HDTV and Home Theater Podcast

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Podcast #624: Channel Master DVR+ Feb 28, 2014

Show notes

Channel Master DVR+ Review

If you are a cord cutter you know that one thing that is difficult to live without is a DVR. You can buy a Tivo Roamio and pay a smaller monthly service but you cut the cord so you wouldn’t have to pay a monthly charge. What most cord cutters are looking for is a way to record over the air HD without having to pay any monthly fees. Channel Master has you covered with the DVR+ (MSRP $249.99). The DVR+ is a subscription free DVR that allows you to cut the cord and still watch late night network TV on your terms.

Features:

Watch broadcast programming in pure, uncompressed HD - the highest quality available
Easy installation with on-screen setup wizard
Supports SD and HD video resolutions up to 1080i and 1080p
Works with all digital TV antennas for instant access to broadcast programming
Supports external USB hard drives (EHD) for full DVR functionality
Dual tuners allow you to record one program while watching another or record two programs at the same time (using EHD)
Records, pauses and plays back live TV up to 2 hours out of the box 4
See what’s on now or later with the user-friendly Electronic Program Guide (EPG)
Easily search for shows and set timers with name-based recording
Broadband connection provides automatic software updates, enhanced EPG and access to Internet video streaming services
Get Wi-Fi connectivity with optional USB Wi-Fi adapter
Supports Dolby® Digital Plus surround sound
Ultra-low power consumption

Setup:

When you take the DVR+ out of the box the first thing you notice is how thin it is. Its barely bigger than the HDMI cable that you plug into it. You can pretty much put it anywhere with little issue. To physically install the device you need to connect power, HDMI, antenna, Ethernet, and an external hard drive. Without the external drive there is little that you can do as the DVR+ comes with 16GB internally. A Terabyte drive will get you about 160 hours of HD recording. We had a spare 80GB drive which was reformatted by the DVR+ and was ready to go in a few minutes.

The physical install took about 15 minutes. You will need a network connection for the program guide or if you want to use the Hulu service. Right now that’s the only network service available. Channel Master says they will add more over time. If you don’t have a wired connection you can buy a Wifi adapter for an additional $40.

Next we fired up the unit and scanned for channels. The DVR+’s two tuners found 45 digital channels which was better than the HD Homerun but not as good as the tuner in our Panasonic plasma television. All of which are connected to the same antenna.

Twentyfive minutes after taking the DVR+ out of the box we had a picture on screen and were able to record anything coming over the airwaves!

Performance:

What can we say, the DVR+ works like a DVR you would get from your provider. The program Guide is provided by Rovi (no additional cost) which allows you to search or browse to find your programs. You can tune to a program if its currently on or you can mark it for recording. Season passes are set up based on title names, which is a little less sophisticated than say the Genie but it will get the job done.

You can setup up the skip forward and skip back lengths in the menu so if you want to skip back 30 seconds and forward by one minute you can do it. The user interface is basic but very responsive.

We recorded a few programs to the external drive. All but one recorded but that was on a channel that did not have the best reception. On channels that have a solid signal every timed based recording went off without a hitch. We even recorded two programs at the same time. Like we said, it works just like every other DVR we’ve ever owned.

We had to turn on the DVR to see if it was recording because the record light does not come on unless the DVR is powered on. Yes, the device always has power and can record even if its “off”. But we would like to see the light come on anytime the DVR is recording something.

Playback was flawless and skipping through commercials was easy. We had the skip forward set to one minute so it was usually five or six presses to get through a commercial break. Skips were instantaneous. The only drawback of a 60 second skip is that if you miss the entry point after the commercials you’ll have a lot of backing up to do so you may want a 30 second back button instead of the typical 10 seconds.

This and That:

The DVR+ has been designed to work well with the Slingbox 500.
Current firmware does not allow you to set up a season pass that only records new shows. So you end up with some repeats that need to be deleted.
The buttons on the remote are very small. But you’ll be using a Harmony anyway right ;-)
There is no user guide so be prepared to hunt around through the menus to see what’s possible

Conclusion:

Up until now if you wanted to cut the cord and totally eliminate monthly fees you needed a HTPC. With the DVR+, a cord cutter can be free of cable and satellite without missing out on timeshifting. The only thing the DVR+ doesn’t have is a rich set of network apps. Although we’re sure they are already on the way!

Podcast #623: Home Theater Calibration Disc Feb 21, 2014

Show notes

Home Theater Calibration Disc

If you don't think your home theater looks or sounds as as good as it should, you probably want to calibrate it. Calibration is the process of dialing in all the settings on your TV and receiver to optimize the viewing and listening experience for your home. There are a ton of options for this, from buying a calibration disc for the do it yourselfers, buying a calibration system like SpyderTV for the almost do it yourselfers, to hiring a professional calibrator for those of the just do it for me persuasion.

Your Options:

Nothing beats the professional calibration, but if you want to save some money and give it a go on your own, there a bunch of discs to choose from. The website 2014 Best TV Calibration Disc Comparisons and Reviews gives you a quick glance at a few to help you make a more informed buying decision. Some of them may be available at your local library, or even via Netflix, if you don’t want to buy it for yourself.

DVE HD Basics

Buy now, $39.95

Created by home theater industry veteran Joe Kane, HD Basics is a great High Definition home theater calibration tool. It promises to improve your picture and give you an understanding of the concepts that are vital to getting the most out of your HDTV.

Spears & Munsil High Definition Benchmark

Buy now, $29.97

They claim that whether you're a home theater novice or a professional calibrator, you'll find all the tests you need to set up and adjust your HDTV in the Spears and Munsil HD Benchmark. The previous edition of the HD Benchmark was recommended by the New York Times, Widescreen Review, Home Theater Magazine and dozens of other print and online publications.

Disney WOW World of Wonder

Buy now, $19.99

The Disney WOW: World of Wonder disc is a "how to" guide for in-home high definition (HD) optimization of home entertainment systems featuring the help of classic Disney character Goofy and including HD demonstration clips from popular Disney titles including Toy Story, Up, Bolt and Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End. The easy to follow on-screen guide is designed to help consumers get the best quality experience from their home theater systems.

Proximus Calibration Toolkit

Cost, $25 if you can find it

This disc appears to be out of print, or at least difficult to come by. It reviews quite well if you can find it. Use the Proximus Toolkit to help check the hookup and settings of any home theater system. The Proximus Toolkit allows you to adjust components for most screen imagery and multi-channel sound levels.

PixelProtector Blu-ray

Buy DVD Edition V2, $29.95

The Blu-ray edition isn’t available for sale as far as we can tell, but the DVD is. It is a DVD based premium screen diagnostic and calibration tool for all types of LCD, plasma and rear projection TV screens. Using test signals PixelProtector allows you to accurately adjust your screen to its full potential. Specific test signals are provided for aligning and calibrating Plasma, LCD, projection sets, over head projectors and rear projection. PixelProtector also has unique screen washes they say will recalibrate pixels uniformly and supposedly keep your TV's picture looking good for years to come.

Avia II: Guide to Home Theater

Buy now, $29.99

For years, the original AVIA Guide to Home Theater DVD was the gold standard for calibrating your entire home theater. AVIA II added new tutorials to make it easy for beginner and expert alike, and hundreds of video and audio test patterns and signals. But it’s still a DVD, not updated to Blu-ray yet. Adjusting your audio and video system for maximum performance is easy with AVIA's step-by-step instructions. Professionals (or those who want to learn more) can directly access advanced calibration signals with on-line explanations.

