Knowledge is power

Education, education. It all started when I passed my THX Home Theatre Level One earlier this year. The next stage has to be Level Two, but in the meantime I’m about to embark on a ‘Part P’ course for domestic electrical installation.

One of the surprising aspects of finding out where I can study for Part P was the difference in the cost of courses - it all depends on whether the commercial or the local government-funded route is taken. There is merit in both, but costs of the former can be alarming.

Friends have reminded me that I am a journalist, not an installer, so why would I want Part P? Someone also made the point that a lot of custom install companies don’t have Part P-qualified people on the staff.
I responded with the oft-quoted Baconism, “Knowledge is power.” And not to forget that installers with a Part P staffer or two, find it a distinct advantage to perform, and be able to pass, domestic electrical work associated with the custom installation. Being able to officially install stuff in my own house is handy for me too - as a self-confessed automation freak, the whole thing comes together nicely.

Education also helps when writing about technical things, and while I would struggle to program a Pronto, I actually managed to come up with a motorisation control circuit for a colleague involved at the periphery of the custom install industry. After the circuit was built and tested (it actually worked!), he asked me if I would like to see the installation where it was going to be used.

We duly turned up at the site and found to my surprise that it was quite an expensive project with some motorisation and lighting control but no global system or centralised equipment. The overall modifications were far-reaching, giving the impression that the client was not short of cash, but it seemed that no traditional integration company had been involved at any stage of the job.

It appeared that the client might not have been exposed to all the possibilities by an experienced custom installer and ended up with what can only be described as a mish-mash of disparate events within the house. A matter, perhaps, of client education?

Moving on, it’s been a long time since I’ve contacted the British Audio-Visual Dealers Association (BADA), but recently caught up with developments at their AGM held at the Royal Institute of British Architects building in Portland Place (if you ever need to go there, avoid the official website map for directions, it shows streets which aren’t there!).

More talk of education came up, this time it was about the new Demcraft and Visioncraft courses. It was suggested by a spokesperson that the training taken by BADA members who do installations as well as shop presentations, equips them with extra skills to perhaps do a better job than dedicated custom installers.
Education for custom installers feeling left out of the BADA loop can easily be addressed, as I hear that Demcraft and Visioncraft courses are available to CEDIA members.

A company involved in installs and hi-fi demonstrations might be tempted to say ‘we are the best’ but perhaps the best of both worlds is the custom installer who uses, when appropriate, the facilities of a retailer with good dem rooms. I know that Maidstone-based Alphabet AV Solutions have a cooperative venture with Unilet (New Malden) and Home Media’s (Maidstone) demo facilities to show potential install customers the combination of free-standing equipment alongside an integration package.

Many installers I know would disagree with audio systems which major on discrete equipment when the custom route is to fill a room with sound without the clutter of CD decks and AV receivers. As an installer said to me once, “We use one of our show homes to give the client an experience and prove beyond doubt that you don’t have to SEE loads of kit to get good results.”

Martyn Williams is HCD’s Contributing Editor, and chief CI writer

CEDIA Expo Guide

Our handy guide helped visitors to this to year’s CEDIA Expo to navigate the hall with ease. Here’s the lowdown on the who, what and where at the ExCeL centre:

ACA-APEX LTD, STAND J22
Be sure to pay CRIS a visit. ACA-Apex Limited will be exhibiting its main brand at CEDIA 2008 – the Compact Residential Infrastructure System (CRIS). CRIS is a scalable home network solution that incorporates phones, computers, TV and audio distribution – and is as elegant looking as it is affordable.
www.aca-apex.com

ACTION DISTRIBUTION, STAND F2

ADAPT CONTROL SOLUTIONS, STAND G20

AIRREMOTE, STAND H1

AIRSOUND LLP, STAND G7

ALBAN ELECTRONICS, STAND A7

ALDOUS SYSTEMS (EUROPE), STAND E1

AMINA, STAND E25
Make sure you make a beeline for stand E25 – you’ll certainly get plastered. And now we’ve got your attention, we can tell you about Amina’s global debut: its new range of AIWX Invisible Plaster In-wall speakers. The new loudspeakers are actually plastered into the wall or ceiling to become completely invisible; great news for the design-savvy custom installer. Amina will also demonstrate the new Velodyne SC-IW in-wall subwoofer as part of its new marketing partnership with Redline.
www.amina.co.uk

AMX, STAND B4
The AMX stand will feature two fully working demonstrations of systems for residential and commercial installations, showing off the latest, exciting developments in control technology. In particular, the distributor will display its cutting-edge range of award-winning touch panels and control pads. The display will highlight the latest additions to the AMX portfolio – the ultra stylish Modero 5200i Viewpoint Widescreen and the Novara range of simple, cost-effective control pads..
www.amx.com

ANTHONY GALLO ACOUSTICS, STAND E14

ARMOUR HOME, STAND C10
Key distributor to the custom installation trade in the UK, Armour Home will be demonstrating its popular Systemline multi-room entertainment system. Systemline recently starred in CEDIA’s ‘Best Multi-Dwellings Installation’ by Surrey-based custom installers Touch of a Button.
www.armourhe.co.uk

ASHERIDGE COMMUNICATIONS, STAND D12

AUDIOBILITY, STAND G22
Among the products that Audiobility will be demonstrating is MIT’s super-sharp, one-wire system. With just one spool of cable and MIT’s modules, you can install an entire audio/video system. No soldering is required – all you need to do is cut and strip the wire, attach the connector, twist on the Tmax module and connect your equipment. Easy! Other manufacturers to be found here include Solid Drive, Adcom, and CEDIA virgins Whatmough.
www.audiobility.co.uk

