Deployment of 1,000 Control4 devices brings Smart Grid benefits to both consumers and utility
SUNNYVALE, CA — January 12, 2011 – Control4, a leader in affordable IP-based home control systems, today announced that they have been chosen by AEP Ohio, a unit of American Electric Power (NYSE:AEP), to pilot customer experiences with home energy management.

“Control4 is pleased to work with AEP Ohio to raise home energy management to the next level of engagement,” said Richard Walker, President of Control4 Energy. “Our versatile home automation platform completes AEP Ohio’s progressive AMI plan to deliver a Home Area Network Demand Response solution that consumers can embrace.”

The selection of Control4 is part of AEP Ohio’s gridSMART® Demonstration Project, funded in part by a Smart Grid Demonstration Grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The $150 million project is being deployed in northeast central Ohio. The project is designed to demonstrate the full benefits of installing a comprehensive distribution smart grid for consumers and the utility and includes approximately 110,000 advanced electricity meters, new distribution grid technology, distributed energy sources, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, smart appliances, and consumer systems and products to help customers manage electricity use and costs.

The Control4® solution, with its combination of both in-home device feedback and programmable thermostat control, is a sophisticated solution chosen by AEP Ohio to give consumers control and automation as well as awareness.

Control4’s in-home devices will increase awareness of the cost and impact of energy consumption for AEP Ohio customers. AEP Ohio plans to implement the Control4® Energy Management System (EMS 100) solution, equipping a select group of 1,000 customers with Control4® EC-100 energy controllers; 200 of those customers will also be able to use the EC-100 for automated load control via Control4® WT-100 thermostats. Beyond basic feedback of daily electricity use or cost, AEP Ohio consumers with Control4 devices will be given more ways to engage in home energy management with features like HAN management, automated device control, and the delivery of utility signals over broadband to trigger energy use decisions and actions in the home.

The EMS 100 solution includes Control4® ADVANTAGE Software. For the gridSMART project, Control4 ADVANTAGE software will monitor and update AEP customers’ Home Area Networks (HANs) via the EC-100 energy controller.

The interoperability of Control4 EC-100 units with Silver Spring Networks’ Smart Energy Platform also makes this portion of AEP’s pilot an example of robust end-to-end IP-based Smart Grid architecture. The EC-100 has access to data from Silver Springs Networks’ UtilityIQ™ Demand Response management application and intelligent end-point to effectively deliver complete energy information in real time.

For more information on Control4, visit www.control4.com.

About Control4
Control4, a leading provider of the operating system for the smart home, delivers intelligent control of consumer electronics products, appliances and networking systems through an easy-to-use and intuitive software interface. Founded in 2003, the company delivers affordable automation and control of lighting, music, video, HVAC, security, and energy management systems to the broad market through more than 1,600 custom integrators, retail outlets, and distributors in over 70 countries. Control4 is the platform of choice for major consumer electronics companies, hotels, businesses and utilities that require an intelligent, open and affordable control solution.

Press Contact
Lisa Gonzales, SutherlandGold for Control4, lisa@sutherlandgold.com, 415-848-7169

Copyright© 2010 Control4 Corporation. All rights reserved. Control4 and the Control4 logo are registered of Control4 Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other names or brands may be claimed as the property of others.

Combined solution enables utilities to bring Smart Grid to the home and execute scalable Demand Response programs Joint deployment at AEP Ohio currently underway
SUNNYVALE, CA – January 12, 2011 – Control4, a leader in affordable IP-based home control systems, today announced the signing of a strategic reselling agreement with Silver Spring Networks, a leading Smart Grid solutions provider. Together, they now offer a Home Area Network (HAN) solution interoperable with utility Smart Grid and Demand Response systems.

Control4 and Silver Spring are already providing their combined in-home technology solution for AEP Ohio’s GridSMART™.

