In the News
Previous News items
Updated June 1, 2009
Lagotek Releases Next Generation Home Control Software
Lagotek has announced the release of its home control software package Fusion Suite 3.6 and the Home Installation Took (HIT) version 1.7. These two new software releases are designed to improve home energy efficiency by delivering Z-Wave functionality that manages lighting, climate, and motorized window coverings.
New features in Fusion Suite 3.6 include a web interface that allows for remote access from a PC, Google Phone, or Apple iPhone. In addition, a new Z-Wave external antenna provides enhanced signal strength in areas of the home where RF communications could be problematic.
Schlage Brings Z-Wave Compatible LiNK System to Lowe’s Stores
Schlage has announced that its Schlage LiNK System is now available in more than 650 Lowe’s home improvement stores, not just at lowes.com. The remote home-management system incorporates Z-Wave, allowing you to remotely lock/unlock and monitor entry to doors equipped with Schlage’s wireless keypad locks. Remote access can be granted from a computer or Web-enabled mobile phone, including Apple iPhone and RIM’s BlackBerry smartphones.
The Schlage LiNK System Starter Kit includes one wireless deadbolt or lock, the Schlage network communications Bridge, batteries to power the lock, and a Schlage Light Module for remotely controlling a lamp that is plugged into it. The Bridge connects to the home’s existing router and uses Z-Wave technology to transmit data to the wireless lock. Additional Schlage wireless deadbolts and locks are sold separately.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the Schlage LiNK Starter Kit is $299 and additional Schlage LiNK deadbolts or locks are $199 each. Schlage LiNK subscriptions cost $12.99 per month for 24-hour access to the Schlage LiNK online portal and mobile phone applications.
Updated May 25, 2009
Sigma Designs Announces IP Interoperability for Internet Home Control
The IP-Wave single chip solution, announced last week by Sigma Designs, will offer interoperability between Sigma’s Z-Wave wireless home control and IP standards.
With the IP-Wave stack and Z-Wave on a single chip, users can control all home systems, including current Z-Wave systems from the internet. While some systems already have the internet interface via a gateway, newer products won’t require the bridge for internet access and control, as each will carry its own IP address.
According to Ken Lowe, vice president of strategic marketing at Sigma, the impetus behind the development of the IP-Wave technology was to further support the role of Z-Wave ecosystem in the digital home. “Like home entertainment networks, it’s imperative that home control networks be able to interface with the internet,” he says. “The announcement will likely spur more interest in the home control market.”
IP is an internet protocol used for communicating data across a packet-switched network using the Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP). By converging Z-Wave and IP, Sigma enables end-to-end home control networks and applications from anywhere on the internet all the way to sensor networks.
In addition, using Z-Wave over IP router technology will let consumers combine existing Z-Wave networks with these new IP-Wave networks for more access and better flexibility.
Updated May 18, 2009
Electronic House Magazine Announces Home of the Year Awards
Out of the 310 projects submitted for Electronic House magazine's 4th Annual Home of the Year Awards, 39 winners were selected in 15 categories and are showcased in the magazines current (May/June) issue.
This year the categories included:
Best Overall Home of the Year
Home Theater
Green Home
Fun Room
Master Suite
Kitchen
Grand Space
Family Room
Outdoor Space
Before and After
Themed Theater
The top prize went to a Hollywood hills house that combined automation and A/V installed by DSI Entertainment Systems, one of more than 110 custom electronics installation firms that submitted projects for awards consideration.
The winning homes were selected based on technological innovation, creative solutions to challenges, and design elements.
Digital Delivery Group Now Selling Z-Wave Packages
The Digital Delivery Group — a consortium of regional CE specialty distributors — has announced five home automation systems from multiple brands of Z-Wave products.
Each package integrates remote home management, entertainment, lighting, and HVAC control products from Nevo, Leviton, and Wayne-Dalton. The packages incorporate Nevo Z-Wave-equipped handheld remote controls to operate the bundles products. The packages start with a basic home theater lighting and entertainment package to zone packages that manage lighting, entertainment, HVAC, and monitoring for multiple zones.
