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.
Submission by Ben McCormack - In the design for our house I have always planned to keep as much of the home automation stuff in node zero and all of our home cinema gear as well. Being a Apple man I also purchased a Mac mini a couple of years ago to store all files for the house and act as the media server.
However I ran into a problem, the Mac mini is a great piece of hardware but not readily rack mounted. I searched high a low on the Internet found the $85 UBL-MMR from mk1studio. I spent a while emailing Matthew from mk1studio with some questions and decided to take the plunge and place an order.
I liked the fact that it looked well designed and catered for all of the cables coming out of the back of the mac mini. I also like the fact that I could install my Apple TV in the same shelf as it is designed to hold 2 mac minis and the Apple TV footrprint is similar.
So I placed my order via ebay and waited, as usual shipping international always takes a while and 5 days stuck in customs did not help. When the shelf arrived I noticed that it had been dropped during shipping and the corner had been bent. I contacted Matthew from mk1stuido and explained what had happened. He immediately offered to ship a replacement or give a discount and suggested that I could bend the corner back into place. I accepted the discount and have since bent the corner back. This is what I call great customer service. The issue was handled perfectly without fuss or argument by Matthew. 10/10 for customer service!
Putting it all together is quite easy, the Mac mini is placed in the UBL-MMR, the included metal clamp in put on top and the the included screws are inserted and tightened. There is nothing to stop you clamping the mac too hard so you need to be careful not to be over enthusiastic at this point.
One of the great features is at the rear of the shelf is a cutout that will allow the Mac mini Power Supply to be cable tied down in the rack - the cable ties are also supplied, so there is no searching around to complete the install - another nice touch. You can then 'dress' the power supply cables in. Once completed it is all very neat and tidy.
All that is left to do is to put the shelf in the rack.
Overall I am very impressed with both mk1studio and the UBL-MMR, it fulfils my requirements perfectly. All that's left for me to do is use the second slot for my Apple TV but I need to find some shorter clamping screws.
UBL-MMR from Mk1Studio : Mac mini
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.
"The Home Depot Smart Home is a 6,000 square foot live-in research laboratory operated by Duke's Pratt School of Engineering. The Home Depot Smart Home, part of a Duke Smart Home Program, creates a dynamic "living laboratory" environment that contributes to the innovation and demonstration of future residential building technology. The central concept of this project is our belief that smart homes can improve that quality of life for people of all ages and incomes..."
Visit the Duke SmartHome site for more information - www.smarthome.duke.edu
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...
"Wireless Sensor Networking Shop Launched by Vesternet - Offering all the latest technologies including Z-Wave, ZigBee, RFID, NFC, ANT+, EnOcean and lots more.
Viewing the increasing availability of wireless sensor products for Home Automation, Smart Energy, Tracking & Health, Vesternet have launched the worlds first dedicated shop sell all the major Machine-2-Machine technologies. For Home Automation, there are over 100 Z-Wave products available – the largest choice in the UK.
For Healthcare, ANT+ is the current technology being built into heart rate monitors and and exercise equipment, with Continua being another main standard on the horizon.
ZigBee is being used for Smart Metering and now also moving into consumer electronics such as remote controls & TV's. RFID is still the technology of choice for asset tracking, with the NFC variant now being being built into phones for mobile payments
All these products are sold at Vesternet; and there are also discussions about the newest sensor products for 2010 such as Bluetooth Low Energy. Users can find help and advice on compatibilities between products; and order now for shipping worldwide
www.vesternet.com
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.
"Remote control system and wall switch based on Z-Wave technology enable lighting, heating and more to be controlled in home networks - Copenhagen – The Danish company, QEES, has designed a new remote control system based on Z-Wave wireless technology. This enables easy operation of a number of devices including lights, dimmers, shutters and thermostats, for instance. The system has been specially designed as a keyring pendant and easily fits inside a pocket making it a portable, convenient tool for controlling lights and thermostats when entering or leaving the house or flat. Additionally the new QEES wall switch performs the same control function and also uses the Z-Wave wireless protocol, so it can be quickly fitted without the need to install wiring.
