Legrand and Domotz announce the Domotz Pro remote network management software now supports the Nuvo Player Portfolio whole home music system.

Domotz Pro software adds remote management features to the Nuvo Player Portfolio system, allowing installers and Legrand tech support to work together in real-time to quickly troubleshoot configuration and performance issues. One key feature is the ability to automatically identify and remotely reboot Player Portfolio devices and systems, and installers can quickly launch support sessions with Legrand staff and provide temporary remote access to customers' Player Portfolio systems.

Amazon confirms the existence of a long rumoured touchscreen-equipped Echo device-- the Echo Show, a connected home hub featuring a 7-inch touchscreen together with voice recognition capability.

“Echo Show brings you everything you love about Alexa, and now she can show you things," the online retailer turned cloud giant-slash-hardware maker says. "Watch video flash briefings and YouTube, see music lyrics, security cameras, photos, weather forecasts, to-do and shopping lists, and more. All hands-free—just ask.”

Another feature found in the Echo show is a camera, allowing for video calls, and Alexa skills are included for integration with smart home devices. This includes baby monitors from Ring and Arlo, Philips Hue smart lights, and thermostats from the likes of ecobee and WeMo.

Core Brands announces a new line of Elan Flush-Mount Wall Kits for the TP4, TP7 and gXP12 touchpanels, ideal for projects demanding a nearly-flush installation.

The Elan Wall Kits provide ease-of-installation, with a straightforward process the company says can be done in minutes. The Wall Kits for the 4- and 7-inch touchpanels are compatible with equivalent Niles and SpeakerCraft models, and each kit is available in either gloss white or gloss black for an elegant match with the touch panels.

“These retrofit Wall Kits make it simple to achieve that with an elegant finished look," Core Brands says. "They’re ideal in upgrade situations, saving time and money when replacing an older style touch screen-– such as ELAN’s TS or VIA! Series-– would have meant drywall and mud for a finished look.”

Pro Control starts shipping its Z-Wave solutions-- including the Pro.zwi Z-Wave interface module, a means for what the company says is simple control and monitoring of Z-Wave enabled systems and devices via Pro Control system.

The Pro.zwi module provides the communication interface between a Pro Control system and Z-wave wireless lighting control devices, residential door locks, thermostats and other devices. Programming capabilities enable the need for a different need for each Z-Wave device, providing unified control and monitoring over all systems without Z-Wave licensing or monitoring fees.

Inventor Sam Clay presents a minimalist means to control multiple connected devices-- the Turn Touch, a small four-button remote carved out of solid mahogany, maple and mother of pearl.

The Turn Touch is programmable via Mac or iOS app, and uses wifi to control Hue lighting, smart locks, Nest thermostats and music systems. Users can program the remote to activate home automation scenes with a single button press, such as dimming the lights, lowering music volume and locking the door. One can also hold a button down to select a different home automation app, meaning the 4 button remote can offer 16 different controls (or more if one adds double-taps to the control equation).

Customers wanting to add connected smarts to older device might be interested in the Bond, an accessory able provide smart home integration for IR- and RF-controlled appliances.

The Bond is compatible with various appliances, including ceiling fans, window AC units, garage doors and power shades. It consists of a small plug-in tool able to connect to the internet via wifi, before pushing commands to appliances from a companion smartphone app. One can even pair the Bond unit with a smart home control device, such as the Amazon Alexa, to add voice controls.