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Welcome to another issue of rAVe Home Edition!
Do you volunteer? I swear, there’s no better way to keep on top of the industry than to have to teach it. Teaching, and other volunteering, is a great way to give back to the industry and get rewards other than money.
In this issue, rAVe Editor Denise Harrison takes a look at the different ways companies are placeshifting live television. What looks like a retail channel commodity is actually a great opportunity for HomeAV contractors too.
Enjoy the issue!
— Gary Kayye, CTS Editorial
Do You Volunteer?
By Gary Kayye , CTS
If you don’t, you should.
One of my first weeks in this industry back in 1987 was attending InfoComm’s (then known as ICIA) Institute for Professional Development and a class led by Mike Weems (Mike is now with NetStreams). It was on video production techniques and was simply awesome. The very next year, I attended a class taught by 6+ year industry veteran Fred Dixon on AV systems design.
The instruction blew me away. It was far andin away better than most courses I ever took in college, and certainly more helpful in my new -real-world life.
But, what astonished me the most was the answer I received when I asked at the end of the four-day Weems course:, “Hhow much do you get paid?”
“Nothing.”, Weems replied.
Weems, Dixon , Luke Rawls, Harold Thiel, Bill Sharer, Joel Rollins, Terry Friesendorg, Jack Culp – heck, I could keep naming them and my word count would exceed what I am allowed to write in this column and still not cover them all.
These and dozens upon dozens of others are all people I have taken classes from over the years at CEDIA, InfoComm and NSCA shows, at the Institute and at a host of other AV-industry led events.
And, all of them volunteered.
So, I set off to do the same.
Nearly 20 -years later, I am proud to say that I have taught more thanover 4,000 students in some version of AV technology-based courses and have loved every minute of it.
All for free.
Nuts, you say?
Actually, the cliché that most applies here is that I did, truly, get a lot more out of teaching that from taking courses. My students always challenge me to not only keep on top of the technology at hand, but to stay ahead of the curve. Everyone always seems to want to know what new stuff was coming around the corner that would affect their ability to sell, design or install AV systems.
I loved it and I still love it!
Although my volunteering nowadays is, selfishly, all stuff in my hometown (the local swim team, church and my daughter’s school) I still love to do it! I can’t imagine living without volunteering.
Some in my office would say it’s all a lot of work for them, however, as they all get tagged to help – Sara is, in fact, designing the swim team summer t-shirts as I write this column, but there is no denying that they know I love it. And, I am sure they secretly love it too.
In fact, she’s wearing one of those shirts she designed today!
Are you volunteering? If you don’t, why not?
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Feature Article
Placeshifting Live TV – Ready for Prime Time
By Denise Harrison
rAVe Editor-in-Chief
A friend recently bought a new house. Well new to him, but not new new. It has the standard cable outlets (living room and bedrooms). But not enough for his voracious TV appetite. He would also like to watch TV while sitting on the patio, while cooking the kitchen and while shaving.
But he doesn’t want to cough up the cash to have all that cable run, nor does he want to spring for the amount of TV sets it would require.
You’re likely to run into this problem (or opportunity) with your clients, too. It could be that your clients are parents who want to restrict their children’s TV watching to certain hours. What could be better than a TV they can bring in, then remove, from the children’s room? You may have clients who like to sit in the gazebo before dinner but who don’t want to buy a whole weatherproof TV setup.
My buddy here, and some of your clients, need a portable TV (no, not the old kind with the antenna that only gets some of the stations and probably gets them fuzzy). They need cable or satellite quality sets they can move from room to room.
When 802.11n comes out in a big way, the problem is solved. Until then, I have a few suggestions. This doesn’t cover all the options, but probably the best known. And, of these solutions work for both watching TV in different areas of the house and for frequent travelers who want to access their TVs from wherever they are. (Note: cost estimates are just that – estimates.)
SlingBox by Sling Media
SlingBox is a wonder. It’s a little bar-shaped gadget that sits on the TV and allows your laptop to watch and control any of the devices hooked up to your TV. You can access it from a room or a world away – wherever there is an internet connection. And with recent developments, you can access it using your PDA or mobile device now as well. You can watch both live TV and recorded content.