By offering the Control4® Energy Management System (EMS) 100, Silver Spring extends its Demand Response solution to deliver an engaging in-home experience, exchanging up-to-the minute consumption data between customer and utility and providing intelligent automation and control of smart devices throughout the house. The combined solution incorporates Silver Spring’s Advanced Metering, UtilityIQ and CustomerIQ applications with Control4® ADVANTAGE software, Control4® EC-100 Energy Controllers, and Control4® WT-100 wireless programmable thermostats, providing a comprehensive solution set for utilities of all sizes.

“As an industry we recognize the importance of winning consumer support for utility Smart Grid initiatives early in the process.” said Eric Dresselhuys, Executive VP and Chief Marketing Officer of Silver Spring Networks, “Control4′s in-home devices make Smart Grid benefits tangible to consumers, and because the Control4 solution is fully interoperable with the utility enterprise, utilities and consumers don’t have to wait to begin this important partnership.”

The interoperability of Control4 EC-100 units with Silver Spring’s Smart Energy Platform creates a robust end-to-end Smart Grid architecture. The EC-100 has access to data from Silver Springs Networks’ UtilityIQ™ Demand Response management application and intelligent end-point to effectively deliver complete energy information in real time.

The EC-100 is one of the several ways that Control4 addresses energy management in the home. Control4’s energy solutions span from energy management applications in the 4Store to utility driven deployments of the EC- 100, offering consumers a variety of cost effective, energy saving options.

Richard Walker, President of Control4′s Energy business, emphasizes the strength of Control4′s relationship with Silver Spring. “We have worked with Silver Spring on testing, interoperability, regulatory initiatives, and as partner members in the Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative. At every level from engineering to outreach, they have solidly partnered with Control4 to design smart grid solutions that benefit consumers and make good business sense for utilities.”

For more information on Control4, visit www.control4.com.
For more information on Silver Spring Networks, visit www.silverspringnet.com

About Control4
Control4, a leading provider of the operating system for the smart home, delivers intelligent control of consumer electronics products, appliances and networking systems through an easy-to-use and intuitive software interface. Founded in 2003, the company delivers affordable automation and control of lighting, music, video, HVAC, security, and energy management systems to the broad market through more than 1,600 custom integrators, retail outlets, and distributors in over 70 countries. Control4 is the platform of choice for major consumer electronics companies, hotels, businesses and utilities that require an intelligent, open and affordable control solution.

About Silver Spring Networks
Silver Spring Networks is a leading Smart Grid solution provider that enables utilities to achieve operational efficiencies, reduce carbon emissions and empower their customers with new ways to monitor and manage their energy consumption. Silver Spring provides the hardware, software and services that allow utilities to deploy advanced solutions, including Smart Metering, Demand Response, Distribution Automation and Distributed Generation, over a single, unified network. Silver Spring’s Smart Energy Platform is based on open, Internet Protocol (IP) standards, allowing continuous, two-way communication between the utility and devices on the grid. Silver Spring has numerous deployments with leading utilities in the US and abroad, including Florida Power & Light, Pacific Gas & Electric, Pepco Holdings, Inc., Jemena Electricity Networks Limited and United Energy Distribution, among others. For additional information, please visit www.silverspringnetworks.com.

Press Contact
Lisa Gonzales, SutherlandGold for Control4, lisa@sutherlandgold.com, 415-848-7169
Nolan Necoechea, Blue Practice for Silver Spring, nolan@bluepractice.com, 415-381-1100

Copyright© 2010 Control4 Corporation. All rights reserved. Control4 and the Control4 logo are registered of Control4 Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other names or brands may be claimed as the property of others.

From 3D projectors to appliances, shading to receivers, Control4 simplifies the process of selecting the best products for the connected home.
Las Vegas, NV – CES 2011 – January 6-9, 2011 – LVCC South 21407 – Control4, a leader in affordable IP-based control and entertainment systems, announced new certified devices from the industry’s top CE manufacturers. Control4® Certified products have passed rigorous interoperability tests to ensure they integrate seamlessly with Control4® home automation systems.

