DSH Pro
Digital Signage | Conferencing | Smartboards | Control4 | Energy | POS
Jan 2012
How the Lutron RadioRA 2 Can Revolutionize Your Home
30/01/12 23:45 Filed in: Industry News | Blog
Are you looking for creative and cost-effective ways to save energy, reduce utility bills, upgrade your home’s technological framework? Lutron makes this more than possible with its RadioRA 2 -- also known as wireless total home control.
The system provides you the power to adjust the amount of daylight and electric light, room/home temperature, and energy utilized by all of the appliances and electronics room-by-room or throughout your entire home.
To help you better understand the Lutron RadioRA 2, we hope the following outline of its benefits will reveal the value it can hold within your household:
Saves Major Amounts of Energy. The system includes a combination of light, shade, temperature, and appliance control to significantly reduce the amount of energy you utilize each day.
Ease of Use. With the push of a single button, it is possible to create the perfect combination of energy saving elements that can include adjusting room lights, shades, and temperature to the exact level that you desire. This can either include room-by-room control or throughout the entire home.
Ambiance Control. RadioRA 2 is an amazing tool for creating the exact ambiance you are looking for at any time. For instance, when you fire up the flat screen TV for one of your favourite movies, you can set the system to automatically dim the lights, close the window shades, and adjust the temperature to a comfortable level.
Appliance Control. It is possible to control all of the appliances in your home such as computers, monitors, televisions, and air purifiers by placing them on standby. By utilizing this functionality, you can save an estimated 10 percent of the energy you normally use on a monthly basis.
Custom Technology. The system can be built out to meet your specific needs. You can control settings via wall panels, tabletop controls, or handheld devices. It is also possible to access controls remotely when you are on the road or out of the country by utilizing your iPad or PC Tablet.
The opportunities are endless with Lutron’s RadioRA 2, thus the key to discovering the right mix within your home environment is to assess all of your lighting fixtures, lamps, electronics devices, and appliances and dreaming up the right solution for you.
Also, you should think about how you would like to control your system. Would you prefer wall panels, desktop and/or handheld controls, mobile device controls, or all of the above?
At Digital Smart Homes, we offer the entire Lutron RadioRA 2 system and can help you find the best solution that will best fit your needs. We can also visit your home and provide ideas for helping you create a cutting-edge and efficient home environment. For more information, we invite you to visit our certified showroom or call our team at 604-375-3474.
5 Reasons to Consider Video Conferencing
30/01/12 23:43 Filed in: Telepresence | Blog
In today’s world, video conferencing is increasingly becoming a way of life for leading and emerging organizations as they work to compete in the global marketplace. There are numerous reasons business leaders, educators, and individuals are finding it essential to invest in revolutionary technologies capable of connecting multiple offices, making remote training/education possible, and allowing for instant connection with others.
If you have been considering investing in video conferencing technologies and are still not sure as to how they can help you streamline your business processes, we hope the following five points will guide your decision making process:
1. Cut Travel Costs. Gone are the days that you must invest heavily in travel expenses. Video conferencing allows for you to schedule numerous meetings and conduct them without having to budget for flights, hotels, meals, and entertainment.
2. Immediate Connection and Information Sharing. Video conferencing can be facilitated at any time. Throughout the conference you can utilize numerous tools for sharing key information including PowerPoint slides, documents, computer screens, whiteboards, video clips, and more. There is no need to schedule for travel time, which makes for more efficient use of time and resources.
3. The Power of Face-to-Face Communication. There is a definite power associated with being able to actually see the person to which you are speaking. This is why throughout history business leaders have spent numerous dollars on travel expenses for their employees as they work to connect with fellow employees, suppliers, and customers. E-mails and phone calls can only go so far where personal touch is concerned, as key messaging can be misconstrued without being able to read the other person’s expressions.
4. Custom Infrastructures Available. Today’s video conferencing technologies can be scaled out to fit the exact needs of an organization. For instance, in the case that you want to connect each of your office boardrooms that are spread throughout the country, there are technologies that will mirror your boardrooms with matching décor and furniture that provide the illusion that you are sitting across the table from remote participants via large screens. On the other hand, if you are looking for a simple one-on-one conversation, video conferencing can be done via laptop.
