Amazon has launched a new online Home Automation Store focusing on, amongst other products, lighting, home monitoring and security lines.
The thousand-plus products, which also cover temperature control, health and fitness, energy management and entertainment systems, are designed to allow customers to manage their homes and lives remotely via their smart phone or tablet device, either at home or while away.

Home automation ranges from installing a programmable thermostat or occupancy sensor to setting up a network to allow centralised control of an entire home. Lights can be programmed to switch on and off when someone enters or leaves a room, or a washing machine can be turned on from a mobile device.

Areas highlighted on Amazon's new website include energy management - light bulbs, thermometers, accessories, current switches and lighting control modules; monitoring and security - security cameras, webcams, door hardware, unlock security systems and household scanners or alarms; home automation controllers and network accessories - home automation gateways, tablets, routers, modems, power line network adapters and network attached storage; and ease of use - robot vacuum cleaners, mobile/garage door locking, mobile lawn and garden care and mobile controlled lighting. Entertainment and home audio is also covered.

"The Home Automation Store has been designed to help customers make their lives as simple and comfortable as possible, whether it's a robotic lawnmower to smarten up the garden while you're on holiday or an intelligent light bulb that gradually brightens to wake you up in the morning," commented James Bate, Amazon's home improvement store manager.

The website also features buying guides, videos and customer reviews.