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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/eagles-hotel-california-40th-anniversary-deluxe-edition
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Smart Home Skeptics Become Fans of Elan Home Automation System
It’s a familiar story among many homeowners: past experiences with expensive, complicated home automation systems have left a bad taste in their mouths. Consequently, when they move into a new home, they are reluctant to try the capabilities of newer, simpler, more reliable systems.
As Mark van den Broek, owner of Sarasota, Fla.-based SmartHouse Integration explains, ELAN is one of these simpler systems. So much simpler, in fact, that it turned the owners of this automated waterfront villa from skeptics into super fans.
Ease of Use Creates Automation Advocates
“The ease of use, reliable operation and reasonable cost of the Elan system has converted our clients from home automation skeptics into some of our biggest home automation advocates,” van den Broek said. “With automated lighting and window shades that rise and fall with the sunrise and sunset, simple access to a multitude of video and audio sources on any TV or speaker, an advanced security system with water-approach email alerts and photos, this system is leaps and bounds above and beyond what they previously imagined home control could do, and it has changed their perspectives dramatically.”
Motorized window shades are programmed to extend for dinner each night, and retract for sunrise. As the sun sets, interior lights ramp up to predetermined levels and blue lights illuminate the freeform pool in the backyard. If it is too warm or cool inside, all it takes is a few taps on the ELAN mobile app, an ELAN HR200 remote, or a 7-inch wall-mounted ELAN gTP7 touchscreen, to change the temperature setting for any of the home’s five climate zones.
Video Shadows Owners Throughout the House
With three satellite dishes, three cable boxes and three Apple TVs centrally located and accessible on each of the home’s nine TVs, the homeowners can enjoy entertainment how they want, where they want, when they want. That extends to the home’s 20 audio zones with a surround system made up of invisible Niles and SpeakerCraft in-ceiling speakers, 53 lighting zones, and five climate zones.
Robust Security for On-the-Go Homeowners
As individuals with high-profile careers, one of their top needs was a robust, foolproof security system that would give them peace of mind. The homeowners’ security concerns led SmartHouse Integration to build a 35-zone security system with IP call stations, 12 IP cameras recording to a 4 terabyte hard drive, driveway gate controls, and even infrared sensors on the seawall that trigger outdoor lights to turn on and sends alerts to the both owner’s mobile devices in case of any boat or person approaching from the water.
“One of their favorite channels is the ‘Camera’ channel, where they can view any or all of the security camera feeds on any mobile device, PC or TV in the home, or anywhere in the world,” van den Broek continues. “Remote accessibility through the ELAN mobile app is a big deal too, giving them the same peace of mind even if they are halfway around the world. They have full control of the system, so they can check if any lights or TVs are on, view the camera feeds and make any adjustments they desire.”
Van den Broek configured the full-blown smart home system in a way that would leave a small visual footprint of its existence. Visible wiring was kept to a minimum and component were stowed in a central location inside an equipment rack outfitted with Panamax BlueBOLT surge protection and power backup. Each TV also has its own Panamax surge protector, ensuring a lifetime of carefree operation and protection from power surges or outages.
More High-Tech Treats in Store
With the initial phase of this SmartHouse Integration project completed, the owners are excited to expand the system to include additional features such as irrigation control and electronic door locks, and possibly add more zones and scheduled automation.
“Once a homeowner is comfortable and trusts ELAN to simplify their home lifestyle, the sky’s the limit,” van den Broek emphasizes. “Turning skeptics into advocates requires overwhelmingly positive experiences, and that’s why we are unabashed promoters of the ELAN control system. It just works.”
The post Smart Home Skeptics Become Fans of Elan Home Automation System appeared first on Electronic House.
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Tuesday, February 27, 2018
SVS Cuts the Cord with their Prime Wireless Speaker System
In 2015 we rated SVS' Prime Bookshelf Speakers in our top seven $500/pair bookshelf speakers available. SVS has cut the cord with an active version; the SVS Prime Wireless Bookshelf Speaker System. With a ton of input and streaming options and 50 watts/4 Class D biamplification, this small setup packs a lot of punch for its size with the added convenience of cutting the cord to go wireless. Oh did we forget to tell you, the price is still $500/ pair! Check out our detailed YouTube video interview for even more great details on these new speakers from SVS.
