CE Pro Slideshow Stories

System 7: A Floor Plan For Success

2007-10-04T13:41:00-05:00

One of the keys to running a successful business, according to Gerard Lynch, “is to look at the big picture from the outside.”

The Musical Side of the Custom Installation Industry

2007-08-29T13:14:00-05:00

For many custom installers, the day job is as much fun as it is work. After all, the work is an extension of their love and passion for music.

40 In-wall and In-Ceiling Loudspeakers

2007-08-24T13:02:00-05:00

With the growth of home theater, multiroom A/V and home networks, consumers are increasingly desiring high-quality audio.

5 Ways to Improve Your Tradeshow Booth

2007-07-13T11:16:00-05:00

The decision to take a booth at a show is a tough one — shipping components, setting them up and taking employees off “real” jobs. Is it worth it? We spoke to five integrators who say ‘yes,’ if the audience includes builders, architects and designers.

Panamax and Furman Combo: One Year Later

2007-07-02T19:58:00-05:00

One company with two brands, offering a mix of professional products and consumer electronics products.

9 Highly Effective Business Cards

2007-06-13T14:07:01-05:00

Business cards are so ubiquitous in the custom electronics industry—and every industry—that they run the risk of becoming afterthoughts. Smart businesspeople, however, know better than to let that happen.

Dubai’s Hometech Expo Reveals Big Potential for CE in the Middle East

2007-05-17T14:10:00-05:00

For the first CEA-sponsored Hometech Middle East expo, industry leaders traveled to Dubai to explore the region that CEA’s Gary Shapiro calls “a region you simply can’t afford to ignore.”

Fire Destroys Integrator’s Home: The Lessons Learned

2007-05-08T14:22:00-05:00

CE Pro contributor Derek Flickinger and his family are fine, thankfully, but they lost most of their worldy possessions. From the experience, Derek offers advice on content storage, power strip placement, insurance and more. Could integrators possibly offer safety-audit services?

How the 64-Bit Computing Revolution Affects You

2007-05-07T13:42:00-05:00

At a minimum, 64-bit computing promises buckets and buckets more RAM than its 32-bit predecessor, whose standards were set in the 1960s and seventies, back when four gigs of RAM must have seemed like an astronomical amount.

HAI First to Integrate with Vizia RF Lighting, Adds Snaplink for Audio

2007-05-07T12:43:00-05:00

HAI appears to be the first manufacturer to exploit fully the two-way capabilities of the Z-Wave wireless control protocol. From an HAI controller, users can control Leviton’s Vizia RF lighting, and receive feedback on HAI (or HomeLogic) displays.

Color Kinetics Brings Rich LED Lighting to the Mainstream

2007-05-02T14:20:00-05:00

For home systems integrators, LED-based systems are notoriously difficult to control and dim. Color Kinetics is working to position its products for simple, effective integration with third-party controllers.

Onkyo Unveils New Receivers, Healthy Numbers at Line Show

2007-05-02T13:30:00-05:00

Onkyo put on a display of its new line of A/V components that pack so many features that the price points seem like misprints. The company also revealed some strong marketshare and sales numbers.

ADT’s Custom Home Program Makes Sense

2007-05-01T10:09:00-05:00

The mass-market security provider, best known for cranking out one free installation after another (they’re not so free anymore), has a smart strategy for increasing the total ticket on its residential installations.

Linux-based Rosie Home Control, Audio System Offers Open Architecture

2007-04-30T17:13:00-05:00

The modular system will include whole-house control, a media server with client, touchpanels and a plasma. The system will be linked with Apple’s iTunes and a private Savant concierge Web service that will offer integrators a recurring revenue stream from downloads and other services.

Consumers, Manufacturers Increase Focus on Good-Looking Products

2007-04-30T14:23:00-05:00

With the profile of today’s electronics consumer shifting from enthusiasts to “best-in-class,” the way a product looks is as important as the way it performs.