videostorm

Curious on everyone's preference for Art mode behavior.... 1. For turning on the TV and setting Art mode, what range do you want on the motion sensor? Six feet in front of TV? Any motion in the room? Short range, like wave your hand near the TV? 2. For turning on the TV and setting Art mode, do you want to filter out spurious motion (like just walking by, through the room, etc) and NOT trigger 3. For turning OFF the TV, what is your preferred criteria? No motion for 10 minutes?

Awesome! Send me a PM with your email and I'll send you a sample once they are ready.

Our NetPlay system will run perfectly well via standard Cat5 (or even coax if that is all you have). If you go the distributed video route it is a good affordable option that works with your existing wiring. Very future proof as well. https://video-storm.com/residential.php

Our next version of IRUSB will have a motion sensor on it. Anyone (who has a frame tv) want to volunteer to test using it to activate Art mode? We should have a few beta samples for testing in a month or so.

We have a tool (splash-tiles.com) that can create a screen saver from your Google calendar or tasks events. Unfortunately, C4 touchscreens don't (yet) allow you to change the screen saver. However, you can use this on all your Android / Android TV / Fire TV & Stick devices.

Seems like Spectrum TV app is on Google Play, so it would work on Shield or Chromecast (Google TV).

SplashTiles is controlled via the standard method for the device it runs on. For example, if running on a Sony TV it is controlled via the Sony remote (or more accurately the Sony IP driver in C4). So when the SplashTiles overlay is active (and interactive), you would select the Sony TV (watch) and the C4 remote can navigate the buttons. SplashTiles doesn't run on Roku, so if you go this route (and don't have an Android TV) I suggest replacing Roku with nVidia Shield (or Fire stick if you prefer). Then SplashTiles will just run on your primary streaming device, and either it's remote or the C4 remote will control it (and SplashTiles when active) without any complications.

Yes, SplashTiles does need internet capability to operate. The flip side is it can operate from any network, not just your lan (for that oddball case you might actually want that). This is only because it is a cloud based service. It certainly COULD be done locally only. Our NetPlay system could do that with a bit of scripting. I can't speak to everything in the C4 universe, but I think the onscreen interactive overlay features offered by SplashTiles are fairly unique.

Yes, lots of them. White paper on c4 integration https://video-storm.com/Downloads/why_netplay_c4.pdf https://video-storm.com/residential.php estimator and demo vids My youtube channel has a lot more https://www.youtube.com/user/videostorm1/videos Keep in mind NetPlay is generally a superset of SplashTiles features, so both apply.

This easiest explanation in a C4 context is NetPlay is a network based video matrix, connecting all your sources to your displays. It has a lot of advanced features that can PIP and tile sources, as well as graphical overlays from web / html5 sources. Less expensive than most video matrix solutions, but still in the $1K range. All perpetual licenses, no subscriptions. If you aren't as interested in the video distribution part (sending your sources from a closet to your TVs via network), we also have SplashTiles (splash-tiles.com). In C4 it is basically the graphical overlay stuff without the video distribution. You can overlay buttons, cameras, web feeds, etc over whatever is directly connected to the TVs. SplashTiles is really inexpensive, but subscription based ($25 to $75/ yr)

Our SplashTiles tool (splash-tiles.com) can put C4 action buttons on your video feed (as an interactive transparent overlay). Below is a tutorial for notifications, but you can do action buttons as well. If you have Android TVs (Sony, etc) it will overlay the HDMI input directly. Otherwise you can run on any Android streaming device (Shield, Fire stick, etc) and it will overlay that source. SplashTiles is sort of like NetPlay-lite Very low cost way to get some of the advanced functions of the later full blown distribution system.

with their disruptive pricing, thats your only hope of long term survival I don't mind less expensive touch screens. Agree the C4 ones are astronomical. My comment is regarding Ubiquiti controller's issues with log4j (and previous security problems). Hopefully they do better....

Log4j most likely

Another nice feature of the Sony TVs is they can support full graphical on screen notifications & camera popups in C4. Really can add you your experience! Demo vid: Tutorial vid:

Here you go https://www.amazon.com/Optimal-Shop-External-Channel-Surround/dp/B00Q4WQ7XW/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=6+Channel+External+Sound+Card+USB+2.0+External+5.1+Surround&qid=1638730978&sr=8-1 It is a standard product. All the ones on Amazon or Ali that look the same are the same.

