The Vera 2 Z-Wave home automation controller is being superseded by two new models over the coming months. A new Vera 'Lite' will be a cut down version without Wi-Fi, and is expected in a month or two. But before that the more powerful full Vera 3 unit is launching first which includes a new version 5 of the MiOS user interface.
We have news from the guys at Vesternet on how you can reserve yourself one of the first few units into the UK.
"With a faster processor, more memory for downloading apps and upgraded Wi-Fi, Vera3 is more powerful than ever. Heavy users with multiple device types and plugins will find Vera3 is up to the challenge. You can add hundreds of devices to your Vera network and even add multiple Veras to your home or small business. You have unlimited options for scenes, rooms, timers, events and notifications.
"We have a very, very limited amount of the EU version Vera 3 coming into us soon. It should be before Christmas, but not 100% certain. So we're operating a process where we don't take payment, but Automated Home readers can register their interest on our site, then when stock arrives, they'll be directed to a page where they can order one of the first units available in Europe.
Register your interest with Vesternet : More Z-Wave News
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Wi-Fi CCTV cameras are so convenient, even better if you can pan and tilt from a remote location while viewing your home from your smartphone. But what if all that was available in a device that cost just £40? Well it is with this CCTV camera , a wireless IP camera with 2 way pan/tilt, built-in microphone and speaker plus it supports mobile phone viewing and WEP/WPA/WAP2....
£40 CCTV Camera : Foscam CCTV Camera Range
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We've seen plenty of interesting Siri hacks over the last couple of months, but here's a slightly more seasonal variation. The guys over at iHomeTouch have married a little X10 Home Automation with a Spotify playlist all kicked off using SiriProxy. The macro is launched in an interactive conversation with Siri. Check out the video below...
"Adam & Craig decorate the Christmas tree in the 1 JUMP 2 office. Adam uses SiriProxy to turn on the Christmas tree lights with iHomeTouch, an X10 remote control app for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Siri talks to iHomeTouch Server, which then asks if Adam would like to listen to a Christmas jingle. SiriProxy then loads Deck the Halls in Spotify."
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Marmitek's ever expanding catalogue of useful devices for your digital home gets another new addition this week with the launch of the BoomBoom 152 Bluetooth Music Receiver.
The unit employs a similar set-up to many ceiling speakers, using a single mid/bass driver along with 2 horizontally opposed tweeters to give a stereo image. Its built in rechargeable batteries give up to 8 hours service and at under £50 it's an inexpensive way to free the music on your smartphone or tablet...
"NEW! Marmitek BoomBoom 152 wireless speaker for iPhone and iPad - Is all of your favourite music stored on your iPhone or iPad? Well, you can now share this music with others wherever and whenever you want! The BoomBoom 152 is a portable speaker that can be connected wirelessly to your iPhone or iPad. As a result, you can play your favourite music on the beach, in the park, at your friends’ place or anywhere else with unparalleled sound quality compared to the built-in speakers of your iPhone or iPad.
One speaker creates a perfect stereo effect! This is the result of the two, perfectly placed, tweeters that provide excellent sound quality with clear high and mid frequencies. In addition, the subtly hidden but very effective 20cm bass port provides rich and deep low tones. The built-in, rechargeable battery provides you with up to eight hours of music if you do not have access to an electrical socket.
Price and availability - The BoomBoom 152 is white and is available now for just € 49.95.
Would you prefer black? Then go for the BoomBoom 150 that is available for the same price."
www.marmitek.com : Other BlueTooth Speakers
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Almost 4 years ago we ran an article on the news that 220v Insteon was coming to the UK and Europe. For one reason or another this didn't happen but today we're delighted to be the first blog to be given the exclusive news direct from Joe Dada that "The long wait is near its end." We can confirm European spec Insteon units are already in use on trials and they will ship in 2012...
As you know we've been in development of 230V/50Hz products for some time. We have been shipping limited quantities to key customers for testing purposes for a few months now. We plan to roll out a decent number of products (a line) during 2012, hopefully in the first half or close to it. All of the powerline products will be dual-band INSTEON (both powerline and RF communications) and will work with the old, X10 technology. Distribution agreements are in process and customers should expect a fairly wide availability upon launch. - Joe Dada, Insteon
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Here's a two-part video demo showing an OpenRemote setup controlling a Z-Wave home automation system - "In this video, Marcus Redeker shows OpenRemote controller with an iPhone user interface controlling Z-Wave enabled hardware -- door sensor, light and dimmer and a motion sensor. The Z-Wave hardware is controlled via an IP-to-ZWave gateway from HomeScenario. OpenRemote helps installers integrate various protocols and devices including popular home automation protocols such as KNX, Lutron, Insteon, X10, Z-Wave, GlobalCache and 1-Wire." Check out the 2 videos below...
www.openremote.org : OpenRemote BOSS v2.0 on Video
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We've reached another 'End of an Era' this week as Crag Chadwick has announced that his HomeVision home automation controller business is winding up. It's testament to Craig's design that the 8-bit hardware has survived well into a 64-bit world and indeed still powers many homes today. It's legendary reliability, expandability, flexibility and elegant macro programmability made it a firm favourite with home automators on both sides of the Atlantic. This is you're last opportunity to grab a discounted spare board or accessory. Details after the jump.
