what is HDMI ???

HDMI is the global standard for connecting high-definition Consumer Electronics and PC products. It’s the uncompressed, all-digital interface that delivers both dazzling quality and unmatched ease of use.

HDMI technology provides the highest possible signal to meet the needs of today’s – and tomorrow’s – HD entertainment systems. With a single cable, it transmits:

•digital video
•multi-channel surround sound
•advanced control data
More than 800 manufacturers have adopted the HDMI standard, including some of the world’s most trusted brands.

•229 million HDMI-enabled devices shipped in 2008 and 300 million 2009.
•Market research from In-Stat projects over a billion HDMI devices in the market by 2010, when every new digital TV will feature at least one HDMI port
HDMI connectivity is already standard on a wide range of products:

•HDTVs
•Blu-ray Disc players
•multimedia PCs
•gaming systems
•digital camcorders, and more.
With HDMI connectivity, you get it all. The convenience of a one-cable solution, plus the power and performance of a high-speed digital link. Now and in the future, it’s the best way to connect HD.


http://www.hometheaterintegrators.com/

Benefits of whole house audio

What is "whole house audio"?

Larger homes (more so than smaller homes) may benefit from having the ability to play music in all rooms throughout or different music simultaneously in a few select rooms.

Benefits of having whole house audio:
*Everyone in your house has different music tastes and you don't enjoy listening to their music
*You are having a party (and don't want the one room with speakers to be really loud)
*You want the big game to be heard everywhere because you are not staying in just one room
*You can fast forward through track lists or songs you don't like
*Can have different volume levels in each room
*Adds value to your home
*Enjoy different audio sources simultaneously (iTunes, FM, Sirius radio, Cable TV music, CD) *Speakers are not seen unless you are looking for them



Marc
http://www.hometheaterintegrators.com

Architectural Audio (in-wall speakers)

Advantages of: architectural audio (in-wall or in-ceiling speakers)

• flush mounted speakers are attractive by being inconspicuous and can be painted to match the ceiling or wall color
• no visible wires or connections
• music can be in every room without cluttering the environment
• creates a whole-house musical environment
• multi-channel home theater systems do not detract from the decor
• ceiling speakers can be omni-directional allowing the listener to be anywhere in the room
• infinite baffle design drives all sound energy into the listening area
• sound quality rivals the best cabinet speakers because the money is spent on drivers and crossovers, not the cabinet
• enhances SAF (spouse acceptance factor) [for real]
• adds value to your home
  
  For more information please call (248) 841-0072 or visit our website

http://www.hometheaterintegrators.com

Apple TV - look mom, no iPod dock!

Apple TV gives you access to an easy-to-navigate world of entertainment. Rent HD movies. Buy HD movies and get iTunes Extras. Buy HD TV shows. Listen to your iTunes music and Internet radio. Even show off your photos. Connect one HDMI cable and, just like that, your TV becomes more than just a TV.

Play your music through your home theater system
With Apple TV, iTunes syncs wirelessly to your TV, so your entire music collection can now be played on the best speakers in your house. Use the Genius feature to create new playlists or Genius Mixes, or check out thousands of Internet radio stations that play every genre imaginable. You can also browse and buy music videos on the iTunes Store. And sync songs and videos purchased on Apple TV to your computer and iPod or iPhone.

Put more HD on your HDTV
Hi-Definition movies, Hi-Definition TV shows, Hi-Definition podcasts, and Hi-Definition YouTube videos; with Apple TV, they’re all available on demand. You get instant access to newly released Hollywood hits and popular classic and library titles, including a large selection of on-demand HD movies. And now you can also purchase and watch your favorite TV shows in brilliant HD one day after they air. Or enjoy thousands of free HD podcasts or YouTube videos from around the world.

Now appearing on HDTV: Your photos and YouTube videos
Your photos deserve a bigger stage. Apple TV puts them on your widescreen TV, where everybody can see them in stunning HD. Select My Photos to browse photos from your Mac or PC. If you use iPhoto, you can find photos organized by Events or Faces. You can also access your Flickr photos or MobileMe Gallery. And you no longer have to huddle around a computer screen to see YouTube videos and podcasts, even in HD — Apple TV plays them big and bold on your TV’s spectacular screen.

