Kotekuh Magazine - Issue 1 - Winter 2012/2013

Home and lifestyle technology digital magazine | issue 01 | winter 2012/13

SMART TV The latest revolution, what is Smart TV and what can it do for you?

COME AND SEE THE LIGHT

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HOME

MUSIC IN EVERY ROOM

Today there are many ways to play music throughout your home

This issue’s case study looks at lighting and control in an amazing home

What does it mean to unify all of your home electronics?

www.kotekuh.com

Imagine being able to unify all of the electronics in your home, allowing you to control everything from a single device that’s part of your everyday life? Total Control from URC allows you to do just that. Using the MRX-10 network controller (pictured), control your TV, stream your entire music collection, adjust your home lighting, heating or even see who’s at the front door via CCTV, all with your iDevice. Just some of the amazing capabilities of Total Control. The Total Control range also includes handheld Wi-Fi remotes and in-wall keypads meaning you’ll have control of your home, from anywhere.

Take control of your home from your iDevice with Total Control

Contact the Kotekuh Concierge

Other products in the Total Control range include Wi-Fi remote controls, network amplifiers, network controllers and switches

Available on the

Apple iPad not included and must be purchased separately. Total Control app is available from the App Store. URC Total Control is in no way endorsed by Apple. Apple, the Apple logo, iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.

WELCOME

Kotekuh is a brand new quarterly digital magazine, aimed at keeping you up-to-speed with the latest developments in lifestyle, technology and premium home installation.

We will regularly be featuring the latest home technology news, and showing you how certain products can integrate seamlessly into your property. To illustrate this, we’ll be taking you inside some of the hottest homes on the market and speaking to the people responsible for these amazing installations. We’ll also be featuring products that you can use every day - be it at home, at work or on the move. All of which enhance your life through technology.

Kotekuh is brought to you by AWE, an award winning trade distributor to the custom installation industry. For more information on AWE, visit their website at www.awe-europe.com

ISSUE 01 | WINTER 2012/13

CONTENTS

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11

NEW TEKUH

TECH FEATURE Want to control your entire home from your iPhone or iPad? We show you how

A snapshot of the latest and greatest technology products from innovative brands

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MUSIC IN EVERY ROOM Play your entire music collection in any room of your home. It’s more simple than you think

CASE STUDY We look at lighting and control, taking you to a beautiful modern home to reveal the capabilities of Philips Dynalite lighting control systems

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GET CLEVER WITH SMART FUNCTIONALITY What makes a TV smart? We take a look at the latest offerings from leading brands

SIGN OFF

We look back at 2012 and take stock of what’s been an amazing year for technology

Kotekuh is pleased to offer you a personal concierge service for services and products featured in the magazine. Your concierge will be on hand to help you make a purchase, supply more information and also put you in touch with a Kotekuh specialist, who can help you setup and install your equipment.

CONCIERGE SERVICE

Contact the concierge now: Tel +44 1372 847 575 (Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm) E-mail concierge@kotekuh.com

NEW TEKUH Kotekuh brings you a snapshot of the latest and greatest technology products from innovative brands

GET YOUR HEART RACING

If you’re seriously into motorsport and want to practice your driving skills on some of the top tracks around the world, your name will probably need to end in “Alonso”. But, thanks to the guys at Base Performance, you can now own a state of the art driving simulator in your own home! With real racing data, replica cockpit and wrap around screen, it’s a true immersive experience. Kotekuh has tried out the simulator and believe us, it’s realistic! We should add that this isn’t a “pedal to the metal” racing game, it’s a professional simulator. Although that’s not to say you can’t still have fun and impress your friends...

Contact the Kotekuh Concierge

ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK Pebble is the first fully customisable smart watch, for use with iPhone and Android smart phones. The watch features e-paper display technology, similar to the Amazon Kindle, meaning it can be read easily in all conditions. The app allows you to customise the watch face and even integrates with your smart phone for caller ID, e-mail and SMS alerts. This truly is a pioneering product, which is why it has secured over $10million of funding via its website. Pebble is definitely one to watch.

