Innovation: Green AV

Apple’s WWDC 2012: New MacBook Pros, iOS 6

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 21:18:00 +0000

This year’s WWDC was exciting, but Apple delivered few surprises. The only real surprise is that Apple did not release a totally new Mac Pro. Instead they updated them with slightly faster processors on the same 2-year-old architecture from Intel. Perhaps Apple thought this would calm their professional customers who need an update. But they have failed. The MacPro still lacks Intel’s Ivy Bridge processors, USB 3.0, and NVIDIA’s latest graphics cards. Maybe next year a new one will come.

The biggest news from WWDC is the unveiling of the new MacBook Pro with a 15” Retina Display. This display has a resolution of 2880x1800. Apple says this display has the highest pixel density of any laptop in the world. It should be sharper for everyday use and absolutely stunning for image work. In addition to the display, Apple has fitted this MacBook Pro with the latest Ivy Bridge Core i7 processors from Intel, NVIDIA graphics, more memory, and flash-based storage (no more rotating hard drive). Apple has predictably removed the optical drive from this machine. The result of this is thinness and the ability to have connectivity ports on both sides. New ports include 2 USB 3.0 ports, 2 Thunderbolt ports, and an HDMI-out. Since this blog is about audio / visual gear, Apple says this new MacBook Pro has the best speakers ever fitted to a Mac laptop.

Apple has not removed the old MacBook Pro entirely from its lineup. They left the optical drive alone for those customers who still need this. This will ease the transition to an optical drive-less world. The 17” version is gone but the 15” has been updated. These models are updated with the same quad-core Intel Core i7 processors and NVIDIA’s graphics cards as the MacBook Pro with the Retina Display.

Apple showed off some new features of iOS 6 at WWDC. The most exciting feature is the new Maps. Apple created this program and it will offer turn-by-turn directions. When iOS 6 is released, iPhones will function as a complete navigation system right out of the box.

Visit Apple.com for more information on their new products.

Apple Rumor Roundup: WWDC 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 05:50:00 +0000

Source: Macgasm

June is here and that means it is time for Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Kicking off on the 11^th of the month, Apple is set to refresh nearly its entire lineup of computer hardware at this year’s WWDC. Apple’s neglect of the Mac Pro, which has not seen an update in two years, has caused panic among the artists and professionals who use the machine. For a while, speculation was that Apple would kill off the Mac Pro line entirely. Several “Save the Mac Pro” groups sprouted up across the Internet to show Apple that buyers for its workstation still exist. The Mac Pro will likely be updated this year with the latest 6 and 8-core Xeon E5 processors from Intel.

Next up: The MacBook Pro. Rumors suggest that the MacBook Pro lineup will get a complete redesign. The current unibody design has been around since October of 2008, although it has seen updates along the way. To reduce thickness and weight, Apple is expected to deliver the redesigned MacBook Pros sans optical drive (Superdrive in Apple speak). An optical drive-less world is an inevitability considering that Apple doesn’t even ship its latest operating system in DVD format. The new MacBook Pros are also expected to have high-resolution “retina” displays like the iPhone and iPad have. I’ll wait until WWDC to get too excited about this feature, though. It would make computing more enjoyable and less strenuous on one’s eyes, but a display with nearly double the resolution of the current display is a large step.

The two remaining models in Apple’s lineup, the Mac Mini and the iMac (and also the above MacBook Pro), will be updated with Intel’s latest “Ivy Bridge” Core i processors.

The final few things that are expected at WWDC are software related. It is likely that Apple will unveil some of the features of the yet to be released iOS 6. To be included in iOS 6 is Apple’s new version of Maps. Instead of relying on Google’s maps, Apple will create its own 3d map software for the iPhone. Also likely is that Apple will demonstrate more features of the upcoming Mac OS 10.8 “Mountain Lion.” They’ve given us a preview of “Mountain Lion” before, but they will likely unveil more features at this year’s WWDC.

