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.
“The Plex Media Server is a standalone program that runs alongside Plex and serves up media from your iLife applications (iTunes and iPhoto today, Aperture and Lightroom shortly). Plex communicates with the Plex Media Server on the local machine, on your local network, or even across the world over the Internet. This means that you can play your friends’ iTunes playlists or browse their podcasts or photo albums."
Another of our favorite additions is the new theme music feature. When you go into, lets say Battlestar Galactica to browse your TV episodes, you'll get the theme music from the show playing in the background. This subtle upgrade again adds to the incredibly professional looks and feel of this stunning free application.
Plex iTunes Podcast Support [Geekbrief.tv]
There are many other new features and fixes in v0.7.0 and the official press release will be coming tomorrow, but we wanted you to be able to try it today. Grab Plex 0.7.0 from the link below and check Elan’s blog for the comprehensive list of features and fixes too.
Elans Blog Release Notes v0.7.0 elan.plexapp.com :Download Plex Plex-v0.7.0.dmg
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.
"The DFP-H02 sports a snazzy new look and incorporates an LCD display with fully dimmable RGB backlighting. The number of buttons has been increased to allow full 10 digit entry and LCD softkeys. And in keeping with the overall theme the buttons are backlit with individually controllable and dimmable red/blue LEDs. More than just providing a pretty look the variable lighting capabilities of the LCD and buttons can be used to good effect for context indication and at a glance status feedback.
Four relay drive output lines are now provided by means of two connectors at the rear. A separate dual channel relay plug in accessory is available (XRM-001).
Like all IDRATEK modules the DFP-H02 functionality, including what is displayed, is user configurable. However default behaviours and menus are provided by Cortex. Also like other modules internal firmware can be updated in-situ meaning that new enhancements can be easily passed on to existing customer installations.
With its range of sensors and its comprehensive user interface the DFP-H02 is an ideal primary module for placement in the main rooms of a property.
Due to the delays that beset this project and the need to satisfy a backlog of orders before opening up supplies more widely, publicity has been muted so far. Our main web pages will not be updated with details of the DFP-H02 for a few days yet. However readers interested in additional detail can refer to the advance data sheet via this URL: http://www.idratek.com/public/datasheets/DFPH02_DS.pdf Anyone interested in purchasing these modules in the near future is advised to contact IDRATEK with their estimated requirements since demand at this stage is already high and production schedules are tight."
www.idratek.com : Some user photos on our Forums here
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 "FormatFactory" and after some playing with this free app, it does indeed appear to be the windows tool I've been looking for.
"FormatFactory is a multifunctional media converter. Provides functions below:
FormatFactory's Feature:
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.
"Enjoy digital video, music and photos on your TV. The Xtreme X38HD supports the most popular multimedia files and can be used as digital video player, music player, photo album or as a portable hard disk drive. Get all your digital video, music and photos on your Xtreme X38HD and create a digital entertainment center in your living room. So you can enjoy video, music and photos with your family and friends in high definition (Full HD 1080p) quality."
Xtreme X38HD - Main Features
For more information visit - www.xtremexl.com
We reported back in June on the gorgeous new TPS-6X touchpanel from Crestron. Now the company have announced a new white version of the 5.7" active matrix colour touchscreen coming in December.
"Crestron’s revolutionary new TPS-6X touchpanel, hitherto available in sleek black, will soon be available in cool white! Designed for speed, style and extreme versatility, the TPS-6X from redefines touchpanel design for the 21st Century. High-end aesthetics abound in its ergonomic design - from the bright, beautiful colour touchscreen and illuminated pushbuttons, to the alluring contour of its tiltable docking base - these features combine to make the TPS-6X the new touchpanel of choice for the residential environment.
The TPS-6X streamlines the Crestron family of touchpanels panels by combining the features and functionality previously found in nine other models making this the one perfect solution for any application. While docked, the TPS-6X is a wired Cresnet or Ethernet connected panel with full-motion video display and when undocked the panel automatically switches to a wireless RF device with long-range, high-speed two-way RF communication up to 200 feet.
