Siri Integration Within Crestron System Brings Spoken Control To Home Automation [VIDEO]

Nawazish Ali

For those who follow the developments within the automation and control industry you will no doubt be familiar with Crestron, one of the leading providers of control and automation equipment who have systems in homes, hospitals, offices and schools around the world.
The Company developers hardware which includes programmable touch panels, keypads and lighting control systems which can be installed into bespoke fit outs for pretty much any building type. At the start of December 2011 we brought you an article which showed how a keen techie had managed to combine SiriProxy with iobridge with X10 widgets to combine his lights and web enabled appliances in his house. Using an amalgamation of these services and technologies he managed to create a a basic, but effective voice controlled home automation system.
For those who require a little bit more from their home automation system, and are willing to make a significant financial investment then the Crestron systems make the perfect installation. The Crestron hardware is widely considered to be of the highest quality, but a touch screen is only as powerful as the software behind it. A custom installation company in Little Rock has produced a video which showcases the advanced options that are possible when using Crestron equipment to form a home automation system.
Carnes Audio have integrated the Siri assistant on an iPhone 4S into a Crestron system, demonstrating the powerful commands available. Not only does the system use Siri to turn the lights either on or off, instructions can be given to the iPhone 4S to set an exact illumination percentage for all lighting.
We have already seen examples of people using SiriProxy to control the thermostat in the home, but this has generally been limited to on or off commands. Carnes Audio have taken this a step further, as the video shows, by being able to specify an exact operating temperature for maximum comfort.
Perhaps the most exciting feature of this system is the ability to control a home theatre system using Siri. Turning the theatre on and off, changing input devices from projector to Apple TV and also being able to change the volume to any absolute percentage.
This isn’t the only time that Crestron systems have been married together with Apple devices. The iPhone and iPad App Stores have contained official applications for quite some time which allow home systems to be controlled via the iDevices. However, this is the first instance we have seen of custom installers offering spoken Siri controls to automate tasks in the home.

Read More

Windows Phone 7′s IE9 Beats iPhone 4 And Nexus S (Android) In HTML5 Speed Test

More news out of Microsoft’s MIX11 developer conference in Las Vegas, with Microsoft showing off its new IE9 web browsing technology for Windows Phone 7.
Microsoft today pitted its own mobile browser up against the iPhone 4′s Safari and Google’s Android browser running on a Nexus S, though there was no mention of which versions of their respective software the two challengers were running. All three were put through their paces by Microsoft’s own speed reading test website. The results, unsurprisingly, favored the boys from Redmond.
WinRumors managed to capture the fun and games in video, but the gist is this – IE9 smoked both Android and iOS. While Microsoft’s mobile browser (which is basically the desktop app, according to MS) managed to complete the test at an impressive 22 frames per second, Android could only must 11 FPS with iOS languishing in third with just 2 FPS.
While these results are impressive for Microsoft, it’s again worth pointing out there was no mention of the software being used on the two competitor handsets. While we’re not suggesting Microsoft’s tests aren’t accurate, it’s something that’s worth bearing in mind when watching the video. With Apple’s iOS 4.3.x bringing improved Java runtime performance amongst other tweaks, it would be interesting to see whether that was the version Microsoft used.
Regardless, 22 FPS is an impressive result and Microsoft should be commended for pushing its mobile web browsing team so hard. Interesting days for WP7 ahead!

You can follow us on Twitter or join our Facebook fanpage to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google and Apple.

Read More

Jailbreak iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 Using GreenPois0n RC5 Untethered Jailbreaking Tool for iOS 4.2.1 [Mac]

Earlier today, we reported that the Chronic Dev-Team has released GreenPois0n RC5 untethered jailbreak tool for iOS 4.2.1 (iOS 4.1 also supported), now we’re putting up instructions on how to jailbreak your iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 with Greenpois0n RC5 for Mac, courtesy of iClarified.

Important:

Greenpois0n recommends a clean restore before continuing. Do not update to iOS 4.1 or iOS 4.2.1 if you need the unlock. Ultrasn0w does not support that baseband yet. The only exception is the iPhone 4. You can update to iOS 4.2.1 without upgrading your baseband by using TinyUmbrella. Start TSS Server->Start iTunes->Plug in your iPhone->Restore 4.2.1->Error 1013->Put phone into DFU Mode->Launch Greenpois0n.

Step One
Launch your web browser and go to www.greenpois0n.com. Click the Mac link at the bottom of the screen.

 

Step Two
Upon prompt, save the greenpois0n-osx_rc5.zip file you want to download on your desktop. Extract the files and launch the greenpois0n application.

 Step Three
Now power off your iPhone 3GS or iPhone 4 and connect it to the computer. Once connected, click the large Jailbreak button

Step Four
Greenpois0n will now tell you how to place your iPhone into DFU mode, after which you will be asked to press and hold the sleep button for 3 seconds.

Continue holding sleep; press and hold home for 10 seconds.