Be sure to catch Apple Insider’s live updates of WWDC on June 11 starting at 1:00PM eastern time.

Putting Business Plan Experts' Advice to Work

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Fri, 25 May 2012 17:22:00 +0000

Image Source: http://patriotpartnerslp.com

My last blog post covered two experts’ views on fundamental points of business plan development. As promised, this week I will discuss how I plan to implement those key points into my own business plan. Martin Zwilling says to include an executive summary. I think the executive summary might be the single most important part of a business plan. My executive summary for Green Theater’s business plan will be very well written and it will entice investors to read the rest of the plan. It will give the investor an idea of what Green Theater does and how we do it. After reading the executive summary, investors will know if we could make a good team. Martin Zwilling also says that it is important to make sure that your business plan actually has a plan. Since Green Theater is a service based company, I will not have to worry about my plan becoming a glorified specification sheet. My plan will clearly lay out how we will make money and when operations will start. Investors will be happy to see this.

I also researched Mark Cuban for my last post. The fundamental points that Mark Cuban looks for in a business plan are the need for the product or service in society and if there is a market for that product or service. My business plan will show investors that now, more than ever, there is a need and a market for Green Theater’s services. Electronics have become inexpensive enough that everyone wants some audio / visual equipment integrated into their home. Also, being green is of utmost importance in today’s society. Green Theater will offer a green solution to customers looking to integrate electronics into their home. Mark Cuban also looks at the business plan to determine if it has potential for growth. Green Theater’s business plan will show that the potential for growth is huge.

Researching experts in the field of business plan development has taught me some key points that every business plan needs to have.

Sources:

http://bpexpertviews.blogspot.com/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/martinzwilling/2011/02/04/ten-top-investor-turnoffs-around-business-plans/

Business Plan Experts: Key Points to Pitching to Investors

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Tue, 01 May 2012 23:33:00 +0000

Image Source: jeremycwilson.com

This week’s post will take a look at experts in the field of business plan development. The first person is Martin Zwilling, founder and CEO of Startup Professionals. Martin Zwilling has three decades worth of experience in marketing and management. Now he mentors entrepreneurs and he is an Angel investor. Over his years studying and writing business plans, he learned that there are two basic things that could make or break you while presenting to an investor. The first is to make sure your business plan has an Executive Summary. The Executive Summary gives an investor the overall picture of a business plan. Without one, an investor may not even look at the rest of your plan. The second thing that Zwilling learned is to make sure that your business plan actually has a plan. Investors need to see exactly how you plan to make money and when you’ll start producing or servicing. Too much detail about product specifications without telling investors how you’ll make money will cause investors to run away.

The second person is Mark Cuban. Mark Cuban is a billionaire Internet entrepreneur, investor, and the owner of the Dallas Mavericks. Watching him on “Shark Tank” gives viewers a pretty good idea of what he looks for in an investment opportunity. He looks to see if the focus of the business plan has a need in society and then if there is a market for it. He will also look at how the person who is seeking money has handled money in the past and how financially stable their current business is. Cuban will determine whether the business plan has the potential for growth. After all of these things, Cuban will determine what his investment money and his skills as an Internet entrepreneur could do for the company. All of these key things help Cuban decide if he and the business owner and plan would make a good fit.

Stay tuned to Innovation: Green AV to see how these key points could help me shape my business plan for Green Theater.

Pandora Comes to Crestron's Home Automation Systems

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 01:13:00 +0000

Image Source: Gizmodo

For decades, Crestron has been innovating in the world of home automation. Their easy to use and attractive in-wall touch panels can control nearly every electronic aspect of one’s home: audio, video, lighting, heating and air conditioning, window shades, and security systems. Pandora offers perhaps the best solution to Internet radio. And until earlier this week, Pandora could not be used on Crestron home automation systems. Click past the jump to see how Pandora has been implemented into Crestron’s systems.

