News

"Control4 set a new standard in home automation products by including high-resolutional audio and built-in Ethernet switches in its new EA line of controllers, starting at $600."

"SAVI Controls leverages the many strengths of Control4 by delivering untapped market potential for Control4 dealers and providing a comprehensive commercial control solution all with minimal specialized training."

"The new facilities, along with the extra capacity added to existing Control4 training centers in the United States and Shanghai, China earlier this year, will serve to meet the growing demand by Control4 dealers to train more technicians to become Control4-certified integrators."

"Once you turn the knob, the lights and television come on automatically and the curtains open to showcase the view you'll be enjoying for the duration of your stay. What's more, the technology is able to memorize guests' personal preferences and restore them when they return to their room."

"From doors to drapes, Control4 provides a complete automation solution for the hospitality industry. By uniting systems that were once disparate, Control4 delivers operational efficiencies for hotels and a personalized, five-star stay for their guests."

"Control4 is already a big name in the residential space, but the Control4 Hospitality Solution is the company’s biggest push into the commercial sector yet. With it hotels will have complete control over their guest rooms from a central command system."

"The Smart Skills library launches today, with more than 15 videos in a variety of categories including lighting, entertainment, comfort & convenience, safety & security, and networking."

"Now Arnold is retiring, handing over the reins to Bryce Judd, who joins Control4 from with more than 20 years of technical sales and operations experience, primarily in mobile services and enterprise software."

“An automation platform that has traditionally done well in the hotel sector is Control4. The platform argues that as the concept of automation spreads, more and more resorts are realizing the efficiencies and business advantages offering systems can deliver, so rather than seeing automation as a luxury, increasingly it can be sold as part of the hotel’s normal infrastructure and one that offers immediate business advantages.” (Page 42)

"Showing that 2015 was no fluke, Control4 not only maintains hold as the most frequently used brand in the Control and Automation category, it increases its lead over perennial stalwart Crestron. Savant retains third place, while RTI moves from sixth to fourth."

"I have a new-found appreciation for the brand and what it is capable of. I have recommended Control4 to a few other dealers I know who are looking for an easy-to-implement control brand that doesn’t require extensive coding."

"Control4 is a very powerful system that allows anyone to build agents and do complex programming. The system is physically built, then each component is added on the system design screen. Once designed, you then go to the connections window where you can link all the products."

"Control4 is present from the moment you step up to the front door station, which can transmit an image of a guest at the entryway on all the Control4 touch screens in the house, complete with intercom communication."

"Dubbed the Smart Home Essentials Tour, this year the company's message focuses on selling, installing and supporting networking, lighting and entertainment."

"For just about $600 plus approximately a $200 installation fee you can have an immediate start to your smart home with Control4. They focus on a full-scale solution allowing you, the customer, to completely customize the smart home experience to your liking."

"Control4 is the Rolls Royce of home automation systems…The system works with just about everything – he integrated my system with Sonos, and switches that say “Music”, have “Next” buttons, and up and down volume buttons. When I press them it plays the current song in my Sonos queue through my Sonos speaker or controller. With just the tap of a wall button it stops the song putting the home back in silence."

"There’s a big population of music lovers who really appreciate good-sounding audio,” says Paul Williams, VP Solutions for Control4. “Why not sell them a high-performance media player that, by the way, has home automation built in?”

"We want to keep smart-home-as-a-service providers like Vivint and Control4 in mind. For years, they've been offering whole-home automation solutions that include high-end takes on smart audio and video. Services like those typically don't come cheap, but they do paint a pretty compelling picture of what smart entertainment nirvana can look like."

"The past few weeks I’ve been watching far more movies in there than usual. That’s because I had a Control4 EA-5 system installed in there. Now despite the complexity, even my 4-year-old can operate it."

"Control televisions, sound, security cameras, lighting, thermostats, alarm systems, door locks, or raise and lower blinds. 'We can even control the temperature in your shower,' said Bushnell. Residences and businesses can have complete automation and everyone living or working in the space gets his or her own code to keep records of comings and goings. The Control4 works in all homes, no matter the age, and automation is controlled with mounted detachable touchscreens or with an iPad."

