“SportsCenter” at Your Home with Savant Tiling

If you are a sports fan, having a tiling feature on your TV is truly the ultimate way to watch.  Tiling means you can send multiple video signals to a single TV.  Imagine picture in picture on steroids.  Now, Savant offers 4, 6, and 9 source versions with the release of their SmartView Tiling.  For most sports fans, I’m sure the 4 is plenty.

OK, so you’ve got your big projection or flat panel TV.  Think how cool it would be to see one big picture with 3 smaller pictures off to the side!

Yes, you might have seen that before, BUT…with the Savant app, you just touch the screen icons on your iPad.  Up pop the sources and you can choose which source goes where.  Then, if you want, you can just double tap any of them and it will fill the screen.  Or, slide a small icon to the large one and everything flips.  But the coolest part of all is tracking which video source you are listening to.  The current one playing has a little speaker icon on it. All you do is slide that across to another screen and the sound flips!  That is just so slick!  Check out a demo here on this quick video.

With SmartView Tiling, Savant is just pulling way out in front of the pack in making it simple and fun to put the best technology at your fingertips.

If you don’t want to miss any of the action in America’s stadiums,  fairways, courts or tracks, call us!  We can bring it all home to you!

by Bryan Naquin.  Follow Bryan on Twitter @ACIexperts.  And you can always contact him at 225.906.2589 or by email at bryan@aciexperts.net. Bryan Naquin is president of Acadian Home Theater and Automation based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  CEPro Magazine has ranked Acadian in the top 100 consumer electronic companies in the U.S. for the fourth year in a row.

24/7 Access to Your Baby in NICU

Anyone who’s ever had a newborn sent to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) knows all too well the anxiety that goes along with such an event.  For the mother in particular, her strong natural urge to bond with her baby is interrupted and limited by her baby’s need for specialized medical attention.

One of the most basic desires for the mother is to be able to reassure her baby that she is not far away.  But in NICU, that can be extremely difficult to do.  She knows her baby is in a totally foreign surrounding absent of anything to remind her child of his or her mother.  Unless the hospital is equipped to house mother and child together there will be a great deal of time in which they are separated.  But perhaps technology can help!

Mommy’s Hear™ is a device designed to allow mothers to both see and speak to her baby while in NICU.  With technology borrowed from remote access security systems, this device is located right at the baby’s incubator so the parents and family members can see their infant from any remote device like a smart phone or iPad.  This is especially vital in the case of long-term NICU care as with infants born prematurely, for example.

When the parents can’t be at the hospital such as while caring for the baby’s siblings, the family can talk to their infant at any time, night or day, via the phone or iPad–much like using Skype or FaceTime.  Telling baby “good night,” singing a lullaby, or just watching baby awaken in the morning can be so reassuring to newborn and parent alike.

This ability to communicate directly is significant, as recent studies show the introduction of sounds like the mother’s voice reduces cardio-respiratory events common to premature infants.  Not only that, but it can aid in the child’s development while promoting bonding when parents can’t be at the hospital.  And should a family member be a little “under the weather,” they can still see and talk to their baby without risking exposing their newborn to infection.

The developers have made sure that the audio levels for the baby are safe.  Not only that, but they claim mother’s voice is actually clearer to the baby than if she were standing over the incubator.

Nothing can replace a mother’s touch, but maybe this is the next best thing to being there.

by Bryan Naquin.  Follow Bryan on Twitter @ACIexperts.  And you can always contact him at 225.906.2589 or by email at bryan@aciexperts.net. Bryan Naquin is president of Acadian Home Theater and Automation based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  CEPro Magazine has ranked Acadian in the top 100 consumer electronic companies in the U.S. for the fourth year in a row.

Now a Smart Deadbolt Lock by Goji

You may own a car that unlocks the door for you as you approach it with the key in your pocket.  How about your house doing the same thing?

CEPro, the trade magazine for the consumer electronics industry, just did a story about a “smart lock” by Goji.  In place of the round brass deadbolt lock we’re all familiar with would instead be a circular disc of  a brushed metal finish with a blue LED display.  The Goji Smart Lock is a smartphone-connected electronic security deadbolt with a built-in camera that sends real-time picture alerts and emails for visual confirmation of who is opening the door.

The device replaces a key with a smartphone, activating the deadbolt lock when the homeowner approaches the door. Homeowners can grant day- and time-specific access privileges to people, for example, to visiting friends and family; service professionals such as contractors, house cleaners and dog walkers; and to short-term renters who use services such as Airbnb. Goji digital keys are encrypted using bank-level encryption and cannot be transferred, stolen or copied like a mechanical key can. In case the homeowner misplaces his phone, Goji offers 24/7 customer service to provide assistance.

