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Apple to Launch New 'Smart Home' Platform at WWDC

UbuntuDied said:
No, I was just hoping I could connect some Apple product to existing AMX and Lutron computers and have it control them through the command interfaces they already have set up. No new hardware (besides adaptors to the Apple computer) should be necessary. And I only want automated thermostats and music, couldn't care less about gimmicks like iPhone-controlled lights and shades.

But as new homes are built, they can put in the wiring for whatever Apple comes out with, or it can be wireless.
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Plug-in modules can give you light and appliance controls without rewiring any part of your house. Even replacing light switches doesn't cost much. In fact I can't think of any sort of home automation that would require thousands for "rewiring" a house.
 
Since I already have a lot invested in Z-wave switches and devices, support for such systems is critical from my viewpoint. I have lights, thermostat, cameras, door locks, and water controlled via z-wave on a Nexia system. Nice to return home from a long trip and have the house at the right temperature and the hot water on for a long shower.
 
IJ Reilly said:
Plug-in modules can give you light and appliance controls without rewiring any part of your house. Even replacing light switches doesn't cost much. In fact I can't think of any sort of home automation that would require thousands for "rewiring" a house.
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Continue to believe that. Or maybe you believe Apple will come out with wireless energy....
 
smoledman said:
Continue to believe that. Or maybe you believe Apple will come out with wireless energy....
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And your argument to the contrary is: _______

Most houses already have electricity. It's the stuff that already flows to every outlet and light switch. Perhaps you live in yurt.
 
HenryDJP said:
Hate to break it to ya Mr. Stockholder, I have yet to see the stocks increase after any Apple Keynote no matter how awesome the product is.
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Yeah. Normally THIS is the point where the stock price spikes. People get hyped before the event and then disappointed by the actual reveal.
 
ahlsn said:
Don't forget that you'll have to link your fridge to a Google+ account.
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You may joke, but my new GE Cafe fridge comes with a network port. They were going to release a zigbee appliance control module but couldn't iron out all the bugs. They are instead working on a standard wifi appliance control module. I spoke with an engineer at G E about it. So, from my iPad ( and hopefully via Siri) I might be able to see what interior cabinet temps are and change the LCD display on the fridge's screen. Monitor the power usage and maybe even tell it to do most of it's refrigerating at night when rates are lower.
 
Technarchy said:
Doesn't matter.

Apple's core business is mass market consumer goods.

Walk into an Apple store, spend a couple of hundred bucks, walk out, done. Happy customer.

Now you're talking about thousands, or tens of thousands of dollars to rewire a home and pretend you're in Star Trek.

Now who is going to support the product when it doesn't work? Apple Store is now like home depot? Genius bar does house calls like Geek Squad?

What about those that live in apartments, teens, students, and emerging markets. Or even those new families on a budget in starter homes?

You think this HUGE market segment cares about the gimmick of automation? It's not a mass market consumer good and has all the attributes of a DOA distraction that will be cool during a keynote only.

Even if Apple partners with a construction company for pre-wired Apple iHomes, how many people are in the market for a $350k mortgage compared to a $399 iPad Mini.
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Tens of thousands of dollars to rewire a home? That's obviously not where Apple is going. Not sure what made you assume that.

I think they'll use relatively cheap accessories that work wirelessly (Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) and can be controlled directly from your iOS device. Think of something like the Nest, SmartThings, Benki or Philips Hue. I don't think they'll offer mechanical stuff like auto-opening doors (or at least, that's not what will sell massively)...
 
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pgiguere1 said:
Tens of thousands of dollars to rewire a home? That's obviously not where Apple is going. Not sure what made you assume that.

I think they'll use relatively cheap accessories that work wirelessly (Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) and can be controlled directly from your iOS device. Think of something like the Nest, SmartThings or Philips Hue. I don't think they'll offer mechanical stuff like auto-opening doors...
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Just what the market is begging for. A clapper with an Apple logo.

Why did Steve Jobs waste his time making the first Macintosh...Should have been doing this

 
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pgiguere1 said:
Tens of thousands of dollars to rewire a home? That's obviously not where Apple is going. Not sure what made you assume that.

I think they'll use relatively cheap accessories that work wirelessly (Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) and can be controlled directly from your iOS device (no base station). Think of something like the Nest, SmartThings, Benki or Philips Hue. I don't think they'll offer mechanical stuff like auto-opening doors...
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Doesn't sound very ambitious to me if that's where Apple is going. I want the full smart home as turn-key solution from Apple/MS/Google.
 
mistafro said:
But they can afford an iphone? Lol

Not ready for the masses until it's done in an Apple way, then the flood gates will open!
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An iPhone is an entirely different beast than home automation. iPhones range from $0-$200 to get one.

Apple would have to do A LOT of convincing for people to run out and buy $50 light bulbs and $200 thermostats.

In 2007, most people hated their phones and Apple introduced the iPhone. I don't hear many people complaining " Gee, ya know its a real hassle flipping a light switch and turning my air on".
 
Anyone who thinks that home automation requires re-wiring...

...doesn't know anything about the topic, and, as such, really shouldn't be posting on the topic, because clearly they're talking out of their posterior.

Reader beware.
 
jonnyb098 said:
An iPhone is an entirely different beast than home automation. iPhones range from $0-$200 to get one.

