Trident Makes Its Case For Profitable, Easy To Implement Fundraising Programs

Any smart fundraiser will tell you that the key to maximizing contributions is to offer a compelling incentive that appeals immediately to the interests and lifestyle of the contributor. Trident Case®, the California-based manufacturer of tough and stylish mobile device cases, today introduced an easy way for organizations to tap into the growing popularity of mobile devices and maximize contributions to their individual cause.

“With nearly 95% of adults in the United States now owning either a cell phone or wireless device, it’s clear that millions of consumers need a premium case to protect their investment in mobile technology,” today stated Erin Luzzi, Trident Case Vice President of Marketing. “And now Trident Case is providing the easiest way possible for fundraisers to earn the most money for their organization.”

According to Luzzi, the new “Fundraise with Trident Case Program” provides organizations with three distinct ways to generate contributions. First, organizations can link directly to the Trident Case web site. Once linked, an organization’s supporters can use a special Promo Code to order their smartphone or tablet cases. The participating organization will automatically earn up to $14 on each case that is purchased. The consumer receives a 20% discount off their purchase and an additional 20% of the list price of the case is donated to the organization.

Secondly, organizations can purchase and distribute Trident Gift Cards that generate for the organization $10 for every $50 Gift Card and $5 for every $25 Gift Card sold. Finally, organizations can combine both options into a completely integrated effort that leverages the power of the Internet with traditional Gift Cards.

“What’s more, Trident will create custom case programs that feature an organization’s colors and logo,” Luzzi said. “And, once a program is finalized, Trident will provide the organization with a complete merchandising support program consisting of email flyers that can be customized with each organization’s logo and message. We will also provide the organization with a summary of all sales generated from the specific Promotional Code — making the management of the entire program as seamless as possible for each organization.”

The decision to introduce a turnkey fundraising toolkit is a direct extension of the company’s overall corporate commitment to make a difference in the lives of its consumers. With its rapidly expanding line of award-winning smartphone and tablet cases now being carried by national retailers such as Best Buy, Office Max and Wal-Mart, the increasingly well-known Trident brand is sure to make an immediate and powerful impact on any organization’s fundraising goals.

To find out more how Trident can make a case for your organization, email Erin Luzzi directly at erin.luzzi@tridentcase.com.

Trident Case offers six series of protective carrying solutions providing one, two, or three layers of protection: Kraken AMS Series®, Aegis Series®, Cyclops Series®, Perseus AMS Series®, Electra Series® and Apollo Series®. Every series supports a broad range of devices from manufacturers including Apple®, Samsung®, HTC®, Motorola®, and more. All Trident cases are bio-enhanced plastic based products that are degradable, compostable, and recyclable. Over the past two years, Trident Case has invested in the infrastructure and resources necessary to manufacture its tough cases, with style, in the United States of America.

Northwest Kansas Technical College Uses Trident Kraken Cases To Protect Students' iPads in Punishing Learning Environments

Apple® iPads have been hailed as one of the best investments any K-12 school or college can make for its students. Like any investment, however, iPads come with inherent risk. They can break easily, scratch, dent, or otherwise be damaged to the point of becoming a $500 brick, and cash-strapped students, K-12 schools and colleges simply can’t take the chance of incurring extra expenses due to breakage.


That’s why Northwest Kansas Technical College (Northwest Tech) realized they needed to offer each student the best protective case for their devices, and decided on the Trident Kraken A.M.S. case, according to Northwest Tech Director of Technology Brad Bergsma. He said the school first allowed students to buy their own cases and then began providing a case for each student the next year, but none of them were the perfect fit for the students’ needs.

“Northwest Tech is a hands-on technical college where students are treated as if they are working a real job.” Bergsma said, “We incorporated iPads as a learning tool as soon as they were introduced back in 2010, and have since seen our enrollment grow year after year. We quickly found that students will purchase cheaper protective cases to save money, but after several instances of damaged devices, we decided that the school needed to provide every student with a strong, resilient protective case as well. We tried Otterbox cases but the students didn’t like how difficult they were to remove, so we tested the Trident Kraken A.M.S. case and have since purchased nearly 300 of them for the new Fall 2013 students.”

All across the campus students use their iPads to access the school’s iTunes U content and Learning Management System, research new ways to complete tasks online, collaborate with teachers and other students, and to document their projects and ensure things get put back together the right way with the iSight camera. With constant use comes constant abuse, as students are often working in dirty, dusty, and even oily environments, as well as the inevitable drops and dings that happen in an environment where automotive repair and construction skills are being honed and tested.

“There is an alignment app for the automotive students that speeds up their adjustments, but they need to take the iPad underneath the vehicle with them, so it’s a dirty, oily environment where it’s likely the device would get scratched or dropped,” Bergsma said. “And the cosmetology students use an app that allows them to schedule appointments, track and maintain customer info and look up new designs and info in class. If it weren’t for the Kraken A.M.S. cases, these students would have hair and cosmetic products all over their iPads in about 30 seconds, just like the automotive students would have oil and dirt. It’s a necessity to protect the iPads, and the Kraken cases are the best way we’ve found to do so.”

Erin Luzzi, VP of Marketing at Trident Case®, noted that, “For punishing environments like those at Northwest Tech in Goodland, Kansas, where students learn in on-site automotive garages and cosmetology salons low-quality cases would result in more than a few headaches and unexpected costs for students. Our Kraken A.M.S. cases offer unbeatable protection for the most punishing environments and are used in real world environments like construction sites and hospitals, so they were the ideal solution to protect this school’s investment.”

The Kraken cases are certified by U.S. military standards to protect mobile devices against rain, dust, drops and vibration. They each have a permanent screen protector that protects the device’s screen from scratches and dirt, as well as an attachment port on the rear of the case that can be locked into more than two dozen mounts from Trident and Arkon.

Trident Case offers six series of protective carrying solutions providing one, two, or three layers of protection: Kraken A.M.S. Series®, Aegis Series®, Cyclops Series®, Perseus A.M.S. Series®, Electra Series® and Apollo Series®. Every series supports a broad range of devices from manufacturers including Apple®, Samsung®, HTC®, Motorola®, and more. All Trident cases use bio-enhanced plastic based products that are degradable, compostable, and recyclable. Over the past two years, Trident Case has invested in the infrastructure and resources necessary to manufacture its tough cases, with style, in the United States of America.

Trident Case Partners With Huawei As Authorized Case Designer and Manufacturer

Furthering its commitment to provide the best cases for all of today’s most popular mobile devices, Trident Case®, a California-based manufacturer of tough and stylish mobile device cases, today announced that it has partnered with Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology solutions provider, to design and manufacture several series of protective cases for a variety of Huawei devices. According to Trident Vice President of Marketing Erin Luzzi, Trident is proud to be one of only two officially authorized manufacturers of cases for Huawei devices.

