Last year, Crestron rolled out a major update to its smart home platform with the introduction of Crestron Home OS 4, and now the company is making its smart home software even better.
The Crestron Home platform’s latest update includes dozens of new features that make the system smarter — and a big one of those features is conditional logic. These conditional sequences introduce the ability to create “if-then, else” statements to the automation process, giving dealers the ability to create complex and nuanced automation scenarios with a defined set of conditions that must be met before an action is triggered.
“For example, a sunset sequence could be created so that if the light sensor in the living room falls below 30%, the living room’s lights rise to 80%,” explains Michael Short, Crestron’s senior director of marketing operations and residential.
That transition can be made gradually so that the shift into a warm and inviting ambiance is hardly noticeable.
“A multi-trigger sequence could also be introduced so that when, say, a movie streaming source is selected, the system ‘knows’ to dim the lights, close the blinds, and adjust the speaker volume for the best viewing experience,” Short added. Because it’s all been made easier in the latest Crestron Home OS update, dealers can quickly and efficiently customize those functions to the client’s preferences.
Expanded Lighting Control
To make those lighting transitions as natural as possible, Crestron Home OS now allows dealers to adjust “raise” and “lower” fade rates. “This allows a dealer to really fine-tune a lighting control system’s behavior,” Short said. Fade rates are easily modified in the platform’s settings, and these changes are automatically reflected in the system for testing and implementation.
More robust lighting control in Crestron Home OS also extends beyond conditional triggers and fade rates.
“Crestron’s always supported the notion of an open ecosystem when it comes to the smart home,” Short says.
To that end, the company’s summer and fall update includes native Lutron Ketra lighting control integration, which expands the range of lighting options already available within the Crestron Home platform.
“By providing an open and flexible platform, Crestron allows homeowners and dealers to choose the lighting solutions that best suit their needs while still having access to the simplicity of the Crestron digital lighting platform for ease of control and configuration,” Short added.
This update also includes the release of Crestron Home OS SIMPL Integration Modules. “This is an example of the way an integrator can marry the features they need in a custom solution with the Crestron Home OS,” Short said. “This update empowers dealers to leverage the speed and simplicity of Crestron Home OS lighting and shading while maintaining the flexibility and customization capabilities of SIMPL programming.”
Enhanced Communication
Room-to-Room Calling and Paging Replies are two new communication features that are included in the update to Crestron Home.
With Room-to-Room Calling, you can make direct calls between Crestron touchscreens, facilitating easy communication within the home. This is perfect for families or individuals who want to stay connected without having to rely on their smartphones.
The Paging Replies update allows a Crestron Home user to reply directly to the person who paged them, eliminating the need to track down the caller. This streamlines communication and ensures that messages are received and responded to promptly.
Access Control and Security Updates
The concept of “security” has undergone a shift since the first “smart locks” arrived on the market. It’s not just about keeping unwanted people out; it’s about letting the right individuals in. Crestron has embraced this notion with enhanced user management of all existing as well as new Crestron EX Locks. This includes the integration of the line of brand-new Yale Pro 2 Deadbolt Locks for a better security experience, allowing family members or guests to receive access to specific locks and be assigned unique pin codes for convenient home entry. That extends to the garage as well. Crestron has integrated the myQ driver developed by Intrinsic Dev Limited for Chamberlain and Liftmaster garage doors (gates and lamps) with Wi-Fi connectivity into the “House Access” area of the app. This update provides a unified view of garage doors, gates, and locks.
This Crestron Home OS update also gives more control over the security of touchscreens for spaces within the home. “Pin code protection now allows chosen touch screens to be locked down during certain instances or at all times,” Short said. “Homeowners can turn on pin code access to the living room and kitchen touchscreens when hosting family over for the holidays and switch them back to normal mode when everyone leaves. Alternatively, a pin code can constantly remain ‘on’ in spaces like the primary bedroom, where privacy is a must.”
Improving the Interfaces
On the hardware front, Crestron’s newest additions include Horizon Glass Keypads with sophisticated white and black glass finishes that complement a wide variety of home décor schemes.
