Integrated Media
Homeowners Are Turning to Smart Technology to Streamline Their Lives and Reduce Energy Use
04/12/11 15:33
Article by Amanda Ash, Contributor for eHow
Long gone are the days when we read by candlelight and cooked dinner on a wood-burning stove. And for many North American homes as of 2011, the acts of flipping light switches and manually controlling thermostats are going the way of the dinosaurs.
The Green Revolution, coupled with incredible technological advances, has spawned tech-savvy "smart homes": digitally outfitted dwellings that may be programmed to do just about anything you can think of, except maybe clean your room.
Harry Saini, who owns Digital Smart Homes of Canada and has wired his Vancouver condominium to the hilt, believes that automating your home not only simplifies your life but also reduces energy consumption. Home automation technology is becoming more accessible every day, allowing the average person to transform a home into something straight out of "Star Trek."
"If you were looking at home automation five years ago, you'd easily be looking at 10 times the cost compared to now," Saini said. "And the number of dealers and retailers that are able to support that technology compared to five, six years ago has doubled---tripled, even.
"People used to think home automation is for lazy people, but that's not what it is. Essentially, everything talks to one another. Your lights talk to your stereo. Your alarm knows what your garage is doing. All your devices know what's going on."
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What is Home Automation or a Smart Home?
04/12/11 15:32
In today’s ultra-complicated and fast-paced world, home automation and smart home technologies were developed to simplify life! Thanks to revolutionary devices, you can now link and control all of the electronics and systems in your home from a single digital interface.
Digital Smart Homes links together onto one operating platform the following technologies and more:
- Home theatre systems
- Multi-room music & video
- Smart lighting & shades
- Advanced temperature control
- Safety and security devices
Transforming your living environment into a “smart home” not only makes life more manageable, it makes it more secure. For instance, let’s say that you head out of town for a weekend trip and you realize a few hours out of town that you forgot to arm the security system and program the porch lights to illuminate at dusk. All you have to do is pull out your iPhone, bring up the Control4 interface, and push a few buttons to secure your alarm & program your lights.
Is Home Automation Scalable? As you revolutionize and grow your home technologies, you may be wondering if home automation is scalable. This is actually the beauty of a system like Control4. You can begin with one or two technologies and then scale out to meet additional needs. For example, if you have an amazing home theatre setup and a security system, you can begin there and then add to your setup as time progresses.
What’s in a Smart Home Console? This is where the fun begins! Just to give you an idea, here are some of the things that Control4 can accomplish:
- Control your home theatre
- Dim the lights as the opening credits roll
- Turn off all your TVs when your kids should be studying
- Alert you when the garage door is open…and then close it
- Manage your lights, window coverings, and thermostats
- Monitor your locks, lighting, and security cameras
- Allow you to play music in any room of the house
Visit our fully featured hi-tech showroom in Vancouver at 1385 West 6th Avenue.
Connect with your music like never before with Cambridge Audio's Network Music Player (NP30)
28/11/11 01:00
Good things come in small packages. The Cambridge Audio NP30 all-in-one network audio player however isn't just good: it's an amazing sounding, brilliantly versatile, very compact and, of course, a perfect example of what contemporary music in the home is all about. Music downloads, high-resolution music files, internet radio, network music, UPnP servers, iPod/MP3 players, USB Music, Wi-Fi streaming - everything that the new era of music delivery can throw at it, the NP30 can play.
Network music players are fast replacing CD players at the heart of many hi-fi systems.
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Fusion Announces New iPad and iPhone App
31/08/11 15:36
We're proud to announce our new iPad app is now available in the iTunes store. This app features full two-way meta data exchange, filter & sorting and control with any Fusion Movie Server.
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Fusion Movie Server Overview - What is a Movie Server?
09/08/11 14:46
This simple non-narrated video covers the basics of what a movie server is for personal residential use. The video shows some of the basics of operations of the Fusion server including navigation of the system.
The video also covers search functions, filtering and sorting your videos using a simple hand held remote control. All functions on the Fusion Server can be accessed and used with a remote or a full control system.
Fusion is also releasing a new free two-way app for the iPad & iPhone and will also offer a Droid version of its two-way app the 1st quarter of 2012, please check back for updates on the availability of these products.
The video also covers search functions, filtering and sorting your videos using a simple hand held remote control. All functions on the Fusion Server can be accessed and used with a remote or a full control system.
