By now, you’ve heard all about the energy-savings benefits of switching from incandescent to LED light bulbs. But there are other reasons to adopt LED lighting. LED lights produce less heat, come in a variety of decorator styles, and can produce eye-pleasing lighting effects. The following tips and slideshow, courtesy of HD Supply, an online […]
Get the GuideArchives for April 2016
New Denon AV Receivers Include 4K, HDR, Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X
Looking past the high-profile choices that sit at the top of the A/V receiver category, there are a growing amount of value-minded solutions that offer users tons of performance for a minimal investment. The latest of these value-minded receivers to hit the market comes from the popular A/V manufacturer Denon. Replacing its AVR-S710W and AVR-S910W […]
Get the GuideA/V Equipment Racks: Good, Better, and Best Options
At the heart of any great home entertainment system is a suite of black boxes that supplies audio and video content to your speakers and TVs. Streaming media players, audio/video receivers, Blu-ray disc players, high-def cable boxes, and a host of other gear are essential to the home entertainment experience, and if you’re like many […]
Get the GuideHome Automation System Puts Oceanside House on Cruise Control
Staying at a vacation home should be easy. The house should require minimal effort to manage, and provide maximum enjoyment to anyone who steps inside. The environment should be comfortable and hassle-free and relieve every ounce of stress and worry. Our featured Home of the Week, a 6,000-square-foot oceanfront beauty grants its owners all of […]
Get the GuideBluetooth Controlled Lights add Personality to Your Home
Home lighting will literally take on a new shape, with the impending introduction of Moodberries, interior string lights that are customizable via Bluetooth and a mobile app. The lights can change color, brightness, and color patterns to match your personality and home interior. Developed by GreyNut, a small startup based in the Baltics, Moodberries is […]
Get the GuideYamaha Enhances Wireless MusicCast System with New Amp and Preamp
In August Yamaha announced its MusicCast wireless whole-house audio technology platform. Enhancing the platform, which is available in a growing number of Yamaha A/V receivers, soundbars, wireless speakers, and other components, the large audio manufacturer has announced two new MusicCast products: the WXA-50 Amplifier ($500) and the WXC-50 Preamplifier ($350). “Yamaha fully appreciates that many […]
Get the Guide4K Video from Netflix Available on Dish Hopper3
DISH has announced that its customers can now stream the Netflix catalog of Ultra HD TV shows and movies from a Hopper 3 DVR. Beginning immediately these Netflix titles join DISH’s inventory of Ultra HD content that includes a slate of 4K programming from Sony, The Orchard, and Mance Media. The Hopper 3 delivers native […]
Get the GuideHouzz Study: Automated Outdoor Lighting Is Hot for 2016
Automated outdoor lighting is one of the hottest exterior technologies among homeowners today, according to new data from Houzz, a leading consumer home improvement website. The 2016 U.S. Houzz Landscaping Trends Survey interviewed nearly 1,000 U.S. homeowners who are in the midst of, are planning, or who recently completed an outdoor project. Nearly two out […]
Get the GuideWhy Smart Devices Don’t Make a Smart Home
By Jay Kenny, senior vice president of marketing, Alarm.com Another day, another smart device for the home. Some are smarter than others. Some are very smart. Some are the smartest devices ever. And yet, they don’t quite make a smart home. So what is a smart home? It’s a bit like a good football team. […]
Get the GuideLutron Caséta Wireless Lighting Integrates with Amazon Echo
“Hello.” No, homeowners are not channeling the new Adele song. Instead, this is the first word you soon might be commonly repeating to use Amazon Echo’s Alexa to activate and control your home’s lights as Lutron Electronics announces the integration of its affordably-priced Caséta Wireless system with Amazon Alexa using an Echo, Echo Dot, Amazon […]
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