Engadget

Freescale Home Health Hub wants to usher in the era of connected medical devices

Terrence O'Brien — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 18:07:00 EST

Freescale has its little silicon hands in all sorts of things: e-readers, smartphones, tablets, even refrigerators. Now the manufacturer is looking to make a dent in the healthcare industry with a connected platform called Home Health Hub (HHH). The i.MX28-based HHH isn't an actual product, but a reference platform for others to build on. The ARM9 processor is connected to a host of networking interfaces, including WiFi, Bluetooth (as well as its low-power implementation), Zigbee, sub-1GHz and Ethernet. The Hub is supposed to be just that, a central point for connecting various medical devices like blood pressure monitors or glucometers that then feeds data to a tablet. Developers and other interested parties can get their hands on the reference platform from Digi International as the iDigi Telehealth Application Kit for $499. Check out the full PR after the break.

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Freescale Home Health Hub wants to usher in the era of connected medical devices originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Nov 2011 18:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Corvair 6-inch Android 2.3 tablet outed, destined for the home automation set?

Richard Lawler — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 16:57:00 EST

There are plenty of WiFi-connected remote control apps for tablets, dongles for IR control and even an IR blaster built into Vizio's tablet, but here's a Motorola slab purpose-built for the coffee table. The Verge has received several pics of the Motorola Corvair (and its packaging), a "dedicated controller for the connected" ...something, which is apparently in testing with unnamed cable companies right now. It's a 6-inch tablet running Android 2.3, that the box shows working as a remote control and apparently mirroring its display on the TV screen. Other notes indicate it's optimized for low cost, packs a healthy 4,000mAh battery, and can communicate with other devices via IR or Zigbee's RF4CE spec (where's Android@Home?). That would line it up perfectly to tie in with home automation systems like the one Motorola and Verizon just launched, as well as potentially provide a sweet platform for content discovery. The only downside? Unless Moto goes against type, this will probably never see retail and we'll have to wait on our cable company to figure out a way to charge extra for one and slap their own ugly software on it -- here's hoping that's not the case.

Motorola Corvair 6-inch Android 2.3 tablet outed, destined for the home automation set? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 Nov 2011 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yale demos NFC-enabled residential locks, germaphobes rejoice (video)

Amar Toor — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST

Assa Abloy has already brought NFC-based door locks to some Swedish hotel rooms, but one of its subsidiary companies is now looking to bring them to your doorstep, as well. Earlier this month, Yale Locks & Hardware unveiled what it hopes will be the first NFC-enabled residential lock to hit the US market. With this system, all you'll need to do is wave your smartphone in front of one of Yale's Real Living line of motorized locks, which will then automatically open (as long as you've been authorized to do so). Demoed at this year's CEDIA Expo, these revamped locks are also compatible with either Zigbee or Z-Wave home automation technologies and support Assa Abloy's Mobile Keys software, which allows users to securely load all of their digital keys on their handsets. Pricing and availability remain unclear, but you can unlock more details in the brief demo video and full press release, after the break.

Continue reading Yale demos NFC-enabled residential locks, germaphobes rejoice (video)

Yale demos NFC-enabled residential locks, germaphobes rejoice (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XBee grows up, delivers WiFi to DIYers and Arduino enthusiasts

Terrence O'Brien — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 09:39:00 EST

Good news DIYers, XBee now comes in WiFi flavors. The favorite wireless module of Arduino tinkerers everywhere is growing up and adding 802.11n to its normal compliment of RF and ZigBee options. Development kits are available now starting at $149 per board, with add-on modules like embedded or wire antennas and RF connectors clocking in at $49. It might not seem like a big deal to some of you out there, but anyone who's contemplated building a Tweet-a-Watt or a Yarn Monster will appreciate being able skip adding a ZigBee adapter to their PC. Check out the PR after the break.

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XBee grows up, delivers WiFi to DIYers and Arduino enthusiasts originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 09:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leadtek AMOR 8218 DECT phone with Tegra 2 Android tablet hands-on

Richard Lai — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 05:04:00 EST

While combing through the show floor at Computex, our fortunate selves stumbled upon a new phone-tablet duo at Leadtek's booth. Oh, don't worry, this isn't yet another phone-in-pad design; but actually a VoIP / home phone docked next to an Android tablet. Dubbed AMOR Multimedia Phone 8218, the idea here is that the docking station acts as both a DECT base and a WiFi router, but also packs ZigBee radio to relay data from compatible devices (for healthcare, home surveillance, home automation, etc.) to the web.

Alas, there's no direct interaction between the phone and the tablet, but we were still intrigued by the latter's specs: Android 2.3 (although this demo unit had 2.2), Tegra 2, 7-inch 1,280 x 720 LCD, HDMI-out, and a front-facing camera for video calls. For a home device, this is actually a pretty powerful package and certainly a significant upgrade from the AMOR 8210 announced earlier this year. No word on US availability, but Taiwanese buyers will be able to grab hold of an 8218 starting in September.

