Automated Home

HomeAutom8 and iAutom8 from Tristan Phillips are a cloud service and mobile app combo home automation system.  The software works with RFXCom transmitters and smart home devices like HomeEasy, LightwaveRF, ByeByeStandBy, DomiaLite and X10. HomeAutom8 has a Free in-cloud scheduling service and a cross platform, cross browser online version, plus a £9.99 universal iPhone / iPad iOS App, as [...]

Plex team leader Elan Feingold has blogged an introduction to their new improved Android app.  The ground up rewrite targets devices running Android 3.2 or newer, dropping support for older versions of the OS.  However this has allowed the team to bring a vastly improved feature set and user experience.  You’ll be able to grab [...]

Los Angeles startup Tetherboard created lots of interest at CES last month with their new remote control device.  Tethercell adopts the form factor of an AA battery and contains Bluetooth 4.0 powered electronics that allow it to make any battery powered device remote controllable. Enough space is left over to insert a AAA battery to replace power [...]

AlertMe have just announced that its web and smartphone enabled remote heating control service is now available in the UK exclusively from British Gas.  The system allows the user to easily schedule their heating from their computer or phone as well as easily override the settings on the go via the web interface, Smartphone app [...]

CEDIA (Custom Electronic and Design Installation Association) has introduced its one of a kind, new smartphone app, providing a platform for industry professionals globally to connect, gain valuable information on the go and improve their business. “Available on Apple, Blackberry and Android devices, the new international app is a must have tool for Electronic Systems [...]

A short time ago Tim Cook took the stage for the first time as the CEO of Apple at their Cupertino headquarters.  His presentation finally put an end to the usual wild speculation and rumour of the last few months.  So here are all the important specs of the new hardware along with some surprises [...]

In this months ‘My Automated Home’ feature, Nigel Giddings shows us his ingenious set-up that grabs a 3G signal from one corner of his rural idyll, beams it 300 meters back to his home and redistributes it to the family.  If you’re in the countryside and conventional ADSL or cable broadband is not available, then [...]

The iPhone 4 landed at the Automated Home a day late but here’s our low down on the handset after a few days of (playing around) exhaustive scientific tests including sample photos and video… The Hardware – The new iPhone does feel like a generation above its predecessor.  Right out of the box it feels [...]

Steve Jobs took to the stage a short time ago at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco.  While much of the fourth generation iPhones secrets were already known through a controversial Gizmodo expose, we didn’t have the details until now.  So here’s the confirmation of the specs along with some surprises too – [...]

This little beauty from GSM Auto contains a mobile phone and two 30 amp relays. Using the supplied T-Mobile SIM – (or a different SIM of your choice), the unit will work world wide with its quad-band radio. Applications include remotely controlling heating in your holiday home, lighting, access control of gates and garage doors [...]