In the 2007 trial, the DVD CCA claimed that Kaleidescape breached the CSS License Agreement and in particular, that Kaleidescape did not comply with a document called the “General Specifications.” Kaleidescape successfully argued at trial that the General Specifications document was not a part of the original contract since it was never referenced in the CSS License and was not provided to Kaleidescape until after the contract had been entered into. In addition, Kaleidescape presented evidence at trial that its products fully comply with the General Specifications anyway. In 2007, the trial court agreed with Kaleidescape that the General Specifications are not a part of the original contract. Because of this, the trial court did not clearly rule on whether Kaleidescape complies with the General Specifications. The Court of Appeal has now ruled that the General Specifications are a part of the contract, but did not decide whether or not Kaleidescape complies with them. The Court of Appeal has sent this back to the trial court to decide.

The new proceedings by the trial court will likely take place in a year or two, unless the California Supreme Court agrees to review the Court of Appeal’s decision. Kaleidescape will continue to fight, and we expect to prevail. However, it may take many years for this issue to be fully and finally resolved.

In the meantime, Kaleidescape Systems remain 100% licensed and legal. We will continue selling Kaleidescape Systems, developing innovative products and technologies, and providing excellent service to our customers, including the Movie Guide, the Music Guide, automatic software updates, and automatic service alerts. The Blue-Laser Player is still on schedule for release in 2009.

What has changed is that there is a greater presence in the residential arena for these systems and they extend from the basic contactor switching methods to dimming systems with a greater focus on energy management.

Lighting in the home has had some significant changes too. Once it was all about functional lighting for people to see what they are doing and provide a safe passage. Now feature lighting is becoming more prominent and if you are serious about lighting when you are building your new home, the services of a lighting consultant are utilised to provide a lighting design that will deliver both functional and feature lighting throughout your home.

Sustainability is also playing a key role with the use of energy efficient fixtures as a mandatory requirement for all newly built homes.

A lighting control system provides the management of your lighting throughout your home and is designed to simplify the way you interact with it.

This is not always the case as there are a large number of people installing lighting control systems who do not understand the basic principles and defeat the very key purposes for installing such a system.

So what are the key benefits?

• Reduced energy consumption – This is achieved through dimming circuits. Conventional light switches provide full power to a lighting circuit when more often than not it is excessive and a waste of energy. A lighting control system can be configured to run your lights at 70% as a standard brightness over a typical 100%. By this we achieve 30% less power consumption and we extend our lamp life which means less lamp replacement costs.
• Reduced energy wastage – It is quite common for children or even adults to exit an area such as a bathroom and forget to turn the lighting or exhaust fans off. This could be left on for hours at a time but a lighting control system can be configured to automatically turn off lights in designated areas after a predetermined time, helping forgetful people and saving you money in the long term.
• Dynamics – Conventional lighting circuits can’t be changed. They are restricted to the switch that they are wired to and require a person to activate or deactivate from this switch. A lighting control system does not care for the location of a switch point or circuit, just as long as it is a part of the network, any switch can be instructed to control any individual or multiple circuits. This gives you the ability to turn all lights off at one point when exiting the home or perhaps turn on all exterior lights in the event of an emergency.
• Integration – Other systems that operate in your home such as smoke detectors or Alarm systems can be configured to integrate with your lighting control system. In the event that your alarm system is triggered, the lighting control system can be instructed to turn on all exterior lighting or provide egress lighting inside in the event of a smoke alarm.
• Low level automation – Not to be confused with a full automation system which is how some lighting control system manufacturers like to sell and brand their products but a good lighting control system will provide basic interfacing / control of ceiling fans, motorised curtains / blinds, zoned audio systems, RGB lighting control systems and more.

There are different manufacturers of lighting control systems and the decision of which system to go with is a very important one as a lighting control system becomes an integral part of your home once implemented. Design, hardware implementation, programming & support play key roles to delivering a trouble free solution.

Be sure to read up on our article that discusses the major manufacturers in Australia where we look into their strengths and weaknesses, giving you the ability to make an informed decision of which system is best for you.