With over 6,500 drivers from 150 different companies, Control4 enables leading consumer electronics devices to integrate in a Control4 system. Certified products improve the operation of home theaters, multi-room music, lighting, temperature control, energy management, and security by improving both compatibility and functionality before installation. During CES 2011, the Control4 booth will showcase demos from Sony, Honeywell, Pioneer, and even a new kitchen vignette from first time exhibitors Sub-Zero and Wolf, among other Control4 Certified partners.

“We’ve long held the view that in order to drive mainstream home automation adoption, it’s imperative that everything in the home works together. This is why Control4 has placed such a strategic emphasis on partnering with the industry’s leading consumer electronics and appliance manufacturers,” said Will West, CEO of Control4. “By ensuring interoperability with the products people love, Control4’s operating system can deliver the benefits of the connected home to consumers, our dealers, retail partners and consumer electronics manufacturers. No one else can offer so much choice to partners and customers.”

Control4’s certified brands at CES include:

• Sony has gained certification for its first 3D home cinema projector. With 1000 lumen brightness and 150,000:1 dynamic contrast, the Sony® VPL-VW90ES supports all major 3D formats, simulated 2D to 3D conversion and depth and brightness adjustment. The VPL-VW90ES adds to Sony’s list of Control4 Certified products, which includes its line of ES AV receivers and the BDP-CX7000ES Blu-ray Disc™ MegaChanger.

• The Somfy / Control4 partnership provides Control4 dealers with integration solutions for motorized window coverings powered by Somfy. A newly certified Control4 driver will be released to control Somfy’s family of digital motors. Somfy’s selection of Sonesse high and low voltage digitally controlled motors can power a wide range of window covering types and enable the Control4 dealer to optimize the automation of natural lighting control.

• Pioneer’s partnership with Control4 enhances Pioneer’s feature offerings by allowing the Control4 integrator to fully customize and tailor the home theater portion of a whole home automation system to their clients’ needs. Pioneer’s 2011 Elite VSX and SC receiver lines have received Control4 Certification.

• Sub-Zero® refrigerators, Wolf® ovens, and Sub-Zero® wine storage units can be integrated into Control4 networks, resulting in unprecedented benefits from being able to manage appliances through a Control4 system. In addition to energy management, lifestyle adjustments and cooking control, homeowners can now send energy deferral requests or general service requests through their Control4 system directly to Sub-Zero and Wolf.

• Yamaha has worked with Control4 to seamlessly integrate control into the AVENTAGE series AV receivers and the BD-A1000 Universal player. With unparalleled attention to detail in design, engineering, and fabrication, the AVENTAGE series of AV receivers were built to bring studio grade sound, sophisticated video enhancements and control to the custom installer.

• In addition to Control4′s own complete line of lighting control products, Control4 supports Lutron’s development of their certified drivers for the Control4 system. HomeWorks and RadioRA 2 total home lighting control systems are now Control4 certified. Both products, available now, easily integrate with Control4 solutions and provide homeowners with precision control of lights, shades, temperature and more from Control4 touch screens, offering enhanced energy savings throughout the home.
“Control4 has done more to bring a complete integrated control solution to a vastly larger audience than any other company to date. By seamlessly blending RS-232 and IP based control protocols into an easy and affordable whole home control system, Control4 has brought a whole new level of sophistication to what was previously limited to the luxury new home market,” said David Bales, Manager Marketing & Planning – HECA at Pioneer.

“Today, Control4 works seamlessly with thousands of consumer electronics products, making it easier for everything in the house to work together,” concluded West.

Control4 will demonstrate its comprehensive suite of lifestyle solutions and showcase its growing ecosystem of technology partners in the LVCC South Hall 21407 at CES 2011. Partners that can be found in the CES 2011 booth include:

Assa Abloy (Yale)
Axxess
Black & Decker
Card Access
Denon
Eaton
Eragy
Harman
Honeywell
iPort
Lutron
Marantz
MechoShade
Neopro
Pioneer
Sherborn (Emotiva/Jade Design)
Sony
Sub-Zero and Wolf
Yamaha

For more information on Control4, please visit www.control4.com.