Interested in more? Please contact us at:
www.HomeTheaterIntegrators.com

Home Theater retrofit

We take great pride in delivering a simple yet functional approach for all of our home media entertainment systems. Home Theater Integrators is a licensed, approved retailer of hundreds of audio / video components and accessories. Want something not found here, call our office and ask how we can help, or visit our frequently asked questions section. We are a full service hi-definition and surround sound specialist. Additionally, we provide un-matched sales and service to all video and home audio, multi-room entertainment systems. Home Theater Integrators can retrofit any existing home theater into a state of the art media room with large screen gaming, big screen sporting events, and even large screen web browsing. Our AV systems are designed based on: ease of use, quality, functionality, and budget in mind. We are bonded, and insured.


http://www.hometheaterintegrators.com

Green home theater / energy star compliant

Most electronics and home theater installation services are far from having a light carbon footprint. In today's world, if we can lessen our impact to our environment when selling and installing home theater equipment, then alternate installation methods and green products should be considered. One method of reducing the impact to the environment is to use structured wiring, this wiring has the ability to perform many connections and services using one bundled strand therefore reducing the overall amount of required wires (less use, equals less impact).

For more information regarding green installation methods and green home theater products, visit us on the web at www.HomeTheaterIntegrators.com

Professional / Custom home theater

Let our professional designers create the perfect Theater Room in your home. Going to the local multiplex theater is a thing of the past. With the ability to have a 125 inch HD screen, theater style seating, accent lighting, plush surroundings, 1080p projector, and speakers which would make a sound studio jealous, you'll find yourself at home in your new personal movie theater. Check out our theater pricing page for exclusive pricing. All packages include high quality 16:9 fixed frame screen, top name HD projector, state of the art AV receiver, with an all-in-one remote, Blu-Ray player, equipment training and more!

Top it off with the optional Vudu VBX1000 high definition movie player and you won't have to leave the house to get the latest Hollywood releases. Even better you have given the phrase "watching the big game" a new meaning; our Bronze package offers a large 84 inch screen so you can support your favorite team from a view which seems like you are on the field.

www.HomeTheaterIntegrators.com

Home Theater Integrators remains busy inspite of Detroit area economic slump

Home Theater Integrators is dedicated to providing our Detroit Michigan area customers with professional home theater design, sales, and installation services. We specialize in custom surround sound, multi-zone audio, and HD projector sales & installation. We service Oakland County and Macomb County in SE (south east) Michigan. We are your specialty audio / video alternative, we offer simple solutions for LCD, Plasma, LED, and projector installations for media rooms & personal theaters. Our turnkey home theaters and media rooms are designed and built with ease of use, quality, and functionality in mind. Every aspect and detail from the pre-wire to the custom remote control programming is handled with great care by our qualified low voltage technicians. Call today for your in-home consultation.


http://www.hometheaterintegrators.com/

Outside audio, or zone 2 audio

Most new AV receivers have the capability of supporting a second zone while still playing surround sound in the main or primary room. This is different than a speaker A/B switch on your amp or receiver since the A/B speaker switch on your amp or receiver is actually just sharing the wattage between all of the speakers and also is only capable of playing the same audio as the first room or zone 1. A zone 2 capable receiver will have discrete wattage for the main primary zone and discrete wattage also in the second zone 2, therefore resulting in increased overall power and performance. Additionally, the second zone can play a different audio source than the main room or zone one. This allows the homeowner to watch a movie in surround sound in the TV room while also listening to music (FM, CD, satellite radio) heck you can even listen to your iTunes library wirelessly from your PC or Mac throughout the rest of the house. Some installers will set it up using volume control knobs for each room. I prefer to set it up using an RF remote so the listener can fast forward through songs if needed and also adjust volume from the RF remote (can also "power on" and "power off" the system without getting out of your chair). Once you decide to invest in outdoor speakers, don't make the mistake of buying those ROX style speakers. Most will agree, the rox speakers can only be heard clearly if the listener is within 8 or 10 feet of the rox speaker. After all, these speakers aren't know for quality, but rather known for the ability to blend in with the outdoor environment. If you are seeking quality in an outdoor speaker, consider a wall mount, weather resistant, all climate speaker. These will deliver quality and performance the rox speakers are incapable of delivering.
For more info please visit our website.



Marc
http://www.hometheaterintegrators.com/

3D television???

