HD Living Magazine

A Custom On Screen, On Demand System Keeps Texas Homeowners in Total Control

HDLiving Staff — Wed, 15 May 2013 01:31:18 +0000

Overlooking Galveston Bay in Texas sits a sprawling 42,645 sq ft property. On it, a stunning 12,730 sq. ft. house. A patio opens into the backyard that extends down to a private dock and boat. And, did we mention, a free-standing man cave on the property? From its distinct design and build, to a sophisticated smart home technology systems, the residence oozes elegance, endless entertainment options, security features and conveniences. But what’s really exciting is that all of the smart home and entertainment system is controllable via the homeowners iOS Devices. The estate features a main house with a centrally located foyer, living room and kitchen. The right wing hosts the master bed and bath, a lounge, exercise room and home office. The left wing has four guest bedrooms, a home theater, game room complete with a bar area, a storage room, and the rack room, hub of the home’s electronic system with impeccably organized racks and wires labeled and installed to easily track. In addition to the ultimate 1,500 square foot man cave (or should we say cottage), complete with a poker room, equipment closet and TV room, the outdoor entertainment system includes Sonance outdoor speakers and subwoofers placed throughout the patio and courtyard areas providing the ideal ambiance while overlooking the bay. Practically every inch of the home and its outdoor spaces feature electronic systems that enhance the home, but none that over take its décor. Aside from the dedicated home theater featuring subtle zebra wall treatments that command attention with its cinema-quality Digital Projection and Stewart Filmscreen projection system and its own concession area! A movie server from Request enables movie viewers to easily browse and select from their collection of movie titles to view on the big screen, in the man cave, the kitchen or any of the other TVs tied into the home video distribution system. Premier Technology Group is a home technology specialist in Houston that was tasked with incorporating automated lighting and shading, security, distributed music and video entertainment throughout the entire house, including the stand-alone man cave and outdoor living space. The homeowners carefully selected from the convenience and entertainment systems to include in the new home build completed in November 2012. The goal of the homeowners: to easily access, control and interact with each installed system. Premier started by running a proper structured wiring infrastructure in the walls that provides ample bandwidth, reliability and performance across the expanse of the home and supports all the electronics and distribution network. From there, Premier designed, installed and integrated the different home’s automation and entertainments system; starting with a Lutron lighting, shade and HVAC system, a Savant automation system, a whole-home distributed audio/video system and an enterprise grade Pakedge network. An integrated and actively monitored DSC fire and security system was included, with a Holovision front door intercom and IC Realtime surveillance system with cameras throughout the property. The man cave has its own lighting control system and security system, but shares its Savant automation control system, audio/video systems and network with the main home via fiber optic cable run over 100 yards underground from the house to the cave. With the systems in place and working together to create one totally accessible, controllable system for the homeowners, Premier created a custom on screen, on demand display. Premier programmed a heads up display the homeowners can access through the iPads or on the TV screen to control any of the systems in the house, all while the TV remains viewable in the background. iPads are docked in the kitchen and master bedroom and enabled to control the Savant home automation system and the Lutron window shade systems (master bedroom). An additional in-wall iPad is located in the Pool table and bar area, along with a flat panel TV. On command, the user can, of course control the lights, TV and music in that room. They can also adjust the temperature or turn on/off/dim lights throughout the house, play audio in a different room, even arm/disarm the security system, and more, all from that display. The security cameras, lighting, media server and other system elements have also been programmed to cycle automatically whenever the homeowners swipe their finger s to the left or right of the iPad touchscreen interface. With the same ease as if viewing pictures on the tablets Camera Roll, they can monitor and control their entire home. Premier Technology Group was founded in 2003 and is an HTSA member that services Texas and select projects across the US. Home technology specialists like Premier can make your custom home work for you. Other equipment: Bowers & Wilkins speakers, Sanus, SurgeX, Panamax, Perfect Path cables, Axis Communications, Integra, Middle Atlantic, Xantech, AudioQuest

Lutron Receives Corporate Grand Maestro Hall of Fame Award from the Da Vinci Science Center

