Smart Home

A Mediaplanet Guide to New Home Innovations

Smart Home

Chrishell Stause The actress and real estate agent shares tips on designing a smart home on a budget

Learn about the smart appliances for the kitchen that can help with your time management Discover the benefits of HEPA air filters and how they help keep your home safe

SEPTEMBER 2021 | FUTUREOFBUSINESSANDTECH.COM

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Top 5 Tips for Creating a Great Home Office With the home’s new role as a workspace, it is vital to build an environment of professionalism. Here are the five tips that can help homeowners strike that balance:

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Internet connectivity/network A high-speed, secure, and rock-solid home network is vital to productivity and professionalism, as it reduces lag and poor-quality picture and sound. The best option is a wired network connection, as it provides greater consistency compared to Wi-Fi.

With Smart Appliances, You Can Earn Back Time With Your Family from their phone. With this technology, home chefs can slowly smoke/cook meats while away doing other things and not worry about overcooking the food.

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Sound Start with a high-quality microphone so your clients can understand you clearly.

A headset with a built-in microphone or a dedicated wired microphone that connects to your computer is recommended. To reduce echo, add sound-absorbing acoustic wall panels.

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Video A high-quality video feed adds the personal factor that is crucial to building client relations. Use a high-quality external camera to ensure clarity.

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Lighting A well-lit room improves the video conferencing experience and will better simulate an in-person meeting. Be sure your face is well-lit from the front so as to not create shadows under your eyes.

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Smart home office control Smart home automation will make your home office more convenient and productive. Since your home office has lighting and very likely a TV and music system, make life easier by having a technology integrator create preset scenes for you that instantly change the use and feel of your office.

Josh Christian, CEO, Home Technology Association

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Small appliances Other smaller appliances are making the cooking process faster. InstaPots and Vibe Precision Cookers allow the home chef to get meals cooked quickly, cutting down on the time spent in the kitchen away from the family.

In today’s world of hustle and bustle, with parents and children always on the run, family time has become limited. Luckily, new technology in appliances can help you manage and schedule that time together with family.

The kitchen is becoming the smart technology hub of the home, rapidly incorporating technology, connection, convenience, and efficiency. The smart home technology era is still developing, and while an affordable, totally integrated and automated home system has not been developed, it is likely to be available soon. This means homeowners will be able to control every device from their

phone, and these devices will be able to communicate with each other to complete tasks.

Here are some of the appliances that are part of this new world of smart technology: Refrigerators Refrigerators with Wi-Fi and camera technology can help cut down on time spent running back and forth at the store. The ease of ordering food online from the grocery store also lessens the amount of time spent at the grocery store and allows more time for family.

Smokers Many smokers on the market now allow the home chef the ability to turn on, turn off, and control the temperature of meat

Range hoods Other appliances such as smart range hoods can bring families together even when apart.

These ranges have camera and flat screen displays along with guided cooking apps so families can video chat and livestream the cooking progress, all while building family bonds at a physical distance.

Dehydrators Small and more efficient in-home food dehydrators can turn home-grown food and food storage into less of a chore. n Rob King, Director of Marketing, National Association of the Remodeling Industry; Nathan Coombs, General Manager; Sandy Monson, ASID, CID

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Publisher Jenna Berliner, Maggie Sullivan Business Developer Katie Konfino Managing Director Luciana Olson Lead Designer Tiffany Pryor Designer Kayla Mendez Lead Editor Mina Fanous Copy Editor Lauren Hogan Director of Content and Production Jordan Hernandez Cover Photo Shawn Ferjanec All photos are credited to Getty Images unless otherwise specified. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve USA Today.

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How to Secure Your Home When You Return to the Office

With people returning to the office to work — and leaving their homes empty during the day — security is more important than ever. International security expert Richard Soloway, who founded NAPCO Security, shares tips on how to protect your home, your family, and your valuables.

