Energy, Locks, Sprinklers, Internet Radio, Entertainment ... Control4 has an app for that!

ATLANTA, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- CEDIA EXPO -- Booth 1836 -- Control4, a leader in affordable IP-based home control systems, has seen an array of new apps developed specifically for the 4Store™ marketplace adding to the functionality, fun and lifestyle benefits of the Control4® OS 2.0 platform. Now, with so many apps from which to choose, Control4 customers can personalize their home automation system and enjoy more features and capabilities with every download.  

Since the official launch of the 4Store marketplace on June 30, 2010, developers have been leveraging the 4Store platform to develop and deliver new applications ranging from energy management and home security, to entertainment and convenience to the Control4 customer base. For developers, it provides a new revenue stream to support new lines of businesses and for dealers a way to keep customers engaged and interested in expanding the functionality of their home automation systems.  

"4Store is open for business, and in just a few months' time, developers, dealers and consumers are all reaping the benefits of this platform," said Control4 CEO Will West, "The success of the 4Store platform can be seen in the growing number of developers, customer accounts and apps that are submitted each day.  Our growing development community and dealers are leveraging the platform to innovate and deliver fun and useful control apps for our customers.  There's no better way to build business than having a way to keep customers engaged over time."    

Entertainment Apps:  Internet Radio & Multi-Screen Video Wall

A new Internet Radio app allows you to listen to radio stations that stream over the web from around the world.  Users can add their own favorites or local stations and customized or pre-set genres provide flexibility for enjoyment.  When a user chooses a station to play, the Control4 "Now Playing" bar gives them the ability to control volume and add additional audio zones to push the station's content around the home.

To appeal to the ultimate sports fan or news junkie, Control4 unveiled a new multi-screen video wall app that allows consumers to control 3, 5, or 7 videos screens simultaneously on a touch screen interface. This unique app helps users manage up to 7 televisions along one wall, select which stations can be viewed, and set the default station for each television. When the video wall is in use, the app provides instant and full control of each TV from a single touch screen and can easily change which station is playing on the central screen.

Apps to Manage Energy Use

Eragy has developed an energy 4Store app that allows users to monitor and manage their home's energy consumption through any television or 7" touch screen on the Control4® system as well as remotely from the Eragy.com web interface. Users will see their real-time energy usage as well as current costs, projected monthly costs and projected monthly power. Eragy also provides users with the ability to automatically control HVAC systems and other high-power appliances based on their own preferences for power use or based on time of day. Users can take advantage of their local power utility Time of Use and Time of Use Demand rate structures (if offered) to save money and help the environment by reducing overall energy consumption and peak demands on the power grid.

"Eragy is excited to be working with Control4 and its dealers on providing home energy management and other applications via the 4Store," stated Mark Komanecky, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Eragy. "We are already developing follow-on applications that will help consumers better manage their energy consumption and other items in their homes.  At the same time, Eragy will also enable Control4 dealers to generate recurring revenue in several areas and help strengthen their client relationships."

Control4 has developed the My Energy app which works with the TED 5000 energy monitoring device to help homeowners manage and monitor their energy consumption. The app offers two views - Dashboard and Electricity Use. With Dashboard, customers can see their home's Price per KwH, Cost per Hour, Current Use and So Far Today, and a graphical view of their consumption today versus yesterday. In the Electricity Use view, consumers can view two-hour real-time data, historical data for the week, month and year, and a comparison of current consumption to previous period, same period last year, and average daily outside temperature.

Customers will be able to better monitor their water consumption with the My Yard Sprinkler app which allows customers to program and set watering schedules directly from the Control4® interface. Previewed at CEDIA EXPO 2010, this highly desirable feature will expand the Control4 interface to include irrigation control for the first time.

Security

With security apps from top lock manufacturers including Kwikset, Yale and Baldwin, homeowners can easily manage their locks from the Control4 interface anywhere in the house. Homeowners can lock and unlock doors, manage individualized access codes and view status and history.

Additionally, a newly-developed Vacation app will automatically turn on and off home lighting and A/V gear and adjust motorized shades at random intervals to better simulate occupancy while homeowners are away.  The Vacation app is one of several apps in development and previewed at CEDIA EXPO 2010.

Lifestyle

Entertainment and social media apps have proven wildly popular on mobile platforms and the trend continues in the 4Store. The marketplace is full of fun ways to spend some downtime through games, live web cams, quotes, news headlines, Twitter and Facebook.

Control4 is pleased to announce our developer of the year, Green Wave Technology. They were selected for their Web Radio App.

"We first envisioned the Web Radio app when Control4 announced their developer program earlier in the year and it has been a true labor of love for us from the start," said Doug Alexander, Vice President of Green Wave Technology. "Using the developers' kit, we programmed and tested the app for weeks and submitted on the very last day of the contest. We think Control4® 4Store provides a unique opportunity for us to create entertainment and lifestyle solutions for Control4 systems.  We have already released an update to the Web Radio app and plan to develop and release more apps in the future."

Control4 has also created a Founders' Circle for developers who created and submitted apps during the first weeks of 4Store marketplace availability. Founders Circle members include:

• Alan Chow
• Baldwin
• BlackWire Designs
• CLIQK
• Concierge Solutions
• Custom Home Theaters
• Eragy
• Freelancer Productions LLC
• Green Wave Technology, LLC
• i-Novi (Altran)
• JS Tech
• Kwikset
• Spectrum Home Theatre Consulting
• Zatabit

The 4Store application marketplace is part of Control4 OS 2.0, and ships on every new controller and touch screen sold. Control4 has delivered over 1.2 million ZigBee control devices and the extensive Control4 distribution channel includes support from major retailers such as Best Buy and over 1,600 custom installers and distributors in over 70 countries. Developers can benefit from prestigious industry relationships with top CE manufacturers such as Pioneer, LG, Sony and Stanley/Black&Decker. Control4 is also working with multiple utilities around the world to help customers monitor and manage their energy use.

To become a Control4 developer or to learn more about the 4Store application marketplace, visit www.4store.com.

About Control4

Control4, a leading provider of the operating system for the smart home, delivers intelligent control of consumer electronics products, appliances and networking systems through an easy-to-use and intuitive software interface. Founded in 2003, the company delivers affordable automation and control of lighting, music, video, HVAC, security, and energy management systems to the broad market through more than 1,600 custom integrators, retail outlets, and distributors in over 70 countries. Control4 is the platform of choice for major consumer electronics companies, hotels, businesses and utilities that require an intelligent, open and affordable control solution.   

Copyright© 2010 Control4 Corporation. All rights reserved. Control4 and the Control4 logo are registered of Control4 Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other names or brands may be claimed as the property of others.

For more information on Control4, please visit www.control4.com.

SOURCE Control4