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- Verizon,
Motorola unveil the Droid
Verizon Wireless customers will soon be able to get their hands
on the much anticipated Google Android phone called the Droid.
The companies officially unveiled the device at an event here.
Like most smartphones of its class, the phone will cost $199 with
a two-year contract. And it will be available to consumers starting
November 6. Customers can pre-order the device now.
CNet
(10/28)
- First
LEED log home certified in U.S.
The first LEED Platinum log home in the U.S. was designed by Eric
Hughes of Image Design LLC, and built by Hybrid Homes LLC out
of Muskegon, Michigan. The house is located in Pentwater, Michigan
and features the extensive use of re-used, recycled materials
and efficient technology.
Jetson
Green
(10/26)
- Electronics
survey highlights 30-somethings
A recent survey revealed that customized-electronics dealers used
to working with men in their 40s will need to adjust to cater
to younger clients. According to the survey, men in their 30s
place less emphasis on HD and audio products, while 70% want online
media via their TVs.
CEPro.com
(10/27)
- New
report outlines home automation trends in Asia
According to In-Stat the Asia/Pacific home automation services
market is expected to grow quickly in 2008 and 2009; however,
the market development within the region is uneven. Japan and
South Korea are expected to continue to take the leading positions
in the region in terms of the technology. China, Taiwan, Thailand,
Hong Kong, and Singapore are potential markets with the need for
more customer education.
Live-PR
(10/14)
- Ericsson,
Samsung make LTE connection
The flood of pro-long term evolution (LTE) in mobile communication
announcements continued late last week with news that Ericsson
AB and Samsung Corp. have "successfully achieved interoperability
between the world's first commercial LTE device from Samsung and
the live network from Ericsson in Stockholm, Sweden."
Light
Reading's Unstrung
(10/23)
- uControl
and SMC Networks partner on home security, monitoring, automation
uControl, a leading provider of next-generation home security
and automation solutions, and SMC Networks, a specialist in providing
high-quality, reliable customer premise equipment to service providers,
announced an industry-changing partnership that will result in
accelerated innovation and manufacturing efficiencies within the
security, energy management and automation space.
PRWeb
(10/28)
- HAI
adds touchscreen control/energy management to DSC panels
Home
Automation, Inc. (HAI), a leading manufacturer of integrated security
and home automation products has announced the improved integration
between HAI's Lumina central lighting and home automation product
line and Tyco's DSC PowerSeries security panels, allowing touchscreen
control and energy management.
HomeToys.com
(10/27)
- Intruder
alarm transmission systems poised for growth in U.K.
Estimates
supported by the British Security Industry Association suggest
that the annual cost of crime to UK businesses - not including
crime at domestic premises - has now topped £19 billion
As a consequence, new kinds of 'cost-competitive' dual-path security
alarm transmission systems are opening up new opportunities for
installers upgrading from audible-only.
SourceSecurity.com
(10/28)
- Vizio
expects flat-panel growth
Vizio
Inc., a supplier of low-cost flat-panel-display TVs in the U.S.,
expects shipments of its liquid-crystal display televisions to
rise more than 70% to more than six million units this year as
prices are set to fall at least 30%.
Wall
Street Journal
(10/27)
- A
"to-drool-for" home theater
For
newly minted lottery winners with an appreciation for home theaters,
check out this report. It details the creation of a to-drool-for,
nautically inspired, 5,600-square-foot home-theater setup that's
tucked into a home in New York's Adirondack Mountains.
HomeEntertainmentOnline.com
(10/23)
- NIST
accepts CableLabs specs for smart grid of the future
The
National Institute of Standards and Technology has accepted the
initial specifications for the cable industry's participation
of the Smart Grid of the future. Among the specs that were accepted
are CableLabs' PacketCable guidelines for home automation, home
security and energy management, according to a draft report from
the NIST.
CEDMagazine.com
(10/23)
- Best
Buy offers Blu-ray player that streams Netflix, too
Best
Buy in-house brand Insignia has introduced the NS-BRDVD3, a Blu-ray
player with a twist: With a firmware update, it is capable of
streaming Netflix content. Best Buy currently is offering the
player for $99, which puts it in direct competition with the Roku
media player.