..."There’s no doubt about it: Control4’s EA lineup is the future."

“Control4’s purchase of Pakedge shows not only an understanding of the market, but also a commitment to this space and the same appreciation of the importance of providing dealers and end users a more complete solution and experience.”

"The new Square Wireless Lighting products when combined with the recently launched Entertainment & Automation Series controllers, make it easy for homes of any size to experience the benefits and convenience of automated lighting, whether in a single room or throughout the whole home..."

"Smart home solutions provider Control4 made a bit of a splash at ISE 2016 on Tuesday. The company announced that it will begin delivery of its new line of intelligent Square Wireless Lighting products, which will expand the custom and retrofit lighting opportunities for Control4 in the European and Asian markets."

"In what may be the smartest acquisition ever in the home-technology channel, leading smart-home manufacturer Control4 (Nasdaq: CTRL) has acquired Pakedge, the No. 1 brand of networking gear among CE Pro 100 home-technology integrators." -Julie Jacobson, CE Pro

"...Seamless, scalable, reliable, and secure networks are not just desired, they are required. Pakedge provides Control4 with this important foundation for use in any connected home or business..."

"The acquisition will let Control4 dealers bolster their networking capabilities..."

“Called the Control4 EA Series (that's "EA" for "entertainment and automation"), the new line of connected home controllers will range from $600 for a single-room setup to $2,000 for a unit powerful enough to smarten up a large home.”

“Today’s big announcement of three new EA Series home controllers stays the course, from the entry level ($600 MSRP) and up ($2,000). Speed and reliability is the mantra, says CEO Martin Plaehn, who wants the company to be known as an infrastructure provider rather than a device manufacturer.”

“Despite looking similar (and being pretty much the same size), the new EA-5 boasts twice the processing power of the old HC-800. And there's good reason for that. As Williams explains, over the past three years, the number of devices per home integrated by Control4 has pretty much tripled.”

“Unlike other current single-room home-entertainment controllers, the $600 EA-1 controls home systems such as lighting not just in the home-entertainment room but also in other rooms, the company said. It also delivers true home automation, not just control, because it delivers event-based automation in which actions can be triggered automatically by such events as an exterior door opening, said solutions VP Paul Williams.”

“When used with compatible smart devices (and there are a freighter load of them), the EA-1 can dim the lights in your living/theater room, close the curtains, lock the front and back doors of your house, adjust the thermostat, plus a number of other things, like providing access to video from security or baby-room cameras.”

“Today’s big announcement of three new EA Series home controllers stays the course, from the entry level ($600 MSRP) and up ($2,000). Speed and reliability is the mantra, says CEO Martin Plaehn, who wants the company to be known as an infrastructure provider rather than a device manufacturer.”

"Because at this year’s CES, Control4 stepped up to demonstrate a proof-of-concept implementation of SmartDeviceLink that effectively turns the head unit of your car into a controller for your home." -Dennis Burger, HD Living

"Control4 used a doll-house-size home display song in conjunction with an Android phone and a Toyota vehicle display head unit to demonstrate a proof-of-concept smart home app that will enable single-button, one-touch control of a smart home from the driver’s seat without requiring the driver to take his or her eyes off the road (or driveway) ahead." -Darryl Wilkinson, Sound & Vision

"The Control4 proof-of-concept smart home app for the connected car demonstrates one-touch smart home integration using an Android phone and a Toyota vehicle head display unit." -Robert Archer, CE Pro

One of the best things about Control4 are the “scenes.” Say you want to watch a movie: Click the “movie” icon on your Control4 remote and your lights will turn off, the blinds will come down and the TV will pull up Netflix. Or click “dinner party” to dim the lights to 25 percent, turn on the Barry Manilow Pandora station on your Sonos and light the gas fireplace.

In a leafy Toronto neighborhood, a Cor-Ten–clad family home is wired for the future...With Control4 automation, everything from music to lighting can be managed with the tap of a touchscreen.

Control4 (Nasdaq: CTRL) is now the top home automation provider for CE Pro 100 dealers – the nation’s largest designers and installers of smart-home systems, including audio, video, lighting controls, whole-house controls, security systems, motorized shades and other electronic devices.

