http://www.househacker.com/ househacker/tags/internet Making Every Pixel Count", which is about the importance of properly photographing your home for online real estate sites.

From the article:

When selling properties online, agents and Web designers say that the pictures buyers see of houses and apartments for sale are often the first ? and sometimes the only ? chance for a seller to make a good impression. Less-than-flattering pictures can turn buyers off and lead to lonely open houses.

So why is this so important? Well, some stats, from the piece:

Eighty percent of people across the country who bought a new home last year used the Internet while house hunting, and they rated photographs as the most useful tool in their search, according to a survey of buyers and sellers by the National Association of Realtors. The survey also found that 24 percent of home buyers got their first glimpses of their new homes on the Web, up from a mere 2 percent in 1997.

And let's face it, this number is probably going to continue to tend upward. If you've ever searched for a house or apartment online, you've probably been surprised and/or frustrated at the lack of pictures some listers provide. As many people will tell you, all the details in the world are still taken with a grain of salt when pictures aren't provided. Unless listers are trying to hide something, why not give web searchers what they want?

And although the mere act of posting pictures is crucial to attracting web-savvy prospects nowadays, the variance in the quality of the pictures can change the buyer's impression drastically. Be sure to see the audio slideshow that accompanies the article for examples of this.

Via 37Signals]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Taking-Better-Real-Estate-Photos
The IP Thermostat is compatible with most HVAC systems, so whether you have a gas or oil furnace or boiler, hydronic heating or central air conditioning, you'll be able to integrate this single-stage heat and cool thermostat into your existing heating system. Thermostats can be configured to send alerts in the event of required maintenance or low temperature alarms. Use this system to turn on the heat or air conditioning in your vacation home or receive an email notification if the thermostat has detected a danger of freezing pipes. You'll appreciate the IP Thermostat's flexible temperature scheduling options. With 366-day programming, you'll be able to determine four temperature periods per day, with vacation and special day schedules available as well.

Previous remotely controllable thermostat entries.

Via UberGizmo]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Another-Internet-Friendly-Thermostat
Proliphix offers indoor temperature sensors, which can be mounted away from the thermostat so that temperature inside a home or small business can be averaged across multiple rooms to avoid hot or cold spots and wasted energy. With an optional Proliphix outdoor temperature sensor connected to a networked thermostat, the heating/cooling system can be controlled more precisely to efficiently and more comfortably overcome the indoor to outdoor temperature difference. The web browser configuration tool is simple to use and allows users to easily configure heating or cooling programs to maximize comfort and minimize energy use.

Smarthome sells the Proliphix NT20e, which is the same unit but with 2 additional remote temperature sensors, for use in monitoring different zones within your home or even the outdoor temperature.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Internet-Controllable-Thermostat
via Metafilter]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Possibly-the-World's-Most-Connected-House Monogram Collection, offer this monster of a wine cooler that comes complete with a wine inventory system familiar with 20,000 wines (which will come in handy as the vault stores over a thousand bottles), optional internet action that allows you to browse your wines from work (maybe while you preheat your oven over the net as well), as well as a handy touchscreen and bar code scanner.

Price tag: $35,000.

A few features, from the site:

Provides storage for more than one thousand bottles on premium-quality, moisture-resistant redwood racks.

Racks are arranged for single-, double- and triple-bottle storage, while also accommodating magnum bottles and crates.

Liquid-based, digital thermostat system offers precise control over temperature, allowing adjustment between 50°F and 70°F, while maintaining ideal humidity conditions.

Stainless steel walls and door have a high-density foam (R-33 value) that helps ensure precise temperature and energy-efficient performance.


via Kitchen Contraptions]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/GE-Monogram-Collection-Mean-Looking-Walk-in-Wine-Vault Lifehacker has a nice howto on setting up your own personal web server, giving you the ability to do things like stream mp3s from your personal collection to work, set up a web based shared calendar for your family or give yourself quick access to your personal files from anywhere you've got net access. The system is password protected of course, but it is built on a windows box, so beware and be patched.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Nice-Howto-on-Setting-up-your-own-Personal-Web-Server
Use one of the included extension units to connect your router to the AuraGrid, and wire the additional extensions into the cable entry point of the rooms to be connected. Each comes with an antenna: Rooms that are equipped with an AuraGrid antenna will enjoy maximum wireless signal strength as well as data throughput without interrupting cable TV/Internet services.

Great idea.

via engadget]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Use-Existing-Cabling-to-Extend-your-Home-WiFi-Network-with-AuraGrid VOIP client, just added video capabilities to it's software package. Skype is one of the best internet apps out there because, besides looking good and being intuitive, as many have said before: it just plain works. The sound quality is great, and stands up flawlessly when compared to a regular POTS system. Sticking it to the phone company is always nice, too.

via Digg]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Skype-Releases-Version-2.0-With-Video website, the Connect Io Intelligent Oven allows you to begin cooking your food remotely, via either a telephone or internet connection. The idea is that you prepare your food ahead of time and place it in the oven, which keeps the food refrigerated until the cooking process is initiated remotely. Throughout the process, the display on your web browser exactly matches the display on the oven itself, in real time.

Program, command, and control your Connect Io oven remotely through your cell phone from anywhere in the world. No matter where you are, send commands over the Internet from your computer through a standard web browser.

Anywhere in the world? Sure, this might be handy to use from work or even to monitor your food from the pc in the other room, but who are they marketing to with 'from anywhere in the world'?]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Internet-and-Telephone-Controlled-Oven-with-Refrigeration