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Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Legacy Audio Calibre Bookshelf Speaker Demo Report
We had an opportunity to take a tour of Destination Hi Fi, one of Legacy Audio’s local dealers in Hollywood, CA. and demo the Legacy Audio Caliber bookshelf speakers. If you have a space constraint, this product gives you the performance and drivers of a Legacy tower folded into a bookshelf cabinet. With 4” AMT tweeter, 7.5” mid-woofer, 8” bass driver, and dual 8” mass loaded opposing pneumatic radiators good things can come in small packages. Read on to see how these "little guys" perform in a BIG way.
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Okay Google: Ask Alarm.com to Arm the Security System
Homeowners with Alarm.com-powered homes now have the ability to use the voice command, Okay Google, with their Google Home to control their smart security systems.
Users will be able to arm and disarm their security systems by speaking to the Google Home device. Other abilities include unlocking doors, checking the status of devices, changing the temperature and controlling whole groups of devices such as lights. See the commands below.
Since the beginning of 2017, the Google Home has been lacking in the integration department compared to the Amazon Echo. However, Google has announced a slew of new integrations over the past few months and most recently at its 2017 I/O developer festival.
Perhaps these recent integrations will help sway more consumers into purchasing voice assistants.
Here are some things Alarm.com customers can now do with Google Home.
Arm the Security System
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to arm the security system
Disarm the Security System
It’s just as easy to disarm the system with voice control. But it shouldn’t be easy for just anyone to disarm. So Alarm.com enabled an optional four-digit PIN for disarming, giving a voice controlled home an additional layer of security.
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to disarm the security system with (PIN)
Control Access to the Home
The action makes it easy to secure and unsecure the home’s perimeter, with voice control for smart locks and garage doors. As with the security system, users have the option of enabling a PIN for actions that grant entry to the home.
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to open the garage with (PIN)
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to unlock the front door with (PIN)
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to lock the front door
Check the Status of Devices
Sometimes, users just need to know the status of things around their home.
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com, is the security system armed?
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com, what’s the thermostat temperature?
Change the Temperature
Adjust by value.
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to turn down thermostat by three degrees
Adjust by comfort level.
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to turn the temperature down (a comfort level command will adjust the thermostat by two degrees Fahrenheit)
Specify a temperature.
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to set the temperature to 72
Control Whole Groups of Devices
Users can interact with their home’s smart lights by calling out a single device, group or general device type.
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to switch on the living room lamp
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to switch on the office lights
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to turn off the lights
The same goes for smart locks, with the ability to lock the house down with a single command.
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to lock the doors
The post Okay Google: Ask Alarm.com to Arm the Security System appeared first on Electronic House.
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Smart Mirror Features Facial Recognition and Personal Assistant
If you’ve ever struggled with how to do your hair or makeup for a big event, a yet-to-be-released product called MirroCool employs facial recognition technology to provide assistance. Currently gathering funding on Kickstarter, the touch-free smart mirror and personal assistant hybrid features groundbreaking Facial Gesture Recognition Technology (FGR).
FGR can recognize up to 70 unique facial positions and use these to complete a task or other function. With no need to tap or speak, you can make a facial gesture–such as smiling–to quickly get all the information you need, like makeup tips or upcoming appointments and medical reminders to current traffic and weather conditions.
“With the blink of an eye (literally), you can activate your display. That’s the beauty of FGR technology.” says Wojtek Kaszycki, MirroCool CEO, “Your hands are freed-up for your tasks and the device doesn’t have to learn to recognize accents and voices.”
Part of the advantage MirroCool offers is a higher level of convenience in planning and scheduling. Owners can use the mirror to remind them of events, appointments, and other plans during their normal morning routine. The mirror can be mounted wherever it is most convenient–the hallway, bathroom, bedroom, and beyond.
