We are pleased to have partnered with Ethos Development to offer purchasers of a Bell unit a chance to install a Control4® home automation system while their home is being built. Control4® gives you the power to be green by helping you manage lighting and temperature control in your home, significantly reducing your energy consumption without compromising your lifestyle. Control4® lighting products create custom, ambient lighting throughout your home and help you create a home that is responsive to your needs. From remote control systems to smart lighting that helps you save electricity — Control4 solutions offer endless possibilities. And because Control4 lighting products are so affordably priced, there is a complete package for practically any budget. For more information please visitwww.BellaLiving.com

Premier Gold Control4 status.

We are excited to announce that we have achieved Premier Gold Control4 status.

The Control4 Premier Dealer designation highlights those custom integration dealers like Digital Smart Homes, who specialize in home automation and have achieved key training, sales and experience requirements in Control4 products. All Control4 dealers complete a comprehensive training program to install and support Control4 products but Control4 Premier Dealers are uniquely qualified to make your life Everyday Easy.

Keep your loved one home longer with CloseBy Network™

Keep your loved one home longer
with CloseBy Network™.
There’s no place like home for elderly loved ones, but caring for them can take its toll. Now you can share the load between siblings, children, neighbors and other caregivers with CloseBy Network™. For less than the cost of one month in an assisted living facility, you can install CloseBy Network and monitor your loved one’s activities in the home with messages sent by emails, texts, or the Internet.

What is CloseBy Network?
It’s a network of wireless sensors installed in the home and tied to a web application to create a secure “care network” of family members, caregivers and neighbors. The system consists of a base station and multiple motion/occupancy sensors and other sensors which monitor and report activity in the loved one’s home. It notifies specified people in your care network when there are problems or changes in normal behavior. It also allows you to simply check-in and see if your loved one is getting in and out of bed as expected, opening the refrigerator to eat, taking his or her medications, or leaving the house. CloseBy Network lets the elderly continue to live safely and independently in the comfort of their own homes. And it gives caregivers peace of mind, whether they are across the street or across the country.

To Learn more about the CloseBy Network contact us or download our CloseBy Network Brochure for further information.

Small Retailers Make A Difference

08/08/09 19:16 Filed in: Green Eco

I was recently interviewed by Marketnews Magazine regarding our Eco Friendly Green business practices.

“A small retailer may think that changing a bulb or two in their shop isn’t meaningful because they can’t change the thousands of bulbs that Walmart or Loblaw can; but, all things being relative, they’re not looking at the same energy bill as Walmart or Loblaw. Going green isn’t just for the big guys, smaller independent retailers and distribution companies can also make a big difference.

Harry Saini owns a custom A/V retail store in Vancouver, BC called Digital Smart Homes. To help the environment and save on fuel costs, he started delivering home theatre systems and consumer electronics via a bicycle and small
trailer. Outside of the downtown area (and during the winter), he makes deliveries with a Honda Element, which features I-VTEC technology for reduced emissions and higher fuel economy. While Saini can’t convince everyone to don a bike helmet for the sake of the environment, there are other ways this small retailer saves energy. The lights in the store are kept on a timer to reduce energy consumption. Invoices are emailed to customers, rather than printed.

The focus is on Energy Star and other energy-efficient products. In some cases, vendors that deal with the store will dropship orders directly to the customer, instead of making two stops, which saves gas, time and money. “We have 11 or 12 TVs in our store and we keep about three of them on,” he says. “Having our TVs off actually keeps our store cooler, so I don’t have to fire up the AC. Last year at this time, my AC was blowing full blast.” Home theatre systems also produce a lot of heat, so every home theatre system in the store is turned off until a customer wants to see it. “AC is a killer when it comes to energy.” Regardless, this doesn’t save a ton of money, only about $30 a month. And the landlord covers the electricity bill, whether every TV is on or not. But, if energy prices continue to rise, this will become a more significant issue in coming years.
But it’s not just about money. “People that buy from us are getting educated at the same time, and that’s passed on,” says Saini. At this point, about one in 10 customers is asking for more energy-efficient products. “It’s up to retailers to educate
customers about energy consumption. Down the road, it’s going to have a huge impact. It’s the Green Revolution; if you’re not on board now, it will severely affect one’s business.”

Digital Smart Homes started a new division called EcoSmart Automation + Media, which focuses on energy solutions for businesses and homeowners. Aside from selling TVs and home theatre systems, it’s meant to show customers how to integrate technology, because the more you integrate, the less you’re consuming.”

Marketnews
By Vawn Himmelsbach
Full article http://www.marketnews.ca/content/index/page?pid=5735

The New GenvaSound "S"

07/08/09 12:19 Filed in: iPod HiFi |

SOUND & STYLE FOR BEDROOM, KITCHEN, OFFICE – FROM GENEVA LAB AVAILABLE AT DIGITAL SMART HOMES
More features, better sound, unbeatable price/performance will shake up the largest segments of
iPod speaker market



From the Swiss company that pioneered high fidelity for iPod systems
comes the new GenevaSound S – bringing great sound, style and simplicity to the bedroom, kitchen, office and
more. GenevaSound S has innovative new features and an unbeatable price-to-performance ratio to shake up the
biggest categories of iPod docks.

