ThinkFlood Debuts Affordable RedEye Pro Whole-House Automation

In another sign of how quick the market is adapting to new levels of IT-based control and more affordability using existing interfaces, ThinkFlood Inc. has launched RedEye Pro, a whole-house, multi-control, multi-zone automation system.

The Waltham, Mass.-based IT company is already known for its popular RedEye universal remote control app and charging dock that allows consumers to use their own smartphone as a TV remote. That system launched in December 2009 and has sold tens of thousands of units at $199 via Amazon and other online outlets.

RedEye Pro is much different. It’s a networked home automation processor capable of whole-house control via multiple interfaces, including iPhones, iPads and PCs. The system controls A/V, lighting control, HVAC, security, garage doors and more.

Sold Only Through Custom Channel
Unlike the original RedEye remote, RedEye Pro is being sold only through authorized custom integrators both directly and via distribution, including the Powerhouse Alliance, and reps, such as veteran firm Balaton Marketing in the mid-Atlantic region.

ThinkFlood’s manufacturer’s advertised pricing (MAP) for the RedEye Pro is just $749 with healthy margins for dealers. RedEye Pro’s design allows it to be rack mounted or placed on furniture. The stackable unit is less than 1U in height and comes equipped with:

• 8 dual-purpose 3.5mm infrared emitter/contact closure sensor ports
• 4 contact closure relays
• 2 RS-232 ports
• 4 USB ports
• 10/100 Ethernet (via RJ45 with an internal switch)
• 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi

But the biggest differentiating feature of the RedEye Pro is the free, automatically updating channel guide in the system. The main interface itself has a simple design, with a sub-menu of channel favorites using channel logos as icons.

System Setup
For setup, the unit auto syncs to the interface devices. During a quick demo, RedEye Pro identified and synced with a smartphone in about one minute. Setup is best done on a PC, but can also be done directly from the iPhone or iPad.

“We don’t want to exclude any integrators who don’t have IT expertise from being successful in installing whole-house control systems,” says Matt Eagar, president and co-founder of ThinkFlood. “In fact, the biggest complaint we are hearing about the product is that it’s not expensive enough for all that it does.”

“The consumer has to bring his own control device,” says Adam Shapiro, VP of operations. “We don’t want to make hardware that competes with iPhones, iPads, Androids and other devices.”

The company founders come from an IT background. “Enterprise system integration is a complicated business dominated by massive software companies such as Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, and IBM, which in turn are supported by thousands of boutique consultancies,” says Craig Materick, chief software architect at ThinkFlood. “We are just beginning to scratch the surface of what integration can be in the residential market. Over time we hope to make these systems more widespread, but the industry is still in its nascency.”

In a press release, the company says the RedEye Pro offers “extensive customization tools for installers.”


RedEye Pro is less than 1U in height and can be rack mounted or placed on furniture.


One big differentiator in the RedEye Pro is its free automatically updating channel guide built into the software.


RedEye Pro allows integrators to set up clients' smartphones as their TV remote control.