Security is top of mind for many these days as the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Because houses are empty, and because you have a lot of people who are not doing so well in the economy, certainly a lot of burglaries are taking place,” Soloway says.

With over 30 years of experience working in security, including launching NAPCO out of his garage in Nassau

County, New York, Soloway ranks among the foremost leaders in both commercial and residential security.

While there are plenty of low-tech and no-tech tips he suggests for securing your home (lock your doors, trim shrubbery to reduce hiding places, start a neighborhood watch, etc.), Soloway says there is no substitute for a professionally installed and constantly monitored security system.

The right system According to Soloway, houses that have security systems lose, on average, $400 less of goods when burgled than homes that don’t have them.

And often, would-be thieves will be deterred just by seeing signs that say a home is protected by a reputable home security device.

However, just having any old security system isn’t enough to provide peace of mind — there are quite a few things to consider.

First, you need to make sure your system is professionally installed and monitored by a reputable local company that specializes in home security — no multinational conglomerates that just happen to have a home security department.

Soloway adds that home security is no place for a do-it-yourself job, either.

“This is too critical for DIY,” he says.

“The components may fail if they aren’t professional grade.”

Having a two-piece security hub is a critical feature in a home security system. While an all-in-one system that can be controlled from a panel next to your door looks nice and is convenient, it’s also too easy for intruders to locate

and destroy, rendering it useless in an emergency.

You should also have a security system that uses a cellular radio — and not copper landlines — to report incidents. Not only are landlines becoming obsolete, the copper wires around your home can be cut by intruders, leaving the alarm unable to contact emergency services.

The most important thing Soloway stresses is to find a reputable, local alarm specialist and consult with them before installing anything.

“They know demographically what’s going on in every town and city in the United States,” he says. “They will recommend the right type of equipment that’s necessary to protect the premises of your home.” n Dustin Brennan

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ADVERTORIAL

Robotic Vacuum Cleaners Are the Future of Cleaning Many advancements have been made in smart technology, and this trend includes robotic vacuum cleaners.

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ot all robotic vacuums are created equal.

In fact, there are some common aspects of the vacuums that cause grief for consumers. For example, the deep cleaning capacity is not always enough, causing some areas of the home to stay dirty.

However, the eufy RoboVac X8 series provides a great solution

to these potential problems.

When speaking of robotic vacuums, consumers often expect as strong and efficient a cleaning job as traditional vacuums, but with the device also being as smart as possible. Featuring the world’s first twin-turbine technology and smart navigation and mapping system, eufy’s new RoboVac X8 series offers more possibilities

for your house cleaning.

The RoboVac X8 series has double the suction power to achieve a deeper level of cleaning. Two turbines, each generating up to 2000Pa of intense suction, efficiently increases cleaning power. With the immense power generated by the twin turbine, pet hair pickup is increased by 57.6 percent, and the 80 percent increase in air-

flow reduces entanglement on the roller brush.

The RoboVac X8 series not only gives you a more efficient vacuum experience but provides you with a truly intelligent experience. With the iPath™ laser navigation, the RoboVac X8 series can intelligently scan your house in just a few moments, quickly building a virtual cleaning map. Also,

The Latest Trends in Smart Kitchens and Bathrooms Multiple studies have shown that connected living will continue to gain momentum over the next several years.

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ccording to studies done by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), as homeowners spend more time at home, they will have a greater desire to invest in

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their home in the upcoming years. This includes integrated home technology.

Smart kitchens and bathrooms have been on the rise for the past several years. However, whole-home technology is predicted to increase in both

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spaces. Top priorities in the kitchen include dedicated device charging and viewing, seamless video communication, emergency power for the refrigerator, leak detection, voice-activated lighting controls, and touch-free faucets.

Meanwhile, top bathroom priorities include mirrors with integrated internet access and displays to stream programming or check email, vanities with integrated electrical outlets, smart controls for floor and

the A.I. Map technology allows users to see the the real-time mapping report and use that data with zone commands to customize where the X8 should and shouldn’t clean.