Fusion is also releasing a new free two-way app for the iPad & iPhone and will also offer a Droid version of its two-way app the 1st quarter of 2012, please check back for updates on the availability of these products.
All new Sonos PLAY:3
20/07/11 21:30
Introducing the smaller, sexier, tuck in the corner and blow out the roof, all-in-one player.
- Stream your entire music library, music services, and radio stations
- Control wirelessly, easy to set up
- Start with one, expand everywhere
- Versatile enough to put anywhere -- horizontal or vertical
- 3 driver HiFi speaker system
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Remotescape: Kaleidescape remote control app for iPad & iPhone
13/07/11 22:21
The world’s premier home entertainment system, Kaleidescape, is now even better with the Remotescape app for Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Browse your movie and music library, view cover art, and control what’s playing, all on your Apple iOS device!
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Introducing Just Add Power ... a scalable, any size HDMI matrix over IP
13/07/11 22:21
Every source gets a transmitter/encoder and every display gets a receiver/decoder, they all plug into the network and, voila, you’ve got an HDMI matrix solution!
Highlights:
- The original 1G version offers a cost-effective, high performance solution while the newer 2G gigabit version delivers lossless video.
- Both versions require a managed network switch controlled via RS-232 or IP from any control system, PC, or smart device (e.g., Blackberry or iPad).
- Need to expand? Simply add a transmitter or receiver (or both).
- No more baluns and no distance limitations!
- Projects range from small residential jobs to large commercial applications and everything in between.
- New 2G firmware enables a video wall configuration up to 8x8 at a fraction of the price of competing systems.
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Two new radio services on Sonos: AUPEO! & Stitcher
02/06/11 15:21
Sonos just amplified your radio power! Sonos is doubly excited to announce that AUPEO! Personal Radio and Stitcher SmartRadio™ are now part of the Sonos music service lineup. For radio and podcast fans, these free services are sure to amp up the excitement music lovers this spring and summer.
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Control4 Home Automation System Demo of Smart Home Technology
25/05/11 13:06
Join us on a tour of a Control4 home automation system in McKinney, Texas. Control4 dealer Byron Baird of Diem Digital Interiors & homeowner Jeff Layn provide a home automation demo of Jeff's townhouse located on a golf resort called Craig Ranch.
Jeff's smart home technology controls multiple zones of audio, multiple televisions with DVRs for every family member, fireplaces, ceiling fans, thermostats, & IP cameras. He started small and has been adding on to the system over time.
What's great about this Dallas palace are the endless custom touches. When Jeff arrives home and opens the garage door, his home control system turns on the lights & the television turns on to his favourite channel (ESPN).
Jeff also has a personalized microchip key chain that has his personal settings programmed into it. He waves it over the 'wand' behind the door which then brings up his personal settings of how he wants to live his life when he comes in the house.
Want this for your home? Contact me for a personalized quote.
4 Reasons we like to specify Fusion Video Servers
28/04/11 17:08
Fusion Research is the #2 video server manufacturer and we wanted to share 4 reasons why you should consider a Fusion Movie Server for your home or Theater System
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Apple AirPlay device support & Sonos Controller for Android
20/04/11 10:09
We have something new for both Apple and Android-loving music fans. Sonos’s latest software update makes it easy for Sonos to play Apple AirPlay music sources and stream even more music to every room. And with the official launch of the Sonos Controller for Android, even more music lovers can get started with Sonos by turning their favourite smartphone into a free Sonos Controller.
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At Last - Advanced DSP for Multi-Zone Audio
14/04/11 12:47
ADX matrix switchers provide 10-band equalization per zone. We are excited to present ADX switchers with advanced DSP options, cutting edge control, and compact design. ADX promises to bring audiophile enjoyment to every zone.
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Introducing the iD100 iPod, iPhone & iPad Digital Dock
16/02/11 21:05
Bit for Bit pure digital data recovery! The iD100 delivers the most sensational performance and results ever from your iPhone, iPad, and iPod for the most realistic and dynamic delivery imaginable. Taking a digital feed allows extraction of every last drop of performance possible from the worlds favourite portable music player. The pure digital data is then fed to an external DAC or AV Receiver using its digital input for best possible digital to analogue conversion.
