Great device, but...
I finished playing with mit ZipaMini box for one week, and overall I think it is a great device (incl. rule creator, ...).
But there are few things I'm missing, so I will not use it any longer. Maybe try it again in a year and see if software has evolved.
Here are my major problems:
1. no scripting: the rule editor is great, but restricted to what it can do. I want for example create a voice file (text2speach, using tts or google) and play it back on my Sonos boxes. For example when an alarm occurs, or an incoming call. LUA or Luup seems to be pretty good for it [2].
2. Fritbox support: AVM Fritzbox is in Germany the probably most used router. There is an API (TR-064 [1]) and I need support for it, to catch incoming calls, initiate calls through it, check if wlan devices are connected ...
3. Voice commands: the iOS/Android Apps should add voice commands to execute rules. Voice command is the future. Not sure what I will use (Alexa, Google home...), but I somehow want to integrate one of them to command my home by voice (rather than using the app). Currently I'm using ImperoHome Andorid App, which has VoiceSupport, and does integrate pretty well with Zipato.
4. Roadmap? Transparency is key for success of such a product. Customers want to know how long their device will be supported, what's coming next... I found no such information on Zipato web site.
Hope this helps to improve Zipato in the future.
[1] https://avm.de/service/schnittstellen/
[2] http://wiki.micasaverde.com/index.php/Luup_Lua_extensions, https://www.lua.org/
I like this idea 
Well, guess some if these things will be never done. This depends on Sebastians approach whether he is willing to open up the system to enable for 3rd party plugins...
Well, guess some if these things will be never done. This depends on Sebastians approach whether he is willing to open up the system to enable for 3rd party plugins...
All of this can be achieved but you need a dedicated server (man in the middle) on which you run all of your logic (instead of having everything run on the Zipabox. By using http request within the rule creator you can trigger your man in the middle to do things for you. (tts on SONOS, get notification from Fritzbox, etc..)
Check this website from Helle. You understand what I mean:
http://zipabox.de/
I agree, it is a bit complicated but it can be done. Actually I find this approach safer instead of having lot of non verified code to run on your box.
Another approach is to have a Zipato App store where only verified plugins can be dowloaded and run.
I have used both Fibaro and Vera and I know ehat a bad piece of code can do to your system.
Hope this helps
All of this can be achieved but you need a dedicated server (man in the middle) on which you run all of your logic (instead of having everything run on the Zipabox. By using http request within the rule creator you can trigger your man in the middle to do things for you. (tts on SONOS, get notification from Fritzbox, etc..)
Check this website from Helle. You understand what I mean:
http://zipabox.de/
I agree, it is a bit complicated but it can be done. Actually I find this approach safer instead of having lot of non verified code to run on your box.
Another approach is to have a Zipato App store where only verified plugins can be dowloaded and run.
I have used both Fibaro and Vera and I know ehat a bad piece of code can do to your system.
Hope this helps
hello,
I have also been a previous Vera user but got tired of all problems caused by external code not working properly...
This is the reason why I choose the Zipato solution, just one developer of code...
Of course, there are still such things as bugs/hangings in the system but, at least, you have one interface of support to deal with when such things happen...
And from my point of view, I rather have a, somewhat, limited, stable box than a box which all the time needs you attention...
Since the last 6 months, I experience this stable environment if you stick to the rules (pun intended) and use the box with it's current functionality (still on 1.0.17....)
hello,
I have also been a previous Vera user but got tired of all problems caused by external code not working properly...
This is the reason why I choose the Zipato solution, just one developer of code...
Of course, there are still such things as bugs/hangings in the system but, at least, you have one interface of support to deal with when such things happen...
And from my point of view, I rather have a, somewhat, limited, stable box than a box which all the time needs you attention...
Since the last 6 months, I experience this stable environment if you stick to the rules (pun intended) and use the box with it's current functionality (still on 1.0.17....)
Jean-Marc,
From what I can understand, you have been testing the Zipabox, but found that it doesn't fulfill your requirements. You want something which can accept voice commands, be programmed to create text2speech and output that on your connected Sonos-system, and additionally interface with your FRITZ!Box ADSL/VDSL router, so that you will be notified of incoming phone calls, make phone calls on its own, etc. etc.
I believe I saw this kind of device for the first time here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARJ8cAGm6JE
Jokes aside, I believe you would be best suited with a dedicated PC which has the necessary Z-Wave or whatever interfaces installed., where you can program, script and run whatever you want.
Bear in mind that Zipabox and now also Zipatile (and a lot of the competing controllers) are consumer products, aimed at the mass market. They are designed to be lean and mean and to do most things for most people, and are thus "special purpose devices". Among these, the Zipato world is probably the most versatile, as it supports more devices and more protocols and thus more devices, than any of its competitors.
This, of course, also means that you shouldn't expect too much of the device itself, and that you'll have to resort to external controls or mechanisms to get the job done if you hit the wall of limitations.
That said: It is completely possible to utilize the Zipabox as a mere interface to more advanced systems: With Zipato's inherent concept of virtual devices which can be set, read and manipulated via HTTP, you don't need to build rules to be smart: The devices/rules on Zipabox can simply be slaves of your dedicated PC which you can program any way you want, in the computer language / scripting language of your choice.
Brgds
Robert
Jean-Marc,
From what I can understand, you have been testing the Zipabox, but found that it doesn't fulfill your requirements. You want something which can accept voice commands, be programmed to create text2speech and output that on your connected Sonos-system, and additionally interface with your FRITZ!Box ADSL/VDSL router, so that you will be notified of incoming phone calls, make phone calls on its own, etc. etc.
I believe I saw this kind of device for the first time here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARJ8cAGm6JE
Jokes aside, I believe you would be best suited with a dedicated PC which has the necessary Z-Wave or whatever interfaces installed., where you can program, script and run whatever you want.
Bear in mind that Zipabox and now also Zipatile (and a lot of the competing controllers) are consumer products, aimed at the mass market. They are designed to be lean and mean and to do most things for most people, and are thus "special purpose devices". Among these, the Zipato world is probably the most versatile, as it supports more devices and more protocols and thus more devices, than any of its competitors.
This, of course, also means that you shouldn't expect too much of the device itself, and that you'll have to resort to external controls or mechanisms to get the job done if you hit the wall of limitations.
That said: It is completely possible to utilize the Zipabox as a mere interface to more advanced systems: With Zipato's inherent concept of virtual devices which can be set, read and manipulated via HTTP, you don't need to build rules to be smart: The devices/rules on Zipabox can simply be slaves of your dedicated PC which you can program any way you want, in the computer language / scripting language of your choice.
Brgds
Robert
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