News / Media

New ‘panelized’ hardwired lighting control system is the first for Control4, best known for its wireless home automation systems.

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It took a few years for Control4 —best known for wireless home automation—to perfect its first ever hardwired centralized lighting system but “it’s really here,” says Paul Williams, VP of security and communications products. The system, which Control4 calls “panelized” lighting, was shown in its finished form at ISE 2013 in Amsterdam in January. The solution is Ethernet-based, readily integrated into an IP-enabled automation ecosystem.

The panels and termination blocks are “ready to go,” says Williams, “so dealers can start spec’ing it.”

Control4 added a few niceties to the system since it debuted a few years ago, including some features you don’t see in every hardwired lighting control.

The new lighting system is available in both U.S.-centric panel configurations and European DIN rail mounting.

The system can operate from 120V to 277V allowing it to operate worldwide in commercial and residential applications.

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For those who want to keep their remotes outside or play with them in the pool or jacuzzi, Crestron has an answer: a weather-proof remote. It even floats!

Crestron describes their UFO Waterproof Wireless LCD Remote (UFO-WPR-3ER) as “A rugged, waterproof remote with extended range RF performance and advanced color LCD display.” Its color screen and large, easy to press buttons can be used to control your outdoor lighting, jacuzzi, TV, music, and more.

Go here to see a video of it in action where we most recently installed it:

http://youtu.be/CeGYN_xVsC0

Yale Locks & Hardware revealed that its wirelessly controlled door locks now integrate with Crestron control systems to provide direct communication, control, management and monitoring of home security.

The Yale Real Living line of access control locks—the first Crestron Connected residential door locks—enable homeowners to lock and unlock doors remotely from a Crestron touch screen or a mobile device, set schedules, and personalize access to the home.

The Crestron Connected initiative embeds Crestron control intelligence into a wide selection of third-party source equipment and display devices, such as projectors, displays, and audio/video receivers, to operate seamlessly with Crestron control technologies. Using Crestron infiNET EX wireless protocol, the new Yale Real Living wirelessly controlled door locks receive commands and send information to the Crestron controller, allowing other devices to come to life based on the lock’s activity.

Homeowners can lock or unlock doors from anywhere in the house using a Crestron touch screen or remotely using Crestron Mobile Pro/Mobile Pro G for Apple and Android mobile devices. When the door is locked or unlocked, the Crestron system can simultaneously turn lights on/off, adjust shades and temperature, and set the alarm. Homeowners can also give access to others and create a schedule to allow guests to enter the home on specific days, and program other settings tailored to each person. Each family member and guest receives a unique PIN, so the homeowner can monitor system activity. For example, the system can be set to automatically send a text message to parents when a child has arrived home from school. The system also monitors battery and alarm status. A Crestron Connected device is recognized natively by the Crestron processor and allows for full control capabilities out-of-the-box, without any special drivers or modules.

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View full article here. Flexible e-ink displays are one thing, but an actual working tablet that’s as thin as a sheet of paper – that’s impressive. And that’s exactly what the Papertab is. Developed by researchers at Queen’s University, Canada, the Papertab is a fully interactive touch-sensitive 10.7-inch sheet of plastic able to display documents, images, videos and the like. View full article here.

Before and After shots of a recent installation by Audio Impact.

The television was wall-mounted in the corner of the Living Room, with the equipment neatly tucked away in the cabinet, a few feet away. The speakers may be small, but have alot of power and sound. Hidden wiring for the television and minimal exposed wiring for the A/V components, resulted in an elegant and unobtrusive setup.

Check out the Before and After pictures below

BEFORE

AFTER

Another successful Audio Impact Installation!

Audio Impact recently upgraded this Racing Simulator from one screen to three!

Check out the before photos and after photos and video

BEFORE

AFTER

By By Jerold Leslie | TheStreet.com – Tue, Jun 26, 2012

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http://realestate.yahoo.com/news/5-high-tech-smart-homes-for-the-super-rich.html?page=1

Super-luxury estates don’t just come with swimming pools and tennis courts these days, but also boast elaborate home theaters and special controls that can unlock doors or adjust thermostats even if you’re halfway around the world.

“I’ll walk into a dark house with a buyer, press one button and turn on the lights, the music and the home theater downstairs,” says Debra Johnston, an Atlanta real estate agent who specializes in high-end properties. “The whole house is ready to go – and the client can see that.”

More and more high-end properties feature such “smart-home” technologies - professional-grade audio/video systems, plus lights, thermostats, window shades and more that you can control with an Apple iPad or other smart device. Read on for five of the poshest smart homes.

