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New Improved Kaleidescape Driver for the Control4 Home Automation System

alanchow

Member
Hi guys,

Just wanted to show you guys a sneak peak of the Kaleidescape Control4 driver we are working on. Alot of Control4 dealers have been pushing us to do one and we finally caved in.

We will be announcing this in coming weeks so keep a lookout on this thread.






 
Thanks for posting. I use a Control 4 system and am in the process of figuring out when to pay for revised programming. Hope to have a new TV soon but can work around that with the TV remote. Had been thinking that after the release of the new K software that merges the legacy and new K-systems in terms of library display would be the point to pull the trigger. This new software though is also worth waiting for.

So do you think "coming weeks" is by the end of June?
 
Our beta program has been really successful and has forwarded our release date to next week (if no major problems come up between now and then).
 
I have been testing the driver and i can confirm that if you own a Control4 system this is definitively the way to go!
 
It sure does look spiffy. Based on feedback from the other thread, I hope there is a Browse by Time if somebody scrolls down that one navigation pane. A Play Disc selection option too.
 


Chowmain - Kaleidescape Driver for Control4

Kaleidescape presents the world's most authentic cinematic experience with the content you love. Whether on disc or as a digital download from the Kaleidescape Movie Store, Kaleidescape brings together all your movies in a visually stunning library making it beautifully simple to access and enjoy movies that truly matter to you.

A premium product deserves an excellent interface to match as such the Chowmain Kaleidescape driver for Control4 offers full movie and music library access on all Control4 user interfaces for any IP controlled Kaleidescape system along with an extensive list of automation features that make the integrated experience more rewarding.

Put the finishing touch on your customer's Kaleidescape system using our driver for Control4.

Features
  • Ability to search, browse, playback and resume movies by All Movies, Actor, Director, Genre, Rating or Collection categories
  • View movie information including synopsis, MPAA rating, genres, cast director and more
  • View System information like amount of storage space used, available, current imports, downloads and more.
  • Disc options show up under Movies and Music when a Bluray, DVD or CD is inserted. Playback, import or cancel importing of discs directly from Control4.
  • Ability to search, browse, playback and queue music by Artist, Album, Genre, Mix Album and Collection categories.
  • View artist information including genres and biography
  • Automate cinema lighting based on movie playback state, movie position (main feature, credits, etc).
  • Automate projection screen masking and projection modes using aspect ratio feedback, masking feedback and more.
  • Automate playback of your favourite movie from programming.
  • Automatic volume up, down and mute command linking to the official Kaleidescape app.
  • Automatic Room On upon movie or music playback
  • Automatic Room Off upon screensaver active
  • Automatic Room Off or return to Onscreen Navigator on movie finished (optional)
Frequently Asked Questions

Why should i use Kaleidescape when there are cheaper solutions?

After living with a Kaleidescape system for a month i've come to appreciate that it just works. Compared to other media player solutions it is expensive however for those who do not have the time to mess around Kaleidescape is the solution for you. With 4K, Bluray and DVD based digital downloads, disc importing and playback solutions all in one its a solution that just works. For the dealer it is a solution where they can just install it and leave knowing that the solution is robust and requires little to no support.

Why should i use this driver over the official driver?

A premium product deserves an excellent interface to match. Since releasing our Kodi Full and Plex Full drivers for Control4 alot of dealers have been asking us to do something similar for Kaleidescape. The problem with the current driver is that it is extremely dated and most consumers expect the ability to search and browse their entire library from their Control4 interface and have the option for a more automated experience.

I like the official kaleidescape app. Can i use that?

Yes you can. We have set the driver up so that in dedicated theaters you can just pick up your iPad and you can use the official kaleidescape application by itself without ever touching a Control4 user interface. Control4 will automatically turn on the projector, dim the lights, etc when a movie is selected and when a movie has finished it will automatically turn everything off and bring the lights up. Volume control (up, down, mute) is automatically mapped as well.

Can you give us some examples of how we could use this driver?

  • Use your Control4 touchscreen, Onscreen, mobile or remote control user interfaces to browse movies and music directly from the Control4 user interface.
  • Create the perfect cinema experience by dimming the lights down when a movie starts, ramp it back up when the movie ends or if the user pauses or stops the movie.
  • Automate Cinema screen masking and projection modes based on aspect ratio and Cinemascape feedback.
  • Set the driver up so it automatically turns off when the screensaver kicks in. Great if you forget that you've paused a movie or have fallen asleep whilst watching.
  • Setup a button on your onwall keypad to start playback of you or your family’s favourite movie. Great for kids.
What hardware will this work on?
This driver will work on all IP controllable models of Kaleidescape. If it works with the official Kaleidescape iPad application it will work with our driver.

Why do you only support OS 2.8 and above?
We utilise some API's that are not available on older versions of OS. As such you will need to utilise OS 2.8.0 and above for this driver.

How do I find out more information about the driver?
Please see the links below for more information about the driver.

Chowmain Website

Download Installation Guide

How do I buy the driver?
This driver is developed by Chowmain software & apps and is distributed and supported by Houselogix, Inc.

Download Driver / Purchase Licence

Who do i contact for technical support?
This driver is developed by Chowmain software & apps and is distributed and supported by Houselogix, Inc.

Support

Do you provide trial licences?
All Chowmain drivers for Control4 come with a 48 hour trial. This is activated once you add the driver to the project. No additional steps are necessary.

Kaleidescape%20Movies%20Small%20v2.gif


Kaleidescape%20Music%20Small.gif


Kaleidescape%20Settings%20Small.gif
 
I'm confused. Does this driver support the standard Kaleidescape "stick" remote and display the various search functions on my projection screen or is this just done via iPad or similar device displaying the various functions on the remote device (like the current iPad app does)?
 
