Why Alarm Dealers Should Be Promoting Video Surveillance

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

In the earliest days of electronic home security, video cameras were considered an extra only the wealthy could afford. Times have changed. Video surveillance is now affordable enough that virtually any customer with a moderately-priced alarm system can include video surveillance. Alarm dealers should be promoting video cameras to take advantage of this market.

Video surveillance can be included in a base package with 24-hour monitoring. The local alarm dealer can also offer it as an add-on to a standard system that only provides burglary monitoring via window and door sensors. It's really up to the alarm dealer and the home security dealer program he or she is affiliated with.

Videos Offer Evidence

Thanks to the proliferation of video cameras, police agencies around the country are now having an easier time identifying and pursuing criminals. Simply put, videos offer evidence that can be used for investigative and prosecutorial purposes. This is a strong sell for consumers looking to protect their homes.

Every bit of evidence makes it easier for law enforcement to punish those responsible for crime. But there's an added bonus: criminals aware that video surveillance is taking place are further deterred from attacking a known target. For example, a burglar that knows video surveillance is monitoring his activities is likely to choose another target that appears more accessible.

Around-The-Clock Monitoring

Combining video surveillance with home automation gives customers the option of monitoring their own video cameras 24 hours a day. This is another strong selling point, especially for working parents forced to allow their kids to be home alone after school. With video monitoring, mom and dad can check in to make sure the kids arrive home safely. They can periodically check in on them to ensure they stay safe.

Video surveillance is also an effective tool for keeping track of your property while away on vacation. Again, this is another strong selling point. Owners can always know what is happening with their properties, even if they are thousands of miles away.

Front Door Monitoring

One of the latest video surveillance technologies to hit the market is the smart video doorbell. A smart video doorbell takes the place of a legacy doorbell and makes it possible to see who's at the door without having to actually open it. Homeowners can answer the bell whether they are home or not, simply by responding to a push notification that comes through their smartphones.

Monitoring the front door with a smart video doorbell adds an extra level of security that customers truly appreciate. The local alarm dealer can use the video doorbell as a means of providing a dual-purpose device that increases exterior surveillance and allows the video identification of visitors before opening the door.

Value for Money

When you add up all of the advantages of video surveillance, it becomes apparent that value is there. The local alarm dealer that encourages customers to add video surveillance to their packages is able to increase safety and efficiency through wireless technology. And because the cost of video cameras has come down dramatically in the last ten years, there really is no good reason not to encourage customers to include video.

Overall

Of course, affiliating with a nationally branded home security dealer program helps a great deal. But even so, pushing video surveillance with remote cameras and 24-hour monitoring is a good way to expand market share, drive revenues, and make customers safer all at the same time. If you are a local alarm dealer not yet on board with video surveillance, you need to be.

READ NEXT: Yes – Burglar Alarms to Work

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(DISCLOSURE: This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). I only ever endorse products that I have personally used and benefitted from personally. Thank you for your support!)

*by andreascy*

Tech Gadgets That Make Traveling a Breeze

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Supposedly half the fun of travel is getting there, but what if traveling could be fun from start to finish? This year's CES was all about travel tech designed to make your next vacation (or business trip) a lot less stressful and a lot more enjoyable. 

Of course, an open mind and adventurous spirit are the most important things to bring with you on any voyage but there are plenty of gadgets and accessories that are worth packing. Here's some of the newest travel tech, some of which debuted at CES 2016, that's equally useful for world travelers and weekenders.

The Egg – a Phone to Cloud Photo Solution

Eggcyte's personal cloud device, the Egg, is a must have for phone-wielding shutterbugs who have more subject matter than storage space. 

The Egg can connect to your phone from anywhere in the world so you can share up to 50,000 snapshots with friends and family back home. And after you've said goodbye to your favorite destination, scrolling through those vacay pics is as easy is firing up the app. 

Samsung's Galaxy S7 – Best in Class Photos on the Go

The Samsung Galaxy S7 has premium specs that include a best in class camera with 4K capture capabilities, low-light optimization, a cool menu of effects and a fully outfitted manual mode. Why make this your go-to travel phone? 

The brand's latest offering brings back IP68 dust resistance and long-term water resistance up to 3m, which means you can bring it just about anywhere. And best of all, if you get it from T-Mobile this phone comes with a free year of Netflix, perfect for binge-watching your favorite shows on the go.

Bluesmart – the Smartest Suitcase 

This four-wheeled, extra strong carryon-friendly bag does more than keep your stuff safe. Bluesmart can weigh itself, has not one but two USB charging stations, and comes with a built-in tracker that's smart enough to alert you if it senses that your luggage is on its way to Timbuktu. 

