Connected Design

In a thought-provoking session at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF), Pam McNally, the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Digital for the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), shed light on the evolving demands of the younger generation and the growing importance of sustainability in design and lifestyle choices. One of the key aspects that millennials seek is convenience without compromising sustainability. “They don’t want to have to walk outside the kitchen,” McNally explained. She praised the innovative idea of incorporating sustainable features into kitchen sinks, allowing individuals to dispose of waste without stepping out of the kitchen, thereby minimizing inconvenience. McNally emphasized the importance of aligning with the values of environmentally-conscious consumers. She stressed that this generation seeks brands that genuinely care about the environment and actively contribute to its preservation. McNally noted, “They want a brand that actuall...

The inaugural Oasys Summit, held in Nashville, marked a significant moment for Oasys Residential Technology Group, formerly known as Home Technology Specialists Nationwide. The event brought together nearly 100 attendees who learned about the group’s rebranding and future direction. The summit featured educational sessions focusing on neglected areas of business for custom integrators, industry updates, and market analysis. Oasys aims to expand its membership and provide support to integration businesses often overlooked by buying groups. The event also emphasized giving back, with attendees packing over 10,600 meals for Meals of Hope. The Oasys Summit served as a launching point for the group, with great attendance from members and vendors. The event showcased the commitment to growth and success, offering educational opportunities and fostering important relationships within the community. Oasys’ rebranding and refocused strategy as Nationwide’s custom integration division were highl...

CEDIA Expo 2023 announced its registration for this year’s expo, featuring over 350 exhibiting brands and industry professionals. Set to take place from September 6-9 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO, the expo promises networking opportunities, thought leadership sessions, and educational offerings to accelerate business growth and foster professional development in the industry. Notably, CEDIA Expo 2023 will be co-located with the Commercial Integrator Expo, providing attendees with access to a comprehensive range of commercial and residential AV products and solutions in one convenient location. Registration is now open, with special discounts available for CEDIA members and early bird pricing until June 4, 2023. “We are energized for CEDIA Expo 2023,” said Jason McGraw, CTS, group vice president for CEDIA Expo, Commercial Integrator Expo and KBIS, Emerald. “This September’s show returns to Denver and will feature an incredible array of leading technology brands unveil...

Snap One, a prominent manufacturer and distributor of A/V, security, control, networking, and remote management products, is set to exhibit their top-tier security products at ESX 2023 in Louisville, KY, from June 5-8. The showcased lineup includes Clare Controls, ClareVision cameras, Luma X20 cameras, Araknis switches and indoor access points, Wattbox, and OvrC Pro. Visitors can explore Snap One’s growth in the security sector and experience the latest solutions at Booth #107. Additionally, Snap One invites ESX attendees to join their OvrC training session on June 6th, demonstrating how OvrC’s remote management capabilities improve real-time customer support, reduce service calls and truck rolls, and create revenue opportunities. At the Snap One booth, attendees will have the opportunity to demo the advanced Luma X20 family of surveillance products featuring AI-powered security features. With seamless integration with OvrC and the user-friendly Luma View mobile app, customers can enjo...

Savant Systems, a global leader in smart home and energy solutions, has acquired POMCube, a company specializing in energy storage systems. The acquisition strengthens Savant’s energy technology portfolio and advances its goal of creating smarter and more sustainable homes. The integration of POMCube’s inverter and battery technology enhances Savant’s power management offerings, including the Savant Power System, which provides whole-home battery backup and load management. With scalable components, intuitive software, and seamless control through a single app, Savant is uniquely positioned to deliver comprehensive smart home and energy solutions, supporting the transition to Net Zero homes. Additionally, Savant is exploring opportunities for domestic manufacturing and the eligibility of its products for tax credits and government subsidies. Visit savant.com/power for more information. Get More Info :  voice control to smart home appliances Website :  https://connecteddesign.c...