String data types are null terminated. When compared, they are compared up to the first null encountered on either string. (loop starting at index 0, loop till null encountered) Maximum size is platform / language dependent.

If you have had two hdmi matrixes fail already, you should expect that trend to continue. (sorry) One of the weaknesses of hdmi / hdbaset / POE is the dc coupled grounds from your rack to all your zones. If you have any instances of earth grounding outside the single point connection at your main panel, these systems are extremely vulnerable to electrical storm damage. No amount of surge protection helps, this is a ground loop issue. If you have high ground water table and frequent lightning storms in the area, expect a shorter time to failure. While it is theoretically possible to find and correct all the additional grounding points in your home, in practice this is rarely successful. There just isn't a good way to find them and then test to verify they are all removed. Easiest solution is to use a fully isolated solution. With your exiting CAT cables, switching to vanilla ethernet (non POE) is fully isolated via magnetic coupling. Fiber also works if your budget is unlimited (optical coupling).

"Turn On" is part of the Smart Home Device API. Whenever Alexa thinks she hears that, it triggers searching through all the devices that have been linked to your account. If you use this, best to keep the name "Turn on (name)" to a single simple word (that doesn't sound like the names of any of your other devices, check the alexa app - devices).

I would say use Shields instead of Apples, but this actually gives you BETTER quality than ANY video distribution system will. Direct connection to source always wins. Distribution is nice for whole-house synchronous if you want that. Some systems (Netplay ) give you some cool popup / overlay / notification stuff in C4 as well. But everyone should consider streaming devices at the TVs as the baseline solution. It isn't "going cheap", it is the best quality.

Just the TV. Couldn't find a Samsung speaker bar driver. Is there one? It is a HW-Q59. CEC is off on all the sources, since they all like to be screaming PICK ME constantly..... (periodic CEC SEL when on)

Anyone know how to setup the connection for the HDMI input of the connected Sound bar on Samsung Q series? Driver just has the 4 HDMI inputs on it. However, IRL HDMI input 3 (ARC) is connected to the sound bar and the Sound bar and it has another HDMI input that is connected to the 3rd source. But when you select HDMI 3 via C4, sometimes you get the HDMI input of the soundbar and sometimes not. If not, you can manually select "HDMI input" on the soundbar (via button) to get the input. Is there a way to directly send the command to the soundbar (via the samsung IP driver) to select HDMI input?

Usually NetPlay residential systems have 2-4 "centralized" sources. Cable/Sat/DVR (1 or 2 units, depending on # of people who will watch at the same time) 1 centralized streaming device (Shield, etc) For synchronized playback across multiple TVs at the same time (otherwise you normally use the local Shield apps) Ultra Bluray or other misc legacy device (if you need it) And that is it. Also keep in mind with NetPlay sources don't have to be in one location. Anything to put a little encoder on is considered "centralized". Doesn't really need a dedicated entertainment rack. You can put the sources anywhere that is convenient, so long as you have wired network there. The main benefits are: Synchronized playback of a source across all your TVs (think party mode) PIP and notification overlays Fancy signage and screen savers

Since you already have Shields at each TV, you might want to look at NetPlay (https://video-storm.com/residential.php) for centralized video distribution. Very affordable since it works with most of the HW you already have. You do have some options for centralized gaming (https://video-storm.com/netplay_gaming.php), but in general it is better to keep those local to the TVs.

This is a good point. It is unlikely that all dealers make this clear, and by "making it clear" it would have to be in some paperwork the end customer agrees to and/or signs. Otherwise actually enforcing these policies (by removing the end users access to the driver) is legally shaky at best. To be enforceable, there needs to be a EULA attached for the customer detailing this policy. Otherwise, just ditch the policy and always make sure the end customer has access to the driver, which is the more customer friendly approach. IE, if the original dealer is unresponsive proactively issue a new license. Path of least resistance.... Yes, as a vendor the dealer ARE our customers. However, the end customer is actually the one who is paying (via the dealer) for the driver. Both parties need to be served.

In this particular case, the certificate expired. Most certificates expire. This is a security feature meant to prevent a compromised certificate from lasting forever. The thing is, everyone KNOWS WHEN the certificates will expire. It is a planned event. You just need to update BEFORE it happens. Or at least promptly after when you realize your mistake. No grey area here. Just manufacturers being lazy, or probably just not devoting much effort to support products they already sold.