Vendors have lined up to roll out 3-D televisions, hoping to become the leader in a market proponents say will change the way the world watches TV as much as the switch from black-and-white to color.
More cautious observers have concerns about whether the technology for a quality experience exists yet, whether the price will be right and whether there will be enough content to make the TVs worthwhile.
But the success of movies like "Avatar" and "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" has viewers hankering for more.
And they're getting it.
Manufacturers like Sony, Samsung, LG and Panasonic have either rolled out 3-D products or are expected to in the next couple of days.
Content providers like ESPN, DreamWorks, Direct TV and Discovery have said they're ready to send images jumping off TV screens in the coming year.
So, just where does this leave you if you're hoping for a "comin' at ya" experience from the tube?
How much will it cost?
Specifics so far are sketchy, but logic suggests it will cost a lot, at least at first.

That said, some manufacturers are promising they can get 3-D televisions on the market for roughly the price of high-end high-definition TVs.
Phillips had a no-glasses 3-D television on the market until March, when it was pulled amid an economy unfriendly to its price. It ranged from $3,000-$12,000 depending on the model.
One seller online has a 42-inch model of the TV still listed at $8,999.
The manufacturers who so far have rolled out 3-D offerings at CES have done so without including a price. But several suggest the Phillips price may be high.
Richard LaBerge, of Sensio Technologies, which has developed a form of 3-D, suggested to CNN that the TV prices would be near or slightly above current top-end prices.
"The target is to have it at the same price as a normal 2-D TV, or with a little bit of premium, but something acceptable to add this immersive effect into your home that people would be able to accept," he said.
When can I get it?
Almost every company touting a 3-D television this week has said they plan to be on the market sometime in 2010.
In a way, the content is driving the technology. By going ahead and announcing that they'll be on the air, folks like ESPN, Discovery and Direct TV have dangled a carrot in front of viewers -- and lit a fuse under TV manufacturers to get their products out before the content starts airing.
ESPN plans to be up in June. You can bet every manufacturer with a product ready to sell will try to be in stores before avid sports fans start sniffing around.
How does it work?
All 3-D technology relies on the idea that if separate images are presented to the left and right eyes, the human brain will combine them and create the illusion of a third dimension.
With technology that uses 3-D glasses, two images -- one for the right eye and one for the left eye -- alternate quickly on the TV. Shutters on the 3-D glasses swap the viewer's vision from right eye to left eye at the same rate.
The TV connects with the glasses through a sensor that's placed between the lenses on the glasses.
The effect moves so quickly that it tricks the brain into merging the images and creates the perspective needed to see images in 3-D.
What could go wrong?
Some analysts are concerned that 3-D broadcasts, which require twice the data, will gobble up an unworkable amount of television bandwidth.
Some also worry that 3-D glasses and graphics won't make a smooth transition to American living rooms.
Shane Sturgeon, publisher of HDTV Magazine, said recently that some of the glasses give him a headache and could dissuade some people from buying the new technology.

Marc
www.HomeTheaterIntegrators.com

Hooking up an iPod to your stereo is NOT the best way to listen to your MP3 library

Many custom installation companies are pushing iPod docks as a way to listen to an MP3 library through loud speakers. Although this is a simple and cost effective solution as a way to avoid the earbuds, it is not the preferred method. The first problem is, you'll have two repositories for your music files, one on your computer's hard drive and the second on the iPod itself. The issue is, unless you sync your iPod regularly, you will not have access to the latest music downloads through your stereo like you would if you play the music on your stereo directly from the computer hard drive itself. This method is setting up the computer as a media server and the stereo as a media player. The next problem you'll likely encounter is, using the iPod as a media player will compress the music file where high-fidelity is not available. The minimum recommended digital stream bit-rate is 192 Kbps (kilo bits per second). The iPod stream rate is much lower than 192Kbps. You will miss the hi-highs and the lo-lows. Just not recommended for the audiophile. So, back to the solution as mentioned earlier. By playing the music files directly from the computer hard drive, you are hearing the music as intended by the artist, the sound engineer, and the producer. The reason for this is, this method presents the music in an un-compressed format. So ditch the iPod dock and trade it in for a stereo media player. We can setup your computer as a media player and and you'll never need to sync you iPod again.



Marc
http://www.hometheaterintegrators.com/

HDMI v1.4

What's new in the HDMI 1.4 specification?

