New ActivePhone application (formerly PhoneMote)

[Dr.Fiero]

If you haven't seen the spam ... errrr, ad for it yet -- X10 has a new application for iPhone (etc) to do what a few other have been doing.
It just happens to look like one of there own remotes!

Interesting though...  in the ad, it says (with reference to AHP):
STEP 2: Click on the Tools pulldown menu and select Invite a Cell Phone.

We don't HAVE that option!  in the latest revision anyhow.  Does this not smell of a new one around the corner?

[-Bill- (of wgjohns.com)]

If this is what they're talking about: X10 Blog - X10 Phone App, I guess the brave amongst us can find out Monday.   

[BaBaLou.]

Check out the New and updated X10 software Download page.
There is some organization going on here. 

[J.B.]

Interesting though...  in the ad, it says (with reference to AHP):
STEP 2: Click on the Tools pulldown menu and select Invite a Cell Phone.

We don't HAVE that option!  in the latest revision anyhow.  Does this not smell of a new one around the corner?

The software package for "ActivePhone" will probably add this menu to AHP as the other plug-ins add menus and features.

[RonalsReagan]

"ActiveHome instantly wirelessly transmits the commands to your Transceiver (or ActiveHome PC Interface - CM15A)"

Is this misleading or am I missing something.  Active home on you PC communicates with the transceiver through the USB cable.  Is there a way to use this app without having your PC on all the time connected to the CM15A via USB?   

[AdamL]

From the webpage for it, http://www.x10.com/promotions/sw44a_ed_world_premiere_0917.html, it appears that it sends an internal IP address to your phone....the screen shot they have says http://192.168.11.96:8777/ahp.  That leads me to believe that the cell phone is using the home wi-fi network to connect to the PC (192.168.11.96), on which they open up a port (:8777) to control AHP.  So the new ActivePhone would have to be an addon for AHP, right?




Here's what the chat person had to say....pretty useless...

( adam lambertus )On how many phones can I set up the ActivePhone (SW44A)? Do I have to pay $9.99 for each phone, or is it one price for the plugin for Active Home?
( Fred ) Hello, Thank you for contacting X10.com where the price has JUST dropped on the World's Best LCD Remote!
Click here to check it out!
- May I have your phone number so that I can contact you in case we get disconnected?
( Adam_Lambertus )XXXXXXXXX
( Fred ) Good morning well it would let you register once per ip address
( Fred ) so one per phone
( Adam_Lambertus )so if I have 2 phones (one for my wife, one for me), I would need to purchase 2 instances of the app? And it runs through my home wi-fi connection?
( Fred ) well first you would need the Original Active Home Pro Software for your computer then this is new software just lunched this weekend so to the best of my knowledge you would just need to yes purchase the app twice for both phones
( Adam_Lambertus )I have AHP on my home computer, and it's running through a CM15A.
( Adam_Lambertus )Is there a manual available? I did a quick search on the website, and I couldn't find it.
( Fred ) Here is a link to what we have so far on the software http://www.x10.com/promotions/sw44a_ed_world_premiere_0917.html
( Fred ) ok you have the correct stuff on your home computer
( Adam_Lambertus )I saw that page, and from the part "Simply go into ActiveHome, clickon the Tools pulldown menu, select Invite a Cell Phone, type in the address, click okay and it will send the link to your phone. Open up the link on your phone, bookmark it so it shows up on your Home Screen", it sounds like it is installed into AHP like the other plugins....
( Fred ) I'm sorry I don't have more updated information on it than that it just launched that this weekend and I haven't been updated on it much myself I'm learning on the go. But from what I have read it is that simple just give active home pro permission to connect and have the app on your phone and you are connected!
( Adam_Lambertus )I know that the other plugins (security, macros, cams, etc.) work by sending an email link to the account when purchased. Then you download the plugin and when you run it, it installs into AHP. Do you know if that is how this works?
( Fred ) no it won't send a email link
( Adam_Lambertus )So what happens? The current version of AHP doesn't have "Invite a cell phone" in the Tools menu...but that's how it says it works....
( Fred ) all our software is free to download and the newest version is here: http://www.x10.com/software
( Adam_Lambertus )Is there anyone else that might know a little more about ActivePhone?
( Fred ) not that I'm aware
( Fred ) what is your email address I can have someone contact you?
( Adam_Lambertus )The forums are pretty empty, it's only mentioned in http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=21397.0

[Alan V]

The X10 ActivePhone software also updates AHP and adds the "Invite a Cellphone" feature.

[JMac]

How does it "update" AHP?  What version do you then have?

[anthonylavado]

How does it "update" AHP?  What version do you then have?

So they've changed the name to ActivePhone based off of my suggestion on Facebook. They're also giving me a free copy. As soon as I get it, I'll document any install process + changes made so we have answers for all these questions.

[rnorton888]

Has anyone actually got their software download link? I purchased this couple days ago and still not been processed. If so reviews?
Thanks
Randy

[Day Dreamer]

  I purchased the ActivePhone yesterday evening and received the email with registration code and link to the AHP upgrade this morning.  Have only had a short time to evaluate but, it works fantastic on my iPhone!!  Easy to use any house code and has nicer labels that a ink pen on paper label of X10 remotes.  Response time I believe is faster than through the CM15A.  This could about eliminate the radio limitations some people experience.

Dale

[anthonylavado]

Hey everyone, I'm making this a much easier and structured document in this other (hopefully stickied) thread:
Active Phone Tips & Tricks

[Brian H]

Anthony;
Thank you for the very detailed findings on the ActivePhone application. 
Helpful from me.

[Noam]

Thanks for the detailed explanation.
From what I gather, unless you are tapping into the "undocumented" features and writing a page with your own links and such, this seems like all it does is give you a PalmPad remote, on the screen of your phone, that uses WiFi instead of RF signals.
Since I have good RF coverage (finally), and a ton of PalmPad remotes scattered around my house (turns out the ScanPad remotes are exactly the same, just a different color), does this plugin really buy me anything?

[dave w]

Since I have good RF coverage (finally), and a ton of PalmPad remotes scattered around my house (turns out the ScanPad remotes are exactly the same, just a different color), does this plugin really buy me anything?

Only if you are a phone phreak.