HiddenWires ezine - 3 August 2006

Welcome to the HiddenWires ezine - a free newsletter designed to keep you up-to-date with custom installed home automation and home entertainment news, as well as developments at HiddenWires.co.uk.

We will deliver this service to you every month - unless there is some major news we think you should know about sooner.

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What's new?
Articles and Whitepapers @ HiddenWires
Casestudies @ HiddenWires
News @ HiddenWires
Books @ HiddenWires
HiddenWires-supported events

Combining sleek styling with award-winning sound and images, Meridian offers unique, fully integrated systems carrying pristine digital quality from the studio to the living room.

What's new?

The HiddenWires Summer 2006 survey is now closed and we'd like to thank all those who took the time to complete our questionnaire. The winner of the survey prize draw for the Pace DS810XE free-to-air high definition satellite set-top box is Steve Mclean of SMCSI based in Luton, Bedfordshire. Over 200 residential systems professionals and equipment suppliers took part and the feedback will be invaluable in helping us develop HiddenWires. The results also highlighted some interesting points, such as 61% of the installers surveyed did not belong to any trade association. Further details will be made available at a later date.

There have been many announcements over the last couple of weeks about the availability of titles and hardware for HD DVD and Blu-ray. As this senseless format war heats up, it will undoubtedly slow the market and in the meantime the downloading industry is advancing rapidly, both in terms of content available and in coding technology to deliver high definition content. Apple continues to add video inventory to its iTunes Music Store, although video availability on iTunes varies by country, and in the UK, BT has just launched the BT Vision store film and television download service for viewing on PC. A rental (via video-on-demand) facility will be added in the Autumn when BT launches its Vision TV platform for next-generation TV services. With high-speed broadband Internet access now being bundled as a commodity with other services, the channel for delivering content without a physical (disc) format is widely available - so plain old DVD could well be the last mass consumer physical format.

Finally, our feature this month is Automation and is sponsored by AMX. We have four articles covering IP-based monitoring, PDA control, automated security and a perspective on the Spanish market. We also have a case study of a penthouse development in St John's Wood, London, that focuses on lighting design.

Articles and Whitepapers @ HiddenWires

Feature: Automation Sponsor: AMX AMX systems provide totally integrated control of audio/video, internal environment, security and communications devices.

IP-Based Automated Home Monitoring By John Turner, COMPUTERLINKS (2/8/2006)

PDA-Control using Windows Mobile By Anton Ahmad, Linn Products (2/8/2006)

Automated Security Systems By David Rimmer, Intamac Systems (2/8/2006)

Home Automation in Spain By Yolanda Hartshorne, Ingenium (2/8/2006)

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Casestudies @ HiddenWires

Lutron HomeWorks in a Room with a 'Vue' (2/8/2006)

News @ HiddenWires

Marmitek introduces the IP RoboCam8, an IP colour 'Pan and Tilt' camera with built-in webserver (3/8/2006)

Universal Electronics Partners With Crestron to Deliver Powerful Handheld WiFi Touchpanel (3/8/2006)

iTunes Could Be Apple's 'Trojan Horse' in the Home Audio-Video Market, Says ABI Research (3/8/2006)

Pulse~LINK Validates Unequaled UWB Chipset Performance For Whole-Home HD Connectivity (3/8/2006)

Niles Introduces 26 New Ceiling-Mount Loudspeakers and Subwoofers (3/8/2006)

Naim Audio Launches NaimNet into the Custom Installation Market (2/8/2006)

Industry Adoption of DSL Forum TR-069 Specifications Grows to Address Multi-media Device Management (2/8/2006)

Slim Devices Introduces Transporter, the Ultimate Device for Audiophiles, and Declares the Death of the CD Player (2/8/2006)

NBC Universal and BT Enter Major Download-to-Own and Video-on-Demand Agreements in UK (2/8/2006)

Warner Bros. and Apple Bring Television Favorites to the iTunes Music Store (2/8/2006)

Sampo's Next Generation IP-Connected LCD TVs Access Web Entertainment Through Oregan Media Browser (2/8/2006)

IFA 2006: Top-ranking speakers at IFA Convention 2006 - Common Life Technologies (1/8/2006)

Steve Forbes to Address Electronic Systems Industry at CEDIA EXPO Annual Meeting Membership Luncheon (1/8/2006)

The Armour Training Academy - Significant Further Expansion Gets Go-ahead! (1/8/2006)

New QED Silver Anniversary 'XT' Bi-wire Speaker cable (1/8/2006)

HiddenWires Announces the Winner of its Summer 2006 Survey of the CI Home Automation Market (1/8/2006)

Pulse~LINK Validates Unequaled UWB Chipset Performance For Whole-Home HD Connectivity (31/7/2006)

Strategy Analytics: Global Wireless Home Device Sales To Reach 314 Million Units By 2010 (31/7/2006)

Intel General Manager Bill Leszinske to Deliver Opening Keynote Speech at CEDIA EXPO 2006 (31/7/2006)