HD Living Staff — Mon, 13 May 2013 20:35:19 +0000

In a smart, connected home, saving money and energy is as easy as flipping a switch (or having that switch programmed to flip automatically when needed). But behind the scenes, a lot of innovative science and engineering goes into designing those energy-saving electronics, and in recognition of Lutron’s innovations in that field, the company has been awarded the 2013 Corporate Grand Maestro Hall of Fame Award by the Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The Grand Maestro Hall of Fame Award – which not only honors students who show a unique passion for science and the educators who inspire them, but also corporate partners who support the Da Vinci Science Center’s mission – was given in honor of Lutron’s half-century of creativity and passion for energy savings, starting with the first solid-state dimmer designed by Lutron founder Joel Spira in 1959 – which is now on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, DC – and followed by more than 19,000 energy-saving products for residential and commercial spaces in the years since.

The award also acknowledges Lutron’s contribution to the Da Vinci Science Center itself, including an interactive exhibit donated by the company in 2011, which gives kids hands-on experience with lighting control, and demonstrates how Lutron products save an estimated 10 billion kWh of electricity – approximately $1 billion worth – every year.

“Lutron Electronics embodies all of the qualities for which the Grand Maestro Corporate Award stands,” said Lin Erickson, Da Vinci Science Center Executive Director and CEO. “By pursuing his ideas with creativity and passion, Joel Spira started a revolution that literally has changed the way we see the world around us with groundbreaking technology. Lutron’s contributions to the scientific community of our region and our world are truly legendary.”

For more information on the Da Vince Science Center, visit www.davincisciencecenter.org.

“Weekend Update”-Meyers Named as Fallon’s Replacement

HDliving Staff — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:35:08 +0000

You may recall reading our post a little over a month ago sharing the official announcement that Jimmy Fallon will be stepping into Jay Leno’s shows as the host of the Tonight Show in 2014. At the time, only rumors existed about who would be filling Fallon’s shoes for hosting Late Night. NBC announced on Sunday that Seth Meyers will take over as the next host of Late Night. Viewers may know Meyers best as the host of the “Weekend Update” on Saturday Night Live where Meyers is currently a head writer. Late Night With Seth Meyers is scheduled to take over the air waves in Spring of 2014 when Fallon replaces Leno as the host of the Tonight Show. Late Night will be filmed in New York and produced by Lorne Michaels, Meyer’s longtime boss. NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt had this to say about Seth Meyers; “We think Seth is one of the brightest, most insightful comedy writers and performers of this generation.” Following in the footsteps of Fallon, Conan O’Brien and David Letterman, Meyers will be the fourth host of the show since 1982 and was “the only name that kept coming up” for consideration said Michaels. Meyers is enthusiastic for the opportunity and the new role and had this to say; “12:30 on NBC has long been incredible real estate. I hope I can do it justice.” If you think Meyers is perfect for the role or if you think someone could do a better job, comment in the box below.

Niles Introduces Quartet of Horizontal In-Wall Soundbars

HD Living Staff — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:36:43 +0000

Niles, a CE manufacturer providing high–quality products that integrate and distribute home entertainment for the residential and light commercial markets, proudly launched this week a quartet of horizontal in-wall soundbars -- believed to be the industry’s first such products. The four Cynema Soundfield systems consist of one passive model and three active models in 48-inch, 55-inch and 65-inch widths. The four models are shipping at suggested retails of $1,195 for the passive CSF-48P and $1,599, $1,749, and $1,999 for the active CSF-48A, CSF-55A, and CSF-65A, respectively. All are three-channel soundbars. Niles designed the soundbars so that installers don’t have to cut wall studs to make room for the bars. Instead, installers mount a horizontal rail onto wall studs, then snap speaker and amplifier modules into the rail. Installers move the modules left or right through an opening in the wall to position them between studs, deliver the best soundstage, and align them with a wall-mount TV. The powered models include a separate low-voltage power supply that mounts to a stud bay next to a wall outlet or behind the display. The low-voltage power supply eliminates the need to run new high-voltage wiring in the wall, eliminating the need for a licensed electrician, Niles said. The powered models come with 3x30-watt preamp/amplifier with Dolby Digital processing. The module turns on via IR remote or via an audio-signal-sensing input that turns the soundbar on when its audio input senses audio signal. They also integrate with whole-house distributed-audio systems and connect wirelessly to Niles subwoofers. The powered models come with one preamp/amplifier module, one in-wall power supply unit with AC power cord, one cutout template for the in-wall power supply box, one bracket for mounting an optional Niles SW-T wireless subwoofer transmitter, one TOSLINK optical cable, one stereo 3.5mm-to-dual-RCA cable, one DC power cable for the optional wireless transmitter, and three speaker wires for the left, center and right speaker modules.

