automation

Insteon integration with Apple products has been extended to the new Apple Watch; the company announced that Insteon customers can use their Apple Watch to control Insteon connected home solutions.  Your home lighting, thermostat and other appliances con now be control from your wrist.  In addition, they can view Insteon cameras and monitor a variety of sensors—including motion, door/window, smoke/CO, and water leak—as well as receive instant alerts as soon as they are triggered.

Todo today, announced at CeBIT that they are partnering with IFTTT (If This Then That) to enable the use of the tado's geolocation feature for purposes other than smart heating or cooling. They are also offering developer and partner API for to further Tado's integration with other IoT and home appliances.

Car manufacturers using the AT&T Drive, an infotainment platform have been given another feature to offer their customers; this is the option to control and monitor their home from the vehicle’s dashboard.  AT&T has recently announced the integration of AT&T Drive with AT&T Digital Life, its home automation and security platform.

The introduction of IT into any process, system or environment invariably changes our expectations of the level of service, for both service provider and customer.  By introducing the telephone and email the telegraph and letter services feel too slow.  Why send a letter when an email will do?  I can see the same scenario playing out in the connected home market space, where the line blurs between Business and Domestic Service Levels.  The idea that everything will be connected means customers expectations will change and it does not matter if the service is domestic or business.

Next month IKEA will be selling a range of bedside tables, desks, floor and table lamps, plus work lamps with integrated Qi-powered charging pads that charge your smartphone wirelessly.  All you will need to do is rest the phone in a specific spot and leave it to charge. According to IKEA the “Home Smart” furniture range will be in shops in Europe and North America next month (April) followed by a global rollout.

Since CES the news have been buzzing about Apple’s HomeKit framework and its possible connectivity issues with other connected home solutions.  First the headline was, if users don’t have Apple TV then they won’t be able to use Siri voice control with their other connected appliances.  And now, the news is if users other connected devices are not Apple MFi certified they will have limited are no access at all or devices that are not certified can connect via a HomeKit compatible bridge solution.

Over the last few years a lot have been said about Blackberry, most about their handset and how it has lost out to the iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and other Android based models.  They are currently working on that along with plans to get Blackberry based systems in our homes as part of a connected home solution.

Its no secret that connected car solutions (infotainment) are moving just as fast as those for the connected home. QNX, a Blackberry subsidiary is at the cutting edge of the infotainment sector. This year at CES 2015 they unveiled another concept car (something they have been doing at CES for the last few years) based on the Maserati Quattroporte GTS sports sedan.

I remember growing up we had a television that could switch on using just sounds, we found it hilarious that in addition to the device supplied, a hand clap or even someone with a high pitch voice cold do the trick. Those TVs might still be around but time has moved on, we now have many more options including proximity.

Honeywell is showcasing the latest additions to its Lyric family of products at CES 2015. Its professional-grade home security system can help you stay in control of your home comfort and security whether you are at home or away. Honeywell Lyric range features awareness cameras, motion, smoke and intruder detectors; the Lyric home security will also integrate with a range of home automation products, such as connected thermostats, lighting, shade and lock controls.