Innholdsfortegnelse for Summer 2021 i Residential Tech Today

The acronym “vMPVD” is a bit unwieldy, but what it means – virtual multichannel video programming distributor – is another element of the rapidly changing face of content delivery to the masses. These streaming services and “skinny bundles” are aimed directly at serving the growing number of cord-cutters. As Elizabeth Parks of Parks Associates notes: “We’re watching the great unbundling and re-bundling of content channels.” Paul Erickson, a senior analyst at Parks, noted in a recent online presentation titled, “Evolution of vMVPDs: Finding Success” that, “Subscribers of these services are growing, and by 2023, they’ll be second only to cable. Price is the biggest driver for adoption, but content is the other one: ‘Does this service have what I want to watch?’” Shane Cannon, president of Vidgo, noted that his…

Orro’s Smart Living systems and products are specifically designed for use by professional installers, providing a unified solution that meets the demand for advanced smart home systems at a mainstream price. The system unifies a smart home, automatically implementing lighting control with recallable lighting scenes and room-to-room intercom. By unifying smart living experiences around a home’s lighting control system, Orro provides professionals with a single smart home solution, accessible via touch or voice – without having to install and configure additional hardware. In addition, voice control with Alexa creates a compelling demo for potential buyers, showcasing the convenience and value of the smart home. The creators of Orro are now offering Alexa Built-in integration for their Orro Switch. Available via wireless update for Orro owners, the upgrade allows homeowners to…

I have been going about this all wrong. Sure, I have been sharing all the great things happening in the private cinema world – the technological advancements, the best practices, the great projects. We are able to create private cinemas now that are better than ever before, in fact, better than just about any movie theater that most people will ever experience. Month after month, year after year, I am able to share that message thanks to publications like this one, and business is good. But I struggle with the knowledge that the word is still not reaching our ultimate audience: the public that we want to serve. There is a story being told, a message sent. But it is not the right message. I thought I was above it…

Along with toilet paper, laptops, webcams, and all sorts of other things that one might never have thought would have shortages at the start of the pandemic, add video game consoles to the list. In hindsight, it makes sense. People stuck inside and unable to congregate found video games to be a great way to release the tension and boredom, as well as use the “chat” features to converse with others. At this point, anyone who is interested in console or PC gaming will likely know more about the comparisons between Xbox Series X and PS5, as well as the benefits of the latest PC graphics cards such as the highly sought after Nvidia RTX series. However, at the end of the day, the source has to be connected to…

Right out of the box, the Cleer Crescent smart audio speaker blew me away with its solidly built crescent shape, all-metal control panel, stainless steel mesh grille, and rubberized foundation. At its widest, the speaker is 26 inches across the top and about 13 inches at the narrowest location at its base, so it’s not tiny, but it also does not dominate the room. The speaker’s champagne color, which is currently the only finish option, is elegant, unique, and neutral enough to blend into most rooms. My first thought was, “This is a sculpture that happens to play music.” Cleer Crescent looked great, obviously, but how complicated would it be to set up, and, most importantly how good would it sound? Setting up Cleer Crescent Cleer Crescent is not a…

Buzr, a New York City-based consumer electronics startup, has launched Buzr Pro, a smart home device that integrates into buildings’ existing intercom systems and connects to users’ phones. Once installed and connected to Buzr’s app, a resident will be immediately notified when a package arrives or when someone is at their door. Buzr Pro was designed to replace outdated apartment access systems (buzzers/intercoms) by only requiring the user to install the Buzr Pro smart device hardware into the individual apartment or condo wall unit. Buzr Pro Replaces Legacy Intercoms It is estimated that more than 2.5 million apartments in New York City – and 250 million apartments globally – have building entry intercom systems that were built on 1800s technology. These legacy intercom systems are largely why one in three…