Gallery: Leadtek AMOR 8218 DECT phone with Tegra 2 Android tablet hands-on

Leadtek AMOR 8218 DECT phone with Tegra 2 Android tablet hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Jun 2011 05:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Editorial: Android@Home is the best worst thing that could happen to home automation

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 11 May 2011 08:51:00 EST

As the resident Engadget home automation nerd, Google's Android@Home announcement rocked my little low-powered RF world yesterday. Seeing a brand like Google get behind home automation is the stuff I've been dreaming about ever since Nokia dipped a toe into the tepid Z-Wave waters back in 2008. Unfortunately, Nokia abandoned its Home Control Center ambitions shortly thereafter, leaving the industry in the hands of such consumer powerhouses as Zensys, Sigma Designs, ExpressControls, AMX Corp, Control 4, Echelon, and Jung. Heard of them? No, no you haven't, and that's my point.

Home automation has long suffered from the lack of a consumer-centric approach. Consumer electronics companies have almost universally come around to the new mantra of user experience. Most companies have finally awoken from their deep eighties slumber to realize that a single product can no longer dominate an industry on its own -- the age of the Walkman is over. For success, a product must encompass great software, great services, hardware that just works, and stellar support when it doesn't. In short, the user experience is what sets the product apart. Home automators have yet to realize this but Google's announcement could force the issue.

Continue reading Editorial: Android@Home is the best worst thing that could happen to home automation

Editorial: Android@Home is the best worst thing that could happen to home automation originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Festo's SmartBird robot takes off with elegance, doesn't poop on you (video)

Richard Lai — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 01:16:00 EST

The geniuses at Festo's Bionic Learning Network are well known for their fascination with robotic animals, and their latest creation is no exception. Dubbed the SmartBird, this autonomous bionic bird -- modelled on herring gulls -- graces the sky with its sophisticated two meter-long wings, which utilize a bending torso for lifelike directional control. What's more, this robot is also capable of taking off and landing on its own, but it can also be controlled and monitored from afar using ZigBee radio. Amazingly, all of this round up to just one pound, meaning the SmartBird can happily float about with moderate flapping. Jump past the break for some agile in-flight action, accompanied by an animation detailing the inner workings.

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Festo's SmartBird robot takes off with elegance, doesn't poop on you (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 01:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SAE and Zigbee team up to make plug-in cars charge smarter

Tim Stevens — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:23:00 EST

We're no strangers to Zigbee around these parts, using the various Alliance-certified devices to monitor our power usage and let our refrigerators talk to our washing machines. Soon our cars might be able to get in on that little conversation with the Zigbee Alliance and SAE International starting to work together. SAE develops standards and certifications in the automotive industry (amongst many others) and it embracing Zigbee Smart Energy means that we should see many more auto manufacturers adopting this tech to enable their cars to talk to the grid straight through their plugs. They'll be able to do things like provide charging status updates and to pull down utility pricing information, ensuring your ride charges when rates are lowest. Many current and most upcoming electric cars can do this sort of thing, but they rely on wireless data connectivity to do so. Zigbee would eliminate that. No word on which manufacturers will jump on first, but given the pull the SAE has we think many will.

Continue reading SAE and Zigbee team up to make plug-in cars charge smarter

SAE and Zigbee team up to make plug-in cars charge smarter originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Esper Dominoes topple without touching, we fall all over ourselves (video)

Sean Hollister — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 11:33:00 EST

Quick, what's wrong with this picture? Oh, that's right -- dominoes don't topple all by themselves, do they? But these aren't your average tiles. Constructed by Japanese interaction researchers in 2009, these "Esper Dominoes" each have ZigBee radios inside, and as each stone falls it wirelessly tells the next to follow suit, all down the line. Of course, knowing all that, why would you ever settle for a boring row of five? Hit the break to see what these bones are really capable of, and join us in praying that some entrepreneur mass produces these perfect stocking stuffers before another two years fly by.

Continue reading Esper Dominoes topple without touching, we fall all over ourselves (video)

Esper Dominoes topple without touching, we fall all over ourselves (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Control4, Sub-Zero get in on the home automation game

Christopher Trout — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:44:00 EST

While brands like LG, Samsung, and Kenmore all showed off their own special brand of Jetsonian appliances at CES this year, Sub-Zero was close by touting a stable of 30 automation-ready products and a partnership with Control4 that could make them a contender for home automation domination. Sub-Zero's ZigBee-based system uses preexisting serial ports (initially installed for diagnostic purposes) to connect users to appliances via touchscreens, smart phones, and other enabled devices. The system lacks full control of potentially dangerous appliances like the oven, instead acting as an alert system when, say, your turkey is done roasting, but it does grant complete access to things like your refrigerator or freezer. Other systems might sport increased functionality, like LG's Thinq, which allows users to set oven temperatures remotely, and Samsung's fridge, which lets you tweet from a built-in touchscreen, but Sub-Zero is hoping a second-quarter release will put them at the head of the pack. We'll see if a head start makes a difference in the glacial appliance market, when Samsung rolls out its smart refrigerator this May and Kenmore's system comes to fruition in 2012.