I just installed this on my system last night (Control4 EA5 and Kaleidescape M500 with Disc Vault) and it works awesome! Terrific rich integration with amazingly easy setup. Also, lets you pick a movie from the K'scape iPad app which will then trigger the C4 system to turn your system on so a much more seamless user experience. Definitely recommended! I'm going to post up a review in a couple of weeks...
 
I am looking for a C4 solution that does not require use of an external device such as an iPad but does provide the ability to search on the PJ screen using the C4 stick remote. Does this Chowmain software provide that or is it a new iPad based based solution on steroids? I am not dissing the application but want clarification on how it works.
 
The vanilla driver from K allows searching (first letter anyway) with the stick remote. Are you looking for that specifically, or trying to make sure the tablet-spiff doesn't break that function?
 
The free Kscape Control4 driver provides navigation of the Kscape Onscreen GUI. The Chowmain Kscape driver has the same navigation and adds Kscape database to the C4 GUI.

If you are looking for a universal remote that controls Kscape Onscreen GUI, then the C4 remote with free Kscape Driver is all you need.

If you want the Kscape Database on all of the C4 GUI interfaces, then upgrade the driver to the Chowmain.
 
On the same token, if your controller is hooked to your projector, the same functions the new driver gives you via the interfaces would be available via the c4 remote and c4 gui.
 
I'm beginning to wonder if I have the official free K-scape driver. I can't see how to even search on first letter much less more granular searches. Near as I can tell, the C4 driver I have does exactly what the K remote does. Is there something else it should do?
 
I'm beginning to wonder if I have the official free K-scape driver. I can't see how to even search on first letter much less more granular searches. Near as I can tell, the C4 driver I have does exactly what the K remote does. Is there something else it should do?

If you are displaying the Kscape List Guide on TV/Projector Screen, use the keypad as a SMS Text entry. The movies will jump to the alpha of the key pressed; key 2 will jump to A with one press or B with two presses.

If you upgrade to the Chowmain driver, you can browse the Kscape Database on the C4 Remote LCD screen. See photos below.
 

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Thank you so much for your help. Apparently I am a moron. Does this Chowmain driver put the equivalent of any of this on my projector screen?

I have no issue with the way it works (using the basic K-scape iPad app) but I am trying to make it very straight forward with a single device for my wife. The less using the small remote screen possible, the better.
 
Thank you so much for your help. Apparently I am a moron. Does this Chowmain driver put the equivalent of any of this on my projector screen?

I have no issue with the way it works (using the basic K-scape iPad app) but I am trying to make it very straight forward with a single device for my wife. The less using the small remote screen possible, the better.

Yes. If you have a C4 Controller with HDMI hooked up to the projector, then the C4 GUI will display on the projector. The Chowmain driver will show the Kscape Database in C4 onscreen navigator. The C4 Navigator will be similar to the screenshots from the Chownmain website. There is also an option in the Chowmain Driver to automatically go back the the C4 Onscreen Navigator when the movie ends. See photos of my projector with C4 Navigator and Chowmain driver.
 

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I am looking for a C4 solution that does not require use of an external device such as an iPad but does provide the ability to search on the PJ screen using the C4 stick remote. Does this Chowmain software provide that or is it a new iPad based based solution on steroids? I am not dissing the application but want clarification on how it works.

Our driver provides the ability to browse and search through your Kaleidescape content on any Control4 user interface device including Onscreen Navigator, iOS app, Android app, Flash & T3 Touchscreens and more.

You can even program up a keypad on the wall to playback your favourite movie (i do this to play Frozen for my daughter).

The driver does come with a 48 hour trial built in so you can test it out prior to purchase.
 
As to the 48 hour trial period, I would need to have my home theater integrator install it before I could use it so I would prefer to understand as much as possible prior to acquiring the product and having them install it.

As noted previously, my interest in this product is to make it as easy as possible for my wife to be able to use our system. Prior to the K system, it was pretty straight forward [pick a disc from out physical library and place in Blu ray player] and it needs to be as or more straightforward now. I want the search functionality of the C4 iPad app but without having to use the iPad.

So walk me through the process (pressing which buttons, etc) that she would need to do to search for a movie, select it and play it. My lights are controlled by the play button on the physical remote so I don't need any of that functionality of your app.
 
As to the 48 hour trial period, I would need to have my home theater integrator install it before I could use it so I would prefer to understand as much as possible prior to acquiring the product and having them install it.

As noted previously, my interest in this product is to make it as easy as possible for my wife to be able to use our system. Prior to the K system, it was pretty straight forward [pick a disc from out physical library and place in Blu ray player] and it needs to be as or more straightforward now. I want the search functionality of the C4 iPad app but without having to use the iPad.

So walk me through the process (pressing which buttons, etc) that she would need to do to search for a movie, select it and play it. My lights are controlled by the play button on the physical remote so I don't need any of that functionality of your app.

I will assume that you already have experience with the Control4 onscreen navigator.

So basically when you press the red 4 button on your remote it brings up the Control4 user interface. On this menu you have Watch, Listen, Lighting, Security, Comfort.

Under the Watch Menu you will have Kaleidescape Library and Kaleidescape OSD.

Kaleidescape OSD will bring up Kaleidescape on your display (much like how you have it working at the moment).

Kaleidescape Library however brings the ability to browse/search movies

Chowmain%20Kaleidescape%20Small.gif


or if selected under the Listen Menu will bring up the ability to browse/search music

Kaleidescape%20Music%20Small.gif


This encapsulates your whole system in the one user interface so you don't need to switch apps or change remotes to get a unified experience.
 
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