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Smart Living Journal

Control4 OS 2.8 is now available

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Last night, Control4 announced t from CEDIA in Dallas, TX the release of OS 2.8, which features new native streaming music services like Pandora, TIDAL, and Deezer; improvements to the user experience with music and movies; and a simpler and more robust security experience for all Control4 customers. Additionally, Control4 announced a Limited Edition Red 7″ Tabletop Touch Screen!
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Control4 receives top honors in CE Pro 100 Brand Analysis

2015 CE Pro Brand Analysis reports Control4 is the leading brand in multiple categories for smart home solutions.

Salt Lake City, UT, June 1st, 2015 — Control4 Corporation (NASDAQ: CTRL), a leading global provider of smart home solutions, has been named as the top Whole-House Automation brand by the 2015 CE Pro 100 Brand Analysis report. CE Pro magazine is a leading trade publication for professionals involved in the custom electronics business. The report released today on CEPro.com includes a survey of the highest revenue-generating businesses in the custom installation industry which reveals that Control4 is viewed as a leading brand in seven unique categories, including recognition as the top brand in four of these categories as follows:

· Whole-House Automation – Top Brand
· Multi-Room Audio – Top Brand
· HVAC/Energy/Smart Grid Management – Top Brand
· Access Control – Top Brand
· Universal Remote Control – In the Top 2 Brands
· Lighting Control – In the Top 2 Brands
· Intercom Systems – In the Top 3 Brands

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Control4 and Sony Introduce New ES Receivers with Control4 Automation Built-In

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Together Control4 and Sony launch the world’s first AV receivers with built-in home automation.
Indianapolis, IN – CEDIA Expo Booth 4949 – September 5, 2012 at 5:00PM ET – Control4, a leading innovator in residential and light commercial automation systems, announced that Sony has integrated Control4® automation technology into its new ES receivers (introduced at CEDIA Expo) – delivering best-in-class AV performance and home automation within one easy-to-install and easy-to-use product. The ES receivers with Control4 automation are available for order now through authorized Control4 and Sony ES dealers.

This is a powerful partnership redefining the AVR category by delivering an unprecedented integrated AV and automation experience in a single device. Consumers will enjoy top AVR performance, unmatched 4K content and a stunning selection of streaming media services, plus the added lifestyle benefits of personalized automation that can transform a house into a smart home. With companies like Sony embracing and marketing the benefits of home automation, the custom installation industry benefits as a whole. Together, Sony and Control4 have created an exciting new avenue to drive consumer awareness for the category.
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Digital Smart Homes is now a member of "Interior Designers of Canada" (IDC)

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Digital Smart Homes team is excited to announce that we have become an official member of the Interior Designers of Canada (IDC) board. Founded in 1972, IDC is the national advocacy association for the interior design profession. The beauty of our new association with the IDC is that we will now be able to connect with and education more than 3,500 interior designers, students, and educators on the latest home automation trends and technologies that have the power to increase the value of home and commercial properties.

Coming Next Week: New Sonos Controller apps for Mac & PC

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PLUS EVEN MORE TO MAKE SONOS MUSIC LOVERS SMILE

Next week, Sonos will introduce brand new Sonos Controller apps for Mac and PC. Plus, improved wireless performance for Android devices and language support for Brazilian Portuguese. And, it will all be available with a simple one-click software update.

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Niles New Outdoor Speakers And In-Ground Subwoofer Offer High Fidelity Audio And Sleek Design

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Niles’ new GS Garden Speakers line is constructed of rugged, long-lasting materials and features high-quality audio components for amazing outdoor audio systems.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, January 11, 2012—Niles®, The First Name In Custom Installation®, today introduced a new line of outdoor speakers and an in-ground subwoofer, which all feature rugged construction, long-lasting materials and deliver superior audio fidelity for all outdoor applications. The new GS Garden Speakers deliver Niles’ legendary high performance sound quality and the speakers’ rugged construction gives dealers an ideal, long-lasting outdoor audio solution.

According to Mike ‘Sparky’ Detmer, president of Niles, “The introduction of our new GS Garden Speakers and In-Ground Subwoofer allow dealers to offer the same level of audio quality and sleek, blend-in designs for outside applications as Niles in-ceiling speakers provide inside the home. Installers can now install powerful, high fidelity outdoor audio systems to fit any environment with minimal visibility.”
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Niles Introduces First Designer-Friendly Compact Ceiling Mount Loudspeaker To Blend Into Any Décor

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Dealers can now provide Niles’® legendary high fidelity audio performance in virtually any location with a compact loudspeaker that has a mere four-inch footprint.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, January 10, 2012—Following the introduction of its new CM Series Ceiling Mount Loudspeakers at CEDIA 2011, Niles®, The First Name In Custom Installation®, today announced the introduction of the company’s first-ever compact ceiling mount loudspeaker with a mere four-inch footprint, the CM4PR. It is the first small, designer-friendly loudspeaker to deliver audiophile grade performance so speakers can be placed in aesthetically pleasing, unobtrusive areas.