Other options you don’t want to buy:

These are all old or out of print. Some may be helpful, others are intended for standard definition TVs. They all are showing their age. But maybe check them out if they’re at the library...

Sound & Vision Tune-Up

Out of print. Buy it used for $3.47

The Ultimate DVD - Fine Tuning

Buy now, $9.99

TV-Tuneup Calibration Disc

Not available

Monster/ISF HDTV Calibration Wizard

Buy now, $7.98

Conclusion

There’s a disc to fit the needs and budget of just about any do it yourself calibrator. Read the amazon reviews, they can be quite helpful if you need to decide which one is right for you. Some are more basic, others more advanced. Some are more helpful, others assume you know more about what you’re doing. Some are boring, some are fun.

There are even some apps now that can help with calibration. Maybe we’ll take a look at them in a future episode.

Blu-ray Review #72: Gravity Feb 18, 2014

Show notes

Gravity - Blu-ray Review 4.9 Stars (out of 5) - Rated PG-13

Synopsis

Dr. Ryan Stone is a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski in command. But on a seemingly routine mission, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalski completely alone—tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the darkness.

Starring:

Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris

Director:

Alfonso Cuarón

Blu-ray Release Date:

February 25, 2014

Subtitles:

English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese

Rating

Overall rating weighted as follows:

Audio 40%, Video 40%, Special Features 20%, Movie - its just our opinion so take it with a grain of salt

Audio 4.9 Stars (out of 5)

Dolby and DTS Demo Discs used as basis for comparison

● Subwoofer – 4.5 Stars

● Dialog – 5.0 Stars

● Surround Effects – 5.0 Stars

● Dynamic Range – 5.0 Stars

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French: Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1,

Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1

Some movies would say, in space no one can hear you scream. However, in this movie you understand your fear can be easily heard and understood. In large sweeping terms, Gravity has a minimalistic sound design that is emotionally driven. Surround effects include, communications from Houston, creaking and moans from crumbling space stations, communications from other astronauts, upset computers, and eerie silence of space. The low end does not have many opportunities to show off but, vibrations from suit touching anything, ambiance sounds, and the minimal thumping bass of the soundtrack bring ample bass to the party. It’s not enough to vibrate the couch, but its enough to make you feel the director’s vision. Gravity is difficult to judge in words, one major factor is you notice what’s missing. There is no swelling musical score or sounds of explosions. The effects seam scientifically real and remain unsettling.

Video 4.9 Stars (out of 5)

Spears & Munsil Benchmark Blu-ray Edition used as basis for comparison

● Color Accuracy - 5.0 Stars

● Shadow detail – 5.0 Stars

● Clarity – 4.8 Stars

● Skin tones – 5.0 Stars

● Compression – 5.0 Stars

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC, Resolution: 1080p, Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1, Original Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1.

Gravity does not have much of a color pallet, but that’s not a negative trait. Most of film is shown in tones of black and white. The only time you really notice color is when you see skin and when Earth is in the background. By the way, Earth looks beautiful from space. It’s looks like a huge marble filled with a blue water, white clouds, and brown land formations. City lights seen on the dark side of the world looks so distant it somehow brings a sense of aloneness to the emotional plot of the film. If you want to test your black levels and contrast this is the Blu-ray you should use. Space is empty and black without signs of compression or shadow issues. The pristine white space suits glowing from the light of the sun really help illustrate the stark differences between light and dark in this movie. Clarity is great and the sharpness is really noticeable when seeing menacing high speed flying debris, and distant stars twinkle in the background.

Bonus Features 4.8 Stars (out of 5)

● Gravity: Mission Control (HD, 107 minutes): A long behind-the-scenes split up into 9 segments which include:

● It Began with a Story (16:21)

● Initial Challenges: Long Shots and Zero G (10:12)

● Previsualizing Gravity (11:38)

● The Hues of Space (10:41)

● Physical Weightlessness (7:48)

● Space Tech (13:02)

● Sandra and George: A Pair in Space (9:37)

● Final Animation (15:01)

● Complete Silence (12:13)

● Shot Breakdowns (HD, 37 minutes): Has 5 different breakdowns of the following:

● Behind the Visor (6:50)

● Fire in the International Space Station (5:42)

● Dr. Stone's Rebirth (7:54)

● The Sound of Action in Space (7:55)

● Splashdown (8:24)

● Aningaaq: A Short Film by Jonás Cuarón (HD, 10 minutes): Gravity co-writer Jonás Cuarón's created this short film that really has nothing to do with the movie.

● Collision Point: The Race to Clean Up Space (HD, 22 minutes): Actor Ed Harris narrates this documentary about the very real looming crisis that inspired the film's centerpiece disaster.

Movie – 5.0 Stars (out of 5) Review

Gravity is an astronaut film that isn’t really about space exploration. It’s about being isolated and confounded by life changing events alone and without confidence. It’s a weird emotion to capture on film, but Gravity does an outstanding job of doing it. I guess when you are alone in space with true cold and darkness the only thing left is the human spirit. This movie stars two Oscar worthy actors, but the true star of the movie is the director. There are scenes that shouldn’t be so tense, but are because the director was able to squeeze out every ounce of emotion on the screen. You could even watch the film at a technical level and marvel at how the film was made, and how some scenes last several minutes without cutting. If you have an emotional connection with Gravity it easily becomes more than a film and becomes a work of art.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiTiKOy59o4

Podcast #622: Skybell Doorbell Review Feb 14, 2014

Show notes

Skybell Doorbell

Last August a listener alerted us to an Indiegogo campaign for a Wifi doorbell that would allow you to answer the door from anywhere in the world provided you had an Internet connection. At that time to contribution was $125 and for that you would helping a startup company bring their product to the market. A product that was supposed to be available around Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then in time for the Holidays. We ended up getting our Skybell in late January but these are the problems of being an earlier adopter. Today, Skybell is available at Skybell.com and Amazon for $200.

Features:

Answer your door from select Android and iOS devices - Anytime, Anywhere.
Exclusive Motion Sensor starts a call even when the person at your door doesn't press the button (Coming Soon)
Quick and easy installation. Requires direct power and analog doorbell chime.
Manage multiple cameras in the same account

Setup:

Please read the manual! Ara decided how hard is it to connect two wires and mount the doorbell so he did just that. Then he tried to sync the doorbell. Nothing! Total frustration. Then he finally decided to read the manual and that’s where he learned that the doorbell needs to charge a battery before syncing. That process takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Once the battery charged the doorbell synced with no issues.

Ara’s install did have another issue, the Skybell draws a small amount of current to power the unit. This caused a humming noise to come from the doorbell transformer. For the short term the doorbell was disconnected which has not gone over well with the family. Ara is still looking for a solution. The phone app does make a doorbell chime when the front doorbell is pressed but you only hear that if the sound is on. On the tablet, the sound is a generic notification so if you have some of those laying around with the sound on you won’t know if the notification is a doorbell or you just got a sports score update. By the way, there is no native tablet app.

