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Just a couple of more weeks until the coveted Apple iPad will be in the hands of the tech-hungry. Right out of the box, there’s a lot you’ll be able to do with the device.
So what about using it to control electronic devices in your home?
You can already do this by downloading one of the scads of control applications available onto an iPhone or iPod touch and most should work for the iPad when it arrives (automation giant Crestron has already touted its iPad app version), so is there hope for a multifunctional, portable 9.7-inch screen as a home control device? Along with Crestron, we know Apple-based automation provider Savant thinks the answer is a big “yes.”
We decided to ask a few seasoned custom electronics professionals (CE pros) for their take on the technology 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 information about and controls 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
Priced starting at $499 for its April 3 intro, the iPad may be a little pricey, but it’s still 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 manufacturer of home control system already offers an app for the iPhone and iPod touch. You can bet they’ll be doing the same (if they haven’t already) 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.” Currently, Savant is one of the only Apple-based home control systems on the market, and has recently developed an app for the iPad.
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 as to operate electronic devices, but for serious control consumer will continue to rely on interfaces designed explicitly for the task.
Tell us: Would you like to use your new iPad to control the lights, thermostats, A/V equipment and other devices in your house?
Following the comments of all the pros hawking their gear and services - how about a reply from an average consumer. . .
I, for one, would LOVE an iPad controlled house. The best Integrators thing about what people actually do (not what the technology companies think we want to do). I will spend a lot of time with an iPad in my hands doing every day stuff. I imagine sitting on the couch with it reading the daily news or watching a video, or surfing the web, or playing a game, or whatever other app I’d be using . . . and the doorbell rings. Switch to my cool control app, look at the front door camera, turn on the porch light (or ignore the salesperson).
As a home theater controller I love the idea of a big handheld screen with space for all of the regularly used buttons - again, one that would probably be in my hand to start with. I like to watch the news and web surf at the same time, see what’s up on the news and dig for more info on the web. iPad doing both. Yeah!
Downsides:
1) yes, it will get misplaced (maybe Apple needs to put in a “locate me” buzzer on the iPad)
2) App switching might bug a little, but I suspect that multitasking and fast app switching are in our immediate future.
just my 2-cents
Zac
Since Global Caché manufactures products to connect anything IR, serial, and relay to a WiFi and wired TCP/IP network, we’re really excited to see the iPhone/iPod/iPad take off as a user interface in the home control/home automation market. Our new iTach family is ideally suited for the Apple touchscreen market with built-in WiFi, support of 8 simultaneous users, compact design and prices ranging from $139 MSRP to $179 MSRP. The infrared units come complete with IR blaster and emitters, and IR built-in IR learning, so all you need is the iPhone/iPad application of choice and you can be up and running in a matter of minutes. We think the popularity of the iPhone/iPod touch and now the iPad, is game changing for the custom install market. We don’t see this as a cheap, low-end solution, but rather a foot-in-the-door opportunity for custom installers to be able to build upon.
With CommandFusion iViewer, you can control just about any ethernet based control system from the one app, with a fully customisable user interface. No jumping between apps required.
iViewer works with high end systems like Crestron and the more basic ethernet adapters like Bitwise Controls and Global Cache (and any combination). All with full 2 way support via either our built in protocol or powerful feedback parsing engine.
Jarrod Bell
CommandFusion
Applications like energy conservation, home theater control, security camera viewing, and home theater control are more popular than ever. The only thing keeping them from being even more prevalent is cost.
Now consider the iPad, any of the abundantly available home automation apps and relatively inexpensive ($348 retail) connectivity device like the BC4X1 from BitWise Controls (http://www.bitwisecontrols.com) that offers IR ports, relays, GPIO (general purpose input/output) ports for voltage sensing, IR learner/blaster, 348,000 built in IR codes, PoE (power over Ethernet) and a software package ($190 retail) that makes setting up devices and creating macros (automation) so easy that you don’t need a programmer to do it. The control possibilities are endless and the cost to the end user is a fraction of what they would pay prior to these products being on the market.
When it comes right down to it, consumers are going to see that inexpensive and easy to use systems do most, if not all, of what the higher priced systems do. Why spend the extra money?
Ron Pitcock, Jr.
Director of Business Development
BitWise Controls
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