In a press release a couple weeks ago Digeo, INC. announced that it was going to begin incorporating 4HomeMedia’s ControlPoint home control software into its popular DMR products, including the Emmy-award winning (yes, that’s right – they won an Emmy for it) Moxi Media Center DMR.

I like the concept. Until January 2007, the Moxi had been available to consumers through eight different cable operators as a set-top box with a lot of trimmings, including live cable programming, digital video recording, access to networked computers and all their media, and quite a bit more. This fall, Digeo’s latest DMRs will be available through retailers as well as cable providers, and the new Moxis will incorporate the ControlPoint software, granting users control of entertainment, media, lighting, security, and so on. Furthermore, Digeo has just joined the Z-Wave Alliance as a Full Member, which opens the door to integration of the hundreds of products available through the 160 or so Z-Wave Alliance Members.

Where home control has been slower than home theatre to catch on in the average home, it makes sense for a company like 4HomeMedia to join forces with a company whose set-top products are in increasing demand. Even if consumers are only buying/using a Moxi for digital entertainment purposes, having the ready-made option to easily control other systems in the home might be all the push they need to actually start doing so. Check out Moxi’s demo of their product and 4HomeMedia’s home control solution.

Ben Hardy - Contributing Writer

Between watching re-runs of the The Jetsons and convincing his Insteon and Z-Wave controls to get along, Ben Hardy is immersed in the world of home automation, home control, and home networking.