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Control4 and Cisco Sign Strategic Agreement to Deliver Network-enabled Automation Platforms for Smart+Connected Communities and Home Energy Management Solutions
15/02/11 08:56
Control4, a leader in affordable IP-based home control systems, today announced that it has signed a strategic agreement with Cisco to deliver network-enabled automation platforms for connected smart communities and home energy deployments around the world.
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Wireless control via iPad or iPhone of your networked-enabled Onkyo or Integra receiver
14/02/11 21:56
With oRemote, an iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch (iOS 4.2 required) and a wireless (Wi-Fi) network, you can control your network-enabled Onkyo or Integra AVR from anywhere in the house. oRemote enables full control over all inputs and zones with constant screen updates of the status of your AVR.
iPad and iPhone application for network control of devices that use the eISCP protocol - this includes most network-enabled Onkyo and Integra AV Receivers (see below for list of supported receivers). Now you can fully control your receiver without having to turn on your TV.
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Sonos Controller for Android Coming Soon
10/02/11 18:55
Android loving music fans will soon have something to rock about. Sonos has just announced the Sonos Controller for Android, a free app that will transform most Android smartphones into a wireless music controller for Sonos. Get ready because its coming this spring and we expect it to rock the house.
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rdio music service coming to Sonos
26/01/11 18:36
Sonos is adding a new social music service called Rdio (pronounced "ar-dee-o") to our music lineup. It can be found in the Music Menu starting January 27th, and best of all, your customers can try it for free. Read More...
All New Yamaha Aventage BD-A1000 High Performance, 3D Blu-Ray Player
24/01/11 22:06
High performance Blu-ray Disc Player designed for optimum matching with Yamaha AVENTAGE Line Receivers. The SCENE function integrates operation and the front panel has the same clean, graceful design. The BD-A1000 is designed for High End Audio and isn’t just a video device. For the complete home theatre experience it’s paramount that the Blu-ray player provides premium audio quality. This is why Yamaha’s BD-A1000 supports high end audio formats such as SACD and DVD-Audio; formats that are designed to take advantage of high end audio setups. It also incorporates high-grade components and terminals ensuring HD audio formats sound as originally intended by the studio master. Read More...
Marantz, AirPlay. Your iTunes music in any room, unleashed
17/01/11 18:25
Unleash your iTunes music library with the world's first Airplay enabled AV components from Marantz. Now you can stream the sweet sound of your favourite songs directly from your iPod touch, iphone or iPad" or from your iTunes library on your PC or Mac using the “Remote App” on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch and your wireless home network, you don't even need to be in the same room as the components or your computer to play, pause, skip, and stop the songs in your iTunes music library. You'll even see the iTunes music information, including your album art. track titles, and artist info on your Apple compatible device or your Marantz AV receiver with video output.
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The Wadia 171 iPod/iPhone/iPad Transport is finally available!
17/01/11 18:21
The 171 iTransport is the first certified “Works with iPhone” dock to offer pure, bit-perfect digital output allowing the revered smartphone and iPad to perform as high-end media servers. Wadia’s 171 iTransport builds on the award winning success of the original 170iTransport by adding “Works with iPhone” compatibility, and iPad connectivity. Significant refinements to the original design include high performance power supply components, advanced clocking circuitry, premium grade circuit boards, two digital outputs, and a feature rich remote control.
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Kaleidescape Introduces Blu-ray Movie Server
13/12/10 17:24
Pristine Digital Storage of Blu-ray Discs for Instant Playback throughout the Home
SUNNYVALE, Calif., December 13, 2010 – Kaleidescape, Inc., creator of the movie server product category, today announced shipment of the industry's first Blu-ray movie server. The Kaleidescape System stores exact copies of your Blu-ray Discs on its hard drives, and transforms your collection of movies into a magical experience. Kaleidescape's simple and elegant user interface makes choosing something to watch part of the fun.
"Blu-ray offers the highest fidelity for my discerning clients, but if you thought watching a DVD was frustrating, just try a Blu-ray Disc," said Jeff Cherun, owner of Teatro Custom Installation, Inc. in Los Angeles, California. "With the Kaleidescape System you're enjoying any of your Blu-ray movies in seconds instead of minutes. My customers will never go back to an ordinary Blu-ray player." Read More...
Sonos WD100 Wireless Dock
06/11/10 22:27
Key features of the Sonos Wireless Dock
Works with iPod and iPhoneSimply dock any supported iPod or iPhone (see below) and enjoy your tunes all over the house on your Sonos system.
