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Report: Apple To Unveil "Smart Home" System
An anonymous reader writes "According to a report Apple will be unveiling a new smart home system at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference. The system will allow users to control security systems, appliances and lighting with their iPhones. A "select number" of device makers will be certified to offer products that work with Apple's upcoming system, according to the report, which didn't name any of the manufacturers."
and no thank you google
plenty of options exist that are already very mature products no need for a vendor lock in with constantly changing terms. open solutions exist many commercially available and or inter-operable with commercially available stuff
did you know that you can overclock the x10 devices and run a windowing system on them. or, so I'm told..
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"It is now safe to switch off your computer."
Honestly I just do NOT see why anyone would ever want to have their own so crazily wired into the internet. What could you possibly ever use it for? I LOVE technology but I can't for the LIFE of me see why this is even remotely appeasing. Yeah, sure there are security applications. But you'll still probably be buying some expensive service to run it. Why in the HELL would you even WANT to wire up your blinder, oven, or washing machine into the friggin' internet? Given the general price tag attached to Apple gear you'll be having to pay a third again higher price for these features.
And hey... how about we talk about SECURITY? We've recent had an example of a hacker getting into a homes network. Using a baby monitor linked to the net to SCREAM at a sleeping baby. The more ways you connect your home to the internet the more likely you're going to leave yourself REALLY exploded to malicious actions.
one appeal is that it makes money for ipv6 vendors.
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"It is now safe to switch off your computer."
I have been making a shitload of money doing it for a decade... except I use the real stuff from Crestron and AMX. Real lighting control, real automation.. To the tun of $20,000- $80,000 per home for the real stuff that does not break or fail all the time.
Home automation has been a reality for a very long time, you just had to spend money on it. And yes my clients have been able to control it all from the internet for 10+ years It's not hard at all to make a secure encrypted tunnel from their phone to the house. So they can look at cameras, control lights, see who is home ,lock or unlock doors, see door status, open or close the garage doors, even control the AV system from a distance (that was one of the more wierd requests from a customer)
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
What could possibly go wrong. Like there are no issues whatsoever with the large scale systems.
Living with a connected home for over a decade now. Lights are nice, just starting on color as well as brightness. Security systems well think that is a major feature. Security camera's, arming and disarming via cell phone proximity, and giving status via the phones tablets, tv's and PC's are all killer features for me. Looking at HVAC controls, and really need something more tied in that just the thermostats as it needs to set boiler set-points at least and preferably control multiple systems. Ceiling fans are very nice, automated curtains actually have a noticeable change in heating/cooling bills. Appliances could be nice but need a lot more sensors, dishwashers need some method of knowing if they have a decent amount of dishes in them for example before it's really useful. I don't live in a place where power pricing is particularly fluid so having appliances shift there consumption is not useful to me.
No sir I dont like it.
... to buy a light bulb, come home and read the small text on the box that says: "works with Apple devices only".
We *must* use open standards here and not let Google, Apple or whoever infiltrate our houses any further. But looking at how easily folks sell their soul to Apple or Google (Android), I'm not holding my breath. Next time you buy a house, you'll have to decide Apple, Google or Microsoft...
So I'll have to rewire my house every couple of years when they change from one proprietary cable standard to another?
iPod: Firewire. Buy lots of firewire connectors.
Newer iPod/iPhone: Dock connector. Toss all of your firewire accessories and move to dock connectors.
Newer iPhones: Lightning connector. Toss all of your dock connector accessories, move to lightning.
Everyone else gets to stick with USB that doesn't carry a $10 premium per cable/device because Apple just invented another proprietary standard.
Only by adding one of the following phrases:
"on the internet"
"on a mobile device"
"in the cloud"
"with rounded corners"
Well, that last one is an Apple exclusive, but you get the idea.
Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?