Smart Home Blog

HAI - Home Automation, Inc. recently announced its new software for Windows Home Server - WL3. It’s realized as an Add-in for a Windows Home Server and allows to monitor and control HAI Home Control System from any device with a web browser, including the newly announced iPhone 2.0, iPod Touch, BlackBerry, smartphone, computer, PDA, Internet Tablet etc.

The WL3 is flexible and customizable. It allows to change UI by applying different graphic and color schemes. Additionally, you can add RSS feeds for custom data, such as weather forecasts or personal blogs to the WL3 main page. So, you’ll able to read some news between watching video from your security cameras or checking status of various sensors.

The WL3 provides a web-based user interface. In my opinion this is the best choice. It has some limitations. But as advantage it gives a possibility to control your home from any device with web browser. Which is not bad any way.

The WL3 be shipping in July. Price is not tagged yet.

[via AutomatedHome]

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iPhone and iPod Touch are very popular in smarthome vendors day by day. Now Embedded Automation is going to release a new version (v2.1) its home automation system mControl. And it seems that one of new features that version will be providing UI to use iPhone/iPod Touch as control panel.

Unfortunately, there is no any detailed information. But it should be available next week. So, stay tune!

[via Chris Lanier's Blog]

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I already wrote about project “Asterisk Voicemail for iPhone”. It give possibility for all owners of iPhone to access and manage their Asterisk voice mail messages. Now it’s time to add to that cool gadget watching videos recorded with MythTV.

The new software allows not only streaming recorded video from MythTV back-end to the iPhone but also browse recorded shows, look at show details and even control your other (PC based) MythFrontend with a web-based remote control.

The MythTV for iPhone uses the same approach as Asterisk Voicemail for iPhone. There is no iPhone native application. Instead of that it uses customized web interface. So, theoretically, you can access to your MythTV back-end from any place where is WiFi access.

MythTV for iPhone can be downloaded from the Google Code Project. Also you can find there detailed instructions howto install, configure and use that software.

Live demo after jump.
Read more »

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Simplify Media released a new version of its software for mobile devices. That version includes following new features: using Amazon Web Service to search album art, getting artist bios from last.fm and lyrics from lyrics wiki, select Shuffle from the top of any song list, and the tracks from an album, a genre, an artist or a playlist will be randomized for your enjoyment.

Note that build 949 of Simplify Media Mobile is a recommended update for all iPhone and iPod Touch users with firmware 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3 and 1.1.4. Enjoy!

[via SimplifyMedia weblog]

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NetBlender is planning to integrate iPhone/iPod Touch with BD-Live Blu-Ray players. The new technology is named BD Touch. It’ll allow to consumer to use iPhone/iPod Touch as remote control for Blu-ray player as well as receive to the Apple’s device some media content, including advertising (I know that people hate it but what can we do? Producers want make money and DB Touch might give them a good opportunity). iPhone or iPod Touch can use WiFi connection of services offered by AT&T to communicate with the player.

Developers will able to create new BD Touch applications or integrate Blu-ray players into home automation systems using SDK, which is gonna be released as well. So, it seems that Apple’s gadgets became more and more popular and commonly used. I’m not surprised. iPhone offers the best user interface which can be applied in many places.

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