Edmonton Sun 2/23/2012, writer - Rodrigues

As reported in today’s Edmonton Sun, Edmonton City Police (EPS) are warning residents in the Oliver neighborhood to keep a watchful eye out for suspicious persons and behaviors after a recent rash of break and enters.

Five houses in the Oliver area near 118 street and 102 avenue were targeted by two men between 10am and 1pm recently.

Claire Seyler spokesperson for EPS noted that four houses in a row were hit.  EPS believe the thieves were watching the houses for sometime before they made there move ensuring each house was empty at the time and none of the homes were equipped with burglar alarm systems.

The thieves kicked in the doors and stole a variety of items including small electronics.  Normally August is the busiest month for break and enters in the city of Edmonton as burglaries generally slow down in the cold winter months.  This year the mild winter conditions have lead to an increase in calls from victims of burglaries as the lack of snow and good road and sidewalk conditions make getaways quicker and don’t leave tell tale evidence such as shoe prints and tire tracks in the snow.

Burglar alarms, security systems and cameras may not prevent all crimes but they do provide an effective deterrent as thieves often look for the easiest targets making homes with security systems more secure and less likely to be targeted.

If you’re interested in protecting your home or office with a security system or video surveillance system give Doyle at Ion Security a call at 780-489-5522 or email info@ionsecuritysystems.com for a free no obligation security evaluation.

Last year at this time the blog was a buzz with iPad2 rumors, as the countdown to the iPad 2 launch was on.  It’s that time again this year as iPad 3 rumors and speculation begin to heat up.  While no official word has come from the lips of Apple it is anticipated the iPad 3 will be introduced next month on March 7.

With rumor mill running rampant over the internet here’s our guide and predictions to what me might see next month with the launch of the iPad 3.

Display:  The most talked about rumor for the iPad 3 is the upgrade to a retina display.  The retina display is one of the most beloved features of the iPhone 4 and a sharper display was on the wish list last year for the iPad 2.  Mac Rumors claims to have obtained an iPad 3 LCD panel and has measured the resolution to be 2048 x 1536, double that of the current iPad 2.

With some Android tablets offering 1080p resolutions the increased resolution on the iPad 3 is a pretty safe bet.

Processing Power & Ram:
Most sources agree that the new iPad 3 will have an A6 processor inside however some speculate it will be dual core while others insist it will be quad core.  Bloomberg reported the new iPad 3 will have a Quad Core A6 processor inside.

With increased processing power and a retina display many experts have questioned the need for a RAM upgrade to take full advantage of a 10 inch retina display.  The current iPad 2 has 512 MB of buffered ram however most agree more RAM will be needed for the iPad 3 with the larger, higher resolution display.

Suffice it to say the a Quad Core A6 chip is most likely while an increase in RAM is purely speculative at this point.

iPad 3 Case Photos • Source Apple Daily - Taiwan

Size:
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Apple was testing an 8 inch size tablet however they don’t believe it will be the iPad 3.  Next Media Apple Daily (Taiwan) has posted photos of what it claims to be the iPad 3 showing a larger front rear facing cameras and slightly more tapered design.

Camera:
Several sources have predicted the new iPad 3 will have upgraded cameras both front and back.  Anybody with an iPad 2 knows the cameras on it are terrible and an upgrade to iPhone 4S quality cameras would make the iPad 3 a much better multimedia tool.  iLounge predicts the iPad 3 will have an HD front-facing camera for HD Facetime while pictures have surfaced of a higher resolution rear facing camera reported to be 8 mega pixels, same as the iPhone 4S.

Battery:
The battery on the iPad 3 is rumored to be larger and higher capacity than the iPad 2 providing up to 19 hours of use.  This rumor seems likely since battery and component technology continues to evolve and improve.  The new A6 chip will be more energy efficient than it’s predecessor and the increased battery size coupled with energy saving technologies should boost the iPad 3’s standby and use time the only question is by how much?

4G, LTE, Network:
One of the biggest items on the wish list of the iPad 2 was 4G or LTE connectivity.  With 4G/LTE networks at their infancy last year, it didn’t make sense for Apple to incorporate a 4G/LTE radio into the iPad 2.  What a difference a year makes.  Most cellular providers now offer limited 4G/LTE network coverage and it’s expanding everyday so the question is does Apple consider the current 4G/LTE network coverage sufficient enough to warranty putting a 4G radio on the iPad 3 or is it a case of the 4G network is still not large enough to warrant consideration at this time?

4G/LTE is still a 50/50 proposition on the iPad 3 based on current network coverage.

iOS6 and Siri:
With iOS5 and the iPhone 4S just recently introduced a could of months ago it’s unlikely we’ll see iOS6 coming out on the iPad 3.  It is likely to see Siri on the iPad 3 especially since some details were revealed in iOS5 referencing the iPad in Siri

Other Rumors:

• SD card slot -highly unlikely
• Mini Dock Connector -will the iPad 3 be the first to support a mini dock connector – highly unlikely
• NFC Chip – near field communications chip, Apple like all manufacturers are very interested in NFC however we doubt we’ll see it till the iPhone 5.
• More Storage – standard iPad configurations have been 16/31/64 however 128GB has been rumored, Pricing pressures may make this an expensive option which Apple may want to avoid.
• Thunderbolt Port – the dock connector is the only port to date on iOS devices.  Odds are you may see a dock connector to thunderbolt adapter but don’t expect to see one directly on the device, it’s just not the iPad way.

