| Home automation panel runs Windows CE |
Mar. 18, 2008
 Embedded Automation (EA) has announced a Windows CE 6.0-based touchscreen computer designed to stream music from other devices on a local area network. The mPanel features a built-in 20-Watt amp, support for power-over-Ethernet, and interfaces for Z-Wave, Insteon, and/or X10 automation technologies.
(Click here for a larger view of the mPanel)
The mPanel cuts costs by offering the first Windows CE version of EA's mControl software, according to the company. mControl, which previously ran only on Windows XP, XP Embedded, and Vista (shown below), lets users control not only music playback, but also lighting, alarm systems, and HVAC (heating and ventilation). It works with off-the-shelf control components supporting the Insteon, Z-wave, and X10 protocols, EA says.
EA has ported its mControl software (seen here running on Windows Vista) to Windows CE
(Click to enlarge)
The mPanel has a 5.5 x 7.5 inch footprint, four system-definable pushbuttons, and a seven-inch touchscreen display with 800 x 480 resolution. It also integrates an amplifier delivering up to 20 watts per channel to optional in-wall speakers. The internal amp can be bypassed if an external amplifier is preferred, EA notes.
Computing power is supplied by a Marvell PXA320 processor clocked at 806MHz. The system has 128MB of RAM, and 1GB of flash storage. Also included in the hardware, but said to be unavailable pending a future upgrade, are a mic input, a USB port, and two serial ports.
The mPanel also includes a 10/100 Ethernet port compatible with the IEEE 802.3af standard for PoE (power-over-Ethernet). Therefore, when used with a PoE-compatible router, as seen below, the device requires no other power input. A 12VDC jack is also available, however.
The mPanel was demonstrated running via PoE at the Electronic House Expo tradeshow
(Click to enlarge)
Features and specifications listed by EA for the mPanel include:- Processor -- Marvell PXA320 clocked at 806MHZ
- Memory -- 128MB of RAM and 1GB of flash
- Display -- 7-inch touchscreen display with 800 x 480 resolution
- Networking -- 10/100 Ethernet port, supports PoE
- Other I/O:
- 12VDC power input
- 1 x USB (pending)
- 1 x mic (pending)
- 2 x RS232 (pending)
- Amplified speaker outputs (20W/pc)
- Line outputs for external amplifier
- Dimensions -- 5.5 x 7.5, depth not specified
The mPanel will be available in limited quantities in the second quarter, with full production scheduled for Q3 2008, according to EA. Pricing was not released.
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