Want the tracker without all the extras? Stash Trakdot in your suitcase and you'll always know where in the world your bags are. 

Zagg – Untethered Audio Anywhere

The retractable earbuds on Zagg's versatile Flex Arc headset let you curl up and forget about your neighbors on the plane. 

And then when you get to your destination, you can get the party started with built in external speakers that offer surprisingly souped-up sound for such a small package. 

Sol – a Bag that Does Double Duty

Samsung C&T's Sol Bag is a stylish oversized clutch that features integrated solar panels that charge your devices whenever you're walking in the sun. Of course, if you're traveling to an out of the way destination a high capacity power bank makes more sense.

In that case, grab Aukey's portable charger – it has enough emergency backup juice to charge your iPhone ten times plus a built in flashlight.

Bedphones – Promoting a Good Night's Sleep

DubsLabs has created Bedphones, a new kind of nighttime earbud designed to combat the challenges travelers face when falling asleep away from home. This speaker sits outside your ear so you can bliss out with white noise or fall asleep to your favorite podcast without the uncomfortable feeling of something in your ears. 

Better still, the Bedphones app senses when you've nodded off and automatically shuts off your audio to save you power. 

Mobi EyeFi – for Faster Photo Transfers

The Eyefi Mobi WiFi SD card makes the chore of transferring photos from camera to device a breeze.

Your snapshots are automatically sent from your camera to your iOS, Android, or Kindle device using wifi. 

What else do you need to stash in your carryon? Definitely check out the latest on-the-fly audio translators and ultra light laptops – especially if it's business bringing you to the far reaches of the globe. Ultimately there's no such thing as 100% stress free travel but with the right tech you can come pretty close.

READ ALSO: Transportation Options While Vacationing

As always, would be great to hear what you think!

*by andreascy*

DIY Home Automation and Affordability

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Despite the fact that the home automation market is expected to grow by double digits every year through the end of the decade, there is still a reluctance among the majority of American homeowners to adopt home automation. Among the reasons for their hesitancy is the belief that equipment is too expensive. 

Until hardware manufacturers and retailers figure out how to bring prices down and make consumers comfortable with the cost of home automation, there will be ongoing challenges to making the technology as common as the smartphone.

A recently-released survey from International Data Corporation suggests that about half of U.S. consumers are reluctant to adopt home automation. The top five reasons for their reluctance are as follows:

• Too expensive (46%)

• No use for the technology (40%)

• Too little value (30%)

• Too complicated (18%)

• Lack of confidence in capabilities (12%)

Americans are undoubtedly consumers above all else. Therefore, it would seem that the two biggest hurdles for the home automation industry are bringing down retail costs and creating devices that people can find practical uses for. There are some companies already working on this.

DIY Systems Lower Costs

Bringing down the cost of home automation is more about eliminating labor than actual equipment costs. For example, a consumer who purchases a home automation system through a full-service company offering "free" installation still charges the consumer for the installation through higher hardware prices. So one way to bring down costs is to provide DIY systems.

Uxari is one example of a company doing just that. They are a Florida company that has created a collection of wireless home automation devices that customers can use to build customized systems. They can build systems that meet their requirements and budgets, knowing that those same systems will be scalable should they be able to afford more in the future.

Moving beyond Thermostats and Lighting

The other thing the industry is working hard at is moving beyond just thermostats and lighting. They definitely need to. A person who wants to better control his/her thermostat can spend less on a programmable thermostat than home automation if he/she's willing to learn how to use that thermostat in all of its complicated glory. As far as lighting goes, the old-fashioned outlet timer is still a functional way to control lighting at a lower cost.

Home automation needs to go above and beyond lighting and thermostats to be more attractive. Remote door locks are one example of the industry moving in the right direction. With electronically controlled door locks installed, the homeowner can remotely lock and unlock doors to accommodate children coming home from school or guests arriving from out of town. Should a homeowner leave home and inadvertently forget to lock the door behind him/her, the problem can be solved with a smartphone.

This leads us to another factor that could help more Americans become interested in home automation: tying it into security. Companies such as Uxari are doing that, by offering video surveillance that can be monitored remotely. For example, place a camera just above the front door and you will be able to see the kids coming home from school every day. That's the kind of usefulness people want if they plan to spend the money.

The good news for the home automation industry is that half of Americans are interested in the technology. The bad news is that the other half are not. In order to change that, the industry needs to reduce the costs and come up with devices that have more practical uses.