Crestron’s home automation systems use an Internet RadioTuner Card to connect to Internet radio stations. This tuner card now supports Pandora’s one-of-a-kind music listening experience. As someone who enjoys Pandora every day, this is a big deal. Instead of plugging in an external device to listen to Pandora, just update the firmware on your Crestron device. Users will have full access to Pandora from every room in the house.

Simply walk up to a touch panel or use a remote to control every aspect of Pandora. Just peek at the remote to see what is playing. Use the thumbs up and thumbs down gestures to customize your stations just as you would on a computer. You can type in the name of your favorite artist, save it as a station, and play that station around the house.

Crestron’s home automation systems offer customers a nice little Easter egg to make their experience just a little bit better. Instead of being tied to controlling the system from the Creston touch panels and remotes, the entire system can be controlled using a smart phone or a tablet. That means that you can pull your iPhone out of your pocket and change the song playing throughout the house, from anywhere in the house. Bringing Pandora into Crestron’s systems makes the whole thing sweeter.

Geothermal Energy

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 02:15:00 +0000

This week I am going to talk about a power source that many do not know about. While solar and wind energy are popular choices in the world of alternative energy, geothermal energy comes from beneath Earth’s surface. Liquid-hot magma provides a continuous source of heat below Earth’s crust. Amazingly, there is 50,000 times more energy in just the first 10,000 feet beneath Earth’s surface than all of our oil and natural gas combined. So, how do we harness this heat energy? Click past the jump to find out.

The most common method that we have to extract this marvelous resource is by a naturally occurring process called “hydrothermal convection.” Cool water trickles down through the Earth’s crust, gets heated up, and then it rises up to the surface. Then the steam is captured and it is used to drive generators. In the simplest form of electricity generation, steam travels directly into the turbine, which then turns the generator. Then it travels through a condenser where the steam condenses back into its liquid form. The water then is injected back into the ground. This is free energy that doesn’t pollute!

The magnificent heat source can be used for more than just generating energy. Since it tends to maintain the same temperature year round, depending on location, it is used commonly in the United States to heat and cool building. Ground-source heat pumps circulate air or antifreeze liquid through pipes buried in the ground between the ground and the building. To cool a building, the pump moves warm liquid from the building into the ground. To heat a building, the pump moves warm liquid from the ground into the building.

These heat pumps can save homeowners hundreds of dollars per year in heating and cooling costs, especially in areas that face extreme temperatures. Geothermal heating and energy is definitely something to think about when constructing a new home. The cost savings are enormous and damage to the environment is minimal.

Ford Focus Electric

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 22:36:00 +0000

The new Ford Focus hatchback is an absolutely beautiful small car. The Focus line is about to become even more attractive with the addition of the Focus Electric. Completely replacing gasoline and an internal combustion engine found in normal Focuses (Foci), batteries and electric motors do all the propelling.

The Focus Electric just received the highest ever EPA rating for fuel efficiency at 105 miles per gallon equivalent on the combined city and highway cycle. Miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) is the most recent attempt by the EPA to give consumers an accurate portrayal of how efficient electric cars are compared to their gasoline powered counterparts. The EPA rated it at 110 MPGe in the city and 99 MPGe on the highway. The Focus Electric’s range is stated to be 76 miles. However, Ford claims that with careful driving the range can be pushed to nearly 100 miles per charge.

These numbers trump the numbers achieved by the Nissan Leaf and the Chevrolet Volt in all electric mode. The Nissan Leaf was able to achieve 99 MPGe combined and its range is 73 miles. The Chevy Volt was able to achieve 93 MPGe combined, but its range in all electric mode is just 35 miles.

Now, let’s talk prices. The Focus Electric and the Chevy Volt both cost just under $40,000. The base price of a Nissan Leaf is $35,200. The good news is that all of these cars are eligible for a $7,500 dollar tax credit. That makes the actual cost of owning one of these vehicles considerably less than the advertised prices.