“Huawei is going to play an increasingly large role in the smartphone market in 2014 and beyond,” Luzzi said, “and Trident Case will be there every step of the way providing the ultimate combination of style and protection. Our specially designed cases meet Huawei’s rigorous standards for performance, function and style, and allow the company to offer an exclusive line of accessories that work perfectly with their smartphones.”

Since mid-August the company has produced cases for more than half a dozen Huawei devices available from U.S. providers such as T-Mobile, MetroPCS and others. Each case will include Trident’s bio-enhanced plastic that is degradable and compostable, and over time the line will become part of Trident’s “Made In The USA” program.

The Huawei cases by Trident fall under three new series: the $39.99 MSRP Nestled Series, the $34.95 MSRP Happy Stripes Series and the $19.95 MSRP Precision Series. The Nestled Series provides tough protection and improved grip with a polycarbonate shell, a protective silicone sleeve, a self-applicable screen protector and a belt clip/holster; the Happy Stripes Series offers a unique colorful twist on rugged protection and includes a polycarbonate shell, a protective silicone sleeve, a self-applicable screen protector and modern-styled prints; the Precision Series protects devices with minimal bulk and consists of a polycarbonate shell with an overbuilt edge for extra drop protection, plus a self-applicable screen protector.

Trident Case currently offers six full series of protective carrying solutions providing one, two, or three layers of protection: Kraken AMS Series®, Aegis Series®, Cyclops Series®, Perseus AMS Series®, Electra Series® and Apollo Series®. Every series supports a broad range of devices from manufacturers including Apple®, Samsung®, HTC®, Motorola®, and more. All Trident cases use bio-enhanced plastic based products that are degradable, compostable, and recyclable. Over the past two years, Trident Case has invested in the infrastructure and resources necessary to manufacture its tough cases, with style, in the United States of America.

Award-Winning Homebuilders Use ELAN g! To Capitalize On Housing Market Recovery

Consumer confidence is high, new home sales surged 8.3 percent in May and new home prices have climbed month over month in 2013, so it’s clear the housing market is recovering. Builders need to find ways to stand out and capitalize on this market growth, and one way to do so is to offer things that others don’t even consider, like total home control. Award-winning builders Jim Blansfield of Danbury, Connecticut-based Blansfield Builders, Inc. and Josh Wynne of Sarasota, Florida-based Josh Wynne Construction have both partnered with local integrators and found huge success using the ELAN® g! Entertainment and Control System to help close new home sales.

“I’m a believer in ‘the new normal’ way of thinking,” Blansfield said, “and with the affordable and expandable control solutions made possible by ELAN g!, home control is the new normal! In the past two years, I’ve closed several new homes by demoing the g! system for prospective clients. I have a g! system in my own home, so I’m the first person to say how easy it is to use, and my clients are consistently impressed that I include technology in my designs and recommendations, because many other builders minimize the importance of home technologies.”

Since partnering with the Danbury integration firm Structured Home Solutions, Blansfield has built 13 homes that include ELAN g! systems of varying size and complexity. Whether the new buyers were looking for enhanced security, HVAC scheduling, lighting, irrigation and pool controls, or super simple whole-home audio and video systems, every client received a custom solution tailored to their specific needs. From a business perspective, Blansfield knows that his knowledge, appreciation and passion for technology place him in an entirely different category from other builders.

“Any builders who resist change and aren’t prepared to talk to clients about integrated home control solutions will hurt themselves in the long run,” he said. “I even push remodel clients to install the ELAN g! system because it adds so much value to the home, and brings it into the 21st century more so than new countertops or an updated bathroom could ever do.”

Josh Wynne has had similar success integrating advanced home technologies with the ELAN g! system, and has teamed up with Sarasota integrator SmartHouse Integration to offer his new clients the best that modern home technology has to offer. Wynne is building four new LEED Platinum certified homes in 2013, each featuring the ELAN g! system to control core subsystems such as AV, HVAC, security, lighting, window shades, irrigation, garage doors, pool controls and surveillance cameras.

According to Wynne, “I’ve strived to make a basic home automation package standard for every new home I build. When smartphones came on the market a lot more people started to see how easily these advanced systems could integrate into their homes and help them live more simply and comfortably, and I’ve used that culture movement to benefit my business. Most of my projects are relatively big budget, around the $1 million mark, but there’s absolutely no reason that a $250,000 home shouldn’t include a multi-room audio system, an integrated HVAC or lighting system that saves money and energy, or a security and surveillance system that can be accessed remotely from any smartphone or tablet.

Both builders agree that determining the buyers’ interests is key to selling advanced home control solutions, whether they love music and want multi-room audio or desire heightened peace of mind and would benefit from a mobile-accessible security and surveillance system. From there it’s a small leap to demo the entire ELAN g! system and highlight all the trappings that easy-to-use home control offers. Another thing they agree on is the need to use a reliable, qualified integrator to make the homeowner’s technological dreams a practical reality. That’s why they’ve each partnered with a top integration firm in their respective regions, and worked together to craft custom solutions that make every home the perfect living environment for the owners.

Trident Case® Launches "Build Your Own Smartphone Case" Application

Consumers can customize almost every element of their lives, from their coffee to their sneakers to their ringtones, so why shouldn’t that same freedom of expression extend to the case that protects their most-used accessory – their smartphones?

In time for the upcoming back to school and holiday seasons, Trident Case® is offering consumers the freedom to express themselves with abandon and create a one-of-a-kind case with the new online “Build Your Own Case” designer, allowing them to represent their favorite sports team, show their school spirit or just choose a different color for each day of the week while providing maximum protection for today’s most popular smartphones.

With 81 different color combinations, the Build Your Own Case designer makes it easy to

create a unique Trident A.M.S. case that matches each owner’s personal style. All they have to do is go to the Build Your Own Case designer, select their smartphone device and choose the colors for the outer and inner portions of the cases. Additionally, each buyer can select up to two accessories such as a windshield mount or bike mount. To make it even easier, the colors change in real time as users select them, and there is an Inspiration Gallery of designs that other users have purchased!

For only $49.90, the custom-colored Trident cases are available for the most popular smartphones from Apple, HTC, Motorola and Samsung. Not only do these personalized cases make the owners’ smartphone stand out from the crowd, but also help provide some serious protection from bumps, drops and vibrations. Each custom case consists of two pieces: an inner Perseus® anti-skid shell that is made of shock-absorbing silicone and a hard, rugged exoskeleton that offers superior protection from drops onto hard surfaces.  Kraken A.M.S. cases include a built-in screen protector to provide 360-degree protection for today’s most popular smartphones.

As an added bonus, Kraken A.M.S. cases are actually 2 cases in 1! They consist of a Kraken A.M.S. exoskeleton on the outside and a lighter duty Perseus silicone case on the inside, so the exoskeleton can be removed should the user desire a different look or feel.

