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The Future of Smart Home Tech: Where We Are and Where We’re Headed
Well, we're a midnight countdown and a few bowl games away from wrapping another holiday season. We hope yours has been fantastic so far. Thank you for being part of the Automated Living LLC family. Here's a look at some of the sweetest tech from this year and what promises to be knocking your socks off as we head into the new year.
Movies, Movies, and More Movies
There are more streaming content opportunities than ever before. If classic movies are right up your alley, there's a service you should know about: FilmStruck. FilmStruck is from Turner Classic Movies and they'll bring more than 1,200 great films into your theater that you'll not find streaming anywhere else. It's available on most major platforms like Amazon FireTV and AppleTV.
Want your epic chute skiing experience at Jackson Hole to really wow your friends and make their stomachs hit their throats? Strap on a 4K GoPro action camera and get the “You Are There” view in stunning high resolution, then play it back on the projector in your theater.
The latest GoPro models are incredibly compact and include advanced image stabilization, so every “WoW!” shot will really bring your buds into the action. These wonders support high-frame-rate slow motion, adding an extra dimension to your action. They are also waterproof, so they can see you swimming with the sharks too. Now that's a home movie you'll watch again and again.
WiFi, What??
WiFi? New Tech? But you've had WiFi since the last century, right? Well, sort of.... The latest WiFi standards are a cut above the old days, and perfect now that you've got streaming 4K and 8K video and mega home control on every tablet and smartphone under your roof. You can meander to every nook and cranny in your abode and never drop signal. The days of having to switch WiFi networks or running out of signal are over. You'll never again drop the stream or go to close the shades and be met with a blank stare.
The new mesh systems are kind of like the whole-house DVR you use for your cable or satellite TV. There's a main router and a series of access points that all work together so you don't have to.
Voice Control
Voice assistants from Amazon and Google have matured significantly, and they now play perfectly with professional home control systems. The engineering teams have worked their magic to make these integrations locked down and reliable. Mark it on your “gotta check out” list for the new year.
Don't Cross the Streams!
Yes, most 4K UltraHD content is found on the stream, but wait..... Just as with 1080p content, there is a definite difference between disc-based and streaming content. It's the bits, Baby!
You'll get the latest high-fidelity audio formats from disc content. Those ultra-realistic soundtracks in formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are super data-intensive and don't reach their full potential over the Internet. Yes, you will notice the difference if you're rocking a nice surround system.
All 4K discs aren't created equal, though.
Some creators took more care transferring the original movie onto disc for home use. Some films were just plain made to a higher standard. Some use the latest HDR (High Dynamic Range) picture improvement technology. HDR makes a massive difference, but you'll need a TV or projector that can use it. Some discs have it, and some don't.
In any case, here are our picks for which 4K Blu Ray discs best show off your home theater's capabilities and make for a home movie night you'll never forget:
Deadpool – This title is a favorite for trade show demos because it looks fantastic and the sound is incredible.
X-Men: Apocalypse – You'll reap the benefits of the high-resolution production. The HDR video is truly stunning, giving the post-production and Blu Ray transfer teams so much to work with.
The Amazing Spider Man 2 - Originally shot on film, the 4K transfer is rife with “you're so there” realism. The HDR really makes the outdoor scenes stand at attention.
The Revenant – Shot in super high-resolution digital, this film is a reference disc for critics. The HDR/4K combination highlights the expansive landscape cinematography. Beautiful!
What to Watch for in the Coming Year
Trendy
So let's put on our clairvoyant hats and take a peek into where we'll likely tread next.
Social Media – We continue to see massive consolidation and feature-sharing across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, blurring the lines between how we share and consume stories.
Lifestyle and Experience – More businesses are blending services with social experiences, from high-end barbershops offering premium lounge environments to dedicated home entertainment becoming the primary way we experience blockbuster premieres.
eSports - Competitive video gaming is no longer a niche hobby; it’s a massive global industry and spectator sport. With professional leagues and national broadcasts, it’s a growth area that is changing how we design media rooms for the next generation of fans.