Further, MirroCool is equipped with a high-def camera which recognizes registered user profiles through the device. Any time an unregistered profile is detected, users will be alerted through the intuitive MirroCool app. Users can snap selfies using the app and have them sent directly to a mobile phone for quick sharing. The mirror’s visual configuration can also be controlled by the widget manager to set up specific alerts and news based on user preferences.
Check out the MirroCool Kickstarter page for pre-order information.
To learn more about this innovative new product, please visit the MirroCool website and sign up for the
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Okay Google: Ask Alarm.com to Arm the Security System
Homeowners with Alarm.com-powered homes now have the ability to use the voice command, Okay Google, with their Google Home to control their smart security systems.
Users will be able to arm and disarm their security systems by speaking to the Google Home device. Other abilities include unlocking doors, checking the status of devices, changing the temperature and controlling whole groups of devices such as lights. See the commands below.
Since the beginning of 2017, the Google Home has been lacking in the integration department compared to the Amazon Echo. However, Google has announced a slew of new integrations over the past few months and most recently at its 2017 I/O developer festival.
Perhaps these recent integrations will help sway more consumers into purchasing voice assistants.
Here are some things Alarm.com customers can now do with Google Home.
Arm the Security System
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to arm the security system
Disarm the Security System
It’s just as easy to disarm the system with voice control. But it shouldn’t be easy for just anyone to disarm. So Alarm.com enabled an optional four-digit PIN for disarming, giving a voice controlled home an additional layer of security.
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to disarm the security system with (PIN)
Control Access to the Home
The action makes it easy to secure and unsecure the home’s perimeter, with voice control for smart locks and garage doors. As with the security system, users have the option of enabling a PIN for actions that grant entry to the home.
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to open the garage with (PIN)
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to unlock the front door with (PIN)
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to lock the front door
Check the Status of Devices
Sometimes, users just need to know the status of things around their home.
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com, is the security system armed?
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com, what’s the thermostat temperature?
Change the Temperature
Adjust by value.
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to turn down thermostat by three degrees
Adjust by comfort level.
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to turn the temperature down (a comfort level command will adjust the thermostat by two degrees Fahrenheit)
Specify a temperature.
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to set the temperature to 72
Control Whole Groups of Devices
Users can interact with their home’s smart lights by calling out a single device, group or general device type.
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to switch on the living room lamp
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to switch on the office lights
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to turn off the lights
The same goes for smart locks, with the ability to lock the house down with a single command.
Okay Google: ask Alarm.com to lock the doors
The post Okay Google: Ask Alarm.com to Arm the Security System appeared first on Electronic House.
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10 Reasons You Need a Multiroom Music System in Your Life
If you’ve ever shook your head and wonder “what on earth is this junk?” when your kids run the stereo system, or have wished you could hear the same song that’s playing in the living room when you stroll to the back yard, you’re a prime candidate for a multiroom music system. And thanks to continual improvements in the technology that streams the audio—and the increasingly easy availability of songs—there’s no better time than now to invest in a system. Here are 10 good reasons to buy a whole-house music system:
- We said it once, we’ll say it again. Your kids taste in music … sucks. Honestly, they probably feel the same way about your choice songs. A multiroom music system divides your house into separate listening zones, which enables you to listen to what you want in one area of the house while the kids or whoever plays what they want, all via the same system. The number of zones and audio components a whole-house music system can support varies, so be sure to check that out before you buy.
- On the flip side, let’s say you’re having a party—and adults-only party. Just as a multiroom music system can distribute different tunes to different rooms it can also play the same song throughout the entire house. Basically, wherever there’s a speaker, you can have music, which is great for entertaining.
- Another great home entertainment feature that most multiroom music systems support is streaming from a mobile device. If your guests would like to share songs from a newly discovered band with everyone, they can stream their song choices right through your home’s multiroom music system.
- That’s not to say that your phone is the only device that can tie into a multiroom music system; far from it, in fact. Just about any audio component you own or plan to buy can connect, including CD players, media servers, NAS devices, even your turntable.
