datadiffusion X10 ..... Really
Forget using your phone/ipad to control equipment it's just cumbersome and unnatural, use them to compliment physical switches/remotes is the way I have found works the best.
For controlling your everyday equipment (Tv, Sat, DVD, music) I use URC Total Control. I have used the product from launch (and aged some by doing so) but some years down the line the **** has been sorted out and it works as it should.
For multi room music Sonos or Denon Heos (Sonos preferred) with Spotify. It works and works well. It integrates well with most if not all other main systems and works well on its own.
For lighting Lutron or Rako. They both again work very well and integrate well with other systems as well as stand alone.
For heating (well basic heating) Nest 3rd gen room stat. Its like an apple iwatch on the wall. Integrates well and works.
Now for automation it depends on what you want to automate. Im moving house soon and currently working on spec for house. The brains of the house will be a Loxone server glued to all the above as well as my intruder.
I have to say some of the budget stuff works quite well. I have been testing/using lightwave from launch and it works around 90% of the time, looks ok and can be controlled from other systems easily. I would say the other brands work the same. But as said most are not 2-way, so its a send and hope affair.
I quite like the look of the Philips Hue lighting system and will probably put this in the kids rooms (colour changing) and integrate into system.