At CES, Philips Pronto introduced the next generation of its ProntoEdit Professional software, PEP 2.4, offering extended home integration and control capabilities.
Pronto can now integrate Sonos multi-room audio systems into a system and access content from TwonkyMedia-based equipment. Click here for a slideshow of more images.
According to the company, the new software cuts programming time and cost for dealers while dramatically improving the look and functionality of the Pronto control panel family.
The new PEP 2.4 software features enhanced UPnP (Universal Plug and Play)/DNLA (Digital Network Living Alliance) compatibility. The UPnP/DNLA engine now incorporated into the Pronto platform accelerates the development of two-way integration modules between AV servers, players, and control devices. The UPnP discovery mechanism embedded within the software’s ProntoScript library will help the Pronto control panel automatically find IP devices on the network.
These developments allow Pronto to integrate Sonos multi-room audio systems into a system without the need for special hardware, additional PCs, or the use of a Sonos controller.
The upgraded software also enables Pronto to control and access content from TwonkyMedia-based equipment, being one of the most popular UPnP servers on the market.
New Sonos and TwonkyMedia pre-configured modules are available in ProntoScript.
Further partnership agreements for new Pronto modules are in development and will be announced imminently.
“PEP2.4 is state-of-the-art software for the Pronto family,” Philips Pronto marketing manager Rudy Musschebroeck stated. “The new UPnP/DNLA engines, together with the advance in automatic IP device recognition, are giant steps forward for the integration potential of Pronto, as you can see with the launch of new Sonos and TwonkyMedia modules. And, with more modules scheduled for release, total two-way control in the home using one easy to program, affordable and great to operate Pronto device is becoming a reality for dealers.”
The Philips Pronto user interface experience also has been improved. A new Gestures feature in PEP 2.4 allows dealers to create iPod style interfaces for a range of common functions, including super-fast scrolling of song lists and sliding volume control.
Other improvements in PEP 2.4 will make programming much easier and quicker for dealers. These include:
• Re-sizeable and dockable windows to assist in more complex programming tasks, such as, creating user interface graphics.
• Display and editing of multiple pages on a single screen to help with smoother, faster programming workflow.
• Re-usable macros. Once set up and used, programming macros can be simply stored and re-used when configuring repeated actions in multiple locations in a project.
• Rotary wheel enhancements. Actions can be ascribed to the rotation / counter-rotation of the controller’s rotary wheel eg controlling volume or light levels.
• Improved font selection. Any Windows PC font can now be easily selected and used in PEP2.4.
• Dynamic user interface. PEP2.4 brings improved dynamic graphic and text property control, adjustment and object manipulation through improvements to ProntoScript.
PEP2.4 can be used to configure the complete Pronto family of two-way, programmable touch-screen panels: the Pronto TSU9300, TSU9400, TSU9600, and TSU9800.
