News / Media

Green Home in La Jolla - Audio Visual Work by Audio Impact

By: Andrew Robinson August 30, 2010

Having your DVDs and Blu-ray discs shipped directly to your door, a.k.a. mailbox, was little more than a pipe dream a few years ago; however today it has become the go-to solution for many home theater enthusiasts. Netflix, arguably the largest provider of direct mail DVD and Blu-ray rentals has garnered much of the space’s attention as well as its revenue. However times are changing and where there’s money to be made, expect competition. Enter Blockbuster and Redbox.

While Blockbuster is hardly a new name to the video rental space, they’re relatively new when it comes to delivering movies directly to your mailbox. Blockbuster’s recent foray into the direct mail business comes as a direct result of Netflix’s success and Blockbuster’s subsequent financial woes as a result. While Blockbuster’s physical rental stores may be dying on the vine, their direct mail rental service appears to be gaining strength, though they have a long way to go if they hope to catch Netflix anytime soon. That being said, there are a number of factors that keep Blockbuster in the game, not to mention in the hunt for the top spot for your rental dollars: mainly their ability to rent new Hollywood releases. Earlier this year Netflix caved to the major studios’ demands and granted them a 30-day exclusivity window before allowing their customers to rent the latest Hollywood blockbusters, a move not echoed by Blockbuster or any of the other direct mail and even downloads services such as iTunes. Now, Netflix went on record defending their decision by saying it would give them an opportunity to boost awareness for streaming movies - something Netflix is essentially betting the farm on. Whether you agree or disagree with Netflix’s decision (I happen to applaud their thinking, disagree with their methodology) streaming movies in near real time is the future. However for the time being, it has left the door open for competitors such as Blockbuster and Redbox to cash in on by allowing their users/fans to rent the current new releases the day they’re released. Redbox on the other hand is an entirely different animal. While a competitor to both Netflix and Blockbuster, Redbox is a kiosk-based service whereby consumers simply pay for the movies they wish to rent in 24 hour increments versus having to pay a monthly fee. Redbox has proven to be immensely popular among consumers, with giant red kiosks popping up in cities and suburbs all across America the way Starbucks coffee chains did in the late nineties. It also doesn’t hurt that Redbox kiosks can be found in virtually every Wal-Mart store in North America. With the competition being so fierce, how do these three services differentiate themselves from one another - and which should you choose?

Netflix

• Netflix is the nation’s largest direct mail provider of DVDs and Blu-ray discs. • Netflix is expanding their streaming movie library each and everyday with new releases being offered via streaming before they’re available to rent. • Netflix subscription fees start at $8.99/month for one DVD or streaming movie at-a-time, as many times as you wish in a month. The price increases to $13.99 for two DVDs or streaming movies at-a-time and goes up to $47.99 a month for up to eight DVDs or streaming movies at-a-time. There is also a Limited Plan that allows customers to rent one DVD at-a-time (limit two per month) and watch up to two hours of streaming content for $4.99 per month. All prices are per month and require an active credit or check card.

• Netflix charges $2.00 per month extra to rent Blu-ray discs.

• Netflix has a 30-day delay on all new Hollywood DVD and Blu-ray releases.

Blockbuster

• Blockbuster offers the ability to rent DVDs, Blu-ray discs and video games online and have them sent direct to your home mailbox for a monthly fee.

• You can stream Blockbuster films via the Internet on PC-only capable devices.

• Monthly plans start at $8.99 for one disc at-a-time service and go up to $16.99 for three discs at-a-time. Blockbuster also offers “Total Access” packages, which include the ability to return your moves and games to any Blockbuster store with prices starting at $11.99 for one disc at-a-time and maxing out at $19.99. All prices are per month and require an active credit or check card.

• There is no up charge for renting Blu-ray discs.

• You can rent video games for your PS3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii as part of your monthly subscription.

• There is no delay on renting new Hollywood releases on DVD or Blu-ray.

Redbox

• You can reserve your movie online and pick it up at the nearest Redbox kiosk or browse the selection and rent on site.

• Rentals, be they a pickup or point of sale, require an active credit or check card.

• Rentals are for a 24-hour period at a time and cost $1.00. First time customers can rent up to two DVDs at a time; however return customers can rent up to five DVDs at a time. All rentals must be returned before 9pm the day after you rent so as not to incur additional fees. Rented discs may be returned to any Redbox kiosk anywhere in the US.

• There are no delays for new releases.

• Blu-ray disc rentals are limited and cost an additional $0.50 per disc.

