News / Media

With the Control4 MyHome app, you can use your favorite device to Control your home theater; Control your music (even in the shower); Control your comfort; Control your lighting; Control your security. What do you want to Control?

Crestron Labs has been testing a new technology by Microsoft that allows Microsoft Kinect® technology to be supported on any Windows-based system - and not just Xbox® as in the past. Crestron engineers created, and are testing, gestures that integrate Kinect with Crestron control. Crestron control systems will read Kinect gestures so, for example, presenters can sweep their hands left or right to advance/reverse a PowerPoint® Presentation and raise or lower hands to dim/raise the lights in the room. With Crestron’s open platform, the possibilities of what you can control and how you can trigger the commands are endless.

CNET.com – Fri, Dec 23, 2011

Each year around this time I do a roundup of the most-anticipated products of the coming year. This year I came up with 16 things we can’t wait to see. Since many companies like to keep future new releases under tight wraps so they don’t short-circuit sales of their current products, we can’t predict what all the new hot gadgets will be. But as usual, we expect to see a fair amount of intriguing stuff at this year’s CES in Las Vegas, and we know that plenty of sequels to today’s popular products are on the way–whether the company wants you to know it or not.

Click here to view the full article

http://news.yahoo.com/16-most-anticipated-tech-products-of-2012-20111222.html

iPad 3

Everybody’s waiting–and expecting–an iPad 3 with a higher-resolution display. If the past is any indication, hear all about it in February or March, with a release soon after.

PlayStation Vita

Sony’s next-generation handheld gaming device is slated to arrive in the U.S. on February 22, with dual analog sticks, a touch screen, and graphics that rival the PS3’s. The Wi-Fi version is priced at $249 and the Wi-Fi/3G version will cost $299.99 (3G service plan extra). While many think the Vita has an uphill road, it also has the potential to be a much-needed hit for Sony, which has lost a lot of luster in recent years. CNET editors got an early look at the Vita. See what they thought.

Wider LTE (4G) rollout

We’ll see lots more 4G phones in 2012–and hopefully lots more 4G service coverage with true broadband speeds.

Nook Tablet 2

Barnes & Noble continues to do a lot of things right with its color Nook products. One request for the next model, most likely due to arrive in November: a little Bluetooth, please.

Nikon D800

The much-anticipated successor to the full-frame Nikon D700 was supposed to arrive in 2011. Alas, it didn’t. Word is this rumored 36-megapixel prosumer camera will finally launch in early 2012. Price tag: We’re guessing somewhere just south of $3,000.

Canon 5D Mark III

Like the Nikon D800, Canon’s full-frame follow-up to the EOS 5D Mark II was widely expected to arrive in 2011. It failed to come, and was most likely delayed by the combination of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami and Thailand flood tragedies. The current 5D Mark II costs around $2,000. This one will start out higher, most likely in the $2,500 range.

Windows 8

Unity is the theme with Windows 8, as Microsoft is bringing the Metro UI found on smartphones and Xbox 360 to the PC and tablets. Word is a beta may be out as soon as February with the final product ready to ship on PCs in late fall.

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http://news.yahoo.com/16-most-anticipated-tech-products-of-2012-20111222.html

Audio Impact is proud to announce their partnership with SDG&E on an energy efficient smart home. SDG&E recently unveiled their Energy Innovation Center, featuring a Smart Home inside . The Smart Home was designed by Audio Impact and features Control4 Energy Management. The home features a Control4 EC-100 with onscreen TV display of the current energy being used in the home, as well as how much the projected costs are. The Control4 system is operated via and in-wall 7” touchscreen and with iPads, using the Control4 app. Some of the other features include a motorized Mechoshade and Eragy Smart Home monitoring of each individual device’s energy consumption. Tours are giving by SDG&E daily and one can experience all the offerings of today’s affordable and efficient home technology.

For more information visit http://sdge.com/innovationcenter

CNET.com – Fri, Dec 23, 2011

Each year around this time I do a roundup of the most-anticipated products of the coming year. This year I came up with 16 things we can’t wait to see. Since many companies like to keep future new releases under tight wraps so they don’t short-circuit sales of their current products, we can’t predict what all the new hot gadgets will be. But as usual, we expect to see a fair amount of intriguing stuff at this year’s CES in Las Vegas, and we know that plenty of sequels to today’s popular products are on the way–whether the company wants you to know it or not.

Click here to view the full article

http://news.yahoo.com/16-most-anticipated-tech-products-of-2012-20111222.html

Next-gen MacBook Air



Rumor has it that the next generation of MacBook Pros and Airs will get new designs, and we may very well see a 15-inch Air. Will the Air get even slimmer?

More-affordable Apple AirPlay products

In case you don’t know what it is, Apple’s AirPlay is a wireless streaming feature available on Apple mobile devices that allows you to stream audio and video over Wi-Fi. However, except for Apple TV and AirPort Express, AirPlay-compatible products tend to be pricey (most are speakers). They could all stand to shave $100 off their list prices (and more in some cases). Hopefully that will happen in 2012.