Key Features:
The TPS-6X remains connected to the RF radio while operating as a wired panel, so when the panel is removed from the dock, it instantly switches over to wireless mode. The TPS-6X operates within IEEE 802.15.4 so it does not experience any of the challenges of WiFi. The unit provides plenty of battery life and ships with default settings to go to sleep when it's not in use to preserve the battery (timing can be adjusted). The TPS-6X wakes up and works immediately just by touching the screen or a button. - there's no lag time; it doesn't need to connect or power up.
Illuminated pushbuttons on the TPS-6X provide quick access to volume adjustment, channel selection, and on-screen menu navigation. Button text is easily viewable in variable lighting conditions thanks to backlit laser engraving. The TPS-6X is also available without buttons.
For further information call Crestron direct on +44 (0)845 873 8787 or visit the company website: www.crestron.co.uk ."
Marmitek have announced a new inexpensive 3 way IR remote controlled HDMI Switcher. The 40 Euro (around £33) Connect310 is a 3 to 1 v1.3 full HD device that allows you to connect multiple sources to a single HDMI port on your display device and then switch between them remotely.
"Only one cable to your TV screen! Switch between the HDMI devices connected with Connect 310, the full HD 3 input /1 output HDMI Switcher
Resolution
Supported HDTV Resolutions 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
Supported PC Resolution (max) 1920 x 1200
Maximal Pixel Frequency (max) 225 MHz
Maximal Bit Rate (max) 2.25 Gbps (V.1.3.)
In- and outputs
HDMI Input 3 x HDMI (19-pin female) Gold plated
HDMI Output 1 x HDMI (19-pin female) Gold plated
Maximal HDMI cable length 15 metres
Remote control
Infrared remote control Battery included CR2025
Housing Switcher
Dimensions (H x W x D) 80 x 18 x 58mm
Weight 250 g
Ambient
Ambient temperature +0 to +40° C
Ambient humidity 10% to 85%
Power
Power adaptor (included) 100-240VAC / 50-60Hz, 5VDC / 300mA
www.marmitek.com
Dynalite’s new all-purpose module is flexible enough to accept up to four dual-channel or two quad-channel plug-in modules/cards for different loads. This allow its channels to be used for many different functions, including dimming or automation of blinds, curtains or fans etc. This means no more unused channels, as can happen with conventional single function units.
"Dynalite’s all-purpose controller on show at ISE 2009 - Westerham, Kent, 5 November, 2008: At the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2009 exhibition, lighting control and automation group, Dynalite, will showcase the company’s latest addition to its economical and sustainable multipurpose controller series--the DDMC802GL. Ideal for home automation and hotel suite control applications, the DIN rail-mountable DDMC802GL multipurpose controller features a unique hardware-configurable design, where plug-in output cards accommodate specific loads assigned to the system. This ability to tailor the product to the project optimises energy management and reduces cost, while simultaneously eliminating waste and providing future-proofing flexibility.
“Dynalite’s range of multipurpose modular controllers heralds the next ‘eco’ generation of Dynalite technology,” said Phil Main, Dynalite Business Development Manager. “No two control systems are alike, and the range of control requirements is ever increasing. By providing the ability to use load-specific modules--whether for luminaire dimming or automation of blinds, curtains or fans--there’s a huge reduction in the waste caused by unused channels in conventional control approaches. Moreover, the system is fully future-proof. A total system upgrade means no more than substituting individual modules. These are all key ingredients for a sustainable future.”
According to Main, the DDMC802GL extends Dynalite’s leading range of cost-effective DIN rail-mountable controllers that support large quantities of small loads in residential, hotel and high density residential applications. “The unprecedented flexibility of Dynalite modular multipurpose controllers extends far beyond controller design,” he said. “It also encompasses installation and serviceability, whereby the cards can be finalised and inserted after installation of the controller. From both an installation and hardware perspective, this results in one of the most cost-effective controllers on a per-channel basis available in the residential and hotel automation space.”