"The Control4 HC-250 with OS 2.6 is a compact, home controller featuring IP, IR, serial and relay control capabilities, along with an updated software platform that delivers integrated access to streaming music services and pool/spa controls..."

“Let’s say you return home at 8:00 at night,” says Henry Clark, Senior Design Consultant at BrightSky Home Technology, a Sarasota-based provider of home entertainment and control systems. “You open the front door, and the system already knows from that little security contact. The air conditioning comes back down to 72. The shades may raise a little bit. The lights come on in the hallway and the kitchen. It’s part of automation.”

“…there’s going to be families in the future and homeowners in the future. And that’s a very big opportunity for us to just keep focused on and be the best at delivering solutions to homeowners and their families—to make their entertainment systems easier, their lighting and comfort systems intelligent and more comfortable, and make their houses safer and more secure." - Martin Plaehn, Control4 CEO.

“The sound system is controlled through the couple’s iPads, iPhones and the computer, but a separate system, Control4, manages the media content: two Sky boxes (so they can watch different things at the same time) and a big media server with the couple’s music and film collection.”

“The ability to tie pool, outdoor audio, deck lighting, and entertainment system together with the simple touch of a button is a really compelling and cool outdoor experience.”

“Think about a watch that could choose a playlist based on your heart rate,” Sonnen continued, “or have a screen where you could see who is at your front door when the doorbell is rung, or just serve as the voice-activation side of your system remote. We think that in terms of integration and if these devices eventually have the voice recognition and the wireless communication speed to be as responsive as, say, your handheld Control4 system remote, then they could become truly useful for home automation..."

Paul Williams demonstrates the new Control4 Thermostat and OS 2.7 with the new Comfort Experience. [VIDEO]

Paul Williams demonstrates the new T3 Series of Touch Screens at ISE 2015. [VIDEO]

DeNyse also uses an iPad and software from Control4 Corp. of Salt Lake City as a master control for his home’s electronic systems ... “It’s all very cool to be able to access the house systems from our iPhones wherever we are,” DeNyse said. Besides, said DeNyse, “I’m a geek. To me, it’s a hobby.”

“This year has been all about software, for us- getting our software and user experiences and personalization interaction really fluid, getting out architecture underneath- since we operate with lots and lots of different devices – getting that more modern.”

“Manicured, mature landscaping frames the residence, while snazzy tech by Control4 keeps the house smart.”

"Control4 has continued the expansion of its global sales team with the appointment of two regional sales managers and a new Asian Pacific managing director."

"Control4 solutions are designed to scale and deliver exceptional home automation experiences for installations of any size," said Martin Plaehn, Control4 Chairman and CEO.

"Sony is the first full line of automation-ready HD and 4K Ultra HD TVs to ship with Control4 SDDP, extending device interoperability in the smart and connected home."

"Mobile app streamlines large whole-home and single-room Control4 installations, and creates a new and more efficient entry-labor model for Control4 Dealers."

"Control4 also launched at CEDIA Expo this year its new OS 2.6 software update, which includes advanced pool and spa controls (including animated icons that give instant, at-a-glance feedback about the state of your pool or spa system), enhanced security integration, and a new music interface that greatly enriches the listening experience by fully integrating the music services available on attached devices (like the aforementioned Sonos system) as if they were native Control4 apps."

"Control4, one of the big home automation companies, was showing off one of Sony's new "home automation friendly" TVs with Control 4's Simple Device Discovery Protocol (SDDP), which makes integration easier."

"Control4 is already the company for affordable home automation, but a new mobile programming platform called Composer Express makes it even cheaper and easier to sell."

"One significant reason why configuration time is reduced is due to the fact that Composer Express is capable of auto-integrating SDDP-enabled (Simple Device Discovery Protocol) devices into the system 'with a single touch'."

“But the most stunning announcement is that Sony is incorporating Control4’s device discovery protocol, called SDDP, into all of its premium sets, starting today.”

“We are extremely pleased to formally add the expertise and talent of the Extra Vegetables team to Control4,” said Eric Anderson, senior vice president, products for Control4.

