Sand Hill Engineering has released version 3.5.9 of Xtension — its Mac-only home automation software, and added new features that support the latest wireless home theater and MP3 remote controls from X-10.
From one wireless “learning” remote, you can now issue standard IR commands direct to your home theater, as well as RF commands direct to the new MR26 wireless transceiver, and to XTension which can spawn powerline, IR (ZephIR) and hardwired commands, even control your MP3 software, according to Michael Ferguson of Sand Hill Engineering.
XTension uses AppleScript as its scripting language. It’s fully scriptable, attachable, and recordable. And you can control any other scriptable application from within it. What’s more, it has low RAM usage (under 512K) and supports older black and white Macs, including the Mac Plus and SE.
Packages of the software and X-10 starter kits are available at different Web sales sites (US$79.95 on the Web site). Downloads and a Web site of home automation ideas can be found at the Sand Hill Web site. XTension products are available through Developer Depot.
Plus, XTension is available in a free Lite version that incorporates all of the features of the full version, with only a limitation on the number of database units. The Lite version works with the popular CM11/Activehome controller and the new MR26a, Ferguson said.