![](\"https:\/\/iridiummobile.net\/upload\/medialibrary\/49c\/49ce6b448bfac93abb756381d44121ad.png\")
<\/p>\nReview by Nikolay Rusanov, development director at iRidium mobile
\nOn April 12 iRidium mobile officially announced the release of iRidium pro \u2014 a set of tools for installers\/ system integrators, as well as a complete automation platform. The software package can be used as the basis for any project of \u201csmart\u201d or \u201cintellectual\u201d building, home or commercial AV integration and many others.<\/p>\n
In the modern epoch of IoT the features that matter are multi-platform, ready solutions, free programming \u2013 they are exactly what iRidium pro makes emphasis on.<\/p>\n
I took part in beta-test of iRidium pro several months. Now I\u2019m working with a final version. In this article I\u2019d like to shoe the basic differences from iRidium 2.x and new features that I came across when passing from iRidium 2.x to iRidium 3.0.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m often asked, \u201dWhy \u00abnew\u00bb?\u201d \u201cWhy \u00abplatform\u00bb?\u201d iRidium seems to be well-known and has been used on the market for several years. The point is that iRidium was just a tool to create graphical interfaces. And as such it was used on the final stage of project creation, when control from tablets\/smart phones had to be added to the installed system. This function remains, but now iRidium pro can be used as the foundation of an automation project, that is, to realize logics, automation and a user\u2019s interface within iRidium platform. And the remaining equipment selected in agreement with it.<\/p>\n
\nIt\u2019s convenient to use the cloud to upload projects onto control panels. The configured project is uploaded to My Account and an invitation to download or update a project is sent to the end-user\u2019s e-mail. A customer clicks a link and downloads a project on his mobile device or updates it.<\/p>\n
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The author has access to all his projects in the side menu of the client app. Now you can have several downloaded projects and show all of them to your customers.<\/p>\n
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Now when you create a control project you can have it running only on a control panel, as it was possible before, or create an additional server project to it.<\/p>\n
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![\"6879ad8c7fc24db7bd03375ad40b6420-compressor.gif\"](\"https:\/\/iridiummobile.net\/upload\/medialibrary\/c33\/c338b78d5b5884c203638f3fc3d1136f.gif\" "\\"6879ad8c7fc24db7bd03375ad40b6420-compressor.gif\\"")
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This approach has a number of advantages:<\/p>\n
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For example, I don\u2019t have an automation controller at home (and no wish to buy it either). Buy I would like to get trends of temperature, lighting, electricity consumption and to speed up the process of getting device statuses when a smart phone is connected to the system. I\u2019d also like to create several schedules, simple rules, but there was no place to store it. Several days ago right after release of iRidium pro I launched iRidium Server for Windows on Intel Compute Stick, that is always connected to my TV-set. As a result, I can use all automation functions without buying an additional controller. It is of course more reasonable to use for this purpose a specialized controller or a server working 24\/7, for example, a file server \/a media server\/a video surveillance server.<\/p>\n
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In general, the idea is that you can choose yourself a device that can fulfill automation functions. And you choice is defined by the type of automation object that you have. iRidium Server runs on Windows and Linux operation systems, x86, x64 and ARM platforms.<\/p>\n
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The centralized approach has a disadvantage. Any problem with a controller, turns into a problem for the whole system. iRidium Server is made maximally reliable, but even the most reliable things can sometimes malfunction. To minimize the consequences of a possible malfunction, use a second back-up controller or switch automatically to direct control, if connection is lost. Several hardware controllers have a function of automatic restart in case of freezing.<\/p>\n
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Those who worked in iRidium 2.x know that an installer had to get a trial license to make a project. The trial license had to be assigned to HWID of a control panel. Such a license had to be received even for Emulation mode in the editor.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s much simpler now. When you launch the app for the first time, you enter login\/password of your account on www.iridiummobile.net<\/a>. Client apps work in the fully functional mode from 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the user’s status. There is also a 60-day trial period.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You can get commercial and trial licenses in your account. The new system allowed to get rid of activation assigned to the HWID of a controller. That\u2019s why now you can use a license for several control panels for any automation system. 5 basic tariffs differ in the number of supported panels:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In any tariff addition panels can be bought.