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Introduction Editorial CEDIA News CEDIA Says
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Sponsorship Available for This Newsletter! Manufacturers: Do your messages target system integrators? So do ours! rAVe Home Edition is the only eNewsletter written for design and installation professionals working in home theater and automation. rAVe Home Edition, co-sponsored by CEDIA, currently has one opportunity for an annual sponsorship. Sponsorships are limited in number and restrictions apply. To see if your company is eligible, contact Sara Abrons at sabrons@kayye.com or (919) 969-7501. Introduction Welcome to another issue of rAVe Home Edition! Today, we wrap up our CES coverage, bringing you highlights of news that impacts the home theater contractor and distribution channel. (Go to http://www.ravehome.com/issues/2006/01/vol3iss1/index.html for coverage in our previous issue.) Naturally, there were tons of iPod docks, iPod accessories, iPod anything and everything and to a certain extent, you do need to know about these since the consumer who hires you will WANT to integrate their iPods into their home theater systems. So we’ve covered the iPod-related news that relates to your home theater business. The same goes for mobile and handheld products. You may not always include them in your home theater design proposal, but when a new product really stands out, we will tell you about it so that when your customer asks you about it, you’ll know. Speaking of handhelds, I’m a recent Trêo convert and I’m feeling rather validated in my decision, as you’ll see in my editorial below. Finally, CEDIA President Andy Willcox talks about the simplest way to increase your business success and profits – simplify and standardize! It makes a lot of sense. Thanks, Andy! Enjoy the issue! — Gary Kayye, CTS Editorial In an article last Wednesday, Reuter’s Carmel Crimmins declared in the headline that a “BlackBerry blackout threat leaves CEOs aghast”. And, she even quotes Lloyd’s of London insurance chairman, an obvious BlackBerry user; Peter Levene as saying a shutoff is “just nuts. The idea that someone is just going to switch off in three or four weeks, even if it’s only in the United States, it’s crazy.” However, in the article RIM’s VP of corporate marketing, Mark Guibert, claims, “Our software workaround designs remain a solid contingency.” Yeah, right. If that were totally true, wouldn’t they have already gone to the contingency plan? And, as far as the CEOs are concerned: Boo-Fricking hoo. Look, this story’s been all over the trade, technical and mainstream press for years. Virtually everyone’s known, but maybe never believed it, that RIM was being sued by a company for violating patents – this was always a possibility. Point is, the BlackBerry’s an awesome tool – in fact, it probably created a new industry. And, to be realistic, it’s doubtful that service will actually be cut off – even if NTP receives its injunction hearing scheduled for US courts on February 13th. Heck, the jury trial award to NTP in the original case in 2004 was only $23.1 million. So, don’t fret, you’ll probably still have service. RIM can probably pay that from petty cash with all the BlackBerrys I see when I travel around the country. But, who knows. It’s happened before. There is a chance that they could, in fact, be shut off. In case they are, and I’m not in my office when it happens, I’ll send you an e-mail from my Trêo.Oh, I just thought of something, if you have a BlackBerry, how would you get my e-mail? Long live the Palm! Hi, I am Andy Willcox, current President of CEDIA and, like most of you reading this, a residential electronic systems contractor with a small business. Probably not! So, how do we make sense of this relentless cavalcade of technology “mumbo jumbo?” We know it is necessary. After all, this is the product we sell and install and it is a crucial component of our revenue and hopefully, profitability. One of the most logical solutions could quite possibly be, to simplify! Having been in this industry for a reasonably long period of time and having discussed day-to-day business with numerous colleagues, I’ve found we all have the same addiction. We want the coolest product! We want it all! We want to be the first, the early adaptor! So, how do we achieve all of this while maintaining our sanity, and managing our time; which we all know has become one of our most precious commodities? Let’s consider simplification and standardization… I have been participating with a group of eight dealers who have collectively been going through a comparative exercise of analyzing and listing our extensive list of vendors. Would you believe the total number of manufacturers we purchased product from was in excess of 400! 