Home Cinema doesn't need to be massive

We started conceptual work on a Home Cinema on the East coast of Phuket this week.  It's not a huge room, but it's going to sound and look great.  You don't necessarily need a huge room for home theatre, if it's just you and the family and occasional visitor then no need for a massive screen unless you are sitting far away.

This cinema will feature a 75"LED 4k Television with 7.1 Surround sound using Nuvo In-Wall speakers for the front (left, centre, right) speakers and Roth Oli RA1's for the surround speakers. All driven by an Onkyo Receiver.  Sources will be media centre and Bluray - All controlled with a harmony logitech all in one remote control.

As part of this home cinema we are integrating a lighting control system into just the one room, with the Philips Hue lights this can be a lot of fun - you can control the lights with your phone, computer, timed or even the logitech remote control - so the lights dim as you start the movie.

The room is 4.50m by 4m and was an unused space before, the owners are turning it into what I hope (and is usually the case) one of the most used and most fun rooms in their beautiful villa.

Banya Literacy Centre - Reboot

Today saw us adding some finishing touches to the BanYa Literacy centre computer room that is part of our ReBoot initiative.  Reboot is our initiative that takes 2nd hand computer and computer parts, rebuilds them with a new O/S and keyboard, mouse and monitor and uses them for good causes.

Teacher computer

USB Microscope

We are also looking at coming up with some lesson plans and teaching resources to help the kids to get to grips with computer systems.  We are still looking for secondhand PC's so if you have any old computers lying about, or bits of computers then please get in touch and we will come and pick them up.

BanYa literacy centre computer room.

Alien Covenant and Why Home Cinema is best

Yesterday I saw Alien:Covenant.

"The crew of a colony ship, bound for a remote planet, discover an uncharted paradise with a threat beyond their imagination, and must attempt a harrowing escape."

The movie was very good, far better than I expected, I have seen all of the other Alien movies and Prometheus (watch this again before you watch Alien:Covenant, I'd forgotten most of it) and it was one of the best.  

In fact I thought the film stood well as a stand alone movie, You don't need to have seen the previous films to enjoy it.

What I didn't enjoy was the actual movie experience, The film was supposed to start at 7:50pm. There was at least 25 mins of adverts, bad adverts as well, mainly for internet and 3G/4G phone data. This was followed by only 2 trailers for movies that I can't even remember, some more adverts for Coke and Popcorn, a Car advert for the surround sound and then finally the movie started.

All I kept thinking as I looked around the empty cinema, with 95% of the seats free was how annoying being forced to watch adverts was and how much more I would enjoy watching this at home or at one of my customers home cinemas.  Walk in press a button, choose a movie and sit back and enjoy, pause it whenever you want, no adverts.

So in Summary: Good movie, see it but either turn up after the adverts or watch it in your own home cinema for the best experience, unless you like adverts, boring adverts.

Show - The new Amazon Echo

Amazon are continuing their relentless march on the automated home with their launch of the Echo Show.  This is a new Alexa powered smart speaker that also includes a 7in touchscreen and video-calling features.

Amazon is in an ongoing battle with Google to become the most popular in-home voice assistant, something that currently Amazon is leading in, Google second and Apple still nowhere to be seen (yet).

The new Amazon Echo Show - Amazon's newest home assistant.

The Echo Show will be released on 28th June  in the USA - will operate like Amazon’s existing Echo and Echo Dot wifi-connected smart speakers, putting the company’s artificially intelligent voice assistant Alexa into the home. But unlike Amazon’s previous voice-only smart speakers, it will also have a touchscreen to show extra information, play videos from YouTube and elsewhere, show results for questions and other visual information that’s currently displayed when Alexa is asked a question on the firm’s Fire TV smart devices.

Amazon said: “Voice responses from Alexa are now enhanced with visuals and optimised for visibility across the room. Call or message your family and friends that also have an Echo or the Alexa App, get the news with a video flash briefing, see your Prime Photos, shop with your voice, see lyrics with Amazon Music, and more. All you have to do is ask.”

Echo Show has two Dolby-tuned speakers in the front, which Amazon says should fill a room and make listening to music or watching video better than with previous devices, and a front-facing camera. Users can also place calls to other Echo or Alexa App users, including a new feature Amazon calls “Drop In” for family and friends. The screen can also display the feeds from compatible security cameras

The Echo Show is the second new Amazon Echo device to be announced in the last few weeks. In April, Amazon launched the Echo Look, a voice-controlled smart selfie camera that is able to compare outfits and give fashion advice. While Echo Look is only available to select customers in the US via invitation, Echo Show will see wider availability, albeit only in the US initially.

