American technology company
POPULARITY
In this podcast episode, Walt Zerbe, Sr. Directror of Technology and Standards and host of he CEDIA Podcats talks with Jim Hunter, and Rich Birra discussing their experiences at CES, focusing on the evolution of smart home technology, AI, and the impact of new innovations. Jim, attending his 29th CES, notes a decline in attendance and quieter atmosphere compared to previous years. Rich highlights changes in the show's layout and the rise of localized exhibits. They explore the concept of "matter" in smart home devices, AI's role in health and wellness, and the importance of data ownership. The conversation underscores the need for user-friendly technology and effective support systems to enhance consumer experiences. Here a few Key Points: Experiences and observations at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) Evolution and changes in the CES event over the years Innovations in smart home technology and connected devices The role of AI in enhancing user experiences and health applications Challenges and implications of implementing "matter" standards for smart home devices The impact of regulatory frameworks on technological advancements The importance of data ownership and compensation in hyper-personalization The need for skilled professionals in the installation and maintenance of smart home technologies The influence of patents on innovation in the tech industry Future trends in technology, including AI integration and user-friendly systems Here are the mentions with timestamps arranged by topic: Tools and Technologies "Matter": "00:05:42" "Cosmos OS": "00:08:54" "Coder": "00:10:45" "Crestron Systems": "00:13:20" "Lutron Systems": "00:13:20" "Control4": "00:13:20" "SmartThings (by Samsung)": "00:14:21" "ChatGPT": "00:18:00" "Neural Networks": "00:19:28" "Large Language Models": "00:19:28" "Time Series Data": "00:21:39" "Wellness Platform": "00:25:54" "Hyper Personalization": "00:26:39" "Checkbox Piracy": "00:27:20" "Wearables and Sensors": "00:29:10" "Large Language Models": "00:34:13" "Ontologies": "00:35:31" "Model Cards": "00:38:17" "Google": "00:40:23" "ADT": "00:40:23" "Ultra Human": "00:44:07" "NVIDIA": "00:44:15" "LG": "00:45:24" "Bubble": "00:50:26" "Halliday": "00:50:26" "Google Glass": "00:52:04" "Samsung XR Glasses": "00:52:56" "Instacart": "00:53:24" "Control4": "00:54:46" "Aura Ring": "00:58:27" "Cal AI": "01:00:48" Companies and Brands "LG": "00:06:16" "Samsung": "00:06:35" "Humane": "00:08:15" "SoftBank Services": "00:10:29" "A16Z": "00:12:46" "Microsoft Azure": "00:16:37" "Tesla": "00:19:28" "Waymo": "00:19:28" "T-Mobile": "00:22:38" "Starlink (by SpaceX)": "00:22:58" "Delta Airlines": "00:24:02" Events "CES (Consumer Electronics Show)": "00:00:07" "CES (Consumer Electronics Show)": "00:14:22" Notable Mentions "Black Mirror": "00:07:44" "Vivaro": "00:01:52" "Tom Brady": "00:25:54" "Poppy Crum": "00:30:21" "CTO of Panasonic": "00:32:16" "Jensen Huang's Vision": "00:58:59"
Entrepreneurship often involves solving problems no one else dares to tackle. In this episode, Glen Mella, Chief Revenue Officer of OliverIQ and co-founder of the smart home pioneer Control4, shares how he's creating the next evolution of smart living. From scaling startups to IPOs, Glen reflects on his experiences building businesses that transform everyday lives. Tune in for a conversation around: Why the smart home is AI's most critical interface—and how Glen's team is making "one app to rule them all"; Why founders are always in fundraising mode, whether they realize it or not; The key elements that make or break a founding team, including complementary skills, trust, and honest forecasting. — The Midnight Founders Podcast is powered by RevRoad and CB Vault.
Apple adds some smart home features to their latest update. Are they getting into the race? Snap One & Control4 introduce their new X4 at CEDIA Expo 2024. What this means for automation and integrators. We also discuss client retention and how to make lasting relationships with your customer base.ResiWeek takes a look at all the latest news and stories surrounding the residential AV space. We bring in experts in the field like Paul Williams of Nice and Jason Knott of D-Tools to look at the biggest stories for AV.Links to sources:CE Pro – New Smart Home Features in Apple UpdateResidential Systems – Retaining ClientsResidential Tech Today – Snap One's new Control X4 OSSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Control4's X4 OS is rewriting the rules of user experience, Sonos has unleashed their ultimate pro installer tool with the Era 100 Pro speakers, and Extron is teaming up with HETMA to transform AV in higher education!Join Tim Albright and expert guests as they dive deep into these revolutionary developments. Discover how Snap One's Control4 X4 is setting new standards, why Sonos' Era 100 Pro is a game-changer for audio pros, and what the dynamic Extron-HETMA alliance means for the future of AV in education. They've also explored the effective customer feedback tactics, the rise of "Recimercial" products, and innovative ways to simplify control systems for a seamless user experience.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
On this week's show: Interviews from CEDIA Expo 2024 show floor, featuring conversations with OneVision, XSCACE, Specifi, Innovo, and more. Plus the big news about ONVIF coming to UniFi Protect as well as a few other items that were not announced, Snap One's updates to the Control4 platform and the new X4 platform that will be available in Q1 2025. Also a quick note about NiceOS 8.9's new voice assistant for home control and Crestron Home OS's new features that will leave you scratching your head. All this, plus a special thanks to our 2024 sponsor Chowmain, on this information-packed wrap-up of CEDIA Expo 2024!
Eric, co-founder and CTO of Control4 and OliverIQ, recounts his early passion for technology, from building his first smart home in his parents' house in 1982 to founding multiple successful companies in the smart home industry. He discusses the challenges of raising capital in Utah's nascent tech scene, the evolution of home automation, and the impact of the iPhone and App Store on the industry. Eric also highlights his latest venture, OliverIQ, which aims to make smart home technology accessible and manageable for everyone, and shares insights into balancing entrepreneurship with family life.
On this week's podcast Mike Jordan joins us from Charlotte, North Carolina, where he is chief product officer at RTI. With more than 12 years of industry experience, our guest today is known for leading productive, successful product teams. Prior to joining RTI this past December he spent the previous five years as senior VP of products at Snap One, which included leadership of the Control4 product line. Prior to Snap One he held a similar role at Core Brands, where he worked with current RTI CEO Joe Roberts, who was president of Core Brands at that time.RTI has been busy building a new team with new products on a singular platform designed for success in any channel — resi, office, hospitality, and beyond. As we start looking toward CEDIA Expo in September, we thought it was a great time to catch up with one of the veteran control system brands in the custom integration channel and see how things are going for their new chief product officer so far.
Joining us on the podcast from Salt Lake City, UT, is Eric Smith, who most people with a history in the custom integration industry will immediately associate with Control4, the company he co-founded, along with Will West, back in 2003.After some time away from the smart home industry, Eric and Will have returned with their new company, called OliverIQ. Their goal is to put smart home automation “in reach for everyone” through what they've dubbed Smart Home as a Service.Partnering with national and global service providers, such as ISPs and large home builders for example, OliverIQ aims to scale their platform rapidly, offering comprehensive product support, unlimited online and phone support, in-home assistance, and security system monitoring, all for a low monthly cost.Our guest today, who serves officially as CTO of this new company, helps explain more about the concept behind OliverIQ, provide some updates since its launch back in January, and share some surprising reactions from custom integrators so far.
On this week's podcast, Mark Grobman, CTO of machine learning for Hailo, and Derek Webb, surveillance product manager for Snap One, join us to discuss a recent announcement from Snap One about how the company's Luma Insights security system has leveraged the Hailo-8 AI chip to allow for advanced security capabilities. The Insights service integrates with existing Snap One products and requires minimal setup for integrators, allowing for near-instant access to AI-powered visibility from Luma cameras in a Control4 system.Today's episode of Residential Tech Talks is brought to you Nice, a global manufacturer of smart home, security, and building automation solutions. Nice is bringing together 30 years of innovation with award-winning products from ELAN, SpeakerCraft, and Panamax, to create a holistic ecosystem for builders, integrators, and consumers. Learn more about how you can create One Home with One Solution at go.niceforyou.com/rtt.
Jeff spends some time on today's podcast with Tommy Brand, the owner of Phantom Sound; a Wieland Builders trusted trade partner used on our custom homes. Tommy shares the history of Phantom Sound and explains the range of options and products offered to homeowners and businesses. They include a full service of the following: low voltage audio and speakers hidden in rooms of your home and outdoor living areas (even in outdoor flower pots!) video, home theaters, security systems, motorized blinds/shades, bug screens and smart lighting.Tommy explains the term “whole house automation” and looks at the differences between the smart home brands Control4, Elon, Sonos and the up and coming Josh, that keeps your data private. Many of the applications have easy control panels that are integrated with your HVAC, security system, smart appliances, blinds and lights.Jeff and Tommy talk about how theater rooms are not in as high demand as in the past and that surround sound in larger open great rooms, lower levels and outdoor living spaces are frequently requested by clients. Tommy reviews the process he follows with a Wieland Builders customer interested in architecturally hidden speaker systems and the trends that are coming in the next 5 years.The Home Builders Association (HBA) plays an important role for both Tommy and Jeff. Tommy is very active in the HBA building relationships and developing future new business opportunities. He explains his involvement with CEDIA group, a custom integrators peer group that shares their business knowledge with each other on a regular basis. Visit the Phantom Sound showroom in downtown Mason or www.phantomsound.comEmail Jeff your comments, questions, topic requests or be a guest on The WB Download. WBDOWNLOAD@wielandbuilders.comSee Wieland Builders custom home gallery www.wielandbuilders.comSee podcast behind the scenes photos Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Houzz or Pinterest
In Season 4 Episode 2, Kenny Kim - VP of Product Management and Graham Hardy - VP of Engineering, Cloud - OvrC and Control4 at Snap One join host Tom White to uncover the latest innovations happening in the smart home market and how IoT is being used to create the ultimate smart home experience from the integrators on the ground making sure all devices work seamlessly together to the end customers living experience. Sit back, relax, tune in and be the first to discover...
