Metra Home Theater Group has stressed the importance of being educated on 4K technology and explained last year how it was going to impact Custom Integrators, Installers and Home Technology Professionals. Some people were uncertain it would be adopted quickly by consumers, since initial sources for 4K video content were limited. Others felt 4K would be like the 3D TV fad, and may not catch on at all. Then there were those who thought that the high price tag combined with limited content would make mainstream 4K adoption something that happens far into the future, if adopted at all.

Fast forward to Q3 of 2016 and the adoption of 4K by the consumer is now faster than the adoption to HD, as stated in this article by the Consumer Technology Association. Just about every TV over 50 inches and almost half of all TV sets sold are 4K Ultra HDs. While price tags on certain brands or models can still be pricey, they’ve come down quite a bit and consumers can buy a 43” 4K TV for as low as $299. Watching 4K content has also been made easier, with many newly released movies in 4K, along with instant streaming for all of Netflix’s original series and a sizeable selection of content from Amazon Video.

The adoption of 4K technology is no longer coming — it’s here. Which gives even more reason to be educated on all aspects of it.

The 2016 CEDIA Show was an impressive experience for the staff of Metra Home Theater Group. This year’s theme to “Think Big” for the future of business was apparent in all aspects of the show, from the innovative products to the training sessions and speaker topics. As the world’s premier showcase for home technology, we were excited and inspired by all of debuting products and news of what is on the horizon for our industry. We met a lot of amazing people at our booth while introducing our newest products and innovations. The enthusiasm from attendees didn’t slow down, as we had a constant flow of traffic all three days of the show. In case you didn’t get to travel to Dallas, here are the highlights of our exciting CEDIA Show:

• Lunch ‘N Learn. Our annual Lunch ‘N Learn event with Jeff Boccaccio, President of DPL Labs, has become a highly anticipated CEDIA tradition. This year Jeff discussed HDR, 4K Deep Color, and fiber interoperability in his two part presentation series, “Making the Jump”. Both sessions had the highest attendance to date with standing room only, overflowing into the aisles.

Metra Home Theater Group is making it easier than ever for users to “Spy from Anywhere” with enhanced security solutions for SPYCLOPS® Surveillance System owners. The SPYCLOPS mobile app is now available for both Apple and Android smartphone or tablet devices. Users can keep an eye on their home or business from anywhere in the world using the free, secure, and newly updated app.

SPYCLOPS Mobile App Features

The remote viewing application is designed to easily view live and recorded video from your SPYCLOPS DVR surveillance systems. Connect using your 9 digit device ID or with direct IP access. The app can support single or multiple DVR’s. Users can also create custom groups with cameras from multiple locations for simultaneous viewing within the application…

Larger flat screen TVs are in high demand, and mounting them to the wall is one of the most popular options for homeowners and businesses. The TV mount becomes one of the most important accessories, and it does more than just secure the screen to the wall. Its position, if installed correctly, enhances the entire viewing experience. However, larger, heavier screens present a challenge for installers to safely mount and still maintain a full range of motion. How do you know which TV mounts will work best for larger screens? Metra Home Theater Group’s tech team recommends looking at four key things; range of motion, weight capacity, VESA pattern range and quality construction.

Range of Motion

Full motion TV mounts, or articulating TV mounts, provide larger televisions the freedom to move for optimal viewing positions. However, these are not all the same and you should pay careful attention to the specs! Many mounts tend to have a reduced range of motion for larger screens. We disagree with this. Larger displays should not have to sacrifice range of motion. The mount should tilt up and down and have an arm to come out from the wall to offer plenty of viewing options. The recommended specification for a full motion TV mount is an arm that extends 31 inches out from wall and a swivel angle of +/- 90 degrees. Anything less and you’ll be limiting the potential viewing options for the screen.

Summer storms mean lightning strikes and power surges, which can wreak havoc on every HDMI® electrical device in the building. While you may think your electronics are safe, a typical surge protector does not protect HDMI interfaces from electrostatic discharge (ESD). HDMI ports are very vulnerable to ESD and even small surges could render the entire electronic chain useless, despite having a power surge protector in place. The best way to protect yourself is to have an HDMI surge protector specifically designed to prevent ESD in line for all of your HDMI devices. The correct HDMI surge protector will defend against intruding voltage spikes that can damage HDMI components.

What is Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)?

The ESD Association states that “To many people, Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) is only experienced as a shock when touching a metal doorknob after walking across a carpeted floor or after sliding across a car seat. However, static electricity and ESD has been a serious industrial problem for centuries.” Additionally, “as electronic devices become faster and the circuitry getting smaller, their sensitivity to ESD in general increases. This trend may be accelerating.”