The last setup nit pick. The camera is moveable so you can try to get an optimal viewing angle. It is very hard to move it so it requires the use of a screwdriver. There is a video at Skybell.com that shows how to adjust the camera angle.

Use:

Once installed the doorbell works as advertised. Within a second or two of the doorbell being pressed you get a notification on all the phones and tablets connected to the doorbell. At that point you can see who’s at the door and even speak to them. If someone else answers the door you won’t be able answer. Skybell will be adding a notification to let you know someone else answered the door.

Picture and audio quality are adequate. There is a lot of background noise coming from the doorway. The picture quality allows you to see who’s there and you can take a snapshot if you choose. Night quality is terrible.

Skybell is promising improvements including:

Motion Sensor Activation
Motion Sensor – On/Off Toggle
Doorbell Sound for Push Notification Alert
Alert that another user answered the call
On-Demand Camera Access
Special SkyBell Alert Tone
Image Balance for backlighting

Bottom Line:

Being able to see who is at the door and speak with them while you are away from home is quite powerful and Skybell lets you do just that. The product as it stands seems a bit rushed to market and is missing a few features. The good news if you have already bought one is that your Skybell will be updated automatically. Our recommendation is that if you are an early adopter type go ahead and jump in. Skybell works, albeit with a few incomplete features. If you want something that’s been fully buzzed out. Wait a few months and then jump in.

Podcast #621: Wireless Headphones Feb 07, 2014

Show notes

Wireless Headphones

You’ve probably heard us stress over and over again how important surround sound is to your HDTV and home theater experience. Without surround sound, it’s really just surveillance, not home theater. But we are regular guys too, and we leave in the real world. We know that sometimes you have to make sacrifices and compromises. You aren’t the only one in the house, or the building or the neighborhood.

Sometimes that compromise means using a sound bar. Other times it may mean throwing on some headphones so you can still enjoy HDTV when the volume may otherwise disrupt the delicate balance of your ecosystem. Like many of you, Braden has young children. He has many of them, in fact. Sometimes it’s nice to let them sleep a little at night and headphones can come in quite handy for that.

You have a couple major decisions to make when buying headphones for your home theater, the most important is how well they sound. But beyond that, there are some logistics questions, the main one being: wired or wireless? Wired have reliable quality, and no need to recharge batteries. But they have long cables that need to be stored, if the cable isn’t long enough, they can be uncomfortable, and so on. Wireless headphones are much more convenient and, provided you buy the right ones, can sound just as good.

Sony MDRRF985RK Wireless RF Headphone

Buy now: $86

Sony makes some of our all time favorite studio monitor headphones, the MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphones that go for $102. They may not be the best headphones around anymore, but they are a tried and true classic, and still quite good. If you’re in the market for wired headphones, they’re worth checking out. But, for this round-up, we aren’t interested in wired, we’re going wireless. It may have been our sentimentality that pushed us to them, but the Sony MDRRF985RK are the first pair of headphones on the list.

These phones from Sony give you the freedom to travel up to 150 feet from your sound source while delivering stereo quality sound. Hopefully your couch isn’t 150 feet away from your TV, but just in case it is, you’re all set. They run on the 900MHz RF wireless band, which is fine, but not the best choice. They have a 40mm driver for decent bass performance, and claim frequency response from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. They have an auto tuning feature that conveniently scans up and down the band to automatically tune in channels.

And like most units on our list, they are rechargeable. They include Ni-MH rechargeable batteries with a max run time of 25 hours. You’ll probably pass out before they do. All-in-all a solid performer at a decent price. They won’t blow you away with their quality, but they will be reliable and that also won’t blow away your whole checking account.

JVC HAW600RF 900MHZ Wireless Headphones

Buy now: $54

These headphones from JVC are feature for feature nearly identical the the prior model from Sony. They run on the same 900 MHz RF frequency, but boast a slightly larger effective distance of 164 feet. They too have the auto tuning feature to hopefully provide the best quality sound at all times. Couple that with a 40mm driver for full-bodied sound and you’ve got a pair of headphones that are tough to distinguish from the Sony pair.

The JVC HAW600RF does offer a convenient paging or voice call function that allows for voice communication from the base station to the headset user. So if someone wanders off wearing the headphones, or you simply want to play practical jokes on someone to annoy them, you’ve got that going for you. But what really got us to put these above the Sony is the price. They’re close to half the cost of the Sony model.

Sennheiser RS120 On-Ear 926MHz Wireless RF Headphones with Charging Cradle

Buy now: $80

In the bang-for-the-buck category, the RS120 may take the cake. It is a lightweight RF wireless headphone system with Open-Aire Supra-Aural design for hi-fidelity audio reproduction. They feature a transparent, well-balanced sound with solid bass reproduction, and are a great choice for both hi-fi and TV use. The transmitter has an “easy recharge” function for conveniently recharging the included headphone batteries.

The RS120 headphones run on the 926 MHz frequency, which is still in the 900 MHz band, but for some reason they don’t seem to suffer the same interference issues that others on the 900 MHz band struggle with. And somehow this allows them to claim a 328 foot reception distance, even though walls and ceilings. Unlike other units on the list, however, these Sennheisers don’t have the auto-tuning functionality, but instead provide three user-selectable channels.

If you want a pair of really good headphones without spending too much money, the Sennheiser RS120 would be our first pick in the under $100 category.

Sennheiser RS 170 Digital Wireless Headphone with Dynamic Bass and Surround Sound

Buy now: $198

If you’d like to step up from a solid performer to a stand out, you’ll want to look at the Sennheiser RS170 headphones. They aren’t the top of the line Sennheiser model, but they’re close enough that you still get superior sound quality without over-paying for it. The RS180 for $240 or the even more expensive RS220 for $495 are fighting for supremacy in the Sennheiser wireless headphone showdown. But in the real world, cost is a factor in deciding what to buy, and at under $200, the RS170 headphones are ideal.

The RS170 utilizes KLEER's lossless digital wireless audio transmission for audiophile-grade sound and reception. They claim KLEER technology will not interfere with wireless networks or other 2.4GHz devices. Up to 4 compatible Sennheiser KLEER headphones can be paired with the same transmitter for private listening for multiple individuals. Which, at that point, begs the question - can’t all four of you just take off the headphones and use the speakers instead?

The RS170 wasn’t built for the average listener, they were built with the audiophile in mind, the transducer systems’ neodymium magnets deliver clear and detailed audio reproduction. The sealed, private earcups prevent sound leakage and make sure you can hear everything you’re supposed to. They also feature selectable Dynamic Bass Boost for deeper bass and selectable Surround Sound simulation for a more immersive pseudo-home theater experience.

This pair of headphones run on a different frequency that the others, using 2.4 - 2.8 GHz, with built-in auto selecting technology. They have a range of up to 260 feet. The wireless headphones operate on 2 AAA NiMH rechargeable batteries, which are included and should get you around 24 hours of listening time. The transmitter also acts as a charging stand for the headphones when not in use, and can fully recharge depleted headphone batteries in about 16 hours.

Sony MDR-DS7500 Wireless Digital Surround Headphones System

Buy now: $429

Speaking of over-paying, the Sony MDR-DS7500 clock in at an impressive $429. But before you freak out about how you can buy an entire surround sound receiver for that, consider what you’re getting. First, and perhaps most importantly, these headphones were developed in cooperation with Sony Pictures Entertainment, a place near and dear to the HT Guys’ hearts. But beyond that, if you want to build something for the home theater, it makes sense to work with the experts in cinema sound.