About Trident Case®

Since its founding in 2010, Ontario, California-based Trident Case® (www.tridentcase.com) designs, engineers and manufactures tough and stylish cases for mobile devices of all makes, models, shapes and sizes. With six series of protective cases that offer unparalleled protection from drops, scratches, water and dust in environments ranging from classrooms to construction sites, the company manufactures the ideal protection solution for every mobile device. Trident products are proudly designed and manufactured in California.

The Niles IntelliControl ICS System Now Features iPad/iPhone Control Through The ELAN g! System

Niles®, The First Name In Custom Installation®, today announced that it is now possible to immediately provide its Niles IntelliControl® ICS System customers with iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch control capability with the market introduction of the new ELAN® g! 5.3 software upgrade for the ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System.

The free software upgrade that was released today by ELAN Home Systems is available to all qualified dealers, according to Niles President Mike “Sparky” Detmer. What’s more, the ELAN g!Mobile 5.3 app for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch now offers complete control of both the ELAN g! system and the Niles ICS System, and is available from the iTunes store.

According to Detmer, “Today the Niles ICS System, the industry’s most powerful and versatile whole-home audio solution, gained immeasurable new value with the addition of iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch control capability. Accessing all of the most popular music sources including iTunes® libraries, Pandora® Internet Radio, Rhapsody® and Sirius|XM® Internet Radio is now easier and more convenient than ever.

“The introduction of the g!Mobile 5.3 app comes at an amazing time and refreshes the entire Niles ICS System just as we surpass 15,000 ICS installations. And what’s more, with the integration with ELAN home controllers, Niles dealers gain an incredibly simple entryway for educating their clients about whole-home automation.”

The Niles IntelliControl ICS System is a unique whole-house audio distribution system that incorporates any music and metadata from iPods, Sirius|XM Satellite and Internet Radio, Pandora Internet Radio, Rhapsody, local music files on home computers or NAS drives, AM/FM radio, HD Radio™ and any other analog audio source. Users can access their personal music libraries and terrestrial, satellite and Internet radio sources through intuitive, easy-to-use in-wall touch screens and touchpads, handheld remotes and portable touch screens that provide full source, song, station and playlist information.

The backbone of ICS is the GXR2 Modular MultiZone Receiver, which was designed and engineered to be 'future-proof' and adaptable to meet the constantly changing demands of custom installers and their clients. The newest option for the GXR2 is the IM-NET streaming media module, which offers custom installation professionals a high-performance solution for providing their clients easy access to all of their favorite Internet-based music content including Pandora Radio, Rhapsody and SIRIUS|XM. Metadata for all digital music is can be displayed on connected control devices and user interfaces including the Niles Contact, a full-color wall-mount touch screen.

With the release of the g! Mobile5.3 app for control of the ICS system, in addition to being able to access all of a client’s favorite sources, the ICS system now provides access from the client’s favorite control devices: their iPads and iPhones.

About Niles®:
California-based Niles® is a 33-year-old brand recognized as The First Name in Custom Installation®. Niles is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of audio/video custom installation products and accessories and is guided by its vision to be the world’s leading provider of products and services that enable professional custom installers to design and install systems that delight their customers. To that end, Niles pursues a mission to provide solutions for end users that enable simple and easy access to home entertainment and that integrate seamlessly with other low voltage subsystems like lighting, Internet, security and HVAC in residential and light commercial environments. Niles conducts its business with a promise to treat its customers, employees, suppliers and stakeholders with fairness and respect and to foster teamwork, innovation and a commitment to be the best in everything it does. Additional information may be obtained by visiting www.nilesaudio.com.

About The AVC Group, LLC:
Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, The AVC Group, LLC is a portfolio of pre-eminent manufacturers and marketers of state-of-the-art consumer and commercial audio, video, and control system solutions. The AVC Group is comprised of the following industry leading brands: Niles®, ELAN® Home Systems, Xantech®, ATON® and Sunfire®. The AVC Group, LLC is a subsidiary of Nortek, Inc.’s (www.nortek-inc.com) Home Technology Group.

Ecko Unltd. Named As CES Innovations 2012 Design And Engineering Award Honoree

MIZCO International’s EckoUNLTD. product marketing division today announced that it has been named an International CES Innovations 2012 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree for its new Spray™ Bluetooth speaker. Products entered in this prestigious program are judged by a preeminent panel of independent industrial designers, engineers and members of the media to honor outstanding design and engineering in cutting edge consumer electronics products across 32 product categories.

The Spray is the newest addition to the Ecko UNLTD.SOUND line of powerful, stylish mobile audio products from MIZCO International. It is the ultimate Bluetooth speaker for use with iPods, iPhones, iPads, laptops and PCs, and all Android, BlackBerry and Windows smartphones. With two full-range high-output 40mm drivers delivering 3W each and two 45mm passive radiators, it can fill a room with high-fidelity audio or bring music to the outdoors thanks to the high-capacity Li-Ion battery that provides up to 10 hours of play time.

Utilizing Bluetooth 2.1 technology the Spray pairs with any Bluetooth device up to a maximum range of 30 feet, includes a built-in microphone that enables hands-free calling with any Bluetooth cell phone and has a 3.5mm line input for direct connection to any music player or smartphone. The Spray’s dome twists to control volume and skip to the next or previous song, and the Spray’s nozzle is a button that controls the play/pause and call functions.

The Spray has a high gloss black finish and includes a high-density metal grille. The high capacity Li-Ion rechargeable battery is user-replaceable, so owners can carry spare batteries to provide virtually unlimited playtime.

Graffiti has played an important role in Marc’s creative vision ever since he first glimpsed the vibrantly painted subway trains rumbling through New York City. In designing a Bluetooth speaker that looks and feels like a Spray paint can, he is sharing a part of his history and paying homage to those artists who came before him.

“Marc Ecko and Mizco have brought a new level of fashion, function and features to the consumer electronics industry with the Spray, giving consumers the chance to hear the colors sound can make, and we are proud to have that recognized by the CEA,” said Steve Kops, Executive Vice President of Sales for the EckoUNLTD. line at MIZCO. “The EckoUNLTD. line of mobile device accessories will continue to grow and introduce today’s consumers to Marc’s unique fashion style.”

The prestigious Innovations Design and Engineering Awards are sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®, the producer of the International CES, the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow, and have been recognizing achievements in product design and engineering since 1976. The Best of Innovations honor is awarded to the products with the highest judges’ scores and will be featured in the Innovations Design and Engineering Showcase at the 2012 International CES.

EckoUNLTD.’s Spray will be displayed at the 2012 International CES, which runs January 10-13, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Honorees will also be displayed at CES Unveiled: the Official Press Event of the International CES from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday, January 8 in the Venetian Ballroom of the Venetian.

The Innovations entries are judged based on the following criteria:

• Engineering qualities, based on technical specs and materials used
• Aesthetic and design qualities
• The product’s intended use/function and user value
• Unique/novel features that consumers would find attractive
• How the design and innovation of the product compares to other products in the marketplace

Products chosen as an Innovations honoree reflect innovative design and engineering of the entries. Examples may include the first time various technologies are combined in a single product or dramatic enhancements to previous product designs.

