The Kiwi Team out in the field during a recent install
Friday, October 29, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
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.
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.
Monday, October 4, 2010
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.
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.
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