What did that joint development produce? The outcome was Sony's new "New Cinema mode" which was designed around analyzing the measured data for movie production in real movie theaters and sound stages. By combining Sony's VPT (Virtualphones Technology) this "New Cinema mode" is said to reproduce the sound of an ideal movie theater.

The MDR-DS7500 comes with a newly developed chipset for 3D audio as well as Dolby NR professional Logic II z decoder supporting audio signals up to 7.1Ch. DMI inputs on the processor enables the new DS7500 to decode HD audio such as Dolby TrueHD. Also supports multi-channel linear PCM as well as Bravia HDMI CEC. Three HDMI inputs with 1 line HDMI output allows you to connect to your devices freely.

The MDR-DS7500 has a dynamic reproduction range of 5 Hz to 25 kHz and the full list of codecs it supports is: Dolby NR TrueHD, Dolby Digital plus, Dolby Digital, Dolby NR professional logic II z, Dolby NR professional logic. x, DTS-HD mastering audio, DTS-HD high-resolution audio, DTS 96/24, DTS-ES, DTS, Neo:6, MPEG-2 AAC, and linear PCM 7.1ch/5.1ch. The headphones operate on the 2Ghz spectrum and the built-in rechargeable batteries provide up to 18 hours of continuous playback.

Some Amazon reviews mentioned getting a Japanese instruction manual; obviously not helpful for most of us. But luckily they reported that some strategic googling led them to an English version that got the job done. Who reads the instructions anyways ;)

Other

There are also a handful of surround sound gaming headsets out there like the Skullcandy PLYR1 7.1 Surround Sound Wireless Gaming Headset for $130 or the Turtle Beach Ear Force X42 Wireless Dolby Surround Sound Gaming Headset for $123. If you’re into gaming and can get a pair like this, they may be able to double for you as a solid home theater solution as well. There isn’t a huge advantage in price, and connectivity may be more challenging since they’re intended to be connected to a gaming console. But buying one pair of headphones that can serve dual purpose might make sense for some.

Conclusion

There are plenty of approaches available today to listen to all the booming explosions and dynamic action you want from your home theater without disturbing anyone else. There are also cases where people with hearing impairments or who have experienced a loss of hearing could benefit from their own headphones, even if they’re listening to the same thing as everyone else. Whatever your requirements, there’s sure to be a set of headphones for you that will meet your needs and keep the finance committee happy.

Podcast #620: Revolv Home Automation Hub Jan 31, 2014

Show notes

Revolv Home Automation Hub

With 2013 being the year of home automation ;-) we saw a bunch of new products come on the scene to make our lives easier. Along with those products came apps for our mobile devices and before long we started suffering from app fatigue. Wouldn’t it be cool if a product could unite all those different technologies into one app! Well today we review a product that is well on its way to do so. The Revolv Home Automation Hub (Buy Now $299) is a new device that will allow you to control many of these devices with one smartphone app.

Features:

Works with product gateways and bridges to connect all your devices including Philips Hue lights, Yale locks, Sonos Hi-Fi speakers, and Insteon sensors and switches.
The Revolv Hub has 7 wireless radios supporting 10 different wireless protocols.
Easily create macros based on triggers from sensors, time, GPS location, or on-demand presets.
Quick setup of Smartphone App and Wi-Fi Hub (Ethernet not required).
Lifetime Service Included: No monthly service or subscription fees.

Setup:

This is where the Revolv Home Automation Hub excels! It was quite easy getting the Hub on our network. The first thing you do is download and launch the iOS app (Android coming soon). Next you plug in the hub. Finally you transfer the wifi network information to the hub via the iPhone’s camera flash. After the hub gets on the network it updates itself and then its ready to go. To add devices you select “Add Devices” from the app’s setup menu and then put the device you are adding into the configure state and bingo! There it is. The Revolve app adds an icon depicting the device and you now have immediate control. We went around the house adding Insteon, Z-Wave, and wifi devices. In all, within 30 minutes of the unboxing we were controlling multiple devices throughout the house.

Actions “Triggers”:

Like all good automation systems, Revolv has “actions” which can be activated in one of four ways:

Sensor - And right now this means motion sensor. Revolv is constantly adding devices so you may see contact sensors in the future as well. Typical action could be turning on a light when a sensor is tripped.
Time - This is a straight forward as it sounds. An action will take place at the desired time.
Location - Right now there are two choices here, home and away. Come home and your air conditioner turns on. Leave and it turns off. Anything you can control can be triggered this way.
Just do it - Essentially this is a macro. You can define a sequence of events that occur when you press the button.

While not complete, its a good start for a version one application. We spoke with co-founder Mike Soucie who assures us they are working on adding functionality as soon as they can. He said conditional triggers or actions based on other devices on are on the road map. The company has an active forum where they solicit ideas and which devices to support from users. The most requested ideas/devices are given higher priorities.

Controlling the Home:

We’ve been using the Home Automation Hub for a few weeks now and it has performed flawlessly. When in the home, the response is quick. Over the Internet, its a little laggy but nothing that would cause anyone grief.

We set up macros that mimic our Indigo setup and with a touch of a button our theater lights were dimmed creating a mood perfect for watching movies. Our porch light was scheduled to turn on at sunset and it faithfully did. It just would have been nice to have one of our sensors trigger our stairway lights to turn on at 20% only after 10:00pm. Perhaps in the next release. And that’s another nice thing about the system, it will be updated without you having to do anything. The hub is connected to the Internet and will receive updates in the background. Likewise, the iOS app will be updated through the app store adding more functionality.

Limitations:

While this is a good version one there are some areas that can be improved. We briefly mentioned in the previous section that conditional triggers would be nice. This would be something like turning on the kitchen lights at 6:00 in the morning if we weren’t in vacation mode. And that would be the other point, it would be nice to be able to set variables that can be manipulated manually or automatically based on actions. It would also be cool to get notifications. If my front door is unlocked I would like a notification or email. A web interface into the hub would also make setting up triggers and devices a little easier. Finally it would be nice if the GUI could be customized.

What’s to come:

As stated earlier we had a chance to speak with co-founder Mike Soucie who shed a little light on the future. We asked if there would be a web interface to set up devices and macros. He said that is possible for the future but didn’t give a timetable. We asked about variables and more complex triggers. Those too are on the roadmap but not expected soon. What we can expect in Q1 of 2014 are notifications, an Android app, and possibly an iPad app time permitting. There are other deeper features coming but Mike could not get into details. Mike was excited about what’s coming up and based on our conversation so are we!

Conclusion:

When we first learned about a device that could unify all the various home automation and control devices out there we were sceptical. But after putting the Revolv Home Automation Hub through its paces, we can say, yes you can control everything regardless who makes it. Well maybe not everything yet. But we are sure the engineers at Revolv are working diligently to make that happen!

Podcast #619: 2014 Time Capsule Jan 24, 2014

Show notes

What’s Hot Right Now (2014 Time Capsule)

We didn’t update it in 2013, but back in January of 2012, we put together a snapshot of the then-current HDTV landscape we could refer back to in the future. Since we often look back at the technologies and prices of years gone by with shock and amazement, instead of simply trying to remember what things were like “back then” we built our time capsule.

