zaphod

I have written a Python script to easily make C4 drivers with customized icons by altering the stock Control4 Scenario Experience driver.  This involves unzipping a C4Z file, changing the icon image files, and making slight alterations to the XML file before rezipping it.  This script automates all of that and outputs a new C4Z driver file that can be added to your project by your dealer via Composer Pro. You just need to provide an image file to start with - ideally a PNG file that is about 1024x1024. (Smaller image files were working but some icons might look stretched.) After the new driver file is added to your sytem you can then use Composer HE to decide what screens to display these in, and Favoriting in Navigator to put these buttons on (almost) any screen that you want and tie them to any task in C4. 
You will need Python 3, but it should work in Windows, Linux and WSL. (If you are running Linux under Windows 10 then you should have Python already installed on that. If you have Windows 10 I would highly recommend installing Ubuntu so that you have a Linux system running inside of Windows 10).
Instructions on how to do all of this are in a Readme file and in comments in the Python file.  In theory the script should work on Macs as well but I don't have a Mac to test.  Download the file from Github:   https://github.com/zaphodb65/C4driverbuilder
The final result will look like this. (This is from the C4 app on an iPad)

I have written a Python script to easily make C4 drivers with customized icons by altering the stock Control4 Scenario Experience driver.  This involves unzipping a C4Z file, changing the icon image files, and making slight alterations to the XML file before rezipping it.  This script automates all of that and outputs a new C4Z driver file that can be added to your project by your dealer via Composer Pro. You just need to provide an image file to start with - ideally a PNG file that is about 1024x1024. (Smaller image files were working but some icons might look stretched.) After the new driver file is added to your sytem you can then use Composer HE to decide what screens to display these in, and Favoriting in Navigator to put these buttons on (almost) any screen that you want and tie them to any task in C4. 
You will need Python 3, but it should work in Windows, Linux and WSL. (If you are running Linux under Windows 10 then you should have Python already installed on that. If you have Windows 10 I would highly recommend installing Ubuntu so that you have a Linux system running inside of Windows 10).
Instructions on how to do all of this are in a Readme file and in comments in the Python file.  In theory the script should work on Macs as well but I don't have a Mac to test.  Download the file from Github:   https://github.com/zaphodb65/C4driverbuilder
The final result will look like this. (This is from the C4 app on an iPad)

I have uploaded the python script to github https://github.com/zaphodb65/C4driverbuilder

Just got that! Thanks so much for the input!

Yes, Max 11.

I built this batch file (sorry, windows only) to quickly do the work. All you need is the default experience driver unzipped and a selected/default png image and the script does the rest. See "instructions" in the comments.
*Use at your own risk. No error checking. Enjoy. Works for me
 
@ECHO OFF :: DO ALL your work in the \www\icons\device directory. :: Put the NEW icons in eg. reboot-green and reboot-red. :: Run this script (from that same directory) and you'll get all new icons AND put in the right locations! :: Use https://www.iconfinder.com/icons/ to get icons :: Requires ImageMagick-7.0.11-1 eg. c:\Programs-Portable\ImageMagick-7.0.11-1 :: Download from https://imagemagick.org/script/download.php :: After images done, modify the driver.xml file with new names AND new path locations :: zip up the contents within the directory (eg. at same level of driver.xml) :: move the file from .zip to .c4z :: add driver to project :: ### :: Request icon names... set /P iconnamedefault="Full name with extension of the Default Non-Selected Image (aka white.png)? " set /P iconnameselected="Full name with extension of the Selected Image (aka green.png)? " :: Do the work... ECHO Creating default images... magick convert %iconnamedefault% -resize 70x70 default_70.png magick convert %iconnamedefault% -resize 90x90 default_90.png magick convert %iconnamedefault% -resize 300x300 default_300.png magick convert %iconnamedefault% -resize 512x512 default_512.png magick convert %iconnamedefault% -resize 1024x1024 default_1024.png ECHO Creating selected images... magick convert %iconnameselected% -resize 70x70 selected_70.png magick convert %iconnameselected% -resize 90x90 selected_90.png magick convert %iconnameselected% -resize 300x300 selected_300.png magick convert %iconnameselected% -resize 512x512 selected_512.png magick convert %iconnameselected% -resize 1024x1024 selected_1024.png ECHO Creating small images for icons... magick convert %iconnamedefault% -resize 32x32 device_lg.png magick convert %iconnamedefault% -resize 16x16 device_sm.png ECHO Moving images around and almost done... copy /Y default_70.png ..\..\icons-old\device copy /Y default_90.png ..\..\icons-old\device copy /Y default_300.png ..\..\icons-old\device copy /Y selected_70.png ..\..\icons-old\device copy /Y selected_90.png ..\..\icons-old\device copy /Y selected_300.png ..\..\icons-old\device copy /Y device_lg.png ..\..\icons-old copy /Y device_sm.png ..\..\icons-old move /Y device_lg.png ../ move /Y device_sm.png ../  

It looks cool from my perspective as a geek and C4 user, but it looks like the hardware is an issue.  And it can be hard to compete with Amazon selling Echo Dots at dirt cheap prices.
But this has privacy benefits, of course.