RELATED: Go-Go-Gadget : Advancements In Home Technology

Thanks for visiting! Hope your week is spectacular!

*by andreascy*

10 Gadgets to Help You Catch More Fish

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Fishing has changed dramatically over the past decade with the increasing popularity of smartphones and other technology. Even those who have strongly resisted the change are giving into the pressure to adapt. Once there is a smartphone in your pocket, it's difficult to keep refusing time-saving, fish-catching options. 

Here are 10 tech tools that will make your outing both safer and more successful without ruining the great outdoors.

Find Where to Go

Fishing Hot Spots Maps: It's an old tool in a new format. You no longer have to track down paper maps for the water you want to fish but rather this company provides digital maps for both freshwater and saltwater. You can even get maps that work with older units and handheld devices.

The Fishidy Mobile App: This app provides maps as well as a community for sharing tips and up-to-date reports. You can track your fishing successes on a map using GPS in addition to identifying water depths, underwater contours and fishery data.

Learn How to Get There

Broadband RADAR: This tool boasts that it is the most significant radar breakthrough since 1940. It has much lower power requirements and crystal clear images, which helps for limited visibility situations or tight maneuvering. Plus, it does not require a license.

SIMRAD: This tool is very similar to Broadband RADAR. It also has clear imagery, low power consumption and low emissions. Whether you combine navigation with your fishfinder or separate the two, broadband technology is taking hold quickly.

Locate the Fish

Lowrance HDS-12 Gen3: There are plenty of fishfinder models to choose from, but the new Gen3 model uses a broadband sounder, supports wireless signals and uses Spotlight Scan Sonar, making it a top-notch gadget.

Raymarine Dragonfly: For CHIRP (Compressed High-Intensity Radiated Pulse) lovers, Raymarine Dragonfly is the tool for you. This new unit delivers incredibly clear images and includes Navionics charts on microSD in addition to a temperature sensor and 50-channel GPS.

Play it Safe

Iridium Satellite Phone: Whether speaking with family or getting out an emergency call to the Coast Guard, you can always contact land and other satellite-equipped vessels when you pack a satellite phone. They also claim that their call quality is three times better than their competitor's.

C-pod Security: The C-pod sends current status information about location, heading, intrusion, battery voltage and other vital statistics to your phone or computer. Remote on/off capability allows you to be in control of C-pod sensors from the helm.

Stay in the Game

XPand: If you are you taking a green seafarer along on the next voyage, consider the Xpand anti-motion sickness glasses to keep queasiness at bay. Pills and patches often cause drowsiness and confusion, but the sunglasses use electro-optical systems to reduce motion sickness in a noninvasive way. They are powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion polymer cell.

Gomadic Solar Charger: Stay prepared with a solar charger to keep any of these gadgets charged and ready to use. It can charge multiple devices simultaneously, and does it just as quickly as a wall outlet would.

Prices in each category can vary widely, so be sure to do your homework. Many times you can cut back on features to make a tool better fit the budget. Yesterday's top-dollar fishfinder or navigation aid, for instance, can often be found at rock bottom prices as others switch to broadband units. So, get ready, be prepared and fish on!

SEE ALSO: Science Nation - Electric Fish Charges up Research on Animal Behavior

Join the discussion by posting a comment below or tweeting #OFFICIALANDREASCY. Let me know what you think.

(DISCLOSURE: This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). I only ever endorse products that I have personally used and benefitted from personally. Thank you for your support!)

*by andreascy*

Christmas Shopping Ideas for Smart Homes

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

What do you buy someone who lives in a smart home? Truth be told, it's not as difficult as you might think. There are lots of gifts on the market which, like smart homes, manage to meet somewhere in the middle between form and function.

We've compiled a list of just a few ideas and included the links to the stores, just in case.

1. iKettle

From: Smarter

Dubbed the World's first WiFi Kettle, this revolutionary appliance lets you control the kettle remotely via your smartphone. You can program the kettle to start boiling while you're out and about, and then you can come home to a hot drink. 

The Wake mode acts as your personal barista, gently waking you and asking if you'd like the kettle to start boiling. It's also a great way to multitask in the morning.

2. Ring

From: Ring

When it comes to a smart home, smart homeowners know that safety and security should be top priority. Home automation is usually the way most people go and the Ring is a pretty user-friendly entry into that realm. 

The weatherproof device is mounted outside your door and acts like your own electronic peephole – sending pictures straight to your phone.

3. iPad Pro

From: Apple

Lightweight, CPU performance comparable to a desktop, and with a battery life of up to 10 hours, the latest incarnation of the iPad packs a big punch in a tiny package. 

