News

Habitech offers the Control FX advanced control solution for the iPad, iTouch and iPhone (6/7/2010)

Habitech is now offering installers the Control FX advanced control solution for the iPad, iTouch and iPhone. This allows installers to create a bespoke design on a PC to control a customer's AV, lighting, heating and security systems within a single application at an affordable price, while still giving the installer a good profit margin.

With the launch of the iPad, people are buying Apps like never before, for everything from the weather to banking. With over 2 millions iPads sold in the last 2 months in the US, the CI industry has entered a new era where we are getting closer to how the IT market works - low margins on hardware, with the profit on software. It is getting harder and harder to justify the cost of a £2500 touchscreen when the end user can buy an iPad for just £429 and go to the App store and buy the App for the product.

Instead of dismissing the iPad as a gadget, we now have the opportunity to expand the CI market with a fantastic new platform for system control, even if it is as simple as controlling a TV, Sky boxes, DVD and AV amp in one room.

Control FX uses touchpanel technology from Apple via its iPhone, iTouch and iPad products. Downloaded as an App through iTunes, the approach is different from many other Apps where multiple Apps are used to control various different types of equipment. The ControlFX system uses a combination of IR, RS232 and IP 'systems' that can be purchased and downloaded from the ControlFX website to integrate together, the result of which is then downloaded to the Apple device.

ControlFX currently has a library of over 650 IR code-sets from many of the leading custom installation manufacturers, with a database of two-way systems about to be launched - allowing full control of devices such as NuVo multiroom systems, Philips Dynalite, and AV receivers from companies such as Onkyo, Denon, Yamaha and Arcam.

Because Apple products do not have native IR and RS232 interfaces, ControlFX offers wired and wireless control servers that receive the command from the Apple device and output it as either IR or RS232 to the equipment being controlled.

The ControlFX system is only available to approved custom installers, and nationwide training sessions will be held (details to be announced soon). There will also be a support forum with training material, and on-hand support engineers that will be able on answer questions regarding the implementation of the system.

Approved installers will also be encouraged to share and support fellow installers using a reward scheme, where additional systems created by dealers can be submitted for other dealers to purchase. The creator of the system then receives points that can be redeemed against products sold on the ControlFX website.

A special Demonstration Bundle can also be purchased once an installer has been approved.

www.habitech.co.uk
www.controlfx.co.uk