Folks who already have or are considering a HomeSeer-based home automation system will be happy to learn that they can now manage their devices directly from an iPhone using the company’s newly released iPhone HSTouch client. What’s more, since HSTouch is IP-enabled, users can manage their home(s) remotely via the app. The new HSTouch iPhone / iPod touch client is available now as a free download on iTunes and works with HSPRO or with HS2 + HSTouch. MORE »

HomeSeer Technologies is now selling a Euro version Z-Wave home automation product that provides three functions in one. The HSM100-EU is intended to be used as a motion sensor for any Z-Wave certified system, but the product can also provide temperature and light readings for HomeSeer’s PC home automation software. The HSM100-EU has a range of 30 feet, requires 3 AAA batteries to operate, and has a retail price of $80.95. MORE »

HomeSeer has taken the wraps off a new product that they hope will make its way into people’s homes. The new HST-IW07 is 7-inch in-wall touchscreen Windows CE PC that comes preloaded with the company’s HSTouch client for full home automation (note: HSTouch is fully customizable and upgradeable). The 2-inch profile device provides a 800×480 resolution TFT LCD display, LED backlighting, mounting wings, and can be powered solely by single Power over Ethernet (PoE) cable. MORE »

Perceptive Automation is announcing today that its Mac OS X home automation software has received a major upgrade and will now function in tandem with the iPhone / iPod touch to control INSTEON and X10 adapters over Wi-Fi or mobile broadband. Indigo 4.0 is now available in two versions: Indigo Lite ($89.95) and Indigo Pro ($179.95). Both versions share the same functionality (control: lighting, appliances, HVAC, and sprinklers), but Pro users will be able to create customized scripts and manage additional “high-end devices.” If you’re interested in taking Indigo 4.0 for a spin, Perceptive Automation is offering a free 30-day trial. MORE »

The New York Times is leaking the details of some “confidential documents” published by T-Mobile that state that the company is planning on launching an Android powered home phone and Internet tablet in 2010. While the details are a little sparse, it looks like the phone will have docking and data sync capabilities while the 7-inch touchscreen tablet (pictured here: Archos Android Internt Tablet) will “handle basic computing jobs like checking the weather or managing data across a variety of devices in the home,” writes the The New York Times. All in all, it sounds like a solid plan to compete against Verizon’s Hub or AT&T’s HomeManager offerings and maybe even take it up notch by having an extendible platform that can leverage third-party apps from the Android Market. [via]

Designed to work with HomeSeer’s home automation software and industry standard IP-enabled controllers, HSTouch is a new Windows-based GUI design application (MSRP $199.95) that allows users to create custom control interfaces that are able to be ported and run on Windows, Windows CE, and Windows Mobile Devices. In addition to being able to create customized interfaces, HSTouch also provides designers the ability to pull in RSS data feed information to display things like weather, news, and stock quotes. I guess you can say HSTouch is geared more towards home installers / integrators and technically savvy DIY-ers. Newcomers to home automation should probably check out the company’s HS2 product suite, if they want to get their feet wet. MORE »

Gone are the days when you could only get your hands on a MOXI DVR in limited cable TV markets. The company is now delivering their TiVo butt-kicking, CableCARD compatible 500GB HD DVR to the masses via Amazon.com for $799 (subscription fees: $0, advertising: none). FYI: the MOXI HD DVR was first announced and made available to consumers in limited quantity back in January. The only thing lacking, from what I can tell, is online video content integration (maybe that’s coming later?). However, it does support Flickr photo viewing, “SuperTicker” updates, and playback of your PC’s stored media files over the network.

The idea of a universal remote control to eliminate the multi-remote coffee table clutter is not a new one. In fact, a remote that can control up to 18 devices with a combination of hard buttons and a touch screen has even become somewhat common place. But to find one that you can set-up yourself for under $200 is a good discovery. [via] MORE »

Back in November 2008 we got a glimpse of Mgestyk Technologies’ hand gesture control system for navigating PC games, a web browser, and photo libraries. At the time many of us were floored – especially by the possibilities. Now Hitachi – with the help of Canesta’s 3D sensor chip – is demonstrating a hand gesture controlled TV prototype that will be sure to spark some interest. How much? I don’t know. The TV as you will see in the video is capable of reacting to specific hand motions to turn the TV on and off, scroll channels, control volume, and more. Hitachi says the TV can also be expanded to manage network controlled home automation tasks like air-conditioning and lighting. At this point you’re probably wondering how the TV is able to “sense” commands. Well, according to Canesta’s press release below, the TV scans the interior of a room and then create a virtual “depth map” separating the individual and his hand gestures from the surrounding stationary objects up to about 10 feet away (neat trick). MORE »

In an effort to provide Niveus Media Server and Niveus Storage Server – Cargo Edition owners a higher end movie experience, Niveus Media has integrated the ability for people to download HD quality feature films from HDGIANTS’ movie collection directly through the company’s Niveus Movie Library application. The Niveus Movie Library, for those unfamiliar, is a proprietary movie management application that aggregates and displays stored — and now… available — movies along with high-res cover art and detailed metadata. According to the press release attached below, all movies downloaded from the service will be accessible from the system they were downloaded to as well as Media Center Extenders and other network PCs. Unfortunately, there’s no word on pricing for each HD title, but a preview of the selection can be viewed here.

CORRECTION: Just got an email from Niveus stating the following: “The movies are not downloaded via Niveus Movie Library (or any medium for that matter). The customer orders the movie package from the dealer and HDGIANTS sends the dealer a hard drive with the content. The dealer then loads the content onto the customer’s server and it is integrated into the Movie Library.” Sorry, folks. The press release gave me a different impression after reading it. However, now that we’re getting clarification on how the process works… too bad it’s not the case as previously thought (in regards to downloading HD movies directly through the Niveus Movie Library application).

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