• Movies can be purchased at any Redbox kiosk and are shipped directly to you.

• Redbox requires no monthly subscription or fees.

So which service is best? Well, that’s largely up to you, your needs and your budget. One thing is certain - there’s stiff competition for your home entertainment dollars.

August 26, 2010 | by Tom LeBlanc

3D was the thing at Sony‘s New York product showcase where it unveiled what home audio video division category manager Jon Lin calls its “3D step-up series” of TVs.

Sony also showed its DA3600ES 7.1 Channel Network Multiroom A/V Receiver, which Lin says syncs extremely well with popular high-end automation systems like Control4, Crestron and AMX.

The product showcase, which took place at Sony’s Madison Avenue headquarters, was the first time the general press got a look at the new SMP-100 web content aggregation device, which puts Sony in direct price competition with Roku. We had an exclusive hands-on first look of the DLNA media player at Sony’s San Diego headquarters last week.

The 3D TV “step up series” includes 46-, 55- and 60-inch models.

The rumor: Apple will be releasing a revamped/renamed version of their ‘Apple TV’ set-top box, called ‘iTV’. The box will run the Apple iOS (same as the iPhone/iPad), and be priced around $99.

Why will this change everything?

iOS TV Applications: Expect to see an iPhone/Pad like marketplace for television applications. Video sharing/streaming/recording apps, interactive news apps, and of course games.

a la carte (app) stations: With Apple’s iAds, content producers (eg. ABC/NBC/etc.) can directly monetize and distribute their content. This will eventually destroy the television side of the cable and satellite industry, as your only requirement to access these on-demand stations will be an internet connection. Say goodbye to your monthly cable bill.

MobileMe Picture/Video sharing: At $99 your parents, grandparents, and friends will have an iTV. Sharing pictures/videos from your iPhone will happen with the push of a button. Imagine getting a notification of new family videos the next time you turn on your TV.

The iPad will turn into one big badass remote control: The iPad will be the preferred input device for the iTV. You’ll be able to edit videos, control games, and extend the interactive television experience. Imagine watching monday night football on the TV while viewing/exploring other camera angles on the iPad.

From what I hear we should expect to see the iTV launch in September. Also, keep an eye on GoogleTV - this is going to be a hot space in 2011.

By Kevin Rose - Founder of Digg

The new UFO-4X is a typical home-automation controller from Crestron that doubles as a keyboard and mouse for operating the ADMS server, navigating the Web and accessing remote PCs.

July 23, 2010 | by Julie Jacobson Crestron calls this new touchscreen controller the UFO-4X—as in it looks like a flying saucer—but it really looks more like a trackpad. That’s because it is.

The UFO is a perfect complement to Crestron’s ADMS server. At the press of a button, the 6-inch-round remote is transformed into a mouse, so users can flick their way around the ADMS TV interface, navigating through songs, movies and the Internet.

The ADMS has a special feature that optimizes the Web for couch-side viewing. With the UFO controller, users can finger effortlessly through Web pages, using the same taps and double-taps as a standard desktop trackpad.

The controller also offers a virtual keyboard for entering URLs, passwords, movie selections and more. No need to pick up a separate device.

Users also can navigate any PC on the network, as long as they’re running Crestron’s CEN-WIN Touchpanel HID Emulator software.

And, by the way, the UFO-4X is a complete controller for Crestron home automation systems, so it provides the usual control of lights, thermostats, audio, video and the rest of it. The device recently was named a CEDIA Manufacturer’s Excellence Award 2010 finalist.

Multitouch functionality lets users flip through music libraries, scroll through TV channels and radio stations and select control apps.

The RF unit is good for about 200 feet indoors. It can be used in both landscape and portrait mode, adjusting automatically thanks to a built-in tilt sensor. Flash is supported for dynamic graphics.

The UFO-4X affixes to a wall mount (provided) via magnets, so it can easily wander from its home base for a spin around the home.

Modeled after Crestron’s TPS- 6X and TPS-3X touchscreens, the UFO is expected to retail for about $2,000 when it ships in early 2011.