Pedal Power! Smartphone APP Super-Charges National Bike Month

HDliving Staff — Wed, 08 May 2013 08:00:06 +0000

As the nice weather finally starts to take hold, our days warming up, and the glorious sun staying in the sky longer by a few minutes day by day, people everywhere are celebrating by ditching their winter coats and venturing outside to enjoy the nice weather. With April showers behind us and May flowers upon us, May also happens to be National Bike Month! Sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists, National Bike Month is a great opportunity to celebrate the unique power of the bicycle and the many reasons we ride. Whether you bike to work or school; to save money or time; to keep yourself in shape or as tribute to the environment; guess what? There’s an APP for that! We’re shifting gears this week (see what I did there?) and thought it would be refreshing to bring you a blog post for the outdoor enthusiast by highlighting National Bike Month and telling you about an APP you should download to get the most out of your outdoor adventures. I recently downloaded a new APP called MapMyRide for my iPhone and have since used it every time I’ve decided to go for a ride. MapMyRide is a fitness tracking application that uses the built-in GPS of your mobile device to track all of your fitness activities. All of have to do is open the APP, hit record before you start your route, and when you’re finished, stop recording. MapMyRide records your workout details including duration, distance, pace, speed, elevation, calories burned, and route traveled on an interactive map. You can even upload workout data to MapMyRide where you can view a comprehensive report detailing workout history where you can track your progress. While MapMyRide has built-in preset settings for a multitude of activities outside of riding including; Running, Walking, Hiking, Lap Swimming, Trail Running, Power Walking, Stairs, Sprinting, and even Dog Walking, spin-offs of the APP such as MapMyRun and MapMyWalk are also available for download. There’s a free version of all the aforementioned APPs available or PLUS edition is available for $2.99 which turns your phone into your personal fitness coach granting you access to additional features such as coaching, where a virtual coach keeps you on track with the workout goals you set. Music, which allows you to control your playlist directly from the APP, and Live Tracking, which allows friends to track you on a map while you work out. MapMyRide, MapMyWalk, and MapMyRun are all available for iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry

Control4 Announces New Wireless Lighting Control Family, Provides Broad Flexibility for Home and Commercial Automation

HD Living Staff — Tue, 07 May 2013 19:53:52 +0000

Today, Control4 announced a new family of wireless lighting control products for seamless integration with Control4® systems. With a fresh, sophisticated design, expansive customization options, and a myriad of innovative capabilities, this next-generation of wireless lighting control products caters to the growing number of residential and commercial projects. According to a report from Pike Research, the global market for intelligent lighting controls will enjoy steady growth through this decade, rising from $1.5 billion in 2012 to more than $4.3 billion in 2020. Control4® Wireless Lighting control products provide a broad range of elegant and energy saving lighting solutions within this robustly growing market. From new adaptive phase dimmers and combination keypad/dimmers, to 0-10V dimmers for LED applications and configurable keypads for control, the Control4 Wireless Lighting family delivers its functional innovation with elegant design including, a diverse palette of color and finish options, custom backlit engraved buttons, and programmable status LEDs supporting customizable color hues for at-a-glance feedback. Additionally, each new switch, dimmer, and keypad includes an ambient light sensor to automatically adjust the brightness of status LEDs and button backlighting. “Lighting control, when integrated with automation, is quickly becoming an essential smart home application,” said Martin Plaehn, CEO Control4. “Intelligent lighting enhances the aesthetics of the entire home, helps manage energy consumption, and with Control4 technology can integrate with security, Audio/Video and climate-control systems, as well as with window shades and other devices to create truly personalized experiences for homeowners.”