Control4, Sub-Zero get in on the home automation game originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG's Thinq automated oven, refrigerator, and washer / dryer are the future now (hands-on)

Thomas Ricker — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 19:32:00 EST

Ah, the connected home... the ultimate Jetsonian fantasy that refuses to come true. LG's doing its best to change that with its Thinq lineup of connected appliances announced and demonstrated for the first time here in Las Vegas. The details of connectivity and interoperability are scarce but we do know that the appliances support both WiFi and ZigBee connectivity in order to communicate with each other, your in-home smart meter, and with smartphones when outside of the home. So far, LG has announced four Thinq devices including a vacuum, fridge, oven, and washer and dryer pair. That's a pretty strong foundation to build from especially if your home is already equipped with ZigBee devices like automated light switches, window controllers, and locks. Each LG appliance brings a rather lengthy list of features many of which are accessible remotely on a smartphone app (Android was demonstrated). It's just hard to fathom how useful they are without a humanoid robot capable of moving the finished wash into the dryer or putting the porkroast in the oven. And while being able to look up the contents of your fridge as you enter the supermarket sounds compelling, knowing that the owner has to manage the list manually (there's no UPC code scanner and RFID is still just a dream) tarnishes our enthusiasm quite a bit. Still, Thinq is definitely a step in the right direction. Watch LG make its pitch after the break.

Gallery: LG's Thinq automated oven, refridgerator, and washer / dryer are the future now (hands-on)

Continue reading LG's Thinq automated oven, refrigerator, and washer / dryer are the future now (hands-on)

LG's Thinq automated oven, refrigerator, and washer / dryer are the future now (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 Jan 2011 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yarn-eating Yarn Monster forms yarn balls, makes us want to build our own (video)

Sam Sheffer — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 12:10:00 EST

Robots, Arduino, and monsters are all very close to our new-age, gadget-loving hearts. The folks over at Union Bridge Labs have created a half-monster, half-machine dubbed the Yarn Monster. This little cubic beast has one job -- to eat yarn and shape it into a perfectly rolled ball of, well, yarn. It's powered by a ton of hardware, from a stepper motor to Arduino components to even a universal mounting hub. Instructions to control speed of the nom-noming are sent to the Arduino via XBee from a remotely connected potentiometer which can also reverse the direction of yarn-ball rolling. We encourage you to spend your hard-earned dough (about $130), buy the proper components and build one of these things to impress your loved ones. If not though, be sure to watch the video after the break.

Continue reading Yarn-eating Yarn Monster forms yarn balls, makes us want to build our own (video)

Yarn-eating Yarn Monster forms yarn balls, makes us want to build our own (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZigBee finalizes low-power, RF standard for input devices, could finally kill off IR for good

Tim Stevens — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:24:00 EST

Over the years of idle channel surfing and menu browsing you've surely developed some finely-honed IR shootin' skills, knowing which surfaces will and will not reflect the signals from your under-powered universal remote control as you try to bounce that beam around a pile of magazines and soda cans on the coffee table. Those skills are on a fast-track to obsolescence thanks to the new ZigBee Input Device standard, which finally could bring all TV remote controls to the world of RF wholesale. Well, it could, if it finds more success than the already existing ZigBee Remote Control spec has managed. The new Input Device standard builds on that, said to require less juice than IR so those tired and mismatched AAs could last even longer. It'll also work with mice and keyboards and the like, but naturally we're most optimistic for remotes, even though this comes a little too late to let us turn off our PS3s with our Harmonys.

Continue reading ZigBee finalizes low-power, RF standard for input devices, could finally kill off IR for good

ZigBee finalizes low-power, RF standard for input devices, could finally kill off IR for good originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scientists attempt to predict flu spread, give ZigBee radios to 700 high school students

Sean Hollister — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 08:43:00 EST

This is the Crossbow TelosB wireless remote platform, and it did an important job for science in January of last year -- it monitored the close proximity interactions among 788 students and staff at one US high school to track a virtual flu. After collecting over 762,000 sneeze-worthy anecdotes among the module-toting teachers and teens, Stanford researchers ran 788,000 simulations charting the path the virus might take and methods the school might try to keep it in line. Sadly, the scientists didn't manage to come up with any easy answers, as virtual vaccination seemed to work equally well (or poorly) no matter who got the drugs, but that if only we could actually monitor individuals in real life as easily as in a study, prevention would be much easier. But who will bell the cat, when it's so much less political to ionize?

