We've just seen this first image of the new Sonos controller. The CR200 uses a touch screen and comes complete with a charging cradle. There's no word on pricing but it should be available pretty much immediately.
We're also told that Sonos will be releasing a new bundle. The BU150 now changes to the BU250 which includes the CR200. There also is a slight colour change with the zoneplayers hardware to match the new controller but there are no technical changes & will still be named the ZP120 & ZP90.
Follow Automated Home on Twitter - twitter.com/ottomate
UK smart home security system AlertMe continue to go from strength to strength and last month secured £8M in series B funding. When we first reviewed the product in May 2008 we said it was an ideal hub for home automation and CCTV with its link to the Net. AlertMe added their SmartPlug product earlier in the year and today have announced their IP CCTV add-on for the system.
The camera is a Sercomm RC8021 unit with wired Ethernet and wireless 802.11g WiFi capability too. It's VGA resolution (640x480) 30 FPS, with dual MPEG-4 and M-JPEG streaming plus support for 3GPP to mobile phones. Read on for the introductory discount offer on the new camera...
"After much demand, we are now pleased to announce that we are taking pre-orders for AlertMe Cameras - the latest security addition to AlertMe! Our IP Cameras will help keep your home secure, and can be used wired or wirelessly. They have an indoor range of approximately 50 metres, are mains powered, and have the added benefit of an inbuilt motion sensor. Installation is easy - simply plug&play like any other AlertMe accessory, no extra configuration work required. At a size of around 10cm x 9cm x 4cm, they are small and inconspicuous enough to place wherever you like in the home.
Cameras can be set up to start recording as soon as a sensor is triggered in your home and you can log into your secure website to check what's happening. You will also be able to view your pre-recorded videos until you choose to delete them.
For a limited period only, we have a special offer of a 10% discount if you pre-order a Camera, which means that you can get yours for £68 instead of £75. To pre-order yours email us at sales@alertme.com or call our friendly sales team on 08000 213215. Don't delay - pre-order yours today"
www.alertme.com : Our AlertMe Review : AlertMe SmartPlug
Earlier this month we had a request from a reader to setup a new forums facility for users to write up their home automation projects so others can benefit from their experience. So the "Projects" forum was born. To start us off there are now projects there from user jaffaon - Temperature Capture plus a two-part post on ripping / storing your DVD collection and then streaming the movies around your home. Join in and post your projects in the new forum...
Home Automation Projects Forum
We've been watching the Cortexa Home Automation system since 2005 . Recently they have the introduced Graphite, their new GUI which will be available on their controllers from V5 on. In addition they have released an Phone app that mirrors Graphites controls. Watch the videos after the jump.
"Cortexa’s capability to simply and intelligently manage off-the-shelf residential subsystems using pre-configured and user-defined events positions it as one of the most flexible and easy-to-use home automation controllers in the market today. Cortexa delivers peace of mind for homeowners by enabling power and water monitoring and management, reducing the time, effort, and cost to running a home, and providing a sense of personal enjoyment and safety.
It utilizes broad multi-media management, web access, Microsoft’s Windows Media Center, and intuitive setup and operation to provide users quick, easy access to monitor and manage the operation of their intelligent home. Cortexa offers a complete range of subsystem support to collaboratively manage the entire residential environment to ensure that users’ homes automatically operate in a manner that complements and supports their lifestyle.
Supported subsystems include lighting, interior climate control, whole home audio and video entertainment, motorized shades and curtains, security, video cameras, irrigation systems, pools and spas, garage doors, and automatic gates. "
Cytech, creators of the Comfort smart home security system, have just released their new Prontoscript file for the Philips range of Wi-Fi universal remotes. The free download gives full keypad emulation as well as control of C-Bus, EIB / KNX and X10 with others like Z-Wave, Dynalite, Ulti promised in the future, Read on for all the details.
"We [Cytech] have developed a Prontoscript module which can be downloaded for free. The module allows the Philips Pronto range of Wi-Fi enabled remotes - models TSU9300, TSU9400, TSU9600 and TSU9800 - to be used with the Comfort system.
The setup requires that users have a UCM/Ethernet/Audio module for their Comfort panel, however you don't need the relatively expensive Philips RFX Extender to make this system work.