“We have made it our goal, in each product category we’re in, to make sure we’re providing the top devices and rock-solid device drivers for our dealers, so they can be confident when they’re installing products they’re just going to work.”

"The gold standard of home automation, you name it and the Control4 system does it. Your smartphone or tablet can be used as the command center for the entire home, conveniently integrating lighting, music, home theater, climate and security. Program the perfect "wake-up" setting with your favorite music, followed by a gentle opening of the shades and a brightening of the lights or impress your friends and get the hot tub bubbling with a touch of your smartphone."

"The popular Control4 smart home application provides secure access and control of connected homes via the new Fire phone."

“What if I told you that you could control literally every connected electronic device in your home with it? Not just your music, but lights and thermostats and security and even your home theater system? It’s all true, thanks to the Control4 app for the Fire Phone.”

“I first met with Carley Knobloch, an HGTV Home Technology Expert to learn about how a smart home makes things easier and more efficient in a downtown LA apartment powered by Control4. Basically, everything was controlled from one interface--imagine full control over the shades, lights, TVs, and security systems from your iPad or phone!”

"The whole essence of a smart home is to make things easier and more efficient…this is the Control4 system that runs the entire house, and what's so cool is that it takes all of this computing power and puts it into that very easy to use interface."

"The house represents the latest in construction technology and in smart home technology the marriage between the two technologies" said Paul Williams, VP of Security and Communications at Control4.

“Control4 helped change the face of home automation over the past decade, helping to bring a modern software-centric approach to the custom installer channel.”

“The analytics and heuristics you can get from smart devices can help real estate agents understand more about the value of that home and the areas that are being utilized by the existing homeowners…”

“Imagine all your lights, thermostat, TV and music, and maybe some appliances connected to each other AND controlled from home or even while you're away…”

“…one of the most robust and easy-to-use intelligent home systems that we reviewed, despite its requirement for professional installation and difficulty in expansion and personalization. Control4 works with Z-Wave and ZigBee home control technologies and is well equipped for use with the KNX protocol. This system is a great choice if you're planning to remodel your home and wish to add a powerful home automation system in the process.”

“Control4 home automation solutions and platform enables homeowners to connect a broad variety of devices and systems throughout their home and control everything from a single app via a smartphone, tablet or in-wall touch screen.”

"The strategic partnership that Control4 and LILIN share allows us to work closely together to bring together best-in-class home automation technology with best-in-class camera solutions that enhance the customer’s smart home experience and truly deliver on the promise that other manufacturers are telling the story of, yet unable to fully deliver."

“The concept is for us to be able to take all of those elements and bring them together and control them from what we call a single interface…”

“Unlike your average universal remote control that's just supposed to work behind the scenes to control your equipment, a Control4 system provides an experience, uniting the control of your AV components, lighting, temperature, and other options in one clean, simple interface.”

“The Wireless Music Bridge is a great addition to a Control4 system, providing an easy, flexible way to integrate a variety of portable devices and expand the number of music-streaming options you can enjoy through the system.”

“The important thing is to reiterate what it means to have a truly connected home. Often consumers think that home automation is having an app that turns one light off, a different app to set your thermostat and another to arm your security system – when in fact home automation is hitting just one button that can do all of that for you.”

“Consumers increasingly rely on surveillance cameras and NVRs to bolster the security of their homes and businesses. Integrating these security solutions into a Control4 automation system helps consumers better protect their homes and businesses by providing remote viewing of the property from any location at any time via smart connected devices, such as smartphones and tablets and the Control4 4Sight service.”

“And who monitors all of that?” “I do,” I said, whipping out my iPhone, “via a secure 3G connection with bank-level security encryption. Heck, I would know if you were trying to break in before you got in the door because the system would send me a text the instant you started tampering with my Yale locks,” I said, intentionally using second-person pronoun to clue this joker into the fact that I knew he was up to no good.”

“In the spirit of the 2014 Winter Games, Control4 has awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze monikers to three high-tech ski homes that exemplify dedication to slope-side living.”