We are now at almost 4 months since the driver was pulled.  Any update?
Would this have been pulled for the same issue as the Nvidia Shield driver which was that it exposed a private key? Isn't FireOS a fork of AndroidTV? 

What exactly are the diffences between these and the pros and cons of using one vs the other?  This is my understanding, is this correct?
Custom Buttons - Installed as an agent.  You can install one per room.  These show up on the top level menu for that room (and only the top level?).  When you push the button it brings up a list of up to six actions that you can select.  The icon cannot be customized.
Scenario Experience - Installed as a driver so you need a dealer to do this for you. These can't show up on the top level menu but can show up in menus other than Lights or Shades (why not Lights or Shades?). The icons can be customized but you need to unzip the driver file, edit the image files and reconstruct the driver. You can install multiple buttons per room.
Has anyone come up with an easier way of changing the icons in the scenario experience button?
Are there any other drivers, etc that give similar functionality?
Is there any way to pull forward some devices into higher level menus?  For example to get to my Fireplace I have to go Comfort-Extras-Fireplace.  Can I move the fireplace up to the Comfort screen rather than having it buried under Extras?

By combining I just meant incorporating the XML code, or whatever else is required, for the bindings.

I think there is only a source select driver from Blackwire.  See here:  https://www.blackwiredesigns.com/courtesy-drivers/

Given the cost of printers, buy a wired printer.

Spotify is supposed to have a HiFi option later this year, so that could make Spotify equivalent to Tidal on the quality front.
 
https://www.theverge.com/2021/2/22/22295273/spotify-hifi-announced-lossless-streaming-hd-quality?

To take this to the next level maybe you could point a camera on the mat and use some sort of image recognition to determine the brightness of the mat to know whether to turn it on.

No
No, apparently this was a common properly of these at one time and they all have that issue but then newer units don't have this problem. At one time C4 fixed these under warranty but it is likely that yours is outside of warranty.

The screens on my SR260 are so dim that I can't see upgrades or anything else on the screen 😀

Anyone know why these EQ settings, or even more basic stuff like balance, bass and treble, are not available in the Navigator UI?  These are pretty standard audio settings that end users are used to be able to adjust.

I have something similar and it works fine off of my pre-existing LV landscape lighting which is 12VAC. Give it a go with the AC and see how it works if that is easier for you to implement.

You could use any Roku TV but it does require a paid driver.

I understand why it will never happen in C4 as this is similar to fully DIY, but I have seen it work in other environments and the benefits can be a number of drivers that are more niche as a geek that owns a Moen shower writes a driver for C4, or a Tesla owner in 2015 writes a driver for C4. Or these are done on unoffical APIs.  It seems like we are now seeing third party drivers C4 drovers that use unoffical APIs - there is now a Tesla driver for C4 but I am pretty sure that the Tesla API is unoffical, although it has been around for at least 8 years.  Yes there is the risk that the support for the OS project dies when the owner loses interest, but I believe that also happens with paid drivers as well. It is caveat emptor.
And don't totally knock Open Source as C4 runs on a version of Linux which is essentially an Open Source Operating System.
By the way, there are a handful of OS drivers on Github, and even a package that allows you to control some C4 stuff from Python. 

Sure would be nice if we could have an Open Source community writing drivers for C4.  I know a lot of dealers might not like it as it could eat into their revenue streams. 

Sure would be nice if we could have an Open Source community writing drivers for C4.  I know a lot of dealers might not like it as it could eat into their revenue streams. 

[rant]Pool integration is one of my pet peeves. It is usually ridiculously expensive and very limited in functionality[/rant]

[rant]Pool integration is one of my pet peeves. It is usually ridiculously expensive and very limited in functionality[/rant]

There was a thread on this topic a few months ago, might want to see if you can find that.
I have a TV that is semi-outdoors in a pool cabana that is pulled outside via a long articulating arm.  My strategy is to just use regular TVs and replace every 5-6 years rather than paying a HUGE premium for an "outdoor" TV.  But weather conditions are different here in Toronto where summer temps rarely exceed about 33°C and salt is not an issue.  My TVs have withstood winters where it gets down to -20°C although they are not used in the winter. I used to bring the TV in for the winter but I haven't bothered for the last few years