Columns and Series - General

Columns and Series - X-10 Technical Series by Phil Kingery

Title	Author	Company	Issue Date	Synopsis
Which One Should I Use, Part XVIII	Phil Kingery [More]	Advanced Control Technologies, Inc [More]	2003-02	What is Extended Code - Part 2
Which One Should I Use, Part XVII	Phil Kingery [More]	[More]	2002-12	Extended Codes
Which One Should I Use - Part XVI	Phil Kingery [More]	[More]	2002-12	A Better X-10 Interface
Which One Should I Use - Part XV	Phil Kingery [More]	[More]	2000-12	Two-Way Receivers with Direct Dimming and Scenes.
Which One Should I Use, Part XIV	Phil Kingery [More]	[More]	2000-10	Two-Way and Extended Code
Capacitor as Bridge?	Phil Kingery [More]	[More]	1999-06	In more complex installations, a capacitor across the two legs will both help and hurt.
Which One Should I Use - Part XIII	Phil Kingery [More]	[More]	1999-02	Digital X-10
Which One Should I Use - Part XII	Phil Kingery [More]	[More]	1998-12	More Noise, Filtering and Troubleshooting (and let’s get this one done, already)
Which One Should I Use - Part XI	Phil Kingery [More]	[More]	1998-10	Noise and Filtering, Troubleshooting
Which One Should I Use, Part X	Phil Kingery [More]	[More]	1998-08	Noise and Filtering, So Let’s Look at Filters.
Which One Should I Use, Part IX	Phil Kingery [More]	[More]	1998-06	Noise and Filtering, but let’s just define noise first.
Which One Should I Use, Part VIII	Phil Kingery [More]	[More]	1998-04	Troubleshooting Three-Way and Four-Way Switch Circuits
Which One Should I Use, Part VII	Phil Kingery [More]	[More]	1998-02	More Three-Way and Four-Way Switch Circuits
Which One Should I Use, Part VI	Phil Kingery [More]	[More]	1997-12	Three-Way Switch Circuits
Which One Should I Use, Part V	Phil Kingery [More]	[More]	1997-10	Dim/Bright Commands and Coupler-Repeaters ...plus some other information about new stuff in the world of X-10
Which One Should I Use - Part IV	Phil Kingery [More]	[More]	1997-08	Complex Residential Coupling with Considerations for Dim/Bright
Which One Should I Use - Part III	Phil Kingery [More]	[More]	1997-06	120/240v Residential Coupling
Which One Should I Use - Part II	Phil Kingery [More]	[More]	1997-04	There is an interesting and often confusing aspect of home automation, and that is, "speed" control. I am constantly amazed by just how easily we all associate "dimming" with "speed control".
Which One Should I Use? - Part I	Phil Kingery [More]	[More]	1996-12	Before we can choose the right X-10 device, however, we need to know a little more about the load we are wanting to control and how the circuit is wired.

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Columns and Series - Home Cabling Series by Brian Karas

Title	Author	Company	Issue Date	Synopsis
Home Cabling Part V	Brian Karas [More]	Future Standard Systems. Inc. [More]	1999-12	So, now we’ve got a house full of cables, a nice wiring closet, and neat and impressive outlets. At this point you may be thinking ‘what do I do with all these wires’? We should probably go over some of the things you can do with your new high-tech wiring system, and how to go about having all these technologies co-exist nicely.
Home Cabling Pt IV	Brian Karas [More]	[More]	1999-08	Typically, crimp-on connectors are for stranded cable, and one of the biggest mistakes people make is using the wrong crimp-on end. If you look very closely, you will see a row of ‘teeth’ on the underside of the exposed pins. These teeth pierce the insulation of the cable to make electrical contact with the copper wire. Using a crimp-on connector designed for a solid cable on a stranded cable can result in an unreliable connection (and vice-versa).
Home Cabling Part III	Brian Karas [More]	[More]	1999-04	Wiring outlets should not be placed in the same stud cavity as HVAC cold-air return ducts. Similarly, they should be at least one stud-cavity away from 120V/240V AC wiring. Ideally, all structured wiring should stay 12" from 120V wiring, and cross at right angles where necessary.
Home Cabling Part II	Brian Karas [More]	[More]	1999-02	The wiring closet exists to hold not only the ‘other end’ of the cables we run to various points in the house, but also the devices like network hubs, PBXs, alarm control panels, video and audio distribution equipment, etc. that will provide the services these cables carry.
Home Cabling - Pt I	Brian Karas [More]	[More]	1998-10	Home cabling systems are no different than commercial systems, they often contain a mix of broadband (coax) cables, and twisted pair cables carrying voice, data, and security signals. The components and connectors for these systems have been tried and proven in the commercial industry and there is no reason to reinvent them for the HCS industry.

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Columns and Series - Programmable Logic Controller Series by Eugene Kowch

