Domia Lite is a simple home automation solution, enabling control of lighting and other electrical home appliances at the touch of a button.

The system is an uncomplicated plug and play system, which doesn’t need any rewiring; it is RF based, which allows it to communicate with each individual module from a distance of up to 30 metres.

Controlled by a range of remote controls and motion sensors, this system offers a wide range of possibilities:

• Switch lights on and off in your driveway, porch and garden.
• Open or close sun blinds, roll-down shutters and automatic gate.
• Increase safety with the motion detector for lights.
• Switch on and off - lights, air-conditioning, radio, or TV, or dim lights to create atmosphere.

Domia Lite’s system is made up of 6 individual items, all of which are not required to begin with.

It’s really simple to install and even easier to develop and expand, with a range of compatible products to provide you with limitless expansion possibilities. For example:

Control and monitor your appliances wherever you are. Lights, cameras, motion detectors etc. may be controlled and monitored via the Internet, or your mobile phone, allowing interactive energy management.

Domia Lite is affordable, easy to use and install, for immediate use.

Web: http://www.simplyautomate.co.uk

Tel: (08450) 644 3330

The first Sharp BD-HP20S Blu-ray player has been available in the UK from electrical retailers since September 2007.

The new Blu-ray player is the perfect addition for any home cinema enthusiast, seeking the full high-definition cinema experience.

With a resolution of 1080p and a high-resolution 210-milliwatt laser, this Blu-ray player is fully compatible with all current DVD devices; also, since it is fitted with the current HDMI 1.3 protocol, it can extract the best image quality possible from the original material.

The player has a built-in Quick Start feature, which reads the disc within seconds, making the BD-HP20S the ideal home entertainment partner for the new generation of Sharp AQUOS LCD TVs.

Web:  http://www.sharp.co.uk
Tel:   (0800) 262 958

Linksys, a Division of Cisco, has announced its latest network storage solution for the home - the Linksys Network Storage System with 2 Bays (NAS200).

This amazing new system is designed to enable consumers to store, organise and access their data throughout the home, while all content can be stored in one central location that is always available.

Moreover, it is equipped with a media server that can stream multiple HD video files and music over the network; plus users can share digital photos and videos with relatives over the Internet.

The NAS200 is a smart and centralised storage centre independent of a running computer or other devices; so by storing and organising all data on the NAS200, instead of on different PCs and elsewhere:

• The content is available on the network 24/7 from any location - even from outside the home.
• Permits video files to be viewed in multiple rooms in the home at the same time.
• It also enables users to listen to their music play lists behind their desk at the office, share photo albums with family and friends and to access private documents from a hotel room anywhere in the world.

The Linksys NAS200 is expected to be available from September for a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of £99.00.

Web: http://www-uk.linksys.com

Tel: (0800) 068 0327

With the new Beo5 remote control, Bang & Olufsen have taken the next step in operation principles and integration, with the introduction of a fully-flexible and personalised remote control that can handle operation of ANY product combination.

Bang & Olufsen have ensured that operating your equipment remains as relevant, simple and intuitive as possible; with Beo5 they have simply added complete flexibility.

Beo5 can be adapted to almost any product set-up you have in your home:

• You can add or remove buttons and functions.
• Move buttons to suit, for example, left-handed use.
• Combine control of your audio/video equipment with other remote-controlled systems, such as light, curtains, windows, air-condition or security - and still be in full control, while resting comfortably in your favourite armchair.

Ease-of-use - Beo5 has a new LCD colour display with a programmable touch-sensitive screen, which activates functions that are relevant for your particular product combination, by pressing directly on the screen.

A new visual stand point - When you leave Beo5 on the table, its form calls for your attention; it stands out and stands up, and you always know where it is.

Intelligent rechargeable remote control - Having a colour LCD display and a multitude of programmable features requires up to 1,000 times more battery capacity than simple remote controls, so the designer opted for a rechargeable remote control.

So just put it in the charger in intervals of no more than 10-12 days, and the batteries will always be charged.

Web: http://www.bang-olufsen.com

Tel: (0800) 138 0525

Green minded people looking to do their bit for the environment will welcome the arrival of the new Bye Bye Standby Energy Saving Kit.

Bye Bye Standby heralds the arrival of a smart, affordable and easy to install range of products, aimed at encouraging people to reduce their carbon footprint and save energy within their home.

Simply plug the Bye Bye Standby device into your wall sockets or 4way extension leads, then plug your appliances into that.

When the appliances are no longer being used, you can switch them off, either individually or all together, at the simple touch of a button with the supplied remote control; pressing the button again reconnects the appliances.

With Bye Bye Standby you can:

• Completely cut power to your appliances left on standby within your home at the flick of a switch (net energy saved per annum for a family household – 385 kWh) and reduce your electricity bill (savings on energy for a family household - £38 per year).
• Prevent the release of unnecessary carbon emissions into the atmosphere by shutting down equipment not in use (CO2 emission reduction per household – 166kg).
• Take convenient remote control of appliances within the home.

So easy, so convenient, so much fun … so green!!

Retailing at just £29.99, this energy saving starter kit easily pays for itself within a year. A range of extensions to the product range is to be launched in January 2008.

Web: http://www.ByeByeStandby.co.uk 

Tel: (01908) 357707

The Homebuilding & Renovating Show at ExCeL London from 21st to 23rd September, is the only show in the South East dedicated to building, improving, or renovating a home.

This wide-ranging show offers products, advice and inspiration on how to improve or renovate a home and how to make it more environmentally friendly.

The Show also offers the opportunity to consider the option of saving money by building your own home, as well as how to make the most of the latest smart home technology.

