It’s Outdoor Time!!

Here in Fredericton we are lagging a bit behind – I have been promised that Spring will arrive with Summer to follow!

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Definitive Technology Outdoor speakers are ON SALE now!! This pair is heading for Saint John, where the grass is already green (they had to rub it in!), along with 200 feet of CL3 In-wall speaker wire. This client is doing it himself but he knows if he has any questions Wired 1 Consulting has the solutions! Rock the Great Outdoors!

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Ugly Corner No More

This client has good equipment but space was always an issue. A smallish room with all of the main walls dominated by bookshelves, it left a small corner to hold the media center and front channel speakers with the subwoofer in another corner and the rear speakers tucked among the books in the rear of the room.

New Custom corner Cabinet using Mythos Single speaker Right, Left and Center speaker

New Custom corner Cabinet using Mythos Single speaker Right, Left and Center speaker

A custom designed cabinet was constructed and a new Definitive Technology Mythos Single speaker (Left, Center and Right) was installed in the new cabinet design – No more unsightly cables and teetering speaker stands – it looks and sounds GREAT! And most importantly the client is SUPER Happy!

 

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Windows 8.1 Update ONE for Newbies

OK, You bought a new Windows 8 computer and you want to update it. Microsoft makes this as clear as mud for new users! Once everything is updated in my opinion, you will have one of the best, safest and most stable operating systems available.

The Windows 8 operating system has 2 different screen views and in Windows 8 they operate almost independently of each other. The Updates, first to Windows 8.1 and then to Windows 8.1 update 1, bring these 2 screens together and make it easier to navigate on your computer especially if you don’t have touch capabilities or you prefer to use the keyboard and mouse.

Windows 8 introduced the tiles screen (some call it the Metro screen) and an app known as STORE. This is Microsoft’s link to their applications store where you can download and install new apps on your computer. Here is where Microsoft makes things ridiculously complicated. To get Windows 8.1 you get the update from the store, HOWEVER, other updates, including the update to Windows 8.1 update 1 have to be gotten by another method!

The other method: Before you can get Windows 8.1 or Windows 8.1 update 1 you need to have your computer up to date. To do this you move your mouse to either the upper or lower corner of your screen. Some icons will pop up on the right of the screen, the top one is search. Click on search and then you will see an empty dialogue box with a little magnifying glass and above it it says Everywhere with a little down blazon beside it. click on this blazon and a list will appear. Choose settings, then type in the blank box UPDATES, then hit the enter key on your keyboard. You will see a screen appear that says check now. click on this radio button. Within seconds you will see a list of updates. I would suggest that you make sure all of them are checked and then click on install.

You may have to do this a couple of times and some updates require that your computer has to restart in order for the updates to install. If you follow these instructions you will soon have an up to date version of Windows on your computer.

Contact me if you have any questions, our advise is always free!

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It’s almost deck weather!

SpeakerCraft Outdoor saleOK, I know most of New Brunswick is still buried beneath a blanket of snow and ice… but it is starting to MELT folks! It seems the rest of North America is basking in warmer weather and there’s rumours that in some parts of Canada you can actually see green grass!!

Our time will come, and when it does, be ready for that time outdoors with all-weather speakers from SpeakerCraft and a custom installation from Wired 1 Consulting. From April 10 to June 15/14 you can save 25% on your new SpeakerCraft outdoor speakers! http://www.speakercraft.com/products/outdoor-speakers

They are guaranteed for a lifetime of music enjoyment outdoors and designed to withstand everything the Canadian climate can throw at them! Leave them outside all year round for those mid winter barbecues and skating parties and lie back in the summer sun in your chaise lounge while you listen to your favourite tunes!

Get your speakers now and book your appointment for professional installation with Wired 1 Consulting (as soon as the snow disappears, yes, it WILL disappear!).

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Windows 8.1 update #1

Well, Microsoft made some significant changes today to their Windows 8.1 operating system making the user interface more familiar to the users of past versions of Windows. They made the Start button more accessible and gives you a much clearer way to turn of the computer by putting a power button on the tile screen at the upper right.

They didn’t make this update easy to get however. It is available from Windows update, but it is an option that must be selected manually in order to download it and install it. Once done it is a welcome improvement! Any “Tile” app that you open shows up on the taskbar in the desktop mode making it much easier to switch between open programs on your computer and it definitely improves the interface for non-touch users.

I suggest that you install this update as it is required to be installed before you will get the next update of Windows 8.1. It will take approximately an hour of your time depending on you internet connection speed.

Enjoy!

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Support for Windows XP ends Tuesday!

The last update for the Windows XP operating system happens on April 8 2014.
What does this mean for those running this 13 year old operating system?
The biggest concern is program compatibility. As new operating systems come to market and old operating systems are discontinued software manufacturers will stop developing new programs for the old operating system. This could leave your computer open to malicious attack from the internet as hackers try to exploit known vulnerabilities in the old program. This is most apparent in programs that directly connect to the internet, like the browser. In Windows XP the last Microsoft browser (Internet Explorer) that the operating system will support is IE10 and there is already a new version available, IE11 that won’t install on Windows XP. This won’t be a problem if you change you browser to Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome, as these browsers will, for now, continue to be updated under Windows XP. There may come a time when new programs simply won’t work with Windows XP.
What about viruses and other malicious attacks?
As long as you have a good, up to date anti virus program on your computer and run your computer as a “standard” user, not an “administrator” you should be OK.
But at some time you are going to run into compatibility issues. It is after all, a 13 year old operating system! It’s probably time for an update! If you have further questions or you feel that the time has come, contact Wired 1 Consulting today! We will make sure you are good for the future of computing!