Upside - Cost — this is an affordable solution
- Simple – this is simple to install
- Low profile – SlingBox is a small device that won’t change the room décor
- Can watch programming from anywhere there is an Internet connection
Downside - No recording – you can’t set up recordings
- Windows only – it only works with Windows platforms such as XP and mobile
- Controls the TV exclusively – when you change the channel from your laptop in Hong Kong, it changes the channel in your home in Wichita. So those watching at home lose control over the TV and DVRs.
Required devices - Windows laptop or device
- Broadband internet
- Ethernet connection from SlingBox to router
Slingbox | $250 | Two SlingLink adapters (one for the router and one for the SlingBox) | $200 | | | Total | $450 | | |
http://www.slingmedia.com/slingbox/ Orb Networks
Orb is a free service (yep, free, but I haven’t figured out why) that also gives you access to your TV and devices from anywhere. But Orb does this with its browser-based interface. Orb allows more control over the TV than does SlingBox – you can view TV listings and schedule recordings. But the big difference here is that Orb requires you have a Windows XP computer with a tuner hooked up to the TV and devices. Orb also says you can monitor webcams – nice. You can view live TV or recordings.
Upside - More control over the TV – ability to record
- Can watch programming from anywhere there is an Internet connection
Downside
- Windows XP with tuner required
- PC must be hooked up to the AV equipment
- Windows only
- Cost of components
- Media files are stored on the PC (although recently they announced DVR Everywhere for TiVos)
Required devices
- PC with tuner and hefty hard drive
- Orb subscription
- Broadband internet
PC with tuner and a decent hard drive capacity | $1,200 – $1,800 |
http://www.orb.com/
LocationFree TV From Sony
LocationFree TV is an actual TV, a 12.5-inch television. It uses a base station and transmits video over WiFi. It can transmit either the live broadcast or recorded programs from the DVR. You can change channels or control the system using the onscreen universal remote.
There is also a LocationFree player for the PC and for PSP and you can buy it separately without having to buy the monitor. LocationFree also allows for web browsing and email, too.
You’ll likely need adapters since the base unit isn’t likely to be near both the TV and internet connection. Only one person can watch programming from the base station at a time. But Sony has packed a lot of flexibility into this product line.
Upside
- Sony is the only one that provides both remote viewing on a provided monitor and viewing from an internet PC or PSP
- Control of up to three devices
- Sony says that the onscreen remote can control a TiVo box just as the TiVo remote would, so in theory, you can schedule TiVo or other DVR recordings
Downside
- Windows only for PC/laptop use
- Software registration restricted to only one PC
- Controls the TV exclusively, so the LocationFree device controls what is onscreen on the connected TV
Required devices
- LocationFree software and PC, PSP and/or LocationFree TV
- Broadband
- LocationFree base station
LF-X11, includes 12.5-inch monitor, base station and software | $1,500 | | | LF-PK1 Player Pak, includes base station and software | $350 | Adapters | $200 | | | Total | $1,700 or $550 |
http://products.sel.sony.com/locationfreetv/flash.html
SageTV Placeshifter
SageTV is a software program that adds DVR functionality to a Windows Media Center PC. The company recently announced SageTV Placeshifter, which lets you stream live TV to your PC.
Upside
- Software only solution, no required additional hardware except what’s required to set up the PC connection
- Extensive recording and scheduling options
Downside
- Windows only (for now)
- PC has to be hooked up to TV
- Client-server setup required
- Possibly complicated setup
Required devices
- Media Center PC with tuner
PC with tuner and a decent hard drive capacity | $1,200 – $1,800 | SageTV basic software and Placeshifter bundle | $99.95 | | | Total before adapters and extenders | $1,300 – $1900 | | |
http://www.sagetv.com/placeshifter.html
The above products let users access their own live TV and own recordings from anywhere. Of course, wireless companies are scrambling to get TV on cell phones and that will happen very soon, and it’s already happening in some parts of the world. TiVoToGo lets you put TiVo programming into laptops and other devices (it’s a slow process, but works pretty well). iPod Video, Creative’s Zen, and Archos products also allow you to put recordings on portables. But these don’t resolve the live TV issue.