About Control4
Control4, a leading provider of the operating system for the smart home, delivers intelligent control over consumer electronics products, appliances and networking systems through an easy-to-use and intuitive software interface. Founded in 2003, the company delivers affordable automation of lighting, music, video, thermostat, security, and energy management systems through more than 1,900 custom integrators, retail outlets, and distributors in over 70 countries. With the most intelligent, open and affordable control solution on the market, Control4 is the platform of choice for major consumer electronics companies, residential homes, hotels, businesses and utilities that require an intelligent, open and affordable control solution. For more information visit www.control4.com.

Press Contact
Kimberly Lancaster, Caster Communications, klancaster@castercomm.com, 401-792-7080
Megan Lemoi, Caster Communications, megan@castercomm.com, 401-792-7080

Copyright© 2011 Control4 Corporation. All rights reserved. Control4 and the Control4 logo are registered trademarks of Control4 Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other names or brands may be claimed as the property of others.

Software apps extend Control4 functionality to virtually every screen in the home.
Las Vegas, NV – CES 2011 – January 6-9, 2011 – LVCC South 21407 – Control4, a leader in affordable IP-based home control systems, today introduces Control4® MyHome, a family of software apps that allows consumers to access and control lighting, temperature, music, movies, energy, security and more from a wide range of devices in Control4® enabled homes. Consumers need only purchase a Control4 MyHome license and download the application to their iPhone®, iPad®, PC or Mac® laptop, desktop computer, or tablet to enjoy all the features of their Control4 system.

“Consumers expect choice and convenience, so by offering our customers the ability to access and control their home automation system from nearly any screen in the house, we make it easier for them to integrate Control4 into their everyday lives,” said Control4 CEO Will West. “Now, whether you turn on your TV, pull out your phone, turn to a touch screen in the kitchen, or power on your laptop in the office, you’ll always be in control of your connected home.”

By turning existing smart phones, tablets and PCs into additional interfaces, Control4 MyHome offers homeowners an affordable way to access and manage their system, while offering integrators an additional platform to deliver greater flexibility and portability for home control to their customers. The Control4 user interface is consistent on every device. Just as dedicated touch screens are ideal in locations such as the kitchen or by the front door because they can’t wander away, Control4 MyHome is an affordable and flexible choice for the office, den and even garage.

In a Control4 enabled smart home, Control4 MyHome allows users to manage their system over any WiFi network, with unique security features that identify and authenticate their Control4 system to their iPhone, iPod touch®, iPad, PC or tablet.

The Control4 MyHome iPadTM app and Control4 MyHome iPhone/iPod Touch app are available on iTunes®. The Control4 MyHome PC/Tablet app will be available at www.control4.com. All apps require a one-time persistent family license or single license and a Control4 system. The Control4 MyHome family license allows consumers to download multiple apps for multiple devices in the home.

For more information on Control4, please visit www.control4.com.

About Control4
Control4, a leading provider of the operating system for the smart home, delivers intelligent control over consumer electronics products, appliances and networking systems through an easy-to-use and intuitive software interface. Founded in 2003, the company delivers affordable automation of lighting, music, video, thermostat, security, and energy management systems through more than 1,900 custom integrators, retail outlets, and distributors in over 70 countries. With the most intelligent, open and affordable control solution on the market, Control4 is the platform of choice for major consumer electronics companies, residential homes, hotels, businesses and utilities that require an intelligent, open and affordable control solution. For more information visit www.control4.com.

Press Contact
Kimberly Lancaster, Caster Communications, klancaster@castercomm.com, 401-792-7080
Megan Lemoi, Caster Communications, megan@castercomm.com, 401-792-7080

Copyright© 2011 Control4 Corporation. All rights reserved. Control4 and the Control4 logo are registered trademarks of Control4 Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other names or brands may be claimed as the property of others.