We’re going to update the time capsule and look back at our 2012 snapshot. As we did last time, we took some of the top sellers at Amazon across a variety of categories and got their prices. This gives us a good indication of what is hot right now and also what their prices are.

Televisions

2012: 3D TVs

In 2012 3D TVs were all the rage. Every store and manufacturer had them, and nobody really wanted them, although the industry hadn’t really figured that out yet. We had a whole section in our 2012 capsule devoted to 3D TVs. In 2014 we’d drop the 3D TV section and replace it with a 4K TV section instead.

LG Infinia 55LW5600 55-Inch Cinema 3D 1080p 120 Hz LED-LCD, (was: $1282)

Ranked #4 on the list. The 47” version of the same TV, the LG Infinia 47LW6500 47-Inch Cinema 3D 1080p 240 Hz LED-LCD HDTV, (was: $1077), was a few spots down the list at #12.

Equivalent TV today: LG 55LA6200 55-Inch Cinema 3D 1080p 120Hz LED-LCD HDTV with Smart TV and Four Pairs of 3D Glasses, $999

Samsung UN55D8000 55-Inch 1080p 240Hz 3D LED HDTV, (was: $2058)

Samsung held the next TV on the list at #11.

Equivalent TV today: Samsung UN55F7100 55-Inch 1080p 240Hz 3D Ultra Slim Smart LED HDTV, $1498

We found 34 3D TVs in the top 100 made by LG, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, and Sharp. There were 27 Active sets and 7 Passive (LG, Toshiba). They ranged in size from 40” to 70” and ranged in price from $699 to over $3400.

2014: 4K TVs

Seiki Digital SE39UY04 39-Inch 4K Ultra HD 120Hz LED TV, $599

The first TV on the list, at position #42, is the 39” 3840 x 2160 Panel from Seiki that also supports 4K up-scaling.

Despite what we thought we’d be able to load into the time capsule, there was only one 4K / Ultra high def TV in the top 100. This is something we’ll probably look back on in a few years in amazement, but 1080p still dominates the list, with a few 720p sprinkled throughout.

2012: Plasma TVs

Two years ago plasma technology was showing signs of waning, but it was still going strong and winning awards, if not the hearts and minds of the average consumer. These days plasma is all but gone, so we’d probably replace plasma in our 2014 time capsule with OLED.

Panasonic VIERA TC-P50S30 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV, (was: $799)

The first plasma in the top 100 came in at #22 overall. Another slightly bigger Panasonic was on the list at #30, the Panasonic VIERA TC-P60ST30 60-Inch 1080p 600 Hz 3D Plasma HDTV, (was: $1400).

Samsung PN43D450 43-Inch 720p 600 Hz Plasma HDTV, (was: $492)

Again moving down a few spots to #35 we found our first non-Panasonic plasma set.

Overall we found 14 plasma TVs in the top 100 in 2012, not a bad showing. They were mostly made by Panasonic and Samsung, with one LG unit in the list. They ranged in size from 43” to 65” and ranged in price from under $500 to over $2500.

In 2014 we found just 5 of them in the top 100: 1 LG, 2 Samsung and 2 Panasonic plasmas. They ranged in size from 51” to 65” and in price from $800 to $3200. The first one, the LG, was on the list at position #53.

2014: OLED TVs

Here’s another nugget to file away in the time capsule: no OLED televisions in the top 100. Only two OLED TVs appear in the “top selling OLED” category. Odds are this will be quite different when we revisit this capsule in the future. The two OLED models Amazon actually has available are curved sets. Wonder how that format will hold with time... They are:

Samsung KN55S9C Curved Panel Smart 3D OLED HDTV, $8,997

This model has 4 HDMI, 2 USB, 1 LAN, 2 Component, and 1 Composite input. It is a Samsung SmartTV 2.0 with built-in WiFi and Smart Interaction 2.0 with a built-in Camera. Of course its still a 1080p display, but is 3D capable. Also boast a Quad Core processor for super fast app-tivity.

LG Electronics 55EA9800 Cinema 3D 1080p Curved OLED TV with Smart TV, $8499

This LG set, being an OLED, offers what LG calls “Infinite Contrast’ that ranges from the most blazing white to the darkest black. LG's 4 Color Pixel technology adds an unfiltered, white sub-pixel to the traditional red, green and blue resulting in a brighter picture with a wider range of colors and superior color accuracy for more true to life and vibrant images.

2012: LCD TVs

Of course the vast majority of sets in the top 100 list were LCD. Some of the notable sets in 2012 were:

TCL L40FHDF12TA 40-Inch 1080p 60 Hz LCD HDTV, (was: $319)

This was the #1 TV on the list at the time we built the 2012 time capsule.

Sharp LC-70LE732U, (was: $2389)

This is the biggest set in the list, but not the most expensive by more than $1000. It came in at #75.

Samsung UN65D8000 65-Inch 1080p 240 Hz 3D LED HDTV, (was: $3488, now: $2499)

This Samsung, on the list at #88, had the distinction of being the most expensive set on the list.

Coby LEDTV2226 22-Inch 1080p HDMI LED TV/Monitor, (was: $179)

On the list at #46, this set from Coby isn’t the smallest, but it is the least expensive. The smallest set on the list was actually the Samsung UN19D4003 19-Inch 720p 60Hz LED HDTV, $181. It ranked in at #18.

2014: LCD TVs

The trend continues in 2014, with the vast majority of sets in the top 100 list being LCD. Samsung dominated our “notable” list, but that was purely a coincidence. Many other manufacturers are well represented in the full 100. Some of the notable sets in 2014 are:

Samsung UN32EH5300 32-Inch 1080p 60 Hz Smart LED HDTV, $328

This was the #1 TV on the list. This little 32” LED packs a ton of features into a small price tag, which is probably what makes it so appealing.

Samsung UN19F4000 19-Inch 720p 60Hz Slim LED HDTV, $157

At 19 inches this Samsung is the smallest TV on the list, but at $157 it isn’t the least expensive. It only has 720p resolution, but that shouldn’t matter because of the small screen size. It ranks #14 on the list.

VIZIO E221-A1 22-Inch 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV, $139

At $139 Vizio has the distinction of the lowest cost on the list. With a whopping 22 inch screen, it’s bigger than the Samsung above. The kicker? It has 1080p full HD resolution. The appears in the top 100 at position #19.

Samsung UN75F6300 75-Inch 1080p 120Hz Slim Smart LED HDTV, $2658

This 75” jumbo screen from Samsung is the largest TV on the list. There are a couple of 70” TVs, and quite a few 65”, but the UN75F6300 is one of only two 75 inch TVs to make the cut. It ranks at #80 on the list. And it’s about $1000 less than the 65” on our list from 2012.

Media Streamers

The Internet Apps and Movie Streaming services continue to shift, so we compared out 2012 snapshot of the top 10 media streamers with the 2014 list. Roku continues to dominates the top 10 with 4, just like two years ago. Apple, WD, and TiVo all with 1 each, same as last time. Google remains on the list, swapping out the Logitech Revue for the Chromecast. Sony dropped from two streamers to one with the Playstation 4. Netgear is new to the list in 2014 with the Push2TV wireless HDMI adapter.

