European Custom Installer

Crestron announces Josh.ai-- a provider of "luxury" voice control-- is an official Crestron integration partner, allowing installers to easily incorporate the Josh Micro device and app as part of a Crestron smart home.

The Crestron Pyng operating systems enables simple integration with the sleek Josh Micro device and app. To deploy Josh.ai modules from Pyng, installers simply need to authorise the Hub, and Josh.ai does the rest. Once enabled, Crestron smart home owners can control everything using natural language commands such as "OK Josh, set the thermostat to 35 degrees." Josh.ai also supports integration with Crestron systems via SIMPL Windows software.

Elan announces the HR30 remote controller at CEDIA Expo 2018-- an interface promising "an unparalleled standard" for performance, reliability and intuitiveness, as well as overall aesthetic appeal.

“We are committed to helping dealers deliver an outstanding experience to every customer,” the company says. “The HR30 remote does just that by providing instant and intuitive control of the ELAN system – media, lighting, climate, audio, video and more. Control has never been easier for the homeowner.”

The H30 allows customers to easily control multiple media rooms, lighting, climate and security. It features a flush mount 2.8-inch colour touchscreen, allowing users to swipe left or right to easily access content. Three customisable buttons provide instant access to movies, music and lighting, and the remote is compatible with the Elan On Screen Display interface.

Control4 OS reaches version 2.10.4, with updates including an expansion of music streaming capabilities through more native streaming services and When >> Then features allowing more hands-on personalisation choices for customers.

The OS now offers Amazon Music and Deezer Hifi as music streaming integrations, and customers can add one or more music services directly from a mobile device or Control4 touchscreen via an "Add Music" capability. In addition, Control4 directly supports Deezer, iHeartRadio, Napster, Pandora, SiriusXM, Spotify, Tidal and TuneIn streaming services.

Meanwhile When >> Then allows customers to adjust certain smart home functionality independently, without involving an installer. One can create and edit voice scenes for Amazon Alexa, create custom buttons and programming for the recently introduced Intercom Anywhere, and modify lighting scene schedules. Installers can also unlock programming added through Control4 Composer Pro software, enabling homeowners to modify and add to pre-existing programming through When >> Then.

OnePlus founder and CEO Pete Lau makes a surprise announcement-- the company plans to make a TV offering "premium flagship design, image quality and audio," as well as the capability to "seamlessly connect the home."

TVs is a first for OnePlus, whose product offering consists solely of smartphones and a small selection of companion accessories. The announcement has little in terms of details for the actual TV, since the product is still at the earliest stages of production, but Lau does tell Business Insider the TV will offer seamless smartphone connectivity and AI smarts akin to the Amazon Echo and Google Home.

TP-Link has an interesting solution to add connected smarts to "dumb" devices-- the Kasa Smart Wifi Power Strip, a wifi-enabled power strip allowing one to control devices via companion app and various voice assistants.

“The Kasa Smart Wifi Power Strip is the latest innovation in the Kasa Smart lineup, making the dream of a smart home a greater reality,” the company says. “For many, the possibility of a smart home may seem like a challenge, but the Kasa Smart Wifi Power Strip makes the dream attainable by giving you six outlets that can turn any product into a smart product. This means you can control any device from anywhere, monitor energy consumption and more, thanks to the Kasa Smart mobile app.”