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The “SMART” evolution.

By now most of you will have heard of the new SMART devices coming to market predominately in the form of SMART Televisions. Exactly what does this mean?

Consumer electronics today have been designed to work with the internet, and as such they rely on a connection to your home computer network, either by a direct wired connection or via Wi-Fi. Exactly how “Smart” these devices are depends, to a certain extent, on the manufacturer’s design. These devices are able to connect to the Internet and allow you to access a variety of applications (apps) that can retrieve content from the Internet such as Netflix, YouTube, Facebook etc., in addition to allowing you to watch good old regular television broadcasting. The access to these on-line services through a television is still not as fluid as accessing the same content on a computer, but the gap is closing, as manufacturers are enticed by marketing strategies from the on-line companies to improve the user interface (UI) so it is an easier operating experience for the consumer.

As the convergence of computers and televisions increases the importance of establishing a home server network becomes something every SMART device owner can take advantage of. Once a centralized storage location (server) is set up, these smart devices can access content that is stored on your server. Usually this server is the main computer that is in the home, but if you have a lot of “content” (movies, music, pictures etc.) a separate, dedicated server can be set up for you. After setup you can access your personal pictures, home movies, and anything else that you want to share on any of the smart devices on your home network. Remember the old days of your parents digging out the movie or slide projector to watch that vacation trip? Nowadays, all you have to do is turn on your smart device to enjoy a slide show or that favourite vacation video. No need to set up a screen and projector, just turn on the TV, and that could be ANY smart TV or device (maybe a Smart Phone or a tablet) in the home! And that is just the tip of the iceberg!

There is a lot more that you can do with a properly configured SMART network in the home. Wired 1 Consulting can help you discover the fun and convenience of having your home system connected to the world!

Give us a call today! (506)470-7510 or drop by our website at www.wired1.ca

Unleash the enjoyment!

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Why do Wired 1 systems sound better?

At Wired 1 Consulting we will not compromise on the quality of the components that we use for your system. Whether it’s a multi zone audio/video system or a home theatre system, it can only sound as good as the speakers that are used in the finished project. SpeakerCraft represents, in our opinion, and the opinion of the rest of the custom installation industry, the best value/performance value that you can buy.

Innovations like “aim-able” tweeters and baffles (the entire faceplate of the speaker can be directed to the listener and were invented by SpeakerCraft these innovations, now often imitated, but never duplicated are now used by the rest of the in-wall speaker industry. They also use fantastic quality in all of the component parts in the speaker like high quality crossovers (the electronic component that separates the frequencies so that bass sounds go to woofer and high frequencies go to the tweeter. A lot of lesser manufacturers simply use a resistor to stop bass from going to the tweeter!). High quality gold plated wire terminals that will accept up to 10 gauge wire (not cheap plastic spring clips). The mounting dogs are also made to high quality standards that ensure you of a lifetime (guaranteed) of enjoyment from your SpeakerCraft speakers. The accompanying pictures of the “entry level” speakers in the AIM line show you the quality that is used from the ground up at SpeakerCraft!. Note the high quality silk dome tweeter and polypropylene bass speaker with butyl rubber suspension elements.

AIM speaker showing amiable tweeter and baffle.

AIM speaker showing amiable tweeter and baffle.

SpeakerCraft AIM series in-wall speaker.

SpeakerCraft AIM series in-wall speaker.

Back of an in-wall speaker showing quality crossover and terminals

Back of an in-wall speaker showing quality crossover and terminals

Close up of Back of an in-wall speaker showing quality crossover and terminals

Close up of Back of an in-wall speaker showing quality crossover and terminals

 

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Pono Player Comes to Market! Get ready ears!

There was a very interesting new product launch at SXSW (South By Southwest) this week that addresses a problem with the most commonly used digital audio (music) formats that are used in today’s electronic world. I have been saying this abo…ut the sound quality since CD’s first came out… it sucks! Neil Young is championing a new digital ecosystem, a player and downloadable content that lets your hear what the artist intended you to hear. Check out this article from CNET http://reviews.cnet.com/mp3-players/ponoplayer/4505-6490_7-35873161.html I can’t wait to try one out!

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Terrestrial Television Broadcasting

This is a screen shot of terrestrial digital television, off a set of rabbit ears! In comparison with my digital television provider (Bell Aliant Fibreop) this off air image literally blew the image from Bell out of the water! The reason, data compression. In order to provide so many channels and services even through a delivery system as sophisticated as fiber optics the service provider has to digitally compress the image in order to get it all into the delivery pipe. When this squished signal gets to the TV it is uncompressed, but not without some unfortunate digital artifacts (mpeg noise, mosquito noise etc.). The same things happen to a digital audio signal that is compressed in order to be transmitted digitally over the home network. It still sounds good, but it pales in comparison with a direct connection to the speakers.

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