Control4 can now connect to Sub-Zero and Wolf high-end kitchen appliances for convenience, energy savings and the perfect meal every time.
Las Vegas, NV – CES 2011 – January 6-9, 2011 – LVCC South 21407 – Control4, a leader in affordable IP-based control and entertainment systems, today announced its partnership with Sub-Zero, Inc. and Wolf Appliance, Inc., industry leaders in premium refrigeration and cooking appliances.

Control4 collaborates with third-party manufacturers to design products that integrate with the Control4® platform. Through this new partnership, Sub-Zero® refrigerators, Wolf® ovens, and Sub-Zero® wine storage units can be integrated into Control4 networks, resulting in unprecedented benefits from being able to manage appliances through a Control4 system.

“The connected home isn’t just about consumer electronics gadgets — every appliance and service should be easily accessed and managed through any touch point in the house. There is no better example of this new reality than this partnership,” stated Control4’s CEO Will West.

In a Control4 digital home, eco-conscious homeowners can program Sub-Zero freezers and refrigerators to maximize energy efficiency by automatically setting ice-making production and other energy-intensive functions to lower levels at different times of the day. Homeowners can also automatically adjust settings to accommodate specific lifestyle needs, such as increasing ice production prior to entertaining large numbers of guests. Users also have the option to receive alerts that allow them to manage and monitor energy usage. For the first time, homeowners can send energy deferral requests or general service requests through their Control4 system directly to Sub-Zero and Wolf.

“Sub-Zero and Wolf products are known for their cutting-edge design and performance,” said Michele Bedard, Vice President, Marketing for Sub-Zero and Wolf. “This partnership is another extension of our capabilities that allows us to fit into the lifestyle of our customer and do our part to be even more energy efficient.”

When integrating select Wolf products into their Control4 system, homeowners can be notified when pre-heat is complete, view the current oven temperature, receive alerts when the timer is almost finished, and access meat temperature from the internal meat thermometer.

With the Control4 platform, Sub-Zero wine storage unit owners can monitor their unit’s door status and even receive-mail or text message alerts when a door opens or closes. Since temperature and humidity are critical elements to storing the perfect bottle of wine, collectors are assured that their wine unit door has been properly shut and air is not entering or exiting. These alerts also provide a new level of monitoring should anyone enter the wine unit without permission.

Examples of Sub-Zero and Wolf’s integration with the Control4 platform will be on display in the Control4 booth during the CES 2011 show. For more information on Sub-Zero and Wolf products, please visit www.subzero.com or www.wolfappliance.com. For more information on Control4, please visit www.control4.com.

About Control4
Control4, a leading provider of the operating system for the smart home, delivers intelligent control over consumer electronics products, appliances and networking systems through an easy-to-use and intuitive software interface. Founded in 2003, the company delivers affordable automation of lighting, music, video, thermostat, security, and energy management systems through more than 1,900 custom integrators, retail outlets, and distributors in over 70 countries. With the most intelligent, open and affordable control solution on the market, Control4 is the platform of choice for major consumer electronics companies, residential homes, hotels, businesses and utilities that require an intelligent, open and affordable control solution. For more information visit www.control4.com.

About Sub-Zero and Wolf
Sub-Zero, Inc., is the leading manufacturer of American-made premium refrigeration, freezers and wine storage units and it leads in product design with its built-in and integrated lines. Founded in 1945, Sub-Zero is a privately held company in its third generation of family ownership. Headquartered in Madison, WI, Sub-Zero also operates a manufacturing facility in Phoenix, AZ. Specializing in food preservation, Sub-Zero pioneered the concept of dual refrigeration and prides itself on being the first company to store frozen foods at ultralow, “sub-zero” temperatures. Wolf Appliance, Inc., is the premier maker of ranges, ovens, cooktops and grills and was among the first to introduce the convection oven into the residential market. It is based in a state-of-the-art production facility in Fitchburg, WI. Both Sub-Zero and Wolf products are available throughout the United States and internationally. For more information about Sub-Zero and Wolf, please visit subzero.com or wolfappliance.com.

