Smart Home Lifestyle

March 19, 2006

New trends in outdoor electronics take TVs out of the living room

You don’t need a cappuccino maker or a cabana boy to make backyard entertaining hot, hot, hot this summer. For the coolest in outdoors fun, think music, think television and think movies. Home theater isn’t just an indoor activity anymore. Now you can fire up the grill while you load up your favorite DVD.

Wired for sound

Outdoor speakers are the perfect condiment for a BBQ on the deck or a cocktail party on the lawn. The key is to place enough of them around your yard for comfortable listening levels. This keeps the neighbors happy and prevents unneeded distortion from having to blare speakers from across the yard.

When choosing your speakers, think about your landscaping. These days, limitless incognito speaker options, easily camouflaging with the surroundings.

Madison Fielding offers creative solutions with waterproof iron and terra cotta planter speakers. Ranging between $500 and $1200 a pair, these speakers let you plant real or artificial plants in the pots, a perfect solution to dress up any deck. One pair covers up to 400 ft.

For a more formal look, check out Madison Fielding’s bench or pedestal speaker. These neoclassical styles hold their own in the most elegant gardens while offering the functionality of hidden speakers. The flagstone subwoofer pedestal speaker runs around $800 and the bench around $1000.

Got a natural garden? Niles rock speakers range from about $210 to $460 each and come in granite, coral or sandstone finishes. These faux rocks blend easily since you can choose from browns, creams, or grays to compliment a pond or walkways.

And for a more basic approach, Niles offers indoor/outdoor rectangular speakers that mount perfectly under rooflines starting at $240 a pair. Just make sure to include a weatherproof volume control to prevent unneeded trips into the house. Niles makes a nice one with several color choices for around $80.

I see what you mean

Ever felt tied to the tube? Conflicted between watching the “big game” and watching your burgers on the BBQ? Now you don’t have to be. With location free TV, your favorite shows, movies and even DVR recordings go where you go.

Sony’s LF-X11 LocationFree TV wirelessly connects to your PC or a Sony PSP System, no static IP address or Dynamic DNS needed. The 12.1” screen gives a range of up to 100 ft. and offers three video sources for TV, DVD’s a VCR or DVR recordings. Plus, maneuverability is a snap, when switching between the sources. The LF-X11 costs just under $1500, with a smaller 7” version at around $1100.

Want a TV that’s a fixed feature in your backyard? SunBrite makes an all-weather outdoor LCD that won’t have to be brought in out of the cold.

“SunBriteTV has terrific outdoor applications,” said Tom Weaver, engineer and founder of SunBriteTV. “Our users can enjoy their favorite programs or videos while sitting in the spa, they can watch sporting events while barbecuing, and its ideal for entertaining guests.”

SunBriteTV is designed for permanent outdoor use, and withstands extreme temperatures, rain, insects and dust. It’s conformal coating on the internal electronics gives extra protection against humidity-related corrosion damage.

“We engineered SunBriteTV so that television and video entertainment can be enjoyed in outdoor venues across the country,” said Weaver. “Our sleek and high-tech unit is attractive to home owners, and the industrial design addresses the harsh environmental and climate issues our users may encounter.”

SunBriteTV offers two versions, a 20” and 32”. The 20” displays a super-bright, high-resolution 800x600 pixel image and costs around $2700. And, a new 32” HDTV display, projected to be available this month, projects a 1366x768 pixel image and is expected to cost around $4700.

Both units are protected from rain, dirt, and debris by a low-glare, impact- and scratch-resistant window built into the enclosure. The remote controls are also sealed against rain and moisture.

Author: Diana Kostigen, Marketing/Public Relations Director, Comtec