Rack ‘em Up: Sliding Equipment Racks Versus Built-In Systems

Creating a home theater system for a custom-built home is equal parts skill, knowledge and creative drive for an electronic systems contractor. With high-quality products from lines like Crestron, Prodigy, Genesis and Runco, owners have a wide range of options to choose from when it comes to creating the system of their dreams.


While the focus is often on the technology contained in a system, it is important for both installation technicians and builders to consider the homeowner’s ease of access to the theater system itself, and this can take one of two forms – a sliding equipment rack or a built-in option.


Sliding racks typically use rails to allow electronic systems equipment to remain recessed when not needed, but pulled out and rotated when access is required. Built-in racks are intended to permanently house equipment that must be manually removed in order to be adjusted.


Both systems have their advantages - sliding racks come in a variety of sizes and strengths, and allow both home theater experts and builders to quickly diagnose and correct any problems. Built-in racks do not offer the same speed of access, but can be custom-created to suit a room’s décor or adjusted to meet a client’s expectations with the use of a skilled designer or tradesman.


Racks of both types can be a welcome, logistical addition to a home theater room; and which one is chosen can be based largely on client preference – speed or style.

Five Essential Factors for Custom Home Theater Design

Custom homebuilders are doing more work than ever, and thanks to readily available information on the Internet, homeowners have become a great deal savvier about what they want to see created in their custom homes. These builders must then obtain a range of skilled subcontracts, from plumbing and electrical to electronics systems contractors. Further, when it comes to high-quality theater system creation and installation, there are five things a professional technician can do to help.

Know: What, When, and Who

Builders have to operate on a timeline and within a certain framework laid out by the homeowner. An electronic systems contractor can assist in making sure a home is finished on time and on budget by doing three simple things. Those three things are: knowing what they are going to install, when it needs to be installed, and what assistance they are going to require in the home from other professionals.

For example, if a homeowner wants an A/V cabinet installed in a particular location in the home, a home theater technician can liaise with the framer to ensure that sufficient space is allotted. Technicians also work with electricians to make sure that enough outlets will be available for all of the necessary cabling and wiring that a home theater system will need.

Where and How: Important Up-front Considerations

In addition to working with other contractors in a home, a home theater programmer can also work with builders by providing information about: how much space will be needed for home theater equipment, where in the house it will be going, and how all of the equipment is going to be stored. Speaker dimensions are a key concern in building proper enclosures and obtaining maximum sound quality. Further, how this equipment will be stored – be it slide-out or built-in racks – can also make a difference when it comes to placing other features in the home.

Take architectural speakers as an example. Accommodating these speaker in a home will require proper ceiling wiring as well as room for housing, an element that a builder must be aware of prior to beginning work. Or, consider custom-made speakers by Triad – the company offers a range of custom-built speakers and housings that must have space allotted for them in the home.

In addition, electronic systems contractors must consider the need for cooling and ventilation of systems. Options like Runco 3D projectors or motorized TV lifts must be properly maintained in order to ensure smooth functioning, and a builder must know about such systems in advance to account for them.

By being upfront about what, when, who, where and how, an electronic systems contractor can help smooth the custom-home building process.

Triad Speakers – A Triple Threat In Custom Sound

High-quality speaker systems are about more than just the parts that go into them. A true custom solution for whole-home sound should be a top-of-the-line speaker designed with the end user in mind.

Triad has been making quality sound products for over 25 years and custom creates every speaker, amplifier, and subwoofer that leaves their Portland, Oregon factory. Over 95% of all Triad products are manufactured on North American soil.

Triad serves the premium sound industry by focusing on three key points:

1) Quality Construction

Instead of particle-board, the company uses high-grade MDF. Where wood screws might be used, Triad opts for brass fittings. Custom veneer and paint options are also available.

2) High-Fidelity Sound

Triad speakers aren’t intended to sound like “Triad speakers,” but to accurately represent and amplify the true nature of the sound being produced. Each Triad speaker, regardless of size or design, is intended to provide a near-perfect sound experience.