With this script installed, the Pronto remotes can control C-Bus, EIB / KNX and X10 through Comfort. We are also developing more modules such as Z-Wave, Dynalite, Ulti, which will be added in the future.
You can arm and disarm the security system to Away, Night, Day and Vacation modes, and see the status of all zones, as well as alarm conditions including low battery, AC failure. You can also download the Event Log from Comfort. Full keypad emulation is possible when a speaker and microphone is connected to the Audio port of the UCM.
When someone presses the button on the Comfort Door station DS01 or DS02 with camera, video from the CCTV camera can appear on the Pronto's screen (the camera must be connected to a video server) and you can even talk to the visitor at your door."
Download Comfort Prontoscript here : Comfort Forum Post : www.cytech.biz
After our piece on virtual home servers , here's another alternative to saving power, money and the planet whilst still serving your media around the house. The Tranquil BBS2 Barebones Home Media Server is a low power, 5 SATA bay, barebones box. Just choose your OS and apply...
Submission by Ian Oliver - Three things happened pretty much at the same time that set me on the hunt for a low-power home media server. Firstly, my existing storage, which had once seemed massive, started to feel somewhat claustophobic. Secondly, one of the power supplies in my existing server, a massive dual-PSU machine in a CM Stacker case with nine (yes nine!) hard disks, started to make alarming noises. Finally, and perhaps most influentially, I got a Current Cost whole-house electricity monitor. This showed that our base consumption, running just those devices that are left on (24x7) was well over 1 kilowatt! That beast of a server was clearly responsible for a fair percentage of that and it was time to replace it.
There are embedded type solutions, but I quickly dismissed those. Most didn't take enough disks, they don't tend to be general purpose so can't run applications such as "motion" to handle our cameras, also I'm very familiar with Linux and mdadm software raid.
Then someone mentioned the Tranquil BBS2 Barebones Home Media Server and from the outset it looked ideal. Once the budget had been agreed by my wife, I placed an order. There are really only two big decisions when ordering one of these machines. Firstly, there are two choices of raid card. One model has four internal SATA ports, and these are connected to four of the hot-swap bays, with the final bay being wired to the motherboard. The other has only three internal SATA ports as it has an eSATA port.
If you go with the later solution, only three of the bays are hot swap as the right-hand two are both connected to the mother board. As I wanted four 1TB disk drives, I went for the model without eSATA. The other choice (ignoring whether you want black or white!) is how much memory to go for. My previous server only had 512MB, and this is plenty for running Linux, but upping this to 1GB only added £8 to the price so I couldn't resist. The total including carriage and VAT came to just under £352.
At the time of writing, Tranquil do have a backlog of orders, but my BBS2 arrived within two weeks. First impressions were good as it came in a sturdy custom-made box, and the BBS itself is very small, very well-made and the finish is very good. The included documentation seems a bit brief though I am hard-pushed to think what else I might need to know. There is a driver and utility CD included, but as I'm runningLinux, such things are included in most distributions.
Installation for me was very simple as I'd decided just to copy the full Linux install from my existing Linux box. The only tricky part was that I'd decided to use a 2.5" disk drive without fully appreciating how difficult it is to fit these into 3.5" hot swap bays. Icy Dock do have a product that does this (MB-882SP), but it's out of stock everywhere, so currently the disk is held in with Blue Tak!
Once, I'd copied the OS install onto the new disk drive, I mounted it into the BBS2 using the aforementioned Blue Tak, and hit the surface-mounted power button. Linux booted straight away and the only changes needed were to the video settings and some config file changes to let the new machine coexist on our network with the old server. I checked a few things, updated to the latest Long Term Support (LTS) version of Ubuntu Linux, and then installed the four 1TB drives. I'd already temporarily connected these to the old server and done the raid configuration and data migration, so the raid array came straight up and I could retire the old server.
Pros:
Cons:
Conclusion - As you might be able to tell, I was having to think hard regards cons! A couple of weeks later, I'm still very pleased with my new server and am happy that I made the right decision. If you're after a small, fairly-quiet, and low-power consumtpion home media server, then give the Tranquil BBS2 a long, hard look.