“…we can all dream of a cozier escape than our current digs. A place in which design and technology commingle to create the perfect atmosphere for watching the snow fall whilst sipping hot toddies. Control4 may have felt something similar when it picked its top three most idyllic winter home escapes–all featuring the company’s intuitive home automation systems–that accomplish just that.”

“Today's 'always-connected' consumers expect the same level of convenience and personalized control of their homes as they do of their smartphones and apps. We are thrilled to partner with Toll Brothers, a leading luxury home builder, to deliver exceptional, personalized automation experiences to new homeowners. Our jointly-defined offerings will provide new home buyers tailored choices to best integrate Control4 automation into their new home and personal lifestyle," said Martin Plaehn, Control4 chairman and CEO.”

“Under the agreement, buyers will be able to choose from several pre-configured automation packages offering intelligent lighting, smart thermostats, smart locks, multi-room audio/video solutions, and smartphone/tablet control integration. New homeowners will also have access to additional automation capabilities and products via a network of independent automation specialists trained and certified by Control4.”

“With the vast number of surveillance cameras and two brands of NVRs now supported by our SDDP technology, which automatically identifies and loads drivers for supported IP-connected devices, we expect security automation in Control4 projects to grow even more. Our dealers will be able to integrate a broader range of security monitoring options into homes, multi-dwelling units and commercial projects.”

“The connected home, the connected consumer, is an expanding opportunity for all of us. Every device with a battery or power cord is going to be network aware, and our job at Control4 is to orchestrate connected device so they work together to improve homes and families’ lives.”

“Even with professional installation, there’s no denying systems must be much simpler to integrate and configure if the pros are to compete with mass-market offerings. Cotnrol4 is on a mission to do just that with an initiative launched in 2012 called Simple Device Discovery Protocol (SDDP).”

“That will allow homeowners to do things like link their Nest thermostats to Control4’s automation options, such as temperature settings that take daily schedules and comfort-vs.-energy efficiency options into account -- things that Nest already does, and that Control4 also does with a number of wireless thermostats available today.”

“The biggest news from the show is that Control4 has added three big manufacturers – HARMAN, Epson, and TiVo – to the list of companies whose devices support the Simple Device Discovery Protocol (SDDP).”

"...There will be a bit of time before the incandescent light bulbs completely go the way of the dinosaur, “but people need to plan, and you need a flexible product, like the Adaptive Phase Dimmer…”

“Part of the newly enhanced 4Sight™ service, Anywhere Access allows a secure connection to the Control4 system via a mobile devices from virtually anywhere in the world via a 3G/4G or Internet connection.”

“One of the great things that our solution offers is a whole degree of personalization, and what we are able to do is really make the home interact with the consumer the way the consumer wants it to interact.”

"Everything from entertainment to lighting to temperature to security can be connected, and, best yet, monitored remotely. Control4′s integration with HouseLogix VoicePod allows them to speak commands like “turn on the lights” or “turn up the thermostat” and the house will respond accordingly."

“A Control4 home automation system lets you monitor and remotely manage your home’s lighting, climate control and security from the company’s MyHome app on your smartphone or tablet from nearly anywhere in the world. When you are home, enjoy the benefits of an automated system that can control your home theater, music and intercom.”

“Like what you've read about above, but don't want multiple automation services in your home? That's where an all-in-one home automation package can be the solution. Control 4 covers an array of home tasks, including automating and monitoring lighting, temperature, and security.”

“In 2003, founders Will West and Eric Smith (with Mark Morgan) attempted one of the most substantial home-control launches of the generation – coming out of the gate with a full suite of products from smart thermostats to lighting controls to amps and whole-house audio/video.”

"Homebuyers today enjoy smartphone apps that control virtually everything, including web cams, lighting, thermostats—even appliances. So why wouldn’t you offer smartphone or tablet control in a home? iPad or tablet control is also a great way to get prospective homebuyers jazzed about technology options—and your homes—by showing them hands-on what systems like home control, lighting control and climate control can do."

“Another new product that seeks to simplify the entertainment experience is the Wireless Music Bridge from Control4. It allows a homeowner to stream music right from her mobile device to any room in the home, and unlike the Sonos system, it connects to Airplay on iOS devices or Bluetooth on Android devices.”