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https://www.audioholics.com/computer-speaker-reviews/svs-prime-active
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https://www.audioholics.com/computer-speaker-reviews/svs-prime-active
What is the One Smart Home Technology You Can’t Live Without?
If someone were to ask you to give up a technology for one day, which would you have the hardest time parting with? Your smartphone? Computer? Maybe the garage door opener? According to a data revealed by the Customer and Product Experience 260 Survey by iQor, the WiFi router ranks as the number one technology U.S. adults can’t live without.
Our dependency on a WiFi router shouldn’t be a surprise. It’s become the lifeblood of the smart home, connecting devices, enabling remote access to smart products, and feeding content from the Internet to TVs, music systems and more. It’s what makes every product, service, and application tick in the global Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. Given that nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of U.S. adults noted WiFi routers as their most beloved home tech, it’s apparent that consumers understand the importance of connected smart home technology to a modern lifestyle.
Smart Home Fear Factor
At the same time, consumers are concerned about the security of these devices. More than two-thirds (70 percent) of consumers are apprehensive about the lack of security from hackers who can breach their Internet-connected smart home devices, according to the survey. Moreover, the survey shows that more than half of U.S. adults (58 percent) fear lack of privacy from device manufacturers who have access to data, real-time conversations, voice patterns and search history.
Another fear noted by consumers of the survey is the “cascade effect” of a smart home ecosystem. Fifty-four percent fear that if one device fails it will cause other connected devices in the home to fail.
Set Up Issues Ensue
In addition to the potential security risks of incorporating IoT devices into a home, consumers also struggle with setup and configuration of these devices. Survey respondents reported that in the past two years, 63 percent had set up issues and 48 percent had operation issues. Connecting the device to interact with other devices was difficult for nearly one third of consumers (31 percent).
Are We Too Dependent on Technology?
The increased value of the WiFi router speaks to the growing adoption of the smart home lifestyle and the desire for the convenience that the connected ecosystem provides, but consumers have reservations about IoT creating an unhealthy dependence on technology. More than half of U.S. adults (53 percent) are concerned that IoT and smart devices will lead to a heightened dependence on technology to conduct daily tasks.
The CPX 360 survey reports that more than 90 percent of consumer households today have a smartphone and that new connected technology is rapidly being adopted. Almost half of consumer households (42 percent) have a smart TV, nearly one in four have a health wearable device, like a Fitbit, and 16 percent have a voice controlled virtual assistant, like Alexa or Google home.
Where do you stand on these issues of privacy, security, and complicated setup? What is your must-have home technology device?
The post What is the One Smart Home Technology You Can’t Live Without? appeared first on Electronic House.
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https://www.electronichouse.com/smart-home/46564/
Monday, February 26, 2018
Bluetooth Lighting System Controlled via Visual iPhone App
A picture is worth more than words … especially when controlling the smart devices in your home. Avion Innovative has applied this concept to a new lighting system. Instead of looking for words that describe how you want to control your lights, the app takes you to photos of the rooms of your home. From here you can choose a room, engage a lighting scene and adjust the intensity levels of lights in that room.
Called the PhotoTouch, this menu system created by Avion Innovative strives to make lighting control intuitive for every member of the family.
Going away? You can press the airplane photo to engage an “away” scene that turns off the lights and other devices. Ready for dinner? One press of an icon on the PhotoTouch menu will set the brightness perfectly for a casual dinner with the family. Just you and your spouse dining in? Access the menu to dim the lights to evoke a romantic scene.
Although the system and app are new, Avion designed it to be compatible with one of the oldest home control standards—X10. According to Avion, “the system was created for the experienced X10 user who wants an elegant upgrade using today’s technology.” Setup involves plugging in a X10 lamp or appliance module and specifying the X10 House / Unit codeWith Avion BTX10, editing a series of commands we call Events can be done on the fly and the system updates in real time in seconds.
Each lighting scene can be scheduled to turn on, off, dim or trigger a relay. The latter enables the system to control other devices besides light switches. The Basic BTX10 app is free at the Apple App store and operates four zones. Optional six- and 12-zone upgrades are available.
Each iPhone or iPad that’s paired with the system can be used to program its own set of lights and appliances.
The Avion Bluetooth X10 controller, which comes in three different configurations, can be used as a tabletop controller or hidden.
