digitalhome

Powerline adapters have been around for a while. They provide a great way to add an Ethernet socket to locations where running a network cable would be impractical. Now UK tech start-up company, Power Ethernet, has launched the ‘PE Socket, the first product to integrate Powerline networking technology directly into an electrical outlet. Check out the video after the jump...

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Cytech have release a new C-Bus To KNX / EIB bridge module to translate from one protocol to the other...

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If you're serious about home automation then you'll probably want a powerful controller at the heart of your system. Polish smart home specialist, Fibaro have launched just such a device, and the new Home Center 2 is a handsome aluminum clad Z-Wave system which the makers say redefines Z-Wave based home automation and introduces the real Home Intelligence ...

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We love a good hardware hack and here's a great one from Automated Home reader Martin Howell. A Velleman IR kit plus a makeup mirror and some Arduino jiggery-pokery allows Martin's home to let him know when there's something in his mail box on the gatepost...

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The new Marmitek Digital TV Anywhere set comprises a transmitter and a receiver pair. Connect the transmitter to the SCART output on your Freeview / Sky / Other set-top box, then connect the receiver to a TV somewhere else in the house. Then the picture, sound and IR commands from your remote control are sent wirelessly between the two. The £149 system is available now, check out the video after the jump...

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It's no secret that we're big Plex fans here at Automated Home. But while we love our Mac mini powered setup on the main AV system, even a second hand Mac mini of suitable spec is around £350 these days. That's why we were excited to hear of a £100 box that would bring us the Plex experience. It's been a while since the announcement but finally we've got our hands on one of the new LG ST600 TV Upgrader boxes. Read on to find out how it performs...

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LG's UK Blog has announced 2 new TV Upgrader models (the SP520 and SP820), both coming this year. We're assuming this will herald the death of the ST600? Hopefully these new models will deliver a much better user experience than the first attempt and it looks like the Plex guys will be supporting it again...

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The guys over at Vesternet have just given us the skinny on the all new VeraLite Z-Wave home automation controller from Micasaverde. We can exclusively reveal that they will have the first units into Europe with shipping due to start around the 23rd, they are accepting pre-orders now. Check out the stats on this interesting new system and the setup video after the jump...

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One of the more joyous tasks in the digital home is setting up a monitoring system for your new arrival to the family. BabyPing is a new division of Y-cam Solutions and they aim to make that a much easier and more pleasant task with their new high-quality Wi-Fi IP CCTV setup. In conjunction with it's free iOS app the system allows parents to watch and listen to their baby on an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch...

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A quick home automation video demo video of the JenNet-IP system controlling lighting via Wi-Fi. NXP and Belkin WeMo are collaborating to show this system where each light bulb gets its own IPv6 address. The system uses an enhanced 6LoWPAN network layer as defined by the IETF and targets ultra-low-power IEEE802.15.4-based wireless networking for residential and industrial applications... aZh5K2lU9EI

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Our American readers will soon be able to enjoy AlertMe's wireless home automation technology after they just announced a strategic partnership with the huge American retailer - Lowe's. The home improvement company's new 'Iris' service will be based on the AlertMe hub and give users to monitor and control their thermostats, smart plugs, lighting, door locks, motion and contact sensors from their smartphones...

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The end of another year of digital home tech and a chance to pause and take stock. This years top twenty most read home automation articles cover a wide range of topics and new comer LightaveRF appears twice in the list (make sure to check out the review at number 5). More of our 'My Automated Home' articles were amongst your favs this year too and the news that Google are entering the home automation world made it in twice as well. But the number one most read article this year? Well it's all about a 20 quid piece of plastic - lots of you wall mounting in the kitchen it seems...

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Did you know you can turn your iOS or Android device into remote control for your LG CINEMA 3D Smart TV? Just search for the free “LG Remote App”. You'll need to pair the app with your LG TV. As long as your smart phone and smart TV are connected to your home Wi-Fi network, this is a snap. After you launch the LG TV Remote App, it will automatically scan for your TV. Once it finds it, just tap “connect” and watch the TV for a code to appear. Plug that in, and you’re good to go...

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The digital lifestyle reaches far and wide these days and 3D entertainment technologies are even playing their part in new car launches. Earlier this month, Peugeot revealed the new 208 Universe at the Peugeot Motion and Emotion Show in Rio, Brazil. The French car maker Peugeot chose Rio de Janeiro as the backdrop for their unique event, calling on an original combination of tech for an unparalleled worldwide launch of their new Peugeot 208 model...

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Crestron will be displaying its new generation MC3 at ISE 2012, the first 3-Series control system powered by Core 3 OS. Creston says this system has been developed and engineered like an IT platform, rather than an AV system, and it's designed to provide a foundation for powerful integrated building technology and advanced home control...

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Here's an interesting little video from the guys at Savant showing off their novel take on a universal remote. The 'Select' is a hardware device that you dock with an iPod Touch to create the worlds only multi-touch, retina display, home automation remote control. Check out the video after the jump...

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The latest version of TPControl software from home automation giants AMX has a new intercom feature that enables users to communicate from their iOS smartphones and tablets as well as a range of Android devices. If you already have the TPControl app then simply apply the latest free upgrade to get the new features...

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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...

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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 the Foscam 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....

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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...p_ZM4d5y90s

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