News / Media

New stylized Telephony Solution handsets are fully integrated into home control system.

July 14, 2011 by Jason Knott

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http://www.electronichouse.com/article/savant_telephone_handset_integrates_ipod_touch/apple

“It’s ironic that we are all telecom guys and it took us this long to do a phone system,” says Jim Carroll, president of Savant, speaking of the company’s soon-to-ship Telephony Solution product.

But judging from the reaction from one integrator, it might have been worth the wait. By the time CEDIA Expo 2011 arrives, Savant will be shipping its new Telephony Solution handsets.

Savant is planning three versions of the handsets that in essence are:

• A wireless handset • A more robust handset with a limited 4-inch touchscreen • An iPod Touch fully integrated into the handset. (available in 2012)

The unit works in tandem with the Savant iPBX Server to give homeowners access to features such as auto answer, do not disturb, call waiting, routing and hunt groups, voicemail, multi-line hunting, suspend and resume, call hold - all integrated into the automation system of the home. Because the system is fully integrated, homeowners and commercial end users can use their iPads to connect to the iPBX server and make phone calls.

Other features of the Savant iPBX technology include:

• Supports up to 72 endpoints, including Savant IP phones and Savant Telephony-enabled iOS devices. • Entry Access Integration - Viewing and communicating with who’s at the door or front gate from Savant endpoints • Gateway Interconnection • Local, long distance and international calling (service provider not included) • Room-to-room paging, and page all • Multi-line Savant IP phones and wireless handsets supported • Wired and wireless solutions available • Management, provisioning and monitoring application

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<strong><a href="http://www.electronichouse.com/article/savant_telephone_handset_integrates_ipod_touch/apple" target="_blank">http://www.electronichouse.com/article/savant_telephone_handset_integrates_ipod_touch/apple</a></strong></p>

Touchpanels are the keys to sophisticated control systems

April 20, 2011 by Grant Clauser

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http://www.electronichouse.com/article/all_about_touchpanels/C96

A sophisticated and connected home hides much of its technology behind the walls, but the most visible element is the touchpanel. The touchpanel is the device installed into a wall, fixed on a tabletop or carried around to provide access to every system in your home: audio/video, lighting, heating and ventilation, security, you name it. The touchpanel brings the Wow factor to a home control system.

The touchpanel, however, is only one part of a much larger home control and automation system—and that larger system is what you need to focus on. The system, whether from big players like Crestron, Control4 or AMX, plus innovators like Savant or Universal Remote Control, should satisfy all of your control and automation needs before you decide on the touchpanels or in-wall controllers that operate it.

Think of the touchpanel as a remote—a fancy remote—but still a remote. You don’t purchase a car because you like the steering wheel, and you don’t purchase a TV because it comes with a larger remote than its competitor. Still, the touchpanel is the piece that will impress your guests. It will allow you to interact with your system, provide you with a visual guide to what you’re controlling, and can make the difference between having a happy relationship with your system or a frustrating one.

Most home control companies offer a wide selection of touchpanels, wand remotes or wall-mounted switches. The options and features will vary greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer, and they’ll be designed for optimal communication with that control system. Many manufacturers also offer apps so you can use your own devices, like cell phones, tablet computers and laptops, as extra controllers. The iPad and iPhone are the most popular, and all of the major control companies offer apps for those devices (see sidebar for more on the iPad as a control panel). Also remember that a complete system will probably include multiple touchpanels. While we don’t recommend selecting your system based on the touchpanel, we do offer guidelines on what to consider when making your touchpanel decisions:

Size
This may vary by room and by your use. In a kitchen, for example, you might prefer a large touchpanel that can double as television display or web browser. When you’re in the kitchen with your hands full, a small screen that requires multiple touches to view your options can be inconvenient, so think larger. A dining room likely requires fewer button presses to get at the controls you’ll need, so a smaller in-wall touchpanel will do. In a living room or home theater, a tabletop system makes for much more convenient control over the entertainment system, but a touchpanel that’s too big becomes unwieldy when you’re just trying to change channels or pause a movie.

Wall, Table or Handheld
Touchpanels come in many forms, from elaborate remote controls that you can hold in your hand to flush-mounted wall panels that remain in place. Again, the form you select for each room is dependent on how you plan to use it. A wall-mounted unit is convenient in a room where you won’t be accessing the device frequently—such as a dining room, hallway or entryway. A wallmounted panel in a kitchen is also convenient because it keeps the device off the counter and out of the way of things that could damage it. In a media room or home theater, a wall-mounted device would not be convenient, because you won’t want to get up from the couch to adjust the music volume or turn down the lights.

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<strong><a href="http://www.electronichouse.com/article/all_about_touchpanels/C96" target="_blank">http://www.electronichouse.com/article/all_about_touchpanels/C96</a></strong></p>