AUDIPACK, STAND F15a
CEDIA welcomes new face Audipack to the show with open arms – or should we say open brackets? The manufacturer, making its CEDIA debut, is launching the Spektra range of LCD and plasma brackets and the new Clo X Arm – a fully motorised bracket that’s sturdy enough to handle 65in flatscreen behemoths (pictured far right).
www.audipack.com

AWE EUROPE, STAND D15
Sounds like a stealth fighter (it’s not… CEDIA isn’t that big) and with all the hi-tech looks, the new Cineversum BlackWing Three will be making its debut on AWE’s stand, a Full HD projector with smooth, cinema-like motion. Hands-on demos of the Philips Pronto range will also be showcased. Also, expect an announcement of two new major distribution deals for AWE.
www.awe-europe.co.uk

B&W, STAND H15
B&W plans to raise the roof of the ExCeL exhibition centre with its exciting collection of new products. The British speaker brand will be making announcements that cover everything from high-end custom theatre installations to a new look for some much-loved traditional two channel hi-fi. Classé will also be represented, with a stunning new high end home theatre processor, while Rotel will be displaying its range of top-quality multi-room kit.
www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk

BJURAB UK, STAND A1
Taking pole position at the CEDIA exhibition on stand A1, Bjurab will be launching a number of new styles of projection screen ideal for the home cinema sector. These include the new Linea Tab-Tension screens (pictured above), new Re-Act material and further additions to the Sesame range of recessed screens.
www.bjurab.co.uk

BMB ELECTRONICS UK, STAND B5
BMB Electronics is exhibiting on stands A5 and B5 and will be showing several exciting new products including the Xi Dock iPod docking station from Xantech, Niles’ iRemote TS controller, and Xperinet’s Tarpon.
www.bmbelectronics.co.uk

BPT SECURITY SYSTEMS (UK), STAND B24

CABASSE, STAND G4

CABLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS TRAINING SERVICES, STAND J14a

CHIEF, STAND C20
Chief’s biggest draw this year is the Mountbuilder product configurator, its latest web innovation for flatpanel mounts, projector mounts and accessories. At the Chief website, drop distance and weight capacity are automatically calculated as parts are added. A parts list is also generated, with the ability to edit parts and quantities. The tool allows users to log in and create a password, so that they can save configurations for proposals or future jobs. See it in action on stand C20.
www.chiefmfg.com

CINEAK, STAND D24

CINEMA EXPERIENCE, STAND C7

CINEMATECH, STAND C4

COMM-TEC, STAND F15a
Easy installation and operation are promised by Comm-Tec’s brand new ElectricMaster projection screens. With a remote control facility as standard, end users can control the descent and raising of the screen from the comfort of their boardroom seat or home cinema armchair. ElectricMaster screens will be on show at Expo in square, video and the new HDTV widescreen formats.
www.comm-tec.co.uk

CONNEXIONS (UK), STAND F8

CRESTRON, STAND B8
Crestron’s latest innovation in touchpanel design and control versatility will be shown for the first time in the UK. This exciting addition to the Crestron family will be showcased alongside the ever-popular TPMC-8X WiFi touchpanel and the compact TPS 4L.
www.crestron.com

CSE, STANDS C5 AND D4
CSE/Duet can’t wait to show off its new ranges of CI-oriented solutions. This includes Full HD displays from Planar and Vidikron, DVDO’s video processor/scalers, and established solutions from Lexicon, Parasound, Projecta, Revel, Liberty, InFocus and Mirage. SpeakerCraft’s flexible iPod-friendly MODE and MODE Free systems, complete with a newly developed iPhone interface, will also be on show.
www.csesolutions.co.uk

CYP, STAND F7
CYP, the European distributor for all Cypress Technologies products, is set to launch its own brand at the show, promising ‘solutions to bridge the gap between any compatibility in AV systems’.
www.cypuk.com

DF SOLUTIONS, STAND H4b
This launch sounds idyllic. DF Solutions, a UK-based manufacturer, is showcasing its market-leading iDyl and Vnode multi-room media server solution, as well as demonstrating its Blu-ray next-generation server, set for release in the UK this autumn. Catch a sneaky peek here.
www.dfsolutions.co.uk

D&M INSTALLATIONS (DMi), STAND E15
This year’s Expo will see the ‘new’ DMi with more dedication shown towards the installation market. From a product perspective the focus is on the New Escient Zone whole house control system and the Escient Vision media library and AV distribution solutions.
www.dm-i.eu

D-TOOLS, STAND C1

DYMO, STAND F6
Dymo, manufacturer of the Rhino brand of handheld label printers, will be parading the incredibly useful Rhino 6000 – a Godsend for custom installers. The Rhino 6000 is the fi rst handheld printer in the Rhino family to offer a simple USB connection to Windows PCs, together with Rhino Connect label-design software. This clever bit of kit provides installers and their technical teams an easy way to pre-design labels and upload them for use on-site.
www.dymo.com

DYNALITE EUROPE, STAND H20
Making waves on stand H20 is lighting control manufacturer Dynalite Europe Ltd, who will be showing off its new range. Each of Dynalite’s new lighting controllers has been developed to ‘provide economical solutions which incorporate design advancement and practical application,’ its PR guru tells us.
www.dynalite.com

