Home automation vendor Vivint is the next company to launch a smart home platform with Vivint Sky, a means for customers to control lights, thermostats, door locks and security cameras via PCs and mobile devices.

At the heart of the Vivint system is the SkyControl panel-- a hardware device the company says features proprietary cloud technology allowing it to learn from user behaviors and make "intelligent" suggestions to further add convenience and home control.

Thus the HVAC control can learn daily usage patterns in order to increase home energy efficiency, the company says.

The SkyControl hardware features a 7-inch capacitative touchscreen providing users with both control and a means to stream live HD video from installed video cameras or check footage recorded on DVR systems.

Quirky, the aptly named maker of devices such as the Aros app-controlled AC unit, spins off its Wink connected home platform into a separate business unit and announces the Wink Hub automation hardware.

According to its developers the Wink platform synchs wireless-enabled devices around the home to the internet. It supports both iOS and Android operating systems, and even allows device control via Android Wear-powered smartwatches.

The platform already names a number of big connected device makers and retailers as partners, including General Electric, Honeywell, Philips and Home Depot. Quirky tells the New York Times 15 companies plan to offer 60 Wink-enabled devices from July 2014, including light bulbs, video cameras, garage doors, water heaters and lawn sprinklers.

Smart thermostat and smoke detector maker Nest makes further headway into home automation as it acquires connected camera startup Dropcam for $555 million with plans to incorporate the product range within its brand.

As we all know Nest is a $3.2 billion Google acquisition, but Re/code reports the Dropcam buy was made without assistance from the search giant. In fact Google was rumored to be a potential Dropcam buyer, at least according to a May 2014 story from The Information.

Dropcam sells not only IP cameras but also a subscription-based cloud-based security footage storage service-- one the company says is used by 39% of camera buyers.

Customers wanting an easy to install "connected home" solution might be interested in the Archos Smart Home range-- a range of cameras and environmental sensors controllable via mobile device app.

According to the company Smart Home products are the first running on Bluetooth Smart, a technology doubling communications range (from 10 to 20m), tripling capacity (from 4 to 13 simultaneously connected devices) and generally improving stability over regular Bluetooth.

Smart Home devices include the Mini-Cam (a wide-angle camera the size of a ping-pong camera), the Motion Ball (a motion detector with 10m range), the Weather Tag temperature and humidity tracker, the Motion Tag movement monitor and a Smart Plug. As mentioned above all are controllable via Archos iOS/Android app, and the company says the devices carry batteries lasting up to 1 year before replacement.

Core Brands announces a major upgrade of the Elan Control Platform with a Linux-based platform promising better performance, easier installation and greater scalability.

The Elan v7 upgrade is ideal for both consumer and commercial installation, and expands the range of "internet of things" products it can control, automate and monitor. Elan says the platform handles speakers, multi-room audio, power conditioners, smart-plugs, cameras, access products and more, including Core Brands offerings from the likes of SpeakerCraft, Niles, Sunfire, Panamax, Furman and Xantech.

The first products running on the platform is a pair of system controllers-- the gSC2 and gSC10, both featuring Freescale IMX processors and powered over Power over Ethernet (PoE) drawing less than 4W and 5W respectively.

Nucano announces what it describes the industry's first smart doorbell-- self-explanatory Nucano Smart Door Chime, a device acting as both door bell and a DIY home automation hub.

According to the company the Smart Door Chime not only lets one know if there's someone at their door, but also connects and controls over 1000 existing devices (including door locks, thermostats and cameras) via either wifi or Z-Wave.

Once connected, the Smart Door Chime pairs with a smartphone (iOS and Android) app and sends mobile alerts or even video once anyone rings the bell. It also provides inside and outside temperature readings and even lets users change the chime tune with any music stored on their mobile devices.