Amazon Echo have over 70% share in the voice powered automation market.

Amazon, which launched the original Echo in the US in 2014, has benefitted from being ahead of the chasing pack. Photograph: Amazon
Amazon is locked in battle with Google and others for the burgeoning new world of voice assistant-powered smart speakers. Amazon has the lead thanks to its original Echo, which was launched in the US in 2014 and the UK in 2016. It became a sleeper hit in the US, while its open partnerships with various smart home makers including Alphabet’s Nest and Samsung’s SmartThings propelled it to an early market majority.

According to data from eMarketer, Amazon’s Echo devices will have 70.6% of the market versus 23.8% for Google’s Home. The research firm expects 35.6 million Americans will use a voice-assisted device at least once a month, which means that smart speakers will be far from a mass-market device, but usage will be up 128.9% year on year.

Martín Utreras, vice president of forecasting for eMarketer, said: “Consumers are becoming increasingly comfortable with the technology, which is driving engagement. As prices decrease and functionality increases, consumers are finding more reasons to adopt these devices.”

Samsung’s Harman Kardon is set to release a voice-controlled speaker with Microsoft’s Cortana virtual assistant in the Autumn in the US, leaving Apple as the last of the big four US technology companies with a virtual assistant but no voice-controlled speakers to house it in.

While Google’s Assistant has been available in a broad range of Android devices, including smartphones and smartwatches, Amazon’s big advantage has been the opening up of its Alexa system to third-party developers and hardware makers, which has seen Alexa appear in various speakers, other devices and cars.

Whether an Echo speaker with a screen is what the next stage of voice-control in the home looks like remains to be seen. Apple’s senior vice-president of worldwide marketing, Phil Schiller, recently said in an interview with NDTV that a screen was key to a voice-controlled device, although the popularity of Amazon’s original Echo was partly fuelled by it being a voice-only interface that freed both hands and eyes.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/may/09/amazon-launches-echo-show-smart-speaker-touchscreen-video-calling

Bid on Roth and Nuvo Speakers at the PHAB Silent Auction!

Fancy getting your hands on some of the best speakers about and doing your bit for charity? The Phuket Hotels Association Benefit (PHAB) is holding a SIlent Auction up to and including their Gala Dinner on Saturday the 13th May (Online Bidding Ends on the 12th).

Proceeds will go towards funding hospitality scholarships and traineeships, exclusively for the benefit of local Phuket residents.

"Through this special fundraising event, the Phuket Hotels Association aims to finance 20 hospitality scholarships and traineeships, exclusively for the benefit of Phuket residents. This will not only enable us to give back to the communities in which we live and work, but also provide higher education for those who would have otherwise been denied it.

As of right now our excellent Roth Oli RA1 speakers are up for 2,000 Baht (RRP 6,000 Baht) for the pair - These are the 5* What HiFi rated mini speakers, perfect for a bedroom, gym or kitchen setup.

We also have the Nuvo In-Ceiling speakers at 6,000 Baht, these architectural speakers fit flush with your ceiling and Retail is normally 14,000 Baht per pair.

Roth Oli RA Stereo Speakers

Nuvo In Ceiling Speakers

“Our goal is to raise upwards of Baht 3.5 million in funds to finance these initiatives and your support of the PHAB event will go a long way towards helping us achieve this goal”

— Phuket Hotels Association

Tickets for the Gala Dinner on Saturday 13th May are still available and the auction can be reached at the below URL.

https://phab.phukethotelsassociation.com/silent-auction/

Flexson Mounts for the Sonos Play3 and Play5

Today we had the pleasure of using the Flexson speaker mounts for Sonos at a beautiful villa in Phuket.  Flexson are the mounts specifically made for the Sonos range of wireless speakers, they are available for the PlayBar, Play1, Play3, Play5 and Sonos Sub.  The mounts come in floorstand, desk mount and wall mounts.  H3 Digital are the Thai distributor for Sonos Flexson mounts in Thailand.

First up are the Flexson Stand Mounts for the all new Sonos Play5. At last an elegant solution to using Sonos's range of wireless HiFi speakers in your home.  Cables tuck into the floor mounts themselves keeping them nicely hidden and the whole thing looking elegant but sounding great.

Next we have the Floor stand mount for the Sonos Play:3 wireless speaker, The Flexson mount does a great job at hiding the power cabling.  The stand allows you to mount your Sonos Play3 either vertically or horizontally, whichever suits your room best.  It puts the sound at ear level and allows you to position your Sonos speakers more naturally.

If you'd like to use Flexson speaker stands for your Sonos project then please get in touch.

