Katarzyna Petru
Hisense has a new plan for its TVs with the VIDAA system – and this time it’s not about another app or a slight refresh of the interface. The company announced a collaboration with Australian Chowmainsoft, and together they are releasing the VIDAA Control4 Driver, which is a driver that allows Hisense TVs to be connected to advanced home automation systems.
If you’re not familiar with Control4 – it’s one of the strongest smart home platforms on the market. It brings together, among other things, lighting, sound, alarms, and air conditioning. Everything is controlled from one app or a touch panel on the wall. But it is a premium solution – certified installers set it up from scratch for specific flats or houses.
Hisense + Control4 = controlling the TV like a light
The new controller allows you to control the television from the Control4 interface as if it were another element of the smart home. In practice: you can turn the television on and off, change sources, channels, launch apps (e.g. Netflix or Disney+), adjust the volume, or control playback – and all from one place. Plus, you always have a preview of what is currently happening on the screen.
There is one hitch
The solution only works with Hisense televisions that have the VIDAA system – and these are primarily popular in Europe. In the USA or Asia, many models run on Roku or Google TV, so the new controller is unlikely to be useful there.
According to Robert Andrews from Hisense UK, this is only the beginning of a larger offensive in the custom installation market:
– “We want our TVs to be the obvious choice for smart home designers. We have large screens, a stable system, and now full integration with Control4 as well” – he says.
And it's hard to disagree. Hisense dominates in the category of televisions over 100 inches, so if someone is designing a home cinema with automation – this controller is a natural addition.
ChooseTV hasn't said its last word either
Alan Chow, the head of the company, reveals that this is just the first step.
– “There is an increasing demand for the integration of televisions with smart home systems. We are already working on further solutions for other platforms with Hisense” – he announces.