Crestron says, 'Let there be light' at 100%LIGHT! (31/7/2006)

Asheridge Launches ZÕN Multiroom Audio Range (31/7/2006)

HDMI Annual Fee Reduced (28/7/2006)

China Video Industry Association Agrees to Promote and Support HDMI (28/7/2006)

Silicon Image Expands HDMI and Simplay HD Testing in China (28/7/2006)

Proficient Audio Debuts Electronics For Custom Install Market (28/7/2006)

Ruark Unveils the new Crusader Mk III Loudspeakers (28/7/2006)

Prime Industrial Design Sebuts the Xspot Wire Location System (28/7/2006)

New CEDIA Initiative Builds on Recent Success (27/7/2006)

National Home Security Week to boost demand for domestic security products (27/7/2006)

BADA Welcomes New Retail Member (27/7/2006)

AMX Announces 802.11g Access Point with Wi-Fi Certification (27/7/2006)

Xitel's HiFi-Link Allows iPod Integration with Multiroom Music System (27/7/2006)

Sony's CPF-IX001 Delivers Music Wirelessly Throughout the Home (27/7/2006)

CyberTouch Announces NEO 17 - 17-inch Wide-Screen Touch Screen LCD Monitor (27/7/2006)

OSRAM Opto Semiconductors and Lighting Science Group to Collaborate on New High-Tech LED-based Lamps (27/7/2006)

Internet Home Alliance Launches Laundry Time Pilot at Atlanta's Insperience Studio (27/7/2006)

Denon Announces AVC-A11XVA - Web-enabled and Networked THX Ultra2 7.1 Surround Amplifer (27/7/2006)

Megger gives a big hand for compact testers (25/7/2006)

Echelon Technology Adopted as Chinese Standard for Control Networking (25/7/2006)

Neaco Expands Range Of Expression With New Design Statements (25/7/2006)

AMX Launches Redesigned Website Offering Simplified Navigation, More Product Information, and New Vertical Market Content (25/7/2006)

Schneider Electric Makes S-elect Offer (25/7/2006)

Parks Associates: Residential Sales through Home Systems Integrators/Installers Grew 18% in 2005 (24/7/2006)

Fifth Annual SINOCES Concludes with Largest Exhibit Floor in Show History (24/7/2006)

Santa Clara Consulting Group: Blu-ray and HD DVD Markets to Exceed $28 Billion by 2010 (24/7/2006)

Haier Demonstrates High-Definition Television Integrated With Metalink's 802.11n WLANPlus at SINOCES (24/7/2006)

The Diffusion Group: Value-Added Managed Home Network Services Critical in Pushing Home Networks beyond Early Adopters (24/7/2006)

UPnP Forum Releases Enhanced AV Specifications Taking Home Network to the Next Level (18/7/2006)

HD DVD Turns Up The Heat with 'The Look and Sound of Perfect' Marketing Campaign (18/7/2006)

Seagate Introduces Fast, Centralized Storage for Small Office and Home Networks (18/7/2006)

Added benefit of the IFA 2006: IFA Convention - Common Life Technologies 2006 (18/7/2006)

TV One announces its manufacturing facility in Europe is RoHS Compliant (18/7/2006)

ELAN Home System Announces V883 Shipping Ahead of Schedule (18/7/2006)

ABI Research Forecasts Media Server PC Category to Exceed $44 Billion by 2011 (18/7/2006)

Parks Associates: Thirty Million U.S. Households Will Have an Entertainment Network by 2010 (18/7/2006)

Niles Launches Website for Revolutionary Digital Whole-House Audio System (18/7/2006)

Simple, Integrated Programming with Systembuilder 2.0 from Crestron (18/7/2006)

First annual IFA on course for success (17/7/2006)

IsoTek Announces Sigmas One-Box Solution (17/7/2006)

Consumers Report High Levels of Satisfaction Purchasing Home Technology, Finds CEA Survey (17/7/2006)

PLASA warns of the Impact of the EU's Energy-Using Products Directive (17/7/2006)

Divided Europe: Motorola reveals nations split over broadband (17/7/2006)

1394 Slowing in PC Market, But Consumer Electronics Shows Promise According to In-Stat (17/7/2006)

AWE Announces new Distribution Deals with Kef and Panasonic (17/7/2006)

ZigBee Adds Huawei Technologies, Schneider Electric and STMicroelectronics to Board of Directors (17/7/2006)

D-LINK Launches First Wireless Internet Camera With 3G Mobile Video Support (17/7/2006)

NETGEAR Launches 200 Mbps Powerline Solution for High-Definition Video and Gaming (17/7/2006)

Marantz sign up Icon for distribution of Opus and Octopus brands (14/7/2006)

Radiient Ships New HDMI Switch for 1080p Home Theater Applications (14/7/2006)

THX Introduces Certification Program for Integrated Home Theater Systems (14/7/2006)