To learn more about additional features and safeguards, you will want to check out their brief video that you can access by clicking here.

Homeowners can install it themselves in the place of an existing deadbolt and includes four digital keys and two conventional keys. Programmable fobs are also available.

The device is expected to be available in December on Goji’s website for $278. Pre-orders are being accepted at Indiegogo. Discounts will be offered.

by Bryan Naquin.  Follow Bryan on Twitter @ACIexperts.  And you can always contact him at 225.906.2589 or by email at bryan@aciexperts.net. Bryan Naquin is president of Acadian Home Theater and Automation based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  CEPro Magazine has ranked Acadian in the top 100 consumer electronic companies in the U.S. for the fourth year in a row.

Black Diamond Projection Screens

Back in the 60s, showing Super 8 movies on a sheet was just about as good as using that projection screen you tucked away into a closet.  Over 50 years, the movie experience has changed vastly with digital projection coupled with amazing innovations in screen surface technology.

Screen Innovations is a company whose name says it all.  Their Black Diamond screen does a fantastic job of creating the kind of luminous visibility you’d love to find with your video projection by night OR by day!  Its easier if we just let you see the difference for yourself.

Typical Daytime Lighting

(Click the picture below for a quick demo of Black Diamond in brightly lit areas)

 

Typical Evening Lighting

(Click the picture below for a quick demo of Black Diamond in softly lit areas)

Pretty convincing don’t you think?  So creating your own home theater doesn’t mean having to add on a windowless room.  With the right screen, an unused room can now serve as your movie room without the need for boarding the windows, installing blackout drapes and killing all the lights.

Call us if you’d like to learn more.

by Bryan Naquin.  Follow Bryan on Twitter @ACIexperts.  And you can always contact him at 225.906.2589 or by email at bryan@aciexperts.net. Bryan Naquin is president of Acadian Home Theater and Automation based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  CEPro Magazine has ranked Acadian in the top 100 consumer electronic companies in the U.S. for the third year in a row.

What is 4K TV?

The newest technology in TVs is clearly 4K…no pun intended!  That’s because 4K (aka Ultra HD) is simply HD quality at twice the number of pixels both horizontally AND vertically.  So 4K is HD resolution multiplied times four!  Put another way, 4K compresses four times the pixels in the same amount of space that Hi Def does.

Why is that important?  Well, if you prefer smaller screens and have a smaller room where you watch TV, its not important, quite frankly.  But the clear trend is people buying ever larger TVs.

Some TVs might feel like jumbotrons in an ordinary room!  But that kind of size is what it takes to have a great media room or home theater experience.  The problem is when the same number of HD pixels are stretched over  increasingly larger formats, the appearance can become ever so slightly grainier.  4K solves that!  There’s also 8K out there that doubles resolution yet again to near IMAX clarity, but that’s another story.

Like any newly released technology, most media content isn’t yet formatted for that resolution, but the content IS already out there.  Blu-rays are already capable of 4K content but nearly all agree the future of the 4K advancement is in streaming video.  Netflix, which already shoots its successful original series, House of Cards, in 4K recently offered that it plans to deliver 4K content within the next two years.  Sony already has a big investment in 4K by way of the cameras they sell to the movie and television industries and the projectors they produce for theaters.

So 4K is not a fad, but neither is it for everyone right now.  Still, when you consider “upsizing” your video experience, you will definitely want to keep 4K as a strong contender in your plans.

by Bryan Naquin.  Follow Bryan on Twitter @ACIexperts.  And you can always contact him at 225.906.2589 or by email at bryan@aciexperts.net. Bryan Naquin is president of Acadian Home Theater and Automation based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  CEPro Magazine has ranked Acadian in the top 100 consumer electronic companies in the U.S. for the third year in a row.

Video Connection Basics

, Because our company deals with only state-of-the-art A/V technology, we often make assumptions about what people know.  By the time most have gotten to us, they’ve already done a lot of homework and educated themselves about a whole range of optionson the market.

But we thought we would throttle back and explain something as basic as different video connection types.

When you look at the back of, say, your Blu-ray player, you’ll see different types of connections to choose from.  We’ve included an illustration of the different types of connections you might encounter because that’ll help you see those differences easier than trying to describe them to you.

There is one basic difference you must know up front about these connections: HDMI sends digital signal and supports 1080p high-def images–today’s standard for HD video.  Meanwhile Coax, RCA and S-Video best supports analog signal.  So if you were curious as to whether or not one of your components supports high-def quality, it MUST have an HDMI connection.  If it doesn’t, you’ll never enjoy the benefits of HDTV in 1080p clarity.  So if you don’t have an HD TV, maybe the old analog format is fine for you.  It delivers a good, clean signal.

