Automated Home

Sonos Dealers Sign NDA - Is This What's Coming Next?

Tue, 15 May 2012 08:05:42 +0100

It's almost seven years ago that we first tried the Sonos system and gave it our coveted 'Top Tech' award. Since then it's only grown in our affection and got more affordable too with the latest Play:3. We heard last month that Sonos are going to announce something new to their dealers in the next week or two. So what could it be? Here are some thoughts on what Sonos may have in store for us...

iRidium Release New Version of KNX Home Automation Software

Mon, 14 May 2012 08:04:45 +0100

The guys from iRidium have contacted us with the details on the latest release of their Home Automation software app...

10 Pairs of Free Tickets for Grand Designs Live London

Wed, 09 May 2012 08:10:32 +0100

Our friends at Brilliant Living have given us 10 pairs of tickets for Grand Designs Live at ExCel London to give away to Automated Home readers. Tickets normally cost £19 so each winner gets £38 of tickets free...

Video: Berkeley Ridiculously Automated Dorm (BRAD) [UPDATED]

Wed, 02 May 2012 19:46:59 +0100

During his freshman year at UC Berkeley, Derek Low set out to create a complete home automation system inside his tiny dorm room. Three months and several hundred dollars later, 'BRAD' (Berkeley Ridiculously Automated Dorm) has been completed. Check out the video below...6x1GkgbVP1I

CEDIA launches Industry App

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:27:32 +0100

CEDIA (Custom Electronic and Design Installation Association) has introduced its one of a kind, new smartphone app, providing a platform for industry professionals globally to connect, gain valuable information on the go and improve their business...

Crestron�s New 'UFO' Waterproof Remote Control Has Landed

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:00:12 +0100

Crestron's new UFO-WPR-3ER waterproof wireless LCD remote has landed. This floating wonder is just the job for controlling your entire home automation system while relaxing in your infinity pool or hot tub...

Withings CCTV Smart Baby Monitor for iPhone

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:29:11 +0100

Famed for their Internet Tweeting scales, Withings have added a smart baby monitor to their range. Aimed at iPhone users the unit features day night vision plus 2-way audio as well as information on the temperature and humidity of the babies room. Check out the video after the jump...

Roku Now in the UK as Plex Announce Official Support for the Platform

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 08:51:50 +0100

A couple of bits of news that make it a significant day for anyone that wants to stream Movies, TV and music to zones around their home. Firstly Roku, the US based media streaming solution is now available in the UK. There are two devices to choose from, a 720p capable streamer (the LT) at £49.99 and the 1080p Roku 2 XS at £99.99. Secondly, both boxes are now officially supported by our favourite media center software, Plex...

EyeSpy247 Launch New EXT+ HD WiFi IP CCTV Camera

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 08:18:22 +0100

EyeSpy247 have launched their latest CCTV camera, and this time it's so fully featured it has has more acronyms than seems fair. Take a deep breath, and proceed - The EyeSpy247EXT+ CCTV camera is an IP (10/100 Ethernet), WiFi (802.11b/g/n), HD (720P in H.264, MJPEG and MPEG4), Indoor / Outdoor (IP67), with IR night vision (15 metre range), Recording (32GB Micro SD included), Audio (2-way) and PIR / Motion / Sound detection sensors. Wow. We're waiting to get our hands on one of these space invader shaped beauties ourselves. In the meantime here's an Automated Home readers discount code for the new camera...

SMS Text Message Control of Your Heating and Other Devices

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:44:36 +0100

We recently discovered another GSM controlled switch for remote control of your central heating. This is one of the most affordable units we've come across yet so we contacted the company and had them install a unit for us. Here's how it works...

Free Open Source Mayhem Software Has Home Automation Potential

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 08:03:12 +0100

Mayhem is a free open source software application that allows you to connect devices to services on your Windows computer. While it's possible for programmers to create links like these, Mayhem's simple UI of events and reactions allows us mere mortals to do the same. You choose the trigger input and then the corresponding output you want to fire. Some of the examples in the video include an Xbox remote being used to advance PowerPoint slides and a home automation setup using a voice command to control an Insteon lamp. Check out the video below...eGB4yBoX-To

Logical Move for Cytech's New Home Automation Controller

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:32:16 +0100

Cytech, famous for their Comfort smart home security system, have just announced a new Home Automation controller. With its If/Then/Else logic it's ideal for controlling and scheduling AV, Lighting, Blinds, Heating, Airconditioning, Irrigation etc. The new device know as 'Logic Engine' is a subset of the security system, providing all the I/O you've come to know and love from Comfort, plus its ability to interface with a huge variety of hardware including RS232, RS485, Ethernet, C-Bus, KNX, Z-Wave, Velbus and GSM...

New Helvar Dimmer for Trailing Edge LED Fittings

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:24:56 +0100

Helvars new DIGIDIM 454 is a 4 channel DIN rail mounted trailing-edge dimmer. Helvar says applications and the new design benefits from an integrated illuminated LED display for intuitive monitoring and local manual configuration...

Keene Eye Routing Commander Controls Multiple Sky Boxes

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 08:38:46 +0100

Here's a new device that will be a boon to custom installers and DIY home automators alike. The Keene Eye Routing Commander (or KERC for short) is a device that allows multiple Sky tuners in the same location - perhaps a cabinet or 19 rack - to be controlled individually...

Apple Announce LTE iPad 3 and 1080p Apple TV- Everything You Need to Know

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:42:13 +0100

The iPad continues to be an important home automation device and right now Apple are on stage in California launching the latest version. Read on for our v3.0 iPad HD cheat sheet with all the new feature details of the new generation device you need at a glance...

Plex Media Server - Now with Added DLNA

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 08:07:26 +0100

Our favourite media centre system, Plex, has released another update, this time to the server half of the partnership. Amongst the list of fixes and new features is the promise of a version coming soon that builds in a DLNA server. This will instantly add a huge range of new clients to the Plex family. The XBox 360 and PS3 are two examples of common hardware that supports DLNA. Watch the video after the jump...

iRidium 2.0 Controls Your Home From iOS, Windows, Android, Mac OSX , BlackBerry

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 08:21:29 +0100

iRidium version 2.0 is coming in April this year and the company showed a beta of the product at the recent Integrated Systems Europe show. The software will control any Home Automation system, AV equipment and media server from iOS, Windows, Android, Mac OSX , BlackBerry, etc. Read on for all the new features...

Inexpensive Loxone WallMount for iPad and iPad2

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 08:33:51 +0100

The Loxone iPad WallMount provides a simple and inexpensive way to attach your shiny iOS home automation touch screen controller to the wall. Check out the video after the jump...

New RFXCOM USB RFXtrx433 Transceiver Supports LightwaveRF

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:16:32 +0100

RFXCOM have announced their new USB 433.92MHz home automation transceiver - the RFXtrx433. This device has replaced the USB receiver and USB transmitter and has flash memory so that new protocols can be added in the future. It already supports a few protocols that were not available with the previous RFXCOM, such as Mertik Maxitrol gas fireplace, and a few La Crosse and TFA weather sensors. But most interest will probably be for the addition of support for the popular LightwaveRF range of modules...

New Crestron Design & Experience Centre Opens In Leeds

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:24:41 +0100

Crestron have opened a new 'Design and Experience Centre' in Leeds, UK. The facility will be used for dealers to demonstrate their home automation systems to their customers, whether home owners, architects or developers etc...