Berlin-based Bird Home Automation Group’s DoorBird Indoor Station, the IP Video Indoor Station A1101, emerged victorious by capturing the prestigious iF Design Award in the “Building Technology” category on May 15, 2023. The station’s exceptional design, superior quality, and user-friendly features impressed the jury, reaffirming DoorBird’s commitment to innovative technology and exclusive design. The IP Video Indoor Station A1101 seamlessly integrates into any environment with its elegant and compact design, offering intuitive user interface access through tile icons and hardware keys. The iF Design Award, presented since 1954 by iF International Forum Design GmbH, honored the DoorBird Indoor Station among nearly 11,000 entries from 56 countries, highlighting the award’s global importance. Bird Home Automation Group, the company behind DoorBird, specializes in manufacturing high-quality IP video door intercoms, access control devices, and indoor stations. With headquarters in Berlin a...

Priorities about technology were top of mind for the homeowner of a 22-acre Upstate New York estate with a 25,000-square-foot main property at its heart. A tech executive in his own right with a 20-year history of experience with DISH Network products and services, he has used the integration skills of Nanuet, N.Y.-based Audio Video World in several homes – and always with a mandate to include cutting-edge, cost-no-object connected-home features. For this project, the homeowner tasked Ronnie Dedios, lead technician at Audio Video World, with incorporating the latest and greatest from DISH. This meant installing a total of six DISH Hopper 3s as the entertainment hubs. Each Hopper 3 has two terabytes (or 500 hours) of DVR recording capability, and each is endowed with 16 tuners that can funnel up to four HD channels simultaneously to a 4K TV. Hopper 3 also provides the viewer with a wealth of programming choices including live TV programming from 270 international channels in 28 language...

Integrators are used to being asked by clients concerned with preserving a home’s aesthetics to hide the workings of their technology gear as much as possible when doing installations. Making it all “disappear” was a double challenge, though, in this unusual, glass-walled home in Upstate New York. It is owned by its producer, an engineer with several patents on glass walls, and for how to span glass over a distance. “He wanted to do something that was energy efficient and that could hold the properties of the sun into the building as energy,” explained Michael Brander, president of Montgomery, N.Y.-based technology integrator iQuarters. “In the dead of winter, that home hardly needs any heat and in the winter, during the day, it uses a combination of logic to open and close windows to cool the house down when the sun is shining.” Once the building, a two-level structure of around 3,000 square feet, was in place, the challenge the owner put before the iQuarters team was to install the l...

Designed in partnership between reliable hardware manufacturer Sonoff and IoT solutions experts eWeLink, the NSPanel Pro is an Android based home hub and Zigbee gateway enabling users to control and add any Zigbee 3.0 compatible devices or brands and control them all in one place. The NSPanel Pro lets you customize your home connectivity so you can see, hear and control what’s most important to you. Control all SOnoff products or any one of the 1000’s of Zigbee 3.0 compatible devices in one place, at the touch of a button. Create your own smart home environment in a snap. Reviewers kits include: Sonoff NSPanel Pro Sonoff Wireless Smart Camera Sonoff Smart Temperature Humidity Sensor Sonoff Zigbee Motion Sensor Sonoff Wireless Door Sensor Sonoff Wifi Smart Plug Type A & B Sonoff Smart Bulb SONOFF is a reputable smart home hardware brand that offers affordable and reliable products for remote control of devices from anywhere at any time. eWeLink is an IoT platform that provides the s...

New software options for Control4 help Partners sell more systems and maintain cutting-edge end-user experiences. Snap One today announced the release of the latest Control4 OS 3.3.3 software, providing enhanced performance and capabilities while reinforcing the brand’s dedication to delivering cutting-edge user experiences. According to Snap One Principal Product Manager Darin Theurer, the updated software empowers Control4 Partners and users with the Control4 Daylight feature, updates to the user interface, new integrations, and enhanced system accessibility. “Snap One and Control4 are committed to developing meaningful software enhancements that increase the value of existing systems and provide added incentives for new buyers,” Theurer commented. “We listen closely to our Partners’ concerns and needs, and we developed the new Control4 OS 3.3.3 to make systems easier to sell while enhancing the user experience.” The new Control4 OS 3.3.3 delivers dealer-requested features such as a ...