Charles Moldow, a general partner at Foundation Capital, shares his remarkable journey from being a Wall Street analyst to becoming an entrepreneur and eventually transitioning into his current role as an investor over two decades ago. His captivating anecdotes leave you eager for more, whether he's recounting stories about his father's wisdom on the internet or recalling a memorable encounter with an exceptional entrepreneur. Charles also delves into the exciting market trends within insurtech and offers valuable insights into the areas to focus attention for fruitful opportunities.In this episode, you'll learn:[2:20] Charles Moldow's early entrepreneurial ventures during the dynamic evolution of the internet.[7:58] The role of a VC in sometimes discouraging founders to protect them from their own pitfalls.[13:01] The revealing nature of a founder's personal life story, showcasing their unique abilities.[19:54] "Don't prepare to impress me. Just share your authentic truth." - Charles Moldow[23:43] The importance for entrepreneurs to explore the vast array of promising opportunities for leveraging technology in the insurance industry.The non-profit organization that Charles is passionate about: safespaceAbout Charles MoldowCharles Moldow is a general partner at Foundation Capital. At Foundation, he identifies technology trends and new user experiences that will change the financial services landscape. His thesis investing has him focused on fintech, insurtech and proptech opportunities with a crypto overlay to everything he evaluates. Since he joined Foundation Capital in 2005, he's made seventeen successful investments, five of which have gone public and twelve have been acquired. Charles' public portfolio includes early-stage investments that have led to notable IPOs with DOMA (IPO 2021), Rover (IPO 2021), LendingClub (IPO 2014), OnDeck (IPO 2014) and Everyday Health (2014). Fun fact: Charles moonlights as AAA Little League coach and family vacation planner.Learn more about Charles here.About Foundation CapitalFoundation Capital is a Silicon Valley-based early-stage venture capital firm that's dedicated to the proposition that one entrepreneur's idea, with the right support, can become a business that changes the world. The firm is made up of former entrepreneurs who set out to create the firm they wanted as founders. Foundation Capital is currently invested in more than 60 high-growth ventures in the areas of consumer, information technology, software, digital energy, financial technology, and marketing technology. These investments include AdRoll, Beepi, Bolt Threads, DogVacay, Kik, ForgeRock, Lending Home, Localytics, and Visier. The firm's twenty-six IPOs include Lending Club, OnDeck, Chegg, Sunrun, MobileIron, Control4, TubeMogul, Envestnet, Financial Engines, Netflix, NetZero, Responsys and Silver Spring Networks.Subscribe to our podcast and stay tuned for our next episode. Follow Us: Twitter | Linkedin | Instagram | Facebook
TalkingHeadz is a series of interviews with the movers and shakers of enterprise communications - we also have great guests. In this episode, we check in with Brad Hintze, EVP Marketing at Crestron. Brad beleives that the foundation for marketing success is contingent on the combined strength of one's ability to: a) build (and ship) fantastic products, b) clearly communicate why one's product is excellent, and c) create the right tools to win more customers. While that may sound interesting to some, it's 1 Beyond that got us hooked. Crestron has a built a strong collaborative reputation with its Flex video conferencing systems, and that story got better about a year ago when it acquired 1 Beyond. 1 Beyond has been in business for 20 years, but the past seven have seen exceptional growth. The story got even strong with the when it opted to acquire 1 Beyond. Crestron was demonstrating its new capabilities earlier this year at ISE Barcelona, where seven One Beyond cameras collaborated so effectively that any meeting can become compelling. Crestron's Flex solutions integrate video conferencing, wireless presentation, and smart room control. The company works closely with Microsoft Teams and other platforms as well, and 1 Beyond isn't it's first date to the rodeo either: Crestron has announced partnerships with Huddly, Shure, and Jabra, too.Prior to joining Crestron, Brad served as the Vice President of Consumer and Brand Marketing at SnapAV, where he designed and led marketing efforts and strategies. Before assuming that role, Brad held the position of Senior Director of Product Marketing at Control4 where he was responsible for directing product marketing strategy and development.
This week Paul Williams joins us from Salt Lake City, UT, where he is chief product officer for Nice North America, the global manufacturer of smart home, security, and building automation solutions. Nice, which was founded in Italy by current owner Lauro Buoro in 1993, acquired Nortek Security & Control from Melrose Industries back in October of 20 21. In September of this year, the company announced that it would be sunsetting Nortek Control as a company name and absorbing several of its custom integration brands into the Nice brand. By integrating ELAN, SpeakerCraft, and Panamax into the Nice brand, the company says, they will progressively leverage their full portfolio of solutions for home and building management. Williams, who spent a lot of his career at Control4 and more recent years at Savant's GE Lighting brand, explains the changes and talks about new products that were introduced at CEDIA Expo this fall. Today's episode of Residential Tech Talks is brought to you by Shelly WiFi Relays by Allterco | Smart home devices designed and developed to provide solutions tailored to your needs. Go to https://shelly.cloud and make IoT simple!
This episode was produced remotely using the ListenDeck standardized audio & video production system. If you're looking to jumpstart your podcast miniseries or upgrade your podcast or video production please visit www.ListenDeck.com. You can subscribe to this podcast and stay up to date on all the stories here on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon and iHeartRadio. In this episode the host John Siracusa chats remotely with Zach Noorani, Partner at Foundation Capital. Foundation Capital is a venture capital firm made up of former entrepreneurs who set out to create the firm they wanted as founders. Foundation Capital has invested in companies like LendingClub, Sunrun and Netflix, among many others. Foundation Capital is currently invested in more than 60 high-growth ventures. The firm's twenty-six IPOs include Lending Club, OnDeck, Chegg, Sunrun, MobileIron, Control4, TubeMogul, Envestnet, Financial Engines, Netflix, NetZero, Responsys and Silver Spring Networks. Tune in and Listen. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Google , Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon and iHeartRadio to hear Thursdays episode with Login Allin from Fin Capital . About the host: John is the host of the ‘Bank On It' podcast which is produced by ListenDeck podcast & video production.
Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Håkan Olsson;How Håkan uses his home as a showroom for his businessHis method of using his home to demo Ketra tunable lighting and invisible speakersSelling single app solutions vs App Mania (ie. using many apps)To get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au215SHOW NOTESHåkan started Beemer Smart Home in 2005 as a side business while he was pursuing a career at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, WA. As a classical musician and former Audio Engineer, his initial focus was on audio solutions, which then transitioned into home theater solutions a few years later. In 2016 after successful projects with several architects and builders in the Seattle area, he decided to take the business full- time and expand the solutions to an all-encompassing Home Technologies solutions. Today, Beemer Smart Home has added more solutions, like Lutron luxury lighting and motorized shades, an invisible speaker line from Stealth Acoustics, and whole home control solutions through Control4. In 2019 Beemer Smart Home also became an integration partner to Stratis IOT for multifamily smart building solutions after completing several high-rise projects. In 2021 Beemer also earned an HTA certification.Ron Callis is the CEO of One Firefly, LLC, a digital marketing agency based out of South Florida and creator of Automation Unplugged. Founded in 2007, One Firefly has quickly become the leading marketing firm specializing in integrated technology and security. The One Firefly team works hard to create innovative solutions to help Integrators boost their online presence, such as the elite website solution Mercury Pro.About One FireflyOne Firefly, LLC is an award-winning marketing agency that caters to technology professionals in the custom integration, security and solar energy markets. One Firefly is headquartered in Davie, Florida with staff located throughout North America and has been operating since 2007.