Crestron UFO-4X Features:

• A rotatable handheld touchpanel with distinctive round shape
• Usable in portrait and landscape mode
• Gloss black finish
• 4.3” active matrix color touchscreen display
• Wide 160 degrees viewing angle
• 16-bit color graphics
• 800 x 480 WVGA resolution
• Dynamic graphics & text capability
• Adobe Flash object support
• Touchpanel keyboard and mouse pad capability
• White EL backlit buttons and text
• Automatic backlight level control
• WAV file customizable audio feedback
• Instant-Waking behavior
• High-power, high-speed 2.4 GHz RF wireless technology
• Up to 200 feet RF range indoors
• Supports roaming for extended RF coverage
• Long-lasting LiPo rechargeable battery pack
• Versatile docking station allows tabletop or wall mount charging
• Programmable via SystemBuilder and Adagio Composer software

Crestron Lighting Control Technology Lights Up 2010 FIFA World Cup at State-of-the-Art Durban Stadium

Crestron Networked Lighting Solutions Are “the Obvious Choice” to Meet a Variety of Switching and Power Requirements at 2010 World Cup™ Venue

The new Moses Mabhida Stadium, one of the primary stadiums hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, uses Crestron commercial lighting solutions to control general illumination and LED lighting throughout the 70,000-seat sports complex. The advanced LAN-based system combines a simple touchpanel interface with Crestron control processors to enable lighting control and management of more than 2800 loads for all flood lights, bowl lights, and general area lighting in restrooms, concourse levels, VIP boxes, dressing rooms, kitchens, parking lots, and other common areas.

Gerrie Coetzee, Manager of Electrosonic SA KZN, confirmed that the fully-integrated system is the largest single Crestron lighting system installed in South Africa to date. “We have 10 individual processors linked together as one global system, and with all of the other items it amounts to more than 350 Cresnet devices in total,” explains Coetzee. “We pushed the boundaries to get the system to do more, and we knew without a doubt that Crestron would deliver the results.”

Delivering the scalability that building architects wanted, the Crestron system interfaces seamlessly with different lighting and building control disciplines throughout the stadium - from power switching to dimming, to controlling DALI and DMX systems, to interfacing with the stadium BMS system - and provides the scalability necessary to evolve building automation functions in the future.

“With a control concept that demanded a simple user interface and flexible customization for switching lighting and power circuits to all areas of the stadium, the obvious choice to meet these requirements was a Crestron control system,” said Coetzee.

The design features Crestron AV2 processors linked via LAN to multiple Crestron DIN Rail 2-Series Automation Processors, which control more than 350 Crestron relays. The system allows the main control room to switch power to individual areas or activate specific preset lighting modes using a Crestron touchpanel, providing flexibility and ease of use for operators.

When a preset scene is selected, the Crestron system will sequentially switch on the proper flood lights required to ensure the correct Lux level for cameras, and to minimize incoming power surges. An operator simply selects the appropriate preset button from the touchpanel and the Crestron system automatically provides the desired lighting scene requirements for the area based on the event.

“Using the Crestron system gives us the peace of mind to know that the system will give stadium facility managers the flexibility and room for growth to handle any possible requirements that may arise,” Coetzee says. “We are currently working with the stadium management team to further refine the system and add Roomview management functionality.”

The FIFA World CUP™ is one of the largest sporting events in the world and is staged in grand fashion. In hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the first time ever on African soil, the new Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban has garnered praise from architects, visitors and players, both locally and internationally. Located at the heart of the new King’s Park Sporting Precinct, the world class multi-function arena is already a landmark structure.

Crestron Releases PROCISE™; the Ultimate in Surround Sound Processing, Amplification and Cabling

Crestron PROCISE™ Sets a New Standard for Professional-Grade, Multi-Channel Audio Processing for HD Home Theaters and Corporate Boardrooms

Crestron today announced the release of PROCISE™, a professional audio processing product line that creates a completely immersive audio experience. The PSPHD high-definition 7.3 surround sound audio processor is uniquely designed for both commercial and residential applications. Three independent subwoofer outputs provide a powerful bass sensation that is evenly distributed to every seat. Automatic room calibration delivers unprecedented clarity and tone instantly. An integrated HDMI switcher with HDCP support ensures compatibility with DRM protected content and equipment. Intelligent pairing enables sophisticated communication between the PSPHD and the PROAMP-7X400 or PROAMP-7X250 7-channel amplifiers.

PROCISE is an elegant technology showpiece for any home theater or boardroom. The beautiful front panel of the PSPHD features vintage-looking digital VU meters and spectrum analysis that graphically display audio and diagnostics while impressing clients or guests. The built-in 3-channel line mixer and distribution amplifier in the PSPHD enable the combination of multi-channel HD audio and video teleconferencing. Dolby® TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, and DTS-HD Master Audio™ 7.1 support the latest lossless audio formats to deliver the full experience of Blu-ray Disc™ and other high-definition media.