HDMI Ethernet Channel
The HDMI 1.4 specification adds a data channel to the HDMI connection, enabling high-speed, bi-directional communication. Connected devices that include this feature can send and receive data via 100 Mb/sec Ethernet, making them instantly ready for any IP-based application. The HDMI Ethernet Channel allows internet-enabled HDMI devices to share an internet connection via the HDMI link, with no need for a separate Ethernet cable. It also provides the connection platform that will allow HDMI-enabled components to share content between devices.

Audio Return Channel
The new specification adds an audio channel that will reduce the number of cables required to deliver audio "upstream" from a TV to an A/V receiver for processing and playback. In cases where a TV features an internal content source, such as a built-in tuner or DVD player, the Audio Return Channel allows the TV to send audio data upstream to the A/V receiver via the HDMI cable, eliminating the need for an extra cable.

3D
The 1.4 version of the specification defines common 3D formats and resolutions for HDMI-enabled devices, enabling 3D gaming and other 3D video applications. The specification standardizes the input/output portion of the home 3D system, facilitating 3D resolutions up to dual-stream 1080p.

4K Resolution Support
The new specification enables HDMI devices to support extremely high HD resolutions, effectively four times the resolution of a 1080p device. Support for 4K allows the HDMI interface to transmit digital content at the same resolution as the state-of-the-art Digital Cinema systems used in many movie theaters.

Expanded Support For Color Spaces
HDMI now supports color spaces designed specifically for digital still cameras, enabling more accurate color rendering when viewing digital photos. By supporting sYCC601, Adobe®RGB, and Adobe®YCC601, HDMI display devices are capable of displaying more accurate, life-like colors when connected to a digital camera.

HDMI Micro Connector (Type D)
The HDMI Micro Connector is a significantly smaller 19-pin HDMI connector supporting up to 1080p resolutions for portable devices such as cell phones, portable media players, and digital cameras. This new connector is approximately 50% smaller than the size of the existing HDMI Mini connector.

Automotive Connection System (Type E)
The Automotive Connection System is a cabling specification designed to be used for in-vehicle HD content distribution. The HDMI 1.4 specification provides a solution designed to meet the rigors and environmental issues commonly found in automobiles, such as heat, vibration and noise. Using the Automotive Connection System, car manufacturers now have a viable solution for HD distribution within a vehicle.

When should we expect to see products with some of these new features?
While the HDMI Licensing authority has no special insight into manufacturers' product plans, prior experience tells us that when a new version of the specification is released, products featuring the new capabilities typically start to reach the market within six to nine months. A number of products featuring HDMI 1.4 functionality are likely to be introduced at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Are manufacturers required to implement all of the new HDMI 1.4 features?
No. HDMI technology is designed to enable a wide variety of manufacturers in different markets to implement the feature sets that work best for their customers.
How will I know which HDMI 1.4 features are implemented in a device?
Shop for the specific features that interest you, rather than shopping for an HDMI version number and assuming that a certain feature is supported. Since many of the capabilities detailed in the HDMI 1.4 specification are optional implementations, it's the responsibility of the manufacturer to tell you what features are supported in any given device.

Will any of the new HDMI 1.4 features require a new cable?
The HDMI Ethernet Channel feature will require a new cable that supports this functionality, either a Standard HDMI Cable with Ethernet or a High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet, depending on the maximum resolution to be supported. The Automotive Connection System will also employ a new class of cable, the Standard Automotive HDMI cable, which is designed specifically for automotive use. All of the other new HDMI 1.4 features will be compatible with the existing categories of cables.
Are HDMI 1.4 devices going to be backwards-compatible with older HDMI (v.1.0 - 1.3) devices?
Yes, devices built to the HDMI 1.4 specification will be fully backwards-compatible with existing HDMI devices and their features.
Can older HDMI (v.1.0 - 1.3) devices be firmware-upgraded to take advantage of the new features introduced in HDMI 1.4?
Probably not. Most of the new features introduced in HDMI 1.4 will require a new HDMI chip to enable, and cannot be upgraded via firmware.

Miscellaneous
Where can I find more information about HDMI 1.4?
For general questions about HDMI, please visit www.hdmi.org. For complete details on the HDMI 1.4 specification, please go to http://www.hdmi.org/manufacturer/hdmi_1_4.aspx.

Marc
www.HomeTheaterIntegrators.com