CodexNovus HDcodex Media Servers Achieve ISF Certification (14/7/2006)

1394 Trade Association Develops New VersaPHY Enhancement to Expand 1394 Market to Very Low Cost Devices (14/7/2006)

Cambridge SoundWorks Ships Newton Series HD Home Theater Loudspeakers (12/7/2006)

Sony Gives 'Full House' New Meaning With Whole-Home Entertainment System (12/7/2006)

Dedicated Devices Features New 300 GB DigitaLife System Models and IP/network Camera Support (12/7/2006)

JDSU Expands Home Networking Test Portfolio (12/7/2006)

LINDY's AV Extender Reaches Five Times the Length of a Football Pitch (12/7/2006)

Marantz Announces WEAVE Home entertainment system featuring PLC technology (10/7/2006)

Denon Announces the AVC-A1XVA - its Largest, Heaviest, Most Powerful, Most Flexible AV Amplifier (10/7/2006)

Premier Electric Blinds Introduces Smart Blinds Web Site (10/7/2006)

Sharp announces DV-SV97H - DVD/CD player with HDMI digital output and DivX video compatibility (10/7/2006)

New Eclipse High-Speed Time Domain Subwoofer (10/7/2006)

Digital Plumbers taps into affordable smart housing (10/7/2006)

SiConnect in-Home Powerline Technology Signals New Era in Broadband Home Communication (10/7/2006)

Fonetechnology Launches IRIS - the home and office wireless security camera that streams video to mobile phones (10/7/2006)

Philips Brings HD Wireless Capability to the Connected Home (10/7/2006)

Leax Takes on the Domestic Sector (10/7/2006)

T3 and Centaur Exhibitions team up to create The T3 Smart Home Show (7/7/2006)

HiddenWires Celebrates Third Anniversary and Takes Stock of the CI Home Automation Market (5/7/2006)

Play Even Smarter! Control Your Audio-Visual Entertainment Devices with Bluedelta Designs' Enhanced Smart-SCART+ (5/7/2006)

Surround Sound goes Wireless with apt-X (5/7/2006)

Silicon Optix Brings HQV Video Processing to the Mainstream with Reon-VX (5/7/2006)

RZ Products Group Simplifies HDMI Connectivity (5/7/2006)

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Books @ HiddenWires

Save up to 30% on the titles in our book store:

Great Escapes: New Designs for Home Theaters by Theo Kalomirakis

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HiddenWires-supported events

IFA
1-6 September 2006
Berlin, Germany
IFA is: the world's largest Consumer Electronics trade fair with 1,202 exhibitors from 40 countries (up 16%) and 245,849 participants (2005) on an exhibition space of 160,000 sqm; the industry's No. 1 place for orders, with a volume of 2.5 billion Euros a trade fair for both experts and the public featuring special services for trade visitors and a varied program with special events for consumers, 99,471 trade visitors including 14,523 from outside Germany (up 56%); an incomparable media event 6,900 accredited journalists from 70 countries, 580 reports on German television and 14,100 articles published in Germany alone.

CEDIA US Expo
13-17 September 2006
Colorado Convention Center Denver, CO, USA
CEDIA Expo is the #1 residential electronic systems contractor show. Don't miss the new products and technology that will be revealed, the numerous educational opportunities, and the additional day on the trade show floor. CEDIA Expo registration opens June 1, 2006. Early bird discounts end July 19 so register early.

Smart Home Zone at the London Building and Renovating Show
22-24 September 2006
Excel, London
Looking to build, renovate or convert? Planning to integrate entertainment, technology and automation into your home? Visit The London Homebuilding & Renovating Show and the specially featured Smart Home Zone and do all your research under one roof.

Hi-Fi News Show 2006
22-24 September 2006
Renaissance Hotel, Heathrow, London
The show will feature a potent mix of the hottest hi-fi, a superb line-up of famous faces from the audio world who'll be giving 'free-to-see' talks, a nod to the past with a stunning hi-fi museum exhibit and much more. You'll get the chance to hear the world's best new speakers, turntables, amps, CD players and a host of other gear. Why not give your ears a treat and come along to the Hi-Fi News Show 2006 - it's the ultimate audio experience!

Scottish Home Improvement & Self Build Show
7-8 October 2006
Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland
Make your ultimate dream home or property a reality now. Whether you are building a home from scratch, extending or improving your existing home or taking on a conversion or renovation development Ð The Scottish Home Improvement & Self Build Show is the perfect place to source the ultimate quality products, services and advice you'll need to get your project underway profitably and successfully!

The Connected Home
24-25 October 2006
Olympia, London
The 4th Annual Connected Home 2006 will encompass threats and opportunities, revenue generating realism and forward-thinking. If you have a professional interest in delivering or enabling infotainment within a connected home environment, this is a must-attend event for 2006. It is aimed directly at the industries supporting the markets growth; telcos, broadcasters, content providers, device manufacturers, technology providers, software providers, system integrators, broadband providers, and many more.

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