John Sciacca

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John Sciacca  |  Sep 27, 2013
Crestron’s message this CEDIA is, “Don’t just interface…integrate” where the home is a single, integrated solution with all components designed to seamlessly work together, and the products at their booth speak to that at every turn. One of the coolest new features is a brand new integration with Samsung’s Smart TVs. Available as an app through the Samsung download store, people can now use their Samsung TV remote to control their Crestron automation system. By pulling up a translucent graphic overlay, there are options for controlling shades, lights, temperature, etc. Also, the Crestron system can send announcements to the TV that appear on screen such as “Front Doorbell Ringing.”
John Sciacca  |  Sep 27, 2013
When you think Definitive Technology, you probably think large, monolithic tower speakers or giant cube subwoofers. While the company would be OK with that, they have branched beyond the large home speaker into the portable market. Definitive Technology launched its portable speaker line-up with the terrific sounding Sound Cylinder, and they expanded their offerings this year by introducing The Cube. The Cube is a 7.7-inch black, uh, cube using tri-polar technology to deliver big sound across a large listening area. The cube features five 1-1/4-inch mid-high frequency drivers, one 5-1/4-inch woofer and 80-watts of total power. It can run off AC power, but for hi-fi on-the-go, the built-in Lithium Ion battery can deliver up to 10 hours of listening. Users can connect a 3.5mm stereo mini-jack or beam music to The Cube wirelessly via Bluetooth aptX technology. Also handy is an integrated rubberized handle in the back of The Cube, meaning that you can easily take your music with you when you get assimilated.
John Sciacca  |  Sep 27, 2013
GoldenEar Technology's Sandy Gross knows how to make an outstanding sounding loudspeaker. Whether bookshelf or tower, Gross's designs never fail to impress. But in-wall and in-ceiling speakers can be a trickier proposition. GoldenEar Technology showed they were up to the challenge by building a new demo theater this year to highlight the company's Invisa HTR 7000 speakers designed for use as ceiling mounted main front left, center right speakers.
John Sciacca  |  Sep 26, 2013
Many people have turned to the iPad as the controller of choice for their home's automation system. Using systems from the likes of Control4, Crestron, Savant, or URC, you can turn even the humblest iPad into a powerful automation controller capable of adjusting lights, HVAC, alarm, TV and about anything else you can think of. But where to you put the iPad when you're not using it? Do you just plop it on a sofa cushion or leave it on a counter somewhere until the next time you need it, and then hope the battery isn't dead?
John Sciacca  |  Sep 26, 2013
Sonance invented the architectural speaker category in 1983 and this year the company is showing more products - 50 - than ever before. The company launched the Visual Performance series back in 2007 and the aesthetic with micro-bezel and magnetic grille was a real revolution to the in-wall speaker design. This year, Sonance has given the Visual Performance series a radical sonic makeover resulting in in-wall speakers that the company says will sound as good as freestanding speakers.
John Sciacca  |  Sep 26, 2013
Clare Controls motto for CLIQ is “zero wires, zero config, zero headaches” meaning that it should offer both users and installers a better experience. The new CLIQ.host module represents a new, lower price point for the company’s cloud based automation solutions.
John Sciacca  |  Oct 19, 2011

Peanut butter and chocolate. Wine and cheese. Lennon and McCartney. Some things are great on their own, but when they meet their perfect counterpart, the result can be pure magic.

John Sciacca  |  Dec 03, 2005
0512_hd_adventure400

Back in elementary school, I loved reading those "Choose Your Own Adventure" books. They'd begin like a normal book, but at the end of each page, you'd be faced with a decision that radically altered the story.

John Sciacca  |  Dec 03, 2005
0512_hd_adventure400

Back in elementary school, I loved reading those "Choose Your Own Adventure" books. They'd begin like a normal book, but at the end of each page, you'd be faced with a decision that radically altered the story.

John Sciacca  |  Dec 03, 2005
0512_hd_adventure400

Back in elementary school, I loved reading those "Choose Your Own Adventure" books. They'd begin like a normal book, but at the end of each page, you'd be faced with a decision that radically altered the story.

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