SILKY SOUNDS

Our hard drives and smart phones are bursting at the seams with music these days, but a lot of our favourite songs remain confined to the daily commute or an occasional blasting on the “big speakers” at the weekend. So if you’re looking to unleash your music collection, look no further than the Cocoon from Denon. In a nutshell (or Cocoon) it’s a iPhone/iPod/iPad dock with integral speakers and can connect to your home network to stream music from other smart phones and laptops. You can even have multiple Cocoons around your home and stream music to them too! Check out our “music in every room” feature on page 7 for a closer look at multi-room audio.

www.getpebble.com

Contact the Kotekuh Concierge

KOTEKUH | WINTER 2012

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TRAVEL FIRST CLASS WITH DENON Love listening to music on your travels but hate the constant drone around you? Look no further than Denon’s latest headphone offering, the Globe Cruiser AH-NCW500 series. The headphones feature the latest noise cancelling technology, which transforms travelling into a much more pleasurable experience. Solid construction, coupled with beautiful soft leather ear cups and headband, make these headphones a dream to wear, be it cruising at 35,000ft or hurtling through the terminal to your connecting flight. What’s more, the headphones also feature the latest Bluetooth technology, allowing you to pair your mobile device or laptop wirelessly. Completing the first class service is an impressive seven hour battery life, perfect for those long haul routes. Kotekuh verdict? TRAVEL ESSENTIAL.

Contact the Kotekuh Concierge

A STRAIGHT LINE HAS NEVER BEEN SO EXCITING

Inspired by 70’s cartoon character “Nick-Knack”, from the classic cartoon “La Linea” by Osvaldo Cavandoli, the light is available in five vivid colours and can be twisted into 16 different positions to bring direct or indirect lighting to your home. The playful Nick-Knack floor lamp also incorporates LED technology, making the light energy efficient and a perfect addition to a Philips Dynalite lighting system (see page 12 for our lighting feature).

Contact the Kotekuh Concierge

LISTEN TO MUSIC THE WAY THE ARTIST INTENDED

We all want the very best sound in our homes, yet some speakers offer the world but deliver very little. Never one to disappoint, KEF has released their new LS50 studio monitor to celebrate their 50th Anniversary! Don’t worry, you don’t need a studio to house them in - just an amplifier to power them and something to play music on. Whether it’s a turntable and some vinyl (large plastic discs with music engraved on them, kids), a CD, or even an mp3 player – all sound breathtaking.

Contact the Kotekuh Concierge

beauty and the beat

For years we’ve shaped sound. Now we’re shaping the way you enjoy it.

The Cocoon sounddock allows you to wirelessly stream from your home network, play any mobile platform, or tune in to internet radio.

It’s as beautiful - and as black and white as that.

denon.eu/cocoon

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MUSIC IN EVERY ROOM Have you ever wanted the music you love playing around your whole home? Or perhaps you want to access your music collection in any room? Kotekuh takes a look at the latest multi-room ready products from leading AV brand Denon...

DENON COCOON DOCK This attractive speaker dock, available in both portable and mains powered versions, allows you to dock your iDevice, stream wirelessly from a smart device and also stream from a computer or hard drive connected to your home network. The best thing about Cocoon is that it allows you to stream your music to additional units, using your home’s Wi-Fi network. For example you could have a Cocoon in the lounge, one in the bedroom and a portable Cocoon in the kitchen. Simply find the music you want to play on your computer using iTunes or Windows Media Player, and stream your songs directly to your units. Your music doesn’t need to be confined to four walls either, take the portable Cocoon outside, or maybe even poolside, thanks to water resistant technology.

