Episode 49 - Connectile Dysfunction

In our latest episode we depart from our usual format on a couple of fronts. First and foremost Seth had some unexpected travel come up. As such Jason is joined by a good friend, fellow Integrator, and industry podcaster Nate Schneider. Nate and Jason work on together a monthly podcast called AV Shop Talk that, especially for the integrators in our audience, we would encourage you to check out. 

Secondly, the show takes a break form our normal focus on home automation to take a look at a problem that affects far too many; connectile dysfunction.  A lack of reliable cell phone coverage in our homes and offices can be a real nuisance. As integrators this is a problem that we are often asked to solve. Up until recently however very few solutions existed. Products like AT&T's MicroCell are total garbage. On the other end of the spectrum are highly specialized (and rather expensive) solutions that take a lot of careful planning to deploy. Now it looks we may finally have some middle ground.

CES 2015 brought with it the release of new solutions to this challenge. On this episode we focus on new products announced from weBoost (an off-shoot of Wilson Electronics) and SureCall. Understanding these new solutions is important for integrators, who may be looking to add new product and service offerings to their lineup. End users should also be aware of these new products as they may finally put an end to the horrible scourge known as connectile dysfunction. 

As always we thank you for listening! If you are enjoying the show please take a moment to share it with your friends and / or to leave us a review on iTunes!

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Episode 48 - Now That's a Home Theater!

On this week's episode Jason shares some of his experiences managing the installation of a very high end home theater in Los Angeles. The conversation ranges from technical topics, such as the inclusion of Auro3D audio, to the logistical challenges present when building a room such as this. These high end theaters require an immense amount of planning and a high-level of execution from multiple trades. We thought it would be interesting to share a sneak peek of what this process looks like with you. 

In the news this week we discuss rumors of a pending API from Sonos (yes you read that right, Sonos!). Given his background as a developer Seth's take on this topic is particularly interesting. We talk about what this move could potentially mean not only for consumers and integrators but also for Sonos, who will have to step up their support as this API become public. We also discuss the recent move by Universal Remote (URC) to roll up their software lines into one unified product. It's a move that makes sense for the company on a number of fronts. We discuss the implications of this announcement, giving our specific take on what it means for integrators and consumers alike. 

As always we thank you so much for listening! If you are enjoying the show please take time to tell a friend or leave us a review on iTunes! Also come say hi on Twitter or shoot us some feedback. We read everything our listeners send and would love to hear from you!

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Episode 47 - Chris Pinder of HDAnywhere

Episode 47 of HomeTech brings to you a conversation with Chris Pinder of HDAnywhere, a manufacturer of unique HDMI distribution solutions. As the video landscape continues to evolve, and 4K displays and content become more ubiquitous, it's become increasingly important to have an array of video-solution options in your tool belt. To that end if you're not familiar with HDAnywhere, you should be! This company initially came to our attention via our fans in the UK (Shout out to the #LiveInstall community). Recently HDAnywhere has made inroads into the US market. Their modular distribution solutions warrant special attention. Although only half of the HomeTech team (Seth) was able to conduct the interview, we are excited to present this episode!

In the news portion of the show we give special focus to the often-overlooked battle to control the media room. Over the last year home technology fans have seen countless new entrants to the smart home market. For a variety of reasons however control of the A/V devices in your media room have warranted little attention from the startup community. This week seemed to represent a shift on this front. New entrant NEEO lighting Kickstarter on fire was probably the biggest story. iRule, Logitech, and Pronto (yes you read that right, Pronto) also had something to add to the conversation. Tune into this episode for all you need to know about this important shift in the smarthome evolution. 

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Episode 46 - CES 2015 Wrap-Up

With the gaze of gadget lovers worldwide fixed on Las Vegas this week for CES 2015, it was not difficult for us to pick a topic for our show. In fact the challenge lay in separating the wheat from the chaff. As usual, the massive trade show brought about a plethora of stories, some worth noting others good for little more than a laugh. 

The sheer volume of news coming off the show floor can make it tough to find stories that actually matter. So we've done the hard and cut through the noise for you. Whether you attended CES or (like us) just watched from afar tune into this episode for everything you need to know, and a few things you don't.

As always, we thank you so much for listening. If you enjoy the show please share it with a friend, subscribe and rate on iTunes, and / or leave us some feedback! We read every email we get and would love to hear from you! 

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Episode 45 - HomeTech's 2014 Year In Review

In our final episode of 2014 we decided we'd do what every other tech-news show and blog on the planet do, and take a look back at the biggest stories of the year. What we lack in originality we strive to make up for by giving our own personal take. Specifically offering our thoughts as home automation professionals and systems integrators. 

When looking back at the big home technology news of 2014 we couldn't help but notice three overarching themes:

1) The Push of Both Big-Box Retailers and Tech Giants Into the Smart Home

For years we've heard it said by professionals and enthusiasts alike that "the smart home is going main stream". For a variety of reasons it has just never materialized. As 2014 comes to an end we still wouldn't argue that the smart home is truly "main stream". However without question the camel's nose is under the tent. To varying degrees we saw 6 major retailers place their bets in 2014 (Home Depot, Lowes, Staples, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target). We also saw (major) moves by tech giants Google, Apple, Samsung, and Microsoft (sort of). In this episode we discuss what this all means not only for consumers, but also for integrators as we struggle to stay relevant in the face of such increased commoditization. 

2) The "Year of the Standard"

Looking back at the year in home technology, we couldn't help but see 2014 as the "year of the standard". Competition between different protocols and standards like Zigbee and ZWave is nothing new. However as the smart home becomes a reality for more and more consumers the conversation has gained increased relevance. Improvements to existing technologies (like WiFi and BlueTooth), as well as new entrants (like the Thread Group) have also added complexity to this conversation. 

3) Empowering the End User

The third broad theme of 2014 we discuss is an increased push towards empowering the end user. DIY installation and app-based configuration are no-brainers for startups entering the smart home space. For traditional manufacturers like Crestron and Savant this is a different proposition all together. These systems tend to be far more complex in nature. Additionally their distribution models depend on an integrator being able to add value. 2014 was an interesting year to watch these traditional players adapt to increased pressure from the low end of the market. Crestron's Pyng, and Savant's new 7.0 release are discussed as the two prime examples of this game-changing trend. 

Lastly we close the show with a few predictions about what 2015 will bring to the smart home. 

In addition to 2014 being a big year in the industry, it was also a huge year for us personally as we launched HomeTech.fm. Entering 2015 we will continually strive to produce the definitive source for home technology news and opinion. We want to sincerely thank you for your listenership! We look forward to a big year in 2015 and hope that you will continue to be a part of it!

 

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