5. Reduce Office Expenses. Video conference has the power to save you numerous dollars on offices expenses and supplies including phone lines, fax lines, paper, industry sized copy machines, and more. The digital world makes the sharing of documents and information easier than ever!
We at Digital Smart Homes work with individuals and organizations build out their video conferencing setups utilizing LifeSize’s technologies. A division of Logitech, the company produces a vast selection of products used by small and large businesses, educators, health providers, entertainment companies, and non-profits.
The beauty of LifeSize’s innovations is that they have worked tirelessly to develop solutions that take every aspect of an organization’s needs into consideration. Utilizing the immense LifeSize product line, we work with our clients to develop a creative solution that will help them streamline their business processes and cut costs. For more information, we invite you to either visit our showroom or give us a call at 604-375-3474.
Kaleidescape Announces DV700 Disc Vault
30/01/12 23:39 Filed in: Audio/Video | Industry News
The Kaleidescape System provides the world's best Blu-ray viewing experience in the home. The M700 Disc Vault is a key component of the system, and last year it won the coveted 2011 CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Best New Product award.
Many clients have requested a version of the M700 Disc Vault that does not include an M-Class player. Kaleidescape is pleased to introduce the DV700 Disc Vault. It offers the same award-winning performance and capacity as that of its sister disc vault, but does not have an integrated player.
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Control4 Launches Video Intercom Solutions with New Touch Screens and Door Station
30/01/12 23:37 Filed in: Industry News | Audio/Video
High-performance In-Wall and Portable Touch Screens with full-motion video intercom and wideband audio deliver dedicated control and crystal clear communications.
Las Vegas, NV– January 10, 2012 at 7:00 AM PT – Control4, a leading innovator in residential and light commercial automation systems, introduces its new video intercom solutions, which include the Control4® 7” Portable Touch Screen with Camera, the Control4® 7” In-Wall Touch Screen with Camera, and the Control4® Door Station.
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Control4 Announces New High-Performance Automation Controllers
30/01/12 23:32 Filed in: Audio/Video | Industry News
New one-room and whole-home controllers dramatically enhance consumer experiences with fluid on-screen control, blazingly fast media access, and instantaneous responsiveness.
Las Vegas, NV– January 9, 2012 at 9:30 AM PT – Control4, a leading innovator in residential and light commercial automation systems, announces two new models to its award-winning family of automation controllers: the flagship HC-800 and the versatile HC-250. Designed to harness the power of Control4’s award-winning operating system, the HC-800 and the HC-250 provide the ultimate Control4 experience for speed, performance and flexibility at an exceptional value for homeowners and businesses.
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The Power of Energy Monitoring: Save Energy & Money
30/01/12 23:19 Filed in: Energy Solutions | Blog
How would you like to have direct access to the amount of energy you are using in your home or business at any given moment? Finally, you won’t have to hold your breath every time your energy bill is delivered to your mailbox!
A growing number of businesses and families are utilizing energy monitoring technologies such as Eragy or Powerhouse Dynamics to monitor their energy output 24x7. Both technologies offer a host of cutting-edge features that are sure to give you invaluable insights on your energy usage.
Eragy Home Energy Monitoring with Control4
Eragy runs in conjunction with the Control4 home automation system and an energy sensor that is installed prior to usage. Throughout the day, Eragy monitors energy usage and then sends data to their secure website. The system then correlates your energy usage with utility provider’s rates and projects your current costs.
To view energy usage and cost statistics Eragy utilizes your Control4 touch panel, TV, computer, iPhone, Android, or iPad. After viewing the data, users you can then make needed adjustments to your home or business to decrease energy usage.
Powerhouse Dynamics
Powerhouse Dynamics is an amazing system that takes energy monitoring to new heights. The system breaks down energy usage circuit-by-circuit and pinpoints various items in your home or business that are contributing to high energy costs.
It also has the power to monitor each appliance within a home and sends out an alert when one isn’t performing well. You are also given the ability to control the temperature of your home from anywhere via a smartphone. Additionally, if you utilize renewable energy sources such as solar power, Powerhouse Dynamic’s eMonitor will reveal if they are producing the amount of which they are capable.
