Technology in the 'Noughties'

The ‘Noughties’ was the decade where the more you knew and spent time using computers the cooler you were - geeks had become mainstream! Everywhere you looked, there was something starting with "i" or ending in "dot com". Not to mention "2.0". And for the first time knowing the difference between HTTP and HTML made you seem, well... kind of happening.

The Noughties were a time when science fiction became fact. With websites that can enable everday people access a system that could pinpoint any location from space. And the first in which three-dimensional virtual worlds grew faster than the real one.

But the most important development of the last ten years – the one that made many of the others possible was the speed at which we access the internet.

The number of Europeans with internet access more than doubled in the last ten years, while the speeds they could reach skyrocketed. At the start of the decade, the number of homes and businesses with broadband was nothing in comparison to the part it plays now to so many millions.

While websurfers were stuck with a 56k modem ten years ago, most people today can download at 1.5 megabits per second or more. Back then it would have taken ten minutes to download a song over the internet. Now it takes seconds. Broadband internet is the reason we can watch YouTube, call people on Skype, browse flickr as fast as we like and refresh Twitter 7 times a minute.

If the internet left its mark on mainstream culture for the first time this decade, its influence will be even more pervasive in the next. Right now, a lot of Governments have already started work on creating a superfast broadband network that will see fibre-optic cables laid out to many towns and cities providing internet speeds that can’t be imagined today.

In the UK the government announced a '2 meg' Universal Service Commitment which confirms their ambitions that by 2012, everyone in the UK will be able to receive a broadband service on a line capable of downstream speeds of up to 2 Mbps.

But there will also be questions about what we can access and how. We can expect media companies to try and claw back the power they once had. Sky for example have looked hard at 'video on demand' with ‘Sky Player’ and they have just released ‘Sky Songs’ with a library of over 4 million music files for legal download.

It's been a big decade – but we're in for an even bigger one next where we are likely to see the disappearance of a number of media formats in the form of satellite dishes and DVD’s & CD’s forever with continued changes to how we enjoy entertainment in the home as the bandwidth speed ever increases! 


The digital age is here to stay...

LED TV´s explained

Now you may of heard of the newest TV format, LED. As with all new technology there has been a lot of confusion and hype regarding these screens.

So let us try and help you understand this latest in TV buzz words......The LED designation refers to the backlight system used in some newer LCD Televisions, the LEDs do not produce the image you see on the screen.
LCD chips and pixels do not produce their own light. In order for an LCD television to produce a visible image the LCD's pixels have to be "backlit". In fact LED TVs are still LCD TVs, it is just that these new sets use LED backlights rather than the fluorescent-type backlights used in most other LCD TVs. To give them their correct name they should be labelled LCD/LED TVs. In truth the only true LED-only TVs are the ones you see in stadiums, arenas, other large events and "high-res" billboards.

So how does it work?

The are currently two main ways that LED backlighting is applied in LCD flat panel televisions.
One type of LED backlighting is referred to as Edge Lighting. In this method, a series LED backlights are placed along the outside edges of the screen. The light is then dispersed across the screen. The advantage of this method is that the LED/LCD TV can be made very thin. On the other hand, the disadvantage of Edge lighting is that black levels are not as deep and the edge area of the screen has a tendency to be brighter than the centre area of the screen.

The other type of LED backlighting is referred to as Full-Array. In this method, several rows of LEDs are placed behind the entire surface of the screen. The advantage is that these sets can employ "local dimming". Local dimming means that each LED or a specific group of LEDs can be turned on and off independently within certain areas of the screen, thus providing more control of the brightness and darkness for each those areas, depending on the source material being displayed. On the other hand, LCD TVs that employ full array backlighting are thicker than LCD TVs that employ an Edge-lit LED light source.

If you are considering the purchase of an LED/LCD Television, find out which brands and models are currently using the Edge or Full Array method and take of a look at each type when you go shopping to see which type of LED backlighting looks best to you.

So what is the difference?

