Miele Automation System Promises iPhone Control Miele is set to showcase its new system which allows a user to control appliances from an iPhone or relay error messages to a mobile phone or PC.
Telstra To Take On CEDIA Members & Custom Installers Telstra who have a “shocking” customer support and billing reputation now want to start installing consumer TV’s and PC’s in the home. They are also set to move into the home installation market up against CEDIA members and installers by offering fibre network upgrades.
Google Races Round The World In 80 Days Vehicles powered by electricity from renewable energy have begun a 30,000km round-the-world race expected to take more than 80 days and cover 30,000 kilometres.
Dodgy Solar Panel Claims Jumped On By ACCC Dodgy solar panel claims, made by two Queensland companies have caught the attention of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
How To Cheat An ATM Demo Cheered Computer hacker Barnaby Jack – not to be confused with Australian pollie Barnaby Joyce – has demonstrated a way to force automated teller machines (ATMs) to disgorge their cash by hijacking the computing gear inside.
New IP Based Automation & Low Cost Retro Sound Gear Russound, who took over IP automation group Colorado vNet last year, is set to launch several new automation products including IP based products that were in development prior to the aquisition of the struggling Colorado vNet company, along with new powerline automation products from Russound.
Intel Close To Big Energy Deal After Monitoring OZ Homes EXCLUSIVE: Intel Australia who has spent the last six months talking to Australian Utility companies about their new home energy management system is close to getting a major deal from one major Australian operator after extensive real time testing.
Control4 Finally Comments On The Axing Of OZ Distributor US automation Company Control 4 has finally commented on the axing of Convergent Technologies while refusing to explain why the dumping took place the Company has praised their previous distributor.
Senior Clipsal Executives Quit Clipsal Australia is set to restructure their CIS management ranks after two senior executives quit the company this month. Among those leaving are Marketing Director, Simon Wehr, and Greg Bryant.
CEDIA Expo Fight Over New Control4 Gear Just hours before the CEDIA Expo starts in Melbourne automation company Control4 has found themselves embroiled in a row over the launch of several new products. Compounding this is claims that the US Company have been shopping the brand around to several distributors in Australia for at least seven months.
Control4 Dumps Distributor Without Explanation EXCLUSIVE: US Automation Company Control4, has been slammed after they axed their Melbourne based distributor Convergent Technologies, who has been credited with building the previously unknown IP automation brand in Australia. No explanation has been given for the sudden dumping.
$100M To Be Spent On Smart Grid City Project A consortium led by EnergyAustralia has been named the successful bidder in the Federal Government's $100 million smart-grid, smart-city project – and plans, among other things to make Newcastle Australia's first smart city.
iPhones & iPads Replace Clipsal At Switch Automation Switch Automation, a competitor in the fast growing IP automation market, have parted company with Clipsal. They have also dropped sales of touch panels as they get set to deliver new software that will run over an iPhone and iPad, and in the future, Android- and Chrome-based devices.
Electronic Health Records Coming To OZ After last night Federal Budget the Rudd Government has promised $466 million in its Budget to get under way its long-running and controversial project to introduce individual electronic health records for Australians.
iPad To Control Home Automation And Entertainment Michael Greeson, a founding partner of Diffusion Group research claims that “What the iPhone is to the Mobile Web, the iPad will be to the Home Web” and that the new Apple device will have a major impact in the home.
3D TV, IP Devices Technology Help Goes 24/7 The advent of 3D and Internet-enabled TVs along with new IP enabled technology has allowed a Sydney-based customer installer to roll out a new 24-hour protection service for users “who are in fear” of their new technology and want immediate assistance if anything goes wrong.
Big Brother Google Coming To A Power Metre Near You Google who already collect vast amounts of information on what Australians search for has now launched PowerMeter which is software that allows organisations like utility Companies to track how consumers are using their energy supply.
Harvey Norman Dragged Into Botched Installation Saga Tech2Home the Harvey Norman custom install operation is under investigation for potential compliance problems following the botched Federal Government insulation program.
ZigBee Applications Now Made Public The ZigBee Alliance announced that its ZigBee Home Automation and ZigBee Remote Control are available for download.
LeisureTech Move To Shore Up Dodgy A-Bus Patent After being challenged in the European Courts and losing, Leisuretech has moved to shore up its US A-Bus tent in an effort to hold onto patent revenue streams from US manufacturers.
Apple iPad Set To Carve Up Automation Industry The new Apple touchscreen iPad could have a devastating effect on the automation industry, say industry experts, with the device used to replace custom display screens and remote controls like the Philips Pronto and the RCI remote.
Government Orders Foil Insulation Checks Minister for the Environment Peter Garrett has announced that households with foil insulations will be inspected following an audit that found that some homes had live electricity running through the ceiling.
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.
