After a 'video only' start, the DisplayPorts on most Apple machines have been carrying audio too, since 2010 (check compatibility with your individual  model).  Now there's an inexpensive and tidy solution to send that audio and video from your Mac to your HD TV via HDMI.  The Apple Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter cable with Audio from Neet Cables is available now for a very reasonable £10.95...

The launch of new Z-Wave wireless smart home devices continues unabated and seems to be turning into an almost daily occurrence.  This time the new goodies are from Eminent who are revealing their e-Domotica home control range...

Sponsored Post The Times have recently reviewed a new IP TV streamer - The Veebeam - which has just been made available in the UK.  Simply plug in the USB dongle to your computer to beam its content to your telly.  It works with Windows 7, Vista, XP plus Mac OSX and It's designed to send anything on your computer to your TV wirelessly, including things like the BBC iPlayer and YouTube. 

2011 is really shaping up to be the year that IPTV hits the mainstream.  More and more families want to stream 4OD, the ITV Player and many other services to their biggest screen in the house, rather than watching on their smallest.  The US is already seeing a significant proportion of the population cancel their Satellite and Cable service and instead opt to just pay for the series they are really interested in via iTunes for example...

Home Automation behemoth, Crestron, have announced that their new 9" widescreen tilt touchpanel is now shipping.  The TPMC-9 brings improved graphics and animations, including cover flow and page flips plus gesture control of your home cinema AV system, lighting and security...

FAKRO announced several new Z-Wave products for skylight type windows.  The wireless controls allow the operation of an electric FTP-V pivot window, an ARF blackout roller blind and a ARZ roller shutter.  The window picot has an integrated moisture sensor which closes the window automatically as soon as it detects rain...

We just got our hands on one of these little guys after looking around for a way to tag our DSLR photos with GPS location data. The match-boxed sized unit (currently on special offer at £29.99) takes a snapshot of your GPS info (longitude, latitude, altitude, speed, heading, date and time) at regular intervals set by you.  If you're a photographer or just want to record a car journey, a walk, hike or a bike ride etc with digital breadcrumbs then read on...

Back in September last year Automated Home reader, Klaus sent us a video on XBMC control from his iPhone.  Today he sends us his next video showing home automation control using his iPad.  The system employs 'm..myhome' (Mac and Linux friendly) and controls a huge variety of functions around his house including lighting, blinds, heatinfg, CCTV and door locks - in addition to the media centre control.

The TellStick from Telldus is an intelligent and flexible USB dongle that's compatible with many of the 433.92 Mhz wireless remote switches such as Bye Bye Standby, Home Easy, Proove, Nexa, IKEA, CoCo, Elro, Sartano, DIY, and Waveman.  The £55 unit allows you to automate and control your home devices via the web and mobile devices including Android and iOS/iPhone.  Check out the video after the jump...

With Philips killing the Pronto line many CI's and home automation enthusiasts are looking for a new feature rich line of universal remote controls.  We're hearing good things about the RTI range from the installers we respect and the latest model, the 3rd gen T3-V+ looks like a peach...

Consumer Electronic Control (CEC) is bidirectional serial bus that allows components to control each other across an HDMI cable.  You've probably already heard of this system without knowing it as each manufacture gives it its own name, for example 'Bravia Sync' from Sony, 'Kuro Link' from Pioneer and 'SimpLink' from LG.  With the new kwikwai unit you can control your AV system from Ethernet with CEC replacing stick on IR emmiters for example.  The unit also bridges CEC to USB and RS232 Serial.  You could, for example, send a text string to the OSD of your TV, perhaps to show the name of a caller phoning you or that there's movement outside...