Is it worth having the iPhone SW interface?

[fschaeffer]

I have my entire home controlled via Control4, or at least most of it, including biometric door locks and motorized blinds.

I have just changed my previous Nokia cell phone to the latest iphone 3Gs.

I'm wondering if I would use the iphone as the official C4 remote (since I'm always with my cell phone) and if the iphone will still work smoothly, that is, I'm controlling my system and the phone rings or I receive an SMS, etc.

Any insights from people currently using their iphone 3Gs with their C4 system will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[pharmdsmith]

I use mine every day and love it.

[TGannon]

I have bad enough battery life as it is. If I used the 3GS as a remote, I can't imagine how much it would kill my battery time.

[fschaeffer]

pharmdsmith, have you replaced your C4 remotes or touch panels for good with your iphone?

[jberger]

The Mobile Navigator is fantastic, I use it all the time.

There is a 30day trial license available if you want to try it out and see if it fits you needs.

[Rsmolo]

The app is so great that I had couple customers tell me they hate me for giving them free trial, b/c now they have to have it.

The best customer was the one that told me "there is no Korean and no Apple equipment in my house, and never will be", after 30 days he added "except itouch with c4 app"

[hike]

It's MUCH faster than either of my 10.5" Touchscreens....

[pharmdsmith]

It hasn't replaced them because the wife needs her remote and eventually the kids. If the remote isn't in arm reach I never get up and get it, I just pull out my iPhone. The dvr is broken into 3 screens which is the only negative, but not a big one. They have to fit it on the screen somehow so I understand why. I agree with Hick that it is faster processing your key press then the remotes or touchscreens.

[neil12011]

As a dealer and a end user, I have to say that it's probably one of the sweetest interfaces for C4. I like it better than ANY of the touchscreens offered. The only drawback is that cover art is a little slow to load in large libraries. Like some others mentioned, once you get the 30 day trial, you'll be hooked. It certainly does not replace my remotes in any sense. It comes in handy when you're not near a remote and want some on or off or whatever. Also, using over 3g while a little slower is insanely cool.

[fschaeffer]

neil12011, I thought it only works via a local w-fi network, the same wi-fi network your C4 system is hooked up to.

When you say you're using it over 3G, you mean your celular phone carrier network?

another question: would I be able to use this interface remotely using my cel phone 3G network, instead of using 4sights's web interface?

thanks

[neil12011]

using port forwarding you can use it over 3g.

[fschaeffer]

can you elaborate a little more on that? What exactly is port forwarding?

Any new HW, SW or $$ needed to be installed/invested?

thanks

[wingzz]

I see a write up from Neil for the www.c4central.com. coming soon

[ILoveC4]

can you elaborate a little more on that? What exactly is port forwarding?

Any new HW, SW or $$ needed to be installed/invested?

thanks

Nope. Hopefully Neil will chime in with all the instructions, as I no longer have an iPhone.

*eagerly waiting for the android version to be released*

[dgbrown]

Port forwarding is configured in the device that connects your home to the Internet. For some this may be a wireless access point that doubles as a firewall/gateway, for other's it may be a router, and for the more serious it may be just a firewall. In any case, this device typically has private IP addresses on the inside of the network (your house and the C4 HC controller), and public IP addresses on the outside (read the Internet/cable co. etc). Traffic originating from the inside is allowed out, but traffic originating from the outside headed in is not permitted - that is with out the appropriate firewall rules and "port forwarding". This said, port forwarding is the mapping of a public IP address and port # (typically the address of the outside interface of the aforementioned device) with a private inside IP address and port# - in this particular case it would be the IP address of your C4 HC.

What I believe is being suggested here is you plug that outside port forwarded IP addresses into Control UI and you're off to the races.

[Schrader]

Or you could create a VPN if your router supported it. Some consumer routers are starting to ship with VPN endpoint features, and the iPhone has a built in VPN client. Then you couldn't have to worry about opening ports on your firewall. Turn on the VPN, start Control4 app. Connected.

