The Confusion Surrounding 4K
Tuesday, March 31, 2015 3:29:07 PM America/New_York
Last week, the blog discussed what 4K means to the customer and it caused quite the stir with my CI co-workers. In an effort to clear things up a little and to add to the controversy of the subject, this post will outline some of the topics discussed in our offices.
Right now, 4K to the CI means confusion. This is because 4K, to most people (consumers), means twice as many pixels horizontally and twice as many pixels vertically to make up the picture on the TV. 4K meant the HD picture quality had to be improved for the consumer wanting bigger and bigger TVs. Non-4K TVs have a 1080p picture with 1920 pixels horizontally and 1080 pixels vertically. Since the 4K televisions double both the number of horizontal and vertical pixels, we get: 2 x 1920 = 3840 and 2 x 1080 =2160. Meaning 3840 x 2160, which equals 4K for the consumer. This doubling is where the consumer gets the term 4K. Here is a visual that helps people grasp exactly what that math represents:
![4K Resolution Example](https://metrahometheater.com/skin/frontend/default/metrahtg/images/blog/4k-resolution-example.jpg)
What is 4K?
Tuesday, March 24, 2015 3:50:20 PM America/New_York
![4K Accessories](https://metrahometheater.com/skin/frontend/default/metrahtg/images/blog/4k-tag.jpg)
4K ready cables. 4K televisions. The term “4K” is being thrown around a lot lately and does anyone really know what it means? I recently tried to explain the importance of 4K and how it will impact everyone’s life one day over dinner with a group of friends. I was met with “I just don’t get it” comments. Undeterred, I went to work and started a conversation on what is the best way to educate the consumer on the importance of 4K. Other co-workers have had similar conversations with their friends and family members.
“What is this 4K I keep hearing about? Should I care? Is this something that should be important to me?”
“I understand that it is something to do with TVs, but does that mean I have to replace all my other gear to go with it – a new Blu-ray player, a new AV receiver, new Blu-rays, new set top boxes or even new cables?”
“Will I have to upgrade my subscriptions to services like Netflix?”
The Installer Institute Offers New Custom Integration and Home Automation Training
Thursday, March 19, 2015 3:56:30 PM America/New_York
![Installer Institute](https://metrahometheater.com/skin/frontend/default/metrahtg/images/blog/installer-institute-blog.jpg)
With Bike Week over and spring getting ready to start here in gorgeous Florida, it is time again for some training and I am not talking about baseball spring training. I am referring to the new ADVANCED TRAINING - CUSTOM INTEGRATION AND HOME AUTOMATION classes starting next week on March 23rd at Installer Institute.
Spring Break and Bike Exhaust
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 4:11:16 PM America/New_York
![74th Bike Week](https://metrahometheater.com/skin/frontend/default/metrahtg/images/blog/bike-week-74th.jpg)
The traffic has gotten horrible here in gorgeous Florida, which means Bikers and Spring Breakers have descended at the same time. We are currently halfway through Bike Week 2015. For those of you not familiar with Bike Week, and have no idea what I am talking about, let me try to explain it in a nutshell.
Bike Week is when about 500,000 people of all ages travel to Daytona Beach area with their motorcycles and leather. You may be thinking Sons of Anarchy and Jax Teller – um, not everyone looks like Jax Teller. Disappointing, I know. This event does provide the best people watching east of Mardi Gras. It is the spring break event for grownups with motorcycles. There is an official Bike Week Calendar online that includes events like Amateur Arm Wrestling and David Allen Coe concerts. All the fun is located from downtown Daytona Beach to US. 1 in Ormond Beach.
What is the Internet of Things?
Tuesday, March 3, 2015 6:44:02 PM America/New_York
![The Internet of Things](https://metrahometheater.com/skin/frontend/default/metrahtg/images/blog/internet-of-things.jpg)
The term "Internet of Things" (or IOT for short) is everywhere. Do you know what this means? Do you know how this effects you? I took some time to read up on the Internet of Things to educate myself because frankly, the phrase annoys me. It sounds pompous. This phrase reminds me of rich people saying “money does not solve everything.” Really? Money does not solve everything? I am pretty sure money would have solved my problem of trying to figure out how to pay for books for college. With that being said, the IOT sounds like it might solve everything. The IOT is being thrown around in articles about everything from kitchen appliances to smartwatches. Yet no one has explained exactly what the Internet of Things means. There is a hashtag to following and everything – yet no explanation.
Until last Friday.