A team builds a space with vintage flair to rival a professional theater environment At a recent install in Greenwich, CT, Advanced Home Audio and AcousticSmart teamed up to create a sleek, modern home theater with a vintage flair. Complete with a hyper-realistic concession stand and 15 plush leather chairs, the theater is the perfect space to escape deep into the depths of a movie.   For custom integrators, the home theater space poses a unique challenge. It is the only room in the house with the specific purpose of making the occupants feel as though they are far away from home. No expense was spared in the creation of this space, which features a $65,000 Barco Loki CS T projector and a full professional-grade sound system from Meyer Sound.  “Meyer is well-known for being a studio-grade sound system,” said Bill Charney, president of Advanced Home Audio. “It’s something that you would find in a professional theater environment or a Metallica concert venue.” Dynamic Audio...

According to Parks Associates, uncertainty caused by COVID-19 has heightened anxiety about the safety and security of our families and homes. They report that while residential security system adoption held steady from 2014 to 2017, a 10 percent increase moved the needle to 36 percent adoption in 2021. “Smart home and security device adoption is also rising in broadband households, and consumers are embracing standalone devices and DIY home security solutions,” the report says. Essentially, there are two ways to go when it comes to residential home security systems — self-monitored “DIY” devices or systems that are professionally installed and monitored by a third-party. Self-monitored systems require a DIY solution to whatever problem arises because authorities are not automatically dispatched. Which to choose? There is no wrong or right answer as every homeowner is different. In this article, I picked the brains of my friends over at Integration Controls in St. Louis, Level Up Automa...

New Amazon Music integration enables Savant homeowners to enjoy their favorite fully uncompressed content at streaming rates up to 24-bit/192kHz without the hassle of switching apps. Savant Systems, Inc., a leader in smart home and smart power, has announced the integration of Amazon Music into its award-winning control platform. Now Savant users will have seamless access to their favorite music and other digital content wherever Amazon Music is available, in studio master quality up to 24-bit/192kHz, on one of the most successful streaming service providers. Within the Savant smart home app, users can effortlessly access Amazon Music, add their favorite playlists, artists, songs, or albums to the Savant Music home screen for convenient access. Users can also build Amazon Music into any Savant Scene and scheduled event and access it through any Savant control point. “At Savant, we are committed to delivering the ultimate home entertainment experience with a vast selection of the hi...

At the Oasys keynote in Nashville, Jason Sayen gave the opening keynote urging the audience to reflect on the operational processes they have in place. Key members and vendors of Oasys, formerly known as HTSN, have taken over Nashville for the first-ever event under the Oasys brand. As is to be expected, the event’s agenda is jam-packed with educational keynotes and intimate 1:1 networking opportunities. Jason Sayen, founder of the business consulting company I AM SAYEN, kicked off the inaugural festivities with a powerful keynote about the need for custom integrators to visualize their operational procedures through workflow documentation. Sayen opened the keynote with a challenge to the audience, asking them to reflect on whether they are “working in [their] business or on [their] business?” According to Sayen, the difference between the two is immense. “If you’re working in your business, you could be back home pushing through the friction, just telling everybody what they need to d...

Vendor Partner   Honors Presented at 2023 Level Up Spring Conference ProSource, the largest audio, video, and integration group in the United States, announced today the 2022 ProSource Vendors of the Year. Annual honorees, were celebrated at the 2023 ProSource Spring Conference, being held at the Renaissance at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, May 8 – 12, 2023. ProSource members were asked to vote using the following criteria for selecting the Vendors of the Year: The Vendor through engagement with the group, has helped their class of trade more than others in the category. The Vendor who has shown a continued commitment to developing products for their class of trade. The Vendor who has allocated the proper resources to ProSource members and can be exemplified as a company that is responsive and easy to do business with. The Vendor who has had the most positive financial effect on members’ performance in the category. The 2022 Vendor of the Year honorees are: Inaugural Dave Workman L...