iPad 3 or iPad 2S?
Is the new iPad going to be called an iPad 3 or iPad 2-S?  Apple generally releases new iOS devices each year and traditionally calls them 1, 2, 3, 4.  When Apple releases products mid term they usually designate the product model with an ‘S’ for special edition or speed indicating faster processor.  There is a speculation I have which has been shared by some other tech writers that the new iPad 3 may not be as significant an upgrade as some may think and that Apple may just be introducing an iPad 2S next month, with processor and retina display upgrades in preparation of introducing a complete iOS-6 mobile product line this fall bringing all i-OS devices under one umbrella (iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad).  September is generally a better time for sales then the spring with back to school and the Christmas gift buying season.  From a marketing and manufacturing point of view it makes sense for Apple to announce a congruent line of iOS devices in September which all use the same processors, cameras, LTE/4G radios and iOS 6.  Apple upgraded the iPhone 4 to 4S this fall when most predicted an iPhone 5 and sales still went through the roof hitting record numbers, so there is the chance that Apple may do the same thing with the iPad 3 next month and introduce an iPad 2S with the iPad 3 being delayed until September when both the iPhone 5 and iPad 3 can be introduced at the same time running iOS 6?

Availability:
Most tech blogs are predicting March 7th as the iPad 3 announcement date, although Apple has not made any official press release.  Last year the iPad 2 was announced on March 2nd with availability on March 11th so odds are we’ll see an iPad 3 on store shelves something next month unless Apple opts to bring us an iPad 2S like the iPhone 4S last October?

Between December 15, 2011 and January 15, 2012 the Shaw DCX3400 PVR was selling in Edmonton for $147-$149 dollars while the Motorola DCX3200 was spotted as low as $99.  Since January 15th, 2012 the price of the Motorola DCX3400 averaged $199 while the DCX3200 retailed for $149.  This week pricing on the Motorola cableboxes skyrocketed to $349 for the DCX3400 and $198 for the DCX3200.

Correction:  Sean at Shaw Cable contacted Techtipsandtoys today, to let us know the price increase only applies to the Motorola DCX3400 PVR,  the Non-PVR Motorola DCX3200 is still $142.00 as of 2/21/2012.  Sean commented the price increase was due to a promotion expiring.  Thanks for providing the official pricing information Sean.

Why the price increase?  Did the Canadian dollar lose 50% and the exchange go up? No.  Did Motorola double it’s wholesale price to Shaw – No,  why the increase then?  Simple,  Shaw is trying to persuade customers to buy the problematic Gateway Hub and Portal based price rather than features and benefits.

I spoke with salespersons at two large electronics retailers this week who told me they get 90% return rates on the Shaw Gateway and hate selling them because they make no money on the product and a few days after the sale 9 out of 10 customers bring it back to the store wanting to refund or exchange for a Shaw Motorola DCX3400, Telus Optik TV or Bell Satellite receiver.  One sales person told me they try to hide or slip out for lunch when they see a Shaw Gateway customer coming back to the store only a few days or week after they purchased the product.  “We know when they have the box in their hands that they’re not here to purchase another TV.  I’ve sold six Gateways in the past month commented one sales rep and every one has come back”.  When the Motorola DCX3400 PVR was priced at $149 dollars, customers were bringing back their 3 or 4 portal Gateway systems and purchasing three DCX3400 PVRs.  The price of three Motorola DCX PVRs was $450 dollars vs the single Gateway system which was $498 a couple weeks ago.   For a short period of time the Gateway was on sale for $398 dollars and even at that price customers still returned it in favor of the Motorola DCX PVR.

The Gateway system was supposed to be Shaw’s killer product to compete with Telus Optik TV. With all it’s features and supposed benefits the Gateway was to sell at a PREMIUM Price and be the most envied set top box and system available.  Unfortunately for Shaw and it’s customers, myself included the Gateway has been a disappointing and frustrating product whose actual function fell far short of the hype.  One Shaw cable tech I spoke with on a recent job site installation even commented that he wouldn’t install a Gateway in his own house, it’s got too many issues right now he said.

With the new pricing the Gateway hub with 4 portals will cost $940 while 4 Motorola DCX3400 PVRs would cost $1,400 before tax.  Shaw is hoping that $460 dollar different is enough of a saving to persuade customers to purchase the Shaw Gateway instead of the Motorola cable boxes and further once they get it home and experience all the glitches Shaw’s banking the $460 dollar price difference will be enough of a deterrent to make customers keep the problematic Gateway rather than returning it.  Wow what a marketing campaign …  Buy a Gateway – it’s cheaper and has more problems than other competitive products but look at the money you’ll save!  I’ve got news for you Shaw, you can dress it up anyway you like, but if it looks like a dog and barks like a dog …. it’s still a dog.