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Use of iRidium Server is included into the licenses. The server is limited by the number of data points (1 data point \u2013 1 control channel + 1 feedback channel):<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n You can calculate the price of a license in the calculate in My account section of the web-site.<\/p>\n The first release includes a limited version of this function, it will be developed further. Earlier to describe any logic interaction you had to go to javascript section and write a code. Now you create a scheme by dragging required blocks of the working area, join them with each other and assign to driver variables. An example of such a scheme is below.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n X and Y are feedback values of a driver, for example, temperature and preset value. If X>Y, on the exit from the logical block we get 1, if X<\/p>\n A typical problem for any project to find a \u201chouse\u201d icon, a \u201clamp\u201d icon, an \u201carrow\u201d icon in a single style. The Gallery in the new versions has a lot of icons in iOS style that used to be parts of commercial designs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n One more pleasant feature is a set of symbol fonts, where letters and figures mean a certain image. You can copy and item, change a letter in the Text field and get all required icons. Another convenient feature of work with fonts is that change of color, size and other font parameters leads to corresponding changes in the image.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now pop-ups can be simply made in the required place<\/p>\n It\u2019s much more convenient than getting it in the required place by changing margins on the top and on the left (though this variant remains).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \nStarting with this versions iRidium function can be controlled via the web-interface. An example of this control can be seen the Server web-panel.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n You can figure out how it works by studying the new iRidium REST API.<\/p>\n Now you can monitor value changes and generate trends in the web format or in the app and record changes in the data base.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You can also use the new iRidium DB.API.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n SIP sound quality is greatly improves. More coders and systems are supported. SIP Video function can be easily realized, you can communicate with video by using the built-in camera of a mobile device. And it does not matter what version of iRidium app you use for Windows, Android or iOS, there will be connection.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n This function can help you to realize video surveillance via the built-in camera of a gadget or video baby monitor, if required.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thanks to iRidium Server there is a capability to use virtual addresses. This function was realized in the demo project that shows end-users how to control Smart home from a PC or a tablet\/a smart phone<\/p>\n Initially the project was made for demonstration at exhibitions. Now it is available for integrators. The project and the installation manual is here<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u041d\u0435re is a video from ISE 2016 that shows the demo interface at work<\/p>\n\n
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\nLogics Editor<\/h3>\n
![\"06ae136972914bdea511cbb8b182b5b7-compressor.png\"](\"https:\/\/iridiummobile.net\/upload\/medialibrary\/740\/74064a020549044955a0c6c7fd74f4cc.png\" "\\"06ae136972914bdea511cbb8b182b5b7-compressor.png\\"")
<\/p>\n\nGallery Additions and Fonts\/icons<\/h3>\n
![\"a088fb3b49674eb5ac1555757b43f1a5-compressor.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/iridiummobile.net\/upload\/medialibrary\/a97\/a973658f3d15ff0db797d2c0954efbbc.jpg\" "\\"a088fb3b49674eb5ac1555757b43f1a5-compressor.jpg\\"")
<\/p>\n![\"2836a8ed0a924b80b0465bbda2f03cb9-compressor.gif\"](\"https:\/\/iridiummobile.net\/upload\/medialibrary\/af7\/af70979a587792eb0e919f5c363f0fcc.gif\" "\\"2836a8ed0a924b80b0465bbda2f03cb9-compressor.gif\\"")
<\/p>\n![\"33e1cf6d37b04a8d82291cff16e8305c-compressor.gif\"](\"https:\/\/iridiummobile.net\/upload\/medialibrary\/19d\/19d67c131fba4d33141a2d59fef72765.gif\" "\\"33e1cf6d37b04a8d82291cff16e8305c-compressor.gif\\"")
<\/p>\nWeb control<\/h3>\n
![\"8f88acf66fe346e6a4d62ea28520b4f3-compressor.png\"](\"https:\/\/iridiummobile.net\/upload\/medialibrary\/521\/5211295198dc1ae8421ba062a2b4ec60.png\" "\\"8f88acf66fe346e6a4d62ea28520b4f3-compressor.png\\"")
<\/p>\n\nTrends, charts and data bases<\/h3>\n
![\"8c419742266d44b0b9e53cd2e353407b-compressor.gif\"](\"https:\/\/iridiummobile.net\/upload\/medialibrary\/3dc\/3dc67f3dca83fa6111778fb3a16e3a9c.gif\" "\\"8c419742266d44b0b9e53cd2e353407b-compressor.gif\\"")
<\/p>\nImproved SIP and SIP Video functions<\/h3>\n
![\"pic2-compressor.png\"](\"https:\/\/iridiummobile.net\/upload\/medialibrary\/b8a\/b8ac021be5693fa5eb6e4c01e0d561a9.png\" "\\"pic2-compressor.png\\"")
<\/p>\n\nDemo project \u00abVirtual Smart Home\u00bb<\/h3>\n
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![\"83016e3f5a304dfeb8920443df240c69-compressor.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/iridiummobile.net\/upload\/medialibrary\/2c5\/2c573b2d64a6c6a3133f592613b45dea.jpg\" "\\"83016e3f5a304dfeb8920443df240c69-compressor.jpg\\"")
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