Is there anything that the DISH Network Hopper can't do? Well, it can record all four major networks every night during primetime hours -- all while you watch another channel in the living room and someone else watches a totally different channel in the bedroom. It can even skip over commercials on those recordings. Now, it's about to be paired up with one of the most popular home automation systems.
DISH just announced plans to integrate the Hopper with Control4 home automation systems. That basically means that the company will add Control4's Simple Device Discovery Protocol (SDDP) to the Hopper, so installers can add all of the DISH Hopper's goodness to Control4 systems.
This move comes hot on the heels of DISH's July announcement, which stated that the company would share Application Programming Interface (API) programming instructions for the Hopper with select companies.
To start, Control4 users will be able to access all of the Hopper's remote control tuning capability. As integrators become more more familiar with the Hopper's API, their apps and devices will be able to access the full range of Hopper features. In other words, it won't just be channel flipping. Users will be able to manage DVR recordings, tap into the Video-On-Demand, purchase Pay-Per-View content, and more.
There's certainly a lot of opportunity there. After all, the Hopper isn't your average DVR. For more information on the box, check out our DISH Network Hopper with Sling Whole-House DVR Review.
"The Control4 open platform is designed to enable dealers to integrate any digital device in the home into a Control4 automation system. By integrating SDDP into the DISH Hopper receiver along with DISH's shared APIs, installation and programming of this popular DVR and service is radically simplified. Now the homeowner can access and enjoy their favorite programming, see what's 'now playing' and get access to the guide with their Control4 remote, touchscreen or smart phone app," said Eric Anderson, Control4's senior VP of products. "This represents the beginning of a deeper integration and therefore much richer experience for consumers with the new expanded APIs. And there is more to come."
DISH Network is currently out at the CEDIA Expo in Denver, Colorado, showing off the Hopper, as well as the Control4 integration and other home automation concepts.
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