You may have noticed that Shaw has stopped promoting the Gateway and is now marketing their HD Programming under the new name SHAW EXO.  Shaw is claiming  EXO to be better Telus or Bell but is it really?  As a systems integrator who gets involved with all three service providers weekly and has Shaw personally as my cable provider I cannot say that it has superior HD to either Bell or Telus.  I can say that Shaw’s internet service is faster but as far as HD picture quality and sound – Shaw’s not better or worse than Telus or Bell.  On the Audio Side of things I would say Bell and Telus are better than Shaw as my personal system and several of my client’s Shaw Cable boxes experience audio dropouts from time to time with some customers experiencing these audio dropouts more frequently than others.  I have never experienced audio dropout on Telus or Bell.

Shaw is definitely better than Telus with respect to high speed internet and I highly recommend Shaw over Telus for the best internet experience.

Shaw’s new pricing strategy is a Win – Win for Shaw and a Lose-Lose for it’s customers.  Shaw wins because if you by the flaky Gateway and keep it they get rid of some of their inventory and build up the Gateway customer base (hopefully they’ll be increasing their support center staff also to handle the increased Gateway support calls).  If customers return the Gateway or decide to purchase Motorola boxes instead then Shaw makes extra bonus profit margins on these boxes which help to offset the loses on the Gateway so either way Shaw wins and it’s customers are the big losers.

There is of course another scenario which Shaw must have thought about … what if customers switch to Bell or Telus due to the high equipment cost of Shaw’s Motorola boxes?  The higher Shaw raises their equipment prices the more attractive the alternatives become and with Bell rumored to be bringing the Dish Hopper and Joey to Canada later this spring or fall,  Shaw’s ill fated Gateway just won’t be able to compete with the slick new Whole House PVR from Bell.

So If a person needs to purchase a cable box today – What should they do?  My best advice is to SHOP AROUND,  while some electronics retailers increased the price of the Shaw DCX3400 PVRs this week another retailer London Drugs, is advertising the Shaw DCX3400 for $198 at least for another week.  Keep in mind that most electronics retailers Price Match so if you’re not close to a London Drugs, Visions, Best Buy and Future Shop should match London Drugs pricing.

If there is any testimonial to the usefulness of a cell phone flashlight app it is when the office workers at World Trade Center used the screens on their cell phones to illuminate the dark, smoke filled stairways of the WTC when evacuating on 9/11.

With so many uses for a flashlight app it’s strange Apple didn’t build one directly into iOS leaving iPhone owners the task of navigating the app store to download the perfect Free or Paid Flashlight App.  With so many flashlight apps available it’s hard for the average iPhone user to decide which flashlight app is the best for them so at techtipsandtoys we decided to take a hands on look at 10 of the most popular Free Flashlight apps and rank them in order from worst to best!

10.)  Flashlight for iPhone, iPod and iPad by Giorgi Otiashvilli:  The description on this flashlight app reads “The best Flashlight app on app store for free!!!“  While it’s true that this flashlight app is Free it’s far from the best, in fact, it’s one of the worst and here’s why.

Slow to load.  Half the screen on this app is filled with banner ads scrolling across the bottom along with URL links to upgrade the app and more links to other apps.  Only the top half of the screen is dedicated to the flashlight portion of the app which is a basic touch button to turn the LED flash on and off and a second button to illuminate the front touchpad with annoying scrolling banner ads across the top.

This app is awful and is hardly the best Free Flashlight app on the App Store.  Read on and you’ll see much better Flashlight apps.

9.)  iHandy Flashlight Free by iHandysoft Inc:  If you were to describe this free flashlight app in one word it would be busy.  iHandy Flashlight launches to a menu screen which requires you to select from nine different types of flashlights from basic light, to strobe, sos, emergency, motion control, spiral, glow sticks and neon.  The 60+ and download buttons take you to iHandysoft downloads for more free and paid apps.  In addition to the busy launch screen once you select your flashlight preference you’re then bombarded with banner ads.  This flashlight app is more of an entertainment app than utility or productivity app and the myriad of choices just slows down the operation and functionality of the app.  Pass on this one and definitely look elsewhere.

8.) Flashlight by Surpax Technology Inc:  Surpax touts Flashlight as the Brightest Flashlight available and while bright we didn’t notice much difference between the Surpax flashlight app and the others.  Once again this free flashlight app is add supported and has banner adds running along the bottom of the app.  The button layout is spacious enough and very basic with an on/off slider button and top dial button for continuous light or strobe effect.  In addition to it’s limited functionality and banner adds the main drawback with this flashlight is that the LED does not light up when you launch the app and requires the user to toggle the LED switch to on, once the app is launched.

7.)  Flashlight. by 7th Gear: Flashlight:  Flashlight. is a Free, ad supported, flashlight app with the basic LED flashlight, strobe and pulse or morse code press to flash feature.    The LED light illuminates as soon as Flashlight. starts which is important, especially when you’re fumbling in the dark.  The button layout is spacious enough while the scrolling banner adds at the bottom of the screen don’t overwhelm or intrude with the operation of the app.  Overall Flashlight. is OK and works but there are better FREE flashlight apps out there.

6.)  iTorch4 Flashlight by Pixelinlove Ltd:  Like most Free Flashlight apps iTorch4 is your basic flashlight app which turns on when launched and has a single on/off toggle button and strobe button. Other features include sound effects which can be turned on or off and a seasonal theme for Christmas.  This app like most free apps is banner driven and has advertising banners scrolling along the bottom of the screen.  Overall the app is functional but better choices are found on 1-2 or 3 on this Top 10 List.