Avion Basic can control up to 20 devices in 4 zones and launch as many as 8 scenes. It retails for $199.
Avion Plus bumps this up to 20 devices in 6 zones and 12 scenes. It retails for $219 plus $20 for software.
The largest of the three models, Avion Pro, can handle the control of as many as 32 devices in 12 zones and 25 scenes. It retails for $239 plus $40 for the software.
The post Bluetooth Lighting System Controlled via Visual iPhone App appeared first on Electronic House.
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HiFiMAN SUSVARA Planar Magnet Headphone Review
The HiFiMAN SUSVARA represents the latest update to original HiFiMAN’s HE-1000 flagship headphones. Featuring CNC-milled casing and double-sided magnets, the Susvara incorporates the cutting edge of planar technology. With that said, the headphones come in at a considerable $6000 price tag. For those without money concerns, and those wishing to seek world-class sound, the Susvara certainly deserves an audition. To find out more, please read on.
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https://www.audioholics.com/headphone-reviews/hifiman-susvara
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https://www.audioholics.com/headphone-reviews/hifiman-susvara
Sunday, February 25, 2018
The Long Overdue Death of Retail Compact Disc (CD)
Memorializing the Compact Disc. Once upon a time, the CD was the ubiquitous music platform. Our story outlines how the disc-based music technology was adopted, loved and eventually abandoned by a generation that arrived a little too late to collect vinyl record albums. In its day, the CD weathered a storm of competitors that sought to usurp the audio throne by offering key improvements in storage capacity and audio resolution. But behind the inevitable fall of the CD is a story of how the music industry refused to read the writing on the wall. Now that the once dominant audio platform's days are behind us the question remains: Did you like CDs?
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https://www.audioholics.com/editorials/the-long-overdue-death-of-retail-compact-disc
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https://www.audioholics.com/editorials/the-long-overdue-death-of-retail-compact-disc
V-MODA Crossfade Wireless 2 vs. Focal Listen Wireless Headphone Shootout
V-MODA and Focal arguably have made two of the finest affordable wireless Bluetooth headphones to hit the market in 2017, both carrying an MSRP of around $300. But what happens when two contenders for best new wireless headphones are pitted against each other in a head-to-head, feature-by-feature showdown? Which will emerge the victor in the arena of one curmudgeonly editor’s opinion? Let’s get ready to rumble with a good ol' fashion shootout!
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https://www.audioholics.com/headphone-reviews/v-moda-crossfade-wireless-2-vs.-focal-listen-wireless
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https://www.audioholics.com/headphone-reviews/v-moda-crossfade-wireless-2-vs.-focal-listen-wireless
Acurus Updates ACT 4 Atmos/DTS:X AV Processor to 20 Channels
Acurus has updated their 13.3 channel ACT 4 Processor to 20 Channels. Indy Audio Labs (IAL), owner of the high-performance audio brands Aragon and Acurus says this is the first processor to offer that level of immersive-audio performance for less than $10,000. The Act 4 supports full 7.3.6 native Atmos/DTS:X speaker configurations with 4 additional channels, HDMI 2.0b, PEQ speaker tool and much more. This is one pre/pro to get excited about and we can't wait to take a closer look in the near future.
from
https://www.audioholics.com/av-preamp-processor-reviews/acurus-act-4-atmos-dts-x-processor
from
https://www.audioholics.com/av-preamp-processor-reviews/acurus-act-4-atmos-dts-x-processor
Friday, February 23, 2018
The Long Overdue Death of Retail Compact Disc (CD)
Memorializing the Compact Disc. Once upon a time, the CD was the ubiquitous music platform. Our story outlines how the disc-based music technology was adopted, loved and eventually abandoned by a generation that arrived a little too late to collect vinyl record albums. In its day, the CD weathered a storm of competitors that sought to usurp the audio throne by offering key improvements in storage capacity and audio resolution. But behind the inevitable fall of the CD is a story of how the music industry refused to read the writing on the wall. Now that the once dominant audio platform's days are behind us the question remains: Did you like CDs?
from
http://www.audioholics.com/editorials/the-long-overdue-death-of-retail-compact-disc
from
http://www.audioholics.com/editorials/the-long-overdue-death-of-retail-compact-disc
Thursday, February 22, 2018
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Guardzilla 360 Security Camera a Monster for Home Protection
Oh no, not another “Godzilla” remake. No, this time, it’s “Guardzilla” and I promise there will be no breathing fire, destruction of passenger trains or giant moths to battle. Indeed, I admit I was skeptical when I ordered a Guardzilla 360 security camera for the house. I mean the name is certainly catchy, but it was actually the feature set that drew my attention. How can a DIY wireless security camera offer two-way audio, geo-fencing capability, night-vision, and a 360-degree view for just $229.99?
