M3Pod is a new home automation product. Here's a quick video showing how adding the £4,000 system it's helping US builders to sell new homes to customers working in high tech companys looking for an integrated system...

Data Robotics have just released an SDK for their Drobo Storage Robot.  What does this mean? Well additional functionality that you may be running a PC 24/7 to obtain will now be available on Drobo.  The sorts of features expected are UPnP, iTunes and FTP servers, plus BitTorrent clients. ...

Cytech Europe Limited announces the launch of new door stations and keypads for their Comfort Intelligent Home System.   Comfort links voice prompted home security with all aspects of smart home technology in one system...

Here's a great little device that promises a 10 minute plug & play DIY installation to your existing access control system.  You can authorise up to 2,000 users and restrict them by day, date and time.  The system also holds a log of access details and you can use your own SIM card or buy a low cost plan with the unit.  Use it to replace your existing keyfobs or even as a backup to them, it's available now for £195+vat...

Threshold Corp have been developing their new smart home system for around 4 years now and they're due to launch to market in the next few weeks.  The system uses a central controller to talk to a range of Wi-Fi based wireless modules all of which can be added to the secure network in seconds using their new "ConfigSpot" technology.  Check out the video after the jump...

TVIX describe their HD M-6500A V2 as "the Most Advanced Jukebox on the Planet".  It's a media player with support for a mulitude of codecs including H.264 MKV, AVCHD and FLAC. Files right up to 1080p are supported through its HiDef HDMI (v1.3) port.  Available with or without a SATA hard drive, prices start at £299...

What's all this about then? Well, I've got loads of home automation, and I love it!  However, whenever I show it to friends and family, I tend to get one of two responses.  The first is that it's just a gimmick and they'd never want anything like that.  The second is that it's great, but too complicated for them to set up something similar.

So this is my attempt at a simple, in fact very simple home automation device that ANYONE can use, and almost anyone can make.  I am actually seriously considering manufacturing these in bulk (well something similar) and selling the whole lot as a managed service for about a tenner a year. (please let me know if this could be of interest to anyone).  Anyway, so this is my attempt at cheap home automation for the masses, I hope you like it...

Show AH0013 - This time we talk to AlertMe co-founder and director Pilgrim Beart along with his Chief Design Engineer, Dr Amyas Phillips.  We talk about the technical background that lead both men to work on one of the UKs most inovative security systems.  We discuss the architecture of the Zigbee mesh network and the Linux powered hub at the centre of the system...

iTunes | Miro | Zune | RSS |  Right Click to Download (43 Minutes - 19.8Mb )

Check out the show notes after the jump for all the links to the subjects covered...

Crestron have launched their latest touchpanel controller the TPS-6X.  This 6" beauty docks onto it's own stand so can be used hand held or on a table top.  The panel has wired (while docked) and wireless capability and can run for around 24 hours on a single charge.  When docked, the TPS-6X can even display full-motion video, providing the ability to monitor a security camera, or preview a DVD or television channel, right on the touchscreen display.  Check out the other photo after the jump...

Now available for pre-order, the HP MediaSmart Connect costs around $350 and provides full Windows Media Center Extender capabilities.  On top of that it'll play media from computers and other storage devices around your home via its 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi or built-in Ethernet port.  Also included are 2 USB ports and of course it's equiped with HDMI so you can connect it to your HiDef display to play back all the usual suspect codecs (including DivX and Xvid)...