ELAN SYSTEMS (UK), STAND D22

ELITE SCREENS, C4a
Just like Ronseal, Elite Screens does exactly what it says on the tin. This innovative company specialises in aff ordable, high-quality projector screens and is using the CEDIA platform to exhibit its CineTension2 home theatre projection screens. These are tension-cord reinforced retractable screens, available in either solid or acoustically transparent material for a variety of installation options – check ‘em out, people.
www.elitescreens.com

ENVIROVISION, D2
Take two tellies into the shower? Not us, but Envirovision might. The manufacturer will be looking to make a splash this year with its full range of HD Ready Freeview waterproof bathroom TVs. The 19in model is available in two variants – the 19EA series is supplied with separate high-quality waterproof ceiling-mounted speakers, while the 19IA off ers integral waterproof speakers. Don’t forget your rubber duck!
www.envirovision.com

ETHEREAL HOME THEATER, STAND G23

EXTRON, STAND F3
Everything but the kitchen sink can be found on stand F3. Here you’ll find Extron, a leading manufacturer of A/V system products, with a portfolio that includes multi-image signal processors, video scalers, distribution amplifi ers, audio products, speakers and HDMI/DVI products. Some portfolio – and come to think of it, it probably does a kitchen sink as well.
www.extron.com

FURUKAWA ELECTRIC EUROPE, STAND J14

FUTURE AUTOMATION, STAND D6
Future Automation will be exhibiting its remarkable range of manual and automated wall mounts, plasma lifts and projector drops. Future Automation’s new projector mechanism will also be launched, along with the first UK showing of its electric bi-directional swivel brackets.
www.futureautomation.co.uk

FUTURE SHOP, STAND D1
These cable guys have all you need to make a connection. The company is best loved for its in-house specialist customised cables that can be produced to any bespoke length.
www.futureshop.co.uk

FUZION, STAND D1a

GEFEN, STAND E4
Gefen will be showcasing its new range of switchers and splitters aimed at the multi-room trade AV installer. The company will also present the Gefen TV, which is designed for the high-end consumer.
www.digi-box.co.uk

GOELST UK, STAND G6

HABITECH, STAND C16
Habitech is the UK’s exclusive distributor for NuVo Technologies, part of the Hanser Music Group, which is one of America’s oldest audio companies. Habitech has been trading since October 2006 and is totally focused on the custom installation business.
www.habitech.co.uk

HARMAN CONSUMER UK, STAND H10
Representing brands like Harman/Kardon, JBL, Infi nity and AKG, Harman Consumer UK are CEDIA Expo regulars. Expect all new multi-room products, professional loudspeakers and wireless headphone systems.
www.harman.com

HARVARD TECHNOLOGY, STAND G15
Distributing AV products from, Sharp, NEC, Panasonic and Harman-Kardon as well as Meliconi furniture, Harvard Technology’s expert staff will show you its products and full range of services – including an exclusive opportunity to have your own Harman Kardon franchise.
www.harvardtechnology.com

HELVAR, STAND J11
Green-minded visitors should swing by the Helvar stand and check out the latest in energy saving lighting systems. With a range of products including electronic ballasts and full lighting control systems, Helvar will be showcasing a series of products for the commercial and residential lighting markets.
www.helvar.com

IKON AVS, STAND J12

IMERGE LTD, STAND B12
Imerge, the Cambridge-based manufacturer of ‘out of the box’ music and movie multi-room server systems, will be showing-off its multi terabyte, 1080p MS5000 MediaServer and MP1000 MediaPlayer.
www.imerge.co.uk

IMPACT SCREEN SOLUTIONS, STAND H7b
Recently appointed as Screenline’s UK distributor, ISS Ltd will be exhibiting many of their new products this year, many previously unseen in the UK. Its 4FORMAT screen promises to off er quality for the most discerning custom installers, with sizes up to a whopping 150in and in-ceiling options. Even more enigmatic is the new RETROLIGHT screen, but ISS is remaining tight lipped on that front.
www.impactscreensolutions.co.uk

INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS, STAND D23

INVISION, STANDS B18, B20 and J15
While some companies are pulling back, Invision is pushing forward with more space at this year’s CEDIA, hitting the ground running with a whole new business division and three product lines. Polk Audio’s SurroundBar50 is one of the highlights of stand B18, while NetStreams and the Invision UK team can be located on stand B20. Elsewhere, Invision Express is on stand J15 – a ‘one stop source’ for plasmas, LCDs and projectors, dealing with all the major manufacturers.
www.invisionuk.com

IVORY EGG (UK), STAND F9

JVC, STAND H5
It’s a welcome return to CEDIA for JVC, showing off what new treats it has for all custom installers. This year, JVC is demonstrating its latest projector development in the shape of its award-winning range of True Black D-ILA series, the DLA-HD100 Cinema Widescreen System. Also being shown is the world’s slimmest LCD TV with built-in tuner – the super-slim LT-42DS9BJ.
www.jvc.co.uk

KALEIDESCAPE, STAND D20
Drop by to see Kaleidescape’s take on multi-room, complete with east to use interface and top-draw industrial design.
www.kaleidescape.com

KEF AUDIO (UK), STAND E6
Installers with a few quid left in the budget would do well to inspect KEF’s ultra high-end Muon speakers, which should be accompanied by the brand’s Reference Model 201/2 and XQ30.
www.kef.com

KNOXED, STAND H7a

KRAMER, STAND D21
Connect with Kramer Electronics this year. The company will be showcasing HDMI products, with the range divided into four groups – distribution amplifiers, switchers and matrix switchers, long distance transmission solutions and scalers. The VP-437 HDMI switcher will receive its UK debut, as will the VS-66HDMI 6×6 HDMI matrix. Kramer will also demonstrate different methods of sending HDMI over long distances using fibre optics, CAT5 and flat copper cables.
www.kramerelectronics.com