400 different manufacturers getting our business! How could anyone keep up with the cascade of information and training required to properly and professionally represent that many vendors with any level of quality and consistency? We came to the conclusion that, rather than providing a diverse product line-up to our clientele, we were creating more chaos for our technicians, designers, and administration staff and creating an educational nightmare for all parties. How many products can we truly represent with a complete knowledge of functionality and operation? Certainly not 400, not even 200, or 100! We are doing a disservice to our clients, our staff and very importantly, our manufacturer partners. Have you heard of the 80/20 rule? It is, generally speaking, true that 20% of any manufacturer’s dealer base sells 80% of their product. The solution, although it may seem a bit alien to us initially, is to repurpose the process of standardizing the product that you utilize in your designs and installation. This will create a value for you in several ways. First of all, it will make the design and installation process simpler. Your technicians will learn by utilizing a decreased number of vendor’s products on a consistent and continuous basis. They will become more familiar through redundancy. Your installations will require less time on the job through the improvement of efficiency and repetition. Your profitably should increase as a result of this. Secondly, you will make your manufacturers happier. By streamlining your product portfolio, your manufacturers will benefit from improved sales volume and more educated implementation of their product. As a result of this process your clients will benefit the most! Good Luck and good selling! Andy Willcox President of CEDIA
CEDIA Management Conference 2006 February 20-23, 2006 Experience is the difference between guessing and knowing – between following and leading – between failure and profit. The CEDIA Management Conference is an annual gathering of the world’s residential electronic systems industry leaders. Industry veterans and newcomers alike are invited to attend. The only requirement is that you participate, share your thoughts, stories, insights, and ideas. In addition to being motivated by renowned keynote speakers and authors, you will participate in cross-industry presentations and small group forums. Keynote Speakers include: · Harvey MacKay – Out Sell, Out Manage, Out Motivate, and Out Negotiate your Competition · Jeffrey Fox – Unexpected Rules for Business Success – no nonsense, crystal clear message taught around the world – how to become a Rainmaker Cross Industry Presentations: This lineup of experts will offer new perspectives and insider strategies that will bring fresh ideas and creativity to the world of custom electronic design and installation.
Time is running out so don’t miss what could be a life altering event. To receive additional information, download a registration brochure, and register online visit www.cedia.org/education/management_conf.php CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles® Forum February 23-25, 2006 Palace Hotel, San Francisco, CA CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles® Forum is an inaugural event bringing together professionals from the building, architectural, design, and residential technology industries. Electronic Lifestyles ® Forum 2006 is the preeminent event focusing on how technology affects ergonomics and anthropology. With the support of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), this forum will open doors for discussion, and the sharing of ideas about how technology is changing the way we live, and how it affects the design professional's thought process. Keynote Speakers include:
The Expert Panel includes:
The PSB CustomSound designs settle the long standing conflict between sound and design. Click above for more information
News Have a news tip? Send them to rAVe Editor-in-Chief Denise Harrison — dharrison@kayye.com Control
1. Control Systems – This is War! The control systems market, long dominated by Crestron and AMX, appears to be attractive enough that two competing alliances are making a big push in 2006 to gain members and market share. Both made as big a splash as possible at CES. As you know, the alliances are ZigBee and Z-Wave, and both are revving up their marketing and PR machines in hopes to get footholds into the lower- and middle-cost control markets. ZigBee Alliance, companies working together to enable wirelessly networked monitoring and control, announced ZigBee certification at CES. When a product carries the label, it is supposed to ensure out-of-the-box interoperability with a ZigBee network. AMX, Crestron and Control4 are listed on the website among the 150 or so participants claimed by ZigBee, by the way. The highest level of promoters includes Honeywell, Motorola, Philips, Samsung and Mitsubishi for example. Z-Wave, also a wireless protocol, has 125 members including Intermatic, Universal Electronics, Logitech, Monster and Leviton, for example, but not including AMX and Crestron. Which technology will be the winner? Crestron and AMX are still the top of any household wish list and will remain dominant in the higher end of the market with Crestron having at least a 2-1 margin over AMX currently in most home surveys. After that, it may be a toss-up, but there may well be enough of a market out there to easily accommodate both technologies, either in new construction or as awareness grows among existing homeowners. For more on ZigBee, go to http://www.zigbee.org/en/ For more on Z-Wave, go to http://www.z-wavealliance.org/content/modules/Start/
