By Joe Palenchar Sony is ratcheting up the performance of its flagship 4K Ultra HD TVs with its first Bravia Master series of OLED and LCD TVs, all featuring an industry-exclusive Netflix Calibrated Mode that optimizes video quality for Netflix content. Read about an award-winning theater featuring a Sony 4K video projector In the […]
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Dave Matthews “Crush” Wine Cork Works Like a Bluetooth Speaker
For years, I’ve been saving corks from empty wine bottles. I live in wine country in Southwest Michigan, so it’s just “the thing” to do. It’s a collection of sorts, reminders of the great… and not so great wine … that I’ve consumed with friends, family and on occasion solo on my front porch. Except […]
Motorized Window Shades Double as Room Dividers
Bigger isn’t always better. Sometimes a smaller space feels cozier and more intimate than a large open area. The owners of this home with the help of professional home systems integrators from Tampa Bay Electronic Systems (TBES) came up with a clever way to separate a dining room from a dance area. Rather than build […]
Honeywell DIY Security System Controlled by Amazon Alexa
Security systems consistently rank high on homeowners’ list of must-have home technologies. With many systems now designed to be installed by do-it-yourselfers, it’s become increasingly easy and affordable to protect your home and loved ones. Honeywell has jumped on the DIY bandwagon with a system that has the ability to be controlled via Amazon Alexa-based […]
Chamberlain Increases Garage Security with the Ultimate Security Bundle Garage Door Opener
There’s been a lot of focus on the front door when it comes to protecting a home from break-ins. And that’s ok. But the garage door is another popular entry point into the home. Not to mention the fact that it contains many valuables that thieves find appealing. For this reason, Chamberlain has developed a […]
Flood Finally Inspires Home Theater Redo
Photography by Simon Berlyn The owners of this theater knew their previous media space was out of date.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 […]
Google Smart Displays: New Competition for Amazon Echo
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
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?
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
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. […]