- What better way to marry new content that’s high-res with legacy equipment that’s analog. You get the best of both listening worlds with a multiroom music system.
- No matter how many audio components you choose to merge, you don’t ever have to see let alone touch them. You can tuck the equipment away in a utility room, closet, or entertainment console and access them all from the same user interface. This could be an app on your smartphone, a keypad mounted to the wall, a handheld remote, or a combination of all three.
- Even if you add a new piece of equipment to your multiroom setup, your system can probably accommodate it and fuse it in with the other components seamlessly and without a hitch. You can grow your system, adding pieces to it as you see fit, and even integrate new speakers and zones.
- Speaking of speakers, most multiroom music systems are friendly enough to deliver music to whatever style or brand of speakers you want. You can mix and match, employing a combination of bookshelf, built-in ceiling, and weatherproof speakers if that makes sense. Or stick with the same style and brand. The choice is yours.
- These speakers don’t even need to be wired to the system. As long as the multiroom music system you choose is wireless (and there are lots of them) you can incorporate wireless speakers. Installation of a home technology has never been easier or more versatile.
- There’s no better way to exploit the versatility of a multiroom music system than to integrate it with other devices and systems. Imagine having the living room lights dim automatically when you select a certain romantic song—it’s completely possible but usually requires the handiwork of a home systems professional.
Here are the manufacturers who offer multiroom music systems. Check them out.
The post 10 Reasons You Need a Multiroom Music System in Your Life appeared first on Electronic House.
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Sunday, May 28, 2017
Outlaw Audio RR2160 Stereo Receiver Preview
It’s been eleven and a half years since Outlaw Audio released its classic two-channel RR2150 Stereo Retro Receiver. Their new RR2160 preserves the analog signal purity of its predecessor, while adding DLNA and high-resolution capabilities via a multitude of digital audio inputs and a new, more powerful 110-watt stereo amplifier. If you're looking for a new two channel receiver for your Hi-Fi content than this might be the receiver for you. Read on to find out.
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Saturday, May 27, 2017
Friday, May 26, 2017
WordPress Resources at SiteGround
WordPress is an award-winning web software, used by millions of webmasters worldwide for building their website or blog. SiteGround is proud to host this particular WordPress installation and provide users with multiple resources to facilitate the management of their WP websites:
Expert WordPress Hosting
SiteGround provides superior WordPress hosting focused on speed, security and customer service. We take care of WordPress sites security with unique server-level customizations, WP auto-updates, and daily backups. We make them faster by regularly upgrading our hardware, offering free CDN with Railgun and developing our SuperCacher that speeds sites up to 100 times! And last but not least, we provide real WordPress help 24/7! Learn more about SiteGround WordPress hosting
WordPress tutorial and knowledgebase articles
WordPress is considered an easy to work with software. Yet, if you are a beginner you might need some help, or you might be looking for tweaks that do not come naturally even to more advanced users. SiteGround WordPress tutorial includes installation and theme change instructions, management of WordPress plugins, manual upgrade and backup creation, and more. If you are looking for a more rare setup or modification, you may visit SiteGround Knowledgebase.
Free WordPress themes
SiteGround experts not only develop various solutions for WordPress sites, but also create unique designs that you could download for free. SiteGround WordPress themes are easy to customize for the particular use of the webmaster.
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Thursday, May 25, 2017
TP-Link Launches Deco M5 Mesh Networking System
Mesh networking has become a popular way for homeowners to establish a reliable Wi-Fi communications with smart devices. The security of those network-connected devices is a feature that the Deco M5 Whole-Home Wi-Fii System from TP-Link promotes as a huge selling point.
Equipped with TP-Link HomeCare, Deco M5 systems offers an impressive line-up of built-in security features. TP-Link HomeCare provides exploit and malware protection, powered by TrendMicro, along with an SPI firewall, device access control and secure remote control of the network via the TP-Link Deco mobile app. This network security protection safeguards every device in your home safe from malware and hackers, while security patterns provide peace of mind that your family is always protected from the latest threats.