Leave your floors to RoboVac X8 series so you can focus on the more important things. n Rick Du, General Manager of eufy’s Appliances division

shower temperature, water conservation, motion-sensor lighting, hands-free faucets, and leak-detection sensors with mobile alerts.

Among the designers surveyed in an NKBA report, 68 percent said bidets and/or smart toilets were the hottest new bathroom addition.

Needs for connected living include things like human interaction, information access, and a connection with nature. Collectively all of these features make the lives of homeowners more efficient, convenient, and safe. n National Kitchen and Bath Association

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Levoit VeSync Core 400S Smart True HEPA Air Purifier

Refresh indoor air with the Levoit VeSync Core™ 400S Smart True HEPA Air Purifier. With powerful H13 True HEPA filtration, smart control, and advanced features such as VortexAir™ Technology, you can completely purify your air in a matter of minutes.

Levoit VeSync Core 300S Smart True HEPA Air Purifier

Breathe in clean air with every breath using the Levoit Smart True HEPA Air Purifier. Connect it to the free VeSync app for convenient smart functions, and set up voice control to refresh your space without leaving your seat.

Levoit Dual 200S Smart Top-Fill Humidifier

Enjoy smart humidity customized to your liking.

Set timers and schedules, set a target humidity, cycle through night light colors, add essential oils, and so much more with the Levoit Dual 200S Smart Top-Fill Humidifier.

This has been paid for by Levoit.

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Chrishell Stause on Designing the Smart Home of Your Dreams The actress and real estate agent gives her advice on creating a smart home that is personalized and budget-friendly.

Given how many homes you have toured in your career, what are the best smart devices that you have seen?

I have been in some of the “smartest” homes, but I have yet to come across a flawless audio-visual system. My favorite thing I have seen are lamps that have wireless charging capabilities embedded into them that could charge devices automatically through infrared technology.

What area of the home do you feel is the most important to personalize?

Without question, my answer is the premier suite. Where you lay your head at night is very personal, and you want it to be a place you really enjoy being in.

PHOTO: SHAWN FERJANEC

The Levoit Products Refreshing Indoor Air

How can homeowners create a smart home on a budget?

What is a smart device you could not live without?

There have been so many affordable options in this space. Many major players have come out with their own smart home technologies — asking for lights to be turned off, seeing who is at the door, or requesting a song to be played is no longer only a luxury for the uber wealthy.

I lived most my life without central air or heat. So now that I have it, I never want to live without it.

Temperature is very important, so I absolutely love being able to easily control it from my phone.

Where did your passion for real estate and homes come from?

It’s not a secret that growing up I didn’t always have a roof over my head. I needed a second career, and being able to help people find a home seemed so exciting to me. I liked the idea of being a part of that.

How do you think the real estate market will change in the next five years with the advancement of smart home technology?

A home that does not have smart home capabilities is not as desirable when selling. It’s a nice upgrade to spend money on because you can enjoy it immediately, and it will work against you if you decide to sell down the road. n

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How Alexa Built-In Devices Are Helping Families Enjoy More Quality Time Alexa Built-in Devices are helping families get the most out of the time they spend together, and stay connected when they have to be apart.

Our lives are busier and more hectic than ever, and while people are at home more often, it seems like families are spending less quality time together.

That means it’s critical to make the most out of the time you get to spend with your loved ones.

Alexa Built-in Devices help you do just that by making family time fun and memorable. That’s because every Alexa-enabled device can access a large library of music, podcasts, audiobooks, and other media that the entire family can enjoy, and all of it can be done handsfree with your voice.

You can turn cooking into a team activity by asking Alexa for dinner ideas, and then follow along with the recipe on your device. While you’re cooking, ask

Alexa to play some music that the whole family can bust a move to, while also relying on Alexa to set timers, convert measurements, and more.

