{"id":28581,"date":"2015-12-29T07:53:54","date_gmt":"2015-12-29T07:53:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/?p=28581"},"modified":"2017-05-24T15:32:00","modified_gmt":"2017-05-24T14:32:00","slug":"top-20-automated-home-posts-of-the-year-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/announcements\/top-20-automated-home-posts-of-the-year-2015.html","title":{"rendered":"Top 20 Automated Home Posts of the Year 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The end of another year as we close in on an important Automated Home milestone, but more on that soon.<\/p>\n<p><div class=\"sj-gblock\">\n<script language=\"javascript\">\n<!--\ngoogle_ad_client = \"ca-pub-5598479065369258\";\ngoogle_ad_width = 300; \ngoogle_ad_height = 250; \ngoogle_ad_format = \"300x250_as\"; \ngoogle_ad_channel = \"7058025304\"; \ngoogle_ad_type = \"text_image\"; \ngoogle_color_border = \"FFFFFF\"; \ngoogle_color_bg = \"FFFFFF\"; \ngoogle_color_link = \"52a79f\"; \ngoogle_color_url = \"CFFFDF\"; \ngoogle_color_text = \"000000\"; \n\/\/--> \n<\/script>\n<script language=\"javascript\"  src=\"http:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\"><\/script>\n<\/div>Z-Wave really took off in 2015. More than\u00a0a quarter of your favourite posts in this years top 20 have been\u00a0on Z-Wave and that doesn&#8217;t count others that indirectly feature it (like SmartThings at number 16).<\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s some great new Z-Wave hardware these days, check out the Aeotec MultiSensor at number 18 (and watch out for our review of the unit coming soon).<\/p>\n<p>Wearables piqued your interest too with our Apple Watch review making it to number 12.<\/p>\n<p>It was great to have a female perspective on the smart home this year and you obviously enjoyed it too as the post from our forum member &#8216;Mavis&#8217; made it to number 9.<\/p>\n<p>A special mention goes to\u00a0the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/reviews\/review-honeywell-evohome-wireless-smart-home-heating-controls.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">review of the Honeywell evohome<\/a> zoned heating control system which was published in December last year but\u00a0would have been in the top 2\u00a0if eligible for this years list. As it was the updated\u00a0WiFi version of the unit made it to number 13.<\/p>\n<p>The interest in last years number 1\u00a0&#8211; HomeKit &#8211; continues, with the\u00a0number 2 spot this time. Hardware has been slow to roll out but has finally <a href=\"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/new-products\/the-best-value-way-to-start-your-homekit-smart-home-setup.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">started to appear<\/a> in the last few months.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/automatedhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/mat-smith-fleetwood-wall-controller.jpg?ssl=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-29676\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/automatedhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/mat-smith-fleetwood-wall-controller.jpg?resize=550%2C268&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"mat-smith-fleetwood-wall-controller\" width=\"550\" height=\"268\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/automatedhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/mat-smith-fleetwood-wall-controller.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/automatedhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/mat-smith-fleetwood-wall-controller.jpg?resize=300%2C146&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/automatedhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/mat-smith-fleetwood-wall-controller.jpg?resize=768%2C374&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/automatedhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/mat-smith-fleetwood-wall-controller.jpg?resize=1024%2C499&amp;ssl=1 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>But with 2 places\u00a0in the top 8 and the outright number 1\u00a0spot is Mat Smith\u00a0and\u00a0his amazing\u00a0DIY\u00a0Smart Home Control Panel that uses an\u00a0Arduino along with OpenHAB and MQTT. We asked Mat for his thoughts and for an update on\u00a0the project and he told us&#8230;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>I&#8217;m thrilled to discover that something which has become a small obsession in my life is somewhat interesting to others! And I&#8217;m ever so thankful to Automate Home\u00a0for picking-up on my project. The all-singing, all-dancing home automation wall controller was born out of frustration with the direction in which most IoT devices seem to be going. I hope to marry the good old-fashioned rotary dimmer switch with the very best of modern home automation. This fancy lightswitch is designed to hide a great deal of complexity, such as the ability to control your heating, monitor temperatures and alarms, locations of family members, audio control, etc., whilst not plunging your granny into darkness because it&#8217;s &#8220;all too complicated&#8221;. My ideal wall controller can be summed-up as &#8220;complexity in disguise&#8221; &#8211; a swish and simple looking lightswitch with hidden gems under the bonnet. There&#8217;s still a long way to go before this product is ready for market, but the prototype is working a treat and I hope someday it may be a fine addition to your home!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Congratulations to Mat and all the others featured in our top 20.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s to a great 2016!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/hardware\/popp-z-weather-is-worlds-first-solar-powered-wireless-z-wave-weather-station.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">20. Popp Z-Weather is World\u2019s First Solar Powered Wireless Z-Wave Weather Station<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/new-products\/oomi-launch-learning-home-automation-system.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">19.\u00a0Oomi Launch Learning Home Automation System<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/new-products\/aeotecs-new-z-wave-multisensor-6.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">18.\u00a0Aeotec\u2019s New Z-Wave MultiSensor 6<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/new-products\/goodbye-keys-yale-launches-smarter-z-wave-lock.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">17.\u00a0Goodbye Keys \u2013 Yale Launches \u2018Smarter\u2019 Z-Wave Lock<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/new-products\/samsung-smartthings-hub-v2-0-now-available-in-the-uk.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">16. Samsung SmartThings Hub v2.0 Now Available in the UK<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/hardware\/belkin-to-expand-wemo-ecosystem-with-new-smart-home-sensors.