Article suggestion - control systems guide/round-up

[AlmaataKZ]

How about a round-up of various control systems?

All the NAS/HD/Computer based music + software players, the streamers (linn, naim, sonos, squeezebox, apple tv etc) are controllable through various propriatory or third-party apps and hardware. there are also traditional ones like Pronto, Crestron, Logitech etc. Ipad/ipod/iphone software is emerging quite rapidly. Both the hardware and the software is becoming more and more connected and control-able.

So, how about a steering around this area of hfi and av on the pages of WHF?

e.g if I have equipment A and B or C and D and want to do X and Y or Z, what is the best control system for me? Not all software works on all patforms, different systems have different capabilities, complexity and user-programmability etc so I think there is scope for some orientation, pros and cons and some star ratings. WDYT?

 

[AlmaataKZ]

example of recent developments here

http://whathifi.com/News/UPDATE-RedEyes-new-software-adds-remote-features-and-iPad-version/

 

[Andrew Everard]

Well, Crestron tends to be pro-install, Pronto non Š pi—, and most of the iPod apps to date will only control products from the manufacturer providing the app, but agreed there are some interesting developments, such as RedEye and the Gear4 system we featured in news yesterday.

When there are enough to make a sensible test, I'm sure we will cover them comparatively, but for now we'll just test them as they appear.