Apple would have to do A LOT of convincing for people to run out and buy $50 light bulbs and 200 thermostats.

In 2007, most people hated their phones and Apple introduced the iPhone. I don't hear many people complaining " Gee, ya know its a real hassle flipping a light switch and turning my air on".
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The smart home is a nice concept for those who can afford it. Bill Gates, I'm talking about YOU.
 
Technarchy said:
Just what the market is begging for. A clapper with an Apple logo.

Why did Steve Jobs wasting his time making the first Macintosh...Should have been doing this

YouTube: video
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Ah, the good old black-or-white fallacy. The Nest is basically just a clapper!

Seriously though, Apple has a lot more resources than the manufacturers of those current products (considering the Nest was made pre-Google acquisition). Obviously they wouldn't just match what's done currently by relatively small companies or startups/Kickstarter projects.

I never suggested they'll offer similar features. I was only talking about the tech used for transmitting data and the kind of price to expect.
 
Unlock... wait for wifi... adjust home appliance...Unlock... wait for wifi... adjust home appliance...Unlock... wait for wifi... adjust home appliance...

I see in-home use of this technology as less efficient than direct control of the appliances.

The (just about only) good thing for dedicated IR remotes is that they work instantly, but you obviously can't use them outside of the home, which is where I see the iPhone being a good use of this technology. The small wait time for a connection is not a big deal then.
 
Basically we would be going back to 'a clapper'

instead of our hands, we'd be using our phone .... and when it runs out of battery we'd either have to still get up anyway, or sit and sulk till we get enough juice.

I still say the future is elimination of all humans. Robots will be cooking, they already clean (although they don't do a good job at all times.)

we all control them, and that's probably the link we need to throw out.. Give it time, and they'll be up by the numbers.
 
iLoveiTunes said:
As a stockholder I am pretty excited about the coming WWDC.... :apple::apple:
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As a human, I am excited about the WWDC

Exactly how many shares do you have invested in Apple?

10? ($6000), 100? (60,000), 1000? ($600,000), 10,000? ($6,000,000)

I wouldn't expect shares prices to shift more than 50 dollars
That would clear you what? 50 dollars?
 
ryanasimov said:
Unlock... wait for wifi... adjust home appliance...Unlock... wait for wifi... adjust home appliance...Unlock... wait for wifi... adjust home appliance...

I see in-home use of this technology as less efficient than direct control of the appliances.

The (just about only) good thing for dedicated IR remotes is that they work instantly, but you obviously can't use them outside of the home, which is where I see the iPhone being a good use of this technology. The small wait time for a connection is not a big deal then.
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The smart home of the future will have an AI component that will anticipate your needs. Essentially you'll almost never have to physically turn things on/off anymore.
 
RobertMartens said:
As a human, I am excited about the WWDC

Exactly how many shares do you have invested in Apple?

10? ($6000), 100? (60,000), 1000? ($600,000), 10,000? ($6,000,000)

I wouldn't expect shares prices to shift more than 50 dollars
That would clear you what? 50 dollars?
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Maybe he's excited because more products could lead to increased profits which would mean a greater dividend?

But yeah you're right, there's never usually a shift just after an announcement. My University dissertation was actually on the effect of announcements on stock prices around announcements.
 
smoledman said:
Continue to believe that. Or maybe you believe Apple will come out with wireless energy....
Click to expand...

Well...for those of us who have had this technology in use for many years, without any rewiring, believing in reality is pretty easy...

----------
jonnyb098 said:
Apple would have to do A LOT of convincing for people to run out and buy $50 light bulbs and $200 thermostats.
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The Nest I have paid for itself in about 6 months due to increased energy savings compared to what I had before. That's before you consider the value of control, both locally and remotely.
 
ChrisA said:
Yes I assume they would. Just like motion control lights. The question is WHY I would use an iPone app to control a light? How could it be better then either the wall switch or the IR motion control.

I assume the user would have the option. but in what scenario would he use the phone app?

Heating and AC is different. The user interface on the wall units is way to hard to use. Programming them means looking at some tiny LCD and making 200 button pushes. So there is room to improve but the IR motion control lights are already near ideal and very easy to use.
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Clearly you don't get it. Scenes.. timing.. Activity based. Location based etc. IR is useless In a lot of circumstances.
 
smoledman said:
Apple is really good at improving the iPhone and Mac. Those are their core competencies, mostly on hardware. Look at the Mac Pro, genius design. Apple has the best computer designers in the world.
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I totally agree, with your statement, but some software has been a pile of rubbish recently, and obviously not all, but they have to work MUCH harder to make up for it. Apple Maps is still crap in many places, things I have reported many times never changed. And I have now given up to report, it is NOT my job to make their apps better, I am NOT paid to do so. They are a wealthy company, so it is all up to them. Apple have to learn, it is THEIR job to keep us happy, we owe them nothing, nothing at all.
 
UbuntuDied said:
No, I was just hoping I could connect some Apple product to existing AMX and Lutron computers and have it control them through the command interfaces they already have set up. No new hardware (besides adaptors to the Apple computer) should be necessary. And I only want automated thermostats and music, couldn't care less about gimmicks like iPhone-controlled lights and shades.

But as new homes are built, they can put in the wiring for whatever Apple comes out with, or it can be wireless.
Click to expand...

Love how you think lights and shades by iPhone are gimmicks when you mention amx Lutron.
 
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