After dinner, you can ask Alexa to play “Jeopardy” (or any of the thousands of games available on Alexa Built-in Devices) and have everyone flex their trivia prowess while helping to wash the dishes.

Alexa can help make movie night better, too. No need for scrolling endlessly while trying to find a flick everyone can agree on. For example, if you have an Alexa-enabled Smart TV, you can ask Alexa to “Find family-friendly movies” to get a great list of suggestions.

Life made simple When the movie ends, Alexa can help make bedtime easier when you set up Routines in the Alexa App. Routines are shortcuts that group together multiple actions for your smart home devices connected to Alexa so that you don’t have to

ask Alexa for each action individually. For example, depending on the Routine you create and the smart home devices you have, you could say, “Alexa, good night,” and Alexa could set the right temperature in the bedroom, turn on the humidifier, play the baby’s favorite lullaby, and turn off the lights.

Alexa can even help you get the day started right when you set a “good morning” Routine for your connected smart home devices. You could have Alexa turn on the lights, start the coffee maker, read your calendar for the day, preview traffic for your commute, and play some goodmood music.

Alexa Routines can make life simpler by automating multiple tasks with a single request. Keep forgetting to turn off the lights and your electronics, lower the climate control, and close the garage door when you leave the house? Create a Routine where “Alexa, I’m leaving,” triggers all of your Alexa-connected devices to prepare for your departure.

Stay connected from anywhere With Alexa Communications, you can enjoy quality time with your loved ones no matter where they live. You can ask Alexa to “Drop In” on the grandparents or any other family members who live a ways away, and be instantly connected for a virtual visit.

Alexa helps keep families under the same roof connected, too. Ask Alexa to make an announcement that it’s time to leave for soccer practice, and everyone in the house will be alerted to have their shin guards on and be ready to go. n Dustin Brennan

Keeping the family happy and together is simpler than ever before with Alexa, explore Alexa Built-in Devices at amazon.com/AlexaBuiltin.

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ADVERTORIAL

Tiffany Brooks Talks the Future of Smart Home Design Tiffany Brooks, interior designer and television personality known for winning HGTV’s “Design Star,” shares her tips on how to integrate smart technology into your home.

What are the benefits of making your home a smart home?

There are a ton of benefits in making your home a smart home. The first benefit is that your home will be prepared for your day-to-day. This could mean anything from programming the temperature of your shower when you first wake up in the morning to knowing when your laundry is going to start and stop a cycle. In essence, your home is forward thinking.

Learn Why Every Household Needs an Air Purifier

Which area of the home is the best place to start incorporating smart devices?

One area I love to be smart is in the kitchen and bathrooms, with the laundry room being a very close third. These are the places we spend the most time while needing the most utilitarian help.

For example, this could mean knowing what the weather and traffic conditions are while you’re brushing your teeth from your smart mirror or being able to turn your stove and oven off and on from work.

How do smart home products help bring the family together?

There are tons of ways they help bring families together. For example, using an organizing board such as a DAKboard to understand where your family is and when they’re going to be home is a great addition. All of these smart products can be sent to their smart personal devices, and everyone will be kept knowledgeable about each other’s schedule.

Another great feature is entertaining.

One example is having a smart TV on your outside patio. I love the idea of watching movies outside and not worrying about your electronics not being weatherproof.

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Andy Peng, mechanical engineer at Levoit, shares his thoughts on why having an air purifier should be an essential part of owning a home.

Why should every household have an air purifier?

Air purifiers refresh stale air, reducing the chances of health issues caused by indoor pollutants, which can trigger respiratory infections, neurological problems, and aggravate asthma symptoms.

We design our air purifiers to help combat

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these issues. Our threestage filtration not only works to remove these pollutants, but it also captures at least 99.97 percent of airborne particles 0.3 microns in size and 99.95 percent of airborne particles 0.1 microns in size.

Can you explain to consumers what the benefits of a HEPA filter are?

We use H13 True HEPA filters. With at least 99.97 percent efficiency, they are extremely effective at removing airborne particles 0.3 microns in size.

