30Sep
Elan Home Automation Releases New User Interface and Features
Elan Home Automation, the premier home automation system sold and installed by Buchan Consulting LLC, just announced changes to their product lineup at CEDIA 2016. Elan’s G! System is a robust home automation and control solution that offers fine-grained control over common smart home systems including temperature, lighting, shading, music,home theater, locks, alarm systems, pools, landscaping irrigation, and much more.In fact, one of Elan’s exclusive features is their communication platform which allows their system controller and any speakers in the house to be used as an intercom from within the home or anywhere in the world via their smartphone application.
Elan just announced groundbreaking changes to their user interface (UI) in their Version 8.0 platform. These changes to the UI bring a fantastic new appearance to the screens of the Elan touch panels. The new look, noticeably different from previous version, removed the Elan G! from the corner of the touch screen, subdued the colors into an appealing grey background, and added a prominent “Elan” logo to the top of all of their touch panel screens.
Exciting changes within the Version 8.0 interface include the addition of new Electronic Program Guides (EPG). Elan now interfaces with the majority of cable and satellite providers to pull program guide data into the Elan controller and display a live program guide on the Elan touch panels or the user’s smartphone. Elan’s new program guide works with Comcast’s Xfinity Entertainment System which Buchan Consulting LLC installs as part of the Comcast Xfinity Custom Integration Program (CXI).
A long awaited feature is the improvement to Elan’s streaming media page. Elan increased the size of the cover art from a small corner image on the screen to a full half screen image. The increase in cover art size and the addition of pertinent information like artist, album, and song, help make the user experience more fluid and also highlight the media being played on the wall touch panel.
Other new and exciting additions to the Elan Home Automation system include:
· Amazon Echo Support: Use Amazon Echo to control the Elan system with voice commands by simply asking “Alexa” to “Turn on the lights in the kitchen,” or “Play Pandora in the Master Bedroom.”
· View live media on-screen: Elan can now display live video streams, including those from security cameras, on the video display screens throughout the home or on the user’s smartphone and tablet. This now includes the ability to view TV shows and other media on the display, not just camera images!
· Pool and Spa management: While this was always part of the system, Elan added the ability to control new Pool and Spa systems from Hayward.
· Music Streaming: While popular music services like Sonos, Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Prime Music, iTunes, and Google Play Music have always been able to integrate into the Elan system, Elan just added support for the user-friendly Denon Heos system.
· Intercom and Doorbell: Elan has added support for popular WiFi video doorbell, DoorBird, sold and installed by Buchan Consulting LLC. The DoorBird smart video doorbell can be viewed through Elan’s communication interface. Users can view their front door at any time, view live streams, and communicate with the visitor at the door all through their phones and touch panels inside or outside of the home.
· Garage door control: New to the Elan system, garage doors can be opened and closed and status can be viewed using the Elan iPhone or Android app and also on the home’s touch panels. While Elan has always been able to control popular Z-Wave door locks the addition of garage doors is an exciting new option for the home owner.
Elan didn’t stop with just the release of new features, but also new hardware. Elan’s system is now capable of distributing 4k Ultra HD (UHD) video through their gMV 8x8 and gMV 16x16 Ultramatrix products as well as adding support Dolby 5.1 down-mixing, DTS, Dolby TrueHD, and Dolby Atmos pass-through.
Elan also released an all new XP12 touchscreen. The 12-inch screen is the largest form factor ever offered by Elan. The 1920x1080 resolution panel features a 5MP camera and mic for the integrated intercom function.
With all of these new features, Elan is slated to pull ahead of competitors like Control4 and Savant. Of course, in addition to Elan’s Home Automation System, Buchan Consulting LLC also offers award winning solutions from URC Total Control. Get in touch today to request a free estimate on groundbreaking new ways to enter into smart-home green living!
Elan just announced groundbreaking changes to their user interface (UI) in their Version 8.0 platform. These changes to the UI bring a fantastic new appearance to the screens of the Elan touch panels. The new look, noticeably different from previous version, removed the Elan G! from the corner of the touch screen, subdued the colors into an appealing grey background, and added a prominent “Elan” logo to the top of all of their touch panel screens.
Exciting changes within the Version 8.0 interface include the addition of new Electronic Program Guides (EPG). Elan now interfaces with the majority of cable and satellite providers to pull program guide data into the Elan controller and display a live program guide on the Elan touch panels or the user’s smartphone. Elan’s new program guide works with Comcast’s Xfinity Entertainment System which Buchan Consulting LLC installs as part of the Comcast Xfinity Custom Integration Program (CXI).
A long awaited feature is the improvement to Elan’s streaming media page. Elan increased the size of the cover art from a small corner image on the screen to a full half screen image. The increase in cover art size and the addition of pertinent information like artist, album, and song, help make the user experience more fluid and also highlight the media being played on the wall touch panel.
Other new and exciting additions to the Elan Home Automation system include:
· Amazon Echo Support: Use Amazon Echo to control the Elan system with voice commands by simply asking “Alexa” to “Turn on the lights in the kitchen,” or “Play Pandora in the Master Bedroom.”
· View live media on-screen: Elan can now display live video streams, including those from security cameras, on the video display screens throughout the home or on the user’s smartphone and tablet. This now includes the ability to view TV shows and other media on the display, not just camera images!
· Pool and Spa management: While this was always part of the system, Elan added the ability to control new Pool and Spa systems from Hayward.
· Music Streaming: While popular music services like Sonos, Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Prime Music, iTunes, and Google Play Music have always been able to integrate into the Elan system, Elan just added support for the user-friendly Denon Heos system.
· Intercom and Doorbell: Elan has added support for popular WiFi video doorbell, DoorBird, sold and installed by Buchan Consulting LLC. The DoorBird smart video doorbell can be viewed through Elan’s communication interface. Users can view their front door at any time, view live streams, and communicate with the visitor at the door all through their phones and touch panels inside or outside of the home.
· Garage door control: New to the Elan system, garage doors can be opened and closed and status can be viewed using the Elan iPhone or Android app and also on the home’s touch panels. While Elan has always been able to control popular Z-Wave door locks the addition of garage doors is an exciting new option for the home owner.
Elan didn’t stop with just the release of new features, but also new hardware. Elan’s system is now capable of distributing 4k Ultra HD (UHD) video through their gMV 8x8 and gMV 16x16 Ultramatrix products as well as adding support Dolby 5.1 down-mixing, DTS, Dolby TrueHD, and Dolby Atmos pass-through.
Elan also released an all new XP12 touchscreen. The 12-inch screen is the largest form factor ever offered by Elan. The 1920x1080 resolution panel features a 5MP camera and mic for the integrated intercom function.
With all of these new features, Elan is slated to pull ahead of competitors like Control4 and Savant. Of course, in addition to Elan’s Home Automation System, Buchan Consulting LLC also offers award winning solutions from URC Total Control. Get in touch today to request a free estimate on groundbreaking new ways to enter into smart-home green living!