5.) Flashlight O by iHandySoft Inc.  Flashlight O is a flashlight at with a twist … it has a built in compass in addition to flashlight.  The flashlight automatically turns on when the app is launched and has an adjustable strobe and SOS dial wheel at the top.  The compass is located between the strobe adjustment dial and on off button and works but is too small and basic to provide any detailed navigational information.  This flashlight app is Free and ad supported with banner apps running along the bottom of the home screen.  iHandysoft Inc makes a number of other apps including Alarm Clock, Barcode Scan, Flashlight, Translator, Weather Clock, Level, Battery Meter, OR Code Scan and Tip Calculator.

There is a launch icon in the top right corner of all iHandysoft apps which scans your iPhone for other iHandysoft apps and provides you a one touch interface to move from one iHandysoft app to another without having to exit the app and navigate through the iPhone home screen.

4.) Flashlight. ® by Intellectual Flame Co.  This flashlight app is your basic, banner ad supported flashlight app with variable strobe function.  Button layout is basic and straight forward, on/off button and strobe dial.  The LED light turns on when the app is launched and the banner ads appear at the bottom lower portion of the screen.  Overall a basic functional, no frills flashlight app with banner ads.

3.) Flashlight.* by Apptures: The description on Flashlight. + reads “Best, only and LAST Flashlight app you will ever own on your iPhone!!! … the #1 choice for iPhone 4 users!”  This flashlight app is most similar to an actual flashlight, nothing fancy just a single on/off button in the center of the screen and a sliding strobe control below.  The app launches quickly however the LED light does not automatically come on so you have to press the on/off button to turn the LED on once the app launches.  The battery indicator, time and cell carrier information is visible at the top of the screen and there are no banner ads on this Free app which is why it is so popular.  If you’re looking for a basic Free Flashlight App Flashlight.* by Intellectual Flame Co may be just fit the bill, it you want a little more functionality see our number one recommendation below.

Download link: flashlight by apptures itunes link

2.)  LED Light for iPhone 4 Free by Jason Ting:  This flashlight app is often missed in iTunes searches because it doesn’t have the word flashlight in the app title but make no mistake this app is one of the best Free flashlight apps available.  LED Light for iPhone 4 Free is an elegantly designed, quick and intuitive flashlight app.  The app offers your basic LED flashlight always on mode, with options for strobe, SOS and tap or hold down for light mode.  LED Light for iPhone 4 Free is the only flashlight app out of the bunch we tested that has a double tap to turn the iPhone touch screen on or off.  This feature will save some battery life while the LED light stays illuminated the touch screen can be turned on or off.  Other options include a sleep timer and the option to choose to have the LED light come on automatically when the app launches or remain off until the toggle button is pressed.

LED Light for iPhone 4 Free as the title says is a FREE app and best of all there are no annoying banner ads of any type providing a clean, functional flashlight app.

Download link:  LED light for iphone 4 itunes link

1.)  Best Flash Light! by RV AppStudios LLC:  Best Flash Light is truly the BEST FREE Flashlight app available in iTunes for the iPhone.  The app is totally free and unlike other apps that are filled with multiple banners or limited versions, Best Flash Light! is full of features not found even on Paid apps and has no banner ads.  The full real estate of the iPhone screen is dedicated to the app with a very small touch button on the lower right of the screen with is a link to more apps by RV AppStudios.  There are no banner adds however occasionally when launching Best Flash Light! you will get a full screen ad from RV asking if you wish to purchase additional RV Apps, a quick click of the close box and you’re back to the full featured Flashlight app.

Best Flash Light! by RV is several flashlights in one.  The graphics of the app are first rate and display a shinny blue chrome control button in the center surrounded by four additional buttons on top and three along the bottom.  The buttons are black with gray lettering surrounding by simulated hand stitched black leather – very BMWish.  The middle center of the app features a battery level meter so you can keep and eye on battery drain while using the flashlight app – very important!

The front LED of the iPhone comes on instantly when the App Activates,  touching the center button turns the LED on and Off.  The top left circular button activates the LED as a strobe light with variable speed control.  Below the top left circular button is a shake button which activates the front LED light to turn on and off with a shake of the iPhone.  Shake once and the LED Turns on – shake again and it turns off.

The top right button features a CFL light bulb and activates the iPhones touch screen to a white screen with the front LED off.  Tapping the iPhone screen once in this mode activates the front LED for dual mode lighting and tapping the bottom of the iPhone screen returns back to the main control window.

Below the CFL bulb button is a hand clap button which as you guessed turns your iPhone into “the clapper” hand clapping activated light.  Clap to turn on and clap again to turn off the LED or touch screen light.

Below the center console button on the bottom left is a Finger Tap button which activates the center on/off button to act at a touch button for morse code or touch to flash button.  The bottom center button is an eyeball icon which activates the flashlight as a magnifying glass or zoom camera ideal for reading small print when you forgot your reading glasses or examining items up close.  The bottom right corner button is an info button and allows you to turn the button sounds on and off and set the light countdown timer to shut the light off automatically at your pre-selected time.

