Archive for the ‘Home Automation’ Category
Running SSH on AppleTV
Sometimes it can be really useful to have an SSH connection into your AppleTV. If I need to explain why then you probably won’t want to do it. Unless of course, you’re just after getting something like Boxee running, which we’ll look at as well. Before we get into doing anything to your AppleTV, when [...]
In: Home Automation, Mac OS X · Tagged with: Apple TV, AppleTV, ATV USB Creator, Boxee, chown, Couch Surfer, front row, Hulu, launcher, Mac OS X, NetFlix, plug-in, Silverlight, ssh, Weather application, XBMC
Z-Wave Remotes
I talk about home automation occasionally, but I almost exclusively talk about leveraging home automation on computers. I guess it’s worth nothing that Z-Wave isn’t just for computers (nor ZigBee or X10). There are a number of remote controls that can be leveraged to manage the systems in your house. For example: In Wall switch [...]
In: Home Automation · Tagged with: centralize, christmas lights, lighting, remote control, z-wave
Zigbee & Z-Wave in 2010
I have mentioned Z-wave a few times on this site, especially since getting the Wayne Dalton USB Interface. But do you remember Zigbee (aka IEEE 802.15.4)? Certainly the emergence of the Schlage Link Wireless Keypads and the addition of not only Schlage but also a number of other Z-Wave products into Radio Shack’s retail chain, [...]
In: Home Automation · Tagged with: Houseport, z-wave, zigbee
Houseport Z-Wave for Mac Finally Available!!
I’m a geek, I can’t help it. The Houseport USB Z-Wave Adapter can control 230 devices, set the level of lights that have dimmers, time lighting controls and garage door openers and maintain the actual Z-Wave mesh network. So how could I not be interested?!?! The Wayne Dalton Houseport software and Z-Wave adapter were announced [...]
In: Business, Home Automation, Mac OS X · Tagged with: Houseport, Mac OS X, Wayne-Dalton, z-wave
Wake-on-Magic-Packet
Wake-on-Magic-Packet, WOMP is pretty much Wake-on-LAN. Essentially, WOMP allows a network interface to be active even when the computer is asleep. Then, when it gets a specially formatted packet, which we call the magic packet (’cause turning something on when it’s sleeping without hitting a button is pretty cool, right?!?!) can be sent to the [...]
In: Home Automation, Mac OS X · Tagged with: Mac OS X, Wake on Ethernet, Wake on LAN, WOMP
Z-Wave and the Mac
Z-wave is a meshed fabric technology that enables devices with a Zensys chip embedded in them to be controlled from a Z-wave gateway. Â In other words, Z-wave is fast becoming the standard in automation. Â There are dimmers, light switches, garage door openers, power outlet fixtures, motion sensors, microphones (so you can say what you want [...]
In: Home Automation, Mac OS X
Easily Automating and Simulating Web Traffic
There are a variety of applications out there that will simulate web traffic. But there’s nothing like the idea of true traffic. Load a page, click on a link, wait for the next page to load, click on another link, etc. Traditional load simulators simply are not real world enough in most cases. There are [...]
In: Home Automation, Mac OS X, WordPress · Tagged with: automator, load simulation, Ottomate, simulating web traffic
Look ma', no keys!
When you’re out in the field, wouldn’t it be nice to know that your stuff is safe at home, and in the most geeky way: http://www.ap501.com/ Thanks for pointing this out to me, Zachary!
In: Home Automation · Tagged with: geek gifts, Home Automation
Automate the Home
We’re looking at buying a new house. Â When I’m on the road there’s nothing nicer than being able to log into the house and turn off the lights. Â That’s why there’s this stuff for the geek in everyone: http://www.z-wave.com/modules/Z-Wave-Start/
In: Home Automation · Tagged with: Home Automation, z-wave