“As home Wi-Fi networks are supporting more users and mobile devices than ever before, security across your home network becomes increasingly important,” says Dr. Terence Liu, TrendMicro vice president. “Through our integration in TP-Link HomeCare, Deco M5 Whole Home Wi-Fi Systems are equipped with a comprehensive package of security features, so you can trust that your home network is always protected.”
Powered by a quad-core processor, Deco M5 Whole-Home Wi-Fi Systems deploy the latest mesh technology to paint your home in Wi-Fi. The dual-band AC1300 system is capable of throughput speeds of 400 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 867Mbps on the 5GHz band, and it supports MU-MIMO data streaming. Deco M5 is comprised of a system of three units that can be customized to fit your WI-Fi coverage needs, up to 4,500 square feet. With additional units, the Deco M5 system can easily scale up to accommodate even larger spaces. Up to ten Deco M5 units can be added to a single network at any given time for seamless Wi-Fi coverage across incredibly large spaces.
The TP-Link Deco M5 Whole Home Wi-Fi System is now available at HSN and other leading retailers in store and online with an MSRP of $299 for a three-pack system.
The post TP-Link Launches Deco M5 Mesh Networking System appeared first on Electronic House.
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5 Smart Lights You Can Control With Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant
Two of the hottest technologies to recently hit the home automation scene are voice control and smart light bulbs and switches. A natural partnership, it enables you to operate one of the most basic and necessary parts of your home—a light bulb or wall switch—by just uttering a simple voice command.
You can turn a bulb off and on, dim it to a certain level, or have it illuminate in your favorite color. The following 10 smart light bulbs can be controlled directly through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant—without any additional hardware, like a home control hub. You just plug in the voice-enabled speaker of choice, screw in the light bulb or install the switch and your verbal wishes are carried out. You can find many of this voice-enabled bulbs and switches at Amazon.com or buy them directly from the manufacturers’ websites.
TP-Link Smart LED Light Bulb (LB100)
Around $20
Leviton DW1KD-1BZ Decora Smart Wi-Fi 1000W Universal LED/Incandescent Dimmer
Voice controllable lighting doesn’t only come in the form of a light bulb. You can also find switches that can make an ordinary recessed light fixture listen for your commands. Leviton offers a plethora of switches; one of its newest, the DW1KD-1BZ is connects with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
The switch replaces an existing single pole or multi-way dimmer and works with LED, CFL and incandescent lights.
It comes with a free My Leviton iOS or Android app to add/name devices and to control switches individually or as a room with a single button push. You can use the app to create schedules, scenes, and customize your experience with adjustable fade rates.
Around $65
FluxSmart WiFi LED Light Bulb
The Flux Wifi Pro app also offers a wake up mode allows you to set a timer to turn on your light. Music sync lets your light change to match your music. As many as 50 lights can be connected and controlled, individually, or in a group, from the app.
Around $40
Wemo Light Switch
Around $50
LIFX LED Colored Light Strips
Around $90
The post 5 Smart Lights You Can Control With Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant appeared first on Electronic House.
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Dish Network Teams up With Amazon Alexa: Dish Products Respond to Voice Commands
Dish Network is coming through on its promises by officially launching Amazon Alexa voice control for its Hopper and Wally set-top boxes (STBs), as well as Dish Anywhere remote viewing options on Amazon’s Fire TV.
Customers with a Dish STB and an Amazon Echo, Echo Dot or Amazon Tap can now watch hands-free TV with Alexa.
“Hopper and Alexa introduce next-level convenience that redefines the way TV fits into our lives,” says Niraj Desai, vice president of product management, Dish. “Instantly, it’s easier to read player stats on your phone while flipping between basketball games; to chop ingredients in the kitchen while rewinding a TV scene you just missed; to snack on popcorn while searching for your favorite film – the list goes on.”