Or lets suppose you were looking at video equipment and trying to figure out how current the technology on it is.  If you don’t see HDMI ports, the unit was built before digital was THE delivery system and therefore is an older component that has already seen its better days!

As with everything, this brief look at output connections is offered as generalities.  As professional installers, we can do work-arounds that will get you the best resolution output on your video system.  We just thought it made sense to offer a quickie look as to why the back side of your video components have all of those connections and what they do!

by Bryan Naquin.  Follow Bryan on Twitter @ACIexperts.  And you can always contact him at 225.906.2589 or by email at bryan@aciexperts.net. Bryan Naquin is president of Acadian Home Theater and Automation based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  CEPro Magazine has ranked Acadian in the top 100 consumer electronic companies in the U.S. for the third year in a row.

Hear It, Don’t See It

Can you find the subwoofer hidden in this picture?  Maybe you’re thinking, “I won’t find it. A subwoofer is that large speaker box located near the floor BELOW the TV.”

Ah, think again.  You’re actually looking at it right now!  So, let’s see what’s in this photo.

There are two A/C vents, one recessed canister light, a flatscreen TV backlit with LED lighting, and the in-wall mounted left speaker column.

Well guess what?  That A/C vent nearest the canister light is actually a disguised subwoofer!  Of course your subwoofer is the speaker that provides those very deep bass sounds that sometimes make the floor rumble like thunder when you watch a movie or let you feel the kick of the bass drum when listening to music.

Most assume subwoofers must be placed at or near the floor level.  That isn’t always the case.  So if it makes sense to not place a subwoofer under your TV, ask your professional A/V installer about placement options that would work well for your room.

Not only can you be surprised by subwoofer location, but even more, you will be amazed by their performance!  We provide our clients with such delightful surprises all the time.

by Bryan Naquin.  Follow Bryan on Twitter @ACIexperts.  And you can always contact him at 225.906.2589 or by email at bryan@aciexperts.net. Bryan Naquin is president of Acadian Home Theater and Automation based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  CEPro Magazine has ranked Acadian in the top 100 consumer electronic companies in the U.S. for the third year in a row.

Music is In the Air

Springtime is a season for weddings and graduations.  And gift-giving can often be a challenge–trying to find that unique as well as thoughtful gift.  So why not consider giving the gift of music?

Newlyweds love compact, portable music systems to add warmth and beauty to their new homes.  Even if the happy couple already has an audio system for their living room, having a compact system for their bedroom or even patio is a huge bonus.  AND both the bride and groom can equally appreciate and enjoy your thoughtfulness!

And Grads?  They especially love knowing they don’t have to dismantle their audio system at home but can leave it in their rooms for when they’re home on a weekend or over a semester break.  With a compact system you give as a gift, they can enjoy their favorite music at their new dorm or apartment.

But the problem with typical “off the shelf” portable units is that the sound produced lacks dynamic range nor does a very good job filling a room.  Its music in a box.

Not so with products by Bose!  Bose is music in a ROOM.  Bose has earned an unmatched reputation for yielding astounding acoustical depth and clarity from compact components, bathing rooms in absolutely luxurious fidelity.  As a Bose dealer, we can help you with your selection of products available, but lets take a moment here to look at a few options.

The Bose SoundDock is one smart choice and serves as a docking station and charger for iPhones or iPods on which favorite music has already been stored.  It comes in five models–all of which come with its own remote control.  You have: the original as well as SoundDock II (the latter one includes an AUX port to connect other devices) both priced at $199.95; SoundDock III is already compatible with iPhone 5’s (not requiring a special adapter), features Waveguide technology and is priced at $249.95; and SoundDock Portable which has a built-in carrying handle plus a DC power port as well as a rechargeable battery for $299,95. Then we jump up to the SoundDock 10.  It combines all the best features of the other versions but is also Bluetooth compatible!  This unit even includes a video port to connect to a TV.  Now, using a Bluetooth device, watch video on your TV with incomparable audio via SoundDock!  The SoundDock10 is $599.99.

Bose offers another product which makes a wonderful gift.  Its the SoundLink.  And when it comes to portability, the Bose SoundLink was designed strictly for having great carry-it-with-you sound dynamics.   We featured the SoundLink in a previous blog so we won’t repeat that here.  Just know it is a great option to consider as well and is priced at $299.95.  Click here to read about our take on the SoundLink in that previous post.

