Hi, I have read the forums that mention that the Mac Mini's power port on the back has many more pins than are required to supply just power, suggesting future add-ons.

The thought immediately came to me: 'home automation'. This uses signals sent through the power wiring in your home, to turn devices on or off, and in some cases more elaborate control like setting lighting levels, etc. This requires that each device you want to control has an in-line unit on it's power cord, which receives the signal sent by the controller and interrupts the power supply, or allows it through. Lighting can be wired to accept mroe signals than just 'on' or 'off', allowing the lighting level to be accepted. You can extend this to powered projection screens, curtains, air conditiioners, etc.

So an in-line 'Home Automation' unit as a future add-on to the Mac Mini doesn't sound so far fetched. Apple would of course offer software to visually control all the elements, with one 'controller' plugged into your Mac Mini, and extra 'receivers' for each appliance you wish to control. There is even a standard for these signals (I think it's called 'X-10' or 'X10'), which I guess Apple would have to follow in order for it to be widely accepted. maybe the package would be called 'iHome' or something.

Well...that's food for thought anyway. Certainly a product I would buy

You just know someone would write a virus that would rapidly switch on/off any wintel boxes it detected to try and blow their power supplies......


Wait.... Macs don't get virii

On a more serious note, "if it could cook and clean...."

And safely operate a Twin-tub washing machine....

Apple may also be getting ready to support Ethernet-over-the-mains too (not sure if it's yet legal in Australia, but is popular in the US).

Someone in the US. Many many years ago, went ahead and made their house fully automated via Applescript.

I read this in a Macaddict magazine, and I never did find any more info on the net about it.

pipsqeek

Don't pour champagne on your mac mini, or Edgar might come back....

Edgar? Do you mean Igor? :huh: Im dumb... I dont get it.

But anyways, the automation thing would be sweet... as you drove into your driveway you could press one button on a remote, and the garage door would open, the lights in the house would come on, the bath would run and fill to the perfect level, and the bubbles would start, you computer would boot up and go to Appletalk automatically, your electric blanket would turn on.... It would be an awesome thing!

it was bad Ozi, real bad

EDIT: poo me i clicked the edit button in your post instead of the "quote" button. Sorry: its 1.43AM. Please forgive me titan. *blushes*

You've got to be kidding, only a couple of hours ago I was told about Electric Dreams and instructed to watch it and now I see it mentioned again... ARGH!

Sounds like a cool premise for a film, but yeah I can see how the whole 1984 thing would make it terrible. Everything that came out in 1984 was a massive failure, including my head. Specifically in relation to my mothers womb. :unsure:

eeek! (and so sorry for editing your post by accident, titan. I gotta sleep more often. )