Whole House Audio Shouts Out - CasaTunes' Control App

Whole house audio has always suffered from inadequate ways to control what is playing and where. This probably developed from the difficulties involved in integrating a PC with the hardware needed for moving audio throughout a house - the professional installation being more concerned with making sure the physical hardware could "see" all of the other needed components. As a result, the actual control of that hardware got left behind. And when it came time to control it, the devices used were either hideously complicated or only marginally successful at their job.

Good to see CasaTunes blowing up that problem by making an app that the iPod Touch can use to take over control.

The CasaTunes app loads from the app store and resides on the iPod Touch until needed. A quick press on the touch screen brings it up so it's ready to go - integrating wirelessly with the existing CasaTunes systems that are in place throughout the house. Complete music control is of course right there at one's fingertips, and this includes being able to do this control through the CasaTunes XLi and XLe solutions - as well as hardware that might be in place from other popular providers of whole house audio (such as Russound or Nuvo).

Perhaps the coolest things are the smallest - you can personalize the CasaTunes app so that it's not embarrassed to be on the Touch by using your own images and photos. And for random room selection - just give the Touch a shake rather than pressing some control.

And by including features especially geared for the Touch, CasaTunes is allowing for not just more control over their product line, but more personalized control. That not only bodes well for the user, but shows that CasaTunes "gets" it when it comes to joining in on Apple's app scene. One can only hope other manufacturers of whole house automation (be that audio, video, security or otherwise) join in soon.

Perhaps the coolest things are the smallest - you can personalize the CasaTunes app so that it's not slighted to be on the Touch by using your own images and photos. And for random room selection - just give the Touch a shake rather than pressing some control.

And by including features especially geared for the Touch, CasaTunes is allowing for not just more control over their product line, but more personalized control. That not only bodes well for the user, but shows that CasaTunes "gets" it when it comes to joining in on Apple's app scene. One can only hope other manufacturers of whole house automation (be that audio, video, security or otherwise) join in soon.

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