The technology offers enhanced downmix, dynamic range control, and metadata capabilities, too. Dolby says the benefits extend to those with legacy systems as well as new systems. Owners of current A/V receivers equipped with Dolby Digital decoding should experience a significant improvement in audio performance when they connect their receivers to a next-generation optical player that supports Dolby Digital 640 kbps output. Consumers who own a receiver equipped with multichannel analog inputs will be able to get Dolby TrueHD, coupled with the expanded capability for full 7.1 discrete channel playback. And consumers who recently purchased the latest A/V receivers with HDMI inputs can experience lossless 7.1-channel playback via a pure digital connection, says the company. For more information, go to http://investor.dolby.com/ReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=182983
3. Digital Jukebox Holds 1,000 CDs – But, Will it Sell in Today’s MP3 World? Users control their music collection from a wireless touch-screen remote and it has direct access to the Wurlitzer Music Service, a digital music service that has 100 channels of digital radio plus a full download store where the user can purchase and download hundreds of thousands of major label songs directly to the jukebox. Users can build personalized playlists, create mix CDs and export to portable MP3 players. For more information, go to http://www.gibson.com/Products/Audio/Wurlitzer%20Digital%20Jukebox/ Media Distribution and Control 4. Exceptional Innovation Announces New Entertainment Control Servers, Release of Lifeware 1.1 Exceptional Innovation announced LifeStorage, a new digital media server, as well as the release of version 1.1 of its Lifeware home control software based on Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. LifeStorage has four hot-swappable drives providing 1.5 terabyte RAID 5 storage in a four-space rack mounted unit. It runs Windows XP embedded operation system on 2GB of RAM and handles storage of CDs, MP3s, videos, recorded TV and digital photos. LifeVision is Exceptional Innovation's digital TV server with up to four analog (NTSC) or digital (OTA ATSC) tuners and 1GB network capability in a four-space rack mounted unit. It is also XP based with 2GB of RAM. LifeVision can stream video from any of its four tuners simultaneously over an IP network. Lifeware 1.1 home control software, which is integrated into Windows XP Media Center Edition 200, can be run on a media center PC, digital entertainment center, media center extender or LifeTouch all-digital high definition touch panel. Lifeware uses Web Services for Devices standards to control whole-house lighting, audio, security, surveillance, and climate systems from a wide variety of vendors. Pricing on these products is TBA. For more information, go to http://www.exceptionalinnovation.com/index.php?page=read_news&i=52 and http://www.exceptionalinnovation.com/index.php?page=read_news&i=53
5. NetStreams Demonstrates IP-Based Home Video Distribution System Whenever we see NetStreams at the four or so tradeshows a year, we always ask the same question: When are you gonna do video? At CES, we got it. NetStreams has marketed its IP-based multi-room audio entertainment system for a while now, and said the IP video capability would be incorporated into its DigiLinX IP-based multi-room entertainment system in new products to be launched within 12 months, and would be available for integration into other companies' products in a similar time frame. The company says that because of the system's network architecture, which distributes high quality uncompressed audio, video, and control signals via TCP/IP on a CAT5 cabling, DigiLinX video products would deliver uncompressed HDTV signals over packetized TCP/IP streams to multiple rooms in a home or system. For more information, go to http://www.netstreams.com/Documents/NetStreams%20Video%20over%20IP.pdf 6. Hauppauge Wireless Set-Top Lets TVs Stream from PCs Using MediaMVP, for example, individuals can play a video on their bedroom TV that's stored on a PC in the basement, or show JPEG photos of a recent vacation–accompanied by MP3 music–on the family room big screen TV with the MP3 music played through their living room audio system. MediaMVP supports MPEG-1/MPEG-2 videos, DivX videos, JPEG and GIF digital pictures, and MP3 music files. Other audio and video formats, including Windows Media Center Edition recordings, will be supported in future releases of MediaMVP software. MediaMVP is a Linux based digital media receiver based on an IBM PowerPC processor. It includes a hardware MPEG decoder to process digital video movies, while music and digital pictures are software decoded by MediaMVP’s processor. It receives the digital media from a PC via an Ethernet LAN, decodes the media and outputs video through composite and S-Video connections, and audio through stereo audio output connectors. MediaMVP and the PC operate in a 'client-server' system, where the MediaMVP requests menus and media from the PC, and the PC satisfies those requests. MediaMVP receives user commands from the infrared remote control and sends these commands to the PC server. Menus seen on the TV set are created via HTML on the PC and sent over the network to the MediaMVP for display on the TV set. Custom user interfaces for the TV set can be created by making new HTML screens on the PC. What’s different about the Hauppauge product and why it’s so affordable is that, unlike other media centers, this one doesn’t have a hard drive and so no DVR – it just routes, decodes and displays files stored on the PCs. For users who mainly download and store media onto PCs, this is a darned good networking solution. For more information, go to http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/products/data_mediamvp.html 7. New Nexus M1000 Media Center