“The most important attribute a player must have is mental toughness." -Mia Hamm “Everybody looks at my body, but I use my mind more than my arms.” -Mark McGuire“Competitive golf is played mainly on a 5 1/2 inch course…the space between your ears.” -Bobby Jones.Elite athletes understand the difference between performing good and performing at your highest potential is determined by both the time and effort you put in to building your physical muscles and skills AND the time you take building your mental muscles; being the boss of your thoughts and your breath. Both are acquired skills that take practice! What does "being mentally tough" look like in life? Listen in today to hear about the 7 C's of mental toughness from Gary Mack's book "Mental Gym" and 10 mental strategies you can incorporate into your life TODAY! https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mind-gym-gary-mack/1100011046?ean=9780071395977Seven C's:1. Competitiveness2. Confidence3. Control4. Commitment 5. Composure 6. Courage 7. ConsistencyTen Mental Strategies used by Elite Athletes: 1. Visualization2. Mindful meditation https://www.buzzsprout.com/1934961/10860119-episode-21-meditate-on-this.mp3?download=true3. Preparation Routines4. Positive self talk5. Music6. Do the math7. Set goals8. Breathing9. Optimism10. Film analysis and deliberate practice
On this week's podcast, Kim Parker joins from Austin, TX, where he was recently hired to serve as chief operating officer of Screen Innovations. Screen Innovations launched in 2003 by Ryan Gustafson as a garage start-up in Austin to provide projection screens for home theater and commercial video projector installations. As the industry evolved over the years, SI expanded its product mix to include window coverings, as well. Our guest today joined the company three months ago after 13 years with Control4 and Snap One, most recently as Snap One's vice president of sales for specialty channels. He brings to SI not only his veteran experience with those two major industry brands, but also a diverse history with several other very familiar names in the industry, including Savant, Sonance, Netstreams, and GE Smart. Today's episode of Residential Tech Talks is brought to you by Shelly WiFi Relays by Allterco | Smart home devices designed and developed to provide solutions tailored to your needs. Go to https://shelly.cloud and make IoT simple!
On this week's podcast, Scott Stephenson joins us from Denver, CO, where is the director of product management – motorization at Hunter Douglas. Scott and Jeremy have been collaborating a lot lately thanks to the generous opportunity afforded by him, his company, and his PR agency Caster Communications that led to six Hunter Douglas Gen 3 motorized shades being installed in Jeremy's own home. Scott has been with Hunter Douglas now for almost five years, but his residential tech career also has included a seven-year stint as senior product manager, lighting & comfort at Control4, and before that nearly four years working for, Colorado vNet. In this episode, we retrace Scott's path to becoming a motorized shades expert, talk about what makes Hunter Douglas Gen 3 shades better than Gen 2, and share some of things Jeremy has learned about motorized shades in the relatively short amount of time that he's live with them in his house. Today's episode of Residential Tech Talks is brought to you by Shelly WiFi Relays by Allterco | Smart home devices designed and developed to provide solutions tailored to your needs. Go to https://shelly.cloud and make IoT simple!
2022 is proving to be Snap One's (formerly SnapAV) biggest year in ProAV thus far. The parent company to AV brands like Access Networks, Control4, Binary, Pakedge and SunBrite (formerly SunBrite TV) also has brands like Strong (mounts), OVRC (remote management and monitoring software) and WattBox (IP and cloud-based power solutions) — all brands you should be selling into ProAV installs. All of […]
On this week's podcast, Bill Lehman joins us from Indianapolis, where he is co-owner and president of the home tech integration firm Millennium Sounds. Bill and Jeremy have known each other for a few years, ever since his company was asked by Control4 to install Jeremy's house-wide network and integrated audio video system. Millennium is involved in a cool new venture with Indy 500 racing champion Tony Kanaan and his custom-built racing simulators. Jeremy had the chance to attend a Millennium-hosted fundraiser at the company's new Motor District Garage Condo recently where he totally embarrassed himself on the sim while Kanaan looked over his shoulder. Despite his horrible virtual driving…. the event, the event location, and the technology itself was too cool not to share on the podcast. Today's episode of Residential Tech Talks is brought to you by Shelly WiFi Relays by Allterco | Smart home devices designed and developed to provide solutions tailored to your needs. Go to https://shelly.cloud and make IoT simple!
This week on HomeTech: The gang takes a visit back to the HomeTech Grave Yard to bury Insteon since the company abruptly shut its doors down over the weekend. Garadget announces a new product (in 2022!) for Control4, Canada gets blazing fast internet speeds, LiFX looks like it could be next, Youtube gets to stream some sportsball games, and this week's pick of the week.
Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Keith Harrison;Using the “Leasing” model in the AV industry and how it benefits clients and your businessHow customer service and building relationships can leave a lasting effect in a company.Why our industry needs to rethink integrators role in providing maintenance and ongoing support servicesTo get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au207SHOW NOTESIn 1992, Keith started Total Home Technologies with the idea to "Question Everything." 30 years later, Total Home Technologies now has 3 Control4 certified showrooms (so far), two in New Jersey and one in New York. They are also one of the highest volume Control 4 dealers in the North East. Additionally, they have won countless awards, most recently ProSource dealer of the year for 2021.Ron Callis is the CEO of One Firefly, LLC, a digital marketing agency based out of South Florida and creator of Automation Unplugged. Founded in 2007, One Firefly has quickly become the leading marketing firm specializing in integrated technology and security. The One Firefly team works hard to create innovative solutions to help Integrators boost their online presence, such as the elite website solution Mercury Pro.About One FireflyOne Firefly, LLC is an award-winning marketing agency that caters to technology professionals in the custom integration, security and solar energy markets. One Firefly is headquartered in Davie, Florida with staff located throughout North America and has been operating since 2007.
Jacob Whipple, product marketing manager, Snap One, discusses updates to the Control4 3.3.0 OS for whole-house controls, Triad's new PDX architectural speakers, and Ryff whole-house audio platform.
Here are some of the topics Ron had the opportunity to discuss with Wade Stephens;Techniques to successfully manage projects affected by supply chain issuesHow the Entrepreneurial Operating System can benefit a team and its development.How marketing helps drive referral salesTo get transcripts, resources of what was mentioned in the show, and more visit: onefirefly.com/au204SHOW NOTESWade Stephens began his career in the AV industry in 1993 with a small company named Best Buy. He remained in that company for over 13 years during the huge growth of the company, including when Best Buy was named Forbes company of the year in 2004. During that time, Wade was a segment manager for Magnolia HiFi in the Dallas area and was then promoted to Sales Manager to one of the largest revenue producing stores in Texas. Along the way, Wade expanded his skillset to include many industry certifications like Control4, Crestron, Lutron, and Savant. Wade is now the Vice President of Sales with DeVance Electronic Lifestyles which has seen an amazing growth over the last three years. DeVance specializes in residential, commercial, automation, lighting, and lighting control, with a focus on luxury two channel HiFi. Wade works very closely with owners Matt and Dana DeVance daily through the EOS operating system which has helped DeVance grow significantly while continuing to live by their vision to treat customers like family.Ron Callis is the CEO of One Firefly, LLC, a digital marketing agency based out of South Florida and creator of Automation Unplugged. Founded in 2007, One Firefly has quickly become the leading marketing firm specializing in integrated technology and security. The One Firefly team works hard to create innovative solutions to help Integrators boost their online presence, such as the elite website solution Mercury Pro.About One FireflyOne Firefly, LLC is an award-winning marketing agency that caters to technology professionals in the custom integration, security and solar energy markets. One Firefly is headquartered in Davie, Florida with staff located throughout North America and has been operating since 2007.
In this podcast from Bravas, we talk to our own team members - Jason Roberts from Boca Raton and Caleb Rydbeck from Dallas-Fort Worth about Whole-Home Control Systems. We discuss why clients should use them and tips on how to choose the right system.
