Smart Home Cinema News - The Electric Playground

13 Reasons not to DIY your Smart Home

11 September 2023

If you’re handy and enthusiastic about tech, you’ve probably considered adding smart devices to your home ecosystem to make your life easier, safer, or more convenient. However, there’s a huge difference between buying a bunch of retail smart gadgets versus using a professionally installed, fully integrated smart home system like Control4. Keep reading below for some things you should consider before trying to DIY a smart-ish house with readily available commercial devices. Size and complexity

Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus 30th Anniversary

20 May 2023

Bowers & Wilkins iconic Nautilus loudspeaker is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a unique pair produced in an Abalone Pearl finish. The iconic design warrants the treatment, not just because it’s the traditional jewel to celebrate 30 years of marriage, but also the colour of the internal shell of the marine mollusc that inspired the Nautilus name. The Nautilus remains one of the most recognisable loudspeaker designs in the world, originally conceived by company founder

New Denon Flagship AV Amps

5 March 2023

Denon aims to redefine the high end of the integrated AV amplifier market with the launch of the top of the line AVC-A1H and AVC-X4800H. Engineered and constructed at Denon facilities in Japan, the reference grade AVC-A1H (pictured above) is the latest in a line of venerable A1 products, following on from the AVP-A1 (in 1996) or the AVC-A1HD (launched in 2007). The Denon AVC-A1H sports a huge 11.5kg power transformer and dual main capacitors

LG Debuts Wireless 4K OLED with Zero Connect Technology

5 February 2023

LG is expanding its Signature line of high-end displays, with the world’s first wireless OLED screen. The LG Signature OLED M3 uses Zero Connect technology to deliver sound and vision, up to 4k 120Hz, via proprietary RF. The Zero Connect box is both the transmitter, and an interface for connected devices, with three HDMI inputs. The only lead from the M3 screen is for power. The Zero Connect box can be placed anywhere in the

Sky Glass and Stream get firmware boost

26 November 2022

Sky Glass and the new Sky Stream puck have enjoyed a major firmware upgrade that has brought a number of big usability upgrades to the Sky Entertainment OS. These include changes to the Playlist and Bluetooth connectivity, although the expected improvement to Sky Glass picture quality is not part of the drop. The Playlist function, which replaces local recording on both devices, has moved further up the homepage, to improve access to movies and programmes

Why Matter matters – is interoperability a possibility

4 November 2022

There’s a new standard coming to shake up the smart home device world. Matter is something I’m sure you’re starting to hear more about at trade events, conferences, and through conversations with industry colleagues, but what is it and why should you care? Formed in 2019, companies including Apple, Amazon, Google and Samsung joined the Zigbee Alliance – now known as the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) – to create the ‘Connected Home over IP’ project,

Control4 debuts Vibrant Linear lighting line

15 October 2022

Control4 has introduced a new Vibrant Linear Lighting line that enables integrators to create personalised lighting experiences. The new range made its debut on the Snap One booth at CEDIA 2022. With Control4 Vibrant Linear Lighting, installers can design scenes that can be activated with a voice command, manually, or through automation. The line supports circadian health, a growing wellness concern that mimics nature with bright, cool light during the day that slowly dims and

Control4 unveils next-gen Halo Remote Controls

6 October 2022

Control4 has announced Halo, a next generation remote control range. The two new models sport backlit buttons, a new graphical interface, dual-band Wi-Fi support, and a push-to-talk voice button. The new remotes were unveiled at CEDIA 2022. “Remote controls are one of the key interfaces customers use to control and interact with their system, and that experience influences their perception of the system as a whole. Therefore, we’re focused on improving performance and ease-of-use, connectivity,

Sky Stream TV Box launches in October with rolling pay plan

6 October 2022

Sky Stream, the IP-delivered premium pay TV channel service from Sky, will be available in the UK from October 18. Using the same platform as Sky Glass, the compact 4k HDR media streamer can be used with any TV, and connects over Wi-Fi with no dish required. Sky Stream is to be offered with the choice of a £29 31-day rolling plan that can be cancelled at any time, or with an 18-month contract. The

Great article about Smart Home Technology

27 September 2022

Check out this article from Build It Magazine about Choosing the best tech for your property. Interesting ideas but we would always advise more of a centralised approach rather than lots and lots of individual apps, all too confusing. Smart Home Technology: How to Plan Your Smart Home & Choose the Best Technology Source: BuildIt

Freeview Play adds new content discovery tools

1 August 2022

The Explore Freeview Play TV channel app has received a major update, introducing new content discovery tools which bring new recommendation genres, and a new dedicated Box Sets area. The move is designed to offer viewers improved access to Freeview’s extensive on demand library. Explore Freeview Play is available on Channel 100 on Freeview Play TVs. Alongside over 80 live TV channels, the platform is home to over 40,000 hours of on demand content and

Apple TV+ and Paramount+ win big as viewers churn

25 July 2022

US subscription viewers are churning to Apple TV+ and Paramount+ as they service hop, according to new research from Ampere Analysis. These second tier streamers are now the most popular destinations for grazing goggleboxers. The definition of a Subscription Video on Demand (SVoD) switcher is someone who moves from one subscription service to another contract within 60 days. 11 per cent chose Apple TV+ and Paramount+. Netflix was third according to the Ampere survey.. The

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