“With Dish’s skill for Alexa, changing the channel, pausing, rewinding and searching for content will be as simple as asking Alexa.”
— Rob Pulciani, director, Amazon Alexa
Amazon’s Rob Pulciani, director of Amazon Alexa, points out that homeowners will appreciate the ease of use Alexa voice control brings to their Dish products.
“Customers love the convenience of interacting with their smart homes via Alexa, and now that includes live TV on Dish,” notes Pulciani. “With Dish’s skill for Alexa, changing the channel, pausing, rewinding and searching for content will be as simple as asking Alexa via an Echo family device. We think this is a big step forward for the television experience, and that customers will love this new voice functionality on Dish.”
Users with any generation Hopper or Wally that is connected to the Internet can ask Alexa to navigate, play, pause, fast-forward, rewind and search content based on channel, title, actor or genre. Universal search functionality works across Dish’s live, recorded and on-demand titles, as well as Netflix’s selection of TV shows and movies.
Here are a few example of the voice commands homeowners can ask their Dish STBs via Amazon Alexa:
- “Alexa, go to the History Channel”
- “Alexa, find the Big Bang Theory”
- “Alexa, search for Game of Thrones”
- “Alexa, show me Tom Hanks movies”
- “Alexa, skip forward”
- “Alexa, rewind 30 seconds”
- “Alexa, pause”
- “Alexa, resume”
Dish Anywhere Brings Broadcast to Fire TV
The Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick will become the first media players to offer Dish Anywhere. Having Dish Anywhere built into Fire TV gives users the ability to watch live and recorded content, on-demand from anywhere their mobile devices are connected to the Internet.
“While Dish Anywhere has historically been embraced on mobile devices, users are now getting even more of what they want – their Dish subscription on any TV at no extra cost,” says Desai. “Dish Anywhere on Fire TV is an excellent value that further brings choice and flexibility to our customers’ television experience.”
Customers with Hopper 3, Hopper 2 or a first-generation Hopper connected to the Internet or Sling Adapters will have access to live, recorded and on-demand content on Dish Anywhere. Customers with VIP receivers may use Dish Anywhere to watch on-demand titles.
The post Dish Network Teams up With Amazon Alexa: Dish Products Respond to Voice Commands appeared first on Electronic House.
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Wednesday, May 24, 2017
KEF Q 2017 Loudspeaker Preview
KEF has redesigned it's affordable (by their standards) Q series lineup of speakers. All the Q 2017 speakers include a revamped Uni-Q driver array with a newly engineered damped tweeter loading tube and a new low-distortion inductor in the crossovers to help provide a cleaner and more accurate bass. The bookshelves start at a reasonable $550/pr. Are they right for you? Read on.
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Tuesday, May 23, 2017
iClever BoostSound BTS09 Bluetooth Speaker Review
iClever BTS09 is a portable battery powered Bluetooth speaker. It might not be the most attractive looking speaker, but it really throws out sound at high volumes. We'll got a closer look at another budget portable speaker just in time for summer, when we're about to be inundated with new offerings in this highly competitive and relatively new area for audio equipment. See how the iClever BoostSound BTS09 bluetooth speaker (what a mouthful) performed in our hands on review.
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New Sony TV Produces Audio without Traditional Speakers
Where’s the speaker? That might be the question you might ask yourself when you see a new Sony TV that seems to require no speakers to produce audio. The new super-slim A1E Bravia OLED 4K TV features Acoustic Surface Technology in which the sound emanates directly from the entire screen itself rather than from traditional speakers built into the sides or bottom of the screen. The sound is produced using small actuators that are attached to the back of the OLED screen. They vibrate the panel itself to produce sound.