Title	Author	Company	Issue Date	Synopsis
PLC's - Analog Values	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2008-04	In order for an analog voltage or current to be used by a PLC, a circuit called an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) or a PLC analog input module is used.
When Do You Need A PLC?	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2007-10	Basically, the answer to the above question is simple. When conventional electrical switching fails to deliver today’s and future control requirements.
PLC - Lighting Design	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2007-08	A good lighting design at the beginning of a project will guarantee a reliable electrical system and a user friendly control system for the customer.
PLC - Memory Backup	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2007-04	The memory card is a recent method for memory backup. Some new PLCs provide a slot for a memory card. The PLC ladder application program can read and write to the memory card.
PLC - Web Server	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2006-12	The Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) with an Ethernet module acts as an HTTP Server (web content provider), which responds to requests from HTTP Clients (web browsers).
PLC - Date/Time Schedule	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc [More]	2006-10	The Date/Time schedule is a feature in the PLC that gives the homeowner a higher level of control over his/her day to day switching needs.
PLC - Bang & Olufsen Remote	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2006-06	By integrating the remote with the PLC, you can control the lights and curtains in the same room as the audio/video equipment.
Programmable Logic Controller - Hardware	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2006-04	The PLC is a versatile product that has many hardware options to accommodate the large number of different electrical interfaces out there. The PLC is modular in design so that one can mix and match the input/output (I/O) hardware requirements to meet the needs of the project.
PLC - Touchpanels	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2005-12	The decision to use touchpanels should be based on the number of inputs and outputs (I/O) in the project. Projects that have a large number of lighting circuits, drapery motors, and whole house audio/video distribution with very little wall space for switches, definitely requires a touchpanel.
PLC Installation	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2005-08	Remember to allow for other items, like a Lutron interface unit, to be mounted in the same PLC enclosure.
PLC and Grafik Eye	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2005-04	To the homeowner, this marriage of a PLC to a Grafik Eye system gives a very powerful and flexible electrical control system.
PLC - Variable Codes	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2005-02	Entering variable codes could be done via a desk or laptop PC, but a more convenient way is via a LCD display panel.
Programmable Logic Control - Drapery	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2004-10	With motorized drapery connected to the PLC, not only will the homeowner control the blinds from keypads on the wall, but can have them open or close depending on amount of sunlight coming into the room automatically.
Programmable Logic Controllers - Functions	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2004-08	PLC functions are programmed codes that define a connection between an input and a corresponding output.
PLC - Real Math	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc [More]	2004-04	With real number capability and transcendental functions one could incorporate a sunrise/sunset algorithm in the PLC to turn off or on lights in the morning or evening without having to use a photocell or pre set time clock.
PLC - Memory Map	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2004-02	The memory is divided into three parts: program, word and discrete registers. The program (ladder logic) and word registers are usually stored in FLASH memory, while the discrete registers are stored in RAM memory.
PLC Data Types	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2003-12	There are basically two types of data; discrete and word data. Discrete data is one bit that can be either a '1' or a '0'. Discrete data is used for keypad button inputs and lighting circuit outputs. Word data is 16-bits that represent a fixed or variable number. For example, word data is used for interval timers and any other mathematical calculations.
PLC Registers	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2003-10	PLCs offer a fixed amount of registers, depending on the model and configuration. Most modular PLC registers are counted in octal. Its easier for PLCs to count in groups of eight then ten, because eight is an even power of 2.
LCD Display Panel for PLC Programming	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2003-04	Assigning various inputs/outputs and functions is done through the LCD display and keypad panel by entering pre-assigned codes.
Volume Control with Prog Logic Controller	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2003-02	The PLC allows the homeowner to control not only the lighting and drapery systems, but also the audio volume levels in every room from one single keypad.
Volume Control with Prog Logic Controller	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2002-12	PLC's have communication ports that can be configured to talk all kinds of protocols. One of the most useful in home systems is the ASCII In/Out non-sequence protocol.
PLC Communicates RS-232	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2002-12	PLC's have communication ports that can be configured to talk all kinds of protocols. One of the most useful in home systems is the ASCII In/Out non-sequence protocol.
Programmable Logic Controller Security	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2002-10	Integrating the security system with the PLC lighting control system creates a more secure home environment, when the homeowners are away or at home.
Programmable Logic Controller Application	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2002-06	The programmable logic controller (PLC) allowed for the integration of three basic electrical systems: lighting, drapery and audio. It also allowed for all of the systems to be controlled from one common wall station, thus eliminating the conventional switch wall clutter.
Low Volt Keypads	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2002-04	The Programmable Logic Controller is the ‘brains’ of the electrical control system but it still requires inputs from other sources, like low voltage keypads, to solve the complex switching requirements of today.
Electrical Switching Using A Programmable Logic Controller	Eugene Kowch [More]	P.I.D. Consultants Inc. [More]	2002-02	The Programmable Logic Controller is the solution to today's electrical switching requirements. The PLC is as reliable as a traditional switch, but has the ability to solve the complex switching requirements of today.
Programmable Logic Controllers - Timing Function	Eugene Kowch [More]	PID Consultants, Inc. [More]	1999-04	The Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) is a computer which can do timing functions. The timer instruction can be used to time events or create delays in residential applications. An example of a timer function is in the control of the garage light; on when the garage door is open and off 5 minutes after the door is closed.
PLC Lighting Control	Eugene Kowch [More]	PID Consultants, Inc. [More]	1997-12	"Using the PLC as the lighting control eliminates the toggle switch wall clutter, by replacing it with a low voltage switching solution. The low voltage keypad is a momentary contact device with multiple buttons."
PLC Applications	Eugene Kowch [More]	PID Consultants, Inc. [More]	1997-10	"The application program is written in a language called ladder logic. Ladder logic comes from the electrical industry when relays were used to control equipment. Relays were energized from a power rail through a series of contacts that formed a rung. A number of rungs in turn formed a network."
PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLERS	Eugene Kowch [More]	PID Consultants, Inc. [More]	1997-02	A programmable logic contoller (PLC) is a solid-state device with digital processing capabilities designed for real-time control of residential applications. A PLC comprises of input and output units (I/O) and a central processing unit (CPU).The input and output components are built into the same physical box with the CPU. The package provides a small, light-weight, low-cost, and self-contained solution for a wide range of control applications.

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Columns and Series - Wireless Networking Mentor - Wayne Caswell

Title	Author	Company	Issue Date	Synopsis
Big Broadband: Public Infrastructure or Private Monopolies	Wayne Caswell [More]	CAZITech Consulting [More]	2004-12	I recently returned from an Economic Summit in Loudoun, VA, where I was invited because of a paper I wrote earlier this year, “Reviving the FORGOTTEN Information Superhighway.� The summit expanded my thinking about the role of government in telecommunications policy and led to an invitation to speak at Austin InnoTech, a regional conference and exhibition with focus on the mutual relationship between technologies and innovation. This newer paper summarizes and expands on that presentation, which was called “Fiber, Wireless and Bandwidth for TeleWork.�
Sound Solutions for Wireless Woes	Wayne Caswell [More]	CAZITech [More]	2004-02	Several new technologies will improve the range and speed of wireless networks, with a combined effect of 10,000 times the capacity of dialup 56 Kbps modems. With such advancements, networks that use radio signals for communication could replace most of the network cabling we now use. How real is this promise? When will we see it? And what will it mean for equipment manufacturers, service providers, homebuilders, and homeowners?
Wireless LAN Buyers Guide	Wayne Caswell [More]	[More]	2003-08	If you plan to jump on the Wi-Fi bandwagon, you must choose among several 802.11 standards that are evolving at a fast rate and have different features and benefits. Shop around and compare prices but focus on value and consider other tradeoffs too. You may even want to take this article with you, and potentially share it with the sales rep.
Reviving the Info Superhighway	Wayne Caswell [More]	[More]	2003-06	Debate still lingers over government’s role in building an Information Superhighway and whether our lack of a national broadband policy means the concept is forgotten. Broadband – the “always on� network connection that receives and transmits digital content and services at high speeds – was supposed to change the way we live, work and play … as well as how we learn, shop, make things, entertain ourselves, and interact with others. But since that aging vision is coming slower than expected, this paper aims to revive the initiative.
Wireless in 2003	Wayne Caswell [More]	[More]	2003-03	After such a tough year economically, I was happy to see so much activity at CES and learn that attendance was up – over 100,000. It was clear that all sorts of wireless markets are hot – from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, to mobile phones, GPS, satellite radio, and more. While all of this activity will benefit consumers and their home networks, it was also clear that product designers must balance trade-offs and make choices appropriate for each specific application. You can’t get it all.
Bandwidth - How Much do you Need	Wayne Caswell [More]	[More]	2002-08	Applications determine bandwidth needs and costs. Health monitoring, for example, requires very little bandwidth but saves lives and has high value. If your applications only need to send text and data, then dial-up modems can provide enough bandwidth for your needs, and they cost less than broadband. The Internet experience is enriched by added graphics, images, sounds and video, but this requires more bandwidth.
Wireless Wars or Wireless Weddings?	Wayne Caswell [More]	[More]	2002-06	Innovative semiconductor companies are introducing software-defined radios for wireless LANs this year, and we already see examples of multi-mode in mobile phones and enterprise wireless access points. I expect to see multi-mode PC adapters in 2002 that help move the industry away from the confusing Wireless Wars to a more cordial Wireless Wedding. Consumers and industry will both benefit from this new direction.
Wireless Toys	Wayne Caswell [More]	[More]	2001-12	Some of the products discussed provide adequate performance under ideal conditions, but there are many things that emit radio interference that can impact performance. These include stadium lights, cordless phones, microwave ovens, wireless LANs, and anything else that operates in the unlicensed 900 MHz or 2.4 GHz frequency band.
Wireless Tower of Babel	Wayne Caswell [More]	[More]	2001-08	If there’s a Wireless Home Networking lesson to learn from the Tower of Babel, it’s that we don’t need (and will never have) one wireless standard for homes, offices, schools, airports, restaurants, grocery stores, bowling alleys, and beauty shops. As intriguing as it may sound, it is not practical or desirable to have one wireless standard for all environments, purposes, and types of devices.
Social Trends	Wayne Caswell [More]	[More]	2001-01	In this last of a three-part series, I will explore some of the Social and Demographic trends that are driving the development of the Networked Home. The first article covered Science and Technology Trends, and the second focused on Market and Consumer trends. As always, your comments and suggestions are encouraged.
Networking Trends	Wayne Caswell [More]	[More]	2000-12	This is the second of three articles that examine key trends enabling and driving the development of the Networked Home. The first article covered Science and Technology Trends while this one discusses Market and Consumer Trends. The final installment will address Social and Demographic Trends. As always, your comments and suggestions are encouraged.
20 Techno Trends	Wayne Caswell [More]	[More]	2000-09	This is the first of three articles that will each examine key trends enabling and driving the development of the Networked Home. The first article covers Science and Technology Trends, followed by articles on Market and Consumer Trends, and finally Social and Economic Trends. Your comments and suggestions are encouraged.
Powerline Home Networks	Wayne Caswell [More]	[More]	2000-06	With powerline networking, you’ll be able to put your desktop PCs anywhere you like instead of being forced to put them by a phone outlet. It will also be easier to buy and network other devices – printers, scanners, DSL and cable modems, TV set-top boxes, game consoles, screen phones and major appliances.
Wireless Networks	Wayne Caswell [More]	[More]	2000-04	The cost of connecting PCs with radio waves instead of wires is now as low as $99 per system, and there are several technologies to choose from. But that's the problem - too many to choose from. Since a confused market doesn't buy, I'm dedicating this second HomeToys.com "mentor" article to positioning the three emerging wireless standards - Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11b, and HomeRF.
Futureproof Your Home	Wayne Caswell [More]	[More]	2000-02	New types of devices have helped to change the thinking of home networking experts. Six years ago they said to put bedroom phone outlets by the bed and TV outlets across the room. But they didn't anticipate interactive program guides or NetTV devices that require both a phone and TV outlet. So today they put a phone outlet by every TV outlet. Still, no one can fully anticipate future wiring needs, and that's the message of this article.

