All Articles Tagged Apps

Jason Knott | 04/13 12:04 PM, 1 Comment

The smart kitchen may finally become a reality. For what seems like eons of dreaming about truly connected appliances, the industry now has the first app and module to manage energy, create actionable text alerts and review diagnostics for refrigerators and ovens. Control4 has announced its new Smart Appliance App and Smart Appliance Module, developed by Card Access, for Sub-Zero, Inc. and Wolf Appliance cooking equipment. The Smart Appliance App and Smart Appliance Module, free in Control4's 4Store, are available through Control4's dealer network. “Today’s mobile devices are aiding mainstream… View this story

Rachel Cericola | 04/09 08:04 AM, 5 Comments

If you or your clients are fans of the Sonos CR200 Wireless Controller, you’d better stock up. Sonos plans to discontinue the controller starting June 1, 2012. According to The Verge, Sonos is dumping the hardware for its multiroom audio system, in favor of software-based control methods. This includes the free iOS and Android apps, as well as software for the PC and Mac. “We knew from the early days of the iPhone explosion that controlling our system from the device that people were carrying around in their pockets is… View this story

Jason Knott | 11/30 06:51 AM, 5 Comments

During the CE Pro 100 Summit, David Frangioni of Audio One recalled a story when one of his technicians waited a week on a jobsite for a celebrity because he did not have the client's iTunes password. "The client wanted everything to be working perfectly when he arrived home, which meant we needed to turn on the Apple TV and check it," he recalls. "But because we didn't have the client's iTunes password, we couldn't check the system." The story started a debate among attendees: Who should buy the apps… View this story

Jason Knott | 11/30 06:33 AM, 1 Comment

While “apps” has become a dirty word for many integrators who see the proliferation of low-cost, non-integrated systems as a threat to their businesses, one integrator is embracing them. David Frangioni, owner of Miami-based Audio One, is embracing the app concept in his system designs and converting its client portal into a downloadable app for customers. Audio One has developed high-end integrated Crestron systems with interfaces that mimic the look of Apple apps. Clients can drag and point on the panels just like they would on their smartphone or tablet.… View this story

Grant Clauser | 11/02 06:53 AM, 0 Comments

Panasonic's VIERA Connect smart TV platform is getting smarter, adding the Internet Social Network app to all its 2011 VIERA TVs and subsequent models. The app works with social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, allowing users to watch TV while navigating their status updates or poking friends. "Our thorough research pointed to a desire to be able to watch content on the TV, while at the same time being able to tweet on Twitter or update your status on Facebook," says Panasonic North America VP, Merwan Mereby. "With that… View this story

Robert Archer | 09/26 06:43 AM, 0 Comments

TiVo is adding Facebook integration to its iPhone and iPad apps to increase social TV functionality. Facebook’s new "Like" and "Watch" features will integrate with the app to provide an additional way to connect with friends and family. “When we launched the TiVo apps for iPhone and iPad earlier this year, we did so with the goal of expanding the ways TiVo lovers can interact with people, the web and the entertainment they’re viewing while they watch TV. With this improved Facebook integration, TiVo users can discover things to watch… View this story

Rachel Cericola | 09/21 08:04 AM, 1 Comment

LiteTouch is spreading that wealth of control to the web, announcing that its LiteTouch Remote Access Application is now available for use with any browser. Optimized for mobile devices, the LiteTouch app was first released in 2011 for use with the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch (pictured). After logging in, users can turn lights on and off, measure current energy use and get system status updates. There’s also a “favorites” feature that allows users to mark frequently used functions and move them to a Favorites screen. LiteTouch also says there’s… View this story

Grant Clauser | 09/21 05:16 AM, 3 Comments

It was a rare thing to walk into a manufacturer’s booth at CEDIA Expo 2011 and not be confronted by an app for this or that. This industry has apps to turn up the music, lower the shades, manage the home theater, spy on the neighbor, flush the toilet and turn off grandma’s pacemaker. And I like that, a lot. The rise in Appism means I have several tap-friendly things in my house that can work with nearly any device. That also means half of that stuff lacks any dedicated… View this story

Maxine Giza | 08/31 12:55 PM, 0 Comments

Fusion Research has released its first iPad and iPhone app that offers full two-way control of its Movie Servers. The app, which is available for free in the iTunes Store, has a two-way interface that lets users navigate their movie collections and distribute content to multiple video zones. The app works on all current generation Fusion Movie Servers. Units purchased before this announcement will require a small software update to the server "Not only can you browse your complete collection directly on the iPad or iPhone, but you can perform… View this story

CE Pro Editors | 08/29 08:18 AM, 0 Comments

The CE Pro 100 Summit, being held November 16-18 in Miami, Fla., has revealed programming details for its day two breakfast presentation, titled “Planet of the Apps.” The session offers insights from top integrators, like David Frangioni, who are already executing winning strategies with mobile apps and have not only mastered their technical integration, but business model integration as well. “Mobile apps have totally caught on with consumers. Clients are willing to pay for the luxury of having access to their smart home system from their mobile devices,” says Frangioni,… View this story