Lakefront estate, Plano, Texas

List price: $5.9 million

This six-bedroom estate’s elaborate media room features a domed ceiling that depicts thousands of twinkling stars - and even an occasional meteor streaking across the sky. There are also eight reclining chairs, as well as custom-painted murals depicting a panoramic view of Florence, Italy. As for electronics, the media room boasts a Sony (SNE_) video projector, a 147-inch screen, a 7.1 surround-sound Super THX speaker system, four DSS satellite receivers and more. The home’s state-of-the-art electronics also include remote-controlled shades, lights and other amenities, as well as built-in wiring for audio, flat-panel TVs and high-speed Internet.

Oceanfront estate, Dana Point, CA

List price: $23 million

Located on the Pacific Ocean some 60 miles southeast of Los Angeles and 10 miles east of Catalina Island, this Tuscan-style estate boasts remote-controlled lights, drapes, audio/video and more. A Crestron control system runs the built-in 60-inch built-in flat-panel TV and surround-sound system in the home’s great room, as well as two flat-panel TVs and a ticker-tape display in the “sports room.” You can also control the property’s security system/video cameras remotely, as well as a 15-zone audio system that features built-in speakers inside and out of the six-bedroom home. But the estate’s coolest feature is probably its home theater, which boasts a professional-grade video projector, a 160-inch screen and 11 reclining seats.

Clock tower penthouse, Brooklyn, NY

List price: $19 million

This three-bedroom penthouse doesn’t have the world’s most elaborate electronics, but is in one of the coolest settings around – a 98-year-old former factory’s clock tower. Spanning the top three floors of Brooklyn’s famed 1914 Clock Tower Building, the condo boasts one-of-a-kind windows carved out of the structure’s four huge clocks (which still function). As for electronics, the penthouse has 12-speed CAT wiring and a Crestron system that controls lighting, heat, air conditioning, audio/video and shades.

Tuxedo Park estate, Atlanta, GA

List price: $11.5 million

This newly built 2-acre estate features all sorts of cutting-edge technology, from a home theater that cost nearly $1 million to lights, thermostats and more that you can control remotely. Virtually every room in this seven-bedroom/13-bathroom home is connected to central music and security systems and comes prewired for CAT5 cable, PBX phones and high-speed Internet access. There’s also a high-tech geothermal heating/cooling system and super-efficient thermal-pane windows and icynene insulation. But it’s the property’s home theater that really shines. Outfitted with 12-seat German-made leather seats, the space boasts a $160,000 Digital Projections Pro-Cinema Commercial Projector, a 171-inch Stewart film screen and a $17,000 Snell surround-sound speaker/subwoofer system.

Cape Cod waterfront estate, Cotuit, MA

List price: $10.9 million

This 7.6-acre estate’s smart-home technology runs not only all systems in its four-bedroom main house, but lights, heat and the like in its one-bedroom carriage house as well. The system controls the home’s built-in audio/video, 14 flat-panel TVs – even the temperature in the estate’s massive wine cellar.

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<strong><a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/news/5-high-tech-smart-homes-for-the-super-rich.html?page=1" target="_blank">http://realestate.yahoo.com/news/5-high-tech-smart-homes-for-the-super-rich.html?page=1</a></strong></p>

Published Apr 27, 2012 By HD Living

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http://hdliving.com/high-definition-homes/2012/04/27/home-theater-relaxing-family-upgrade

What better gift can you give to your family than entertainment? When one homeowner wanted to bestow upon

his extended family, there was only one area home theater/automation integrator he needed to call: Domes Audio Video Environments in Virginia Beach, Va.

“The homeowner considered the sports bar/game room to be a very important part of the home, and needed a space their grandchildren, kids, family and friends could enjoy together,” recalled Domes President Lee Whedbee. “They requested it be a relaxed space with a large screen and access to both audio and video collections, as well as lighting scenes for party modes, playing cards and gaming.”

In addition to excellent sight and sound, “The home-owner wanted ease of access to his music throughout his home, the detached pool building and antique car garage,” Whedbee said. “He wanted an intuitive interface that visiting friends and relatives could operate without detailed instructions.”

How did the homeowner come across Domes? Extensive research, after which “he called Domes, and we went to his home to do a complimentary site survey and discuss his wishes for the job. He was impressed with our ideas, length of time in business, and that we are a family business.”