The packages — available through DDG’s 28 regional warehouses — also include a CD with Nevo 2.0 software pre-configured for each package, video tutorials, printable literature, information on Nevo’s Certified Dealer Program, and DDG’s IR library, which features IR codes for such brands as Mitsubishi, Panasonic Pro and TiVo.
According to the company, the packages are retrofittable, reliable, and highly scalable and are intended to make it easier for retail custom installers to provide homeowners with highly capable systems.
Updated May 4, 2009
New Research Shows Home Automation Market Increase
Vendors of home automation systems are expected to ship nearly 2.8 million systems in 2011, according to a new study from ABI Research. According to the “Home Automation and Security” report, only one of the four segments of this market, that for luxury systems, will be significantly impacted by the recession.
“The luxury home automation market for systems costing more than $50,000 is relatively mature, so it will feel the greatest impact from the recession,” says Sam Lucero, senior analyst at ABI Research. “Two other segments — standards-based mainstream home automation systems and home automation as a service — are so new and have so much room for growth that they should expand rapidly starting in 2010 no matter the progress of the wider economic recovery. Likewise, the final segment — DIY home automation — is tied to a certain extent to these other newer segments and should also see healthy growth.”
With Z-Wave products and other wireless technologies, many mainstream home automation installations are now in the $10-15,000 range with prices falling fast. This segment is further driven by the growing availability of peripheral components that are available not only from the vendors themselves but through retail outlets.
In addition, most of the major telcos are developing systems aimed at delivering managed home automation services as part of a bundled offering for subscribers.
Schlage Announces Availability at Lowes.com
Schlage LiNK System is now available for purchase online at Lowes.com. The remote home-management system incorporates Z-Wave wireless technology, allowing homeowners to lock and unlock and monitor entry to LiNK-equipped doors from a computer or Web-enabled mobile phone, including Apple’s iPhone and RIM’s BlackBerry devices.
Homeowners can lock and unlock LiNK-equipped doors by entering a 4-digit code on the lock’s 10-digit keypad or by using a mobile phone with a data plan to access the password-protected Schlage LiNK online portal.
The Schlage LiNK System starter kit includes one Schlage LiNK deadbolt or lock, the Schlage LiNK network communications Bridge, and a Light Module for remotely controlling a lamp that is plugged into it. The Bridge connects to the home’s existing router and uses Z-Wave technology to transmit data via low-power radio signals to the LiNK System lock.
Updated April 27, 2009
Lagotek Acquires RS Scene Automation
With an eye toward expanding its motorized window covering product line and addressing current energy saving needs, Lagotek Corporation announced the acquisition of certain assets of RS Scene Automation LLC. The Seattle-based developer produces wired and wireless control systems for motorized window coverings.
Assets being acquired include a line of Z-Wave motor controls that were originally designed and developed in cooperation with Lagotek. The acquisition transfers all rights to the intellectual property of these products including all wired control systems developed by RS Scene.
Controls include integrated functionality between lighting, climate control and motorized window coverings. Both residential and soon to be released commercial applications will automatically capture natural light and control the use of artificial light while maintaining maximum energy efficiency.
According to the Department of Energy, lighting accounts for 20 percent of residential heating bills and 44 percent of the electricity used in office buildings. Heating and air conditioning represents 45 percent of home energy consumption. Lagotek's integration of the controls that manage these systems is designed to significantly reduce overall consumption in each category.
Updated April 13, 2009
HomeSeer Releases HSTouch Interface Design System
HomeSeer Technologies has released its new HSTouch interface design system, which is a customizable graphical interface for all HomeSeer home automation systems and will run on in-wall, stand-alone, portable, handheld, and wireless touchscreen devices.
HSTouch is Z-Wave enabled and integrates with all HomeSeer-based automation systems. An integrated RSS browser is also included for easy access popular data feeds for weather, news, sports, and stock information.
Shipping now, the system is IP-enabled and may be used to monitor and control remote HomeSeer installations, including secondary residences. It’s designed to run on Windows, Windows CE, and Windows Mobile devices. A version for the iPod Touch and iPhone is planned for release later this year.
With HSTouch, projects may be created or edited remotely and then deployed to customer sites without the need for a site visit or service call.