Since LEDs are designed differently than standard fluorescent backlight systems, this means that the new LED backlit LCD sets offer the following differences with standard LCD sets:

1. Lower power consumption.
2. No Mercury used as in some other LCD backlight systems.
3. More balanced colour saturation.
4. In LED/LCD TVs using the Full Array blacklight method, there is little or no light leakage in dark scenes. This contributes to even better black levels than traditional or LED Edge-lit LCD televisions.
5. LED/LCD TVs that use the Edge backlight method can be made much thinner than both standard LCD and Full Array LED/LCD televisions. 

LED backlight does represent an advance in technology, mostly in bringing LCD TVs up to the performance levels of Plasma Televisions in terms of black level performance, and, at the same time, making even thinner LCD TV designs possible. On the other hand, because LED backlighting is new for LCD TVs, these sets are more expensive that non-LED backlit sets.

The LED/LCD screens I have seen (edge lit) all have a good sharp picture, with colours to match most normal LCD´s and the designs of these screens are bound to be a winner for the design conscious among us. At Future Lifestyle we have begun to see a swing towards these LED/LCD screens with their online capabilities and with ´super slim´ brackets. And it looks as things will only get better for this version of the flat screen.
If you would like to know more about LED/LCD screens please contact a member of the Future Lifestyle team at info@futurelifestyle.net or on +34 902 107 227

Still watching standard TV?

The BBC have stated recently that around 91% of households in the UK are still watching standard-definition television and video and this despite 56% of households have an HDTV. It says that some people are not using HD not because of added costs but because of a lack of technical understanding. In some cases, the article mentions, people may just not understand how to properly connect their sets.

The thing is people think they are happy with standard definition in the same way people were happy with their 28” CRT TV or their old VHS video players.. A lot of this revolves around what you grow accustomed to. I now find it hard to watch any kind of TV unless it is played through a amp of some kind, to me it just sounds flat.

There of course economic factors influencing the decision to embrace HDTV. I agree that the Sky HD service does cost that little extra and to be honest the shows we want to watch aren´t always in HD. But this doesn´t stop you getting on the Blu-ray wagon....movies on Bly-ray come with loads more extra features and watched on HD plasma or LCD with a surround sound system will enhance your movie experience no end.....

Do you want to know more, then call the Future Lifestyle team on +34 902 107 227 and ender 2010 in HD!!!!

Watch out for that new TV, it could be the death of you!

 Well that is what the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has warned that flat-screen televisions could cause a rise in accidents at home this Christmas.

Injury risk warning from TV topple

The safety watchdog said the hi-tech models pose a much higher risk of toppling over on children than older versions. RoSPA warned that a spike in sales in the build-up to Christmas, the digital switchover and the Word Cup could see similar results in the UK & Spain.

About 7,500 youngsters are taken to hospital in the US each year after televisions tip over, evidence showed.
"With flat-screen televisions becoming increasingly popular and many families likely to have a new set for Christmas, now is a crucial time to talk about safety. We urge people to ensure that free-standing television sets cannot be easily pulled over by children and that wall-mounted sets are securely fixed to walls which are strong enough to hold them."

We also believe that the most at risk are the people who have got into the Christmas spirits all day!! We´ve all been there....a few glasses of sherry “just because it’s Christmas” next thing you know you´re up and showing the rest of the family your best dance moves....... Disasters are bound to happen, you´re not a nimble on your feet as you used to be!!!!

Why not get that new screen put up by the professionals? Future Lifestyle are happy to install your new screen for you, we will ensure it is securely fixed to the wall, tidy all the cables, hiding them where possible and calibrate the screen to give you the best performance.

Give us a call on +34 902 107 277

As Prices Fall, the technology of Blu-ray is welcome Home...

Blu-ray, a high-definition variation of the DVD format introduced three years ago, was initially met by a collective shrug from most consumers. Who needed another black box to connect to the TV, the thinking went, even if it did promise to play movie discs in clear, crisp high-definition?

But this year, even as the world moves tentatively out of a recession, consumers are buying the devices at a faster pace than they bought previous generations of movie players like the VCR and the DVD player. Analysts predict that sales of Blu-ray machines will be up 112 percent over last year, one of the true bright spots in retailing this holiday season.

