http://HDLiving.com A celebration of the finest home electronics and technology. Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:38:38 +0000 en hourly 1 http://HDLiving.com/home-technology/2012/04/19/control4-hc-250-great-single-room-solution http://HDLiving.com/home-technology/2012/04/19/control4-hc-250-great-single-room-solution#comments Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:37:05 +0000 HD Living http://HDLiving.com/?p=5557 Warning: getimagesize(http://HDLiving.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Control4-HC-250sm-300x174.jpg) [function.getimagesize]: failed to open stream: HTTP request failed! HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found in /home/hdliving/public_html/wp-content/plugins/rss-image-feed/image-rss.php on line 185

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With a sleek design and compact form-factor, the HC-250 fits easily behind a TV, on a shelf or in a rack. ]]> Warning: getimagesize(http://HDLiving.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Control4-HC-250sm-300x174.jpg) [function.getimagesize]: failed to open stream: HTTP request failed! HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found in /home/hdliving/public_html/wp-content/plugins/rss-image-feed/image-rss.php on line 185

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Control4 is rolling out the new HC-250 Controller (MSRP $599), a one-room home automation and home theater solution. The HC-250 Controller is designed to work as a single-room control solution that has the power and flexibility to extend automation beyond media entertainment devices. The unit uses Control4’s operating system to deliver intuitive control of lighting, climate, security and appliances, while providing access to video and music collections, gaming systems, streaming content and more. Users can intuitively interact with their Control4 systems using on-screen navigation on a TV, through dedicated in-wall and tabletop Control4 touchscreens, and via their tablet and smartphone with the Control4 MyHome application. With a sleek design and compact form-factor, the HC-250 fits easily behind a TV, on a shelf or in a rack. With a 1GHz processor, the HC-250 delivers speed and power so users can quickly activate lighting, control the entire home, or browse large media libraries and select a movie, song, or playlist quickly. The controller features new built-in Power over Ethernet (PoE) capability enabled by the single Cat 5/Cat 6 cable. Additionally, the HC-250 supports both digital audio and video over HDMI (2 audio outputs – 1 analog and 1 HDMI, plus 1 analog audio input), and offers integrated Wireless-N WiFi and ZigBee for wireless networking. The HC-250 Controller also includes support for up to 4 IR (or 2 IR and 2 Serial ) devices as well as a USB port for outboard connection to external storage of music, pictures and more. It can be used as a standalone one-room solution or integrated into a whole-house control system with Control4’s new HC-800 hub. ]]> http://HDLiving.com/home-technology/2012/04/19/control4-hc-250-great-single-room-solution/feed 0 http://HDLiving.com/high-definition-homes/2012/04/18/av-upgrade http://HDLiving.com/high-definition-homes/2012/04/18/av-upgrade#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:38:10 +0000 Howard Whitman http://HDLiving.com/?p=5551 Warning: getimagesize(http://HDLiving.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/poolwide-300x199.jpg) [function.getimagesize]: failed to open stream: HTTP request failed! HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found in /home/hdliving/public_html/wp-content/plugins/rss-image-feed/image-rss.php on line 185

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Sometimes simple plans can evolve into massive undertakings.]]> Warning: getimagesize(http://HDLiving.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/poolwide-300x199.jpg) [function.getimagesize]: failed to open stream: HTTP request failed! HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found in /home/hdliving/public_html/wp-content/plugins/rss-image-feed/image-rss.php on line 185