Before I even removed it from the box, I found myself whistling, humming and singing a derivation of Blue Oyster Cult’s hit song “Godzilla” (aka “Guardzilla”) during the entire setup process. (I am still singing it.)
Packed with Advanced Features
But catchy name aside, as a DIY solution, Guardzilla 360 hits the mark. The HD Wi-Fi security camera enable customers to monitor their homes inside and out from their smartphone via a full 360-degree live HD viewing camera with motion detection capabilities, along with night vision, a full security suite and full duplex audio communication.
Guardzilla 360 provides a live 360-degree field of view, 360-degree night vision, and 360-degree motion detection with instant phone alerts. The camera also features a speaker and microphone system that enables full-duplex, two-way conversing; and three programmable call buttons for one-touch push notifications to smartphones. The Guardzilla 360 also offers a full security suite, including a 100dB siren, PIR motion sensors and geo-fencing, which automatically arms or disarms the system when the user’s smartphone is detected exiting or entering the GPS-driven perimeter.
Installation Ease–Even in an Old House
Living in an old converted barn built in 1875, I am reticent to drill holes in the walls and floors, which are all pine, some of which are original hand-hewn wood. At the same time, my wife is the “Amazon Queen” in that it seems we have Amazon package deliveries daily. Knowing there would be in influx of boxes being stacked on the porch for the holidays, I ordered a Guardzilla 360. I positioned the camera on a wide sill below a long window in the mudroom/kitchen area. From this position, the camera can view into our living room, kitchen, mudroom and most importantly, out the window onto the porch. If any “porch pirates” should appear, Guardzilla would be ready.
Setup could not be simpler, especially since the app itself is loaded with nine separate “Help Videos” that step you through the entire process. I just plugged it into a nearby outlet and downloaded the companion app. Via the Settings menu I can link the camera to Nest, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and create IFTTT commands if necessary. The menu also allows me to change the image quality, add contacts to the call list, set the arming for delayed activation, and adjust the motion detection and audio detection sensitivity levels.
Automatic Notifications; Pro Monitoring Optional
The unit is tied to my wife’s cellphone for geo-fencing, but that also meant the camera was armed when she wasn’t away. The first time I came home from work and she was not there, the Guardzilla 360 let out a piercing siren that would have evacuated Tokyo. Pointer: remember to link the camera to everyone’s cellphone in the home.
With any DIY camera solution that is not monitored, the more you use the camera, the better. We routinely check the camera as part of our daily app usage. I have even gotten into the routine of pulling up the camera and talking to the kids when I get ready to leave for work. There is an argument that a DIY camera like this is more of a gadget than real security, so to quell that line of thought Guardzilla also offers the option for professional monitoring. The company offers a $9.99 per month central station monitoring with no fees.
What Would I Change?
There are a few things I would change about Guardzilla. First, I would make the power cord longer. I would rather have to bundle extra cable versus stretch a too-short power cord to the optimum camera position.
Second, the night vision camera certain works well, but the IR reflection off the glass (remember I have it positioned by the window to view the porch) makes the camera image looking outside unusable at night, unless we leave the porch light on. The night vision feature can be shut off, but then the camera would not be able to pick up any usage images inside the home at night.
Third, the two-way audio works well for listening, but the speaker capabilities seem weak. When I use the app, I can certainly see and hear what’s going on, but when I tried to communicate to my daughters who were literally standing right next to the camera, there is a bit of latency that makes conversations tough. It could be my home network. My wife similarly attempted to contact me with a voice via the camera one day… I never heard a word. (Was that intentional on my part?)
