X10 Community Forum

🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Topic started by: Brandt on March 12, 2010, 08:01:55 PM

Title: Internet Tablets
Post by: Brandt on March 12, 2010, 08:01:55 PM
I'm interested in getting an internet tablet....

I've looked at the 3Com Audrey, the Fujitsu Sytlistic LT C 500, and the Nokia N770,800,810

I want to have a touch screen that you can use your finger with not a stylus or either one. Internet access w/ browser (preferably wireless), audio would be a plus..That's all I can think of for my requirements...

Anyone got any insight on this?
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: HA Dave on March 12, 2010, 10:36:20 PM
Anyone got any insight on this?

I have no insight. But I am very attracted to the itouch as a touch screen X10 controller. I wonder if the ipad... won't be even better.
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: Brandt on March 13, 2010, 02:04:17 AM
I thought you were all about affordable home automation  :D
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: HA Dave on March 13, 2010, 09:13:56 AM
I thought you were all about affordable home automation  :D

I am. But both the itouch and ipad have other functions as well. They earn their keep on their own for most users... the HA function is nearly a freebie bonus. Plus [as I understand it] you could take ether device with you (to work or out of town). And at least with the itouch... keep an eye on and control of your home from wherever you find a wifi connection. That is a value at $200 - $400... and with NO monthly fees.

I think our (cell) phones will play a bigger part... not only in our lives... but also (of course) our HA as well. Certainly some of these devices will be using Linux (right up your alley). IMHO these devices are the perfect use for Linux.
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: pconroy on March 13, 2010, 06:49:37 PM
Certainly some of these devices will be using Linux (right up your alley). IMHO these devices are the perfect use for Linux.

The 'droids run a Linux (SysV) variant - and you can program them in JME, Java.
The iPhone OS has it's roots in BSD UNIX.  I have *no* desire to relearn Objective-C.

Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: Brandt on March 16, 2010, 05:19:52 PM
At this point I don't own a smartphone, and If I did I would take it with me when i left the house, leaving the rest of the family with nothing.

It looks like the Fujitsu Stylistic family is too big and bulky, unless you're looking for one main controller mounted in a huge hole in the wall.

The 3Com audrey also looks too big and wireless internet is a big hack.

The thing that seems to fit the bill is the Nokia Internet tablets 770, 800, 810. The 800 would be my primary choice but the price has not come down enough yet.

The Nokia 770, is the right size, touchpad, wireless internet, and the price is right on ebay:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_770

http://www.mavromatic.com/?p=604
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: eagle on March 16, 2010, 07:15:11 PM
I will test drive the HP Slate for my wife when it comes out.

The biggest plus I see with it over the iPad (I'll refrain from making crude remarks on the name) is its ability to run flash-enhanced websites.   It will run Windows apps and perhaps a USB interface for portable storage devices.  The keyboard doesn't appear to occupy the width of the screen like the iPad but we'll see.

The iPad looks really cool but without the ability to run flash, it unfortunately is automatically out of the running.

r,
eagle
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: aussie mate on March 17, 2010, 08:43:38 AM

have you seen these x10 touch screens from Marmitek in Europe....

http://www.uk-automation.co.uk/marmitek-easytouch-panel10-p-1401.html

The only problem for people in the USA is that they wont work..as they are on a different frequency.
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: dave w on March 17, 2010, 11:48:19 AM
Yeah, these are very neat. The manufacturer would sell a bunch if redesigned to US frequency. We hope it is coming!  :D
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: Brandt on March 17, 2010, 12:44:18 PM

have you seen these x10 touch screens from Marmitek in Europe....

http://www.uk-automation.co.uk/marmitek-easytouch-panel10-p-1401.html

The only problem for people in the USA is that they wont work..as they are on a different frequency.



Wow, very cool. I had not seen those. I think It would work with the RFXCOM whole house receiver as it does both 310 and 413? mhz
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: Brian H on March 17, 2010, 01:14:59 PM
Well the European X10 RF is 433.92Mhz.; not the 310MHz. and 418MHz. that X10 USA uses.
Can the RFXCOM do 433.92Mhz.?
http://www.marmitek.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvTGgtY59I4


This unit mounts in a wall switch box but I am not sure if it can be used with X10. Looks neat.
http://www.cocoontech.com/portal/articles/news/22-touch-screens/151-new-domobec-moonshine-video
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: Brandt on March 17, 2010, 02:00:46 PM
Yes, the third model down comes with two receivers that can do both:

http://www.rfxcom.com/receivers.htm
http://www.rfxcom.com/descr_433_310.htm
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: Brian H on March 17, 2010, 06:19:14 PM
I was not sure if you had or where going to get the dual band one.
Note 433.92MHz is a commonly used frequency like the Paralax Basic Stamp senders and receivers. May get you interference.
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: Brandt on March 17, 2010, 07:25:37 PM
I was not sure if you had or where going to get the dual band one.
Note 433.92MHz is a commonly used frequency like the Paralax Basic Stamp senders and receivers. May get you interference.