[neil12011]

Basically just forward the ports that C4 uses for director and album art to the the director LAN ip. Then put the WAN ip in a separate director address within the app. That's it. Just remember it's not supported and to get the most out of the app, switch back to local wifi when you are at home.

[fschaeffer]

neil12011,

Sorry for these basic questions, but all this that you mention is done on the iphone and my linksys wireless router?

I guess my local dealer with Director Pro is needed or can this be done with Director Home Edition?

Thanks

[thecodeman]

neil12011,

Sorry for these basic questions, but all this that you mention is done on the iphone and my linksys wireless router?

I guess my local dealer with Director Pro is needed or can this be done with Director Home Edition?

Thanks

Port forwarding is just setting up the network a certain way - has nothing to do with Control4.

You might try here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_forwarding

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+port+forward&search_type=&aq=f

and here:

http://portforward.com/

for more information.

[fschaeffer]

Thanks for the tips.

Now how do I figure out which ports C4 uses for director and album art?

[thecodeman]

Thanks for the tips.

Now how do I figure out which ports C4 uses for director and album art?

http://www.c4forums.com/viewtopic.php?id=3298

[zaphod]

As a dealer and a end user, I have to say that it's probably one of the sweetest interfaces for C4. I like it better than ANY of the touchscreens offered.

Sorry to be constantly on this horse but maybe it is time that C4 got out of the touchscreen hardware business and just started writing the software for devices like smartphones, tablets, PCs, etc.

If you say that this is better than any of the toucshcreens offered and the price is a fraction of the touchscreens then why continue making the touchscreens?

Think of even how much better the iPhone interface would be on a 10" Apple Tablet. And how much cheaper it would be even if the software was a similar price to the iPhone C4 software since the tablet is supposed to cost, at most, $1000. And Apple hardware has typically fallen drastically in the first couple of years after intro. You can now buy an iPhone for $99 that is much better than the initial iPhone that cost $599 and the price fell to $399 within two months of introducing the product.

It kind of reminds me when IBM still sold dumb 3278 terminals for more than a PC even though a PC could completely emulate a dumb terminal and do tons more.

[thecodeman]

As a dealer and a end user' date=' I have to say that it's probably one of the sweetest interfaces for C4. I like it better than ANY of the touchscreens offered.[/quote']

Sorry to be constantly on this horse but maybe it is time that C4 got out of the touchscreen hardware business and just started writing the software for devices like smartphones, tablets, PCs, etc.

If you say that this is better than any of the toucshcreens offered and the price is a fraction of the touchscreens then why continue making the touchscreens?

Think of even how much better the iPhone interface would be on a 10" Apple Tablet. And how much cheaper it would be even if the software was a similar price to the iPhone C4 software since the tablet is supposed to cost, at most, $1000. And Apple hardware has typically fallen drastically in the first couple of years after intro. You can now buy an iPhone for $99 that is much better than the initial iPhone that cost $599 and the price fell to $399 within two months of introducing the product.

It kind of reminds me when IBM still sold dumb 3278 terminals for more than a PC even though a PC could completely emulate a dumb terminal and do tons more.

I'm telling you guys, based on what we've seen at CEDIA and CES this year, Control4 is shifting to becoming the "home os" and wants to be "hardware agnostic" as much as possible. We need 2.0 first for this to start happneing.

[zaphod]

I'm telling you guys, based on what we've seen at CEDIA and CES this year, Control4 is shifting to becoming the "home os" and wants to be "hardware agnostic" as much as possible. We need 2.0 first for this to start happneing.

IMHO that would be the smartest thing that they have ever done, particularly if they make it easy for folks to integrate C4 with other apps on PCs, iPhones, etc.

[neil12011]

The touchscreen offerings by C4 are their weakest link in my opinion. I really like their software, controllers are awesome, good lighting solutions, etc.. I think they should scrap the mini touch, take the screen out and make a killer touchscreen thermostat or something out of the leftovers. Maybe having a 3rd party do the touchscreens would be better.