Guardzilla 360 features include:
- Live 360-degree HD video monitoring
- 360-degree night vision
- 360-degree motion detection
- Optional 100dB siren alert
- Hub-less design
- Instant notifications
- Three programmable call buttons for push notifications to family, friends and emergency contacts
- Audio echo cancellation using full duplex, 2-way audio capability integrates echo cancellation and noise reduction hardware and software
- Geo-fencing that leverages smartphone GPS technology to automatically arm or disarm the system when the user’s smartphone exits or enters the geo-fence perimeter.
- UI de-warping using a proprietary algorithm that enables re-rendering of raw video content via 3D mapping into panoramic viewable video.
- UI gravity effect via custom code that creates downward drift gravity to reset previous 360-degree searches to the level, panoramic mode most users desire.
- Video compression that enables delivery of live, HD streaming 360-degree video via typical IP broadband bandwidth.
- Motion event video capture and storage
Guardzilla 360 sells for $229.99 online and in-store from retailers across the country including Walmart, Target, Staples, and Best Buy.
So how good is Guardzilla? I overheard my wife telling a friend that we need a second one.
The post Guardzilla 360 Security Camera a Monster for Home Protection appeared first on Electronic House.
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https://www.electronichouse.com/home-security/guardzilla-360-security-camera-a-monster-for-home-protection/
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
V-MODA Crossfade Wireless 2 vs. Focal Listen Wireless Headphone Shootout
V-MODA and Focal made two of the finest affordable wireless Bluetooth headphones to hit the market in 2017, both carry an MSRP around $300. But what happens when two contenders for best new wireless headphones are pitted against each other in a head-to-head, feature-by-feature showdown? Which will emerge the victor in the arena of one curmudgeonly editor’s opinion? Let’s get ready to rumble with a good ol' fashion shootout!
from
http://www.audioholics.com/headphone-reviews/v-moda-crossfade-wireless-2-vs.-focal-listen-wireless
from
http://www.audioholics.com/headphone-reviews/v-moda-crossfade-wireless-2-vs.-focal-listen-wireless
Microsoft Cortana Now Speaks IFTTT
Cortana, the virtual assistant by Microsoft, may have come out of the gate slower than its competitors Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, but it’s gathering traction thanks to its recent compatibility with IFTTT and integration friendlinesss with several leading manufacturers of smart home devices.
The IFTTT platform enables consumers to utilize and create “recipes” that enable the Microsoft Cortana voice assistant to trigger multiple actions via simple voice commands. IFTTT is a free programming platform and Applets are widely available on the IFTTT website for consumers to use to connect apps, services, and smart products together. IFTTT derives its name from the conditional logic, “If This, Then That.”
Microsoft offers the following examples of how Cortana and Applets on IFTTT (or Applets you create yourself) can work together:
- If you are watching a movie at home, you can say “Hey Cortana, movie time,” and she will turn down your Philips Hue lights, signal your Harmony remote to turn on the TV, and adjust your Nest thermostat to a comfortable movie-watching temperature.
- You could use IFTTT and Cortana to tackle several tasks at once; for instance, adding items to a shopping list on Trello, posting a tweet, opening motorized window shades, extending the tumble cycle on a dryer, and logging your weight into a fitness tracker.
You can visit the Cortana Channel on the IFTTT website to see what kinds of Applets are currently available.
Cortana Compatibility with Honeywell Products and More
Enhancing Cortana’s reach even further, Microsoft has also announced that voice commands issued through a Cortana smart speaker (like Harman Kardon’s Invoke), are now able control Honeywell Lyric and Honeywell Total Connect Comfort thermostats. Users can also control the devices using the assistant on Windows 10, iPhone, and Android devices.
The Cortana digital assistant was already compatible with devices through Samsung SmartThings, Nest, Philips Hue, Wink and Insteon. Other devices now supported by Cortana include LIFX’s WiFi connected light bulbs, TP-Link’s Kasa WiFi slim smart plugs and Geeni’s products, including its smart surge protector.
The post Microsoft Cortana Now Speaks IFTTT appeared first on Electronic House.
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Monday, February 19, 2018
Facebook Fiona: New Competition for Amazon Echo, Apple HomePod, and Google Home
If you haven’t already invested in one of the many smart home speakers on the market, this summer you’ll have even more options, as Facebook plans to unveil its own version of voice-enabled smart home speakers, called Fiona and Aloha. Unlike most of the smart home speakers available today, like Amazon Echo, Google Home, and Apple HomePod, Fiona and Aloha will each feature a built-in 15-inch touchscreen. As an extra perk, Aloha will also boast facial recognition technology, which will allow users to access Facebook (and likely launch other tasks) when the smart speaker’s camera lens recognizes them.
