A multi-user concept for xLobby Ver 3.0. This menu is a sample of multiple users each with there own skin, design elements and system options. Individual menus can be password protected, each user can show file types and how much content they have even storage capacities remaining based on content per user. Some other Idea’s we want to implement are easy file transfers between mobile devices such as phones, Ipods, portable media players. xLobby could also show when they are docked or accessable by each user or online for all users linking or sharing content. Many cool elements of music, movies, content between users can be configured. More details will be available in the future as we move into ver 3.0.

Just some quick news on Ver 3.0. We are making good progress, at the moment we are adding some more controlability over the movie media player, such as 1. the ability to resize the playback video by 4:3, 16:9, anamorphic as well as the other industry standard formats + scale to your liking mode. 2. Closed Captions and Subtitles, 2. Audio channel selection, bookmark feature to be included in final release.

Some other brief items to mention, work in progress:

1. IP Radio (Working and Stable) Minor issue ability to show and hide station artwork when file is playing versus music file.

2. ASX File playback (Working stable but needs some minor bug fixes) Early beta testing is running 6 feeds with reasonable cpu usage.

3. Multiple Display setups, VGA display 0, Component Video or VGA Display 1 (Improving the display 0,1 virtual desktop integration, work in progress)

4. The complete re-write of the skin editor has required more time than we expected but is impressive and more intuitive.

5. Improvements to the USB UIRT plugin with some new features (Scheduled for after the final release of Ver 3.0)

6. DVD Movie management improvements for internal \ external hard drives.

Hopefully we will have some Ver 3.0 screenshots to post soon. More news to follow stay tunned.

We are still working on the Ver 3.0 release, I just wanted to show everyone a preview of a new interface that will be included in Ver 3.0. You will now have the ability to stream video .asx files directly into the xLobby interface as well as traffic camera feeds using multiple players. Each player will have stop, pause, play, mute, individual volume settings. Independent video resizing + window to fullscreen settings as well as buffer reference variables for each player.

Registered users of xLobby 2.0 will receive information on where to download early beta releases of xLobby version 3.0, due out by the end of December 2007. Stable releases are expected in middle to late January 2008. Stay tuned for further details.

We will be at the Volutone branch in San Diego on December 17th for a full day of training and demonstration of Calrads xLobby media management and control system software and hardware products. Any questions or concerns regarding the xLobby training can be directed to Mike Karten at Calrad, E-Mail mikekarten@calrad.com, Tel: 323-465-2131.

Volutone Website: www.volutone.com

San Diego Branch

4229 Ponderosa Ave., San Diego, Ca 92123, Tel: 800-700-2057

We are testing IP based Radio interfaces and have integrated them into version 2.0 and will be further integrated into ver 3.0 when completed, it’s working good, just a few minor bugs to work out. The Radio station ID and Music now playing details can be populated on any menu. The same Multi-Zone audio setup for Music will also work for the IP based Radio as well. More details to follow when available.

At CES 2008 in Las Vegas, January 7-10th, Calrad will be running several demo’s of xLobby ver 3.0 showing multi-zone audio, lighting and other home automation related tasks. The latest audio and video hardware will be on display. Please join Steven Hanna, Wes Black, Mike Karten and the rest of the Calrad team at the show. For more details visit: http://www.cesweb.org/

Calrad will be in the South Hall: Booth 22019

Thanks to everyone for supporting Calrad products and xLobby technology

We have integrated both Insteon and UPB lighting products into xLobby version 3.0 , some early testing of the insteon API proved dissapointing and cost us some time using it. Reliable Communication issues and interface road blocks were not exceptable, so Steven is now communicating directly to the Power-Linc controller module which provides for a much faster 2 way interface in xLobby and a more stable communication between them thus cutting out the Insteon API. Both product lines offer reliable and affordable lighting and home automation products. More details on sales of these items on the xLobby website as well as integrating and setting up the devices with xLobby version 3.0 will be posted here in the future, stay tunned !

More details on Insteon Products here: http://www.insteon.net/

More Details on UPB products here: http://www.pcslighting.com/

Steven & Calrad are working day and night to get version 3 of xLobby ready for some early beta testing. The new interface will provide some very interesting visual effects and eye candy as well as many new features and controlability for interfacing to existing A\V products and home automation devices. Version 3 is much faster when navigating the interface and Movie, Music libraries. Some new skinning and control elements will be added to the new interface. Below is a screenshot of DVD coverart and a DVD case combined to look like one element, this example was created using version 2 of xLobby and version 3 will provide much more advance features like reflections and mirroring of images as well as various movements of these images and any graphic element of the interface. Time permitting I will be posting short video clips and or screen shots illustrating some new features of xLobby version 3. Obviously stability and low usage of system resources are our priorities for version 3.

Calrad is in the process of integrating ELK products into the xLobby platform, we feel this will expand the xLobby product line and provide a more powerful media and home automation control system. Over the next 30 days we will be testing the xLobby interface for communicating with ELK’s M1 controller using various communication protocols and finding new and creative ways to connect there technology to xLobby. When integration is complete the xLobby website will eventually have products for sale as well as integration details for the various security, lighting, HVAC, irrigation solutions. More details will be available soon. More information on there products can be found at: www.elkproducts.com .

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