Cybersecurity technology has experienced a tremendous surge in consumer interest in 2021 that has shown no signs of slowing down. The trend is largely because developers are introducing numerous innovations in this realm, at a pace that meets market demand. Just think: the things we thought we would only see in sci-fi movies are quickly turning into reality. Remember Iron Man and his smart home? Evaluating the fictional character Tony Stark, from his 1960s incarnation to the present, reveals how smart home concepts truly progressed. In our modern era, we can pinpoint smart home technology’s emergence from society’s current reliance on high-tech gadgetry and the internet. The Internet of Things (IoT) is the mechanism that currently powers smart homes. All programmable devices, smart appliances, and devices in contemporary smart homes…

Despite the pandemic, the smart home business continues to thrive due, in part, to the investments made by homeowners trapped in their houses during quarantine and the need to improve technologies used to work and socialize remotely. But, what will it take to sustain this growth or win over still-reluctant potential buyers? This month we look at the latest forecasts for the smart home market, incentives to purchase new tech, and homeowner concerns and requirements for remote service.…

For those who are Apple TV device fans, the long wait for a great new model is finally over. In the 2021 release of Apple TV, the current Apple TV’s A10X Fusion processor will be replaced with the A12 Bionic for significant improvement in video processing to enable 4K HDR, including Dolby Vision with 60fps/High Frame Rate (HFR) playback. Apple is working with streaming service providers across the globe to release content with HDR/HFR, and iPhone 12 owners will be able to use AirPlay to stream content that they have shot with Dolby Vision at 60fps. For those displaying new flat panel TVs at retail or in showrooms, this gives you an added tool for showing your own custom demo material. Elsewhere on the “inside,” there are two very important…

Smart glass has been available for a long while but hasn’t taken off the way other smart innovations have. Marvin and Halio hope their collaboration changes that. Marvin, a premium window manufacturer out of Minnesota, and Halio, based in California and known for glazing solutions, are partnering to bring smart glass to residential markets. Their combination mixes high-quality windows with unique and strong glazing. The two companies are like a smart glass power couple. Halio Enables Automatic or On-Demand Glass Tinting Halio, formerly known as Kinestral Technologies Inc., is a technology leader in architectural smart glass. They have created advanced electrochromic technologies with a powerful cloud-based system so consumers can automatically tint or do so on command. The glass can get to its darkest tint in about three minutes and…

Based on Vizio’s plans for new TV and soundbar products for 2021, it is clear that their new line is well aware of what the market wants. Time will tell, but this has all the earmarks of what will help keep the company at the top of the market share heap. On the TV side of things, Vizio is on top of the “must-have” features. All of the new sets cater to the growing demand for TVs that will deliver great images with the latest gaming consoles, and all have full-array backlighting. All 4K models, which are the bulk of the new line up, include the full range of major HDR formats: Dolby Vision, HDR-10+, and HLG. Connectivity includes at least three HDMI 2.1 inputs with eARC, dual-band Wi-Fi, and…

Design and functionality are in demand for residential technology installations, and that’s no surprise as homeowners continue to seek seamless, smart, and stylish home systems. With this demand, manufacturers are faced with the challenge of creating functional, reliable, and interoperable products that fit into any room, without compromising a home’s design. In a market often judged by looks and praised for performance, there is no longer space for unmanaged cables and boxy backup devices. The power environment is one of the few foundational elements on which all installations rely on. Unfortunately, power management devices often fall victim to scrutinous looks as clunky, loud, and wire-messy UPS units and diagnostic tools can stick out like a sore thumb. However, they are perhaps the most important part of an install. As homeowners…

The U.S. OTT video services market continues to evolve, with a continued explosion of new, large services from big brands joining an already crowded market and consumers adding multiple services beyond the Big 3 players: Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu. Several overarching trends that have shaped the OTT video service market over the past year or so have affected providers across the entire ecosystem. These trends include unprecedented consumer consumption, the growing divide between OTT and pay-TV, and the evolution of content windowing. OTT consumption has increased across a variety of business models. While subscription-based services (SVODs) such as Netflix are the primary method of consuming OTT video, consumers use a wide variety of methods to access and consume content including free ad-based services, TV Everywhere apps available via a pay-TV…