CEPro.com
(10/26)
- Solar
community on track to dramatically reduce energy costs
Initial
testing of the effectiveness of Alberta's innovative solar community,
a 52-home neighbourhood in the Okotoks is meeting all expectations.
Though only two years old, the extensive engineering to create
the solar-powered neighbourhood is already on track to use the
sun to produce 90 per cent of its heating requirements by year
five, according to tests by Natural Resources Canada.
Ottawa
Citizen
(10/24)
- fifthplay
selects Linux for home automation gateway
Wind
River recently announced that Belgium-based fifthplay, a subsidiary
of the Niko Group, has selected Wind River Linux to enable its
new home automation gateway. The FG4000 Gateway platform allows
sensors, lights, cameras and a wide range of home automation equipment
to be seamlessly linked to and controlled by mobile phones or
via a Web interface.
Hiddenwires
(10/26)
- Wal-Mart
offering home theater installation
In
an attempt to position themselves as an alternative to Best Buy’s
Geek Squad, Wal-Mart is stepping up its consumer electronics offering
by providing installation services. For a cost of anywhere from
$99 to $339, customers can have their new television, computer,
network or home theater set up by Wal-Mart’s team. The service
includes a pre-purchase consultation and a tutorial on how to
use the newly purchased equipment once it is set up.
High-Def
Digest
(10/27)
- Microsoft:
Built-in Blu-ray not in Xbox 360's future
Microsoft has no plans to redesign its Xbox 360 video game console
to include a Blu-ray player, according to a company spokesman.
The software giant, which supported Toshiba's HD DVD platform
in the high-definition format battle with Blu-ray, has been bulking
up the VOD capabilities of its console through the Xbox Live service.
Digital
Trends
(10/23)
- Sony
PS3 users get Netflix access at no extra charge
Looking
for a competitive edge against Microsoft and its Xbox 360 console,
Sony has announced a deal in which owners of its PlayStation 3
system will get access to Netflix's library of TV shows and movies
for instant streaming. The key difference with the Xbox 360, which
offers Netflix access for $50 a year, is that Sony will provide
the Netflix gateway at no extra cost to Netflix service subscribers.
Reuters
(10/26)
- Toshiba
first major CE maker to launch methanol cell charger
Toshiba
ended years of research and development in finally introducing
a charger in Japan based on technology called direct methanol
fuel cell, or DMFC, which can power up batteries in cell phones
and digital cameras via USB connections, the company said. Toshiba,
which issued no plans to sell the charger -- named the Dynario
-- overseas, will limit sales to 3,000 units at $328 apiece.
PC
World/IDG News Service
(10/22)
- 3-D
TV is getting closer, but business model remains elusive
While
the technologies needed for 3-D TV production are ramping up --
and their cost is coming down -- a business model that is profitable
for providers and fair to subscribers does not appear to have
emerged yet. At a panel discussion, Steve Necessary, the vice
president of video product for Cox Communications, said he was
not fond of creating a dedicated 3-D channel that would be paid
for by subscriber fees, adding, however, that "if enough
consumer interest is generated, then, of course, we are interested."
Broadcasting
& Cable
(10/21)
- Video:
Windows 7 hits stores
 Microsoft
last week officially released Windows 7, the much-hyped, highly
anticipated successor to the company's Vista operating system.
With the sluggish, buggy Vista usurped, analysts expect computer
users in large numbers to switch their operating systems for the
first time in nearly a decade.
ClipSyndicate/Bloomberg
(10/22)
Click here for
CABA's Industry Events Update
| Large
Building Automation |
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- Obama
putting $3.4B toward a 'smart' power grid
President Barack Obama made a pitch for renewable energy Tuesday,
announcing $3.4 billion in government support for 100 projects
aimed at modernizing the nation's power grid.
AP
(10/27)
- HVAC
control market poised for growth
The HVAC market, like nearly all other markets, has been significantly
impacted by the economic turmoil that materialized in 2008 and
accelerated through the first half of 2009. The HVAC market enjoyed
a strong 2007 and early in 2008 the market looked like it was
going to enjoy another strong year, but the collapse of the US
housing market and subsequent chain reaction of events made for
a very difficult business climate for the remainder of 2008 and
into 2009.
