Hasta La Gadget!

Now that Nest has rolled out its second-gen smart thermostat, it looks like it’s gearing up to reveal its next project: an intelligent smoke detector dubbed Protect. Jessica Lessin, formerly of the Wall Street Journal, first broke word of the device and now AllThingsD is chiming in to confirm its existence. Specifics are slim, but it’s said Protect will connect to the outfit’s existing A/C hardware (presumably over Bluetooth), lending it long battery life since it won’t need a WiFi chip. Lessin notes that a subscription-based monitoring service and the ability to sense carbon monoxide have been considered, but ATD‘s sources say the contraption won’t be tied to a monthly fee. An official unveiling is expected to occur soon, and retail availability could come by year’s end. Now that intelligent smoke detectors appear poised to head into homes soon, we can only hope they’re as charming as Gilbert Gottfried.

[Image credit: Katy Warner, Flickr]

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Source: Jessica Lessin, AllThingsD

The idea of the “internet of things” is fine and well, but when was the last time your smartphone had a chat with the fridge? Technicolor is aiming to solve those communication breakdowns with Qeo, a software system to bridge connected devices of all types and brands. While you may be thinking, “Technicolor? That company at the end of the movie credits?” it turns out that the post-production outfit also does items like set-top boxes and DSLR routers through its acquisition of Thomson. Qeo will allow those types of devices, along with smartphones, computers, tablets and even “dumb” systems like intercoms or appliances to all communicate, regardless of the OS or protocol used by each. That’ll create scenarios where your doorbell can notify your smartphone that someone’s waiting to be let in, or allow you to switch a video call from your Android tablet to a Qeo-enabled TV screen, according to Technicolor — providing the right manufacturers, software developers or network operators are using the protocol, of course. Fortunately, the company claims that it’s already signed up a bevy of companies in all those categories, meaning a device-agnostic connected home may be soon within your grasp. Check the PR after the break to see all the details in glorious, er, Technicolor.

Continue reading Technicolor’s Qeo software aims to let connected devices speak the same lingo

Filed under: Internet, Software

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We’ve been seeing the growing trend of peculiar services like Cupertino’s Siri, Samsung’s S Voice and Google Now on mobile devices, but up until now, we have yet to spot something similar in the world of connected homes. Having previous experience in the text-to-speech department, iSpeech is hoping to be able to do just that with the world debut of its voice recognition platform for smart households. With iSpeech Home, the company’s aiming to give OEMs and manufacturers a canvas where they can implement voice recognition software into TVs, home entertainment systems, lighting, refrigerators and even washers and dryers — which would, according to iSpeech, open the doors to natural language commands such as “Watch ESPN” or “Turn off the lights in the living room.” As exciting as it all sounds, the company’s COO Yaron Oren did tell us there aren’t any official partners on board at the moment, but that he does expect to have iSpeech Home-powered products within the next 6-12 months.

Continue reading iSpeech intros voice recognition platform for connected homes, enables vocal control of TVs and appliances

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Home Entertainment, Software

iSpeech intros voice recognition platform for connected homes, enables vocal control of TVs and appliances originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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