Want to learn more about voice control in the home? Go here.
Both Facebook smart speaker models will also access and play music via voice commands, thanks to Facebook’s licensing contracts with Sony and Universal Music.
Fiona and Aloha will join the already saturated smart home speaker market sometime in July. According to A recent study from Juniper Research, smart speakers such as Amazon Echo, Google Home, and the Sonos One will be installed in over 70 million U.S. households by 2022, reaching 55% of all homes. Facebook’s Fiona and Aloha may help fuel consumer adoption even more.
With a growing number of smart home speakers, manufacturers will continue to look for ways to differentiate themselves. For example, Harman Kardon leverages its strong background in audio reproduction with the development of a smart speaker, Invoke, that delivers an exceptional music listening experience. Apple, meanwhile, with its well-established ecosystem of smart home products, positions its HomePod smart speaker as a home control interface.
Related: Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg Bullish on Automated Homes
Here is a look at some of the top smart speaker offerings:
Apple Siri (HomePod): This smart speaker uses Siri as its voice control platform, which speaks exclusively to Apple’s own ecosystem of HomeKit-enabled smart home products.
Amazon Alexa: Boasting various form factors and features (the Echo Show and Echo Spot, for instance, incorporate built in screen for video calls and displaying other information), the selection of Amazon listening devices gives consumers the ability to integrate a variety of products into the home—FireTV in the media room, Echo Show in the kitchen, and Dots in the bedrooms, for example.
Amazon designed Alexa to be a very “open” solution, meaning anyone can use Alexa Skills to integrate the technology into a product. This has opened the floodgates for the development of numerous Alexa-compatible products, including those from some of the biggest names in the smart home business: Nest, Philips Hue, Samsung SmartThings, and others.
Google Assistant: This voice assistant platform followed on the footsteps of Amazon Alexa. Its selection of smart speaker is continually growing, putting Google in close competition with Amazon. Recently, Google announced a donut-shape voice-enabled speaker called the Mini, and a larger, more musically inclined voice-enabled speaker called the Max.
The Google Home Mini wins the beauty prize, with its smooth, curved exterior encased in fabric of three different colors: Chalk, Charcoal and Coral. But if high-fidelity is important, that’s the forte of the Google Home Max. Packed inside this stereo speaker are two 4.5-inch woofers and a couple of tweeters. Google says it plays loud—20 times more powerful than the original Google Home.
According to Google, you can control more than 1,000 smart products by using Google Home devices, and its products are but it’s noted as being highly reliable and accurate at interpreting voice commands.
Sonos: 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.
Microsoft Cortana: Just when you thought Amazon and Google had saturated the smart speaker market with their ever-expanding portfolios of voice assistant gadgets, along comes Harman Kardon with yet another option. As a relative late bloomer in the smart speaker market, Harman Kardon has chosen the Microsoft Cortana voice assistant as its platform, embedding it in its Invoke speaker.
The timing, however, seems perfect, as Microsoft only recently announced its “Connected Home” section available on through the Cortana Notebook menu on some Windows 10 PCs. Connected Home lets you use your Windows 10 PC to relay voice commands to smart home devices from Wink, Insteon, Nest, SmartThings and Philips (Hue).
The post Facebook Fiona: New Competition for Amazon Echo, Apple HomePod, and Google Home appeared first on Electronic House.
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Acurus Updates ACT 4 Atmos/DTS:X AV Processor to 20 Channels
Acurus has updated their 13.3 channel ACT 4 Processor to 20 Channels. Indy Audio Labs (IAL), owner of the high-performance audio brands Aragon and Acurus says this is the first processor to offer that level of immersive-audio performance for less than $10,000. The Act 4 supports full 7.3.6 native Atmos/DTS:X speaker configurations with 4 additional channels, HDMI 2.0b, PEQ speaker tool and much more. This is one pre/pro to get excited about and we can't wait to take a closer look in the near future.
