Simple Interface

Oh ...and almost instant-on

What I like or should I say what caught my eye was the simple graphical screen. For those who only use there computers for e-mail and Web browsing. (My Father)
I've always thought this, keep it simple stupid, interface idea is what every one needs for there 60-something computer fearful parents.
But this is really something more.
Splashtop is a Linux distribution. Not for consumer installation but for Hardware instillation. ie: Lenovo's IdeaPad S10e.
This is not another instant "BIOS" boot idea it is a small Linux dual boot idea.
The Linux OS is light weight and boots in 5 seconds or as the Splashtop calls it "instant-on".

It does this by limiting apps to the Splashtop Graphical user interface.

• Web Browser based on Mozilla Firefox 2.0
• Music Player
• Photo Manager
• Chat for Instant Message with your friends who use ICQ, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger etc...
• Skype VoIP client software

Look at Sonos go

More control

• Sonos Controller - The standard and very excellent I may add.
• Sonos Desktop Controller - The newer and less useful (except when your spending to much time at your computer),
• The New
  Sonos Controller for iPhone™ - If you Phone is always around

Of course the iPOD controller is cool and they can hardly ignore the idea, if only not to be left out of the marketing hipped that iPod home automation and music distribution systems control is generating.
I would want to use it on a iTouch that is dedicated to the job.

Ecobee - Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat

The name and the marketing suggest the big selling feature of this thermostat is saving heating cost. It is very capable of doing that but I don't see it as more then a smart thermostat that can be set up with a myriad of schedules, setbacks, etc. Much like any other smart thermostat.
The key is that you can set up all those heat and cooling settings easily with its very intuitive touch screen rather then 1/2 an hour with a 12 page manual and a 12 button key pad.
I say it's about time.

The wireless ethernet connection is of course a excellent bonus for the home automation crowd. It's un-known at this time if there is code, app's or API's to properly communicate and control the EcoBee . The product isn't shipping yet, which incidentally includes (requires) what is call a equipment interface module along with the Smart Thermostat.

Your computer and the Internet on all your HDTVs.

I think I want one of these.
I would be leery about the video quality for computer viewing but ZeeVee stress that it is up to snuff for reading text on you TV screen.
Delivered over coax, modulated onto a free channel/frequancy is a great way to distribute easily and fast but in the past it has displayed vey,very poor video quality. Certainly not HD as ZeeVee suggest is possible with the ZVbox. . . . Hope it works!
Another concern is the range from the ZVbox of the remote control and the soon to be released keyboard.
One intriguing part of the concept is the Zveiwer which seems to be designed to keep the user from having to be dropped right into the complexity of the PC interface.

Audiovox Message Center & Digital PictureFframe

Designed to leave Audio Messages, Video Messages, Post-it or Dry-erase Messages as well as Calendar Reminders and simply be a PhotoFrame.
For-sale now at Audiovox on-line or Toy-R-Us 

Voice messages	7 in screen
Erasable white board	Calendar
Magnetic board for notes	Speaker
Post-it note board	Slideshow or one shot

Wall mount Touchscreen - Advantech TPC-30

If Advantech TPC-30 had 4 hard buttons along the side "or" had a trim bessel that integrated a light switch, it would be great for home automation. Unfortunately it isn't POE (power over ethernet) powered but it requires little power and could be powered with a POE end dongle.

The Specs.

• Intel® PXA270 processor on board
• 3.5" color TFT LCSuper slim and compact design with plastic housing
• Fanless cooling system
• NEMA4/IP65 compliant front panel
• Built-in flash memory and Windows CE OS
• 1 x SD card slot
• Automatic data flow control RS-485

VOCO

Whole House Audio controlled by Voice

  This is kind of a variation on the Sonos Audio System.
Much the same but very different in some ways.

Voice control is the key feature and of course there is reason to be very skeptically.
VOCO has the
Voice-Commander and Vzone Players while Sonos has the Sonos-Controller and ZonePlayers

There is very little information on the VOCO product and it seems to be late getting to market. It seems its not available to consumers yet (April 8th).

Advantages to the VOCO seem to be the voice control from the Voice Commander and also from the Vzone Player although the latter is just an assumption at this point.
They are both Ethernet systems but Sonos has the added benefit of being a mesh network as well. Sonos also has a ZonePlayer with a built in amplifier.
I'm anxious to get more information on the VOCO

I think the Voice Commander would be a great stand alone product to be integrated into home automation systems or whole house audio systems.