Wireless music playback on SonosWirelessly play what's stored or playing on an iPod or iPhone, including many streaming music apps, on any or all the Sonos ZonePlayers at home. Play the same song from a docked iPod or iPhone in every room – perfectly synchronized.
Flexible music control
Browse and select the music from either your docked iPod or any Sonos Controller.
Best-in-class wireless technology
SonosNet 2.0 wireless mesh network functionality allows you to dock your iPod or iPhone wherever you want and play back the music on any or all the Sonos ZonePlayers in the house.
High-fidelity digital sound
The Sonos Wireless Dock sends your digital music files wirelessly to ZonePlayers throughout your home—without ever converting to analog like most conventional docks. This preserves the sound quality from the iPod to the speaker, ensuring you get the highest fidelity sound.
Quick charging dock
The Sonos Wireless Dock supports Apple's 1Amp charging specification so your iPod or iPhone are ready to go when you are. Read More...
Sonos Introduces The Sonos Wireless Dock
23/09/10 22:48
"The Sonos Wireless Dock is the perfect accessory for our music loving customers who own an iPod or iPhone and want to enjoy the music stored on them in any or every room of the home," said Phil Abram, President, Sonos, Inc. "This new dock reinforces our mission to provide our customers with access to all of the music on the planet, including everything available on an iPod and iPhone in the home."
The Sonos Wireless Dock accesses all of the music stored or playing on an iPhone or iPod and sends it wirelessly to Sonos ZonePlayers all throughout your home – before converting the music to analog – guaranteeing the best possible audio quality. The Sonos Wireless Dock is compatible with the following devices: iPod touch (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation), iPod classic, iPod nano (3rd, 4th, and 5th generation), iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G and iPhone, and has been certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards.
Contact me for more information about Sonos
Kaleidescape Introduces First User Interface for Young Children
23/09/10 01:22
Even Toddlers Can Find and Play Their Own Movies, and Parents Have Complete Control over Available Content.
Kaleidescape, Inc., the market leader in movie servers, today introduced the industry's first user interface designed specifically for young children. With a Kaleidescape System and a Kaleidescape Child Remote, a young child can find and play any of his or her movies without help from an adult. The way it works—different user interface behavior when using a particular remote—is an industry first. Read More...
Yamaha Introduces 'AVENTAGE' A/V Series; Defined by Obsession with Details to Achieve Peak Performance
25/08/10 15:04
Yamaha Electronics Corporation, the innovator in home theater and digital audio and video reproduction, today introduced a line of A/V receivers that embody obsessive attention to detail combined with a multitude of engineering refinements made to achieve peak performance at affordable price points.
The new AVENTAGE (pronounced Ah-Ven-Taj) A/V Receiver Series is the result of Yamaha‘s meticulous design process to refine and re-engineer the receiver from the ground up, and to make subtle changes that mean the difference between good and great sound. The new series is a complement to Yamaha‘s award-winning RX-V line, which will continue to carry attractive feature sets in the opening to mid-level price points. Read More...
Control4 2.0 is Here!
30/06/10 17:06
We are excited to to announce the release of Control4® OS 2.0. This next-generation OS offers new home-control functionality, updated SDKs, support for additional hardware products, integration of third-party applications, and improved media management. Featuring an elegant Flash-based user interface, Control4® OS 2.0 will provide Control4 integrators with the most powerful Control4® solution to date. Read More...
Sonos Launches iPad App
24/06/10 15:42
Although Sonos launched an iPad interface for their wireless whole-house music system earlier this week, it won’t be available until August. However, it is a very sleek use of the iPad technology integrated into a HomeAV application. If you want to see the demo, go here: Sonos iPad App
We now carry RTI & Crestron
24/06/10 15:39
We are excited to announce the addition of RTI (Remote Technologies Inc.) and Crestron Automation and Control products to our impressive line-up of products and services. Read More...
Yamaha's NeoHD is here!
11/06/10 14:57
Enjoy all your AV sources plus music streaming from your computer, Internet Radio and Rhapsody content. Easily control all of your sources with a simple graphical user interface (GUI) and simplified remote control. One remote gives you total media control. Read More...
Now you can pick a room, pick a song, and pick a colour.
26/05/10 13:01
The all-in-one Sonos S5 is about to get even more popular. On June 2nd, 2010, in response to overwhelming demand, the S5 will debut in black. And the timing couldn't be better with Father's Day just around the corner. Read More...