Scientists attempt to predict flu spread, give ZigBee radios to 700 high school students originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Peel turns your iPhone into a universal remote -- using a wireless external IR blaster

Nilay Patel — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST

The idea of using an iPhone or iPod touch as a universal remote has been tossed around for years, but it's always required either a finicky external dongle or an extravagantly expensive home automation rig. Instead, we've been treated to a host of single-device remote apps for everything from FiOS, DirecTV, Comcast, and Dish Network DVRs to the Apple TV to the Boxee Box to... well, you name it. A little company called Peel has a dramatically different idea, though -- it's launching the Peel Universal Control system, which is designed to take your iPhone or iPod touch head-to-head with universal remote heavyweights like Logitech's Harmony system.

The company is made up of a bunch of former Apple engineers, and their solution is extremely novel: instead of attaching a dongle to the iPhone itself, they're controlling your A/V rack using a pear-sized (and Yves Behar-designed) wireless IR blaster that's supposed to live quietly on your coffee table. The blaster (called the Peel Fruit) connects over ZigBee to a tiny network adapter (the Peel Cable, also designed by Behar) that attaches directly to an open Ethernet port on your WiFi router -- a two-part hardware setup that seems fussy, but is designed to obviate the need for software configuration during installation, and allows the IR blaster to run for nine months on a single C battery.

Gallery: Peel iPhone app screenshots

Gallery: Peel Universal Control System for iPhone hands-on

Continue reading Peel turns your iPhone into a universal remote -- using a wireless external IR blaster

Peel turns your iPhone into a universal remote -- using a wireless external IR blaster originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Futuristic water bottle uses technology, science to let you know you're thirsty

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 08:06:00 EST

The future is a scary place, yes -- but one thing we don't need to fear is being unaware that we're thirsty. Research and development firm Cambridge Consultants will be showing off its intriguing "i-dration" concept fitness water bottle at CES in a few weeks, combining a series of sensors on the bottle itself that communicate with an app you've got installed on your smartphone. The bottle will measure ambient temperature, how much fluid you've pounded, and how often you've consumed it; the phone, meanwhile, will use its accelerometer to measure how hard you're working out and combine that with heart rate data from a chest strap. After crunching some numbers, the app determines whether you're low on H2O -- and if you are, it'll make a blue light on the bottle pulse. If it seems like a roundabout way to stay hydrated... well, that's because it is, but Cambridge's angle is that this is a demonstrator for cool new ways that sensors can be tightly packed and integrated with smartphones to create "hardware apps." Speaking of, we could use a tall, cool glass of water. Follow the break for the full press release.

Continue reading Futuristic water bottle uses technology, science to let you know you're thirsty

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OnLive MicroConsole official at $99, we go hands-on and bombard you with details

Sean Hollister — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:08:00 EST

Everybody's favorite instant streaming video game service just came into its own: OnLive is launching the MicroConsole right now, a tiny box that turns your Speedy Gonzales internet connection into a virtual game console. Sure, the company's cloud computing service already lets you do the same from any old netbook -- that's kind of the point -- but the $99 OnLive Game System gives you the leanback HDTV experience complete with a custom wireless gamepad, and (assuming you use HDMI) it'll come with all the wires too when it ships December 2nd. We sat down with OnLive VP of Engineering Joe Bentley to get a handle on the hardware within, and learn about the budding ecosystem you'll be dealing with if you buy in. See what the long-awaited system looks like below, and get the full scoop after the break!

Gallery: OnLive Game System unboxing and hands-on

Continue reading OnLive MicroConsole official at $99, we go hands-on and bombard you with details

OnLive MicroConsole official at $99, we go hands-on and bombard you with details originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iControl and uControl engage in home automation merger, domestic disputes seem inevitable

Darren Murph — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 05:47:00 EST

Come one, come all -- we're guessing you won't want to miss the most comical business arrangement since the latter part of 2007, when ROK acquired a majority share of Rock. Believe it or not, iControl and uControl have somehow put their selfish ways aside to come together as one, but it's pretty clear who's really in control. The merged company will forge ahead as iControl Networks, leaving u with nothing but fading memories and half a bottle of Jack. In all seriousness, this melding of minds could definitely give the home automation world a boost it's badly in need of; fragmentation and a lack of universal compatibility (not to mention stratospheric pricing) has severely hindered adoption in the consumer universe, and we're hoping that these guys can somehow make ZigBee, Z-Wave and your ZR1 talk to each other sans any hoop jumping. 'Course, we wouldn't expect any sort of quick collaboration -- these two have to get on speaking terms before any magic happens, you know?

