A few weeks ago, we commented on the potential setbacks that may be experienced around Google TV, due to its requests for TV makers to delay their planned Consumer Electronics Show (CES) January 2011 introductions. It looks like these software refinements may open the door for other companies and technologies to make their stake in the next-generation TV-watching experience.

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by Barry Lieberman
 Advantage Plus Marketing Group, Inc.

Overview of Requirements

My vision was to set up flat-panel TVs in two rooms that would allow my family to watch full HD television, have Internet access, Blu-ray DVD viewing, and PC access using those TVs.

The front room would have a Samsung 55″ 8000 Series flat panel TV with 5.1 surround sound. I wanted that TV to be able to double as a PC monitor, an on-demand movie display (Internet Streaming), Blu-ray display and, of course, display full HD TV from our DVR.

Then the game room would have a Samsung 46″ 8000 Series flat panel TV. That TV would also have access to the same PC, Blu-ray player, its own digital HD cable box, and on-demand movie display (Internet Streaming). That room would also have 5.1 surround sound.

Lastly, I wanted all the source equipment housed in a “media” closet. The media closet includes the following equipment:
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The greatest challenge of putting together a home entertainment system is often choosing what components to install. Display devices alone give you the options of LCD, plasma, OLED, projectors and 3D. Once the display is in place there’s Blu-ray players, digital audio convertors (DAC), gaming systems and a myriad number of A/V cables and other components, each with its own specific feature set and appeal to the end user.
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An interesting thing happened recently. The number of U.S. households that subscribe to cable and other paid TV services fell for the first time since the dawn of cable – by about 335,000 households over the last two quarters out of about 100 million.

Time Warner Inc. also recently commented that it expects its HBO pay-TV service to decline by 1.5 million subscribers this year. Whether this projected decrease can be pinpointed on economic changes or promotional pricing as Time Warner indicated, one thing is clear – technology has been developing in such a way that consumers have been able to replace their cable subscriptions with content streaming from the web.

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This time of year, the technology industry is ablaze with talks of the latest gadgets and do-dads that are to be announced and revealed at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Come January 2011, all the top electronic manufacturers will be showcasing their latest innovations positioned to take the consumer electronic space by storm.

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It’s no secret that computers are playing an increasingly important role in our family and entertainment rooms. Whether it’s sharing tweets with fellow enthusiasts during an episode of The Biggest Loser or queuing up Hulu to watch reruns of Airwolf, the digital signals of our TVs and PCs are crossing more and more frequently.

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From laptops to iPads, Blu-Ray players, gaming consoles and other devices, we surround ourselves with an increasing number of components, cluttering our living and entertainment rooms with cables and black boxes. While some consumers are happy to live with high-tech inspired decor, many others just want the performance without the visible hardware.

Fortunately, one of the greatest innovations in home entertainment over the last five years has made cable and black box clutter obsolete. Wireless HD streaming, once littered with endless buffering, colorful scroll bars and interrupted audio, has made great strides on the back of research and development by companies like IOGEAR.
Of course, not all wireless HD streaming products are created equal, and settling for an untested, low-end solution can result in the same problems mentioned above, or worse. IOGEAR spent countless hours in the lab developing the most reliable solution possible, and the result…Ultra-wideband (a.k.a. Wireless USB or UWB).

This new radio technology can be used at very low energy levels for short-range high-bandwidth communications by using a large portion of the radio spectrum – 3.1GHz ~ 4.8GHz (WiMedia Band Group 1). By using this frequency, our Wireless Audio/Video Kits have a minimum level of interference with other wireless signals such as WiFi, Bluetooth, or cordless phones.

As mentioned, wireless HD streaming is an ideal solution for eliminating cable clutter, but if signal clutter is wreaking havoc and interrupting your wireless HD streaming, there’s really no convenience at all. Our wireless products may not clean up the clutter in your closet, but they can reliable make your entertainment more accessible.

If you could eliminate one cable or wire in your home, which would it be?

This is the case every year, it seems: once Halloween comes to a close, the ads and articles start appearing everywhere in the media, online and on TV, hinting to us that it’s time to start thinking about what to buy our friends and loved ones for the holidays. While we may try to ignore the ads and claim it’s too soon, time tends to fly and getting a head start on shopping for the holidays, or at least thinking about what to buy, should be considered right about now.

Electronics are always on the forefront of the most-wanted gifts on wish lists nationwide, and with that comes the need to be aware of what the latest and greatest technologies are. Electronic House, one of IOGEAR’s most-favored publications, has just rolled out those products they consider to be the hottest commodities this holiday season with their annual holiday gift guide.

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A faulty home theater setup can be one’s worst nightmare. There are many reasons to make sure home entertainment electronics are assembled and connected properly since dangers and hazards can range from fires to electronic device blowouts.

Did you know that many homeowners are still snaking wires throughout their home, which may cause unintended dangers beyond one’s imagination? Our IOGEAR team wants to keep our readers safe, so we have some great suggestions on how you can avoid an unintentional fire or an appliance to blow out due to the outlet configuration.

Image Credit

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“Retrofit” is the hot topic for many AV Installers. Why you ask? Just check out the stats below:

• New Housing Starts have been decreasing since October of 2005 and have now leveled off at almost record lows. See the graph below:Source
• It is not possible for all installers to go after the “higher-end” market for home theater renovations/installations. According to Rob Gerhardt, founding father and former President of CEDIA says, “The rich will always be uber-rich, but they don’t represent a future for you.” And, he adds, “…you don’t want to be one of the many now chasing the only millionaire home theater project in town.”
• Many homeowners are buying new 3D TV’s with new Blu-ray players and 7.1 sound systems.“By year-end 2011, the number of units sold will triple from 2010, to about 12 million. By 2015, it will reach 78.1 million, a growth rate of about 80.2 percent.”- iSuppli & International Business Times

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