Clare Controls, maker of the ClareOne wireless security and home automation system, has released an update to the ClareHome app that enables the creation of smart home and home security control widgets on mobile device home pages.
According to Clint Choate, Snap One senior director of security market, the new update leverages the latest capabilities of Apple’s iOS15 and Google’s Android 12 mobile operating system to improve user experiences and simplify smart home control.
“This ClareHome app update delivers better experiences for ClareOne users, which leads to higher satisfaction, client retention, and sales opportunities for our partners,” Choate said. “Snap One is proud to be the exclusive distributor bringing ClareOne’s innovative functions and benefits to the security and smart home markets.”
The update also improves connection speed and reliability between the ClareHome mobile app and ClareOne Panels.
Clare Customizable Home Screen Widgets
In general, widgets are mini versions of smartphone apps that live on home screens, providing information at a glance or giving instant access to specific app functions without having to open the app and navigate to a specific page or tab.
The Quick Access Widget creator in the ClareHome app can be used to add 1×2-, 2×2-, 2×4-, or 4×4-sized widgets to any available home screen, offering access and control for security, lighting scenes, door locks, climate controls, garage doors, and motorized window shades. The 1×2 or 2×2 widgets enable one-touch scene activation or control of a single device, while the 2×4 widget controls up to four devices or scenes, and the 4×4 can present up to eight devices or scenes and one recently used device.
Users can place two types of buttons within widgets. Action or scene buttons provide one-touch home screen control to run automatic scenes such as “Welcome Home,” “Night Mode,” “Lock Doors,” or “Arm Security,” while device buttons automatically open the ClareHome app to the desired device to offer full control of it.
Clare’s app also received an internal widget upgrade, so users can now add custom banner tiles to the ClareHome interface to view detailed device information and provide much faster access and control of various subsystems. Specifically, the new Security Favorites Banner Widget enables instant control of arm, disarm and silent arming functions, displays zone status info and a new panic screen access by swiping the screen to the left.
The Thermostat Favorites Banner Widget offers the ability to display temperature status and adjust climate settings, while the Favorite Scenes Widget consolidates users’ custom scenes for all subsystems into a tiled interface. Finally, the Recently Used Favorites Widget always displays the most recently used devices or scene controls.
Other enhancements include a new quick-access Emergency Screen that provides targeted Audible and Silent Panic buttons to notify central station operators that either local police, medical first responders or fire departments are needed at the home or business.
Clare also simplified the in-app setup procedure to connect ClareOne panels with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa devices, which enable voice commands to control ClareOne-connected locks, lights, climate, scenes, and security.
“By enhancing the robust ClareOne security system with instant subsystem control and integration with popular voice-controlled smart home devices, we’ve made ClareOne an incredibly valuable and powerful solution for total home control,” said Brett Price, founder of Clare Controls. “The ClareOne roadmap contains continued improvements and integrations, and we are constantly working to ensure setup and operation is as streamlined as possible for our integrators and users.”
Related: Color At Night ClareVision IP Cameras Feature Sony Starvis Sensors
