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What Do Your Customers Say About You?
To see ourselves as others see us; that would be quite a gift, no? Robert Burns expressed that sentiment more than 200 years ago...
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Why I Segment Home Technology Customers into Three Types
At my custom integration company, we’ve segmented our market into different categories: Pays For Service (self explanatory), DIY (Do It Yourselfer), Free Stuff (thinks...
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Crossing Over into Commercial Integration
The demand for high-end residential integration is about as strong as it ever has been. Still, it can never hurt to take a look...
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Four Tips for Creating Websites to be Used as Marketing Tools
An effective web presence has evolved to become the central crucial element in the process of marketing your tech business. But the truth is,...
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Residential Systems Online Index June 2015
TEASERS Ultra HD Blu-ray Makes Another Advance Denon Expands Heos Wireless-Multiroom Lineup Crestron and Savant Unveil Apple Watch Apps BLOGBITS CEDIA Business Xchange: Learning...
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Work It! A Running Playlist to Get You Through Your Day
Life and business can be compared to a marathon, not a sprint, and it’s important to stay healthy so we can be there for...
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Residential Systems Online Index April 2015
TEASERS SupplyStream Improves Product Search, Adding API for Partners Beale Street Audio Expands Internationally with Distributor Acquistion Control4 Rolls Out New Associate Installer Certification...
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PNWCEE Wows the Pacific Northwest
Close to 400 people attended the third annual Pacific North West Consumer Electronics Expo 2015 (PNWCEE) in Bellevue, WA in April.
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Panamax Ships New Sm3-Pro System Manager
Panamax has begun delivering the new BlueBOLT-enabled SM3-Pro System Manager.
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Screen Innovations Introduces Short Throw Projection Screen, Partners with Sony
Screen Innovations has introduced a new short throw projection screen and partnered with Sony to distribute its new screens with the company's projectors.
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Luxul Introduces PoE Switches for IP Video Surveillance
Luxul has added two new PoE switches that are purpose built for professional installers of IP video solutions.
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Memories of Spira
Today, we as a community mourn the loss of one of our industry's great innovators and visionaries. With the passing of Dr. Joel Spira,...
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Samsung Launches New SUHD Line of TVs at Spring into Color Event
“There’s nothing more emblematic of evolution than the eye,” proclaimed the introductory voiceover at the Samsung Spring into Color event on April 2 in...
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Bill Anderson: A Story of a Friendship and Community
Bill Anderson was one of those guys who stepped forward as a leader. What he and others brought to this young group of misfits...
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Residential Systems Online Index March 2015
TEASERS Stewart Previews LuminEsse Screen at ISE 2015 Fusion Provides 2-Way IP Drivers for Amazon Fire TV AudioScience Hono AVB Mini is AVnu Certified...
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Lessons Learned from an Outdoor Pool Area Audio Calibration
Our client eventually wanted more. He wanted to “blanket” the pool area with sound in addition to being able to crank it up even...
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5 Keys to Profiting from 4K Now
Prices for 4K displays are dropping and custom demand is increasing. Custom installers who proactively drive this new technology to their customers could reap...
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Residential Systems Online Index February 2015
TEASERS Spreaker Now Available on Sonos Luxul Extends Warranty to Three Years BLOGBITS Eureka! I Found the Internet of Things Five Ways to Ensure...
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Should You Make the Jump from Cat-5e to Cat-6?
That’s the most common question I’m asked when I help integrators with their network issues.
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The Custom Install Application for Microsoft’s Project HoloLens
Before you dismiss Microsoft’s Project HoloLens as an even lamer Google Glass (I mean, come on, it’s Microsoft!) consider the potential of an application...
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Cat-6 and Cat-6a vs. Fiber
It is important to accept that not all fiber is the same, just like not all twisted pairs are the same.
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What Standards Do You Follow?
To be more professional, competitive, and successful, it is imperative that you understand and utilize the standards that exist for the type of work...
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How Many Band-Aids Will 4K Require?