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Sometimes simple plans can evolve into massive undertakings. That’s what occurred when leading area home entertainment/automation integrator Dallas Sight and Sound was approached by a client with a simple room reboot in mind. “The homeowner was remodeling a large room into a place to watch sports, as well as have a pool/ping pong table for his kids; it evolved into a sports/movie/gaming room,” recalled Dallas Sight and Sound System Designer Bill O’Connor. “In addition, they wanted two more TV-watching areas outdoors (the patio and the arbor). We also greatly improved their options for listening to music on the whole-house system by changing out some components and adding iPod docks and Apple TV.” The client chose to contact Dallas Sight and Sound for the most reliable reason: word-of-mouth from a trusted source. “We were highly recommended by the builder (Stuart McIlyar with Manning Snelling and McIlyar) who had worked with us on previous jobs, and he liked our commitment to service,” O’Connor said. And although the client initially only wanted a sports-oriented room, he was open to the Dallas Sight and Sound team’s suggestions. “We proposed using the room not only for sports, but also for movies, and as a gaming room for his eleven-year-old son and his friends,” O’Connor said. “The homeowner had also not considered some of the newer technologies available, like Apple TV and other networked options, and we were able to show them the value of these components in their system.” Beyond basing the redesign around the sports theme, the customer had other requirements: “It was to be as inconspicuous as possible. And, of course, making everything easy to use was paramount,” O’Connor stated. There were technical challenges involved in the work as well: “Controlling multiple TVs of the same brand, using multiple satellite receivers of the same brand, is always a test, especially when it comes to making the control intuitive,” O’Connor said. “And we added a sports ticker that receives a live feed, which presented new challenges, including integration onto the existing network. Most sports tickers are meant to be left on all the time at sports bars or other commercial venues. Figuring out how to keep it updated while shutting the power off was a challenge, and required us working closely with the manufacturer to achieve the homeowner’s objectives.” The Dallas Sight and Sound team was able to integrate this world-class system without disrupting the look and feel of the home. “The equipment is all hidden in cabinets, and the Triad speakers are all ceiling-mounted,” O’Connor said. “The Samsung TVs in the sports room are recessed into the wall, creating a very clean look. In other areas, the satellite receivers are all centrally located, so we didn’t have to have those boxes out with the TVs. The goal was to give it a clean look, and we achieved it beyond the client’s expectations.” The homeowner was very pleasantly surprised by the end result of the work: “The final product came together extremely well, and they found it easy to control three TVs simultaneously. They also really enjoyed the outdoor features,” O’Connor stated. “The homeowner has told me that the TV by the pool gets the most viewing. We deal with a lot of hot days here in Texas, and they really enjoy hanging out by the pool with friends and watching the World Series, or the NBA Playoffs! “The homeowners love to entertain, whether it is a formal event or a bunch of the kids’ friends coming over for a swim. With the entertainment options they have now, they are hosting parties on an almost weekly basis, especially when there are big sporting events happening. For the kids, this has become THE place to hang out, listen to music and watch TV.”]]> http://HDLiving.com/high-definition-homes/2012/04/18/av-upgrade/feed 0 http://HDLiving.com/uncategorized/2012/04/16/niles-outdoor-speakers-blend http://HDLiving.com/uncategorized/2012/04/16/niles-outdoor-speakers-blend#comments Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:19:57 +0000 Electronic House http://HDLiving.com/?p=5546
New outdoor speakers look like rocks and planters and can withstand the elements. ]]>
The warmer weather has us thinking about firing up the BBQ. OK, we didn’t need the weather for that. But to hang out in the elements, you  need something more enticing than charred meat. Niles Audio hopes to get them outdoors with the sound of summer with its new GeoRealistic Pro Series Rock and Planter Speakers. Both are designed to live outside and blend into the backdrop. The GeoRealistic Pro includes the 5-inch RS5Pro, the 6-inch RS6Pro, the 6-inch RS6SiPro with dual tweeters, and the 8-inch RS8SiPro with dual tweeters. All four models include a new NoFade Protective Finish and a new four-layer fiberglass weave, which promises durability - even under extreme UV conditions. Each of the GeoRealistic Pro models is built to withstand temperature ranges from 50 to 185 degrees. Choose between granite, speckled granite, sandstone, coral, and shale brown. The Niles Planter Speakers are available in two types, the PB6Si Pro rectangular box shape and the PS6Si Pro circular planter. These two speakers are available in terracotta and weathered concrete.