LIFESTYLE SPACE, STAND K9

LIVING CONTROL, STAND B7
The first company to provide both music by title from any room, music server company Living Control will be showing at Expo its latest music servers. Its new MusicBox series of home music servers can be controlled from a PDA, Smartphone, Windows, Mac, Linux or Nokia Web Tablets. Come by stand B7 to see its MusicBox1, MusicBox5 and MusicBoxRAID.
www.livingcontrol.com

LOEWE, STAND F10
Telly addicts will be no strange to German manufacturer Loewe’s opulent flatscreens, and this year’s offerings are no downturn in fortune. One of the few brands in the world that offer premium flatscreen TVs, the manufacturer debuts its new range of Connect LCD TVs with direct access to networked media. Also making its first appearance is Loewe’s new multi-room audio distribution system.
www.loewe-uk.com

LUTRON, STAND D10
Lutron Electronics, world-renowned for offering flexible solutions for high-profile installations, is showing its full range of artificial lighting control products on stand D10. These include the new Lutron GRAFIK Eye QS lighting control technology as well as its very popular HomeWorks system.
www.lutron.com

MARATA VISION, STAND B10a
Among the highlights of Marata Vision’s stand are the latest high-end, big-name projection products from JVC, Panasonic and Vutec – with lighting control by iLight. Other treats in store include the Series 4 range of in-wall Aquavision TVs, now with RS232 control. Marata believes that integration with iLight is the key to adding value to a sale.
www.marata.co.uk

MASER COMMUNICATIONS, STAND E22

MIDDLE ATLANTIC PRODUCTS, STAND B17

MJ INTERNATIONAL, STAND F2a

MONITOR AUDIO, STAND G5
Monitor Audio’s 300 Series of architectural speakers was one of CEDIA 2007’s highlights – and if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The manufacturer expands its acclaimed line-up this year wit three additions, including in-wall, in-ceiling and in-ceiling effects speakers, further enhancing the performance and system-building versatility of the range.
www.monitoraudio.co.uk

NAIM AUDIO, STAND B18

NEP (TECHNOLOGY), STAND K7

OPTIMUM INTERNATIONAL, STAND F15
The Optimum stand at will feature a selection of models from BDI’s highly-desirable product portfolio. Optimum’s exclusive partnership with the high-end, US-based TV furniture specialists should be one to watch: “Gone are the days of simply producing basic furniture designs with glass shelves and metal rods,” boasts Optimum’s MD John Ogden.
www.optimuminternational.co.uk

OPUS, STAND E5a
Opus’ brand-new magnum opus is the great-looking WCU600 touchscreen keypad, designed to seamlessly control both the Opus 500 multi-room system and a number of third party lighting and smart home products. The WCU600 is able to display video from DVD, TV or CCTV systems and the onscreen menus of AV servers and iPod docks.
www.opus.eu

ORAY, STAND J5
Oray, on stand J5, offers the largest range of screens and armchairs for home cinemas in Europe with high quality screens and comfortable armchairs unlike any other.

ORBITSOUND, STAND TBC
Audio buffs should cock an ear to Orbitsound’s stand, where it is previewing some show-stopping listening technology and the first commercially available products. AirSOUND produces a uniform stereo soundfield from a single speaker enclosure, encoded as direct and spatial information rather than left and right channels.
www.orbitsound.co.uk

PARADIGM AUDIO VISUAL, STAND C9

PATH GROUP, STAND E5

PIONEER, STAND G8

PMC/BRYSTON, STAND F1

PREMIER MOUNTS, STAND E20
Up against the wall! Premier Mounts continues to evolve its reputation for high-quality AV support solutions and service in this showcase of its ever-growing range of products. Targeting both the professional and consumer markets, the main attraction is its new Rotary series of revolving mounts – including the industry’s only bigscreen mount that is designed for both portrait or landscape configurations while keeping your display flat against the wall.
www.mounts.com

PROGRESSIVE AV, STAND F21
Well-known for focus on products for the converging in-car and in-home digital entertainment markets. Brands include Dension Audio Systems, Logitech, Vantage Point, Lars & Ivan, Vizualogic, Koncept Technologies, Connected Acoustic and Addlogix.
www.progressiveav.com

PULSE MARKETING, STAND D8

RAKO CONTROLS, STAND C6
Get smart! Rako will be exhibiting its multi-channel dimming system on stand C6 and launching the RAH-SMART – a new Rako hand controller that off ers a stylish handset option with colour display screen to provide more user information and fl exibility.
www.rakocontrols.com

REDLINE, STAND F5
Redline Distribution is showcasing the incredible Velodyne MicroVee subwoofer – it’s only tiny, yet sounds huge – while install systems on show include a discreet in-wall sub and a sleek sound-bar from Artison.
www.red-line.co.uk

RGB COMMUNICATIONS, STAND B18
RGB will be showing brands such as ADA multi-room audio, AMX, Chief mounts, Draper screens/lifts, Kramer signal management, Lutron lighting, Middle Atlantic racks, projectiondesign and RBH speakers.
www.rgbcomms.co.uk

SCREENRISE, STAND G2
ScreenRISE: as easy to install as it is to understand. That’s the promise of this meld of classic and contemporary design that hides 50in screens.
www.screenrise.co.uk

