ABI Research: 90 Million Homes Worldwide to Employ Home Automation Systems by 2017
Source: ABI Research | Date: 05/18/2012
New subscription-based home automation offerings are rapidly transforming the way consumers will monitor, secure, and control their homes. Long the preserve of more expensive, custom-installed technology, home automation is moving into the mainstream, with companies such as ADT, Comcast, Verizon, Lowe’s, and many others all adding home automation to their customer services.
A number of factors are driving the new entrants into the market. Connectivity is one key factor. Not only are there currently high home broadband penetration rates, as well as the potential for embedded cellular connections to connect systems, but also smartphone applications allow consumers to control and check their homes from wherever they are. As connectivity options make the home automation systems more useful, market changes are also making home automation more affordable. A traditional large up-front installation and equipment purchase is increasingly being replaced by monthly subscription offerings – often bundled alongside already existing services.
“The North American market has long been the dominant region for home automation systems and now it is leading the way with managed home automation subscription services. In the past two years, service providers, including telecoms, cable, security, and energy, have all launched additional home automation services for managing energy use or security monitoring to their suites of monthly billed services,” says Jonathan Collins, principal analyst, wireless healthcare and M2M.
Over the next five years the managed home automation market will grow installments at a CAGR of 60 percent between 2012 and 2017, outstripping the 31 percent growth across the total market comprising luxury, mainstream, and DIY home automation deployments. The evolution of the home automation market into the mainstream requires a raft of new partnerships. No company is able to provide all the parts, so telecom, cable, security, and utility providers are all looking to smart devices vendors, managed software providers, local installation specialists, and others to support the broad rollout of home automation services.
Savant Systems Announces New Keypad Line-up
On Thursday, May 3, 2012 Savant Systems will begin taking orders for three new keypad styles – available for shipment this summer.
Complimenting Savant’s award-winning control apps for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, these new keypads are designed to provide control of audio/video systems, climate control, window treatment, lighting and other applicable subsystems. Keypads can be added to any Savant System using Savant’s RacePoint Blueprint configuration tool.
Circa Keypad Style
The Circa Keypad is designed as an architectural component, with a sleek curved faceplate and the depth of six inset buttons. The Circa Keypad is also uniquely available in a square mounting model for international installation. Available for shipment June 2012.
Metropolitan Keypad Style
The Metropolitan Keypad is designed for grid-style AV control. The Metropolitan Keypad can have up to nine buttons (3×3 column grid)
in a single gang configuration. Availabe for shipment June 2012.
Echo Keypad Style
The Echo Keypad is designed for maximum control, with up to 10 buttons in a single gang. The Echo Keypad boasts two button sizes, allowing for ultimate flexibility in keypad design. Available for shipment August 2012.
Recently, I was researching some information on the internet for my own knowledge. Simple enough, my wife asked me the price of a few items that she was getting text to her from a friend. Basically, it was a “if I wanted this, how much would it cost for you to do?”.
So I responded with my “what is she looking for in quality & price, how is she planning to control it, what is going to be used as a source, how many objects are in the way to the destination etc?”. You get my point. I also replied with a general cost range on the items. That was my “wing it” answer, but then I got to thinking if I quoted an accurate cost range. I had to know and this is when I went to the internet to research. I found a few sites, who paid for advertising to be at the top of the list, and looked at them. I found that the custom items we recommend were listed and shouldn’t be, by discount businesses, less than we offer. Naturally, I wanted to understand how and sent the sites to our product contact.
It is VERY common in our business (or any business for that matter) that a client may find something for less via the internet and want to buy it. That is, of course, fine if we can not match or come close to it AND it is the correct solution for the client. A lot of time, if not all, we research the item to be sure it will work. This is what prompted me to do it here.
Back to the research… And come to find out, that theses sites are all the same company. This company is not in the US, but represents as though they are. This company is taking credit card numbers with names and was a front for that reason.
About us… We are in business is because we love what we do, we are professionals and trained in our “art”. We go to great lengths to educate ourselves and our clients so they know and understand what we are talking about. We work with and for our clients and always ask that if they have any question or issue that they are open with us to ask so we can rectify, answer and/or solve the issue. Our prices may be a little more for these reasons, but you can be sure it legitimate and quality.
Bottom line… There is nothing wrong with research, or discounts, or using the internet for everything you find necessary. BUT, be careful for what you wish for with that “discount” internet purchase because it just may cost you a lot more in the long run!
[...CK]
Crestron Makes Splash with UFO Waterproof Remote Control
Crestron’s UFO Waterproof Remote Control has a 2.8-inch active-matrix color LCD display and full-color customizable menus with 2.4GHz RF wireless technology that boasts coverage up to 200 feet indoors and 1,000 feet outside.
By Rachel Cericola, April 04, 2012
Crestron is making a big splash with its new UFO Waterproof Remote Control that can be used in the hot tub and/or pool areas.
Designed for use indoors and out, the UFO has a fun, floatable saucer shape and can provide control over connected entertainment systems, as well as lighting, thermostats, security, and more.
The UFO features a 2.8-inch active-matrix color LCD display and full-color customizable menus. It also has 2.4GHz RF wireless technology that boasts coverage up to 200 feet indoors and 1,000 feet outside, as long as client’s add in the optional Extended Range RF Wireless Gateway.