Home Cinema Feedback (not that kind)

We love to hear feedback from clients and make sure that they are getting the most out of their H3 Digital designed audio, home cinema and lighting systems.  This week a Phuket villa owner we haven't spoken to for a while, got back in touch to say they'd just had some guests stay and had the first issues with the home cinema since it was originally installed nearly 4 years ago.  

This cosy cinema in Kamala, Phuket is an ideal use of space in a previously unused area.

We love that they are enjoying the system so much, technology can be great fun, not so much if it doesn't work or doesn't live up to expectations.  That's where our professional home theatre design comes in - We engineer a fantastic system, that's fun to use, easy to operate and expertly supported by us.

Regarding our Home Cinema Install they said;

“H3 Digital’s creativity allowed us build a fantastic home cinema in an irregular sized space. The team listened to our needs, were responsive and the installation was extremely efficient. The room is now one of our favourite spaces in the villa”

— Mac McCourt

If you'd like to turn a space in your villa or apartment into your very own home theatre, please get in touch.

Peppers...

Yesterday saw us start a revamp of the sound system at Peppers Bar/Restaurant in Laguna. We decided to use the Roth Oli Ra2 speakers, alongside Nuvo Power amps fed by a DBX Driverack so we can get the best sound out of the Yamaha mixing board and protect the speakers.

Roth Oli RA2 Bookshelf Speakers in Black.

We decided on using the Roth speakers because they give a nice warm sound which will work really well for music, sports and their famous quiz night.

Rear Ported Roth Speakers and their mounts.

Installing the speakers above the mixing desk.

Peppers has been around about as long as us, it's a great place to grab a lunch or dinner and have a beer or two, personally I'm a big fan of their breakfast and eat there most days.

It's also a great place to catch the latest sports on TV.

Peppers Famous Quiz Night!

The first stage we are mounting the new speakers, but the old speakers will stay connected as we wait on the new amplifiers and the DBX driverack to be installed, alongside some new audio/video cabling and then we will swap in the new sound system in one go.

Google Home just added voice recognition

The Smart Home market is moving quick nowadays with competition between Amazons echo and Googles own Home opening up new possibilities at a fast rate.

Up until now Google Home only linked up to the account of whoever set it up first and then all of the commands and interaction went through that account.  That's all changes now as the device will be able to handle different accounts and tell who's speaking to it.

It's a feature that Amazon's Echo doesn't have. And it's important for a voice assistant that's designed to run your household. For an assistant such as Siri, which lives on devices used by just one person, multi-account support isn't as important. But home hubs sit in a central location and operate things such as your lights or your thermostat that everyone will want to be able to control.

Being able to identify an individual's voice may also help cut down on some unwanted surprises. Google said in a statement that the new feature makes it so that "only you" would be able to shop via Google Home.

Google Homes range of Smart Home speakers/microphone

“So others - i.e, your kids or an intelligent parrot - shouldn't be able to tell Home to buy something on your account. That avoids instances like one in San Diego this January when Amazon Echo units started ordering dollhouses after hearing a news anchor said "Alexa ordered me a dollhouse."

Google Home, right, sits on display near a Pixel phone following a product event, in San Francisco. Google’s voice-activated assistant can now recognize who’s talking to it on the Google’s Home speaker.

"We're just getting started and we won't be perfect," Google said. "We don't recommend that users rely upon voice identification as a security feature."

To set up the new feature, users will have to hop in to the Google Home app, which should have a new option for "multi-user" support on any connected Google Home connected to your network. Home owners can add up to six accounts, according to a company blog post.

Google Home owners will have to teach the hub how to identify their voices by saying "Ok Google" and "Hey Google" twice into the device, when prompted. This allows it to learn different characteristics of each person's voice.

Google Home standing next to Amazon Echo

This kind of training should be familiar to anyone who uses Siri, or the voice assistant on Google's phones - the key difference being that you'll have to go through it multiple times on Home, depending on how many accounts you want to hook up.

Google said that it will use its network to "compare the sound of your voice to its previous analysis so we can understand if it's you speaking or not." The company promises this should only take a few milliseconds.

The feature is rolling out to all US users starting Thursday. Google said it also plans to bring this feature to the United Kingdom in "the coming months.

Onkyo adds Chromecast support retroactively

Onkyo have just announced that they will be adding Chromecast streaming services to many of it's wireless speakers and AV receivers across its stable of home theater audio brands  — Onkyo, Integra and Pioneer.  How many of you new that Onkyo owned Pioneer?

This firmware release enhances audio streaming and the wireless multi-room ecosystem that are integrated into key components from each brand.  Although firmware upgrades can be a bit of a pain, we acknowledged they also bring some very cool benefits, it's good to see Onkyo adding support for models they've already sold and older models.

