The Return of the Universal Remote

The Control4 Halo Touch VoiceEnabled Remote Control is a Time Saver and Simplifier

- Henry Clifford

I’ve been pining for a decent voice assistant-enabled universal remote control for years. Many gallons of digital ink have been spilled beseeching industry manufacturers to catch up with products that Big Cable made table stakes five years ago. Needless to say, I was a little giddy (think Ralphie waiting for his Little Orphan Annie decoder ring in the classic ’80s movie A Christmas Story) when the package containing a shiny new Control4 Halo Touch remote control showed up at our warehouse. I could hardly wait to tear open the box and start putting it through the paces.

Unboxing the Control4 Halo Touch

The Halo Touch is designed for two start-up scenarios: self-installation by a homeowner or professional configuration. The box and packaging strike a nice balance between these two audiences. Plain brown cardboard flips up to reveal the remote nestled in a molded tray with its screen veiled by a thin plastic cling. Lifting the remote up reveals a surprisingly heavy charging base with accompanying USB 3.0 cable and charger underneath.

Installation 

I unpacked everything and put the remote on the charger to get juiced up for the coming sea trials. I watched as the Control4/Snap One logo flashed on the screen and the battery indicator showed that we were getting good current flow. So far, so good.

My Halo Touch remote was a pre-release version, so I followed instructions provided to me by Control4’s Eric Fritz. The final production version promises a quick QR code-driven setup begun from the remote’s home screen.