On today's show we reveal the 2021 TCL TV lineup and discuss FAST (free, ad-supported streaming television) channels. Is this the beginning of truly free TV? We also go through the list of the 2021 CEDIA Expo Best of show winners. Plus we read your emails and look at the news of the week. TCL TV 2021 range: every new TCL TV for this year In 2020, TCL launched a number of new TVs, proving you don't need to pay a small fortune to get a good new TV. Now we're more than halfway through 2021, the brand is continuing this trend. Full article here… Google's latest plans for Chromecast are all about free TV Google is looking to make its Chromecast streaming device more appealing to cord cutters. The company has plans to add free TV channels to Google TV, the Android-based smart TV platform that powers Chromecast as well as select smart TVs from companies including Sony and TCL, Protocol has learned. Full article here... 2021 CEDIA Expo Best Of Show Winners Announced TWICE, Residential Systems and What HiFi? have announced the winners of their annual Best of Show awards at CEDIA Expo 2021. The products were nominated by the manufacturers and a team of judges was employed to read through the entries and rate the products on a number of criteria, including its value, impact, and how unique it was to the market. TWICE Best of Show Winners at CEDIA Crestron Home Crestron started in the 1980s in New Jersey and sells its products internationally. They sell their home automation products through authorized dealers. Crestron does not list pricing on their website because each system is custom-tailored to the homeowner's needs and installed through a home integrator. Their products are high quality and you will pay for an equally high amount. Systems typically start at $10,000 and go up from there. Way up! Crestron Horizon Thermostat With their ultra-slim profile and luxurious aesthetic, Horizon smart thermostats are always neat and discreet, while also delivering advanced functionality. Intuitive control and bright high-resolution touch screen makes settings as easy to see as they are to adjust Touch screen displays in light and/or dark mode Light sensor adjusts display brightness and switches to dark mode at night Built-in proximity sensor eliminates need to swipe or touch to wake up thermostat Quick-look RGB backlit status bar indicates current status and provides sophisticated design accent No batteries, so you'll never return home or wake up to a too hot or cold house because the batteries ran out Silent operation iRoom iO touchDock The touchDock is iRoom‘s flagship docking station, made entirely with scratch-resistant tempered glass and features the latest technologies iRoom has been implementing in its docking solutions. touchDock turns your iPad into a dual-purpose control device with convenient motorized iPad removal for mobile use. Convenient motorized Removal of the iPad. High Quality Tempered & Scratch-Proof Glass in Black or White. Horizontal or Vertical Flush-Mount Installation. Built-In Touch Keypad for AV Control independent of the iPad. Control Drivers for Crestron, Control4, Savant, RTI, Elan, URC and many more. Smart Battery Management extends the iPad Battery Life. Code-Protected Antitheft Protection of the iPad. Built-in sensor package for room temperature, humidity, brightness, and air quality (CO2) (Coming soon) Price $1,299.00 – $1,699.00 Samsung QN90A 4K TV The next-gen Neo Quantum Processor 4K utilizes advanced AI based deep-learning analysis to analyze the signal, source, and scene-by-scene content to deliver our best 4K optimized experiences. Quantum HDR 32x brings details to life with ultra-rich color, deep contrast, and HDR10+ dynamic tone mapping that shifts the color and contrast scene by scene for spectacular clarity. Feel like you're in the middle of the action with directional, realistic sound that projects from speakers built into all sides of the TV Never miss a beat with minimized blur and enhanced motion clarity, and catch all the fast-moving action whether you're watching sports or taking advantage of newer Next-Gen gaming capabilities. Get our finest picture ever with Color Volume 100%, Quantum Dot, which transforms light into breathtaking, stay-true color at any brightness. See every detail at any angle. Ultra Viewing Angle gives you the consistent detailed picture, even when sitting off to the side. So every seat is the best one in the house. 85” $4,000 55” $1,550 GDC Espedeo Supra-5000 RBB Plus Laser Phosphor Cinema Projector The Supra-5000 is a 5000-lumen DCI-compliant projection system certified by Hollywood studios to playback encrypted digital cinema content and suitable for screens up to 20 feet wide. It features patented ALPD 4.0 laser technology to deliver vibrant colors in P3 color space and achieving 98.5 percent of REC2020. It is engineered with GDC's all-in-one board, which is designed with near-zero maintenance electronics and tested by SGS for 100,000 hours Mean Time Between Failures. Designed with CineCache 2TB built-in solid-state storage and a built-in cinema audio processor, the light engine and lens offer IP5X level of dustproof protection to maintain brightness. It is compact, lightweight and quiet with a noise level below 35 dB(A), making it an ideal ceiling-mounted solution for private home cinemas, yachts, and hotels. Hisense 100-inch L9G TriChroma Laser TV Key features: The 3000 Lumen ultra short throw projection TV features the TriChroma laser engine to reach 107% of the BT.2020 color space. Includes 100-inch Ambient Light Rejecting (ALR) screen produces incredible picture clarity in both dark and well-lit spaces and is perfectly paired with the L9G. Built-in 40W Dolby Atmos sound or high-speed HDMI with eARC allows for pass-thru of high-bitrate audio to your surround sound system. 25,000 Hour Lifespan $5,500 Kaleidescape Terra 12 “This product was designed for customers eager to invest in the Kaleidescape experience but not ready to commit to a larger movie server like the Terra 48 or the recently announced Terra 72,” said Tayloe Stansbury, CEO, Kaleidescape. “The Terra 12 gives new customers the same experience as the larger servers, with similar download speeds and performance, while allowing them the flexibility to add playback zones and grow their movie collection over time.” With the power to download feature-length 4K movies in as little as 10 minutes on a gigabit internet connection, the Terra 12 is ideal for customers looking to invest in an entry level Kaleidescape system that can instantly play their favorite movies, television shows and music events. The addition of the Terra 12 to Kaleidescape's product line also allows customers to incrementally increase storage by adding additional servers, such as the Terra 24, Terra 48 or the recently announced Terra 72. The Kaleidescape Terra is the foundation of a multi-room Kaleidescape Strato system. A Terra 12 can support any number of Strato C players and serve up to five simultaneous 4K Ultra HD playbacks. Designed with a similar profile to a Strato C movie player, the Terra 12 can be mounted beside a Strato C in a 1U rack space, using Kaleidescape's custom rack mount for efficient shelf storage. The Kaleidescape Terra 12 movie server will be priced at $7,995. Accompanying Strato C players are priced at $2,995 each. Jabra PanaCast 50 The Jabra PanaCast 50 is an intelligent video bar with 180° field of view in Panoramic-4K. On the audio front, intelligent algorithms automatically identify and remove residual echo and static noise, and we added an array of four powerful speakers in a zero-vibration stereo setup, to fill the room with premium, high-definition sound. MSRP $1,195
We have a fantastic show for you today! Hisense announced what appears to be one of the best Ultra Short Throw Projectors on the market. We discuss Ara's experience with his and how this may be the one to replace your regular TV. Qualcomm has something for audiophiles with their AptX Lossless codec for CD Quality Sound Over Bluetooth. Finally we take a look at a $5 smart plug from monoprice. Who would have thought that you can start your home automation journey for $5. As usual we read your emails and news stories for the week. Hisense's new laser TV is pricey, but could prove its best home cinema experience yet Hisense has just announced its latest laser TV, the new L9G. In what promises to be a premium home entertainment device, the L9G TriChroma laser TV will use a 3000 Lumen ultra-short throw projection to create a razor-sharp and color-accurate image. Full article here Hisense L9G TV Series features 4K Ultra-Short Throw – Positioned just inches from the wall, the L9G Laser TV casts a massive image at beautiful 4K resolution. Up to 3.5x more screen than a 65” TV. TriChroma Laser Engine – The L9G uses pure red, green, and blue lasers to achieve new levels of color performance, reaching 107% of the BT.2020 color space. High Dynamic Range – With a brightness of 3000 Lumens, L9G's High Dynamic Range delivers incredible specular highlights and depth of color, to give every scene the stunning details it deserves. Smooth Motion – The Digital Micromirror Device reacts faster to movement than LED or OLED, creating motion that's smoother than any other type of display. MEMC Technology helps too, making fast-action in sports, movies, and games more fluid. DLP Technology Powered by Texas Instruments – The projection technology used in 9 out of 10 cinemas worldwide to create laser-focused detail is now available at home. Every piece of content feels like it's fresh from the theater. Long Lifespan – X-Fusion™ laser light technology provides up to 25,000+ hours of entertainment without the need of replacing a bulb – because there is none. Ambient Light Rejecting Screen – The included UST ALR screen is perfectly paired with the L9G projector to produce a color-accurate picture with incredible viewing angles and brightness uniformity. Dolby Atmos® – L9G's 40W Dolby Atmos sound reveals every detail of the audio mix with unparalleled clarity and depth. A high-speed HDMI port with eARC also allows pass-through so users can enjoy high bitrate audio through their home theater. Android TV OS – Android TV OS brings more than 5,000 apps and games to the biggest screen in the home. Watch live sports and news from popular channels or gather around to watch the hottest videos with 1,000+ Chromecast compatible apps. WiSA Ready – integrate your wireless multi-channel surround sound, the L9G is WiSA Ready. Smart Home Ready – Built-in WiFi, Google Assistant, Works with Alexa and Control4 certified, the L9G can integrate with smart home IoT devices and control systems. Eye-Safety (And Kid Resilient) – The L9G features a proximity sensor that shuts off the laser light source when a moving body gets too close. This protects the eyes and is also a great feature to stop the little ones from placing items on the laser console. Users also have the option to turn off the eye-safety feature. Qualcomm AptX Lossless Offers CD Quality Sound Over Bluetooth But It Won't Be Available On Existing Devices Qualcomm has done something nice for all the audiophiles who are still getting used to listening to music on Bluetooth headphones. The company has decided to announce the latest Bluetooth audio codec called the aptX Lossless. Full Article Here … Stitch Wifi Outlet One of our listeners, Tom, sent us an email a couple weeks ago alerting us to a really inexpensive smart home outlet made by Monoprice called “The Stitch”. This line has been around for at least a couple of years but this was the first we had heard of it. We purchased it for $5 but it's currently being sold for $8.50. The Stitch is a 10A Outlet that works with Alexa and Google Home and has an iOS and Android app. The outlet is really small and can be used anywhere and does not require a hub. Setup was a tale of two experiences. The first attempt resulted in nothing but frustration then ended with us giving up and thinking that the outlet was not working. So we set the outlet aside and went on with our day. Being stubborn and not being happy that a smart home device got the better of us, we tried again the following day. This time everything worked exactly as advertised and within seconds had the device connected to our network. Now that the outlet was functioning we were able to put it through its paces. To sum it up, it worked well. We were able to set up scenes and automations based on time of day, events, and timers. We liked the timers which could come in handy if you needed to set up a temporary automation. There is even a “Circulate” mode which turns on devices for configured durations at times defined by you. There is not much more that needs to be said about a $5 outlet so we will leave this here. If you are on Google Home or Alexa we highly recommend this outlet for your automation needs. If you are on HomeKit you can still use this in your home but more for standalone types of tasks like turning lights on and off at specific times. This device is the deal of the year for simple home automation. Beyond the outlet, Stitch has an entire line of home automation products. There is a five piece starter kit for $90 that includes: Smart LED Light Bulb Smart Outlet Door/Window Sensor Motion Sensor Water Sensor
The value of audio quality working from home, Control4's OS supports OvrC, and Apple allows Siri in third-party devices. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The value of audio quality working from home, Control4's OS supports OvrC, and Apple allows Siri in third-party devices.