Press Contact
Kimberly Lancaster, Caster Communications, klancaster@castercomm.com, 401-792-7080
Megan Lemoi, Caster Communications, megan@castercomm.com, 401-792-7080
Natalie Bond, Richards Partners for Sub-Zero and Wolf, natalie_bond@richards.com, 214-891-4186
Katie Myers, Richards Partners for Sub-Zero and Wolf, katie_myers@richards.com, 214-891-5842

Copyright© 2011 Control4 Corporation. All rights reserved. Control4 and the Control4 logo are registered trademarks of Control4 Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other names or brands may be claimed as the property of others.

Lifestyle, sports fiend and parental control apps prove to be favorites for the digital home.
Las Vegas, NV – CES 2011 – January 6-9, 2011 – LVCC South 21407 – Control4, a leader in affordable IP-based home control systems, has seen more new apps developed for the 4Store™ marketplace adding to the functionality, entertainment, security and overall enjoyment of a Control4® digital home. At CES 2011, some new additions to 4Store include:

Multi-Screen Video Wall by Control4
A new multi-screen video wall app allows consumers to control 3, 5, or 7 video screens simultaneously on a touch screen interface. To appeal to the ultimate sports fan or news junkie, this unique app helps users manage up to 7 televisions along one wall. And as long as the cable box has DVR functionality, users can have their own personal instant replay, rewinding a live play as they switch from a secondary side screen to the center screen, to see every detail. When the video wall is in use, the app provides instant and full control of each TV from a single touch screen and can easily change the station playing on the central screen.

Movie Guardian by Green Wave Technology, LLC
Movie Guardian provides parents the ability to password protect movies in their family’s Control4 media database based on the MPAA rating. During setup, parents determine which ratings they want to block, and set an override password which must be provided for override.

Graphic Equalizer by Control4
Graphic Equalizer for Control4 4-channel and 8-channel amplifiers allows users to change volume, bass, and treble. Audiophiles can fine-tune their listening experience using the amplifiers built-in 5-zone parametric equalizer. Users can easily set the frequency, gain, and quality factor (Q) for each band using a familiar slider-based interface on their touch screen. Parents can also set the maximum volume level for each zone so their teenager’s tunes stay in the bedroom.

Vacation
One of the greatest benefits of owning a home control system is the added layer of protection and security it provides to a home. With the Vacation app, a home will appear occupied when homeowners are away through a pre-set “I’m home” system that schedules lights to turn on and off, sets shades to raise and lower, and can even turn the TV or music on and off. The app allows homeowners to control up to 15 different devices in up to 8 rooms for the perfect I’m-home-when-I’m-not-home simulation.

Wake
Hate morning? Most of us do. What if your home automation system could gently wake you up to your favorite song while slowly bringing up the lights and raising your blinds. It’s not breakfast in bed, but it’s a start.

Remind Me by Control4
Since home automation is also about practicality, having apps that give simple, centralized control of everything in life is essential. From the Remind Me app users can schedule meetings and other important events and receive reminders by a popup on their touch screen or on screen display.

Organizer by i-Novi (Altran)
With the new Organizer app, you have your own personal assistant. Users can organize everyday shopping lists in a simple manner, and save them to their email. The app sets simple reminders and produces a calendar indicating days when groceries and notes are posted, leaving the user with an organized daily list. Are your kids always forgetting their chores? Users can assign chores to their children, which require an actionable response so the system then notifies users upon completion of the chore.

Concierge by Concierge Solutions
An ideal solution for a condo building or centralized development community that needs to provide its residents with instant access to amenities, Concierge makes your neighborhood work for you by offering local menus, vendors, calendars, and requests through a web management console (requires an iCon account to work).