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Columns and Series - Classic Home Toys by James Russo

Title	Author	Company	Issue Date	Synopsis
Blu-Ray DVD Part 2: The Format Wars Begin	James Russo [More]	[More]	2010-04	In 2004, the physical specifications for Blu-Ray Disc were finalized. In January 2005, Sony announced that they had developed a hard coating polymer for Blu-ray discs. Cartridges, originally used for scratch protection, were no longer necessary and were scrapped. The BD-ROM specifications were finalized in early 2006.
Blu- Ray: The Next Generation DVD - Part 1	James Russo [More]	[More]	2010-04	Once DVD’s had become an entrenched part of the world’s media landscape, home video aficionados knew that not much time would pass before movie companies did one better than the picture and sound quality of DVD discs.
Classic Home Toys #23	James Russo [More]	[More]	2009-08	The Rebirth of 3-D: Pt 3
Classic Home Toys #22 - The Rebirth of 3-D: Part 2	James Russo [More]	[More]	2009-06	The earliest confirmed 3-D movie ever screened for a paying audience was The Power of Love which premiered September 27, 1922 at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. This was the first time that the red/green dual strip projection was used as well as the anaglyph glasses. The film despite the novelty of the 3-D effect failed to capture the interest of theatre owners and exhibitors and was shelved. Unfortunately, all copies of the film have been lost.
Classic Home Toys Installment #19 The Final CD Format: HDCD	James Russo [More]	[More]	2008-12	HDCD is capable of higher quality sound reproduction because HDCD encodes the equivalent of 20 bits worth of data in a 16-bit digital audio signal by utilizing custom dithering, audio filters, and some reversible amplitude and gain encoding. Peak Extend, which is a reversible soft limiter and Low Level range Extend which is a reversible gain on low-level signals. There is thus a benefit at the expense of an increase in noise.
Classic Home Toys #17 - Make Way for SACD	James Russo [More]	[More]	2008-08	Whatever the future holds for SACD, listeners cannot deny the formats superior audio quality and after listening for some time to SACD’s. one may find it difficult to go back to listening to the traditionally recorded CD’s in their collections.
Classic Home Toys #16 - Electronic Book Reader	James Russo [More]	[More]	2008-06	From Apple’s Newton right up to the latest contenders including the Amazon Kindle, computer manufacturers are still trying to get the public to embrace the ability to read without holding any paper.
Classic Home Toys #15 - Palm Pilot	James Russo [More]	[More]	2008-04	The Palm V had 2MB of RAM to store data as well as the ability to wirelessly transfer data to another Palm through an infrared port located in the top of the device.
Classic Home Toys #14 - Atari’s Next Wave: The Atari 5200	James Russo [More]	[More]	2008-02	The 5200 console became yet another obsolete home video game system that was obsolete almost from the day it was released. Although a financial failure, the 5200 would earn its rightful place as a classic home toys and find a niche in the annals of video game history. A downturn in the video game market and stiff competition from Coleco and Mattel forced Atari to abandon the 5200 in the hopes of achieving success with a new line of game systems.
The Watch of the Future	James Russo [More]	[More]	2007-12	Unlike many of the other electronics examined in Classic Home Toys, the Timex Datalink watch is alive and kicking and the watch is a credit to Timex for managing to stay ahead of the game in innovation.
Classic Home Toys #12 - TRS-80 Part 2	James Russo [More]	[More]	2007-10	At the time the Model 16 was introduced to the home computer market, the system represented one of the most advanced personal computers available for a small or home based business.
Classic Home Toys #11 - The TRS-80: The world’s first home computer	James Russo [More]	[More]	2007-08	The Model I combined the motherboard and keyboard into one unit, in what was to be a common case design trend throughout the 8 and 16 bit microcomputer era, although it had a separate power supply unit.
The Instant Camera That Was: Polaroid film in the Digital Age	James Russo [More]	[More]	2007-06	Because of its ease of use and its ability to produce a picture in a seconds at any location, the Polaroid was used by insurance agents, construction foreman, real estate agents, and filmmakers.
Classic Home Toys Installment #9 - Coleco Strikes Back	James Russo [More]	[More]	2007-04	Colecovision’s reign as king of the video game kingdom was short lived. Though the system sold well, Colecovision was reluctant to invest in original game design and relied heavily, if not almost entirely, on games brewed from arcade classics.
Classic Home Toys Installment #8: Intellivision…intelligent television…or was it?	James Russo [More]	[More]	2007-02	Intellivision was the first video game system to offer downloadable games via a Mattel owned cable TV station called PlayCable. However, since the Intellivision console contained no hard drive to save games, the downloaded games were lost once the power to the console was shut off.
Classic Home Toys Installment # 7 - The Sony Discman	James Russo [More]	[More]	2006-12	Look up in the sky…it’s a bird..no it’s plane…no it’s the Sony Discman
Classic Home Toys Installment #6 - What in the world was the Sirius Movie CD?	James Russo [More]	[More]	2006-10	The Sirius Movie CD was a marvelous creation and the CD-ROM’s which were released worked very well and represented a giant leap forward in CD-ROM movie technology.
Classic Home Toys Installment #5 - the twilight zone of DIVX	James Russo [More]	[More]	2006-08	DIVX (an acronym for Digital Video Express) was a rental format variation on the DVD player in which a customer would buy a DIVXdisc (similar to a DVD) at a low cost, which would be able to be feely viewed up to 48 hours from its initial viewing.
Run, Don’t Walk To Buy A Sony Walkman	James Russo [More]	[More]	2006-06	Some companies till produce cassette Walkmans although the demand by consumers for them had dropped dramatically. Portable CD players (one time known as Discmans) as well as the Apple iPod and other devices have virtually all but eliminated the cassette Walkman market.
Before there was DVD there was…Laservision.	James Russo [More]	[More]	2006-04	Laservision players had actually been invented in 1972 (under the name MCA Disco- O-Vision) and was intended to be an economical way to sell movies to the consumer market.
The Rise and Fall of Betamax	James Russo [More]	[More]	2006-02	Beta and Betamax decks are alive and well. You probably won’t find them in your local home electronics store, though. Beta has been relegated mainly to television studio use as well as portable video news cameras.
Classic Home Toys: Super 8 Film	James Russo [More]	[More]	2005-12	This new column, Classic Home Toys, will feature electronics of yesteryear. It is this reviewers hope that this column and forthcoming articles will bring nostalgic memories back to those who used these formats and, hopefully, help out those readers who may still be using these formats to connect with other hobbyists who have an appreciation for what these home toys of yesteryear could do.

