Sand Hill Engineering has released version 3.5 of “XTension,” the Mac-only home automation software. The latest version supports the new wireless X-10 receiver (MR26a), according to Michael Ferguson of Sand Hill.
“This US$30 interface in perhaps the most exciting thing that has happened in home automation for many years,” he said. “Allowing wireless motion sensors and hand-held controls to bypass the normal powerline transmission, going directly to the Macintosh, provides greater reliability and faster response times to sensors and controls in home automation systems.”
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.
This latest version rounds out the feature set of XTension, which now includes standard X-10 powerline and wireless (RF) signals, as well as hard-wired and infra-red. XTension is available in a free lite version, which 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.)
Packages of the software and X-10 starter kits are available at different Web sales sites ($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.