Innovations 2012 Design and Engineering honoree products are featured on www.CESweb.org/Innovations, which lists product categories, as well as each product name, manufacturer information, designer, description, photo and URL.

ELAN Home Systems' HR2 Awarded 2011 Resi Award for Best Remote Control

ELAN Home Systems last week was awarded the 2011 Resi Award by Residential Systems magazine in the category of Remote Control for the ELAN HR2 Remote. The award was presented to ELAN at the 2011 Resi Awards CEDIA Expo Reception in Indianapolis, Indiana.

"With ELAN g! we set out to create the best whole house system, making sure that the whole family could enjoy it," said Paul Starkey, president of ELAN Home Systems. "The HR2 is the most logical extension of that system because everyone has and uses a remote control. We aimed to break the mold of whole house control - and together, the ELAN g! Series and the HR2 remote do just that.”

Each year, Residential Systems magazine presents the prestigious Resi Awards to honor the best products exhibited at CEDIA EXPO, based on their industrial design.

“This year’s Resi Awards finalists demonstrate, once again, that innovation and elegant design need not be sacrificed during challenging economic times,” stated Residential Systems editorial director Jeremy Glowacki.

The sleek ELAN HR2, the company’s first ever remote, features the ELAN "g!" engine and hybrid use of backlit buttons with a 2.4" OLED touch display. This provides all the function of hard buttons and a touch screen packaged in a stylish remote that weighs a mere 8 ounces. Nearly a year of development went into the remote's shape and button layout, and that plays out in a very pleasing and easy-to-use button configuration, with a crisp clear touch display of the g! icon controls. This delivers quick-touch access to media, climate, lighting and security subsystems. Its ergonomic design is easy on the hands and eyes, and is ready on pickup thanks to a noiseless accelerometer and instant-on electronics. Integrated Wi-Fi and IR ensure rich metadata content as well as speedy local control of sources and TVs.

Beyond function, a major part of the remote's appeal is the gentle and artistic sculpting of the bottom and back so that depth quickly goes from one inch in the palm to a half inch midway up for an easy and balanced grip. Its Lithium Polymer battery provides superior battery life with the display on or on standby. A stylish charging base is included and keeps the HR2 in a handy upright position - ready to grab-and-go with a minimal footprint.

The industry's most intuitive new control solution - "g!" - is what powers the HR2, and it is a welcome advance over the complexity of its predecessors. "g!" features uniform, icon-based control from favorite devices including TVs, touch screens, touchpads - even PCs and iPhones. The standardized GUI interface works across more than 11 platforms, so that the trendy g!Mobile app users love on the iPhone appears and works similarly on ELAN's HR2 and all other g! touch controllers as well as users' televisions and mobile devices. Individual "apps" for each subsystem allow the user to control security, climate, lighting, media, irrigation, pool/spa, messaging, video and photos with the flick of a finger. Access through the system's IP backbone is fast and secure through any ELAN home interface or globally with mobile Internet enabled devices like the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Netbooks and PC Tablets.

ELAN HR2 Handheld Remote Control:

• 
  
• All the speed, response & graphics of a touch screen
• All the ease-of-use, simplicity-of-programming & affordability of a remote control
• 43 backlit Hard buttons 3 additional programmable buttons
• 2.4" OLED display
• Noiseless accelerometer for activating LCD and backlight
• 802.11g communication provides robust metadata feedback
• IR blaster for line-of-sight control
• Quick & easy programming using the ELAN Configurator
• Compatible with all g! System Controllers
• Ships standard with battery and charging base
• Controls all AV sources with metadata feedback for supported devices
• Controls security, lighting, and climate with metadata feedback
• Supports all drivers that run on other g! interfaces

NILES® IntelliControl® ICS Audio System Now Offers Whole Home Control Via ELAN® g!

The Niles® IntelliControl® ICS platform, the custom installation industry’s leading multi-room audio system with more than 15,000 installations, will now be able to connect to the ELAN® g! control system, opening the door for Niles ICS dealers and customers to enjoy the benefits of whole home automation controlled by an iPad and iPhone. The announcement of this technology co-integration was made today by Mark Terry, President of The AVC Group, who said that this was the first step forward in the Group’s long-term product development strategy.

“This initial integration of the Niles ICS system with the ELAN g! control platform makes it possible for our loyal base of Niles ICS customers to immediately access the benefits of whole home automation featured in the ELAN g! control system,” Terry said today. “While this is significant in its own right, it is a more significant statement about The AVC Group’s commitment to pursue a long-term complementary product development strategy while maintaining the strength and integrity of each individual brand.”

According to Terry, and for the first time since its introduction in 2005, the Niles ICS system will now allow consumers to control its six streaming sources by an iPad and iPhone. Second, Niles ICS dealers who qualify to sell ELAN g! systems will now be able to offer both installed and new ICS customers an affordable bridge to the home control of television, lighting, climate, and other functions via the ELAN g! system. Third, qualified ELAN dealers will now have the opportunity to offer their customers another option for streaming content, including native Pandora® Internet Radio.

According to Niles President Mike Detmer, “Niles has always stood for the best, easiest to install architectural audio wherever consumers live, work, and play. For some time, our dealers have requested IOS control for the ICS system. Today, in conjunction with our sister brand ELAN, we are able to cost-effectively provide this capability to our dealers, enabling them to upgrade the more than 15,000 ICS systems they have installed since 2005 while offering them entry into a new revenue opportunity — home control.”

According to ELAN President Paul Starkey, “This integration of the Niles ICS platform with the ELAN g! platform makes a great combination package for a lot of our dealers and the speedy installation of both systems will be immediately attractive to dealers.”

The Niles IntelliControl ICS System is a unique whole-house audio distribution system that incorporates iPods, Sirius|XM Satellite Radio, Pandora Internet Radio, Rhapsody, AM/FM radio, HD Radio, and TV, CD and DVD sources. Users can access their personal music libraries and terrestrial, satellite and Internet radio sources through intuitive, easy-to-use in-wall touchscreens and touchpads, handheld remotes and portable touch screens that provide full source, song, station and playlist information. The heart of the IntelliControl ICS System is the GXR2 Modular MultiZone Receiver, the first ever receiver to use interchangeable input modules to accommodate any input sources and support up to 30 distinct zones of audio.

Available starting under $2,000 for a single-room, four sub-system control solution, the ELAN g! Series Control System can be expanded quickly and cost-effectively to enable whole-home control. ELAN g! provides users with the most uniform and intuitive icon-based control from their favorite devices, including TVs, touch screens, touchpads, PCs, iPhones, and iPads. The standardized interface works across platforms, so that the trendy g!Mobile app users love on the iPhone appears and works similarly on ELAN touch screens, valets and handheld remotes as well as users' televisions and mobile devices. And the system's IP backbone makes it just as easy to control the system from across the room—or across the globe.