The QEES keyring pendant makes it possible to manage all Z-Wave compliant appliances in a home network. These can be allocated to a total of four different programme groups, thereby making it possible for the user to control devices individually, as a group or as part of a particular scenario. For example, when leaving home, the user can ensure that all devices currently in standby mode are turned off by pressing a single button. Garage doors can also be connected to the network and operated from inside a car using the keyring pendant. The remote control unit has an operating range up to 400ft.
QEES wall switch for intelligent home networking - The same functionality is also used to integrate the QEES Z-Wave compliant wall switch into home networks. The switch is battery powered and can therefore be installed anywhere without the need for electrical wiring. The Z-Wave wireless system thus allows existing electrical configurations to be easily adapted to new requirements in rooms, whether as a result of furniture being rearranged or renovation work being carried out. Prizing open walls in order to install new wiring cables is therefore a thing of the past. Z-Wave compliant switches from QEES can be rapidly installed exactly where they are required – and removed again just as quickly if necessary.
Reliable wireless connection without electromagnetic smog - Traditional wireless systems establish a direct connection between the transmitter and the receiver. The signal is therefore gradually weakened by each individual obstacle it encounters, such as walls and furniture. In the worst case, the signal is actually interrupted. In contrast, Z-Wave technology involves the use of a bi-directional wireless system. In other words, automatic feedback is provided to confirm the execution of each individual function. The system uses the 868.42 MHz frequency, which is reserved for short range wireless communication. Interference from equipment transmitting signals on a more permanent basis is thus avoided. With the QEES remote control system, it is possible to ascertain the current switch status at the press of a button. Electromagnetic smog or other possibly harmful radiation is also avoided as Z-Wave products transmit only when an action is actually required and the power of the signals is very low (1 mW) and therefore insignificant." - Available from homeestore.com & zwave4u.com
More Z-Wave Articles : www.qees.eu : www.z-wave.com
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...
Get 15% off Home Security Cameras exclusively at www.eyespy247.com by using the code 'automatedhome' (Offer valid from 01/02/10 - 28/02/10).
EyeSpy 247 cameras have been designed specifically as 'plug-n-play' for ease of use. The Setup Wizard walks you through installation in just a few steps, quickly turning your Broadband router into a remote video monitoring and alarm gateway, whether it's for watching over your home or business, checking when your wife is back from work, or even who's been stealing the cookies from the cookie jar. You can then securely and remotely manage motion detect events, image and video recording, email and SMS alerts, guest access, as well as stream real-time video from your cameras, anytime, all from the comfort of a web browser.
2010 has just seen the launch of two brand new cameras for your home, the 247F+ and 247PTZ. Both are compact, high quality and easy to use IP Cameras that are Mac and Windows Compatible. They feature two-way audio capability and excellent video quality with VGA resolution at full 30 frames-per-second. Both also include surveillance functions such as motion detection, alarm notification, as well as built in access to the Eyespy247 online platform allowing users to view Live from anywhere.
For more information on the cameras and prices please go to www.eyespy247.com and use the code 'automatedhome' at checkout.
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.
Jobs has said the iPad needs to be better at a host of things (like email, browsing, video etc) than Laptops, Smart Phones and NetBooks to be a viable device class.
Multitasking wasn't mentioned at all during the presentation.
Read on for the specs photos and videos as they emerge...
New Version of iWork 2010 developed for the iPad - a year in the making
So - what do you think? Leave us a comment below with your thoughts.
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.
"Infrared Night Vision - The Y-cam Black SD utilises 30 infrared LEDs to provide high levels of "invisible" light in dark environments. The intelligent photosensitive components can automatically turn on the LEDs in low light conditions or the user can select "moonlight view" which superimposes frames together to increase brightness (frame integration).