“The introduction of our new designer-friendly compact loudspeaker provides installers with an audiophile grade solution for any location where space or visibility are issues,” said Mike ‘Sparky’ Detmer, president of Niles. “With a depth of less than four inches and a Rear Wave Enclosure that stops sound from bleeding into other rooms, the CM4PR brings superior quality audio to places that were once inaccessible and completes our full line of application-specific CM Ceiling Mount Loudspeakers.”
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Control4 Launches Video Intercom Solutions with New Touch Screens and Door Station

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High-performance In-Wall and Portable Touch Screens with full-motion video intercom and wideband audio deliver dedicated control and crystal clear communications.
Las Vegas, NV– January 10, 2012 at 7:00 AM PT – Control4, a leading innovator in residential and light commercial automation systems, introduces its new video intercom solutions, which include the Control4® 7” Portable Touch Screen with Camera, the Control4® 7” In-Wall Touch Screen with Camera, and the Control4® Door Station.

This new video intercom product family provides dedicated, always-on control functionality along with a convenient high-quality communications experience for homes and businesses. Each new product within the family features an integrated camera delivering H.264 full-motion video along with integrated speakers and dual microphones utilizing beam forming and wideband audio to deliver a high-fidelity experience. With activation of a Control4® Intercom License, consumers can enable whole-home or business communications and message broadcasting, as well as the ability to control auto-answer and “do not disturb” settings.
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Control4 Announces New High-Performance Automation Controllers

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New one-room and whole-home controllers dramatically enhance consumer experiences with fluid on-screen control, blazingly fast media access, and instantaneous responsiveness.
Las Vegas, NV– January 9, 2012 at 9:30 AM PT – Control4, a leading innovator in residential and light commercial automation systems, announces two new models to its award-winning family of automation controllers: the flagship HC-800 and the versatile HC-250. Designed to harness the power of Control4’s award-winning operating system, the HC-800 and the HC-250 provide the ultimate Control4 experience for speed, performance and flexibility at an exceptional value for homeowners and businesses.

At the center of Control4’s updated line of controllers is the new HC-800, a powerful, flexible, multi-zone controller designed to serve as the cornerstone of any Control4 installation, no matter how large or demanding. The HC-800’s lightning-fast, next-generation 1.8GHz high-performance dual-core processor delivers instantaneous, interactive on-screen control and browsing of even the largest media libraries.
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Niles Introduces Two new Powerful High Fidelity Compact Subwoofer Ideal For Any Size Room

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Powerful, stylish and compact 6.5” and 8” subwoofers, engineered with designers in mind, allow for virtually unlimited placement to fit any decor.

CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, December 22, 2011—Expanding its line of powerful high-fidelity subwoofers, Niles®, The First Name In Custom Installation®, today announced the introduction of two new stylish compact subwoofers engineered with designers in mind, the SW6.5 and the SW8.

“With these new stylishly-designed compact subwoofers, installers can place a high-powered, highly attractive and easily concealed subwoofer virtually anywhere for a home theater or home audio system,” said Mike ‘Sparky’ Detmer, President of Niles. “These subwoofers outperform their larger rivals and offer superior sound quality and design for all residential and light commercial installations.”

Engineered with the designer in mind, the SW6.5’s and SW8’s ultra-compact sizes and fingerprint-resistant piano-black finishes present an aesthetically pleasing profile that is easy to blend into any décor. Pairing a long-throw front-firing woofer with dual long-throw side-mounted passive radiators, the compact subwoofers deliver the power of subwoofers four times their size, making them perfect for any setup requiring more bass in less space.
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Extend HDMI 1080p Full HD with Deep Color up to 330 feet (100 meters) over a single CAT-5 cable, along with 100Base-T Ethernet, RS-232, IR, and remote 5V DC Power

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The GefenPRO Extender for HDMI ELR with PoL over CAT5 extends a Hi-Def source with multichannel digital audio at resolutions of up to 1080p Full HD to 330 feet (100 meters) using one CAT-5 cable. Also, it has the capability to power a separate 5V DC device from the Receiver unit, sharing the 5V DC power, transmitted over the CAT-5 cable, up to 2 Amps at the Receiver Unit. It supports DVI-D when used with an HDMI to DVI Adapter, providing greater flexibility and options when integrating several home theater components. This product extends Ethernet and provides an IR back channel to control AV sources using the same CAT-5 cable extension. With the built-in IR Blaster, simply point the IR remote(s) at the display to control the Hi-Def sources as if they were located in the same room as the display.
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BlackWire Designs Introduces New Control Apps for Control4 Residential and Light Commercial Systems

