The DSI Blog

So Pandora Radio is wonderful. It is a great service that comes to you via the Interweb to your mobile device, computer, Sonos player, and some new cars. Imagine Sirius radio channels that you can customize to your liking. Instead of a generic blues channel, you can create a blues channel that focuses around a particular song or artist you like. Not only that, you can create 20 blues channels, or disco channels, or whatever...and it is all free! I have about 80 Pandora radio stations I created from Sinatra to Punk Rock and I always can find something great to listen to for whatever mood I am in.

You already know we are living in a very "connected" world...even high-end coffee makers are Internet-connected these days. We increasingly rely on the Internet for so many things, and you need your network to be as reliable as possible. Our home IT network is the thing that increasingly connects us to the world, connects our home devices together, and if using a home automation or lighting system, connects us to our homes while away. All of us get frustrated when things stop working, and we find there are far too many network issues that people are needlessly suffering through. The reason...poor-quality components and IT networks that aren't properly designed.

OR...

When it comes to enjoying the many benefits of modern home electronics like the Internet, WiFi, home theater, whole house music systems, home automation systems, and lighting controls, we all want to feel at ease from convenience and lifestyle benefits from the technology, like the guy pictured above. Since we live in the real-world, though, sometimes we feel like (or are) the screaming guy when something stops working. Live without an Internet connection?? Shyaa....right!!

I've seen it...you've seen it. A beautifully-designed space that at first wows you, then, as you notice the details, leaves you asking "how did they forget to fix that?" It could be something fairly obvious like the placement of a door, but often it is something that detracts from an otherwise coherent room design.

Speaking as an electronics integrator, we see cringe-inducing offendors as:

A lot of our entertainment industry clients are building private home theaters and asking us how they should go about getting first-run movie content for their theater. Up until now the only way to get the latest Tom Cruise movie in your home on the Friday night it hits theaters was to become a member of the exclusive Bel-Air Circuit. If you have enough pull in the entertainment industry, a few phone calls will get you whatever movie you desire on a hard-drive while it is still in theaters. The drawback is that you need to purchase the same type of projection equipment as the local Arclight theater. 

Our final post for 2012 is part 2 of "The Best of 2012", the most popular blog posts by way of page reads. One of these is what I think is about the most incredible "TV" ever created...a 201" outdoor TV by C SEED that unfolds out of the ground! Here are 4 more articles to enjoy...

Another year has flown by and here we are at the end of 2012 already. Many thanks to our clients, referring partners, and many blog readers that have made it a good year. To finish the year we'll share our top 8 most popular blog posts of 2012. Enjoy, and looking forward to a great 2013...

1 - Sonos music bundle - Play:3 or Play:5 with "Bridge" - $299 / $399

Everyone enjoys music. Give the gift of the music system that is not only easy to use, but takes just a couple of minutes to plug in and start enjoying. Plus, this music solution is portable (you just need an AC plug nearby).

All of us are aware of global warming, and even if you are among the doubters that mankind is causing it, no doubt you know we use a LOT of energy in this country and how much your electricity bills can cost. Ouch! Thanks to new energy management systems, your home can:

• show you how much energy your home or business is using
• enable remote control over your thermostats
• give you suggestions for saving energy
• notify you via text or email if a problem is found
• if you have solar panels, show you how much solar energy you are generating and consuming, and track power flowing to and from battery storage arrays