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Columns and Series - THE Insider

Title	Author	Company	Issue Date	Synopsis
Content Insider #138 – Interactive TV	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2010-04	According to The Nielson Co., 106.5 million people watched Super Bowl XLIV. Our kids grabbed most of their favorite Winter Olympics events on their smartphones or notebooks. With less than 100 days to futbol’s World Cup, we’re all looking forward to the South African event.
Content Insider #139 - The Smarter Smartphone	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2010-04	With 300+ million in the U.S. and six billion plus globally, mobile phone/device penetration is rapidly approaching 90+ percent. Young/old, rich/poor, male/female are constantly available if not using their device to communicate with others, find information/entertainment.
Content Insider #140 – Boomers Plus	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2010-04	Our son can’t imagine how people survived in the “Dark Ages� without email, texting, cell phones, social sites, MP3, Tweets. He also can’t believe that some of the rock stars of that era are still going strong.
Content Insider #141 – Skirt Length	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2010-04	Technology is So Passé … It’s All About Fashion
Content Insider #143 – Business, Skills Training Is a Never Ending Process	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2010-04	As we move forward in the 21st century, traditional technical workers will have to expand their business skills while general business employees have to become more proficient in their understanding and use of technology. People across the board will need to not only know how the devices and applications work, where the information is located and what the data means.
Content Insider #136 – Social Media Spying Everyone Follows Social Media … Everyone!	The Insider [More]	[More]	2010-02	Our kids do nearly everything on their smartphones or netbooks. Because we’re slightly retarded, they use email for us. For everyone else -- friends, schoolmates, relationships -- they max out all of the capabilities, features and benefits of today’s Web 2.0 social media. They simply look at us and repeat Graves’s words, “I have to live my dreams.� They aren’t alone! “One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.� – Raul, Die Another Day (MGM – 2002)
Content Insider #137 – Innovation Innovation, Mainstream on Different Time Schedules	The Insider [More]	[More]	2010-02	The words innovation, efficiency and multitasking may not have been invented in Silicon Valley and the other technology enclaves, but they were refined, honed, perfected in these areas. When the economy stagnated, financial analysts and economists were quick to say the PC/CE/communications industry centers of hyperactivity had lost their edge. In the U.S., they were simply no longer capable of changing the way we live/work. They couldn’t be counted on to and move the economy forward. In fact, other countries were becoming the technology hotspots, generating the ideas and the products.
Content Insider #142 – Internet TV Cable vs. Internet – The Battle for Eyeballs Gets Serious	The Insider [More]	[More]	2010-02	Kids don't watch much TV with us anymore. They use their Roku units. They log onto their favorite shows. They YouTube oldies but goodies. They watch shows from Spain, France and Mexico (one is studying French, the other Spanish). They're watching how-to YouTube segments. They watch the stuff on their smartphones and their notebooks...not the TV. That's got Tellywood worried because they don't control that much anymore. True ...the only person you hate worse than the phone person is the cable guy! How will our content life change?
Content Insider #124 -- Free Stuff !!!!	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2009-08	Some think it is cool to set a movie, a song, a book, a game, an article free on the web. Some feel they should be paid for their creative efforts.
Content Insider #125 – Our Next Leader	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2009-08	What the industry needs is to dip into the talent pool to find some new crusaders, some new standard bearers.
Content Insider #126– The Real Power	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2009-08	According to a Pew Research study 43 percent of the women in the U.S. call the shots.
Content Insider #127– Too Much Advice	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2009-08	Product/Service Recommendations, Support… More Than You Want to Know
Content Insider #119 - New Markets Social Media…The Hunted Can Become the Hunter	The Insider [More]	[More]	2009-06	Today's Web 2.0 social media environment offers a tremendous opportunities for companies to closely engage with customers, prospects and market segments in a positive, mutually beneficial manner. The problem arises when marketing and communications people view these new 1:1 outlets as a great marketing/sales and PR pitching opportunities. They forget that the individuals if not treated properly and with professional respect can turn and instead of being the ones who are being hunted can become the hunters. People -- regular folks -- can be mean and brutal if they are abused. Marketeers need to know the pros/cons, challenges/opportunities. Consumers need to know that they have a powerful platform to strike back and cause real damage. It requires a mutual understanding on both sides and a meaningful two way relationship otherwise...duck. “Nothing in those files makes their sacrifice worthwhile. You have to let go. We're professionals, when an operation goes bad, we tie it off. “ – Ward Abbott (Brian Cox) – The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
Content Insider # 120 – Cloud Work Netbooks…The Easy Way to Sell More Service	The Insider [More]	[More]	2009-06	It sounds almost too good to be true -- a cheap computer you can use/carry everywhere, never have to upgrade the operating system or your apps, with a battery that lasts for ... well a long, long time. Sounds great except we end up leaving all of our work in the beautiful white clouds. The clouds move. We forget which cloud has our stuff and how we get in. Worse, there's a **** storm in the cloud just as we want to get in. Yeah...who knew what grandpa taught our little Miss Sunshine while we were out of the room?? Guess we may end up with yet another device to take along... convenience sure is getting heavy!!! “No one gets left behind! No one gets left behind! Outstanding soldier!� Frank (Steve Carell) – Little Miss Sunshine (20th Century Fox – 2006)
Content Insider #121 – Content Contention Entertainment Flexibility…Big Iron Doesn’t Matter	The Insider [More]	[More]	2009-06	NAB -- National Association of Broadcasters -- how the industry has changed over the years (even with attendance that was down dramatically). We've gone from huge cameras that took two men and a boy to move around the floor. A room full of sliding levers and people everywhere. Slowly, almost without seeing it the shift began and schools, health care facilities, houses of worship and even businesses could afford the lighter, more automated capabilities. Then we moved to really light stuff -- an HD camcorder, notebook and some kid doing his/her show on the fly. This year the show had obviously made the shift. Mobile and personal video took center stage...all in highdef. Gawd that's gotta really tick off the big iron folks because they've gotta sell a lot of $10,000 "facilities" to make up for lost ground. Get a life folks because our kids are directing, producing, posting their own shows...and they're good !!!! “Why do you have to paint everything so black? Suppose you got hit by a truck. Suppose the stock market crashes. Suppose Mary Pickford divorces Douglas Fairbanks. Suppose the Dodgers leave Brooklyn!� -- Joe (Tony Curtis), Some Like It Hot (United Artists —1959) Television production used to be pretty straight forward. You had HUGE, HEAVY cameras three people pushed around. In the control room you had sliders And BAM!! magically the signal went over the air. At home you turned on the set. Had dinner (families ate together then) and a half-hour later the tube was lit and you watched the Sid Caesar or Lone Ranger show. It was so cool.
Content Insider #122 – Twitter World Trust Us…You Ain’t That Interesting	The Insider [More]	[More]	2009-06	Ah the power of 140 characters. It is proving dynamite for well just everyone. Even us. We've got Twitter sending us notes saying people are following our Tweets and we have yet to send one out. But we aren't really that interested in someone following our every mumble on the Internet. Some people think it's a great solution. We think its stalking. Lots of people sign up but their fall off rate is worse than the churn on some of the mobile service people. Oh it will last. Everything lasts on the Internet. 7Command Performances – Everyone it would seem loves to perform and be in the spotlight. That is certainly true with the noise that surrounds the “gotta be on� approach people have taken regarding Twitter. Problem is even though thousands join each month, only about 40 percent of them stick around after a few days. The thrill of talking to yourself in a crowd seems to get old real fast according to most studies. “Son derriere noir... c'est formidable!� – Hilary van Doren, Fame 1980, MGM Photo Source - MGM In today’s budget stricken climate, it’s important to recognize the prominent role that the Internet can play in a cost-effective marketing strategy. Not only is Web marketing very affordable, but it also offers you an effective vehicle for public exposure.
Content Insider #123 - App Stores Following the Leader Who Follows the Leaders	The Insider [More]	[More]	2009-06	It started out -- as most things do in the PC/CE/communications industry -- as a "little" idea...an application store on a corner of the virtual cloud world. Apple's iPhone app store got a lot of attention, a lot of traction, heck a lot of sales. More than one company said, "hey we want/need one of those thingies! Make it so." Suddenly you can't make your way around the web without bumping into another one. No one at Apple will say but people speculate the company has racked up $45 million with their virtual store front. The shelves are stocked -- more than 30,000 "products." People bustle in and out the door -- the billionth download occurred a couple of months ago. Now new smartphones are coming out, every app store offers something, the new Palm is going to try to beat the beast and news will soon emerge from WWDC (Apple's worldwide developer's conference). Is this a beautiful, fun, exciting, occasionally profitable industry or not? It is!!! 1Open for Business – Apple wasn’t the first to build a smartphone or the first to offer apps. They were just the first to make them real, real fun/interesting. Offer the right merchandise, the right mood and most people will take the bait. Source – Screen Gems Guess when you have $56 billion and change in the vault in today’s economic environment you must be doing something right. “I knew it would come to this.� – Beth Charles, Obsession (2009) Just wish our kids would quit contributing to the stash Apple is using to buy GPU (graphics processor unit) technology and game designer talent. A few years ago Apple decided all smartphones sucked (they’re not too hot on netbooks either). So they announced the step up from the iPod (they didn’t like those other MP3 players!)…the iPhone.
Content Insider #117 – Mobile Contact Options	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2009-04	“Victory? Victory you say? Master Obi-Wan, not victory. The shroud of the dark side has fallen.� – Yoda, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) You can forgive the news reporter who mistook President Obama’s Shaka wave for a sign to call him during the inauguration. The connected candidate -- who took communications to a whole new level -- would have expected a text message or email…not a call. Doubt if his new phone number is in the phone book anyway!
