DirecTV Whole-Home DVR Goes Live Nationwide
 C.I.S. - Call Us To Integrate Your Time Warner, Dish, Or DirecTV DVR! DirecTV’s Whole-Home DVR has been in beta testing for a few months, but is now live nation wide for just $3/month.
The DVR wars have been pretty fierce lately. Comcast has been targeting AT&T, DISH has been going after DirecTV on price, and DirecTV’s ads have been taking shots at just about everyone.
As of today, DirecTV has one more feather to place in their hat with the full release of Whole Home DVR.
The Whole-Home DVR feature allows programs from an HD DVR to be streamed to other non-DVR HD Receivers throughout your home. Up to 15 TVs, including the display the HD DVR is connected to, can take place in the streaming fun.
The best part is no new hardware is required. The slightly worse news is the service will tack $3/month onto your monthly bill, but I don’t foresee any natural disasters or magnetic poles shifting over that minor fee.
Not to miss a chance to get a few jabs in, the DirecTV Whole-Home DVR site takes shots at DISH Network’s Sling-enabled DVRs and cable company DVRs’ capacity and connectivity. I just wish someone would start throwing some punches TiVo’s way. Maybe then they would bring some more appealing features to their TiVo Premiere.
Other features DirecTV makes note of include: manage your DVR playlist from any room; record two shows while watching two others; and set separate parental controls for each TV.
Check out the YouTube video below for more on Whole-Home DVR:
by Stephen Hopkins
http://www.electronichouse.com/article/directv_whole_home_dvr_goes_live_nationwide/
Custom Installation Services, LLC – Charlotte and Boone NC’s Source For Samsung, Panasonic & Sharp 3D HDTV Sales, Support & Installation!
Posted in Automation, Flat Panel TV's, Home Theater, Media Rooms, Multi Room A/V, News, technology
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EcoSmart Bulbs Make LED Lighting Affordable
 C.I.S. - Charlotte, NC's 1st Choice For Lutron Lighting Control Sales & Design Home Depot offers exclusive line of $20 energy-efficient lighting.
LED light bulbs are known for being extremely energy efficient. While we’d all like to be green, at $50 a pop, replacing every incandescent for an LED equates to one costly home improvement.
Home Depot, along with the Lighting Science Group, aims to make it more affordable to go green, with the introduction of its EcoSmart line of LED light bulbs. The first product in the line, the 9-watt EcoSmart A19, will retail for $19.97.
The A19 uses approximately 80 percent less energy than a standard 40-watt incandescent bulb and is expected to last more than 22 years. Plus, it’s dimmable, which means it can cut energy costs even more.
The dimming feature also makes the EcoSmart bulb ideal for use with a lighting control system. Per commands from the system, the light output of the LED bulb can be altered to set the mood for any number of activities: watching TV, entertaining guests, relaxing and meditating, for example.
Some facts about LED … if the $20 price tag isn’t enough to persuade you:
LED lights contain no mercury
The bulbs don’t get hot
They can last a long time – 10 years or more when running 8 hours a day
They require no warm up time to reach full intensity
They come in colors, making them a decorative option
by Lisa Montgomery
http://www.electronichouse.com/article/ecosmart_bulbs_make_led_lighting_afforable/
Custom Installation Services, LLC – Charlotte and Boone NC’s Source For Lutron RadioRa2 Sales, Support & Design!
Posted in Automation, HAI, Home Theater, lighting control, Lutron Radio Ra II, technology
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My House Is Built and Wired – Now What?
The owner of a new home managed to have it centrally wired before plastering, and wants to know what A/V and tech systems may lie ahead.
Q. I have just bought a new house, and before the house was plastered I got extra wiring done by the electrician. I have wiring in all rooms for speakers (ceiling in all rooms apart from sitting room where speakers will be free-standing). All wires go back to one area under the stairs except for surround sound for sitting room. I haven’t done anything else in regards to amps, systems etc. Can you advise me as to what to do from here or what systems I need, or what you recommend I do?
A. It sounds like you have a good start on a multiroom audio and home theater system. Depending on your finances there are a number of things you could do. I would develop a budget for these systems and I would write down a few key points that you want the system to do, then I would contact a professional installation company.
An installer will be able to work with you to outfit your home with the products and technologies that best fit your lifestyle applications and budget considerations.
Some of the multiroom audio solutions you’ll probably be looking at from an installer include products from companies like Russound, NuVo, Niles, Sonance and SpeakerCraft.
Your theater will also afford you many options that depend on your room size, usage scenarios and of course, your budget.
A few of the things an installer will discuss with you includes how the system will be used (movies, TV, music and whether you want the system tied into your multiroom audio system). From there he will show you some technology and product solutions such as separates (amp/preamp) vs. receivers, Blu-ray players, media servers, Apple iPod compatibility, and video options like flat-screen TVs vs. a screen and projector and even anamorphic lens solutions. Are you dedicating a room to a theater, or will it be in a multipurpose room?
The final element he’ll discuss with you is the control options for the systems and whether you want a whole-house solution or IR-based remotes for each system.
One last thing too, if you still have the ability to go into the walls think about running Ethernet (Cat 5) cabling to backbone current and future data/communication and entertainment solutions that you may want to explore.
by Robert Archer
http://www.electronichouse.com/article/my_house_is_built_and_wired_now_what/C93
Custom Installation Services, LLC – Charlotte and Asheville NC’s Source For Multi Room A/V Sales Service & Installation!
Posted in Audio Systems, Automation, Media Rooms, Multi Room A/V, Structured Wiring, technology
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