from
http://www.audioholics.com/av-preamp-processor-reviews/acurus-act-4-atmos-dts-x-processor
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http://www.audioholics.com/av-preamp-processor-reviews/acurus-act-4-atmos-dts-x-processor
Saturday, February 17, 2018
British Prog Rock Band Marillion Releases Limited Edition Series of Live Albums
Often referred to as the leaders of the neo-progressive movement of the early '80s, Marillion are a great deal more than that. They are purveyors of soulful, powerful, and deeply-moving music, with a long-standing reputation of impressive live shows and an imposing, faithful and loyal global fanbase. From January through September 2018, a carefully curated and strictly limited (5000 copies each) and numbered series of Marillion live albums will be released in retail stores across the globe for the very first time.
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http://www.audioholics.com/music-reviews/british-prog-rock-band-marillion
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http://www.audioholics.com/music-reviews/british-prog-rock-band-marillion
Friday, February 16, 2018
Lutron HomeWorks QS System Sheds Light on Elegant Home Design
Home technology: it’s a common battleground for many families. There are those who want nothing more than a home that’s brimming with cool gadgets, then there are others who would rather keep all the pieces and parts hidden away. The owners of this nearly 8,000-square-foot-home were no exception. The lady of the house wanted the aesthetics to be the focal point; he, on the other hand, was focused on the audio and automation aspects.
They both agreed, however, that it was important that their new home include technology. So as plans for the residence were being developed by their architect and builder, they hired the home systems integrators from AVL Pro, Naples, Fla., to help them find a pleasing high-tech middle ground: Something for her and something for him.
With more than two decades of experience designing and installing smart home technology for discerning clients, the team at AVL Pro devised a solution that is as beautiful as it intelligent, is easy to use and blends seamlessly with the home interior, and that enhances the owners’ comfort in ways they never before imagined. From top to bottom, the house shines both in its aesthetics and its functionality—a feat that earned AVL Pro the “Essence of Pleasance” award from Lutron’s 2017 Excellence award program.
The newly constructed house oozes with what Lutron defines as “Essence of Pleasance,” where design and technology unite to create a home environment that’s pleasurable in every way. It’s comfortable. It’s beautiful. And it’s effortless.
Largely responsible the culmination of the many objectives is a HomeWorks QS lighting system that was customized by AVL Pro to render the ideal illumination for every space in the home. It was a task that involved two years of careful planning by the AVL Pro team (Mary Andalia, Huel Pruitt, Paul Evans, and Manuel Andalia) in close collaboration with everyone from the architect, builder and interior designer to the cabinetmaker and electrician. “We spent multiple hours visiting the building site to coordinate the installation of the light fixtures and the placement of the Lutron seeTouch keypads,” says AVL Pro vice president Mary Andalia. “We stayed in close contact with everyone involved in the construction and design of the house to ensure that our lighting layout was perfect. We even coordinated with the cabinet company to integrate LED light panels into a rounded display case.”
Thanks to AVL Pro’s diligence, 52 Lutron seeTouch keypads fuse with the color and texture of the walls, offering a convenient and discrete mode of controlling the lights, window shades, ceiling fans, and gas fireplaces. On some of the keypads AVL Pro included buttons that engage customized lighting “scenes” that affect not just the lights within a 
particular room but the entire house. There’s a Home scene that sets the lights for a casual night in, and Away scene that adjust the lights for the owners’ departure, and an Entertain scene for get-togethers with friends and family. Strategically positioned motion sensors, meanwhile, illuminate a low-level pathway from the master bedroom to the bathroom.
What good is elegant, sophisticated lighting if the space isn’t comfortable? The Lutron HomeWorks QS system takes care of this facet, too, by allowing the owners to press a keypad button to lift and lower bug screens that line the perimeter of the lanai, open and close hurricane shutters, and turn on and off gas fireplaces.
While the Lutron HomeWorks QS system and seeTouch keypads are responsible for the cosmetics and comfort of the home, a third-party Crestron home control system handles the distribution of music to built-in speakers positioned throughout the residence, management of a security system, and other electronic features. The music, in particular, enhances the atmosphere and mood established by the Lutron HomeWorks QS system. With music and lights working in concert, and simple control over shutters, screens, shades, and other amenities, bring real meaning to the phrase, “Essence of Pleasance.”
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https://www.electronichouse.com/home-of-the-week/46341/