3) New Product Development

Triad is not satisfied with producing only for today – the company is on the cutting edge of sound technology as well. Their newest lines of DSP Subwoofers, PlateAmps and RackAmps offer between a full 300 and 1000 watts of power in the space of only a single rack, all for the same price as their previous generation of subwoofers.

Without compromise, Triad has advanced in the field of premium audio, as is evident in their construction, sound, and product development.

Runco’s WindowWall Offers More Than a Pretty Picture

Runco has long been known as a leader in the fields of high-quality home theater and whole-home entertainment; they have now taken their product line to the next level with the introduction of the WindowWall.

Intended to create a “unique visual lifestyle solution,” the WindowWall is a combination television and digital photograph display that can easily enhance the look and feel of any room in a home.

With an ultra-thin profile at only 7.3mm and a range of configuration options – 3x3, 2x2 and 5x4 faceted, to name a few – a Runco WindowWall is aesthetically pleasing to the eye and the home.

The WindowWall can display anything from still images to broadcast programming, and can also be set up for video conferencing. With a native resolution at 4098 x 2403 and scalable to 1080p and 720p, the WindowWall is able to accommodate any functional user need and return to a stunning still image when its video capabilities are not required.

Featuring Runco’s signature design and all-around quality, the WindowWall is a stunning choice for a homeowner looking to not only increase the visual functionality of their home, but also do so in a way that is both subtle and stylish.

With a myriad of installation options and customization configurations, the WindowWall is a step forward in the fusion of home theater function and the beauty and elegance of form – all backed by Runco, an industry and technology leader.

Smart and Savvy Homeowners - The Price of Perfection

For professional A/V installers, some of the best jobs available come from savvy and well-positioned homeowners - those clients that have the means and the desire to purchase high quality A/V products. As home theater systems become more powerful and easier to access, more and more wealthy homeowners are looking to create a theater-like experience in their homes, complete with features like specialty lighting, Runco 3D projection systems, and whole-home control panels.

Opportunity for Advancement – The Creation of a Custom System

The creation of a home theater system for tech-smart customers can be a significant milestone for a business, as a satisfied customer can mean free word of mouth advertising as well as reputation gains. The opportunity to build a high-quality system also gives an installation technician the chance to shine, to bring their skills at creation and artistry to the forefront. Many wealthy homeowners will have an idea of what they would like that goes beyond the simple “home theater” model and will speak to specific product lines such as Creston and their whole-home U-Panel control options, along with options such as Digital Media. Homeowners know what they want - the best - and options such as the new Creston line are both impressive and versatile.


Easy to Avoid Pitfalls – Making the Best of a New Client Relationship

First are the issues surrounding the quality of the products being installed. Techs need to be certain that they are using the exact products asked for, and if these are not available or cannot be used, they need to communicate why. It is, after all, the client's hard-earned money that is paying for the system, and it is in the best interest of both technician and homeowner to know exactly what types of products are being installed and when.

Next, be aware of questions concerning how products operate. A technician must be careful to confirm with homeowners what they expect from the system when it is finished. Often, technology companies advertise their products in such a way that they appear to be capable of more than they are. A professional technician will meet with the homeowner to discuss how the end system will look, as well as how it will perform when it is first utilized. A superior service technician will be able to craft a system that not only comprises the elements requested by a homeowner, but that also performs exactly as stated, bringing the theater experience directly into a home.

Communication as King – The Rise of the Savvy Homeowner

Technicians can easily ensure they side-step these problems by remembering that homeowners are now tech-savvy, and need only the basics of home theater details in order to understand their functioning. Superior communication gives techs the freedom they need to create a theater system that is a work of art while simultaneously providing homeowners with the peace of mind that they deserve.

Theater of the Lost – The Trouble with Home Theater System Installation

According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders, 25% of all homeowners rate the inclusion of a high-quality theater system in their home as either “important” or “very important.” As both options for Audio-Visual (A/V) systems grow and technology becomes more mainstream, this number will only grow. Despite the desire for these systems, however, one of the major challenges for general contractors and homeowners alike is the process of installation.