Quick and simple setup - Due to the unique way the Y-cam has been designed, you no longer have to be "tech-savvy" to install and use IP Video Cameras. The user-friendly installation procedure and intuitive web-based interface allows you to easily connect to your camera whenever and from wherever you wish.
High quality video with sound - The Y-cam produces video at a maximum frame rate of 30fps displayed at up to 640x480 resolution, therefore allowing clear and smooth images to be viewed. The frame rate automatically adjusts to the available bandwidth.
Motion detection alerts via email - The Y-cam comes with useful alarm tools that will keep you notified if any motion is detected. It has built-in functions that can generate alarm triggers via email and by uploading images straight to a website. Unlike conventional activity detection, the Y-cam uses vector information to detect motion, therefore achieving better reliability against false alarms.
Monitor and record live video and audio from anywhere - You can view live video with sound from virtually anywhere in the world as long as you have a computer, a web browser and an internet connection. With the simple push of a button, you can take snapshots and record video directly onto your computer's hard drive.
Record video or motion alerts to microSD card for local backup - Using the built-in microSD card slot, the Y-cam Black SD no longer needs to be connected to a network or the internet to store streaming video or motion alerts. Use the camera anywhere, even remote locations, and store video straight to microSD card, which is then viewable in your mobile phone, or via connection to a TV or PC.
Full Macintosh and Linux compatibility - The Y-cam SD is now fully compatible with the Apple Macintosh and its associated devices. Mac users can now view live video with audio (using QuickTime), control the motion detection settings within a browser (using Adobe Flash), take snapshots from the live feed, and also record footage locally using QuickTime Pro.
MPEG-4 compression for reduced bandwidth and storage - Unlike many cheaper models in the market, the Y-cam utilises the MPEG-4 compression format. This is a valuable chipset that achieves high compression ratios, allowing smooth moving images to be streamed over lower bandwidth connections.
Mobile Viewing - With support for MJPEG and 3GPP the camera provides a live view for multiple platforms, including Apple Macs, and mobile devices including the iPhone and Blackberry. The Y-cam's live stream can be viewed using any mobile phone that can play VLC-compatible streams, such as Quicktime and RealPlayer.
Multi-client access and password protection - The Y-cam supports up to 16 simultaneous remote users. This allows easy and efficient video conferencing with minimum setup. Password protection also ensures no one able to access the cameras without authorisation.
Secured wireless connectivity - The Y-cam can connect directly to a network or the Internet, either over Wireless (802.11b/g) networking, or over 10/100 with the supplied network cable. The Y-cam utilises encryption methods such as WEP, and even the more powerful WPA and WPA2, so you can be sure your camera will only be accessed by authorised users.
Compact design - The Y-cam Black SD can be wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted or placed on a flat surface using the supplied camera stand. Fully compatible with the Y-cam Shell external enclosure for outdoor use."
The Y-Cam Range : IP CCTV on the iPhone : All Articles tagged CCTV
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.
"The Wiser application provides a iPhone/iTouch connection to your Wiser Home Control system. Either locally, through your home's wireless access point or via your mobile phone's 3G connection, control of your home through Wiser is as simple as connecting. Once connected there is nothing to configure. You will have available at your fingertips, everything yourWiser Home Controller has access to. This may include lighting, climate, entertainment as well as energy and camera monitoring. You can even have multiple connections simultaneously with a consistent, user experience across all"
Russian video showing the Wiser in Action
Wiser App on iTunes : Wiser at the CBus-Shop.com : All Articles Tagged C-Bus : www.schneider-electric.co.uk
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...
"A large, 6-bedroom family home on four floors in rural Oxfordshire is the location of a comprehensive installation of smart home technology featuring the Comfort Intelligent Home System from Cytech Europe Limited for security and home automation.
