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CES 2013
Nexia Locks and Watches for Energy Shocks
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Jan 12, 2013
Home automation and energy management had a big presence at CES, and Nexia Home Intelligence came to the Show to show off some recent additions to the growing portfolio of Z-Wave-enabled devices that are compatible with the Nexia ecosystem. Primary among those were: the new Schlage Touchscreen Deadbolt that provides keyless entry and built-in alarm technology that will notify you if someone tampers with the lock or tries to break into the home while you’re away; the new eMonitor Trane Energy Management Solution that monitors energy usage data 24/7 and provides overall energy usage reports, as well as real-time alerts and notifications of situations such as circuit overloads – or even if a freezer door has been left open; and new zoning capabilities with the Trane ComforLink II Control command center/thermostat that uses zone temperature sensors to figure out which areas of your home need additional heated or cooled air. (Unfortunately, the zoning features aren’t compatible with all HVAC systems – including mine…) While indoor/outdoor cameras, networked appliance and lighting control AC modules, wireless deadbolts, heating/cooling control, energy management, and web/smartphone control of the system are all features within the Nexia architecture, home AV control is not.
CES 2013
CES 2013: Panasonic 2013 ZT60 vs 2012 VT50
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Jan 12, 2013

We loved the VT50, and even gave it our Video Product of the Year award. Panasonic, though, didn’t just update their plasma flagship model, they made a whole new flagship model.

Sure, a bunch of improvements were mentioned, but how much better is the ZT60?

Well, they had a darkened room at their booth with the two side-by-side. Some skepticism and cautious enthusiasm after the jump.

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CES 2013
Hisense Thinks It's Better To Be Bigger
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Jan 12, 2013
In what can only be described as the single most tedious press conference in the history of CES (just beating out the i’m Watch press conference that, interestingly enough, also took place this year), 40-year-old Chinese company (and self-proclaimed “world’s fifth-largest TV manufacturer), Hisense, announced plans to grow from a regionally known to a globally dominant CE manufacturer making everything from smartphones to smart-home appliances.

Despite the lackluster presentation, Hisense had some exciting things to announce, including two models (84- and 110 inches) in the company’s flagship XT900 series of 2160p Ultra HD U-LED flat-panel Smart TVs (with Google TV). Also unveiled was the XT880 series of 4K Ultra High Definition 3D and Wi-Fi-enabled Smart TVs in 50-, 58-, and 65-inch screen sizes. As with the XT900 TVs, the XT880-series sets incorporate a detachable USB-camera mounted on the top bezel of the TV while the TV’s remote control features a built-in microphone. Hisense also presented a concept prototype of the GF60XT980 glasses-free 3D TV that uses a facial tracking system that “discretely tweaks each sweet spot to give viewers the best experience possible.” No pricing, expected availability, or distribution details were announced.

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CES 2013
CES 2013: LG “100-inch Laser TV”
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Jan 12, 2013

In one of the weird niche products LG showed at CES, the HECTO is a laser-based projector with a fixed throw distance. That distance? 22-inches from the lens.

As you can see in the photo, the HECTO is designed to nestle up nearly to the wall, and project a distortion-free 100-inch, 16x9 image.

A few more details after the jump.

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CES 2013
CES 2013: Bell'o Home Theater Accessories
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Jan 12, 2013
CES 2013
CES 2013: Steadicam iPhone Support
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Jan 12, 2013
CES 2013
CES 2013: Ergotron Omnimount TV Mounts
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Jan 12, 2013
CES 2013
CES 2013: Sunbrite Outdoor TVS
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Jan 12, 2013
CES 2013
CES 2013: DTS Surround Sound for Headphones
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Jan 12, 2013
CES 2013
Satellite & Cable Companies Announce Set-Top Box Streaming
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jan 11, 2013
DirecTV, Time Warner Cable, and Comcast discuss plans to implement the DLNA Premium Video standard for streaming video from set-top boxes to other Smart TVs, tablets and devices.
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