Samrthome announced that they were chosen as one of seven retailers to sell the Blue Line PowerCost Monitor WiFi Gateway. The PowerCost Monitor™ and Energy Meter is a device that, when attached to a home’s electric meter, can read real-time power consumption, and when coupled with the new PowerCost Monitor™ WiFi Gateway, that information can then be relayed to the Microsoft Hohm online portal where it can be compiled and analyzed.
The release of Volkano is set to disrupt the current status quo with regards to DVR, mobile video recording and on-demand media streaming. Released by Monsoon Multimedia, Vulkano is an integrated media platform that rolls the functions of the TiVo, Roku and Slingbox into one multimedia solution. Through Vulkano five key technologies Mansoon is providing one device that will substitute for many different devices we have to by to fit our digital lifestyle.
Synaptics has announced that they are working with Philips Home Control, the developers of Pronto Pronto Digital Home Solutions to implement an optimize hardware-level specification for touchpad technology. The collaboration is also to simplify the growing complexity in system browsing as more and more devices are interconnected in the home.
The DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) and the DEG (Digital Entertainment Group) have reported growth in both the number of Blu-ray Players getting certified and the sale of Blu-ray Players in general. The DLNA has reported that the number of DLNA certified Blu-ray Players has nearly doubled in 2010. Based on current figures the general sale of Blu-ray Players will more than double in 2012*
Built on Intel’s energy efficient Atom processor with more connection interfaces and software improvement, HomeSeer has released the HomeTroller S3, an upgrade to its predecessor the HomeTroller S2. The HomeTroller S3 has positioned it self as a premiere home automation solution for home entertainment, security, appliances, lighting and HVAC.
UITStor the company that gave us the S400 Connected Storage has added a media streamer (UEBO M200 Media Player) to its range of connected home products. UITStor said the UEBO M200 Media Player will give users 360 degree technology experience. It supports most of the video and audio formats, and video and audio codecs. Also, it offers all the usual in connectivity and has the flexibility to act as a storage device.
Harmonic has announced that Cable TV provider CableNET has deployed its HD digital Video Solution and near video-on-demand (nVoD) network in the Maldives. The new service will offer CableNET 100,000 customers in the city of Male and surrounding island access to countries first MPEG-4 SD and HD, nVoD and digital channel mosaic services.
Crestron is schedule to release a new connected home controller called the UFO-4X. Equip with touchscreen and control buttons the UFO wireless handheld controller is design to give you total control over your home automation systems, browse your media catalogue, the internet and manage media files within your integrated system. According to EH the UFO-4X will be available early 2011 at a retail price of about $2000.
Vodafone has added Greece to it list of countries using its residential Femtocell service. With this launch Vodafone now has Femtocell commercial services in four countries: Spain, UK, Qatar and now Greece – only the UK and Greece are residential. The service, which uses the Vodafone Access Gateway brand, rather than Sure Signal, is being provided for free or with a discount to postpaid subscribers.
Virgin Media, one of the UKs biggest cable TV providers is preparing to offer extended digital TV services to its customers. The new digital lifestyle service is to allow subscribers to access content across all three screens (Television, PC and Mobile Phones). According to reports, the digital TV provider is in talks with SeaChange, a video on-demand provider.