The OmniMount PLAY40 flat panel wall mount offers some of the most versatile and smooth TV positioning available in TV wall mounts.
You use your TV for many purposes throughout the day. With this mount, you can adjust the positioning of your TV for the specific activity.
Gadget expert Scott Steinberg named OmniMount’s PLAY products the best tech of 2012. this short video provides an excellent preview of its versatility!
There is much debate about how these retail giants syphon sales from all the smaller retailers and the resulting macro impact to our nation. Our apparent addiction to getting the cheapest price fuels a spiral of cheap labor and manufacturing overseas and subsequently grows our landfills with broken products. (ok…I am showing my colors here).
I conclude that it isn’t the large companies that are evil. In fact it is us, the consumers, which have created these behemoths. The corporate leaders were just savvy enough to capitalize on our weakness for getting a “good deal” and staying in our comfort zone of convenience. As consumers, we are drawn like a moth to a light to do business in these stores as we can get everything we need, in one stop (or click) at a great price.
As a proprietor of a small “bricks and mortar” establishment I humbly ask you to stop and think about your next purchase. Although less convenient, I would argue that a local small store will give you much better attention and even some real honest to goodness advice on what would be the best item for your needs. While there, you’ll probably bump into a neighbor and have a nice chat. The person at the checkout will remember you and ask how the kids are doing. Great stuff. And guess what, if you really study the price, you would see that it isn’t much different.
So please take a chance on us small guys. Down deep our goal is to take care of you and to stay in business for the long haul. If you let us fall, all that will be left are these big guys, their stockholders and quarterly earnings reports, who will be seeking more and more efficient ways to have you fuel spiral.
This commercial caught my eye-I love the message and my local Ace Hardware Store.
A few months ago our 14 year old son asked for a texting plan on his phone. I know. He’s 14! Some of his friends have been texting since 4th grade or before. When he asked last year, we said “no, if you want to talk to your friends, pick up the phone and talk.” We explained the importance of verbal communication and how its very existence is being threatened in this digital age. There is the very real fear that the obsession with texting will become a life threatening activity when he is in a vehicle. We further expressed our concern about texting being another distraction from the important commitments in his life like family, school work, piano, sports, hobbies and real life and face to face social interaction.
So a year has passed since the initial denial of texting privileges and I am happy to report that he is a happy, athletic, well read, social, honor roll student. He earned a basic texting plan and uses it wisely. We now see the benefit in this quick, easy form of communication-as a supplement to real life communication.
So, at the same time we added a texting plan to our son’s account, we added a plan to mine. Having exceeded my basic plan by double on the first month, I was immediately upgraded to unlimited!
My name is Leslie and I am a textaholic.
This morning my addiction took me to a new low. In an effort to communicate privately with my husband, without being overheard or interrupted by a child, I texted him. He was sitting 6 feet from me. I’m truly not sure if that makes me really clever or really pathetic.
My son and I spent the better part of Friday evening laughing ‘til we cried at ‘auto correct’ texting fails. If you are looking for a laugh, check it out! http://damnyouautocorrect.com/ .
All kidding aside, please NEVER text and drive.
Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. We enjoyed a quick, but fun filled journey to Bar Harbor to visit with family. It was the maiden voyage of the Ram with her colorful new graphics! We left York a bit later than we had hoped, but arrived in time to enjoy a tour of my parent’s beautiful, bountiful gardens and enjoy watching the colorful wild birds feasting on their evening meal. The next morning we enjoyed a vigorous bike ride from Town Hill, through Pretty Marsh and past Long Pond where I discovered my tire was rapidly deflating! No worries, my parents came to the rescue while we waited patiently in Somesville, possibly the most charming village on the planet. The fine guys of Bar Harbor Bicycle shop (who sold me my first bike) fixed it right away, in the middle of their very busy rental day. We packed up the kids, the dog, lunch and my parents for a little boating, but the wind was a bit much for our small boats. Still, we enjoyed the amazing views of the rugged, craggy coastline of Trenton, Lamoine, Salisbury Cove and Hulls Cove and into Frenchman’s Bay. Occassionally we could spot a home built on or near the stone foundation remains of one of the historic mansions destroyed in the fire of 1947. My father, a lobsterman of 45 years or so, treated us to all the lobster we could eat. The soft shells and sweet meat make lobster an especially delighful (though very messy) experience at this time of year. Before packing up the next morning we squeezed in a beautiful hike around Jordan Pond, up to Bubble Rock and down the steep South Bubble trail. From the top we enjoyed views of Jordan Pond, Eagle Lake, Pemetic Mountain, Sargent Mountain and Cadillac Mountain. Fortunately the ride home was easy with minimal traffic.
