Control4 OS 2.3
Now delivering the Control4 Operating
System v2.3, Control4’s upgraded OS provides a new, elegant lighting user
interface, with new features that enable customers to personalize their own
experiences, new applications for commercial installations, and boasts
enhancements and updated certified drivers to boost performance and
interoperability. OS 2.3 represents a next significant step in the breadth and
depth of the Control4 automation platform.
“OS 2.3 brings a new level of performance,
reliability and capability to Cotrol4 systems”, said Control4 CEO Martin P.
“Our new software packs a punch, delivering an exceptional experience for
consumers and includes enhancements and purpose-built features and tools for
our dealers, including hundreds of updated device drivers supporting both
residential and commercial installations”.
OS
2.3 brings a new level of performance, reliability and capability to Cotrol4
systems
Paving the way to an unrivalled customer
experience, its enhanced performance and reliability result in faster, more
responsive systems, while also empowering consumers with the ability to
customize and adjust specific preferences on their own. Now, homeowners and
business owners can add or swap out smart phones and tablets within their
Control4 MyHome account. The MyHome app also allows additional
customer-friendly improvements including optimized start-up and reconnect time,
better Napster Music Service integration, and additional language support for
Control4 non-English speaking customers.
Enlightening Stuff
One of the key attributes of the Control4
OS 2.3 release is the introduction of a new elegant user-experience for
lighting. The clean intuitive UI makes it easy for consumers to control
lighting throughout a residence or business from almost any device – TVs,
Control4 touch-screens, smart phones, and tablets. In addition to the visual
design refinements, consumers will benefit from new personalization and editing
capabilities, including the ability to directly edit and manage specific
lighting functions from Control4 touch-screens and the MyHome PC app,
eliminating the need for an on-site dealer visit to adjust settings when
homeowners would like simple changes. Additionally, the new Advanced Lighting
Scenes Agent also streamlines dealer programming making it even more efficient
to design and program sophisticated lighting scenes.
Control4
Simple Device Discovery Protocol (SDDP) – a ground-breaking new capability
Adding new tools to simplify installation
and programming for dealers, the new Control4 Driver Editor enables dealers and
developers to create and test new drivers without requiring a fully installed
onsite Control4 system making it much more efficient to quickly design and
develop drivers for third-party products. Also including support for Control4
Simple Device Discovery Protocol (SDDP) – a ground-breaking new capability
which will automatically identify and load the correct driver for Control4
devices, as well as an expanding roster of third-party devices, Control4
systems will now be able to projects without requiring the typical driver
search and binding. Using SDDP, a device’s IP address also will be
automatically discovered and configured, streamlining installs and eliminating
hassles.
“OS2.3 is all about more; dealers wanting
more, consumers need more, and Control4 providing more. Our dealers and
end-customers are going to love our newest software”, said P.
Crestron connected
Crestron recently announced it was
welcoming Yale Real Living residential wirelessly-controlled door locks to its
growing list of Crestron Connected devices. Yale, the industry leader in
residential and business locks, now integrates its Yale Real Living product
with Cretron control systems to provide direct communication, control,
management and monitoring of door locks. This enables homeowners to lock and
unlock doors remotely from a Crestron touch screen or a mobile device, set
schedules, and personalize access to the home.
Using Cretron infiNET EX wireless protocol,
the new Yale Real Living wirelessly-controlled door locks can receive commands
and even communicate with the other devices through the Cretron control system
with no programming required. Homeowners can lock or unlock doors from anywhere
in the house, using a Crestron touch screen or remotely using Cretron Mobile
Pro/Mobile Pro G for Apple and Android mobile devices.
Crestron
touch screen or remotely using Cretron Mobile Pro/Mobile Pro G for Apple and
Android mobile devices
“Cretron has an outstanding reputation in
the control and automation industry”, says Jason Williams, General Manager of
Yale Residential. “By integrating the Yale Real Living locks with Crestron
products, we are providing homeowners with the best of both worlds: a secure,
convenient, and aesthetically pleasing lock, combined with a level of control
that turns the home into a smart home”.
The Lock to Pick
When the door is locked or unlocked the
Crestron system can simultaneously turn lights on/off, adjust blinds and
temperature and set the alarm. Homeowners can also give access to individuals
every day or create a schedule to allow guests to enter and exit the home on
certain days. Each family member and guest receives a unique pin, so the
homeowner can monitor system activity. The system can also monitor door
position, battery status and alarm status. A Crestron Connected device is
recognized natively by the Crestron processor and allows for full control
capabilities straight out of the box, without any special drivers or modules.
When
the door is locked or unlocked the Crestron system can simultaneously turn
lights on/off
“We’re excited to announce this partnership
with a trusted and well-respected company like Yale”, says Robin van M., MD of
Crestron International. “The integration of Yale’s wirelessly-controlled door
locks into a Crestron control system provides increased convenience to
homeowners, enabling them to remotely grant access to visitors and track who
enters the home and when. Crestron and Yale are taking home security into the
future”.