The Contractor’s Challenge – Effectiveness and Efficiency

For anyone in a general contracting position, two things are paramount when it comes to A/V technology – the speed at which the technology can be installed and its effectiveness once it is in place. Major hurdles faced by contractors directly employed by homeowners are that an A/V tech will be unable to properly install home theatres, or will make an error that will require the contractor to undo some of the work, which has already been completed.

Contractors require an A/V installation company that not only knows its own products, but has the ability to consistently communicate timelines and progress, enabling the entire contracting project to be completed on-time.

The Homeowner's Challenge – People and Professionals

From the perspective of a homeowner, the fewer people that are working in the home, the better. The installation of high-quality A/V systems necessitates the presence of a professional home theater technician in the home, and if the A/V installation is part of a larger process, this technician may be simply one of many.

For a homeowner, knowing who is in their home and for what exact purpose they are there for, is paramount in feeling both safe and comfortable with the installation process. A technician that is both professional in appearance and can easily relay updates to the general contractor and homeowner directly, can go a long way to making the process as seamless as possible.

The Technology Challenge – It Just Has To Work

Both contractors and homeowners are at the mercy of the one facet of technology they cannot control – does it actually work? Clunky control systems, poor reception and complicated explanations from A/V technicians can all contribute to frustration on the part of both a builder and a homeowner.

When A/V, cutting-edge technology is installed in a home, it must:
• Work properly
• Operate simply
• Come at a reasonable cost

Premium A/V systems demand a premium price. However, to ensure that homeowners and contractors are willing to do business with a company and recommend them, home theater installation technicians and their technology must be effective, of high-quality, and straight forward.

Interior Frustrations – Designers and A/V Installers

 Interior designers face a bright future as more and more homeowners turn to these aesthetic experts to bring a sense of fun and joy to their homes. Along with interest in whole-home redesigns, owners are also seeking a complete home theater experience, and are in need of qualified technicians to provide them with a truly immersive sound and video package.

The devil in home renovation projects lies in the details, which is something that both designers and installers must contend with. Sometimes, conflicts can arise between a designer and installation technician if necessary electronic components cause an aesthetic concern or interfere with the use of a space. Good communication and professionalism from both parties can help to alleviate this concern and allow the two experts to work out a mutually acceptable solution.

In order for an A/V installer to assist an interior designer and expedite the project, it’s a good idea for the technician to streamline the process by letting the designer know what they are going to install and when. Options such as invisible speakers or display lifts can help to minimize the visual impact of the equipment and help designers and installers work together to complete a project. Installers and designers are seeking to accomplish the same goal: to make the homeowner happy. By working together, this goal is accomplished far more easily, and in such a way that both professionals are able to do their best work.

Best Laid Plans – The Architect and A/V Challenges

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) shows a significant upward trend in the number of “owner built” homes over the course of the last four years. While the number of “spec homes” has remained high, it has dropped from 80% of all homes on the market to just 2/3, and homeowners have been finding ways to create homes that are not simply well-built, but that are built with their needs in mind.

In order to create a custom-built home, owners must deal with a number of professionals, and chief among those professionals are architects. The overall “vision” of any home project rests with the architect, and a great deal of responsibility for the reaction of the homeowner to their new home lies in their hands. Unfortunately, architects are often confronted with tradesmen and contractors that are not able to deliver on time or are unable to live up to the high standards of professionalism demanded by architectural work. One area where this can be a significant issue is in high-quality audio-visual installation.


Sounds like A Good Idea – The Role of A/V in a Custom Home

For owners who have the means to build their own home and the time to invest in making sure their vision of the home is achieved, high-end audio-visual equipment and home theater systems are often high on the list of “must-haves.” With a myriad of options now available for home theater systems – from wireless control options to whole-home entertainment and thermostat operations panels – homeowners have more than ever to choose from. In order to ensure that their preferred A/V system is installed correctly, a homeowner must hire a professional installation company that not only sells the products they want, but services them as well. Unfortunately, these companies can often present a problem for architects.