2012

1. Roku LT Streaming Player, $49.99

2. Apple TV MC572LL/A, $98.00

3. Roku 2 XS 1080p Streaming Player, $99.99

4. Roku 2 XD Streaming Player 1080p, $77.09

5. Western Digital WD TV Live Streaming Media Player, $89.99

6. Sony SMP-N100 Streaming Player with Wi-Fi, $49.99

7. Roku 2 HD Streaming Player, $69.99

8. Sony SMP-N200 Streaming Media Player with Wi-Fi, $60.86

9. Logitech Revue with Google TV, $140.99

10. TiVo TCD746320 Premiere DVR, $75.64

2014

1. Google Chromecast HDMI Streaming Media Player, $35.00

2. Apple TV, $89.99

3. Roku 3 Streaming Media Player, $98.00

4. PlayStation 4 Console, $499.99

5. Roku 1 Streaming Player, $49.97

6. Roku HD Streaming Player, $39.95

7. Roku 2 Streaming Player, $77.99

8. NETGEAR Push2TV Wireless Display HDMI Adapter with Miracast, $58.98

9. WD TV Live Media Player, $89.43

10. TiVo Roamio HD Digital Video Recorder, $149.99

Podcast #618: Best of CES Jan 17, 2014

Show notes

CES has come and gone so today we talk about what others have deemed “Best”. We rundown winners (home theater related) from the Digital Trends, Engadget, and CES Innovations. Follow the links for the complete list.

Digital Trends unveils its “Best of CES 2014” Award Winners

Home Theater: Audio: Philips Fidelio E5 Wireless Surround Speaker System
Home Theater: Video: LG 77-inch Curved OLED

Engadget

BEST STARTUP: AIRTAME - Wireless HDMI for Everyone. With the AIRTAME HDMI Dongle you can display your computer screen (Mac, Windows or Linux) on your TV, Projector and Monitor - Wirelessly.
BEST AUDIO PRODUCT: CLEARVIEW CLIO - Named after one of the nine goddesses of music, song and dance, Clio™ is thin, curved, clear and beautiful. Enjoy room-filling panoramic sound and the freedom of wireless connectivity with the first décor-friendly speaker that uses Edge Motion® technology to disappear into the aesthetic of any room or style.
BEST VIDEO PRODUCT: DISH VIRTUAL JOEY - Virtual Joey is a software application that delivers the DISH Hopper® Whole-Home HD DVR experience on 2013 and 2014 LG Smart TVs, and Sony PlayStation® 3 and PlayStation® 4 devices. The app can be used instead of DISH’s hardware-based Joey, increasing installation options where coaxial or Ethernet wiring may be difficult to access.

CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards

VIDEO COMPONENTS - Sony FMP-X1 4K Ultra HD Media Player - The world’s first home media player to deliver hit Hollywood movies in 4K Ultra HD, with 4 times more clarity than HD. Pre-loaded with 10 feature films and a library of 4K shorts, the FMP-X1 is also the gateway to Sony’s Video Unlimited 4K service.
HIGH PERFORMANCE HOME AUDIO - Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 18 - BeoLab 18 is conceived at an exceptional sound column introducing a refined symbiosis of form, craftsmanship and performance.
VIDEO DISPLAYS - LG CURVED ULTRA HD OLED TV (77EC9800) - The 77EC9800 is the world’s first and largest curved 77-inch ULTRA HD OLED TV and features LG’s CINEMA 3D technology and powerful webOS Smart TV platform.
VIDEO DISPLAYS - Samsung 65-inch Real 240Hz FHD Smart LED TV with Quad-core Multi-tasking Capability The UN65H7150 is the world’s only Real 240Hz Full HD LED TV with Quad-core Processor to enable more rapid Smart TV execution, a 1.3-second Instant On and Dual Screen for the perfect multi-tasking experience.
HOME THEATER SPEAKERS - Philips Fidelio E5 wireless surround cinema speakers Philips Fidelio E5 wireless surround cinema speakers and their wireless active subwoofer, offer a phenomenal stereo music listening experience that can transform instantly into a true 5.1 wireless surround sound system.

