Sonos Launches iPad App

Although Sonos launched an iPad interface for their wireless whole-house music system earlier this week, it won’t be available until August. However, it is a very sleek use of the iPad technology integrated into a HomeAV application. If you want to see the demo, go here: Sonos iPad App

We now carry RTI & Crestron

We are excited to announce the addition of RTI (Remote Technologies Inc.) and Crestron Automation and Control products to our impressive line-up of products and services.
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Yamaha's NeoHD is here!

Enjoy all your AV sources plus music streaming from your computer, Internet Radio and Rhapsody content. Easily control all of your sources with a simple graphical user interface (GUI) and simplified remote control. One remote gives you total media control.
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Control4 Launches Commercial Systems Product Line at InfoComm 2010

Bringing a proven IP-based control platform to the pro AV market, Control4 introduces a full line of commercial hardware and software solutions.
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Social networking comes to the world of home-control systems

Home Automation companies like the one we carry, Control4, are increasingly building social-networking functions into their product lines. Control4 is developing a system that will allow users to tap into websites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube right from their home-control interfaces.
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Philips Pronto Launches Lutron’s RadioRa® 2 Module

New module offers easy two-way integration with Lutron lighting and shading control systems.

Philips Pronto, the value leader in two-way control solutions, in collaboration with lighting control manufacturer Lutron Electronics, has announced the availability of a new RadioRA 2 module for Pronto’s line of controllers, including the TSU9300 (limited), TSU9400, TSU9600 and TSU9800. This new module offers integrators a convenient integration between a Pronto touch panel and the RadioRA 2 wireless lighting control system.
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Now you can pick a room, pick a song, and pick a colour.

The all-in-one Sonos S5 is about to get even more popular. On June 2nd, 2010, in response to overwhelming demand, the S5 will debut in black. And the timing couldn't be better with Father's Day just around the corner.
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Samung previews 19" transparent AMOLED panel

Samsung is currently demonstrating a 19-inch transparent AMOLED display. The technology preview has been scheduled for the annual Society for Information Display (SID) International Symposium. The panel is claimed to be the largest in the industry, an improvement over Samsung's 14-inch component shown at CES, while still maintaining a transparency above 30 percent.

The company has continued to develop transparent AMOLED technology for a variety of potential applications such as notebook computers, vehicle windshields, or new types of advertising at retail locations.

Samsung has yet to announce official plans to integrate its largest transparent AMOLED panels in upcoming devices. [via OLED-Display.net]

Viper SmartStart is now available in Canada!

What is Viper SmartStart?
Are you tired of carrying around another clunky remote control on your keyring, or finding yourself out of range when you really need to warm up or cool down your car before getting in? Now you can remote start or lock and unlock your car just by pushing a button on your iPhone or iPod Touch; using the exciting new Viper SmartStart app

The simple graphical interface gives you control over the following features of your installed Viper remote start or security/remote start system:
Lock/arm
Unlock/disarm
Remote car starter
Trunk release
Panic or car finder
2-Way confirmation of commands received at vehicle
Error messages if command not received successfully
Vehicle personalization
App pass code protection
Password management utilities
Button confirmation sounds
You can also control multiple vehicles – great for families! – and assign more than one user to control a vehicle.

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The emergence of Internet-enabled devices and how it is changing the landscape of home entertainment

In the past few years, TVs and computers have become highly commoditized items and technology companies, retailers, and content providers are increasingly shifting to a service-oriented model to increase their revenues. Selling a portable media player with a music subscription or a DVD player with movies adds value to a purchase.
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Panasonic launches Skype for 2010 VIERA Cast TVs

One of the coolest things I saw at CES 2010 was the Skype app installed on the Panasonic VieraCast TVs. All thats required is a Skype account, a Panasonic Skype enabled camera which is sold separately for about $200 and a VieraCast enabled Panasonic Plasma TV (VT25, VT20, G25 and the G20 series). The Panasonic TY-CC10W webcam supports 30fps VGA or 720p/22fps h.264 encoded streams and has 4 unidirectional microphones, an echo cancelling system . Check out the video below to get a glimpse on how the VieraCast Skype system works.

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Tips for greening your home

Whether you are looking to build a state-of-the-art, eco-friendly home or to make simple adjustments to lower your utility bills, there are effective ways to go green and save money at the same time. The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) presents tips that range from no-cost habits to larger, green investments and show you how to green your home and still enjoy the latest technologies and entertainment.
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Integra's latest A/V receivers offer 3-D functionality

Integra has introduced a pair of new A/V receivers, the 100-watt-per-channel DTR-30.2 and the 90-watt-per-channel DTR-20.2, that offer 3-D functionality. Both machines feature HDMI 1.4a ports that enable 3-D video signals to pass from a Blu-ray player to a TV's display screen.
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Kaleidescape Introduces Next Generation Movie Players

New Movie Server Architecture, New User Interface, Blu-ray Support

SUNNYVALE, CA - Kaleidescape, Inc., the market leader in movie servers, today announced its new M500 and M300 Players. Built on the company's proprietary M-Class architecture, this next generation of players delivers a new and improved onscreen user interface and Blu-ray support. The M500 Player copies Blu-ray Discs, DVDs, and CDs onto a server. The imported content can then be played back instantly by M500 and M300 Players, creating the world's first multi-zone movie server for Blu-ray.
To address the concerns of the studios, Kaleidescape requires the disc to be present when playing Blu-ray content from the server. Today this means the Blu-ray Disc must be in the tray of an M500 Player. To enable the full Kaleidescape experience for Blu-ray, the company is developing a disc loader which will keep a large number of discs present within the Kaleidescape system. It will also provide bulk import, and make it easy to find and retrieve a disc.

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Surround Sound 101

Why is surround sound important in a home-theater setup?
Surround sound is one of the two crucial components of a home theater, the other being HDTV. Surround sound makes it easier to catch the dialogue in your favorite prime-time TV show and experience the action while watching a movie.
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