DENON AVR4520 AV RECEIVER The receiver is the heart of the cinema. It drives the speakers and also takes care of routing video from your Blu-ray player to the screen. The other great thing about this AV receiver is that it also has multi room capabilities. In addition to its speaker outputs for the main room, it also has three “zone” outputs. Zone is another word for room, so speakers in various rooms can be connected to the receiver and music can be played! The receiver allows you to play the same music in every room, which is great for a party. It also allows different audio to be played such as internet radio, Spotify, or any other musical source connected to the receiver. The unit can be controlled from anywhere in the home via a Wi-Fi network and smart device or programmable remote (see page 14 for our tech feature on home automation).

DENON CEOL PICCOLO SYSTEM

If you have a receiver such as the AVR4520 and are looking for more functionality and connectivity in a “zone”, the Denon CEOL Piccolo brings a number of great features to the party. Its inbuilt amplifer means you can power speakers, either free standing, or installed in your ceiling. The unit is also a network player and can be connected to your home network via Wi-Fi or a traditional network cable to your router. This means you can stream music from any computer or hard drive attached to your network. It’s also AirPlay enabled, which allows you to stream music straight from your iDevice to the unit.

The Panasonic Smart Viera app has a nifty swipe feature for displaying images immediately on screen

GET CLEVER WITH SMART TV Everyone’s talking about Smart TV, but what exactly is it and why would you want one? We take a look at this important innovation and how these screens are part of a bigger lifestyle revolution

THE EVOLUTION OF TV

1954

1983

The first commercially available LCD TV is released in the form of the Casio TV-10

Colour TVs go on sale for the first time

1884 Paul Gottlieb Nipkow develops the first ever mechanical module of television

1939

1973

1997

Phillips and Fujitsu both launch consumer plasma televisions

Large-screen rear projector style televisions go on sale, allowing for increased screen size over CRT

First commercially available Black and White television goes on sale

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these beautiful, cutting-edge, super-slim TVs feature a host of dedicated apps. These provide quick and easy access to catch-up services like BBC iPlayer, video-on-demand from Netflix and LoveFilm, social networking sites like Facebook, plus a huge range of other multimedia applications. However what really sets these stunning screens apart, is that they are the first TVs which you can operate without pressing any buttons. Built-in, state-of-the-art voice, motion and face recognition technology allows you to turn the TV on and off, change channels, access apps and navigate the web, with a simple gesture or a few, well-chosen words. Whether you think you will use that control method or not, it’s there and hotly tipped as the next big thing! In the meantime, Panasonic’s new Smart TVs bring you access to a similar range of online services plus a host of other useful innovations. These include the Remote App Pro application for your smart device, which allows you to send photos from your smart phone or tablet direct to your TV wirelessly. Just find your favourite holiday snap and “swipe” the photo towards the screen. It’s great fun and hugely convenient. Smart TVs are helping to fundamentally change the way that we access and enjoy content in our home. The TV is much more useful and responsive to what you want and when you want it. Kotekuh’s view? It is built into your next TV already, so connect to the internet and embrace it!

ow would you like to stream rental

films direct to your TV? Maybe video conference with friends and family in different parts of the world over Skype? Even share web photo albums with them? For those that desire, you can watch YouTube videos through the big screen in your living room, tweet about a show you’re watching, and see your Twitter feed on screen without leaving the channel you’re viewing. Whatever floats your boat, with the latest generation of internet-connected, or Smart TVs, you can do all of this and so much more. We watch less scheduled TV shows than ever before, we rent fewer DVDs or Blu-Ray discs than we used to. But at the same time, we’re increasingly a multi-tasking nation, commenting on a show, or wanting to find out more about the programme itself, whilst watching it. Smart TV brings us access to a new world of dynamic online services through your TV that reflects and helps speed up this lifestyle transformation. What’s more, the style and quality of these screens is something else too. They are the complete package. Take a look at the latest Samsung ES series for example. Alongside traditional broadcast TV channels and amazing picture quality,

Samsung ES7000, 8000 and 9000 TVs feature gesture and voice control, allowing full control without the need for a remote control

PRESENT DAY Smart TVs redefine what a TV can do, allowing owners to stream internet content directly to their living room

1998

2008

The world’s first OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) large screen television is seen, offering a screen far thinner and brighter than that of backlit LCD

Commercial HDTV sets begin to appear in the consumer market

2004

2010

The world’s first 3DTVs start shipping to the consumer marketplace

The first commercial LED backlit LCD television goes on sale

One day all TVs will have motion and voice control. Samsung’s do now.

