Podcast #1196: Will AI Drive Home Automation into the Next Decade?
Release Date: 04/11/2025
HDTV Rewind Episode #11: DVRs and the Netflix/Epix Deal
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this episode of the Rewind show we go back to August 13 2010 where we read your emails, look at a news story or two, discuss DVRs and the Netflix/Epix deal.
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HDTV Rewind Episode #11: DVRs and the Netflix/Epix Deal
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this episode of the Rewind show we go back to August 13 2010 where we read your emails, look at a news story or two, discuss DVRs and the Netflix/Epix deal.
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Podcast #1213: 2025 Value Electronics TV Shootout
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we discuss the 2025 Value Electronics TV Shootout. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: Other: Sony Crowned King of TVs for the Seventh Year Running at the 2025 Value Electronics TV Shootout For the seventh consecutive year, Sony has claimed the title of “King of TVs” at the , held at their Scarsdale, New York showroom. The winning model, the $3000, emerged victorious in a fiercely competitive field of flagship OLED TVs from LG, Samsung, and Panasonic. This annual event, now in its 21st year, is a benchmark for videophiles,...
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Podcast # 1212: Where is the Ring Indoor Security Drone and Top 10 Streaming Shows of the First Half of 2025
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we ask what ever happened to the Ring Indoor Security Drone and we take a look at the Top Ten Streaming shows for the first half of 2025. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: What Ever Happened to the Ring Indoor Security Drone? I was thinking about all the cool stuff that had been introduced at CES over the years and remembered one that I really wanted to use, the Ring Indoor Security Drone. It's perfect for those who own a home and may want to check in on parts of it without placing cameras everywhere. So what happened to it?...
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Podcast #1211: Why Are Consumers Skipping New Streaming Devices
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we take a look at why people are not upgrading their set top boxes and we read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: Why Are Consumers Skipping New Streaming Devices We are big fans of streaming devices for a bunch of reasons like; they have the latest hardware so streamers can take advantage and give you higher quality. Or apps are updated more frequently, Or even that you can have identical experience across different manufacturers. Regardless of why we love them, a recent report by , said that devices like Roku, Amazon’s Fire TV, Apple...
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HDTV Rewind Episode #10: Blu-ray VS DVD
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this episode of the Rewind show we go back to July 23rd 2010 where we read your emails, look at a news story or two, discuss how to pick an AV Receiver and why Bluray was not selling like hotcakes.
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Podcast #1210: Rokus Secret Menus
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we look at what the posters at AVS forum have spent on their home theaters and we look at the Roku Secret Menu options. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: Your Roku has secret menus and settings here's how to access them Roku devices have hidden menus for advanced users, offering diagnostic tools, customization options, and more. Full article at ZD Net - . Here's how to access them using your Roku remote: 1. Developer Settings How to Access: Home × 3 > Up × 2 > Right > Left > Right > Left > Right What It Does:...
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Podcast #1209: Money is No Object Home Theater - Within Reason
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we design a high end home theater but one that is within reason because we are not going to spend your money just for the sake of spending money. We also read your emails and the week’s news. News: Other: Money is No Object Home Theater - Within Reason We have designed a budget based home theater system before so for this episode we decided to design a money is no object system. This high-end home theater system is centered around an 85" television and a 7.1.2 speaker configuration, optimized for premium performance since budget is not a constraint. We...
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Podcast #1208: HDMI 2.2
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this week’s show we take a first look at the proposed HDMI 2.2 specification. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: HDMI 2.2 Specification The HDMI 2.2 specification, announced by the HDMI Forum at CES 2025, introduces several advanced features to support higher resolutions, refresh rates, and enhanced audio-visual performance. Below is a summary of the key features included in the HDMI 2.2 specification based on the information we have today: Increased Bandwidth (Up to 96 Gbps): HDMI 2.2 doubles the bandwidth of HDMI 2.1 (from 48 Gbps to 96...
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HDTV Rewind Episode #9: Room Acoustics
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On this episode of the Rewind show we go back to July 2nd 2010 where we read your emails, look at a news story or two, and discuss room acoustic treatments.
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?