The wireless performance has also received a boost as well, making it much easier to enjoy the litany of apps that everyone can't stop talking about.

4. Satellite Internet

From: Hughes Net

When we say "smart internet coverage," we basically mean the best internet service for your purposes. The popular trend with a lot of smart homes is to place them in rural areas so; obviously, you would want a service that can reach your home wherever it may be. 

Hughes Net is just one example, but there are many others and it's important to do your research.

5. Roomba Robot Vacuum

From: iRobot

Nothing says "smart home" like having your own personal army of independent automaton cleaners, and the Roomba is probably the best of the bunch. Sleek and easy-to-use, this cleaning robot fits within most standard gutters. 

The high-velocity auger sweeps and scrapes away dirt and debris from the gutter, able to clear thirty feet of gutter in a few minutes minutes – faster and safer than the traditional method.

6. Pivot Power

From: Quirky

This app-enabled version of the popular power strip offers all the flexibility and efficiency of its predecessor with a few extra perks. Now, you are able to remotely power on or off two of the sockets on the strip through mobile devices. 

You can even schedule the sockets, allowing you to automatically turn on and off the lights – great if you're abroad.

Conclusion

Gifts like these are great for both adding a little flair and, really, just making life a little bit easier. These are just a couple examples and, as technology continues to evolve, we'll be seeing a lot more in the coming months.

NEXT ARTICLE TO READ: 5 Top Picks for Christmas Holiday Like a Fairytale

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

*by andreascy*

3 Must Have Pieces of Technology for Your Home Office

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

If you’re among the fortunate and can work from home each day, you have the luxury of skipping a stressful commute, but the burden of creating your own home office. To ensure that your day can run as smoothly as possible, it’s key to have the best technology at your disposal. 

Since most work-from-home positions require you to communicate remotely with a main office, Internet service is absolutely essential, as is reliable equipment. Here are three pieces of technology that you really shouldn’t skip if you want an efficient home office.

1. Laptop

A desktop computer doesn’t offer the mobility of a laptop, which can make it more difficult to work from outside your home office - like at a coffee shop. If you do go into a company office on occasion, you can’t just pack up your desktop computer and set it up at the new location. A laptop is not only mobile, but it also occupies less space. If your home office ever becomes the guest room, you will be happy that you decided to skip the desktop. If you like a large monitor, you may be able to attach your laptop to a larger screen and connect it to a USB keyboard. This gives you the freedom of having a small laptop set up or a desktop feel. 

2. Wireless Internet

Wireless Internet, usually called just WiFi, lets you get access to a data connection without tripping over wires all day. If your Internet router is set up in another room, it may not be feasible to get Internet in your home office without this technology. While your laptop will need to be within a certain distance of your router to get a good connection, you can typically be at least a few rooms away and still get good WiFi service on your computer. A service provider may be able to bundle your wireless Internet with other communication services so you can even save some money. 

3. High Speed Internet

Your wireless Internet should be high speed so you’re not wasting any time when you need to get online in a hurry. High speed Internet will expedite your Internet browsing, and can allow you to open more than one program at a time without your computer crashing or freezing. If your connection is too slow, you may be limited to keeping only one or two tabs open on your Internet browser screen. High speed Internet also guarantees that you can load and view media like videos without interruption or negative effects on your computer performance. A slow Internet speed can make it nearly impossible to load large files like PDFs or download email attachments from a colleague.

A home office is a good investment if you’re able to keep it up and running. With these must have pieces of technology, you can stay on track of your work objectives without the interruption of an Internet breakdown or the dilemma of how to get your computer’s data to another location.

SEE ALSO: How To Build A Home Theatre At A Reasonable Price

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*by andreascy*

Tips For Making Your Garden An Internet Hot Spot

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Many people have experienced the problem of weak wifi signal in a particular room or a different floor of their home. However, what do you do when you need that signal out in your garden. 

Whether you keep an office outside the house, or if you just want to check your email outside, there’s a multitude of ways to make it happen. We’ve put together a list of the top suggestions for turning your garden into a hot spot.

PC (or Mac) Maintenance

The problem with your internet speed out in the garden may lie within your laptop itself and not the signal strength. You can carry out general maintenance such as scans for malware and viruses. Defrag-ing your laptop will only further help its speed. A good rule of thumb as for how much space should be left free on your drive is usually double your RAM or 10 percent (whichever comes first in your case). For example, if I have a laptop with an 8 GB RAM, I would want to leave 16 GB free on my hard drive. Or if I have a 750 GB hard drive, I may want to leave 75 GB free. Not only is everyday maintenance help your laptop performance, it may aid in your internet speed so you don’t have to go out and buy a product to improve connection.