In addition to superior picture quality, Blu-ray also offers features not available on standard DVD players, like pop-up menus during play. Some Blu-ray players can also connect to the Internet; the player can then receive additional information about a movie, offer movie-related games, provide updated trailers, and allow friends to simultaneously watch a film while writing comments on screen.

The newest generation of Blu-ray players lets viewers receive streaming movies and TV shows from online providers like Amazon Video on Demand, CinemaNow, Netflix and YouTube.

As a result, Blu-ray manufacturers have placed themselves in a seemingly awkward position: They are selling a device that relies on people to continue to buy discs, but the same device gives them a way to download videos — bypassing the discs the machines were built to play.

Consumer electronics companies believe that this strategy makes sense. The additional programming will add to the Blu-ray experience, executives say, which still offers superior picture and sound quality to what can be currently streamed over the Internet.

And since most HDTVs do not yet come with their own built-in Internet capability, a Blu-ray player can become an inexpensive but essential all-in-one content source. Yet, as high-speed broadband becomes common place, the ability to quickly download Blu-ray-quality content will become a reality.

But the electronics consumer market is used to product life cycles and things becoming obsolete. Already, manufacturers are producing the latest version of Blu-ray players and TVs displaying video in 3-D. It is expected these will be available by end of 2010.

Future Lifestyle go East...

Future Lifestyle headed up the coast to Nerja this month to bring another home into the 21st century. This luxury 3 bed villa with its own 2 bed guest apartment in Frigiliana near Nerja is being built by an English businessman who is looking to the future. Although this will initially be a holiday home the client has every intention of moving over here on a more permanent basis in the future. So this is how Future Lifestyle approached the project, we wanted to give the client a system that would keep him entertained whilst he is on holiday, but with enough scope to upgrade the system as he spent more time in Spain.

More tubes than the London underground...

We have learnt from our experiences in Spain that there is no such thing as over tubing, although we did get looks of disbelieve from the Spanish workers on site when we started installing the tubes back in the summer. However, as the cable is installed they begin to understand the need for such a tube network.

In our 1st phase of cabling we are installing the cables for a Cat5 network, these points can be used for a number of things including a stable internet connection, networking of PC´s & printers, telephones (internal phone network with extensions), Wi-Fi boosters and a host of other IP based technologies. Also going in at this stage is the cabling for a Multiroom Audio System. We have used high grade speaker cable installed from a central location to points in the ceiling and walls where discreet speakers will be installed. We have specified the Nuvo system to provide the audio, control of which will be done using the Nuvo keypads placed at the entrance of each room, each of which needed a Cat5 cable for connection. The Nuvo system was chosen for its ease of integration with Control 4 home automation system which will be installed to provide control of all elements via touch pads in key areas, which also requires Cat5 cables for communication.

Although a coaxial network has been installed for the TV distribution thanks to the Future Lifestyle design it will be possible to install a satellite receiver in any of the 8 rooms with a TV or a PVR satellite system with dual input for recording (Sky +/Sky HD/ Canal+ HD) in 3 of the rooms and shared around the house.

Alternatively all systems can be installed in a central location (Head End) and distributed around the home, with control done via an IR repeater or Wi-Fi remote. But if that wasn´t enough to cover anybody’s TV addiction we have installed a Cat6 network to the rear of every screen. This is to allow the streaming of HD programs or films from a central location or via the internet with IPTV when it finally comes of age.

Surround sound set ups have been installed into two locations in the main house, one in the lounge and the other in the dedicated studio which should stop any arguments during next year’s world cup.

Also to be added is a lighting system by Rako that will give him full control of his lighting from anywhere in the house as well mimicking a presence when he is not in Spain, whilst saving him money on electrical bills and extending the lamp life of his lights.

Yet to be installed is the CCTV network and video entry system which would allow the client to check on any visitors - wanted or otherwise, from any TV screen in the house or anywhere in the world via the internet.

And that´s not all.......

The client has appreciated the approach that we took with his installation. Not only has he got all the elements that he wanted in his original brief but he has room to grow as he spends more time in his new home. Space left in the tubes means that extra cables can be added in the future if need be and the comprehensive paper work handed to the client at the end of the job means that he knows what his house has hiding behind the walls. And as with every Future Lifestyle system that is installed a member of the team is never more that a phone call away to answer any questions the client might have, be it now or in the future.

