Smart Home Blog

INSTEON- and X10-enabled lawn irrigation system allows to control up to 8 sprinkler valves via Insteon or X10 protocol. The sprinker controller is ready to use together with home automation software such Indigo, MControl or HomeSeer (I suspect that it’s also possible to use it in the systems based on Plutohome and Mister House). Additionally, it can work under control of a standalone home automation controller.
INSTEON/X10 8 Zone Sprinkler Controller can be bought on Smarthome site for $124.99.

Okoro Media System produced OMS-SX100 – Digital Entertainment System which is designed to handle all of your multimedia needs while keeping an ultra low profile. For $1350 you can get Intel Core Duo T2300 Yonah 667 MHz processor, 1GB RAM, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 with HDMI Output, 250 GB SATA HDD, a DVD burner, 8 channel sound, an internal TV/radio tuner and a USB ATSC tuner in the elegant and slim case (39.12 x 6.86 x 34.80 cm).

There is a possibility to pay extra money and upgrade HTPC configuration including case with touchscreen. The OMS-SX100 comes with WinXP Home, WinXP Pro or MCE 2005 editions. You can also order it with BeyondTV or SageTV preinstalled. I suspect that it’s possible to install there one of the Linux-based PVR systems: VDR, MythTV or Freevo.

[via PVRWIRE]

If you already have coaxial cables in your home you can easily use it to build your home LAN. The Ethernet-Over-Coax TVnet/C Pro adapter will halp you to do that. It ‘s compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux-based computers. The system used it is truly plug-and-play: after connecting a TVnet adapter to the video or broadband source, all coax jacks throughout a home become network-enabled.

YOu can buy The Ethernet-Over-Coax TVnet/C Pro adapter on Smarthome site for $199.99.

Here is a streamlined IRblaster to control your TV from PVR such as VDR, MythTV or Freevo. It’s connected to the COM port and allows to send IR commands over five meters (original IRblaster doesn’t have this adantage). IRblaster is supported by Linux IR project LIRC.

You can buy streamlined IRblaster for $19.99 USD + $6.50 USD shipping.

HDTV is coming to our home. So, it’s time to know how to buy right Plasma HDTV. eCoustics offers a “Plasma HDTV Buyer’s Guide” that includes over 20 models from 7 manufacturers, in sizes ranging from 42″ to over 60″. Read it and enjoy your new TV!