1000 Episodes in Review It's our 1000th episode so we thought it would be fun to go down memory lane. It has been so much fun getting to know all of you. Some we know well and have developed personal relationships with. Others came and went as things in their lives changed. To Industry members, thank you for your support! To our listeners, thank you for subscribing, downloading and listening to our show. It's because of you that we are here today and will be here tomorrow! There was a big gap in our records between 2005 and 2007. We switched to Google Docs in 2007 and have been able to keep everything we wrote archived there. But from memory some highlights were: We became the official podcast of AVS Forum and were introduced to members at their CES Party We had an affiliation with HDTV Magazine Met Mark Cuban (owner of HDNet at the time) and Interviewed the President of Syntax-Brillian at the HDTV Conference in Beverly Hills Dolby Flew us to San Francisco to demo some of their projects they were working on. While there we recorded two shows of their now defunct Dolby podcast Oppo and Monoprice were big supporters of the show early on as was Olevia TVs Sonos - The first real product we reviewed on the show back in 2005 A few of our day job colleagues mocked us for doing a podcast. LOL jokes on them HT Guys TV Tech Timeline Braden (Sony CRT...) -> Panasonic Plasma 480p EDTV -> JVC LCoS 1080p Rear Projection -> Epson 1080p Projector(s) -> (Lots of 4k TCLs) -> Sony 4k LED Ara RCA CRT -> Samsung DLP-> Panasonic Plasma-> JVC Projector-> Vizio 4K TV Optoma UST Reviews of all the Rear Projection TVs from 2007 - JVC HD-61FN97 61" HD-ILA Our bottom line at the time - The JVC HD-61FN97 is an excellent value. It looks great, does a wonderful job with HD content, a great job with DVDs and a pretty good job with standard definition TV. Blacks are good, contrast is solid, colors are excellent and detail is vivid. We try to look for great values to help you (and us for that matter) get a little more out of each hard earned dollar. You'd be hard pressed to find a better looking 61" TV at its price. At an online street price of $2125 this is an awesome TV for the money. It really helps bring the big screen home. Our first mention of home automation was in March of 2007. We wrapped up our discussion with - One day home automation will be standard. We'll wonder what people ever did without them. But for now your options are somewhat limited. You can spend a lot of money to get it custom built and done just right, with a system like Crestron, AMX or Control4, or you can try to put it together yourself if you don't mind the occasional hiccup that comes with a home made system. This can be one of the most fun home projects you've ever worked on. And it lasts forever - it's the gift that just keeps on giving. Our earliest “Kaleidescape Killer” comment was also in 2007 when we showcased a $2500 Linux based machine with full DVR and DVD server capabilities. The company was called Interact-TV and they are no longer in business. Our Top Ten shows in HD from 2007: Ara: American Idol (Fox) Dancing with the Stars (ABC) Football/Basketball/Sports Center/Etc on ESPN Planet Earth/Sunrise Earth (Discovery HD Theater) Lost (ABC) CSI Miami (CBS) CSI (CBS) Bikini Destinations (HD Net) Heroes (NBC) NHL Hockey on HD Net Braden: The Unit (CBS) Las Vegas (NBC) Numb3rs (CBS) Monday Night Football (ESPN) Lakers Basketball on KCAL 24 (Fox) I Shouldn't Be Alive (Discovery HD) Destination HD (Discovery HD) Planet Earth (Discovery HD) CSI Miami (CBS) SlingMedia VS Major League Baseball Issue: Slingboxes infringe on the local cable company's right to broadcast the content. Interactive TV Still not a thing DVDpedia In an attempt to build a video server or “Kaleidescape Killer” out of a Mac Mini Ara used DVDpedia to catalog and display album art and id3 data about his library. It worked OK but was quickly abandoned for Boxee and then eventually Plex. Plex is indeed the Kaleidescape Killer! Vudu Movie Download Set Top Box ($399) - October 2007 What we liked: High quality movies on demand Large selection with more coming every week Easy to use remote and easy menu navigation Up and running in five minutes What we disliked: No lease option to defray $400 entry price Not a large selection of Dolby 5.1 Downloads interfered with VOIP telephone service Bottom Line: This is the best home video on demand system the HT Guys have seen. The video quality is first rate! The user interface is clean and simple. You will have the system up and running in no time. All of this is with the initial release of the system software. With more movie releases coming, HD, external storage, and new software updates this product will only get better. At $400 for the Vudu box its not for everyone, but you will get a very good video on demand system for the investment. HDDVD - Bluray - a comparison Conclusion Blu-ray clearly has an advantage in specs, higher storage capacity and higher maximum bitrate. HD-DVD seems to hold the edge in "market readiness" if that's a real term. All the features you want were required in the spec from the beginning, so you know your player supports it. Man it would be nice if the studios would create discs in both formats so we didn't have to buy two players... Netflix Watch Instantly Technology Minimum Requirements Computer running Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or higher, or Windows Vista Internet Explorer version 6 or higher Windows Media Player version 11 (DRM version 5145) or later An active broadband connection to the Internet 1.0 GHz processor 512 MB RAM 3 GB free hard disk drive space Recommended in addition to minimum requirements An active broadband Internet connection of at least 1.5 Mbps 1.5 GHz processor 1 GB RAM The Death of Rear Projection TVs - Jan 2008 Harmony One Universal Remote - As with any Harmony remote, the One is a great choice for your home theater. It's new, sexy and easy to use. The touchscreen is cool and the larger buttons make it a bit easier to use. But overall it doesn't represent a huge departure from the 880. Of course we're gadget freaks, so we'll both be using them, but if you want to save some money, the 880 remains a great option. Bang for the buck, the 880 is still probably the way to go. For the coolness factor, the One is where it's at. Mobile Digital TV Standard - Although ATSC 3.0 has a provision for this most people are just using IPTV over the Cell Networks Orb Speaker Review - we did a review of these cool spherical speakers that sounded pretty good at the time. The cost for a 5.1 system was $1597 in June of 2008. The company is still around and today you can get an improved 5.1 system for $740. Is TidalTV the Next Big Thing? - a new service that mimics the Cable or Satellite experience over the Internet. So the answer is No and Yes! This was in 2008 Popcorn Hour A-100 Review Not a week goes by that we don't hear something about the Popcorn Hour A-100 network media player. We tried relentlessly to get a demo unit for review, but to no avail. Finally, slightly weary but committed whole-heartedly to the show, Ara decided to pony up the cash and purchase one. It arrived last week and we got a chance to play with it. All in all, not a bad little unit. If you want an inexpensive network media player that can play anything, the Popcorn Hour is the best we've seen so far. It requires some IT expertise to get it up and running and to use it on a day-to-day basis, but it works like a champ. Even streaming 1080p HD content over the network looked good, granted it was all that was happening on the network at the time, but it still looked good. If you want something with a little more visual appeal, stick with AppleTV, the PS3 or the Xbox 360 (or Vudu when it adds local network playback). But all of those options are a bit more expensive and not quite as flexible. Vudu HDX Movies Black Friday Roundup 2008 Panasonic Viera 50" 720p Plasma HDTV 899.99 min 10 per store Sony 40" 1080p LCD HDTV & Sony Blu-Ray Player Bundle (Model # KDL40V4100 and BDPS350) - $1,199.98 Sony Blu-ray Player (BDP-S350) -- $179 (with a firmware upgrade and a 1 GB USB stick this will be come BD Live Compliant) Mitsubishi 65" Home Theater 1080p DLP HDTV (Model # WD65735) - $1,199.99 IPTV - Can it replace Cable and Satellite? Note- This was us just talking about the subject LONG (2009) before it was even dreamed of in it's current state - If you had to, you could cut the cord between you and your cable company and not miss a beat. But in reality if you won't have the same video quality. The other thing to consider is that the Cable or Satellite box has an simple well understood interface. Connecting a computer to the TV requires using a keyboard and a mouse and there are no channel numbers. You'll have to bookmark your sites. Companies like Apple, Netflix and Boxee are all trying to provide a ten foot interface that is Grandma proof but we still have a ways to go. Finally, cable companies are not going to be happy with subscribers that watch a lot of Internet streamed content. So even if the quality improved you may not be able to stream a months worth of TV into your home. If you are a light TV watcher that is computer savvy then you may be able to cut the cable cord completely. But in actually, for most of us, IPTV is a good way to augment what we already have. If you are on the road you can watch something on your terms. If you forget to record something then its a great backup. Its also a great way to watch old TV shows that are no longer aired. What if AppleTV Replaced my DVR? The concept at this point in time was to buy subscriptions to your favorite TV show. But as we see today, that's not even required. Plus we now have boxes from Apple, Google, Amazon and Roku. It's safe to say that the AppleTV type STBs have replaced the DVR Zune HD The Zune HD is a powerful portable media device. It has a beautiful OLED screen, small form factor, smooth touch screen menus, and wonderful 720p output to a TV. However, for Microsoft to steal some iPod users, more apps and video content need to be available in the Zune Marketplace. The Zune HD has solid hardware that is almost as sexy as the