Designed and installed a few years ago in the Georgian-style property by Cyberhomes Limited of Thame, Oxfordshire, the smart home features included a fully automated home cinema room, multi-room music system, audio and video distribution, surveillance monitoring, lighting control, intercom and access control. “The design principles of discrete and manageable technology resulted in a superb living space with dramatic and yet useable control features and an extensive home entertainment system,” said Andy Mack of Cyberhomes Limited. Several years later the main house was extended and with it the intelligent home system.
2008 saw the completion of a third stage in this ‘smart home’ project to incorporate a new, detached entertainment complex built around a large swimming pool again with security and automation provided by the Comfort Intelligent Home System.
The owner of the house declares, “We live in a house that responds to our needs, providing a safe and secure environment whilst also facilitating an amazing array of entertainment options for us all.”
The Main House - The interior of the main house has dark oak wood panelling in the home cinema room and 10 ft ceilings with cornice rails. Following the traditional style in the house the in-wall keypads and touch screens are all framed in polished brass. In this room the automated curtains, concealed 6-foot automated cinema screen, projector and ‘invisible’ ceiling speakers work together to achieve a real ‘at the cinema’ feeling.
There is also a 42-inch plasma TV screen that slides out at a 45 degree angle from the dark oak fitted cupboards. When not in use the screen vanishes back into the recess and the automated oak wood panel returns to its closed ‘bookcase’ state.
All screens throughout the house can view the security cameras around the outside of the property. The camera system can also be viewed from a remote computer so family members with the full password can see both live and recorded footage. The Comfort security system dials out to the home-owners’ mobiles when they are not at home to alert them of an emergency such as a break-in or fire.
The door phone can be set to dial out to a mobile if the owner is out as well as allowing them to open gates or doors for deliveries or other services. When the owner is home they can speak to visitors at the gate from any internal phone and open electric garage doors and the main entrance gates from the phone whilst viewing the operation on any plasma screen in the house.
Lighting Up - Lighting control throughout the three floor house can be turned on or off with a single button or via the arming and disarming of the Comfort security system. Movement activated lighting means that during the night illuminated walkways can be created without pressing any switches and door contacts turn on lights when the owners enter the house. Touch screens in larger rooms provide a range of pre-programmed scenes to suit the occasion. When the house is vacated, the lighting system plays back a programme to give anyone in the vicinity the impression the house is occupied.
Upstairs Downstairs - The busy family with school-age children find the room-to-room intercom using a wireless telephone system very useful as it also allows direct paging between rooms.
The Entertainment Complex - This new development followed the expansion of the system when an extension was build onto the main house in 2006. The entertainment complex is constructed around an outdoor swimming pool and the facilities on three floors include a basement snooker room, a ground floor entertainment room and a first floor gym.
The family asked for features and equipment with which they are familiar. So the new installation was also based on a Comfort Intelligent Home System for smart alarm and home control, plus Clipsal C-bus lighting control and Living Controls multi-room audio and video distribution.
The entertainment room features a 50-inch plasma screen, wii and Playstation 3 inputs, iPod dock, concealed ceiling speakers, wall mounted keypad and integrated remote control. The TV screen is fitted inside pale wood cabinets with bookshelves and storage units beneath. In the basement snooker room there is an iPod dock and distributed audio keypad to ceiling speakers. The first floor gym has a 37-inch screen, ceiling speakers, wall mounted keypad and integrated remote control.
CCTV, movement sensors and door contacts are also features of this new building. Cytech’s Comfort KT01 touch panel offers complete flexibility for the security. This allows the user to arm and disarm the main house as well as the entertainment complex, operate the gates and garage doors from this panel. The 32 lighting circuits with preset scenes inside and outside the complex can also be operated from this one panel. The family can also control the security and lighting for this leisure complex from the main house.
“The key to the success of this installation has been good design using products that have a track record of working well together – particularly Comfort and C-bus. The client has the benefit of a familiar but extended installation,” said Andy Mack of Cyberhomes Limited.
Products Used
www.cytech.biz : cyberhomesltd.co.uk
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