4K Ultra HD means new display sales and everything that goes along with it in the custom world. Do you know the questions to...
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5 Ways Your Business Suffers without Recurring Revenue
Regarding recurring revenue, time is your enemy and speed is your friend. Here are five ways your business is suffering if you fail to...
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Residential Systems Online Index January 2015
TEASERSOrigin Acoustics Shipping Ahead of ScheduleAutonomic Adds Lossless Streaming ServiceSpeakerCraft Ships Whole-Home ControllerBLOGBITSMy Real-World Dolby Atmos InstallationParadigm Prestige Is a New Recipe for Audio...
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Residential Systems Online Index December 2014
TEASERSQMotion Patents Its Motorized Shade Designs Platinum Tools Moves to a Larger FacilityPakedge Adds Second Firmware UpdateBLOGBITSThe Soul-Crushing Defeat of Horrendous Tech SupportSitting Down...
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Residential Systems Online Index November 2014
TEASERS Summit Semiconductor is Multi-Zone WiSA Compliant WAVE Offers Rebate for Security Dealers ADI Releases 2014 AV Solutions Catalog BLOGBITS Are Apps Squeezing Programmers...
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Reach Higher Value Shoppers with Google’s RLSAs
Enhanced AdWords Campaigns. Hummingbird. Conversational Search. There’s been no shortage of big headlines coming out of the Mountain View search giant in the last...
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How Azione Unlimited is Making it Easier to Do Business Together
I was particularly struck by just how much business was conducted at the Azione Unlimited Fall Conference—manufacturers that signed multiple new dealers and dealers...
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The Imperfect Science of Network Speed Testing
There is no perfect way to test the speed of a network, but the popular are speedtest.net by Ookla and speedof.me for HTML5. To...
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Sonos Studio NYC Brings a Hip Image to Hi-Fi
I personally never really expected Sonos to care much about the CI channel, but evidently, I was wrong. The wireless audio innovator clearly sees...
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Residential Systems August 2014 Online Index
TEASERS CES Taps Samsung CEO for 2015 Keynote CASE AV Partners with Brent Howard for Speaker Line Savant Intros Personalized Single App Home TWICE...
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CEDIA 2014: All of the Lights
This year marked the shift toward laser as a dominant new technology.
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CEDIA 2014: All The Outdoor Audio That’s Fit to Print
The vast majority of outdoor speakers at this year’s show are practically indistinguishable from one another. It makes sense, I suppose; there are only...
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CEDIA 2014: Bright Lights, Control City
The lighting control market, as well as the lighting industry as a whole, continues to evolve and no where is this more evident then...
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How CEDIA Exhibitors Can Learn from Apple’s Show & Tell
One of the things that has helped Apple rise to the heights of success since its first iPod release is its ability to put...
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Four Products That Know How to KISS
You’ve likely heard the acronym KISS before, as in “Keep It Simple, Stupid.” It means, when faced with a problem or when coming up...
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Residential Systems September 2014 Online Index
TEASERS RTI Ships RK+ Keypad MartinLogan Adds Motion Series Kwikset Upgrade Offers Unlimited Guest eKeys BLOGBITS Wrapping My Ears Around Dolby Atmos for the...
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Cake Boss to Celebrate ELAN’s 25th at CEDIA 2014
Buddy Valastro is no stranger to ELAN. An ELAN g! System manages every part of Buddy’s life at home and at work, helping his...
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SVS and ProSource Aim to Boost Subwoofer Sales
SVS and ProSource have teamed up to energize subwoofer sales for independent retailers. SVS will be the latest brand available to the ProSource group's...
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TDG Uses SpringDeck to Aid Sales Process
The company will equip every one of their dealers, sales reps, and partners with new SpringDeck software to improve product presentations and increase profitability.
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AMX Makes Splash with Playhouse to Support CASA Charity
As part of the 2014 Parade of Playhouses charity event in Dallas, TX, HARMAN’s AMX installed their "Seas the Day" playhouse. The event aims...