All Products Filed in Video

Tuesday, September 07, 2010

In the world of high-performance home theater Kaleidescape has established its product line as a go-to source component to provide users with an easy and reliable way to manage and playback their music and movie files.

On Sept. 2 the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based manufacturer of residential entertainment servers announced its new iPhone application. Kaleidescape says the app will allow users of its products to more easily shop for movies.

The app scans a DVD or Blu-ray disc barcode and then notifies users if they have that title in their content libraries and what format the video is stored. The app also provides users with information from its Movie Guide feature, which includes movie descriptions; who directed and starred in the movie, aspect ratios, running times and ratings.

Michael Malcom, chairman and CEO of Kaleidescape, says new iPhone app provides users with another tool that enhances their home theater experience. "This new app broadens the value of the rich information in our exclusive Movie Guide by making it available to our customers when they are shopping,” he says.

“It also extends the elegance and simplicity of the Kaleidescape experience beyond the home.”

Kaleidescape dealers and their clients can go to Apple's iTunes web site to download the app.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Increasingly, the idea of adding an external drive to a computer to expand its storage capabilities is becoming a thing of the past. Instead more people are adding network attached storage (NAS) devices, which provide additional storage and backup opportunities with remote access for multiple users.

Netgear recently went as far to proclaim the death of local media storage when it announced its ReadyNAS line of networked storage devices. The manufacturer says its new Ultra family of two-, four- and six-bay NAS units are designed to fill needs of networked homes, small- to medium-sized businesses and larger companies that need secondary storage options.

What makes the DLNA-certified line a natural complement to home use is its media-shifting options that allow installers to setup a home media network that offers a centralized location for media and file storage, and the ability to stream HD content to TiVOs and mobile devices.

Netgear says the line employs its drag-and-drop file management technologies, as well as X-RAID2 functionality.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Right now Apple's iPad is certainly a hot product for installers to integrate into their home control systems solutions, but there are other touchpanel products on the market that installers can use.

Home Automation, Inc.'s (HAI) new OmniTouchPro home control software is designed to be versatile whole-house control/automation solution that enables CE Pros to use third-party touchpanels in their home automation system installations.

HAI says the software (part number 1131) is the same interface that it runs on its Omnitouch 5.7e, 10p and 10pe touchpanels, and that it will run on most third-party touchpanels that employ Microsoft Windows XP, Vista and Win7.

Once installed and setup as part of a system, the software can be used by homeowners to access and control their security, lighting, HVAC, audio/video and other electronics sub-systems. Installers can also customize the appearance of the interface through the use of color choices, icons, floorplans, room-specific pages and other elements.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

There's no question that powerline technologies have advanced far beyond the Clapper.

A good example of how far the technologies have advanced can be found in Western Digital's WD Livewire Powerline AV Network kit.

Western Digital says the product is compatible with the HomePlug AV powerline networking standard and it allows CE Pros to retrofit a home with network connections by using its existing electrical outlets.

The Lake Forest, Calif.-based computing company says the system offers 200Mbps of data transfer speeds and enough ports to support the connection of seven networked devices, which could be anything from a console gaming system, to a Blu-ray Disc player with BD Live technologies.

Western Digital adds the powerline solution also supports 1080p video streams and its set up is plug-and-play to facilitate quick installations.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Currently there's a lot of talk of cloud computing and rumors of a super Apple iTunes platform that could eventually let consumers access their entire iTunes library from anyway.

Until those rumors turn into actual products however the need for storage is still important for anyone that owns a computer.

Data Robotics, Inc.'s Drobo line of data storage products features five series of components that can be used for everything from movie and music file storage in a residential home network, to critical data backup in a commercial business LAN.

Using the BeyondRaid storage technology that is said to protect data from hard drive crashes, the basic Drobo holds as many as four hard drives, and it can be expanded at any time to supports multiple terabytes of storage.

The unit can be used for Apple-, Linux- and Windows-based computers, and installers can use either FireWire 800 or USB to connect to a computer.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Pioneer Electronics has earned respect for its line of mainstream consumer electronics products that balance, cost, performance and value.

The company's Elite line of Blu-ray disc players have been cited as some of the best products on the market and now with the latest generation of Pioneer Elite Blu-ray players hitting the market, the company has built upon the performance of the players by adding Web streaming and wireless connectivity.