Continue reading iControl and uControl engage in home automation merger, domestic disputes seem inevitable

iControl and uControl engage in home automation merger, domestic disputes seem inevitable originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Nov 2010 05:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Powercast and Microchip fire up interest at a distance with wireless power development kit

Sean Hollister — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 09:39:00 EST

We're sure if you asked Powercast nicely it'd tell you a whale of a tale, about how the "more than 100 companies" who allegedly signed up to develop products that seemingly pull energy from the ether materialized into this light-up Christmas tree. Still, we'd be happy to forgive and forget if meaningful products emerged instead, and that's why we're moderately happy the company's announced a nice big development kit. $1,250 buys your firm or deep-pocketed hobbyist the spread pictured above, with a wireless transmitter to throw three watts and a pair of receiver boards to catch them from over 40 feet away, plus a low-power development board from Microchip equipped with that company's proprietary short-range wireless protocols and ZigBee functionality. We can't wait to see what people build, but we won't be snapping one up ourselves -- we're still holding out for the firm to go open-source and build an Arduino version. PR after the break.

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Powercast and Microchip fire up interest at a distance with wireless power development kit originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 09:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OnLive MicroConsole TV Adapter clears FCC with ZigBee surprise

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 04:39:00 EST

Well, well, look at what we've got here. It's the promised OnLive MicroConsole TV adapter courtesy of the FCC. The MicroConsole itself, isn't a surprise -- the little box that replaces the PC or Mac and brings the streaming game service to the living room TV courtesy of an HDMI-out jack was first announced back in March with plans for a late 2010 retail delivery. What is a surprise is the discovery of an FCC test report for ZigBee 802.15.4 in addition to Bluetooth. The ZigBee mesh networking standard is most often targeted at RF applications requiring a low data rate like lighting, sensor, and power socket control nodes in home automation networks. So why the hell would OnLive be dabbling in ZigBee? OnLive's site says that the MicroConsole uses Bluetooth to connect multiple wireless headsets. So maybe ZigBee is for the four wireless controllers (something we've seen before) the MicroConsole supports. We can't say for sure, but a quick search of ZigBee's product certification database turns up an ETRI VoZ (Voice over ZigBee) prototype capable of facilitating a ZigBee headset, microphone, and speaker. Perhaps OnLive is just doing some future proofing here or maybe they've got plans for some ZigBee enhanced gameplay. Unfortunately, the FCC test unit is listed as a pre-production "Pre-DV Sample" meaning it could still be awhile before the MicroConsole launches. FCC wireframe and label pictured after the break.

Continue reading OnLive MicroConsole TV Adapter clears FCC with ZigBee surprise

OnLive MicroConsole TV Adapter clears FCC with ZigBee surprise originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 04:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Belkin's Conserve Gateway checks in with the FCC, may be at your utility company

Darren Murph — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 20:37:00 EST

Belkin just got official with its Converse Gateway wireless energy monitoring system earlier this month, and already it looks to be making a beeline to your local utility company. As the temperatures drop and energy use skyrockets, this here setup is designed to attach to a smart meter on the exterior of your home and beam information about usage to your PC (in a nutshell, anyway). Any smart device that's connected in your home can be listed in the UI, giving you a heads-up as to what youngster is burnin' up the most juice when you leave on business for the weekend. Per usual, a stop by the FCC's database generally signals a near-term release in the US of A, with Wireless Goodness suggesting that these are already starting to pop up around the country. Though, you'll have to phone up your local energy company to inquire about a professional installation -- we don't get the impression that these are going to be stocked at Wally World.

Belkin's Conserve Gateway checks in with the FCC, may be at your utility company originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 20:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Belkin Conserve Gateway will track your whole home energy usage, confuse this guy

Tim Stevens — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 09:54:00 EST

We're not sure exactly what Kevin Ashton is looking to find inside the back of the Belkin Conserve Gateway he's holding. As General Manager for the division that produced it, he should know quite well what it is: a sort of wireless gateway that connects your smart meter and smart appliances to your network, letting you capture your whole-home energy usage in real-time. Earlier entries in the Belkin Conserve line allowed you to track and manage individual devices, but this new gateway uses ZigBee to talk to your meter and compatible devices, then turns around and pumps that information to a "cloud-based device management system." Belkin hasn't shown us any interface shots yet, so we don't know exactly how that information will be presented, but we're assured it will be easy to understand -- even for corporate executives who confuse Ethernet ports with kaleidoscopes.

Gallery: Belkin Conserve Gateway

Continue reading Belkin Conserve Gateway will track your whole home energy usage, confuse this guy

Belkin Conserve Gateway will track your whole home energy usage, confuse this guy originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 09:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yale introduces Zigbee and Z-Wave remote lockable deadbolts

Ben Drawbaugh — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 08:31:00 EST

No, these aren't the first deadbolts available that can be integrated with your security system or home automation, but unlike some others, they don't require a subscription either. Yale was demoing two models at the Control4's CEDIA booth including one with a capacitive touch screens. Using either Zigbee or Z-Wave the locks can communicate with Control4 and thanks to the internal replaceable batteries can remotely lock and unlock your doors. In addition you can quickly see if you've secured your abode without the need to check it one last time before you go to bed. Both models will start shipping next spring with the touch screen version going for an extra benjamin over the $299 one with regular buttons.

