AV Adviser

21st century Top 5 home entertainment developments, number 4

I'm counting down the top 5 home entertainment developments of the 21st century.  Number four on my list is streaming media in general, though specifically I'd single out Netflix for video and Spotify for music. 

The ability to stream a movie, not to just your TV but any mobile device, whenever you like is such a delight.  Granted the selection of movies Netflix offers in their "watch instantly" section is limited, but that has to do with the motion picture industry more than anything.  There's plenty of classics to choose from and the list of new films continues to grow.  It's also a great way to get totally caught up in a television series you may have missed.  You'll find yourself staying up too late to watch just one more episode. 

And you know how I love Spotify.  I should be getting a commission from these guys.  I tout it's greatest that often.  Ten bucks a month to have the biggest record collection on the planet with the ability to listen to it anywhere.  It's a no brainer. 

If you have a question or if I may be of service eamil me at radiohannibal@gmail.com

John Hannibal

21st century Top 5 home entertainment developments, number 5

Though the 21st century is only a little over a decade old there's been some big changes in home entertainment.  And as technology advancement moves at lightning speed these days we can only imagine what the future holds.  I was looking back on this past decade and came up with a list of the top five developments.  We'll start at number five.

Apple has certainly changed the way we consume media content.  Heck, Apple could dominate this list but I've left the hardware products themselves off this list.  For my money Apple's AirPlay has changed the way we not only access content but how we share it.

Nearly every AV receiver today has AirPlay built in.  And then there's all the stand alone audio players that have incorporated AirPlay as a way of wirelessly sending music from your iPhone, iPad and now MacIntosh computer.  But it's not just music. 

Want to show off those photos and movies you shot with your iPhone while on vacation?  Send the content to your big screen TV via Airplay and everyone doesn't need to huddle around your phone. 

Apple's AirPlay points to a future where any media content will be sent to any display or sound device of your choosing.  Its simplicity in set up, design and function is a thing of beauty. 

If you have a question or if I may be of service eamil me at radiohannibal@gmail.com

John Hannibal

 

Summer doldrums in the AV world

Doldrums is an interesting word.  It refers to areas of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans near the equator  that due to atmospheric conditions the waters are very calm.  This can be a problem to sailors trying to get somewhere.

In the AV world we're in the midst of the summer doldrums.  Little is taking place as folks go on vacation and companies ramp up for fall and holiday season unveilings. 

I'm going to take a nap in the hammock as my outdoor speakers provide soothing music.

 

Adafruit, Heathkit for the 21st century

Most of you oldsters will remember Heathkit.  They sold do-it-yourself electronics components.  Everything from amplifiers to HAM radio gear.  You actually built the things yourself.  Kind of like building a model.  They had a store in Cleveland on Pearl near Brookpark, I believe.  It was an important factor in the development of passion I have for this business. 

Think of Adafruit as the modern day equivalent to Heathkit.  It may be even better.  In the old days if you were stuck on a project you'd have to go to the store and talk to them.  On Adafruit there's forums, blogs, and tutorials to help you. 

There's also all sorts of products to buy and assemble from LCD screens to hacker devices.  I'll be sharing this site with my son as I think he and his friends might enjoy this.  And more importantly learn from it. 

If you have any questions or if I may be of service eamil me at radiohannibal@gmail.com

John Hannibal

An electronic component not working? Unplug it

Nearly every single electronic device or component has a computer inside these days.  That includes your TV, AV receiver, and, of course, your computer.  Sometimes, something goes wrong with it.  It gets locked up, for lack of a more scientific term. 

You've certainly heard the customer service person at the other end of your phone tell you to unplug it, be it your internet modem or whatever.  It's the first step in troubleshooting.  And, sometimes, the only step neccessary. 

Keep it in mind all the time.  When something isn't working unplug it from the AC outlet.  It's nice that some electronics have AC cords that detach from the back of the unit so you don't have to trace which plug is for which component. 

I was at a customers home yesterday.  They had an Escient Fireball music hard drive.  It would power up, show the menu but then nothing would happen.  It couldn't be controlled.  So I unplugged it, waited 30 seconds and plugged it back in.  Voila.  The thing worked fine once again. 

It seems so simple but is often hard to remember when frustration sets in.  Maybe we need a catch phrase.  "Got a bug, unplug"?  If you can come up with something catchier let me know.