If you would like to know more about benefits of installing a Future Lifestyle system in your property or you would like to know more about any of the things mention here give a member of the team a call on +34 902 107 227

Sony Show us the future

Just when you thought you were ready for 3D TV Sony has given the world a glimpse at one possible evolution in display technology – the 360 degree Holographic Auto-stereoscopic Viewer. This small cylindrical unit can display a static image that can be viewed as if it was hanging in three dimensional space. It's a startling piece of research and development that hints at all kinds of futuristic applications.

Don´t panic you will not have to rush out and replace that large flatscreen TV just yet. This is only the first generation prototype and displays only static pictures. The images are a little rough around the edges and pixelated, but in full colour, which makes up for it a bit.

When viewed with one eye shut, these appear two dimensional, but with both eyes open they gained substance and depth. And yes, you can walk entirely around the image; it appears to be fully three dimensional. I could even look down into the content, or peer upwards, and the illusion remained intact.

So where will this new technology be used is anyone’s guess, a larger, fully animated Viewer could be employed as a virtual salesperson in a shop, or find a role as an entirely new type of holographic communications device. Where ever the development leads, we can´t help but feel that this is going to become common place in the future.... 

iPlayer comes to Freesat.....

 Freesat is to launch the BBC iPlayer at least this December. From tomorrow (7th December 2009), the BBC's VOD service will launch in Beta, allowing selected users to catch-up on EastEnders et al using a special access code. Users will initially be able to access the BBC iPlayer beta service by pressing the red button to get to the BBCi menu.

It's hoped that by Christmas, the service will open up to the wider Freesat-watching public.

Interestingly, only a standard-def implementation will be available. According to Freesat, slow broadband speeds in the UK preclude HD. Indeed, it warns: 'Viewers will need an actual broadband speed of 1Mbps to watch BBC iPlayer or 2Mbps to watch in high quality.'

And there's more to come: Freesat is promising that the rival ITV Player will go live 'during the first half of 2010.'

Emma Scott, Freesat's managing director, says: 'We're delighted to be able to offer BBC iPlayer to our viewers. All the HD receivers that have been bought and will be sold in the run up to Christmas will deliver BBC iPlayer so there'll be no need to buy any new receivers.'

Once again the BBC´s iplayer is proving to be the way of choice for watching our favorite TV programs, with other broadcasting compaines playing catch up. We soon will all be our own personal "director of programming", deciding what we watch and when.......

Malaga City goes LED for Christmas

The Christmas lights for the Andalucían capital have been installed using LED bulbs which will use over 60% less electricity. This year’s bill is expected to be around € 35,000 compared with a bill of € 70,000 last year, which 5 times less than eight years ago, despite there is 4 times as many bulbs. The reduction in the watts used equals a staggering 158.09 tons of CO2 not being emitted!

All the lights in the city are new and will be on for 41 days from  6.30pm to midnight from Sunday to Thursday and until 2am on Friday and Saturday´s.

It is good to see a local government in Spain using new technology to look towards the future and going green. Although still slightly more expensive that your conventional light bulbs the price of LED lights is falling all the time and the initial outlay for the bulbs will soon pay for itself in reduced electricity bills. It is now possible to get LED lights that no longer need transformers, making it easier to upgrade from your old lighting system.

Contact Future Lifestyle to see how we can help bring a little light into your life and reduce your electricity bill at the same time....

¡Mama Gina Goes Anglo!

The popularity of the premiership is now taking hold on Spanish businesses in key expat areas. La Pesquera group has now added English football to its Mama Gina restaurant in Benalmadena to cope with demand from local ex-pat residents which account for 95% of the restaurants clientele.

A SKY package has been installed with a 92” projector screen to the bar area to add to the 2 TV screens used for showing the Spanish games via Canal+ in the restaurant. This installation has gone in 12 months after a similar installation using a 102” screen went in at the Medium Rare in Old town Marbella, also one of the La Pesquera chain of bar/restaurants in Spain.

