URC Adds Control Hub, Full Multiroom Audio, IP Cams
Apple Adds Streaming Apple TV, iTunes 10, iPods
Best Home Theaters for Watching Football
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Tuesday, September 07, 2010
By Jason Knott
I heard a common theme over the past few weeks while visiting a few integration companies: 2-channel audio sales (led by vinyl) has had a resurgence during the recession!
It makes total sense. Homeowners cannot get equity loans, and they generally are not moving. That means they aren't doing additions, converting basements or buying/building new homes. That's what one top integrator - CSA Audio Design in Upper Montclair, N.J.- has experienced.
So what are audio and video aficionados doing with their money right now? There is definitely pent-up demand, so they are spending it on upgrades to their existing systems. In the case of several integrators, their clients are spending on 2-channel audio. Bigger, better-sounding floorstanding and bookshelf speakers, turntables and amplifiers.
When housing was booming, 2-channel sales were non-existent.
Are you experiencing the same 2-channel sales resurgence these days?
It makes total sense. Homeowners cannot get equity loans, and they generally are not moving. That means they aren't doing additions, converting basements or buying/building new homes. That's what one top integrator - CSA Audio Design in Upper Montclair, N.J.- has experienced.
So what are audio and video aficionados doing with their money right now? There is definitely pent-up demand, so they are spending it on upgrades to their existing systems. In the case of several integrators, their clients are spending on 2-channel audio. Bigger, better-sounding floorstanding and bookshelf speakers, turntables and amplifiers.
When housing was booming, 2-channel sales were non-existent.
Are you experiencing the same 2-channel sales resurgence these days?
Thursday, September 02, 2010
By Julie Jacobson
Someone made my Control4 App!
I created a 4Store wish list in July, which included a grocery list management system.
Looks like my wish has come true, thanks to I-Novi, a new design group from the Belgium-based technology consulting firm Altran.
I-Novi’s "Organizer" lets you:
Organize your everyday shopping list in a simple manner, and save it to your Email. Show a calendar indicating days when groceries are posted and get a groceries list for each day.
There's no associated barcode scanner at this point.
The $9.99 Organizer app is now available through the Control4 4Store. I-Novi director Ruairi Duffy tells me the company plans to add a "chores" and "post-it note" function to the app: "The idea being that parents could assign chores/tasks to their kids via the calendar function."
Yeah, good luck with that.
Some other interesting 4Store apps have cropped up lately to accompany more mundane offerings such as Bible Quotes, Daily Horoscope, Bill Gates Quotes, Shamu Live Cam and Family Guy Quotes.
They include: sports scores for NBA, golf (like that's a sport), MLB, Nascar and other games; TimeWarner Cable diagnostics that displays signal information; movie trivia; and the card game 21.
See them all at the Control4 booth at CEDIA Expo 2010.
Thanks, Joe Whitaker
Posted by Julie Jacobson on 09/02 at 05:37 AM
Blogs, Home Automation and Control, Events, CEDIA, (0) Comments, Permalink
Blogs, Home Automation and Control, Events, CEDIA, (0) Comments, Permalink
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
By Julie Jacobson
CE pros often jump to all sorts of conclusions about their customers based on assumptions about what their customers should be. In the process, they may totally mis-bid a job, fail to explore innovative new products, and tick off their clients.
Are you making some of these false assumptions about clients and prospects?
Customers want – or should want -- the very best automation they can afford.
If you follow Mark Sipe’s online chronicle of a $500,000 installation, you’ve heard this assumption ad nauseum. Dealers have proclaimed exactly what percentage of a home-construction budget should be allotted to technology. Some are aghast at the selection of a budget control system (Control4) when clearly the homeowner can afford a more sophisticated solution for his $20 million pad.
Guess what? Customized touchscreens are not the highest priority for every rich home owner. In fact, home technology in general may not matter much to them. Just because we think it’s cool to have a touchscreen graphic that simulates the raising and lowering of motorized shades, doesn’t mean the client is impressed by it.
Is it so bad that a customer would rather use a separate IR controller to operate mainstream shades, rather than spend an extra five figures for an “ideal” solution? Perhaps philanthropy and yachts are higher priorities.
Personally, my husband and I could afford more expensive cars than we drive but neither of us is a car person. We care about utility and little else. When a salesperson checks our…
Are you making some of these false assumptions about clients and prospects?
Customers want – or should want -- the very best automation they can afford.
If you follow Mark Sipe’s online chronicle of a $500,000 installation, you’ve heard this assumption ad nauseum. Dealers have proclaimed exactly what percentage of a home-construction budget should be allotted to technology. Some are aghast at the selection of a budget control system (Control4) when clearly the homeowner can afford a more sophisticated solution for his $20 million pad.