 

Joining Forces

Johnson Controls is the big name in the building-automation. The company seems to now what there doing and keep doing it right. They've earned Fortune Magazine's top ranking on its list of America's Most Admired Companies three years in a row.
Now as well as BMS centric systems they will be offering Control4 products to there customers.

After Leviton's adoption of Z-wave into there huge line of lighting products the have purchased Controlthink. Leviton has long had automation products and structured wiring hardware aimed at the home and office automation industry. Control think brings "Think Essentials" and "Think remote" Software to their home automation focus.

Remember OpenPeak ----

And there WiFi connected Remote control

This is there a open platform screen phone. Based on a Custom Linux Kernel. The software above the OS (the middleware) is proprietary and Open Peak offers APIs and support.
Seems it is aligned to be a third generation of the Verion-Hub
There is no word if the hardware supports a POTS phone or if it is just a VOIP/Internet device.
In my opinion a great kitchen home automation interface.

Squeezebox > Logitech™ Controller

I can't imagine a better home Automation controller for under $300.00. My only wish would be that the unit lied down horizontally in the charging cradle.

• True 802.11g wireless
• Supports all 802.11b and 802.11g access points
• Supports both WPA 64/128-bit WEP encryption
• Charging Cradle for charging Li-ion battery pack
• 3-axis accelerometer tilt sensor
• 2.4-inch color LCD TFT display
• L: 156.2mm x W: 50.8mm x H: 18.8mm

Hackable? I'm no expert but the HW platform is off the shelf nothing special so although it would be a monumental task ....maybe doable.

Samsung 200 MHz ARM processor

Flash upgradeable firmware

64 MB NAND programmable flash

64 MB high-speed RAM

Logitech > Squeezebox™ Controller

Pronine Electronics Design

High Fidelity Audio Analog-to-Digital Converter

48 kHz 24-bit ADC & DAC for transmitting over a single pair of 4pair cat 5 in accord with EIAJ CP1201, IEC-60958, AES3 or S/PDIF standards.
There small 1.62 in. x 1.02 in. and require 6vDC power.
Great for sending a clean signal in an otherwise noise (electronic/EM) environment.

Pronine Electronics Design - Audio

iTransport - digital audio output iDock

Press release
Wadia Digital, Inc. 

I'm anxious to find out just how they do it. Our friends from Wadai are some how getting digital audio out of the iPod and sending that signal through their higher quality DAC. Makes for a farily big dock. I'm waiting for a Ethernet connected and controllable iPod dock.

Is the iPod Touch the new Home Controller?

 

Ikanos consulting works with Lagotek to make the iPod Touch & iPhone a home automation control interface.

 

elonex LNXCube

LNXCube

Cool product that would be better off running ambiaAudio :)

Features include:

• 7” Widescreen (16:9) LCD Colour Screen
  unfortunately it doesn't seem to be a touchscreen
• Digital Freeview TV & Analogue TV
• FM Radio
• DVD/CD/VCD Player
• Stereo Speakers
• Power Output: 30W + 30W (RMS)
• Component/SCART/SVIDEO/ Composite Video Outputs
• SPDIF Digital Audio Output
• Remote Control

CONNECT EU Z-Wave Lighting from MERTEN

MERTEN
Here is a French company that has a strong base in lighting components, control systems and switches. They have moved into Z-Wave controlled lighting recently and have a range of EU Z-Wave switches and plugs as well as there version of the Danfoss Z-Wave thermostat.

It is this wall mount controller that is interesting.
Colour LCD screen, 8 user configurable buttons, Piezo loudspeaker. USB programmed from a PC.

Innovus EU z-Wave lighting

                                       INNOVUS                            SmartDimmer
The RAone SmartDimmer is more than a light dimmer. It has a built-in electricity meter that measures the electricity consumption of the lamp to which it is attached.

SmartSwitch
is much like a permanent wall mounted z-wave remote.

 

Pirsensor
A interesting looking and small PIR sensor sends information via z-wave RF

SmoothRemote
This is just a very "Smooth" interesting looking Z-wave remote that is part of the Innovus system. The 9 buttons are simply numbered in roman numerals.

 

RA-PLUS-w
Z-wave Hot water radiator thermostat controls the settings for when the temperature should be lowered and raised.