Podcast #617: CES Roundup Jan 10, 2014

Show notes

Trends at this year’s CES Show: 4K TVs - Actually we saw a lot of this last year as well. Perhaps Braden’s prediction of a 4K TV year may actually come true! OLED TVs - Again, we saw OLED last year too. But this year we saw larger sizes. LG is a big player here. Sound Bars - Now you may be seeing why we decided not to go to CES. Sound Bars are big because the speakers on most modern thin TVs are terrible. But its genius!! This now gives manufacturers an opportunity to sell another piece of gear. Wireless Speakers - Offerings from manufacturers like Sonos and some other companies that you have never heard of before as well made an impact this year. Smart Home/ Home Automation - Nothing new here! Wasn’t last year the year of home automation?? Even more manufacturers to get into the automation game this year. Higher Resolution Audio - This is a new trend and we like seeing it. The only issue is that high quality audio typically comes a high cost. Samsung Samsung showed a 110” UHD TV - We talked about the 85” model that forced a family to sell one of their daughters into slavery so they could pay the $40K pricetag. It looks like the 110 inch model won’t be produced. At least at this time. Its more of a concept TV brought to CES to show what they can do. Will TVs like this ever get down in price to the point where projectors are no longer necessary? They also demonstrated an 85” that is “Bendable”. Turn it on and the edges curve towards you. Turn it off and its flat! Samsung to Unveil Secret Weapon at 2014 International CES - Samsung is reportedly planning to unveil its secret weapon, the V1 Bomb, a high-definition TV called Quantum-dot LED TV (QLED TV) at the 2014 International CES Samsung To Debut Wireless Streaming Speaker, Home Theater System, Portable Stereo And Two TV Soundbars Samsung unveils a new foundation for the smart home LG LG unveiled twelve 4K televisions for 2014 - They introduced the 105-inch 4K 105UC9 that has an aspect ratio of 21:9 and is powered by the webOS Smart TV platform. If you can’t find any 4K content for these spiffy new TVs have no fear. LG has developed something called Tru-ULTRA HD Engine Pro. Its supposed to improve overall Ultra HD picture quality. That along with a new proprietary upscaling chip will make SD and HD content look better on Ultra HD televisions. Well at least according to LG. On the Audio side of things, LG says it worked with Harman Kardon to develop premium audio systems for each TV. But seriously, with TVs like these are you really thinking about not using a receiver? The remaining lineup: LG UB9800 Series - 4K, WebOS, Tru-Ultra HD Engine Pro, IPS, passive 3D, 65, 79, 84, 98 inches LG UB9500 Series - 4K, WebOS, IPS, passive 3D, 55, 65 inches LG UB8500 Series - 4K, WebOS, IPS, passive 3D, 49, 55 inches LG EC9800 - 4K, WebOS, OLED, Bendable, 77 inches LG EC9700 - 4K, WebOS, OLED, 55, 65 inches Panasonic TC-AX800U series - 4K, edge-lit local dimming, 65 and 58 inches. The 58 inch is available now. The 65 inch will be available in the spring. TC-55AS680U - 1080p, 240Hz refresh rate TC-AS650U series - 1080p, 3D, 60, 55, and 50. Cool touch pad remote! Available Today TC-60AS660U series - 1080p, Home Theater System Bundle, Touch Pad Remote TC-AS530U series - 1080p, 60, 55, 50, 39 inches Available Now TC-A400U series - 1080p, 50, 39, 32 inches. Available Today - Entry Series ZT80 Plasma 50, 55, 60, and 65 inches. Available in our dreams! Sony All 4K TVs support Netflix 4K Streaming! XBR-X950B series - 4K resolution, direct LED local dimming 85, 65 inches XBR-X900B series - 4K resolution, edge-lit LED local dimming, 79, 65, 55 inches XBR-X850B series - 4K resolution, Triluminous display, 70, 65, 55, 49 inches KDL-W950B series - 1080p resolution, edge-lit LED local dimming, 65, 55 inches KDL-W850B series - 1080p resolution, Wedge design, 70, 60 inches KDL-W800B series - 1080p resolution, 55, 50 inches KDL-60W630B - 1080p resolution, Smart TV, 60 inches KDL-W600B series - 1080p resolution, Smart TV, 48, 40 inches Wireless Speakers SRS-X9 - 2.1 wireless speaker with a bi-amped subwoofer, high-res audio files, Bluetooth, aptX, NFC, Wi-Fi, AirPlay, and DLNA. SRS-X7 - Similar to the X9 but without high-res audio, Wi-Fi, NFC and aptX Bluetooth, Airplay and DLNA support, and compatibility with Music Unlimited, Spotify and TuneIn Radio SRS-X5 - portable, built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC, and can double as a hands free speakerphone when paired with your smartphone. Sharp SHARP delivers the first WISA compliant Universal Player - The SD-WH1000U Universal Player is the first, Wireless Speaker and Audio (WiSA™) Association, compliant component to transmit uncompressed sound at 24-bit/96kHz and video at Full HD (1080p) — wirelessly. The Sharp Universal Player has already been named a 2014 International CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards Honoree in the High Performance Home Audio category. The SD-WH1000U will have an MSRP of $3,999.99 and will begin shipping in the spring of 2014 Sharp Aquos Quattron Plus TV - At half the price of a 4K TV of the same screen size the Plus has 10 million more sub pixels than a regular 1080p TV. Retina Display for TVs?? The TV will accept 4K content and will scale 1080p content to make use of every one of the 10 Million sub pixels! Sharp claims they have put more TVs over 60 inches into American homes than any other manufacturer. Sharp Sound Bar - The HT-SB602, is designed to compliment 60" and larger flat panel televisions. Its a 2.1-channel, 310-watt sound bar system with a wireless subwoofer. It has built-in Bluetooth and can be paired using NFC. This system can be set up horizontally either in front of a TV base (including an IR extender for the TV) or wall-mounted and features dual HDMI inputs and output, 3D sound support, Dolby and DTS decoding and an optical input. $500 available in the Spring. Vizio VIZIO announced its all-new P-Series Ultra HD Full-Array LED Smart TV collection. Featuring a backlight that consists of 64 Active LED Zones, HEVC Codec for Ultra HD streaming and VIZIO’s V6 six-core processor that combines a quad-core GPU and dual-core CPU for performance and speed. The VIZIO P-Series Ultra HD Full-Array LED Smart TV collection comes in 50”, 55”, 60”, 65”and 70” screen sizes. Prices start at $999.99 for the 50” model and go up to $2599.99 for the 70” model. Looks like these TVs will support Netflix 4K content. JVC JVC introduced three new Ultra HD LCD TVs. The 55-inch DM55UXA ($1,899.99), 65-inch DM65UXA ($2,499.99) and the largest JVC TV to date, the 85-inch DM85UXA ($9,999.99). These are Direct LED TVs. JVC already announced their new line of projectors at CEDIA Other Announcements Home Automation - ADT showed a package called Pulse that can be controlled by voice along with the traditional methods. Belkin showed a device that controls anything than can be turned on and off via a DC switch called the Maker Kit. No pricing. Lowe’s showed more devices from their Iris line of home automation The Canary system uses HD video camera and safety sensors to track everything from motion, temperature and air quality to vibration, sound, and activity to help keep you, your family and your belongings safe. Samsung SmartCam - Samsung's new SmartCam HD and SmartCam HD Outdoor offer 1080p Full HD streaming and 128 degree ultra-wide angle lenses, giving consumers the ability to remotely monitor activity - both indoor and out - with full detail and clarity, via any computer or mobile device with no additional monthly video storage or monitoring fees. Outdoor model goes for $299. Revolv - Makers of the $299 Home Automation hub that unites differing protocols announced that their product will be available at Home Depot stores. Look for them by the end of January. NETGEAR - announced a couple of wireless IP Cameras that are HD. The HMNC100 and HMNC500 are 720p and support 802.11n dual band. We have requested an evaluation unit. Pricing and availability to come. NETGEAR - NETGEAR had a few announcements some of the ones we thought were cool are: The AC750 Range Extender. Its supports 802.11b/g/n and ac and plugs into a wall outlet. You simply connect it to your network and then it creates a powerful hotspot! They also released a free Android app that analyzes your wireless network. Finally, NETGEAR showed the NeoMediacat HDMI Dongle. Its essentially an Android set top box in a USB stick. Its Miracast enabled so you can send content from your mobile devices to the connected TV. Polaroid - Introduced a 50-inch LED 4K Ultra HD TV (50GSR9000) for $999. They also introduced a 50-inch LED Smart TV (50GSR7100 ) that’s Roku Ready via an included Roku Streaming Stick that plugs into the sets MHL port. The Smart TV will sell for $599 US. Dolby unveils technology to improve TV brightness - On Monday, at the International CES gadget show, the company unveiled Dolby Vision, a technology that increases the brightness and contrast of TV sets. Prototype models will be on display from TV manufacturers such as Sharp and TCL. Standard TV sets emit about 100 nits -- a unit of brightness roughly equivalent to one candle per square meter. As a reference, a 100-watt lightbulb emits 18,000 nits. Dolby says its prototype monitor can put out 4,000 nits. Intel plans a CES coup: Android and Windows in the same computer - Internally known as "Dual OS," Intel's idea is that Android would run inside of Windows using virtualization techniques, so you could have Android and Windows apps side by side without rebooting your machine. Netflix - Confirmed that it will stream House of Cards in 4K this year. This will only be available to 4K TVs that have a Netflix app embedded in them. Confirmed Samsung UHD TVs will have this capability. Roku - Announced a partnership with TCL and Hisense that will have the Roku player embedded into some models. The Roku will make money off of advertising that comes through the app. TV sizes will range between 32 and 55 inches. Channel Master DVR+ - Wins Innovations 2014 Design and Engineering Award. DVR+ is a thin (1/2 inch high) device that allows consumers to receive and record local broadcast programming without a subscription or contract, utilizing a simple digital antenna. In addition, consumers have access to streaming video services and enhanced guide data with a broadband connection. For the TV Everywhere enthusiast, DVR+ is compatible with the Slingbox® 500, providing access to all live and recorded content on any connected mobile device, either around the home or around the world. DVR+, priced at $249.99, is available now from Channel Master at www.channelmaster.com HAL: The Next Generation of Home Entertainment System - HAL®, the voice and gesture activated, remote control replacement that connects easily to a user’s TV, was demoed for the first-time ever at CES 2014. With HAL, users can change channels, set the DVR to record the latest episode of any show, browse the internet, stream movies, make video calls, play games and much more. With just the sound of a user’s voice or the wave a hand HAL, which stands for Human Algorithm LTE, is able to handle the following commands: Stream movies and music on Netflix and Pandora Change channels on any cable box by channel number or specific network Control the volume of the TV Set the DVR to record an upcoming show Place video and phone calls over Skype or on a cell phone Set picture-in-picture so users can answer a Skype call while watching a movie Display a user’s Facebook feed and photos Conduct internet searches Show the latest viral videos from YouTube Play Angry Birds or Fruit Ninja Dish announces streaming app for PlayStation consoles - Have a PS3 or PS4 and a Hopper. Well now there is an app that turns it into a Joey. You can even use the game controller as the remote. Dish announces wireless Joey - An 802.11ac WiFi access point is used to create a closed network. You can connect up to two set-top boxes per access point. Phorus PR5 Receiver with DTS PLAY-FI - Making its debut at the 2014 International Consumer Electronics Show, the new Phorus (a DTS subsidiary) PR5 Receiver with Play-Fi will allow you to stream high-quality audio directly from a connected smartphones, tablets or PC, wirelessly to existing audio systems over a standard home Wi-Fi network, with zero loss in music quality. Compatible with nearly all AVRs, HTiBs, soundbars, and powered speakers, Play-Fi forges a seamless connection between audio systems, mobile devices and music, creating the ultimate infrastructure within the home to play your music from any device, in as many rooms as you want to listen to it. In addition to multi-room and multi-zone streaming from any device running the Play-Fi application, the Phorus PR5 Receiver with Play-Fi also supports Bluetooth(R) AptX(R), and AAC streaming, as well as direct streaming from iTunes on OSX and Windows. STEIGER DYNAMICS Introduces MAVEN - MAVEN, the most powerful custom-built HTPC in its segment, is setting a new standard for the modern living room. Due to its sleek design, ultra-silent operation, and easy integration with other home theater components, the systems blend perfectly into any existing setup. Combined with a large-screen Full HD or 4K TV, the MAVEN replaces numerous devices like Blu-ray players, DVRs, Desktop PCs and gaming consoles. Up to 12 TB of WD storage provide the capacity for 1,000 Full HD Blu-ray movies, 3 million MP3s, or 3,000 hours of HD TV recording. The integrated home server functionality allows the streaming of the entire media library to mobile devices. All components are designed for continuous operation and are carefully selected based on durability, performance, and quietness. MSRP $999 Tivo demoed Network DVR Prototype - TiVo showed off a prototype of a network-based DVR. A network-based approach will also help cable operators and programmers manage complex content rights, enabling them to create catch-up TV services and other new tiers, and to splice targeted ads shows that are recorded in the cloud. TiVo has not announced any customers for its nDVR. Gefen Wireless HDMI Extender - The GefenTV Wireless for HDMI 60 GHz extender system sends high definition audio and video to any HDTV display up to 33 feet (10 meters). This wireless product is comprised of small table-top Sender and Receiver units. It supports resolutions up to 1080p Full HD, 3DTV, CEC, and 7.1-channels of High Bit Rate (HBR) lossless digital audio such as Dolby® TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio™. The Wireless for HDMI 60 GHz is specifically designed to transmit within a room. Its signal will not penetrate through walls, facilitating interference-free operation of multiple units in adjacent venues and close proximity. Line-of-sight placement of transceivers, however, is not necessary. Thanks to its small form-factor, high performance, and near-zero latency, this product is ideal for high-definition A/V extension within a conference room or home theater installation. Available now for $450.