The Nexus M1000 media center has an MSRP of $2,249 and is available now. For more information, go to http://www.nexuselectronics.com/
8. Ex Apple Execs Unveil New iPod Video Recorder In addition to viewing on the iSee (with its larger 3.6-inch LCD screen), video files can be played back on any TV with an "analog in" connection at standard 640 X 480 TV resolution. One nice design feature is that when it’s connected to an iPod, it gives the impression of a single, integrated unit. The iPod slides into place inside the back of the iSee video device — providing the user with a 91% larger viewing area than the iPod with video — without dramatically increasing the overall form factor says the company. The iSee 360i is powered by a rechargeable and replaceable 2200mAh battery that extends the life of the host iPod to four hours, nearly double the battery life of the iPod with video and closer to that of competing personal media players. Additional batteries are also available. ATO also announced a new content management portal, http://www.isee-ato.com — where iSee users can download, upload, and manage all iSee video, photo and music content. Music and video content can also be downloaded from a user's computer to the user's iPod and then played by the iSee video device. The iSee 360i has an MSRP of $249 and will begin shipping in the first quarter of 2006. For more information, go to http://www.isee-ato.com/Products/Isee-360i/Default.aspx 9. Jackrabbit Multiplies HD Streams TZero's Jackrabbit technology incorporates key patent-pending technology, including dual antenna support, extended range, and interference cancellation. The set operates in the 3.1-4.8 GHz spectrum supporting data rates of up to 480 mbps. The two-chip set, scheduled for sampling production units in the second quarter of 2006, includes both an RF chip and a baseband chip, incorporating MAC and PHY elements. The company will ship a full system solution including silicon, software, firmware, and reference designs for system-level evaluation and development kits to customers in the first quarter of 2006. For more information, go to http://www.tzti.com/index.htm 10. Slingbox Now Streaming to Mobile Smartphones, Handheld Computers and the MAC! A list of devices that will be supported includes four of the hottest smartphones, the Palm Treo 700w, the Motorola Q, the Samsung i730 and the UTStarcom PPC6700, in addition to handheld computers like the Dell Axim and the HP iPAQ. As new mobile products based on the Windows Mobile operating system make their way to the market, Sling Media will add support. While Windows Mobile is the first mobile operating system that will be supported, Sling Media will add other operating system compatibility in the future. The Slingbox lets consumers watch their living room TV programming from wherever they are in the world by turning virtually any Internet-connected Windows-based laptop or desktop and any Windows Mobile-based PDA or smartphone into a personal TV. The Slingbox redirects, or "placeshifts," a single live TV stream from a cable box, satellite receiver, or DVR to the viewer's PC — located anywhere in the home or anywhere via the Internet. For more information, go to http://www.slingmedia.com/press/pressreleases-01.05.06b.php 11. VBox Announces PIVOT Home Network Tuners for Distributing PayTV The PIVOT products use a Web-based interface and application For more information, go to http://www.vboxcomm.com/pr_home_network.htm 12. HandHeld Entertainment Announces New WiFi ZVUE Portable Media Player The ZVUE Model 500 allows wireless connectivity at any hotspot without the need for a computer, so users can download music and videos. The other "Third Generation" ZVUE Model 400 being announced by the company isn’t wireless, has 512MB of memory and doesn’t use a phone-style keypad as the 500 does. The new WiFi ZVUE is expected to begin shipping in the second quarter of 2006 with an estimated retail price of less than $300. The new ZVUE 400 is expected to begin shipping in the first quarter of 2006 with an MSRP of less than $225. Basic ZVUE media players start at just $99. For more information, go to http://www.hheld.com/ 13. HD DVD and Blu-ray Battle it Out at CES Twentieth Century Fox Entertainment announced its first 20 Blu-ray titles, including Ice Age and Fantastic Four. The company will release the titles simultaneous to the launch of the Blu-ray hardware this year. The company also plans to release future titles on both DVD and Blu-ray. Sony introduced its first Blu-ray player, to be available this summer. The company also introduced a recorder, recording media, broadcast cameras, internal and external drives, and a series of VAIO PCs with Blu-ray Disc capability. Pioneer also introduced a Blu-ray disc player, the BDP-HD1. This has 1920 x 1080p output, IP networking, HDMI connection and is designed according to the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA). Samsung showed its first Blu-ray player, the BD-P1000, which the company says will ship in the Spring. Samsung also gave an estimated retail price of $1,000. Then, InterVideo and Ulead Systems showed a Blu-ray authoring, burning, content navigation and playback software at CES. In the HD DVD camp, Toshiba demonstrated first two production HD DVD player models and announced an AV Notebook computer with HD DVD. The players will be available in the U.S. in March 2006, with prices