Smart Home Blog

I thought about buying wireless compact keyboard for my LinuxMCE hybrid server a long time ago. Something like that illuminated keyboard. And finally I bought RF Wireless Multimedia Tiny Keyboard. It’s really light and small. Also it has a big advantage over the illuminated keyboard – a trackball and mouse buttons. I was scare a bit about supporting of that features in Linux. But the keyboard started working properly right after paring with adaptor.

Another cool feature – switching off mouse to save battery. Personally I use mouse very rarely. So, that possibility is very helpful for me. I think that the RF Wireless Multimedia Tiny Keyboard is very good addition to Windows or Linux based HTPC.

Chinese company EKON produced its own automation system to control home or office. It uses proprietary Power Line protocol (not X10 as I understand) to send data between controller and execution units. The EKON controllers are embeded into touchscreen control panels. The consumer can choose between wall-mounted, table-mounted and wireless ones.

Together with managing of electrical stuff in your home of office EKON system allows to make security and CCTV using Alarm&CCTV Controller add-on. Using the touch panels consumer can see the alarm signals and watch video from the security cams.

The EKON system is a ready-made software and hardware solution. From one hand it’s good because the system contains only tested and working parts. But the its big disadvantage is proprietary technology and devices. It’s impossible to use switches or dimmers produced by other manufacturers. Another aspect which can be very important is integration EKON with other systems to have, for example, multi-room control. Have no idea how easy or hard to do that. In any case it’s good to have alternatives. Especially in the area of DIY home control systems.

The first ZigBee online store was announced last week by Vesternet. Except of Vesternet’s core products: Zigbox – a compact ZigBee Ethernet gateway and Zigbytes – a web-based user interface, you can find there a log of ZigBee devices produced by different vendors. Does this means that interoperability of third part ZigBee devices is solved? Most probably yes. Will see. In any case open of Vesternet’s online store is a good opportunity for smarthome enthusiasts and professionals to try ZigBee. EU and worldwide shipping is also good addition!

P.S. Unfortunately, ZigBee still has interpolation problems. So, compare it with Z-Wave the last one is more preferable technology for wireless automation.

[via AutomatedHome]

In addition to Z-Wave LinuxMCE 0810 will ship with interface to the EnOcean. EnOcean devices use proprietary and non standard wireless protocol (non either Z-Wave or ZigBee). But they have a few good advantages like compact size, low energy consumption and they are self powered! The EnOcean devices take power using solar cells, motion, thermal, rotation or vibration converter.

The new interface – EnOcean_TCM120 uses TCM120 as gateway to communicate with sensors, switches, dimmers. The interface is based on the EnOcean LGPL library. If you can’t wait 0810 you may try to get the EnOcean LinuxMCE interface code from SVN repository and compile under 0710. Theoretically it should work.

AMEX announced its two new digital photo frames – SR-7 and SW-7. Both of them have 7 inches TFT color LCD with resolution 800×480 and allow to display your photos from USB memory stick or MS/MMC/SD/XD/CF card. Additionally SR-7 has built-in indoor thermometer, radio controlled clock, dual snooze alarm and calendar and SW-7 – weather forecast, built-in RF 433MHz wireless thermometer / hygrometer
which can be linked with up to 5 remote sensors with auto scroll, display the sunrise / sunset, moonrise / moonset time and sun moon location display according to defined home location. This is a very useful functionality in my opinion.

The AMEX digital photo frames SR-7 and SW-7 will be available soon at expected price $129.00 and $139.00 respectively.

[via Engadget]