ARC
Advisory Group
(10/26)
- Whirlpool
awarded stimulus smart grid grants
The
U.S. Department of Energy awarded Benton Harbor-based Whirlpool
Corp. $19.33 million in grants from the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act, and the Detroit Edison Company will receive
$83.83 million.
mlive.com
(10/27)
- BofA
wins award for building automation project
The Bank of America Building Automation project was selected by
an independent panel of automation industry experts as the gold
award winner in the building automation category at the fifth
annual Machine-To-Machine Value Chain Awards. Bank of America
is deploying a nationwide energy and maintenance management solution
that will significantly reduce both the energy and maintenance
costs at 3,200 branches.
PRWeb
(10/23)
- Buildings
gain by putting energy efficiency over other LEED aspects
Building
owners can get the most out of their LEED status by focusing on
energy efficiency over other LEED aspects, according to research
conducted by the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT). CNT
analyzed how projects performed over multiple years in areas including
energy and water use, greenhouse gas emissions, operating costs,
commute transportation and occupant comfort.
Environmental
Leader (10/27)
- DOE
releases new versions of EnergyPlus and OpenStudio
The
U.S Department of Energy released updated versions of its EnergyPlus
simulation software for modeling heating, cooling, lighting, ventilating,
and other building energy flows. Additionally, the DOE released
its OpenStudio plug-in for Google's SketchUp program. Available
for Windows, Linux, and Macintosh operating systems, EnergyPlus
4.0 also includes two new application guides: "Energy Management
System Application Guide" and "Using EnergyPlus for
Compliance."
cse
live (10/27)
- Top
three trends for security integrators
There
are three big trends that will impact the specific interests of
the security integrator community. In short, they are security,
Web 2.0 and IP. The community would be well served, and positioned,
to pay closer attention to these trends.
Security
Magazine
(10/20)
- REM
Eyewear completes revolutionary, suspended solar power system
The
first, cable-suspended free span solar energy system was completed
on October 21st over the REM Eyewear headquarters parking lot.
The revolutionary, uniquely aesthetic solar panel system is designed
to utilize otherwise untapped air-space, in future applications
that include coverage over aqueducts, irregular terrain, agricultural
and brown fields, parking lots, and pedestrian malls and walk
ways.
ElectricEnergyOnline.com
(10/12)
- Microsoft
releases smart energy reference architecture
Microsoft
recently released its Smart Energy Reference Architecture (SERA).
SERA establishes a vision and strong foundation for migrating
power and utilities companies to the new infrastructure and services.
SERA informs customers, partners and prospects about the Microsoft
technologies that can serve as the basis for their development
of the what we often call the integrated utility of the future.
MSDN
(10/22)
- Imagine
the smart city
Smart
cities are a bit of a twist on smart growth, a term that emerged
from the U.S. in the mid-1990s. Smart growth means building liveable
communities without hurting the environment; communities that
are healthy socially and economically and environmentally.
Financial
Post
(10/26)
- Cincinnati
Zoo obtains LEED certification
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s Historic Vine
Street Village complex, which opened in May, has helped make it
the greenest zoo in the country. The Cincinnati Zoo is now the
first zoo in the U.S. with multiple LEED projects and the second
zoo in the country to receive LEED Platinum certification.
Zoo
and Aquarium Visitor
(10/28)
- Video:
Broadband World Forum 2009 Keynote
Enjoy
the Broadband World Forum 2009 keynote address from Orange’s
Senior Executive Vice President, Innovation and Marketing, Jean-Philippe
Vanot, delivered during Broadband World Forum Europe 2009. He
discusses how information and communications technologies can
aid the global economic recovery.
IEC
(10/21)
| Member
Press Releases |
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- Call
for Presentations Deadline Approaching for 2010 Niagara Summit
Tridium
announces a Call for Presentations for the 2010 Niagara Summit.
