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!

Our ultimate connection diagram was translated to Spanish by Tecnomania. Take a look here:

http://www.tecnomania.mx/2010/07/como-conectar-tu-casa-con-un-ht.html

Enjoying the new FaceTime feature on your iPhone? You might not be soon when you realize how much bandwidth it uses. Tiered plans are going to force us to limit how we use our smartphones. I just checked my data usage, and I have downloaded over 1 GB of data in the last two weeks. Granted, my increased usage is due to steaming World Cup video along with  the new Android Sirius app, but why should I be forced to watch my data usage? As a customer, I enjoy the freedom in using my smartphone anyway I like.

AT&T started the unfortunate trend of service providers forcing tiered plans. AT&T’s new tiered plan offer 200MB per month for $15 and 2GB for $25. Verizon is rumored to be next. AT&T’s argument is that their new data plans offer choices for customers. I would buy that argument if they offered cheaper plans along with the unlimited data plan. However, AT&T took the unlimited option away from customers. If AT&T wanted to give users more Options, then why did they take away the unlimited option?

The timing for tiered plans is also odd with new 4G networks already in use. Sprint had its 4G network available and Verizon’s LTE network will be available at the end of the year. The new 4G networks offer up to 12 mbps data rates, which are faster than my cable modem. Offering faster speeds finally allows quality video streaming, but video eats up data. Restricting data usage while at the same time offering faster data rates is simply a ploy for service providers to make more money.

Innovation will also suffer as customers watch their wallets and how much they downloaded. Hulu just announced an app for iPhone and  iPad. The increased costs of the tiered data plans will stop people from using Hulu along with other steaming intensive apps. Slingbox, FaceTime, Skype, MobiTV, Ustream, Qik, YouTube, and audio steaming apps such as Pandora and Sirius will see less usage.

As tiered plans take over, expect your browsing and steaming freedoms to go away. Expect to start asking if you really want to use this app because you’re close to your data cap. Here’s hoping Sprint, T-mobile, and other service providers don’t follow AT&T’s path.

I know Netflix gets all the praise on the internet, but I have to give Blockbuster some credit too. This week, Blockbuster is sending me the blu-ray version of Green Zone and She’s Out of My League. When I was a Netflix subscriber, I never got a blu-ray movie the day it came out. In fact, I would be happy if I got a movie within a month of it coming out.

Blockbuster regularly ships me blu-ray movies the day they come out. Last week, I got Alice and Wonderland the day  it came out along with Shutter Island. Meanwhile, Netflix subscribers are still waiting the mandatory month Netflix agreed with the movie studios. On top of that, they will likely wait weeks until the movies are available while paying extra for blu-rays too.

I do miss the internet streaming Netflix provides, but I  rather watch movies I want to see. Also, there are enough shows and movies on my DVR along with Hulu to keep me busy for weeks. Internet steaming will take over one day, but that day is not now. Right now, I want blu-ray movies the day they come out, and only Blockbuster provides that.

Taking a look at our 25 ways to use a HTPC, we counted at least 10 ways Google TV could be used as an HTPC. However, use as a DVD, Blu-ray or HD DVD player is probably a no-go. File management wasn’t mentioned at the demo so it’s unclear if we could store all of our music, pictures, or data on a Google TV equipped box. Attaching cameras and other portable electronics is also probably not going to happen anytime soon as Android drivers would have to be developed.

Google TV is going to excel with internet video streaming and its apps. YouTube, Netflix, Amazon and hopefully Hulu are easy-to-use with Google’s search bar. Home automation apps (AutoHTN included!) will be developed and will make controlling your home user-friendly. New games could also give the Wii a run for its money.

The initial demos shown of Google TV looked impressive. We’re big fans of Android so merging Android with our HDTV could finally bring a form of HTPCs to the mass market. Using voice recognition on a Smartphone to search the DVR, guide, or web will be useful along with the 50,000-plus apps available in the Android market.

However, we do have questions such as will non-Dish subscribers find Google TV useful? The integration with the Dish Network guide looked easy-to-use, but what about cable or Direct TV subscribers? As the demo presenter mentioned, users shouldn’t have to hit the input button on the remote control or they will lose 80% of the customers. If my cable box’s guide isn’t integrated, then I’m going to have to hit the input button and the seamless integration is lost.

We also are unsure about connection issues due to HDMI and its HDCP encryption. I would expect a cable box -> Google TV box -> Receiver -> HDTV video connection for all the people who can’t afford or don’t want to purchase a brand new Google TV equipped Sony HDTV. My cable box still has HDCP issues with my receiver about once a week.

I fully expect Google to answer and resolve some of these questions and issues over time. The answer may simply be that Google TV is not meant for HTPCs. Instead it will have to be integrated into DVRs, receivers, or HDTVs. Hopefully, this is not the case as adoption by manufactures or service providers would likely be slow. Google TV looks too impressive to have to wait years for.

1. Money. Starting at $499 and up to $830, the iPad is not cheap and the price doesn’t include a $30/month internet service. Getting people to pay for extra internet service with the iPhone was hard enough, but Apple and ATT&T was smart enough to bundle phone service and internet service into one package. The iPad does not have that luxury. Is Apple really expecting millions of people to pay for a $30/month home broadband service, a $20/ month mobile phone internet service, and now an additional $30/month iPad internet service.

2. No background apps. With a tablet like device, people are going to expect to be able to listen to Pandora, check email, and surf the web at the same time. They will be greatly disappointed with the iPad as it can only run one program at once.

3. Typing on the touch screen sucks. We thought the iPad would innovate here, but its keyboard interface is nothing but a bigger version of the iPhone’s keypad.

4. No front side camera, USB ports, memory card slot, or HDMI output. These are basics on the smart phones and net books, so why are they missing from the iPad? The same backlash the HTC xxx got with the 2.5mm headphone size is about to hit Apple. Apple wants its customers to pay for a $30 adaptor so they can plug in an external hard drive. Talk about milking your customers.

5. AT&T. The bogged down network is about get sloooweeeeer.