SENCORE, STAND G12

SENSIBLE HEAT, STAND G11

SIM2 UK, STAND J3
SIM2 will be showing-off its home cinema projectors as well as a clutch of other products aimed at the custom installation market. ISCO Optics and Panamorph anamorphic lenses, Cineslide lens carriage, SmX screens, Da-Lite screens and ATC loudspeakers will all be on show.
www.sim2.co.uk

SIMPLY RELIABLE SOFTWARE, STAND F17

SINOWORLD VENTURES, STAND F23

SISD, STAND B1

SMART-E, STAND J5a
The SNX-888+ multi-format distribution matrix switch, which combines local and remote connections via a single cable, will be launched and British racing driver and Smart-e fan Jason Plato will also visit the stand.
www.smart-e.co.uk

SONOROUS TRADING, STAND H6

SONOS EUROPE, STAND F20

SPECTRAL, STAND C22
Another well-known name at its fi rst Expo is Spectral, who is showing off it new premium modular furniture system, the Catena, at stand C22.
www.spectral.eu

STARDRAW, STAND J10
Stardraw will be showing its Stardraw Control 2007 product for planning a custom installation. Also don’t miss its mid-range Global Caché GC-100-6 AV control system.
www.computerlinks.co.uk

STRUCTURED CABLE PRODUCTS, STAND F16

T + W MARKETING, STAND G10

TDI TREMIVER, STAND A3

THE MEDIA FACTORY, STAND J2

THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND, STAND E3a

UNICAM, STAND G21
The European distributor of Audio Authority products will be showing its CAT5 and HDMI high defi nition signal distribution systems this year, including the AVAtrix Home Theater Routing System. Unicam will also be launching Audio Authority’s new line of HDMI distribution and switching modules, which are now HDCP 1.1 compliant. Also included are the new CAT5 HDMI extenders that are HDMI v1.2 and HDCP 1.1 compliant, able to reach 250m and resolution up to 1080p.
www.unicamgroup.com

UNIQUE AUTOMATION, STANDS A12 & A14
Bathomatic. There’s a word you don’t see every day. It’s the name that the aptly named Unique Automation has given to its automatic bath management system that can be operated by a wall-mounted, touch control panel. Also being sponged-down on stands A12 and A14 are its new ‘Bathovision’ waterproof fl atscreens, which are aimed squarely at the custom installation market.
www.uniqueautomation.com

U.SEE, STAND B2

VUTEC, STAND B10b
Vutec will be drawing back the curtains on its new Theater Art System for the first time. The Theater Art System, an advanced screen/art/masking system incorporates a SilverStar hi-def projection screen, a vertical or horizontal masking system and a motorised art canvas.
www.vutec.com

WEBBRICK SYSTEMS, STAND E3

WEIBEL LIFT, STAND B15

XANTECH, STAND C23

Y3K EUROPE, STAND B16

Custom installation’s big night out

 

 

 

 

On demand, or in the clouds…?

The idea that I can watch Sky TV on a Xbox360 might have sounded a tad odd a few years ago, but I’m thinking… what took you so long?

Live and on-demand TV on all kinds of gadgets is edging us closer to an era when we can watch content from ‘the cloud’ (aka a massive bank of hard drives in Arizona, probably) while chop n’ changing the device
we’re using.

And what home cinema doesn’t have a games console? Or an iPhone? All kinds of ‘apps’ are arriving on the iPhone to control multi-room AV systems – it’s fast becoming a de facto remote control in the high-end CI sphere.

The iPhone is also a TV in its own right. DRM restricts what you can do with downloadable films from iTunes, but that’s not an issue with TVCatchup, a website that supplies live TV channels straight to any iPhone. Combine that with access to the BBC’s iPlayer, and it’s a formidable free package.

But who wants to watch TV on such a small screen? Hold a phone up to your face and it looks like a 50-inch plasma, right? Well, maybe not, but it does remind me of the Flight Of The Conchords chaps, who in a gig at CES 2008 ‘converged’ gadgets live on-stage. Brett instantly converged a camera and a phone using Sellotape, then put the sticky gadgets on top of a CRT to create a TV-phone-camera. “Does it have HD?” asked Jermaine. “Yes,” said Brett, “you just sit closer.”

Being innovative on an iPhone ‘app’ is easy and probably not long lasting. I also suspect that the iPlayer’s success in its current format is fleeting; who really wants to sit at their desk to watch TV? And the idea of snuggling up on the sofa with a laptop quickly becomes a literal pain in the neck.

Enter IPTV, and the arrival of iPlayer services on the TV via a set-top box. A whole host of set-top boxes are now on the market that provide digital TV, deliver video on demand (VOD) services and even
indulge in home networking. Virgin Media’s V+ box is perhaps the most impressive, where navigating the sheer volume of VOD content is its only problem.

Over a quarter of iPlayer use comes from Virgin Media subscribers, and with iPlayer now available to Wii and PS3, PC hits for the service are bound to decrease.

Sky is keen to catch-up despite its VOD-unfriendly satellite infrastructure. It’s recently started a process that will see it piggy-back on other devices – first via a super-slick interface on the Xbox360. To watch live Sky channels and hundreds of VOD movies, customers need an Xbox360, an Xbox LIVE membership (£60 a year), a 2MB broadband line and a £15+ Sky subscription. Too pricey for many, but the free mirror image it gives existing Sky subscribers makes it a mighty tempting – and instant – multiroom solution. It even works in a second home. If Sky Player offered access to iPlayer and some HD, I’d abandon TV tuners altogether, although the Xbox’s constant hum does grate.