Start To Finish – Where Architects See A/V

For an A/V technician, a home is seen as a place to be made more entertaining – they see how a big screen television, surround sound system and 3D projector assembly could make the home more enjoyable.

For an architect, an A/V system is merely a small part of the overall plan, and the technician that comes to install it must not only know what they are doing, but be able to do it within the guidelines set out by the design. Plans for homes are specific, down to the last inch and detail, and A/V technicians who are sloppy in their installation or unprofessional in their conduct can make a home building project extremely difficult. Even worse are installation companies with little coordination or scheduling abilities – an architect needs to know when each contractor will be coming to work, and when the work will be done.

Architects and A/V technicians can co-exist, but a dedicated and knowledgeable A/V technician is required in order to help a custom home plan to stand out from the crowd.

Apple IOS 4.2 Airs On The Side Of Awesome

As of November 1, 2010, Apple completed the “golden master” version of its latest IOS update for the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad. Version 4.2 is the first upgrade that will bring the functionality of IOS 4 to the iPad, and includes a number of new features that aim to make Apple’s range of mobile devices even more user-friendly.

Users can expect to see this version of the IOS within a week or two if previous releases are any indication, and app developers are now able to submit and tweak their apps for the final release version, meaning that most will be up and running when the upgrade hits.

From a proprietary Apple perspective, the most important advancements in this IOS are AirPrint and AirPlay. AirPrint will allow users to wirelessly send documents to printers, while AirPlay will allow them to transmit music or video to a supported receiver.

At the moment, both AirPrint and AirPlay are fairly limited in functionality – the Print is focused on HP printers and the Play mostly on Apple TVs and similar devices, but this is merely the first iteration. Just as the iPhone and iPad IOS has become far more functional from 3 to 4 and now 4.2, AirPrint and AirPlay will also evolve.

For high-quality A/V users and those with cutting-edge home theatre systems, this means the ability to use their Apple device to wirelessly stream their favorite music or video is enroute.

Creston Focuses On Prodigal Fun with Its New Line

Creston is one of the most respected names in the home theatre and automation industries. Known for their high quality, Creston products have long been sought after by connoisseurs and sound enthusiasts alike.

To both stay ahead of the curve and offer their line of high-quality A/V products to the broadest range of consumers, Creston has developed their Prodigy line, which focuses on a combination of whole-home automation in a simple to use package.

Simple? Absolutely. Taking advantage of the latest in wireless technology, the Prodigy control center can be easily installed in any home and connected to televisions and audio systems, along with thermostats and lighting. The Creston Prodigy line makes it possible to control the entire ambiance of a room with a simple touch of a button – and with no need for complex wiring.

In addition to quality, Creston has also taken into account the need for affordability, and has made the Prodigy line extremely scalable. Start with a wireless home theatre center, and then branch out to heating or lighting control, all from the same basic platform. With a simple interface, the Prodigy control center gives ultimate control at any level.

Prodigy is also smart enough to act on its own and help you save money by intelligently adjusting lighting and temperature when no one is around. Backed up by the Creston brand and with features unmatched in the industry, Prodigy is cutting-edge technology in an affordable package.

Installation of 103" Plasma

The Kiwi Team out in the field during a recent install

Runco 3D Projections Run Away With The High-End 3D Market

The future of home theatre is 3D if statistics from Japan - the home television innovation - are any indication. According to a Goo survey from July of 2010, 24% of those polled wanted a 3D television set in their homes, even if they’d never seen one in action before. This kind of potential market penetration for high-quality 3D home theatre experiences has led to the design of top-end 3D projectors – for example the Runco 3DimensionSeries D-73d.

Long known for their superb home electronics, Runco is now making the leap into stereoscopic 3D with their new line of projectors. Using Runco’s proprietary Constant Stereoscopic Vision design, the projector is able to provide a movie-theatre quality 3D viewing experience using what are known as “passive” glasses. These proprietary shades contain no electronics or wiring, and are thus far less susceptible to environmental issues such as varied lighting or multiple electronic devices in a room.