So, which is the best choice?

Focus Electric

Pros: Looks like a normal Focus, highest MPGe rating, American company, most practical shape and body style.

Cons: Highest price (tie), Looks like a normal focus (may not shout “I’m Green!” enough for some people), limited range

Leaf

Pros: Lowest Price, Shouts “I’m Green!”

Cons: Limited range, Japanese company, Shouts “I’m Green!”

Volt

Pros: Unlimited range due to range extending gas engine, American company

Cons: Highest Price (tie), 35 miles of electric only range

If you can only afford to have one car, the Chevy Volt is probably the car for you since it won’t stop dead when its batteries deplete. If you can afford to have a second car for long trips or you don’t mind renting a car on occasion, the Ford Focus Electric is an excellent choice. American car companies are stepping up their Green game.

Solar Battery Charger For Your Gadgets? Let's Try Air.

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 22:30:00 +0000

Source: Inhabitat.com

Scientists always look for ways to make charging your portable electronic devices more efficient. We’ve seen iPhone cases with built-in solar battery chargers. But this new concept called the Aire Mask, seen on CNET and several other tech blogs, takes strange alternative energy to a whole new level. Inspired by wind turbine technology, Joao Paulo Lammoglia created this device that creates power by air movement. And we’re not talking about wind here. We’re talking about your own breathing. That’s right: you attach this thing to your face and your breath spins tiny wind turbines in the mask that convert your breathing into renewable electricity.

Now, this all sounds fine and dandy so far. It is essentially free energy except for the initial cost of the device. But, just look at it. Look really closely. Would anyone be caught dead wearing that mask in public? I do not think so, for you might just end up dead when people think that Hannibal Lector is approaching them from behind. It is just scary and hideous looking. This mask will only see the light of day in the confines of one’s own home.

The idea is cool, I must admit. But, no one will ever buy the Aire Mask. I would much rather just plug my iPhone into the wall or into one of hundreds of USB ports I have around my apartment. Charging an iPhone just does not consume nearly enough electricity to warrant subjecting yourself to this kind of treatment.

EMI Presentation at Full Sail University

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:08:00 +0000

Nelson, Dion, and I at the EMI Presentation

Bridget Unger and Joya Nemley from EMI offered the students at Full Sail University an opportunity to learn about what it takes to work for a company like EMI. To sum up the presentation, getting a job similar to Bridget's comes down to one's connections, luck, and interview skills.

Product Development: The steps involved to make something great.

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:58:00 +0000

This post takes a turn from my usual green audio / visual ideas. I will be discussing product development from the initial sketch to the final product. I will use the automotive world as an example. However, most of these steps are involved in creating any product; even electronics.

It all starts with an idea. It’s an artist’s job to translate his vision of a product onto paper. This is the initial sketch. The image to the left is a sketch of the Cadillac CTS Coupe before production. If the sketch intrigues the right people on the development team, a clay model will be crafted. Clay models allow the designers to get all the creases and curves just right. What once was just an idea is now a full size model.

Now it’s time to create a rolling concept car to display at auto shows. Concept cars create buzz for automakers and they get people excited about future products. I can break concept cars down into two categories: one is a radical design project that will offer hints at the future design language of the entire brand and the other is a design that will closely resemble a specific future production vehicle.

The concept phase of a vehicle is the time that engineers at the auto manufacturer really work their magic. While the concept is in the public eye at auto shows, the engineers are spending millions of dollars in research and development to ensure that the vehicle will be perfect when it is time to put it into production. They work on the aerodynamics, the electronics, and the interior materials. When the vehicle is nearing production, crash testing takes place to ensure safety. Years after the initial sketch, the vehicle is ready to be sold. The picture to the right shows the final production version of the Cadillac CTS Coupe.