You may release the sleep button but keep holding the Home button. Do not release the Home button at this point!.

Step Five
The jailbreak begins once your iPhone is successfully in DFU mode.

Step Six
You may release the Home button once Greenpois0n informs you that it has completed the jailbreak. Clicking the Complete button will close the application on your computer. You will notice some verbose mode text scrolling on your device.

Step Seven
After the iPhone restarts you will also notice a new Loader application on your Springboard. Tap on it to launch it.

Step Eight
After launching Loader application, select Cydia and then press the large Install Cydia button that appears.

Step Nine
You may remove Loader by pressing the Options button then the large red Remove Loader.app button once Cydia has installed successfully.

Step Ten
Restart your iPhone then run Cydia. Let it do all the necessary updates.

And Voila! There you have it, an untethered jailbreak on your iPhone running iOS 4.2.1 using Greenpois0c RC5 for Mac.

Did you find this tutorial helpful? Experienced any issues in the process? Let us know in your comments below!

Read More

Verizon iPhone pre-orders start tomorrow

Here comes the news which the potential Verizon iPhone buyers were waiting for. Apple, through its usually styled Press Release has announced the pre-order date for the CDMA variant of iPhone 4. Starting from Tomorrow (3rd February), Apple and Verizon’s online stores will be awaiting to take your pre-orders for the much awaited GSM iPhone.

Apple will be adopting the first come, first served basis for the iPhone 4 which has a 5 MP camera, stunning and attractive Retina Display, and a sexy and slim glass like design. Moreover, Personal Hotspot capabilities will be available for the proud owners which will allow them to use iPhone 4 to connect up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices.

Here’s what you need to know about the price plans and the spots where you can get yourself the stainless steel iPhone you have been waiting for.

iPhone 4 on the Verizon Wireless network will be available for a suggested retail price of $199 for the 16GB model and $299 for the 32GB model with a new two year agreement. iPhone 4 will be available through the Apple Store (www.apple.com), at Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. iPhone 4 will also be available at more than 2,000 Verizon Wireless Communication Stores nationwide, online at www.verizonwireless.com/iphone, select retail partners, and by calling 1-800-2 JOIN IN.

You can follow us on Twitter or join our Facebook fanpage to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google and Apple.

Read More

Confirmed: Apple iPad 3G Launching In China Soon

In other news: The Chinese government has now approved the Apple iPad 3G for sale in China, and a confirmation has been made by an Apple spokesperson that the company indeed is releasing a 3G version of its popular tablet in the Chinese market.

Caroline Wu, the Apple spokesperson has declined to comment on a particular release date or timeframe in which iPad 3G can be expected to appear in the Chinese marker for sale.

Currently in China, Apple only sells the Wi-Fi version of the iPad, which is marketed as WLAN in China, the reason behind that was restrictions from the Chinese government. However, now China’s Ministry of Industry and Radio Authority website shows that the council has approved the iPad 3G devices.

Now, restrictions aside, China’s premier carrier, China Unicom, can start selling the Apple iPad 3G, legally

You can follow us on Twitter or join our Facebook fanpage to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google and Apple.

Read More

GreenPois0n Untethered Jailbreak Tool for iOS 4.2.1 Shown On Video

We had previously reported that the Chronic Dev Team was working on an untethered version of its jailbreak tool GreenPois0n for iOS 4.2.1, and now the team has released a video which shows a full working untethered jailbreak on iOS 4.2.1

The video given below shows the working untethered jailbreak which is the result of a collaboration between @0naj, @p0sixninja, and @pod2g.

If you remember, the iPhone Dev-Team has come out with its own untethered jailbreak solution,Redsn0w 0.9.7 but it has limitation as it requires SHSH blobs of iOS4.2b3 saved on Cydia, meaning that if you do not have the SHSH blobs, you can not get an untethered jailbreak.

Considering the video the Chronic Dev Team put up, it looks like we will be seeing a public release as soon as the team fixes a bug which causes the Wi-Fi icon to not show up.

Stay tuned as we’ll definitely report when any updates come in.

You can follow us on Twitter or join our Facebook fanpage to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google and Apple.

Read More

Apple iPhone 5 To Be Redesigned While iPad 2 Gets Retina Display & AppleTV Plays HD Video at 1080p

We know that the iOS 4.3 Beta’s code hints at new models of the iPhone and the iPad, and now Engadget reports that it has substantial evidence to believe that the iPhone 5 will get a complete redesign, the iPad 2 will get a Retina Display, and the Apple TV will get 1080p video amongst a host of other features.
Have a look of what the new features might possibly be:

iPad 2
Apparently the mockups which have received so much press coverage of late are very early versions of the device and contrary to rumor, the new iPad will arrive in April. The display will sport a new technologty similar to the Retina Display and be “super high resolution”. It will get front and rear cameras, and feature an SD slot. “In fact, see that weird notch in the photo below? That’s where the SD part will be located.”

The new iPad will also feature a dual GSM / CDMA chipest produced by Qualcomm.

Read More