The Runco D-73d is sleek and compact, easily fitting into a variety of aesthetic visions for a home theatre space. Add to that the fact that the projector is able to flawlessly display both 3D and 2D video in a native 1080p DLP 16x9 mode, and this Runco model is a standout as a marker for the next generation of 3D.

For anyone looking to take their home theatre space to the next level, the Runco 3Dimension Series of projectors are the current pinnacle of the industry.

New Apple TV Brings Sleek Sophistication Home

Apple is known for user-friendly products such as the iPod and iPad, but has had little success in the high-quality A/V market as their first two versions of the Apple TV were bulky and difficult to use. Hoping to change all that, Apple has now released the third iteration of its Apple TV box, a streaming, cloud-based TV and movie player for home theatre enthusiasts.

The specs look promising: it can display streaming TV in 720p, not as high as a Blu-Ray player, but a significant improvement over other TV boxes; uses the A4 1Ghz processor from the iPad, 802.11N Wi-Fi; and can be controlled using the Apple remote app on the iPod or iPad. Overall, it’s a significant A/V improvement from the last two versions.

The new Apple TV is also far smaller than any other TV box out there – only 4 inches across and less than 1 inch high, it blends in seamlessly to a high-quality home theatre system. So seamlessly, in many cases, that guests can’t even tell where it is located in the room.

For a homeowner considering a home theatre system installation using cutting-edge technology, the new Apple TV might just be something to consider. With sleek, fast menus and a growing library of TV and movies to choose from, in combination with a tiny space footprint, Apple is likely to be a major player in the high-end A/V market for the first time, and home theatre enthusiasts stand to significantly benefit from this technology.

How Apple Integration Can Enhance A Home Theatre Atmosphere

The new face of high-quality A/V and home theatre includes not only a focus on green technologies such as automation and solar power, but also on complete synchronicity of all system parts. Consumers have high standards for the products they purchase not only in terms of overall quality and installation, but also in terms of ease of functionality. Two devices that are now frequently becoming home theatre integrated are the iPad and iPhone.

iPads are gaining home theatre functionality with the emergence of apps such as the one from Creston. Creston offers a free app download in the form of Creston Mobile which turns the iPad into a 2-way touch panel that can be made to work with any Creston product. This instantly gives the user the ability to create a self-designed remote control layout that can wirelessly turn on and manipulate all aspects of their home theatre experience – from lights and sound to video and action.

The integration of Apple devices into existing home theatre systems means greater ease of control for users and a broader range of functions for the iPhone, iPod and iPad.

Enhancing Your Outdoor Living Space With High Quality Audio

High-quality indoor A/V systems are intended to give a home theatre atmosphere a feeling of luxury and completeness – the sense of being separate and apart from a “traditional” television room while still maintaining a sense of familiarity and comfort. One of the marks of an A/V installation master is to create a sound atmosphere in which listeners do not know exactly where the crisp and crystal-clear sound is coming from. While this has been nearly perfected by high-quality A/V providers for indoor systems, many clients are now looking to add seamless audio integration to their outdoor living spaces.

 This can pose a challenge for even technical wizards, and hiring a company with a reputation for both quality and performance is essential when creating an outdoor audio system. Outdoor speakers have evolved from their bulky progenitors, and are now made to order, with current models on the market shaped like rocks, small outdoor lights, or even taking the form of fully-functional planter boxes. In addition, items such as subwoofers can now be buried underground to create a bass effect unlike any felt in a home. Take a look at our product listing to see all of these items in their full detail: http://kiwiav.com/products.html.

By using a company that has expertise working with high-quality A/V materials, homeowners can design an outdoor living area that matches the high standards of their indoor entertainment system. Installed correctly, an outdoor speaker system can create a luxurious oasis of sound that guests will marvel at. For a high-quality indoor or outdoor sound system consultation, contact Kiwi Audio Visual today.

