Comfort iPhone App v 1.3 Comments

[admin]

Please post your comments, feedback and questions on the app.

[wexfordman]

Hi,

Just wanted to query use of the app with cwm when no ucm/Ethernet is in use in the system ? Are the setup instructions and ports etc the same ?
Thanks
Eamon

[ident]

The CWM firmware needs to be upgraded to support the new CM commands for home control
However the current firmware may be able to allow you to arm and disarm and see the zone status.
You can certainly try it as the method of connecting with IP address and port are the same. You will have to use the Passthrough port for the CWM to connect to the iPhone, but remember that you need to press F0 to enable the passthrough port

[wexfordman]

Hi ident,

Tried it and I seem to have basic access at the moment, thanks! How long dies the f0 function continue to work the bypass port ?

Was on holidays when I saw thus release off the app, couldn\'t wait to get home to they it out :-)


What are the requirements to do the fw upgrade on the cwm ?

A couple of additional queries/suggestions perhaps you could advise ?

1) Would it be possible to have a defauilt system selected, rather than having to select a system everytime you open the app ? Most of us have 1 system only, so a default system would be ideal.
2) The keypad in the app seems a bit funny to operate ? Typing by pressing the app keypad does nothing, but you select the iphone keypad by selecting the \"lcd\" section of the app keypad, but are restricted in what you can type in if that makes sense ?

Thanksm
Eamon

[wexfordman]

Hi,

I think cytech have done a fantastic job releasing this app, it really changes the way I am going to use my system. My wife is delighted with it also, bearing in mind that she always was hestiant to use the home control functions over the phone as she found it tedious or \"tricky\" (dont ask me why), she took straight to the app.

Best of all, from my perspective, is having cwm was great, but as the iphone did not support java, i could not get it to work with comfort, which was really frustrating having to fantastic devices that would not talk to each other. Now with the iphone app, thats all solved :-)

I fully understand that this is first release, and not an indication of the full potential of an iphone app, but releasing it wiht the current level of features was excellent also rather than wiating for a more featured release. I much prefer to get it early and play.

Just thought I\'d update on how I am getting on the new app on my system.

As mentioned in previous posts, my initial installation was comfort with cwm and a ucm/usb, so I was trying to get the app working with this. I did manage to \"borrow\" a ucm/eth from a relative who also had a comfort system, so I have now installed this to make things smoother, as ident mentioned cwm will need a firmware upgrade to get full functionality with the iphone app.

 

So, I installed UCM/ETH both the ucm and comfort firmware to the latest versions. Installed the app, on the iphone and did the file conversion process to get my config onto the iphone. Suprisinlgy simple and worked really well, I am delighed :-)

 

 

A few queries and questions though from a future functionality perspective that may be worth considering

 

1) As mentioned earlier, if the app can have a default system rather than having to select which system you want to connect to it would be great. Most people only have 1 comfort system so if you only have 1 in the app, then removing the system selection would be cool.

2) Push notifications to keep status of your system updated. Not sure how possible this is or not, but when you log on to your system first, the status of certain flags etc is not up to date as far as I know. And being a lowly x10 user, it would be great if I could get x10 status based on flags etc

3) If push notifications are going to become a feature, perhaps a display of last activity of inputs, flags etc would be possible, with timestamp ?

3) App keypad. I may be missing something very basic here, but i find the app keypad a bit difficult. The mixture of app keypad and iphone keypad for typing is very awkward and limits what you can enter. I have a feeling though, I am missing something obvious here, so apologies!

4) Home control:- When activiating a home control function, there is no feedback as to whther you have successfully done this without having to revert to the previous screen to check status. Some form of feedback on button press would be comforting, or better still, direct feedback on status change.

5) Audio:- Would it be possible to build in audio into the app itself ? The audio would not be direct from the comfort panel or keypad, but an automatic audio recording from within the app that is activated based on keypresses and responses etc ?

6) Customisation:- Would it be possible to customise the names of some of the items in the app. For example, I have a home control called \"bedroom 1 light\" which I would prefer to have called \"kellys room light\" within the app. Is this possible ?