Recently we looked into pricing comparisons in Australia and even we were surprised how Kaleidescape was not only cheaper to purchase, but provided far greater value for money!

Now Imerge do produce an audio only server (Imerge Sound Server S2000) which Kaleidescape doesn’t but the new Kaleidescape Mini System provides video as well as audio for only $ 2,800 more!

So let’s look at the comparative pricing:

Imerge S3004B-400 – 4 zones audio only, 400 Gig of storage, No RAID support.  $11,300.00 inc GST

Kaleidescape Mini System with 2 drives – 1 x movie / music zone, 2 x additional audio only zones, 500 Gig of Storage expandable to 1.5 TB, RAID K, additional cascading of mini systems and servers, additional player support up to 15 additional simultaneous movie or music zones.  $14,129.00 inc GST


As you can see, value for money there really is no question that Kaleidescape provides you with flexibility and future proofing of your investment.

Now let’s look at the Imerge Media Servers against the Kaleidescape 1RU Server:

Imerge MS-5000 Media server – 1 x movie zones, 4 x music zones (2 digital only), 3TB storage, RAID 5, non expandable. – $ 29,650.00 inc GST

Kaleidescape 1RU Server with 4 1Tb drives – 3TB of storage, RAID K, Cascade server design
Kaleidescape 1080p Mini player – 1 x Movie zone
Kaleidescape Music player – 4 x Audio zones (both analogue and digital) $ 28,965.00 inc GST

Additional Media players

• Imerge MP-1000 $9,430.00 inc GST

VS.

• Kaleidescape 1080p Movie Player $5,244.00 inc GST

Or

• Kaleidescape 1080p Mini Player (No drive for loading content)  $3,561.00 inc GST

Not only is Kaleidescape cheaper and more flexible on the original purchase, additional media zones can be added at less than half the price of an Imerge Media player!

One of the most important things is that all Kaleidescape platforms are interoperable, something that Imerge haven’t been able to achieve.

Purchase a Mini System with the intent to catalogue your CD collection and maybe a couple of DVD’s. In a year or two you might find that you now have an extensive DVD collection that you wish to add to your Kaleidescape system and it is as easy as adding an additional server or mini players to increase your storage requirements.

Regardless of how many servers or players on your system, to the user it is one big system and dependant on configuration it can store up to 1800 DVD’s or 19,800 CD’s on a single 3RU server and support up to 45 simultaneous zones!

Makes you feel sorry for all those people who bought an Imerge doesn’t it?

Rabone Systems, a leading control solutions company has implemented its proprietary touch panel tracking system into its Residential v2.0 software.

The system allows users to roam freely within the home and provide automatic configuration of the control environment. The software identifies the location of AMX MVP series wireless touch panels and configures the appropriate control pages.

In addition to the auto configuration of the control environment, the software provides a number of features that can be enabled or disabled whilst a user is roaming with a touch panel.

Active lighting tracking with override and last zone restore provides automatic lighting when a user enters into the room, the ability to override a room’s current active state, and return a room to its previous state when the user leaves. This allows a user in transit to walk around the home without needing to manually turn on a single light or push a single button.

Active media tracking monitors the current media source being watched in one room and will route the source to the next media zone entered. With Rabone Systems residential software built around resource management and the infrastructure supporting native signal distribution for all media devices, it is now possible for someone to start watching a DVD in the family room which is being sourced from any player in the house, activate the tracking mode, walk into the bedroom and continue the same DVD whilst having the option to automatically shutdown the previous zone or leave it running.

Byron Rabone, Director and Founder of Rabone Systems commented “Automation in the home is about true resource management, squeezing the most out of these resources whilst building in redundancy and system stability.

Our residential software has been developed over the past four years and further development continues every day. It offers our customers a solution that is not obtainable from traditional programming methods, provides a more feature rich environment and a thoroughly tested platform.”

The proprietary tracking system utilizes two existing technologies, (Dynalite and AMX), requires no additional hardware costs to implement and does not utilize RFID technology, which is now making its way into the automation industry with additional costs to implement. It is extremely accurate and is not limited to AMX wireless panels.