Home Building Trends Affecting the AV Integration Industry

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 02:29:00 +0000

This week’s post is about how the housing market affects the audio / visual integration business. When the economy suffers, less new homes are built. When less new homes are built, less potential clients are available to residential audio / visual systems integrators. When the economy is strong, about 1 million new homes start construction per year in America. In 2010, construction began on only 587,600 new homes. In 2005, almost 2 million houses were built. 2 million to 587,600 is a drastic drop over five years. That means that there were only about a quarter the number of prospective new home construction clients for audio / visual integrators in 2010 (Crutsinger, 2011). That cannot possibly be good for the industry, but perhaps there is a solution.

Permits filed to initiate construction on existing homes has gone up 24 percent over the past year. Instead of trying to purchase a new home, people are resorting to remodeling (BuildFax remodeling, 2011). Enter the audio / visual systems integrator. As people make significant upgrades to their existing houses, they will likely want to add some new electronics to it. Retrofitting electronics and structured wiring into existing buildings has become a good source of income for some companies. Having to work around an existing structure instead of designing the building and the system together is one downside to this approach. But it can be done. One of the benefits to the integrator is that the project can be completed more quickly. Typical new construction projects can take over a year to complete, while a retrofit may only take six weeks. Potentially, an integrator could make the same amount of money on a project that lasts six weeks or a new construction build that takes two years (LeBlanc, 2007). So, in a time when less new homes are built, audio / visual integrators can rely on retrofitted installations to supply their income.

BuildFax remodeling index. (2011, September 19). Retrieved from http://www.buildfax.com/public/remodeling/index.html

Crutsinger, Martin. (2011, January 20). Few homes built in 2010. Retrieved from http://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Few-homes-built-in-2010-966993.php

LeBlanc, Tom. (2007, October 25). Houston audio video and custom integration services. Retrieved from http://www.cepro.com/article/houston_audio_video_and_custom_integration_design_services_retrofit_as_a_fi/K291

Alternative Energy Sources

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 03:08:00 +0000

We live in a world that is fueled by fossil fuel and organic compounds found in the Earth. Oil and coal are non-renewable resources that are quickly approaching an end. Our daily lives rely so heavily on these things that it will take drastic changes to end non-renewable resource use. There are a couple renewable options available for homeowners today to reduce their carbon footprint: they are solar panels and wind turbines. The reason that every home is not equipped with either of these technologies is because of their high initial cost. Both will save people money in the long run, but the cost of entry is steep. So, which is better? It all depends on the application and where you live.

Solar panels require light from the sun to generate power. They work best in areas of the world that receive the most sunlight. Solar panels are only about 10-15% efficient on average. This means that only 10-15% of the sun’s energy is converted into electricity. It may take an entire roof full of panels to generate a home’s electricity needs. Again, they cost a lot initially, but they could cover an entire houses energy needs.

Wind turbines require wind to generate power. This requires placement in an area that is naturally windy. The propellers or the turbine turns a generator that converts kinetic energy into electricity. Wind is free but there are problems with this approach. Sometimes the most wind occurs at altitudes higher than one hundred feet above ground, so they must be mounted that high up. Some call this an eyesore, but I call it progress. Also, they are known to kill birds. The likelihood that the mass-murder of birds will happen due to wind turbines is extremely small.

I can’t wait for the day when every house has solar panels on it’s roof and every neighborhood has a wind turbine. The way to save our planet is to get off coal and fossil fuels. Solar panels and wind turbines can help us do that.

Steve Jobs' TED Speech

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:19:00 +0000

This week’s post is about Steve Jobs and his speech at Stanford University. Perhaps the rest of the class will chose to write about this TED speech as well, but the products Apple made under Steve Jobs’ leadership directly affect the residential audio / visual integration business. The man talks about how he overcame being adopted, dropping out of college, and having cancer.