Guess what? Customized touchscreens are not the highest priority for every rich home owner. In fact, home technology in general may not matter much to them. Just because we think it’s cool to have a touchscreen graphic that simulates the raising and lowering of motorized shades, doesn’t mean the client is impressed by it.
Is it so bad that a customer would rather use a separate IR controller to operate mainstream shades, rather than spend an extra five figures for an “ideal” solution? Perhaps philanthropy and yachts are higher priorities.
Personally, my husband and I could afford more expensive cars than we drive but neither of us is a car person. We care about utility and little else. When a salesperson checks our…
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
By Julie Jacobson
Oh, don't yell at me for promoting an advertiser. This new online ad from NetStreams just jumped out at me.
It's an interesting marketing campaign for NetStreams, which recently dropped out of AVAD and is now selling its IP-based A/V distribution products direct to dealer.
I don't know and I don't care whose decision it was for NetStreams and AVAD to part ways. The fact is, NetStreams is taking the opportunity to remind customers that dealer-direct sales = love.
What do you think?
Posted by Julie Jacobson on 08/31 at 03:14 PM
Blogs, Audio, Multiroom Audio, Video, Multiroom Video, Distributors, (7) Comments, Permalink
Blogs, Audio, Multiroom Audio, Video, Multiroom Video, Distributors, (7) Comments, Permalink
Apple is holding an event September 1 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco at 10 a.m. PDT. But what will it announce?
By Steve Crowe
Most of you probably already know, but Apple is hosting an event Wednesday at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco at 10 a.m. PDT.
September has typically been the month Apple releases new iPod hardware. The rumor mill, as it does with any Apple announcement, is running rampant. Some of the rumors include:
It says Apple will likely announce a revised version of the iPhone 4 (50% chance), a new iPod Nano (40%), Apple TV priced at $99 (33%), and/or a new iPod touch (28%).
We want to hear your predictions. Head over to our Forums and answer the poll question and leave your thoughts about tomorrow's event.
September has typically been the month Apple releases new iPod hardware. The rumor mill, as it does with any Apple announcement, is running rampant. Some of the rumors include:
- An iPad with a smaller screen
- Add iPhone 4’s “Retina” display and front-facing camera to iPod touch
- New iPod Shuffle or Nano
- Changes to Apple TV
It says Apple will likely announce a revised version of the iPhone 4 (50% chance), a new iPod Nano (40%), Apple TV priced at $99 (33%), and/or a new iPod touch (28%).
We want to hear your predictions. Head over to our Forums and answer the poll question and leave your thoughts about tomorrow's event.
By Julie Jacobson
Because Target already provides such great support for children's clothing and plastic containers, it's no wonder the retail giant is moving on to consumer electronics.
"Target expands presence in consumer electronics," pronounces Minnesota Public Radio.
Already, St. Paul, Minn.-based Target is accepting used consumer electronics in Northern California, offering shoppers a Target gift card in return -- about $25 for an older iPod or mobile phone, and $7 for a used video game, according to MPR.
The trade-in program will roll out to all 850 Target stores by the end of this year.
Next up: free technical support via telephone:
In what may be the understatement of the year, MPR reports,…
"Target expands presence in consumer electronics," pronounces Minnesota Public Radio.
Already, St. Paul, Minn.-based Target is accepting used consumer electronics in Northern California, offering shoppers a Target gift card in return -- about $25 for an older iPod or mobile phone, and $7 for a used video game, according to MPR.
The trade-in program will roll out to all 850 Target stores by the end of this year.
Next up: free technical support via telephone:
Customers can call with questions such as how to sync their iPods with their computers, or how to set up wireless home networks. The help line is available nationwide to anyone who buys an electronic item at Target. All they have to do is provide a receipt number.
Dave Heupel, an analyst with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, expects free tech help will be a big hit with consumers.
"As you get into some of these areas like televisions and phones and some of the more complex items in consumer electronics, customers really feel lost if they don't feel they have someone to call," said Heupel. "So I think this is a step in the right direction, to try to drive home that you can find a good value here and we'll also provide you the support as well."
In what may be the understatement of the year, MPR reports,…
Friday, August 27, 2010
By Julie Jacobson
Apple fans always seem to temper their glowing reviews of the i-screens with this caveat: "If only it could stream Netflix."
Guess what? Now it can!
The free Netflix app is now available through iTunes and I just downloaded it. It took about 15 seconds to find and download the app, and another 10 seconds to start watching "The Karate Kid" on the small screen. The movie began streaming right away, and the playback was surprisingly fluid -- no choppy action like I tend to get while streaming Hulu over a wired home network.