iPod. What would make this device perfect for a home theater would be Hulu and Netfilx support. Microsoft has also stated that they will release games for the Zune HD, since Xbox Live and the Zune Marketplace already seem to be linked, the possibility of it being a good portable gaming device are great. The Zune HD is a solid device. With future updates it may take a run at the iPod's dominance in the market. RedEye Universal Remote Control (MSRP $190) 2010 - This remote eliminated the need to be in the same room with your gear and will work with your iPod Touch or iPhone. LED TV Technology was just coming on the scene in 2010 Quartics(2010) Quartics Inc. is a semiconductor company based in Irvine, CA, with offices in India, China and Taiwan. Quartics was formed in 2003 to focus on semiconductor architecture for video-based media, aiming to overcome a raft of modern digital challenges. To date, the company has been granted 10 patents, with 40 pending, in media processing architecture, video and graphics processing and QoS algorithms. We don't know if these patents were sold or even used. But the company does not seem to be in business any longer Life|ware Today as part of our ongoing series on home automation we discuss Life|ware. Life|ware™ is software developed by Exceptional Innovation that allows you to seamlessly merge control of your home along with your world of digital entertainment. Life|ware lets you control your home through your TV with a Media Center PC, Media Center Extender or Xbox 360™, from your home or office PC or notebook, or from a Life|point touch screen. You can even use your iPhone or iPod Touch and iPad as a Life|ware client with full two-way functionality. One of the biggest draws to Life|ware is that it works with numerous third party devices. Life|Ware provides bridges to lighting, HVAC, Media and more. The system will go from IP to IR, RF, or RS-232. Life|ware is OS agnostic as well. The control software will run on Windows, Mac OS, and LINUX machines. But if you don't want to mess with loading the software on your own equipment Life|Ware sells a complete line of home automation controllers, servers, and bridges. We can't find a trace of this company any longer. It may have been sold or merged Are High End Audio/Video Retailers a Dying Breed? “If the AV business cannot more clearly illustrate why specialty audio is in fact special, then expect more stores and regional chains to fold in the coming months even as the economy improves, simply perhaps fueled by the fact that mainstream home theater gear is just too good.“ Crystal LED HDTV Technology So when can I have one and how much will it cost? Sony isn't answering any of these questions. Our hunch is that it will cost about what an OLED TV will cost. And if Sony wants this technology to have a chance it needs to come out at about the same time as OLED. We know that Samsung will be releasing their OLEDs in the second half of the year. Our prediction is that you will be able to buy a Crystal LED TV from Sony by the summer of 2013 and it will run about $6,000. The best we can tell is that this tech never made it into consumer TVs. Sony still has a page dedicated to it but more in the commercial side of it's business. Revolv Home Automation Hub 1/2013 The beginning of the “Year of Automation” The best we can tell is that Revolv was bought by Nest and lives on in their products Conclusion When we first learned about a device that could unify all the various home automation and control devices out there we were sceptical. But after putting the Revolv Home Automation Hub through its paces, we can say, yes you can control everything regardless who makes it. Well maybe not everything yet. But we are sure the engineers at Revolv are working diligently to make that happen! Is a 7.1 System Worth it? Bottom Line - A properly installed 7.1 system with 7.1 content will take your home theater to the next level. You will definitely be able to hear a difference, especially with good content like the movie Super 8 . However, if you are not watching Blu-rays or your room doesn't support proper placement of the rear surround channels, a better approach would be to upgrade your 5.1 system or just save the money. This was from 2013. Consistent with our ATMOS recommendations too Netflix SuperHD (6/2013) Netflix SuperHD claims to provide superior 1080p video quality for the same price as regular streaming. But not everyone is eligible. Requirements Netflix Super HD requires an internet connection with at least 5Mb/s download. Not all devices can play Super HD. Super HD is only available via Internet Providers that are part of the Open Connect network. Supported devices include Sony PlayStation 3, Apple TV with 1080p, Roku with 1080p, Nintendo Wii U, Windows 8 App, TiVo Premiere DVR Blu-Ray Players, Smart TV's, Home Theaters, and Streaming Players with existing Netflix 1080p support Bottom Line Netflix is really pushing the streaming frontiers and they have come a long way. We can now sit on our couch on any given evening and find a high quality movie at a moment's notice. We anxiously await the day when we will be able to stream Blu-ray quality movies whenever we want. From what we have seen that day is not too far away! Is Blu-ray a Dead Format? Also from 6/2013 Ask anyone who knows something about home theater what is the highest quality audio and video available to mere mortals today and they will tell you Blu-ray. Blu-ray video is stunning and the audio is simply amazing. But we don't have to tell you that. So does Blu-ray have a future? The following are some reasons why Blu-ray may not be around for too much longer. . . . Time to Bury Blu-ray? Its probably too early to put the last nail in the Blu-ray coffin right now. There needs to be one or two more paradigm shifts before Blu-ray goes away. The first is the studios realizing that DRM is more hassle than it is worth. Once this hurdle is crossed in-store Kiosks or online downloads will soar. Prices will come down and the world will be saved from all that plastic being created. The second is a jump in online speeds. Once gigabit Internet is ubiquitous there will be a shift to storing content in online lockers and again the world will be saved. The big question is when? Based on what we are seeing we are betting on within 5 years. ZyXEL 500 Mb/s Fast Ethernet Powerline Wall-Plug Adapter We reviewed almost a dozen powerline Ethernet adapters. They never achieved their advertised speeds, but they did work and depending on what you needed them to do they were an excellent solution. However, with faster mesh network Wifi it's not really a thing any longer. Aereo In April of 2014 we interviewed a broadcaster who opposed our stance on Aero's business plan. He felt Aero was making money off of the local broadcasters. We felt Aero was providing a service to allow us the viewer to watch our local stations. The Courts agreed with the broadcaster. But today we have Locast. And so far they have been in business for a couple of years. SmartThings Home Automation Hub And so continues the many years of “The Year of Automation”. This was before Samsung bought the company. A full year after we kicked off the “Year of Automation” Pono Player (1/2015) Neil Young's "high resolution" PonoPlayer is on sale for $400. PonoPlayer, a triangular portable music player that promises only the highest of fidelities. We were Skeptics from the beginning: The point is that you don't need fancy hardware to make music sound good, and that no amount of hardware will make your ears hear better than the limits of biology and physics. Ara's first DIY Speaker project was in Jan 2015 Axiim Q Wireless Home Theater System 2/2016 The first Wisa system we reviewed. We are happy to say it's still around today! Conclusion Many of our listeners have asked us to recommend wireless solutions for their home theater over the years. We have tested and rejected all but a few and the acceptable solutions still required some speaker wire from an external amp. Not exactly wireless! The Axiim Q Wireless Home Theater System is the first one that delivers on the promise of a truly wireless system that is simple to install, looks fantastic and sounds great! We hate having to send it back! It would be so easy to bring 5.1 to your master bedroom that we are seriously thinking about buying one! What is HDR? (4/2016) To Sum it Up Getting the best picture from an HDR TV will require HDR content. To guarantee your TV will support HDR look for the “Ultra HD Premium” label. If you really want a UHD TV that does not have the “Ultra HD Premium” label buy a TV that has or comes close to 1000 nits brightness. HDR from cable, satellite, and OTA are still a bit off. We will stop here in 2016 because we'll save some for the next 1000 shows. Along the way we have had dozens of interviews, product reviews, buying guides, and lists that were not mentioned in this episode. Some weeks we struggled to come up with show ideas, some weeks we had too many. But we always managed to have a show ready for your Friday morning commute.
Somfy offers certified drivers for Control4, Crestron, Savant, URC and Elan. Open-API motors enable integration with unique solutions.
SnapAV is changing up personnel, Meridian has a new virtual showroom, and Josh.ai shows off their new Nano and Core. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SnapAV is changing up personnel, Meridian has a new virtual showroom, and Josh.ai shows off their new Nano and Core.
SnapAV shows off Chime, the wellness market is rapidly growing, and Parasol launches their AllCall program. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SnapAV shows off Chime, the wellness market is rapidly growing, and Parasol launches their AllCall program.
Eric Smith joins SAVI Controls' Board of Directors. We talk about his road to this position at SAVI and what this means for the company moving forward.
Eric Smith joins SAVI Controls' Board of Directors. We talk about his road to this position at SAVI and what this means for the company moving forward. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Eric Smith joins SAVI and Amazon introduces their new cloud gaming system Luna.