Best Flash Light! by RV AppStudios is truly the Best FREE Flashlight App available for the iPhone.  Because flashlight is spelled as two words in the official title of the app, this app is often missed when searching for it in iTunes.  I don’t know why the developer choose to do this since so many potential users miss this app when searching for Flashlight in iTunes but if you missed it – it’s definitely worth a download and look.

Download link:  best flash light by RV AppStudios itunes link

Summary:
All flashlight apps are similar in function however some of the interfaces, designs and banner ads leave us wondering what the developers were thinking when writing the code for the app.

All flashlight apps are a huge drain on the battery of the iPhone 4 and should be used with careful consideration.  You wouldn’t want to use all the power up on your phone by using the flashlight and then not have enough power to make an emergency call if necessary.

Our Top Free Flashlight App is Best Flash Light! by RV AppStudios.  This app is not only attractive to look at but flexible and functional.  The magnifying feature is excellent for those who forget their reading glasses or who need a magnifying glass and the CFL bulb mode is a great battery saver.  The clapper feature on Best Flash Light! is simply fun.

For those who don’t want the magnifying option of Best Flash Light! and are looking for a simple, effective Flashlight app, LED Light for iPhone 4 Free by Jason Ting is the best FREE, basic flashlight app with a few extra features thrown in including strobe, sleep timer and automatic LED on.

Flashlight.* by Apptures is similar to LED Light for iPhone 4 Free and is a Free flashlight app with basic features and a clean layout.  Flashlight.* by Apptures doesn’t have some of the features of LED Light but overall they’re very similar with one important difference.  Flashlight.* does not automatically light the LED when the app launches with the other two flashlight apps in our 1 and 2 places do.
Overall you can’t go wrong with any of the three flashlight apps in the Top Three of our list.  The top three flashlight apps are all FREE and have NO ads or in the case of #1 Best Flash Light! by RV AppStudios a single full page start screen which occasionally pops up at the start of the app but not every time you launch it and then goes away with the click of the x button and does not come back during the use of the app.

All other apps 4-10 all are Free but have annoying banner adds scrolling across the bottom of the screen or in the case of the worst flashlight app #10 Flashlight for iPhone, iPod and iPad by Giorgi Otiashvilli, half the screen is ads – seriously!

The flashlight app will remain on of the most useful apps and essential to every smart phone owner. Download one today.

First iSee aT night comes in “Free and Paid” versions.  The app clearly states that it does not provide true night vision and is for entertainment purposes but then goes on to say “Like a Night Vision App, but includes more different features and functions… etc”.

iSee aT night is nothing more than a Color Filter app disguised and promoted as a night vision app for entertainment purposes.  The app is poorly laid out and designed, the windows and buttons are too small and difficult to manipulate and the purpose of this app is totally lost on me.  Night vision is supplied by turning on the front mounted LED flash of the iPhone and then a Red, Green, Yellow or Violet color filter can be applied to color your onscreen image in a colored halo.  Two buttons on the bottom of the screen allow you to record and save your colored image but that’s about it.

iSee at night writes in there app description “if you ever will be stuck in a dark place, don’t worry, cause you will have a great support in your hand in the face of iSee aT nigh app, you will always be equipped with the modern device, that is probably matches the outkit of Navy Seals” This is the actual quote with the bad english and all from the iTunes download page for the app.  The developer of this app is Fresh Ideals Inc and from the broken English in the description of the app it’s clear that English and marketing are there strong points nor is producing and writing code for a great app.

iSee aT night FREE! and iSee aT nightT + 12 PRO camera effects are complete waste of time apps.  There are much better camera filters out there than these apps and as far as night vision – download a flashlight app instead.

At 13.75 inches high, by 18.25 inches wide and 2 inches deep without the stand or 4 inches deep with the stand the Toshiba 19SL410 is one of the most compact 19 inch LED HDTV sets on the market and it fit nicely underneath our kitchen cabinets.  The TV chassis is basically rectangular with a high gloss black bezel and slightly recessed brushed aluminum soft touch button control panel.

The Toshiba 19SL410U is a low profile, 720p, 60Hz, LCD, LED backlit TV.  Most TVs at this size and price range have limited input options so I was surprised to see the number of inputs on the Toshiba 19SL410U included 2 HDMI ports, one RGB/PC VGA input with 3.5mm audio jack, one Component Video, one Composite Video and one RF antenna inputs.

There is no headphone jack output on this TV however there is a Toslink digital audio output and stereo RCA output.  In addition to the inputs on the rear there is also a side mounted USB jack and built in jpeg viewer.

The picture quality of this set is excellent with a 170 degree wide angle viewing with no visible color or brightness shift and a crisp, clear, sharp picture.  720p and 60Hz refresh rate is adequate for a TV of this size and there is a special gaming mode which helps to optimize settings for gamers. With only a 19” picture size 720p content looks great and even standard definition TV is good although the picture is a bit soft which is expected.  There are a few 19 inch TVs which offer full 1080p however at 19 inch screen size 1080p is really overkill and when looking at the different models side by side in the store I couldn’t see any noticeable difference between the 1080p and 720p sets in the 19-22″ size category. I suppose if you are planning on using this TV as a computer monitor the higher resolution would be good for graphics however for TV viewing 720p is more than enough on a TV this size.  Speaking of graphics,  I’ve have had this set for three weeks now and have viewed all types of programming including auto racing, hockey and football and could not detect motion blur on any programing confirming 60Hz refresh is plenty fast for a 19 inch TV.

