News Archive
Wed 26 July 2006
Media Center PC for Custom Installers
The Integra NVS-.7.7 is targeted specifically at custom installers who want to install Media Center PCs with minimum set up and after sales hassle. The convenience of avoiding the problems common to open-platform PC-focused systems and software comes at a premium though, a $3000 premium. For that you get a black box packed with a 2.8 GHz Pentium 4 D820 processor, 1GB RAM, 400GB hard drive, and both digital ATSC and analogue NTSC tuners, the usual bunch of ins and outs but also the unusual, in fact first of its kind, Dolby's Master Studio technology suite for full 7.1 channel surround sound, as well as an Integra-designed sound card featuring Wolfson 192kHz/24-bit DACs and Vector Linear Shaping Circuitry, which apparently delivers smoother, more detailed stereo analogue output.
Related Article: One box to rule all other boxes
Mon 24 July 2006
Carrying on the lighting theme from the post below, this simple but tasteful solution to a not uncommon problem is a Solar powered LED address number. When the big ball of fire in the sky hides from its milky brother the unit turns on automatically and lights up using two bright white LEDs which stay on for about 8-10 hours depending on how much sunlight it consumed throughout the day. Mounting is simple (no wiring or timers) with the included hardware. Made from anodized aluminium and being weather resistant ensures your house no. looks smart, day and night. At $20 not bad value either.
Mon 24 July 2006
Updating the ‘occupied’ or ‘available’ sign this lighted door handle lets people know they can come in or come back later by glowing red or green which you select by using a small lever underneath. It does need a power outlet to operate however so installation is a pain and it’s not very cheap costing £250 per pop. That’s the price you pay for traffic light door handles I suppose.
Fri 21 July 2006
Just as you might enjoy your dinner in the garden on these lovely summer’s evenings why not enjoy a movie outside as well? Or maybe you’d like to watch TV in the bath without having to go through all the hassle and expense of getting a Tilevision or Aquavision installed. If this sounds just like what’s been missing in your life then maybe it’s time to invest in NU’s Wireless TV. The 15.4” (16:10) widescreen LCD TV, displays a resolution of 1280 x 800 and has an all important 802.11g wireless receiver embedded inside it. Working in conjunction with a "State of the art" MPEG 2 video decoder and transmitter, it displays DVD-quality resolution pictures up to 30 metres from the broadcasting transmitter, which also acts as a hub for various audiovisual inputs.
It’s small enough to comfortably carry all around your home measuring 48 x 26.5 x 6.5 cm and only weighing 4.5 kgs and what’s more features a water-resistant housing making it suitable to watch in humid environments whether if that’s because you’re outside and it starts raining or kicking back in the bath, pool or Jacuzzi. Apparently the display is also highly dust-resistant. On a downside there is only a claimed 2.5 hours of viewing from the unit's rechargeable battery so you better choose carefully what movie you’re going to watch and minimise those toilet breaks, although you could obviously take it along avoiding those precious minutes on pause.