It can’t do HD, of course, because the UK’s broadband speeds are too slow. High definition would require around 8Mbps when 2Mbps is still the norm. And that’s the only brake on the developing IPTV market, which is dominated by set-top boxes. Sales of Freeview STBs are down by a quarter on last year, with more choosing integrated TVs.

This downward trend could happen to IPTV, too. Recent TVs from the likes of Samsung, Sony, Philips and Panasonic have tried to include the all kinds of online widgets and apps, but they just don’t look right on the edge of a TV screen, however logical it may seem to put them there. And do I really want to pay a premium for a TV whose internet capabilities amount to news headlines, weather reports and YouTube – especially when my phone already does a whole lot more.

In 2010, Project Canvas will lay down industry standards for an IPTV open platform, and IP-TVs could appear, but perhaps the TV should stay as a simple display. The IPTV, VOD and portable media landscape is developing too fast and loose for TV manufacturers to keep pace. Instead they should concentrate on developing common standards so that all CE devices can seamlessly share content. Virtual ‘mouse’ apps are already available for the iPhone that can control a PC via WiFi.

Forget the ringfenced internet experience some TVs offer – I want my TV to mimic what I can see on my phone’s screen, and control a web browser using its touchscreen. Simple! So why is it taking so long?

Jamie Carter is Editor and Publisher of HCD

Scarlet fever

Stylish, sexy and sophisticated – that’s Scarlet. LG takes style and substance to the max with its latest range of super-slim Scarlet LCD TVs, the TVs that will make customers swoon

When is a TV series not a TV series? When it’s an ultra-stylish LCD TV, that’s when. With all the spin of a major new TV serial, ‘Scarlet, The Hit New TV Series’ was launched in the UK this May.

The latest models are the 32in, 37in, 42in and 47in models in LG’s very distinctive range of Scarlet LCD TVs, which it hopes will carry on the good work of its highly successful Design Art TV range in raising LG’s profile higher still in the UK.

Like its Design Art predecessors, the Scarlet packs a distinctive visual punch. With its striking, slim silhouette (it’s one of the world’s slimmest TVs), red-coloured back and soft touch on-off sensor, the LG6000 range is the epitome of elegance, and a far cry from the identikit black flatscreens battling for shelf space in many a showroom.

“We wanted to create a completely immersive experience, in terms of both aesthetics and viewing,” enthuses Anthony Yang, general product manager for LG Electronics. “The design draws the eye though the circular accent. We’ve also included a unique sound effect that activates when the TV turns on – it’s a truly mesmerising experience for the user.”

Befitting a TV that sports such a unique, iconic design, there’s plenty under the bonnet to give your customers reason to smile. The feature-heavy Scarlet comes equipped with an Intelligent Sensor for improved viewing. This clever sensor optimises the brightness, contrast, colour, sharpness and white balance of the picture, reducing unnecessary brightness and unwanted eyestrain.

This also has the added benefit of cutting power consumption by as much as an impressive 62 per cent. All the TVs in the Scarlet range are fully equipped for the demands of the high-definition age too, coming with a forward thinking four HDMI inputs.

The Scarlet range also includes Invisible Speaker technology (personally tuned by LG’s audio guru Mark Levinson); TruMotion 100Hz wizardry to tackle motion blurring on the 42in and 47in models; 1080p resolution on the 37in, 42in and 47in models (the 32in LCD TV has an HD Ready specification); and USB 2.0 connectivity for JPEG and MP3 playback.

The range also does its bit for the planet – the 32in, 37in and 42in models all proudly wear an Energy Saving Recommended badge.

So move over Miss Johansson… there’s a new Scarlet in town!

www.lgscarlet.tv

SpeakerCraft on safari

Does SpeakerCraft’s new interface for the iPhone or iPod Touch for its MZC/ MODE multi-room system mean the end of keypads? And has the innovative CI manufacturer pulled off a similar kind of magic to our Hot Topic TV star? Read on to find out…

“It’s nice to give a client something that feels familiar,” says SpeakerCraft’s Adrian Blundell about the inspiration for a new iPhone/iPod Touch interface for the brand’s popular MZC/MODE multi-room system.

Having debuted at CEDIA Expo and with usability at its core, the new interface adds even more power to the brand’s hugely functional MZC multi-room systems. With large virtual buttons, iPhone users will nd the look and functionality of the interface familiar and easy to operate. Key di erences

“The main reason for the interface was that the iPod and iPhone have become such popular source components, and it’s a technology that people are very familiar with,” says Adrian, who divides his time between roles as globe-trotting evangelist for SpeakerCraft and product support for CSE/Duet in the UK. Adrian explains that the new interface is essentially an enhancement for a MZC system. “It works as an alternative interface to the MODE keypad, not as a replacement of it. “

A web page is generated that can be viewed on an iPhone, iPod Touch or Safari for the Mac and Internet Explorer for the PC. An iPhone or desktop shortcut then takes the user to their very own version of the MZC multi-room interface – and from here they choose whatever they want and control any source component.

”The interface basically allows Apple’s iPhone or iPod Touch to be used as a wireless system remote, controlling all sources and routing via the touch screen – and an intuitive graphical user interface,” says Adrian.

“A lot of time was spent on developing an interface for integration with the iPhone and what we have now is a representation of a MODE keypad on an iPhone. As you’re browsing through you’ll see all available rooms and source components plus tracks and radio stations appropriate to the source you select.”

SpeakerCraft’s MZC/MODE multi-room 32-zone system can presently be controlled by in-wall keypads or the MODE Free hand-held version.

