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.......