The Integrated Home:

The Integrated Home

Posted May 1, 2014

We’re often approached by customers who already have a sophisticated system in place, but would love to embrace the newest technology and integrate it into their homes. With the expertise of a custom installer, we’re able to integrate new technology while keeping components of the already existing system. Not only does the customer have the comfort of not having to replace all of their individual components, they also get the simplicity of using the newest technology in their home.

The Internet of Things: What does it all mean? [INFOGRAPHIC]:

The Internet of Things: What does it all mean? [INFOGRAPHIC]

Posted April 30, 2014

Every time I turn on the TV or check my news feed online, I am bombarded with conversations about the Internet of Things, the smart or connected home, home automation and home control. But what does it all mean and how does it fit together? What is the “Internet of Things”? What does it mean to have a “Connected Home” vs. a “Smart Home”? What is automation vs. control? As experts in the field for the past decade, we’ll try to make some sense out of this new vocabulary that is increasingly part of our everyday conversations.

Tips for Energy Management [INFOGRAPHIC]:

Tips for Energy Management [INFOGRAPHIC]

Posted April 24, 2014

Who says it’s not easy being green? With Earth Day this week, we thought we’d compile a few tips and tricks on how you can use home automation to help manage energy use in your house. Check out these 10 easy ways Control4 technology can help you save energy…and the environment.

Is This the World’s Greenest Home?:

Is This the World’s Greenest Home?

Posted April 22, 2014

In honor of Earth Day, we wanted to highlight this beautiful and amazingly green California home, which uses sustainable and regenerative materials plus a high-tech home automation system from Control4 to maximize energy efficiency. The homeowners wanted to debunk three myths in green home building: (1) Green homes are ugly, concrete boxes, (2) Green homes are twice as expensive as a standard home, and (3) Living in a green home requires you to fundamentally change your lifestyle.

Spring Chickens:

Spring Chickens

Posted April 21, 2014

With Easter Sunday just behind us and ads everywhere for chicks, I seem to have eggs on the brain. So it was kind of a surprise when I overhead a co-worker talking about his automated chicken coop. Say what? I’ve heard of people automating some weird things over the past years – flushing toilets, animatronic Disney characters, and something called “50 Shades of Grey” which I’m pretty sure I don’t want to know anything about.

Protect and Serve: Automation and Security Are the Perfect Pairing For Many Households:

Protect and Serve: Automation and Security Are the Perfect Pairing For Many Households

Posted April 16, 2014

See how a family-focused automation system provides peace of mind and simplicity of lifestyle in this featured project spotlight: Whole Home Automation—All in the Family.

Tech’s in the Mail: The Top Five Smart Gadgets to Get With Your Tax Refund:

Tech’s in the Mail: The Top Five Smart Gadgets to Get With Your Tax Refund

Posted April 15, 2014

“In this modern world,” Benjamin Franklin might have said were he alive today, “nothing is certain but tech and taxes.” Indeed, technology helps us figure, file, and - grudgingly - pay our taxes. But technology can make getting a refund quicker and easier, too. If you’re expecting a refund, you might be tempted to use that extra cash to buy a newer model smartphone or tablet. (Yawn…) Here’s a better idea. Rather than swapping one perfectly good device for another slightly newer one, make a genuine upgrade in your life by replacing some of the dumb items in your home with smart devices that’ll make your home more convenient, more comfortable, and more fun to live in. Here’s a quick rundown of five of the top smart-tech home improvements you should consider buying with your tax refund (or any other money, for that matter).

Designer Insights: How Home Automation Can Benefit the Interior Designer:

Designer Insights: How Home Automation Can Benefit the Interior Designer

Posted April 14, 2014

Q. When starting a new design project, to what extent should designers consider home automation? A. Professional designers take great pride in the aesthetics that make up a beautiful home. So it is really important that they take into consideration home automation to avoid the use of clunky electronic devices and wall clutter. Many designers may not be aware of what options are available, but home automation is really something that could improve their design process...