“Crestron UFO provides all the benefits of an extended wireless coverage remote without the worries of water damage. There are all sorts of uses for a waterproof remote that floats,” says Sean Goldstein, Crestron’s VP of marketing. “In addition to obvious applications such as hot tubs, pools and yachts, it’s very popular in hospital operating rooms where everything must be sterilized. The UFO can be submerged in sanitizing liquid without being affected.”
Using the virtual sleep mode, the UFO promises up to one week of battery life. It also comes with an indoor docking station to make sure it’s available at a moment’s notice. In case clients want to keep it close to the pool area, Crestron also has an optional outdoor docking station available for outside use.
A little educational reading [...CK]
- By: Adrienne Maxwell
Have you recently become the proud owner of a networkable TV? If so, I’m guessing you’ve already enjoyed the marquee feature–namely, the ability to stream movies and TV showsfrom a service like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu Plus, or VUDU. Perhaps you’ve also explored other well-publicized applications like YouTube, Pandora, and Facebook. These big-ticket options may be the primary draw, but other benefits can be reaped from a TV’s ability to connect to your home network. Take some time to explore the menus or (gasp!) read the owner’s manual, and you might discover a host of network-friendly features that you didn’t know you had. Here’s a look at a few perks that might currently be sitting idle on your new TV.
Audio Return Channel
Look closely at your HDMI inputs. Does one of them have a little “ARC” notation beside it? That stands for Audio Return Channel, a feature of the HDMI v1.4 spec that now appears on many HDTVs. As the name suggests, ARC allows you to send audio back from the TV to the connected component over HDMI. So, if you’re passing HDMI video from an A/V receiver to your TV, ARC lets you send audio from internal TV sources back to the receiver over the same cable. In days of yore, the main reason to output audio from your TV was if you used the internal tuners, and a digital audio and/or stereo analog output was often provided for that purpose. Now, ARC can accomplish that task over HDMI, but it’s especially valuable for a networkable TV with a Web platform. Thanks to ARC, you don’t have to listen to that VUDU film soundtrack or Pandora music channel directly through the TV but instead can feed it back to your sound system without having to add another cable to your setup. The only catch is, you have to make sure your A/V receiver also supports ARC through its HDMI output.
Look closely at your HDMI inputs. Does one of them have a little “ARC” notation beside it? That stands for Audio Return Channel, a feature of the HDMI v1.4 spec that now appears on many HDTVs. As the name suggests, ARC allows you to send audio back from the TV to the connected component over HDMI. So, if you’re passing HDMI video from an A/V receiver to your TV, ARC lets you send audio from internal TV sources back to the receiver over the same cable. In days of yore, the main reason to output audio from your TV was if you used the internal tuners, and a digital audio and/or stereo analog output was often provided for that purpose. Now, ARC can accomplish that task over HDMI, but it’s especially valuable for a networkable TV with a Web platform. Thanks to ARC, you don’t have to listen to that VUDU film soundtrack or Pandora music channel directly through the TV but instead can feed it back to your sound system without having to add another cable to your setup. The only catch is, you have to make sure your A/V receiver also supports ARC through its HDMI output.
Media Streaming from a Computer or External Server
A growing number of networkable TVs now support personal media streaming from a networked computer or media server. Many of them use the DLNA standard that’s compatible with Windows and most major servers, while some might employ a proprietary system that requires you to add software to your computer. It’s a great way to directly access all the videos, photos, and music stored on your computer to enjoy on the big screen. This function has been around for several years, but it often could be clunky to set up and use. TV manufacturers are continually refining their user interfaces to make the process of navigating your personal media more intuitive, and many new TVs have Search All capabilities that will search across your TV guide, Web sources, and personal media files to find the item you want to watch.
An Apps Store
Don’t assume that the Web-based services that came preloaded on your TV are the only ones available to you. Many Web platforms also include an Apps store through which you can add all kinds of content and services–including games, sports and news portals, social networking tools, children’s programming and education options, fitness programs, etc. Samsung was the first company to incorporate the apps approach into a TV, but a number of manufacturers have followed suit, including LG, Panasonic, and Vizio. As with the iTunes Store and Android Market, some apps are free, while others cost. Some are cool, while others…well…aren’t. Take some time to explore your TV’s Apps store, if it has one. You never know what niche offering you might come across that’s a perfect fit for your interests. Also, be sure to update your TV’s software regularly, as manufacturers continually add new or updated options.
Control Via a Tablet or Smart Phone
Speaking of apps, the big-name manufacturers offer free control apps for iOS devices, and some offer an Android option, as well. This allows you to control your networkable TV through the touchscreen interface on your tablet or smart phone. Yes, this provides the convenience of being able to quickly mute the TV or change a setting without having to put down your phone and pick up the remote. However, the major perk is that most of these apps now include a virtual keyboard, so you can quickly and easily input text when searching for a VOD title, updating your Facebook status, or browsing the Web. It frees you from having to use the endlessly frustrating text-entry methods employed in most TV interfaces.
Support for USB Peripherals
A control app is great, but what if you don’t own a smart phone or tablet? Are you destined to a future of agonizingly slow text input? Not if your TV is equipped with a USB port that supports the addition of a keyboard. Most new HDTVs have a couple of USB ports, which are primarily used for media playback and software updates. However, a few manufacturers (like Panasonic) support the addition of a keyboard to speed up the data-entry portion of your entertainment experience. Some networkable TVs also support the addition of a USB camera, which you could use in conjunction with a video conferencing app (like Skype) or as part of a home monitoring/security system.