This includes pollutants such as pollen, fine dust,

pet dander, and smoke — many of which can enter the lungs and cause allergies, irritation, and increased risk of respiratory illnesses.

Is air purification more important with the presence of the coronavirus?

Air purifiers with H13 True HEPA filtration can help protect you from coronavirus and smoke pollution. We know that coronavirus is airborne, carried by tiny aerosols that can collect indoors and linger for hours.

This means that good air ventilation and filtration are essential to

help cut down on the spread of the virus.

How do air purifiers improve the quality of life of family members, from children to grandparents?

Air purifiers remove pollutants from the air, which can lead to better sleep and improved health — this is especially important for growing children. As for older individuals, respiratory issues are the fourth-largest health concern and the third-largest cause of death among the elderly. That being said, monitoring indoor air quality can be greatly beneficial for seniors. Air purifiers can also help those with allergies and with asthma. According to recent reports, approximately 1 in every 13 Americans have asthma. With a quality air purifier, users can keep their homes clear of almost all asthmatriggering allergens.

How do humidifiers help consumers sleep better?

Low humidity can dry out the nose, throat, and sinuses, leading to inflammation and swelling in those areas.

A humidifier helps keep respiratory passages moisturized and makes it easier to breathe, helping users to get quality sleep. n

This has been paid for

by Levoit.

PHOTO: THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR BUSINESS & HOME SAFETY

What Makes a Home Truly Smart?

Today, a smart home means a more convenient life. But what could be more convenient than protecting homes from avoidable damage?

harder than it sounds. Building codes are minimum standards, yet nearly 30 percent of new homes are built where there is no code or where codes are over 20 years old.

Too many homes are vulnerable to floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes.

When a disaster happens, families are displaced, irreplaceable items are lost, and finances are strained as people rebuild.

There are options to build safer, stronger homes. The first step is to meet the building code. This is

Going beyond After meeting the code, it’s time to go beyond it. This is where a home becomes truly “smart.” The easiest way is to use FORTIFIED Home™ construction standards. FORTIFIED homes withstood category 5 Hurricane Michael. It’s also important to note that 95 percent

of the nearly 17,000 FORTIFIED homes that withstood Hurricane Sally had little to no damage. Those homeowners were not displaced, had no insurance claims, and saved up to 55 percent on their insurance for owning a FORTIFIED home. That’s smart.

Flooding is the most common disaster. An inch of floodwater can cause $25,000 in damage, so buy flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program or private flood insurance companies.

Other tips Beyond insurance, new homes should be built three feet or more above the base flood elevation.

Existing homes can be elevated, which is an expensive but worthwhile investment. Other steps can be taken, too, such as dry flood proofing.

A smart home is also energy efficient. Many new homes meet modern efficiency standards.

Existing homes can be updated to save money and reduce resource use. Finally, a smart home is adequately insured. Get replacement cost value coverage, review insurance policies every year, and have wind insurance if it’s a separate policy. Also, know that homeowners may have to pay more than one deductible if their home is damaged.

Once the home is FORTIFIED, flood-resistant, energy-efficient, and adequately insured, it’s smart.

The home can better protect all the other investments made to the property, including the refrigerator that orders groceries. n Julie Shiyou-Woodard, President and CEO, Smart Home America

Carter Oosterhouse on How to Make Your Home Smarter and Greener Carter Oosterhouse helps homeowners make the renovations they think are impossible on his HGTV show “Carter Can.” We asked him for some tips on how people can implement smart technology to make their homes more energy efficient.

How has the increased capability of connecting smart devices to homes made buildings greener?

Homes are now so much more intelligent and so much more efficient, and smart gadgets are largely to thank for that. Homes are so well integrated with smartphones or smart devices, which helps reduce your electric bill, and you don’t spend a ton from energy consumption from your appliances.