For a cherished gift for any occasion, consider putting “music in the air” for your loved ones!

by Bryan Naquin.  Follow Bryan on Twitter @ACIexperts.  And you can always contact him at 225.906.2589 or by email at bryan@aciexperts.net. Bryan Naquin is president of Acadian Home Theater and Automation based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  CEPro Magazine has ranked Acadian in the top 100 consumer electronic companies in the U.S. for the third year in a row.

Movie Buffs and the Props They Love

Minotaur Costume from The Chronicles of Narnia movies.

There is a small but growing industry in acquiring movie props and costumes.  Perhaps the most famous movie memorabilia are the ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz.”  Five pair of the original shoes are known to exist.  One pair is on display at the Smithsonian and made an appearance on the red carpet at last night’s Academy Awards.  Debbie Reynolds owned the “trick” pair that curled up under the house.  Years ago, Reynolds invested money into movie memorabilia which she planned to sell to help provide for herself during retirement.  At auction in 2011, her ruby slippers fetched $510,000.

Movie buffs have begun displaying props as part of the decor of their home theaters or media rooms.  The internet has made shopping for props easy for anyone.

Bread Dish from Titanic

Favored props from more contemporary films were those produced by WETA Workshop which produced thousands of highly intricate (and in many cases beautiful) props for the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  Troika Brodsky is the proud owner of the largest private collection of LOTR film props in the world–second only to the official studio archive in New Zealand.

Because prop designing has become such a refined art, owning and displaying actual pieces used in movies is (to movie buffs at least) as good as owning actual museum artifacts.

Armor Costume from The Last Samurai

As a result, the most cherished items collectors possess are often set up on display in their homes as part of their private, at-home movie-going experience.  In many cases, favorite movies are viewed in laser-sharp definition with crystal-clear, digitized audio reproduction while surrounded by “artifacts” professionally lit and displayed on the walls around them.

Not only are originals in high demand, but the reproduction market has benefitted as well.  Replicas have become highly refined due to consumer demand and such merchandise now figure prominently in home media rooms as well.

But the real art is found in the movies you enjoy on your own home entertainment system.  Movies magic still begins on the silver screen.  And while you may not be in the market for movie collectibles, you may be interested in enhancing your movie-going experience in your own home.  If that’s you, you owe it to yourself to give us a call to see how we can help bring more of the magic home!

by Bryan Naquin.  Follow Bryan on Twitter @ACIexperts.  And you can always contact him at 225.906.2589 or by email at bryan@aciexperts.net. Bryan Naquin is president of Acadian Home Theater and Automation based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  CEPro Magazine has ranked Acadian in the top 100 consumer electronic companies in the U.S. for the third year in a row.

Gizmos to Get Fit With

If you’re in “getting in shape” mode, you might be interested in learning about the help you can get from technology and the internet.

Bathroom Scales

This is the first and most basic tool for any weight-loss program–measuring where you are currently and helping you decide where you need to go.  But now scales are Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth compatible.  There are so many of these products on the market that the easiest way for you to check many of them out is to simply click here to link to Amazon.com to give you a good starter list and prices of some that are available. They don’t just measure weight!  Depending upon the model (and what you’re willing to pay) you can learn your degree of body fat, bone mass, muscle mass, hydration and more.  And you don’t need to keep record.  The scale will send your results to your computer or smartphone and log it for you through software and/or phone apps they provide!

Activity Monitors

Light activity is where you want to start?  Then all the experts say you should have a walking regimen.  Again, LOTS of products available and they start with the technology version of pedometers and advance to handle other forms of exercise.  This blogger covers six different devices that may be of interest to you.  In short, these devices will do such things as total up your activity level, monitor your heart rate, measure your blood pressure, calculate calories burned, etc.  Of course, most of them will do the recording for you in your health/fitness program on your computer or phone.

Rest is Important Too

Getting proper rest is important to an overall fitness program and, yes, there is even technology to help with that!  One of those is Zeo.  Whole clinics are now devoted to sleep assessment because having your eyes closed at night doesn’t equate to sleep.  So most people don’t know why they’re fatigued when they awake thinking they’ve had a good night’s sleep.  One product Zeo offers is a headband you wear while you sleep.  The information the headband downloads shows you how restful or else restless you sleep, measures the amount of REM sleep you got and scores your night.  You’ll even get recommendations on how to improve your sleep.

Weight loss and fitness management is about about measurable results.  These products and SO many more can help you keep that New Year resolution.

by Bryan Naquin.  Follow Bryan on Twitter @ACIexperts.  And you can always contact him at 225.906.2589 or by email at bryan@aciexperts.net. Bryan Naquin is president of Acadian Home Theater and Automation based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  CEPro Magazine has ranked Acadian in the top 100 consumer electronic companies in the U.S. for the third year in a row.