At $329 USD, GenevaSound S sounds better and does more than any single-function iPod dock on the market, some of which cost 30% to almost 100% more than the S. With more features than single-function docks, GenevaSound S
includes the new PowerDock connector, new TouchLight controls, and a digital radio tuner with alarm clock.
Geneva Lab’s new PowerDock™ solves issues plaguing other iPod/iPhone docks. When the iPod/iPhone is
removed, the motorized PowerDock™ spins closed and the protruding iPod/iPhone 30-pin connector, a sensitive
part, disappears into the cabinet, protecting it from damage and dust. To reconnect, simply touch the GenevaSound
S, and the motorized PowerDock™ spins open.

The new TouchLight™ control system is backlit, touch-sensitive and sophisticated. TouchLight™ controls are
invisible until a hand reaches for the cabinet. Withdraw the hand, and the backlight disappears. Not just eyecatching,
it offers extensive control of the iPod menu. (Competitors have limited iPod controls.) TouchLight™
benefits the user and the environment. It’s auto-off consumes less power and makes it user-friendly in light-sensitive
places like the bedroom. The intuitive controls also help when it’s awkward to use a remote control when the system
is close at hand (e.g., on a nightstand).

Available in Geneva’s trademark red, white or black piano lacquer, GenevaSound S also comes with a table stand,
allowing the user the choice of elevating the system, so it takes up less space on a nightstand, a counter or a desk.
The digital radio and programmable alarm make it the best-sounding, simplest iPod clock radio ever, a product
segment littered with low-fi sound and eyesore design. It’s the first with solid stereo sound and fine design lines.
GenevaSound revolutionized home audio in 2006 as the first product to fuse an iPod dock into a high-end stereo
system, using patented technologies that enhance compressed music files and that project three-dimensional sound
from a single cabinet. At its debut, WIRED hailed GenevaSound’s as “a Steinway,” a “baby grand” when
competitors sounded like toy pianos. The entire product line wins top reviews. Legendary audiophile manufacturers
have since followed GenevaSound’s approach – but none match its simplicity, sound and sophistication.

Stereo Speaker System
o 2 x 3” full range drivers
o Bass ports + dynamic loudness enhancement
o All‐digital Class D amplifiers – 30 WaRs
o EmbracingSound™ speaker design for 3D stereo
o DSP enhances compressed music file

Media
o PowerDock for all models iPod/iPhone
o FM digital tuner with external antenna
o Stereo line‐in port
o PowerDock spins shut ‐ limits damage and dust

Controls
o TouchLight – dimming backlight
o Full iPod menu control from TouchLight
o Remote control – infrared

Alarm Clock
o Real Time clock
o LED clock display

Accessories
o Removable 3” table stand
o Telescoping FM antenna
o iPod dock adapters (12)

Enetrprise Class Network

07/08/09 08:58 Filed in: Network | Home Automation

The foundation and backbone of any Home Automation system is the Network it works on. Below is an Enterprise class WAP by Pakedge and a Range Extender by Luxul Wireless that can extend your range by up to 10,000 sq or more. This network system also provides extreme stability provided you also have a very good quality router. I suggest the Apple Extreme for its reliability and ease of use. If you need additional ports just add an “Unmanaged” switch or hub and your ready to go. Because power is sent over Cat5 to the Pakedge WAP and the Luxul Wireless extender, placement becomes very easy and simplified.

Check out the specs below for additional information.

The WAP by Pakedge

On-Wall 802.11 a, b, & g Ultra High Power Wireless Access Point With PoE
The WAP-W3 is an Enterprise Class ultra, high power wireless access point that is wall-mountable.

Continuing the Pakedge tradition of consistent RF output and long-term reliability, the Pakedge WAP-W3 is an Enterprise-Class, ultra high power wireless access point that is wall-mountable or can be set on a flat surface. The WAP-W3 features adjustable power output/range. We optimized the WAP-W3 for use with touch panels and other control devices without sacrificing data throughput.

The WAP-W3 not only supports 802.11b/g (2.4GHz), but 802.11a (5.0GHz) as well. On the 5.0GHz spectrum, the WAP-W3 supports all FCC allowable channels, including DFS. Designed for the custom installer, the WAP-W3 is networked and powered by a single Cat5e cable. In addition, it can be powered by most PoE switches on the market today because it is fully 802.3af compliant.

The WAP-W3 housing is made of a rugged, heavy gauge aluminum that can handle any interior environment such as an attic or a wiring closet. At the same time, it is sleek and unobtrusive enough to appear in any formal setting.

The Range Extender by Luxul Wireless for even for Coverage

Luxul Wireless
Pro-WAV™ Board Mounted Range Extender Kit:

• 7dBi FP antenna
• 1W 802.11 b/g signal booster
• two cables (N-Male to N-Male
• N-Male to RP-SMA)
• RP-SMA to RP-TNC adapter
• antenna mount

We spec this network for our Control4 Home Automation clients and any small business or home user who wants an enterprise level network without paying the enterprise level costs.