now, with HD displays, calibrating with DVD quality test patterns is just silly. Just plug the CALIBUG to your USB port and you instantly have access to hundreds of HD quality test patterns. The only way you could get all these test patterns in the past was via a dedicated Test Pattern Generators/Sync Generators which cost thousands of Dollars. Your computer has VGA/DVI output, which is how you will get these HD patterns on your screen. The CALIBUG HDTV comes in a standard keyfob version ($129) and a Swiss Army Knife ($149) version. This is a great stocking stuffer for a Videophile!

If you are looking for a new sound card for your Media Center PC, you best wait a month or so for the new BlueGears XPlosion. What makes this card different from all the others, you ask? Well, for starters, it not only offers Dolby Digital Live (takes 5.1 channels and encodes, real-time, to Dolby Digital format so it can easily interface with your AV Receiver), but this is world’s first DTS Connect logo program certificated PCI audio board, which does real-time DTS encoding. Nice! Personally, I’ve always been a DTS (Digital Theater Sound) fan… it must be the higher bitrate and the few db louder they master the soundtracks with. The XPlosion card uses the new C-Media CMI8770 PCI chipset which can encode 8CH audio on a single chip. The card is scheduled for release sometime in January 2006… no firm pricing yet. MORE »

You actually need to check out the DetourDVD website to really get the idea, they offer sample clips of each collection and I must say, I really dig it. Check it… invite a few stylish friends over, place the DetourDVD collections into your DVD Changer, turn on some lounge music, shake a few martini’s and you have yourself a hip, W Hotel style party. MORE »

I think one of the most stressful parts about building a house, especially for a geek, is if you ran enough wire to each room. I think I did, but there are times I wake up in a cold sweat thinking I should have ran an extra run of 2-RG6, 2-CAT5E, and 2-Fiber… or should I have run CAT-6 instead of CAT-5? Well, you get the point. The beauty about WireTracks is that you don’t have to worry about pulling wires your may or may not use and dealing with conduit is a pain in the ass. WireTracks come in the Original flavor (pictured) which is great for retrofit — now you can run Cat-5E and RG-6 throughout your old 1940’s home without breathing any asbestos. The WireTracks NC is meant for “N”ew “C”onstruction, and a track is placed underneath your baseboard. Giving you a very clean, expandable solution. They also have WireTracks CM, which is my favorite solution, removable crown molding channel. It’s inventions like this that I always slap my head and bursting out loud… “Why didn’t I think of that!” Oh, well. For pricing and a complete list of dealers that carry the WireTracks, check here.

So, the company behind the BMW iDrive system is now using 3M MicroTouch ClearTek touchscreen’s and rigging them for tactile feedback. This technology works with the different sizes and types of touchscreens which are mostly used on kiosks and electronic gaming devices (casino & bar-top). The user can now perceive on-screen button press and release as if they were physical buttons. The TouchSense tactile sensations can also be synchronized with sound and graphical images, giving you a more immersive experience. Now, how do I get that on my inwall touchscreen?

So even the big boys of home automation/control are adding iPod compatibility. Crestron is claiming that the CEN-IPOD (get it?) is the first 2-way iPod interface, truly replicating the iPod experience on any Crestron touchpanel. Well, ok… if you mean that the iPod player is virtually on the screen and you’re controlling it… but the basic 2-way approach has been done before. The CEN-IPOD provides full iPod functionality allowing you to do pretty much everything the iPod can do via a Crestron touchpanel and features both RCA and CAT5 balanced audio outputs and Ethernet connectivity. MORE »

It’s not the prettiest UPS on the market, but this UPS offers something others don’t in the same price range. The APC Back-UPS HS 500 not only provides the availability to protecting data lines. It also offers battery backup to home networking devices such as routers and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephones. It is also the only UPS solution with user controlled plug outlets and a management interface allowing the user to manage the unit remotely over a network or via the web — cool! What does this mean? Well, you could turn a device on and off via the web, great for rebooting a unresponsive device/server. MORE »