Key to success
The Crestron Connected initiative embeds
Crestron control intelligence into a wide selection of third-party source
equipment and display devices such as projectors, displays and audio/video
receivers to operate seamlessly with Crestron control technologies. The
cloud-based framework enables plug-and-play connectivity for any Crestron
Connected devices. Crestron brings together world-class technology, including
audio/video, lighting, HVAC, scheduling software, security and many other
product categories. The Yale Real Living wirelessly-controlled door lock is the
first Crestron Connected residential door lock.
The Crestron Connected Yale residential
wirelessly controlled door locks will be available in Q1 2013.
Philips dynalite
AWE, the exclusive UK for Philips Dynalite,
now offer a device designed to help customer installers achieve smooth and
efficient dimming of LED light sources in any lighting control system. The
compact DMAL 120F is designed to provide an active load for leading edge dimmer
channels used to control LED and CFL fittings. Connected as a parallel or
inline device between the dimmer channel and the fitting, the DMAL 120F can
improve dimming performance.
Philips
Lighting have launched their new Philips Dynalite Dimension sub-site.
Although a Philips Dynalite product, the
DMAL 120F can be used as part of any control system which includes leading edge
dimmer channels, making it suitable for new-build or as a retrofit option. With
its small footprint, the unit can be mounted within the same enclosure as the
dimmer, or in the field with the LED lighting groups. Each DMAL 120F feeds
through a current rating of 20A making it suitable for a wide variety of
TRIAC/SCR dimmers, rated from 1A to 20A.
Also available directly from AWE is the new
DGLEDM401 ‘Perfect Dimming Card’. The DGLEDM401 is a new trailing edge LED card
option for the multipurpose DDMC802GL load controller. The DGLEDM401 card has
been specifically designed to give high quality LED dimming at the lower end of
the dimming scale. The card provides a clean and efficient dimming curve right
down to as little as 1% without flickering, pulsing or strobing.
Don’t Just Take Our World!
AV Custom Installers, Technophobe, has been
working with Philips Dynalite for 18 months. Jamie Marshall, Technophobe’s
owner explains why: “We made the decision to use Philips Dynalite as our
lighting partner after comparing its offerings to other lighting control
systems on the market. We are delighted with the products, servicing and
training that we receive from Philips Dynalite and AWE.”
And here are the key reasons why
Technophobe specifies Philips Dynalite products:
The aesthetic and choice of wall keypads
enables Technophobe to always be able match the choice of its client’s wall
faceplates.
Each Philips Dynalite product has its own
memory rather than one central controller/processor. This provides the customer
with the confidence that if a fault were to occur, the rest of lighting system
won’t be affected.
The scalability of Philips Dynalite
products is so useful. It means the system can be installed at any stage of the
project. Also the controllers do not all need to be in a single or central
location, they will communicate with each other from around the building.
DemoPad
The latest release from DemoPad, the
innovative Graphical User Interface home automation/universal remote app for
custom control of AV equipment, CCTV, gate automation and access control for
iPad/ iPhone and iPod touch devices, will now include built-in drivers for all
the Arteor MyHome range including heating, lighting, energy monitoring and
motor controls, together with an Android version of their app. The aim being to
make it even simpler for installers to design fully featured control systems
using the LeGrand product ranges.
DemoPad already includes a driver for the
NuVo system, recently acquired by LeGrand, so this is an exciting new
development for the fast moving DemoPad installer community around the world.
DemoPad
already includes a driver for the NuVo.system, recently acquired by LeGrand
LeGrand high-end control system, Vantage,
is now complemented with the lower cost DemoPad solution which is expected to
be well received by the LeGrand core customer base of electrical and security
contractors who will find DemoPad control easier to configure and a cheaper
solution for their clients. It also opens up the opportunity for LeGrand to
market kits aimed at developers with all the hardware and controls ‘off the
shelf’ making it much simpler to supply sophisticated solutions scalable all
the way up to Vantage integration if required.
Asheridge are the UK distributors for
LeGrand and Vantage and already have a well-established relationship with
DemoPad – a key factor in the development.
App
DemoControlHD available from the iTunes App Store for just $39.99
DemoPad Software Limited Managing Director
Mike Cain says: “LeGrand and DemoPad are a perfect fit. Our solution is more
suited to smaller scale, faster deployment than typical Vantage or Crestron /
AMX installs. Our installers are using our lower cost model to bring
sophisticated control solutions to a much wider audience”.
DemoPad Software Limited are based at
Lancaster University INFOLAB and have a global installers community using the
combination of DemoDesign PC configuration software and the custom App
DemoControlHD available from the iTunes App Store for just $39.99.
