photos by Jenny Terrell In the world of smart homes, there’s often a disconnect that happens between a home’s design and its technology. Sometimes, the technology can overpower the architecture in a smart home, and then there are times when a home’s design dictates the performance of the electronics gear. A pleasing middle ground where […]
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Sonos Unveils New Smart Speaker for $399
As smart speakers continue to proliferate the home landscape, manufacturers are looking for innovative designs that deliver even more bang for the buck. Sonos has developed a new class of smart speaker with the upcoming July introduction of its Beam speaker. Created to provide consumers with more than just a voice-enabled speaker that responds to […]
Get the Guide3 Valentines Day Smart Homes
Celebrating Valentines Day is all about setting the mood. You want wherever you’re spending time with your sweetie to look at feel romantic and alluring. That might mean dimming the lights or choosing a color like light pink to shine from a smart Philips Hue bulb. Music is another effective mood-setter, and these days you […]
Get the GuideComplete Amazon Alexa Control in California Home Cinema
When a homeowner in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., hired Custom LA to replace the existing home theater in their 6,500-square-foot home, only the absolute pinnacle in audio and video equipment would do — calibrated to perfection to deliver a jaw-dropping experience. Of course, the world’s most advanced A/V components would be rendered useless if the […]
Get the GuideTop 10—Plus More—Most Wanted Tech Gifts This Holiday Season
If anyone knows what kinds of tech people want as gifts, it’s the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) and uber-tech retailer Best Buy. Both organizations conduct research annually to get a feel for what sort of tech will be flying off the shelves. Only time will tell if they were on target or completely off, but […]
Get the GuideSanus Accessories Complement Sonos One & Sonos PLAY:1, PLAY:3 Powered Speakers
Looking for a way to mount your Sonos speakers? Sanus offers a couple of solutions: its new Wireless Speaker Stand and Wireless Speaker Wall Mount. Designed to augment the new Sonos One powered smart speaker, as well as the company’s PLAY:1 and PLAY:3 powered speakers, the latest products from Sanus let you place Sonos products […]
Get the GuideSonos Introduces Alexa-Enabled Smart Speaker
Everyone loves Sonos for its ability to stream music throughout the house. Now there’s another reason to swoon over this super-easy, super versatile, whole-house wireless music system: its ability to function as a voice-enabled smart speaker. The company recently announced Sonos One, the company’s first wireless speaker with voice control built-in. Supports Alexa; Google to […]
Get the GuideAmazon Alexa Transforms Family Room into a Home Theater
Article and Photography: Scott Fincher Photography With its many chandeliers and other crystalline fixtures, the manse in Lake County, Ill., sparkles, but what really shines is something that is almost invisible: advanced home automation by Digital Home Technologies. A Plan for Simplicity Not long after the home’s groundbreaking in 2015, Digital Home consulted with […]
Get the Guide6 Smart Home Ideas for Fall
As the days get shorter and the outdoor climate cools, you’ll probably be spending more time indoors. Now is the perfect time to spruce up your home environment with some smart devices. The suggestions offered here are simple and affordable. They can be added without having to completely renovate your house, but they’ll make such […]
Get the GuideTop 5 Smart Home Products and Systems from Samsung, Lutron, Others
Last week thousands of professional home systems integrators gathered at the Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) Expo in San Diego. It’s here at this annual event that manufacturers from across the country debut and demonstrate their newest smart home products and systems—systems that professional integrators will install into the homes of their clients. […]
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