Please check out these links to get a feel for all of the amazing sights and activities of one of America’s most amazing National Parks and visit the Island soon!
Mounting a flat panel display above your fireplace can be a convenient location, but who wants the TV to be a focal point? Now, when you aren’t watching TV, your display is concealed by the beautiful art work you really want to be the focal point.
We recently installed this ‘moving art’ for a wonderful client. Typically, mounting a flat panel over the mantle is not ideal from the standpoint of comfortable viewing. But this mantle is a bit lower for optimized viewing. The client selected a sony Bravia LCD HDTV. Although this is a lovely TV, she certainly did not want it to be the focal point of her beautiful condo. We worked with Media Decor to provide the perfect solution for her elegant decor. There are many options available from this clever supplier of moving art. You can provide your own digital art, select from thier extensive library or submit original art on a canvas painted in accordance with their specifications. Frames are available in a wide array of styles, colors and widths. The system can be mounted flush to the wall or recessed into the wall. Media Decor utilizes the highly reliable and quiet lift system manufactured by Lutron and used in their motorized shades. Because the lift mechanism comes from Lutron, a leader in light and shade control, the moving art can be integrated with the lighting and shade control program. This particular client has an extensive home automation and control system. As part of the control system, we have programmed a macro or ‘scene’ which simultaneously lifts the art, turns on the desired video source, adjusts the volume, lowers the shades and dims the room lighting, all with the touch of one button! All of these features can be further adjusted from the same control panel. Click ‘play’ to watch how it works and visit the website for Media Decor to learn about more options including Media Mirrors.
Nick Mark, Owner DC Home Systems
I want to shed light on a question which integrators are routinely asked by customers as the A/V system is being designed and specified. “Can’t we just buy our own TV?” It is a valid question. After all, TV’s are a commodity item and a familiar component on the potentially mysterious list of materials required for the A/V system.
The obvious and simple answer is, “yes, you can spend your Saturday at Best-Street-Save-Money-House.” But in addition to the inconvenience, there is a more important factor to consider.
Accountability.
Let me start with this truth. Because TVs are a commodity item, your integrator will likely charge you the same price as the big box stores for the same TV. You should know, your integrator makes NO money on the sale TV’s. Really. Wholesale cost on a TV is typically just a few points below advertised costs. When administration and shipping are factored in, your integrator will likely take a loss on these items. So, why do integrators even want to sell them?
Accountability.
Although the TV appears to be the center of any integrated A/V system, in reality it is just one of the cogs in the wheel. If any one of these cogs is not working, the TV usually ends up taking the blame, although the true culprit could be one of many factors in an integrated system.
If your integrator didn’t supply the TV or if there has been a substitution, it becomes dicey to sort out which warranty applies.
(It is worth repeating, installers make NO money by providing TVs.)
You know your landscaper isn’t responsible for the lifespan of plants you purchase from House-Cheep. Your interior designer isn’t accountable for the performance of blinds you purchase from Budget-Shades. This is, of course, at the root of how you choose any reliable contractor. You choose professionals who will stand by all the products you purchase through their service. When your integrator specifies the TV, installs it in accordance with system design and provides it through one of their supply sources, the integrator is accountable for any issues. This means you have one call to make and one company to lean on.
If you haven’t already, log on to the Portsmouth Music Hall and get yourself tickets for tonight’s Marc Cohn concert. I have had the pleasure of seeing him in concert in the past; he is an amazing pianist, vocalist and performer. The Music Hall is very generous to their show sponsors and we always feel good about supporting this wonderful cultural resource. As sponsors for tonight’s show, we received four tickets. The plan was for Nick and I to take our two boys, who have been pianists for about 4 years. Unfortunately, mother nature has intervened, and the 11 year old is sick in bed. So tonight, our 13 year old son will attend the concert with his classmate, who is also a pianist, her mom and their piano teacher! Although I am sad for my sick boy, I am so excited for Sam, Amanda, Theresa and Lori. I can’t wait to hear their reviews! I know they will be thrilled by the show and I hope you will too!
Cable companies don’t have the best reputation with consumers. They are generally perceived as being expensive, late, and unhelpful.
We have a client in Maine, who is making some improvements and adding guest cabins. Te main house has a cable feed for TV and internet. The extra cabins need their own cable feed to get the proper signal. We arranged to have the cable company come to the site to pull a new cable feed from the power pole to the new cabin.