Jose of Mama Gina said, ‘We have added this system to encourage our expat clientele to stay after eating in the restaurant. The Premier league is popular in other establishments in the area and as our clientele is 95% English this seemed like an obvious upgrade for us to put in. We hope it will also bring people in just for drinks which should see us gain more business right through the season and into the summer with the World Cup in South Africa. Everyone welcome, thanks’.

There is now talk of the same installation going into the La Pesquera in La Linea, near Gibraltar. Exciting times…..

State of the art offer.........

The flat screen market has been taken over by Samsung with its LCD TVs, well at least in the last few years. And just as everybody else was catching up, the company has further flexed its technology muscles with its LED-backlit panels, and therefore taken a significant foothold in a new, unexplored sector.

As well as releasing a whole range of LED-lit LCD TVs while most rivals are still struggling to get one or two models out, Samsung has upset the apple cart by proving with the UE40B7000 that LCD TVs using edge-mounted LEDs aren’t necessarily a poor relation to the original direct LED approach.

The B8000 is a step up from the B7000 – the main step being 200Hz processing. This is a genuine system, too, where the picture really does refresh 200 times a second, rather than the pseudo 200Hz trickery employed by Philips and LG that combines a 100Hz refresh rate with a scanning backlight. The only other real difference between the B8000 and B7000 ranges is the addition of a metallic desktop stand and eye-catching edge trim to the already chic design.

The UE46B8000 delivers all the picture strengths of its stablemate while also injecting extra quality courtesy of the 200Hz system and with 4 HDMI inputs, twin USB and a LAN port all squeezed in a depth of just 30mm. Blacks are deep and natural, and deliver a robust two-fingered salute towards people who reckon edge-mounted LEDs struggle in this area. Colours excel, too, achieving intense saturations without looking unreal – provided you avoid the Dynamic picture mode, at least.

Furthermore, since Samsung’s 200Hz engine is genuine, there’s little of the flickering and ghosting that can mar pseudo 200Hz systems based around scanning backlights.

Future Lifestyle are offering a deal on these incredible screens until February 2010 as part of a package deal.

1 * Samsung 46B8000

1 * Flat wall mount bracket

1 * 3m HDMI cable

Installation & Calibration (subject to site survey)

For only €2,499 inc all taxes!!!!

Contact a memeber of the sales team for more infromation on +34 902 107 227 or sales@futurelifestyle.net

HDMI Confusion

HDMI Licensing has ruled recently that the ways the specifications are listed when purchasing a new HDMI cable are to change. No longer will they be referred to as Version 1.4 or whatever, in place of the familiar version numbers, companies will now have to refer to cables as being one of the following five types:

- Standard HDMI Cable

- Standard HDMI Cable with Ethernet

- Standard Automotive HDMI Cable

- High Speed Cable

- High Speed Cable with Ethernet

In addition, the new ruling defines specific features, and sets minimum technical requirements to be met, before a manufacturer can say their product supports them. These are:

- HDMI Ethernet Channel

- Audio Return Channel (for example, to let a connected TV send sound back to an AV receiver)

- 3D

- 4K (the super-HD TV format)

- Content Type

- HDMI Micro Connector

- HDMI Automotive Connection System

Still with us?

So a product currently claimed to be 'HDMI V1.4 compliant' will now have to be described as featuring, for example, 'HDMI v.1.4 with Audio Return Channel and HDMI Ethernet Channel.'

They have set out a one year change over period for the reclassification of the cables and 2012 for all over products.

Future Lifestyle offer HDMI cables from Tributaries & Planet Waves, Monster, Audioquest and other quality manufactures and are here to help you through the minefield that is HDMI specification. 

Contact us on +34 902 107 227 or email sales@futurelifestyle.net

Death of the CD?

Are we witnessing the last days of the humble CD? The download generation has taken over the party now and it seems even the hi-fi stalwarts going off to dance with its non-physical rivals.

Linn, one of the major forces in hi-fi and most famous for the LP12 turntable that's dominated the high-end market since the '70s, is pulling out of the CD player market.
Linn is turning its attentions to streaming devices such as its DS range. And the reason Linn's cited isn't that that's where the market is heading; it's because Linn claims that digital streaming is now superior to CD.