With a Control4 system, creating and automating personalized lighting with virtually any mix of lighting load types is very simple; controlling them from the Control4 MyHome® app on a mobile device is even simpler. Control4 integrates lighting control with other automation functions to create “scenes” which enhance convenience and safety for customers. Some of the more popular uses include: a “Home” scene which creates a lighting path from the entry to the kitchen and disarms the security system; an “Entertainment” scene which dims all the lights and cues the AV system; an “Away” scene which lowers the shades, places the AC into energy savings mode, shuts off all but a few select lights, and activates the security system.

The new Control4 Wireless Lighting product family includes many new customization enhancements, reduces programming complexity, and is ideal for residential and commercial installations – both for retrofit and new construction projects. The new Control4 Wireless Lighting family includes:

Control4® Wireless Adaptive Phase Dimmer eliminates much of the guesswork associated with choosing the right dimmer for a project and alleviates the need to replace the dimmer when the load type changes in the future. The Wireless Adaptive Phase Dimmer is compatible with a broad range of dimmable load types including most LEDs, incandescents, halogens, electronic low voltage (solid state) transformers, magnetic (iron core) low voltage transformers, fluorescents, and compact fluorescents. (120V, 240V, or 277V) US MSRP $180.

Control4® Wireless Configurable Keypad creates an elegant and customizable user interface to unlock the power of one-touch automation, enabling control of lighting, plus control of audio, video, security and more. The Control4 Wireless Configurable Keypad can be configured with two to seven custom-engraved, LED backlit buttons, using four different button sizes, for a total of 37 possible configurations. For dealers, project and inventory management is a snap as this new wireless keypad can cover all configurations with quick setup by the installer. (120V/277V or 240V) US MSRP $200.

Control4® Wireless Keypad Dimmer transforms a standard light switch or dimmer into a fully customizable keypad and dimmer, combining the dimming capabilities of the Control4 Wireless Adaptive Phase Dimmer with the flexibility of the Control4 Wireless Configurable Keypad. (120V, 240V, or 277V) US MSRP $250.

Control4® Wireless Fan Speed Controller delivers elegant fan speed control of standard paddle-type ceiling fans, with four fan speed buttons and an off button. The Wireless Fan Speed Controller also enables fan speed to be incorporated into Control4 systems for climate control and other automated events. (120V) US MSRP $190.

Control4® Wireless 0-10V Dimmer provides elegant, in-wall control of 4-wire 0-10V dimmable fluorescent ballasts and LEDs, an increasingly popular choice in architectural residential and commercial projects. (120V/277V or 240V) US MSRP $190.

Control4® Wireless Forward Phase Dimmer delivers an economical solution for dimming forward phase compatible loads, including incandescents, line-voltage halogens, and magnetic transformers. Particularly well-suited to dimming high-wattage loads such as chandeliers and large banks of recessed lights, the Forward Phase Dimmer is also compatible with forward phase dimmable LEDs, CFLs, and fluorescents. (120V) US MSRP $140.

Control4® Wireless Switch provides on/off control for virtually every type of load, including LED lights, incandescents, halogens, electronic low voltage (solid state) transformers, magnetic (iron core) low voltage transformers, fluorescents, compact fluorescents, and motors, including ceiling fans and bathroom ventilation fans. With its robust relay and high amperage rating, the switch can handle high in-rush loads such as fountain pumps or large banks of fluorescent lights. It can even be used to switch wall outlets. (120V/277V or 240V) US MSRP $140.

Control4® Auxiliary Keypad provides an economical solution for three-way control of a load. Using the home or business’ existing in-wall three-way wiring, the Auxiliary Keypad wires directly to any compatible Control4 Dimmer, Switch, or Fan-Speed Controller. (120V/277V) US MSRP $40.

The new Control4 Wireless Lighting products are completely compatible and easily integrated with the new Control4 Panelized Lighting products – making Control4 lighting automation one of the most flexible and feature-packed solutions on the market. Dealers have agreed, “This is a truly comprehensive lighting control and home automation solution that beautifully complements any décor, and doesn’t involve the time-consuming double-programming of integrating a third-party lighting solution with automation.” The tight integration of wired and wireless lighting control enables Control4 dealers to offer elegant solutions for a vast range of projects, building types, and architectural styles. The broad support for different load types and voltage also extends the dealer’s business opportunities to include commercial installations, using the same fundamental programming and infrastructure they use for residential projects. All Control4 Wireless Lighting products are available for immediate order by authorized Control4 dealers and are scheduled to ship in June 2013. For more information, please visit www.control4.com.