“Thanks to a nifty little program called Control4 Composer Home Edition, you can enjoy all the benefits of a professionally installed, personalized control system, but still make tweaks and changes yourself – from setting up and modifying your favorite channels to managing your music collection to managing text message alerts to creating your own advanced automated events – all with a few clicks of the mouse.”

“We all know that home break-ins and burglaries are all too common. We strive to leverage home automation in more creative ways than a simple home security monitoring system to provide homeowners with even greater knowledge and control,” says Paul Williams, Control4 VP of Security & Communications Products.

“In any 'haunted house' you always suspect that someone is hiding in a back room pushing buttons. In this case, that’s true. Those buttons, touchpanels and iOS apps are all integrated with a Control4 system...”

“Various components of the Control4 home automation system are showcased throughout the Innovation House, including the automated media room, music room, living room and kitchen.”

“The Control4 Wireless Lighting family includes ambient light sensors to automatically adjust the brightness of status LEDs and button backlighting.”

“Lighting control has been a key element of our business model since the very beginnings of Control4, and it represents significant revenue potential in the custom integration channel. This launch provides Control4 dealers with a comprehensive lighting control product line that is second to none.”

“I’ve written a lot about how easily expandable and scalable Control4 is, allowing you to start small with a one-room system and expand as your needs and desires grow. This was my first chance to put that to a real test in a real home, though. And I was outright shocked by how easy it was.”

“Sub-Zero and Wolf, recently announced a Smart Appliance App and Smart Appliance Module that is available through Control4, a leader in affordable IP-based home control systems. The free app lets you engage in a number of services to make your kitchen like easier. Having people over for dinner? The “party” mode ramps up ice production and also lowers a home’s temperature before guests arrive. You can also raise and lower shades, adjust climate control, and monitor security cameras from a phone.”

"I [Geoffrey Morrison] got a demo of the Nest, as controlled by a Control4 system. The result is seamless. Inputs on the Learning Thermostat get sent to the Nest cloud. The Control4 system accesses the cloud and updates its interface (and vice versa). So changing the temperature on one gets updated on the other, while still interacting with Nest’s servers so you can still get personalized monthly energy reports."

"Dish Network announced today its Hopper DVR system will be integrated with media distribution services from the home automation gurus at Control4, opening a virtual Pandora’s box of opportunities for home entertainment control for the Hopper."

"DISH and Control4 have teamed up to integrate the Hopper HD DRV into the Control4 home automation system, spreading control of the digital video recorder across any in-wall touchscreen, remote, tablet, or smartphone used in the home. Building on DISH’s API, which the company launched back in July, the integration means that those living in a Control4-enabled smart home will be able to manage setting and playing back their recordings from third-party devices, as well as have EPG information fed into the system and displayed on other screens."

"Dish announced in July 2013 it would open up the API for its Hopper multiroom DVR system to select developers of mobile apps. Here at CEDIA Expo 2013, the satellite box manufacturer is demonstrating two-way integration with a Control4 home automation system. Solution includes SDDP for Control4."

“We’ve been working with Nest to bring our customers and installers a level of integration that previously hasn’t been available with the Nest Learning Thermostat,” said Eric Anderson, senior vice president, products at Control4. “For customers, the partnership means they’ll be able to control their Nest thermostats through any Control4 interface such as a remote, touch screen or mobile app.”

"Nest won't start the program until early 2014, but it's already partnering with Control4; eventually, all of Control4's apps and remotes will commandeer Nest hardware."

"Nest isn't just waiting for others to join up — it's also announcing a partnership to integrate with the popular Control4 home automation system, setting the stage for a big new push into the home market. Control4 owners will be able to control Nest thermostats through their remotes, touch screens, and mobile apps, but the Nest will still program itself automatically with tricks like auto-away and predictive scheduling, and you'll still be able to use Nest's apps."

"Along with the developer program, Nest announced Wednesday that home automation company Control4 will be its first partner in the program. The Salt Lake City-based company manufactures and markets home theater controllers."

“The WMB is the perfect example of technology neutrality. Apple, Android, Windows, Bluetooth, it doesn’t care where the music comes from or what technology was sending it. The WMB just makes it available for your listening pleasure. The iPod is dead. Long live the Wireless Music Bridge!”

