Control4 announces Lighting Design and Fixture Compatibility Services-- an array of design tools and services helping installers in the sale and installation of wireless and panelised lighting systems.

“Lighting control is one of the fastest growing segments in home automation and presents massive opportunity for dealers," the company says. "The new services and tools we are unveiling are designed to help dealers expand their lighting business by providing best-in-class support through the entire sales cycle to final installation.”

Installers can submit projects to the System Design Service, a panel of Control4 experts providing verification and recommendations for use with Control4 and 3rd party products. One can also get installation guides, light fixture recommendations and modification suggestions for load schedules and construction plans.

LG showcases interesting lighting products at Light+Building 2014, including the recently launched Smart Lamp, the visually striking OLED Table Lamp and the Colour Tunable Flat Light.

In the case of the Smart Lamp the name says it all, really. It is the LG take on app-controllable (iOS and Android) lightbulbs complete with 9 customisable operation presets. These include a Sleep Mode where the bulb dims as the user falls asleep and brightens once the alarm clock rings.

The OLED Table Lamp is more interesting, since it uses the same kind of flexible OLED panel found in the company's curvy TVs as a light source. It looks like a piece of modern sculpture, and like the Smart Lamp is controllable via mobile device app.

UK-based startup Isotera plans to make LED lighting fixture installation "simple and fun" through "contactless power" technology, a means of eliminating the need for individual drivers.

LEDs require direct-current (DC) power even if mains run on alternating-current (AC)-- meaning installs are lengthy and costly procedures due to the wiring of drivers, fixtures and controls.

Isotera replaces drivers with a selection plug-and-play lighting and control products. The iPower range provides a "complete backbone," as the iHub (single cool-running power converter) feeds power through iBus double-insulated cable. In turn contactless iClip modules sip power from the iBus at at any point without need for cutting or splicing.

Philips suggests retailers should use LEDs for more than merely, well, lighting up the aisles-- at Euroshop 2014 the company shows off LED in-store lighting able to communicate location-based info to shoppers via smartphone app.

The system uses lighting fixtures to form a network acting not only as illumination but also a positioning grid. Each fixture has a specific identity, and communicates its position to the app on shoppers' mobile devices. This allows them to get specific information based on their position, triggering location-based services as they move around the store.

Philips gives the example of a shopper wanting to make a Mexican meal. The app acts as a "personal shopper," pointing the user to the aisles where one can find particular ingredients, as well as make suggestions of newly-available brands or alternate recipes.

Crestron announces an "intelligent power supply" (CSA-PWS10S-HUB) replacement to all Crestron multi-shade power supplies-- one able to power up to 10 Crestron shade motors, each with an own replaceable fuse.

A built-in integrated 5-segment Crestron hub provides an isolated control network for each pair of shades, limiting the impact of any wiring faults. Built-in diagnostics allow installers to automatically shut down faulty branches, identify wiring issues without a multi-meter and trigger events based on problems the power supply detects (with smartphone notices or emails to service department).

Belkin expands the WeMO devices portfolio at CES 2014-- the product range now includes the LED Starter Set, Smart LED Bulbs, Maker Kit and the Crock-Pot Smart Slow Cooker, as well as enhanced Android and iOS apps.

The LED Starter Set includes a WeMo Link and two LED Smart Bulbs, and allows one to control, schedule and dim smart LED bulbs from anywhere via internet connection. The Smart LED Dulbs replace standard light bulbs, are dimmable, and provide 800 Lumens of warm white light.

Bulbs are controllable either individually or in groups via wifi and WeMo app, with the Link unit handling up to 50 individual bulbs.