InterNETworking

Ethernet Switch Criteria By Derek R. Flickinger, December 4, 2009 Whenever I give a seminar on designing and implementing communications networks for content distribution around the home (as opposed to just installing a more common “data only” network), I inevitably get asked what Ethernet More..
Apps, Widgets Head Home By Gordon Van Zuiden, February 2, 2010 Control4’s 4store And Others Enhance Home Control Features As we start the next decade of custom residential electronic integration it’s clear that we have to know as much about software as the hardware that we sell. While it More..
Apple Adds Juice to AV Controls By Gordon van Zuiden, October 1, 2008 Each year that I travel to CEDIA EXPO I’m always looking for trends in our industry that help to shape our business strategy. When Steve Jobs released the software development kit for the Apple 3G iPhone and iPod Touch earlier More..
Digital Family Dynamics By Gordon Van Zuiden, January 5, 2010 How Social Computing Can Bring Your Client’s Family Together Adding a computer in the More..
Giving Media Center a Second Look By Gordon van Zuiden, September 30, 2009 I have tracked Microsoft’s Media Center technology for the past seven years, often inaccurately predicting that the platform would take off within the custom installation channel. Needless to say, I have become a bit gun-shy More..
Negawatts, not Megawatts By Gordon Van Zuiden, August 10, 2009 Networking Solutions For Electrical Energy ManagementOne of the higher priorities on our clients’ cost-cutting list has become their monthly electrical bill. This is a recurring cost that our custom electronic solutions appear to More..
Dumb as a Door Knocker? By Gordon Van Zuiden, June 2, 2009 New ip-controlled door entry systems come a-knockin’ Initially, IP-enabled devices were found only in the home office, and then there was a spread of IP connectivity into our family room, where we could view and listen to content More..
Are You on Facebook? By Gordon Van Zuiden, April 1, 2009 Leveraging Social Networks To Advertise Your Services I recently returned from the annual CEDIA Management Conference, and as usual I came back with some great new ideas from the presenters and my industry peers. One concept that More..
Our AMD Live! Experience (EXPANDED WEB VERSION) By Gordon van Zuiden, January 30, 2009 An Intriguing Single-Box Media Center And Home Theater OptionIn the world of Windows Media Center systems there are a number of ways to distribute the media experience throughout the home. We have seen installations where More..
Is DVD Ripping Legal? November 7, 2008 REAL NETWORKS ENGAGES IN ROUND TWO OF THE ‘FAIR USE’ FIGHTEditor’s Note: At press time,RealNetworks failed to convince a district judge to lift its restraining order and allow it to start selling RealDVD again until the judge More..
Another Green Solution By Gordon van Zuiden, August 27, 2008 In the residential custom installation business we typically think of ourselves as experts in audio video, lighting, computer, and home control systems. Now many of our clients are beginning to ask how much electricity, gas, and More..
Maximizing Media Center By Gordon van Zuiden, July 31, 2008 This is the year that the CableCard-supported Microsoft Media Center platform coupled with a wide variety of Media Center Extenders options was going to shake up the residential world of high-definition, whole-house media More..
Getting Chummy with Chumby By Gordon van Zuiden, July 1, 2008 I am always looking for network-connected devices that truly add value to our client's broadband connected homes. Of course we all know about the value of our laptop and office computers connected to broadband Internet in the More..
CEDIA Event Paves the Way By Gordon van Zuiden, May 27, 2008 Readers of this column know that I usually write about networking topics that are relevant to the custom electronics integration industry and this column will be no exception. However, instead of using networking terms like TCP More..
Fuze Media Systems By Gordon van Zuiden, March 6, 2008 Readers of my column know that I have been a proponent of Media Center solutions for the home for a number of years. But we all know that the Media Center, for all its strengths of storing, cataloging, and distributing digital More..

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