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A realtor wouldn’t dream of selling you a house without understanding your needs and wants (or “must-haves” as they’re known these days). The same goes for the professional who designs and installs automation systems. Here are 10 tips on how to effectively work with a home automation professional.
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Your Control4 system was built from the ground up with a wall-to-wall, curb-to-hall, complex system in mind. Complexity is what Control4 is for—it manages the increasing number, variety, and communication “languages” of your home’s devices, helping all work as a single, integrated system. And every Control4 product has been designed for versatility, reliability, and durability...
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Home automation has been inching slowly into the mainstream, and with new do-it-yourself focused systems hitting the marketplace hard and heavy, consumers are faced with the decision on whether to tackle the setup of a home automation system themselves or to hire a home systems professional to do the job. There are many good reasons to pay for a professional, and the good news is that most manufacturers have implemented technology into their systems that can streamline the programming and installation process significantly. Here are five reasons that’ll make you think seriously about hiring a home systems professional.
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Halloween is fast approaching and it is my favorite time of year! The spookiness of October always excites me. I can’t get enough witches, ghosts and zombies on TV so I decided to look and see what fun I could cook up on my phone. Here are some of the best (and free) apps I found...
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I can remember the exact moment when I started in home automation. My wife and I were much younger and she had “inherited” a lamp timer; you know, one of those plug-in-the-wall, hog-the-whole-socket, ugly-as-sin, monstrous things you plug your lamp into so you can...
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When designed and installed properly by a trained, knowledgeable home systems integrator, a home automation system is able to perform some amazing feats. This goes for systems offered by Control4, as well as many other home automation products on the market. Where the differences between systems often lie is in the engineering of their control platforms. For example...
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Home theater setups can be either mundane or extraordinary. If you’re striving to create memorable movie nights for years to come, then consider these 3 distinctive home theater setups. We’ve also included some automation tips for integrating your Control4 system, so you can really get the most out of your home theater/media room.
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Because your family doesn't live their lives the same way as the people next door, your home shouldn't function the same way either. When you life the automated life, the things your home can do to make life more enjoyable and convenient for you and your family are virtually endless. Check out our infographic to see just a few of the many ways a smart home can function throughout the day, saving time and energy as well as giving you added peace of mind while you are away.
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Maybe you’re looking to turn your neglected garage into the ultimate cinema experience. Or perhaps you want to enhance your family movie night with a few updates to your existing home theater. No matter your vision, here are 8 must haves for the perfect automated home theater.
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For most people it’s common to walk into a dark house after a long day at work, fumble with the keys, and attempt to turn on that darn light switch with arms full of groceries. Control4 makes this inconvenience a thing of the past for one Sarasota, Florida homeowner with automated lighting.
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This week, the transition from Summer to Fall is officially upon us. The changing seasons can oftentimes also change daily routines and even the way you interact with your home. Perhaps the Spring is a time when you enjoy nightly visits to the hot tub. In the Summer you may aim to get out of the house extra early to take advantage of the great weather. Fall may be a time where you spend countless...
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Wednesday night, September 10th—prior to our big launch announcement—we had the pleasure of honoring some of our top dealers from North America and Latin America in an intimate reception held in their honor. We awarded dealers with various honors, such as Dealer of the Year, and our new Circle of Excellence award.
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Have you ever obsessed about that piece of tech that you just “need” to have, but you know that it’s not quite in the budget? Or that your wife (or significant other) would never approve the purchase? Well, welcome to my world. Even though I fascinate about a state-of-the-art home theater room in my basement, it’s just not quite in the cards...yet. But that doesn’t mean I couldn’t window shop!
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In this issue of Home Smart Home, enjoy a peek into other people's lives from all over the globe. You'll read how home automation technology is making its way to a pocket (or two) of paradise to ensure island dwellers always stay stress-free. You may also learn a tip from an NFL’er on how to keep games front-and-center, even when you're off the field, and downstairs in the basement. And if you're impressed by such a man cave, just wait until you see the fan cave we captured and documented near Chicago!
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This week, Sony announced their entire 2014 lineup of X and W Series HD and Ultra HD (4K) TVs will ship with Control4 Simple Device Discovery Protocol (SDDP) technology built-in. This integration means that Sony X and W Series TV’s will be automation-ready right out of the box. Sony has always been a leader in television innovation, and recently has been one of the manufacturers leading the charge in Ultra HD adoption. This addition of Control4 SDDP technology shows that Sony is continuing the trend of innovation with a focus on the smart and connected home.
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Over the last several months, our development teams have been busy— working diligently to deliver stunning new capabilities and features, along with several elegant changes to our user interface, to enhance the Control4 experience for both our customers and Dealers. Tonight, we unveiled all that’s new to over 1000 Control4 Dealers at the CEDIA Expo...
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Think back. Can you remember what it was like to change the channels of your TV manually? When channel surfing and volume tweaking meant bouncing back and forth between couch and console? Although folks from the generation that remembers these antiquated modes of control may not have realized it then, this was highly inconvenient. Fast forward to the era of handheld remote, where we have all the necessary buttons for finding and enjoying a TV program right at our fingertips.
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Control4 media distribution solutions make it easy for everyone in the family to enjoy their favorite music and video anywhere in the house, instantaneously...
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This former NFL player has a home that anyone would envy—his 17,000 square foot pad is stacked from top to bottom with the latest and greatest in automated features. But the one area that creates the most buzz is his custom, state-of-the-art gymnasium. This court is beyond cool and is filled with multimedia...
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As someone who grew up watching Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jeff Gordon battle on the racetrack every weekend, I always dreamed of buying a motorhome and traveling from state to state watching every NASCAR race throughout the season. When I saw what one race fan from Georgetown, Tennessee did to his 49-foot motor coach, I considered selling everything I own to join him.
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Many homeowners desire the simplification that home automation can bring to their lives but either worry about the potential cost associated with it or they simply just don’t know where to begin. A common starting point for home automation revolves around A/V entertainment...
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While I’ve seen my fair share of table tennis set-ups, I’ve never seen one quite like this one. Lightweight and collapsible, this ping-pong table lent itself well to being integrated into a larger home automation project. With the press of one simple button...
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Investing in the latest hardware without the lastest software is a lot like like buying a Ferrari without an engine, sure it looks nice but you're going to have some problems down the road (pun intended). The opposite is also true, and anyone who’s running Windows 8 on that 5-year-old Dell Inspiron intimately understands the struggle. Upgrading your technology...
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Since we live in a technologically-saturated environment, I’m now able to watch the Frozen movie and listen to the soundtrack at home, on the deck, in the backyard, in the car on the way to work, at the office, and in my head while I’m trying to fall asleep. At least one benefit of this same technology is that I can finally control my thermostat with those same devices. Now when the princess freezes the town, my Honeywell Smart Wi-Fi thermostat can chill the room to help my girls get the full effect.
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The garage door isn’t often thought of as the centerpiece of a home, but it can really make a house shine. Here are 10 of the best options for high end garage doors, each with customizable options to really make your garage door the perfect complement to your home’s design.
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