Composer HE is the consumer version of Composer Pro, the programming software for Control4 dealers. While the look and feel of Home Edition mimics that of its pro counterpart, the consumer software has limited functionality vis-à-vis the full-blown version.

For example, consumers cannot add devices to the system, nor can they add new software drivers or, for that matter, new software versions.

It's really for "homeowners that want to tinker around with their house, maybe change what a button does," said Ed Ryan, director of product marketing, as he demonstrated the software during EHX. (Not that I needed a demo; after all, I am a certified Control4 dealer.)

Ryan added, "We took out the complex functions, but the customer can do things like change a scene, maybe change a song in a mode."

Many dealers are going to kick and scream. "It takes away from our lucrative service calls," they'll insist.

Bull. I agree with Control4 president Glen Mella who argues that you'll have a much better customer "the more you can get them involved with the system."

Last year, I featured two dealers--AVD Media and Cutting Edge Systems who created utilities for their customers to make similar alterations to their Crestron and AMX systems, respectively.

From the Cutting Edge story:

Doesn't the integrator want those [service] calls? Struhl laughs off that notion. "With the price of gas these days, the only time we make money on service calls is if we do a significant upgrade," he says. "Yes, we can make changes over the Internet, but the customer still has to call you up and you have to schedule the updates."

What usually happens, says Struhl, is that customers simply stop calling. "They end up just not using the system. So it's really losing the customer. The next house they move into, they remember that they never used their previous system, so they don't put one into their new house."

When I solicited input from integrators for a February feature on touchscreen designs, several programmers showed me their software for enabling consumers to alter macros, change TV lineups, and perform other minor programming tasks. Clearly dealers are demanding this feature set as much as their clients are.

As for Control4 Home Edition, the software can be purchased from authorized dealers for $199 (includes one year subscription to Control4's 4Sight remote Internet access service). Integrators need not fret about the customer screwing up the system. They can always revert to the original program.

So, bravo Control4 and the other home-control vendors (there are several) that empower the customer!

Other Control4 News

Also at EHX, Control4 introduced several new features through the latest software upgrade 1.3.2.

The software enables control of IP-based cameras, and the ability to set conditions related to the cameras. For example, you can program the system to snap a picture of the front porch when that door bell rings, and email the picture to you.

A new screen-saver feature turns any Control4 graphical interface into a digital photo display for still images. The system can can grab photos stored on any network storage device, including the Control4 media controller. Once the photo screensaver has been enabled on a system, customers can add or remove pictures and configure the display settings using Composer Home Edition software.

Control4 now offers enhanced iPod integration through iPort, enabling the distribution of all iPod-supported audio files, including Apple FairPlay, AAC, and mp3 formats.

The new 1.3.2 software is compatible with Windows Vista.