“With PROCISE, we’ve created another landmark achievement in engineering and design,” says Vincent Bruno, Crestron Director of Marketing. “PROCISE can adjust the settings for each speaker to perfection. You hear clear and balanced sound in every seat. It doesn’t matter if you’re in an acoustically treated room or not.”

The companion PROAMP amplifiers are precision-matched to the PSPHD in form and performance. Using a simple Ethernet connection, the PSPHD processor and PROAMP amplifier automatically pair, enabling seamless control and monitoring of the amplifier through the PSPHD front panel.

The PROAMP 7X400 model delivers 400 watts at 8 ohms on all seven channels for an amazing home theater experience. The 3-channel line input mixer in the PSPHD supports direct interface with mic mixers, teleconferencing codecs and paging systems for commercial applications. “Imagine being able to take a surround sound presentation, add the microphone and channel it back through the surrounds,” explains Bruno. “It’s so much easier and more affordable than setting up a separate PA system.”

Balanced and unbalanced outputs feed additional listening zones or recording equipment, and balanced connectivity supports the use of long cables and produces pristine, noise-free audio. Mono and stereo outputs independently deliver an unprocessed mix of the entire surround sound signal. Professional AES/EBU digital audio inputs enable connectivity to very high end studio and broadcast equipment. PROCISE XLR Balanced Audio Interconnect Cables ensure high-end, studio-grade performance and reliability.

Setup, control, and monitoring are accessed via the front panel or Crestron PROCISE Tools software. Front panel controls can be locked to prevent unauthorized access.

Get the whole house talking in no time!

Introducing the new InfinityEdge 7” touch screen. Breakthrough design with a new optional intercom feature, priced for every room in the house.

Affordable total system control in a sleek 7” design. Edge-to-edge capacitive glass combined with the elegant Control4 user interface reveals the most visually stunning Control4 touch screens to date. With new intercom capability, a choice of AC power or Power Over Ethernet, wired or Wi-Fi connectivity options, and four programmable buttons for customized commands, this flexible solution is perfect for every room in the house.

Features:

• Sleek look and feel with edge-to-edge capacitive glass
• Low-profile magnet-mount for an easy and attractive installation
• Black and white models to match different decors
• Four customizable buttons to set favorite scenes with one touch
• Compatible with virtually any new or existing home with options in power (AC or Power) and network connectivity (Ethernet or Wi-Fi)
• InfinityEdge Touch Screens have full-featured intercom capability built-in. Dinner ready? Communicate with a single room or send a broadcast message to different zones or to all rooms in the home. Baby sleeping? Set the InfinityEdge Touch screens to monitoring mode to listen in. License required for activation. Compatible with other Control4 InfinityEdge Touch Screens.

Now you can use your iPad to control your lighting, temperature, music, video, security, web cameras and more! In a Control4-enabled smart home, Control4 My Home allows you to easily control your electronics and systems over a home Wi-Fi network. Control4 My Home uniquely identifies and authenticates the Control4 system to your iPad to provide secure control.

Introducing the 4Store™ Application Marketplace

4Store™ apps give you fun and useful features, and can enhance the functionality of both Control4 and third-party devices and systems in the home. Set up a 4Store account online, and then purchase and download 4Store applications. Check the daily weather report, review top news stories, change codes on your KwikSet® locks, and play games from any Control4® Touch Screen. 4Store™ is the first application marketplace to extend beyond mobile devices and into the digital home. Take your existing apps (weather, news, RSS feeds, social media, games, etc.) and expand your reach.

Elegant Flash-Based Navigator Interface

It’s easy to customize your home page, wallpaper themes and screen savers. Control4 has included a few choices with OS 2.0. Add favorites, use programmable buttons to set lighting or music scenes, create playlists and more!

Faster Access to Your Favorite Content

Control4 has added a feature that allows you to easily mark your favorite pages for faster access to view and use content that you love. An authorized Control4 Installer can program page flips to direct the display on the Navigator to a specific page with one touch.With 2.0 performance improvements you can access your media faster and schedule your media scanning to occur when it’s most convenient for you.

Available in Seven Languages

Control4® OS 2.0 ships with support for seven languages: English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Portuguese, and Ukranian. Check your system often to see if new languages have been added.

Support for Exciting New Hardware

Control4® OS 2.0 is based on industry standard ZigBee® Pro technology. This means that you can easily integrate new devices into your system.