Portable sets or devices that use antennas haven’t normally been the answer. But check out the MobiTV and MobiDTV gadgets from V-Gear. These USB2.0 devices not only let you watch NTSC and PAL analog and digital broadcasts on the PC, they allow recording to the PC hard drive, too. Yet they’re small enough to fit in your pocket. They don’t appear to be available in the U.S…. yet.
http://vgear.com/products/list.asp?ProdID=AMVG1-016-005 and http://vgear.com/products/list.asp?ProdID=AMVG1-016-002
Despite all the popularity of recording TV programming, live TV is still enormously popular, and with the growing options of being able to watch live TV from anywhere, it’s only going to get more so. Being able to watch a game live is unrivaled. Finding out who gets voted off the island, or stage, as it happens is far more compelling live than after the fact.
This concept of portable live TV isn’t just a retail solution. This is something you can easily sell to your clients, whether they are known to travel the world or follow along with a cooking show.
May 5-8 – CU On the Road in Vancouver
NEW – Electronic Systems Designer Boot Camp
If you are in the Vancouver area and would like to experience a wide variety of CEDIA Education don’t miss this CU On the Road event. Education offerings include the following CEDIA University Colleges:
• Electronic Systems Designer • Electronic Systems Project Management • Electronic Systems Technician • Electronic Systems Business
CEDIA Certification will also be offered with Installer Level I and Installer Level II exams administered in both French and English. You can register for packaged classes at a discount. Pick and choose the courses that would benefit you the most and receive a vast assortment of education. ChiefMounts will also be on-hand presenting FREE Manufacturer Product Training.
If you would like to know more about this event, register for classes, find out hotel information, or read course descriptions please visit http://www.cedia.org/education/on_the_road.php
Also, for any questions email cuotr@cedia.org of call the CEDIA Headquarters at 800-669-5329.
2007 CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles® EXPO
The 2007 Electronic Lifestyles® EXPO will feature CU on the Road education and certification, industry partner curricula, gateway courses, as well as a trade show component. This event will be held April 18–21 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas , NV . Trade show dates are scheduled for April 20–21.
CEDIA will again offer a broad array of industry outreach education sessions, such as “How to Design Home Theaters,” “Understanding the Interior Design Process,” and “The Fully Integrated Home.” Additionally, CEDIA University will present its Electronic Systems Technician (EST) and Electronic Systems Designer (ESD) core curriculum courses, certification exams, and manufacturer product training. Panel discussions, keynote addresses, and networking opportunities will also be featured at the 2007 Electronic Lifestyles® EXPO.
Companies interested in exhibiting at the 2007 CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles® EXPO may contact Jennifer Roth at jroth@cedia.org or at 800-669-5329. Please visit www.cedia.org/elforumexpo for the latest details on this event.
CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles® Designers’ Awards Three Weeks Until Deadline…Have You Entered?
The CEDIA Designers’ Awards deadline is quickly approaching. Don’t wait until the last minute to enter your best projects that were completed in the last year. Enter your projects in the following awards categories:
- Best Large Home Theater
- Best Small Home Theater – New Category
- Best Theme Theater – New Category
- Best Integrated Home
- Best Hidden Installation
- Best Special Project
- Best Media Room
Visit www.cedia.org/awards for specific details, guidelines, and online applications! The entry deadline for the Designers' Awards is Friday, May 5 at 5:00 p.m., EDT so enter today and be recognized by your peers forever!
Enter the Electronic Systems Contractor of the Year and Electronic Systems Technician of the Year Awards!
Do you have a great technician on staff that you want to nominate? Have you been running a successful business for years and feel you could be called Contractor of the Year? If so, don't delay…enter now for the Electronic Systems Contractor of the Year and Electronic Systems Technician of the Year Awards. Visit www.cedia.org/awards for all guideline information and to register on line. The deadline for both awards is Friday, June 2, 2006 at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
1. Microsoft Highlights Media Features in Vista
Microsoft showed off Vista ’s media capabilities at NAB, including both production and media delivery features. And particularly, high definition and high fidelity. With Windows Media Center , Microsoft hopes Vista will be the platform that users use for on-demand video and audio content to the "digital home."