Saving Energy in a Home AV System: A Bright Idea in Solar Technology

Cutting-edge technology, like solar panels, can provide a consistent and renewable energy source for a home. However, they're rarely the first piece of automation technology that a home or business owner decides to implement. Solar panels are usually used as part of an overall automation system designed to decrease the carbon footprint of a building. They're a very useful and ultimately cost effective solution to this end, and fit in well with modern automation technologies.

A successful approach to using a solar panel involves some calculation of solar panel energy storage versus current automation settings. The energy output of the solar panel should be compared with peak building energy usage times and actual energy needs in order to get the most out of automation services; otherwise, energy generated by a solar panel will simply be wasted.


For example, if a home has several 123 watt solar panels that collect the most energy from 2:00-3:00 every day, a home automation system should be set to decrease energy during that time period if at all possible. This allows more energy to be stored by the panels, allowing greater energy efficiency in the home. Larger panels can handle and store more energy, so with a 160 watt panel, automation could be less strict.


The amount of resources being directed toward the furtherance of solar energy speaks loudly to the fact that it will be the next significant power source on our planet. In the state of California, the state government has enacted a rebate plan through the California Solar Initiative. Among other rebates, any home that has solar systems that “are thermally isolated from living space or any other area where the energy is used” is eligible for a property tax exemption up to the full value of the solar system. Federally, and through 2016, solar system owners are eligible for a 30% tax credit.


What this means for homeowners is that wiring in a solar generation or capture system to an existing home automation system can not only cut down on power costs, but lead to state and federal tax reductions as well. Solar generation systems can now be easily tied into existing whole-home or A/V systems, allowing consumers both control of this cutting-edge technology and a way to help contribute to a greener planet while still saving money.

Multi-Use Rooms Vs. Dedicated Theatres

Whether your project involves renovation or new construction, including a home theatre begins a series of other decisions. In order to specify and install optimal systems, all involved need to understand what the space will be used for. If the home theatre is dedicated only to movie watching, some things to consider would be control of the light in the room and seating distances from the display; however, if it will also accommodate family time or gaming, then more room would be needed in front of the seating for activities and game controller connections.

As design professionals, then, you need to consider the ability of your partners to anticipate these questions and ask them at the right time, before the design is final. It is okay to not have all of the answers to technical questions as long as you have the right people standing in the wings ready to help. Tackling these issues now may prevent an additional renovation later. Beyond having asked the right questions, you’ll also need an expert on your design team to propose resourceful, economic, and versatile solutions.

While the challenge may be as simple as finding a location for a projector in the home theatre, even that can be accomplished in many different ways and not all of those solutions will prove successful over time. You need a partner who understands what the trade-offs look like and can help you and the client navigate them to the right conclusion. The Kiwi Audio Visual web site illustrates the level of expertise in high quality audio visual installations required to ensure successful projects.

Lighting Control And How It Can Lower Your Carbon Footprint And Electricity Bills

An integral part of designing the perfect home these days includes anticipating the family’s needs for lighting. The lighting system creates welcoming and livable spaces, transforming new construction or renovation into a home. Fixtures, lamps, lenses and other accessories need to answer to a wide variety of requirements, while the control system ensures the success of the design.

Lighting control creates the right balance of light for any area of the living space, while avoiding glare. Thus, the occupants can illuminate only the required rooms with lighting designed for their activities. In fact, one control system can handle lighting, HVAC, entertainment and security from integrated keypads anywhere; however, this misses perhaps the most important aspect of lighting control.


As energy becomes more costly we all need to reduce our carbon footprint and overall energy usage. Lighting control systems assist here, too. First, reduce the need for electricity by re-lamping from incandescent to more efficient compact fluorescent lamps. Control systems enable users to run fixtures at less than full capacity, extending lamp life, and reducing consumption and operating costs.


Control systems set light levels and prevent using and paying for more wattage than you need. You can also light and extinguish fixtures remotely and avoid burning lights unnecessarily. Finally, reducing your use of electricity will reduce your utility bills, especially important in today’s economic climate.