Next on the homeowner’s priority list was a dedicated home theater which could seat 10 people. Domes designed a tiered seating layout with five seats on each row, keeping the first row 12 feet from the Stewart screen.

Comfort paired with a Runco VX-22 projector hidden in a motorized lift in the ceiling and projecting onto a 110-inch Stewart screen provided breathtaking video. The room was treated with an acoustical wall absorption system and hidden Meridian speakers and amplification provided the audio.

The project was complete after about six weeks—10 days to prewire, two weeks to install the equipment, and about two weeks to program and de-bug.

The homeowner was surprised—and delighted by the end result. “The most surprising aspect of the entire job was the ‘control’,” Whedbee stated. ”We used a Crestron Control System throughout the home including the ‘Sports Bar’, pool building and antique car garage. This allowed for ease of use for both audio and video throughout. DVDs and Music CDs could be easily accessed from any room, alleviating the need for cluttered stacks of DVDs and CDs on the shelves.

“He loved to entertain and this was the place to do it. Push one button and the automation took over. The lights began to dim, the curtains parted revealing the Stewart Screen, and the DVD began. His guests were amazed, and he was delighted to see them enjoy the theater as much as he did!”

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<strong><a href="http://hdliving.com/high-definition-homes/2012/04/27/home-theater-relaxing-family-upgrade" target="_blank">http://hdliving.com/high-definition-homes/2012/04/27/home-theater-relaxing-family-upgrade</a></strong></p>

10 Apr, 2012 By: Erik Gruenwedel

Netflix remains the primary driver of users seeking Internet-connected media devices to the television

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http://www.homemediamagazine.com/digital-evolution/report-38-us-households-have-connected-tvs-26927

Nearly one in four households in the country have a least one television connected to the Internet directly or via a video game system, Blu-ray Disc player, Apple TV or Roku set-top player, among other devices, according to a new report.

Leichtman Research Group said household connected TV penetration is up 8% from 30% penetration in 2011 and 25% penetration in 2010. The primary conduit remains the game console, at 28%, while just 4% of households are connected via Web-enabled TV, and just 1% through an Apple TV or Roku media player.

The data was compiled from a survey of 1,251 households nationwide.

The Durham, N.H.-based research firm said 13% of all respondents watch video from the Internet via a connected device at least weekly, compared with 10% last year and 5% two years ago. Use of connected devices remains skewed toward Netflix subscribers, with 35% of Netflix subscribers watching video from the Internet via a connected device weekly, compared with 5% weekly use among all non-Netflix subscribers.

Indeed, 16% of all adults use Netflix’s streaming feature weekly — compared with 12% last year and 4% two years ago. Nearly 80% of Netflix streaming customers use it to watch movies and television shows on a TV set, and 59% of this group access Netflix via a video game system.

About 50% of Netflix subscribers are satisfied with the service, and 11% are likely to stop subscribing to Netflix in the next six months. Another 7% of Netflix subs are likely to switch from their multi-channel video provider in the next six months — compared with 12% of non-Netflix subscribers.

About 13% of Netflix subs would consider reducing spending on their multichannel video service because of Netflix — compared with 21% last year.

Another 16% of all adults watch full-length TV shows online at least weekly, compared with 12% last year and 10% three years ago. Among all mobile phone owners, 19% watch video on their phones weekly, compared with 15% last year, and 6% three years ago. And 9% of all adults watch video on an iPad/tablet computer weekly, versus 2% last year, according to the report.

Overall, 1.6% of households in the sample paid to subscribe to a multichannel video service in the past year and do not currently subscribe. Yet, just 0.1% of the sample who dropped service in the past year do not plan to subscribe again in the next six months and say that they don’t subscribe because of Netflix or because they can watch all that they want on the Internet or in other ways.

“Video is increasingly being watched on different platforms and in different places, yet these emerging video services still generally act as complements to traditional television viewing and services rather than as substitutes,” said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group. “Among all adults, reported time spent watching TV is similar to last year, and there remains little evidence of a significant trend in consumers ‘cutting the cord’ to their multichannel video services to watch video solely via these emerging services.”

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<strong><a href="http://www.homemediamagazine.com/digital-evolution/report-38-us-households-have-connected-tvs-26927" target="_blank">http://www.homemediamagazine.com/digital-evolution/report-38-us-households-have-connected-tvs-26927</a></strong></p>

Can you spot the speakers?

Recently Audio Impact installed these two in-ceiling speakers in an outdoor area. The speakers have paintable grills, allowing us to match the color and create a seamless look.