Crestron is also bringing integration with the Crestron Digital Graphics Engine 1000 (DGE-1000) to this update. “When we release the DGE-1000 later this year, homeowners will be able to display the Crestron Home OS interface on larger third-party touchscreens and have HD streaming video support directly within the OS,” Short said.
This summer/fall update to the Crestron Home OS also includes updates to the integration of the Crestron C2N-UNI8IO, a universal keypad interface, which enables the transformation of a third-party keypad into a Cresnet communications device. “We’ve included labeling support for the C2N-UNI8IO,” Short explained. “This update simplifies the setup and documentation process by allowing dealers to label custom buttons and feedback LEDs.”
Audio Solutions
Crestron has made numerous additions to its audio product line this year. Just before the ISE 2024 trade show, the company rolled out four new DM NAX Audio Edge Devices to bring any source — from streaming to vinyl to pro gear and more — into distributed audio systems. The DM-NAX-XSP Audio Return Processor — Crestron’s first Surround Sound decoding DM NAX digital signal processor — can bridge streaming TVs to Crestron’s DM NAX multi-room audio distribution system.
Now, we’re adding network-powered speakers to the mix in this latest update via support for Crestron’s Saros PoE speakers. Once shipped, these speakers can be easily detected and configured within Crestron Home OS. “By leveraging the existing functionality of the Crestron Home platform, dealers can effortlessly add Saros PoE speakers to rooms, further expanding the range of network-connected devices available for installation,” Short said.
And there’s yet another benefit on the open ecosystem front: Crestron Home OS has added Sonos speakers line-in support, enabling better audio control and switching capabilities. “With this update, Crestron Home OS can instruct Sonos soundbars to switch between eARC or line-in inputs on demand,” Short explained. “This feature allows users to transition between different audio sources, such as watching an Apple TV, switching to music, or doing breakaway audio, all without the need to turn off the room because of the auto-switching built into the Sonos soundbar. It all adds up to a more fluid and enjoyable audio playback.”
Hospitality Features and Dealer Branding
Crestron Home OS summer and fall updates extend the system’s integration capabilities to the hospitality sector through support for Axxess Industries PrivacyService. This integration adds the following Axxess devices as native InfiNET EX wireless devices: GRM, HCM, HCM Ceiling Mount, Plug-in Chime, ADA Flasher, and CCMD, expanding options for customization and convenience in hospitality environments. Integrators can now introduce elegant privacy and service features such as “Privacy/Do Not Disturb” and “Service/Make Up Room” functionalities, enhancing the overall guest experience. Or, for residential applications, one can even add a plug-in doorbell chime anywhere in the home.
The latest updates also introduce a new branding feature that allows dealers to promote the work that they do. “Dealers can personalize their projects by adding their logo to the Crestron Home app and touchscreens, enhancing brand awareness with a sleek and professional look,” Short said. “It’s a great feature for those wanting to maximize exposure and build further on the ‘word of mouth’ leads that naturally happen within the industry.”
“These updates build on the expanding foundation we’ve given the platform in previous iterations,” he added. “The Crestron Home OS becomes more powerful and intuitive with every update we provide.”
As is always the case, this update is free for those who already have the Crestron Home OS. It’s one of the many things that sets Crestron apart from other brands in the world of home automation.
Crestron’s summer and fall updates of the Crestron Home OS will occur at different times:
Summer Update: Crestron Home OS 4.3 (August 28, 2024)
- Conditionals (“if-then, else”) via Crestron Home OS setup app
- Multiprocessor support for shades
- Room-to-room calling
- User management for Crestron EX locks
- Adjustable light fade rates
- myQ driver shown in “House Access” area
- Native Lutron Ketra lighting control integration
- Sonos speaker line-in support
- Axxess Industries hospitality solutions
- New Yale Pro 2 deadbolt locks
- DGE-1000 integration
- Saros PoE speakers DM NAX Audio-over-IP technology integration
- Horizon glass keypad integration
- C2N-UNI8IO labels
Fall Update: Coming Soon
- Conditionals (“if-then, when”) via Crestron Home OS Configurator
- Crestron Home OS SIMPL integration modules (including summary reports)
- In-app branding
- PIN codes to protect panels
- Shared GW1 for multi-processor support
- Home chooser updates: “Fleet Management”
- BACnet communications improvements
- Paging replies
