Monday, February 11, 2008 by Mike.

Daniel McGinn, author of House Lust: America’s Obsession With our Homes writes an article in Wired’s January 2008 edition focused on technolust and how it brought down the housing market.

My favorite quote:

So how do you reduce people’s desire to flip perfectly good dwellings for shiny new ones? Start out by building homes that even 21st-century gadget hounds won’t want to leave — because they’re easier to upgrade. (Relying on a distant future when every technology is magically wireless is cheating — plumbing will always need pipes, and unless you think the work of Nikola Tesla is due for a renaissance, electricity will always need wires.)

We couldn’t agree with you more Dan.

Story [link] thanks WIRED

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Tags: FutureProof, technology, housing, wiring

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Sunday, February 3, 2008 by Mike.

Boise, Idaho — After February 17, 2009, full-power television stations will broadcast in digital only. In 1996, the U.S. Congress authorized the distribution of an additional broadcast channel to each broadcast TV station so that they could start a digital broadcast channel while simultaneously continuing their analog broadcast channel. Later, Congress mandated that February 17, 2009, would be the last day for full-power television stations to broadcast in analog. The switch from analog to digital broadcast television is referred to as the digital TV (DTV) transition. Broadcast stations in all U.S. markets are currently broadcasting in both analog and digital.

Randal Nelson said, “February 2009 will be here sooner than we think. Now is the time for us all to get up to speed on DTV: what is it; what does it mean to me; what do I need to do? We at Digital Authority encourage everyone to educate themselves on this important issue.”

Digital broadcasting allows stations to offer improved picture and sound quality, and digital is much more efficient than analog. For example, rather than being limited to providing one analog program, a broadcaster is able to offer a super sharp “high definition” (HD) digital program or multiple “standard definition” (SD) digital programs simultaneously through a process called “multicasting.” Multicasting allows broadcast stations to offer several channels of digital programming at the same time, using the same amount of spectrum required for one analog program. So, for example, while a station broadcasting in analog on channel 7 is only able to offer viewers one program, a station broadcasting in digital on channel 7 can offer viewers one digital program on channel 7-1, a second digital program on channel 7-2, a third digital program on channel 7-3, and so on. This means more programming choices for viewers. Further, DTV can provide interactive video and data services that are not possible with analog technology.

An important benefit of the switch to all-digital broadcasting is that it will free up parts of the valuable broadcast spectrum for public safety communications (such as police, fire departments, and rescue squads). Also, some of the spectrum will be auctioned to companies that will be able to provide consumers with more advanced wireless services (such as wireless broadband).

For viewers who have one or more televisions that receive free over-the-air programming (with a roof-top antenna or “rabbit ears” on the TV), the type of TV you own is very important. A digital television (a TV with an internal digital tuner) will allow you to continue to watch free over-the-air programming after February 17, 2009. However, if you have an analog television, you will need a digital-to-analog converter box to continue to watch broadcast television on that set. This converter box will also enable you to see any additional multicast programming that your local stations are offering.

To help consumers with the DTV transition, the Government established the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a part of the Department of Commerce, administers this program. Every U.S. household is eligible to receive up to two coupons, worth $40 each, toward the purchase of eligible digital-to-analog converter boxes. You will be able to request the coupons beginning in January of 2008. The coupons may only be used for eligible converter boxes sold at participating consumer electronics retailers, and the coupons must be used at the time of purchase. Manufacturers estimate that digital-to-analog converter boxes will sell from $40 to $70 each. This is a one-time cost. For more information on the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program, visit the NTIA’s Web site at www.dtv2009.gov, or call 1-888-388-2009 (voice) or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY).

Cable and satellite TV subscribers with analog TVs hooked up to their cable or satellite service should not be affected by the February 17, 2009, cut-off date for full-power analog broadcasting, but should contact their provider to find out anything is needed to be prepared for the February deadline.

For more information, call Digital Authority 208-377-7102 or visit their Web site at www.mydigitalauthority.com

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Monday, January 7, 2008 by Mike.

Rumor has it that a new bill is being proposed in the state of Idaho concerning the regulation of Low-Voltage. This has been largely regulated by the free market but it looks as though the state wants to follow suite of neighboring states (Oregon, California, Nevada, ect…). We would encourage Idaho’s legislature to look and focus on life safety and for what it aims to protect. More on this development

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Monday, January 7, 2008 by Mike.

Wireless HD was introduced back in 2006 with very little support however this year at CES (Consumer Electronic Show) more than 40 companies are adopting this new 60Ghz-based standard. Many people today want to have a flat panel (thin display) mounted on the wall versus that of sitting on a cabinet. However, many homes today do not come wired with such technology in mind which requires the home owner to do it themselves (gasp!) or hire a professional to get the necessary connections in place. This is one less step consumers will need to cut the cords to the display. This does’nt mean that you hang the display it works you still have to contend with the power cord (leash). We are following closely MIT’s power technology that allows for power with no wires however we don’t see this effectively coming to market for several years.

The battle is on! Move over Cable vs. satellite, Blu-Ray vs. HD DVD your HDMI cable is next!

The technology works much your WiFi or internet connection to deliver the HD signal from a box to your display. More on WirelssHD here

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Friday, November 2, 2007 by Randal.

In this article by Stacy McBain from the November 2007 issue of Valley Home Style magazine, Mike provides readers with their options for creating a media room. Follow the following link for the full story.

[link] Thank you Idaho Press Tribune

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Wednesday, October 17, 2007 by Mike.

Buildingcredibility.com has released the new market report. It targets the fastest growing city, Boise Idaho and the surrounding Treasure valley with hard data related to the real estate market and new construction. Contains insightful charts detailing the trends. [link]

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Monday, October 15, 2007 by Mike.

BOISE, Idaho – In breaking news, we have learned that consumers who are looking to install home theaters and other home automation systems have been set free! Until today, individuals and businesses interested in implementing these types of technology into their homes or offices were being held at the mercy of audio and video dealers.

Understandably, each merchant is only interested in selling the equipment which they carry. They always claim to have the perfect solution when a customer explains their needs. If each dealer claims to have the best solution and they all sell different components, which one is right and which ones are leading the customer astray? This has been the puzzle with no solution – until now, that is.

A new company, Digital Authority, is stepping in on behalf of all buyers to clear the air. Founders Mike Martoccia and Randal Nelson (photo right), have built an independent consulting practice aimed at providing all consumers with unbiased recommendations. Because they are not affiliated with any manufacturer, distributor, dealer, or installer, they are free to work only in the best interest of their clients.

“We have built a number of service packages to help our clients no matter where they are in the buying process” stated President Mike Martoccia. “Whether you are upgrading your current system or building a new house and want to make sure it is capable of handling future technologies, we are able to help.”

Martoccia went on to state that Digital Authority also has a suite of services aimed at builders and developers. As the housing

market has slowed; builders are finding that homes offering low-voltage technologies are more exciting to buyers. They can also help home buyers concerned with ‘green’ solutions.

There can be little doubt that the local market will embrace the services Digital Authority is offering. My next question was about their fees. “Our preliminary research has shown that less than 15% of current technology owners ended up with a system that met their needs” said Nelson. “Many were sold systems which fell short in a number of critical areas while more than half were oversold. It is almost always less expensive for buyers to hire us and get the right system, than it is to buy the wrong system and then pay someone else to come fix it.”

To learn more about Digital Authority and the services they offer, you can visit their website at www.MyDigitalAuthority.com or call them at 208.377.7102.

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