Content Insider #118 – Game Entrapment Hard Core Gamers Taking a Back Seat	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2009-04	“Believe me, I was prepared for everything – except you.� – Mac (Sean Connery), Entrapment (1999), 20th Century-Fox It came as a rude shock to our son…he was no longer one of the most sought after people on the planet – the hardcore gamer. It dawned on him after watching his sister and Mom play their Wii musical instruments, exercise with the system and do a little Dancing With the Stars. While he and his comrades were busy shootin ‘em up, bustin ‘em up; the gaming industry had discovered there was a brave new market existed beyond teens…beyond boys! Figure 1 - Surprise – Hard core gamers have lost their “most sought after� position for video game system and software producers. Without a lot of fanfare the developers/manufacturers have found that there is a huge general and casual gamer market out there…young/old, male/female.
Visions for 2009	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2009-02	Despite what a lot of "financial experts" say (weren't they the ones who got us into this position?) things aren't real bad -- yeah they're not real great either. But people in the business/consumer computer/entertainment/communications industry have never been short on optomism or ideas. Looking up from what is near the bottom of the valley it is fairly obvious that it will be a long, hard trek back up to the top of the hill. Some firms won't survive by this time next year. Those that focus on developing a strong consumer centric strategy and lead/listen to the marketplace will be light years ahead of the competition when we enter 2010. What's it going to take? What will the the leaders do? We've got a pretty good idea...hope you agree. We know most have what it takes to survive and prosper!
CES Wrap-Up	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2009-02	We don't agree that this year's CES attendance was an indicator of an industry decline. The lower numbers were good for a lot of reasons. Unfortunately when the economic tide turns the hordes will probably be back. 3D movies/TV, mininotebooks and the constant din that we need our entertainment everywhere were the major news points for the show. Beyond that there were incremental enhancements/improvements. Paradigm shifts were not to be seen. But as CEA's Shapiro said it may be tough for a few quarters but the industry is going to innovate itself out of the global economic downturn. Flying to the seat of national government for handouts is not in the companies' DNA. Surviving and thriving in the PC/CE/content industry isn't always easy, sometimes not much fun but it is always interesting. This is one of those really, really interesting periods.
Moving Forward It’s Time for Content, Communication and Course Correction	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2008-12	The financial industry got caught with its pants down. The automotive industry got caught with its arrogance up. The PC, CE, communications industry simply got caught between the two. We feel the angst but the business is still fundamentally sound. With the right course adjustments the industry will be in a better position to deliver solutions and satisfaction to global business and local consumers. More importantly, there are tens of thousands of Silicon Valley minds around the globe who know how to turn fantastic ideas into meaningful products/services.
Content Insider #111 – Cloud Computing Netbooks, Cloud Computing – Work, Play Without Boundaries	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2008-12	Hammer Repair – Netbooks and cloud computing are great for certain times, certain activities and they will be used by lots of people – young and old – who just want to stay in touch. But when it comes to working with important information/material nothing beats a higher performance, higher capacity, heavier notebook.
Content Insider #112 – The Entertainment Choice TV Viewing Without The TV Set	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2008-12	Our son has it tougher than we did growing up. Oh sure he’s got his content wherever, whenever he wants. But we had power. We had juice!
Content Insider #107 – GPU vs CPU There’s a World Between eMail, Games	The Insider [More]	[More]	2008-10	Work or Play – Everyone expects their monitor to instantly refresh. They demand that the graphics to be lightning fast as well as ultra-realistic. Of course that also needs to be wrapped in a low-cost, environmentally kindly system. When all of this doesn’t come together we’re a little concerned.
Content Insider #108 – The Perfect Storm	The Insider [More]	[More]	2008-10	Look At That Stuff – Storage folks made it through last year – just barely – delivering enough capacity that just met everyone’s/everything’s needs. But man if you look out on the horizon – and beyond – it looks hairy. Even having people working round the clock the content tsunami will just keep boring down on us.
Content Insider #109 – We’re All Still Talking, Viewing	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2008-10	Flood of Content – The 2008 Olympics sent a flood of video content to the US and around the globe threatening to drown everything in its path. But the Internet infrastructure was able to support the huge online viewing audience easily.
Content Insider # 110 – Shrinking Computing	The Insider [More]	[More]	2008-10	Bright Idea – Just so no one missed the fact that Intel’s Craig Barrett was talking about another bright idea that the company’s engineering teams had developed the events folks put him in front of a light bulb. It didn’t work because we could barely see the itty-bitty device he held in his hand at the opening of IDF this year. Source -- Intel
Content Insider #104 – OS Battles	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2008-08	We often wonder why Macophiles and Linux people portrayed Bill as the dark force in the universe. Guy was just trying to earn a buck…and put a computer on every desktop.
Content Insider #105 – Devices Aren’t Enough	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2008-08	It's almost impossible to go out and buy a plain old mobile phone anymore. We threw tons of features/capabilities on them. We changed them from utilitarian to dress accessories ... statements of who we are and our importance.
Content Insider #106 – Cloud Computing	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2008-08	The concept is great ... everything is handled for you in the cloud...you can focus on work and not updating, rebooting your system (yeah like Macs don't have that problem too). You can grab/store anything/everything and never have to worry about buying a new HD or losing your storage. It's all done in the cloud.
Content Insider #101 – Content Your Way!	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2008-06	According to The Conference Board, 16% of US households watch TV broadcasts online. comScore says these viewers will grow as more and more content is delivered over the iNet.
Content Insider #102 – Looking to HDTV	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2008-06	Sales people love to show consumers how much better their TV shows will be with a big, beautiful, expensive HDTV screen. Turns out though that as many as 50% get SD content on their HD set…but they’re happy.
Content Insider #103 – Game Power	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2008-06	Online games are more popular than watching videos online or cruising social networking sites. As they say, online no one knows if you’re a dog (or a boomer+ player).
Content Insider #95 – Pretty Women	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2008-04	We all know half (or about half) of the world's population is female. Do We Ignore Half the PC/CE Market?
Content Insider #96 – Online Video…But Different	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2008-04	People around the globe and across the age groups are finding they have more news, information, entertainment options -- professional, semi-professional and sloppy amateur. They like the new diversity and options. The big question is will Tellywood ever regain its "ownership" of the consumers' eyeballs and viewing habits again?
Content Insider #98 - HD DVD	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2008-04	Now the BD folks won't be able to blame Toshiba for holding back the success of high def disc sales. Now they have to really get their hands dirty and work.
Content Insider #99 -- The Best Storage Solution	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2008-04	The search is on for the one great, the one indispensible storage solution...the Holy Grail for content users everywhere!
Content Insider #100 – Content Prison	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2008-04	What are people all happy about regarding their video content? It's all on BD? Big Deal! Oh sure you can copy your music...your audio books...your stuff. Copy their movie? You out of your gourd??
Content Insider #93 - Mobile Technology -- Everything You Want But a Reliable 3-Min Call	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2008-02	Like your cell service? Want to try a new one? Not much choice right now as you jump from one walled garden to the next. But there are signs on the horizon that things will be improve and we can do what the ROW does...pick & choose your phone based on features YOU like...pick & choose your service provider based on features like...performance/price. Gee what a revolutionary concept.
Content Insider #94 – Creating, Storing Information, Memories Is Easy…Finding It? Dam!	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2008-02	Who's worried about the writers' guild strike? There's more out there than you can shake a stick at...darned stuff is everywhere ! Music...there! Video...there! Movies...there!!! School/market research...there! We know you grab it all. Big problem? Finding the D*** stuff after you've got it -- even your own stuff !!! We need software that keeps track of it all. Then we'll quit making copies...duplicates...copies of copies...
Content Insider #90 – Internet TV	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2007-12	Does Art Imitate Life or Life Imitate Art?
Content Insider #91 – Capturing Moments	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2007-12	Camphones are for Impulses, Cameras are for Memories
Insider #92 – Influencers, WOM	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2007-12	The really smart innovator grabs everything he/she can get his/her hands on that is new, special, unique. Then…they find someone who’ll lug their stuff around for them while they stay out of the rain.
Content Insider #88 - The Home Network/Entertainment Connection Is…Easy	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2007-10	“Hey Bill, look, do me a favor, give him a chance. He came in here with a little piece of information. I know you worked with him before and had a little trouble, but don't get off on the wrong foot, if you have problems, come to me with them, I'll handle it.� – Walt Simonson, The French Connection, 1971
Content Insider #89 - Next Generation DVD – Change at the Speed of Slow	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2007-10	"You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there." – Yogi Berra, Baseball Hall of Fame Player/Coach
Content Insider #83 - Teachings of the Wii Generation	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2007-08	“I want you all to consider what I am about to suggest to you. You people seem to want what we've got. Well, we have room for you. We have room for you and about 30 of your friends. You would be students of course, but you'd also be teachers. � – Walter (Brian Dennehy) – Cocoon (1985)
