Smart Home Blog

Here is a brief introdution to the one of the most popular, open source system to build home media center - MythTV:

MythTV is a software suite that’s available as a free download. It consists of a menu system, several plug-ins and a unique frontend/backend network architecture that can be used to transform an existing Linux, BSD, Mac OSX or Windows desktop computer into the multimedia entertainment centerpiece in your den, bedroom or office. Using MythTV, you can morph your desktop into a video viewfinder, a slideshow gallery, a DVD burning station, a VoIP phone console, a Netflix manager and more.

Additionally, MythTV can be used as part of home automation system. In particular, Plutohome supports it.

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Lx8100-AM2BB-M2NPV-VM HTPC Bare Bone will be interesting for all who’d like to build HTPC by themsevse and not use something ready. The bare bone includes a nice looking case with changeable front plates, LX8100 AMD 939 Motherboard with integrated NVIDIA® GeForce™ 6150/nForce™ 430 and SilentX 14dba Power Supply. Additionally, it has the 9-in-1 read reader, TV-Out, DVI, VGA, front USB/1394 and sound ports. There is a possibility to install VFD display to show some useful information.

The bare bond comes with free remote control and Fedora 5 based installation / recovery DVD. The DVD will get Linux users up and running in no time because many applications and drivers like 3D Video drivers, LIRC, sensors, Video for Linux(V4l), sound, TV viewers and radio applications are installed with the needed LIRC bindings for the included remote control.
There are available three configuration on the LinuxToys: without motherboard ($209.00), with motherboard ($319.00) and full set equiped with AMD AM2 3000+, 512 MB RAM, 250Gb HDD, DVD/CDRW, TV-Capture and installed and configured Linux-based media applications such as TV-Time, Kradio and KDETV ($559.00).

We’re going to buy the second configuration to use it as Plutohome Media Director. The nice price and appropriate hardware make this bare bond very attractive to use in Plutohome system.

[via lixsystems]

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Recently I found very interesting application of DVR (Digital Video Recorders) - security and surveillance applications. The Linux-based Network Advanced Video Surveillance - Embedded (NAVS-E) DVRs support 4, 8, or 16 cameras, and offer simultaneous remote recording/playback/monitoring through Windows client and management software.

Additional features:

• 240 fps recording (8 and 16 channel), and 120 fps recording (4 channel)
• Supports up to three internal hard drives
• Embedded Linux OS for maximum stability
• Selectable single or multichannel view for live playback
• Enhanced MPEG-4 — average frame size is 1KB to 2.5KB
• Various interfaces — keypad; handheld controller; USB mouse
• VGA video output — up to three user-defined spot monitor outputs
• Static/dynamic network config
• Backups via built-in CD-RW, USB storage devices, or via the network
• Email notification with an image clip when alarming
• Multi-site client software — 64 channel SMS (server management software)
• eMapping on SMS
• Fast networking, user friendly PC-based remote software
• NTSC/PAL auto-detectable