When the system finds it necessary to alert you to a particular problem or unnecessary energy output, the system can be programmed to send you a text message or e-mail. You can liken the system to a home assistant that is there to make your live 100 times easier!
Smart Meters Installed Across BC to Improve Energy Costs & Efficiency
The idea of energy efficiency is also being taken seriously throughout BC. In fact, there is a BC Hydro Smart Metering Program that will see the installation of 1.8 million meters in home and businesses by December 2012. The meters are expected to save BC residents more than $70 million over the next three years and $1.6 billion over the next 20 years.
At DSH Pro, we can provide you monitoring technologies that are compatible with Smart Meters. Additionally, we can provide you a full demo of the above systems. We invite you to drop by our showroom or contact me at 604-375-3474 extension #700 for more information.
Niles Introduces Two new Powerful High Fidelity Compact Subwoofer Ideal For Any Size Room
30/01/12 23:13 Filed in: Audio/Video
Powerful, stylish and compact 6.5” and 8” subwoofers, engineered with designers in mind, allow for virtually unlimited placement to fit any decor.
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, December 22, 2011—Expanding its line of powerful high-fidelity subwoofers, Niles®, The First Name In Custom Installation®, today announced the introduction of two new stylish compact subwoofers engineered with designers in mind, the SW6.5 and the SW8.
“With these new stylishly-designed compact subwoofers, installers can place a high-powered, highly attractive and easily concealed subwoofer virtually anywhere for a home theater or home audio system,” said Mike ‘Sparky’ Detmer, President of Niles. “These subwoofers outperform their larger rivals and offer superior sound quality and design for all residential and light commercial installations.”
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Control4 MyHome Android App Release
30/01/12 23:12 Filed in: Industry News | Audio/Video
It’s the app you’ve been waiting for! The Control4® MyHome Android app is now available for download! The Control4® MyHome Android app allows customers to interact with their Control4 systems from the convenience of their Android smartphone or tablet. As with other MyHome apps, customers get the familiar Control4 user interface to control lighting, temperature, music, movies, security and more.
Control4 MyHome requires a license that is available only from Control4 Dealers. With the MyHome licensing structure, you can design systems that meet your customers' needs while giving you an additional revenue opportunity. Licenses are available for a single device or for multiple devices at a single location.
The MyHome Android app is available as a free download from the Android Market.
Extend HDMI 1080p Full HD with Deep Color up to 330 feet (100 meters) over a single CAT-5 cable, along with 100Base-T Ethernet, RS-232, IR, and remote 5V DC Power
30/01/12 23:00 Filed in: Audio/Video | Industry News
The GefenPRO Extender for HDMI ELR with PoL over CAT5 extends a Hi-Def source with multichannel digital audio at resolutions of up to 1080p Full HD to 330 feet (100 meters) using one CAT-5 cable. Also, it has the capability to power a separate 5V DC device from the Receiver unit, sharing the 5V DC power, transmitted over the CAT-5 cable, up to 2 Amps at the Receiver Unit. It supports DVI-D when used with an HDMI to DVI Adapter, providing greater flexibility and options when integrating several home theater components. This product extends Ethernet and provides an IR back channel to control AV sources using the same CAT-5 cable extension. With the built-in IR Blaster, simply point the IR remote(s) at the display to control the Hi-Def sources as if they were located in the same room as the display.
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All New JVC Reference Series 3D Home Cinema 4K Projector
30/01/12 22:57 Filed in: Audio/Video
Featuring 4K precision and Industry leading performance, this JVC D-ILA 3D projector that 80,000:1 native contrast ratio. All the features you'd expect in a top-of-the-line model at a price that will surprise you.
The DLA-RS55 offers all of the features of JVC's DLA-RS65 but in a more affordable package. It is capable of displaying 2D material upconverted to a stunning 3840 x 2160 image, as well as theater-quality 3D. It features JVC's new e-Shift technology capable of projecting four times the resolution of full HD. The DLA-RS55 achieves a native contrast ratio of more than 80,000:1. It's the best value in a fully-featured, customizable 3D home theater projector.
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