The Home Blog

What do you crave for your home?

CNet's Crave blog to be exactly what it describes itself as -- a place where homeowners and others who crave the latest gadgets and other consumer electronics can find the best items. They do seem to present good information about new gadgets that are available and where to get them. But they don’t just give out information on the latest toys that someone with too much disposable wealth is going to want.

The blog tells readers about general electronics business news such as sales figures and patent applications that various companies have. They have good pictures for almost every story. They do use a number of different authors for the blog.  The blog also smartly presents a group of links to posts that the blog has made about various gadgets that the reader might be interested.

Format wise the blog seems to right on top of everything. They have various feeds such as RSS, google and my yahoo.They also have a Weekly “Vodcast” that gives the highlights of the blog. This can be downloaded to your ipod or other MP3 player.

Other popular gadget sites include: BoingBoing Gadgets, Gizmodo, and Engadget.

Connect to your personal power grid

Okay all you people out there in California. Today you've experienced the wonder of rolling blackouts. Tomorrow it could get even worse. So why is a bill that encourages personal home based solar energy production stuck in the legislature? Next time that power turns back on pick up that phone and call your representative and tell them to get on the ball. The technology to greatly assist in powering your house via solar and wind is here today, but without regulation changes and some incentives it will never get off the ground.

The 3000 megawatts this legislation would produce is the same as two-three nuclear power plants and infinitely safer.

Wireless living at home

One of my goals for my next home is to be totally wireless. From desktop to screen, from television to DVR, from curb to fence. Only problem is, I've never done this before. Digital Home Magazine looks like a good place to start. They have a tutorial for the newbies, like me, and plenty of reviews of appropriate products for those who are more advanced.

This review of the Maxtor OneTouch II, a networked backup unit, seems essential reading for anyone who puts any value on their data. The next question is, is it wireless?

Weight Furniture

Electronic Furniture is the wave of the future. So say the folks at Lancaster University. They've created a set of weight sensing prototypes that might change the way we interact with furniture in our homes.

Not sure I find much use for any of this. But the idea of a home where the furniture acts both autonomously and as part of the whole suits me. If I always sit at the foot of my bed in the morning to put on my socks and shoes my bed should know that and react with a firmer mattress for that time. If I am low on shaving cream the medicine cabinet should not only know my brand but know where it is in stock and on sale. Possibly even add it to my shopping list on my handheld.

I want my Jetson house.

[ ttags: design, technology, home, future, futurism, furniture, gadget ]

HomeHack: VOIP over your home lines.

I can't recommend signing up with Vonage, or a similar Voice Over IP (VOIP) company, enough. Not only do you usually get free long distance, but you escape the fees and clutches of your local monopolistic phone service.

For lots of people one hurdle remaining before they switch to VOIP is the ability to receive phone calls on their existing house lines. Well Jack Ludington has just posted a great hack to solve that issue. Anyone with just a little technological savvy can do this.

Vonage is also coming out with a WIFI Phone that will work with VOIP. Perfect for towns and cities that have a public access WIFI network.

Btw, if you want to sign up with VONAGE, I'd appreciate it if you drop me an email and I'll send you a referral link. I get credits for free service and so will you!

[ ttags: voip, telephone, home, vonage ]