Photography by Simon Berlyn The owners of this theater knew their previous media space was out of date. They had been using the same equipment for about 13 years — that’s a lifetime in the world of home electronics. But they were content. The components worked, the space was large enough to host friends and […]
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Google Smart Displays: New Competition for Amazon Echo
First Google Smart Displays from Lenovo has Google Assistant built in and three months of YouTube Premium for free.
For some time, Amazon had the smart display category covered with a variety of form factors. Now Google has joined the pack with the introduction of its first Smart Display from Lenovo. Google Assistant is built in, so the display, which comes in 8- and 10-inch models, still listens for your voice commands. But now, […]
Home Builders Embrace Smart Home Technology; Home Buyers Reap the Benefits
Why an Ohio home builder decided to add Z-Wave smart home products to all of his custom homes.
According to Coldwell Banker’s Real Estate Smart Home Marketplace survey, half of consumers say smart home technology is important for their current home or their next home purchase, with the most desired smart home automation devices being thermostats, sensors, alarms and lighting. Homebuyers value existing smart home technology and consider it a major benefit when […]
Should You Install Home Automation Products Yourself?
Home automation projects, can be complicated; are you up for the challenge or should you hire a professional?
By Justin Schwartz, Founder and CEO of SAGE AV Thanks to fairly low costs and easy installation, entry-level home automation products are now available to almost everyone. While these products are ideally suited for the DIYer, there are also a wide assortment of more advanced home automation systems that homeowners should have professionally installed. The […]
Where to Hide Your Speakers? Put Them Above The Ceiling Tiles
Revolution Acoustics speakers disappear above the ceiling tiles and cover the room with 360 degree sound.
A new audio product from Revolution Acoustics has made it possible to install completely hidden audio sources in suspended ceilings. The patent-pending Ubiqui-T360, an innovative ceiling tile mounting system for the SSP6 Multiducer, brings the company’s constant-SPL planar wave audio technology to any drop ceiling, with no change in the visible appearance of the ceiling. […]
Get Your Zzzzs: 5 Sleep Trackers for a Better Night’s Rest
More than 50 million households interested in buying a sleep trackers. Are you one of them?
Are you getting the sleep you need? There’s one way to find out: use a sleep tracking device. According to sleep research from Parks Associates, nearly 29 million U.S. broadband households currently own a product that helps them track their sleep quality, representing less than half of the nearly 60 million consumers who report having […]
Yamaha $650 Slimline Receiver, Small, Smart and Listens to Amazon Alexa
Yamaha RX-S602 Slimline A/V Receiver provides a choice of home theater processing modes, Amazon Alexa voice control, and Dolby Vision.
Audio and video components are shrinking in size, and that’s good news for people who live in smaller spaces or who simply want something that’s easier to hide. Yamaha’s newest A/V receiver, the $650 RX-S602 Yamaha Slimline, stands just 4.5-inches high. Although small in stature, it packs in plenty of top-notch technology. It supports 5.1 […]
Home Automation System Sets the Tone for Luxurious Lakeside Living
Powerful home automation system ensures views of lake are never blocked, through integration of TVs that lift from the floor, motorized shading, and more.
Blessed with beautiful views of an inland lake, you better believe the owners of this home made sure to install massive windows — and lots of them. In fact, the majority of the lake-facing side of the house features wall-to-wall glass. As stunning as these sensational fenestrations might be, though, they do pose a few […]
Remodeling the Kitchen or Bath? Here’s How to Unite Design and Technology
Understanding trends in kitchen and bath remodeling can provide greater insight to the home technologies that will make a real impact.
There once was a time when technology and design rarely intersected. Electronic products evoked a high-tech feel that was often considered a complete departure from a home’s overall design scheme. Those times have changed, as home systems integrators and interior designers are no longer adversaries but partners on projects. Electronic systems and furnishings fuse together […]
Top Remodeling Projects for Your Smart Home
Outdoor living, spa-like bathrooms, green designs are good places to put your remodeling dollar.
Data from the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) study shows homeowners spent $324 billion in Q2 2018 on remodeling projects. That represents an increase of $54 billion compared to two years ago, or a 20 percent growth rate. Smart home systems are driving part of the upswing, as homeowners look for ways to boost the value […]
