The Philips SmartControl Monitor is a comprehensive software application designed to enhance the user experience by providing extensive control over various monitor settings and functionalities. It acts as a central hub for managing display parameters, optimizing visual output, and streamlining desktop organization, making it a valuable tool for both casual users and professionals.
Function Description
The primary function of SmartControl is to offer a user-friendly interface for adjusting and customizing monitor settings that would otherwise require navigating through on-screen display (OSD) menus or physical buttons on the monitor. This includes fundamental display adjustments like brightness, contrast, and resolution, as well as more advanced features such as color temperature, gamma correction, and SmartImage presets. Beyond visual settings, SmartControl also provides control over audio output, power management, and innovative desktop organization tools.
Usage Features
SmartControl offers a wide array of usage features, categorized for easy navigation and control:
Picture Settings:
- Picture Format: Allows users to select different screen aspect ratios (e.g., Wide, 4:3, 1:1, 16:9) to suit various content types or preferences.
- Brightness: Provides a slider (0-100, default 50) to adjust the backlight output, helping to reduce eyestrain.
- Contrast: Offers a slider (0-100, default 50) to fine-tune the contrast ratio between the brightest white and darkest black, enhancing image depth.
- Resolution: Enables users to set the display resolution directly through the application. The "Resolution" drop-down list shows all supported resolutions from the EDID report and "Display Properties," applying changes automatically. A resolution notification feature allows users to keep or revert changes within 16 seconds, with "Keep Changes" accepting the new setting and "Reset" reverting to the previous one.
- Input: Displays the inputs supported by the monitor and allows users to switch to a newly selected input.
- PIP/PBP (Picture-in-Picture/Picture-by-Picture): Provides settings for displaying content from multiple sources simultaneously. Users can configure the mode (Off, PIP, PBP_1, PBP_2, PBP_3), size (Large, Middle, Small), position (Top-Right, Bottom-Right, Top-Left, Bottom-Left), and input sources (HDMI1, HDMI2, HDMI3, DVI, DP1, DP2, VGA1, VGA2). The "Apply" button saves settings, and the "Swap" button switches the output screen positions of the two signal sources when PBP is active.
Color Settings:
- Color Temperature: Allows users to describe the light appearance provided by a light bulb. Options include sRGB, 5000K, 6500K, 7500K, 8200K, 9300K, 11500K, and "User Define."
- User Define: Provides three sliders (Red, Green, Blue, 0-100, default 50) to increase or decrease individual color values. A "Reset" button restores User Define settings to factory defaults.
- Gamma: Adjusts pixel luminance at each brightness level. Lower gamma increases brightness, making shadows brighter but potentially washing out images. Higher gamma reduces brightness, making shadow details harder to see. Options include 1.8, 2.0, 2.2, 2.4, and 2.6.
- SmartImage: Offers various preset modes (Off, Office, Photo, Movie, Game, Economy, Smart Uniformity) to optimize display settings for different content types.
- Application Preset Mode: This innovative feature allows users to associate a specific SmartImage Preset Mode with a particular application. When that application is launched, the monitor automatically switches to the assigned preset. Users can "Add an application" by selecting an executable file and then assign a preset mode from a drop-down list. Applications can also be removed from the list.
Audio Settings:
- Volume: A slider (0-100, default 0) to adjust the monitor's audio output.
- Mute: Toggles sound on or off. When disabled, the volume slider is enabled, and the volume is restored to its state before muting.
ECO Power Settings:
Smart Desktop:
- Smart Desktop is a window manager utility that helps users arrange open windows into predefined layouts by dragging them into specific zones.
- Download Smart Desktop: This is a one-time download.
- Enable Smart Desktop: Activates desktop layout settings.
- Select a layout: Users can click "Edit" to open the layout style editor, which displays built-in templates (Focus, Columns, Rows, Grid, Priority Grid). Each template is designed for a specific number of windows and format. Selecting a layout shows a preview on the monitor. Double-clicking a layout applies it and closes the editor. For multi-monitor setups, the editor detects available monitors, allowing users to choose the target monitor for the layout.