If you have a question or if I may be of service eamil me at radiohannibal@gmail.com

John Hannibal

The letters AV conjure up a certain image

I named my blog AV Adviser because it was to the point and available.  I checked and adviser can be spelled with an e or an o, as in Trip Advisor, we're both correct and the o domain was taken anyway.  I wanted to name it AV Guru but that was taken as well.

The letters AV  stand for audio and video.  At least I hope AV is to the point and you knew that.  The business I'm in has moved far from simple audio and video but it's still easier to explain than getting into control and integration of home systems.  That leaves people scratching their heads. Though the AV leaves some people wondering too.

They imagine the AV club in high school.  Home of the original geek squad.  You remember, they were the dweebs who set up the 16mm projector when it was time to show some educational film.  And sure enough, there's a website devoted to that AV.  It's called AV Geeks and it's run by one of them.  And what's on the site?  You guessed it, thousands of educational films this curator has accumulated over the many years since high school. 

He's become the uber AV geek for the 21st century by transferring the 16mm films to digital format to be shared by the world and archived for history.  Here you'll find films on patriotism, how to dress for success and how to be a good citizen.  These treasures date back to the 1940s and are generally a hoot. 

So as your AV Adviser I'm recommending you check out this AV Geek.

If you have a question or if I may be of service email me at radiohannibal@gmail.com

John Hannibal

 

Calibrating your TV, to do or not to do?

A well calibrated TV looks stunning.  It really helps you get the most for the money you spent on the TV.  But the cost of a professional calibration, using sophisticated tools, isn't cheap.  I only recommend such an extravagance when the home theater you've purchased is more than $10,000. 

Others have different opinions and some change their opinions too.  Andrew Robinson of Home Theater Review has reversed his position on getting a professional calibration.  Let me share it with you, Rethinking The Importance Of Video Calibration. 

Robinson makes some good points.  And, hey, if you can afford it then go for it. 

If you have a question or if I may be of service eamil me at radiohannibal@gmail.com

John Hannibal

Apple's iOS 6 and Apple TV, one cool combo

Word is that when the new Apple mobile operating system, iOS 6, is formally released it will allow some slick tricks in regard to Apple TV and Airplay.  The iOS 6 is in beta testing now.  That means my 14 year old son is messing around with it. 

Here's what it can do when working with Apple TV.  Say you want to watch a movie off of your iPhone or iPad.  As with iOS 5 you have the option of watching the film on the device or sending it to the Apple TV which, in turn, plays it on your TV.  Now say, you want the audio of the movie to be played on a seperate Airplay enabled system.  iOS 6 will recognize the distinction and send the audio information to, say, a B&W Zeppelin. 

I'm trying to figure out instances where I'd use this, but since I have a home theater I can't figure out a need.  I can see it working nicely for folks without a dedicated theater, maybe renters or rich college kids.

Here's the scoop from Cult of Mac, Apple TV Can Send Audio To AirPlay-Enabled Speakers In iOS 6 Beta 3.

If you have a question or if I may be of service email me at radiohannibal@gmail.com

John Hannibal

Panasonic plasma still looks best

There was a time when Pioneer held the crown as making the best looking plasma TV on the market.  The problem was it cost too much to manufacture and consumers weren't convinced that spending a premium was worth the better picture.  Pioneer got out of the TV business.  It was a sad day.  

Since then Panasonic has taken over as the plasma TV to beat.  Plasma has lost a ton of market share to LCD but the fact remains that LCD is an inferior picture.  

Here's a new story touting, once again, the virtues of the Panasonic plasma, Best Home-Theater TV: Panasonic Viera 60-inch Plasma.  I say it often, TVs are nothing more than a commodity these days.  Still, certain ones do rise above the rest. 

If you have a question or if I may be of service email me at radiohannibal@gmail.com

John Hannibal

A low budget home theater

Lifehacker is such a fun site.  On Monday they posted a story on how to make a home theater, albeit a very cheap home theater in every way.  What I mean is that the cost of this set up is crazily inexpensive but you get what you pay for.  The quality of such a theater is as cheap as the price.  Still, if you're renting or only need something with a big picture for when the guys come over on Saturday and Sunday to watch the games, this may be the ticket. 

Here's the story from Lifehacker, How to Put a Movie Theater in Your Home on the Cheap.

If you have a question or if I may be of service email me at radiohannibal@gmail.com

John Hannibal