First demonstrated in January by Sony at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the Sony TV retails from $3,998 (55-inch) to $5,498 (65-inch). A 77-incher is also expected to hit the shelves eventually. At the back of the TV is an easel featuring a small built-in subwoofer, so you can prop it up just about anywhere, or fold up the easel and mount the TV to the wall.
In addition to the innovative design and method of producing audio, the A1E Sony TV produces a 4K picture with over 8 million self-illuminating pixels. Its High Dynamic Range (HDR) X1 processor provides an expanded palate of colors and deeper colors on 4K video.
It also supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG.
The A1E Sony TV features Android TV and Google Assistant, which means you can channel surf by using voice commands.
The post New Sony TV Produces Audio without Traditional Speakers appeared first on Electronic House.
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Comcast Xfinity System Now Able to Control Philips Hue Light Bulb
Since its inception the Comcast Xfinity system has been broadening its scope of products it can monitor and control. The most recent addition to its portfolio of controllable smart home devices is the Philips Hue light bulb.
Xfinity Home customers can now easily manage and control their Philips Hue connected lighting system through the Xfinity Home mobile app. They can also create “rules,” or automated commands, that synchronize their lights with home security and other smart home functions. For instance, customers can automatically turn their lights on or off when they arm their security system when they leave for work, or automatically turn their lights on when dark, so their home appears occupied.
“Our partnership with Philips Lighting advances our commitment to bring our customers best-in-class devices they can trust and easily manage on one, integrated platform – the Xfinity Home platform,” says Daniel Herscovici, senior vice president and general manager of Xfinity Home. “With the Philips Hue family of products, our customers can customize their lighting according to their own needs and daily routines. They can also set up simple automated commands, such as turning on the hallway lights when they enter the home and disarm the system.”
“We are pleased to integrate the Philips Hue connected lighting system with Xfinity Home, and continue to expand our Friends of Hue, to deliver a personalized home security and automation experience,” adds Mark Cieri, vice president and general manager, Philips Lighting US. “It’s all about improving our customers’ lives and making them feel more comfortable within their homes.”
X1 customers with Xfinity Home service can also use their X1 voice remote to call up many home security and smart home commands. Customers can say “Xfinity Home Cameras,” to see their camera feeds, or “Xfinity Home Arm” and “Xfinity Home Disarm” to arm and disarm their security systems. In the near future, even more features and capabilities will be added to X1, so Xfinity Home customers can use their voice to control their Philips Hue connected lighting system.
Philips Hue is interoperable with more than 600 apps, products and platforms from other brands and developers to transform how customers experience and interact with light in their home.
Comcast Xfinity Home Overview
Comcast Xfinity Home combines home security, automation, and energy management into one unified experience. Customers can manage and stay connected to their homes via the mobile app, online portal, in-home Touchscreen Controller, or on their TV with the Xfinity X1 platform.
Package starts at $39.95/month with a 2-year agreement (promotional offers may apply) and includes:
- 24/7 professional monitoring from a certified central station
- Battery and cellular back-up
- Remote arm and disarm
- Real-time text and email alerts
- Easy-to-use Xfinity Home app
- 1 Touchscreen Controller
- 1 Wireless Keypad
- 1 Motion Sensor
- 3 Door/Window Sensors
Additional equipment and features available:
- Indoor/Outdoor Camera
- Smart Thermostat
- 24/7 Video Recording, monitoring and access to video clips
- Remote Door Lock and Garage Door Access
- Smoke alarm
- Water Detection alarm
Partner Program
Xfinity Home Partner devices include:
- August smart door lock
- Chamberlain MyQ garage door opener
- GE branded plug-in and in-wall smart switches by Jasco
- Lutron plug-in dimmer kit
- Nest learning thermostat
- Sengled Element Touch connected LED lightbulbs
The post Comcast Xfinity System Now Able to Control Philips Hue Light Bulb appeared first on Electronic House.
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Cyber Security Terms You Need to Understand
In March the PEW Research Center published a quiz given to over 1,000 adults about cyber security issues. Only 1 percent of the adults understood every issue and answered each question correctly. Less than half of the people give the quiz were able to answer even six out of the 13 questions correctly.
