Automated Home

Streaming Your AVI & MKV Video Files to the iPad

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:53:01 +0100

Been wondering how you're going to be able to play all your AVI and MKV movies on your shiny new iPad next month? Here's the answer, a little £1.79 app from the iTunes store. We've confirmed with the developers of Air Video that the native iPad version is in the works, and we've tested it on the iPhone and are really impressed. Here's how it works...

AMX Control with New iRidium iPad App

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:10:15 +0100

Russian developers, iRidium Mobile, have just released the new version of their home automation control application. Available on a range of platforms, - most notably now the iPad too - the system can be used to control AMX, EIB/KNX, ABB, Berker, GIRA, Jung and Modbus with DALI , X10 and Domintell protocols in the works too. iRidium can also control XBMC, with support coming in the near future for Boxee, Windows Media Center and Apple TV...

Mac Home Automation on your TV with Indigo and Plex

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:30:59 +0100

Plex + Indigo + Harmony Remote = Home Automation Bliss Why do it? About a year ago, I decided to take the home automation plunge and sought out ways to automate my home's lighting, entertainment and HVAC systems. After doing a good deal of research, I concluded that the most cost-effective and flexible solution would be to utilitze Perceptive Automationís Indigo software and Smarthome's Insteon modules for the lighting and HVAC. Once I installed all the Insteon devices (which also included a garage door opener), I installed the Indigo software on an iMac in my study, connected the iMac to the Insteon adapter which plugs into the wall and my home automation dreams were off and running...

Clipsal C-Bus Wiser Review

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:49:58 +0100

Clipsal have recently unleashed the new CBUS Wiser unit which appears to offer a great deal of potential to home automaters with CBUS to expand their CBUS network with logic features and an out-of-the-box touchscreen centric control system.In essence, the Wiser unit combines the functions of a couple of existing CBUS units that you may already own, and additionally adds functionality not previously available in a hardware based unit. The Wiser performs the following functions on a CBUS network...

Useful USB Port Built Into Mains Wall Socket

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:05:25 +0100

Maplin have just introduced a new UK 13A mains wall socket with built-in USB. The £14.99 device should help to clear up the scourge of the dreaded wall wart that scars the walls of many a room. The recent move to micro USB chargers by mobile phone manufacturers will mean you can use it for your cell phone as well as power or charge iPods, MP3 players, game consoles, digital cameras and a host of other consumer electronics. The initial design is available in a single socket format only (one each mains and USB sockets) and is un-switched. Read on for the full specs...

Project Natal Preview - Home Automation Implications?

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:30:30 +0100

The Gadget Show's Jason Bradbury recently attended the Microsoft hosted preview of Project Natal - the next gen gaming interface for the XBox. Watching Jason's first impressions, especially the section on walking into your lounge, being recognised and using voice control, definitely have us thinking of the Home Automation possibilities around the technology.So after xbmc will the next reason to hack your XBox be to control your entire home? Will Natal live up to the hype, or will it just be another cute gaming interface building on what the Wii started. Let us know what you think in the comments below... W81PeswSWP0

Crestron iPad App

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:41:26 +0100

Crestron have announced their 'Crestron Mobile' and 'Crestron Mobile Pro' apps are now ready for the iPad. The new versions will be available to run on the iPhone and iPod touch as before, with the addition of the ability to run at the iPads native resolution...

Crestron Introduces New In-Wall iPod Docking Station

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:30:01 +0100

Crestron have introduced the new CEN-IDOCV-DSW which combines the CEN-IDOCV Interface for Apple iPod functionality plus its tabletop dock into a single, 6 x 4 in-wall unit. This dual purpose interface and dock provide a flexible option for whole house audio and video distribution from Apple iPod, iPhone and iPod touch...

Mac mini Server - 19 Inch Rack Mount Shelf Review

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:03:40 +0100

The UBL-MMR from Mk1 Studio is a 19 inch rackMount Shelf for your Mac mini server. Automated Home reader Ben McCormack reviews the hardware and shows us more photos of his home automation rack project...

