Stutopia Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 I recently picked up some "smart" bulbs and I quite like them. The novelty of being able to assign the three lamps all different colours and define "scenes" is kind of fun. There's the fairly useful timers to wake me up in the morning with a gentle, warm glow. Them switching themselves off automatically when I leave the house and back on when I come home - as a geek, I think it's really cool. I love the Siri integration too Has anyone else dabbled in the smart fad and got any internet of things things in the house? And, crucially, are they any good? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATTAK Z Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 Coolio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beavis Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 I have about 20 of those Philps hue lamps....16 million colours...i love em. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATTAK Z Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 Closest I've got to this is a few LEDs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZEUS Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 You live in a nightclub Stu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky-Ricky Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 I ran a RGB LED strip in a hidden channel along the cornice on the short wall i my living room, and another behind the TV, works very well, any colour you like and can be dimmed too. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted October 8, 2016 Author Share Posted October 8, 2016 You live in a nightclub Stu It's just the boudoir, I usually only go for white, yellow and red, the blue and purple isn't commonly used. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZEUS Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 You live in a nightclub Stu It's just the boudoir, I usually only go for white, yellow and red, the blue and purple isn't commonly used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy_Baton Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 (edited) Problem for this kind of thing is technological obsolescence. I've got 3 generations of Philips hue lights each generation requires a different control method. How long does a fridge/cooker usually last v's how long is a communication technology supported for these days. You'll be looking at needing to replace all your household goods every 5 years or so to keep everything talking to each other. Look what happened to all the Nest customers in America, they brought into the smart home dream and automated their homes only for google to buy Nest and shut down the service with zero notice. All customers got was a single email. Edited October 9, 2016 by Randy_Baton 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted October 9, 2016 Author Share Posted October 9, 2016 Yeah, the new techs always have irritatingly opposed and conflicting standards, which ironically hits early adopters hardest, even though they've helped push it on. I wonder if there's standardisation in the pipeline? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commander Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 I want to know how much of this tech has anti-virus software or is, at least, using a hardened OS and a Firewall? Multi-function Printer / Fax / Scanner gets a virus and all of a sudden everything it processes is getting copied to somebody else. IP Telephone gets a virus and your 'encrypted' calls are being streamed somewhere else. Same for your voice-activated TV or Games console too, only they're always on and in your living room. Connected fridge, cooker, security system, car, smart phone, lights, etc... they're all potential routes of attack. I'm an IT person so I loves me a bit of tech just like you, but unless you're securing it, it's a risk... Set passwords (or better, pass phrases) that are d1fF!CuLLLT to to guess on everything. Try not to use the same password for everything. Get a Firewall that does transparent AV scanning and filtering. Understand how all your tech really works and setup Firewall rules accordingly... and so on. Scary times! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted October 9, 2016 Author Share Posted October 9, 2016 Totally agree, the potential risk is huge as more devices join the party, you don't have to be a big Mr Robot fan to realise there's opportunity for exploitation. For the time being I'm limiting my exposure to three LED bulbs and the risk of Chinese hacker invoked disco attack! But it won't be long before there's "my automated house was hacked by next door's teenager!" stories. It's a shame firewall rules are so tedious to implement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 "Thanks babe!" :lol: Glad it's not only me that does proper chatting with her 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted October 9, 2016 Author Share Posted October 9, 2016 "Thanks babe!" :lol: Glad it's not only me that does proper chatting with her I wondered who'd notice! She never answers back I've be toying with the foreign Siris on my iMac, I think Australian or South African are the sexiest sounding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 I nearly changed mine to the Aussie one, but she sounds a little too slutty. I like my women to at have a pretence at some class. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GappySmeg Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 My father in-law has built a few sensors and actuators using arduino boards to monitor for burst pipes, check the level in his "grey water" tank, and to water his plants. He then hooked these all up to a web server so he can check them whilst on his next cruise...... I've had a little poke around and there's no security whatsoever... some spotty Russian hacker is going to totally ruin this years butternut squash harvest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenLandy Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 I've got a nest thermostat and it's excellent. It takes a little while to learn your habits/preferences, but then does a pretty damn good personalised heating schedule, turns off when you're not in the house and you can remotely change the temp - great when you're coming back from holiday or similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbyZ Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 (edited) This is surely just another step towards Skynet *tinfoil hat on*. I nearly changed mine to the Aussie one, but she sounds a little too slutty. I like my women to at have a pretence at some class. Lol Edited October 9, 2016 by BobbyZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimboy2 Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 I'm having loads of problems with Apples Hime app. I have Hues around my house and all set to come on at certain times and when I arrive home. Since I have gone over to using the Home app exclusively it has hardly worked at all. The Phillips app is garbage too. Also waiting on home kit enabled light switches and sockets. Why these weren't the 1st products to come out i will never know. I have an outside light I want to control but a hue bulb won't fit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted October 9, 2016 Author Share Posted October 9, 2016 I haven't really got to grips with the Home app yet, I still use the Hue one for now. Even with the Hue app, they tried to push me onto the newer version 2 (the one with the multicoloured HUE text below) but I didn't like it and went back to the one with the HUE text in white. It's just right for the job IMO, nor sure what else I want lights to do that it doesn't cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandit Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 I'm doing a IOT course with Future Learning starting in Nov, Thanks for joining us on The Internet of Things.The course will start on Monday 7 November. In the meantime, you can get to know other learners and prepare for the course in the Welcome Area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted October 9, 2016 Author Share Posted October 9, 2016 I'm having loads of problems with Apples Hime app. I have Hues around my house and all set to come on at certain times and when I arrive home. Since I have gone over to using the Home app exclusively it has hardly worked at all. The Phillips app is garbage too. Also waiting on home kit enabled light switches and sockets. Why these weren't the 1st products to come out i will never know. I have an outside light I want to control but a hue bulb won't fit I had a play with the Home app after reading your post. At first I couldn't get to grips with it, I know everything is supposed to be intuitive these days but occasionally I wouldn't mind some instructions However, once I got my Apple TV set up as the automation hub, it all started to make sense and now I've binned off the Philips Hue apps altogether Thanks for nudge to use the Home app http://www.imore.com/how-make-your-apple-tv-or-ipad-home-hub Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coldel Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Since when has turning on the lights been such a chore that it needs technology to do it for us 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flex Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 I want to know how much of this tech has anti-virus software or is, at least, using a hardened OS and a Firewall? Multi-function Printer / Fax / Scanner gets a virus and all of a sudden everything it processes is getting copied to somebody else. IP Telephone gets a virus and your 'encrypted' calls are being streamed somewhere else. Same for your voice-activated TV or Games console too, only they're always on and in your living room. Connected fridge, cooker, security system, car, smart phone, lights, etc... they're all potential routes of attack. I'm an IT person so I loves me a bit of tech just like you, but unless you're securing it, it's a risk... Set passwords (or better, pass phrases) that are d1fF!CuLLLT to to guess on everything. Try not to use the same password for everything. Get a Firewall that does transparent AV scanning and filtering. Understand how all your tech really works and setup Firewall rules accordingly... and so on. Scary times! But for the OP is he really worried if someone hacks his lights and starts randomly assigning colours? Or perhaps doing the sequence out of Close Encounters? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky-Ricky Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 LOL! Cyber terrorists turning off your telly in the middle of corrie. :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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