Eric Smith joins SAVI and Amazon introduces their new cloud gaming system Luna. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
New Denon X-Series Introduced Denon introduced four new receivers to the X-Series AVRs that are packed full of new features. You would expect support for HDMI 2.1 and you would be correct. The new models are the Denon AVR-X6700H ($2499), AVR-X4700H ($1699), AVR-X3700H ($1199), and AVR-X2700H ($849 MSRP). Lineup Features 8K & HDMI 2.1 The X-Series features an advanced HDMI section with a dedicated 8K input that will support 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz video pass-through. All HDMI inputs feature 4:4:4 Pure Color sub sampling, HDR10, Dolby Vision, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG), 3D, and BT.2020 pass-through support for exceptional color, clarity and contrast. Enjoy 8K upscaling as well as HDCP 2.3 processing to play copy-protected content uninhibited. The X-Series also adopts eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel) to enable uncompressed and object-based audio transmission, like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, directly from your smart TV apps to your AV receiver. Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization AVR-X6700H - Set up a 7.1.4 or 9.1.2 with eleven channels of amplification built-in to the receiver AVR-X4700H - Set up a 5.1.4 or 7.1.2 with nine channels of amplification built-in to the receiver AVR-X3700H - Set up a 5.2.4 or 7.2.2 with nine channels of amplification built-in to the receiver AVR-X3700H - Set up a 5.1.2 using Dolby Atmos elevation speakers, or dedicated overhead speakers High Resolution Audio Support Enjoy superb audio fidelity with your favorite high-resolution audio tracks. The X-Series features the latest AKM 32-bit D/A converters allowing for high resolution audio decoding with multiple lossless file types All new Denon AV receivers are now Roon Tested. Get more out of your digital music library with searchable, surfable information about your favorite artists and songs. Find lyrics, concert dates, photos, bios, reviews and more. Bluetooth Audio Transmission Enjoy your favorite audio without waking your whole home by transmitting the audio coming from your AV receiver to your Bluetooth headphones. The X-Series even allows you to play the audio on both Bluetooth headphones and connected speakers simultaneously. If you have a family member or a friend who is hearing impaired, we recommend this setup. Custom Install Ready The Denon X-Series features external control and IP control capabilities for easy customization and compatibility with third-party integration solutions. It offers IP control capability for major third-party control devices, as well as Control4 SDPP (Simple Device Detection Protocol) certification for seamless integration with Control4 home automation equipment. Remote Monitoring Capability The Denon X-Series AV receivers features Domotz Pro and OvrC remote monitoring and management interface and service compatibility. These programs allow custom integrators to monitor the status of connected products and troubleshoot remotely from the office or on the go, radically reducing the time it takes to address the issue. Model Specific Features Preamp Mode All but the 2700 support Preamp mode which was previously only found on the Denon flagship X8500H receiver. 13.2 Channel Processing The X6700H supports 13.2 channels with an external amplifier. HDMI Diagnostic Tool Allows you to test cables up to 8K before you wire anything up. An input and output port is on the back panel. Simply plug both ends of the cable into the slots and run the test. Auro 3D This is IMAXs spatial sound format. It's only available on the 6700 and 4700
Discussing Control4's new essential lighting line and asking what DIY does right.
Discussing Control4's new essential lighting line and asking what DIY does right.
Discussing Control4's new essential lighting line and asking what DIY does right. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
CEDIA 2019 Last week more than 20,000 home tech pros and 500+ exhibitors convened in Denver for the 2019 CEDIA Expo. This week the HT Guys run down some of the cool product announcements that came out of the show. Sony Electronics Brings 16K-capable Display System to Consumers' Living Rooms with Crystal LED Residential Solutions PARAMUS, N.J., Sept. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Electronics Inc. today announced the availability of its award-winning Crystal LED display system for home installation. Having initially introduced the technology for use in commercial and entertainment venues, Sony Electronics now offers residential configurations and installation, giving consumers an unrivaled home theater technology capable of displaying 8K HDR video content and beyond – up to 16K. Crystal LED is a modular technology, enabling it to be installed in virtually any desired size and resolution to accommodate consumers' needs and residential space availability. Sample residential configurations include: Full HD Size (18 Units) ~110-inch Diagonal ~8ft (W) x 4ft (H) 4K Size (72 Units) ~220-inch Diagonal ~16ft (W) x 9ft (H) 8K Size (288 Units) ~440-inch Diagonal ~32ft (W) x 18ft (H) 16K Size (576 Units) ~790-inch Diagonal ~63ft (W) x 18ft (H) Sony's Crystal LED direct view display system uses ultra-fine micro-LED measuring 0.003 mm² – half the width of a human hair – which are 100 times smaller than traditional LEDs. The display recently received a prestigious 2019 Display Industry Award for "Display of the Year" from the Society of Information Display, recognizing Crystal LED's unprecedented visual experience. The technology delivers crisp, blur-free moving images with high frame rate up to 120p for razor-sharp motion rendition that is far beyond the reach of conventional video. Additional technical highlights: HDR with high brightness (1,000 nits) 10-bit grayscale Precise color reproduction Extraordinary color gamut – 140 percent of sRGB High frame rates up to 120p Nearly 180-degree viewing angle Spectacular 3D Non-standard aspect ratios 99 percent black surface area for delivering high contrast and high resolution Each module (360×360-pixel) will cost $10,000. Which means a 1080p setup will need 18 modules costing $180,000 and will produce a screen that is 120 inches on the diagonal. A 4K-capable display will require 16 feet of wall width and produce a 220-inch screen. For that you will need 72 modules and a whopping $720,000. LG Debuts Expanded 4K UHD CineBeam Projector Lineup In U.S. LG Electronics USA introduced a new LG CineBeam 4K UHD projector. The new projector (model HU70LA), which is on display this week at the CEDIA EXPO 2019, has a suggested retail price of $1,799 and will be available at select LG-authorized retailers in October. With a compact design, the HU70LA LG CineBeam LED Projector provides an impressive home theater experience with a deep and rich picture up to 140 inches (measured diagonally), and brightness of 1500 ANSI lumens that covers approximately 92 percent of the DCI-P3 color space. The projector employs a four-channel LED light source to generate red, green and blue, with the additional fourth LED boosting image brightness, contrast and generating more vivid colors with more nuanced tonality (compared to conventional LED projectors) by adjusting green levels. The HU70LA, as well as the HU85LA, are IP controllable via Control 4, Savant and Crestron. The HU85LA CineBeam Laser Projector (MSRP $5999.99), also demonstrated at CEDIA Expo, is LG's first Ultra Short Throw model, generating 2,700 ANSI lumens to deliver vibrant and crisp images up to 120 inches (measured diagonally) from placement of only 7.2 inches away from the wall. The stylish projector is housed in a minimal design for a cinematic viewing experience. Sony VPL-VW295ES 4K SXRD Home Cinema Projector Winning the TWICE VIP award for Home Theater Projectors is the Sony VPL-VW295ES (MSRP $4499.99). Native 4K resolution for lifelike pictures 1500 Lumens Deep Blacks with 4K SXRD Panels HDR10 and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) TRILUMINOS™ color, reproducing more tones and textures than a standard projector system Both HDMI inputs are compatible with HDCP 2.2 Select from nine calibrated picture modes, including two theater film modes, theater digital, reference, TV, photo, game, bright cinema and bright TV. Home Assistant Open source home automation that puts local control and privacy first. Powered by a worldwide community of tinkerers and DIY enthusiasts. Perfect to run on a Raspberry Pi or a local server. It works with 1467 products that include the Amazon Echo, ecobee Thermostats. Zwave, Zigbee, Plex and so many more. They have a demo you can check out here (Home Assistant Demo) Savant AppleTV App Savant®, a leader in smart home technology, has introduced the Smart Home App for Apple TV, an on-screen control platform that provides fast and intuitive access to smart home functionality via high-definition graphics. The graphical control icons can be shown full screen or as an overlay to live TV or a movie that is currently playing. Savant's Smart Home App for Apple TV provides an easy-to-navigate menu of icons in a large visual format representing key features such as climate, lighting, audio, Savant Scenes and more. This amazing on-screen experience is part of the company's Pro App software that provides an intuitive interface with smart home functionality via touch panels, mobile devices, the award-winning Savant Pro Remote—and now the TV! Users can easily select their favorite channels, choose to control or view the status of a service in the home or to activate a Savant Scene. “The Savant Smart Home App for Apple TV has been designed to round out our control offering, delivering to the user a consistent and powerful experience whether they are controlling the system on a mobile device, touch panel or tablet, remote control, voice engine, TV, or even an Apple Watch,” said VP of Design Andy Hamm. “We strive to create experiences that are engaging and ultra-intuitive, making it easy, effortless and fun for anyone to interact with their Savant system. “ The Savant Smart Home App for Apple TV will become available late 2019. Redcarpet Home Cinema Streaming Server Red Carpet Home Cinema is a unique luxury service offering major Hollywood movies for personal viewing in the home during the theatrical window at a premium price. Red Carpet Home Cinema subscribers must have a credit card limit of at least $50,000, and need to pass Red Carpet's strict vetting process and install a special $15,000 media server in their home theater. Once that's done, customers can spend between $500 and $3,000 to watch first-run movies in the comfort of their own home. Blockbusters tend to cost more than dramas, but regardless of the final price tag, each customer can view their rentals twice over a single 36-hour period. Denon AVR-X3600H Winning the TWICE VIP award for A/V receivers is the Denon AVR-X3600H a 9.2 channel 4K Ultra HD AV receiver with 105W per channel and advanced HDMI (8in / 3out with eARC) section. Supports 3D audio formats Dolby Atmos®, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization Technology, DTS:X™, DTS