SAVANT SmartLink Digital Modules Simplify and Enhance Multi-Room AV

HD Living Staff — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:01:41 +0000

Home automation is about so much more than merely simplifying the control of the electronics systems around your home; it’s also about enriching and expanding your home entertainment experience—ensuring that, no matter where you are in the home, you can press a button and access whatever audio or video entertainment you’d like. To that end, Savant Systems—makers of the world’s only home automation company built entirely on Apple’s OS X operating system—has just announced the addition of a new innovative addition to its product lineup that makes distributing audio, video, and power signals from room-to-room easier, simpler, and more reliable than ever before. Dubbed “SmartLink,” the new digital modules rely on the latest HDBaseT technology to send audio and video signals, as well as power and control commands, up to 100 meters via the exact same Ethernet cables that make up your home networking. This isn’t compressed, internet-based A/V, though, but rather full-HD, fully uncompressed picture and sound, with the exact same quality you would get from an HDMI cable—just without the added expense, and with the benefit of better reliability. And by sending all of those signals over a single cable, HDBaseT makes troubleshooting that much easier in the unlikely event that something does go wrong.

Savant is offering its SmartLink output modules in two- and four-port versions, and the receiving module—which is designed to take the signal from the ethernet cable and turn it back into HDMI audio/video, power, and control outputs, comes in a snappy wall-plate form factor to cut down on the clutter. By bringing HDBaseT fully into the Savant control ecosystem, the company is able to provide remote access to connection status, real-time monitoring of video resolution, and better control of EDID (Extended Display Identification Data). If you’ve ever had trouble switching between video sources, especially in a multi-room video distribution system, EDID conflicts were probably the culprit. The new Smartlink digital modules with HDBaseT technology are scheduled to start shipping to authorized Savant dealers and home tech specialists this spring.

Next-Generation Xbox on its Way

HDliving Staff — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:27:16 +0000

Well, video games are awesome and they’ve come a long way over the years. If you haven’t already heard, ~~Winter~~, err I mean the new generation of Xbox is coming. We can't speak for everybody else, but we’re wicked excited for it. Microsoft sent out selective invitations on April 24 to a press event to be held at its Redmond, Washington headquarters. Promising invitees “a new generation revealed,” the event is scheduled to take place May 21 and expected to be launching ground for Xbox 360’s successor, the next-generation Xbox. If you’re anything like us then you like to be included in stuff! I mean come on, no one likes being excluded. So if you’re one of the many people who didn’t receive one of Microsoft’s golden tickets to attend the next-generation reveal don’t worry, we've got you covered. A Facebook page for the event suggests that the event will be streamed online so fans can participate much like Sony did for their recent PS 4 announcement. Microsoft’s announcement for the new console, codenamed Durango, was originally set for this month but the rumored date was pushed back to May to coincide more closely with a 2013 holiday release. May 21st is appropriately marked in our calendars as “NEW XBOX DAY!” so stayed tuned for additional information about Microsoft’s newest gaming console as announcement day approaches. In the meantime, what features do you hope to see included in the next-generation Xbox? What features do you hope they don’t change/ stay the same as the Xbox 360? Let us know in the comment box below.

Salamander Enhances Synergy Line, Adds New Furniture Accessories

HD Living Staff — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:14:50 +0000

Salamander Designs, Ltd. has made a move to expand its Synergy line, which now includes a variety of pre-configured cabinets, wall hanging kits, and an option for factory assembly. These new furniture accessories help to evolve the Synergy line, making it a more versatile and expedient tool for dealers seeking to deliver an AV furniture solution that exactly meets their customer’s needs. The new accessories also provide existing Salamander customers with the ability and opportunity to adjust and adapt their AV furniture as their entertainment system grows and changes. “There is clearly customer demand for these new options—we wanted to make it easy for both dealers and consumers to tailor their AV furniture yet retain a high degree of flexibility to accommodate future changes,” explained Salamander president Sal Carrabba. The Synergy line extension products are available now.

