Embedded Automation Announces mPanel
Integrated Touch Screen is a Portal for Accessing Digital
Music and Home Control
Surrey, BC – March 12, 2008
Today, Embedded Automation, launched mPanel, the newest
member of the mHome product family. mPanel is a wall-mountable touch screen,
which acts as a unified control portal for your “digital home”. With mPanel,
homeowners can control digital music within the room, manage the home’s
lighting and climate settings, or view and adjust security and surveillance
systems.
Embedded Automation will be providing live demonstrations of
the mPanel in the Demo Alley (Room 240A) at Electronic House Expo (EHX),
running from March 13-15, 2008 in Orlando, Florida.
mPanel’s breakthrough design fits seamlessly in homes with
an IP infrastructure. mPanel integrates easily in to homes using or considering
Microsoft Windows Media Center or Windows Home Server technologies.
- mPanel provides a single user interface for digital media
and home control – mPanel’s Digital Media Interface allows it to stream music
from any computer or storage on your local area network and plays it through
the on-board amplifier to attached speakers. mPanel’s Digital Home Interface
can connect to any mControl installation to allow live status and control of
lighting, climate control, security system, surveillance cameras, audio/visual
components and custom macros.
- mPanel is simple and inexpensive to install- unlike other
whole-home audio systems which require control and audio cables to be wired to
a central source and then distributed to each room, mPanel requires a single
Ethernet cable to network hub. The Ethernet cable provides the access to
digital media and, optionally, can act as the main source of power for the
unit. In-room or ceiling speakers connect directly to the mPanel. Furthermore,
mPanel’s quick and robust 4-point dog-leg mounting system and magnetic
front-panel, make installation a snap.
- mPanel is easy to use and configure - mPanel features a
large 7” (800x480) touch screen display, integrated networking and an on-board
amplification system. Using a standard Ethernet cable and Power over Ethernet
(PoE), mPanel’s on-board amplification system provides up to 20 Watts per
channel at 4 Ohms - additional wattage is available with an add-on module.
mPanel’s tiny wall footprint (5.5” x 7.75”) and low-profile faceplate allow it
to be mounted in virtually any location within a home. While a single mPanel is
a great addition to condos or small homes, multiple mPanels can be installed in
larger homes.
“We’ve seen a tremendous need from our customer base for an
integrated digital home user interface platform. This demand is being fueled by
customers centralizing both their digital media and their home control
functions, but looking for a straight-forward and inexpensive way of accessing
this infrastructure,” said Ted S. Singh, CEO of Embedded Automation. “mPanel
solves this problem by integrating a control interface (for communicating to
the digital media and automation servers) with a Power over Ethernet (PoE)
backbone and an audio amplification system. With these items together in one
convenient platform, mPanel becomes a perfect solution for main entrances,
kitchens, recreation rooms and covered outdoor decks needing a method to access
digital music and home control.”
“As part of this solution, we’ve now ported mControl to run
on Windows CE platforms,” said Ted S. Singh. “This now lets us extend mControl
to other embedded touch panels.”
mPanel will be available in limited quantities in Q2 2008,
with full availability in Q3 2008. Customized front-panels are available under
OEM agreements.
About Embedded
Automation
Founded in 1998, Embedded Automation designs, manufactures, and markets
solutions for “Digital Home” under the mHome product family. mHome products
allow consumers to easily and affordably add control and media management
capabilities to their homes. mHome products are available from Embedded
Automation and through the mHome Authorized Dealer Network.