Microsoft says the ground-up engineering of Vista focused on audio and video delivery with high performance, stability and fidelity. For third party software vendors, Windows Vista includes a new multimedia API that provides application isolation, ensuring that content and plug-ins cannot be modified by other applications, and incorporating reusable components (which reduces the need for custom filters). Also, support for low-latency audio processing and DirectX Video Acceleration hardware acceleration, increased resilience to system stress, give better video scaling and color fidelity, as well as greater application functionality since, says Microsoft, the new API will reduce development time for software vendors.
Some improvements offered with Vista include glitch resistance for more seamless playback (Vista allows prioritizing of audio and video processes), high fidelity with 32-bit floating by default in the audio and support for up to 144dB signal-to-noise ratio with bit-for bit sample level accuracy, says the company.
Two other features are interesting, too – device roles and per-application volume. Three device roles will be predefined in Vista : general, music and movies, and communication. Specific applications deliver output content through specific devices, i.e., e-mail alerts through a headset or music playback through high-fidelity surround-sound speakers. Per-application volume allows Vista to differentiate sounds, such as differentiating how system sounds are delivered versus sounds from applications.
For more on Vista , go to http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/default.aspx and http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/apr06/04-24AVCreationPR.mspx
2. Apple Media Center Rumors Abound
When asked about an Apple branded DVR at the recent shareholders meeting, Jobs reportedly answered “We hear you loud and clear.” According to MacWorld’s report of the meeting, the Apple execs were quite mum on specific product plans, but that answer got tongues wagging.
An Apple DVR/Media Center could be an amazing product. First, you know the chassis design will be gorgeous, gorgeous enough that not only will you not have to hide it, but maybe you’ll even want to show it off. Second, the obvious integration with iPods both for audio and video is just plain logical, and finally, Windows haters would have an alternative.
MacWorld says that all Jobs would say about future products is that “The new products in the pipeline are the best I’ve ever seen in my life.” Let’s do hope it includes an Apple Media Center . The biggest question isn’t “if it will happen,” but “what should it be called?”
To read MacWorld’s coverage of the meeting, go to http://www.macworld.com/news/2006/04/27/sharehldrmtg/index.php
3. Royal Philips Clarifies Patent Objectives
When Royal Philips recently filed a patent regarding control of advertising during movies, some media reported that it meant that Philips found a way to force viewers to watch ads. Not so, says the company. Here is the statement they issued:
Concerning television viewing and advertising commercials
New York , United States , April 19 2006. To clarify any confusion regarding the intent of this application, Philips stated,
“Inventors from Royal Philips Electronics (Philips) filed a patent application, as yet not granted, that enables watching a television movie without advertising. However, some people do want to see the ads. So, we developed a system where the viewer can choose, at the beginning of a movie, to either watch the movie without ads, or watch the movie with ads. It is up to the viewer to take this decision, and up to the broadcaster to offer the various services.
Philips never had the intention to force viewers to watch ads against their will and does not use this technology in any current Philips products, nor do we have any plans to do so.”
For more information, go to http://www.usa.philips.com/about/news/section-13527/article-14677.html
Displays
4. LG Loads the Fridge: LCD Panels Deliver TV, Weather
LG Electronics announced a new TV Refrigerator which not only has a remote-controlled, cable-ready 15-inch LCD panel built into the right door, but also has a four-inch WeatherPus LCD display over the dispenser that provides weather forecasts, digital photo album, recipe bank and other features.
The WeatherPlus display is an information center that includes personalized weather forecasts based on a consumer's given area, date/time, a calendar with alarm, eight-category recipe bank with 100 pre-loaded recipes, and a personal digital photo album. The personal photo album can be uploaded via a USB port in the dispenser area. It also has a child lock function, room temperature display, digital user manual, product controls and warnings.
The TV on the right has a DVD connection and FM radio.
It also has a bunch of actual refrigerator features, too.
The LG TV Refrigerator, model LSC27990TT, will be available in the second quarter of 2006 in a titanium finish with MSRP of $3,499 to $3,699.