Not at this point, I own a w800usb, and don't have any of the sensors that would need the other freq.
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: Brandt on March 19, 2010, 07:33:46 PM
I ended up snagging a Nokia n800 off ebay.

Here is a cool picture of what is possible:

http://www.smarthome.com/12811/interfaceGO-Nokia-Touch-Screen-Software-for-INSTEON-NK8/p.aspx
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: HA Dave on March 19, 2010, 09:44:42 PM
I ended up snagging a Nokia n800 off ebay.
Here is a cool picture of what is possible:
http://www.smarthome.com/12811/interfaceGO-Nokia-Touch-Screen-Software-for-INSTEON-NK8/p.aspx

VERY COOL!!!
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: dave w on March 20, 2010, 06:24:38 PM
o-o-o-o-h, me like. You make work, tell us how, OK?    :)%
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: Brandt on March 21, 2010, 12:31:12 AM
Well, I don't use AHP so I don't know if it has a web interface. If not it would be just as easy to use a remote desktop with these devices such as this guy:

http://www.mavromatic.com/?p=604
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: Brandt on April 06, 2010, 02:11:31 PM
I ended up snagging a Nokia n800 off ebay.

Here is a cool picture of what is possible:

http://www.smarthome.com/12811/interfaceGO-Nokia-Touch-Screen-Software-for-INSTEON-NK8/p.aspx

I finally got to play with my N800 a bit, as the one that I won didn't come with a battery, so I had to round one of those up.

Anyway...I just have to say WOW! The possibilities are endless!

This thing runs Maemo OS 2008, which is based on debian linux and is completely hackable!!

Pertaining to HA, it runs my Heyu frontend - domus.Link just fine in a web browser. It also has weather apps, chat, email, you name it...

I could probably also hack it to run the Julius speech recognition engine client tied to my NAS...

btw...a NAS and this little handheld can easily replace many things I was originally going to use X10 remotes and whole-house audio setups for:
   Streaming music, speech and VR, weather, alarm clocks, bedside controllers, table side controllers, wall mounted alarm panels, maybe universal A/V remotes (not sure about that yet)


Here is the open source website for its OS:
http://maemo.org/downloads/OS2008/

and its wiki page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_N800


It has 128mb of internal RAM and 256mb of flash memory, but can take two memory cards (2x32GB SDHC = 64GB of storage!) which is can use for storage and some swapping memory.


I also bought 3 of it's predecessors (Nokia 770) from ebay for a total of about $15!! (The bids started at 99cents) The catch was that they were only booting up to a white screen. But Ive done some reading and am good with linux/unix. So I have a good shot of being able to get them running.


The Nokia internet tablet series is 770 -> 800 -> 810. After 810, they become Smartphones  :'
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: pconroy on April 06, 2010, 07:25:17 PM
pomp - whatr you going to use for a carrier?  will they take just about any SIM card then?

That'd be cool to have a linux based phone, that's cheaper than Android, to play with.
I refuse to learn Objective-C!   ;D
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: Brandt on April 06, 2010, 08:05:51 PM
These Nokia Internet Tablets are not phones. They are simply wifi devices. However they do have bluetooth so they can use the internet through your cell phone if your in a remote area. you can make internet calls through skype for example.

I plan to leave them at home scattered on various end-tables for easy HA control and internet kiosks.

They definitely blow away the 3com Audrey.
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: pconroy on April 07, 2010, 02:26:35 PM
These Nokia Internet Tablets are not phones. They are simply wifi devices.

thank you!
(Something else to look at on ebay now.......... )
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: Deemar on April 07, 2010, 06:09:38 PM
I control my house with macros through SSH on my Android phone. I already had the phone and the SSH application is free so it cost me nothing. However I want to put a touchscreen by the front door and for that I'm looking into:
- iPad
- Crunchpad (JooJoo)
- HP Slate
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: Brandt on April 07, 2010, 07:19:38 PM
I control my house with macros through SSH on my Android phone. I already had the phone and the SSH application is free so it cost me nothing. However I want to put a touchscreen by the front door and for that I'm looking into:
- iPad
- Crunchpad (JooJoo)
- HP Slate

Those are very large and expensive, and are meant to do full-on computing tasks, therefore may be overkill.

The internet tablets are centered around browsing the internet. Although they can do other things, they excel at browsing.