Both the new DDMC802GL and existing DDMC802 modular controllers can control a wide range of loads--including trailing-edge or leading-edge phase control dimmers, HF ballast control (individually programmable DALI, 1-10V and DSI), relay control, fan and curtain control. This makes them the ideal solution for home and hotel automation applications requiring functionality beyond mere lighting control. Moreover, the modular approach ensures an attractive price-point.
Featuring eight channels with a nominal load per channel of 2A, the DDMC802GL (general load) multipurpose controller can accept up to four dual-channel or two quad-channel plug-in modules/cards for different loads. The total box load is module-specific up to 16A. Alternatively, for applications requiring maximum flexibility, the landmark DDMC802--featuring eight single-channel plug-in module slots--can be loaded to a total box load of 16A in all card configurations.
Like all is founded on Dynalite’s world-renowned distributed control philosophy, where control intelligence is distributed about the network and linked via Dynalite’s sophisticated peer-to-peer communications serial bus network, DyNet. Each controller is programmed according to the specific loads it controls, acting upon instructions from user panels or sensors integrated via the DyNet network. Programming access is facilitated by a RS485 DyNet port located on the front of each controller, allowing local network and controller access via PC, without dismantling any equipment. A total of 170 pre-set scenes can be stored on the network for each controlled area.
Other features of the DDMC802GL multipurpose controller include the provision of eight programmable dry contact inputs for hardwiring components to the controller (such as security system override), and an optional clock module, located on the motherboard in order to avoid consuming slot space. Also included is a local override control on the front panel of each controller that allows on/off control of each individual channel in the unlikely event of network failure.
To explore Dynalite’s integrated lighting control and automation solutions, visit Dynalite at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2009: Hall 3, Stand 3A110, RAI Exhibition Centre, Amsterdam, 3 to 5 February, 2009."
DomotiGa is a new Open Source Home Automation package from the Netherlands. Written in Gambas basic and almost ready for release, DomotiGa supports X10, RFXCom, Oregon sensors, BlueTooth, Asterisk and many other hardware devices .
"Introduction - DomotiGa is an Open Source Home Automation program written in Gambas basic. In The Netherlands Home Automation is called Domotica, and since it is written in Gambas, I changed the last part of this word to 'Ga'. This results in one of the few words that don't have millions of hits in google, which is handy..
It runs on Linux and can read all kinds of sensor values, detect motion and it can schedule lights to turn on/off at certain times. By using an RFXCom receiver, Xanura CTX35 A10/X10 controller and/or a Midon TEMP08 1-wire interface and more.
Why - Why did you start writing yet another home automation program? I have used Misterhouse for years. (I even created the -now very outdated- ia5 web interface) but like many of us lost the overview, it's simply to massive. After looking at other 'so called open-source programs' it turned out that although they where called open-source they didn't have any code published, or you couldn't hardly call it a program.
When I was busy to create a trimmed down version of Misterhouse I came across Gambas basic. I tried to code the functionality I used then in Gambas, and this turned out to be rather easy! I even build support for interfaces not available in Misterhouse yet and Gambas's IDE is just great!
Status - No code has been released yet, but there will be soon. I'm no coder by nature, so don't expect top notch quality, but I will do my best to create a descent piece of software. And since it's gonna be Open Source, we can make it better together. See the Supported Hardware topic for more up to date information about the status of various modules.
Want to help? - I certainly can use some help developing this a bit more... This help can be in the form of tips and tricks, Gambas or Domotics related, ideas, brainstorm sessions, code snippets for new drivers (also example vb code is accepted), donations so I can write code to support new hardware, kudo's etc etc...
If demand is high I can set up a svn repository for example.