7) macros:- Direct control of macros and responses within comfort would be great.

8) Developing a screen within the app which shows status and also control functions etc would be great. For example, a screen that shows the readings from an scs, and also the control of heating modules or devices..

One issue I did notice however, which is fairly significant, is when you log on to your system via the app, it does not correctly show the status of your system. For example, I know my system is armed to away mode, but the app does not show any status ? As I have cwm, I can check via cwm to ensure it is armed however.

 

Again, I absolutely LOVE this app, congrats cytech!

[ident]

Hi wexfordman
Thanks for the feedback. I am glad that you find it useful and simple to use
Here is my reply to your points

[color=\"#0055aa\"]if the app can have a default system rather than having to select which system you want to connect to it would be great. Most people only have 1 comfort system so if you only have 1 in the app, then removing the system selection would be cool.
[/color]
This is one of the things to be added in the next version. I felt the same way after using the app, even though I do have 2 systems, Office and Dollhouse (demo)
As the app is designed to drop connection when it is not shown due to security reasons, you should be able to easoly log in to the last system when you wish to.

[color=\"#0055aa\"]2) Push notifications to keep status of your system updated. Not sure how possible this is or not, but when you log on to your system first, the status of certain flags etc is not up to date as far as I know. And being a lowly x10 user, it would be great if I could get x10 status based on flags etc

[/color]
The state of alarms currently is not updated when you log in. That will be fixed in the next version.
The zone states are updated - whether they are On (open), Off (closed), Bypassed or Trouble for each zone

[color=\"#0055aa\"]4) Home control:- When activiating a home control function, there is no feedback as to whther you have successfully done this without having to revert to the previous screen to check status. Some form of feedback on button press would be comforting, or better still, direct feedback on status change.
[/color]
Home Control status is constantly updated. The thing is only the items on the home control menu with feedback are kept up to date. If you want to monitor X10, then have X10 as Home control feedback. If you want to monitor Flag, then have Flags in the home control feedback. You do not need flags to keep tracj of X10 status.
You do have to go back to the previous page to see the status. Perhaps the status can also be shown on the page itself where you do the control eg On, Off

[color=\"#0055aa\"]8) Developing a screen within the app which shows status and also control functions etc would be great. For example, a screen that shows the readings from an scs, and also the control of heating modules or devices..
[/color]
SCS readings can be shown via the Home control mechanism as well, The feedback item should be Zone/Input numbering 129 and above corresponding to SCS/RIO numbers

[color=\"#0055aa\"] 3) If push notifications are going to become a feature, perhaps a display of last activity of inputs, flags etc would be possible, with timestamp ?
[/color]
I am not sure what you mean, something like the Monitor I/O on Comfigurator? We would not like to add something that makes the interface more complicated.. It may turn off your wife again

[color=\"#0055aa\"]5) Audio:- Would it be possible to build in audio into the app itself ? The audio would not be direct from the comfort panel or keypad, but an automatic audio recording from within the app that is activated based on keypresses and responses etc ?
[/color]
You mean like keypad beeps. \"Please sign in\", announcement of open zones when arming? This may be controversial as some may like the silence of this keypad. More opinions are sought

[color=\"#0055aa\"]6) Customisation:- Would it be possible to customise the names of some of the items in the app. For example, I have a home control called \"bedroom 1 light\" which I would prefer to have called \"kellys room light\" within the app. Is this possible ?

[color=\"#000000\"]Why not rename the Control Key name in Comfigurator to Kellys Room Light?
We try not to have this type of customisation with the app as the easy setup that you experienced may suffer.
[/color]
7) macros:- Direct control of macros and responses within comfort would be great.