Home Technology Alliance Update

Builder and ESC Embrace the Value of Sustainable Home Technology

This edition of NAHB's quarterly HTA update is dedicated to a timely topic: green building. Enlisting the help of two design and build industry veterans, we explore their forays into this evolving field, and share with you their experiences, from applicable lessons learned to their opinions about future developments.

Our featured builder this month, John Wesley Miller, chairman of the John Wesley Miller Companies in Tucson, Ariz. recently became the first builder to qualify for certification under the new National Green Building Standards. Our featured electronic systems contractor (ESC) is Gordon van Zuiden, CEDIA board member and president/owner of cyberManor, a company that has set the standards for incorporating sustainable technology into residential building and remodeling projects. Both the builder and ESC share valuable information on this topic intended to educate you about this growing field.
Read more about sustainable home technology

Introducing Google TV

Attention all Wine Enthusiasts!!

There are many ways out there for wine connoisseurs to keep track of their extensive wine collections.  One of the leading wine management systems I have seen for the home is the New eSommelier.

The New eSommelier is easily at the top of the list with its touchscreen PC used to easily search your beautiful wine labels with a swipe of your finger.  You will also be able to filter your wines by winery, vintage, country, region, variety and maturity.  With the included bar code printer and scanner, anyone in your household can easily add a new vintage, organize the collection, and pull a wine to pair with dinner.  Your personal wine consultant can use remote access to make buying, selling and drinking recommendations.  eSommelier also provides on-site services to help organize collections and give training on how to use the system.

Kiwi Audio Visual can provide you with a stand alone system or integrate it into your existing home automation system.  We would be happy to discuss these options with you.  Please contact us if have any questions.

iPad ‘Means Nothing But Good Things’ for Crestron

Touchscreens are only 5 to 8 percent of Crestron’s business, so “I don’t think we’ll go out of business if it all goes to iPad," says VP Randy Klein

Read More

The Ultimate Search Engine

Having the best search engine is becoming more and more important as the content grows and grows up in the cloud.   The newer multimedia search engines are able to access sites like Hulu, YouTube and Boxee as well as searching through your local DVR, Network Attached Storage (NAS) and multi-disc changers.  Some can even search on Amazon UnBox, Blockbuster and Netflix to rent or buy a movie or latest TV show.  This means the options are growing past the basic scrolling TV guide on channel 99 and reaching out to endless reaches of the web to find what you want, when you want it.  I personally have been playing around with the beta version of the TIVO HD search engine and have been having some fun with it.  I have been able to find exactly what I wanted within the first five results each and every time.  This is the future of searching for content..  I still do miss the old small TV Guide sitting on the coffee table.  Whatever happened to those?  Are they collector items now?

Krell Modulari Duo Reference Floorstanding Loudspeakers Reviewed

Krell Modulari Duo Reference Floorstanding Loudspeakers Reviewed

FREE! Kiwi is offering FREE Crestron programming!

On February 9th, DirecTV switched from Sirius-XM     Radio to SonicTap to offer you a better music experience and we couldn't be happier with the new diverse and robust selection of listening options...

www.DirecTV.com

Unfortunately, in making this change, DirecTV's music channel line-up will no longer correspond with your existing Creston remote and touchpanel preset options.


To better serve our clients, we are offering to correct this minor annoyance at no cost to you. Not only will we update your Creston remote or touchpanel DirecTV music presets for FREE, we will also update ALL CABLE CHANNEL PRESETS to ensure your listening, viewing and entire automation experience is flawless.


Schedule Your Appointment Today. To ensure your preset buttons go where they are intended, contact your sales person at (888)567-KIWI to have these quick updates performed on your system.

* Offer runs 02/10/10-03/31/10. Valid only for existing customers who purchased equipment through Kiwi Audio Visual.

Crestron + iPhone = Ultimate Control?

