Control 4 Talks Energy Management to OZ Utilities Days after Intel admitted that it was in talks with Australian utility companies regarding the supply of new Atom-based “smart energy controllers” for Australian homes, leading US Company Control4, which is a major supplier of control technology to the US hospitality industry, has admitted that it is also talking to Australian utility companies about energy management.
New ZigBee Certified Products Announced Eleven new devices from five different companies have been ZigBee Home Automation certified. This means that they are fully interoperable and can be used with other ZigBee-certified products to control home appliances, lighting, heating and cooling, energy use, as well as security.
Control4 Talks To Sonos The development of new home control software by a UK company is set to allow owners of Control4 software to talk directly to a Sonos multi-room audio system.
OMC Middle East Fails To Reveal OZ Failure The directors of OMC SmartHouse Technologies, who back in 2006 left Australia owing thousands to distributor’s employees and contractors, are now operating out of Dubai as OMC Middle East.
Intel Shows OZ Utilities Atom-Based OLED Automation System EXCLUSIVE: Giant processor company Intel is currently in discussions with Australian utility companies, including AGL, re the potential roll out of a new Atom-based energy management platform that would see Australian homes fitted out with a smart new OLED display home automation system.
Elan To Launch IP Based OLED Automation System Months after the aquisition of automation company HomeLogic, Elan Home Systems is set to launch a brand new range of automation products in 2010, which has been described as the "biggest" in the company's history. Among the new offering is an OLED touchscreen, which will see the company compete head on with Control4.
Control4 Delivers On $8.5 Billion Dollar Resort Automation Deal Visitors staying at the new $8.5 billion dollar CityCenter for the 2010 CES Expo in Las Vegas will get a real automation treat after Control4 installed a brand new system that gives visitors to every room access a new automation system that controls food ordering, lighting, television, entertainment and blinds.
$50K LG Air Con With 1 Page Of Instructions COMMENT: I don’t know what it is about air conditioning companies like LG but they always seem good at promising the earth when their resellers quote a system, but when it comes to customer service, they are less keen to follow through to ensure a good customer experience.
Salary Rises At Ambertech Despite 43% Profit Decline Amber Technology who is one of the few consumer technology distributors to list locally on the ASX has reported a 43.2% decline in profits despite a 2.5% increase in revenues. However this has not stopped some senior Amber executives getting pay rises.
103-Inch Plasma Barged In For Stunning Apartment Occasionally a custom install job comes along that is an utter standout and this year’s Best of the Best, Installation of the Year winner, is a job done by Len Wallis Audio in Sydney.
Automation Companies Looking At Google Chrome The launch of a new Google Operating System that will boot in seven seconds, could be used by several automation Companies who are currently building new IP based management systems for lighting, distributed audio and device automation in the home.
Screen Research Calls In The Administrators UPDATED: European automation and projection manufacturer Screen Research, has been placed into receivership, which under French law is a form ofthe US Chapter 11.
OZ Distributor Battle Over IP Automation Gear Leading automation Company Russound is set to acquire the troubled Colorado vNet IP automation Company which last month suddenly shut up shop in the USA. In Australia the move could create problems for Sydney based Smart Home Distribution who currently distributes the Colorado vNet product range.
Control4 Cuts Deal With NAD Audio Products Australia, distributors of NAD gear in Australia and automation Company Control4 could end up working closer together after NAD announced at CEDIA in the USA that they had cut a deal that will embed Control4 technology into three A/V receivers, a preamp processor and a tuner/preamp/processor.
Home Entertainment On Google Android Platform The new Google Android Operating System, due to be launched in 2010, could become a major platform for home entertainment systems and set top boxes with several third party developers already working on entertainment extensions for the platform.
New Leisuretech Valuation Emerges Original Dodgy EXCLUSIVE: A second valuation of the troubled Leisuretech group has revealed that it is worth considerable more than the $2M claimed by CEO Andrew Goldfinch and Accountant Jonathan Rich who are accused of engineering the collapse of the consumer electronics and home automation company earlier this year in their best interests.
