Smart Home Blog

Russound Collage is a media system which uses powerline to transmit media content. It’ll be a good choice in case of an embedded multiroom music system for retrofit house. The system includes two components – a Collage Media Manager and Amplified Keypad. The Collage Media Manager is connected to the LAN via Ethernet port to get media content from the network shares and online services. Its power cord provides both power to the unit, as well as a connection to Powerline Carrier network.

The Amplified Keypad sports color LCD display and navigation buttons. Additionally it has built-in FM tuner. So, you’ll able to listen you favourite FM stations as well. Thanks to built-in amplifier the keypad can be directly connected with speakers. Also using built-in microphone two or more keypads can be used as intercoms. The navigation looks very similar to iPod. But it isn’t bad.

Installation of Collage is simple and DIY oriented. But the price is higher then ordinary DIY system. The Collage Media Manager is $549.99 and the Amplified Keypad – $849.00. Russound is planning to produce iPod dock and Source Bridge which will allow to connect external media source such CD changer or CCTV video cameras. In that case the Amplified Keypad will be also used for video monitoring.

Recently Philips joined to the 3D rush. They announced 3D HDTV lines which will include 8000 and 9000 series. The Cinema 21:9 will also get 3D compatibility. Additionally consumers should buy active shutter glasses to enjoy 3D content.

The 3D HDTV from Philips will be available this Summer. But the price for TV and glasses is not known yet.

Not ordinary keyboard for HTPC was produced by Cideko. The Cideko Air Keyboard is a wireless compact QWERTY keyboard with additional media and navigation keys. Additionally the keyboard has built-in gyration mouse which makes control of HTPC more handy (see the demo video below). To have that possibility you should spend almost 90 bucks. But I think it’s worth that.

There is only one disadvantage. It lacks F1-F12 keys which are used in the media software. For example, F7 brings main menu in the LinuxMCE and F8 – lighting “rose”. But from another hand it’d be interesting to configure the Cideko Air Keyboard similar way as it’s done for Gyration mouse or FiireChief. In any case, that keyboard can be a good addition to your home theater based on PC.

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A French company Atmosphere Piscines offers an original way to highlight a pool. The idea is simple. A phosphorescent coating known as “gel coat,” is vacuum injected into the pool’s base to prevent the emission of dangerous organic compounds. During the day the coating retains solar radiation and then releases it at night. As result your pool is highlighted without electricity, you save environment and your money and, of course, it’ll make romantic atmosphere for night swimming.

[via Unplggd]

Recently I found the Verve – the first (at least I had never seen before any) commercial lighting control system based on EnOcean. EnOcean is a modern wireless technology to easily build your home automation system. Comparing with another technologies such Z-Wave or ZigBee, EnOCean has a big advantage. It doesn’t use any battery to power devices. Instead of that it convert electromagnetic, piezogenerators, solar cells, thermocouples etc into usable electrical energy.

There is, unfortunately, not any detailed info, price and availability of the Verve. But it’s nice to see that EnOcean becomes more popular.

P. S. I just would like to remind you that LinuxMCE has basic support of EnOcean too. See that wiki page for more details.