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CEDIA 2013
Epic Sky Technology Puts Epic Skies on Your Ceiling
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Sep 26, 2013
I can’t help it. I’m a sucker for a good star ceiling, so it’s not surprising that I had to stop at the Epic Sky Technology booth for a quick chat. Epic Sky Technology specializes in lighting control systems with proprietary controllers that can integrate lights – and especially the company’s pre-built and DIY star ceiling panels – with music or soundtracks. On demo was a star ceiling panel programmed to turn various LEDs in the panel on and off in conjunction with an audio recording of a thunderstorm. An LED strip behind the panel also flashed in time with the sound of thunder. Pricing varies by panel size and number of LEDs installed.
CES 2013
New Headphones From Focal
Brent Butterworth  |  Sep 26, 2013

Following up on the warm reception that its original Spirit One headphone received, Focal showed two new models today at the CEDIA Expo. Both have slightly larger earcups than the Spirit One, so they should be a little more comfortable.

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CEDIA 2013
Outdoor Light and Sound
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Sep 26, 2013
I spent some time in the Coastal Source booth getting the scoop on the Florida-based company’s interesting assortment of landscape lighting products, as well as its Turtle Audio System. The system starts with a rectangular fiberglass shell that holds a down-firing 10” JL Audio marine-grade woofer, a 500-watt marine-grade amp with a built-in electronic crossover, plus an Apple AirPort Express. By adding one, two, or three 150W DC power supplies, the internal amplifier in the sub enclosure can power from two to 16 satellite speakers.

Multi-satellite systems with the Turtle sub start around $5,000.

CEDIA 2013
The Quickest Way to a Journalist’s Blog is Through His Stomach
 |  Sep 26, 2013
Russound knows what people want most at a convention: coffee and sugar. In this case, the sugar was in the form of ice cream and sugar-laden toppings. Thanks, Russound. I’ll be back…
CEDIA 2013
Qmotion’s Shades Roll On
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Sep 26, 2013
Qmotion came to CEDIA in a big way this year, showing off an elaborate booth of the companies various shading solutions. Prime among the products on display was the range of wireless, battery-operated roller shades with several unique design features, including easy battery replacement without needing to remove the shade from the brackets, a claimed battery life of “up to five years”, and a snap-on spline attached to the fabric that allows for easy cleaning or replacement of the fabric.
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CEDIA 2013
DISH’s Hopper and Control4 Get Twice as Good Together
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Sep 26, 2013
DISH announced today that the company plans to integrate Control4 home automation technology with the Hopper Whole-Home HD DVR system. This means that Control4 systems will soon be able to fully take advantage of all the capabilities of the Hopper and DISH’s satellite/streaming services.

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CEDIA 2013
iPod Creator, Tony Fadell, Gives Keyote at CEDIA 2013
Barb Gonzalez  |  Sep 26, 2013
Tony Fadell was the keynote speaker at this year's CEDIA Expo. Here are a few tidbits of great advice from the iPod creator.
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CEDIA 2013
BitWise Offers a Bit of Wise Control – From Anywhere
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Sep 26, 2013
Automation controller company BitWise Controls came to CEDIA to celebrate the company’s fourth birthday and announce the upcoming availability of the BitWise Access Anywhere subscription service. BitWise’s AccessAnywhere will enable homeowners to access and control their BitWise home automation system from anywhere the homeowner has internet access, anywhere in the world, via a smartphone or tablet.
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CEDIA 2013
Sonos Announces New 5.1 Surround Sound Option
SV Staff  |  Sep 26, 2013
Sonos announced today at CEDIA 2013 that an upcoming software update will enable the Sonos Connect:Amp to power third-party rear surround speakers in combination with the company’s Playbar and Sub to deliver a 5.1 surround sound experience. The software update will make it easier to integrate the Playbar into existing home theater systems, according to the company. The Play3 is currently the only Sonos speaker that can function in a rear surround role with the Playbar.
CEDIA 2013
Vantage Shows Off Equinox System in Room With a View
Bob Ankosko  |  Sep 26, 2013
Vantage demonstrated its Equinox family of home-automation control products in a posh 5,000-square-foot penthouse apartment at the Four Seasons hotel with spectacular views of downtown Denver. The homeowners are avid art collectors who use the residence as a second home when they’re in town and chose Vantage because they wanted an unobtrusive and easy-to-use control system for entertainment (music and TV), climate control, security, cameras, and—most important—lighting to accentuate dozens of prized paintings. Motorized shades and a TV lift are also covered under the Vantage control umbrella.

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