Monster is breaking into the home automation market with a suite of products called Einstein, set to soft-launch at CES 2007 (full launch expected in March).
Einstein is not a whole system, but rather a series of components - allowing for a scalable home automation setup. But this isn't about Einstein (you can read about that here and here).
Nope, this is about one of the Einstein components, the Astro (pictured).
The Astro is a three-zone Sirius Satellite Radio tuner. Three-zone as in three different separate channels in three different rooms. Three-zone tuners don't come cheap apparently - the Astro will run you $1,500 (preliminary pricing).
The Monster Einstein is a Linux-based system that supports 1gb over Ethernet, as well as 802.11g/n, Z-Wave and BlueTooth wireless protocols. Whether or not this is how the Astro is able to handle three-zones without three separate subscriptions, via Sirius Internet Radio, is unknown but that would be my assumption. The Astro is fully functional as a stand-alone device.
[CRN]
Thanks Brad!
$1500??? I think not.