The system functions by instructing networked devices to pulse discrete IR codes which are picked up by Dynalite panels and sensors located around the home. Dynalite broadcasts these messages along with the Dynalite device ID across the network which is received by the AMX control system. The software interprets the data, identifies the device, and stores its location in an array. Each touch panel is unique, including the tracking system options that can be enabled or disabled.

Communications between wireless touch panels and AMX are still handled by standard WIFI eliminating the limitations of IR but providing a unique method of identifying the location of devices.

Potentially any device that has the ability to pulse an IR code such as a watch could be used allowing a user to get up in the middle of the night for a midnight snack or a trip to the toilet with only the requirement of opening the fridge door or lifting the seat on the toilet.

Byron Rabone commented,” In the short term, Rabone Systems has provided a low cost and effective method of achieving an intelligent tracking system.

In the long term, we see short and long range RFID technology playing a big part and offering even more functionality to the home user like automatically reclining the home theatre chair to the user’s favourite position without having to lift a finger, just like luxury cars do with driver seat adjustment today.

However further progression and use of such technology will occur, such as setting your desired water temperature for a shower or bath based on user and ambient temperature but instead of having to configure a system manually, the system should be intelligent enough to monitor a user’s habits and set accordingly.

With the reading and writing capabilities of RFID technology, a user will eventually be able to take some of these creature comforts with them to a hotel or friend’s house.

The possibilities are endless which is what makes this industry so exciting.”

For further information please contact Rabone Systems.

Ph: 1800 722 663

Email: Info@rabonesystems.com.au

Web: www.rabonesystems.com.au

My Podcast Alley feed! {pca-f454a8c30a9a0a4196f96c0a3bc61785}

The problem is that due to their popularity, we now have so many to choose from. Escient Fireball, Axonix Media Max, Imerge, AMX Max & Kaleidescape to name the major players but only one stands out from the crowd.

Almost all DVD servers or Digital media servers have an operating system because essentially they are a computer with a large amount of storage space. The majority of manufacturers resort to using Microsoft or Linux as an OS. Out of the two, Linux has been proven to be more stable in this environment but the limitations of using an OS from another provider is that you are at the mercy of the OS.

Kaleidescape is one of the only manufacturers who have its own operating system called KEAOS which stands for ‘Kaleidescape Entertainment Appliance Operating System’. What this equates to is a product that compares to the reliability of a mission critical, enterprise grade server.

They like to call it “The Kaleidescape Experience” and that is exactly what it is, an experience!

We can talk about all the Digital Media Servers, DVD Media Servers or Jukebox players and the different manufacturers like Escient, Axonix, Imerge & AMX but it would be no different to talking about backyard cricket versus the Ashes.

There is no comparison other than the importing of content to allow it to be played back. Much the same as backyard cricket uses a bat and a ball similar to that used in the Ashes or a test match.

Kaleidescape is in a league of its own and yes once upon a time with the price tag to match. Now with the release of the mini system we can deliver systems for less than $ 15,000, considerably less than the $ 30,000 entry level price tag we once faced.

It is the ‘Kaleidescape experience’ that provides management & storage of over 1800 DVD’s and 19,800 CD’s on a single server. It has the ability to cascade servers in minutes creating a virtually infinite collection (Not quite possible because Kaleidescape won’t let you import the same disc twice.) and simultaneous content streaming to 45 players from the same server.

It has a User interface that other manufacturers attempt to copy and it exists on a future proofed and backwards compatible platform unlike some manufacturers who have discontinued their platforms in the past, leaving the customer with an obsolete and non-upgradeable piece of equipment.

In fact, the very first Kaleidescape system produced more than 6 years ago is still in service and runs on the same KEAOS as new systems purchased today.

If there is any negative side to Kaleidescape it would only be that it does not support the ability to copy photos to the server for slide shows or let you dump your dodgy MP3 music collection to it.

But Kaleidescape is not really a digital media server, it’s an ‘Entertainment System’ used for watching your purchased DVD’s or listening to your vast CD collection in its original & intended format.