Content Insider #84 - Saving Our Past for the Future	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2007-08	What about all that talk about screwing up future events, the space-time continuum?" -- Michael J. Fox (Marty McFly) – Back to the Future (1985)
Content Insider #86 - Pre-Millennials…The Market Underfoot	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2007-08	“You could be happy here, I could take care of you. I wouldn’t let anybody hurt you. We could grow up together, E.T.� – Elliot, E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (1982)
Content Insider #87 - DRM…Pirates Helped in Ways They Didn’t Plan	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2007-08	“I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.� -- Winston Churchill
Content Insider #85 - Want Data Privacy… Get Off the Computer	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2007-08	"The ultimate "computer," our own brain, uses only ten watts of power -- one-tenth the energy consumed by a hundred-watt bulb." – Paul Valery
Content Insider #80 - Death By Phone	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2007-06	Somehow we don’t believe the perfect everything for everyone mobile phone is possible, practical, in demand. But it may be the perfect way to murder entertainment as we know it.
Content Insider #81 - The New Matrix	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2007-06	Virtual worlds like There.com and SecondLife aren’t being used by these firms as online retail outlets but rather business locations that can lead to real world sales or to quickly solve real world problems.
Content Insider #76 - – DRM – Keeping the Treasure Hidden or Opening the Mountain	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2007-04	“Conscience. What a thing. If you believe you got a conscience it’ll pester you to death. But if you don’t believe you got one, what could it do t’ya? Makes me sick, all this talking and fussing about nonsense.� -- Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart) – The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
Content Insider - #78 Blue is Here to Stay…That’s Not Pulp Fiction!	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2007-04	“Jules, did you ever hear the philosophy that once a man admits he's wrong, then he's automatically forgiven of that wrongdoing?� – Vincent (John Travolta), Pulp Fiction, 1994
Content Insider #79 - The Undersea Internet World	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2007-04	“The natives over there are cannibals. They eat liars with the same enthusiasm as they eat honest men.� – Captain Nemo (James Mason) – 20000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)
Content Insider #76 - Clash of the Titans	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2007-02	This year in three overstuffed, stress filled days the Titans of the industry held court on stage in two different cities – Las Vegas, San Francisco.
Content Insider #73 - The Swiss Army Phone…Is Good Enough for Everything Good Enough?	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2007-02	Sometimes our kids - and the community at large - make us feel like Tom Hanks in the 2004 The Terminal. We simply go from gate to gate trying to get on the next technology plane to fly to our destination…optimum personal and business productivity.
Content Insider #74 - In the DRM, CA Equation, Someone Has to Protect the Consumer	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2007-02	For thousands of years people looked the other way as folks made copies of other people’s work – by hand, by printing press, by copier, by disc.
Content Insider - #75 - Everything, Everywhere Home Network	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2007-02	People are suddenly going to change over and join the video on demand (VoD) and pay-for-view society. What is even better for the PC/CE industry is the fact that they will build out their home networks so they can watch their content anywhere in the house.
The Digital Home – Something’s Gotta Give	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-12	“Can I email it to ya when I figure it out?� Harry Sanborn (Jack Nicholson), Something’s Gotta Give (2003)
Insider #68 - Web 2.0 – Thunder…Lightning…Rain	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-12	Ok, there’s a lot of Web 2.0 noise – thunder and lightning. But which locations – photo/video sites, music sites, social sites, podcasts, blogs – will be blessed with an abundance of rain (user and advertiser payments)?
Insider #69 - Shrinking Storage…Keeping Data Safe, Close At Hand	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-12	“Distrust and caution are the parents of security,� – Benjamin Franklin
Insider #71 - Content Battles…Galadriel Holds Middle Earth	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-12	“So I imagine this is just a …ceremonial possession? I mean they don’t actually expect me to do any fighting…Do they?� – Pippin, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Insider #72 - Video Gaming	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-12	Short Game, Long Game, No Game…Gone in 60 Sec.
THE Insider #63 - The Search for The Perfect TV Set	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-10	I can’t seem to get that through to you. I’m not just talking about one person. I’m talking about everybody. I’m talking about form. I’m talking about content. I’m talking bout interrelationships. I’m talking about God, the devil, Heaven, Hell. Do you understand… -- Jack Nicholson, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
THE Insider #64 - THE Insider #64	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-10	“Me? I’m dishonest, and a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest. Honestly. It’s the honest ones you want to watch out for, because you can never predict when they’re going to do something incredibly…stupid.� – Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
THE Insider #65 - Deep Blue, Sea of Change	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-10	This is my boat. I got it the way I like it. You take up space and you slow me down.� – Mariner, Waterworld
THE Insider #66 - Mobile Entertainment – Bring It On	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-10	All the people who really know how to put entertainment content to work for them are back in school with all of the essentials…notebook computers, smartphones, video MP3/iPods, PSPs.
THE Insider #67 - IPTV – Who Will Make Money Off The Matrix	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-10	“A déjà vu is usually a glitch in the Matrix. It happens when they change something,� – Trinity in the 1999 movie The Matrix
DVD Insider #60 - The Hollow Man Cometh	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-08	- How come when you say “Yes, Sir� it kinda sounds like… - If we’re gonna move forward, this is the next logical step - I don’t want to cut her up for another few weeks
DVD Insider # 61 - Mobile TV…Jerry Maguire’s Next Big Player	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-08	- It’s not “show friends.� It’s show “business� - And we work in a business of tough competitors - I was inspired and I’m an accountant
DVD Insider # 62 - The Million Dollar Baby	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-08	It’s the magic of risking everything for a dream that nobody sees but you.
DVD Insider #55 - Cool Hand Luke	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-06	# What we have here is a failure of communications # He’s a natural born world-shaker # You gonna get used to wearin’ them chains after a while # Wish you’d stop bein’ so good to me, cap’n
DVD Insider #56 - 2001: A Space Odyssey	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-06	* This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it * It can only be attributable to human error * Dave, my mind is going. I can feel it
DVD Insider #57 - The Sixth Sense	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-06	* You ever feel the prickly things on the back of your neck? * This whole building was full of, uh, lawyers. * Is someone out there?
DVD Insider #58 - Chicken Little at NAB	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-06	* “Oh my goodness! The sky is falling! I must go tell the king.� * “Oh no don’t go! The sky is falling!� * “I know a shortcut to the palace. Come and follow me.�
DVD Insider #59 - E3 & The DaVinci Code	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-06	* You asked what would be worth killing for * We are in the middle of a war * I’m into something here that I cannot understand
DVD Insider #53 - The War of the Roses	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-04	Next generation DVD was going to be a beautiful marriage that produced some beautiful, brilliant kids. It has also turned out to be a dysfunctional relationship.
DVD Insider #52 - Alice In Wonderland	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-04	Well the cat happens to be in the storage business and he knows there is a content explosion and hardware of all types need to be fed content. Then once the hardware gets the content it needs to be stored…somewhere, somehow.
DVD Insider #54 - Bell, Sarnoff Together at Last	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-04	If they had spent more time together and merged their respective laboratories in Murray Hill and Princeton we wouldn't have two content transport systems fighting over who is going to service our home today.
TechWatch 2005	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-02	Wired and wireless networks are slowly coming home sparked by sharing everything! Suddenly people are latching onto the idea of having a centralized storage solution that handles the whole families needs.
TechWatch 2006	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-02	2006 – New Versions of Kong’s Script: * He’s always been king of his world, but we’ll teach him fear. * Don’t be alarmed, ladies and gentlemen. Those chains are made of chrome steel. * Oh no, it wasn’t the airplanes. It was beauty that killed the beast. In the 2006 remake of King Kong there are a number of different endings. Some of the people at the foot of the Empire State Building will be rooting for Kong…some for the toy airplanes…some for Fay. But most folks? They’ll go home saying, “yeah it was a pretty good movie…and it was cheap! Heck in New York we’ve got lots of big gorillas.�
DVD Insider #49	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-02	# A Little Security Goes a Long Way # Good People Sometimes Do Bad Things # Tomorrow Will Be Better
DVD Insider #50	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-02	# Fiddle-dee-dee. War, war, war; this war talk’s spoiling all the fun at every party this spring # You go into the arena alone. The lions are hungry for you # No, I don’t think I will kiss you, although you need kissing, badly # As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry again
DVD Insider #51	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2006-02	Revisiting Star Wars * A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… * The Force can have a strong influence on the weak-minded * Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi; you’re my only hope * The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers
DVD Insider 45 and 46	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2005-12	DVD Insider #45 - HD is Everywhere - Screen Options Becoming Aggressive - Delivery Battle Could Be Brutal DVD Insider #46 - Phones, Snapshots, Music - Mobile Video - A Little Bit of Storage
DVD Insider 47 and 48	THE Insider [More]	[More]	2005-12	DVD Insider #47 - IPTV - The New Content Opportunity - Citizen Videographers - Home-Wide Entertainment - Getting Closer Personalizing Entertainment DVD Insider #48 - The War of the Worlds - Declining View of High Def - Remember the Alamo - The Book of Five Rings, The Art of War