Home Automation Using Simple Thoughts Developed A home automation system that is controlled by “thought” is close to being released. Designed to recognise thinking like “I want to listen to music”, scientists in London are confident that they have an offering that actually works according to Science Daily.
As CEDIA Members Go Broke Fight Breaks Out Over Code A major debate has broken out in the USA as to who owns the source code in a home automation system after an administrator to a failed CEDIA member organisation tried to sell automation code in an effort to recover money.
Greenpeace Told To Nick Off By Big CE Vendors At CES 2009 we saw an explosion in new green energy efficient products however Greenpeace is claiming this is not enough they have also slammed several Companies including ASUS, Apple, Microsoft and Nintendo for failing to submit to a Greenpeace survey.
Mass Market Not Ready For Home Automation Mass market consumers have no interest in home automation a new study has concluded. Presented today at the 2009 CES show in Las Vegas the report could lead to several Companies like Whirlpool and Proctor and Gamble delaying the release of new products that incorporate smart technology.
700Mbs Broadband Devices Coming For The Home By 2010 The growth in home automation and the need for fast new integrated broadband devices has led to the development of yet another open standard for the home with the International Telecommunications Union announcing a standard that will allow up to 700Mbps broadband to be delivered over phone, power cables or the traditional coaxial cable.
Nokia Move Into Home Automation In what is an interesting development for the home automation industry European phone Company Nokia has entered the market with a home automation offering based on Z Wave wireless technology. The system will work over both a mobile phone and PC.
Target Take Offence To Dodgy Retailer Label Target management are up in arms after being labelled a “Dodgy” retailer by online web site Current and Appliance Retailer Magazine. The label came after the Company recalled a faulty heater from their stores.
LeisureTech Slam UK Automation Company After High Court Loss Australian Automation Company LeisureTech has accused the UK Company Armour Group of not being interested in settling their patent dispute over relating to the alleged infringement of A Bus patents prior to the matter going before the UK High Court. They also claim that they are “baffled” by the decision and are now considering an appeal.
Big UK High Court Loss For OZ Automation Group Australian home automation group Leisuretech has lost an A-Bus patent case in the UK High Court in a move that could seriously impact sales of the automation technology in Europe and result in them having to pay out millions to a UK automation company.
How Energy Australia Avoids Being Fined During the past six months residents of Mosman in NSW have had to put up with at least 5 major power failures caused in part by negligence by Energy Australia employees.
Is Home Automation Lacking Fundamentals? Currently 4,500 out of a possible 150,000 new houses take on some form of automation, according to Switch Automation General Manager Deb Noller.
IP Based Switch Automation Turned On Digital Homeware the Australian home automation Company is set to be rebranded as Switch Automation. The move comes as the Company expands their product offering into both commercial and offshore markets.
John Howard's Mate Central To C Bus Technology Theft Claim The legal battle over whether Clipsal stole the technology that allegedly transformed the C Bus home automation from being a simple rudimentary control system to a sophisticated control system, is set to be fought out in the Federal Court. However, if Clipsal lose the case the big loser could well be Robert Gerard the former head of Gerard Industries and a close friend of former Prime Minister John Howard.
Home Automation To Grow 50% Telstra To Be Key Player The home automation market is set to change dramatically with the market split into two core sectors “mainstream” systems based on standardised technologies and packaged home automation components wrapped around services offered through a broadband or wireless service provider like Telstra a leading research Company has said.
EXCLUSIVE: Telstra Dragged Into Clipsal C Bus Theft Case Telstra is set to be dragged into a Federal Court drama over the alleged theft by Schneider Electric owned Company Clipsal Integrated Systems of technology behind the C Bus home automation system after it was revealed that the telecommunication carrier put up seed capital for a Company called Smart who is now claiming damages against Clipsal for the alleged theft of The Smart Companies Technology.
Custom Installers Under Threat From Plug & Play Products Companies that are selling products which don't need a custom installer have dominated the press conferences at this year's CEDIA Expo in the US. Sony rolled out new Bravia TV's and high end Blu ray players that will primarily be sold via mass market retailers. LG unveiled its BD300 Blu-ray player that streams directly from Netflix. Others rolled out music players while the likes of NuVo and Russound launched new multi room audio systems that can be installed by an electrican in a day.
