Automated Home reader, Klaus has sent us this interesting video on XBMC control from his iPhone.  Make sure to watch through the media bits to the end for the Home Automation and CCTV segment and read on for all the details...

Apple have just announced their Apple TV replacement.  The device is one quarter the size of the first generation unit.  It has built in power supply, HDMI connector, Ethernet and 802.11n Wi-Fi.

Described as 'silent, cool and tiny' gone is the ability to purchase videos but now renting a TV episode costs $0.99 (ABC and Fox in the US to start with).

I addition to renting Movies and TV from Apple, US users can stream from NetFlix too.  YouTube HD is supported and FLickr and MobileMe plus local music and video too...

You asked for more info - you got it.  Check out our 3 minute video walk through of the brand new Plex streaming media centre app on the iPad and and iPhone...

So you've just read our article on the release of Plex 9 (if not make sure to check it out here).  Around the time the devs were bringing Plex 9 to life, Apple announced the iPad.  The chat in the Plex inter-sanctum was feverish as people imagined how great it would be to have Plex 9 - with all its cover-art and meta data goodness, available on the new Apple tablet.  So a secret project within a secret project began and the beautiful Plex app was born...

While updates to Plex have slowed during 2010, the developers haven't been slacking.  On the contrary - they've been beavering away, putting in late nights around the world's time zones from Hawaii, North America, Europe and New Zealand.  The reason?  A project code named 'Alexandria', a ground-up rewrite of the library that's at the heart of the system and that promises to take the Plex Media Center to the next level...

A series of new products based on Z-Wave technology have just been announced by Aeon Labs.  The new devices are the Home Energy Meter - a clamp on wireless electrical energy measuring device, the Minimote - a remote to control your Z-Wave enabled devices,  and the Z-Stick - a USB Z-Wave controller.  Read on for the full PR and the links..

Here's some more eco friendly home automation designed to give you that warm fuzzy, 'saving the planet' feeling.  The Eco Sensor Lamp is a compact florescent bulb with the usual long life and low energy features married to a PIR sensor and timer.  While it may be a little dumb in the grand scheme of today's smart homes, its truly automated unlike many other systems.  Once movement is detected the bulb can be set to remain lit for anything from 10 seconds to 5 minutes.  Available in bayonet and screw fittings now at under £16...

Cytech have just release information on their new touchscreen keypad set for Launch in October.  The Comfort KT03 is said to fit between basic keypads and large expensive touch screens.  It offers control of Comforts security and home automation features and in addition will be able to control sub systems from C-Bus, KNX, Dynalite, Zwave, Velbus and Lutron.  The unit can be mounted in landscape or portrait and is programmed through its USB interface with Comfigurator software.

If you are an AV integration nerd then here's a video to get you all hot under the collar.  The quick tour of the DigitalMedia AV Network labs shows where Crestron carry out their source compatibility testing.  Also shown are the large system racks and the distribution of audio, video, Ethernet, USB and control data over a single '8G' cable

This months 'My Automated Home' comes from Delmar Fadden, a man that's no stranger to electronics.  As a retired avionics and flight deck engineer he's spent a lifetime at the sharp end of control systems.  Now with a passion for home automation, he takes us on a tour of his Seattle smart home system which runs on ECS...