“After a week or so of living with Control4, it stopped feeling like a ‘thing’ and became more of an invisible ecosystem. Sort of like the plumbing in the walls,” commented Dennis Burger, editor of Home Tech Tell. “Control4 has become a central nervous system for my home and is the only affordable AV control solution that makes my home theater feel less like a collection of boxes and wires, and more like a cohesive, instinctive experience.”

"Control4 automation technology allows you to have touch-of-a-button access to independent temperature controls for your pool and spa, as well as spa jets, pool lights and even the system filter pump, and since almost every device in your smart home system is connected, you can tie your pool, outdoor audio, deck lighting, and even your TVs and sound system together to create an outdoor entertaining experience that will amaze your family and guests."

"Generally speaking, although I love the look of the new lighting products, our clients are usually unfamiliar with smart home technology, and they’re just so amazed by the functionality that the aesthetics are just a bonus."

"So far, I’ve found the Wireless Music Bridge to be unbelievably easy to use. As far as the Control4 system is concerned, the bridge simply shows up as another available source of music. With my iPhone and iPad, as well as my MacBook Air, it’s a simple matter of selecting the bridge as the AirPlay playback device."

"...especially when you consider the fact that a Control4 home controller, Wireless Music Bridge, and all of the custom programming required to make your life so much simpler and easier doesn’t cost much more than you’d pay for a really good AV receiver."

"While the Wireless Music Bridge does essentially a simple thing—connecting your smartphone media to your large A/V system, and a lot of other devices are available to do this in more basic applications, this is a first for an integrated system. More than that, it operates with the ease that owners of a professionally-programmed home automation system expect. If you’re a Control4 owner, get this. You’ll use it every day."

"With the Control4 Wireless Music Bridge, if you can listen to it from your smartphone, tablet or computer, you can listen to it in any audio zone in your home. In addition to stored music libraries, the new Control4 Wireless Music Bridge also provides a convenient path for Control4 customers to connect to streaming music services such as Pandora, Spotify, or Rdio from their personal smart devices -- all while preserving full phone and smart device browsing and app capabilities."

From security to lights to climate to entertainment, there is an app for all things home automation, allowing you to control your house whether at home or away, in real time: “Control4’s system goes beyond management of just lights and security to integrate control and monitoring of the entire home. For example, you can remotely shut down consoles if you see that your child is playing video games instead of doing his homework while you’re still at work…”

"Control4, a market leader in home automation systems, is introducing its next-generation of wireless lighting control that makes smart lighting easier, more elegant and accessible than ever before. With a sleek new look, an expansive slate of features, and support for virtually every type of lighting, the new Control4® Wireless Lighting solution lets homeowners add sophisticated, automated and personalized control of lights and ceiling fans to any home."

"How often have you found yourself miles from home when that moment of doubt starts to creep in: 'Did I lock the door when I left?' Control4, a market leader in home automation systems, today announced that it is now offering secure access, management, and control of your Control4 home automation system with its exclusive Control4® Anywhere Access, making it easy to remotely check that you turned off the lights, armed the security system, or turned down the thermostat. Now, you can just pull out your iPhone®, iPad® or Android® device, and your entire home is no further away than the palm of your hand."

It's in our cars and on our phones, now voice recognition software is making its way into our homes: “VoicePod translates commands like ‘turn on lights’ or ‘secure the house’ and sends the appropriate instructions to the Control4 system. Your vocal chords act as the remote control, allowing you to be completely hands-free.”

“Home-automation supplier Control4 is making wireless connections to mobile devices for the first time, turning smartphones and tablets into wireless whole-home music sources for its multi-room-audio systems…The Bridge works with Control4 systems running Control4 OS 2.5, which also enables control of the company's new wireless and panelized lighting control systems.”

Turn off the lights or change the temperature with a remote control that suits your needs: “Like other control manufacturers, Control4 offers an app that gives you a secure 3G/4G connection to your home’s lighting, security, energy, climate, and entertainment systems via your mobile device when on the go.”