“All of the Niles rock speakers were designed from real rocks,” says Mike “Sparky” Detmer, president of Niles. “Our development team traveled the country to find real rocks that matched the look we wanted for our speakers and specialized custom molders were then handcrafted to match them. Only Mother Nature could do better.” Niles says the GeoRealistic Pro Series Rock and Planter Speakers are available now.]]> http://HDLiving.com/uncategorized/2012/04/16/niles-outdoor-speakers-blend/feed 0 http://HDLiving.com/home-technology/2012/04/16/control4-module-kitchens-smarter http://HDLiving.com/home-technology/2012/04/16/control4-module-kitchens-smarter#comments Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:00:21 +0000 Jason Knott http://HDLiving.com/?p=5540 Warning: getimagesize(http://HDLiving.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/control4-subzero-app.jpg) [function.getimagesize]: failed to open stream: HTTP request failed! HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found in /home/hdliving/public_html/wp-content/plugins/rss-image-feed/image-rss.php on line 185

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Control4 has announced its new Smart Appliance App and Smart Appliance Module.]]> Warning: getimagesize(http://HDLiving.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/control4-subzero-app.jpg) [function.getimagesize]: failed to open stream: HTTP request failed! HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found in /home/hdliving/public_html/wp-content/plugins/rss-image-feed/image-rss.php on line 185

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While controlling things like music, TV and thermostats via touchscreens is fairly commonplace now, advanced control of kitchen appliances has been lagging behind. The smart kitchen now has the first app and module to manage energy, create actionable text alerts and review diagnostics for refrigerators and ovens. Control4 has announced its new Smart Appliance App and Smart Appliance Module, developed by Card Access, for Sub-Zero, Inc. and Wolf Appliance cooking equipment. The Smart Appliance App and Smart Appliance Module, free in Control4's 4Store, are available through Control4 dealers. “Today’s mobile devices are aiding mainstream adoption of connected home technology,” says Susan Cashen, senior vice president of marketing for Control4. “Technology is affording homeowners the ability to monitor and control everything in their home anywhere, at any time. With Control4 technology and the new Smart Appliance App and Smart Appliance Module from Card Access, our dealers have a solution for homeowners to monitor their Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances, whether that’s from another room in their home or miles away.” The Smart Appliance Module is engineered by Card Access using its wireless networking design capabilities combined with Control4 ZigBee PRO mesh networking. The radio communications, firmware and Control4 driver capabilities enables the module to integrate into a Control4 system and enhance functionality of select Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances. All new Sub-Zero built-in refrigerator models and Wolf E-Series wall ovens are manufactured to accommodate the aftermarket installation of the new Smart Appliance Module. Existing models must be outfitted with the module after receiving an update from a Sub-Zero and Wolf factory-certified service technician. The Smart Appliance App is downloadable for free to any Control4 system to allow homeowners to manage energy, create actionable alerts, and review appliance diagnostics. “The Smart Appliance Module is a win for today’s smart homeowner and the Control4 dealer,” says Card Access CEO Kent Hansen. “By combining existing and new Sub-Zero and Wolf appliance features with the Control4 home automation platform, the Smart Appliance Module offers unprecedented control and interaction to today’s homeowner. This combined effort by our companies is a major milestone and achievement for the smart appliance space.” From specific lifestyle needs and preferences such as increasing ice production prior to entertaining, to saving energy in vacation mode or choosing the Sabbath mode for religious observances, the Smart Appliance App allows homeowners to manage and control their appliances their way. The Smart Appliance App provides diagnostic efficiency and enhanced service support for connected appliances. The device provides Error Codes and alerts if any maintenance is needed, which the customer can then provide directly to Sub-Zero Wolf factory certified service. Consumers can receive notification for general service requests, including specific service codes, from the Control4 system, the Smart Appliance Module and the Smart Appliance app. Sending text/email notifications about general service requests to the consumer, a local Sub-Zero Wolf factory certified technician, and the Control4 Dealer can lead to quicker diagnosis and resolution of problems.]]