Gallery: Yale remote deadbolts

Continue reading Yale introduces Zigbee and Z-Wave remote lockable deadbolts

Yale introduces Zigbee and Z-Wave remote lockable deadbolts originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Sep 2010 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There finally piloting Nokia's Home Control Center in Finland

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:35:00 EST

It sure started out as something promising. When Nokia spun off its Home Control Center technology to There Corporation last year it seemed that easy DIY home automation and power management was just around the corner. Yet here we are, almost two years after first hearing about the effort with nothing but a convoluted mess of unfriendly ZigBee and Z-Wave (to name just 2 "standards") home automation products to choose from. There is hope, small as it may be. There Corporation just announced that it's working with Mitox Oy to conduct a pilot in Finland for customers of Helsingin Energia (Helen) using a There-provided web-based solution built around the ThereGate. It allows individuals to monitor their total power consumption in real time as well as the individual devices and systems that consume energy. Better yet, There Corp employs a "rate control concept" that automatically adjusts power usage to hours when energy costs less based on simple guidelines programed by the user. Unfortunately, There Corporation's focus is on Nordic countries until 2012 before looking to dominate European home energy management in 2015. Call us crazy, but this market seems ripe for domination by a major consumer electronics company right now, not in 5 years.

Continue reading There finally piloting Nokia's Home Control Center in Finland

There finally piloting Nokia's Home Control Center in Finland originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exmovere shows off Exmobaby biosensor pajamas for babies, coming to retail in 2011

Laura June — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:45:00 EST

Baby monitors have become quite commonplace over the past 20 years or so, and come in many variations. Exmovere (a company that previously produced the wearable Chariot) has debuted a new type of monitor, however, which are actually part of the baby's pajamas, and which are said to help monitor heart rate, emotional state and behavior. The outfit -- called Exmobaby -- uses the Zigbee wireless standard, effectively connecting the baby to the home wireless network, enabling the parents (or you know, whoever's around) to track the babies various states via icons on their mobile phones. Sound great? Well, it's heading to limited retail in 2011, though no pricing has been announced yet. Full press release is below.

Continue reading Exmovere shows off Exmobaby biosensor pajamas for babies, coming to retail in 2011

Exmovere shows off Exmobaby biosensor pajamas for babies, coming to retail in 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Enphase Enlighten system controls home heating, cooling, solar production in the same web app

Joseph L. Flatley — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:04:00 EST

Enphase Energy has some pretty interesting tech for you to consider if you're thinking about going the Larry Hagman-esque solar power route (as opposed to the Barbara Eden veil-and-pantaloons route). The Microinverter System, for instance, converts DC power to AC household current at the solar panel, instead of sending the power accumulated at all the panels to one central inverter. And the microinverters aren't merely, well, "inverting." Nope, they also send stats to a gateway that, working with the Environ Smart Thermostat, allows you to keep tabs on your heating and cooling system as well as track solar panel performance all in the same web app. Pretty sweet, right? Or did we lose you at "Barbara Eden"? Hit the source link for more info.

Enphase Enlighten system controls home heating, cooling, solar production in the same web app originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cisco's second tablet runs Linux, manages home energy use

Sean Hollister — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:48:00 EST

Looks like the Android-toting Cius wasn't the only tablet out of Cisco this week -- the company's also announced a countertop unit for home energy management with a 7-inch, 800 x 480 capacitive touch screen. Running Ubuntu Linux for MID on a 1.1GHz Intel Atom chip, the Home Energy Controller connects to smart thermostats and appliances over 802.11n WiFi or gigabit ethernet using protocols including ZigBee. It then lets you keep tabs on your electricity usage, and suggests ways you could improve -- assuming you're using the tablet for its intended purpose instead of watching hardware-accelerated videos on Mediafly, browsing the included app store, or (potentially) using it as a phone of some sort. Forbes reports the device will run $900 per installation, though it's more likely it'll arrive subsidized by a monthly power bill. See it in action right after the break, and hit up that PDF at the more coverage link for a full spec sheet.

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Cisco's second tablet runs Linux, manages home energy use originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Silverstat7 Zigbee-packin' thermostat to debut this fall for $600?

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:59:00 EST

Every day it seems that companies are finding better ways to keep an eye on the non-renewable resources we're sucking down to enable our voracious appetite for Xbox gaming and Hulu viewing. Not that we're complaining! And now, thanks to a gracious tipster, we've received some deets on that Silverstat7 home energy management solution (er, touchscreen thermostat) we first hepped you to a couple days ago. Along with 802.11g WiFi, this guy supports the Zigbee and Zwave protocols (as you probably guessed), so it should be able to play nicely with your existing smart meter, switches and outlets. Earlier reports of a June 2010 release date may have been premature -- look for it this fall for about $600 MSRP.

