Elite Home Theater Seating Blog

Apple TV Rumour Heats Up

February 12th, 2013

Rumours of Apple bringing their Apple TV (aka iTV), into the market have been ongoing for a few years now. This week the rumours started up again when Apple hired a senior OLED engineer, Jueng-jil Lee. Previously, Mr. Lee worked at LG’s OLED Development Centre in San Francisco.

Mr. Lee was a part of the LG project, AMOLED TV. For those of you that are unawar of what this is, AMOLD TV creates printed products using a 3D printing process that builds the item layer by layer. So with Mr. Lee now employed by Apple , does this mean they are working on the iTV? AMOLED stands for Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode, and it is  an advanced version of OLED with higher screen refresh rates, lower power consumption, and higher contrast  ratios. 4K televisions have four times the resolution of standard high-def TVs,  with a resolution of 3,840 pixels by 2,160 pixels. Apple’s existing 15-inch  retina MacBook Pros have a resolution of 2,880-by-1,800 pixels.

If you haven’t seen what the OLED TV is like, please watch the clip below.

With Jueng-jil Lee now working for Apple , we are open to speculate exactly what his role is. We all know Apple is secretive so let the rumours begin! Regardless of what the rumours are, we are all anxious for the release of the Apple TV (aka iTV).

We always appreciate your comments and feedback so contact through Facebook, Twitter, email or by phone.

Canadian Head Office Unit 406, 17665 66A Ave. Surrey, BC V3S 2A7 Tel. 604-575-8310 Fax. 604-575-8329

U.S. Head Office 1927 Boblett Street Blaine, WA 98230 Tel. 1-800-490-1595

email: sales@elitehts.com

 

 

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THX Introduce THX Tune Up

February 4th, 2013

THX, the audio reproduction standard for over a decade now introduce a calibration app for the iPad and iPhone called THX Tune Up. The app helps home theater ethusiasts get the best sound from their home entertaiment system.

The app can work in two different ways:  connect directly to your home entertainment system with an Apple Digital AV adapter or wireless through Apple TV. The camera on your  iPad or iPhone is used to set up the number of parameters on your TV, (colour, brightness, etc.) The app will ensure that your speakers are connected effectively with the proper sound levels of your home entertainment system.

The app was free until today but now is available from the iTunes store for $1.99. According to iTunes, the app is compatible with:

- iPhone 4
- iPhone 4S
- iPhone 5
- iPod touch (4th generation)
- iPod touch (5th generation)
- iPad 2 Wi-Fi
- iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G
- iPad (3rd generation)
- iPad Wi-Fi + 4G
- iPad (4th generation)
- iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular (4th generation)
- iPad mini and iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular

For an indepth review courtesy of PCMag.com, please click here.

We always appreciate your comments and feedback so contact through Facebook, Twitter, email or by phone.

Canadian Head Office
Unit 406, 17665 66A Ave.
Surrey, BC
V3S 2A7
Tel. 604-575-8310 Fax. 604-575-8329

U.S. Head Office
1927 Boblett Street
Blaine, WA
98230
Tel. 1-800-490-1595

email: sales@elitehts.com

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Will Streaming Movies Wipe Out Blu-ray’s?

January 21st, 2013

With the popularity of streaming services like Apple TV and Netflix, will Blu-ray DVD’s become a thing of the past? For home theater enthusiasts, this may never occur because the quality of blu-ray’s are far more superior than streaming services. Last July, we spoke about this in our blog, (click here to view it), and just yesterday I had a conversation about this with a friend which made me want to revisit this subject again today.

Personally, I cannot see streaming services replace blu-ray because of the audio and video quality. The difference is substantial and for those who love home theater systems, they too also won’t settle for subpar sound and video. It’s true that streaming has now started streaming HD content but the clarity is just not the same. If you stream content to a smartphone or a tablet, the quality is amazing but for a large screen projector or TV, there is a difference.

There is also the concern of available content. When you own a blu-ray, you can access it anytime however with streaming services, you are limited to what they provide thus causing an issue if there is something you love to watch but they don’t provide it.  

Personally I do not think streaming services like Apple TV and Netflix will ever take over entirely. Home theater enthusiasts want the best quality and as of right now, blu-ray DVD’s are the best. Comparing the quality to streaming services doesn’t even make sense since the quality of streaming is good but nothing like the clarity of a blu-ray disc.

We always appreciate your comments and feedback so contact through Facebook, Twitter, email or by phone.

 

Canadian Head Office
Unit 406, 17665 66A Ave.
Surrey, BC V3S 2A7
Tel. 604-575-8310
Fax. 604-575-8329

U.S. Head Office
1927 Boblett Street
Blaine, WA 98230
Tel. 1-800-490-1595

email: sales@elitehts.com

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Home Theater Apps

October 1st, 2012

Smart phones and tablets can make your home theater interactive. Here is a list of a few fun apps for you to try.

