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Control power to your home appliances from afar
There are plenty of standby-killer devices on the market to limit the effect of your LCD TV on the polar ice caps, but the new Bye Bye Standby Online from Domia takes things a step further.
The kit includes a small device called the Bye Bye Standby Controller that plugs direct into your router (you'll obviously need a broadband connection) along with a couple of Bye Bye Standby plug adapters.
Plug in your TV, table lamps and other devices into the adapters and, via a web-based interface, you'll be able to control the power to them from any internet connected PC.
Although the Bye Bye Standby name suggests power saving is its main purpose, we think its big selling point is actually being able to power up devices in your home. If you're working late, for example, you could give the impression that someone's home by remotely turning on the radio along with a couple of table lamps.
As expected, the Controller requires its own power supply, which will be a pain for homes where plugs near the router are already in use - something a wireless version of the Controller would sort out.
However, we can't deny it's an interesting product and one we're looking forward to testing out for ourselves in the next few days. Watch this space for the full review.
UPDATE:
We've now got pricing info. The kit costs £84.99, while the Controller on its own is £49.99 (although you'll need some plug adapters to use it).
However, it's also a subscription-based service, which seems a little odd to us. You get a free three-month subscription with the £84.99 kit or just one month with the Controller on its own.
Products such as network cameras run their own web server and are accessed direct through the router. It therefore seems odd Domia are routing people through its website to access the Controller and charging a subscription as a consequence.
We're currently awaiting comment from Domia on this.
Posted by Will Stapley on August 21, 2007 | Permalink
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