How Smart Is Your Home?:

How Smart Is Your Home?

Posted April 10, 2014

That’s the question the popular review site Angie’s List asked in a recent article about the proliferation of smart home technology. The answer? Your home can be as smart as you want it to be, and if you want to keep up with the Joneses (or the Jetsons), you should start considering automation technology as a “must-have” for your home... Angie’s List notes that industry leaders are saying that now is the time to get on the home automation bandwagon. “There is massive interest in home automation,” says Dave Pedigo, senior director of learning and emerging trends for the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association, based in Indianapolis. “We are at the tipping point for the automated home, and that growth over the next decade will be exponentially larger year over year.”

Our 5 Favorite Products from 2013:

Our 5 Favorite Products from 2013

Posted April 8, 2014

2013 was a great year for technology innovation. Here are our five favorite gadgets and gizmos that whizzed and banged in all the best ways last year.

TopGolf - Where it's Legal to Drink & Drive.:

TopGolf - Where it's Legal to Drink & Drive.

Posted April 4, 2014

...Every driving station is outfitted with two televisions, one of which will display any channel of choice and the other displays players' scores. This set up ensures you get the best of both worlds—keeping an eye on that important game while playing a bit of it yourself with friends. All in all, TopGolf houses 240 televisions, all of which can be turned on easily and quickly with an iPad and remotely switched from channel-to-channel individually or all at once. The Control4 system is so easy for the staff to use—and only took about a half hour to train them to operate the entire facility—that it allows them to focus on the day-to-day operations while keeping up the excitement for players and guests...

Home Technology Helping to Break the Barriers of Autism:

Home Technology Helping to Break the Barriers of Autism

Posted April 3, 2014

It's not uncommon for young children to fight scheduled routines. They may throw a brief temper tantrum to try to get out of a nap, or push back on eating dinner because they'd rather play with their toys. However, for children with autism, routines, schedules and rituals are incredibly important. In fact, they are a necessity. If an abrupt change occurs in a normal day-to-day agenda, it can result in major meltdowns and huge setbacks for the child. Not to mention how challenging it is for the people who love them the most...

Lighting—An Important Component to a Home Theater Experience:

Lighting—An Important Component to a Home Theater Experience

Posted April 1, 2014

A home theater conjures thoughts of a dark, secluded space where the screen is the only bright object in the room. While movies always look best in the dark, lights can still play a dramatic role in the performance of your home theater. Lighting that fades out at showtime is only the start of what’s possible when you tie the fixtures to a professionally installed and customized home automation system.

Out Of This League: An Incredible Cubs Man Cave:

Out Of This League: An Incredible Cubs Man Cave

Posted March 29, 2014

With Major League Baseball beginning this weekend, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to share one of the coolest man caves we've seen. This ultimate Chicago Cubs fan, Stewart McVicar, was out to play some serious ball when he designed his in-home sports bar, fully outfitted with a Control4 home automation system, a round bar with a video wall, beers on tap, a sweet game room, and even a urinal with an eye-level television so you don't miss a minute of the action.

It's Here! The Internet of Things & The Connected Home:

It's Here! The Internet of Things & The Connected Home

Posted March 28, 2014

Why is everyone talking about the 'Internet of Things' as some futuristic fantasy? It's already here, and it's in your home in the shape of wireless home automation.

That's One Hot Rack!:

That's One Hot Rack!

Posted March 26, 2014

Several months ago, a colleague of mine wrote a blog post about the benefits of housing all of your AV and networking gear in a rack. Recently, I had started to have some issues with the AV equipment in my home overheating, but I still hadn’t really ever considered purchasing a rack. That is, until I read his blog post. I realized that putting a rack in my home would likely be the solution to my equipment overheating.

CBS New York: A Look Inside The New ‘Smart Home’:

CBS New York: A Look Inside The New ‘Smart Home’

Posted March 19, 2014

"It's one app that controls the entire house," says Brad Thurman, who chose Control4 home automation to control the security, lighting, television and audio within his home. Control4 dealer, Panos Anassis with AVI (Audio Video Invasion) did the installation on this great project and is featured in this segment from CBS New York titled "A Look Inside The New ‘Smart Home’."

