I'll be running iWitness for video. I should have the machine together this weekend. I've been playing around in the new house figuring out what I'll need beyond the basic X10 stuff I have now. I'll be placing an order through a dealer tonight or tomorrow so I should have AHP to play with about the same time the machine is done.
All mission critical systems at my home have the bios set to return to the POWER ON state in the event of a power outage.
I understand the reason for the "simple setup" way the X10 web services are done. But there are 'net ready' cameras out there that are plun-n-play simple because they use custom web servers written on single chip computers. X10 could offer YAPH (Yet Another Piece of Hardware) for the system. Essentially a home web server that would recieve/transmit the data provided by an AHP system on the local home network. No need to send the video stream to X10 then from X10 to the customer. The hardware could be configured to verify the registration ONCE with the X10 servers and write the info to NVRAM so it doesn't have to connect to verify registration repeatedly.
The "self serving" net cams run in the $100 to $400 range so X10 would be looking to meet probably a $200 hardware street cost.
Besides privacy I don't like the X10 model because it depends on YOUR servers. It adds another layer of troubleshooting when something doesn't work. Is it my computer, my ISP, or you? And, if I've paid for a piece of software to do something on the internet and it doesn't work because YOUR servers are having connectivity or database problems I'm going to be upset, VERY upset. If it doesn't work because one of MY systems is freaking out all I have to do is find a mirror to start yelling the main guy at fault.
Even the fact that AHP and iWitness require one to connect to an internet server for registration purposes, when the software does not require an internet connection to be useful, is bothersome. You'd be surprised how many people out there still don't "do" the Internet even though they do have a computer. I've spoken to many of my customers each year who are going back to using their computers to PRINT the letters they mail because they simply didn't want to deal with the hassles of protecting themselves from spammers and additional avenues of potential identity theft. They are intelligent people with plenty of electronic 'gadgets' whose active lives simply preclude investing the time the Internet requires to use it safely. Active lives that might benefit from home automation.
I *LIKE* X10 products. But I think the marketing department should be shot dead. It feels like a used car salesman is in charge. The sales pitch and web site is "scheister like". One item with multiple prices depending on which sales pitch (security, automation, net connectivity) is being viewed. "Special packages" that aren't all that special if one digs far enough to find the pages advertising each individual item at the lowest price.
I'm buying the parts and I'll tweak around and get it working because I like the equipment. But every time I end up on the main website looking for actual information I can hear Billy Joe Jim Bob down at the car lot:
"This here 1982 Plymouth K-Body is a classic Son. It can only go up in value. I had a youn man looking at it earlier but he said he had to get his accountant to get the money out of one of his bank accounts. He was willing to pay he full $7995 window price but I ain't heard from him in over an hour now. I really need to move it so if you have the money for the downpayment I'll let you have it for $7495 right now! It's got a fully automatic manual transmission, all leather naugahyde interior (them cigarrette burns add some character now don't they boy!). She smokes a little but runs like a top once you get her warmed up. Gets the BEST mileage I ever seen in a classic like this!"
And every time you ask him a question he answers with information about something completely different.
Uhhh... Sorry, poor advertising of a good product bugs me. It bugs me even more when the best technical information I can find is on the personal websites of users of the product. (See my topic in the GENERAL area -- sticky it if you can).
Back to the subject. I'm an integrator and system designer, not a programmer. So the SDK really does me no good. I look at a problem to be solved then go hunting for existing solutions, mixing and matching as necessary. In this case Windows XP Pro and remote desktop should do nicely. If I want a bit of additional security beyond my Windows password I'll lock down the remote access ports and add a port knocking daemon to my linux based router to open them up only when I need them.
Thanks for your reply. X10 tech support has always been quick to answer my emailed questions in the past. You appear to be trying to keep up here as well.
Gerald
