Oct 302016
 

Guest post by Emma.

Home automation technology has struggled to gain serious traction because, for all its promised convenience, the current tangle of cords and communication standards still has consumers in knots. New quote-unquote-smart systems have made huge strides recently, but not everyone has chosen invest – yet. Totally “smart” homes still await the mainstream. To unlock this new market, technology companies are looking to a tool we’ve taken to heart already: the smart mobile phone.

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Mar 172015
 

Guest post by Dane O’Leary

Home automation is all the rage. Over the past couple of years, this relatively new gadgetry has grown from a subset of consumer electronics into an extensive and thriving tech industry. Part of what makes home automation so popular is its promise of convenience, security, and its ability to streamline what, until recently, had been disparate, incompatible technology throughout your home. It doesn’t hurt that home automation has become more affordable with many of the available options being versatile, compatible with most products on the market, and just plain cool.

Many home automation systems are based on the Linux operating system. In fact, many of the earliest mainstream home automation systems — like CorAccess Companion and Control4 Home Controller — were developed based on a Linux variant. Today’s models offer built-in processors and much more power, but with a much more accessible price tag. Here are some of the best Linux-based home automation systems that $300 or less can buy.

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