» Category: Ask the Expert
July 1, 2012
You know what home theater enthusiasts say: bigger is always better. At least that’s what manufacturer Sharp took to heart when recently the company launched the world’s largest LED TV: the incredible 90-inch AQUOS LED TV (LC-90LE745U).
The feature-rich set includes a bright and crisp 1080-pixel display, full HD active 3D capability (with a pair of 3D glasses included), built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, and Sharp’s AquoMotion 240 technology, which enhances the seamlessness of fast-action motions while also eliminating blurring. The AQUOS LED TV also features Sharp’s SmartCentral, an interface offering direct access to apps and VOD (video-on-demand) services like Netflix, YouTube, CinemaNow, Hulu Plus, Facebook, Twitter, and even Skype.
Of course, what really sets Sharp’s new AQUOS apart is its size: 4 feet tall, about 6 ½ feet wide, and a lean 141 pounds heavy (without the stand). It’s bigger than Sharp’s previous two LED TV offerings – one an 80-inch and the Read More »
June 12, 2012
E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) 2012 was held last June 5 to 7 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and again it generated tons of buzz as one of the world’s biggest gaming industry events. E3 2012 saw video game makers, electronic entertainment companies, and console and consumer tech manufacturers introduce new products and platforms to the public. Here’s a list of the best of ‘em – coming to a home theater, home entertainment, or gaming room near you:
Microsoft’s Xbox SmartGlass
At E3 2012, Microsoft introduced the Xbox SmartGlass, a service that enables users to connect tablet computers and smartphones with Microsoft’s video game consoles. With SmartGlass – which is coming holiday 2012 – users can control what they’re seeing on TV using their phones or tablets as a remote. Playing games, browsing the Internet, listening to music, or watching shows on the mobile device can now be moved and Read More »
May 25, 2012
Image by Chad Jones
Are you thinking about turning an empty space in your home into a home theater? This can be a great way to create a place where you and your family can spend time together watching your favorite films. As you begin to design and decorate your home theater space, you may want to consider having items and furniture custom-made to create a unique place. With the popularity of home theater installations on the rise, many manufacturers are offering personalized, custom pieces that will make your viewing room beautiful and unique. By finding the right designers and craftsmen, you will have a space that will make you always want to stay home.
The first piece of furniture you may want to think of is an entertainment center. An entertainment center can be extremely useful in a viewing space. This will give you an area to store movies and Read More »
May 23, 2012
Are you a movie buff? If you are, and you have an iPhone, you could get your daily dose of trivia, information, content, and games related to movies, all on the go. There are tons of iPhone apps out there which cater to movie buffs and home theater lovers. But not all of them are good. It takes a little digging around to find the best ones out there. Your job has been made easier with this list of the very best when it comes to iPhone apps for movie lovers.
Flixster
This is one of the very best, sponsored by the now popular RottenTomatoes. It gives you plenty of information on the latest movies and DVDs that have come out, shows timings of movies in different theatres, and a whole lot more. It has the trusted rating system of RottenTomatoes which lets you decide on the movies to watch and the Read More »
May 21, 2012
Kitchens have gotten seriously cool.
Technology and entertainment, once the realm of the home theater system usually located in a house’s den, have invaded the kitchen, and not just to search for a snack during halftime. The kitchen itself has joined forces with televisions, computers, and iPods, forming a new hub for the family.
Of course, women have known the kitchen is the real hot spot for centuries. The kitchen is so often a gathering place during social events, to talk as food is being prepared. In a large enough kitchen, it’s also the gathering place for families and friends to eat, and if the kitchen is small, then the nearby dining room is used. But for technology, unless the blender is really special, usually the kitchen takes second place to the den.
But no more. Baltimore kitchen remodeling projects are increasingly incorporating entertainment into food preparation and consumption. The simplest Read More »
May 17, 2012
Most home owners find that the most difficult part of installing their new surround sound system is choosing the best speaker wire for their system. Their goal is the get the right speaker wire type that will give their system the power and sound its needs to perform at the highest level.
The reality is that nobody wants to install a complete sound system and later find out they used an inferior speaker wire product that is causing their new speakers to under-perform. This type of mistake could prove to be very expensive and very time consuming, especially if installing new speaker wire is the only option. So why not do it right the first time?
The speaker wire industry is a huge market. There are many manufacturers out there trying to push consumers to their products. Many manufacturers are flooding the market with marketing material that touts their wire as the best. All this marketing for sure confuses consumers Read More »
May 16, 2012
Over the years there have been many iconic locations for films and TV series, but with access to the Internet and a credit card many of the items which made these locations so special can now be purchased for your own home: be it in your bedroom, living room, or home theater installation. So what should you go for? Let’s take a look at our top 5.
5. Al’s Diner – Happy Days
Out of all the sitcoms that have graced the airwaves over the years, there are definitely many classic locations, from Central Perk in Friends to Jerry’s apartment in Seinfeld. However, one of the most iconic locations has to be Al’s Diner from Happy Days. What makes Al’s so iconic? Well there is Fonzie’s office in the bathroom, but all in all it has to be Al’s jukebox! Probably Fonzie’s favorite piece of equipment, and always on the Read More »
The easiest way to change the entire look and feel of a room without breaking the bank is to update and review its lighting. Whether you are trying to create a homely atmosphere, a chic, fashionable space, a high-performance home theater, or a businesslike work area, choosing the right lighting will give you an affordable contemporary solution.
Industrial quality kitchen lighting
Modern kitchens, especially those in converted buildings or apartments in the industrial style, often suffer from a lack of natural light. Good lighting is vital for efficient kitchen use, and modeling lighting solutions on industrial, “working” kitchens can provide an answer.
Bringing the central lighting point down by using a dropped light fitting can provide an inexpensive means of highlighting work spaces, allowing you to cook in comfort and with increased safety. This type of fitting comes in a range of colors and designs, including retro pastels and bright modern shades to Read More »
May 15, 2012
Untidy cable and cords can spoil the ambiance of the most lavish of interiors and the most sophisticated of home theater setups. Unfortunately, technology has not yet advanced to the extent that we can completely eliminate these cables and cords from our lives. On the contrary, the number of gadgets and appliances that we use are increasing day by day, and it doesn’t seem that this trend is going to change anytime soon. Therefore, we have no choice but to deal with these unsightly cables and cords to make them more bearable.
Following are 5 excellent ways through which you can effectively deal with untidy cable and cords:
Image from DigitalTrends.com
Identify
The very first thing that you need to do is to identify the different cords and cables that are being used by the various appliances and home entertainment components in your home.
For this, you may need to untangle the different cables Read More »
May 9, 2012
Many would agree that a home theater system cannot be complete without its own sophisticated set of home audio components – a 2.1 speaker set, say, or a 5.1-channel surround sound system. But it’s also nice to have the luxury of an additional – also, simpler – home audio setup, with wireless speakers, capable headphones, and Bluetooth-enabled blasters as its possible components. After all, there’s no need for a 5.1 when all you’d like to do is spend the rest of the day in a more personal, intimate setting, just listening to your favorite music or Internet radio station.
If this sounds just the kind of thing you’re looking for, we have a treat: a list of new audio products (speakers and headphones) delivering the kind of audio performance that’ll bring sweet music to your ears.
Jawbone’s Big Jambox
Not too long ago we gave some shine to a bunch of speaker docks Read More »