Wayne Dalton’s Houseport Automation for the Mac Ships Soon
Wayne Dalton’s Houseport $87 automation system for the Mac — which, according to the company, will be compatible with several of Z-Wave RF devices — is set to ship June 1.
The system, which enables the control and monitoring of products via the Z-Wave home-control protocol, comprises a Mac USB-to-Z-Wave adapter (with USB stand) and the Houseport software.
Users can configure the software to operate — and respond to — any of the hundreds of wireless Z-Wave products now on the market, including thermostats, dimmers, sensors, garage-door openers, motorized shades and more.
Updated February 16, 2009
Control Z-Wave Products from Your iPhone
Intelligent Designs Group LLC, has announced the launch of its Total Control suite of software solutions. Total Control Z-Wave Automation Edition for iPhone/iTouch lets you view live status and directly control many of your Z-Wave automation devices.
The initial launch supports over 100 modules (U.S. frequency products only) from various manufacturers including HomeSettings, Leviton, and Wayne-Dalton. (For a full compatibility list, click here.) You can control parts of your home or business such as lights, outlets, HVAC, and window shades as well as view live status of devices.
The application is available for purchase at the iTunes store for $59.95.
Updated February 2, 2009
Z-Wave Goes to Costa Rica
Zwave Products, a distributor of Z-Wave enabled devices, has reached an agreement with Hitec Homes of Costa Rica to install Z-Wave technology into 600 residential homes in Costa Rica.
Hitec Homes will begin the installations this spring with Aspire RF Z-Wave lighting switches and controllers and plan to add additional Z-Wave devices (such as the Schlage Link product) in the coming months.
Each home will start off with 12 Z-Wave switches and two Z-Wave wireless remotes. Zwave Products will be supplying all the Z-Wave devices as well technical support and design help with the project.
Updated January 19, 2009
Z-Wave Advances: ADT to Launch iControl Remote Management Service
With ADT’s announcement to launch iControl remote management services, customers will be able to remotely monitor and control their homes via Z-Wave-enabled gateway, IP cameras, and other devices. In a recent agreement, the security company — which serves nearly six million customers in North America — will sell iControl’s Web-based services for remotely controlling security, lighting, temperature, surveillance, and other electronic systems.
At the center of the iControl system is the iHub gateway, which communicates two-way via IP and Z-Wave (along with GPRS, enabling communications if the Internet goes down). The iHub unit integrates with select security panels — for now, products from GE Security and Honeywell — but ADT and iControl plan to support additional panels.
A homeowner, for example, could program the system to call or email if the security system is disarmed. Or, caregivers could program the system to contact them if an elderly parent does not trip a bathroom sensor within eight hours. In addition, you could make the system record 20 seconds of surveillance video when the front-door sensor is tripped.
The service costs around $25 to $40 per month, depending on the application. iControl’s monthly fee starts at $15. In addition to the residential market, ADT sees a significant opportunity for iControl in the commercial sector.
More details about the service will be announced in the second quarter of this year.
Updated January 12, 2009
Aeon Labs Rolls Out Four New Z-Wave Products
Aeon Labs has announced four new Z-Wave offerings including a door and window sensor, motion sensor, remote controller, and a USB adapter.
The Motion Sensor is a battery-powered Z-Wave motion sensor that sends Z-Wave commands to any Z-Wave devices within its own Z-Wave network when a change in temperature is detected. It has a two-year battery life.
Minimote is an easy-to-use Z-Wave remote controller with a full range of Z-Wave capabilities. The Minimote can be configured for use as a gateway so that the button functions can be swapped and modified on the fly to better suit static gateway solutions.
Z-Stick is a self-powered Z-Wave USB adapter with push button for easy network creation. When attached to a computer or gateway hub, it becomes a Z-Wave USB adapter, exposing Z-Wave commands to the attached computer/gateway hub. This will enable control of all devices within the Z-Wave network. The Z-Stick can be firmware upgraded via USB.
The Door and Window Sensor is a battery-powered Z-Wave magnetic sensor that sends commands to any Z-Wave devices within its own Z-Wave network when the main unit separates from the smaller unit. It has a two-year battery life.
Contact the company for pricing quotes and availability.