[Thanks, Tony L.]

Silverstat7 Zigbee-packin' thermostat to debut this fall for $600? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Silverpac Silverstat 7 provides energy usage data, responds to touch

Vlad Savov — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:38:00 EST

Boy, if it's not car dashboards, it's thermostats -- you just can't get away from touchscreens these days. The latest 7-inch temperature regulator from Silverpac comes with a bunch of extra goodies to entice the touch control-loving generation into the energy conservation game. With WiFi built in, the Silverstat 7 can pump data out to the internet or your home network, and is equally adept at streaming photos, music and other content back from those connections. A full week's worth of water temperature instructions can be programmed into the device, which can also inform you of weather conditions and your home's energy consumption. The latter part is most intriguing, as you'll be informed of power usage on a per-appliance basis, which can be mighty beneficial when a certain bit of home hardware gorges on electricity without you knowing. June 2010 is set as the release date, but the wallet damage remains unrevealed.

Silverpac Silverstat 7 provides energy usage data, responds to touch originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel's Atom-powered home energy dashboard concept gets itself a website, no closer to retail reality

Ross Miller — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:39:00 EST

If you recall all the way back to last week -- yes, it's a bit of a blur to us, too -- Intel CEO Paul Otellini brought to his keynote an Atom-powered home monitor system, demonstrated by him and his rockstar compadre Craig. It was actually quite impressive, and thankfully Intel's gone ahead and launched an educational page for the Intelligent Home Energy Management Proof of Concept. The specs break down as follows: a gorgeous 11.5-inch capacitive OLED touch screen, Z530 processor, motion sensor and video camera support, stereo audio, WiFi, and Zigbee integration. Throw in an open API and we're pretty sold on this -- assuming it was real, of course, and at this point it's nothing more than a teaser of things to come. Hit up the source link and expect a notable uptick in your longing for the future.

Intel's Atom-powered home energy dashboard concept gets itself a website, no closer to retail reality originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Home automation shocker: Bulogic bridges Z-Wave to Zigbee smart power meters

Nilay Patel — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:13:00 EST

Z-Wave. Zigbee. If you're a home automation nerd, these words mean something to you. You are an extreme form of pure nerd, and we envy your ability to invest in things like replacement light switches while the rest of us scrimp and save because now we have to watch TV in an extra dimension we never asked for. Anyway, that Z-Wave network you might have? Well, the Bulogics Smart Grid Controller bridges a Zigbee power meter into it using a new Sigma Designs chip, so you can track all your power usage easily and do something called "end-to-end load shedding," which either helps you save power or requires a painful medical procedure. You're welcome.

Home automation shocker: Bulogic bridges Z-Wave to Zigbee smart power meters originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Powering Google's PowerMeter: testing TED 5000 and AlertMe Energy

Tim Stevens — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:02:00 EST

There are plenty of ways to be green these days, but without some sort of feedback it's hard to know just what shade you are. Enter Google's PowerMeter, a service that tells you how much current you're responsible for consuming. Why, it even shades its bar graphs in green, getting more pale the greedier you become. Google has partnerships with some utility companies in the US, Canada, and India, meaning a select few of you can do this sort of tracking by default. The rest of us were left out -- until now. Two devices on the market let you track your usage in PowerMeter regardless of just how backwards your utility company is: The Energy Detective's TED 5000 and the AlertMe Energy. We've been experimenting with these two for about a month now, finding that they serve the same purpose in very different ways and at very different costs. Click on through to see which one can best help you get greener.

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Powering Google's PowerMeter: testing TED 5000 and AlertMe Energy originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XStreamHD adds advanced RF remote next to satellite beamed 1080p on its list of promises

Richard Lawler — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:09:00 EST

It's been a while since we'd heard from XStreamHD, but with yet another CES bearing down the company is ready to talk about its advanced RF One Remote Control. In case you haven't been paying attention over the last two years, it's promising all manner of satellite-delivered 1080p movies with lossless audio, that beam into its media server and then stream to any of its receivers or other DLNA compatible clients in the home. Jennic's microcontroller powers the remote, and it uses Zigbee Pro wireless tech so it will control all the connected devices, even without line of sight. We've added "peek at the media closet" to our list of things to look for at the XStreamHD booth in January, but really we're still waiting to find out when beta testers will get a crack at the service.