Voice

Gesture

Face Recognition

Smart Interaction

Smart Content

Smart Evolution Now Experience the Future of Smart TV, Certain features within Smart Interaction may require Internet access. Smart Interaction may not be available in all languages or dialects, and some regional accents may not be recognised. In-store demonstration prior to purchase is recommended. Actual performance of Smart Interaction will vary on light levels and background noise. The Smart Evolution Kit will be available from 2013. Smart Content requires Internet access and may not be available in all languages and regions. Available on Samsung SMART TV 7 & 8 Series LED and 8 Series Plasma models only.

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TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HOME Modern technology is everywhere, especially at home. But how can you take charge and make it work for you?

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integrates with iPhone or iPad for ultimate convenience. But home automation isn’t just about making your life easier, it’s about making you feel safe in your home and also saving you money. Total Control allows you to stream CCTV direct to your TV, iDevice or remote, meaning you can keep an eye on your property whilst at home, or even on holiday on the other side of the world. It can integrate with motion sensors to monitor any movement outside and around your home and can trigger lighting or an alarm, giving you absolute peace of mind. Feeling the cold? Total control allows control of the climate throughout your home, thanks to its own temperature sensor. Turn to the next page for highlights on what you can control and a high end solution from URC...

relax for a few moments in front of the TV, but decide you’d like some music instead. You pick up your iPad and start browsing through your entire music collection and find your favourite album. You press play, just as your iDevice tells you your bath is ready. Using your iPad again, you link the music playing in your living room to your bathroom, then head upstairs. You walk into the bathroom, the bath is run to the exact temperature you set and your favourite album is playing. It’s time to unwind after a long day. This entire process is possible in your own home and it’s called “home automation”. Total Control from URC is a great example of the latest in home automation technology as it gives you control of all the electronics in your home, using a range of devices including handheld remotes, in wall keypads and touch screens. It also

t’s a cold winter’s evening and you arrive home. The driveway lights are already on, ready for you to park your car. You open the door to your property, walk in and press the “Welcome Home” button on your in-wall touch screen. The lights begin to come on and wash the walls with warm oranges and reds. You head to the living room, the fireplace roars into action and the TV turns on. You walk to the kitchen, the lights turn on automatically and you pour yourself a glass of wine, before heading back to the living room. Whilst walking back you reach for your iPhone and press “Run Bath”, and hear the water start to trickle from the bathroom taps upstairs. You sit back on your sofa and

LIGHTING

CLIMATE

SECURITY

ENTERTAINMENT

Automate lighting combinations and levels around your home to change the mood or feel of a room Control all your home lighting from any location in the house

Regulate the climate through heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) Monitor the current temperature of any area in your home Blinds can be controlled to let in natural light, which can also regulate heat

Stream live video from your CCTV direct to your TV or smart device Set “Away” modes to turn lights on around your home at random, giving the impression of someone being in at home Integrate with movement sensors to turn on lights, or sound an alarm

Play music around your home and control it from your smart device, remote or in wall keypad Create the ultimate cinema experience. A single button turns on your TV, starts your movie of choice, lowers the blinds and dims the lights

WHAT CAN YOU CONTROL?

You’ve seen an example of what can be achieved. Here’s a summary of what can be controlled with a modern home automation system, and some of its advantages.