Virtual:X® and new IMAX Enhanced. Works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri for seamless voice control. The 8 HDMI inputs and 3 outputs with eARC and full HDCP 2.3 support on all ports are compatible with the latest HD and Ultra HD TVs, Blu-ray players and game consoles. The powerful DSP is capable of 11.2 channel processing, allowing you to extend the system with an additional power amplifier. ($1100 MSRP More info) SSF™ HDMI Active Optical Cables Cleerline SSF™ HDMI Active Optical Cables provide 4K UHD signal transmission and are fully 18 Gbps compatible. Each cable incorporates 4 strands of SSF™ optical fiber, giving the cable greater strength and flexibility as well as maximizing bandwidth potential. In addition to SSF™ fiber optic technology, SSF™ HDMI AOC incorporate the latest chipset technology, designed to eliminate heat production and improve the longevity of the cable. Unlike other HDMI Active Optical Cables, which may use plastic optical fibers or traditional glass, SSF™ AOC include SSF™ optical fibers. The Glass, Glass, Polymer construction of SSF™ fiber gives each fiber up to 200 times the durability of standard glass fiber. This increased strength allows SSF™ AOC to easily withstand higher loads during installation. SSF™ technology also provides a higher degree of flexibility to the glass. All cables feature a plenum outer jacket. Features And Benefits: 18 Gbps, 4K60 4:4:4 Full HDMI 2.0 features, 4K60 4:4:4 HDCP 2.2 HDR, WCG Audio Return Channel Increased durability and flexibility High definition signal transmission No pricing available at this time KLH Unveils Maxwell Monitor One Concentric-Driver Bookshelf A first for KLH, the Monitor One incorporates a concentric design meaning the tweeter is mounted directly into the center space of the voice coil of the mid/bass driver. This, along with use of premium internal components and fine attention paid to crossover points, top grade parts, and voicing, results in a balanced and nuanced sound with a very wide 180-degree dispersion, making the entire room the sweet spot. KLH is employing this same approach in its Maxwell In-Ceiling speakers which come to market this month. Both versions utilize a 1-inch silk dome tweeter and 6.5-inch Kevlar/fiberglass laminated cone, with an robust edge wound voice coil. Boasting a new industrial design with exotic finishes including high-gloss Figured Koa, Cocobolo and Ferrari red, and utilizing premium components and concentric drivers, these powerful and nuanced $999 per pair 2-way monitors rival competitors similar designs up to twice the price. Samsung SmartThings Cam The SmartThings Cam won the TWICE VIP award in the DIY Home Security Category. Coming in at $90 it does not require a hub to use. This could be the gateway drug to the rest of the SmartThings ecosystem. Know what's going on when you're away from home. A full HD camera delivers a clear, detailed view, allowing you to monitor your home 24 hours a day from the convenience of your smartphone, tablet, Samsung TV or fridge. The SmartThings Cam intuitively distinguishes between a person and an object alerting you immediately if necessary, while minimizing false triggers. Control up to two SmartThings Cams and view rolling 24-hour recordings for free. All your footage is safely secured on your personal cloud and can be accessed remotely any time. Sony GTK-PG10 Portable wireless speaker The GTK-PG10 won the TWICE VIP award in the Home Audio Category. It kind of looks like a subwoofer that expands to look like a BBQ grill. It's not cheap at $250. It has 8 user reviews at Sony's site with a score of four out of five stars. With a dedicated outdoor party mode that spreads sound further, the GTK-PG10 is tailor-made for outdoor use — it even has a splash-proof top panel to rest your drinks on. Outdoor party mode spreads sound further Splash-proof top panel with integrated cup holders Rechargeable battery provides up to 13hr playback (not using bluetooth) Bluetooth® connectivity for wireless music streaming FM tuner lets you enjoy your favorite radio shows Vivant Integrates two-way control with Control4 Leading security and smart home company, Vivant, has announced that it's system now provides two-way integration with Control4. With Control4's SDDP technology embedded in Vivint's Smart Hub panel, Control4 users will be able to monitor and control their Vivint security system via standard Control4 interfaces. In addition, any security sensor in the Vivint ecosystem can be incorporated into Control4 scenes and alerts. For example, if someone trips a motion sensor in the living room after sunset, the event could trigger Control4 to turn on the lights in that room to a dim level and flip the TV to CNN on mute. Monolith by Monoprice M-215 Dual 15" THX Certified Subwoofer A Tower of Bass! The Monolith THX® Ultra certified subwoofer sets the standard for bass output, low distortion, and affordability. With chest thumping bass that plays down to well under 16Hz, the Monolith THX Ultra Dual 15" (MSRP $2499.99) Subwoofer unleashes cinema level volume, with the ability to convey and articulate the subtle nuances of music. Dimensions 42.32" x 20.0" x 27.55" (1075 x 508 x 700 mm) and 215.6lbs (98KG). Monoprice also unveiled their new Monolith speakers. The Monolith speakers are available with Atmos at $999, or without Atmos at $849, and are expected to be out November 2019. Epson launches LS-500 4K ultra short-throw Laser Projection TV Launching at CEDIA, the Epson LS-500 is a Laser Projection TV, delivering a 4K HDR image up to 130 inches in size from just centimetres away from the screen on your wall. Equipped with Epson's proprietary 4K PRO-UHD2 3LCD technology, Epson Laser Projection TV combines an advanced Ultra Short Throw Laser Projector – along with an Ultra High-Definition Ambient Light Rejecting Screen – to produce vivid colors and deep blacks for an exceptionally bright, colorful, and sharp picture – in virtually any viewing environment. Full 10-bit color processing accepting 100 percent of the HDR source information to faithfully reproduce HDR content for an exceptional visual performance. Capable of displaying 4K HDR content at an exceptional level of brightness for both color and white content. This not only provides for an amazing viewing experience but sets a new standard in this class of projection – allowing for all-day viewing in virtually any lighting environment. The Epson LS500 Laser Projection TV will be available in the first quarter of 2020 through Magnolia and Professional Home Theater Installers. The Epson Laser Projection TV will be available in black and white models with 100-inch (MSRP $4,999) and 120-inch (MSRP $5,999) SKUs.
Interview with Adam Pizzo. He is a home integrator specializing in Control4. Adam is based in Toronto and was kind enough to come on the show and talk about what a home integrator can do for your home. From homes small to large, new and old, Control4 delivers power and performance on one system that coordinates the technology in your house into complete, brilliant experiences—interactions that fit your lifestyle and are easy for your family to enjoy. With one touch, dim the lights, stream high-resolution music, turn up the heat, lock the doors and arm the security system. Check in on cameras or see who's ringing the doorbell—from wherever you are. It's a smarter living experience that you'll wonder how you ever lived without. The Control4® platform is the operating system of your smart home. By connecting to and managing the many devices in your home, this robust and reliable platform enables your favorite products to work together in orchestration, personalized to the way you live.
Disney's ESPN streaming service to cost $4.99, launch in spring And the company's Netflix competitor, a streaming service for movies from Disney properties like Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars, will arrive in late 2019. Braden: I'm mostly interested in the Netflix competitor and discussing how a Disney/Pixar/Marvel/Star Wars studio based streaming service could shake things up. Best Subwoofers of 2017 Most modern movie soundtracks and music recordings have at least one thing in common: abundant bass. Explosions, rockets blasting off, deep synthesizer notes, and many other elements consist of copious low frequencies that most speakers simply cannot reproduce. To experience the full effect of these subterranean sounds, you need a subwoofer. To help you select a good one, we present a list of the best subwoofers we've reviewed during 2017. Control4's New $350 Home Automation Hub: Affordable, Powerful IoT, No A/V Introduced at ISE 2018, the CA-1 home automation controller from Control4 'retails' for $350 and does everything a full-blown EA system can do except A/V -- ideal for home builders and consumers who want IoT controls, but not audio/video. With the CA-1, Control4 introduces their most affordable smart-home controller yet with Wi-Fi, ZigBee, and optional Z-Wave support. Braden: $350 for a dedicated controller isn't expensive at all. Add the detail that Control4 is every bit as sophisticated as any home automation system on the market and DIY home automation just got really interesting.
On this week's episode of HomeTech: Catching up on a busy week in the connected home, including: Cord-cutting Super Bowl mishaps. Expanded YouTube TV app support. Streaming options for the Winter Olympics as well as DirecTV's 4K HDR/Dolby Atmos coverage. Arlo spins off of Netgear with their own IPO. Nest rejoins Google to consolidate the company's smart home efforts.Control4's new CA-1 looks like a winner. WeMo announces a new HomeKit Bridge. Best Buy to stop selling CD's. And much more...Fan of the show? Want to support our efforts? Please consider becoming a Patron!
On this week's Happy New Year's episode of HomeTech: We are joined by Control4's Director of Product Marketing, Brad Hintze, to discuss the company's recent acquisition of leading RSM provider, Ihiji. Brad also shares several other updates that will excite home tech pros and end-users alike as we head into what will be a busy 2018!That plus... HomeTech is now on YouTube! Roku's new and unique approach to whole-house audio. Thoughts on Amazon's acquisition of connected camera maker, Blink. The world's largest CES slide deck preview. And more...Fan of the show? Want to support our efforts? Please consider becoming a Patron!
On this week's episode of HomeTech: The NEEO remote is finally shipping, and we are joined by Raphael Oberholzer, the company's founder, to discuss the product's long-awaited release! Way back on episode 55, we spoke with Raphael following their wildly successful Kickstarter campaign. Since then, the home tech world has been anxiously awaiting the product. Raphael offers his perspectives on the winding road of a smart home startup, discusses the current state of the NEEO ecosystem, and shares a small glimpse of the big plans ahead for the company! Don't miss it! That plus... A judge pumps the brakes on Ring's new security system. Control4 looks to cut some dead weight as their stock hits record highs. "Whole World WiFi" from Ubiquiti. And much more... Fan of the podcast? Want to support our efforts? Please consider becoming a Patron!