Newsletters
Facebook
RSS Feed
EH Store
Right out of the box, there’s a lot you can do with Apple’s iPad. So what about using it to control the electronic devices in your home? We asked a few seasoned custom electronics professionals (CE pros) for their take on the popular device and how they think it’ll impact the way we manage our household electronics.
The Good
Big Screen
The almost 10-inch screen provides plenty of real estate for displaying controls, as well as information about them, for electronic devices. “The more space you have on a screen, the less you’ll have to scroll or flip to get to what you want,” says Derek Cowburn of DistinctAV, McCordsville, Ind. “This will make it a great interface for managing large collections of media, and for browsing information. For example, with the iPad you’d be able to browse on-demand listings without having to turn on the TV.”
Cost
Starting from $499, the iPad may seem pricey, but it’s far less expensive than most home control touchpanels of similar size. “It’s poised to open up opportunities for people interested in home control, but who can’t afford a large-size touchpanel from a home control manufacturer,” says Joe Calderaro of Audio Video Interiors, Medina, Ohio.
Apple Backing
Almost every home control system manufacturer offers an app for the iPhone and iPod touch. You can bet they’ll be doing the same (many already have, tweaking for the larger interface) for the iPad. “Once the control manufacturers are on board, the iPad will be a real game changer,” says Ryan Herd of One Sound Choice, Pompton Plains, N.J.
The Bad
Tough to Operate
Apps may help leverage the iPad as a home control device, but at a potential risk to its usability. “People aren’t going to want to have to constantly switch between different apps to control different things,” Cowburn explains. “If all the controls can tie back to a single app, then the iPad becomes a very powerful device.”
Easy to Misplace
Unlike an iPhone that’s usually in your pocket, the iPad will likely be carted around the house by everyone in the family. This may sound super convenient, but just wait until someone leaves it where you can’t find it.
Too Much Stuff
A jack of all trades, a master of none is how some CE pros describe multifunctional products like the iPad. Calderaro compares it to his BlackBerry. “My BlackBerry takes pictures, and I’ll occasionally use it to take a quick snapshot, but if I want good pictures I’ll use my camera.” Similarly, he thinks the iPad will be used occasionally to operate electronic devices, but for serious control consumer will continue to rely on interfaces designed explicitly for the task.
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address): Would you like to use your new iPad to control the lights, thermostats, A/V equipment and other devices in your house?
The iPad is usually dedicated to the room it’s meant to control, and at $500 a pop, it’s MUCH cheaper than the proprietary panels from the big companies.
Most of us would rather buy one (or more) iPad for audio-visual/automation control and then download the $100 apps for control, than spend $2000 for a proprietary panel(s)... EACH.
The buggy whip days are coming to an end… now automation companies can focus on better apps, cheaper hardware for the actual in-wall/equipment, and spend less R&D time on the panels themselves.
I may be wrong, but that seems the way to middle-income market is moving. There will always be those $100K+ home theaters where cost is no object, but most upper middle-class folks are still trying to pinch the pennies where they can, and spend the bigger dollars on video and audio, as well as furniture and room decor (at least in my observations).
Vincent,
I’m curious how you are able to do this as the Homeseer system is one I looked at, but didn’t purchase because of the cost. Each piece of functionality that you want to add requires an additional ‘software module’ to be purchased.
The price for my house wasn’t 10k, but it was close, especially if you’re adding in the automation of your stereo and video.
This is a no-brainer. The cost difference between touch pads that are out there and the iPad is dynamic. Hopefully this will bring down the cost on the specific brand panel, but in time as with all first release hardware the iPad will grow in capability and make us all happy. I have a client that has no problem with going with 8 iPads instead of one meager touch screen. That’s what the iPad is doing to the market. Even with its short comings, OF WHICH I’m finding people are just fine with all of it.
I am happy to say that my company now offers full home control using an ipad, itouch or iphone using Bitwise products and I have never been more excited. I was able to automate my own home over the weekend and do have a family ipad that sits on hte coffee table for all to use. It can control the audio system, the video, lighting and basically every function that my 10K system did at a fraction of the price. Growing pains? Definately, but for the convenience this offers I know my customers are going to be thrilled.
+ View all comments on for this article
- News
- Cool Homes
- Blogs
- Photo Galleries
Phorus and Blumoo Offer Easy, Wireless Audio
One is a subsidiary of DTS, with the other looking to gain traction via Indiegogo.
Family Theater Beams with Durable LED Projection
A SIM2 Mico 50 LED projector and 110-inch screen shine in this room.
Brighter LCD TVs on the Horizon?
3M technology poised to boost the vibrancy and richness of colors on LCD screens.
22 Outdoor Speakers for a Sizzling Summer
We take a peek at some of the current options for outdoor audio.
...as an afterthought, the Crestron “iPanel” is a move in the right direction, to keep costs down, add app functionality in the iPad, and still give some hard buttons, and a docking station…
See the article under “automation” here on electronichouse.com