Thinking Home for Mac
X-10 home automation software.
$79.00
In English
Version 2.2.4When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission
Thinking Home overview
Thinking Home is the easiest, affordable home automation solution for Mac OS X! v2.2 boasts a modern design that delivers performance without compromising ease of use. It is the only Mac app to store a schedule into an ActiveHome Pro (CM-15A)!
Thinking Home supports some of the most popular new hardware, including ActiveHome Pro (CM-15A), PowerLinc V2 and more than 130 models of gadgets and scores of USB serial adapters.
Version 2.2 is well-equipped to run 24-7 and make use of Mac-only things like speech, scripts, email, instant messaging and iPhone access.
Try out Thinking Home 2.2 as a demo for free.
Some of the highlights:
- Stores your schedule into a controller so you can turn off your Mac.
- Setup Assistant to help you get started
- Gadget Guide for easy setup and shopping
- Events and Responders operate lights, open Web pages, play audio, all kinds of actions
- iPhone access via the excellent X10 Commander app
- Schedule Sets: When going away on vacation, many people want a different schedule to be used. Instead of turning on the coffee maker, you may want a couple of lights turning on randomly for a more secure, lived-in look.
- 1-Wire: Affordable temperature monitoring is just one of the benefits that 1-Wire delivers. It's easier than ever to check the temperature of the water heater, greenhouse, wine cellar, solar panels or the outdoors.
- Device Status: Keep tabs on the status of each device or sensor and use it in a smarter, more energy-efficient home.
- Search Fields: The search field in the Gadget Guide makes it a snap to quickly find what you're looking for. You'll be amazed at how well it works -- it practically reads your mind. It's also very handy in the Schedules window, to narrow down your numerous events to the one you're looking for.
- Desktop Remote operates your gadgets directly from the Finder
- Sherlock plug-in for finding answers online
- Web access that fits seamlessly with Apple's built-in Personal Web Sharing
- Email and iChat/AOL Instant Messenger, even to cell phones
- Scripting with AppleScript and virtually any language you have installed
- Built-in voice commands and spoken announcements. You say "Turn on the living room lamp." and it does!
- English, Dutch and French localizations
- Logging with smart filtering
What’s new in version 2.2.4
Version 2.2.4: Release notes were unavailable when this listing was updated.
Thinking Home for Mac
$79.00
In English
Version 2.2.4
Write a detailed review about Thinking Home
(5 Reviews of Thinking Home)
Comments
User Ratings
Dec 13 2012
Version: 2.2.4
Do not buy this piece of software. I wanted to save a few bucks over INDIGO and went with this junk. There hasnt been an update in years. There is no INSTEON support. The scripting is haphazard. Save yourself some time and aggravation and go with INDIGO instead.
Feb 21 2012
Version: 2.2.4
Well, to be short .. this software is too old, buggy and what's worse, not supported. The developer does not even respond to questions or remarks. Don't use it.
Mar 12 2008
Version: 2.0b17
For those not happy with this, you might check out Intego. I've been running it for 1 1/2 years. Great support, works very well on Leopard. It is a bit more expensive, but overall I have no complaints with it. I'm running the older basic v1.8x version (not server) and have over 20 devices that work flawlessly. My devices are all Insteon, so I cannot attest to X-10 support, but I've heard it's just as good.
Oct 2 2007
Version: 1.1.7
I've been using Thinking Home for years since I like automating lights around my house, but this product has never been updated to work properly with a USB Serial Adapter, like the Keyspan USA-28, with MacOS X. In the past it has generally worked, but I always winced when starting the application because more often than not it would not see the X-10 Interface (a CM-11 or IBM Home Director) plugged in six inches down the line.
Finally, today I replaced my old G4 iMac (lampshade) with a newer G5 iMac and Thinking Home refuses to see the active serial ports installed via the Keyspan Serial Adapter software. I've visited the Thinking Home site, but all they do is blame MacOS X and make a suggestion to unselect the active ports in the Network Port Configurations panel.
So, in a nutshell, this worked pretty well with MacOS 9, but has been very problematic with MacOS X.
I've been transitioning to Indigo, talking to real USB devices with assigned addresses, and it works much more reliably, and recommend it to others thinking about home automation.
I no longer recommend Thinking Home software.
Dec 12 2005
Version: 1.1.7
This used to be the Mac standard for X10 control and pretty much the only useable one available unless you wanted to keep your computer running all the time. However it has been literally years since an update was released and technology with X10 control and its children have advanced considerably, along with interface design. So this update is just too little and too late. According to the authors description no significant changes or feature additions have occurred. This release according to the description seems mostly to be a bug fix.
I have long since switched to Indigo. It has many more features, a more modern interface, and supports more interface controllers. Additionally new features and bug fixes are released every few months instead of every few years. Frankly I am surprised to see this update as everyone I spoke to about it, like myself, assumed it had been EOL'd. That impression is what caused me to try Indigo and ultimately purchase it.
Given the website and the support, in the way of improvements and updates, Thinking Home leaves me with the impression that it is the developers hobby rather than their avocation. Since I depend on X10 as part of my security system I want something that is actively in development, testing, and improvement. That product, at this point, does not seem to be Thinking Home.