home working

3view and MaxLinear have announced that they are collaborating on the development of a HD Digital TV Recorder, a hybrid IPTV and DVB-T2 set top box for 3view. The new device is to be deployed in the UK, and will enable users to view and record free content on over 50 HD TV channels and IPTV (Internet protocol TV), and will feature an integrated Sky Player and BBC iPlayer allow users to "catch up" on previously broadcasted TV shows on these two networks. Read more »

Control4 has unveiled a new product in its range of home control systems, which will put home control at your finger tip. The new in-wall touch screen solution is called Control4 InfinityEdge Touch Screen.  With variable connection and powered options and intercom capability, the InfinityEdge is an ideal solution for those renovating or building a new home. Read more »

Crestron is schedule to release a new connected home controller called the UFO-4X. Equip with touchscreen and control buttons the UFO wireless handheld controller is design to give you total control over your home automation systems, browse your media catalogue, the internet and manage media files within your integrated system. According to EH the UFO-4X will be available early 2011 at a retail price of about $2000. Read more »

Vodafone has added Greece to it list of countries using its residential Femtocell service.  With this launch Vodafone now has Femtocell commercial services in four countries: Spain, UK, Qatar and now Greece – only the UK and Greece are residential.  The service, which uses the Vodafone Access Gateway brand, rather than Sure Signal, is being provided for free or with a discount to postpaid subscribers. Read more »

The new Netgear ReadyNAS Ultra family of 2, 4, and 6-Bay NAS (Network Attach Storage) solutions are pushing the boundary of what can be done with a home NAS. This latest release is pack full of features:  it is twice as fast as previous range of ReadyNAS, according to Netgear it is the first ever storage solution with media-shifting capabilities, it integrates with TiVo to store your streaming content; it also has Orb and Shifta embedded technology for easy access from other devices. Read more »

Below are some of this year’s winners of the Red Dot Design Award, an internationally recognise and coveted prize among designers.  The ceremony was held in Essen Germany and covers seventeen categories. For this article I only picked those from the Bathrooms, spa and air-conditioning, Household and Kitchen, Entertainment Technology and Cameras and Living Rooms and Bedrooms categories. Read more »

Duke Energy today announced it has signed an agreement with Cisco – a worldwide leader in networking technology -- to pilot and further develop a smart grid-enabled home energy management solution that will provide Duke Energy customers with secure and reliable energy information and a simple-to-use tool to help them reduce the amount of energy wasted in their homes. Read more »

The Carbon Design Group has collaborated with Artefact Group in what I called “cool design meets home energy management”. Both companies came together to create the Impact series of connected home appliances.  The series consists of the Impact Clock, Impact Refrigerator and Impact Dish Washer.  Project Impact has won a silver International Design Excellence Awards (IDEAs) for 2010 for Artefact. Read more »

With an $11 million equity injection lead by Craton Equity Partners Green Wave Reality has announced plans to start pushing its home energy management platform into Europe, North America and Asia. The platform, according to Green Wave Reality is easy to use, affordable, an open standards-based platform and will enhances utility companies' relationship with their customers and better balance energy on the Grid while helping consumers to conserve energy and save money in return. Read more »

Starting this week owners of the DNS-323 ShareCenter Network Attached Storage (NAS) solution can backup their data to an external storage solution provider online. That is because D-Link has updated the DNS-323 with support for online backup services by CTERA, to safeguard against data loss. The service is totally automated and does not require PC software installation and works automatically directly from the NAS appliance. Read more »