Cyber security expert and former government cyber security consultant Shaun Murphy, CEO of sndr.com, put together the following list of security topics every adult needs to learn about and understand this year to protect their digital privacy and security.
HTTP vs. HTTPS
When you see this chain of text in any URL that means information entered into the site is protected between you and the website. Your ISP or any entity in the middle of the connection will only know that you are connecting to that website and how long you’re interacting with that website but will have no details on what you are viewing or submitting. The National Cyber Security Alliance’s maintains a list of current links to privacy/security settings for popular devices and services. This does nothing to protect your sensitive information from the website itself;to achieve that end you’ll need to use services that have “end to end” encryption.
Private Browsing
The reality is private browsing does not prevent ISPs from tracking your online activity. What it does prevent is the browser itself (or any browser extensions you have) from keeping a record of the websites you visit, the data you enter into forms, or any searches you submit, and it won’t record any of your downloads in the browser’s download history.
So is private mode really that private? The plain truth is, no it isn’t. Your operating system and ISPs can still track your online activity, and if you think it’ll make any questionable browsing activities discreet, you’re wrong. Despite this, private browsing does have good use cases. If you’d like to log in to multiple email accounts, or you’re making surprise plans for a loved one, private browsing will help keep your activity quiet. Just don’t assume you’ve gone “off grid” by using private browsing.
Encryption
Encryption is the process of converting information into a code for the purpose of transmitting or storing (or both) data securely without exposing it to unintended third parties. Decryption is the reverse operation that converts that code back into useful data. Encryption/Decryption can be utilized to protect data that is stored on a device (at rest) or being sent to another location (in transit) by preventing nefarious hackers from accessing private information shared between a sender and recipient (end to end.) Encryption is just one operation in a broad spectrum of securing data, however. Encryption and decryption also must be paired with cryptographic signatures and authentication codes to make sure the encrypted data has not been tampered with and the keys used during these operations must be secured and verified.
Encryption and decryption are made possible with the use of key pairs, or cryptographic signatures, that authorize interpretation of encrypted data. Encrypted messages are sent by addressing them with the recipient’s public key, which is a code they can openly share with contacts. The communication can only be decrypted with the respective private key. Encrypted messaging is also designed such that private keys can not be duplicated or easily deduced by the public key.
In order to securely store information on your devices, be sure to turn on encryption. For desktop users on Windows and Mac, you need to turn on encryption. It is not the default setting. Here’s how to turn on Bitlocker for Windows 10, and how to turn on FileVault for IOS 10.
VPN
VPN Stands for Virtual Private Network, which redirects your traffic through someone else’s servers, like a tunnel that masks your internet usage from your local Wi-FI or ISP. VPN does not guarantee secure transmission of data to the sites you’re browsing or apps you’re using, and often VPNs are under less scrutiny and regulation than ISPs and may be in the business of selling your information to third party advertisers (or worse). Even with an ideal VPN there’s chance for data leakage. Be sure to read the fine print because some VPNs can come in handy when traveling by providing an additional layer of security on free Wi-Fi networks that are unsecure.
App permissions/Location Tracking
The more you allow apps and devices to take over responsibilities, the more access points you create for companies and criminals alike. Recently Unroll.Me was found to be copying all of your gmail to their own servers. While it isn’t necessary to avoid these services or connected devices altogether, because they do have many benefits, it is important to make smart decisions about what information you share, including what information you are granting by default, what could be granted later, and what is subject to change.
Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of computer malware that installs covertly onto a victim’s device and locks out the owner. This grants a hacker the ability to either hold the victim’s data hostage or to mount a leakware attack that threatens to publish the victim’s data, until a ransom is paid. Cyber criminals use phishing methods to trick victim’s into downloading the malware.