URC’S TOTAL CONTROL - CONTROL SOLUTION

THE REMOTE

THE BRAINS

THE APP

The URC TRC1280 remote control is the front end of the system. It has a touch screen, as well as hard buttons, and can be programmed to control virtually anything. View security cameras, see what equipment is being used throughout the home and control multiple devices with one button press.

The centre of your home automation system, the URC MRX10 network controller talks to your remote, keypad or iDevice and also links to the products you want to control. It can operate based on your command or by itself, such as turning lights on and off in your home at certain times of day.

Turns your iPad or iPhone into a controller for every aspect of your Total Control home automation system. View CCTV, browse your movies and music collection, adjust the lights, control the temperature in your home and much, much more. All from a device that you are instantly familiar with.

These represent just a few of the products from the Total Control range. Contact the Kotekuh Concierge

...AWARDS THAN ANY OTHER TV BRAND Judge for yourself, contact the Kotekuh Concierge

THE MOST AWARDED TELEVISIONS OF 2012

As verified by Gorkana for the period January 2012 to August 2012

INSTALLER PROFILE Technophobe

Technophobe offers a full custom installation service, specialising in fully automated whole home systems that include audio/video distribution, lighting design and home automation

www.technophobe.tv

LIGHT WHAT YOU SEE? Kotekuh gets in the mood, with intelligent lighting control from Philips Dynalite and Technophobe

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WHY CHOOSE LED?

in the TV area, kitchen and over the dining table, which help to define these areas. For the ultimate finishing touch, the bar itself has also been fitted with colour changing LED strips - situated under both the seating area, and within the two shelves behind it. The nearby wall-mounted keypad provides the homeowner with the ultimate lighting experience; enabling choice and style, they can cycle through a selection of 12 of their favourite colours depending on their mood, the party or maybe even their outfit! To help the energy efficiency of the home, an ‘all off’ button was installed by the front door to switch off the house lights in a sequence from the furthest room to the front door, room by room when the house is vacated. In addition to this, a ‘good night’ button was put in place in the master bedroom to turn off the lights and timed scenes were set up on the Philips Dynalite time clock which automatically tracks the dawn and dusk times throughout the year – so lights aren’t on unnecessarily. “The Philips Dynalite system has allowed us to provide a lighting design that provides our client the option to set their house to a scene that matches their mood or helps their way of life” “The Philips Dynalite system has allowed us to provide a lighting design that provides our client the option to set their house to a scene that matches their mood or helps their way of life. The lighting design has enhanced what is already a stunning home as well as providing it with multiple personalities for any given night” says Technophobe’s owner, Jamie Marshall. “Using this system has allowed us to program some advanced settings for our clients. A 'holiday' mode has been set up so that when the homeowner is away - all the house lights are set into an automatic switch on/off mode, creating greater protection and security. We have also programmed a very low light setting for when our client has to get up early for work, which gradually increases the light level.” This is a beautiful home and the lighting simply takes it to the next level. Having the ability to instantly change your surroundings is a comforting and empowering feeling, which is something we should all feel in our own homes.

Everyone loves LED because of its versatility and availability in a wide variety of sizes and colours. LEDs give off little heat and are super energy efficient. LED uses up to 80% less energy than a traditional incandescent bulb and what’s more they last for 30,000 to 50,000 hours! In contrast a CFL (low energy bulb) lasts for 10,000 to 12,000 hours.

ow do you create mood-reflective

style and produce a genuine ‘wow’ factor within a bright and contemporary Kent-based home? The solution was obvious for AV installers, Technophobe. With the use of Philips Dynalite lighting control, they were able to satisfy the homeowner’s every need with an innovative lighting installation. The epicentre of this sensational lighting installation lies in the heart of the home, the living area. Consisting of a kitchen, dining area, bar and TV areas, the space is an excellent “palette” for creative lighting thanks to its clean canvas of white walls and furniture. An array of lighting fixtures throughout the space allow complete control over lighting level, colour and therefore the mood and feeling of the room. Whether you want the room to feel warm and cosy, or want to create

