Podcast #1196: Will AI Drive Home Automation into the Next Decade?
Release Date: 04/11/2025
HDTV Rewind Episode #4: Tips for Buying Speakers and Wireless Surrounds
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we go back to the second week of May 2007 where we look give you some tips on buying speakers that still hold true today. We also look at wireless speakers and read a couple of emails from back then.
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Podcast #1200: The History of Color Television in the United States
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we take a look back at the transition from black and white to color and compare it to the transition to HDTV. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: Other: The History of Color Television in the United States We received an email from a listener with a link to a YouTube video called . It's a long video but an extremely informative presentation that takes a fascinating and detailed look at early color TV programming. Watch it if you get a chance.You can skip through parts of it because it's four hours long. This week we thought...
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HDTV Rewind Episode #3: 10 Things About Sound and Costco
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we go back to May of 2007 where we look at an article titled: 10 things about sound but were afraid to ask as well as revisiting a trip to Costco. We also look at the news and email of the day.
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Podcast #1199: TV Renewal Scorecard
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show We rundown the recently concluded TV season and which shows are coming back for another season. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: Other: TV Renewal Scorecard Each TV season we highlight the upcoming TV season in September and then around the end of April we take a look at which shows are coming back. This list is provided by TV Line and can be found . The Scorecard does not include unscripted series. The eight levels in TVLine’s annual renewal scorecard are as follows: Officially renewed A sure thing A safe bet...
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HDTV Rewind Episode #2: Dolby Surround and More HD-DVD Fun
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
In this episode we read some emails concerning mp3 bit rates and more on HDDVD. We also explain Dolby Surround. We finish with a TV Show Theme trivia game.
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Podcast #1198: Are You Satisfied With Your Streaming Providers?
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we ask, how satisfied are you with your streaming service providers? We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: Other: State of Streaming: Satisfaction with streaming providers (The Streamable) How are Americans really feeling about their streaming services? Recently, we surveyed nearly 1,500 cord-cutters to get a clearer picture of how people are watching, what they’re paying, and which services they are most satisfied with. The results reveal shifting habits in a saturated streaming market and point to what matters most as we speed...
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HDTV Rewind April 22 2007 Episode #1
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
I thought it would be fun to go back and listen to a few episodes from the "old" days. Thanks to Milton Scritsmier I now have access to our podcasts going back to 2007. Let me know if you would like me to continue
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Podcast #1197: Is GPMI the beginning of the end of HDMI?
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we look at a technology that could end HDMI. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: Other: Is GPMI the beginning of the end of HDMI? Over 50 Chinese companies including Hisense and TCL have joined forces to back an HDMI alternative called GPMI (General Purpose Media Interface). This new wired communication standard is designed to integrate multiple functionalities into a single cable, aiming to rival HDMI, DisplayPort, and Thunderbolt. The following are some key features: High Bandwidth for Data Transmission - GPMI Type-B:...
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Podcast #1196: Will AI Drive Home Automation into the Next Decade?
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show look at five trends that are shaping home theaters in 2025 and we look at what will drive home automation into the next decade. Pulse we read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: Other: Here are Five Trends Shaping Home Theater Experiences in 2025: 1. Immersive Audio Systems: Dolby Atmos and DTS:X continue to dominate, with more homes adopting multi-dimensional sound setups. Ceiling speakers and soundbars with upward-firing drivers are increasingly popular, creating a cinema-like audio bubble. 2. 8K Resolution Adoption: While 4K remains...
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Podcast #1195: Could Tiled TVs Become the Future for Very Large Format Displays?
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we discuss whether physical media is making a comeback and could a Bezel-less OLED be the future of large format TVs. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: Other: Physical media is finally making a comeback, and here's the proof Despite a decline in overall physical media sales, which dipped below $1 billion in 2024, there are signs of resilience and growth in specific sectors. Major retailers like Best Buy and Target are phasing out physical media, but Sony's announcement of a new Blu-ray player, the UBP-X700/K, set for release in...
info_outlineOn this week’s show look at five trends that are shaping home theaters in 2025 and we look at what will drive home automation into the next decade. Pulse we read your emails and take a look at the week’s news.
News:
- Kaleidescape Introduces the New Strato M Movie Player
- Police shut down Minecraft movie screening after audience trashes theater
- SVS 5000 R|Evolution Series Subwoofer
Other:
Here are Five Trends Shaping Home Theater Experiences in 2025:
1. Immersive Audio Systems: Dolby Atmos and DTS:X continue to dominate, with more homes adopting multi-dimensional sound setups. Ceiling speakers and soundbars with upward-firing drivers are increasingly popular, creating a cinema-like audio bubble.
2. 8K Resolution Adoption: While 4K remains standard, 8K TVs and projectors are gaining traction as prices drop and content becomes more available. Upscaling tech also enhances older media, making the jump to 8K more appealing.
3. Smart Integration: Home theaters are syncing up with smart home ecosystems—think voice-controlled lighting, motorized screens, and AI-driven content recommendations. Systems like Google Home or Alexa are seamlessly tied to AV receivers and streaming devices.
4. Modular and Compact Designs: Space-saving solutions are on the rise. All-in-one projectors with built-in streaming, or modular furniture with hidden speakers, cater to smaller living spaces without sacrificing quality.
5. Gaming-Centric Features: With next-gen consoles and PCs pushing boundaries, low-latency displays (120Hz+ refresh rates) and variable refresh rate (VRR) support are must-haves. Home theaters are doubling as gaming hubs, blending entertainment modes.
Will AI Drive Home Automation into the Next Decade?
One of the biggest advancements in home automation technology in recent years is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning into smart home systems. This has taken home automation beyond simple remote control and scheduling to a level where devices can learn from user habits, adapt to preferences, and make intelligent decisions autonomously.
Those who are fans of AI point to smart thermostats like the Nest or Ecobee and claim that these devices don’t just follow a preset schedule anymore—they analyze your temperature preferences, daily routines, and even local weather patterns to optimize heating and cooling. Over time, they adjust themselves to save energy while keeping you comfortable, often without any manual input.
But this isn’t really asking Ai to do much. Once you set a thermostat with your preferences it just needs to determine whether you are home or away and go into the appropriate mode. There is nothing revolutionary or even AI about it.
However, AI-powered hubs like Amazon’s Alexa, Google Home, or Apple’s HomeKit have gotten smarter with natural language processing and interoperability. They c an now coordinate multiple devices—lights, locks, cameras, appliances—through a single voice command or trigger complex routines based on contextual cues like, “I’m home” could unlock the door, turn on lights, and start the coffee maker. The latest advancements also include predictive behavior, where systems anticipate needs—like dimming lights when it’s movie time or locking doors when you leave—based on historical data.
What’s making this possible is the combination of faster processors, cheaper sensors, and cloud computing, alongside AI models that can crunch data in real time. Add in 5G and Matter (the new universal smart home standard), and you’ve got faster, more reliable communication between devices, even across different brands.
But a real game-changer is edge AI—processing data locally on devices rather than in the cloud. This boosts speed, privacy, and reliability, even if your internet drops. Picture a security camera that instantly recognizes a package delivery and unlocks the door for the courier, all without checking with the cloud first.
So what do you think will drive home automation in the future?