POPP integrates Amazon Echo in its smart home control and improves user interface

Hohenstein-Ernstthal, 31/07/2017 – Z-Wave Europe, the leading European Value Added Distributor for Z-Wave based wireless home automation, informs about user interface improvements by the smart home supplier POPP.

Extensive firmware updates for the POPP HUB smart home control center increase the performance significantly. One of the most important innovations is the integration of Amazon Echo voice control with virtual “Alexa” voice. Therewith, it will become easy to control the room temperature, dim the lights or control different devices or complex automation scenes only by using simple voice commands.

One important exception of the „POPP Smart Home“ skill is the intuitive simplicity of the voice commands such as “Alexa, switch the light on.” Functions can be started directly without starting the skill by calling its name before as it is typical for comparable smart home applications.

Thanks to the app store which is integrated into the POPP HUB user interface, the Amazon Echo skill can be installed and activated in only a few steps. Searching devices in the Z-Wave based smart home network works quick and simple.

Besides the Amazon Echo integration, the POPP HUB user interface was further developed regarding user friendliness within the last months. One of the new convenient features is the accelerated registration procedure for mobile devices such as smartphone or tablet pc. These devices can be connected to the POPP Smart Home in seconds by scanning a QR code.

The biggest visible changes in the user interface can be done by the user himself. Due to the so called “skin” functionality it is possible to adapt the user interface’s look to own needs by using skins (templates) from the provided range. The opportunity of personal adaption is topped off with the inclusion of own icons. These can be uploaded from the user or obtained as package from a server.

An instruction how to create own skins (templates) can be found under developer.z-wave.me. These skins can also be submitted to the platform as it is already possible for the numerous apps. For skin development, it is necessary to have experiences with SASS and CSS as well.

The POPP smart home software bases on the certified ZWay software by Z-Wave.Me. Therefore, all submitted apps and skins will be proved by Z-Wave.me first before official release for public use. Since its start in 2016, the app store has developed to a collection with more than 120 useful applications which simplify the integration of various functionalities into the intelligent connected home for users. Therewith the POPP HUB is one of the most secure but also most flexible and most user-friendly smart home gateway in the market.

The ZWay software is used in the POPP HUB as well as for the Smart Home Stick, made for WD My Cloud™, and the RaZberry plug-on module for Raspberry computers. Thus, all apps and skins are available also for all of these platforms.

POPP will attend the IFA show in Berlin from September 1st till 6th. POPP will showcase its latest products and functions for its smart home system in frame of the Z-Wave joint booth (hall 6.1, booth 141).

Z-Wave Europe is the exclusive roll-out partner of POPP.

Z-Wave Europe based in Hohenstein-Ernstthal pioneered in importing the first Z-Wave products to Europe as a Value Added Reseller in 2008. Since then Z-Wave Europe has been the leading Value Added Distributor for Z-Wave based wireless home automation controls facing high and steady growth in its business. Under its slogan “We make life easier” the company provides products and services to transform houses, apartments and offices into smart homes. The company sells exclusively Z-Wave certified devices to wholesalers and distributors.

According to a study by Focus magazine and Statista, Z-Wave Europe was honored 2016 and 2017 as „Growth Champion“ and thereby belongs to the 500 strongest grown companies in Germany within the last six years. Besides this Z-Wave Europe was honored as one of the best companies in “IT-Service“ category in INNOVATIONSPREIS-IT 2016 contest and is listed in the “list of the best 2016” (www.it-service-bestenliste.de).

In close cooperation with the Z-Wave Alliance (www.zwavealliance.org), Z-Wave Europe promotes the dissemination of Z-Wave technology as the largest existing ecosystem for wireless home automation. Together with Z-Wave.Me, a Swiss-German-Russian company, Z-Wave Europe develops software for various applications including "Z-Way", the first certified Z-Wave controller software.

Further information can be found on the company's website at www.zwave.eu.

Z-Wave Europe GmbH
Mario Schubert
Antonstr. 3
09337 Hohenstein-Ernstthal
Germany

Phone: 03723 8099050

This release was published on openPR.