Articles – About Automation – Home Automation & Smart Homes

Beyond Tomorrow, The Future of Housing

09/04/201809/04/2018 / Articles

Forget about flying cars, self tying shoelaces and hover boards, we know what the real future will look like and it’s ..... kind of already here? Experts are predicting that in the next five years most of our homes will be completely run by smart technology, building on the success that products like the Amazon Echo have already had. Home automation systems will start doing more of the work for us, predicting what we need before we need it, essentially. So, at the moment we can build a routine by integrating a few tasks together, using one phase, such as

NBN Co CEO resigns

06/04/201802/01/2019 / NBN, News

[kc_row use_container="yes" force="no" column_align="middle" video_mute="no" _id="712398"][kc_column width="12/12" video_mute="no" _id="12790"][kc_column_text _id="526229"]NBN Co CEO Bill Morrow has announced that come the end of 2018, he will be stepping down in his role, 2 years before the project is currently due to be completed. This latest high profile resignation follows chief corporate affairs officer Karina Keisler’s announcement that she’ll be leaving in the summer. Despite high praise for Malcom Turnbull, who said Morrow ‘turned the project around’, whilst the PM used the opportunity to take a dig at his political rivals, Morris leaves in a period of continuous turmoil for the company. Many

Home Automation Set To Add Value To Real Estate

23/03/201802/01/2019 / Articles, Education

[kc_row use_container="yes" _id="224866"][kc_column width="12/12" _id="760363"][kc_column_text _id="296706"] When choosing to buy and install smart, automated systems into our houses we usually have a reason: it’s going to make our lives easier or our home more secure. Our lives more liveable. But, can they also be treated as an investment into our homes? More importantly, is it a GOOD investment? Apparently, yes. Having smart home devices in your house when it’s on the market can count for a whole lot more than having the magic colour ‘magnolia’ on your walls (thank god, one of those is definitely more interesting!) A lot of

Voice Assist Is Not ONLY For The Tech Savy

22/03/201805/04/2018 / Articles, Education

[kc_row use_container="yes" _id="626916"][kc_column width="12/12" _id="633617"]Smartphone and smart homes: is it inevitable that the older generation gets left behind in the new age of technology? Actually, no. New A.I initiatives are marketing themselves towards the needs of elderly people and increasing numbers are installing home help and home automated systems to help them live a more independent life. At its simplest, you can use A.I such as Lifepod as a ‘virtual caregiver’. It’ll remind your loved one to take their medicine, remember appointments, as well as acting as an emergency response system (more sophisticated than the old emergency button-necklace device). We

How to make your Australian Amazon Alexa work with all alexa skills

12/02/201826/11/2018 / Articles, How To's

As mentioned in the last article, many Aussie Alexa Users were frustrated when the AUS Alexa App and Software rolled out, claiming there were not enough skills or that their previous settings and smart home devices are no longer compatible. Well, FEAR NO MORE! After speaking to a member of the Alexa team last week, I was given this VERY simple how-to guide. By following the steps below, you can successfully make your Amazon Echo Device compatible with your favourite brands and back to the USA software and app. With the added bonus of it recognising you are in Australia and not

Dissappointed in Australian Echo Devices?

05/02/201830/03/2018 / Articles, Product Reviews

[kc_row use_container="yes" _id="247676"][kc_column width="12/12" _id="999521"] Amazon's launch in Australia had a few Road bumps along the way, With false starts eventually making an Underwhelming catalogue. But the online retail giant did promise. Bring its own smart AI assistant. To Aussie Shores. In early 2018. That promise has been kept. With the echo range. Available in stores and online and with comes Australia's own true blue Alexa. While the echo range was the same physically as the American line, it was the ai assistant software that makes the unit unique to the Australian culture. The Australian Amazon Alexa app launched in

Telco forced to refund customers

14/12/201723/01/2018 / Articles, NBN

Two of Australia's major telcos have refunded customers on the NBN "Boosted" Speed plans. Following a Watchdog investigation for false advertising on speeds capable on NBN Connections, the ACCC reported they are providing more detailed guidance concerning implementation principles for advertising the speeds of retail fixed-line broadband plans. After Investigations the ACCC has forced opts to refund customers on FTTN Connections after it was discovered almost 50% of Optus FTTN consumers on a 100/40 Mbps plan could not receive promised speeds, and 21% of that would not even receive speeds HALF that which was promised. Telstra actually prompted the investagtion by coming clean that

NBN to halt HFC Connections IMMEDIATELY

28/11/201723/01/2018 / Articles, NBN

NBN is immediately putting on the brakes on the rollout of HFC installations due to mounting issues with service dropouts, which could see over 100 million dollars of Telstra's earnings delayed. “There are many things we cannot control with the customer experience, but that which we can, we want to do something about" said Mr. Morrow, NBN chief executive.Mr. Morrow said, “poor experience with the HFC rollout resulted from the lower frequency band NBN was using.” (WOW. What gave that away, maybe the 43000 complaints to the Telecommunications ombudsman.)For customers waiting to be connected to the NBN via HFC, they

NBN fake stats and false speeds

04/11/201723/01/2018 / Articles, NBN

As mentioned in a previous installment the nbn cost is a hot topic amongst many Australian communities for the time being. As the nbn fibre network is still being rolled out and estimated to be finished late 2018 early 2019. But a more heated topic in the news is the speeds. With the many types of connections can bring different speeds per connection, what the public already using the fibre network are most concerned about however is the difference in official reports speeds vs. the speed they are paying for and experiencing. Under the new NBN program is you want

FTTP vs. FTTC vs. FTTN vs. FTTB vs. HFC – NBN WHAT THE HELL?!

03/11/201723/01/2018 / Articles, NBN

Consumers are left absolutely confuddled after yet again another planned switch in NBN plan. Recently NBN.co CEO announce the switch to FTTC to lower costs as many consumers have been unhappy with speed vs costs produced under the new ISP plans. With many consumers still confused on the FTTN to FTTP shift which was discussed back in June 2016 AFTER construction to the Fibre to the node network had started. The change to the policy was announced in June 2016 " The FTTN roll-out will be phased out as soon as current design and construction contracts are completed”. That’s right,