HomeTech.fm

On this week's show Jason and Seth cover the news in home automation and chat with Jason Hanna of Embue. Embue is a suite of products and sensors that allow you to better manage your heating and cooling.

• 538 Predicts Brazil to win World Cup
• Embue - Main website
• AHT Opens Philly location
• Honeywell unveils NEST-like thermostat
• Honeywell Lyric will support HomeKit
• Vinint Launches Vivint Sky
• ALYT Exceeds Indiegogo
• Embue - Kickstarter

You've heard the annoucement and read up on the basics of HomeKit over the past week. Now you want more. Welcome to HomeKit 201. On this week's show Jason and Seth talk about the week's news and take a deep dive into Apple's new HomeKit framework announced at WWDC 2014.

• @Liveinstall on Twitter
• SHS #16: Zonoff's Mike Harris
• SHS #17: Control4's Paul Williams
• Security Now #457
• HiFiHouse ‘forced to liquidate’
• SmartThings announces a Minimote - Hard Buttons!
• Smart Sprinkler rolls out at 990 Home Depots
• Rach.io
• Apple Announces HomeKit at WWDC 2014
• List of Home Automation Protocols
• Apple NDA relaxed
• Apple's HomeKit Beta API for developers
• WWDC Session Videos
• WWDC App - Watch the videos on iOS devices
• Apple MFi Certification Program

Source: Apple

Ever been cold in one room and hot in another? Ever wish there was a way to make everyone in the family comfortable no matter which part of the house they were in? On this week's episode Jason and Seth chat with Dipul Patel, co-founder and CEO of ecovent - a startup who may have solved this problem once and for all.

• Apple rumorred to be getting into Home Automation
• WWDC Keynote Live Stream Link (June 2 - 1PM Eastern, 10AM Pacific)
• ecovent website
• DSIRE Database for finding energy rebates (US Only)

On this weeks show Jason and Seth discuss the weeks top stories in home technology.

If you like listening to HomeTech show your support by leaving some feedback on iTunes!

• AT&T Acquires DirecTV for $48.5 billon
• SmartThings announces a major update
• Life360 and Jawbone integrating with SmartThings
• Life360 Website
• Kaleidescape settles with DVD CCA
• Harman to Acquire AMX
• DLink wall plug already hacked

Shopping for a Smart Home used to mean one of two things. You either bought a kit from a company like Insteon or HAI and spent countless hours tinkering to make things work. Or you went with a dealer-installed system like Control4, Crestron, or Savant.

Nowadays home automation consumers are presented with even more options. Coming to market is an ever-increasing lineup of powerful, inexpensive, and simple smart home products designed to make home technology fun and approachable for all.

This has created its own set of challenges though. It's become increasingly difficult for consumers to differentiate between these DIY home automation products, and their much more expensive dealer-installed brethren. In this episode Seth and Jason attempt to explain some of the key differences between a DIY system, and one that is put in by a home technology professional. There are a number of very important distinctions that anyone in the market should understand. Tune in to find out more...

• Microsoft teams up with Insteon
• X10 Home Automation
• CEpro video of Microsoft Interface
• ADT purchases Life360 for $25m
• Life360
• Dropcam Tabs
• Net Neutrality ruling
• Net Neutrality - Super easy steps on how you can help

HomeTech.fm's Seth Johnson joined Michael Wolf and Aaron Cohen on The Smart Home Show to discuss technology options for Aaron's new home. We focused our conversation on audio/video but also branched out into home automation and control in general.

You can find The Smart Home Show as well as many other great podcasts over at Technology.FM.

On this weeks show Jason and Seth discuss the weeks news and interview Ohad Zeira, Director of Product Management/Growth Platforms at Belkin. They discuss Belkin's WeMo Home Control Solution and use cases every day users of the platform use to solve every day problems.

If you like listening to HomeTech show your support by leaving some feedback on iTunes!

• TiO Furloughs Employees
• D-Link Shows Off Wi-Fi Smart Plug
• RTI Announces Support for Voice Viper
• Belkin WeMo
• WeMo Slow Cooker
• Jarden Consumer Solutions
• WeMo Echo Technology
• WeMo Maker

In Episode 12 Seth and Jason talk about video distributions systems and how they can be helpful in removing equipment clutter from your home. If you like this episode of HomeTech please drop us some feedback on iTunes or HomeTech.fm/feedback.

• iControl Networks and NETGEAR launch Android Touch Screen for the Smart Home
• DropCam scores SmartThings Integration
• Time Warner Reports Best Ever Quarter for IntelligentHome Platform
• The Wires are Ugly - Marionette Wife
• The Wires are Ugly - Marionette Son
• Crestron DigitalMedia Matrix System
• Just Add Power Matrix System
• Monoprice HDMI Matrix

DirecTV Wires Are Ugly Campaign

Today's technology landscape presents homeowners with plenty of DIY Home Automation options. But for various reasons, many may still opt to hire a professional to implement their Smart Home system.

In this episode of the HomeTech podcast, we dive into this topic. First we discuss some of the considerations to be made when deciding whether or not to hire a professional Systems Integrator in the first place. Some basic questions to ask yourself here include: How complex is the project? How much time are you willing to spend implementing a system yourself? Do you like to tinker? Or would you prefer a more hands-off approach?

Deciding to hire an integrator is just the beginning. Next you need to know where to turn to begin your search. We dive into some great starting points including referrals from friends and family, recommendations from architects and builders, and a few websites including Angie's List, Thumbtack, and CEDIA's Find a Pro page.

Once the search is narrowed, we discuss some of the important qualifications to look for in your Home Automation professional. Common questions that you should ask your Systems integrator, as well legal questions like licensing and insurance are covered.

Hope you enjoy the episode! If you're so inclined, take a moment to leave us some feedback! We'd love to hear from you!

• Universal Remote (URC) Brings A/V Integration to iControl HomeAutomation Platforms
• Musaic Wireless HiFi / Home Automation Audio System Reaches 100% Funding on Kickstarter
• Technology.FM
• Smart Home Show #8: WigWag's Ed Hemphill
• HomeTech Episode 1 - Designing a Smart Home
• Thumbtack.com
• CEDIA's Find a Pro Page
• Working With an Integrator - Setting Up Your Project For Success
• Choosing the Right Systems Integrator
• Start Early! 😃

In Episode 10 Seth and Jason speak with Martin Refsal of Canary about their soon to be released home security product.

• Mechanical Watering Timer
• Lutron Releases affordable smart lighting system
• Google Play directly to Sonos
• Google Play/Sonos Promo
• The Nest Protect Snafu and the Argument for Connected Devices
• Canary.is