- Edit zone layout: Users can click a pencil icon to modify an existing layout. This allows increasing or decreasing the number of zones (rows for row layouts, columns for column/grid layouts), adjusting "Space around zones" (padding), and setting "Highlight distance" (space between zones before they snap or merge).
- Create a New Layout: Users can create custom layouts from scratch using "Grid layout" or "Canvas layout." Grid layout starts with a three-column grid, allowing regions to be split, merged, and resized. Canvas layout allows for overlapping zones.
Settings:
- Multi Display: Allows selection of appropriate connected displays from a drop-down box. Switching displays updates all settings accordingly.
- Screen Rotate:
- Automatic: Enables adaptive screen rotation.
- Disable: Fixes the screen orientation.
- Options: Provides 4 fixed orientation options: 0°, 90°, 180°, 270°.
- Reset: Restores all monitor settings to their default state.
- Information: Displays basic monitor information, including manufacturer, monitor name, plug and play ID, serial number, screen size, manufacture date, EDID revision, display gamma, and software version.
- Version upgrade:
- View current firmware: Shows the monitor's current firmware version.
- Update firmware: Requires connecting a USB upstream cable to the NB. Users click "Check Firmware Version Upgrade" to detect updates, requiring an active network connection.
- Firmware upgrade process: If a new firmware version is detected, a pop-up box prompts the user. During the upgrade, the USB upstream cable must remain connected, and the PC should not be powered off.
- Upgrade error: If the upgrade fails due to abnormal communication, users can click "Retry." Clicking "Cancel" will require manual firmware installation for subsequent devices.
- Monitor Language: Allows users to switch the monitor's OSD language immediately by clicking the appropriate language button.
- Remote control: This feature links SmartControl with SmartManagement, a management platform for Philips monitors. To enable remote control, users must manually enter the "Server IP" address (PC where SmartManagement is located) and the "Port input box," then check "Remote Control On" and click "Save." If remote control is not desired, these steps are not necessary.
Tray Settings:
- The system tray icon provides quick access to basic SmartControl settings:
- AutoUpgrade: Enables or disables automatic download and upgrade of new software versions.
- Run At Startup: (Administrator privilege required) Enables the application to run automatically when the system starts.
- Rescan: Reloads software information.
- Language: Allows changing the SmartControl software language.
- Multi-monitor Setup:
- Internal: Display on main monitor only (default).
- Clone: Displays the same content on multiple connected displays. Changes on one display are synchronously reflected on others.
- Extend: Uses multiple display interfaces as a single, extended screen, allowing the mouse to move between displays.
- External: Display on secondary display only.
- Exit: Closes the SmartControl application.
Maintenance Features
SmartControl includes several features that contribute to the maintenance and longevity of the monitor and software:
- Software Update (Automatic Upgrade): The "Automatic upgrade" option in the tray ensures that the SmartControl software itself stays up-to-date. When enabled, the software automatically checks for and downloads updates upon entering the SmartControl home page, provided there is a network connection. This helps in maintaining optimal performance and security.
- Firmware Upgrade: The "Version upgrade" feature allows users to update the monitor's firmware. Keeping the firmware current can resolve bugs, improve compatibility, and introduce new features, thus extending the monitor's lifespan and functionality. The application guides the user through the process, including prompts for USB cable connection and options to retry failed upgrades.
- Reset to Factory Settings: The "Reset" function under the "Settings" tab allows users to revert all monitor settings to their default state. This is useful for troubleshooting display issues or when a user wants to start fresh with the monitor's configuration.
- Power Management (ECO Power): Features like "Power Saving," "Idle Timer," and "Power off Schedule" help in reducing power consumption, which can contribute to the monitor's energy efficiency and potentially extend its operational life by reducing continuous strain.
- Information Display: The "Information" section provides crucial details about the monitor, such as serial number, firmware version, and manufacturing date. This information is valuable for support, warranty claims, and tracking device specifics.
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