CastleOS - new home automation software with Kinect voice control
- Thread starter ChrisCicc
- Start date
ChrisCicc
Active Member
WAR said:
Hi WAR! I'm very sorry for the stretched timeline. The next release WILL be in July. Which day I don't want to say just yet. I'm getting married in five days, so things right now are a bit hectic! I've posted on the CastleOS forums some features that are coming, stay tuned!
Shane94 said:
Hi Shane! Simply Automated uses UPB technology, which is currently supported in private beta and is coming with the next release!
Thank you both!
CastleOS definitely looks intriguing but until they support more devices or allow 3rd parties to make drivers, it will have limited use for many. I wish them luck as their closed nature should ensure a solid product but it will be a solid product of limited use until they are around long enough to support more devices. But the number of devices new and old will always eclipse their development capability. Looks like a nice system though and I wish Chris and his team success.
ChrisCicc
Active Member
HAdiy said:
Thank you!!
dgage said:
dgage - I'm happy to say we are making significant progress on both more internal device/protocol support, and custom (virtual) devices. Our latest Beta of the Kinect Service (the voice control interface) out a few days ago includes custom voice commands and C# scripting. In other words, you'll be able to define a custom phrase/command, and then have it run a C# script that can be as basic as speaking back "hello world!", or as advanced as anything C# can do.
In addition, the next release of the Core service will offer many more protocols built in, and we are working on a virtual device and virtual protocol API as well, so devs can create their own interfaces as needed.
Feel free to check out the new Kinect Service beta, you can test the scripting without installing the Core Service. It also has the following features:
- Voice control for DirecTV/Plex/XBMC/MediaBrowser
- Sonos Speaker Support - use your Sonos speakers with CastleOS for voice response, etc.
- Multi Zone Support - now each Kinect can have it's own zone settings for master devices, speaker choice, and television control
- Improved configuration tool
- More Reliable - the already very very low false positive rate is now even lower! You will likely go many months between a false positive.
- Other smaller changes and fixes
ChrisCicc
Active Member
You didn't, I did 
At least partially, we did release an update in July but it was for the Kinect Service. That added support for Sonos, up to 10 zones (rooms) each with a dedicated Kinect, speaker, master devices, etc., new voice commands, multimedia control over DirecTV, XMBC, Plex, and MediaBrowser, as well as support for custom voice commands and full C# 4.5 scripting. In other words, you can add a custom voice command to do whatever you'd like in C#.
In September, the release of the Core Service will include support Z-Wave, UPB, Nest, LightwaveRF, SmartThings, Sonos, and others new features.
After the next major release, there's a lot happening in a short period of time: in November we'll be at the Web Summit Dublin (sort of a SXSW for Europe) showing off our first hardware device. And soon we'll be launching an all new website. Stay tuned about those!
-Chris
At least partially, we did release an update in July but it was for the Kinect Service. That added support for Sonos, up to 10 zones (rooms) each with a dedicated Kinect, speaker, master devices, etc., new voice commands, multimedia control over DirecTV, XMBC, Plex, and MediaBrowser, as well as support for custom voice commands and full C# 4.5 scripting. In other words, you can add a custom voice command to do whatever you'd like in C#.In September, the release of the Core Service will include support Z-Wave, UPB, Nest, LightwaveRF, SmartThings, Sonos, and others new features.
After the next major release, there's a lot happening in a short period of time: in November we'll be at the Web Summit Dublin (sort of a SXSW for Europe) showing off our first hardware device. And soon we'll be launching an all new website. Stay tuned about those!
-Chris
Chris,
If you actually meet the September date for releasing the supported services listed above it will be fantastic.
Will your hardware be something similar to the Vera controller? I was wondering whether you wanted your product to fill the needs of the home user that DOESN'T want a Kinnect in every room . . .
Thanks.
If you actually meet the September date for releasing the supported services listed above it will be fantastic.
Will your hardware be something similar to the Vera controller? I was wondering whether you wanted your product to fill the needs of the home user that DOESN'T want a Kinnect in every room . . .
Thanks.
ChrisCicc
Active Member
WAR said:
Hey WAR, our latest version has been posted! It includes the promised multi-protocol support: X10, INSTEON, Z-Wave, UPB, Nest, Sonos, LightwaveRF, WeMo, and more on the way! It's also a pretty major overhaul of CastleOS as well. We're very proud of what we've done, come check it out!
http://www.CastleOS.com/
-Chris
BraveSirRobbin
Moderator
Chris;
I've been meaning to ask you this, but where is your discount for CocoonTech members in purchasing your software?
BSR
CocoonTech Moderator
I've been meaning to ask you this, but where is your discount for CocoonTech members in purchasing your software?
BSR
CocoonTech Moderator
BraveSirRobbin
Moderator
It would be a nice gesture! 
ChrisCicc
Active Member
OK, we can do something with that. We'll post here when we have an official code and process. In the meantime, if any cocooners are looking to buy, please send me a DM.
On another note, the CastleOS Android app has launched
The new app auto discovers the CastleOS Core Service (which itself now auto configures the router via UPnP) on the local network, making initial setup a breeze!
(We've always had Android support via the internal HTML5 app, but this is the first time we've had it in the app store.)
On another note, the CastleOS Android app has launched
The new app auto discovers the CastleOS Core Service (which itself now auto configures the router via UPnP) on the local network, making initial setup a breeze!
(We've always had Android support via the internal HTML5 app, but this is the first time we've had it in the app store.)