Cellular Innovations Three-In-One Travel Chargers Named Best New Product By Convenience Store News

The Cellular Innovations division of Mizco International today was awarded a Best New Product Award by Convenience Store News for its Three-In-One Travel Chargers. The award will be presented to Mizco on October 3, 2011 at the NACS Show in Chicago, Illinois.

“The Three-In-One Travel Chargers are the perfect solution for space constrained convenience stores,” Sam Mizrahi, Executive Vice President, Mizco International, said today. “With this line of chargers, we are able to provide the convenience of a car charger, home charger and USB charger for computer charging in one single product.”

The line of Three-In-One Travel Chargers feature two models. The ACP-APP includes connectors for iPhones, iPods, and iPads, as well as a three-foot long stereo audio cable for connecting a phone to a car or stereo auxiliary input port. The ACP-CELL model includes connectors for the six most common cellular phone models, including Blackberry and HTC Smartphones, Samsung, Motorola, Nokia and LG cellular phones. “The ACP-CELL is like having 18 SKU’s in one package,” states Mizrahi.

Both models feature environmentally friendly packaging that features “Try Me” access to all connectors, free connector tips for life, and a lifetime warranty.

Xantech's WIPAD Used for "Light Impressions: A Celebration of iPhone Photography" Exhibit at Alys Beach, Florida-based studio b.

Studio b., located in Alys Beach, Florida, recently opened their groundbreaking exhibit Light Impressions: A Celebration of iPhone® Photography, which features the curated work of 40 iPhoneographers from around the world, showcased on 40 Apple iPad 2® units. “Never before has iPhone photography been exhibited on this scale and with this level of deference,” states studio b. founder/owner and world-renowned photographer Colleen Duffley. With an iPad 2 assigned to each artist, each unit features 13 photos from the artist’s collection, shown in a slide show configuration, looping at different intervals. Another iPad 2 is used to stream the entire show online at studio b.’s Web site. The iPad used as the live feed camera is mounted with a WIPAD Control Interface from Xantech, a leader in the field of audio/video remote control and distribution for 40 years.

Light Impressions was conceived out of Duffley’s enthusiasm for iPhone photography and the belief that this new artistic medium positions everyone with a desire to express their creativity on a level playing field. “iPhone photography is still an emerging art form,” adds Duffley. “I know people are going to be astounded when they see what is being done in the movement. And all on an iPhone – from capturing the image through post-processing. It is really mind-blowing and wonderful. Several attendees have commented that they feel like they’re seeing the future right here at studio b. And it’s a very pure art form – far more about the creativity than about expensive gear or intricate techniques.”

Duffley adds, “It was important to us that we were able to stream the exhibit online to viewers all around the world. The iPad that we were using as the camera needed a secure mounting solution, and Xantech’s WIPAD was the perfect choice.”

Rick Seegull, Xantech Director of Business Development, stated, “We are very proud that studio b. and Ms. Duffley have chosen Xantech’s WIPAD to be employed as part of the Light Impressions exhibit. Colleen points out that the art in this exhibit is not about technical know-how or complicated techniques, and the user-friendliness and high levels of integration of the iPhone and iPad make this new sort of approach possible. That is similar to how we want our users to think of us – user-friendly products that make things work and happen through integration. The technology should be airtight enough to be invisible, and that is part of our philosophy.” With the WIPAD, Colleen was able to securely install the iPad into a public area making sure it will be visually attractive, secure and tamper-proof.

The exhibition will be on display through August and will be open for viewing Thursdays through Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and by appointment all other times.

About Xantech’s WIPAD Control Interface
The WIPAD is a secure and easy-to-install solution that enables an iPad to be permanently flush wall-mounted for use as a touchscreen A/V control interface or standalone iPad use in commercial and residential applications. The unit is designed not only to securely protect the device but also to allow easy access to power, audio output and other connectivity. The WIPAD presents an ideal way to securely mount an iPad so it may be used in a permanent installation. The WIPAD protects the device from unauthorized removal and is designed so power, audio output and other connectivity are preserved. The result: a secure touchscreen interface for any application including single-zone or multi-zone control.

The Xantech WIPAD measures 12 inches (L) x 9.81 inches (H) x 0.875 inches. (D). The WIPAD cover is secured with four chrome security screws and a slot is also provided for securing the frame with a standard PC locking cable. The design includes speaker vents for the iPad speaker, standard paperclip-sized slots on the top and side for accessing the power and volume control buttons without having to open the frame, and wire management grooves for the synch/power and audio output cables. On the WIPAD rear panel, VESA standard mounting hole patterns allow an easy fit with VESA swivel mounting brackets. Hole patterns on the panel also support mating with North American and European standard metal dual-gang electrical junction boxes for convenient wall mounting.

For more information, please visit www.xantechcommercial.com.

ELAN g! Control System Earns Its Sea Legs In New Custom Yacht Installation

When Tim and Stephanie Bearden of Jonesboro, Arkansas decided to build a new custom 107’x20’ Sharpe houseboat, they made sure that every last detail met with their exact specifications. In addition to the five bedrooms, three bathrooms, full kitchen, full bar and extensive boat-wide audio/video systems, one of their biggest requests was that it must include the ELAN g! Control System, the latest in state-of-the-art entertainment and control technology.

Ryan Heringer, president of Jonesboro, Arkansas-based Sound Concepts, previously installed an ELAN system in the Bearden’s home in 2008, and he was sure the new ELAN g! Control System would be perfect for their new houseboat.

“First and foremost, the Beardens wanted a top-of-the-line multi-room, multi-source audio/video system that was simple to control and adjust. I have installed the ELAN g! System in homes and businesses, so for me the first boat installation was an exciting idea,” said Heringer. “Since it is IP-based and can be controlled with the g!Mobile app on iPhones, iPads and any Internet-connected PC, the g! System is perfect for this application. Now the Beardens can relax and enjoy their time on the boat and make any changes they need to the audio, video, lighting, surveillance, heating and air conditioning systems from anywhere on board.”

Just like a house, preparing a 4,000 square-foot boat for guests can be a chore. The heating and air-conditioning needs to be adjusted, lights need to be turned on, and everybody has to know how to operate the audio and video systems in the different rooms so the owner can relax. With the ELAN g! Home Control System, the Beardens can be sure their houseboat is ready to entertain before they even leave home. With a few touches and swipes on an iPhone they can set the lights, heating, air-conditioning, and boat-wide audio and video to fit their needs for that particular day. And while they are out on the water, they can even keep an eye on their three-year-old daughter and her friends through ELAN g! with an IP camera and microphone installed in her special “kids’ cuddy”.

“In addition to having full system control on my iPhone,” remarked Tim Bearden, “my wife and I love that we can monitor the kids’ cuddy right on our iPhones. Now we can entertain guests or relax on the top deck and know that our kids are playing safely in their room below deck.”

