Smart Home News

Tips from the pros on video-distribution pre-wires


As the sophistication of today's video systems continues to grow, best practices among custom installers in the initial pre-wire are becoming increasingly important.

Huge growth in TV apps through 2015


3.7 million applications will be downloaded this year and reach 965 million by 2015. 60% of all TVs will have an Internet connection by 2015, and 70% of those will include some type of app platform and app store.

IBM: Inefficient buildings hurt businesses


U.S. office buildings are not keeping pace with building automation, leading to lost productivity and added costs, according to a survey of U.S. office workers by IBM.

Rapid uptake of 3-D displays


6.2 million 3-D displays will be sold around the world this year, roughly 3% of the total TV market.

Crestron Home Control Capitalizes on iPad Popularity

Crestron's iPad control app is No. 31 on Apple's top-grossing iPad apps list. It currently outranks several mainstream apps, including Tetris for iPad.

Sony makes new play for home domination

Sony will launch a new movie download service for its PlayStation3 console this week as it attempts to morph the popular gaming platform into an entertainment hub for the family home.

Using Online Games to Get Movie Audiences Involved

Forget commercials, billboards and trailers. Web games that interlock with social networking sites are an increasing focus in movie advertising.

U.S. Video Game Sales Declined in April

Retail sales of video games in the United States fell 26 percent, to $766.2 million, in April from a year earlier.

Free play brings wider appeal to gaming


One-third of the audience of any video game platform is playing for free and many are women and older people.

Skype makes its way onto Panasonic VieraCast TVs


VoIP phone service Skype now is available on Panasonic VieraCast HDTVs. The service, which also requires a Panasonic Skype-enabled camera, enables users to participate in conference calls with up to 24 others and set up a Skype voice mail account with the TV remote.

ABI: Tablets won't threaten netbooks anytime soon


ABI Research has projected that only about 8 million tablet computers, including Apple's iPad, will sell in