Ok, I’m sorry for the corny title, but it’s for a good reason. One of the things we spend a lot of our free time doing is evaluating new technologies and devices that we might want to offer as part of a solution. The most exciting area we’re looking at right now is video devices, and by that I mean products that can act like a digital DVD player. They range from hard drive based storage devices that archive your DVDs and Bluray discs to Video On Demand devices that allow you to rent or buy videos over the web.

The one we’re excited about right now is from a company called VuDu and it’s pretty compelling. It’s a cool little black box with a stylish remote and a terabyte of storage that connects to your network and your TV. Using the onscreen interface, you can browse for movies ranging from classics to the latest releases in both Standard Definition (think DVD quality) and High Definition (think Bluray in all it’s glory without the disc). You set up an account at VuDu using a credit card and you can download videos to rent (24 hours) or buy for prices starting at $0.99 (special rentals). On our Comcast hi-speed internet connection, even the HiDef movies start almost immediately. You can rent it and watch it later or buy it and store it permanently on the box. Who needs to go to the video store when you can do it right from your own living room?

We’ll have one on display at the Concord Home Show this weekend if you want to stop by!

I think we’re all pretty conscious of the cost of energy these days, whether it’s the $4/gallon we pay to fill our gas tanks, the reports of $100 / barrel oil, or the monthly cost of keeping the lights on. There’s also all the press around “Green” homes, which have become mainstream and popular.

One of the simplest ways the average person can control their electrical costs is to turn off unnecessary lights and to dim others. Do we really need five 100W light bulbs on full bright to watch a movie? The answer, unless you’re scared of the dark, is probably no. Dimming lights by 20% could save 20% or more on your electrical bill. And watching TV or a movie with less ambient light enhances your viewing experience.

One of the nicest touches a home automation system like Control4 can bring to a home is the ability to control lights from the touch of a button. How about turning off all but your outdoor lighting when you press “Good Night” or dimming the lights in your living room when you start a DVD? These are not convenience features, but these days can actually save you some money! So next time you get your electrical bill and it’s higher than you remember it being, think about investing in a lighting control system.

Come see us at the Concord Home Show at the Grappone Conference Center / Concord Marriott on Saturday and Sunday 9/27 and 9/28. We’ll be showing off some of the products we talk about here on the sight including Control4, Bay Audio, NAD, JL Audio and NuVision. We’ll also be raffling off a few bottles of our “Sanctuary Cellars 2008 Shiraz”, so stop by and say hello!

More information here or here

I’m pleased to announce that we’re going to be offering NuVision displays as our preferred television line. NuVision offers an outstanding line of LCD televisions ranging from 22″ (think Kitchen) to 65″ (think Living Room). What separates them from the rest of the thousands of other options out there? Video quality. Their image processors take high-definition viewing to a new level by providing a superior image processing system. What this means to you is blacker blacks, more realistic colors and more detail out of your DVDs, Cable and Satellite.

We’ll be showing some NuVision product off at the Concord Home Show on 9/27 and 9/28 so stop by and take a look!

For all you iPhone / iPod Touch fans out there, Control4 has announced the development of a control interface for their systems available on an iPhone or iPod Touch. You’ll be able to use either device to access the complete system over a WiFi connection in your home. You’ll now be able to carry your Control4 remote in your pocket and control your music, lights and A/V gear from a device you already own. Details on availability and price are yet to be determined, expect it to come out sometime in the next couple of months.

This week (September 3rd – 7th) is the CEDIA Expo. What is CEDIA you might ask? Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association, an industry group related to all things that we do here at Sanctuary. The Expo is where all the manufacturers show off the latest and greatest products that are being released now and over the next several months. Unfortunately we’re not attending this year, but we’ll certainly be posting information on what’s released, especially as it relates to product lines we carry. Stay tuned for more information!!