The two-story houseboat features nine flat screen TVs, 38 speakers and three Sunfire subwoofers divided into eight video zones and 12 audio zones. The family and guests can access a wide variety of entertainment sources including four DirecTV feeds, Internet streaming movies from Vudu, a Samsung Blu-ray player, an iPod dock, AM/FM tuner and SiriusXM satellite radio.

All those aboard can access the g! controls through a multitude of interfaces including nine ELAN TS2 touch pads located throughout the upper and lower decks, an ELAN TS10 10-inch touch panel in the kitchen, an ELAN HR2 remote, ELAN g! On-Screen-Display on all nine TVs, and three iPads that will remain on board. And to ensure the family and guests can always stay connected, the houseboat has a DSL connection when docked, a cradle point Internet router for mobile Web access, and a commercial-grade cell phone signal booster.

Heringer had previously installed ELAN control systems in two houseboats for the Beardens, but this was the first time the new IP-based ELAN g! Control System got a chance to take to the sea.

“As great as the old systems were,” said Bearden, “we were still carrying a remote around that we had to switch to each zone as we walked from room to room. With ELAN’s new g! Control System, we can control everything with simple icon-based controls on a few iPads that we bought just for the houseboat. It’s so convenient that soon we’re going to have Ryan upgrade our home system as well.“

Available starting at $1860 for a single-room, four sub-system control solution, the ELAN g! Series Control System can be expanded quickly and cost-effectively to enable whole-home control of every room appliance. ELAN g! provides users with the most uniform and intuitive icon-based control from their favorite devices, including TVs, touch screens, touchpads, PCs, iPhones, and iPads. The standardized interface works across platforms, so that the trendy g!Mobile app users love on the iPhone appears and works similarly on ELAN touch screens, valets and handheld remotes as well as users' televisions and mobile devices. And the system's IP backbone makes it just as easy to control the system from across the room - or across the globe.

When It Comes To Charging Cell Phones, It Helps To Be Specific

Specificity is important in every aspect of life, and that includes using a charging device tailored to the specific needs of each individual smartphone platform. Mizco International’s DIGIPOWER division today introduced the industry’s first Platform-Specific Smartphone Charging Kits, which provide the exact amount of power required for iPhone, Android and Blackberry platforms, allowing smartphone owners to charge up faster than ever.

Until today, virtually every universal charging device was designed to perform optimally for one smartphone platform —the iPhone. These charging devices will charge Android and Blackberry smartphones, but they do not provide the optimal amount of power and take longer than necessary to deliver a full charge. DIGIPOWER’s new platform-specific charging kits ensure that each smartphone’s power requirements are addressed individually and completely, and will fully charge smartphones much faster than other charging devices.

Available at all major retailers and online stores, the new DIGIPOWER line comes in Black with Green for the Android platform, Black with White for the Blackberry platform, and Black with Silver for the iPhone platform. The new DIGIPOWER line includes a Home & Car Kit that retails for $29.99, a Home Charger that retails for $24.99, a Car Charger that retails for $19.99, and a combination Power & Sound Kit featuring a set of ear bud headphones and a Home and Car charger that retails for $39.99.

Chicago-Based Systems Integrator Installs World's Largest ELAN g! Home Control System

Chicago-based systems integrator AudioVideo Specialists, LLC has just completed what is believed to be the world’s largest ELAN g! installation in a new 10,000 square foot suburban Chicago home. The homeowners wanted their new house to have all the bells and whistles modern technology could offer, but when they went in search of a home control system they came down with a serious case of sticker-shock. The first systems integrator they spoke with suggested a different control system and gave them a quote of $480,000!

When they went looking for a second opinion, builder Rich Bondarowicz, president of Smart Group, Ltd., recommended Dan Cochenour at AudioVideo Specialists, LLC. Cochenour knows that there is a lot to consider when installing a home control system of this magnitude, from superior functionality and third-party component support, to ease of use and competitive pricing. Using the ELAN g! Home Control System he was able to offer the homeowners a simple-to-use, robust IP-based complete home control solution for a lot less than his competitors.

“This is the largest residential installation we’ve ever done,” said Cochenour, “and it is a glowing showcase of the control muscle that the ELAN g! Home Control System offers. With a system as extensive as this, it’s important that it be easy for the homeowner to operate and adjust. Luckily, the ELAN g! system basically makes whole-home control as simple as adding a contact on your iPhone.”

When all was said and done, the project wound up being the largest ELAN g! installation to date. Every subsystem in the house is integrated with ELAN g! – whole-house audio, video, lighting, HVAC, security, surveillance, motorized window curtains and sheers, irrigation, and even the pool and spa controls. It even includes custom-programmed “Away” and “Home” modes that conveniently set every system in the house to a pre-determined configuration for optimum efficiency and comfort. The ELAN g! system can be accessed through the owner’s three iPhones and two iPads, as well as a multitude of ELAN control interfaces including 12 HR2 remotes, seven TS2 2” in-wall touchpads, two TS7 7” in-wall touch screens and a WT84 8.4” Wireless Tablet with table top cradle.

The house is a media lover’s dream, featuring 11 LG flat panel HDTVs ranging from 32” to 60”, two of which are 3D TVs with LG 3D Blu-ray players and four pairs of 3D glasses each. Many of the TVs are custom-mounted less than an inch off the wall, giving the rooms a clean, uncluttered look. And when they need some fresh air, the family can watch TV year-round in their backyard on a 46” SunBright Outdoor LCD TV, viewable from the pool and spa. Through the ELAN g! system, every TV can access four DirecTV feeds with two DVRs, two networked Sony 400-disc Blu-ray changers and can view eight surveillance cameras located throughout the property.

To complement the ample video system, the house features a total of 54 speakers and seven subwoofers throughout 32 audio zones, including two surround systems, 12 outdoor speakers and two outdoor subwoofers. Each zone can play audio from a dual am/fm tuner, a three terabyte hard drive (enough space for 600,000 songs!), two iPort table-top iPod docking stations located in the kitchen and bar, Pandora internet radio, XM satellite radio, all of the video feeds and the home’s intercom system.

With the push of a button the family room transforms into a complete home theater as a Screen Innovations 106” motorized screen drops from the ceiling and a motorized theater curtain extends across the stairs to block sound from traveling out of the room. The 7.2 surround sound system with in-wall and in-ceiling ELAN and Sunfire speakers and an Optoma HD8600 projector rival the quality of full-scale commercial movie theaters, and trump them in convenience.

Managing a lighting system for a 10,000 square foot house can be challenge, but ELAN g! makes controlling the home’s 80 lighting zones a breeze. The owners can set automatic schedules for indoor and outdoor lighting and check which lights are on from any control interface. There are six motion sensors installed outside the bedrooms and elevator to automatically turn on the hallway lights when they are needed. With a whole-house Vantage lighting system, light switches are replaced by custom-engraved backlit keypads with pre-programmed lighting and entertainment modes. In most of the TV rooms, for instance, hitting the “Media” button on the Vantage keypad turns on the lights, entertainment system and automatically sets it to the correct source.