New laser projector offers maintenance-free, continuous operation with eco-friendly benefits  Optoma, a world-leading manufacturer of visual solutions and the No.1 DLP® brand worldwide and in the Americas,¹ today introduced its most compact, hassle-free DuraCore laser projector to-date, the Optoma ZW350e. The new ultra-compact WXGA laser projector delivers amazing brightness, dependable operation, and stunning image quality for meeting rooms, medium-sized exhibition venues, events and tradeshows. It’s sleek, compact form factor is up to 34% smaller than previous Optoma models.²  As an added benefit, the new models feature an external power supply, offering more reliability, portability, and energy efficiency.  Designed with the environment in mind, the ZW350e projector guarantees up to 30,000 hours of lower-cost and virtually maintenance-free operation with the projectors’ DuraCore laser light source, cutting power consumption by up to 45% compared to Optoma’s lamp-based ...

Savant, a leading provider of smart home and smart power technology, has announced that the Bond Bridge Pro RF (Radio Frequency) to Wi-Fi solution is now fully compatible with the Savant smart home ecosystem. This integration will provide professional integrators with an efficient and reliable wireless solution to control smart home devices, including motorized shades. Offering a range of features that enhance the user experience of Savant’s wireless motorized shades, the device helps improve range and reliable signal communication, particularly in large homes or installations with multiple zones of battery-powered shades. The Bond Bridge Pro device hub can be mounted on the wall or ceiling, making it a versatile option for a variety of home installations. It also allows for optional Ethernet connectivity, making it an ideal solution for larger installations that require multiple hubs. The Savant smart home ecosystem offers seamless integration with the Bond Bridge Pro, allowing profes...

CEDIA has announced the opening of global submissions for the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award and Manufacturer Product Awards. The Lifetime Achievement Award, honored annually at the CEDIA Smart Home Awards, recognizes an individual who has exhibited outstanding, creative, innovative, and visionary leadership in the growth and advancement of the technology design and installation industry. This Lifetime Achievement Award is open to any individual from a CEDIA member company. Nominations are judged by the CEDIA Board of Directors based solely on the content provided in the award application. The award recipient will be honored with a video tribute at the 2023 CEDIA Smart Home Award ceremonies across CEDIA’s three regions. To nominate a deserving candidate for the 2023 CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award, visit cedia.net/LTA. The Manufacturer Product Awards honor products that have made a significant impact on the smart home industry. Categories include Best New Hardware Products, Best New ...

The latest product release from Cync’s Dynamic Effects line features highly flexible, shapeable neon lights perfect for creating the ultimate gaming or entertainment experience. Today,   GE Lighting, a Savant company,  announced that its new Dynamic Effects  Neon-Shape Smart Lights  are now available for purchase. Originally announced in January at CES 2023 , the new shape lights are the latest Dynamic Effects products to hit store shelves. Featuring a sleek, neon appearance coupled with the ability to create your own designs , the Cync Neon-Shape Smart Lights are perfect for any bedroom, gaming or entertainment setup. With a built-in mic that reacts to real-time gaming audio, music and sound effects, these shapeable lights provide an immersive, interactive experience. For added customization, the Neon-Shape Smart Lights include a control box that allows users to shape the lights into any design they want, or choose a pre-set design from the Cync website...

Azione Unlimited, The Smart Home Association announced that Portal.io has reunited with the buying group. The partnership will provide Azione Unlimited’s 284 C.I.-focused dealer members access to Portal’s frictionless proposal creation software. This innovative technology allows Azione Unlimited members to streamline their workflow, enhance efficiency, and achieve tremendous business success. After going their separate ways in 2018, Portal underwent a remarkable transformation, reimagining its software, business, and mission within the CEDIA channel. Now, the software company offers an impressive and unique solution to integrators who require a fast and efficient way to create professional proposals for their clients. Portal is committed to providing AV integrators with user-friendly and robust software that seamlessly integrates with their everyday processes, eliminating the need for manual setup. “We’re excited to be welcomed back to Azione.” says Kirk Chisholm, Founder and CEO of Po...