[color=\"#000000\"]As it is, the home control does not depend on Responses, only the Home control menu, because Response numbering may be changed everytime you program Comfort, so any reference to responses may cause the wrong response to be triggered unless you synchronise the app each time - again a complication.[/color]


One issue I did notice however, which is fairly significant, is when you log on to your system via the app, it does not correctly show the status of your system. For example, I know my system is armed to away mode, but the app does not show any status ? As I have cwm, I can check via cwm to ensure it is armed however.
[/color]
Hmm, I have not noticed this. On my system the armed status is always correct. Are you sure you have connected and entered the right code, ie the connection icon is green?

[color=\"#0055aa\"]3) App keypad. I may be missing something very basic here, but i find the app keypad a bit difficult. The mixture of app keypad and iphone keypad for typing is very awkward and limits what you can enter. I have a feeling though, I am missing something obvious here, so apologies!
[/color]
The iphone keypad is only used to enter your login code to connect to your system. After that the text window is not used. It should be not shown after logging in - that will be a change in the next version


Thanks again for the feedback. We would like to have more comments from others. Do you agree with the comments here?

[wexfordman]

[user=86]ident[/user] wrote:

[color=\"#0055aa\"] [/color][color=\"#0055aa\"] One issue I did notice however, which is fairly significant, is when you log on to your system via the app, it does not correctly show the status of your system. For example, I know my system is armed to away mode, but the app does not show any status ? As I have cwm, I can check via cwm to ensure it is armed however. [/color] Hmm, I have not noticed this. On my system the armed status is always correct. Are you sure you have connected and entered the right code, ie the connection icon is green?\"

Hi Ident, just to get back to you specifically on the above point, I am sure it is happenning. I am currently looking an cwm, which shows the alarm status as off, and the iphone app, which is showing as \"arm\" in red. Herself is at home, so the alarm is def off. If you want, I can pm you details so you can log in to both app and cwm to see for yourself ?

Update:- I forced the app closed on iphone and re-opened. I am successfully logged in to my system, but the status of the ssytem is not shown at all now (i.e security off icon is not green).

[wexfordman]

[user=86]ident[/user] wrote:

Hi wexfordman
Thanks for the feedback. I am glad that you find it useful and simple to use
Here is my reply to your points

[color=\"#0055aa\"]if the app can have a default system rather than having to select which system you want to connect to it would be great. Most people only have 1 comfort system so if you only have 1 in the app, then removing the system selection would be cool.
[/color]
This is one of the things to be added in the next version. I felt the same way after using the app, even though I do have 2 systems, Office and Dollhouse (demo)
As the app is designed to drop connection when it is not shown due to security reasons, you should be able to easoly log in to the last system when you wish to.

[color=\"#ff0000\"]Cool, will make logging in easier when that is done. I wonder would it be possible however to keep the app running in the background but limited to reporting certain events or status ? No option to ent[/color]

[color=\"#0055aa\"]2) Push notifications to keep status of your system updated. Not sure how possible this is or not, but when you log on to your system first, the status of certain flags etc is not up to date as far as I know. And being a lowly x10 user, it would be great if I could get x10 status based on flags etc

[/color]
The state of alarms currently is not updated when you log in. That will be fixed in the next version.
The zone states are updated - whether they are On (open), Off (closed), Bypassed or Trouble for each zone

[color=\"#0055aa\"]4) Home control:- When activiating a home control function, there is no feedback as to whther you have successfully done this without having to revert to the previous screen to check status. Some form of feedback on button press would be comforting, or better still, direct feedback on status change.
[/color]
Home Control status is constantly updated. The thing is only the items on the home control menu with feedback are kept up to date. If you want to monitor X10, then have X10 as Home control feedback. If you want to monitor Flag, then have Flags in the home control feedback. You do not need flags to keep tracj of X10 status.
You do have to go back to the previous page to see the status. Perhaps the status can also be shown on the page itself where you do the control eg On, Off

[color=\"#ff0000\"]What I meant here was that when you activate a response (ie push the blue arrow), there is no confirmation/acknowledgement that the action was entered even within the app. I sometimes press the blue arrow a few times to ensure that I have actually clicked it before returning to view the status. If the app did something like \"ok\" to give confidence that you had pushed the button this woudl add confidence. That and as you mentioned, showing status on the same page as the control[/color]