starting at $499.99. Microsoft also announced it will offer a new Xbox 360 external HD DVD drive in 2006. Warner Home Video, Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment, Universal Pictures, HBO Video and New Line Home Entertainment announced that nearly 50 HD DVD titles, including "Aeon Flux," "Batman Begins," "The Bourne Supremacy," "Jarhead," "The Matrix "and "U2: Rattle & Hum," will be available this Spring to coincide with the launch of the players. The studios also outlined plans to release additional titles throughout the year. More than 150 titles are expected to be available in time for the 2006 holiday season. No other HomeAV publication has taken this gamble or stated their opinion, but we will go on record betting that Blu-Ray will win this battle. Remember you read it here. For more on Blu-ray, go to http://www.blu-raydisc.com/ For more on HD DVD, go to http://www.hddvdprg.com/ 14. LG Introduces Time Machine TV Phone TV but also record, when the user is interrupted by a call. It’s not a pause function – it actually records the show and the user watches it later. The “Time Machine” function can operate up to 60 minutes. Total battery time is three hours. The user interface better be good, otherwise it’s useless. The LG-SB130/KB1300 supports multi-tasking features including calling or messaging while watching TV and capturing the screen image of a TV program by using the camera button. The unit has a 2.2-inch QVGA 256 x 320 LCD and it supports 3D sound, has an auto-focus 3 mega-pixel camera and plays MP3s with 300MG memory. TV out allows recordings and pictures to be played on a TV. Pricing and shipping are TBA. For more information, go to http://www.lge.com15. LYRA X3000 Holds 40 Feature Films, DIRECTV2Go Capability The player has a 3.6-inch TFT LCD with 320 x 240 resolution. It is ¾ of an inch thick. It also has a replaceable battery that gives four or more hours of video playback. It also features a Home Theater Docking Base that can be connected to a home entertainment system. The Docking Base enables easy time-shift recording of TV programs from a tuning source such as the video output of a television or cable/satellite set-top receiver. The LYRA X3000 by RCA is available now with a suggested retail price of $399. For more information, go to http://www.thomson.net/EN/Home/Press/Press+Details.htm?PressReleaseID=2d80b501-1b64-4c23-950b-65a62e0fb108 16. Toshiba Second Generation gigabeat Digital Players Feature Video Playback With the new gigabeat players, consumers can not only select their content but also choose the option of purchasing or "renting" their music, videos and movies. Content retrieval from well-known sources such as TiVo, MTV, VH-1, and Major League Baseball are available using that software. (Although, from reading the TiVo message boards, the kinks apparently still have to be worked out in terms of grabbing TiVoToGo content on a Portable Media Center unit. The .tivo files don’t always convert…) The gigabeat S Series is powered by Freescale technology and has a 2.4-inch diagonal QVGA LCD screen with 320 x 240 resolution and more than 65,536 colors. Playable music formats include Windows Media Audio (WMA), WMA Lossless, MP3 and WAV file formats. It also has a built in FM tuner. The 30GB gigabeat comes in white or blue and retails for $299.99. The 60GB model comes in black for $399.99. For more information, go to http://www.gigabeat.com Video Vault users connect their Zen Vision player to their PC and the software supports importing DVDs, VCDs, SVCDs, and other media, and users can delete, move and organize movies from their devices within the Zen Vision interface. The company says it also supports wireless media servers such as Microsoft Media Center, Dlink Media Lounge, Hauppauge Media MVP, and more. For more information, go to http://www.divmm.com/ Content Vongo subscribers will have unlimited access to more than 1,000 movies and video selections, as well as a live, streaming Starz TV channel, for a monthly cost of $9.99. Members can download movie and video selections to three eligible devices of their choice per account. Additionally, select popular pay-per-view titles are available for $3.99 per movie. Vongo is currently available for broadband subscribers in the United States. Starz apparently secured Internet distribution rights from studio partners to allow this service. It uses a digital rights management system so that only authorized users can use the service. Additional programming available to Vongo subscribers includes full-length music concerts ("INXS: Live Baby Live," "The Hives: Live in Las Vegas," "Prince – Sign 'o' the Times," "The Who: Live in Boston," "Brian Wilson: On Tour"), and Extreme Sports ("Warren Miller's Cold Fusion," "Real Action Sports," "Ride Guide"). Vongo will offer live feeds of the Starz TV channel in its "Watch Live Now" category. For more information, go to http://www.vongo.com/ Click above for more information
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Thanks for reading, and tell your friends by clicking on the “forward” button at the top of the newsletter or sending them to Copyright 2006 – Kayye Consulting – All rights reserved. For reprint policies, contact us at Kayye Consulting, Inc. Editorial: dharrison@kayye.com Gary Kayye's rAVe contains the opinions of the author only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of other persons or companies or its sponsors. |