Salamander has also broadened the line of available accessories for both their Synergy and Chameleon product lines to accommodate the diverse storage requirements of today’s home entertainment center. These new accessories can be retrofit into any Salamander Synergy or Chameleon cabinet purchased in 1998 or later, and can be installed in any location and/or any combination.

“We have created two broad lines future-proof AV furniture that can change as your needs evolve,” Carrabba added. All new Salamander accessories are available now and include:

• Mobile media and laptop charging and storage tray provide a tidy location to charge cell phones and other devices • Universal media storage for audio and/or video media • Multi-function pull-out shelves support turntables, printers and more • Pro audio rack mounting rails can be added to any cabinet, facilitating the secure look and feel of a professional AV rack installation • Infinitely adjustable vented shelves accommodate AV components of any size while also maintaining proper air flow to keep equipment at optimal temperature • Active cooling fan kits keep air circulating through the cabinet to keep all AV gear cool • Cabinet LED lighting system is an integrated solution that provides long-lasting LED lighting where you need it, replacing light bars and light strips with a more elegant and energy efficient lighting solution. Salamander’s lighting accessory can be timer and/or remote controlled Both dealers and consumers will benefit from the design capabilities of Salamander’s new website, slated to launch June 1. “Our new website will make it easier for our customers to see everything that Salamander offers, enabling them to select products and accessories best suited to their unique application,” said Carrabba.

Home Automation + Outside-the-Box Thinking = Additional Energy Savings

HD Living Staff — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:49:02 +0000

Regular readers of HD Living are probably already familiar with the myriad of ways in which home automation can conserve energy, from smart thermostats and dimmable LED lighting to energy monitoring and daylight or occupancy sensors. By running your HVAC system less, using lower levels of more efficient lighting, keeping tabs on your most power hungry devices, and ensuring that lights only come on when you need them, you can put a serious dent in your monthly energy bill and reduce your impact on the environment a bit to boot. And those energy-savings techniques work virtually anywhere, in any home. If you want to take that energy savings a step further, though, you’re going to need a more personalized home automation system that adapts to your specific lifestyle. And luckily, that doesn’t require any additional hardware over what we mentioned above—it simply requires more specific communication with your home technology specialist, and more custom programming. Of course, we can’t peek behind inside your home and offer customized solutions specific to your home and your needs, but here are a few hypothetical solutions that give you an idea of the sorts of very customized home automation scenarios you and your home tech specialist could cook up to curb consumption more easily than ever before.

You could, for example, have a particular room in the house that’s great for productivity, with a big south-facing window that’s great for letting sunlight in during winter months, but turns the room into a veritable greenhouse when things warm up. Automated shades could certainly help in that scenario, but why not go one step further and have those shades intelligently adapt to your habits throughout the year? With a bit of programming, your home tech specialist could instruct a smart dimmer or keypad in the room to raise the shade instead of turning on the room’s lights during daylight hours in cooler months, not only to save on lighting costs, but also to add a bit of natural warmth to the room. At night, or in warmer seasons, the light would come on, and the shade would stay closed. With today’s intelligent home control systems, the programming required to accomplish such a scenario takes mere minutes. But for you, it’s even simpler: you only have to worry about tapping one convenient button. Another way to save energy is using intelligent outlet switches to completely cut power to energy-sucking vampire devices. Of course, if you go that route, you have to remember to turn on the switch before powering your devices on. Which means eventually you’re just going to stop switching them off, defeating the entire purpose? One way to get around that is with the intelligent use of occupancy sensors to let those outlets know that they need to spring into action. Maybe you have a home gym, for example, and don’t want the room’s stereo system sapping electricity constantly. An occupancy sensor in the room could detect your presence, fire up the outlets powering the sound system, and cut that flow of energy again once you’re done with your workout. Again, these are just a few, very specific examples, and they may not apply to your lifestyle at all. The point is, a smart home control system can adapt to literally any lifestyle, and with the help of a home tech specialist, you can dream up all manner of creative energy saving techniques perfectly suited to your home and the way you use it.