The Duke SmartHome

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:37:05 +0100

LUTZTpU7RO8 We just spotted this video taken late last year on the Home Depot Smart Home, a live-in research laboratory operated by Duke's Pratt School of Engineering.

Over 100 Z-Wave Products Now Available in the UK

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:54:09 +0100

We're always on the look out for a better selection of Z-Wave products, so when Vesternet cntacted us earlier this week to tell us they now had over 100 Z-Wave products available – the largest choice in the UK - we had to have a look...

Z-Wave Home Control with the QEES Keyring Pendant

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:19:21 +0100

The Danish boffins at QEES have released two new products using the Z-Wave wireless system. The QEES-Ring keyring pendant has 4 programmable buttons and an effective range of around 400 feet. Perfect for easy control of lights, garage doors, shutters or thermostats etc as you leave or arrive at home...

Automated Home Readers Offer - 15% off Eyespy247 Home Security Cameras

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 08:13:34 +0100

Last month we ran a story on a new range of internet CCTV cameras. Now EyeSpy247 have kindly given us a discount voucher code for a 15% off their camera range for Automated Home readers that would like to try these IP cameras, including the pan tilt zoom model. Discount code after the jump...

Apple Announces the iPad Tablet Computer

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:37:21 +0100

A few minutes ago Steve Jobs took to the stage and announced the iPad Apple Tablet. Much of what was in our article Last month (What will the Apple Tablet mean for the smart home) is in the new device as expected. Read on for the specs photos and videos as they emerge....

Y-Cam IP CCTV adds SD Slot for Recording - Gets Featured on BBC TV

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:09:20 +0100

One of our current favourite IP CCTV camera ranges - Y-Cam - now has a new model with a built in SD slot for storing recorded video. The Y-cam Black SD is now fully Mac and Linux compatible too and was recently featured on an interesting segment on home security on BBC 2's Working Lunch. Watch the video after the jump...

Free iPhone App Released for C-Bus Wiser Smart Home Controller

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:57:17 +0100

The C-Bus Wiser goodness just keeps on coming. The free iPone app to control the system is now available on the iTunes apps store, giving control of your lighting, climate, entertainment, energy and camera monitoring from within your home via WiFi or away from home over the cellular data network. Check out the demonstration video after the jump...

Smart Home Success Story - A Comfort Case Study

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 08:22:30 +0100

The Comfort system from Cytech is an Automated Home favourite. It integrates an intruder alarm, home automation controller, voicemail and intercom all into one compact, reliable package. This case study gives a flavour of what the Comfort system can control in a real home...

Home Automation Videos on the Automated Home YouTube Channel

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:28:26 +0100

We're especially pleased to announce our new partnership with YouTube. Check out our channel at - youtube.com/AutomatedHome - for Home Automation related reviews and interviews. Click the yellow Subscribe button and you'll receive an email every time we upload a new video.

PassivEnergy Controls Your Heating Wirelessly - Reduces Your Energy Bills

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:18:20 +0100

New UK start-up PassivSystems have launched their energy monitoring and control system at CES. The set-up comprises of wireless sensors, electricity power monitors and heating controllers - all brought together on an easy to manage on-line interface. Watch the video after the jump...

EyeSpy 247 Launches Two New 'Plug-n-Play' Internet Security Cameras

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:15:19 +0100

EyeSpy 247 have just announced 2 brand new IP CCTV cameras for your home - the £100 EyeSpy247F+ and £180 EyeSpy247ptz (pan tilt zoom). Both models feature VGA resolution at 30 frames-per-second, MPEG4 and M-JPEG compression, wired and wireless operation and two-way audio. EyeSpy 247 say their cameras are uniquely easy to setup and in conjunction with their free web monitoring and alert service you can record movement as well as receive email and SMS notifications. Read on for the PR...