John Sciacca

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Other Tech
Harman Kardon TC30 Universal Remote
John Sciacca  |  Jul 05, 2006  |  0 comments
The Short Form
$299 / 8.9 x 2.1 x 1 IN / 4.6 OZ / harmankardon.com / 516-496-3400
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Other Tech
Harmony 520 Universal Remote
John Sciacca  |  May 31, 2006  |  0 comments

Ed. Note: This remote was also featured in our Ultimate Gift Guide

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Other Tech
Harmony SST-768 Remote Control
John Sciacca  |  Aug 04, 2003  |  0 comments

The quest for the perfect remote control has earned a place in the pantheon of noble but futile human endeavors alongside those for the Holy Grail or a fabulous "undiscovered" wine under $10. For some people, remotes are a necessary evil, creating clutter and increasing complexity until it seems you have to solve a puzzle like Rubik's Cube just to watch a movie or play a CD.

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The Connected Life
Haven: A Smarter AND Safer Door Lock
John Sciacca  |  Feb 13, 2015  |  5 comments
Smart door locks have become a new automation frontier lately, and for good reason. With a smart lock you can remotely let someone into your home, monitor who is coming and going with the use of different digital key codes, don’t need a physical key to enter, and can make sure the door relocks automatically or at night before you go to bed. I’ve got three of them in my home and they have definitely been a lifestyle improvement.

However all of these smart door locks have one major weakness in common...

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CES 2014
HDBaseT Tells 4K to “Bring it!”
John Sciacca  |  Jan 09, 2014  |  0 comments
There’s been a lot of talk at the show about 4K – or Ultra High Definition, if you prefer – but no one is talking about how you’re going to move that signal from one side of your house to the other. Well, HDBaseT wants people to know that its technology is ready and waiting for the 4K revolution, and that it can send 4K video – along with full-resolution audio, control, Ethernet and power – over a single Category rated cable up to 328 feet!

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Other Tech
HDMI 1.3 Wobbles Out of the Gate
John Sciacca  |  Jan 10, 2007  |  0 comments

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CES 2017
HDMI Forum Announces Version 2.1 Spec
John Sciacca  |  Jan 04, 2017  |  1 comments
The HDMI Forum is made up of 83 global member companies whose mission is to “support and develop future versions of HDMI spec, support the eco-system of interoperable HDMI-enabled devices, foster broader industry participation in the development of future versions of the HDMI specification,” and they announced the specifications of the upcoming version 2.1 today at CES.

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The Connected Life
Help Me Help You
John Sciacca  |  Apr 09, 2021  |  4 comments
I’ve been doing my “Connected Life” (originally “The Custom Installer”) column every issue now for almost 20 years. Over that time, I’ve covered numerous how to’s, tips and tricks, walk-thrus, and suggestions for virtually anything related to the custom installation world. But now, after roughly 200 columns, features, and blog posts, I’m wondering what kinds of posts will resonate and be most helpful to you, the Sound and Vision readers.

So, I’m asking for your help and input.

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CEDIA 2016
Hey, Alexa! You Work with Control4 Now!
John Sciacca  |  Sep 14, 2016  |  1 comments
In a classic, “And just one more thing…” moment to begin the finale of its press conference today, Control4 announced that they have launched Amazon Alexa skill for voice-enabled whole-home automation control. Integration with Amazon Alexa –enabled devices including Echo, Dot, Amazon Tap, and Amazon Fire TV will enable a new Control4 Smart Home Skill allowing homeowners simple and intuitive voice control over their home systems.

"On average, our customers have over 40 connected devices in their homes that are orchestrated by Control4 and now, voice interaction with Amazon Alexa offers another convenient way to control all of them,” said Martin Plaehn, Control4 CEO. “This integration combines Control4’s automation power and extensive support for connected devices with the intuitive voice control from Amazon Alexa, reinforcing our shared vision to make life in a connected home ever-more personalized, comfortable, and hassle-free.”

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Other Tech
High Seas Home Theater
John Sciacca  |  Sep 10, 2004  |  0 comments

Three years ago, I received an e-mail from my cousin, Chris, who was stationed in the Philippines with his team of Navy SEALs. His message described life in the village where they were staying, the people he was "working" with, the unusual local cuisine, and so on.

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