Kindle Fire 2 (and Amazon’s 10-inch tablet)

The Kindle Fire’s been a big hit and it isn’t even that great. Just imagine what the Kindle Fire 2 will be like. And oh, Amazon may well release a 10-inch tablet that undercuts the iPad’s price significantly. Can’t wait for that to happen.

iPhone 5

For those of you who waited all 2011 for an iPhone 5, we’ve got news: you get to do some more waiting in 2012. When we’ll see the iPhone 5 launch is anybody’s guess, but whether it’s released in June or November, it seems like a safe bet that it will have a new design and most likely support for 4G networks.

Apple iTV

Rumor has it that Apple will enter the TV market in 2012 with a set that will be a game-changer and once again turn another market on its head. We’ll believe it when we see it.

Click here to view the full article

http://news.yahoo.com/16-most-anticipated-tech-products-of-2012-20111222.html

CNET.com – Fri, Dec 23, 2011

Each year around this time I do a roundup of the most-anticipated products of the coming year. This year I came up with 16 things we can’t wait to see. Since many companies like to keep future new releases under tight wraps so they don’t short-circuit sales of their current products, we can’t predict what all the new hot gadgets will be. But as usual, we expect to see a fair amount of intriguing stuff at this year’s CES in Las Vegas, and we know that plenty of sequels to today’s popular products are on the way–whether the company wants you to know it or not.

Click here to view the full article

http://news.yahoo.com/16-most-anticipated-tech-products-of-2012-20111222.html

Nintendo Wii U



Once again Nintendo is trying to revolutionize the gaming industry with a system that has a new controller with an embedded touch screen that allows you to continue a gaming session on the portable controller even when your TV is off. On a more mundane level, this Wii supports 1080p visuals and is backward-compatible with all Wii gaming accessories and games. That latter trait may be its biggest selling point. No word on pricing or exactly when the Wii U will hit the market, but Nintendo says it will be in stores in 2012. CNET’s game experts got some early hands-on time with the Wii U.

Google Ice Cream Sandwich products



The first Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) smartphones have just started trickling out onto the market. Loads more are coming in 2012. Yummy.

iPad Mini

Will Apple do a 7-inch iPad? Some say no, some say yes, particularly with the success of Amazon’s Kindle Fire. We hope Apple does go small. $299. 16GB. Slam dunk.

Better, more-affordable ultrabooks

Forget those underpowered Netbooks. The ultrabook is the new Netbook. We already saw the price for these lightweight machines head into reasonable territory in 2011. Now we look forward to the next batch offering similar performance for even less money.

Click here to view the full article

http://news.yahoo.com/16-most-anticipated-tech-products-of-2012-20111222.html

Between product reviews, manufacturer visits and trade shows, CE Pro comes in contact with many products. Here are the best products Robert Archer saw in 2011.

By Robert Archer, December 20, 2011

Click here to view the full article

http://www.cepro.com/article/editors_picks_15_top_products_of_2011/

TiVo Premiere Elite



The THX-certified device aggregates all of a home’s digital media, including Netflix and Pandora into TiVo’s highly respected user interface. What separates this unit from the company’s other products beyond its THX certification is its four tuners, 2TBs of storage, a storage upgrade path, lots of HDMI options and provisions for iPhone and iPad control, and the ability to transfer stored media on portable devices like Apple’s iOS line of products.

Wi3 Coax Networking Products



The Wi3 is a well designed product that provides existing homeowners a retrofittable networking solution that’s much more reliable than wireless and faster than powerline. With this product, homeowners can extend the range of their home network to add things like Apple TV, Web-enabled Blu-ray players, and smart TVs without sucking up their wireless bandwidth capabilities.

Adam Audio Artist 5 Powered Monitors



The Artist 5 includes RCA, XLR and USB inputs, and a front-mounted volume knob, on/off switch, and 3.5mm input. Sonically the two-way speaker sounds much more neutral and balanced than the first generation products.

Click here to view the full article

http://www.cepro.com/article/editors_picks_15_top_products_of_2011/

Audio Impact, Inc. was proud to partner up with SDG&E in the design and installation of the Green Smart Home in their new Energy Innovation Center.

Energy resource center will help customers find the most cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions for their home or business

Click here to view the full article

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/18/4197035/sdge-unveils-energy-innovation.html

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 18, 2012 – /PRNewswire/ – Today, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) introduced its new Energy Innovation Center (the Center), a showcase facility where residential and business customers can learn about energy efficiency, alternative fuel transportation, Smart Grid, and clean generation.

The Energy Innovation Center offers an array of seminars on energy efficiency; classes in the food service demonstration kitchen; tours of the Smart Home full of energy-saving technology; information in the resource library, and guided tours of the water-wise walkway which showcases drought tolerant plants that save water and energy.

“The Energy Innovation Center will be a valuable resource for the community,” said Hal D. Snyder, vice president of customer solutions for SDG&E. “We are committed to helping southern California reach a more sustainable energy future and the Center will provide businesses and residential customers with the tools and resources they need to make smart energy decisions to be more energy efficient, save money, and help the environment.”

