Remotely Control the Lamp in Your Den

Perceptive Automation’s Indigo ($179.95) is an amazing Mac app that puts the “auto” into home automation.

Like a dashboard for your home, the Indigo home automation system helps you connect to just about any electrical appliance.

Using an Insteon PowerLinc V2 power module ($69.99), which connects to your Mac over USB and then with other modules over the powerline home electrical wiring system, you can quickly configure Indigo to turn lights on and off. Plug the Insteon PowerLinc V2 module into a wall socket, and plug the lamp’s cord into that. Plug the USB cable into the PowerLinc V2 and your Mac. Indigo will locate the PowerLinc automatically and allow you to control the lamp using your Mac. Of course, you can use multiple devices (some RF-based) as well, and even control lights from a remote Internet connection with Indigo.

Your can make home-automation hardware work seamlessly with your Mac.