How Schneider And Clipsal Want To Dominate Home Automation Schneider Electric the owners of brands like Clipsal, Square D, APC Power and PDL Electrical are set to consolidate their brand with Companies like Clipsal set to be relegated to being a sub brand of Schneider Electric.
Is Home Automation The New Green Choice? According to various reports, home automation control systems such as Control4 or Clipsal C-Bus are not only becoming a necessary amenity in any high-end home, but it seems they have also become the new weapon in the war to fight global warming.
Home Automation And Networking Set To Grow 56% More Australians than ever before are turning to home automation a recent SmartHouse study has revealed with many consumers now turning to automation to control heating and electricity costs. Another big driver is security and home entertainment. Leading global research Company Park & Associates claim that home networking will grow nearly 50 percent by the end of 2008.
Free Google Media Server Ideal For Home Automation Google has released a media server that allows any Windows based PC to access and play content from multiple devices and multiple sources. Ideal when setting up a low cost home automation enviroment the software is available for free.
Slick Automated Display Home Take a guided tour through this stunning display home and pick-and-choose from the best home automation and entertainment on offer.
Control4 Now Inside a HiFi Reciever Control4 whose products are sold via Convergent Technologies in Australia is about to start a major expansion drive by allowing Hi Fi, consumer electronic companies and IT companies making set top boxes and media centres to include their home control operating system.
AV Integrators High On Passion, Low On Business Skills According to Todd B. Adams, the CEO and founder of DIpartner, an international training and curriculum development company dedicated to educating residential integrators, custom integrators are brimming with passion but lacking in business acumen - a situation he says is retarding the future growth of the industry both here and in the US.
Lighthouse Rolls Out New Professional Halogen Lamp The Clay Paky Alpha Wash Halo is a 1200W warm halogen lamp with true colour mixing and extensive optical zoom and is designed for film, television, theatre, concerts and corporate events.
3 Style Releases Low Energy LED Luminaires 3 Style has released the Alya Series of GE 85CRI high powered LEDs that produce downlights that have quoted efficiencies greater than incandescent, halogen or xenon lights.
AMX Executive Charged For Snooping On Competitor A senior Vice President of automation Company AMX has been arrested by a US Computer Crimes Task Force and charged with the unlawful Access of a Computer System / Network. He was also charged with conducting an illegal wire tap. The investigaqtion came about after a competitor complained to police that they were constantly being undercut for automation contracts and that it appearede that AMX had access to confidential information.
Clipsal Addressing Automation Issues With Electricians Clipsal who were last week awarded the Best US Home Automation System award by the organisers of the EHX Expo has hit back at claims that electricians are leaving a trail of problems when they take on home C Bus and automation work
Man Shot Dead By Robot That He Trained To Use A Gun The Gold Coast Bulletin in Queensland is reporting that an 81-year-old was shot dead by a robot that he had built using information taken from the web. The man who lived alone had deliberatly trained the robot to fire a gun.
TV Shopping Cart Coming Soon Fed up with not being able to find goods in your local supermarket, well that may be a thing of the past. Engineers have developed a shopping cart that actually tells customers where items are located within store. They also allow advertising to be served to the trolly based on a prior buying history.
C Bus Electricans Leave Automation Chaos Clipsal a leading supplier of electrical goods and the C Bus home automation system have been accused of fostering electricians to move into the automation market despite them have little if any knowledge of computers, sound distribution or TV display issues.
Smart Home Solutions Goes Bust But Not In Sydney Smart Home Solutions a Bribane based installer of home automation and entertainment systems has been placed into administralion. The Company has no involvement with Smart Home Solutions in Sydney run by James Billington.
New Home Automation Guide For Developers AVD Australia and Project Connection Australia have released a much-needed White Paper for the home automation industry, providing a comprehensive, 7-step guide for smart home project-builders on the importance of enlisting a home automation designer, trends and techniques in home automation technology, and even product selection.