XStreamHD adds advanced RF remote next to satellite beamed 1080p on its list of promises originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crestron's Prodigy Home Control System gets prices, specs

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:13:00 EST

Heads up, home automation fanatics: It seems that the CEDIA folks have got the inside scoop on Crestron's new Prodigy Home Control System -- and have been kind enough to share their hard won knowledge with us. A lower-cost system aimed at the mass market, this guy features a ZigBee-compatible controller with remote, a SideShow-combatible in-wall touch panel for all of your fave widgets, and the usual control switches, dimmers, and thermostats. The system starts at around $825 for the PMC2 controller (up to 100 wireless devices), PLX2 remote, and P-MNETGW wireless gateway. Or you can just bite the bullet and go for the sample system which includes the above, four zones of audio, one thermostat, 15 wireless light dimmers/switches, and the in-wall touchscreen for about $5,500. Or, if none of the above appeal to you, you can just turn off your own lights. Be sure to check out those glamor shots in the gallery below.

Gallery: Crestron's Prodigy Home Control System gets prices, specs

Filed under: Household

Crestron's Prodigy Home Control System gets prices, specs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZigBee Alliances developing Green Power standards for energy harvesting devices

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:13:00 EST

Home automation industry folks, heads up: the ZigBee Alliance has announced the development of a Green Power feature set, which is the first step in creating a global standard technology for energy harvesting devices. When it becomes available sometime at the end of 2009, you and your fellow ZigBee Alliance members will finally be able to create and market self-powered whatsits that communicate on ZigBee and ZigBee PRO networks. Here's hoping that NEC takes full advantage of this for the next iteration of its award-winning Carbon Ball game! Full PR after the break.

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Filed under: Household

ZigBee Alliances developing Green Power standards for energy harvesting devices originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Palm Pre arrives at the FCC

Nilay Patel — Wed, 20 May 2009 13:14:00 EST

You didn't think Uncle Sam would let Palm launch the Pre without taking a good hard look at some dense SAR reports, did you? Yep, there's a gray suit out there right now just rockin' away in WebOS while you're stuck counting down the days until your KRZR contract expires, and there's nothing you can do about it except pore over the publicly-available data and try and imagine what the Pre's measured RF emissions might feel like while coursing through your body at ear-level. Breathe deep, friends.

Read - Pre filing
Read - Second Pre filing

Filed under: Handsets, Palm

Palm Pre arrives at the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 May 2009 13:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Palm Pre arrives at the FCC

Nilay Patel — Wed, 20 May 2009 13:14:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Palm Pre arrives at the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 May 2009 13:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZigBee adding IP capabilities to its wireless devices, Texas Instruments likey

Tim Stevens — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:34:00 EST

We've seen ZigBee wireless functionality showing up in everything from remote controls to robots, but apparently that was all just the beginning. The Alliance has announced plans to expand its low-power standards to support Internet Protocol, a move that member-company Texas Instruments is apparently quite pleased about -- perhaps seeing an opportunity to make up some of those declining sales in the mobile phone area. IP connectivity in all sorts of random devices should open the door for plenty of exciting and new-fangled connectivity options, all of which can only mean one thing: dung beetle MMO.

Filed under: Household, Wireless

ZigBee adding IP capabilities to its wireless devices, Texas Instruments likey originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NEC turns your home into a carbon-tracking game controller

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:27:00 EST

Are you bored with keeping tabs of your carbon emissions? NEC and BIGLOBE have developed a system that not only performs this odious task, but makes it "fun" to do so -- if you're generous as to what constitutes "fun." A WiFi-enabled device is attached to your circuit breaker, where it keeps track of your power consumption and later transmits it to your home computer via ZigBee. The data is then sent to a website, where you can use it to play games against other green households in such thrilling arenas as Carbon Diet (users score "eco-points" with which they can purchase virtual soil, water, flowers and grass) and Carbon Ball, in which Dung Beetles compete to see who can travel the farthest, with distance being determined by -- you guessed it -- how well the user reduces power consumption. But that ain't all -- the system also keeps tabs on daily and hourly energy consumption, your rank in comparison with other households, and more. A three-month trial service is underway in the homes of 100 NEC employees, after which the companies will analyze the data and develop a business model for unloading this bad boy on local governments and the private sector. One more pic after the break.

[Via Pink Tentacle]

Continue reading NEC turns your home into a carbon-tracking game controller

Filed under: Household

NEC turns your home into a carbon-tracking game controller originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ecobee's eco-saving, WiFi-enabled Smart Thermostat now available for order

Ross Miller — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 06:24:00 EST

When we first heard about Ecobee's Smart Thermostat last October, it claimed the device could recoup its $385 price tag within the first 12 to 18 months of use. Whether or not that's the case, you can now find out for yourself. The WiFi-enabled home automation tool, complete with ZigBee expansion slots, is now available to order online from the company's website. The upfront cost includes the $35 access fee for first year of use. Now how long must we wait until someone throws an emulator on this thing?

Filed under: Household, Wireless

Ecobee's eco-saving, WiFi-enabled Smart Thermostat now available for order originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 06:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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