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Columns and Series - Home Theater Design by Steve Faber

Title	Author	Company	Issue Date	Synopsis
Home Theater Design Part 9 - Adjusting for Peak Performance	Steve Faber [More]	Home Theater Design and Automation [More]	2007-04	Now it’s time to head to the fridge for a cold one, kick off those shoes, and see how many decibels you can make from the MI3 sound track before the neighbors come over for an intervention.
Home Theater Design and Construction - Part 8	Steve Faber [More]	Home Theater Design and Automation [More]	2006-12	This should get you well on your way to a professional looking equipment installation that will provide years of service. If you care about such things, you might even impress your friends.
Home Theater Design and Construction - Part 7	Steve Faber [More]	1 Touch Movie [More]	2006-10	Once you're sure of your wire / cable integrity, you can begin the hook up. Plan everything carefully. You don't want to start cutting the cables to length, only to find a piece of equipment can't go where you thought it could.
Home Theater Design - Part 6	Steve Faber [More]	Home Theater Design and Automation [More]	2006-06	The good news is that home theater equipment is better than ever, and more affordable to boot. In addition, there is much help available, on the Internet or from one of the many qualified custom installation firms in most areas.
Home Theater Design - Part 5	Steve Faber [More]	Home Theater Design and Automation [More]	2006-04	It's a sad fact of life that we all can't have an unlimited home theater (or home, sports car, or vacation) budget. You'll need to determine a realistic budget. One of the spending ratios that can be used is: Video Display – 30% Speakers & Subwoofers – 35% Receiver or preamp / amp combination – 15% Source Components – 10% Interconnects, Wire & Accessories (power conditioner, etc.) - 10%
Home Theater Design - Part 4	Steve Faber [More]	1 Touch Movie [More]	2006-02	Dimmers are essential to create appropriate lighting ambience for a theater environment. There are several types of dimmers that can allow remote control of your lighting, either using an IR remote or a lighting control system.
Home Theater Design - Part 3	Steve Faber [More]	1 Touch Movie [More]	2005-12	The most dramatic change in bass caused by subwoofer placement has to do with the interaction of the subwoofer and the room itself. Because of the relationship between a room’s dimensions and the wavelength of sounds, certain frequencies are reinforced and certain frequencies are canceled at different areas within your home theater (or any other room).
Home Theater Design – Part 2	Steve Faber [More]	1 Touch Movie [More]	2005-08	There are several criteria to address during the basic construction phase. One of the most important is noise transmission through the walls.
Home Theater Design – Part 1	Steve Faber [More]	1 Touch Movie [More]	2005-06	If your budget allows, you can used advanced construction techniques to keep your theater soundtrack from annoying the rest of your house, your neighbors, and scaring the neighborhood pets. In addition you can keep outside noises from intruding into your theater.