Outdoor Repeater

A repeater is an electronic device that simply replicates a signal coming from the original router in your home. These can be used if the wifi signal is particularly weak in one side or level of the house. If you have an old router lying around, then there isn’t even a need to buy a repeater as an extra router can perform the same function.

However, for wireless to reach your garden, an old router might not be ideal since they’re suited for indoors. Outdoor repeaters are more suited to the elements, be it rain or shine, and tend to offer a greater range. They can be expensive, but they come with perks such as water proofing, built-in firewalls (depending on the brand), and the ability to be mounted outdoors. You can’t say the same for your indoor router.

Outdoor Access Points

If trees aren’t in the way, an OAP can offer a range of up to 2000 ft when it comes to getting a wireless signal. Even better, they can be placed outdoors (if you can manage an Ethernet cable connection). The reason these have gained popularity is due to price increases by ISPs. As a result, neighbors sometimes use OAPs to share a connection in order to save money. Similar to repeaters, OAPs come waterproof, are tolerant of wider temperature ranges, and are made for sometimes rugged environments. OAPs can even act as repeaters, bridges, and offer other operations depending on the brand you select.

Stick it Out

If all else fails, just stick it out. These laptop sticks can allow you the luxury of internet connection simply by plugging into your USB port. This can be used almost anywhere where your wireless provider is located. The downside is you may be limited to a 3G or 4G connection speed, and the sticks can be lost. However, the stick can be used on multiple devices and offers you a mobile hotspot almost anywhere.

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*by andreascy*

Record Breaking Wi-Fi

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Researchers from the Fraunhofer Instiute at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have set a new Wi-Fi speed record of 40GB per second - by creating new hardware and using higher radio frequencies. 

The Dawning of a New Day

Essentially these researchers are now able to transmit 10 high-definition feature films per second, over a 0.6 mile distance. Their technology could fill a 4TB drive in under 100 seconds (1 min 40 seconds) when running at full speed (well, in theory it could, but currently no SSD or HDD could hope to keep up with it).

This development is excellent news for any gamer or movie addict as entire episodes or games could be downloaded within seconds, as opposed to hours - once it becomes commercially available. The motivation behind the project is to help Germany catch up to its neighbours as it is currently behind in terms of fibre network adoption.

In fact, the research, which was sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research to the tune of €2 million, was conducted to find an alternative to fibre optic cable. It seems that the researchers, at least, believe that they’ve succeeded with project leader, Professor Ingmar Kallfass, reporting that; “We have managed to develop a radio link based on active electronic circuits, which enables similarly high data rates as in fiber-optic systems, therefore allowing seamless integration of the radio link”.

Why it Works

Mashable’s Jesse Emspak explains that what makes this high-speed Wi-Fi possible is a combination of ‘better hardware’ and the use of higher radio frequencies. The “better hardware” is what researchers are calling their transmitter and receiver chips which are quite compact; measuring 4 x 1.5mm2 . Kallfass and his team believe that the set of chips could be integrated into compact ICs.

The second component is the use of higher radio frequencies - 240 gigahertz in this instance. Most Wi-Fi networks operate at either 2.4 or 5GHz and higher frequencies can experience atmospheric interference. It would seem, however, that 240 GHz is not affected and, as such massive amounts of data can be sent over this wavelength. Emspak explains that; “The high frequencies are necessary for moving lots of data - the number of bits that can travel over the airwaves is inversely proportional to the wavelength. The shorter the wavelength, the more data that can go in a given time”.

The technology has already been tested over a distance of one kilometer (linking two skyscrapers) and certainly seems to be quite robust when it comes to bad weather.

Possible Applications

Apart from faster download speeds in central areas, another application for the tech could be use in rural areas where it is too difficult to lay down fibre optic cables; as these transmissions will be able to go much further than a current Wi-Fi router could manage. Should this prove to be the case it would mean a breakthrough for people working between buildings or in the countryside.

At present the technology has not been made available commercially but, once it is it looks set to change the way many people around the world use their computers. Just think of the possibilities; email hosting services could be accessed from more locations, videos could be downloaded in the blink of an eye and people in areas that were traditionally isolated could soon have internet access. It truly is the dawning of a new day. 

 READ ALSO: Search Engines and Web Hosting - The Best Combination

Keep pushing up higher! 💪

*by andreascy*