Savant’s (www.savant.com) new line of direct to consumer products starts with the entertainment-focused Savant Remote. The remote combines the features of a universal remote with the power of home automation.
It allows consumers to control devices such as cable boxes, an Apple TV, Sonos, Roku, and even lighting. Designed in collaboration with award-winning San Francisco design studio Ammunition, led by renowned industrial designer Robert Brunner, the Savant Remote addresses the major sources of frustration with traditional and universal remotes, controlling more than 380,000 of today’s most popular entertainment devices, as well as lighting, according to William Lynch, CEO of Savant.
Using voice control or a touchscreen, users can switch between favorite channels, services (cable, DirecTV, Sonos, Apple TV, Blu-ray, etc.) or activate their Savant Scenes. The Remote also provides personalized profiles so friends and family can access their own favorite channels or Scenes with a tap or voice command. For the first time, users can capture Scenes right from the remote, giving them the ability to capture a mood they can recall at any time—like “Relax,” which could instantly dim the lights and cue up a mellow playlist, says Brunner. Savant Lamp Control delivers fully controllable lighting and dimming capabilities, allowing users to combine lighting and entertainment to set the mood instantly.
The Savant App — available at Apple’s app store — pairs with the Remote and makes it easy to control scenes, services, and settings from anywhere. It also features Savant Instant setup, a guide that walks consumers through the setup process —helping them connect their entertainment devices without needing to know model types and numbers.
The Remote is available as a part of an $499 entertainment package that also includes the Savant Host and Blaster. The Host enables wireless communication among devices, while the Blaster lets homeowners control devices in closed cabinets and outside the line of sight of the Remote. Savant Lamp Controllers are sold separately for $99 each.