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Video Conferencing, Quick Control and Video Wall control apps bring enhanced features and capabilities to Control4 systems.
Indianapolis, IN – CEDIA Expo 2011 – September 8-10, 2011 – Booth #2302 – BlackWire Designs, a Control4® Solution Provider, is pleased to announce the availability of a suite of new applications designed to give Control4 dealers more powerful tools to target high-end residential and light commercial opportunities. Available now in the Control4® 4Store, these new apps – Video Conferencing, Quick Control and Video Wall – offer superior control and increase the potential of a Control4® system, perfect for every setting from the small office to the restaurant or bar to the home or the boardroom.

The Video Conference app currently enables enhanced control of Polycom and Lifesize conferencing systems, and development is underway for additional brands. Designed for simple configuration within a standard Control4 system, the app allows customers to control camera movements right from a Control4® touch screen. Users can easily join conference calls, and dial a contact by simply selecting a name from the interface or by dialing the number from the keypad. The app pulls entries from the unit’s contact book ensuring easy migrations from systems that are already in place. The app also automatically disables and hides features that aren’t available on certain models, making it easy for customers to navigate the system.
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Control4 Panelized Lighting—powerful lighting control for home and business

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Home and business owners can direct complex lighting events from elegant user interfaces while the system is centralized “behind the scenes”
Indianapolis, IN – CEDIA Expo 2011 – September 8-10, 2011 – Booth #2302 – Control4, a leader in IP-based home control systems, today announced the new Control4® Panelized Lighting Solution. Panelized lighting systems enable complete control over whole-home and commercial lighting systems using sophisticated keypad and touch screen interfaces, rather than a collection of light switches on every wall.

The Control4 Panelized Lighting Solution is Ethernet-based, providing simple and robust communications from the home controller or Control4 Touch Screen to the light. The Control4 Panelized Lighting Solution is also one of the first centralized lighting systems to offer energy monitoring capability for each load, which allows energy management applications to monitor and control individual lights. This empowers high-end customers to enjoy the privileges of whole-home lighting control while still being energy conscious.

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Control4 Announces New Addition: MyHome App for Android

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Unveiled at CEDIA EXPO 2011, the new app provides whole home control from today’s popular Android devices.
Indianapolis, IN – CEDIA Expo 2011 – September 8, 2011, 8:00 AM ET – Booth #2302 – Control4, a leader in affordable IP-based home control systems, announces their new Control4® MyHome - Android™ app for Android-enabled mobile devices. Developed by Clever Controls for Control4® systems, the app is currently in beta testing with select Control4 dealers and release is currently slated for Q4.

The Control4® MyHome family of software apps allows homeowners to access and control lighting, temperature, security, music, movies, and so much more from a wide range of devices in a Control4 enabled home. The new MyHome - Android app is a robust solution that will allow homeowners to access, manage and control their Control4 system from their Android-based devices built on Android OS 1.6 or higher.

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Yale's First Locks Designed to Integrate Seamlessly Into the Digital Home Now Available

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Designed to Interface With Control4 Home Control Systems, Giving Homeowners a New Level of Security and Convenience
Yale Locks & Hardware (www.yalelocks.com), an ASSA ABLOY Group company and a world leader in door hardware for residential and commercial applications, announces the availability of the company's first lock specifically designed to integrate seamlessly into the digital home.

These new deadbolt locks are the first products in the Yale Real Living™ portfolio of home control and home security solutions. Available with either a sleek touchscreen or pushbutton keypad, Yale's new platform of intelligent locks are designed to operate with a Control4® system, the premier integration platform for today’s digital home. Through the Control4 system, the homeowner can directly access and control all of the lock’s unique features, including activating personalized events or scenes with the push of a button from anywhere in the home or even remotely via the Internet.
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Control4 Launches New Portable Touch Screen

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Elegant tablet design and full Flash app support offer features and functionality for any Control4 project.
Indianapolis, IN – CEDIA Expo 2011 – September 8-10, 2011 – Booth #2302 – Control4, a leader in affordable IP-based home control systems introduces a new portable touch screen to their award-winning touch screen family. The Control4® 7” Portable Touch Screen offers two-way intelligent control and navigation of a Control4® system. With a capacitive full-color LCD panel, the new touch screen has a sleek look and dedicated control functionality that homeowners are unable to get from other tablet devices.