New Sonos software update
18/05/10 12:30
Sonos Press Release
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – May 18, 2010 – Sonos®, Inc., the leading developer of wireless multi-room music systems for the home, today released Sonos System Software v3.2, a one-button free software update for Sonos customers that features a variety of new audio features.
Key features of Sonos v3.2 include:
- Crossfading - Customers can create smooth transitions between songs just like the DJs do. You can select the crossfading playback mode from the Now Playing screen for any tracks in your music library, plus select music services including Napster.
- S5 Stereo Pair setting – This innovative audio feature allows customers to use two Sonos S5s in the same room with one S5 serving as the left channel and the other as the right channel.
- Japanese and Simplified Chinese language support – Customers using the Sonos Controller for iPhone*, the Sonos Controller 200 and the Sonos Controller for Mac or PC can now control Sonos in 9 languages: Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, and Swedish.
- New alarm settings – Sonos customers can now customize alarms for different days of the week. Wake up to your favorite radio station on one day and a Napster playlist on another. Set the room, the time and the music for any or every day of the week.
- More free music: iheartradio from Clear Channel - Tune in to more than 750 of America’s favorite radio stations, including. Exclusive digital stations like Christina Aguilera Radio, CBGB Radio, Radio Weezer, AT40 with Ryan Seacrest, and more. Top talk stations from Rush Limbaugh to Dr. Laura Traffic reports from 12 major metro areas
Kaleidescape Introduces Next Generation Movie Players
13/05/10 15:38
New Movie Server Architecture, New User Interface, Blu-ray Support
SUNNYVALE, CA - Kaleidescape, Inc., the market leader in movie servers, today announced its new M500 and M300 Players. Built on the company's proprietary M-Class architecture, this next generation of players delivers a new and improved onscreen user interface and Blu-ray support. The M500 Player copies Blu-ray Discs, DVDs, and CDs onto a server. The imported content can then be played back instantly by M500 and M300 Players, creating the world's first multi-zone movie server for Blu-ray.
To address the concerns of the studios, Kaleidescape requires the disc to be present when playing Blu-ray content from the server. Today this means the Blu-ray Disc must be in the tray of an M500 Player. To enable the full Kaleidescape experience for Blu-ray, the company is developing a disc loader which will keep a large number of discs present within the Kaleidescape system. It will also provide bulk import, and make it easy to find and retrieve a disc. Read More...
The Kaleidescape Experience
20/04/10 07:54
We are excited to announce that Digital Smart Homes is now an authorized Kaleidescape dealer.
The Kaleidescape System simplifies the way you collect, manage and enjoy movies and music. Once your personal entertainment collection is stored on the Kaleidescape System, you can say goodbye to DVD and CD clutter and the frustration of storing and organizing your movies and music. And, since your Kaleidescape System uses high-speed networking to deliver your favourite movies and music throughout your home, you can instantly access and enjoy them when and where it's convenient for you, your family or your guests. Simply click PLAY, lean back and immediately enjoy the show with your closest friends and family. Learn More
Finally. An iPod dock that does it all!
03/03/10 18:46
Introducing the all new iPort FS-23 free-standing iPod/iPhone dock. This dock transforms your iPod or iPhone into a Digital Media System with On-Screen Navigation. Besides standing out as dock that connects to your TV with a full GUI (Graphical User Interface), the dock connects to your local network! This virtually allows you to sync you iPod or iPhone over your network without having to dock it directly to your computer. The advantages of a network connection can be quickly realized. You basically have a very inexpensive Media Server and fully unlocks your media even if they are DRM protected. It also has a remote zone IR control input so that the FS-23 Dock can be controlled from any room with several different control devices including Control4 or a Harmony Remote. Connects to your TV via component cables to give you the most optimized video playback of your Movies, TV Shows or Photos. Audio can be connected to your Hi-Fi system or directly to the TV for rich sound.
Other features include:
• View and navigate content from the iPod/iPod touch directly on your TV
• Charge the iPod/iPod touch while docked
• Select music, video, song, artist, album, and playlist
• View an elegant Now Playing screen that indicates title, artist, and album with cover art provided by the iPod/ iPod touch.
• iPort standard IR remote
• Control iPod/iPod touch settings such as equalizer,
• repeat, and shuffle
• Built-in pre-amplifier for variable volume control
• Stop-motion screen saver with time adjustment
For More info contact me or download the Product Sheet here