> http://HDLiving.com/home-technology/2012/04/16/control4-module-kitchens-smarter/feed 0 http://HDLiving.com/high-definition-homes/2012/04/12/runco-projector-highlights-basement-theater http://HDLiving.com/high-definition-homes/2012/04/12/runco-projector-highlights-basement-theater#comments Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:53:58 +0000 HD Living http://HDLiving.com/?p=5534
CSA Audio turns basement into a dream home theater for family entertaining. ]]>
The husband and wife came to CSA Audio Design in Upper Montclair, N.J., wanting to convert a basement-level exercise room into a high-performance home theater that could host family movie nights when the grandchildren visit. For the husband, a retired engineer for whom technology was a career, performance of the system was paramount. He wanted floor-standing speakers and a fixed-screen, home theater experience. “He had a vision that he wanted his theater to look good and sound good; his wife wanted a pretty little theater,” says Ralph Fonte, CSA Audio Design’s owner. “They both did a lot of compromising back and forth.” Neither wanted to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on the project. CSA Audio Design helped guide the couple’s decision making, with Fonte demonstrating speaker options so the husband could decide what he liked best. The in-store demonstration highlight was the Runco CineWide high-definition front projector, which displays movies in the ultra-wide CinemaScope 2.35:1 aspect ratio. “It was the first time he saw one live, and he loved it,” says Fonte. CSA Audio Design worked closely with the couple’s builder, who had never worked on a dedicated home theater room before, introducing him to the audio/video technology and also the Starlight fiber optic ceiling and the acoustic panels used in CSA Audio Design’s theater room. Converting the low-ceilinged, 20- by 16-foot room into an eight-seat theater was a challenge that required moving a door and installing an 8-inch riser base to support a straight row of Salamander Designs theater seats at the rear of the theater. A second row of seats curved at the theater’s front. The couple focused on the heart and soul of the theater—the audio, the video and the acoustics of the room. CSA Audio Design paired a Runco VX-2000d 1080p DLP projector, installed with Runco’s add-on CineWide (Whitney) lens, with a 140-inch, 2.35:1 aspect ratio video screen from Vutec.  The theater’s audio was delivered via an Integra DTR 8.8 receiver, compact floor-standing front speakers (Dali Mentor 5s for the right and left channels, Dali Mentor Vokal for center channel), plus Dali Icon Phantom in-wall speakers for rear channels. JL Audio’s Fathom f112 subwoofer drove the base. The system components were installed in a hallway closet outside the theater. CSA Audio Design programmed Universal Remote Control model MX-980 to provide one-touch control of the system. The couple opted not to invest in a movie or music management system, beyond the installation of a one-disc Blu-ray player and a cable box. Fonte explains that the retired engineer is waiting until easier computer-based on-demand music and movie downloading becomes available. “I definitely will be showing him VuDu,” says Fonte, referring to the on-demand movie service. Starlight fiber optic ceiling panels added soft ambient lighting that can remain on during a movie (to light the way for any grandchildren.) The room’s acoustics were adjusted with Owens Corning fiberglass panels hidden under the fabric wall treatments selected by the wife. The Runco projector was installed in a soffit designed to dampen its fan noise. The couple invested their money—roughly $50,000 for electronics alone—in the performance of the theater and chose wisely, according to Fonte. “We can always upgrade the room at any time, but it already works very well. It’s what they wanted: performance with ease.”  ]]> http://HDLiving.com/high-definition-homes/2012/04/12/runco-projector-highlights-basement-theater/feed 0 http://HDLiving.com/home-technology/2012/04/12/cable-tv-expensive http://HDLiving.com/home-technology/2012/04/12/cable-tv-expensive#comments Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:39:01 +0000 Electronic House http://HDLiving.com/?p=5530 Game of Thrones, but would you be willing to pay $200 a month for that viewing privilege? According to a new report by the NPD Group, that could be a reality sooner than you think. A new report by the market research company says that the average pay-TV subscription for basic pay-TV service and premium-TV channels reached about $86 in 2011. However, that price seems to be on the rise, and could go as high as $123 by 2015. Even more frightening is that NPD is predicting that those bills could be as high as $200 by 2020. The report, titled “Digital Video Outlook,” says that 16 percent of U.S. households don’t subscribe to pay-TV services. With NPD’s pricing estimates, it’s easy to see why. However, the company says that pay-TV subscriptions haven’t really dropped off, thanks to bulk-service pay-TV contracts with apartment complexes and homeowners associations that have allowed pay-TV operators to retain subscriptions in vacant homes. “As pay-TV costs rise and consumers’ spending power stays flat, the traditional affiliate-fee business model for pay-TV companies appears to be unsustainable in the long term,” said Keith Nissen, research director for The NPD Group. “Much needed structural changes to the pay-TV industry will not happen quickly or easily; however, the emerging competition between S-VOD and premium-TV suppliers might be the spark that ignites the necessary business-model transformation of the pay-TV industry.” Another NPD report, “Entertainment Trends in America,” says that cord cutters are cancelling pay-TV subscriptions mainly due to economic considerations. However, they are not completely going without that entertainment fix, instead turning to OTA programming, free web TV, and lower-cost video-on-demand (S-VOD) services, such as Netflix. That said, 59 percent of pay-TV subscribers prefer one provider for services, with 21 percent looking to multiple providers. About 62 percent want premium TV from their pay-TV provider directly, or another affiliated service. Only 20 percent of subscribers are willing to cancel pay TV in favor of getting programming online. “Pay-TV providers offer a convenient, one-stop shop for subscribers, and the majority of customers like it that way,” said Russ Crupnick, NPD’s senior VP of industry analysis. “There is an open window for the industry to meet consumer needs and become to television what iTunes is to music; however, there is also a definite risk if pay-TV providers don’t capitalize on the opportunity—and soon.”]]> http://HDLiving.com/home-technology/2012/04/12/cable-tv-expensive/feed 0 http://HDLiving.com/home-technology/2012/04/12/tvs-moving-online-video http://HDLiving.com/home-technology/2012/04/12/tvs-moving-online-video#comments Thu, 12 Apr 2012 01:22:13 +0000 Electronic House http://HDLiving.com/?p=5525 Leichtman Research Group, Inc. (LRG) says that 38 percent of all U.S. households have at least one TV connected to the web. Those numbers are up 8 percent from 2011, and 14 percent from the year before that. However, viewers aren’t necessarily upgrading to a web-enabled HDTV. Only about 4 percent rely on the actual TV to get online, with video game systems taking the top spot with 28 percent. Set-top boxes, such as Roku and the Apple TV, make up another 1 percent of all households. The LRG study, “Emerging Video Services VI,” also says that 13 percent of adults watch web video via one of these connected devices on a weekly basis. This is up 8 percent from two years ago. Netflix remains the popular video streaming choice, with 35 percent of Netflix subscribers getting a video fix from the service on a weekly basis. Only 5 percent of non-Netflix subscribers watch web video each week. Other highlights from the study include:

• 16 percent of all adults use Netflix’s Watch Instantly feature weekly.
• 79 percent of Netflix Watch Instantly customers use it to watch movies and television shows on a TV set; 59 percent of this group access Netflix via a video game system.
• 50 percent of Netflix subscribers are satisfied with the service.
• 13 percent of Netflix subscribers would consider reducing spending on their multi-channel video service because of Netflix. This is down, compared to 21 percent last year.
• 9 percent of all adults watch video on an iPad/tablet computer weekly, compared to 2 percent last year.