In addition to it’s compact size the Toshiba 19SL410 weighs only 2.7kg (5.93lbs) without the stand making it an ideal lightweight TV for the RV, motor home or travel trailer.

Sound quality on this set is good considering the size of the TV and speakers.  Some customer reviews on the internet and amazon.com say the sound is awful or terrible, I’m not sure what they’re expectations are?  Obviously the bass response is very weak due to the small speakers but the volume and clarity is good for most small rooms and ideal in the kitchen.  If you’re expecting thunderous bass or volume from the internal speakers on a TV this size you’re going to be disappointed, the sound on the Toshiba was as good or better than the Samsung 15 inch we replaced.  For those buyers who want more volume or better sound there are external digital and audio output jacks on the back of the Toshiba which can be connected to small desktop computer speakers which can be hidden behind the TV if it’s going to be placed in a corner or on a bookshelf for example.  The larger amplified computer speaker would provide added volume and more tonal range.  Another option would be to connect the Toshiba TV to a separate amplifier or surround sound receiver but seriously folks – this TV is a small compact television, ideally suited for small rooms – how much volume do you need.  In our kitchen with the dishwasher running and sink running water we still have ample volume to hear the TV speakers.

Set up is quick and easy and the on screen set up and controls menu is well laid out and intuitive.  There are lots of controls for adjusting the picture quality and other settings but surprisingly no printed owners manual.  Like most manufacturers these days the owners manual is available online as a PDF download and if 67 pages long if you care to download and read it.

Summary:
The Toshiba 19SL410U is one of the best choices for a 19” HDTV set.  The compact design is ideal for tight places like under kitchen counters or the RV and the picture quality and clarity is excellent.  The sound quality is good for a set of this size with adequate volume and the number of inputs including 2 HDMI ports makes this set very versatile.  Many of the features found on the Toshiba 19SL410U are often reserved for much larger televisions setting the 19SL410 apart from many of it’s competitors in this size category.  If we can find any fault with this set it would be the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack.  Some customers who plan to use this monitor in a bedroom, dorm room, RV or kids room would like to have the ability to mute the speakers and plug in a pair of headphones, sadly Toshiba like many other manufacturers has decided to eliminate headphone jacks along with printed manuals in a effort to cut costs and maximize profits.  If a headphone jack is critical then this TV is not for you, but if you’re looking for a compact TV for the kitchen which will fit under cabinets with a valence and has a great picture, myriad of input options, 2 HDMI ports and several other high end features the Toshiba 19SL410U is an excellent TV and great value.

Ion Security and Integration was called for the AV reno for the family room and master bedroom.  Doyle met with Nader and Sara to discuss their equipment needs.  Sara and Nader had three goals for the family room home theater,

1 – LCD Flat Screen TV Built into the wall and recessed to be flush with the fireplace
2 – Surround Sound
3 – Easy to Use

Achieving the first objective was fairly routine for Doyle, he’s installed more than 2,000 TV’s including several recessed into the wall.  The first step to recessing the television was to obtain the exact measurements for the flat screen – this meant buying the TV before the renovation began (three months in advance of the actual installation).  The reason for this is twofold Doyle explains …. “First we always like to measure the actual TV to get an exact measurement,  manufacturers do provide dimensions and specs for their products however they are often inaccurate and all specifications are “Subject to Change”.  Doyle comments “When you’re building a TV pocket inside a wall to fit a specific television you need the exact dimensions … there’s no room for estimates or error”.  The second reason you need to purchase and have physical possession of the TV you wish to mount before your renovation begins is that manufacturers often change, discontinue and release new TV models at various times of the year.  Unlike new cars which usually get released each fall or Q1 in the winter,  TV manufacturers are constantly changing their TV models throughout the year adding or deleting features and changing the size, shape and look of their Television chassis’s.  “If you’re building a TV into a wall pocket and don’t have the actual TV in your possession … you run the risk of the model being discontinued or the size changing and not fitting into the designed wall cavity by the time the final installation is ready” Doyle comments, we’ve avoided potential disasters such as this more than a dozen times, due to manufacturers discontinuing the TV model and coming out with a new one with a different size.  Normally TV models and sizes are good for about nine months, but we’ve seen them be discontinued as quickly as 4 months.  A normal renovation is 3-6 months from planning to completion which would mean the TV specified would not be available at the time of installation if the home owner didn’t purchase the TV first before the reno began.”

A Samsung 52” LCD flat panel TV was chosen for the fireplace TV installation while a 42” Sharp would be installed in the master bedroom.  With the TV in hand the next step for Doyle was to determine what type of mount would be used and then measure the TV for height and width and then the TV and mount together for depth.  These dimensions would then be provided to the contractor and framer and verified on-site once the framing was done before the drywall was installed.  Since the TV selected was required to move away from the wall for mounting and then be pushed back into the wall to recess the TV an articulating wall mount was necessary and additional backing and support would also be necessary to support the additional weight.  With the family room and bedroom TV’s figured out the next step was to tackle the surround sound.

