• You have to wait for your phone to open then scroll to them
• Then you have to wait for them to load
• These apps typically can’t talk to other brands or different types of devices. They are after all usually provided free by the Vendors.

 Inexpensive Remote controls you find at Electronics Retailers

• They are not always “smart”
• Smart meaning, they don’t know if you told something to turn on whether it did or not
• They are not usually two-way, so you can’t get feedback from the device
• You have to always look at the remote to see what you are doing
• These devices always seem to have some bugs or quirks that don’t quite work correctly

 Custom Home Integrator - Programmed remote control

• Typically they are fairly expensive $250-$1K+ per remote plus other hardware
• Although these types of remotes are quite flexible, sometimes the time to do some of the programming can be extremely costly and not worth the effort it would take for a particular result
• Separate (expensive) licenses for every device is not an uncommon additional cost
• You still have to be in front of the remote or smart device like a touch panel to make things happen in the system
• These types of systems require a lot of programming and graphics setup time which can get costly 

Control4 Advantages

• Multiple ways to control your system, remote controls, touch panels, keypads, smart devices, event triggers, time schedules, etc.
• Devices of different brands and/or styles can talk to each other
• Logic, that is easy. For example: if my security alarm goes on turn on all the lights in the home and flash the outside lights so the police can easily find the house.
• Inexpensive remote controls, typically less than $200, the cost is in the processor which is shared by all the devices
• There is an upgrade pathway if/when your system becomes too dated
• You can give a device multiple functions. For example: the same light switch you turn on the kitchen lights with could also start your music playing. No need to locate a remote or wait for an app to load.
• Easily expandable. Add on later without having to repurchase or reprogram something thats already done.
• Every room and every device looks similar so using the system is very easy and intuitive

Here is just a short list of examples for some of the cool things that you could make happen

• Have the lights turn on and light a pathway to the kitchen in the dark when you unlock your smart door lock.
• Have your system recognize when you home and automatically turn your AC to “here” mode instead of “away” mode.
• Have your doorbell flash the lights to tell you someone is at the door in case you have on loud music, (or) play an announcement sound over the home ceiling speakers, (or) play an voice announcement on your C4 touch panel to let you know someone is at the door.
• You could also use the Control4 door intercom and see that person from the touch panel and communicate to them without ever going to the door.

There are so many different things you can do, there are so many everyday tasks you could automate. All of it is so easy you can do it from your home or even while away using your smart device. In our opinion this should be your go to system.