Crestron has an app for that!  The Crestron Mobile Pro app found in the iTunes App store can be downloaded to an iPhone, iPhone 3G, and the iPod touch.  It uses two different ways to communicate with your home automation system.  The first and possibly more robust way is using the 3G network.  This means that you can check the status of your lights in the bathroom from anywhere in the continental US (try not to remember the lack of coverage offered by AT&T)  The second way is using your home wi-fi network or a hotspot at your local Starbucks.  Both of these connections have their own pros and cons.  Without some extensive testing, I will not be able to comment on the response time of the button presses through either of these connections.  I hope to see it in action in the wild soon so more to follow.

Finally saw Avatar: 3D

So now I have something to reference besides a few animated clips from trade shows when discussing 3D.  First off, I have to say that the movie itself was very entertaining and lived up to the hype surrounding it for the last 6 months or so.  As for the 3D....I am still sticking to my opinion that it is a very cool novelty.  Movies like Monsters vs. Aliens, Up and Avatar offer bright, clean colors and graphics but they are supposed to.  That is what makes them the movies that they are.  If 3D makes it into the home are we going to watch How I Met Your Mother in 3D?  The Jersey Shore in 3D?  No way!!  Even a football game might make you a little queasy after a while with all of the motion.  But until they launch ESPN in 3D, here's to good old fashioned HD.  (did I just say old-fashioned HD?)

The biggest thing to come out of CES 2010.

When my employer walked in the door the other morning I immediately started asking about what he saw at CES 2010.  He only had one word for me....3D.  As you might have seen from all of the other more established blogs, everyone had a new 3D display to show off.  Samsung, LG, Panasonic, Toshiba, Sony, they all have jumped onto the Third Dimension!!  Passive glasses, Active glasses, and the elusive glasses-free stereoscopic, they were all on the CES floor, ready to wow passing guests and suck them into a 3D adventure.  I wish I could have experienced them all but unfortunately I have to live vicariously through others.  I have still managed to form an early opinion on 3D in the home though.  I believe that it is going to be very popular novelty until they manage to get the glasses off of the faces of the American family.  It is one thing to wear them for the movie of the year, it is another thing to wear them every weekend for football.  Still cool though.  Wish I could've had this technology for Sunday nights and the Wonderful World of Disney when I was a kid.

Will A/V Receivers Need to Be 3D Compatible? - CE Pro Article from CE Pro

Will A/V Receivers Need to Be 3D Compatible? - CE Pro Article from CE Pro

Equipment Rack Installation: Part One

Future proofing your home for new technologies

When building a custom home, there are many things that go into making sure that it will stand the test of time. While most people think about the framing of the house and the exterior handling the challenges of Mother Nature, we in the Audio Video Industry are always thinking about having enough wire run throughout the home to handle the newest streaming video or extra channel of audio. The technologies are constantly changing and getting better and better. There is nothing better then knowing that you are prepared for anything when it comes to installing a new pair of speakers or new HDTV.
When you are sitting down with your Electronic Systems Contractor and have some decisions to make, never take out the wire. If you haven't decided on a distributed audio system, or trying the newest streaming video server, ALWAYS make sure that the wire is still run to all of the possible locations. This makes your decisions easier in the long run because the wire will have been sitting patiently in the wall, awaiting the purchase of that new high definition plasma TV just in time for the big game.

Did You Know?

Streaming Video vs. Bluray

There are so many devices out there that have the ability to stream 1080p video directly from the internet. Does this mean that Blu-ray is going the way of the Dodo? Unfortunately, the abilities of your new TV being able to stream the newest HD content is restricted by the bandwidth not only in your home, but the bandwidth available to you from your internet service provider. Many people live in neighborhoods where the traffic is so high that the HD movie they just rented will show up very jittery or not at all. The better way to watch the movie is to wait and download it which will still take a very long time. So while the instant HD movie watching idea is very cool, I believe that Blu-ray is still a better way to enjoy the newest blockbuster at home....for now. I am looking forward to a bright future where there is fiberoptic cabling being laid in the streets as far as the eye can see and the bandwidth inside your home is large enough to stream high definition movies to every room.