The Ultimate Innovative Smart Home: audio/video, automated piano, home automation, security, smart lighting,

The Ultimate Innovative Smart Home

Posted March 19, 2014

When I imagine my dream house, it not only has an amazing gourmet kitchen, a lovely patio and backyard retreat to escape to, plenty of room for my kids and all their stuff, a personal gym, room for all of my husband’s “toys,” and of course showroom quality furnishings, fixtures and flooring. But it also has to have the latest technology and smart home features to really fit my definition of “dream living.”

Upgrading Your Home Automation System...Why Should You Do It?: home automation, owners, smart home, upgrade,

Upgrading Your Home Automation System...Why Should You Do It?

Posted March 18, 2014

From time to time, your Control4 dealer may have announced upgrades available for your Control4 home automation system. But your Control4 system has been working great—so why “fix” something that isn’t broken? Well, let's talk about it...

Going Mad for March [INFOGRAPHIC]:

Going Mad for March [INFOGRAPHIC]

Posted March 14, 2014

...This will be the first year that I won’t have to go to a sports bar to get the ultimate watching experience that I crave, which consists of all live games playing simultaneously during that first weekend. The Control4 HDMI Matrix Switch I installed in my home several months ago will allow me to take all satellite sources and put them on my video wall so that I can enjoy that unique sports bar experience in the comfort of my home. No need to change out of my sweatpants to watch the games...

Sci-Fi Technology Has Become a Reality:

Sci-Fi Technology Has Become a Reality

Posted March 13, 2014

It is now 2014 and there are still no flying cars. However, many technologies that were previously only found in science fiction have now become science fact. Amazon's revelation of its proposed Prime Air delivery drone is just the latest futuristic technology that could soon become commonplace. Some of these products are still in development but many, like the Apple iPad, have become smart-household items. Here are just a few of the remarkable technologies that were first featured in sci-fi but are now for real.

Living the High Life in a Smart Penthouse: audio/video, home theater, penthouse, window shades,

Living the High Life in a Smart Penthouse

Posted March 7, 2014

...This change also means that warmer weather is approaching. And for those lucky enough to live near the beach, you'll be able to soak up the rays for that additional hour. I can think of few places where it might be more enjoyable to spend some of those summer days and nights than this incredible penthouse in Miami, Florida, nestled right at the Atlantic ocean...

And the Winner is…Wireless Lighting!:

And the Winner is…Wireless Lighting!

Posted March 4, 2014

The award-winning Control4 Wireless Lighting family recently added another prestigious industry accolade to its list of wins when it was named the 2014 Electronic House Product of the Year. In its review, Electronic House notes, “Control4 Wireless Lighting meets the needs of most residential and commercial projects worldwide and addresses the evolutionary adoption of LED technologies...

Fully Automated in Fort Wayne: audio/video, comfort, home automation, smart lighting, window shades,

Fully Automated in Fort Wayne

Posted March 4, 2014

Feast your eyes on this gorgeous new condo in Fort Wayne, Indiana; it’s hard to imagine anyone ever wanting to leave it. In addition to its pristine-yet-inviting modern design and breathtaking skyline view, it’s an absolute technological wonderland, packed with the latest in luxury AV solutions, like a 65-inch XBR-65X900A 4K Ultra HD display and FMP-X1 Media Player from Sony, a 7.1-channel Focal Electra 1000 Be surround sound system, and a Dish Network Hopper with Sling Whole Home DVR...

Gotcha!:

Gotcha!

Posted February 28, 2014

There are a lot of things I love about my Control4 system. The whole-house audio system which pipes rock in the backyard while I’m barbecuing, watching multiple basketball games on the TVs in my den like I’m in my very own sports bar, using one button to turn off all the lights my kids seem physically incapable of shutting off when the leave the house, and so on. But last night, I had one more reason to love my smart home...