WHD iPad Dock
Coming in September, WHD are releasing an iPad Dock that rotates, allowing portrait and landscape views of content. In addition to this, it has built-in 2-way Speakers and a Sub-woofer meaning it is its own mini audio system.
You can add Apps to control your A/V, use it as an integrated Multi-Room solution and control KNX all in one. If A/V isn’t connected to KNX directly, it won’t be proper Integration, meaning you can’t turn your A/V on/off at the same time as the Lights, etc., but it’s does allow for control of everything from a central place. Often that’s all a client really wants or needs.
More information is coming but this changes the landscape for Touchscreen Solutions. You can read a little in the latest WHD Brochure. Any questions, please contact us.
Peter Mokaba Stadium
Finished in conjunction with ABB, the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane has been completed with KNX for the FIFA 2010 World Cup. Using a comprehensive ABB KNX Lighting Control Solution, as well as a GIRA HomeServer for Visualization, the installation boasts 1064 Ins/Outs. Completed in conjunction with Aurecon and Leetek, the Peter Mokaba Stadium was a great project to be a part of and we look forward to providing more KNX Solutions for Commercial projects in the future.
For more information, please read the entire ABB article here.
GIRA’s New IP Touchscreens
GIRA have launched a couple of new products for use with their HomeServer, a 9″ and a 19″ IP Touchscreen. Their updated HomeServer interface will work well on both of these units and, even more interesting, their 9″ looks to be 16:9 format, which means GIRA aren’t only supporting 4:3 Screens anymore.
For more information on the 9″ Touchscreen click here.
For more information on the 19″ Touchscreen click here.
Bleu Comm’ Azur
As an interesting staple for A/V and iPod/iPad Integration, Bleu Comm’ Azur have come up with a winning combo: inexpensive IP Gateways that allow various combos of Philip’s Pronto’s and iPod’s/iPads control of a KNX Installation. The hardware is reasonably inexpensive when compared to other options and plug-ins for Pronto and Apple products are free of charge. We are proud to be the distributors of this product and it will provide a quick solution for anyone needing such control of their home. (Particularly in a Home Theatre application.
If you would like more information you can visit their website or contact us directly.
Apple’s iPad & Bab-Tec’s EIBPort
Ok, so I’ve not been keeping this as up-to-date as I should have. That ends today with this little tidbit:
The iPad has brought a lot of changes to the way things are looked at with Building Management and Home Automation. (The RGB LED Control looks particularly useful!) Instead of sticking to old interfaces and ways of controlling, Bab-Tec seem to be blazing ahead with some innovative ideas of using what the iPad is good for: Multitouch. Can’t wait til our few arrive for our KNX Training Center …
GIRA and the iPhone …
So, the iPad is out and everyone’s scrambling a little. All around we’re seeing even more dust kicked up as Android Tablets are released willy-nilly. We’ve actually been waiting for the iPhone/iPod Touch to be supported and, in the midst of all this, GIRA have finally announced an update for their HomeServer to allow iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad control of your KNX Installation. From the horse’s mouth:
“The new Gira Interface apps enable convenient mobile operation of the entire technology of a building – with an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, via GSM, UMTS or WLAN, and from inside or outside the building. They communicate with the Gira HomeServer 3 or FacilityServer. The Gira Interface visualises all functions clearly and makes them easily accessible.”
This is nothing new as Bab-Tec have had iPhone/iPod Touch Integration for the past year, but GIRA’s HomeServer is a solid contender and the updated interface is slick and easy to use.
To read more about this update, click here.
HomeServer Series: GIRA HomeServer …
Today we’ll take a look at the GIRA HomeServer, specifically the HomeServer 3. As the Mother of all HomeServers, in many ways it is the plumb line against which all others are measured. Having started using it when it was still the HomeServer 2, we’ve seen it progress and grow, both in the available uses and more notably in its User Interface, so lets take a more detailed look at why it is the 800-pound Gorilla of the HomeServer world …
HomeServer Series: Overview
Recently I had a discussion with a Salesman, someone we’ve been doing a bit of programming for. Essentially the conversation came down to one thing: With so many Manufacturers and Products, he didn’t know what to spec for what situation. So, we’ll be doing a few Series over the coming while in order to help demystify all the Product Offerings currently available.
For Starters …
HomeServers are an integral part of many installations. While a lot of potential clients coming in for “Automation” really only want “Lighting Control”, Basically with it boiling down to a Central On/Off at the front door, there are others who require a more elaborate System, including a HomeServer, for various reasons.
So why would you want a HomeServer? More after the link …
Using a Philips Pronto with KNX
For those of you not aware yet, the Philips Pronto is a rather ubiquitous device, and rightly so. It’s a great little system that allows so much functionality to the User. Just the mere fact that you can get rid of all your remotes, including the DSTV we all love to hate, should be reason enough. (And, yeah, you can get cheaper solutions for Universal Remotes, but they’re not as cool or easy to use IMHO)
But a couple companies have taken ease of use even further by releasing Prontoscripts that allow the Pronto to control KNX, and even the Alarm, with your Pronto. More after the link …
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e-Learning about Energy Management
Ok, so this morning, with my non-existent cup of coffee, I stumbled upon this article from Hidden Wires. They’re a great resource for all sorts of things in this industry, so I’d highly recommend checking them out. Anyway, back to the program.
So, it seems that Schneider Electric, who are KNX Members by the way and whose Mr. José Lorenzo is on the KNX Executive Board, have been busy. They have created a new e-Learning University that is focussed on educating Integrators, Decision Makers and End-Users of not only what Energy Efficiency is all about, but specifically how to achieve it. Interested parties can register for free or simply visit their site for (a little) more information.
Honestly, the majority of the information is only available to those who have registered and, being free, you might as well just register.
This is interesting from a KNX perspective, partly because of their being Members and partly because it’s supposedly non-denominational. It doesn’t “preach” any one Bus System, so should be a good starting point for people. The drawback is that it doesn’t punt the benefits of KNX. The benefit is that it doesn’t bother pushing Clipsal’s C-bus, something many of us know is trying to compete with KNX on many levels.
Oh, and did I mention that Clipsal’s a subsidiary of Schneider Electrical? Funny that … seems to me they’d be better off consolidating efforts and funding instead of trying to promote two products that are so similar. (How ’bout it, Schneider? Why don’t you stop trying to “open” up a proprietary protocol, get rid of C-bus already and push a robust system you’re already backing anyway? 
)
At any rate, it seems a great resource and, since it’s free, it’d be great to at least check out and see what you can glean from it. Couldn’t hurt, right?