Security is one of the biggest concerns when living in a home of this size and value, which is why the owners have installed a full-fledged GE security system and surveillance cameras that are accessible and viewable on every TV, iPad and iPhone in the house. The system can also be viewed and controlled from anywhere in the world on an iPhone, iPad or PC using the ELAN g! software, providing the owners with peace of mind when away from home.

According to builder Rich Bondarowicz, the house requires less energy to maintain a comfortable climate than the owners’ former home that was half the size, thanks to ELAN g!’s smart energy monitoring, Energy Star HVAC systems and the inclusion of super-efficient foam insulation in every wall. The house has 18 climate zones controlled with Aprilaire and Tekmar thermostats, which are automated through the ELAN g! Home Control System.

Demonstrating the dedication and skill of Audio Video Specialists, LLC and the flexibility of the ELAN g! Home Control System, Cochenour centralized all the system components in a custom-built temperature-controlled four-rack cabinet. The cabinet features custom TZ locks that are controlled electronically by the g! system, as well as programming that turns on the fans when the cabinet rises above 85 degree Fahrenheit.

The system also includes several custom-programmed features:

• When the doorbell rings, every TV and speaker in use throughout the house pauses and displays the front door camera and intercom.
• The outdoor and landscape lighting turns on at dusk and off at dawn, based on the astronomical clock. If any of the home’s sump pumps or ejector pumps should fail, the ELAN g! Control System sends a text message to the homeowner and builder, allowing them to fix the problem before any damage is caused.
• If any of the equipment racks exceeds a set temperature limit, it will send a text message alert and shut down the AV system for protection.
• If the security alarm is triggered, the coach and porch lights will flash and the pathway lights will turn on until the system is disarmed.
• With an “Away” button, the owners can turn off all lights and AV zones with one touch as they walk out the door, and use the “Home” button to turn on pre-configured zones when they return.

Bondarowicz knows that he needs to keep up with building and technology trends to succeed in today’s homebuilding market, so he discusses home automation systems with all of his customers. “Some of my customers do ask about home automation systems, but I make sure to mention it to everyone, especially if they are unfamiliar with the technology,” he said. “And compared with the other home control systems out there, the ELAN g! system has become a favorite because it offers the best mix of a simple-to-use interface, all-encompassing capabilities and overall affordability.”

Available starting at $1860 for a single-room, four sub-system control solution, the ELAN g! Series Control System can be expanded quickly and cost-effectively to enable whole-home control of every room appliance. ELAN g! provides users with the most uniform and intuitive icon-based control from their favorite devices, including TVs, touch screens, touchpads, PCs, iPhones, and iPads. The standardized interface works across platforms, so that the trendy g!Mobile app users love on the iPhone appears and works similarly on ELAN touch screens, valets and handheld remotes as well as users' televisions and mobile devices. And the system's IP backbone makes it just as easy to control the system from across the room - or across the globe.

America's Greenest New Home Is Controlled and Monitored With The ELAN g! Home Control System

The “Power Haus”, a new Sarasota, Florida house, has received the lowest HERS score ever in the U.S., a negative 22, which means the house produces more energy than it uses. It also scored 118 LEED points (an internationally recognized green building certification system), making it the highest-scoring new construction home in the U.S. The home’s state-of-the-art systems are simple to manage through the IP-based ELAN g! Home Control System, which allows for consolidated control of lighting, heating, cooling, security, surveillance, whole-house audio/video and even the pool and spa right from the owner’s iPad, iPhones and ELAN in-wall touch screens.

Josh Wynne, President of Josh Wynne Construction, utilized every tool at his disposal to set these incredible green-building benchmarks. Every wall in the home is filled with super-efficient foam insulation, and the ceiling’s exterior is coated with spray foam insulation to allow for an elegant and unique “tongue and groove” ceiling inside. A Uni-Solar Flex-Lite solar array covers more than half of the roof, producing 14.2 kW of electricity and helping the house achieve its negative 22 HERS rating.

The house was carefully designed and situated to take advantage of shade provided by the property’s large trees, and it features an open floor plan with ceiling fans throughout, including an eight-foot fan in the great room. An independent dehumidification system helps to control the Florida humidity and full walls of operable impact-resistant Jeld Wen insulating windows serve to maximize natural ventilation. The home is fully outfitted with Energy Star appliances and super-efficient core systems – such as an Infinity HVAC system and Eternal tankless water heater – and it features 100 percent LED lighting, even outdoors.

“Not all of my clients are super tech-savvy, and neither am I, so I like things that are simple and reliable,” said Wynne. He knew all the technology in the home needed to be tied together in a simple, convenient way for the homeowner to control and manage, so he contracted Mark van den Broek, president of Sarasota-based SmartHouse Integration, to install the ELAN g! Home Control System.

“The ELAN system is the best control solution for me and my clients based on its relatively low cost, superior reliability, scalability, extensive third-party component integration, and most of all its ease of use,” said van den Broek. “My clients love that the control interface is the same on an iPad, iPhone, in-wall touch screen or on the TV. And I have never come across a third-party component that couldn’t integrate with the ELAN system.”

The homeowners control the system through two ELAN TS7 7-inch in-wall touch screens, three ELAN TS2 in-wall touch pads, an iPad and their two iPhones. With six flat screen HDTVs indoors plus one on the deck, the Power Haus is no slouch in the media department. To complement the video system, 14 speakers are distributed through eight audio zones, including two outdoor rock speakers. The media systems can play content from three DirecTV feeds, two Blu-ray players, XM satellite radio, Pandora Internet radio, am/fm radio and an ELAN VIA!migo iPod dock.


The ELAN g! Home Control System is integrated with the home’s five DVR surveillance cameras, DSC security system, LiteTouch lighting system and Bryant HVAC. SmartHouse Integration even custom-programmed a button in the ELAN g! software to instantly access the GUI for the solar array so the owners can monitor its performance in real time. ELAN g! allows the homeowner to program events for every subsystem, simplifying virtually every aspect of running a household. Users can set the lights to turn on and off at specific times, and the heating and cooling systems can be adjusted for maximum efficiency based on when people are home. And for travelers, there is nothing more convenient than setting up an “Away” mode that automatically changes all of the systems’ settings with the touch of a button.

Available starting at $1860 for a single-room, four sub-system control solution, the ELAN g! Series Control System can be expanded quickly and cost-effectively to enable whole-home control of every room appliance. ELAN g! provides users with the most uniform and intuitive icon-based control from their favorite devices, including TVs, touch screens, touchpads, PCs, iPhones, and iPads. The standardized interface works across platforms, so that the trendy g!Mobile app users love on the iPhone appears and works similarly on ELAN touch screens, valets and handheld remotes as well as users' televisions and mobile devices. And the system's IP backbone makes it just as easy to control the system from across the room - or across the globe.