Jobs was adopted by a working class couple who promised his biological mother that he would go to college. Steve Jobs did go to college. But, the cost made Jobs think it wasn’t worth it after six months. So he dropped out. No longer bound to taking the required classes, Jobs sat in on some of the college’s calligraphy classes. He implemented this knowledge of calligraphy into the Macintosh. “It was the first computer with beautiful typography,” Jobs said. He says, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward. You can only connect them looking backwards. So, you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.” That trust will give you the confidence to keep going even when things look bad.

Jobs was fired from Apple just after the release of the Macintosh. He and a new employee didn’t share the same vision for the company so Jobs was let go. He was devastated. He realized that he still loved doing what he did. After being fired from Apple, he started the companies Next and Pixar over the next few years. Apple acquired Next and Steve Jobs begin working with Apple again. Jobs said, “The only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love.”

Steve Jobs came down with pancreatic cancer. Doctors were able to cure him of pancreatic cancer. But, as we know, his health continued to decline until he died this year.

The story of Steve Jobs is an excellent story of overcoming adversity. So many bricks were thrown at his head and he kept plowing through them until his final breath. So many of Apple’s products are used in the residential AV integration business today. iPods, iPads, and Mac Minis are at he heart of a good portion of modern installations. Without Steve Jobs at the helm of Apple, it is possible that these things wouldn’t be as successful as they are. He proved that no matter what hand you’re dealt in life you can still play the game and come out on top. You must do what you love and you will produce great work.

CEDIA: The Association for the Best Residential Electronics Systems Integrators

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 18:11:00 +0000

CEDIA (Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association) is the industry association for audio and video integrators. CEDIA is based in Indianapolis, Indiana and it offers certification, standardization, and network opportunities to its members. There are about 3,500 CEDIA companies around the world. Jump past the break to learn more about what CEDIA does for the industry and what it could do for a business.

Every year, CEDIA hosts an expo to show off the industry’s latest products and installation companies. Everything from home security, to home automation, to home theater is covered at the show. It is a tradeshow for those looking to pick up new products for their companies. Also, it offers new strategies to help technology integration companies succeed in an ever-competitive business environment. It gives businesses a chance to see where to industry is going so they can choose the best path. The CEDIA EXPO offers the highest quality tradeshow in the industry. Benefits to the exhibitors include spreading word of new products and testing the waters for unreleased products.

CEDIA provides certification to those who measure up to the test. Having a certification proves to clients that you know what you are doing. It gives you and your company an edge over competitors. The numerous certifications offered by CEDIA set bars for knowledge and ability. CEDIA offers certifications for those who have entry-level experience and those who have more advanced experience. Listing myself as CEDIA Certified could help my career greatly. My local business front could have a CEDIA Certified sticker in the window to attract local customers. If my business were to become a member of CEDIA, it would be listed CEDIA’s directory. Anyone looking through that directory for a quality residential systems integrator could see my business information. Exposure in a trusted source like that would do wonders for my business. CEDIA does a good thing for the industry. It brings quality businesses together so consumers can choose the company that’s right for them.

Audio for Green Rides

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:46:00 +0000

Get ready for an Innovation special. This week’s post will shift its focus away from the green home audio / visual world and into the automotive world. But, don’t worry; this post will still be very green and there might even be a touch of audio. Manufacturers of new energy efficient vehicles do everything they can to squeeze out every last mile of range possible. Improving aerodynamics and reducing weight usually accomplishes this. Hybrid cars that use both a gas engine and electric motors to power the wheels can manage good gas mileage and performance just by improving those two things. However, vehicles powered solely by electric motors (or they have a gas engine whose sole function is to charge the batteries; the electric motors only power the wheels to propel the car forward) need more than just low weight and good aerodynamics; they need to have energy efficient electronics and low drag auxiliary components (the air conditioning compressor is usually powered by an electric motor instead of the engine).