So what's the problem? It doesn't make much sense.
You see, my entire i-screen collection consists of one iPod Touch. The screen is too small to enjoy a bedtime movie, and the device is too tethered to WiFi to use on the airplane or in the DMV line.
Now ... If only Apple and Netflix would somehow let me borrow a movie for playback on my iPod while I'm on the road ... or if only I had an iPhone (for mobility) or iPad (for size).
Yeah, OK, so I'm a little pathetic
By Rachel Cericola
James Cameron is out pimping the re-release of "Avatar."
As part of the press tour, the acclaimed director stopped by G4's "Attack of the Show" to display a little something that made him a boatload of money - the Fusion Camera System.
The camera looks, well, kind of like a camera. Cameron explains it nicely and displays quite a bit of humor in the clip. Take a look below, get out your checkbook, and go make your own "Avatar!"
"Avatar: Special Edition" will be released exclusively into 3D theaters Friday, August 27, 2010.
As part of the press tour, the acclaimed director stopped by G4's "Attack of the Show" to display a little something that made him a boatload of money - the Fusion Camera System.
The camera looks, well, kind of like a camera. Cameron explains it nicely and displays quite a bit of humor in the clip. Take a look below, get out your checkbook, and go make your own "Avatar!"
"Avatar: Special Edition" will be released exclusively into 3D theaters Friday, August 27, 2010.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
By Stuart Lipoff
Over the last 30 years, I have seen many smart people invest much money and effort chasing an unrealized promise: explosive growth in home automation.
The promise of a new category to be installed in the 100 million U.S. households is highly seductive, but it's time to consider lessons learned from past failures. Analysis of the opportunities for home automation is a two-step process consisting of understanding the success criteria and determining if enough has changed in the last 30 years to reach the tipping point.
The success criteria for a new CE category are not unlike that of any new product:
Automation Still Isn't Mainstream
The first advance in home automation beyond mechanical timers to turn on lights and set-back thermostats was the X10 power line carrier system developed in 1975. This successful technology lives on today.
However, the total size of the market for X10 has been very limited compared to mainstream CE products. X10's success can be attributed to a stable, mature, technical standard supported by multiple respected OEMs with inexpensive devices that can be easily installed by consumers. Because the benefits of remote control of lights are modest, the adoption has been modest.
…
The promise of a new category to be installed in the 100 million U.S. households is highly seductive, but it's time to consider lessons learned from past failures. Analysis of the opportunities for home automation is a two-step process consisting of understanding the success criteria and determining if enough has changed in the last 30 years to reach the tipping point.
The success criteria for a new CE category are not unlike that of any new product:
- Screaming benefits with favorable cost/benefit ratios
- Painless pathways to implementation
- Social acceptance of the applications
Automation Still Isn't Mainstream
The first advance in home automation beyond mechanical timers to turn on lights and set-back thermostats was the X10 power line carrier system developed in 1975. This successful technology lives on today.
However, the total size of the market for X10 has been very limited compared to mainstream CE products. X10's success can be attributed to a stable, mature, technical standard supported by multiple respected OEMs with inexpensive devices that can be easily installed by consumers. Because the benefits of remote control of lights are modest, the adoption has been modest.
…
Posted by Stuart Lipoff on 08/25 at 07:36 AM
Blogs, Home Automation and Control, (23) Comments, Permalink
Blogs, Home Automation and Control, (23) Comments, Permalink
By Julie Jacobson
Remember when iPods were all the rage, and integrators were giving them away as sources for a new multiroom audio system?
Now many of you are doing the same with iPads: Buy a home-control system, get a free iPad.
When I last spoke with Mark Buzzard of Sacramento-based Liberty Bell Alarm & Home Theater, he was on his way to close a Control4 prospect that responded to this email blast and blog posting:
Buzzard tells us, "The Control4 app for iPad control is awesome and even more reliable than the SR remotes that come with the controllers. We are getting lots of interest from our marketing efforts and demonstrations of the iPad and Control4."
Are you enticing customers and prospects with a shiny new slate? Let us know how it's going in the comments section below.
Now many of you are doing the same with iPads: Buy a home-control system, get a free iPad.
When I last spoke with Mark Buzzard of Sacramento-based Liberty Bell Alarm & Home Theater, he was on his way to close a Control4 prospect that responded to this email blast and blog posting:
Buzzard tells us, "The Control4 app for iPad control is awesome and even more reliable than the SR remotes that come with the controllers. We are getting lots of interest from our marketing efforts and demonstrations of the iPad and Control4."
Are you enticing customers and prospects with a shiny new slate? Let us know how it's going in the comments section below.