When you can get high quality downloads from iTunes and Spotifly offering downloads of CD quality, it's getting increasingly difficult to argue a case for CD other than "But I like actual things!" And that's an argument that's better suited to vinyl, with its ritualistic process of placing the needle in the groove and changing to side B.

Who would of said that vinyl might outlive CD?

OLED Screens here to stay....

The rebirth of the OLED TV could be here. It was almost dropped because of the cost and complexity, despite combining low power consumption and super thin design with startling colour reproduction and superb contrast.

But fear not, both Samsung and LG now appear to be looking again at their plans to fast-track OLED production.

Samsung Mobile Display (SMD) the organic panel specialists (which is a joint venture of Samsung Electronics and Samsung SDI) is reportedly considering a 1.5 trillion investment in a new OLED production line.

Samsung Mobile Display is the world’s largest supplier of Active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AM OLED) panels, producing some 20,000 a month, and can boast Sony, Samsung and Sharp as its clients.

LG meanwhile has introduced its 15in OLED TV into the Korean market, using panels produced by LG Display. LG Display is also looking at constructing a 5.5th-gen line, with a possible launch date of 2011. With industry predictions suggesting the OLED TV business could be worth $1.8 billion by 2015, could a race to dominate the market about to get underway?
So after a little faltering the OLED TV looks to take off. With style, great specification and functionality these TV are sure to make it a winner.

Why not contact the sales team at Future Lifestyle to get a quote on the latest OLED screens and the new super slim wall brackets.

Call +34 902 107 227 or email sales@futurelifestyle.net to speak to the sales team.

PlayStation 3 opens it´s movie store in Europe

PlayStation this month (19th Nov) have opened the new PlayStation Network movie download store for business in Spain and select European territories. Now you can save the trip to the shops and enjoy hundreds of films in the comfort of your own sofa on your PS3 or on the go with PSP.
Sony says users have a choice of 800 movie titles from a wide range of studios – both new releases and back catalogue titles. Unlike Xbox’s new 1080p streaming service, the PSN proposal involves downloading a DRM-laced file to the PS3 hard drive. While Sony concedes that this will take several hours on a good connection, it points out that viewers will be able to watch their movies only shortly after the download begins. With movie rentals, users have a 48-hour window to view their download, commencing with the first Play activation.

Interestingly, those who download a standard-def movie have the option of transferring the film to Sony’s PSP portable for additional viewings. However, if you opt for a 1080p movie, there is no provision for transferring a portable version of the file to a PSP.

Also with the latest firmware update (v3.10) will allow you to access your Facebook account through your PS3. By linking your PlayStation Network account to your Facebook account, you will have the option for the PS3 to automatically update your Facebook News Feed with Trophy and PlayStation Store activity. A spokesman for Sony says this is just the beginning of our integration with Facebook and we are looking forward to adding new features enhancing the experience in future updates.

The Future of TV

The future of TV is almost upon us, as broadband bandwidth continues to get greater and the demand for personal TV schedules increases, online TV platforms are becoming more popular day by day.

One such platform the BBC iPlayer has scooped the prestigious Judge's Award in the Royal Television Society’s annual Innovation awards. The Beeb got the award for having ‘the greatest vision in determining how the media might develop in the future and how the wider community will relate to all aspects of communication - in effect, mapping out the way which others will follow.

Seetha Kumar the controller of BBC Online collected the award, saying: ‘our team work incredibly hard to try and make iPlayer the very best of its kind. It's of course always exciting to receive awards recognising these high standards, but we're especially proud to be seen to be helping establish the future of TV.’

No one would argue that the iPlayer is probably the most influential new TV platform since the advent of satellite, and it continues to grow at a staggering pace. The Beeb reports that over the past 12 months, iPlayer viewing has increased by 95 per cent.

So does this mean that the days of the satellite dish are numbered? In our humble opinion very much so, as people get used to watching what they want, when they want, where they want this platform will only go from strength to strength.

Plan now for the Future....