The Control4 7” Portable Touch Screen expands the already incredibly successful line of Control4 in-wall touch screens by giving homeowners welcome flexibility. The Portable has a sleek tablet form-factor and comes with both a long-lasting rechargeable battery and a tabletop charging station. Out of the cradle, the Portable offers excellent wireless range so you can easily move about the house and outside while still enjoying complete control. When the tablet is affixed to the docking station, it functions as a tabletop touch screen, ideal for locations like nightstands, end tables and kitchen counters where anytime access is important but an in-wall or fully portable device doesn’t make sense.
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Yamaha Updates ‘AVENTAGE’ A/V Receivers; Extends High End Connectivity and Control Features Throughout Line

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9.2 Channels, Expanded Networking, iPhone/iPod/Android Capabilities, CINEMA DSP HD3 Among Enhancements Being Brought to Critically-Acclaimed Line. Yamaha has updated the industry leading AVENTAGE family of A/V receivers, to include the first 9.2 channel receivers—the RX-3010 (150W x 9) and RX-A2010 (140W x 9)—along with the 7.2 channel RX-A1010 (110W x 7), RX-A810 (100W x 7) and RX-A710 (90W x 7). Like the original AVENTAGE receivers (pronounced Ah-Ven-Taj) unveiled last year to wide critical acclaim and success at retail, the new models continue to set the high bar for peak performance at affordable price points
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Control4 Software Release Announcement - OS 2.1

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Control4 is pleased to announce that OS 2.1 is available for immediate download. This release improves the quality of the operating system. OS 2.1 includes enhancements to most areas of the system and user interface, brings back important features and capabilities, and provides significant new diagnostic and support features to make it easier to support clients without doing a truck roll.

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Vivitek Introduces Bright, Lightweight, LED-Based Projector with 3D Ready Capabilities

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Vivitek Corporation, a leading manufacturer of innovative visual presentation products, enters the Pico projector category with the Qumi, the company’s new line of LED-based pocket projectors. To maximize the company’s strength in LED-based projectors, the new Qumi (pronounced Q-me) projectors enhance Vivitek’s family of projection devices for a wide range of applications. Weighing in at only 1.6 pounds, the Qumi is the first pocket projector to be 3D-ready via Texas Instruments’ DLP® Link™ technology.
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Control4 Partners With Sub-Zero and Wolf

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Control4 can now connect to Sub-Zero and Wolf high-end kitchen appliances for convenience, energy savings and the perfect meal every time.
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LifeSize Extends Video Calling to Skype Users Worldwide

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(LifeSize) Becomes First Company to Deliver Room-based Video Conferencing Solution with Skype

AUSTIN, Texas, April 19, 2011 - LifeSize, a division of Logitech (Nasdaq: LOGI) (SIX: LOGN), has qualified its LifeSize® Passport™ HD video conferencing product to be the first room-based, business-class video conferencing solution to be plugged into Skype™, adding the ability for LifeSize Passport users to now conduct video calls with Skype users around the world.
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LifeSize: True Video Collaboration Through New Interoperability With Microsoft UC Platforms

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LifeSize today announces the expansion of its rich video collaboration offerings through interoperability with Microsoft UC platforms.

LifeSize HD video conferencing products will integrate with Microsoft unified communication (UC) platforms, enabling users across the enterprise to connect over video from LifeSize systems to the desktop, and vice versa. Organizations of all sizes will be able to scale video collaboration capabilities more cost-effectively to better accomplish their communication and productivity objectives.
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Control4 and Cisco Sign Strategic Agreement to Deliver Network-enabled Automation Platforms for Smart+Connected Communities and Home Energy Management Solutions

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Control4, a leader in affordable IP-based home control systems, today announced that it has signed a strategic agreement with Cisco to deliver network-enabled automation platforms for connected smart communities and home energy deployments around the world.
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Sharp Unveils Its First 3D Ready High-Definition Dlp® Home Theater Projector

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Sharp has introduced its first 3D Ready High-Definition High-Quality DLP® Theater Projector with 30000:1 High Contrast Ratio and Full-HD Panel (1920x1080). it works with active shutter glasses using either DLP Link or IR syncing technology by bouncing an IR signal off the screen the picture is projected onto. Read More...

Eragy Announces Second Generation Home Energy Monitoring Application and Service

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Eragy’s Energy Monitoring Plus application empowers homeowners to identify specific areas of energy savings.

Eragy, Inc., a leading provider of smart home software applications and services for home energy management and monitoring, today announced a second generation version of the company’s home energy monitoring application and service.

Eragy’s new energy monitoring software, Energy Monitoring Plus, coupled with a Control4® home automation system and eGauge home energy monitor, enables homeowners to save up to 20% or more off their monthly electric bills. Eragy’s latest application allows consumers to monitor the details of their energy consumption to best understand how they can reduce their energy bills.

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