The new Addonics NAS adaptor will convert a USB hard drive into network attached storage.  It works with most versions of Windows, Mac OS X, and various Linux distributions.  In addition, the $55 NAS adapter can also be used as an FTP server, a print server, DHCP server or as a Bit-Torrent downloading appliance...

Asian manufacturers, TrickleStar has launched an Apple Macintosh Z-Wave-compatible system.  Using their USB stick and software widget, the Mac can now be used as the central controlling unit for Z-Wave home control networks. Mac users will now be able to control their lighting, heating, entertainment and security systems with just a few clicks of the mouse, while improving comfort in the home and reducing energy costs. The widget will be available as a free download by December 17 on the TrickleStar homepage....

Here's a project that made us smile.  Some inexpensive X10 kit, the creative use of a window sensor and some imaginative macro programming brings together the Automated Talking Chair....

Cytech has introduced two new products for its flagship Comfort Intelligent Home System.  The new CWM02 is a Linux powered Embedded Webserver while the UCM/GSM2 is a new GSM Module for SMS control, notification and phone dialer backup...

Kevin from the xAP team has reported that Sandaysoft's Cumulus weather reporting software has now added support for xAP in its latest release - v1.8.3.  That means you can now integrate your weather station data with the rest of your home automation systems.  The software supports the RF Weather station currently on offer from Maplin for £69.99...

What do you get if you cross the Logitech Squeezebox Duet with the Innovus Z-Wave House Controller and some custom software?  Home Automation of course!  The new Innovus and Logitech package includes the special Innovus MyHome Plug-in software for the Squeezebox Duet controller...

Plex, the media player / library manager for the Mac just hit another major milestone with the release of v0.7.0.  The whole community has been working hard on the latest release and as part of the testing team Automated Home can report with some authority that this thing rocks!

Undoubtedly the biggest new feature in this release is the addition of “Media Server” allowing you to play back all your DRM'd iTunes music plus a whole host of other features like great audio and video podcast support...

IDRATEK have provided us with some photos of their (now in production) multifunction user interface module - the £228 DFP-H02. This device is the replacement for the MFP range and provides the same comprehensive range of sensors including light level, temperature, humidity, PIR, general purpose digital inputs, an IR transceiver and audio I/O, but there the similarities end...

Converting video formats is one of the banes of the digital home.  Transcoding video files to .mp4 format (H.264) to work on the unmolested Apple TV for example can be a royal pain.  Mac users have long had the solution in VisualHub (although sadly no longer in development).  In a recent  episode of the Windows Weekly podcast there was a recommendation for "Format Factory" and after some playing with this free app, it does indeed appear to be the windows tool I've been looking for...

The Xtreme X38HD is a new high definition multimedia player with support for H.264, SATA and HDMI.  With a front mounted 2" TFT LCD display and space for an internal hard drive the X38HD has enough connectivity on the back to satisfy the biggest of geeks...