Home Automation DIY

Please raise your hand if you think that iPhone/iPod Touch is an ideal platform for remote control of any kind. Yes, I thought so too. It’s portable, fits well in your hand, has crisp and bright display, has multitude of communication methods and last but not least — it’s always by your side.

And it seems that industry gets it too. Apple’s AppStore and CE trade shows are getting flooded with all kinds of software that might be used to simplify and unify control of all your home systems including lighting, media, temperature control, security, video surveillance, etc. Some applications use native iPhone SDK and some provide web-based approach. Here you will find the most comprehensive list of iPhone/iPod Touch software for home automation and related areas.

Note: This post is a work in progress, and it will be updated as new software titles are being released or discovered, so swing by often.

Many application links below lead directly to the product page in iTunes store, so you should have iTunes installed on your system to open the link. If you do not have iTunes yet, a link to free iTunes download will open instead.

1. ILoveControl ($3 Lite/$30) - supports Crestron/AMX systems with up to 16 zones of A/V, lighting and more.
2. iMyHome (Free/$38) - controls OpenWebNetprotocol-based BTicino systems.
3. CF iViewer (Free) - controls most systems that support TCP/IP communications (Crestron/AMX/Control4/Global Cache).
4. ROSIE Home Automation ($200) - controls Savant’s ROSIE systems.
5. H@me (Free) - controls HAI’s Omni and Lumina systems.
6. Insteon Tracker (Free) - doesn’t control anything, but allows you to catalog all X10/Insteon devices.
7. Luminair ($99) - Not really a home automation software, unless you have a disco room with Art-Net compatible DMX lighting.
8. iDoControl ($12) - controls iDo Automation-based residential and commercial building automation systems.
9. eKeypad Plus ($10/$45) - mobile keypad that (dis)arms Elk M1 Gold security and home automation system.
10. iRa Pro ($900) - controls IP-based surveillance equipment, such as AXIS, Pelco D, etc.
11. Remote (Free) - remote control for iTunes application and AirTunes speakers.
12. Intelliremote (Free/$24) - remote control for media applications on a PC. The iPhone client software is free, but it requires a server software ($24) on a PC to operate.
13. iVisu (Free) - controls V8TechMMCore-based home automation systems.
14. Roku Remote ($3) - remote control for Roku Soundbridge devices.
15. X10 Commander ($10) - controls X10 devices through Firecracker module (CM11, CM12, CM15, CM17, CM 19) connected to a PC.
16. EventGhost ($10) - it appears to be the Intelliremote (see #12 above) inside out - the client software is $10 and the server part is free open source EventGhost automation software.
17. iZone ($15) - controls Sonos multi-zone music system.
18. Sonos Controller (Free) - the native Sonos controller from Sonos, Inc.
19. ZoneMaster (Free/$20) - another Sonos remote. The Free version allows to add only one item to the queue per session.
20. Zones ($15) - yet another Sonos remote software. Uses UPnP protocol to browse and play your music collection.
21. iAmpRemote ($5) - remote control for WinAmp software on PC.
22. Go Gadgets (not released yet) - allows to use the iPhone as Windows Vista SideShow device.
23. SmartLinc ($120) - an Insteon-based controller with iPhone’s web interface.
24. SpeakerCraft MODE ($1000) - the web-based interface to MODE multi-room A/V system through SpeakerCraft’s ERS 1.0 Ethernet-to-serial adapter [PDF].
25. HAI WL3 (price unknown) - an add-on for Windows servers that enables control of HAI Home Control Systems from any web-enabled device. The WL3 works with the iPhone 2.0, iPod Touch and any Blackberry, Smartphone, PDA or computer.
26. AirRemote ($100) - the heart of the system is a low-cost ($120-$150) communications box from Global Cache, which takes IP commands from the iPhone and converts them to infrared, serial or contact-closure for controlling everything from a home theater system to lighting controls to motorized blinds.
27. Control4 My House (Free) - using Control4’s home automation system, My House UI enable users to control lighting, thermostats, security systems, audio and video from their handheld devices.
28. Lifeware for iPhone (Free) - an interface to Lifeware’s Microsoft Media Center-based whole-home automation and entertainment platform.
29. HM Control (Free) - enables remote monitoring of lighting, temperatures, window shades, thermostats and more for Z-Wave-based Homemanageables systems.
30. Convergent Living (price unknown) - provides access to Convergent Living’s Companion SideKick controller or NEO8, NEO10 or NEO15 smart screens.
31. Crestron Control App for iPhone (Free) - supports SystemBuilder, VT Pro-e and SIMPL and is treated like any other touchpanel in the system.
32. Qsonix (Free) - Web-based interface [PDF] to control Qsonix digital music management systems.
33. Simplify Media ($4) - lets you listen to your music collection from your home computer on your iPhone / iPod Touch.
34. OrbLive (Free/$10) - turns your iPhone into a multimedia receiver. Requires installation of Orb software (Free) on your home PC. Lets you stream music, video and even live TV to iPhone over WiFi and 3G. The free version proposes 3 random pieces of media in each category.
35. Lutron (Free) - controls Lutron’s HomeWorks Lighting System. Should be available as a free download in early January ‘09 (announcement).
36. Girder ($50) - PC application, has web interface for controlling X10/Insteon-based home automation systems, also controls any home theater device through IR.
37. iPhone Home Controller (Free) - PHP/Apache/MySQL-based SDK for controlling X10 devices using Activehome Professional (CM15a) interface.
38. DVDLobby ($60-$226) - comes with support for iPhone/iPod Touch web browser access to DVDLobby 3.75 managed movies.
39. CasaRemote ($20) - controls different IP-enabled devices through downloadable templates. Supports cameras, outlets, switches, etc. Also supports macro commands and IR commands (via IP-IR proxy).
40. Apex Connect (Free) - controls all sorts of A/V equipment and INSTEON or Z-Wave devices. Requires Apex ConnectHome controller and INSTEON power line modem (2412S).
41. HW Remote ($38) - controls Lutron HomeWorks installations.

Disclaimers:

• This is not a Top XX list, the applications are listed in no particular order.
• The prices listed above might change over time and as much as I’d like to be accurate, they might not represent the actual value at the time you see this post. Also, the prices above are rounded to the nearest dollar.
• This list does NOT include software for accessing media from different web services (such as YouTube). It’s only for the media and services that originate from your home.

If you know of (or use) an application that’s not on this list, but you think it should be, I would appreciate if you let me know in the comments below. Thank you.