Untouched, just how the producers and composers wanted you to see and hear it…

The benefit of ISDN is its reliability of service, and if you intend to use your video conferencing for mission critical events than ISDN should definitely be considered as a primary or secondary network.

IP networks are now at the stage of being able to provide the bandwidth and low latency requirements that are needed for video conferencing. Because video conferencing is about the transmission of video and audio in real time, latency issues can adversely affect performance to the point that the call is unacceptable or can’t be maintained.

When using IP networks for video conference equipment, it is recommended that you utilise a business grade service and that the service can support the required bandwidth including data overheads. This can cost even more than ISDN depending on the service and so a feasibility study should be conducted.

Utilising IP networks does have its shortfalls and one of those is the ability to connect to an external site. For example, if you were a law firm that used videoconferencing between your offices, you would find that your videoconferencing would work fine, especially if you are utilising an existing Enterprise grade Wide area Network between your offices. However if you were to call an external client who also has video conferencing equipment you might find that their internet service provider does not provide a very good pipe (Connection) to your provider and you may experience latency (length of time it takes for data to arrive) and bandwidth (The amount of data you can send) issues.

This is where an ISDN service works extremely well as it is what is called a switched network with a guaranteed level of service.

So how do you get the best of both worlds?

Most codecs these days will support both networks so supporting both technologies is not an issue but you don’t want to spend lots of money installing both networks. If the majority of your conferencing will be between your offices and you already have an extensive IP network in place then IP is the way to go for these types of calls but occasionally if one of your offices require the ability to call an external site over ISDN then you can install one of these services to accommodate.

All your internal calls will cost minimal or will be free dependant on your IP infrastructure provider and on the odd occasion that you do make external ISDN calls you will only pay for the time you use.

Another way of saving money when using ISDN services for videoconferencing, is to share an existing infrastructure. ISDN has more than one use other than video conferencing; it is more commonly used for your telephone lines and terminates into your PABX equipment.

If you happen to have one of these services you may be able to accommodate ISDN extensions on your PABX which means that you no longer require a dedicated service for your video conferencing equipment. However your videoconferencing equipment will utilise these lines when it requires them and they will be unavailable for use while in a conference much the same way if your incoming lines were busy taking voice calls.

ISDN comes in two flavours, a Basic rate service “BRI” and a Primary rate service “PRI”. It is pretty easy to determine what service you are using because a BRI service supports 2 lines where a PRI service supports 10, 20 and up to 30 lines. So if you have 10 lines or more, you will most likely be running a PRI service.

This is not to be confused with how many numbers you have as with ISDN services it is common to have what is called an in-dial which is a number range. For example, you could have an in-dial range of 100 which means you have 100 numbers in your range. It might look something like this: (07) 3620 7300 – (07) 3620 7399. If you have a PRI 10 service with an in-dial range of 100 then you can receive a maximum of 10 calls simultaneously on any one of the 100 numbers in your range.

Video conferencing will not work over a single line, in fact the bare minimum requirement is 2 lines which equates to 128 Kbps (Bandwidth). To achieve a reasonable picture and audio quality a bandwidth of 384Kbps is recommended. This is the equivalent of 6 lines and if you are utilising a PRI 10 service you will be occupying 6 of your 10 lines to achieve this.

Your call costs will also increase as with ISDN you pay per line. Videoconferencing calls are considered ‘data’ calls when using ISDN and data calls are generally charged at a different rate to voice only calls.

If a data call from Sydney to Melbourne was to cost .50 cents per minute than a video conferencing call at 384Kbps would cost $ 3 per minute & at 128 Kbps it would cost $ 1 per minute. Of course this is only an example and actual costs would be dependent on what your carrier charges for data calls over ISDN.

What you should have realised by now is that video conferencing does require some forethought and planning before implementing a solution.

Rabone Systems will provide you with all the necessary information as a part of the video conferencing solution, making sure that you benefit from the cost savings of videoconferencing over traditional travel costs as well as getting a return on your investment.