PHILIPS DYNALITE ENERGY EFFICIENCY

a cool, bright and airy space for entertaining, a simple button press is all it takes to transform the room. Movement of light can also be achieved such as a glowing fire effect or a transition between colours over time. All of these effects give the space an organic feel. Energy saving was a key concern of the client and part of their brief to Technophobe was to use LED lighting wherever possible. This didn’t pose a problem as Philips Dynalite integrates perfectly with Philips Lighting LED technology and allowed Technophobe to use LED lighting throughout the home. In the living area, LED walkover lights installed in the floor create an ultra-stylish lighting effect along the walls, folding doors and fire place. High-power LED strips were fitted cleverly above two windows, to create an impressive wall-wash effect across the ceiling. Adjusting the wall wash levels gives depth to the room and gives you a fresh perspective on the space.

I N T E L L I G E N T C O N T R O L

The Philips Dynalite control system utilises the latest lighting technology to make your home eco-friendly. This includes compatibility with super efficient LED lighting, as well as dimming for increased lamp life. Intelligent control utilises sensors and timers to switch off unused lights or adjusting light levels to suit the time of day.

Dimmable LED downlights take centre-stage

SIGN OFF

As 2012 has come to a close, we can look back on what has been a truly fascinating year for technology.

2012 was definitely the year of the tablet, with offerings fromApple, Samsung and Amazon aplenty. The demand for portable devices that can integrate all your browsing, media and gaming needs into one simple package is huge. It’s certainly a trend that looks set to continue. According to IDC and Gartner, by 2015, it’s expected that tablet sales will see phenomenal growth becoming 60% as big as the PC market. The smart TV boom has also taken hold in 2012. These screens combine all your content desires into one multi-functional device in the corner of your living room. Thanks to rapid advancements in technology, these screens now pack more processing power than a top of the range computer did 10 years ago, no mean feat! So what does this mean for consumer products in 2013, with cameras that can upload pictures to Facebook and toasters you can make Skype calls on? We predict that the all-in-one device craze will continue full steam ahead. With their versatility, these products offer a great value for money option for many of us. After all, why buy a digital camera, mp3 player, telephone, alarm clock and handheld game console – when you can just buy the latest smartphone and get all five? And integration will continue to be a theme, not just for individual products but for our lifestyle and the technologies that can make it happen too. More and more of us are turning our living spaces into multi-purpose media rooms, where gaming, movie viewing, listening to music, surfing the web and entertaining can all take place in the same environment, and sometimes at the same time! The latest AV, lighting and control technologies enable us to do this, making the experience hugely enjoyable and rewarding too. It’s another trend that’s set to continue into next year and beyond.

Thanks for reading, see you again in the spring for our next issue!

Photo Credit: Bern Altman

7 standard cover finishes and over 140,000 possible configurations

Cutting edge lighting control At Philips Dynalite, we’ve been designing and manufacturing lighting control equipment for more than 25 years and always have been at the forefront of our industry. A simple lighting control system gives you the power to completely transform your environment – create a mood to suit any occasion, define and highlight features and show off

solutions that complement and enhance your lifestyle – systems the whole family can use. It’s about streamlining your life, not complicating it. Dimension is a network of highly trained Philips Dynalite dealers who have the knowledge and skills to integrate a world of technologies, including lighting control, security, home cinema, multi-room audio, HVAC, and more, using a versatile Philips Dynalite control system as the backbone of the network.

your home in its best light…all at the touch of a button. The foundation of any smart home system is lighting control – it’s the logical backbone to which everything else is connected. A smart home also integrates a whole range of electronic systems to give you simple, complete control. But no matter how much integration takes place, if you’re not comfortable with the technology, or find it difficult to use, then it’s not a smart home.

That’s why Philips Dynalite Dimension Dealers create