Confusion and fear of new technology - aswell as cost, have all been mentioned to us when we have spoken to architects, builders and homeowners on the Costa del Sol about home automation or intelligent home installations.

Not surprisingly then that home automation and home entertainment systems tend to be down on the list when refurbishing or building a new home. Future Lifestyle have created a guide to consider when you’re thinking about upgrading or building a new home which hopefully will prove that planning is everything.

Tips for your future home

1.Tubing for the future – The way homes are constructed on in Spain lends itself to plan now for the future. A well thought-out tube network installed at the build stage of a project will pay for itself in the future. The cost of installing the tubing is minimal compared to the added advantages it can hold.

2.Wire for everything now...even wireless technology – If you are building or refurbishing your Spanish home, start with a plan for future wiring needs. Cable is necessary to support even wireless applications. No one can guarantee what the future brings, however Future Lifestyle make it their business to look at the technologies coming through and likely to become part of our lives in the future and take this into account when designing any integrated home system.

3. Ensure the experts work together for you – Maximise your home by having your architect, builder and interior designer team up with Future Lifestyle from the very beginning of the planning process. All parties will work to create the home of your dreams, at the price you have agreed and in the timescale you require. We provide all of our designs in an AutoCAD format that can be integrated with that of the architects’ for the project so all parties are able to work with us.

4. Insist on integrated systems – Make sure the electronic equipment you are buying can be interconnected and operated as one, if required. Some manufacturers use a closed communication system, meaning that their equipment will only communicate with other hardware by the same manufacturer. This will limit you to what components you can install and will usually come at a premium cost.

5. Integrate lighting and heating control – Going green meets convenience. Get the most out of your system with the least amount of energy consumption. System integration provides automatic energy-efficient adjustments saving you time and money.

6. Think with your wallet, but lead with your head – Quality and long-term dependability are the most cost effective attributes that you can build into a home.

7. Think "green" – By utilising green practices, you can save money by having a more energy efficient system and help save the planet. Ask Future Lifestyle about how you can "go green" in your home.

8. Simplify your life – Easy to use, all-in-one remote controls are available for any system. Future Lifestyle can even custom program them so they make perfect sense to you. New technologies offer control from other devices and even through Internet browsers anywhere in the world.

9. Increase your expectations – Your home automation system is a big investment and you deserve to be satisfied with it. Future Lifestyle can provide you with comprehensive designs, a wide range of product options, a professional installation and especially, a full aftercare service for your system.

10. Consult a professional – Today's home automation systems grow, evolve and change over time, constantly adding entertainment, comfort and security features. Future Lifestyle will be with you every step of the way, from concept and design, through the build process and be on hand to help and advise well after the dust has settled.

Are you interested to find out more? Then why not give Future Lifestyle a call on +34 902 107 227 or contact them at info@futurelifestyle.net to arrange your free consultation.

The World Cup in 3D

It is rumoured that around half the games in next year’s FIFA World Cup competition will be broadcast in 3D!!!!

A report in TVB Europe states that FIFA officials are keen to see at least half of the South Africa-hosted tournament covered in 3D. One official FIFA sponsor is Sony, which along with other manufacturers such as Panasonic, LG and Samsung, have all invested in 3D displays which will be widely available ahead of the soccer festival.

FIFA, along with host broadcaster HBS, is considering a full range of transmission options including supplying broadcast feeds to cinemas or for outdoor speciality coverage. A formal announcement could come as soon as the end of the month (November 09).

Keep posted to hear more and to check out the new 3D screens as we get more information.

Sound Design

Future Lifestyle based on the Costa del Sol is happy to announce the installation of a small Video / Audio installation in the new Richard Lewis Interiors boutique shop in Guadalmina´s busy Commercial Centre. Richard Lewis Interiors, Marbella’s premier home design destination for over eight years, are specialists in bespoke handmade curtains, blinds, pelmets, valances and soft furnishings, all of which are made on site by an established team of curtain makers and soft furnishings.

This exciting new boutique is your chance to see the amazingly sleek PMC Wafer One´s super slim hang-on-the-wall speaker, that are designed to fit very discreetly into any room. There's no denying the effectiveness of its 'disappearing act' - although not exactly invisible, it's visually very easily overlooked.