Video conferencing has been around for more than a decade and back then there was limited players in the marketplace and systems were very expensive to install as well as call costs over Telstra’s ISDN network as IP was not an option.

The key thing to remember with video conference equipment is that it should be complying with a global standard. This ensures that you get trouble free conferencing between different manufacturer’s codecs but in the real world this is not always the case.

How to avoid potential compatibility issues can be done as simply as using a manufacturer who has extensive experience and market share in the video conferencing arena.

In Australia, the major players are Polycom, Tandberg & Aethra. Polycom would have the majority share of the market but it does come at a premium price and may not fit into your budget.

Aethra which is an Italian company have been gaining serious traction in the market and do offer a very economical solution to the SME marketplace without compromising performance.

Rabone Systems offers both Polycom video conferencing and Aethra video conferencing equipment to its clients and we can provide a full integrated boardroom solution or training facility utilising a control system such as AMX to provide simplicity of operation.

Once you have established which platform and features you like, the type of network you will utilise will need to be decided.

Rabone Systems has extensive experience with Videoconferencing and can provide you with the correct answers so you can make the right decision

Dane Sandilands, a Sydney based integrator who has cut his teeth working for the rich and infamous, introduced us to a strange and unique concept that actually improves your ability to output code at an alarming rate.

Starting with quiet ale at a saloon style restaurant called “Outback Jack’s”, when it came to ordering meals Dane opted for the 1 kg rump steak challenge.

Unbeknown to Sandilands, his 1 kg of medium cooked steak was served with a 1 kg side serving of potato wedges and an entire crop of vegetables.

With only 30 minutes to devour what looked to be the best part of a whole cow, Dane had to order an extra serving of sauce on the side and additional ale to wash it down with.

At the 29 minute mark Dane had managed to eat the majority of the cow but like any kid refused to eat his greens and left a large portion of potato wedges due to his low carbohydrate intake diet.

Dane commented, “Once you get past the dizzy spells and nausea, it is not too bad.”

Sandilands, a pioneer of this increased productivity method put it to the test the following day when he managed to accomplish the impossible and make it back to Sydney before the weekend was over.

One thing debated was the use of a land based toilet the following day as the off shore facilities where Dane was operating from may not have had the necessary plumbing requirements to achieve the desired flush.

Never the less, a full house for Dane and we are sure that his pioneering days are far from over.

The Mini System is the first Kaleidescape product to integrate a complete multi-zone Kaleidescape System into a single component, and the first to include a remote control.

Its elegant industrial design is beautifully suited for a living room, and it installs as easily as an ordinary DVD player. Priced about 40% less than the current Kaleidescape System, the Mini System is affordable and well-suited for a variety of projects.

The Mini System can be expanded by adding Players so you can enjoy your entertainment collection in other rooms of your home, by adding Servers to accommodate your growing collection, or by adding other Mini Systems to do both. The Mini System has a movie zone and two additional built-in music zones to provide “whole-house entertainment” out-of-the-box.

Browsing your collection on a Mini System is simple and rewarding. With the press of a button, your movies or music are sorted by title, actor, artist, director, genre, year-of-release or run time. Kaleidescape’s Movie and Music Guide Services automatically cross-reference your entertainment collection to help you rediscover your favorites and share them with family and friends. High-resolution cover art provides an endless panorama to help you quickly identify the movies and music that are “just right” for the occasion.

“The Kaleidescape Experience makes choosing a movie, television show, or album interesting and fun for the entire family,” said Michael Malcolm, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Kaleidescape, Inc. “The frustration of rummaging through discs and mediating between siblings is replaced by leaning back and enjoying your entire entertainment collection with your family. Our customers spend more time being entertained, and ultimately derive more value from the DVDs and CDs they already own.”

“The Kaleidescape Mini System installs quickly and easily, without the need for structured wiring and complex control system programming,” said Brian Hudkins, President of Gramophone, a leading home theater installer in Maryland for over 30 years. “It’s a perfect and complete entertainment solution at a price point that is well within the budget for most of the projects we deliver.”

The Mini System is available immediately at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price starting at $17,495 in Australia, and includes a standard one-year limited warranty.