Automated Home

‘Shortcut’ is a new smart home app just launched this month that allows you to control a variety of home automation systems with your voice. The system understands natural language so phrases like “turn on the light” or “set the temperature to 72 degrees” can be used.  All this should help to alleviate the current messy control […]

The new TRF-ZW1 Z-Wave Extender is designed to be an integrated part of URC’s Total Control system. The gateway allows control of Z-Wave devices such as door locks and lights from any Total Control interface including remotes, keypads and smart phones or tablets… Keep your eye on things at home - Using URCs handheld remotes or brilliant […]

Two Germany entrepreneurs have launched a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter for a new high quailty aluminium iPad wall dock.  The “JUICE” will mount and optionally charge your iPad on the wall. Juice is CNC machined out of a solid block of aluminium then anodised in Silver or Black.  The inventors say it is easily mounted on any […]

Last september Amazon opened a smart home section on their American site.  Now Amazon UK have just launched their own Home Automation store too. Split into sections like Energy & Lighting, Monitoring & Security, Entertainment and Appliances, this pulls all Amazon’s home gadgetry into one easy-to-browse place. So if you’re looking for anything from an […]

The 15″ Retina MacBook Pro that is the centre of my daily work is connected to quite a few external devices and it’s getting messy.  Time for a desk rethink. A Thunderbolt dock would be nice but they’re still a pricey item and I can get most of what I need with a decent USB hub. So […]

In what we hope will be a regular slot, we’ve talked Automated Home reader, turned Home Automation Industry Insider, Martyn Wendon, into reviewing some smart home kit. For his first review we asked him to give us the low down on the Fibaro’s Z-Wave Wall Plug. Background I’ve been a Z-Wave convert for several years now and […]

Nest have finally announced a UK version of their learning thermostat.  Now available from Amazon for £179 for the DIY installers, the system comes with a 12volt wired or wireless boiler relay to suit UK installations.  A certified installer program is already in operation (check out the link below) with a ‘basic install’ ranging from £75 to […]

Fibaro have officially announced the latest addition to its line-up of products today, the new Z-Wave FGM-001 Motion Sensor. The device detects motion and can be used as part of a security system to monitor your home when you’re out.  But it can also be actively used as part of a sophisticated home automation system too. […]

The LightwaveRF system from JSJS Designs offers a wide variety of good looking, affordable home automation modules that can easily be retro fitted in any home. After a long gestation period the company are ready to launch their heating control range which will be part of the new professional series. Featuring ARM processors, the system will include […]

There is such a thing as too much of a good thing and with all the amazing choice on eBay it can sometimes be hard to see the wood for the trees.  So when the eBay team asked us to try out their brand new ‘Collections’ feature we couldn’t wait to get started. eBay collections […]