The Wafer 1 sounds significantly bigger than one expects bass lines are quite clear and explicit, but with a definite thickening of upper bass textures. Finished in silky white, grey or black, both Wafer models come in two styles. One is intended to be flush mounted by being recessed into a wall, the other (the ones installed at Richard Lewis Interiors) fixes onto a solid wall, so that it stands proud by a modest 11cm.

Mounting the speakers alongside flat screens often forces them to be mounted in both portrait and landscape orientations. This would normally guarantee compromised imaging from one of these orientations, however the Wafers are fitted with two tweeters that allow them to be mounted in either orientation without compromise to the imaging.
The result is a hifi and monitor speaker that delivers the very best performance from an application that would deeply compromise the performance of any normal loudspeaker... read more

Why not drop into Richard Lewis Interiors new boutique shop and have a listen, or contact one of our sales team on +34 902 107 227 or click here to send us an email........

All in One remote controls

Does it take you about five minutes and the use of about half a dozen remote controls just to turn the TV???

Turn on the TV.... make sure it is on the correct channel...fire up the amplifier....selected the TV audio source.....now pick up the satellite remote control and enter the correct channel number........Today this is not unusual, we all have to perform this daily rituals just to watch the news. Wouldn´t it be nice to just pick up one remote control and with the press of one button you can get to watch your favourite program.

In the past all-in-one remotes were either too expensive for your average person, or were so complicated to use you needed a manual just to work it. However today there are a number of solutions for the overcrowded coffee table and not all of them will break the bank or require a degree to work them.

Many manufactures including Phillips Pronto, Logitech & Control 4 offer solutions that fill this gap in the market. With IR, RF and Wi-Fi solutions available let Future Lifestyle of Marbella help you decide which one is right for you as well as programming it to ensure you get the most for the control. And as your system grows or changes Future Lifestyle are on hand to update your control pad to bring all of your components under the control of the remote.

For as little as €99.99 we can offer all in one programmed solution, so get rid of your coffee table clutter and give us a call on +34 902 107 227 today and get one of our sales team to help decide the best solution for you.

So simple an adult can use it...

Intro to Future Lifestyle

Future Lifestyle is an installation company that specialise in the networking of all digital products in the home. We have worked with developers and private owners in the UK and the Costa del Sol.

With the rapid growth of internet and email the world of technology is taking over our lives. Future Lifestyle is able to offer the design, supply and installation of all types of home entertainment and lighting control in the home and work place. From the latest flat screen technology to IP networks for a fully integrated system contact us on how you can upgrade your lifestyle.

The past decade has seen the rapid growth of the internet and email. The use of mobile phones, computer games and the like, have changed the lifestyles of us all. Add to this high definition flatscreens and improving internet connection speeds, people are spending more time at home, many are even working from home.

Our homes now can be controlled by touchscreens or via the web, allowing simple interfaces to be designed to the user’s needs – in some cases using a single button.

No more visible wires nor the need for multiple boxes and remote controls in every room……!



Our Installation services include:

Visual:

- Flat Screen Televisions - wall or stand mounted.

- High Definition upgrades
- Satellite Systems
- Home Cinema – full reference
- Calibrated Surround Sound
- Video distribution - TV and Cat5e Networks
- Computers & wireless networks – surf the net from anywhere in the home.
stream movies, music and TV programs on demand!
- Game console set up - link to surround sound and play online.

Audio:
- Multi room audio - Use of MP3 and CDs throughout.
- Integrated speakers – Discrete In-wall or In-ceiling.
- Calibrated Surround Sound set up
- Hifi stereo equipment for use with both MP3 and CD' s
- Gardens and terraces

Control:
- TV Screens, all AV components, lighting, blind & climate control, internal telephone, video entry
and Security system networks.


Each installation is tailor made for each of our clients. Upon final calibration and programming of the equipment we offer a full demonstration of how to get the most from your new system. We provide a aftercare service second to none and can provide a maintenance contract to ensure your system always runs to its full potential.

To book your free consultation call +34 902 107 227 or email us at info@futurelifestyle.net