Home Automation Today! The HTINews is our Bi-Monthly Online Magazine featuring the most up to date Home Automation news available. Here you'll find feature articles, product ads and reviews, interesting columns and interviews as well as press releases announcing the latest technologies available from those companies pioneering the Home Automation industry.
The Home Network industry is exploding with the introduction of new technologies to provide wireless connections to the world. This issue there are some great articles and reviews as well as an interview with Wayne Caswell about the HomeRF Working Group. Enjoy. Past issues are available and we've compiled libraries of all the feature articles and product reviews and press releases for easy reference. Free Product Info
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Last issue I was scratching my head to try and understand all the new standards that have arrived on the scene in the last few months. After attending Connections '99 in Vancouver a few weeks ago ... I'm amazed at the speed of the evolution of Home Networking. The standards and working groups are forging ahead at breakneck speed so that we'll be able to take advantage of a new generation of smart appliances to tap into the information highway. Be sure to read my report about the conference to find out "What the heck is a Residential Gateway is and why will we all need one?". The theme of this issue is "Wireless Home Control" but as always there are articles and reviews about a wide variety of topics. Top of the wireless list is an interview with Wayne Caswell - Marketing Chairman of the HomeRF Working Group. I had the privilege of meeting Wayne at Connections and he is one of the visionaries of our industry. At last ... the SwitchLinc 2 way X-10 switch from SmartLinc is available and we've done a review. Other reviews include HomeSeer (thanks to Brooks Talley) and the PC Commander from Concept UK. Jini from Sun Microsystems may be the most exciting concept for networking ever. At the very least it will challenge the PC world for dominance in the home network. Read about in a great article from Steven Totolo "Jini Will Grant You 3 Wishes". I had a great phone interview with Jon Bostrom (Sun's Jini Evangelist) and if Jini lives up to it's expectations, we won't need to worry about interoperability in the future. You see ... Jini appliances simply introduce themselves to the network and download (Java) code instructions about how they operate etc. |
Other articles in this issue include the first contribution from Parks Associates and they've promised more in the future. This one from Kurt Sherf talks about opportunities in Home Networking. Also read about Bruce Winters open source HA program "Mister Who?" and Steve Nolen tells us about his Online Home House.ProtoWrxs.com. Need a Personal Robot? Yes they exist. How about using a Palm Pilot as a remote control. Michael Lulchak sent in this incredible article ... more like a thesis ... about using HA for Load Shedding and he has promised more in the future. And there are several other interesting articles as well so plan on spending a bit of time with this issue. Press releases are a valuable source of info for professionals and consumers. Have a look at the long list above to get an idea of what is happening in this industry. Keep checking back to the press release section during the months to come as we post new information there as soon as we get it and we've added a new Press Release Library so you can look back at past news to see how the industry has emerged. If you want to be kept informed, sign up on our Update Mailing List. You'll get an email once a month or so with news and links to new information. Have a look at the Directories index. There are some new Job Opportunities, Events and Training Sessions posted and the Libraries index lists the Shareware, Links, Articles, Reviews. Standards, Press Releases and Tips & Tricks archives which have all been updated. The next issue will feature Whole House Automation Systems. I'm hoping to get together some info about some of the more popular mid and high end systems for those of you interested in what can be had in today's market. It's always a challenge to find authors and enthusiasts willing to send us articles so if you have something to submit please let me know. Don't forget please. If you like HomeToys and what we provide for you ... the best way to show it is to support our advertisers and sponsors. Click those banners ... check out these Hot Products and take a Gadget Tour]. Enjoy! |