For more information, go to http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/04-21-2006/0004344528&EDATE=
Media Distribution and Control
5. Pixel Magic Introduces HD MediaBox
The new HD MediaBox from Pixel Magic is a high-def networked media player that provides 500GB of storage, file management, and file access from other devices.
This is very small – 4.1” x 9” – and it’s actually attractive enough to put it in the living room.
Files can be accessed anywhere on the network, from a PC, a USB hard drive, or any network-attached storage box. The HD MediaBox supports output resolutions of up to 1080p, so all HD media regardless of native resolution can be played properly on any display, says the company. Any VGA, component video, DVI or HDMI-equipped display device can be used, from flat panel displays to projectors to HDTVs.
It also comes with all the digital optical, coax, and analog connectors needed to deliver high-fidelity audio and video for any home theater or stereo system.
The HD MediaBox comes in two models. The standard HD MediaBox MB100 is more for video and supports MPEG 1/2/4, WMV9, DivX and XviD, as well as DVD, .ISO and .VOB files. It outputs everything through the HDMI connection.
The HD MediaBox MB200 Audiophile Edition adds a low-jitter temperature compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO) to improve spaciousness, clarity, impact and purity. One thing this does is let the HD MediaBox be used as a high-end CD jukebox.
MSRP starts at $599.
For more information, go to http://www.pixelmagicsystems.com/products/media_players/hd_mediabox.htm
6. TiVo Announces Dual Tuner Box
Want to record two shows at once? TiVo’s new Series2 DT DVR does just that, giving TiVo lovers more of what they love. This is the first standalone dual tuner DVR with TiVo service.
The new box will record two shows at once even if they’re on at the same time. They come with the same networking features as the Series2 boxes (Ethernet and USB ports) so they can be added to the home network in the same way as other TiVo network boxes.
The TiVo Series2 DT DVR will be available May 1. It is available in an 80-hour model priced at $99.99 after rebate and service activation (meaning service contract required). It will be available in stores such as Circuit City and at http://www.tivo.com bundled with the TiVo service.
For more information, go to http://www.tivo.com/cms_static/press_88.html
7. Orb Expands Universe
Orb Networks had a busy month, first providing a way for TiVo users to access their TiVo recordings and play them on any device. Now, Orb announces media distribution for Palm Treo 650 users and expanded format support for mobile devices.
Orb collaborated with Kinoma to bring internet TV, music, or video to the Treo 650’s native Blazer web browser. The fre Orb application installed on the user's Windows XP PC transcodes the original content's media format and provides a stream at the appropriate bitrate for the user's mobile data connection. With Orb on their home PCs and the Kinoma Player on their Palm handsets, the millions of Treo 650 users will be able to play any song from their home music collection or catch a live sports match.
Orb also announced expanded support for playing and recording Internet TV and other online video from any mobile device with a streaming Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, or 3GP player on any carrier network and WiFi.
No specialized mobile software or mobile fees other than a data plan are required. Anyone can now watch and record Internet TV and enjoy vlogs and other online video from their mobile device's native Web browser and streaming media player.
For more information, go to http://www.orb.com/company/press/press_releases/
Audio
8. Paradigm Introduces Stylus Series v.3 Outdoor Speakers
The new Stylus Series v.3 includes six different models, including two new “SM” (stereo/mono) models. The Stylus 470-SM and Stylus 370-SM provide a Dual-Directional Soundfield for more flexibility in outdoor placement. One “SM” speaker provides two-channel sound in smaller areas, or where you prefer to just use one speaker. Multiple “SM” speakers eliminate the sound imbalances that occur outside as people are positioned closer to one stereo speaker than the other, says Paradigm.
These speakers are designed with injection-molded co-polymer (ICP) bass/midrange cones, 1” PTD pure-titanium domes for greater power handling, and smoother, extended high-frequency response.
The weather-proofing allow these speakers to stay outdoors year-round, and they can be mounted vertically or horizontally under abn eave, against an open area of a wall, within a gazebo or other garden structure or even along a deck or railing.
These are available in black or white and range from $119 – $519 a pair with some sold separately.
For more information, go to http://www.paradigm.ca/Website/SiteParadigmProduct/ParadigmModels/Stylus/stylusseries.html
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