"After more than 15 years selling the HomeVision line of home automation products, we've made the difficult decision to begin shutting down the business. We will sell our remaining small amount of inventory, but will not be producing more. We will continue to provide repair services for all products during the standard 3-year warranty period. We do not plan on making any software or firmware upgrades unless there's a major bug, which is unlikely. We're selling the remaining inventory as follows for anyone interested in making a final purchase:
E-mail us at csi@csi3.com if you're interested in purchasing anything."
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Perceptive Automation have announced the next major release of their Mac Home Automation software - Indigo v5.0. The OSX application forms the centre of a sophisticated whole-house control system. Of note in the new release is the addition of a plugin architecture allowing anyone to implement a connection to the software using Python. A new "Condition Editor" (see screen shot below) allows users to easily build complex rule based macros in a similar way to creating a smart play list in iTunes.
"Dallas, TX - Perceptive Automation, the leading provider of Mac-based home automation software, today announced the immediate availability of Indigo 5, an update to the company's intelligent home control and automation server for Mac OS X. With Indigo, users can easily monitor and control lights, appliances, thermostats, lawn sprinklers, and dozens of other items found in the home. Sophisticated logic and schedules can be created to reduce energy and water usage and the entire house can be remotely controlled from browsers or the native iOS app.
New with this release is a Python-based Plugin API. This API gives 3rd Party developers the ability to add native device types, trigger events, and actions which are fully integrated into the Indigo User Interface and server. Indigo is the first Mac home automation software to provide developers with a clearly documented and thorough plugin mechanism. Plugins are implemented in the popular Python programming language and are sandboxed to help ensure that no single plugin can interfere with the operation of the server.
“With the new API, Indigo Pro users will have access to a much wider range of devices and data integrations without the need for us to release a new version of Indigo for each new technology,” said Matt Bendiksen, president of Perceptive Automation. “Development of new features has accelerated significantly through new functionality added by 3rd party developers. Internally we can also deliver functionality much more quickly given that we can deliver plugins outside of a full Indigo release.” Indigo 5 includes several plugins, such as:
There are several 3rd party plugins available as well which cover integrations like the Global Caché infrared and relay devices, various alarm systems and other security-related products, energy monitoring systems, thermostats, and smartphone based location and proximity detection.
"I’ve spent a lot of time working on AppleScripts to control the Jandy Aqualink automated pool/spa system, but always had to troubleshoot problems others had, especially with setting up the scripts, that I hoped might be cured with the new plugin architecture,” said Jim Yergey, Research Manager at Merck & Company. “In a span of a month or so I learned Python programming and was able to develop functional plugins to control both the Jandy and Pentair pool systems. Great plugin foundation, great documentation online, and great help on the discussion boards!"
Indigo 5 also includes a new condition editor for creating arbitrarily complex hierarchical rules using a simple and intuitive Mac OS user interface. Rules can include device state value comparisons, date and time ranges, and variable to variable comparisons in addition to daylight/dark and traditional variable comparisons.
Along with the new Plugin API, a new Python-based scripting environment has also been added. Scripts can now be written in either AppleScript or Python. “The new Python Indigo object model enables users to write scripts that can take advantage of the wealth of publicly available Python libraries while retaining complete access to objects on the Indigo server,” said Jay Martin, a partner at Perceptive Automation. “Adding a more popular scripting environment to Indigo will lead to more complete and diverse solutions by drawing on the active Python development community.”
Indigo 5 also introduces several new usability features: keyboard shortcuts that are context sensitive to what’s being displayed; user customizable columns in all UI tables, context-sensitive menus on all major objects, and an expanded and revised Help menu. Additional help buttons are spread throughout the UI to help guide users through the various features. Drag-and-drop and copy/paste have been implemented in the Control Page Editor to enable moving elements from one control page to another and to facilitate import/export.
Other new functionality includes support for video cameras via auto-refreshing images on control pages, improved INSTEON KeypadLinc button LED management, native actions to remove delayed actions, and the ability to enable/disable communication on a per-device basis. Support for new INSTEON hardware modules includes: iMeter Solo, v2 Thermostat Adaptor with support for new broadcast messages, and compatibility with new firmware updates on several other devices.
Pricing and Availability - Indigo 5 Pro is available now for $179.95 and Indigo 5 Lite for $89.95, both through the Perceptive Automation website. Owners of previous versions of Indigo can get an upgrade discount to Indigo 5. Also available online is a 30 day trial copy of Indigo 5 Pro. Indigo runs on Mac OS X 10.5 or greater."
perceptiveautomation.com : Our Indigo Podcast
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A couple of weeks ago a group of enthusiasts got together in London for an un-conference, Home Camp 4. A technical community interested in using open systems and low-cost, often re-purposed hardware to change the way they use energy and appliances around the home. Editing of the videos has been completed and you can watch the 7 presentations on-line...
lanyrd.com/2011/homecamp4 : homecamp.org.uk
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The confirmation that WebBrick is no more was sad news. But if you're looking for a similar home automation controller then the Loxone Miniserver should float your boat.
The hardware specs include 24 I/Os, built in Web Interface, iOS / Andriod Apps and EIB / KNX Compatibility. Check out the full specs and videos after the jump.
The Minisever can be expanded with multiple 'Extension' modules adding 30 I/O's each. There are also hardware gateways available to integrate the Loxone with RS485, RS232, 1-Wire, DMX and EnOcean. The Minisever costs around €500 and each Extension expansion module around €400. Check out the spec highlights below.
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