Home Builder Makes Voice Automation Standard

Lennar, one of the nation’s largest home builders, has announced that voice-controlled home automation is now one of several standard tech features included in its “Wi-Fi Certified” new homes.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/home-builder-makes-voice-automation-standard

NAD Updates Popular C 316 BEE V2 Amp, Ships First Wireless Headphones

NAD has announced an update to one of its most popular integrated amplifiers ever: the C 316 BEE V2, the last of five classic amplifiers to be updated over the past two years. The company also announced that it is now shipping the Viso HP70 wireless headphones it previewed at CES in January.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/nad-updates-popular-c-316-bee-v2-amp-ships-first-wireless-headphones

Nokia Sleep Tracker Automates Your Home

‌‌Sleep trackers have been around for some time, and they all do pretty much the same thing: monitor quality of your sleep by measuring sleep interruptions and REM phases. At the Consumer Electronic Show 2018, Nokia brought something new to the table. Its Wi-Fi enabled Nokia Sleep Sensor and companion Health Mate App (iOS and Android compatible) not only monitors and scores your sleep patterns but also controls connected devices like lights and thermostats through IFTTT (if this then that) rules that you can set up via the app.

For example, if the Nokia Sleep Sensor detects that you have left the bed, it can switch on the hallway lights to the bathroom. Or, if the sensor detects that you are laying down, it can turn off the light and lower the thermostat to a comfortable sleeping temperature.

 

 

“Our vision is to help make the world a healthier place and quality of sleep is as critical a component of a healthy lifestyle as regular exercise and a balanced diet,” says Rob Le Bras-Brown, head of Nokia’s digital health business. “Nokia Sleep gives users insight into what happens when their eyes are closed along with the ability to change the environment for more restorative sleep with IFTTT home automation capabilities. Nokia Sleep will be a game changer in helping maximize a night’s sleep to make the most of the next day.”

 

The sleep pad, which measures nearly 3 feet long, is placed horizontally under the mattress. Its internal air bladder senses pressure (your weight in the bed) and a microphone detects snoring. It plugs in via a 7-foot USB power cable.

 

 

 

Nokia Sleep synchronizes automatically with the Nokia Health Mate app so users can have all their health data in one place. The app provides data history, personalized advice and coaching programs, including one developed specifically around sleep.

An individualized Sleep Score is provided to indicate how restorative a night’s sleep was, and educate users about what makes a good night’s sleep and how they can improve night after night.

 

Nokia Sleep is available for $99.95 via https://health.nokia.com/us/en/sleep, Amazon.com and other leading retailers.

The post Nokia Sleep Tracker Automates Your Home appeared first on Electronic House.

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https://www.electronichouse.com/smart-home/nokia-sleep-tracker-automates-your-home/

Kanto Ships All-In-One SYD Music System

Kanto has announced that the SYD music system it previewed at CES in January is now available.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/kanto-ships-all-one-syd-music-system

It

Picture
Sound
Extras

In the late 1980s in the town of Derry, Maine, a young boy goes out to test a paper boat during a torrential rainstorm. Braving the elements, he places the boat in the gutter and runs alongside to watch its progress. Unfortunately, he’s too slow and watches it descend into the storm drain. He bends down to see if it’s lost forever and is surprised to see a clown staring back at him. Startled, he quickly jumps back.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/it-0

Working with a Custom Installer: Fundamentals Never Change

As I’ve mentioned in previous columns, prior to becoming a custom installer I was a golf professional at a club in California’s Bay Area. I bring this up because we recently started receiving Golf magazine in the mail. (Bizarrely we’re also suddenly getting The New Yorker and Money, none of which we subscribed to.) As I flipped through a recent issue of Golf, I was reminded of really how little has changed in the golf world since I left.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/working-custom-installer-fundamentals-never-change

Focal Expands Flagship Utopia Speaker Lineup

Focal, the French maker of high-end speakers, is expanding the flagship Utopia III speaker line it introduced a decade ago with two new three-way models and updates to the Grande Utopia EM Evo and Stella Utopia EM Evo models.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/focal-expands-flagship-utopia-speaker-lineup