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CEDIA Review
It started out as a trade show built largely around multi-room music systems and home theater, but the annual CEDIA Expo, sponsored by the Custom Electronics Design & Installation Association, has grown into the signature trade event for a wide swath of custom electronics. You'll still find the whole-house music systems and ever-better theaters, but as technology branches out into every part of the home, the CEDIA Expo is becoming as much about the integration of design and electronics as a showcase for gadgets and gizmos.
Here are a few of the standout products from the most recent CEDIA Expo held last September in Denver. - Rebecca Day
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Working with natural light
The DayLight Harvesting Keypad collects information from a separate sensor and sets lighting loads according to preset levels determined by the amount of ambient light in the room. It works by dimming or turning off its controlled loads when there is enough sunlight and bringing up levels when daylight dims. In addition to helping conserve energy, the keypad offers a smooth transition to artificial light during twilight. LiteTouch, Salt Lake City. www.litetouch.com [Reader
Service January 2007 # 201 ] |
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The latest kitchen appliance
RealSteel is the industry’s first 20'' high-
definition LCD TV designed specifically to match stainless-steel kitchen appliances. The widescreen TV comes with a built-in analog TV tuner, while a built-in HDMI connection allows homeowners to replace a bundle of audio and video wires with a single cable. The 14-pound TV can be placed on the supplied, detachable stand or mounted directly to a wall. Toshiba America, Wayne, N.J. www.toshiba.com [ Reader
Service # January 2007 # 202 ] |
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Being heard but not seen
Sonance calls its Architectural series speaker the first truly flush-mount loudspeaker. The speaker design aligns the plane of the grille with that of a wall or ceiling, dramatically reducing the visual impact of the installation. Each speaker is available in round, rectangular, or square shapes. The series’ 4'-round and -square speakers mimic flush-mount lighting styles from companies including Iris, Lucifer, and RSA. Sonance, San Clemente, Calif. www.sonance.com [ Reader
Service January 2007 # 203 ] |
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Highest resolution projector
The HT3000 HDTV projector features the highest quality video resolution available in the consumer home theater market. The projector is compatible with Blu-ray Discs and HD-DVD players, the latest generation of DVD players to hit stores. HT3000 is available with a “Scope” System anamorphic lens, which enables the projector and a matching screen to display widescreen Cinemascope movies without showing black bars at the top or bottom of the screen. Sim2 USA, Miramar, Fla. www.sim2usa.com [ Reader
Service January 2007 # 204] |
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Backyard drive-in
Seeking to tap the growing outdoor entertainment market, Stewart Filmscreen has developed StarGlas, a projection TV screen that fits between two pieces of protective glass. The material can be cut into custom shapes, and its flexible construction makes it a potential substitute for a large window. In that situation, an electronics specialist could build a rear-projection room behind the glass wall to house a projector. StarGlas is impervious to rain and UV rays. Stewart Filmscreen, Torrance, Calif. www.stewartfilmscreen.com [ Reader
Service January 2007 # 205 ] |
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Sound for the entire room
When speakers aren’t hidden in the wall, they’d better be able to hold their own visually in the den or living room. The 3000 Series Speaker System combines five full-channel speakers plus a subwoofer. The combination of styling and audio engineering results in a wide dispersion of sound, so listeners throughout the room—not just those in the sweet spot between the speakers—can enjoy the experience. KEF America, Marlboro, N.J. www.kefamerica.com [ Reader
Service January 2007 # 206 ] |
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Home control remote
The Vantage Controls TouchPoint 1210 Table touchscreen is a home control interface and Web browser rolled into one. Vantage’s InFusion Media software controls the functions of a Vantage home automation system, including lighting, window treatments, heating and cooling, gas fireplaces, security system, distributed audio system, and home theater equipment. Users can also pull up Web sites and check mail with the device. Vantage Controls, Orem, Utah.
www.vantagecontrols.com [ Reader
Service January 2007 # 207 ] |
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Affordable lighting control
AuroRA is Lutron’s simplified, affordable lighting control system for homeowners who want to enjoy limited benefits of lighting control with minimal installation, setup, or programming. The AuroRA package bundles five dimmers, one master control, one wireless controller, and a central antenna. Each of five buttons on the master control operates a single dimmer, and All On and All Off buttons control all five dimmers at once using radio frequency (RF) operation. The wireless controller clips to a car visor, enabling homeowners to turn on a series of lights before entering the house. Lutron Electronics, Coopersburg, Pa. www.lutron.com [ Reader
Service January 2007 # 208 ] |
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more new products see this month's Product
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