The Internet of Things

Back in March I posted about the Internet of Things (or IoT for short).  Since that post I have seen the #IoT in regards to a wide array of topics.  The uses of the IoT are varied with some being downright scary.  Some examples that I have run across in the last few weeks are as follows:

•  Disney has plans to change its experience at theme parks and hotels with its wearable device. From an app or wristband one can get into a park, purchase a souvenir and even sign up for the fast pass on various rides.  All of this can be done from a wristband or phone app.  Learn more here.  No more paper tickets or waiting in lines for rides. 
• Hospitals are using the IoT helping sick children play interactively with shelter pets helping the children forget about their illness for a small time.  
• TheLevis Company is using the IoT to develop clothes that connect to the internet to help people interact more with the real world around them instead of staring at phones. 

Convenience, helpful & scary is how I categorize the above list.

The IOT can help make lots of things more organized (Disney) and helpful (kids in hospitals).  What scares me is there may be a market for wearable clothes that help people be more interactive with the real world. What is that about?

The INTERNET OF THINGS needs to help people be more INTERACTIVE with the REAL WORLD!  People do stare at their phones a lot when out in public.  I am guilty of that myself.  In my house, we had to implement a rule that all cell phones are turned off and put away during family dinner.  Sadly, the rule was put in place for my husband and myself – not my children.  To think that clothes might connect with our cell phones in the near future makes me fear for my grandchildren.  Will we have to change clothes before dinner to continue the tradition of eating as a family and the end of every single day?  Smart phones have changed society in positive and negative ways.  How will Smart Clothes change the next generation?  Do we really need an IoT device (clothes) to help us connect more with reality or should we just be more responsible with the technology we have?  IF the smart clothes catch on – where will this lead us as a society?  Will we start living the science fiction books I grew up reading?  Sounds great in theory but the reality of all of this “connectivity” may be it actually make us less “connected” to real people and the real world around us.

I would love to hear what others think about this Brave New World that is upon us. #IoT #GlobalIndustry #BigData #WearableTech

Most asked Spyclops Tech Questions

Our Spyclops tech department is busy helping customers and I happen to sit in the same room.  So the thought came to be one day, “What are the most asked questions?”    I fired off an email and asked “What question do you answer the most regarding our Spyclops line?”

I was given the top three most asked Spyclops tech questions:

1.       I am having issues connecting on my phone with ESEE, HELP? 

Make sure you have full signal on your Smartphone or tablet to pull the video through, especially if you have more than four cameras connected.  Videos pull more bandwidth than games or regular apps.

2.       I have an Android but I can only view four cameras, where are the other cameras?

Make sure you selected the correct number of cameras when you added your DVR.  If you did, then simply swipe the screen left at the camera view to scroll through all the cameras views.

3.       How do I verify my DVR is recording:

After you set up your recording information, you will see one of the three icons in the upper right hand corner of each camera view that is actively recording.  You will see a clock for timed recording, a red dot for manual recording or a yellow running man for motion recording.  If one of these icons are showing, your camera is recording.

THE EASY WAY TO DIGITAL AUDIO BACK TO YOUR AVR

Today everybody has a smart TV with all kinds of built in Apps. The most common problem that “CI's” face is getting the Digital Audio from these TV Apps back to the AVR.  One answer is of course the ARC function back thru the HDMI cable and while this is a “simple” one cable solution it is NOT a simple one button user solution.

Here is a simple one button user solution and if you can get a piece of coax (RG/6 or RG/59) between the display and the AVR you can make this happen.

Directions: First, on most displays there is an Optical output connection that supports Dolby Digital, come out of this with a short optical cable and go into our CS-D2D optical to coax format convertor. Second you will adapt the “F” connector to an RCA connection at both ends, plug the coax into one of the SPDIF connections on the back of your AVR.  Third program the remote to select that SPDIF input when your client wants to watch in TV apps.

You now have a one button solution.

Parts Needed:

• CS-D2D Digital Format Convertor.
• 1 meter optical cable. (MHY Toslink Cables)
• Coax cable with RCA terminals on both ends.  (Digital COAX Cables)

5 Tips for Easy Spyclops Set Up

The determining factor for me when I am purchasing any type of electronic system is how easy it will be for me to install and use.  Our Spyclops systems fall into this category – easy. Here are five tricks to make your set up quick and easy:

1.       Print the quick start guide located at www.spyclopsusa.com for step-by-step set up instructions.

2.       After you checkmark DHCP and ESEE, rebooting the DVR may populate the ESEE number quicker.

3.       Verify the hard drive is formatted and that either overwrite or auto delete is selected or it will stop recording when the hard drive is full.

4.       Double check your time and date at the bottom of the main screen to make sure your recordings times will be accurate.

5.       Look for one of three (3) icons, manual record, timed record or motion record, in the upper right corner of your camera view to verify it IS recording in the format you desire.

If these tips do not solve your set up problem, we are always available to help.  Call us at 866-839-9187 ext. 2393 for more tips and answers to all questions regarding Spyclops.

Have Happy Holiday Weekend!!!

Metra Home Theater's Smart Service

If you saw our ad in this month’s CEPRO, you saw our own Technical Support and Product Specialist Brent McCall featured as the figurehead for the Smart Support we provide our customers.  In fact, he is one part of an extensive package of smart support we provide.  Our Smart Support includes a designated tech support professional for our Spyclops product, a highly trained sales staff on the latest technology as well as Brent McCall providing Custom Integrator support.

Notice that Brent is described as the “Custom Integrator” tech support, not the Metra Custom Integrator Product support.  This is an important distinction because Metra Home Theater believes in supporting the CI – not just selling our products to the CI.  In other words, he will try to help no matter what the issue.  Brent is available to take your call from 8am-10pm*.  The asterisk is there because Brent will not answer his phone if he is at dinner with his wife or in his convertible Miata for obvious reasons. You can leave him a message and he will return your call promptly. 

Deanna Miller is tech support primarily for our Spyclops product line but provides tech support on all Metra Home Theater products.  She is available to answer any and all of your questions related to either installing or operating a Spyclops system in addition to being another tech resource for all of our products.  Deanna also assists in product development of the Spyclops line with her input coming from feedback she gets from the customers like you who she speaks with every day.  She is available Tuesday thru Friday 9-6:30 pm and Saturday 10-4:00 pm.

Our dedicated sales staff works hard on staying on top of the latest in technology.  Monthly meetings as well as constant access to our product development team keep our sales staff well-informed on all of the technology we offer.   We are very proud of the fact that our staff here at Metra Home Theater Group actually understands how our technology works.  We are not interested in the canned sales pitch telling a customer why our products are better than the competition.  Our staff spend time in the field routinely to meet with customers to stay connected with your technology needs.

Metra Home Theater Group, Brent McCall, Deanna Miller, and many others are here to support you, whether it’s a question on the latest in HDMI to installing a television mount, we’re standing by to help! Metra Home Theater Group remains dedicated to meeting the needs of a wide array of customers -- from Custom Integrators, to the Spyclops customer as well as the many other home theater brands we offer (and then some) which is why our Smart Support stands out from the competition.

New Spyclops Videos

Good Morning!  It has been crazy here in sunny Holy Hill, Florida and we have been very busy. This week's post will be short, sweet and hopefully free of errors!  I apologize for the mistakes in my last post.  It was nice to hear so many people point out the mistakes.  It means Metra Home Theater Group has an audience.  I like to look on the bright side. :-)

We have uploaded our latest videos highlighting our Spyclops products on our YouTube Channel. Go here  and view all of our videos.  Feel free to comment on them and suggest more video topics.  We listen to our customers.

Enjoy the rest of your day.