X4: Advanced Control and Apple HomeKit Support
Control 4 X4 operating system, is the most advanced smart home platform to date. A primary focus of the update is a complete user experience overhaul, featuring new navigation that simplifies switching between system control, rooms, and settings. New customer empowerment features include user-added widgets for managing lighting, comfort, and camera views without requiring dealer intervention. The system also introduces flexible routines and scheduling capabilities that allow users and partners to customize automated events directly within the Control 4 app. Crucially, the X4 system will offer full Apple HomeKit support, enabling voice setup and control through Siri enablement.
The advanced Control4 X4 operating system fundamentally redesigns the overall user experience by transforming the platform from a traditional operating system into a more personalized, intuitive, and customer-empowered "smart living experience".
This redesign centers on a completely new user interface, navigation, and features that give customers greater control and customization.
Core Elements of the Redesigned User Experience
1. New Design and Centralized Control Hub X4 features a completely new design and navigation. The user experience is built around the Home Screen, which acts as the new hub for a seamlessly connected living experience. From this single, intuitive screen, users can control and monitor favorite devices across the entire system. The new navigation structure provides the ability to easily switch between whole system control, rooms, routines, sessions, and settings.
2. Enhanced Personalization through Widgets and Routines X4 introduces new customer empowerment features that enhance personalization and allow the system to adapt to the customer's needs.
- Widgets: Personalized widgets optimize the home screen and room view layout. Users can organize their home screen and get quick access to frequently used functions, such as cameras and device status. Customers can choose from lighting, comfort, or cameras options to add to pages, and they can swap out, resize, and rearrange these widgets without requiring changes from their Control4 partner.
- Routines: This new feature allows customers to create automated actions tailored to their lifestyle. Routines are similar to scenes with schedules, but are described as more flexible and interactive. Customers and Control4 partners can choose what they would like to happen and when, all managed from the Control4 app. This feature empowers customers to make basic changes when they want, without needing to involve an integrator.
3. Expanded Apple HomeKit Integration X4 provides full Apple HomeKit support with Siri enablement. This expanded integration significantly increases customer independence:
- Customers can now independently manage devices, access scenes, and convert all devices within the Apple ecosystem into personalized interfaces without requiring an integrator.
- This integration supports CarPlay, Apple widgets, and Siri.
- The system also includes in-voice setup and management control for Apple HomeKit.
- Additionally, with X4, the Triad SA-1 now supports Apple Airplay 2.
The Control4 X4 operating system features personalized widgets that customers can add to pages without requiring changes from their Control4 partner.
Customers have three specific options they can choose from for these widgets:
- Lighting.
- Comfort.
- Cameras.
These personalized widgets allow users to optimize their home screen and room view layout. They provide quick access to frequently used functions, such as cameras and device status. Customers are empowered with the ability to swap out, resize, and rearrange these widgets themselves.
Control4 systems enhance the holiday experience, and X4 contributes to this through its core features, particularly Routines and personalization options that support common holiday needs like lighting and security. Control4 technology, combined with the new empowerment features of X4, makes managing the festive season more sophisticated:
1. Enhanced Holiday Lighting and Atmosphere
Control4 systems are capable of lighting automation that extends beyond simple timers to include special holiday lights and decor, both inside and outside the home. X4 enhances this capability through its new features:
- Routines for Holiday Schemes: X4 introduces the Routines feature, which are described as scenes with schedules but more flexible and interactive. This feature allows customers and Control4 partners to choose what they'd like to happen and when. This functionality is perfect for creating dedicated holiday programs:
- A homeowner could create a "Holiday Nights" scheme to control their light display every night throughout the season.
- A "Christmas Party" scheme could be created specifically for holiday entertaining.
- Customer Empowerment: With X4's Routines, customers can make basic changes themselves when they want, without needing to involve an integrator.
- Lighting Widgets: The personalized widgets in X4 offer customers quick access to frequently used functions directly on the home screen or room view. Customers can select the lighting option for a widget, enabling immediate control over holiday lights and ambiance.
2. Improved Holiday Security
Control4's lighting automation can boost security, particularly during periods when the homeowner is traveling.
- "Christmas Vacation" Setting: Lighting automation can prevent a home from looking deserted while customers travel, enhancing security.
- Camera and Security Access: X4 includes widgets that provide quick access to cameras and device status, ensuring users can monitor their property easily during the holidays. The system also integrates features for smart security and surveillance.
3. Entertainment and Convenience
X4's enhancements to media and control contribute to a better experience for holiday gatherings:
- Whole-Home Audio: X4 simplifies whole-home audio by allowing users to select one or more rooms to send audio to directly from the home screen, making it easier to manage music for a party. The new media sessions screen allows users to simply control all media playing in the home.
- Personalization: The X4 system, which fundamentally transforms into a personalized smart living experience, can be tailored to complement the customer's preferences and lifestyle during the festive season.