Hundreds of attendees will gather in Las Vegas (May 2nd-4th at
the Red Rock Resort) and come together to exchange and share experiences
on automation infrastructure technology, device-to-enterprise
integration and find out about the latest advances on how devices
integrate, connect and create interoperable environments.
| CABA
Research Spotlight |
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| Education
& Training |
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- Webinar:
ITU-T, G.hn & Wired Network Inflection Point
HomeGrid
Forum is providing a new, free downloadable webinar that covers
key technical milestones concerning the G.hn specification. The
webinar asks: Why does G.hn continue to gain broad support from
countries and companies around the world? What is the impact of
the ITU’s decision for consumer electronics manufacturers,
service and silicon providers? And where is the market headed?
- Webinar:
India's Telecom and Broadband Market Developments
Check
out IGI's second installment in its new Emerging Telecom Market
Webinars series with a webinar on India to held Oct. 30 at 11
am ET. The webinar will examine: Indian carriers and industry
structure; the challenges and opportunities for wireline communication;
broadband and Internet applications; and the state of the market,
industry trends and growth opportunities.
- Webinar:
Using ZigBee to expand health care market opportunities
You,
your co-workers, clients and associates are invited to attend
a free ZigBee webinar entitled: ZigBee Health Care: Expanding
Market Opportunities with Health and Wellness Monitoring. The
webinar is scheduled for Nov. 10, at 11:00 am ET. ZigBee Health
Care is the newest public application profile from the ZigBee
Alliance. It lowers healthcare costs by promoting wellness, fitness
and reducing in-patient stays, without sacrificing convenience
or mobility. ZigBee Health Care will help people live healthier,
happier, independent lives.
- Online
trade show: BCA's SkyFORUM
SBCA's SkyFORUM® is the satellite broadcasting and communications
industry's new online event that gives you the product demos,
sessions, training and networking found at traditional trade shows
but without the hassles of leaving your business and customers.
The online trade show will take place 11 am to 7 pm ET on November
18.
| CABA
News |
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- CABA
to hold meeting on connected home marketplace
CABA's
Connected Home Council will hold a meeting on Thursday, Nov. 5,
2009 at 3 pm ET by conference call. Established
in 2004, the CABA Connected Home Council initiates and reviews
projects that relate to connected home and multiple dwelling unit
technologies and applications. The Council also examines industry
opportunities that can accelerate the adoption of new technologies,
consumer electronics and broadband services within the burgeoning
connected home market. For additional information about this meeting,
please contact Don O'Connor, CABA Business Development Manager,
at: oconnor@caba.org or
613.686.1814 x226.
- CABA
to hold meeting on intelligent and integrated buildings
The
next meeting of CABA's Intelligent & Integrated Buildings
Council will take place on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009 at 11 am ET
by conference call. The meeting will examine CABA initatives on
the smart grid, ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 189.1, CABA's Intelligent
Buildings Market Sizing for North America research project, the
Office of Future research project, CABA's BIQ and Life-Cycle Costs
tools, education and training and more. For additional information
about this meeting, please contact Don O'Connor, CABA Business
Development Manager, at: oconnor@caba.org
or 613.686.1814 x226.
- CABA
proud to again partner with NEXTGEN Home Experience
The
Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA), through its
Connected Home Council, is once again the official Association
Partner of NEXTGEN Home Experience. The 2010 International Consumer
Electronics Show to held January 7-10 in Las Vegas will feature
the NextGen "Digital Home for the Ages" and will focus
on consumer electronics technology targeted for the 50 and over
"silver" generation. "Home for the Generations"
is the theme for the 2010 NEXTGEN Home Experience that will be
featured at the 2010 International Builders' Show in Las Vegas.
For more information and how your organization can participate,
go to: WWW.NEXTGENHOME.COM.
| SmartQuote |
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Blessed is he who has found his work; let him ask no other blessedness."
--Thomas Carlyle,
Scottish writer, essayist, historian
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| Sponsor
this publication |
Sales Account Director:
Don O'Connor 613.686.1814
x226 |
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Recent CABA NewsBrief
Issues:
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Inquiries:
CABA, 1173 Cyrville Road, Suite 210
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This
paper, published by The Diffusion Group, claims the market for
integrated home systems will not become a mass market for five
to 10 years. Products in the home are divided into four clusters:
Entertainment, productivity and data communications, voice communications
and home management. These clusters will be independent, centrally
controlled or distributed. The key issue is who will profit from
owning the control points. 