The London Homebuilding & Renovating Show boasts the Move or Improve Pavilion, Eco Homes Zone, T3 Smart Home Zone and a wide range of self-build exhibitors.

The Show offers a series of free seminars and exhibitor-led masterclasses;

The seminars cover a range of topics from ‘How to build your way up the property ladder’ to ‘How the intelligent home can transform your life’;

Whilst the masterclasses will concentrate on specifics such as ecological restoration and renovation, rainwater harvesting and home automation controls.

New this year is the Eco Homes Zone, reflecting the demand for more information on eco products and services; key products will be presented in areas such as renewable energy, insulation, heating systems and building materials, through to those designed to save energy and money within the home.

Over 220 national and specialist companies will be on hand to offer the latest products, innovations and services.

Tickets are £8 in advance or £12 on the door (children under 16 go free).

Web: http://www.homebuildingshow.co.uk

Tel: (0870) 906 2002.

Linksys the leading global manufacturer of voice, wireless, and networking hardware, has launched its latest addition to the Wireless-N family – the Linksys Wireless-N Home Router (WRT150N).

The new Wireless-N Home Router is an ideal solution for consumers who wish to use Wireless-N technology to connect multiple devices at faster speeds in their home network, enabling them to work, surf and share content around the home via their high-speed Internet connection.

The product includes a Wireless-N (draft 802.11n) access point; equipped with the latest draft-N technology and is designed to deliver more speed and range throughout the home.
 
Utilizing the latest Wireless-N (draft 802.11n) technology and a 4-port full-duplex 10/100 switch and a router, the Wireless-N Home Router can deliver speeds up to 12 times faster and up to 4 times the range of Wireless-G when teamed up with a Wireless-N client.

Wireless-N is the next generation of wireless with advanced radio technologies that can increase speed and eliminate dead spots in the wireless coverage area.

The level of speed that Wireless-N offers makes it ideal for applications such as sharing data, streaming video, gaming, and VoIP, even if they are all used at the same time.
 
The Linksys Wireless-N Home Router also features high security by encoding all wireless transmissions with industrial-strength 256-bit WPA2 encryption to help protect data and privacy.

The router is available through the Linksys partner and distributor network for a manufacturer’s suggested Retail Price of £79.99.

For more in depth information visit:

Web: http://www-uk.linksys.com 

Tel:   (0800) 068 0327

E.ON, the company that runs Powergen, is to spearhead a Smart Meter pilot scheme in conjunction with Ofgem, as part of its commitment to the changing energy market.

The trial, called the “Energy Demand Research Project”, is being used by the government and E.ON to gain understanding of how energy-based information influences consumer behavior and energy usage.The Smart Meters to be used in this consumer trial will be fitted in September 2007.

A total of 15,000 Powergen customers from the East and West Midlands, where the company is the meter operator, have been selected at random to take part in the trial:

• 7,300 customer’s homes will be fitted with an electricity Smart Meter and 5,525 of these will also have a gas Smart Meter fitted.
• 7,700 customers without Smart Meters will be provided with a variety of information and feedback resources on their energy usage, including monthly bills, energy efficiency advice and historic consumption charts.
• 4,950 customers will be provided with a real time Energy Consumption Display Device.

The technology measures energy consumption trends giving householders and businesses a clear picture of their usage, both historical and real-time, to permit more effective energy management; they also provide two-way communication, enabling meters to be easily updated.

Graham Bartlett, Managing Director of E.ON’s Retail business said: “By letting customers see how much energy they’re using and the cost, we believe that Smart Metering can help cut consumption and of course, carbon emissions”.

Web:  http://www.eon-uk.com
Tel:  (0500) 201 000

Silent Gliss has been the market leader in automated window treatments for more than 50 years.

Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, you can now operate your curtains automatically with Autoglide, the powered curtain system from Silent Gliss.

There is a choice of three different Autoglide models:

• Timer Select - As well as using a light sensor to open and close your curtains, this model gives you increased flexibility via the control unit, which enables you to simply select your own opening and closing times;you can override these at any time to return to manual control.
• The Auto Control model has a remote control system, which allows you to operate your curtains from the comfort of your armchair.
• The Dawn And Dusk system automatically opens your curtains at dawn and closes them again at dusk, activated by an outward facing sensor that detects sunlight in the morning and darkness at night.

The motor of each system is discreetly hidden behind the curtain.

Autoglide is an ideal solution for the home, offering an affordable touch of true luxury, security and ease of operation.

Web: http://www.autoglide.co.uk
Tel: (01843) 863571

Bringing together all of Bang & Olufsen’s renowned sound and picture qualities, BeoVision 9 is a hi-tech masterpiece.

This top-performing, home cinema master delivers cleanly integrated access to hard disc recording, net radio, your photo album and other web media, and the Beo4 remote enables one-touch control of everything.

BeoVision 9 is designed to provide an up-to-the-minute, top-quality video entertainment solution, at the centre of your surround sound set-up and consists of:

• A 50-inch plasma screen television controlled by the fastest picture engine in the world.
• The powerful integrated centre speaker, based on the Acoustic Lens Technology, supplies the centre channel in the surround sound system; the lens spreads the sound equally in a 180-degree arc, rendering sound elements in the centre channel, such as dialogue, with unparalleled tonal quality.
• BeoVision 9 allows you to connect up to 10 BeoLab speakers and two subwoofers simultaneously.
• The incorporated 250 GB Hard Disc Recorder allows you to record, play, pause and replay programmes and if you decide to add BeoMedia, you can also access your digital photos, video, music and other media hard discs.

BeoVision 9 Home Cinema-is a master in managing home viewing and listening experiences.

Priced at £14,400

Web: http://www.bang-olufsen.com
Tel: (0800) 138 0525