Smart Home Blog

Yanza is a small system which allows to control x10 devices. It’s installed under MCE and adds functionality needed to manage your home appliances. Free version of Yanza allows to control 2 x10 devices only. Which is appropriate solution just for playing with automation not for real using.

The next issue is x10 protocol. It’s very old and insecure. So, probably it’s better to use Z-Wave, Insteon, ZigBee or some other modern protocol.

And finally, you need Microsoft MCE to work with Yanza. IMHO some Linux solution is more stable and cost effective. For example, BlueLava is a set of Perl scripts. You can use it to control any number of x10 devices. Moreover, it offers a web interface. So, you’ll able to do that from any place. BlueLava is open source application. You can customize it as you want.

I wouldn’t like to say that Yanza is not good or whatever. I’m sure that it gets its users. But personally, I don’t see any reason even try it. Because the offered features are too pure and you can use it with MCE only.

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If you’re Windows MCE user you might be interested in customization of its interface. The new project - MediaCenterFX (it’s in beta stage as usual) gives you the ability to customize background images, sounds, animations, hotkeys and whole bunch more.

If you’d like to test the MediaCenterFX don’t hesitate to be a beta tester.

Personally I prefer Linux-based media software such MythTV or VDR. They are free but power and flexible.

[via eHomeUpgrade]

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The new Clever Media Control system (CMCS) is designed to allow Microsoft Windows Media Center Edition to sit at the heart of a whole house digital media solution. It can be used for viewing, searching and playing back music stored on MCE and for controlling the multi-room audio distribution system as well as other commonly used entertainment products.
The original CMCS user interface is based on a touch-screen application. So, the ideal control panel for it is some Windows-based UMPC such Samsung Q1. Additionally, CMCS uses the Autonomic Home MCE Control Server to provide part of its feature set. This makes CMC Server compatible with both AMX and Creston control tablets in addition to the CMC Client.

CMCS can control multi-room audio distribution products from NuVo and Russound. So, it might be a good solution to build music system for your home if you prefer Windows as OS.

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LinuxMCE wiki page Building From Source 1.1 describes how to build LinuxMCE version 1.1 from sources. Actually, it works only for Ubuntu. But theoretically it may allow to you build LinuxMCE under your favourite Linux distribution.
Personally, I like and prefer Fedora. I’m familiar with this distribution and I feel a bit absent with Debian or Ubuntu when I cannot find usual commands. So, LinuxMCE gives us a good opportunity to build open source home automation system and feel comfortable with it.

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xPL - light, Windows-based system for home automation announced last month support of Z-Wave devices. xPL already provided an interface to use RFXCOM devices, WGL Designs W800RF32 X10 RF Receivers and X10 RF modules.
Additionally, xPL allows to control your home via MCE using xPLMCE Home Automation Add-in. xPL developers are going to add support 1-Wire sensors and RF receivers/transmitters for X10 devices soon.
To extend xPL functionality or add support of new devices you can use Perl, Java or VB API. For more information please visit xPL site.

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