The Internet of Things and home automation can either make or break your home.

How?

Consider buying a smart lock and you also get a hub and an app. A smart thermostat will probably include the same things in its box. Even your smart lights need them to work.

If you are a tech savvy or a home automation expert, you won’t probably have a hard time making these hubs and apps communicate efficiently with each other. However, if you’re like most people who aren’t thoroughly familiar with the protocols and integrations of home automation, it’s relatively easy to feel lost inside your own home.

CastleHub aims to change the way you think about having a smart home. It’s a hub that can basically do everything for you.

Its technical specs:

• Intel Celeron 2957 U
• Windows 10 Home
• 30 GB SSD
• 2 GB RAM
• Bluetooth 4.0
• HDMI and Display Port
• 4 USB 3.0
• 2 USB 2.0
• Gigabit Ethernet
• 802.11ac Wi-Fi

CastleHub is a spherical black hub that consumes just around 7 watts. It runs on its own CastleOS, an operating system designed to control all your smart devices at home. Partnered together, they can bring you more than a handful of exciting functions. For one, it’s the only hub that supports voice control though Microsoft Kinect.

Some of the hub’s features include:

• Device Support

Unlike most hubs, CastleHub can support several brands and protocols. This gives you a lot of choices when it comes to adding more smart devices at home.

List of some of the hub’s compatible brands and protocols:

• Z-Wave
• Zigbee
• Wemo
• X10
• Lightwave RF
• Insteon
• Sonos
• UPB
• Ecobee
• Nest

• Security

Aside from automation devices and protocols, CastleHub is also compatible to work with several of today’s sensors and alarms. For added peace of mind and security, you can link the hub to your system’s monitoring station so they’d know right away if something is amiss. Aside from alerting your station, you can also set the hub to verbally notify you in case carbon monoxide reaches an unsafe level or if the temperature at home gets unusually high.

• Multimedia and music control

You can use the hub and CastleOS to connect to your speakers at home. With voice control, you can easily tell your media player which song it should put on air. You can even use it to stream your favorite movies and shows in Netflix and Hulu. It can also work with DirectTV.

• Home temperature

Because of its compatibility with several smart thermostats on the market, you can conveniently use it to adjust your home’s temperature either manually or by using the app. You can even set a schedule so your thermostat knows when it should warm up or cool down. Aside from convenience, this feature also lets you save on your electricity bill.

• Pet care

Other than making sure your home is comfortable, the hub can also take care of your pets. As a matter of fact, it’s the only hub that features a pet feeding function so your dog won’t have to go hungry while you’re still out of the house. Other than your dog, it can also feed your cat and even your fish.

Basically, you’ll have to secure the right feeder first before you can enjoy this feature. The hub is compatible with products from Super Feeder.

• Personalized control

Everyone at home can create his own account. With this, you’ll be able to program a specific setting for each member of the family, including quick accesses to your doors and lights.

• Custom schedule

Creating a schedule for your smart home is easy with CastleOS and its Event Wizard. It lets you set up an event, such as turning on lights, based on a certain day, time or another event. It doesn’t just allow you to create a schedule for a specific day but it also lets you set up a recurring schedule.

• Data privacy

One of the most notable features you can find in this hub is its conscious attempt to keep all your data at home. To do this, the hub does not rely on Cloud. Because there’s no more need for your data to travel to a separate server, there’s less chance that they could get hacked.

• Scene creation

Other than allowing you to set the scenes you want, there’s also the option to save them. Once you press the save button, the Scene wizard will automatically add the scenes for easier recall and learning.

• Voice control

As mentioned, CastleHub can be controlled by verbal commands. If you want the lights in your living room to turn on, then all you have to do is tell your hub to “turn on the living room lights”. It is programmed to understand your commands and which devices you’re referring to. You can use your smart phone or smart watch in giving commands.

Apart from managing your smart devices at home, the hub can also be used to organize them. You can keep all your living room devices under one category in the app or you can categorize your devices based on their functions. You can include one device under a maximum of three groups.

As for the app, it’s generally compatible with most of today’s platform. It can work on devices running on:

• Blackberry
• Windows
• Android
• Firefox OS
• Apple iOS
• Linux

CastleHub costs a bit more than most of its competitors. Its crowdfunding price was marked at $349 each for the earliest backers at Kickstarter. As the campaign has already ended, you can buy CastleHub today for $499. This price is already inclusive of CastleOS which, if bought separately, costs $199.

THE CHECKLIST:

 The hub is able to work with several brands and protocols.
 It features voice control through Microsoft Kinect.
 It doesn’t use Cloud.
 It can also control pet feeders.
 It’s upgradable to up to 16GB of RAM.
 Its app can work with several platforms.
 You can use it to stream videos in Netflix and Hulu.
 It can be connected to your home security system.