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">15.\u00a0Belkin to Expand WeMo Ecosystem with New Smart Home Sensors<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/hardware\/popp-hub-is-raspberry-pi-based-z-wave-smart-home-gateway.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">14. Popp Hub is Raspberry Pi Based Z-Wave Smart Home Gateway<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/new-products\/honeywell-reveal-new-wi-fi-version-of-evohome-smart-heating-controller.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">13. Honeywell Reveal New Wi-Fi Version of evohome Smart Heating Controller<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/reviews\/apple-watch-review-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly-after-a-wearable-weekend.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">12.\u00a0Apple Watch Review: The Good, The Bad &amp; The Ugly After a Wearable Weekend<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/hvac\/heat-genius-controlling-your-central-heating-from-your-tv.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">11.\u00a0Heat Genius \u2013 Controlling Your Central Heating From Your TV<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/new-products\/qubino-the-smallest-z-wave-modules-in-the-world.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">10.\u00a0Qubino \u2013 The Smallest Z-Wave Modules in the World<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/installation\/my-automated-home-one-womans-journey-into-the-smart-home-world.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">09.\u00a0My Automated Home: One Woman\u2019s Journey into the Smart Home World<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/hardware\/watch-this-mat-smiths-diy-arduino-home-automation-control-panel.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">08. Watch This: Mat Smith\u2019s DIY Arduino Home Automation Control Panel<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/new-products\/yale-launch-keyfree-connected-z-wave-smart-lock-in-uk.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">07.\u00a0Yale Launch \u2018Keyfree Connected\u2019 Z-Wave Smart Lock in UK<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/hardware\/lightwaverf-reveal-range-of-coordinating-smart-home-accessories.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">06.\u00a0LightwaveRF Reveal Range of Coordinating Smart Home Accessories<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/new-products\/home-assistant-open-source-python-home-automation-platform.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">05.\u00a0Home Assistant \u2013 Open Source Python Home Automation Platform<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/hardware\/powerline-pro-t1501-mains-socket-with-wifi-ethernet-usb-charger.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">04.\u00a0Powerline Pro T1501 Mains Socket with WiFi, Ethernet &amp; USB Charger<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/hardware\/umbrela-has-you-covered-for-retro-fit-home-automation.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">03.\u00a0Umbrela Has You Covered For Retro Fit Home Automation<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/apple\/5-homekit-compatible-devices-to-start-your-home-automation-system.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">02.\u00a05 HomeKit Compatible Devices to Start Your Home Automation System<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/hardware\/hack-diy-arduino-smart-home-control-panel-uses-openhab-mqtt.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">01. Hack: DIY Arduino Smart Home Control Panel Uses OpenHAB &amp; MQTT<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/b\/?_encoding=UTF8&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=19450&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;node=4370276031&amp;pf_rd_i=home%20automation&amp;pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&amp;pf_rd_p=539091067&amp;pf_rd_r=0YEVB842KD51PRBTCGV8&amp;pf_rd_s=desktop-auto-sparkle&amp;pf_rd_t=301&amp;qid=1420041099&amp;ref=spks_0_0_539091067&amp;tag=ah4-21&amp;linkId=F6UYHDJMIO5K7QNR\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-25332 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/automatedhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/ahas.png?resize=500%2C242&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Amazon Home Automation Store\" width=\"500\" height=\"242\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/automatedhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/ahas.png?w=500&amp;ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/automatedhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/ahas.png?resize=300%2C145&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Want More?<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/ottomate\">Follow us<\/a>\u00a0on Twitter,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AutomatedHomeUK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Like us<\/a>\u00a0on Facebook, or subscribe to our\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/feeds2.feedburner.com\/automatedhome\">RSS feed<\/a>. You can even get these news stories\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/feedburner.google.com\/fb\/a\/mailverify?uri=AutomatedHome&amp;loc=en_US\">delivered via email<\/a>, straight to your inbox every day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The end of another year as we close in on an important Automated Home milestone, but more on that soon. Z-Wave really took off in&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":29369,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"2017-03-01T16:45:49Z","apple_news_api_id":"bf30498d-d046-4e00-b2a9-c8602d78e574","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2017-05-24T14:32:07Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AvzBJjdBGTgCyqchgLXjldA","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"activitypub_content_warning":"","activitypub_content_visibility":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[3],"class_list":["post-28581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-announcements","tag-featured"],"apple_news_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/automatedhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/automated-home-top-20-2015.jpg?fit=500%2C313&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28581"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28581"}],"version-history":[{"count":39,"href":"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28581\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36533,"href":"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28581\/revisions\/36533"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29369"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/automatedhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}