Home Automation with Windows

 

Have you ever wanted a smart home? Well now you can have one, Microsoft has several platforms to help make your home smarter. Home Automation has been around for quite sometime now; but with the internet of things the experience has blossomed tremendously.

While there are several options to choose from in home automation my focus will be about the INSTEON product line; Microsoft recently partnered with INSTEON to bring their platform to the Windows eco-system. The INSTEON application works compatibly with your Windows smartphone as well as your Windows tablet and PC; so no matter where you are you can control your home and appliances from anywhere.

The above icons indicate just some of the features INSTEON can control and provide instant alerts to you in real-time. The INSTEON starter package comes with a basic network hub and two appliance power adapters to get you started. You can always expand your smart home experience by adding additional adapters and INSTEON sensors for doors, floors and windows; take a look at the  product page for additional upgrades.

Your home will truly be smarter with these enhancements; and with the ability to send an email notification from any of them with specific information or warnings, makes the INSTEON product line priceless. If you invest in the system I recommend the addition of the INSTEON IP-Cameras; with these cams you can have an extra set of eyes on your home while away. The IP-cams can pan up to 300 degrees and tilt to 120 degrees allowing you to look almost anywhere you place them. I’ve included a video of the INSTEON automation system for your review and hands on demo by the Windows Phone Central Team; the video is about 6 & half minutes long so I hope you enjoy it.

If your impressed by the INSTEON system thus far your going to love this next part about Cortana. Cortana was also recently introduced to the Windows eco-system for the WP8.1 release update. Cortana is a life like intelligence application built for the Windows platform as a personal assistant and a very smart one at that.

The combination of any app with Cortana at the helm is like an instant upgrade to it; you see you can tell Cortana to do just about anything on your phone and she will carry out the command prompt as if you did it yourself. If you want to turn on your lights, unlock your doors, adjust the home thermostat just simply tell Cortana and watch her control the app process flawlessly. The following video below shows Cortana in action with a similar home automation app; take a look at how she stacks up to the command request for this app.

Well I hope you enjoyed this post on home automation with Windows; and the new possibilities and innovations made possible by Cortana. To conclude I leave you with a few places to buy the INSTEON system; and whether your interested in the starter kit or the basic home module with add-on’s, the price range will be around $119.99 to $299.99 depending on your home automation needs.

Retailers of INSTEON:

1. Microsoft  2. Best Buy 3. Smart home 4. Walmart 5. B&H 6. Tiger Direct 7. Amazon 8. Costco and more….

 

“Until next time – Stay Powered by Windows” _________________________________________________________________________________________________
By: Toran Lacy | @TWindows_

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Go Ahead, Pick One! Windows Phone 8.1

With so many model options to choose from, picking the one Windows Phone to rule them all is getting a bit harder. If you’re currently not a Windows Phone user, then take heed to the blog title above -Literally! For Windows users and WP8 owners it’s a no brainer why the WP is the all around go to mobile device.

The platform is solid because its built off the Windows eco-system for starters; and with an array of models and manufactures to choose from like the Nokia Lumia, Samsung, Huawei, ZTE, HTC, Lenovo, LG, and the list goes on… You can bet you will find your style or brand for the Windows Phone line.

WP 8.1 is here and the upgrade is simply awesome; one of the most anticipated features with this enhancements is non-other than Cortana, the almost human like digital assistant. Let me be the first to tell you Cortana is in rare form when it comes to human interaction as a personal assistant; if you really take the time to learn what the Windows Phone can do, Cortana will make your experience that much better.

Well let’s take a look at what’s new in WP 8.1; Microsoft has compiled an excellent overview page full of details and helpful tips to get you started with the all new WP 8.1

As you can see from the above video Microsoft’s focus is on you, they are continuing to put people first when it comes to the standards of smartphone innovation. The WP 8.1 platform will benefit not only from the new features shown, but from the now overwhelming 300,000 plus apps available in the Windows Phone marketplace.

Partial thanks can be given to the all new version of Visual Studios 2013 and the awesome developers working with Microsoft. The new introductory tool of writing code once in common #DEV language; and have your app run both for smartphones and tablets is priceless to say the least. The participation and adoption rate from developers is beautiful for the Windows Phones eco-system and the family of WP users.

For me apps are great but to be honest with you they don’t make or break my overall decision when choosing a Windows Phone. I feel they can enhance your smartphone experience and even make you feel like your phone is new again; and that in itself is a good thing. But let’s turn the focus back to the available models to look at or even consider for your next upgrade or new Windows Phone purchase when it comes around.

Nokia no doubt for me is the best smartphone manufacture of the Windows Phones division; and just recently Microsoft has acquired the devices and services of Nokia so officially now Microsoft is the best smartphone designer today.

My personal hands-on device is non-other than the Nokia Lumia 1520 – and before you guys gasp at the size of this bad boy, just remember the term “don’t knock it before you try it”. The 1520 is extremely perfect for me mainly because in my profession as an IT Director, its easy to adapt to a device of this size which really resembles a hand size tablet or more to the point a phablet. The screen size and visual clarity alone of the 1520 is enough to make any smartphone lover stumble just trying to get a glimpse of it; but rather than continue to tease your senses take a look at the hands on review by Nokia.

As I mentioned before there are many Windows Phones to choose from and so as I conclude my blog post for today; I leave you with the link to the Windows Phone page to review the excellent options available.

The link to your next- or should I say “New” smartphone awaits… Click Here:

 

“Until next time – Stay Powered by Windows” _________________________________________________________________________________________________
By: Toran Lacy | @TWindows_

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