ELAN® Debuts 10” In-Wall Color LCD Touch Screen Featuring “Touch And Swipe” Design And Built-In Video Screen For Television Viewing

Following the recent introduction of its expanded line of ELAN HC Series System Controllers for its g! Control System, ELAN Home Systems today introduced a new 10” in-wall color LCD touch screen to its award-winning family of user-friendly g! system interfaces. The new ELAN TS10 Touch Screen will be delivered to dealers beginning in June, according to Joe Lautner, ELAN Manager of Business Development & Product Management.

“The new TS10 Touch Screen provides dealers and consumers with the ultimate touch screen experience,” Lautner said today. “It combines a ‘touch and swipe’ design with a larger Active Matrix LCD screen for viewing television through the analog video feature, and larger easy-to-read icons for aging eyes. It’s ideal for watching television in the kitchen or the bathroom.”

The ELAN TS10 Touch Screen features composite video for viewing TV sources or cameras, a 16:9 wide screen format, backlit hard buttons for commonly used functions, built-in speaker and microphone for messaging, simple IP connectivity for communication, non-volatile flash memory, quick & easy programming, compatible with all ELAN controllers, easy retrofit installation, optional backbox and preconstruction brackets (sold separately), and a screen saver mode that can display photo. The TS10 ships standard with a white frame, but it is also available in almond, light almond, ivory, and black.

The g! family of interfaces is ELAN’s breakthrough series of touchscreen devices and applications that put total entertainment and control right at a consumer’s fingertips. No matter what is being controlled – the home, office, restaurant & bar, conference room or classroom — this exciting group of g! interfaces enable users to control everything in a fast, powerful, and, most importantly, intuitive way. Each one of ELAN’s handheld, mobile, or in-wall interfaces has the uniform g! look and feel creating a consistent user experience that is both familiar and satisfying. Users simply touch one of the fun g! interface icons and they’re in immediate control of their media, lighting, climate, security, video and much more.

In addition to the new TS10 Touch Screen, the ELAN family of interfaces includes the award-winning HR2 handheld remote control that is the ultimate merger of television remote and home control, the TS7 and TS2 7” and 2” Touch Screens, and the g! mobile applications for the iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad. The ELAN g! System also provides interfaces for PCs and On-Screen Displays allowing for entertainment and home control from a television.

The ELAN g! Control System provides users with the most uniform and intuitive icon-based control from their favorite devices. The standardized interface works across platforms, so that the trendy g! Mobile app users love on the iPhone appears and works similarly on ELAN Touch Screens, valets and handheld remotes as well as users' televisions and mobile devices. And the system's IP backbone makes it just as easy to control the system from across the room - or across the globe.

Individual "apps" for each subsystem allow the user to control security, climate, lighting, media, irrigation, pool/spa, messaging, video and photos with the flick of a finger. Access is fast and secure through any ELAN home interface or globally with mobile Internet enabled devices like the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Netbooks, and PC Tablets. Since the intuitive interface empowers users with personalized scheduling and detailed history views, high consumption subsystems like lighting and climate can be closely monitored and managed for a greener lifestyle - and substantial energy savings.

America's Favorite Cake Maker Buddy Valastro Installs $100,000 ELAN g! Home Control System to Automate Every Aspect of His New House

America’s favorite cake maker, Buddy Valastro of Carlo’s Bakery, can control and automate every aspect of his $1.3 million, 7,000 square foot New Jersey home, right from his iPhone with the ELAN g! Home Control System.

When Valastro moved in 2010, he didn’t know much about home automation. He had a new music distribution system installed, but that was it. Two days after closing on the house, he was introduced to Chima Gale, owner of 360 Media Innovations, who showed him how the ELAN g! IP-based Home Control System could make his life, and his home, simpler to manage. After a short demo at the set of Valastro’s television show, Gale had him hooked. Now, they have just completed a $100,000 ELAN g! installation that lets Valastro control every aspect of his home from around the globe.

“In today’s world, if you don’t embrace new technology, you get left behind,” Valastro said. “I use state-of-the-art appliances in my kitchens, but had never spent much time thinking about other parts of the house. So I said to myself, ‘I want a space-age house. I want to turn off all the lights with one button before I go to bed, and I want music playing when I walk into the kitchen in the morning.’ The best thing about this system is it took no time at all to learn to use it. My family knows how to use an iPad and an iPhone, so the software feels just like any other app we use on a daily basis. Having all the systems – the heating, lighting, music, and alarms – adjust themselves throughout the day has made everyday life simpler for me and my family.”

And the system doesn’t just turn lights and music on and off. Valastro’s house is fully integrated, so he now has total mobile control over the home’s 68 light switches, four-zone HVAC system, security and surveillance system with 24 cameras, whole-house audio system with 42 ELAN Elios speakers in 17 discrete zones including the master bathroom and three-car garage, and he can even control the pool equipment.

The system is so extensive, you can hardly turn a corner in the house without seeing a touch screen control panel. There are 12 TS7 touch screens that double as digital picture frames, two TS2 touch pads, 4 On-Screen Displays (OSD) on TVs throughout the house, three new iPod touches and two new iPads in addition to the six iPads the family already owned. As if that were not enough, there is a vanishing-mirror TV above the sink in the master bathroom.

“Nobody can deny that the adoption of home control is growing by leaps and bounds, and the home is quickly becoming an extension of our digital lives,” said Gale. “The ability to help someone go from a simple dedicated music distribution system to a full-fledged home control system, accessible from anywhere in the world, is what makes today so exciting for the industry. The fact is that everyone wants home control. With the ELAN g! Home Control System, everyone can have it.”

In fact, Valastro’s appreciation for the ELAN g! Control System will soon extend beyond the home, as he and Gale later this year integrate the g! System throughout Valastro’s brand-new 35,000 square foot command center, a high-volume bakery production facility in Jersey City, New Jersey.

The ELAN g! Control System provides users with the most uniform and intuitive icon-based control from their favorite devices, including TVs, touch screens, touch pads, PCs, iPhones, and iPads. The standardized interface works across platforms, so that the trendy g!Mobile app users love on the iPhone appears and works similarly on ELAN touch screens, valets and handheld remotes as well as users' televisions and mobile devices. And the system's IP backbone makes it just as easy to control the system from across the room as across the globe.

Carlo’s is a family owned bakery that produces what many say are the best tasting, highest quality wedding cakes, specialty cakes and baked goods in New Jersey. Carlo’s, originally opened by Carlo Guastaffero in 1910, was acquired by Bartolo Valastro Sr. in 1964. Since the untimely passing of Bartolo Sr. in 1994, matriarch Mary Valastro, along with her daughters, Grace, Maddalena, Mary, and Lisa, her son, master baker Bartolo Jr. “Buddy” Valastro, and their spouses have maintained the business. The Valastro’s and their experienced bakers and staff have expanded Bartolo Sr.’s dream and have seen it flourish.  The bakery is located in the heart of Hoboken, New Jersey.