What ubiquitous handheld device accelerated the development of elegant, centralized software control interfaces for managing all sources and zones in a multi-room system?

Answer

The smartphone

The widespread adoption of the smartphone served as a powerful catalyst for advancing the control interface aspect of multi-room audio. Before this, zone management relied on bulky in-wall knobs or simple, single-zone remotes. The smartphone, being a constantly available, powerful touchscreen device, created a significant incentive for companies to invest heavily in developing sophisticated, centralized software platforms. This software could communicate bi-directionally with all endpoints, allowing users to manage every source and every zone efficiently from one pocket-sized location, dramatically improving the user experience.

What ubiquitous handheld device accelerated the development of elegant, centralized software control interfaces for managing all sources and zones in a multi-room system?

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