That said, LRG still sees online web content as a complement to pay-TV services, versus a substitute. “Video is increasingly being watched on different platforms and in different places, yet these emerging video services still generally act as complements to traditional television viewing and services rather than as substitutes,” said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group, Inc. “Among all adults, reported time spent watching TV is similar to last year, and there remains little evidence of a significant trend in consumers ‘cutting the cord’ to their multi-channel video services to watch video solely via these emerging services.”]]> http://HDLiving.com/home-technology/2012/04/12/tvs-moving-online-video/feed 0 http://HDLiving.com/uncategorized/2012/04/05/panasonic-blu-ray-player-includes-smart-technology-touch-remote http://HDLiving.com/uncategorized/2012/04/05/panasonic-blu-ray-player-includes-smart-technology-touch-remote#comments Thu, 05 Apr 2012 22:26:26 +0000 HD Living http://HDLiving.com/?p=5520
When the device senses motion within 16 feet it automatically switches from 0.1 watt Eco mode into quick start mode.]]>
Who says your electronics don’t understand you? A Panasonic Blu-ray player knows what you want and gets all warmed up the closer you are too it. As you reach out to touch its glossy plastic exterior, the player emits an alluring come-hither blue glow while the drive whirs with anticipation. All that is achieved via Panasonic’s new Smart Eco Sensor, built into the DMP-BDT320 Blu-ray player. When the device senses motion within 16 feet it automatically switches from 0.1 watt Eco mode into quick start mode. You don’t need to hunt in the cushions for the remote to turn it on or wait for the machine to boot up while you stand in front of it waving a disc in your hand. In addition to the Smart Eco Sensor, the BDT320 is loaded up with other new features. First, it’s a 3D player and includes the IPTV platform Panasonic calls VIERA Connect. The player sports a new single chip architecture called UniPhier which handles audio and video processing, including chroma processing. Other features include 24p output for VOD, an expanded VIERA Connect functionality, FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec),192Hz/32bit Audio DAC, Smartphone remote apps, a new touchpad remote control,  2D-to-3D up-conversion (even on streamed content), Wi-Fi and DLNA. VIERA Connect (which at one time was called VIERA Cast) is a 100-percent cloud-based platform, which means the interface loads fresh each time from the cloud rather than being resident on the player itself. One of the benefits Panasonic says is that the platform can be updated easily without requiring firmware downloads (other updates on the player may still require downloads). The BDT320 is available now for $199. ]]> http://HDLiving.com/uncategorized/2012/04/05/panasonic-blu-ray-player-includes-smart-technology-touch-remote/feed 0 http://HDLiving.com/high-definition-homes/2012/04/05/see-don%e2%80%99t http://HDLiving.com/high-definition-homes/2012/04/05/see-don%e2%80%99t#comments Thu, 05 Apr 2012 22:21:52 +0000 HD Living http://HDLiving.com/?p=5513
Crescendo Designs brings next-generation technology to Central Park home. ]]>
Sometimes, the art of great home technology design is more about what you don’t see than what you do. Such is the case of with a recent project Crescendo Designs completed in a 2,500-square foot apartment in Manhattan’s Central Park West with Facet Construction. While the space features the latest in high-end audio and video equipment — from its Runco televisions and Crestron audio and video distribution system to its Lutron whole home automated lighting system and motorized shades throughout — it’s those design elements that you don’t initially see that have the most impact in maintaining the apartment’s clean, crisp design aesthetic, according to Steve Berry, Senior Design Consultant. The homeowner had a real eye for both design and technology,” he explains “There are top-of-the-line selections throughout the space – even those that you don’t readily see.” The apartment’s touch panels and keypads are installed with TRUFIG, the award-winning solution that makes electrical outlets, keypads, touch panels and other similar devices virtually invisible in sheetrock as well as in solid surfaces such as granite, marble and wood. The home’s Sonance architectural speakers provide crystal-clear sound but virtually disappear into the wall, while the theater room’s projector and screen also disappear—into the ceiling—when not in use. When the theater room is in use, Lutron automated shades in this and other rooms darken the interior without blocking the apartment’s spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline.]]> http://HDLiving.com/high-definition-homes/2012/04/05/see-don%e2%80%99t/feed 0 http://HDLiving.com/home-technology/2012/04/04/high-interest-home-theater-projectors http://HDLiving.com/home-technology/2012/04/04/high-interest-home-theater-projectors#comments Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:02:52 +0000 Electronic House http://HDLiving.com/?p=5508 Pacific Media Associates says you are not alone. According to the research firm’s end user survey, about 18 percent of respondents expect to buy a projector versus some other type of large-screen display. This number is up from 11 percent in 2009. Despite more people wanting to buy that projector, however, the same respondents are planning to place that new purchase in a media room instead of a dedicated home theater. PMA says that consumers have scaled back on large-scale remodeling projects and are opting for brands offering competitive pricing. When it comes to brands Sony, Panasonic, Acer and LG are the most widely owned, with Sony, LG and JVC listed as the “the most intended brands.” Either way, it looks like consumers are still interested in getting that big-screen experience from the comfort of the couch. About 25 percent of users said they save the projector for movie nights, with 3D sports, games and regular 3D TV programming also gaining popularity.]]> http://HDLiving.com/home-technology/2012/04/04/high-interest-home-theater-projectors/feed 0