Pioneer Elite's mid-level BDP-31FD incorporates the company's PQLS jitter reduction technology for use with a companion Pioneer Elite receiver, as well as other installer-friendly features such as RS-232 for third-party control system integration, iPod Touch/iPhone control apps, BD-Live support, and the ability to stream Web-based content from media sites like Netflix.com and Youtube.com.

Installers can set up the Web-enabled BDP-31FD by connecting a traditional Ethernet cable to its Ethernet port, or in a retrofit situation, employ Pioneer's optional wireless AS-WL100 USB wireless adapter, which provides installers with the ability to integrate the player's Web functions with a homeowner's existing wireless network.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Within the world of custom electronics the mere reference of the manufacturer VIZIO usually elicits a variety of opinions.

There is however no disputing the company's popularity. The Calif.-based company is one of the most popular manufacturers in the entire world of consumer electronics.

On Aug. 20 the company announced that its Xtreme VIZIO Technology (XVT) TruLED LED LCD televisions have started to ship. The line of products includes a range of five screen sizes: 32 inch, 37 inch, 42 inch, 47 inch and 55 inch, and they incorporate the company's Smart Dimming LED dimming technology, dual-band 802.11n wireless Internet connectivity, VIZIO's Web apps, and multiple HDMI inputs.

In addition, all of the TVs offer VIZIO's Smooth Motion video processing, IR/Bluetooth remote controls that include QWERTY keyboards and full backlit LED lighting for improved contrast ratios.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

With new housing starts still lagging and the economy continuing to splutter along, installers are now moving into the retrofit market.

Middleton, Wisc.-based Intelix's new DIGI-HD-COAX A/V extender enables custom installers to walk into an existing home and distribute high-definition video signals over a single coax cable.

The solution works with a home's existing RG-59 and RG-6 cables and the company says it can transmit 1080p video up to 300 feet and 1080i up to 675 feet. In addition, the transmission solution also includes signal amplification technologies to allow installers to daisy chain a system to feed as many as 10 displays.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

For years SurgeX has developed and engineered power protection products for the commercial market.

Now after dabbling in the residential channel, the company has fully committed to bringing its its commercial-grade technologies to the custom installation market through the release of its XU115 AC Surge Eliminator and Power Conditioner.

The XU115 is the first product in the N.C.-based company's Eliminator Series, and SurgeX says the unit includes its Impedance Tolerant EMI/RFI noise filtering, as well as its browser-based powered management options for remote control of power settings and other diagnostic functions.

In addition, the 2U-high XU115 also provides voltage regulation, UPS backup and the company's proprietary Advanced Series Mode surge protection technology that is said to eliminate all surges up to 3,000 volts and 3,000 amps with no residual harm like voltage let-through and ground contamination.

Monday, August 16, 2010

It's amazing how fast the market for 3D televisions is developing. About this time a year ago 3D televisions were wildly expensive when compared to traditional flat-panel televisions, but today with companies like Panasonic pushing down the price points for 3D televisions, the technologies are becoming more approachable for a wider group of consumers.

Panasonic's newly announced additions to its VIERA GT25 Series of plasma televisions provides consumers with a choice of two affordable 3D televisions. The 42-inch TC-P42G25 and 50-inch TC-P50GT25 both offer users the company's 600Hz Sub-field video processing technology, 1080p resolutions, VIERA Image Viewer (for viewing still photos), 24fps (frame-per-second) compatibility, active-shutter 3D, and VIERA Link for the streaming of Web content from Netflix, Amazon On-Demand, Pandora and Twitter.

Henry Hauser, vice president of merchandising, display group for Panasonic, says that Panasonic has been at the forefront of the 3D market and now with the release of these two new 3D televisions, consumers will now be able save money while purchasing state-of-art televisions. "From the beginning, Panasonic has led the charge into the immersive world of 3D home entertainment by offering end-to-end 3D home entertainment solutions, including full HD 3D VIERA plasma TVs, 3D Blu-ray disc players, professional and consumer 3D camcorders, the nation's first suite of 3D TV channels with partner DirecTV, and the authoring of 3D Blu-ray movies in cooperation with the Hollywood studios," he says.