Onkyo AV Receiver

Chromecast support will allow users to share a wide selection of music, Internet radio and podcasts. Chromecast built-in is supported on iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Android phones and tablets, Chromebook, and Chrome browser on Mac, Windows, and Linux PCs.

Components getting the Chromecast update under the Onkyo brand include the following AV receivers: TX-NR676 , TX-NR575 , TX-8270 , PR-RZ5100 , TX-RZ3100 , TX-RZ1100 , TX-RZ810 , TX-RZ710 , TX-RZ610 , TX-NR757 , TX-NR656 , and TX-NR555 ; the HT-S7800 home theater in a box, the SBT-A500 soundbar system, and the just-launched NCP-302 multiroom wireless speaker.

Under Integra the firmware update will bring the latest Chromecast streaming support to the following AV receivers: DRC-R1 , DRX-R1 , DRX-7 (pictured at top), DRX-5 , DRX-4 , DRX-3 , DRX-2 , DSX-3 and the DLB-5 object-based audio soundbar system.

Under Pioneer Home Entertainment the Chromecast built-in firmware update is being added to AV receivers including the Elite series: SC-LX901 , SC-LX801 , SC-LX701 , SC-LX501 , VSX-LX301 , VSX-LX101 , SX-S30 , and the FS-EB70 soundbar. Under the Pioneer series are the following AV receivers: VSX-1131 , VSX-832 , VSX-831 , and VSX-S520 ; and the XC-HM86 and X-HM76 network receiver/CD player systems. The update will also be added to the just released MRX-3 multiroom wireless speaker.

Onkyo Networked AV Receiver

The firmware update adds support for the Google Home, and audio devices featuring the forthcoming Google Assistant. Users can ask Google Home to find music from supported streaming services and play it back through their Integra component. Operations such as volume adjustment and song selection can also be performed using voice commands.

Users should be able to use the Chromecast system to stream audio from mobile devices to components by tapping or clicking on an icon built into Chromecast. This sends audio to the receiver or speaker system wirelessly, with sampling rates of up to 48 kHz supported for lossless sources.

All of the products with Chromecast built-in feature on-board Ethernet or dual-band 5 GHz/2.4 GHz Wi-Fi for stable, interference-free streaming with less buffering and fewer dropouts.

Chromecast built-in allows use of other apps while streaming music. Listeners can answer calls, send emails, or play games without interrupting audio playback.  The platform also enables streaming of single or multiple audio sources to other Chromecast-enabled speakers simultaneously.  No special device setup, password entry, or pairing process is required to connect and stream via Chromecast built-in, providing both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

To enjoy the Chromecast built-in on the supported products, apps must be Chromecast-enabled and the receiver and device must be connected to the same network.

https://hdguru.com/onkyo-brands-add-chromecast-update-to-av-components/

Hush!

Earlier this week I was doing maintenance on one of the home cinemas that we built and consequently look after, maintenance generally consists of checking the all-in-one remote works properly, that all the sources are configured correctly and that everything just works as it should.

We often do a sound test to make sure that all the surround sound channels are working correctly (for example this one was set to multi channel stereo instead of Dolby Surround Sound). I distinctly remember thinking as I was running through the sound checks, going through the surround sound channels how quiet the projector was.

The reason being that we designed this projector to be inside a hush box, by placing the projector into a box you quieten it down, hence called a hush box.  These have their ins and outs - obviously they are quieter and often give a tidier look to the projector install, on the flipside they don't circulate air as well, are harder to get to and work on the projector through.

Still if you are looking at a projector based home theatre it's something to think about if you don't like to see or hear a projector just hanging overhead.

The Robots are coming (for your jobs)

Silicon Valley based Knightscope are offering companies and individuals their smart security Robot - The K5 - a 400-pound, 6-foot tall autonomous security robot that roves parking lot aisles, hallways of office campuses, sports stadium foyers, shopping malls and high tech homes.

The smart Robot has LIDAR (light detection and ranging) sensors and cameras that help it differentiate between passersby and criminals.  Knightscope’s robots pack infrared cameras sharp enough to make out license plates, and onboard wireless that identifies smartphones down to the MAC and IP addresses. On the backend, Knightscope can blacklist individual phones, faces, or even cars. When an intruder is detected, the company alerts its clients.

All the data can be fed to the cloud and Knightscape will store that for up to 15 years, upto 90 Terrabytes of data per Robot.

These “fully autonomous security data machines” are available now on subscription at a cost starting at only $7 per hour for 24/7 security and are ideal for dangerous areas and repetitive tasks.  Cheaper than a human doing the same job and with cameras and sensors and recording of data to boot.

http://www.knightscope.com/