Gambas, what is it? Look here to get an impression:
http://gambas.sourceforge.org : http://gambasdoc.org
More Screenshots : DomotiGa Forums : [Thanks SVJ]
So as if to prove his point, a day after our Masked Installer's piece on how the iPhone and iPod Touch are becoming such great Smart Home controllers, Sonos release their free app to control their multiroom music system.
"The Sonos Controller for iPhone™ is a free application that turns your iPhone (or iPod® touch) into a full-fledged Sonos Controller. Plus, it uses the familiar touch-screen interface and fits in your pocket so you can carry it with you all over the house. Best of all, you can download it for free on the App Store in seconds. Just grab your iPhone and simply touch the screen to pick a room, point and flick to pick a song, and then hit play. Grouping zones and searching tracks has never been easier. You can mix and match Controllers (CR100, Desktop Controller and Sonos Controller for iPhone) for maximum flexibility. Or get started with Sonos using the iPhone you already own and one or more ZonePlayers spread throughout your house."
Jump to the Free Sonos App on iTunes : www.sonos.com
This time our Masked Installer gives us his candid take on how the iPhone (and iPod Touch) is shaping the way his clients control their professional custom installed smart home systems and how it really could be the device that changes people's perception of Home Automation."When I posted my heroes and villains of last year I had iTunes in the villains' camp. I didn't like the DRM, the inadequate bit rate and the non-standard method of dealing with cover art. I'm still not a great fan of iTunes but I do have more than a sneaking regard for Apple's other products. A quick inventory of what I've got...
If I was doing another Heroes and Villains piece I'd have the iPhone in there on the side of the good guys. I think it's the most capable all round piece of hardware I've ever used, more importantly I think it's the device that's most likely to change people's perceptions of what home automation could do and how it should work. To put that in perspective I'll do a comparison of what my iPhone does vs. a wireless AMX touchpanel. They're very different devices but because they're multifunctional personal touch screens there's a lot of crossover.
The AMX panel is a better home automation device. We run whole houses on these things with a single integrated interface for audio/video, heating, security, lighting, blinds, gates, CCTV etc. Because we design the GUIs we can tailor the interface to our clients' needs and because we have some talented programmers we can pretty well control anything using the Netlinx programming language. The touchpanels talk to an AMX processor usually tucked away in the rack and the processor has an array of comms onboard - IP, RS232 , IR, Relays, Digital I/O. That's a pretty potent combination and it comes at a price. The panel is over £3k, the processors vary but the one we use most often is around £2k and when you get any of this kit out of the box it doesn't do anything - just about all of the functionality requires custom code - so there's programming fees as well. That said the end result is a solid, well supported install with remote management capability and an interface that is absolutely tailored to the customer’s requirements.
My iPhone cost nothing with the package I chose. That package has proved to be £30 a month less I was paying to Orange for using my gruesome N95. Out of the box you get a phone (sorry I know that's pretty obvious), email, SMS and a really usable browser. AMX for all its capability is a long way behind when it comes to comms. The new panels have VoIP capability, there's a SIP gateway so it's possible to use them as phone devices and I've seen email and RSS readers implemented (though it's not something we do) but there's no browser. As an information device, an AMX panel lacks a lot of what the iPhone can do. Shouldn't be too surprising though, the iPhone is a communications platform. What is more surprising is how much wider the iPhone's capabilities become when you throw in wealth of stuff the Apps Store.
The first thing I put on mine was Remote - the Apple application that offers you control over iTunes or an Apple TV. As a taster of what's possible it's a great introduction. I've never really got the whole AirTunes / Airport Express thing; without some form of smart remote interface, there's still the need for a PC or Mac to control what's going out. Remote fills that gap and gives you a pretty full featured interface for iTunes control. It's not a true multiroom audio solution in terms of selecting output zones, managing volume and all the things that make dedicated multiroom solutions work well but its media selection interface is just lovely - in some ways better than the iPod Touch's own interface. Remote was something I played around with for a bit and then left alone. It's free, it's fun and it makes remote iTunes management an option but I wasn't going to use it at home.