[color=\"#0055aa\"]8) Developing a screen within the app which shows status and also control functions etc would be great. For example, a screen that shows the readings from an scs, and also the control of heating modules or devices..
[/color]
SCS readings can be shown via the Home control mechanism as well, The feedback item should be Zone/Input numbering 129 and above corresponding to SCS/RIO numbers

[color=\"#ff0000\"]Thanks, will have a play with that.[/color]

[color=\"#0055aa\"] 3) If push notifications are going to become a feature, perhaps a display of last activity of inputs, flags etc would be possible, with timestamp ?
[/color]
I am not sure what you mean, something like the Monitor I/O on Comfigurator? We would not like to add something that makes the interface more complicated.. It may turn off your wife again

[color=\"#ff0000\"]I think I mean, keeping the app running in the background and updating status changes from comfort. Being able to view as readonly for example but not able to make changes until you enter the password. ?[/color]

[color=\"#0055aa\"]5) Audio:- Would it be possible to build in audio into the app itself ? The audio would not be direct from the comfort panel or keypad, but an automatic audio recording from within the app that is activated based on keypresses and responses etc ?
[/color]
You mean like keypad beeps. \"Please sign in\", announcement of open zones when arming? This may be controversial as some may like the silence of this keypad. More opinions are sought

[color=\"#ff0000\"]Yep, thats what I mean, but perhaps  limited to the vital announcents like security off, armed etc. Another option perhaps to cover point 4 also, would to have an audible \"tick\" once a button was pushed, whther it be on the app keypad or the home control buttons etc[/color]. [color=\"#ff0000\"]The audio on/off could be a user selectible option to cover for people who would not want this option ?[/color]

[color=\"#0055aa\"]6) Customisation:- Would it be possible to customise the names of some of the items in the app. For example, I have a home control called \"bedroom 1 light\" which I would prefer to have called \"kellys room light\" within the app. Is this possible ?

[color=\"#000000\"]Why not rename the Control Key name in Comfigurator to Kellys Room Light?
We try not to have this type of customisation with the app as the easy setup that you experienced may suffer.

[color=\"#ff0000\"]Doh!! Sorry, will give that a go, although I know \"kelly\" was not an option in the menu system, I can add it I beleive ?[/color]
[/color]
7) macros:- Direct control of macros and responses within comfort would be great.

[color=\"#000000\"]As it is, the home control does not depend on Responses, only the Home control menu, because Response numbering may be changed everytime you program Comfort, so any reference to responses may cause the wrong response to be triggered unless you synchronise the app each time - again a complication.

[color=\"#ff0000\"]Agreed, I had to do this over the weekend when playing and had to keep remembering to update the app also, but ts not that big a deal when you are doing it. Should be neough options in the home control menu for the time being anyway :-)[/color]
[/color]

[/color]
[color=\"#0055aa\"]3) App keypad. I may be missing something very basic here, but i find the app keypad a bit difficult. The mixture of app keypad and iphone keypad for typing is very awkward and limits what you can enter. I have a feeling though, I am missing something obvious here, so apologies!
[/color]
The iphone keypad is only used to enter your login code to connect to your system. After that the text window is not used. It should be not shown after logging in - that will be a change in the next version

[color=\"#ff0000\"]Cool, at least its not me missing somehting so :-)[/color]

Thanks again for the feedback. We would like to have more comments from others. Do you agree with the comments here?


[color=\"#ff0000\"]One other consideration/comment. With the app, in my case for example installed on two iphones, and if and when an android app comes out, it\'s be going on a third, in addition to the cwm, how will the number of connections to comfort at any one time be managed ? FOr example, two apps cannot log in at the same time I beleive ?[/color]

[wexfordman]

Just another thought also, would it be possible in the next rev to display inputs and status etc in different colours dep on status? Makes it easier to see!

[nizam.vd]

i had problem with ipod before.
you can open the application from your email using mail application from ipod. This will give the new window that show \"open in comfort\".
dont open your email using safari or other website. It will act just like you open a email using a computer.