That includes making sure your HVAC system is not running when it’s not needed and that your pool is set to the right temperature. You can do this all by just getting on your smart gadget, and that convenience will make you more inclined to reduce consumption.

How can homeowners use smart technology to make their homes more energy efficient?

Now I’m not the most tech-savvy person, but I love to find interesting items that simply make my life easier and help me cut back on a bit of consumption. One device in particular I’ve put in my house is from Schneider Electric and it’s called a Square D. Once it’s set up, it starts to figure out and sense what appliances are using energy and where your energy consumption is coming from.

The device will give notices like, “This is the main HVAC system,” and “We’ve noticed you have two heaters in your home.” For example, when you’re not home, it will send an alert to your phone if something was left on, and it will alert you when you’re using more energy than average.

These kinds of things are just so dynamic in the home. They’re helping us help the Earth, but at the same time, if we’re trying to save a little bit of money at the end of the month, something like this really goes above and beyond to help you out.

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A Truly Smart Home Is a Water-Efficient Home Making your home more water efficient is an impactful way to live more sustainably without even thinking about it.

Enhancing Your Home Cinema Experience

As the Earth’s temperature becomes warmer with climate change, the greater the need for freshwater. Because heat causes water to evaporate more quickly, a hotter planet means more rain droplets evaporate in the atmosphere before they become rainfall, leading to drought. Warmer temperatures may also increase residential and commercial water use, which can further deplete the freshwater supply.

Staying aware If you’re trying to conserve water, simply changing your habits — such as taking shorter showers and running large appliances less frequently — is a good place to start.

Take faucets and showerheads for example, which account for an estimated 23 percent of the average United States household’s water use. Low-flow faucets and showerheads are an inexpensive solution that can reduce use by between 30 and 50 percent while shaving as much as $90 from your water bill every year.

You can also take advantage of smart home technologies designed to reduce water use, which will have a bigger impact in the long run (with less work).

Making changes Smart sprinkler controllers, which allow you to control your outdoor watering schedule from an app, leak detectors, and flow meters are also popular. With outdoor water use making up 50 percent or more of a household’s water usage, smart sprinkler controllers increase efficiency by eliminating unnecessary watering. For example, they can help you create a water-conscious schedule and turn themselves off when it’s raining.

Leaky pipes are another major culprit when it comes to wasting water, and another place where smart devices offer a simple fix. Since you’re probably not constantly on the lookout for random leaks throughout your house, you can instead install leak detectors, which will send a notification to your smart phone when they sense moisture.

Lynne Daggett

This has been paid for by Rachio.

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Wireless technology, which is increasingly appealing to homeowners, opens the door to enjoying flawless, uncomplicated audio and entertainment.

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connected, wireless home can provide access to a surplus of content, as well as facilitate powerful home theater experiences on a regular basis. For homeowners that aren’t keen on a complicated setup process, it’s critical for today’s home cinema components to mirror the simplicity of what consumers are used to — instant mobile purchases, quick app downloads, etc. TV and audio brands are capitalizing on the convenience and high performance of modern wireless technology and delivering simplified home cinema solutions.

\New technology Streaming services are bringing content to our homes in surround sound formats, allowing consumers to experience the latest shows, movies, and sports in an immersive way. The increase in content with multichannel audio soundtracks coupled with the growing assortment of interoperable wireless home theater components creates a perfect scenario for great home cinema experiences to be built and enjoyed.

Syncing up With home audio systems available across a wide range of performance levels, sizes, form factors, and price points, consumers are

becoming increasingly interested in home cinema systems. Today’s content is created to be experienced in surround sound, and the evolution of home cinema components means consumers have a plethora of products that can speak and sync to each other wirelessly.

As the home theater options progress in the areas of wireless connectivity, simplicity, interoperability, and control, it’s safe to say that nearly every home can be transformed into a cinema-like space and deliver countless hours of entertainment for the whole family. n Tony Ostrom, President, Wireless Speaker & Audio Association

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