Archive

Almost anyone who works with data files--program code, drawings or manuals--needs version control.

More complex home theaters are adding more BTUs to the contemporary residence, increasing the need to better regulate rising temperatures in A/V component racks.

Find out how Connecticut-based Phoenix Systems has risen to prominence by fusing its custom installation expertise with the efforts of architects and production homebuilders.

It is critical that custom installation firms charge a fee for its system designs. The logical point to charge design service fees, however, is...

AMX's Modero touchpanel line, which won CEDIA' best user interface award, is an exemplar effort to put a much needed solution in the hands...

The miracle of good entertainment is that it appears to be effortless, even when every single detail on screen or in a song has...

In the 1970s sitcom "All in the Family," protagonist Archie Bunker blew raspberries at newscaster Walter Cronkite from an old, beat-up easy chair that...

With home theater owners demanding high-level performance out of their systems more than ever, those working in small-room acoustics are increasingly finding themselves in...

Even the most seasoned custom integrator admits that the concept of whole-house lighting control may seem abstract. Presenting the potential of dimmers, scenes and...

AVAD, the specialized network of distributors, is will unveil a new program called D2B (Dealer to Builder) at CEDIA EXPO 2003 in September. Having...

Fair lawn, NJ--Control Concepts' Graphic Elements is a touch panel software package that allows AMX and Crestron dealers or programmers to create touch panel...

Tried and true marketing tactics like advertising or direct mailing seem to suit most custom systems dealers just fine, though, occasionally an unorthodox approach...

Not very long ago, the idea of a 3D movie would conjure up memories of that 1950s photograph showing a theater full of people...

Architects are an integral part of our work, and the architectural community probably has more influence on the success of our industry than any...

These days, it's likely anyone shopping for electronics has at least seen a surge protector and has been told they ought to unplug their...

Question: I'm thinking about expanding my A/V integration business into the production home market. Do you have any advice for me?

The importance of acoustics is commonly understood in the professional recording and sound reinforcement fields, but is really only recently commonly being considered as...

Writing good programming code is essential for a project's ultimate success, as anyone in this industry will tell you. What people may not say...

On the hit reality TV series The Osbournes, rock 'n' roll icon Ozzy Osbourne's clumsiness when operating his home entertainment control system can be...

I just returned from the 2003 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, only to be asked, as usual, "What new and exciting things...

This year's CES was, as always, a little overwhelming and there is much to report.

A recent study conducted by the University of California at Davis called upon 25 allergy sufferers to participate in a six-month experiment. Their mission?...

Have you ever wished you could get back an older version of a file you had been working on? You know, maybe you want...

Frank Lloyd Wright is the one name that is synonymous with innovative 20th Century American residential architectural design. And, if there is one name...

As the delivery of content migrates from physical media such as CDs and DVDs to digital distribution, the competition among manufacturers of whole-house entertainment...

In this season of migration, custom integrators are observing movement of their own. In a growing trend, more firms are designing state-of-the-art residential systems...

While homeowners may be attracted to the convenience that today's home management systems are said offer, if the technology is too complicated to operate,...

Multi-source/multi-zone audio distribution allows homeowners to listen to different sources in numerous areas, or zones, throughout the home. Here is a roundup of some...

According to the National Multi House in Council (NMHC) in Washington, D.C., one in five Americans are living in an apartment, providing custom installation...

When Brad Smith decided that the time was right for his company, Audio Video Design, to build a new design center where he could...

Every Broadway spectacle is a magic trick of sorts; audiences marvel at the elaborate costumes and opulent sets, while the hustle of production goes...

This year's CEDIA EXPO will celebrate its 13th year of success with enhanced program offerings and a new venue.

It was during the construction of his dream home that John Geiwitz decided to launch a manufacturing firm that focused on residential technology.

The hallmark of most noteworthy custom installation projects is the control system, which often includes a custom-programmed touchpanel at its heart. The InfoComm trade...

In the competitive world of speaker manufacturing, it's difficult for companies to set themselves apart from the competition. Sonance has managed to do so...

The audio business is littered with the remnants of gadgets designed to somehow improve the quality of sound without affecting the quality of the...

Custom installers often like to joke about W.A.F.--the "Wife Acceptance Factor." W.A.F. comes into play when the "lady of the house" feels that the...

After the electronics, perhaps the foremost consideration in a home theater is the seating. It could be argued that unless you're offering your clients...

During the first meeting for a recent residential integration project, Louis Gelb, president and CEO of the custom integration firm, Media Control Technologies, met...

To the executives at Xantech Corp., multi-room control should consider not only audio distribution, but video distribution, too. The company recently addressed these and...

Chances are, you have fallen victim to manufacturer hype at least once during your business--or even personal--life. Maybe a product that was supposed to...

It's been 16 months, four days and 12 hours since your customer signed on the dotted line. Before we jump ahead, let's move back...