“The MZC is what I would call a system controller for multiple zones,” says Adrian. “You can control TVs and other components within each room – even on an iPhone you can operate your Sky box.”

It’s this simplicity that SpeakerCraft hopes will appeal to customers who aren’t fussed about how technology works, just that it will work.

“With most multi-room systems there’s always more to do than pressing play,” says Adrian. “So it’s nice for installers to say to a client ‘you just press a button’. That’s where the iPhone becomes so powerful – it can become 32 different remote controls by showing what sources are in each room. It takes the question and produces a complete answer.”

“The interface will get its first showing at CEDIA UK, but the response so far has been wonderful,” says Adrian. “There are no spare buttons – they all have a reason for being there – and that’s crucial. “It’s easy to get enthusiastic about new technology, but a lot of people are easily bored with it – they want simplicity. The new iPhone interface is all about understanding what people want and offering it to them in an understandable way.”

“We’re also trying to give as much flexibility to installers to allow more than a taste of what a control system offers,” says Adrian. For instance MODE Free, SpeakerCraft’s new mobile two-way unit, is another way to enjoy room-to-room control. Essentially it takes the MODE keypad out of the wall. MODE Free also has advantages over the iPhone interface. Wi-Fi network limitations mean a maximum of two iPhones can be simultaneously ‘logged in’; whilst with MODE Free up to sixteen two-way wireless controllers can be connected to the same MZC system. Both the iPhone and MODE Free can be used on the same system. That’s why CEDIA Expo is so crucial.

“CEDIA is vital” says Adrian. “It’s the only totally residential trade show and residential is very much SpeakerCraft’s focus. CEDIA allows dealers to see what we’re up to and get a feel for what’s going on – and also give feedback on what we’re doing right and what we could do better.”

The message at CEDIA will be that multi-room is no longer the domain of wealthy, tech-savvy end users.

“There will be a day when multi-room music and video, and lighting control are considered as important as central heating. Then, as an industry we can pat ourselves on the back,” says Adrian.

“It’s been an amazing journey for SpeakerCraft,” says Adrian. “The company that invented in-wall speakers now has around five hundred in-wall speaker designs to offer installers.

“Clients and dealers have unique problems and it’s an international market. As a company SpeakerCraft is very responsive to the weird and wacky ideas of installers and consumers who want to have their cake and eat it – and why not!”

See SpeakerCraft at CEDIA Expo Stand C5

www.csesolutions.co.uk
01423 359054

Alphason’s new HQ

Alphason Designs is moving to new 100,000 sq ft state-of-the-art premises, near Bolton. Situated close to the current site in Atherton, the new site will open for business in July in preparation for the autumn buying season. With 85,000 sq ft of warehouse space – double the current size and capable of ensuing next day delivery – the new premises has 14,500 sq ft of manufacturing capacity with the latest finishing and packaging facilities.

It’s also got 14,000 sq of o ce space that includes a training and showroom suite capable of offering demonstration, showroom, training and meeting facilities.

www.alphasondesigns.com
01942 885600

Invision bags Optoma

Invision UK has added projector manufacturer Optoma’s ThemeScene line-up of home cinema DLP projectors to its portfolio of home entertainment brands.

Peter Alloway, Invision UK’s Sales Manager, said: “It’s fantastic to have Optoma onboard. ThemeScene projectors are a leading brand synonymous with quality in an ever growing market sector.”

Stuart Acey, Channel Manager for Optoma Europe commented: “Over the past two years we have seen home cinema projectors become more widely accepted as an alternative or even an addition to a plasma or LCD TV home entertainment system.

www.invisionuk.com
01359 270280

Q&A: Stephen Calder

USD Limited’s Stephen Calder talks to HCD about the distributor’s new brands and how to build an installer-friendly business

HCD How’s business?
SC We are enjoying a very good time right now.We have built the business by working with developers and installers to design systems that are beginning to come to fruition on a major scale. Also, as the market for in-house sales is becoming more competitive, developers are adding value to their properties by including fully   tted home automation systems. Previously, the trend was to provide pre-wiring and o  er hardware as an after-sales option.

HCD What can we expect from USD this year?
SC We are adding two new brands from within the Niko Group. Intensia is a high-end, whole-house automation system, which is very powerful and future-oriented. Erea is our other new addition. It provides high-quality LED lighting solutions. By adding these fabulous new products to our range, we are able to o  er custom installers some of the very best solutions available today.

HCD How important are trade shows like CEDIA Expo for US?
SC There are times when they are imperative. When we have new products to launch to the trade, or a major initiative to promote, trade shows are crucial. Currently we are reinforcing the proposition to consumers to support our installers – that’s why you won’t find us at CEDIA this year – but watch this space, we may well be back!

HCD Are home automation solutions a growing area of the custom installation business?
SC Absolutely! We are already seeing an uplift of finished solutions specified by developers. Add to that the increasing demand for lighting systems, integrated security and access systems; and home cinemas – and you can see the enormous potential for growth that we can all expect to enjoy. 

HCD How important is it to have a user-friendly interface?
SC I believe that it is crucial. We see the io-homecontrol initiative, adopted by Niko, as key to the future of the industry. This is a new European alliance of manufacturers to provide a fully integrated system including hardware from leading companies such as Velux and, of course, Niko. Technophiles want the best – and a system that is user-friendly and designed to work together is the best solution. For technophobes, the reassurance and improved cohesion of a fully-integrated well-designed system gives confidence and trust.