The family room was open to the kitchen with no rear wall to mount surround sound speakers to.  The floor joists were exposed due to the new raised floor being installed however the walls and ceiling were to remain intact and the home was a 2 story so there was no way to get into the ceiling to install rear surround sound speakers.  Wall mount rear channel speakers could be installed on the side walls however one wall had a large window and curtains which didn’t provide enough space to install an in wall speaker.  With all options for rear channel speakers ruled out, Doyle turned to Bose and their innovative Cinemate 3-2-1 GSX speaker system to provided surround sound for the room.  The Bose Cinemate 3-2-1 GSX system consists of two small speakers and powered subwoofer which provides a virtual surround sound with only two front mounted speakers and no rear channels.

Doyle had used the Bose Cinemate II system before in smaller rooms with great success however this would be the first installation in a larger family room and the first install in a room with no rear wall to reflect and bounce the sound off  to create the surround sound effect.  The rear wall of the family room was open to the kitchen and the back wall of the kitchen was another 15 feet behind where the couch was to be located and the primary listening position.

Without any other options (soundbar was ruled out) Doyle wired the family room up for the Bose 3-2-1 GSX system and speakers and would wait till the final installation day to see what it would sound like.

The last requirement of the A/V makeover was to make the system easy to use.  For ease of use Doyle designed the whole AV system around the Bose Cinemate 3-2-1 Amplifier/DVD player, Receiver.  The Bose 3-2-1 GSX system can be purchased as a speaker system and amplifier only to allow you to hook up your own DVD and other components or a complete receiver with Amp, Tuner and DVD built in.  External inputs on the GSX receiver are limited to two and Nader wanted to connect a Shaw cable box, Xbox and VCR to the receiver as well.  To expand the inputs of the Bose GSX receiver Doyle installed a component video and composite video upscaling learning switch which once connected and programmed provided infrared switching of all components as if the external switching box was built as part of the Bose receiver.  The final touch for ease of use was to install and program a Logitech Harmony One Remote for convenient one touch access to all components.

After the rough in framing was complete Doyle roughed in the necessary wiring for all speakers, TV, components and equipment.  New cable lines needed to be run from the utility room to the new equipment locations and once complete all Doyle had to do was wait till the room was ready for final install.

Final installation came nine weeks after the rough in wiring was done, and Doyle was filled with a kind of nervous anticipation …  “I know the TV fill fit into the TV pocket but I have no idea what the Bose 3-2-1 GSX system will sound like with the open back wall.”  With all the components, equipment and wiring needed to be installed and connected the final installation took two days to complete and at 3:30pm on Day 2 the moment of truth was at hand as Doyle powered up the Bose 3-2-1 GSX system and put it through it’s paces.  First was the Demo DVD Disc which comes with every Bose 3-2-1 system.  With the TV one, the DVD in and the volume turned up, everyone gathered into the family room to hear what the system would sound like – WOW! Incredible! How do they do that! and tons of smiles and looks of surprise and amazement filled the room, even Doyle himself had a smile on his face as he too was surprised at the virtual surround sound emanating from just the two small wall mounted Bose Gemstone Speaker Arrays.    I asked Doyle for his reaction “With sound you never really know until you turn it on and power it up exactly what it will sound like … you have a good idea but sometimes the room acoustics just don’t work to help you and I was concerned because we didn’t have a rear wall in this room that the virtual surround sound wouldn’t be as predominate as it turned out to be … I’m happy for my client’s, it looks and sounds great and you can see by their smiles – it was the right decision and the Bose 3-2-1 GSX is a great solution”.

With the family room complete next we took a look at how the new Sharp Aquos 42” installation turned out in the bedroom.  The Sharp LCD was mounted flat to the wall using a zero clearance wall mount, although not flush like the TV recessed into the fireplace the 1.1” Sharp LCD was thin and with the the wall mount bracket adding only another .5” to the thickness the LCD TV looks like a picture hanging from the wall.

The 42” size was perfect for the bedroom and Doyle’s install was very clean and professional with the TV centered perfectly on the bedroom wall and all cabling hidden behind the TV inside the wall and behind the baseboard.

If you’re planning a home renovation, building a new home or just need a TV installed give Doyle a call at Ion Security and Integration 780-489-5522 or email info@ionsecuritysystems.com.

So what is Instagram?  Instagram is an iPhone only app that enables the user to take a photo (or library photo), enhance it using one of 16 different effects and then share it on various social networks or on Instagram itself which has become a very popular social network.

What sets Instagram apart is it’s ease of use and flawless integration with Facebook, Twitter and other social networks.  Snap a picture, enhance it and post it on any of these social media sites with just a click of the button.  The App is simple and straightforward to setup and not overcrowded with unnecessary features.

No Facebook or Twitter account? No Problem, Instagram at it’s core is an ego-driven app which allows users to create and edit photographs and then show them off to their friends and followers on Instagram even if they don’t have a Facebook or Twitter account.  You’ll be surprised once you start posting photographs how many other Instagramers start following your photo posts.

To download Instagram click the link to the App Store:  Instagram App Link

Speaking of following Instagram posts, one of the downfalls of Instagram is that it’s an iPhone only app and there is no way to follow or view Instagram posts on a Mac or PC.  Webstagram is a Web Viewer for Instagram which will allow you to view and comment on Instagram from your Mac or PC.  For more information on Webstagram see our post – Webstagram Link

One of the downfalls of Instagram is that there is no native web portal for viewing Instagram photos on a Mac or PC only on your iOS devices.