Phishing
Phishing is the attempt to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details (and, indirectly, money), often for malicious reasons, by disguising as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Phishing methods have long evolved beyond the generic “Prince of Nigeria” email scam. Cyber Criminals execute email or instant messaging spoofing which then directs victims to enter personal information on a fake website that looks almost identical to legitimate sites.
The post Cyber Security Terms You Need to Understand appeared first on Electronic House.
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Unique Home Theater Installation: Racquetball Court Turns into a Home Theater
Anyone who has ever played racquetball knows that it would probably be the worst place to put a home theater system. Hard surfaces from top to bottom would cause the audio projected from loudspeakers to bounce just as wildly as a ball firing off a racquet. Still, nothing is impossible with the help of a skilled and knowledgeable home systems professional.
Homeowner Requests Unusual Home Theater Installation
Ready to swap his racquets for surround-sound and video projection systems, the owner of this drastically renovated space enlisted Henry Clifford from Livewire of Richmond, Va., to spearhead the $350,000 (materials, equipment, construction, and labor) transformation from a regulation racquetball court to dedicated home theater. “I met with the homeowners, stood in that ‘echo chamber,’ and wondered how in the world I would be able to pull this off,” Clifford recalls.
After many discussions between Livewire, the building contractor, and an acoustical engineer, the plan was to slice the room horizontally. The 20-foot-high ceiling would be lowered to about 10 feet. This would create two separate rooms: the bottom serving as the home theater and the top as an art studio.
Hard Racquetball Walls: Softened up with Acoustical Treatments
With the space defined, the next step was softening up the structure with acoustical treatments. Applied to the newly framed walls and ceiling the fabric panels would ensure an enjoyable movie listening experience—free of echo and reverberation. Sound traps positioned at each corner of the room would also contribute to crisp, pristine, three-dimensional audio reproduction.
While the walls were being framed, Livewire specified that cavities to house 11 speakers be constructed. Tucked into these pockets, the Triad speakers could be covered with acoustical wall panels, rendering them completely invisible yet fully audible through the weave of the wall fabric. The front three speakers fire through the acoustically transparent material of a 14-foot diagonal Da-Lite screen and two Triad subwoofers deliver bass from a cabinet beneath the screen.
The Back Court: Packed with A/V Entertainment Options
Livewire paired with screen with a Runco projector, which is slated for a summer upgrade to a JVC 4K BLU-Escent 4K video projector. Because the home theater would be used by not only the homeowners, but their grown children and grandkids, it was important to provide the family with a wide assortment of video options. A rack positioned at the back of the theater holds an Escient movie server, (will be replaced with a Kaleidescape Strato movie server), Blu-ray Disc player, Apple TV, Nintendo Wii, and Xbox 360. “Video gaming has been the biggest draw,” Clifford says.
Simple Control Keeps the Entertainment on Point
Although the room oozes with sophistication and sensational A/V, the gear is remarkably simple to operate. Livewire programmed a handheld Universal Remote Control remote so that one tap of a button would launch a string of commands to the appropriate pieces of equipment. The homeowners can get the entire room ready for a movie—even dimming the Lutron-controlled lights—by pressing a single button; another button tap puts the home theater to sleep. It’s the icing on the cake in this drastic makeover, and proves that theaters can, in fact, occupy just about any space in a home and function without a hitch.
The post Unique Home Theater Installation: Racquetball Court Turns into a Home Theater appeared first on Electronic House.
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Monday, May 22, 2017
Achieving Home Theater Feng Shui
There are many different ways to create a hidden home theater. All it takes is a little planning and a bit of creativity. “I don’t want to see it,” or “Can’t you hide it?” is one of the most ubiquitous expressions in custom AV. The following article addresses these concerns and more to help ramp up the wife acceptance factor for home theaters, speakers, and displays. We include examples and illustrations to show you just how concealed the gear could be while still achieving good surround sound and Feng Shui.
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Saturday, May 20, 2017
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