Facts and figures:
Five tool-less disk bays (3 or 4 hot-swap depending on choice of raid card)
Intel Atom 330 Dual Core (2 x 1.6GHz) CPU
Gigabit LAN
Serial, VGA, 4xUSB (all on the back)
213 (W) x 221 (D) x 195 (H)
29W power consumption for base unit a one disk drive
No OS provided - use Linux,Mac OS, Windows, or whatever you fancy
Motherboard seems to be a D945GCLF2, the tool-less disk bay looks like an Icy Dock MB-455SPF, and the raid card is a SiliconImage SiI3124
Tranquil PC BBS2 : Our DIY JukeBox Server
UK Home Automator turned podcaster, Don McAllister, is famous for his high quality video tutorials for the Mac. This week he comes back to his roots covering a true smart home application and an Automated Home favourite - Plex. Like us, Don is "blown away" by the OpenSource media player / library manager and the show is a great resource for anyone setting up Plex for the first time as well as showing some of the more advanced features if you are already a Plex user. Links to the 46 minute long Free HD video below.
"This week I couldn't wait to show you PLEX, a stunning media centre application for Intel based Macs running OSX Leopard. This follows on from the recent Mac mini Media Centre episode, where I started the process of using the newly upgraded Mac mini as a full blown media centre. PLEX is based on the original code for the XBMC (XBox Media Centre) but has forked into a separate development specifically for Intel based Macs running OSX Leopard.
EX Media Server, PLEX now integrates with your local iTunes and iPhoto libraries, giving you access to your music and photos without any additional configuration, it just works.ScreenCastsOnline.com Plex Tutorial :Plexapp.com : Our Plex / Mac mini Setup Video
Top 10 Tech Podcasts : Our Interview with Elan from Plex
We've noticed through interweb chatter that Clipsal have launched an new Home Controller called "Wiser".
As usual we've received no press release or annoucement from Clipsal / Schneider and there appears to be no information available to the UK distributors either, but here's what we've found so far...
The Wiser system comprises of an Ethernet router / Wi-Fi access point with support for lighting, air-conditioning, multi-room audio and other home automation equipment. It uses "easy to understand Wizard based user interface graphics" and has built in scene support plus scheduling and logic programming. It can be reprogrammed remotely across the internet.
The following items make up the Wiser Home Controller system:
"In the past, you've needed to learn how to operate a whole lot of different and sometimes complicated equipment. You needed one controller for your air conditioner, another one for your security system, another one for your irrigation system, and loads of remote controls for your TV and audio equipment. It was all too hard!
Wiser provides one consistent and intuitive control for everything you want to control. You get the same look and feel on every device, any time, anywhere; from a light switch, a touch screen, a home computer, or even from your digital TV. For example, lights are operated with a light bulb icon, sound systems by a speaker icon, and irrigation by a tap icon... it can't get any simpler than that.
With Wiser, you can operate nearly anything, from almost anywhere: touch screens, wall switches, web tablets, remote controls, mobile phones, computers, even your TV! And you can do it when you're home... or via the Internet or a mobile phone when you're out. Whatever you want, whenever you want it, wherever you are.
For example... you're outside cooking a barbeque and want to listen to some music, simply grab your mobile phone out of your pocket and turn on your multi-room audio system. Or if you're sitting down to watch a movie, and decide that you're too cold, use your remote control, and adjust the temperature via a Microsoft™ media centre menu on your TV.
But it's not just about you controlling it... with Wiser, your home can make things happen automatically according to your lifestyle and routine. You can be gently woken on week days to your bed lamps and music fading up slowly, followed by curtains opening, and your alarm system deactivating from night mode. And when you leave for work, simply press the "goodbye" button and your lights will turn off, blinds close, music fade and air conditioner power down."