Control4 My Energy by Control4
Control4 has developed the My Energy app which works with the TED 5000 energy monitoring device to help homeowners manage and monitor their energy consumption. The app offers two views – Dashboard and Electricity Use. With Dashboard, customers can see their home’s Price per KwH, Cost per Hour, Current Use and So Far Today, and a graphical view of their consumption today versus yesterday. In the Electricity Use view, consumers can view two-hour real-time data, historical data for the week, month and year, and a comparison of current consumption to previous period, same period last year, and average daily outside temperature.

“At Control4, we build systems that others want to integrate with,” said Control4’s CEO Will West. “Apps are just one way that sophisticated home automation and control is becoming more practical and affordable for every home.”

The 4Store™ application marketplace is part of Control4® OS 2.0, and ships on every new Control4 controller and touch screen sold. To become a Control4 developer or to learn more about the 4Store application marketplace, visit www.4store.com.

About Control4
Control4, a leading provider of the operating system for the smart home, delivers intelligent control over consumer electronics products, appliances and networking systems through an easy-to-use and intuitive software interface. Founded in 2003, the company delivers affordable automation of lighting, music, video, thermostat, security, and energy management systems through more than 1,900 custom integrators, retail outlets, and distributors in over 70 countries. With the most intelligent, open and affordable control solution on the market, Control4 is the platform of choice for major consumer electronics companies, residential homes, hotels, businesses and utilities that require an intelligent, open and affordable control solution. For more information visit www.control4.com.

Press Contact
Kimberly Lancaster, Caster Communications, klancaster@castercomm.com, 401-792-7080
Megan Lemoi, Caster Communications, megan@castercomm.com, 401-792-7080

Copyright© 2011 Control4 Corporation. All rights reserved. Control4 and the Control4 logo are registered of Control4 Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other names or brands may be claimed as the property of others.>

Our good friend over at Control4 “Paul Williams” talks about The Control4 EcoSystem and new technologies like SubZero. This video does give a lot of information for any current Control4 user and for potential adopters.

Hope you enjoy!

Want to Know more? Contacts us @ The SOHO Shop

Click Here For More Details

I often get asked how to archive movies for optimal playback with the Control4 Media Player. So we here at C4Central thought that a quick “how to” would help you guys out. Now i do have to point out that there are good points and bad to the C4 media player. The good is it is the easiest player for use with a Control4 system on the market. Seriously, why shouldn’t it be it was made for C4! The bad, well for you guys who like menu’s, extra’s, bonus material, etc. this is not the player for you. As for me and my family we just want to pick a movie and hit play. SIMPLE is what we like!

NOTE: This is a tutorial for Archiving the movies you own. This is not for Illegal ripping of movies you do not own.

So here is a simple walk through based on my personal software of choice when it comes to the simplicity associated with the C4 Media player.

Items required:

Hardwired computer running DVDfab software. “don’t even try wireless”

Control4 Media Player

Network Attached Storage “NAS”

Software Tutorial: DVDfab Platinum

The software is easy to use and comes in several flavors. It also features addons for BluRay and conversion to mobile devices that will not be covered here.

Upon opening DVDfab you will notice on the left many options for archiving. The simplest and most compatible for the C4 media player is the “Main Movie” option. Since the C4 media player does not support Menu functions this eliminates this for us to save space and confusion!

Next in the center portion of the program you will find the archiving options. the first to notice is on the bottom left. You will notice a box that by default says “DVD5″ this is a default setting that archives at about 90% quality. By hitting the drop down menu here you can change this to “DVD9″ which is a “1 to 1″ 100% quality setting. I recommend this as you will lose none of the video quality! This also presents a noticeable difference when your C4 media player is set at a default resolution of 1080p. The software will format your movie in the smallest VIDEO_TS format available without losing any of the quality we expect.

