In this context I thought I'd mention one of the applications I have in my HA setup that has proved most useful. I use an automatically nightset 'virtual' alarm for downstairs - not actually the Cortex based one as I implemented it before I had Cortex - but similar. I'll be moving this over to Cortex eventually.... it's great that it has such innovative features , it really differentiates itself from the other HA applications.
This uses xAP display messages to the VFD display on my bedside radio/player , normally showing the temperature/humidity but should the alarm be activated it plays an alarm 'wav' file and displays the offending zone/time. If the alarm is automatically unset by someone moving via a predetermined route from upstairs to downstairs it just shows me the unset time - so I know if someone in the family has awoken, and when. Caller ID/name is displayed for incoming calls and it also warns me of any cars arriving /doorbell so I don't miss the 'toy' deliveries when sleeping in.
I'm actually using a Roku Radio to do this as again I implemented it before the BoomBox became available but the implementation should be very similar for the BoomBox. A slight architectual difference is that you speak to the Roku players directly whereas for SqueezeBox players you talk to SqueezeCentre which then onwardly talks to the connected players. Thus speed is dependent on how responsive SqueezeCentre is. One other feature I use is the IR control via the Roku to access some aspects of my HA setup - prompted via the display messages on the Roku.
The announcements made by Cortex can be linked into the xAP OSD display messages - in much the same way that they arrive at say the DFP2 .On the Roku (and slightly less conveniently on SC) you can also play on demand WAV files. So looking ahead this could maybe link into voice 'announcements' assuming the current text to speech file is available within Cortex as a WAV file somewhere (?). SqueezeCentre players can be 'targeted' via xAP to control which messages arrive at which players so again some synergy with the Cortex model.
K
This uses xAP display messages to the VFD display on my bedside radio/player , normally showing the temperature/humidity but should the alarm be activated it plays an alarm 'wav' file and displays the offending zone/time. If the alarm is automatically unset by someone moving via a predetermined route from upstairs to downstairs it just shows me the unset time - so I know if someone in the family has awoken, and when. Caller ID/name is displayed for incoming calls and it also warns me of any cars arriving /doorbell so I don't miss the 'toy' deliveries when sleeping in.
I'm actually using a Roku Radio to do this as again I implemented it before the BoomBox became available but the implementation should be very similar for the BoomBox. A slight architectual difference is that you speak to the Roku players directly whereas for SqueezeBox players you talk to SqueezeCentre which then onwardly talks to the connected players. Thus speed is dependent on how responsive SqueezeCentre is. One other feature I use is the IR control via the Roku to access some aspects of my HA setup - prompted via the display messages on the Roku.
The announcements made by Cortex can be linked into the xAP OSD display messages - in much the same way that they arrive at say the DFP2 .On the Roku (and slightly less conveniently on SC) you can also play on demand WAV files. So looking ahead this could maybe link into voice 'announcements' assuming the current text to speech file is available within Cortex as a WAV file somewhere (?). SqueezeCentre players can be 'targeted' via xAP to control which messages arrive at which players so again some synergy with the Cortex model.
K
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