-You can pass through the Wiser to C-Bus using Toolkit. This means you will be able to program/reprogram C-Bus both locally (wirelessly or on the LAN) or remotely through an internet connection
-You can reload the Wiser project remotely should your client want changes
-Your client can access their system remotely via the net via a Web browser or a Flash Projector executable file (a little added secuirity and reduction in bandwidth)
-You have a full logic engine, scheduler, and scene engine
-You can create projects with a fantastic look and feel, in a fraction of the time with pre-designed backgrounds (skins) and Widgets
-There is a Vista Media Centre plugin
-Wiser supports Network Time Protocol (NTP) for accurate time and date across C-Bus
-Supports newer C-Bus devices such as Thermostats, Shutter Control and MRA Transport Control
-Has an on-board email client for POP3 non-secure email checking and sending (also enhanced in logic)
-Has an on-board RSS feed client
-PICED has an active Widget preview and simulation mode for testing project aspects before loading to the controller"
clipsal.com : Our CBus Forum : cbus.com
Wiser Home Controller Setup (516k PDF) : Wiser Home Controller Brochure (3.1MB PDF)
Cisco has revealed its newest versions of its Home Media Hub range that employs its Magic suite of network management software. The NMH405 enables users to access and stream digital music, photos, and videos throughout the home. It’s an intelligent storage device that aggregates media from PCs and other storage devices around the house and presents it in an easy to understand and navigate browser-based user interface. The NMH405 also features a full-color LCD Screen that displays information about your Media Hub and a 6-1 memory card reader. It’s pre-populated with a 500GB hard drive and an empty bay for end-user upgrade.
"Cisco announced it has updated its award-winning Network Magic suite of network management software that allows consumers to easily setup, manage, and help secure their home networks. The latest releases (Network Magic Pro, Network Magic Essentials, and Network Magic Basic) offer a new dynamic, interactive network map, more intuitive navigation, support for more types of networked consumer devices, and simplified access to printer and file sharing from within Network Magic. In addition, to add unprecedented value to its line of wireless routers, Network Magic Basic will now be included with all Linksys by Cisco wireless routers. Network Magic Facts/Highlights:
Updated User Interface - A more consumer-friendly user interface offers users more intuitive control over devices on their network from within a single network map window. The new interface also adds simplified access to printer and file sharing, an easier process for adding wireless devices, and support for a broader range of devices than earlier generations of Network Magic.
Comprehensive Parental Controls - Network Magic users can utilize the Parental Controls built into the software to help oversee and control exactly how the Internet is being used by the whole family. With a simple point and set interface, users can set limits for web browsing, game playing and overall Internet usage. Additionally, for select Linksys by Cisco Wireless-N Routers, Home Network Defender, powered by Trend Micro, has been integrated into Network Magic to add further Parental Control capabilities to the offering.
Integration with Linksys by Cisco wireless routers - Going forward, all Linksys by Cisco wireless routers will feature Network Magic Basic as the default network management tool. Current users of Linksys by Cisco routers can download the software for free from networkmagic.com.
Expanded language support - The new versions of Network Magic include 33 languages integrated into the software.
Optimized SpeedTest - New regional server support provides better measurement of local services through the popular Network Magic SpeedTest function.
Network Magic Basic - Designed specifically to ship with Linksys by Cisco routers. Includes:
Network Magic Essentials - Built for users who require the basic functionality of the overall software offering to help solve issues with routers from any manufacturer or want to utilize the file and printer sharing capabilities to extend the capabilities of their home network. Includes most of the features of Network Magic Basic, with the exception of SpeedTest, and is designed to support a maximum of three computers. Priority tech support is available to users of Network Magic Essentials.
Network Magic Pro - Provides the broadest available set of software capabilities available on the market for managing and securing the network with point and click ease. Includes all functionality of Network Magic Essentials plus support for network attached storage devices, Internet access controls, real-time screenshot capabilities and daily usage reports to help monitor any computer on the network, Internet SpeedTest, and support for up to eight PCs.
Network Magic Mac Add-On - Offers easy setup for cross-platform sharing of files and printers by PC and Macs on a home network."
linksysbycisco.com : Buy a Linksys Home Hub
Jon Bentley from Channel 5's Gadget Show has taken the Philips Streamium MCI500H for a test drive. The system can hold around 8,000 tracks on its own built in 160GB hard drive as well as streaming from other media sources around your home like PCs.
it features both wired Ethernet and WiFi, FM and Internet Radio and a top mounted USB socket for playing from a thumb drive. The £500 system supports DRM free MP3 files, AAC and WMAs (of the non-lossless variety). Check out the video below.
philips.com MCI500H : Our Sonos Review : Our Logitech Duet Review : five.tv/gadget-show