Zones had me changing stuff around on my home setup to accommodate it. Zones is an iPhone / iPod Touch app for Sonos control and I've got a fair chunk of Sonos kit. If you've got a Sonos Zone Player then it's worth the £9 or so it costs. It doesn't have the same multizone volume control of a Sonos CR100 controller and it's not got Zone synching so like Remote it feels like more of a point to point solution. The difference for me is that it offers a new interface on top of the Sonos hardware. Sonos is a dedicated multiroom audio solution, Zones gives you a new way to access a lot of what Sonos does really well.
So searching with Zones is much nicer than hunting for stuff with a CR100, browsing your lists of Albums, Artists and Genres is more fun than browsing with a CR100. I've always loved Sonos but the iPhone form factor and touchscreen's multitouch capability makes the CR100 feel really dated. The great thing here is that you're just adding a new fun way of enjoying a Sonos system, nothing gets junked.
"Zones" controls Sonos with the iPhone / iPod Touch
If I look at the other multiroom systems we sell then there is similar activity. Speakercraft have developed a custom web interface for the iPhone. Not being a native client it doesn't make maximum use of the iPhone's capability but it's simple to integrate, it works and again it's an additional way of enjoying an existing system. I'd describe it as an addition to a well set up Speakercraft system and worth looking at if you've gone down that route.
What all of these applications lack that AMX has in spades is the totally integrated interface. With one of our AMX panels you get an interface that gives you all of the control you need, not just the ones relevant to a particular application. Our cinema interfaces offer control over lighting levels, heating levels, source selection and control, fine tune over video processors and AV amps. However, there's a shortcut route to integrating an iPhone or iPod Touch here as well. All AMX 4th Generation (G4) panels offer VNC. Jaadu (formerly known as Teleporter) is a brilliant VNC client for the iPhone. A widescreen AMX panel has a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels, Jaadu makes a pretty good fist of scaling that down to the iPhone's screen. Again, this isn't a replacement for AMX - in this context you need an AMX panel to VNC into. What it is a nice additional way of controlling a wider control system with a device that you're likely to have in your pocket. On a local network, it's very usable. On a WAN you need a bit of patience but it gives me an acceptable way to remotely manage sites including our own showrooms.
The next step from that has to be native applications - there are a number appearing now and among them is the Command Fusion iViewer application for which a team of AMX developers are developing an AMX module. Native apps offer the possibility of a higher level of integration and the use of the platform's hardware capability. Tying an iPhone interface to AMX code running on an AMX processor is very appealing and offers us the potential to create great user interfaces to our own code base. I think the key to great control interfaces has to be simplicity and providing we don't ignore that we can supplement our installs with a handy pocket size device that so many of our customers carry.
Simplicity is the key to the best iPhone apps. Some personal faves. Trains is a UK app that lets you check departure times by Station. TV Plus is a fantastic client for Sky's Remote Record. Newsstand is a fun RSS reader that makes great use of the multitouch features of the iPhone. Touch Term is a great SSH client for remote management and the last.fm client is a nice way of extending your iPhone's library when you're in Wi-Fi range.
So have I gone completely insane? Am I putting forward the view that the top end players like Crestron and AMX are under threat from a phone or an iPod? Not exactly, I still hold that an AMX setup is a vastly superior home automation platform - it's what it's designed to do. The iPhone in comparison can be viewed as a crude mish-mash of unrelated applications, but some of those applications really make you think about how touchscreen interfaces should work. The defining moment for me was when I was when I flicked my finger down a list of artists on a wall mounted touch panel and stood there waiting for something to happen.
As an addition to the range of tools available to Cutom Installers, we should welcome the iPhone with open arms!"
iTunes links for the Apps in this article - Remote : Zones : iViewer : TV Plus : Trains : Newsstand : Touch Term : last.fm : Jaadu
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