A hand-held electronic device having a remote control application user interface that functions to displays operational mode information to a user. The graphical user interface may be used, for example, to setup the remote control application to control appliances for one or more users in one or more rooms, to perform activities, and to access favorites. The remote control application is also adapted to be upgradeable. Furthermore, the remote control application provides for the sharing of operational mode information.

A music audio control and distribution system in a location, comprising a first wireless music audio device connected to a local network, the network operably connecting the music audio device with at least one of: (1) a music audio player or (2) a music audio output device, and with a remote music audio source operably connected to the local network. The location of the local network is one of (a) a home, (b) an office, and (c) an automobile. The system also includes a second music audio device comprising at least one of (i) a music audio player or (ii) a music audio output device. The second music audio device is also connected to the local network and is controllable by the first wireless music audio device.

An audio control and distribution system in a location, comprising a first wireless media device connected to a local network, the network operably connecting the media device with at least one of: (1) a media player and (2) an audio output device, and with a remote media source operably connected to the local network. The location of the local network is one of (a) a home, (b) an office, and (c) an automobile. The system also includes a second media device comprising at least one of (i) a media player and (ii) an audio output device. The second media device is also connected to the local network and is controllable by the first wireless media device.

A hand-held electronic device having a remote control application user interface that functions to displays operational mode information to a user. The graphical user interface may be used, for example, to setup the remote control application to control appliances for one or more users in one or more rooms, to perform activities, and to access favorites. The remote control application is also adapted to be upgradeable. Furthermore, the remote control application provides for the sharing of operational mode information.

A media entertainment system including an appliance having an electronic data communications interface, a computer processor operatively connected to an auxiliary source module (ASM), the ASM configured to receive control information from the appliance and to send control information, media metadata, and media files or media streams to the appliance. At least one display is operatively connected to the computer processor and configured for displaying media metadata, current time, alarm time, system playback volume levels and alarm volume levels. One or more user interfaces are operatively connected to the computer processor and configured to receive user metadata selections and for receiving user settings for plural media source presets, playback volume settings, time settings, plural alarm settings, and plural alarm volume level settings. Each alarm and associated media source may have its own user selectable specific volume level setting that controls the appliance audio output volume when an alarm is triggered.

A hand-held electronic device having a remote control application user interface that functions to displays operational mode information to a user. The graphical user interface may be used, for example, to setup the remote control application to control appliances for one or more users in one or more rooms, to perform activities, and to access favorites. The remote control application is also adapted to be upgradeable. Furthermore, the remote control application provides for the sharing of operational mode information.

A media entertainment system including one or more user interfaces that are configured to receive user metadata selections and for receiving user settings for plural media source presets, playback volume settings, time settings, plural alarm settings, and plural alarm volume level settings. Each alarm and associated media source may have its own user selectable specific volume level setting that controls the appliance audio output volume when an alarm is triggered.

A hand-held electronic device having a remote control application user interface that functions to displays operational mode information to a user. The graphical user interface may be used, for example, to setup the remote control application to control appliances for one or more users in one or more rooms, to perform activities, and to access favorites. The remote control application is also adapted to be upgradeable. Furthermore, the remote control application provides for the sharing of operational mode information.

When a command key of a controlling platform is activated, the platform performs an operation to initiate a playing of media content and also initiates the retrieval of information from an information source.

A multi-mode media system operable at a given time in one of a first or a second mode, selectively, the first mode comprising operation to access a media source co-housed with or connected to and operationally integrated with the media system and configured to stream media content to the multi-mode media system for playing by the media system, and the second mode comprising operation of the media system for controlling over a network a media source remote from the multi-mode media system for outputting media content on an output device separate from the multi-mode media system, the media system not being operable in both modes simultaneously nor operable exclusively only in a single one of such modes.