Full show notes at the publisher

Podcast #616: 2014 Predictions Jan 03, 2014

Show notes

Predictions for 2014

Time for the HT Guys to look into our crystal ball and try and predict the HDTV and Home Theater landscape for 2014. Our crystal ball is never as clears as a good HDTV but we give it a shot nonetheless.

No gimmies this year since we can’t even get those right!

Ara’s Predictions:

Netflix will have at least 50 4K titles for streaming - Its not really going out on a limb predicting that Netflix will have 4K titles. They’ve said as much. Its the number that I think is the real prediction. If you have a high speed connection and a 4K TV you will have some content display. Look for Youtube to have 4K content as well.

OLED TV market share will remain insignificant - We have seen OLED TVs that have blown us away but when compared side by side with plasma or even the Elite LCDs they are not worth the huge price differential. Sure they can be extremely thin but is a ½ in too thick? Who cares if an OLED is half that size. Its a catch 22, until quantities go up price won’t go down. And since the quality differential isn’t worth the price I see no reason for quantities to go up.

Cable and Satellite providers will offer cloud based DVR services - Imagine a world where you can have unlimited storage for your DVR recording. We see cloud storage all over the place so why not with your DVR. With better compression and a downspeed of about 4 Mbps you could watch most of your programs with little quality difference. Translate, anything the wife and kids want to record goes to the cloud. All of your programming goes to the hard drive at full quality!

Aereo to win in the Supreme Court - This case has been going on for a while. The broadcasters would love to see Aereo shut down. I think this is the year that Aereo expands to new cities without the burden of lawsuits hanging around their necks.

Illegal downloads to exceed traditional broadcast viewership for top three pirated shows - Game of Thrones is already illegally downloaded more than its watched on television. Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead are still viewed more on TV than downloaded illegally.

Braden’s Predictions:

The year of 4K - Manufacturers will push 4K as the new upgrade cycle for 2014. We’ll see many, many more models and prices will come down quickly. Driven down primarily by Chinese manufacturers. 3D didn’t do it; OLED is still too far off. Queue the endless debates and hand wringing over 1080p vs 4K, just like the 720p vs 1080p of yesteryear. I may have just described a few of our shows for 2014…

Netflix will win at least one Content Award - Netflix is pushing into the original content space with a vengeance, trying to become the next online HBO. The industry will take them seriously this year and you’ll even see a Netflix show or Actor/Actress win an award. It may not be an Emmy, but maybe a People’s Choice or something else, but we’ll see Netflix get a trophy.

9 Channel Surround goes Mainstream - Most home theater receivers on the market are 7.1. The low cost, entry models are 5.1, some of the higher end units support 9.1. In 2014 we’ll see 9.1 receivers replace 7.1 as the standard and only the low cost, entry models will remain 7.1. The 5.1 receiver will be a relic. Dolby and DTS will both have native, discrete 9.1 support but it’ll take a while for it to show up in any content.

Intel and Wal-mart Shock the World - If there are any companies big enough to pull off a major disruptive change in the home theater business, its Walmart and Intel. They’re already working together with Vudu and UltraViolet, so 2014 will see them take the next step to do something really unique. It could be first run TV shows available for streaming the same time they air, or an all-you-can-eat, a la carte TV subscription, or the ability to watch first run movies at home via...

Virtual Movie Going Experience - The major studios will work in partnership with local movie theaters, to allow you to buy tickets but watch the movie in the comfort of your own home. The theater will sell the tickets, hopefully at a discount, so they share in the revenue, and everybody wins. This sets the stage to remove the theater as the middle man altogether.

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