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Columns and Series - Michael Green on Audio

Title	Author	Company	Issue Date	Synopsis
The Delicate Signal and the Future	Michael Green [More]	Michael Green Audio [More]	2005-12	Technology has taken a turn and we are taking that turn with it whether we think we are or not. We have finally realized how delicate the single path really is and we are beginning to see better and better results the smaller we get.
Getting Started in the Hobby of Audio	Michael Green [More]	Michael Green Audio [More]	2005-10	Simplicity is the key to good sound. Many times, when you install a system that is too complicated for a given room, you end up with poor sound reproduction.

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Columns and Series - Editorials

Title	Author	Company	Issue Date	Synopsis
Editorial Comments	Bob Hetherington [More]	HomeToys [More]	2007-12	Dec 2007 - Editorial Comments
Editorial Comments	Bob Hetherington [More]	HomeToys [More]	2007-10	This is our CEDIA 2007 Issue with lots of news and product announcements plus some great articles to enjoy.
Editorial Comments	Bob Hetherington [More]	HomeToys [More]	2007-08	Bob gives a synopsis of this issue to help you find the articles that you want to read.
Editorial Comments	Bob Hetherington [More]	HomeToys [More]	2007-06	I hope you enjoy the issue. If you would like to participate by contributing an article for the next one please don't hesitate to let me know (news@hometoys.com). If you are not ready yet but want to be reminded of future opportunities then sign up for our Author List.
Editorial Comments	Bob Hetherington [More]	HomeToys [More]	2007-04	It's already daylight saving time where I live. Did your PVR / Media Server / Home Automation Controller know about the change? A minor headache if not ... but a headache none the less. The more spoiled we become ... the more spoiled we want to become and the more dependent we get on technology. I'll leave it to philosophers to decide whether that is a good thing or not.
Editorial Comments	Bob Hetherington [More]	HomeToys [More]	2007-02	Editorial Comments
Editorial Comments	Bob Hetherington [More]	HomeToys [More]	2006-12	Editorial
Editorial Comments	Bob Hetherington [More]	HomeToys [More]	2006-10	CEDIA Expo dominates this months issue ... and rightly so. It seems that this show is dominating when it come to new product launches and by watching what is going on there you get a glimpse of what the future holds for the industry and those of us who enjoy the resulting technology products and services.
Editorial Comments	Bob Hetherington [More]	HomeToys [More]	2006-08	I hope this discussion helps you find what you're looking for in this issue.
Editorial Comments	Bob Hetherington [More]	HomeToys [More]	2006-06	With a world full of blogs, commentaries, forums and discussion groups it appears that everybody has something to say about everything. So ... I may as well join the throng and put forth some opinions about topics that are relevant to my two passions ... Technology (HomeToys) and Alternative Energy (Earthtoys).

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Columns and Series - System Checkout and Integration Procedures by George Wilkinson

Title	Author	Company	Issue Date	Synopsis
System Test and Integration Procedures Part 4 Continued: Systems Integration Procedures	George Wilkinson [More]	[More]	2007-08	Systems integration is unique because it is more of a process than a series of checklists. Once you understand this concept, you will have a better understanding on how to approach it… In the end, having the hardware and software operate as an entity and perform the way the customer expects it to perform is the essence of systems integration.
System Test and Integration Procedures Part 4: Systems Integration Procedures	George Wilkinson [More]	[More]	2007-04	A hardware problem that exists undiscovered at the time of systems programming and checkout can cost you double, or even triple. Plus, you have one angry programmer who wonders why the system and equipment has not been properly checked prior to his task.
System Test and Integration Procedures Part 3 - Equipment Setup and Testing	George Wilkinson [More]	[More]	2006-12	The purpose of SETUP is to make sure that all equipment is wired correctly and functioning properly and to complete as much of the initial equipment setup as possible prior to systems integration.
System Test and Integration Procedures - Part 2b: Cable Test and Verification	George Wilkinson [More]	[More]	2006-10	The primary objective of cable and test verification at this time of the installation is to determine if all the cable required to complete the installation has been installed, is installed correctly and that no significant damage has been incurred by the installers or other trades at the construction site prior making all terminations.
System Test and Integration Procedures - Part 2a: Cable Test and Verification	George Wilkinson [More]	[More]	2006-08	This article will guide you in preparing for and completing procedures that will systematically and methodically take you through a sequence of tasks purposed to insure the integrity of the wiring prior to a complete systems test and integration process.
System Checkout and Integration Procedures - Part 1 - Proper Planning	George Wilkinson [More]	[More]	2006-06	Without proper documentation, installation or wiring errors result. This potentially can slow down the entire process significantly. Another important issue is that errors created during the first phases of an installation are subject to what is termed compounding. Compounding results when an issue that exists earlier in the project is not discovered or a resolution is postponed until later.

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