1) iMaster Control Pro is a full functioning remote where you can use your smart phone or tablet into control your entire home theater system
2) RedEye controls your home theater system that has an extensive online database to provide control codes for numerous devices through a WiFi signal
3) Logitech Squeezebox Controller  is an app that plays Internet radio or digital audio across a home network
4) Remote HD costs $5.00 that controls your Mac, PC, & Apple TV directly from your iPhone.
5) Plex puts your TV, video, music, & photos accessible through your smart phone. iTunes, Netflix and 200 various sources are all at the palm of your hand

6) Dijit allows you to replace all remotes you use in your house. You can even share what you are watching, listening to, or something you find interesting directly to Facebook and Twitter
7) Remote controls your Apple TV directly from your iPhone or iPad. This app is free!
8) DirectTV can be accessed via your smart phone and tablet and set to record shows even when you’re not at home
9) Home Theater Glossary won’t control your home theater but it will help you with terminology while you try to purchase your home theater system. This $3.00 app is only available on the Android system
10) i.TV is only for the iPhone or iPad. This digital TV guide will allow you access to what is available on cable, iTunes, Netflix, and Hulu

With smart phones and tablets increasing popularity, on a daily basis, using some of these apps to control your home theater system is extremely convenient. There is no need for multiple remotes that can be confusing to use. Each app we’ve listed has a direct link to download or view customer comments. Just click on the highlighted name to access each page. If you use any of these apps, we would love to hear what you think of them.

We always appreciate your comments and feedback so contact through Facebook, Twitter, email or by phone.

Canadian Head Office
Unit 406, 17665 66A Ave.
Surrey, BC V3S 2A7
Tel. 604-575-8310
Fax. 604-575-8329

U.S. Head Office
1927 Boblett Street
Blaine, WA 98230
Tel. 1-800-490-1595

email: sales@elitehts.com

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iTV: Rumours of Apple Expanding to HDTV’s?

July 18th, 2012

Apple has been a leader in technology over the past ten years.  The iPod revolutionized how people listen to music. In 2007 they released the iPhone which changed the cellular phone industry. In 2010 the iPad was released and the world fell in love with tablets. When rumours started to generate around a new HDTV manufactured by Apple, people took notice.

A few weeks back, we had a feature on Apple TV, the rumoured iTV is completely different. The iTV is a full functioning HDTV that is believed to revolutionize standard TV’s. Apple TV is a box that you connect to a standard TV and the iTV takes everything to a whole new level. The iTV is rumoured to have an iOS just like the iPhone & iPad and you could use either as a remote. Currently Apple TV enables you to stream your iTunes content and the internet, (YouTube, Netflix, Facebook, Twitter) on to your TV, this is also to be the same with the iTV. Since there aren’t solid facts regarding the iTV, nobody is sure if you can connect to the internet through Wi-Fi or through a cable system.

The screen sizes are to be 37″, 42″ and 50″. The picture above is not the actual iTV, this is a mock up. A built in camera would allow you to take pictures as well as the ability to use Skype. The iTV is said to be touch screen and would also have the ability to detect your movement from a distance, similar to the Samsung Smart TV. If the rumours become fact, one will be able to use hand motions without the use of the remote or without touching the screen itself. The iTV would be a fully functioning HDTV with full internet capabilities.

The price is supposed to start at $1499. The release date has changed since the rumours began.  Some are stating a late 2012 or early 2013 date. It would be in the best interest for Apple to release the iTV close to the Christmas shopping season. If the iTV is a reality, this will cannibalize the existing Apple TV shortly after. We are excited about the possibility of the iTV because it will enhance our home theater experience, just like the iPhone changed how we communicate with one another. Maybe Siri will be the main way to communicate verbally with your iTV? Right now it’s all speculation and we cannot wait to see what Apple introduces to all of us.

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Apple TV & Google Nexus Q: Will This Revolutionize Home Theater?

July 6th, 2012

In 2007 Apple launched Apple TV. Digital contents via Netflix, iTunes, YouTube, and other various contents stored on your computer can be viewed directly to your HD widescreen TV.  Streamed sporting events such as NHL or NBA games, movies can be rented or purchased directly from iTunes, & all your music and pictures stored in iTunes can also be seen on through Apple TV. With a Wi-Fi connection, Apple TV can be streamed to your TV and your iPhone can also be used as a remote.  Apple TV retails for $109 USD. The following clip will give you great insight as to how Apple TV operates.

Google has now released the Google Nexus Q.  Through Google Play, you can play music or movies through your Android phone or from your media tablet via Google Play Music. You can watch YouTube however Netflix is not available. Nexus Q is equipped with Bluetooth connectivity, an amp, & analog speaker outputs, Apple TV has neither of these options. The Nexus Q retails for $299.00 USD. The following video will give you a better understanding of the Nexus Q.

With devices like these there is no need to purchase physical DVD’s and CD’s.  All the contents are either streamed or stored on your computer.  For those of you who enjoy owning the physical DVD or CD, this may deter you from purchasing it. Those of you that don’t care to own any physical format, this can be a new way to enjoy movies, concerts, and sporting events.  Your home theater can have an unlimited catalogue, dependent if iTunes has what you want to watch (if you choose Apple TV).

Home theater can benefit from devices like these and it’s up to the consumer if they would like to move away from traditional media platforms.  Now your home theater can feature family vacations, weddings, & birthdays.  Just how popular this will become is unknown however, do your research. If you believe this form of technology will enhance your home theater experience, please leave us a comment regarding your choice.

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