Thank you everyone for all the interest in AutoHTN. We’re pleased to announce that we are opening up the private beta release of AutoHTN to the public. The Vera edition of AutoHTN is now available in the Android market. AutoHTN can control a Vera home system’s lights, sensors, scenes, switched power, thermostat, and window blinds. AutoHTN can also be used as a remote for Boxee or XBMC media software as well as web enabled receivers.

The initial beta version of AutoHTN is free and works with Mi Casa Verde’s Vera controller. Future support for other home automation controllers is planned, but for now, we found Vera to be the most user-friendly. Vera is relatively inexpensive, works with common home automation protocols such as Z-wave, provides free and secure remote server access, and is easy to setup.

AutoHTN setup is easy as AutoHTN pulls all the device information from Vera. For example, if Vera is on the local network and Wi-Fi is on, then no setup is required as AutoHTN will automatically find Vera on the local network and pull all the device information from it. A username and password is all the setup information needed for access away from home.

AutoHTN has been in private beta for the past couple months and our users have found it very useful. We know you’ll find it useful too as we’re now opening it up to public for free as a beta version. More information on AutoHTN can be found at HomeTheaterNetwork.com. Please let us know what you think including any suggestions, comments, or questions. We’ll be checking our AutoHTN forum and the Vera Forum.

Enjoy!

Researching home automation reminded me of how it was when I started researching HDTVs a few years ago. HDTVs have different technologies such as DLP, LCD, Plasma and SXRD just like home automation has different protocols such as Z-Wave, Zigbee, X10, UPB and Insteon. They all have their pluses and minuses so we created a home automation section at HomeTheaterNetwork.com to help out. It could even help out some experts because I heard a lot of false information at the last EHX conference.