SAN FRANCISCO, MACWORLD / iWORLD 2012 — Those brainstorming sessions that we’d all like to eavesdrop on at Apple are managed using an iPad system.
In boardrooms on the Cupertino campus, iPad controls from Crestron Electronics turn on the projector, lower the screen, load slides, provide video conferencing and adjust lights and window shades. Crestron Electronics, Inc. has been making home and business control and automation systems for over 40 years.
A first-time MacWorld/ iWorld attendee, they brought four iPhone and iPad apps – Crestron Mobile and Crestron Mobile Pro – that are currently in thousands of homes acround the world. The iPad version is also responsible for lighting and climate control at the White House.
The pro version of the app costs $99 and can the control lights, media (including Apple TV), climate, security of your home or office from your iPhone, iPad or Android device. Nick who demoed it for us says that the paid version also acts as a video surveillance device. The free version manages lights, climate, security and drapes but with limited functionalities.
If you’re looking to add some smart controls to your house, the total cost to set up the system can run anywhere from $3,000 – $30,000, depending on what features you need. In terms of obsolescence, they say that their systems have a typical life span of about 10 years.
Nicole Martinelli is a San Francisco freelance writer who heads up Cult of Mac Magazine, our weekly publication available on iTunes. You can find her on Twitter and Google+. If you’re doing something new, cool and Apple-related, email her.
4 responses to “Here’s How Apple Controls Its Boardrooms From An iPad [MacWorld / iWorld 2012]”
great article, thanks for sharing
Boycott apple!
As a Certified Crestron Programmer and Installer I can assure you these control systems are the REAL DEAL!!! They always work. Can be infinitely scaled. And allow for any combination of microphones, projectors, flat-panels, media deliver (whether cloud based, server, or directly sourced), and color touchpanel interfaces.
I was actually told from a close source to the Cupertino installation that Apple wanted to also permanently replace their current inferior control system with Crestron’s because they wanted to assure that there were no perceived failings of the iPad with connectivity to the control system by dedicating stand-alone 9″ Color Touchscreen interfaces per boardroom, of course in addition to the iPad for WiFi control convenience. Which can happen with Control 4, Elan, etc….
Crestron’s control systems are bullet-proof.
No wonder the White House, Oracle, HP, Apple and dozens of Universities use them.
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account is set-up, you can access your cameras (snapshots and videos), view and manage your camera footage stored on the GotoCamera servers, and change your motion detection settings. The best part about this service? – It’s FREE!