HCD What kind of support does USD offer to custom installers?
SC We are committed to delivering the best possible support. We know installers must have support from specifying and quoting to commissioning and beyond. Our technical support team can often be found on-site helping installers deliver the very best job for their clients. With a 25-year warranty on Niko keypads and a programme of free training for our installers, we believe that the level of contact and support we provide is amongst the best in the industry – and we’re still working at improving it!

 

Face To Face: Ricardo Franassovici

Absolute Sounds’ MD Ricardo Franassovici is never backward at coming forward and here he tells HCD about how he’s making the high-end credible again

It would be hard to imagine high-end audio making its mark in the UK without Ricardo Franassovici’s influence. For the last 30 years, Ricardo, through his ‘hi-fi boutique’ Absolute Sounds, has shaped the landscape of high-end audio in the UK and helped put some now famous names on the audiophile map, both here and abroad.

Ricardo is never shy of expressing his own opinions, especially when he feels there is something amiss. And also, for someone who’s spent most of his life in the music business in one aspect or another, he has never, ever lost his passion for music.

In fact, it’s almost impossible to walk away from a chat with Ricardo without dipping deeply into Amazon, play.com or the HMV shop in search of that must-have early 1960s blues recording you’ve spent an hour discussing.

So, when it comes to custom install, one thing is a given – he’s seriously outspoken about audio quality.

“The solution often seems to override the signal integrity,” he says. “The programming is great, the racks look fantastic, but the quality of the signal is overlooked in the process.”

He points to systems with potentially excellent amplifiers and loudspeakers (not necessarily from his own portfolio) being compromised by being fed mediocre audio as the main reason for this discrepancy.

From most people these opinions would be easy to dismiss as the voice of a Luddite, but from Ricardo, it’s his perfectionist nature coming through.

“We’re not locked into any format. We never want to be perceived as promoting obsolete technologies,” he says, “but the traditional elements are still current.

With content coming from so many sources, the time of the music server is maturing, and its imperative to incorporate this technology into modern homes.”

No Luddite would be so excited about the Sooloos music server, one of his company’s latest distribution lines.

“We were concerned that we would compromise on sound quality,” he says. “That was the worry, but the Sooloos was the first brand to attain high-end audio credibility as well as high-end installer credibility.”

This new interest in music servers has highlighted a diff erence between traditional high-end dealers and custom installers. Ricardo believes the key is not the programming, it’s what happens to the signal after that.

“Installers use the product’s analogue or digital output; true high-end audiophiles recommended a good DAC,” Ricardo says.

Given that could spell thousands more on a system without anything more complicated than an extra cable and one more shelf in the rack, the audiophile dealers could be on to something here! He’s also championing giving the iPod a comfortable home in the high-end system, thanks to the Krell KID dock.

“If inputted properly, the iPod can deliver some very decent sounds” Ricardo says. “In a system up to even about £7,000 or so, it could be perceived as a main source. In very big systems, it makes a very good convenience source, too.”

That said, he’s keen to stress that even this has to be done right.

“I mean use the best lossless or uncompressed formats. Anything else makes a mockery of a good sound system.”

Ricardo recommends the freeware program MAX for Mac users and Exact Audio Copy for PCs and suggests storing in .WAV or .AIFF where possible, with Apple Lossless or FLAC as a last resort. It’s clear that music remains at the forefront of Ricardo’s lifestyle. He’s the fi rst to admit thathome cinema doesn’t move him quite as passionately as his first love.

“I respect it, but I don’t perceive it as engaging as the full musical experience you can get from owning a good sound system,” he admits. “Coming from a culture that was always music based, it’s difficult to make that jump.”

He also thinks two-channel still has a significant place in people’s hearts.

“Over the last 12 months or so, we’ve been getting a lot of people who just ask for ‘a bloody good sound system’. It’s something people really appreciate.”

Nevertheless, Ricardo has members on his team (such as sales director Pedro Jorge-Luis) who are equally passionate about cinema to recognise the products that work well in that particular market. He also thinks the home cinema and computer audio markets could learn a little from traditional audio.

“The formats are forever changing for different political and licensing reasons,” he says. “It makes it difficult to recommend in the long term. One the other hand, you could (for example) buy a DarTZeel stereo amplifier today and still be using it 20 years from now.”

Recently, Absolute Sounds has branched out with two ancillary companies within the group to cater for an even wider audience.

“Pistol Music is associated more with the value for money entry-level high end products,” Ricardo says. “It’s for people who haven’t reached the traditional level yet. Absolute Sounds itself has a portfolio of brands that have been proven by their sheer history and performance of the products. They are the brands that other brands aspire to one day.”

And what about ‘the Studio’, the other new arm of Absolute Sounds?

“The Studio is a very different, new venture,” Ricardo says, excitedly. “We’ve identified brands that have passed that ‘garden shed’ stage, but don’t yet have a place at the top table of high-end, with brands like Krell and Wilson Audio. They’ve already proven they have the quality, the consistency and have designers who boil over with passion. Not crazies, but passionate audiophiles with a scientific and engineering background.

“The Studio will be able to recommend a handful of products from different companies, because the sum of the components is greater than the part.”

In fact, the Studio will soon see a return to delivering a product long since dropped off the Absolute Sounds map; the high-end turntable.

“Apart from Koetsu cartridges, we left the analogue market about a decade ago,” Ricardo says, “Dealers and consumers asked us to come back though.”

So later this year, the Studio will distribute Continuum Audio Labs. So, if you have a client in the market for nigh-on 80 grand’s worth of turntable, you know where to go!

Next Page »