Webstagram is a Web Viewer for Instagram which will allow you to view and comment on Instagram from your Mac or PC.  Check it out at:  Webstagram

Chris and Marcy Taffert had such a challenge for Doyle from Ion Security and Integration the job entailed mounting two flat screen TVs in their new home, one 60″ above the fireplace and one 32″ above the pantry door in the kitchen.

Each TV install had it’s own unique circumstances but Doyle was up to the challenge.

Kitchen TV:  The first install was going to be the kitchen pantry TV,  Chris initially purchased a 22 inch TV for this wall however once held in place during the preliminary meeting, it was obvious the 22” TV would be Too Small for the wall to cover up the cabling and too small for viewing from the intended seating position the kitchen island.  Doyle recommended returning the 22 inch TV and suggested a 32 inch would look a lot better.  Doyle left Chris the option of purchasing the TV himself or Doyle could also sell and supply him one.  When you buy a TV from Ion Security and Integration you get additional service and warranty at no charge plus the convenience of not having to shop around.  After quoting Chris a price on the new TV the decision was a no brainer – the price was cheaper than the electronics stores including delivery and extended warranty!

The initial meeting was on Tuesday and the install was booked for the following Monday.  Doyle arrived at the Taffert home with the TV brackets, new 32” Samsung TV and went right to work installing the kitchen TV.  There were two complications with the kitchen TV to deal with.  First the electrical plug was directly behind where the TV bracket needed to be located and the TV wall mounting plate would cover the electrical plug.  Secondly Chris had used Cat6 cabling and baluns to transmit the HDTV signal from the basement Telus Optik TV receiver to the kitchen so the balun, Cat6 cabling and IR repeater modules were also in the way of the bracket.  Chris couldn’t figure how to get around these obstacles but Doyle with his installation experience of more than 2000 TV installs was already prepared with solutions.  First Doyle moved the Cat6 cabling and baluns to an area above where the TV wall plate needed to go.  The TV wall plate and TV itself would cover the new holes which needed to be made and therefore no patching or drywall repair would be required.  The next step would be to deal with the electrical plug problem – that’s a little tricky,  Doyle choose a Zero Clearance wall mount bracket which normally mounts the TV 4mm from the wall.  Special spacers were added behind the bracket to shim out wall plate from the wall enough to allow a special right angle FLAT electrical plug to be plugged in behind the wall bracket before installation moving the electrical plug from behind the wall plate to above it.  With the electrical, wiring and baluns all out of the way the 32” Samsung LED TV was then mounted to the wall and connected, angled and adjusted.  Since the Telus TV boxes were located in the basement and IR repeater was installed below the TV to relay IR signals from the Telus Remote to the corresponding Optik TV HD box.  The kitchen TV looked marvelous and with that one out of the way Doyle turned his attention to the living room fireplace TV.

Living Room Fireplace TV:  The challenge for the living room fireplace TV was to mount the TV low enough for viewing while still covering the recessed cable and power outlet installed in the wall and to securing fasten the TV to the 1/2 inch thick porcelain tile without cracking or breaking it.  Even with his experience and special tools Doyle admits drilling into 1/2” thick glass tile is always a little unnerving … one small slip of the hammer drill or drilling to close to the edge of the tile and the tile will chip, crack or break.

On these type of installs Doyle says the key is to take your time and don’t rush anything … patience.  After measuring the TV and wall mounting plate, determining the stud location in the wall and electrical and wiring box Doyle needed to make some adjustments to the TV mounting hangers and wall plate.  Once those were done the holes were marked and the moment of truth – The Drilling began.  Doyle uses special drill bits made for glass and a powerful variable speed Dewalt hammer drill.  First a small pilot hole is drilled making sure the stud or backing is hit and then the larger hole for the lag screw is made.  Care and caution is used with each hole drilled and usually everything goes according to plan.  For this install all holes drilled through fine with a few minor chipping in the tile which is covered by the mounting plate, whew! commented Doyle – no cracks!  Once the rear mounting plate is attached to the wall and all power and cabling is prepped the TV is ready to be hung in place.  Chris assisted Doyle in lifting the Samsung 60” LED display onto the wall mount and then Doyle proceeded to connect all the components which included an Apple TV which was installed behind the display in addition to the Telus TV HD PVR box in the basement connected via HDMI Baluns.  An IR repeater was also installed for IR control while a Harmony 900 RF remote provided whole house and IR free control.  A Sonos music system and amplifier power for TV and music sound to the ceiling mounted speakers.

For this TV install Doyle used a zero clearance tiltable wall mount bracket with mounted the TV just over 1/2 inch from the wall and allowed it to tilt just slightly providing perfect viewing when sitting on the couch.  The Samsung 60” LED TV looked stunning against the silver gray tile and blended in well with the brushed aluminum trimmed fireplace

If you have a challenging TV installation like Taffert’s give Doyle a call at ION Security and Integration for a Free, No Obligation, In Home consultation.

Phone:  780-489-5522

email:  info@ionsecuritysystems.com