Windows Phone Thoughts: Meedio HouseBot: Control Everything In Your House But the Kitchen Sink (Unless it's an X10 Sink)

"Meedio has announced a software suite for home automation and remote control of lights, telephones, heating and cooling systems, security systems, and other supported home technologies. HouseBot implements a client/server architecture in which the client portion can run on Pocket PCs and Windows CE based devices, according to Meedio. Control of the system can be distributed throughout the house by using what Meedio calls "Software Remotes." These can be Pocket PCs or Windows CE based devices -- or even normal Windows PCs -- running Meedio's HouseBot "Software Remote" application. When combined with wireless networking, the Software Remotes offer un-tethered remote control throughout the house, Meedio says."



I know that "control" is the typical word used to describe applications like this, but I think the term 0wn is more applicable. Out of the box, it can control both X10 and IR, can provide phone/modem status (call notification and caller ID), send email via SMTP, control WinAmp 2.x applications, and supports VB Script. Plugins provide support for USB UIRT (IR Transmit and receive), PowerLinc USB X10 control, external, remote control of HouseBot via command line. It also supports a lot of other protocols that mean nothing to me. To run the server, you need a basic Windows machine, and to run the client, you can use a Pocket PC, Windows CE 2.11 or 3.0, or any flavor of Windows. I know we have some X10 afficianados here - is this worth getting excited about? This could be the perfect usage for that old computer I've got in the closet... 8)