All Articles Tagged Led

Julie Jacobson | 01/26 08:37 AM, 0 Comments

Is WDMX the future of wireless lighting controls? amBX is using the platform for a new line of wireless lighting controls to be introduced at Integrated Systems Europe in Amsterdam next week. Last year, we lauded amBX’s entertaining demo of multicolored (RGB) LED lights based on DMX – a popular protocol seen mostly in Europe and in commercial installations, but making inroads into the residential market. The new wireless version of the amBX system taps WDMX, which has “been around for a couple of years and is established in the… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 01/16 01:30 PM, 0 Comments

Lighting control is nothing new for most CE pros. But 2012 could bring a big boost to the category thanks to LEDs (light emitting diodes) - those long-lasting, energy-efficient and often colorful gems that are quickly replacing the disgraced incandescent. The opportunities are two-fold: energy savings and ambiance. First, the ROI on LED bulbs is well chronicled, and the return is becoming increasingly attractive as prices continue to drop. Ikea, for example, sells LED bulbs for $14 for a 45-watt replacement. “I have successfully transitioned three homes to entirely LED… View this story

Grant Clauser | 01/12 02:49 PM, 0 Comments

While known primarily for its plasma TVs among video enthusiasts, Panasonic launched a line of 3D LED LCD TVs with passive 3D technology at CES 2012. A Panasonic rep said the company wants to give consumers a wider choice of options. Panasonic wants customers to know that the best picture quality will come from the active-shutter glasses plasma TVs, but if the convenience of cheap polarized glasses appeals to people, Panasonic will give them that on the ET5 series LED TVs. Panasonic also introduced a 55-inch LED, beating out its… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 01/11 04:08 PM, 3 Comments

For home automation buffs, one of the coolest products at CES 2012 is in the Z-Wave pavilion, where Fujikom is demonstrating multi-colored LED light bulbs with Z-Wave home automation technology built in – just screw them into standard light sockets, and control them with your iPad, PC or handheld remote. Called LeDenQ, the Fujikom system makes all those Z-Wave door locks, thermostats, light switches, garage door openers and sensors seem like yawners. A tiny RGB light, maybe one-inch squared and super-thin provides about 800 lumens of light, equivalent to a… View this story

CE Pro Editors | 01/09 12:45 PM, 0 Comments

Westinghouse is adding a slew of TVs to its lineup of LED Edge Lit and LCD HDTVs at CES 2012. Westinghouse will show its largest HDTV to date, the 70-inch UW70 series, and the 55-inch EW55 series. Both LED sets boast a 1080p resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate and 8ms response time. Connections include three HDMI, one component and one VGA input. Other options include 3D noise reduction, inverse 3:2 pulldown for film-based content and three-way selectable color temperature. The company is also debuting at CES 2012 its line of… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 12/20 09:34 AM, 0 Comments

Lighting control was so simple when there was just the incandescent bulb and maybe a handful of other lighting fixtures, mostly in the commercial market. But now that we have LEDs, fluorescent lighting and a wide range of other options, it’s a little more confusing … and more important to know a controller’s capability vis-à-vis the types of bulbs used in any given job. For that reason, Crestron -- developer of home automation and other control systems -- has developed an online Lighting Fixture Compatibility Chart (pdf) that enables integrators,… View this story

Jason Knott | 11/22 07:18 AM, 0 Comments

We've said it before, but we'll say it again: LED lighting is going to be big business for integrators. Now, there's proof. Jim Sweeney, partner at Eco-Tronics, participated in an "illuminating" panel discussion at the CE Pro 100 Summit about LED lighting. Sweeney offered multiple real-world examples of how he is saving retrofit clients money by simply replacing their incandescent bulbs with LEDs. The numbers are staggering. And once Eco-Tronics is in the home or business, it opens the door for control and A/V installations. The primary sales tool used… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 11/14 10:18 AM, 2 Comments

CEDIA Expo 2011 was two months ago, but the innovations from the event are still fresh. While there were some mind-blowing products like Sony's affordable 4K projector, there were also some more modest developments that signify industry trends: Return of the touchscreens iPad and Android tablets were all over the show floor, as usual, but that doesn’t signify the end of the dedicated touchscreen. Seems they’re actually enjoying a comeback, even in the middle market. Both Control4 and URC introduced new 7-inch touchpanels that look like sleek tablets but act… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 09/09 02:25 PM, 6 Comments

LED lighting is exploding in the residential market, and colored LEDs are finding their way into more home theaters, playrooms, living rooms, swimming pools and more. So it stands to reason that DMX, the popular, mostly-European standard for controlling RGBW lights, might also find its way into more homes, even American ones. Several companies at CEDIA Expo 2011 are demonstrating control systems for colored LEDS, using DMX to manage light intensity, coloring, and other characteristics. But one of the most impressive is the new amBIENT XC from amBX, which syncs… View this story

Maxine Giza | 06/09 11:18 AM, 0 Comments

The push for 3D is everywhere. Commercials tout availability of content in 3D. Retailers have been optimistic 3D would drive flat-panel TV sales. But research by DisplaySearch says 3D and other new TV features (LED, Internet connectivity) aren't enticing consumers to open their wallets. Consumers are upgrading their TVs for reasons that are tired and true: to have a newer, bigger and better performing TV, DisplaySearch says. “While it is valuable to know how often people are upgrading or adding new TVs to the home, it’s also important to understand… View this story