Next is the part where all the confusion resides. AUDIO! I hear time and again that “my DVD archived but the audio is in french!”. You will now see in the center area the ability to check mark the audio you want to associate with the archive session. Simply select the English version that contains AC-3/5.1. This will give you both the stereo track as well as the surround versions of audio. But don’t forget right below this to un check the “subpicture” option for captions. By forgetting this step you may get stuck with the captions on some DVD titles!

One of the other nice features about DVDfab is not having to get out all you DVD’s to re archive to a compatible format. You do have the option with this software to locate the .ISO file or other format and re archive directly from the Network Attached Storage without the physical. This is a benifit for those of us going from a Media Center solution to the much simpler to use C4 media player.

We hope this tutorial was helpful information for all of you using the Control4 Media Player or considering adding one to you equipment arsenal!

If you have any other questions or comments please post here.

I know it’s been a bit since my last blog, but getting my home modified for my handicap issue, and getting The SOHO Shop in my home just couldn’t coincide with each other. So I had to put The SOHO Shop on hold. After I had my modifications done, I called The SOHO Shop and set up a date to have them come back and get started back on my project.

            You already know from earlier that I had dead bolt locks installed, Panasonic cameras, and other items. They ended up waiting a little bit before coming out to the house since I ended up ordering my Sony 3D TV through them; when the TV came in they called me and came out the next day, and wow they did not mess around. Just in that one day they had my new rack built and got all the crazy wiring hooked up and working. Not only that, but they had holes cut in my walls and ceiling, installed the speakers, and had them going. I did have to wait a day to get my TV’s hung, the TV racks ended up not working on the one TV I have in my bed room because it’s a off name brand; we all know that off named brands have a attendance not to follow the rules of logic. With the new Sony TV, it’s made so light that the usual type of stand that would be used, a heavier style, was not needed and we ended up just needing a medium style TV rack. I got the TV’s hung up and I couldn’t tell you how nice they look.

Now you have to understand between installing Control4 and the modifying of my home, which was having a roll-in shower built and automatic door openers, how this all works out for me. As you remember I’m wheelchair bound and lost my legs, it’s hard for me to get in and out of bed. It takes a few seconds to make it to the door and I get a lot of deliveries made to my home for medical supplies and such. Plus I wanted the extra security, since I’m unable to defend myself from some kind of attacker or a bugler.

 Okay now that you have a bit of a reminder of my situations I can explain to you how much this Control4 system helps me out. I can now make sure that my home is secure by just a touch or click of a button. I use my cameras all the time, if I hear a noise outside I can check. I have installed 3 Panasonic cameras at certain areas that allow me to see what all is going on around my home. Another reason they are used so much, is that I keep an eye on my dogs while they are outside doing their thing. It helps me know when they are done, and with the automatic door opener I don’t even have to get up and let them in or out. After I let them in I shut the door and lock it just with a couple of buttons; one button for the door opener and one for the dead bolt. When I get a delivery from UPS or FedEx, I hear a knock at the door and I can now hit one button on my remote that also runs the Control4 system to pull up the Control4 UI (User Interface) and get to my camera picture and see who’s at my door. If I know them, then I can unlock the door still through the TV UI and also use the remote for the auto doors and let them in without getting up. That right there alone has made my life easier by so much. When I found this Control4 system I knew it going to help me out, but never in my wildest dreams would I have figured that it would exceed my expectation of helping.

            I still have a few more things to get worked on and that’s usual. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate The SOHO Shop and the courtesy of their employees. Scott, who is the salesman, has just a great attitude. Bryan and Coy, the owners of The SOHO Shop, are just a pleasure to work with and very considerate; they do whatever it takes to make sure that everything is working to your satisfaction. Tony, the hard working installer, who I can tell definitely cares about his work, takes much pride in the quality of installation he does in your home. These guys are just awesome to watch work.

            As I start using this more often I will blog about it. I am posting this on Facebook on my wall. Hit me up if you want to know more about me or my Control4 system. I would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have or interested in

 Thanks, Sincerely Jeff Cayce