News

ELAN Announces New Digital Music Software That Delivers Automatic iTunes Integration (25/9/2008)

CEDIA US Expo 2008

TuneXchange Delivers Fast, Easy Sharing and Back-Up of Audio Files Between VIA!(r)dj Series II Digital Music Servers and PCs with iTunes(r)

ELAN(r) Home Systems, a leading manufacturer of award-winning Multi-Room audio/video and home control systems, announced today a major upgrade for its popular VIA!dj II line of Digital Music Servers. The popular whole house music server's new software update builds on its iPod(r) connectivity with TuneXchange, providing full auto-integration with Apple(r) Computer's iTunes(r), the world's leading application for playing and organizing digital music files. The announcement was made by Bob Farinelli, ELAN's President and Chief Technical Officer.

TuneXchange provides an easy way for VIA!dj II owners to share their music collections between their VIA!dj II and Apple iTunes running on a PC. It automatically synchronizes to iTunes updating songs, playlists, metadata, cover art and edits.

"TuneXchange is an easy download and self-installs on all Windows XP or Vista based PCs. Once the software is running, your VIA!dj II and iTunes can automatically talk to each other over a home network. This allows users to sync their iTunes library, or just selected playlists, with the Digital Music Server," said Mr. Farinelli. "Another awesome feature is that homeowners can also 'mirror', or back up, the content of their VIA!dj II into iTunes. In addition to serving as a safety net for all their digital media, this feature is great for folks who travel with laptops and want to take all their music with them."

Once TuneXchange is loaded onto a networked PC all DRM-free MP3 & AAC files are automatically copied to the VIA!dj connected to that home network. The "Full" or "Selective" options allow future synchronizations to contain all playlists or only those playlists selected.

If a Client's PC is short on disc space they can opt to link the music on their VIA!dj II to iTunes, making the music playable in iTunes but using no extra disc space on their PC.

A separate download is required to update the VIA!dj II for use with TuneXchange. Both TuneXchange and the VIA!dj II software update are free, quick and easily downloaded over the Internet. This simple upgrade processes is virtually labor free, yet adds enormous value by allowing the user to easily share all their favorite music files for home or on-the-go listening.

Yet another feature of the VIA!dj software update is a scalable user interface within a web browser. This allows users to work with other Windows programs while correctly displaying the TuneXchange Interface.

The VIA!dj line of Digital Music Servers includes three models, providing a music management solution for every budget and offering ELAN Dealers the feature sets and price points needed to best accommodate every Client. Models are available with 160GB and 400GB hard drives and with up four independent outputs for whole house, multi-room listening.

TuneXchange is a free download for both ELAN Dealers and system owners by navigating to http://www.imerge.co.uk. The download and installation average five minutes on a standard PC using a broadband net connection. TuneXchange works on Microsoft .NET, installed free with the program and is not available for the Mac at this time.

www.elanhomesystems.com