The Chevy Volt is an electric car that has a gasoline engine to charge its batteries when necessary. It’s capable of traveling up to 40 miles without the gas engine starting up. This means that an audio system that both conserves energy and sounds good is necessary. General Motors knew just who to call. Long time partner Bose provides the audio systems for a good portion of GM’s cars. Bose knew just how to design an audio system for the Volt. They created the Energy Efficient Series. Starting with proprietary speaker components, the speakers in the Volt are 40% lighter than comparable speakers. The amplifier that Bose designed for the system uses 50% less power than comparable systems. This is possible because the speakers require less power to drive them to high volumes. So, it’s possible to create a sound system that produces decent audio quality while conserving energy and weighing less. The Chevy Volt pushes the energy efficiency limit.

Mac Mini: Home Theater PC Redefined

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:22:00 +0000

Home theater PCs have become a popular thing in the last few years. The ability to download and stream media right to a TV is something that I can’t live without. Netflix, Hulu, and Youtube make it easy to live without physical media. Most people don’t want a giant computer tower cluttering up their home theater. The solution to this is the Mac Mini. The Mac Mini might be the best choice for a home theater PC to date. Not only is it compact and powerful, it is green.

The Mac Mini is an all around green machine. It uses only a fraction of the energy that a typical PC uses. A typical desktop PC can use up to around 200 watts; the most power a Mac Mini will ever draw is 85 watts. That’s an energy savings of 57.5 percent. At idle, the Mac Mini only uses 13 watts. Mac OS X’s power management schemes work with the Mac Mini’s hardware to conserve as much power as possible. Mac Mini’s greenness doesn’t just have to do with energy efficiency; it’s built with recyclable materials. Its enclosure is milled from a single piece of aluminum. The Mac Mini’s size means that considerably less aluminum goes into making it compared to a PC of average size.

Let’s talk about the Mac Mini’s powerful hardware. Intel’s new line of processors balances extreme performance with energy efficiency. The Mac Mini can be optioned with the Intel Core i7, which is the most powerful consumer processor at this time. It runs at 2.7GHz most of the time. But when more power is needed, Turbo Boost kicks in and pushes the clock speed up to 3.4GHz. For graphics performance, the Mac Mini relies on AMD’s Radeon HD discrete graphics card. The Mac Mini, despite being tiny, is no slouch. It has plenty of power to play the latest 1080p high definition videos. It is the perfect home theater PC.

LED Backlit LCDs

noreply@blogger.com (Jon) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 04:43:00 +0000

Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) have been around for many years now. For an image to be visible in low light levels, LCD panels require light to pass through them from behind. This is called a backlight. Conventional LCDs use cold cathode fluorescent tubes (CCFL) as their light source. Today, the most common way to backlight an LCD is by using light emitting diodes (LEDs). They present several advantages over CCFL tubes from power efficiency to improved contrast and colors.

LED backlit LCD TVs consume considerably less power than similarly sized plasma and CCFL backlit LCD TVs. Plasma displays do not have a backlight like LCDs do. Each pixel in a plasma display is its own light source. So, the higher the plasma display’s resolution, the more power it consumes. LCD power consumption does not depend on resolution as much as plasma displays do. It is more dependent upon size. LED backlit LCD displays use an array of LEDs to supply the light. The number of light sources is significantly less than a plasma display. As of April 21, 2010, the average power consumption for plasma TVs was 301 watts. The average power consumption for CCFL LCD TVs was 111 watts. For LED backlit LCD TVs, the average power consumption was 101 watts.

Another advantage that LED backlit LCD TVs pose over CCFL LCD TVs is their improved contrast. Contrast is the difference between the darkest blacks and the lightest whites. The improvement comes from the way the LEDs sit behind the LCD panel. The LEDs can be arranged in a grid, covering the back of the entire panel. A feature called Local Dimming allows each LED to be turned on and off independently. So in dark areas of a scene, the LEDs are turned off behind those areas and the blacks are blacker. In light areas of a scene, the LEDs can be brightened. Local Dimming can also save power.

LED backlit LCDs are the greenest TV choice at the moment.

Source: http://reviews.cnet.com/green-tech/tv-power-efficiency/