On the day that the cable company was scheduled to install that new cable, our installer A.J. was onsite. The cable company had hired a contractor to run the cable, but he showed up unprepared. As A.J. tells it, the contractor didn’t realize that he had to change out some equipment on the pole and run the cable such a long distance. The contractor,perhaps because he was not a stakeholder in the project, was initially uncooperative and reluctant to do any work without calling the supervisor. If it wasn’t for our our installer being onsite, the contractor would have certainly left as soon as he had arrived and the project would have been delayed and the customer would have been unhappy, with us. Having many years of experience working with and for the cable industry and being primarily concerned with the customers satisfaction, A.J. knew what had to be done and firmly provided suggestions for how to proceed. The contractor reluctantly completed the work and most importantly, the customer is happy,
On another note, as Time Warner Cable and Sinclair Broadcasting Group (owner of local affiliate WGME) continue to battle over contract negotiations, affecting CBS viewers in 20 markets across the nation, it is unclear who will come out on top on the December 31st deadline.
Please enjoy this guest blog from our favorite interior designer, Randy Trainor. Visit her at http://www.crtinteriors.com/ She provides so much wonderful information through her website, blog and newsletter. Be sure to sign up, shes worth the click!
Many of my clients are making the switch from their old TV’s to the new flat screen televisions. From an interior designer’s point of view this is wonderful because it means they can get rid of the bulky entertainment cabinet. Or can they?
Once we determine where the flat screen is going and whether or not it will be hung on the wall, the next question is usually what to do with the components and all of the wires. My response is not to worry about it because the wires can be hidden and the cable box, DVD player, etc., can even be placed in a closet 2 rooms away. Then I call in the experts.
The easiest and least expensive solution is to place the TV on top of a low entertainment unit that is made specifically for the flat screens. These entertainment units come in so many styles and colors that finding one to fit your decorating scheme is rarely an issue.
If hanging the TV on the wall is your preference, usually it is relatively easy to bury the wires from the back of the screen into the wall. And, there are many ways to disguise the TV if you prefer to not see a black rectangular screen unless it’s in use.
One option is to “frame” the TV as if it were a piece of artwork. Mirrors that go from being reflective to clear at the touch of a switch, or artwork that rolls up inside of a frame when the TV is turned on are two possibilities. Bifold panels that fold back (much like shutters) are another way to cover the screen. These panels can be covered in a series of small framed artwork or painted with a mural to complement the homes décor.
In the master bedroom the TV is often fitted with a lift system and placed in a pretty chest at the foot of the bed. Then with the remote, the occupants are able to “flip” open the top and have the TV screen rise for viewing. I have even seen a smaller flat screen mounted in the top of a canopy bed at the “foot” end. The TV then flipped down for viewing. Ingenious!
Now that everything can be done wirelessly, the components can be hidden away in one central location and accessed from all areas of the home. Of course this is accomplished the easiest when there is remodeling or new construction taking place, but I am constantly amazed at how adept at retrofitting and hiding wires electronic systems contractors have become.
Interior designers and electronic systems contractors often work together to assure that your electronic needs are met in a beautiful yet functional manner that works well with your home’s décor. Knowing there are so many options will ease your mind, so sit back and let us take care of you.
As a custom installation company, we always install equipment in a location which provides the best possible vantage point and data feedback. This doesn’t necessarilly make for the easiest service access.
A couple years ago, we installed a complete automation system in a home in New Hampshire. This included DirecTV, security cameras, and a weather station by Weatherhawk. The DirecTV dish was installed on the roof, and the camera and weather station were installed on an abandoned telephone pole, about 25′ off the ground. This height allowed for the best camera angle and most accurate weather feedback. The DirecTV and weather station were acting up recently and needed some TLC. To troubleshoot and fix the issue we rented an excellent 25′ trailered man-lift. It hitches to any vehicle with a 2″ ball hitch for easy towing.
It has outriggers and a 500 lb capacity. It’s also light enough to be pushed or pulled around by a couple people.
Within a couple hours we were able to swap out the weather station and the satellite dish without endangering ourselves or damaging the property. It was also a lot of fun to get a magic carpet ride up to the equipment. Since we had the rental until the following morning, I was trying to think of projects at my house requiring a lift so I could play with it a little more.
I find that walking through rental shops or home improvement stores are the best inspiration for new projects. Sometimes I’ll take on a home project simply to justify purchasing a new power tool…I’m sure I’m not alone in this. Just remember, after buying the tool, you still have to finish the project!