In December 2010, SDG&E began construction on an existing 27,000-square-foot building and focused on designing and constructing a facility that is designed to meet U.S. Green Building Council’s Platinum LEED certificate, the highest level of certification for energy-efficient buildings. In order to meet the LEED platinum certification, SDG&E was required to incorporate the latest sustainable design elements in the Center’s design. Some of the sustainable elements of the Center include:

85 percent of the original building’s materials were reused or recycled. The roof will have a rain water collection unit that stores water used for the Center’s irrigation system. The state-of-the-art Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning (HVAC) system has sensors that shut off the A/C when the windows are open. The solar panels heat the Center’s water and help offset the building’s energy use by 34 percent. Most of the items seen in the Center are made from recycled materials, including the carpet which is made from recycled tires. The Center showcases different examples of highly efficient lighting, HVAC units and leading technologies to demonstrate the choices available for businesses and design professionals to incorporate into their buildings. Many of the program offerings and design features are the result of a collaborative approach with community-based organizations, local businesses and other key stakeholders and technology sponsors.

Key features that customers can experience at the Center include:

Smart Home experience tours;

Sustainability tours;

Interactive kiosks, displays and resource library;

Solar Trees® in parking areas that provide both shade for your car and power for the region;

Water-wise walkway with drought-tolerant landscape demonstrations;

Produce Demonstration Garden;

Food Service Demonstration Kitchen.

A key component of the Center is the full commercial Food Service Demonstration Kitchen that boosts numerous energy efficient appliances that introduce new features to the food service world that saves energy and saves money for chefs, restaurant owners and facility managers with food service kitchens. At the Energy Innovation Center, chefs will have the opportunity to utilize the demonstration kitchen to test their recipes on energy efficient equipment to ensure that the updated appliances work well with their dishes.

“The San Diego County Chapter of the California Restaurant Association commends San Diego Gas & Electric on the opening of their new Energy Innovation Center,” Chris Duggan, director of local government affairs for the California Restaurant Association. “This state-of-the-art facility will provide our industry professionals the opportunity to experience cutting-edge technologies and utilize educational resources that will increase energy efficiency and environmental leadership.

Click here to view the full article

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/18/4197035/sdge-unveils-energy-innovation.html

Between product reviews, manufacturer visits and trade shows, CE Pro comes in contact with many products. Here are the best products Robert Archer saw in 2011.

By Robert Archer, December 20, 2011

Click here to view the full article

http://www.cepro.com/article/editors_picks_15_top_products_of_2011/

SnapAV Episode 700 Bookshelf Speakers



SnapAV’s Episode 700 is a front-ported two-way loudspeaker that incorporates a 6.5-inch woofer and 1-inch tweeter. The product features an open, natural and dynamic sound. When the Episode 700’s performance is combined with its modern looking, piano-gloss finish and rounded curves, this speaker is a competitively priced, fun speaker option for electronics professionals to consider for their audio needs.

Spin Clean Record Cleaning System MK II



The Spin Clean line offers a basic $80 solution and a step-up $125 solution. The more expensive of the two includes more cleaning products and both work on the same simple premise: fill the basin with the cleaning fluid and watch the records clean instantaneously. This product line is a no-brainer for anyone needing a quality recording cleaning product.

TC Electronic Dark Matter Distortion Pedal



The Dark Matter produces a nice amount of distortion that isn’t noisy and doesn’t color the tone of an amplifier. The versatile product includes functions for controlling EQ and tone voicing. The product can be used to drive a clean channel or it can be added to a crunch channel to provide an extra level of gain.

Click here to view the full article

http://www.cepro.com/article/editors_picks_15_top_products_of_2011/

The TVs will also support Adobe Flash, making it easier for app developers.

January 07, 2011 | by Grant Clauser

Click here to view the full article

http://www.electronichouse.com/article/ces_samsung_smart_tvs_include_comcast_and_time_warner_cable_apps/ces_2012

So who needs a cable box anymore when there are app-laden, internet-connected smart TVs everywhere? That’s a question a lot of people have been asking, and one that got a lot more interesting at the CES keynote presentation by Samsung’s Boo-Keun Yoon.

Yoon, along with Comcast president Brian Roberts, announced a new partnership between the two companies that puts access to Comcast’s Xfinity service on Samsung’s smart TVs. Through a new “web-like” interface, users can search though TV programing and video-on-demand offerings as well as program their DRVs for recording, all though a smart TV interface without going to the menu on a set-top-box. A similar level of access will be available on Samsung’s Galaxy tablet PCs and will allow users to view streaming content on the portable device.

But Comcast isn’t the only new TV partner. Time Warner Cable’s CEO Glenn Britt also joined Yoon in announcing that Time Warner Cable customers will be able to access their subscription content on Samsung smart TVs and the tablet PCs. TWC already announced a similar feature for Sony smart TVs earlier this week.

One of the features of the new TWC app (available on Samsung’s app marketplace on their TVs) will allow users to access DVR content from any smart TV in the house without the need for additional set-top-boxes. This function can greatly extend the user’s TV subscription without the additional box rental fee.

Click here to view the full article

http://www.electronichouse.com/article/ces_samsung_smart_tvs_include_comcast_and_time_warner_cable_apps/ces_2012