The internet tablets are affordable, a good size for either table-top or wall mount, and don't contain all the extra fluff that jacks up the price.
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: HA Dave on April 07, 2010, 09:48:51 PM
aslamma2 has already grabbed the bull by the horns... or better said the ipad by its edges. He even has a video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEbdEt4tFd0).
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: Brandt on April 08, 2010, 11:44:49 AM
aslamma2 has already grabbed the bull by the horns... or better said the ipad by its edges. He even has a video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEbdEt4tFd0).

must be nice!!
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: HA Dave on April 08, 2010, 02:05:51 PM
must be nice!!

All touchscreens are nice! In My Humble Opinion.... touchscreens and voice command are the apex of Home Automation. And... if I remember correctly you created a Linux version of voice control (as well as a YouTube Video) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvlYtoKd7Ns).
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: Brandt on April 08, 2010, 03:35:57 PM
must be nice!!

All touchscreens are nice! In My Humble Opinion.... touchscreens and voice command are the apex of Home Automation. And... if I remember correctly you created a Linux version of voice control (as well as a YouTube Video) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvlYtoKd7Ns).


What you would do here is run the voice recognition server on your HA server, and then run voice recognition clients on all these tablets scattered about your home:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEUeJb6Pwt4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV-WNQFe-LM&NR=1
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: Brandt on April 22, 2010, 12:35:18 PM
Couple cool media controller type apps:

http://openbossa.indt.org/canola/

http://www.livingcontrol.com/product.asp?ProductID=24
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: Brandt on May 05, 2010, 01:48:30 PM
Here is a new one:

Sony Dash:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882105439


Also, Sungale Cyberus is coming out with a new one soon that looks like a picture frame.
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: Deemar on May 05, 2010, 02:05:06 PM
Are you using the iPhone front end for domus.link or the regular front end? I've thought about hacking the code to get the iPhone version to display for my Android phone.
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: Brandt on May 05, 2010, 02:36:59 PM
I don't own an iPhone. I am voting for a UI for the Nokia Internet tablets that I have.

iPhones leave the house with their owners, which leaves other family members  without a way to disarm or some other such function.
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: dbemowsk on May 14, 2010, 10:40:06 PM
I just bought a Nokia 770 off of Ebay for $55.99 w/free shipping.  The ad said that it was a bit scratched, but still worked good.  I am curious to see how it will work with my RemoteWatch X10 software (http://www.phpwebscripting.com/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=9&MMN_position=34:33).  If it works well, I might set it up as a small wall mounted touch screen HA controller to give me a full floor plan access to all of my X10.
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: HA Dave on May 15, 2010, 12:15:56 AM
I just bought a Nokia 770 off of Ebay

I was watching StarTrek the other day... and noticed Jon Luc Picard was using a tablet. So it MUST be the way of the future.
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: dbemowsk on May 15, 2010, 03:11:24 AM
I just bought a Nokia 770 off of Ebay

I was watching StarTrek the other day... and noticed Jon Luc Picard was using a tablet. So it MUST be the way of the future.

We use them for home automation, he uses it for ship automation.  rofl
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: -Bill- (of wgjohns.com) on May 16, 2010, 02:04:20 AM
I just bought a Nokia 770 off of Ebay

I was watching StarTrek the other day... and noticed Jon Luc Picard was using a tablet. So it MUST be the way of the future.

We use them for home automation, he uses it for ship automation.  rofl

Since Jon Luc Picard spends 90% or more of his time on the ship, wouldn't that be considered "Home Automation" too?   :'

 >!
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: Brandt on December 05, 2010, 04:32:08 PM
The Best Buy Insignia Infocast 3.5" is on sale for $49.99 right now...It runs chumby Linux, could easily be modified to be used with your HA system
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: HA Dave on December 05, 2010, 05:46:33 PM
The Best Buy Insignia Infocast 3.5" is on sale for $49.99 right now...It runs chumby Linux, could easily be modified to be used with your HA system

Never before has anyone been able to do so much with home automation. And yet automation seems to cost less very year as well.
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: Don N on December 06, 2010, 10:10:40 AM
Brandt, where did you see the Insignia Infocast at Best Buy for $49.99.?  I see it for $99.99.
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: JMac on December 06, 2010, 11:40:34 AM
Go to the Best Buy page and enter "Insignia Infocast".  It's onsale with free shipping until Dec21, I believe.  Sorry for jumping in here....................
Title: Re: Internet Tablets
Post by: Brandt on December 06, 2010, 11:42:59 AM
Brandt, where did you see the Insignia Infocast at Best Buy for $49.99.?  I see it for $99.99.

That's the 8" one your looking at. This is for the 3.5" one.