Smart Home Blog

Two days ago Boxee released a big update. First of all the Windows version is a public now. So, Windows users can now try it without invitation. At the same time the user interface was changed a bit. The navigation know is more streamlined – local and Internet media are separated clearly. The latest update brought a Full HD possibility for Ubuntu users. Boxee supports VDPAU. So, nVidia owners can play 1080p without having strong processor.

Together with changes above a few new services were added to the Boxee. Partnership with Major League Baseball will allow to watch thousands of baseball games, live and on-demand in HD (where available), paused and rewind them (DVR functionality). Also Boxee users can try Digg for TV, Tumblr and current_. Nice to see that Boxee growing fast in the right direction.

Don’t forget about possibility to create Boxee extensions using its API. A lot of interesting ones were released During Dev Challenge – DropBoxee, We Are Hunted, Facebook Photos, BBC Live, OpenCourseWare and more. Check them!

SmartUnity announced its new product – AudioMultiRoom application which will help you to create PC-based multiroom system with up to 12 independent zones. It offers following functionality:

• Supports up to 12 USB sound cards
• Auto detects sound card and creates an independent stereo-zone
• Supports Windows Media Player library (playlists, artists, covers etc.)
• API to work via TCP/IP interface (volume control, navigation, lists, status etc.)
• You can create your own Windows user interface using Microsoft Blend and AudioMultiRoom dll for Microsoft Blend
• Apple iPhone client (in development)

HomeLogic offers an unique possibility to play with its iPhone/iPod Touch application. It provides a full control of HomeLogic home automation system from any place in the world where WiFi or 3G connection exists. More over you shouldn’t spend money to buy and install the system (at least know). In opposition to that HomeLogic grants an access to the demo system. So, you’ll see how it works in practice.

By the way, after reading an information about HomeLogic home control system and viewing its screenshots, personally I like it. It’d be nice to hear opinion about it from people who own the system or at least test it.

[via Unplggd]

Iridium Mobile offers its software Iridium to control AMX systems using iPhone/iPod Touch or Windows Mobile smartphone for free. Just leave your opinion about it on the company forum. So, don’t miss that offer to use Iridium with real system.

Also the Iridium Mobile created English version of its web site. If you’re interesting you can know more about that Russian software.

iVDR turns your iPhone or iPod Touch into stylish remote control for your Video Disk Recorder (VDR). It allows to see EPG, set timers and manage records. Additionally you can watch stream from VDR directly on your Apple smartphone. It might be useful if you away from home but would like to see the game of your favourite football team, for example. Sure to do that you should be connected to the Internet via WiFi and your VDR box should be accessible outside.

The iVDR is written on Perl and provides web interface to VDR adopted to iPhone and iPod Touch. It has a simple config file where you can specify VDR connection parameters and setup permissions for the iVDR access. Currently iVDR is available on English and German. But it’s very easy to translate its interface to your language. If you have ability to do that just send translated lang.pack file to the iVDR author to include it in the next release.