Every year I take a step back to look at the solutions we’re providing. The goal is to ensure the holistic, “big picture” results DistinctAV is known for are being achieved. In an industry as complex as ours, it’s important to stay one step ahead so we can avoid the rise and fall of all the over-hyped products.
Here’s a summary of my most recent assessment:
1. Reliability is paramount. Nobody remembers how cool the system is everyday but they remember when it hiccups or needs a reboot. This is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve as manufacturers cram more features into their systems. Nobody lists “Actually works reliably.” as a feature. They do tell you their level of quality. Just look at the warranty. 1 year or less on a $3000 part?
2. Intuitive remotes and controls are still most important. If they can’t use it, or are afraid to, they will not enjoy it. Continue to optimize the custom interfaces, reducing button presses and following the user instead of making them follow the remote.
3. Adults love good sound and video quality. Kids just want portability and don’t care about image or sound quality. Also see streaming sources below.
4. Dedicated theaters are making a comeback. Keep them simple, comfortable, and for the whole family. Add all the interior amenities like nearby concession area and star ceilings.
5. Favorite music sources (in-order): DirecTV (XM Radio), FM/HD-Radio, iTunes/AppleTV, Internet Radio, Sirius/XM, Cable Music Channels, CDs.
6. Lighting control products still have extreme interest but continue to be a difficult sell. If they’ve never had lighting controls, they want them AFTER they move in–to0 late for better reliability prewired systems and more cost overall, but all is not lost. Seems a year of suffering without lighting controls is the average before they start asking for them as a retrofit. Advanced integrated automation is key to getting the most out of lighting controls.
7. Streaming will win this year. I rarely sell disc players with so many streaming sources. Tivo is still the best combo box for clients with cable. For those remote houses with no cheap, unlimited broadband, DirecTV (for sports nuts) and Dish (for on-demand nuts) are the best options. The only thing that will kill (delay the inevitable) steaming is if the major providers try to make their delivery systems proprietary or require a specific box to play content.
8. Phone home? Analog land lines are gone but IP phone systems are fighting back. Good thing to because I hate cell phones and their crappy call quality. IP phones have amazingly clear call quality when talking to another HQ IP phone.
9. If you follow any of my teachings (rants) you know that I’m the most anti-fad, anti-gimmick, anti-B.S. person around. That said, 3D TV is cool. I’m sure people will take it overboard and completely ruin the content but it’s worth planning for and having the capacity in your wires.
10. Prewire finally got simple. HD and control over Cat5 is just around the corner. I’ve finally reduced my TV drop wire count to 2 Cat5 and one RG6. Three Cat5 in strategic locations for antennas, repeaters, etc. Fiber is still only needed for very long distances as the speed over copper is still there.
11. Retrofitters Rejoice! For all those people who I’ve uttered the words “your wiring sucks so you’re screwed–go yell at the dolt who didn’t engineer your wiring”, your salvation has arrived! There are many new retrofit products that actually work ok that will allow you to have most of the cool features DistinctAV systems are known for. (ok, I never actually said those words but oh how I’ve wanted to)
12. iPhone fanboys will spend millions in support groups after their worshiped idol is dethroned by Android OS devices (may occur in 2012–part of that whole Mayan calendar thing).
13. Energy management will struggle with a thousand “standards” created by the shotgun energy policy spending over the past three years. Most “solutions” are just energy monitoring, not management. Energy management takes smarts and experience so don’t expect to see it become main stream any time soon (unless I get scooped up by a major player–I have a few good patent candidates up my sleeve).
