Savant Goes Mainstream With Remote, Host

High-end home automation vendor Savant aims at the consumer market with the Remote and Host, a universal remote and automation hub combo complete with DIY setup via companion mobile device app.

Savant RemoteThe Remote and Hub feature technology from the Savant Pro line, if with a focus on the control of entertainment devices of the Sonos, Apple TV, cable STBs and Roku variety. It is also compatible with Philips Hue smart lighting products via additional of Lamp Controller modules. The hardware is designed by Ammunition (the firm behind the Beats headphones and Nook eReader) while the software promises automatic detection of devices connected to the home wifi network.

Control comes through curved glass touchscreen, hardware buttons and voice. The remote even carries accelerometers to wake up automatically when picked up, and charges up on a base customers can also use as an IR blaster.

Meanwhile, in a nod to Savant's home automation roots, the smartphone app handles the creation of macros or "scenes" users can either summon through a single command or program to switch on at set times.

The Savant Remote and Host package ships from December 2015.

Go Savant Remote + Host