Vtoman, the leading provider of portable power and renewable energy solutions, is excited to announce the upcoming launch of its newest product, the FlashSpeed Pro 3000 Home Backup Battery Generator. Vtoman is launching a crowdfunding campaign in the early May 2023 on Kickstarter. This entry-level expandable home battery backup generator with 2.8kWh high capacity is set to change the game in the power backup industry. Plenty of Output Ports FlashSpeed Pro 3000 has a variety of output ports, including 2200W AC outlets, 100W USB-C ports, 48V DC ports, etc., which can meet various charging needs and charge up to 14 devices simultaneously. Ultra-fast 1800W AC Charging FlashSpeed Pro 3000 has a 1800W AC input port, allowing for lightning-fast AC charging. With the AC input, users can fully recharge it in just 90 minutes. Users can also charge FlashSpeed Pro 3000 with 600W solar panels. 2816Wh Huge Capacity with Expandable Add-on Battery The FlashSpeed Pro 3000 itself has a high capacity of ...

Savant Smart Network leverages an exclusive partnership with Juniper Networks, delivering the most advanced networking ecosystem as the foundation of a seamless smart home experience. Savant®, a leader in smart home and smart power, has introduced the Savant Smart Network, the only learning wireless network solution leveraging Juniper Mist Wi-Fi technology designed for smart home integrators. Savant Smart Network has been engineered to deliver the best long-term wireless experience for homeowners, coupled with a more efficient deployment and service model for integrators. “We’re thrilled to partner with Juniper to bring an industry-first solution to market delivering both integrators and homeowners a truly unique, smart wireless network solution,” said JC Murphy, President of Savant. “The best possible smart home experience can only be achieved when it is connected to a reliable and strong signal and the Savant Smart Network raises the bar on what both a homeowner and integrator should...

Premium Audio Company (PAC) , an innovative, premium audio solutions provider, is pleased to announce that 30+ year industry veteran Rob Standley has been promoted to President of Technology and Product. He is responsible for the overall direction and strategic development of Premium Audio Company’s brands and products. In this newly created role, Standley will transform Premium Audio Company’s approach to technology across the enterprise. The PAC Technology Center in Osaka, Japan will become the epicenter for streamlining technology development and platforms, with strategic implementation being led by each brand in its portfolio. This new approach positions PAC for future growth, sustainability, and to become a leader in technology development.  Additionally, Standley will continue to lead the global brand and product strategy for the Onkyo, Integra, Pioneer and Elite brands, and each brand’s P&L globally. Beyond building out a global technology team equipped to lead PAC into ...

Consumers Can Buy New Premium Audio Solutions at 2019 Pricing Premium Audio Company (PAC), an innovative, premium audio solutions provider, is pleased to announce that it’s rewinding prices on several of its most popular and best-selling audio solutions. Starting May 1, Klipsch Reference Premiere speakers and Elite audio video receivers will match 2019 prices for discounts of up to 20%. Premium Audio Company’s mission is to connect people with their passion for entertainment. With supply chains and logistical pressures easing post-pandemic, PAC is committed to offer pre-COVID prices to our valued partners and consumers alike.  “Providing amazing products at the absolute best prices is more important than ever,” said Tommy Jacobs, President of Sales and Marketing, Americas for PAC. Two of the most legendary and revered brands in the consumer technology industry are offering new, state-of-the-art AVRs and speakers at very compelling price points.” In 2021, Elite introduced the all-n...

Industry-First 48-Inch French-Door Refrigerator Honored by Prestigious Red Dot Design and iF Design Award Programs Signature Kitchen Suite, the fast-growing luxury appliance brand, has captured top global design awards for its new, state-of-the-art ENERGY STAR® certified 48-inch French Door Refrigerator. The highly notable Red Dot Design and iF Design Award programs have recognized the refrigerator as a top product of 2023 for its timeless and innovative design. The Red Dot Award is one of the most respected competitions for product design, communication design and design concepts in the world. This year, approximately 20,000 products from 51 countries were submitted for the jury’s consideration. The 48-inch French Door Refrigerator is the sixth Signature Kitchen Suite product to earn a Red Dot Award since the brand’s debut in 2018.  Following the 2021 wins for the innovative Undercounter Convertible Refrigerator/Freezer Drawers and Undercounter Wine Refrigerator, this year the iF ...