"The debut of our VIERA GT25 Series of full HD 3D TVs further expands our portfolio of 3D offerings and makes it even easier for consumers to join the immersive world of full HD 3D for the home."

The televisions also include the ability to convert 2D content to 3D, and the TVs, which are priced at $1,700 and $2,100 respectively, also require consumers to purchase 3D glasses separately to view the content.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

With devices like Blu-ray players, HDTVs and streaming devices becoming commodity items, these products are more accessible than ever to a broader range of consumers.

Audio Authority's new HXE-11 HDMI over Coax system provides installers a simple way of connecting those devices and facilitating their clients' high-definition home theater needs.

The system is capable of transmitting and receiving 1080p video and lossless audio over a single RG-6 cable for more than 200 feet.

The Lexington, Ken.-based manufacturer says that the system, which is comprised of a Model 1341T Transmitter and the Model 1341R Receiver, provides installers with an alternative to balun-based Cat-5 solutions.

Audio Authority adds the coax system is HDCP compliant, and that it's set up is plug-and-play with no programming required.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Throughout the history of the custom electronics market, there's been a handful of brands that have supported the channel's growth.

One of those companies is Runco, and recently, the luxury manufacturer of projection and flat-panel video displays introduced two new projectors: the Signature Cinema SC-50d and SC-60d.

Runco has engineered the projectors to reproduce bright, rich pictures through its use of dual UHP lamps and three-chip Texas Instruments' (TI) DLP 1080 chipsets. In addition, the company also includes its external DHD video processor and CineWide with AutoScope technologies for noise-free, aspect-ratio correct image reproduction.

The Ore.-based manufacturer also says the projectors are 3D ready to support both passive and active 3D technologies, and through the use of Runco's Smart Lens system and ISF calibration provisions, installers can calibrate the projectors with preset lens and iris memory for use with masking screens.

Monday, August 09, 2010

With Apple, Inc. continuing to innovate on the mainstream level of consumer electronics, its products are finding ways into the specialty custom electronics market through the industry's acceptance of its hardware and software solutions.

The latest company adopting Apple's technologies to drive the use of its custom-oriented product line is Remote Technologies Incorporated (RTI). RTI's new RTiPanel App for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad enables users to control their RTI XP series of remote processor components, including the Minn.-based company's flagship XP-8 processor and its XP-6 and XP-3 products.

RTI says installers can configure the customizable user interface by using its Integration Designer programming software to facilitate the control of their clients' A/V, HVAC, security and home automation devices.

Friday, August 06, 2010

A couple of years ago when the U.K.-based company Meridian introduced its F80 desktop A/V system it raised the performance bar for manufacturers in the all-in-one system category.

The newly announced M80 Compact Entertainment System from the high-performance A/V manufacturer offers ergonomically challenged homeowners the same basic technology platform as the F80, which includes a 2.1 speaker system driven by an 80-watt amplifier, digital signal processing (DSP), a slot-loaded CD/DVD player, an AM/FM tuner and multiple digital and analog inputs, with the addition of several new finishes and the company's i80 iPod dock.

Meridian says each M80 is hand built in its Cambridgeshire, England facilities, and its new leather exteriors---available in black, chestnut and ivory---are hand sewn in Northhampton, England.

The elliptically shaped M80's exterior also includes a organic light emitting diode (OLED) display that features an automatic brightness control that adjusts the display's light level to match the ambient light levels in the room. The companion gloss-black i80 iPod dock enables users to access and their music from the system's front panel or by remote control. In addition, the dock automatically charges an iPod so that a user never leaves home with a depleted iPod.

Thursday, August 05, 2010

Energy management has been an up and coming technology trend for quite some time and now custom installers can offer these services through Panamax and Furman's BluBOLT version 1.2 firmware update.

The new update allows CE Pros to input energy rates specific to components and their locations. With this information the companies say, the newly updated BlueBOLT technologies will calculate the energy consumption of the products plugged into the BlueBOLT-enabled power conditioners. The technology platform will then report this information in real time, log the information and provide data that can be viewed on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

In addition, Furman and Panamax say that users can set the information to be viewed as kilowatt hours or dollars.