"Control4 has been on a roll lately with new releases and big new updates to its home control platform, but today’s announcement tops them all. The company just took the lid off of a major new overhaul of its wireless lighting control products, with a ground-up redesign focused not only on enhanced aesthetics, but a seriously ginormous increase in the range of loads controllable entirely within the Control4 ecosystem."

“We spent eight years learning a lot about lighting,” says Scott Stephenson, Control4’s senior product manager of lighting and comfort. “We have been watching the way the world is changing with LED and have incorporated everything dealers have asked for. This new Control4 Wireless Lighting is incredibly sophisticated.”

“This one is huge. HYOOGE, I tell you. Not so much in the features it adds, but in the way it changes the Control4 business model altogether. Okay, there are new features, to be sure. The biggest is the addition of TuneIn right from the Control4 UI.”

"...Fortunately, home automation technologies like lighting and climate controls have evolved in the last few years to become smarter, and more usable, in part by allowing programming from smartphones and tablets. Most now use wireless technologies so they do not require ripping out walls."

"It’s a Trojan horse. Hidden within its metal belly is a full-fledged Control4 home automation processor. (Control4 people tell me it’s somewhere in between the HC250 and HC800 in terms of features and power.) This means that when you buy the receiver, you have in your hands not only an amplifier and signal processor, but also the means to move from a messy basket of remotes to a fully-integrated control system. Let me assure you, that’s no small thing."

"Companies like Control4 offer the ability to manage your home with a universal remote that lowers the blinds, dims the lights, and turns on the music, all while beef bourguignon roasts in your smart oven for your dinner party."

"...Our Control4 in-room system is a great example for you. Basically, you never have to leave the bed in order to get things done: You can lock your door from your remote, which is connected to Control4 through your television; you can set a schedule to open and close your curtains, and that could go together with your wakeup call. You can set the mood and choose music from whatever channel suits you best, and you can wake up to that, as well. Something else about Control4 that’s pretty amazing is that the room will actually welcome you. By using your key to open the door, music softly turns on, your sheers and curtains open so you can see the beautiful view, both during the day and at night. It’s very soft and very seamless."

"I am now controlling those two lights and kitchen lighting, all the television equipment in two rooms, music in four rooms, the heating and cooling systems, an outdoor security camera and even the front-door lock from a Control4 touch screen iPad, iPhone or Droid smartphone. While I'm away, I can adjust the temperature, even unlock the door for the pet-sitter, via the Web. And when the door-lock batteries run low, I'll get an email notification. That, my friends, is brilliant."

"The promise of one remote to control an entire home is something I think a lot of people want. Including that potential in something that many people are looking to buy anyway (a receiver) is a logical step in making home automation more accessible to a wider audience."

"Technology is being integrated in the planning stage so that it complements the design and enhances the job of the space…with Control4 home automation systems, it’s never been easier to manage a busy household. A single remote enables you to control music, lighting, security, and appliances."

"Just a few years ago, the term 'home automation' meant a bunch of blinking lights and a headache. But thanks to simpler interfaces and the rise of smartphones, new technology can transform your house into a safer, more comfortable, less wasteful place."

"Give a glow to your house or landscape…for instance, press the ‘entertain’ button and the front gate lights up, or lights illuminate your plants while music plays softly through the outdoor speakers."

"In addition to tracking energy consumption, this sleek system allows you to control virtually all your household electronics and lighting."

"I advocate people to ask what they want to make happen today, this week, this month and this year," he says. "It inspires people to get up in the morning and make things happen. Don't ride waves—make waves."

"...hoteliers are jumping on the control bandwagon, which is the 'wow' amenity of the moment that puts luxury hotels a cut above... A Control4 system acts as the backbone, allowing simple control with a straightforward interface."

"...[this] Four-Star hotel is programmed with Control4 technology that detects when you enter your room—so you'll be greeted as the lights turn on, the curtains open and the temperature adjusts. The wired rooms aren't just impressive, but also save energy for the LEED Gold-certified hotel."

"As I entered the room for the first time, the drapes and sheers opened, music started playing the lights gradually brightened. Was I impressed? Yes."

"Control4 makes home automation systems that allow centralized and remote access to various devices and appliances."