Overview:
Q: What’s an Integrated Media System and why do I need one?
A: Here are the major benefits for your household:
- Simplify your life! Media content is available when, where, and how you want it.
- Build a custom-designed system without the headaches, but with training and operational support.
- Enjoy photos, movies, and music on your HDTV and/or home theatre.
- Play music in different rooms & outside; ideal for entertaining family and guests.
- Easily operate your system in comfort with your HDTV, iPhone, iPod, via iTunes, etc.
- Rent movies from iTunes; save time and gasoline driving to a rental store.
- Enjoy your personal / friends / family digital photo albums on your widescreen HDTV.
- Listen to local radio stations in HD and explore outstanding worldwide internet radio for free.
- Prepare for the Internet content revolution.
- We can integrate your system with existing home automation and control.
- VMS training included with each custom system installation, and available ongoing support.
System Details:
Q: What types of media can a VMS Integrated Media System handle?
A: An Integrated Media System is designed for your:
- Audio CD Collection
- Digital Music Collection (MP3s etc.)
- Digital Photo Library
- MobileMe, Flickr, Picasa, Facebook Photo Albums
- Movie Collection
- Rented Movies
- Internet Radio Stations
- Audiobooks
- Audio & Video Podcasts
How do we do it?
As the base of operations for your Media System, we usually recommend installation of an AppleTV – a set-top media playback device built by Apple. It’s essentially a purpose-built mini-computer which connects to your HDTV and wireless computer network, and synchronizes your media collection with iTunes on your Mac or PC. We can comfortably mix Mac and PC system components without interoperability problems, on your behalf.
We’re also closely watching the rapidly-developing market of “net top” media playback devices and related software. Boxee.tv has developed an outstanding social media (content playback) software client. We can help install this software on your AppleTV, to extend it’s functionality and support additional playback and sharing options, such as the ability to subscribe to friends’ and family Picasa Web Albums, Facebook Galleries, Flickr Photos, Twitter feeds, and so on. Boxee is also available as a desktop app for your Mac or PC.
More Feature Details:
Music Library
- Assitance with CD, Vinyl, and Tape ripping via Ripstyles
- Personal Media Library Conceirge & Training
- Full music library playback throughout your house
- Help you rediscover your Library
- Playback via iTunes, iPod, iPhone, AppleTV, Sonos audio systems, etc.
- Integration with existing Playstation 3, XBOX360, in-wall speakers & home automation
Photo Collection
Take full advantage of your high-resolution digital photo library on your living room HDTV. If you enjoy world travel as many of our clients do, you’ve probably shot thousands of precious photos and have amassed an important photo collection. Take the next step, and let us help you with photo organizing tutorials for sharing your photo albums with your family and friends over the web. Did you know you can also take your photo library with you too? Once your photos have been synced from your computer to your AppleTV, you can take your AppleTV with you on vacation and connect it to any modern HDTV, and enjoy your media library away from home.
Prepare for Internet-based content
Increasingly we have come to rely on internet-based content sources for our multimedia experience, but this is usually limited to our computer desks or laptops, and often isn’t a particularly enjoyable or immersive experience. Let us help you future-proof your household with a media system; fully-prepared to take advantage of this revolutionary paradigm shift in media distribution and delivery, help your family access content that is more personal, valuable, portable, and customizable.
Our Consultation Workflow:
Once we’ve booked and had a consultation appointment with you — to best understand your needs, desires, and existing gear — we’ll proceed by custom-designing your Integrated Media System, and submit a detailed proposal for your approval.
If you’re happy with the proposed system design and price point, we’ll answer any questions you have. Only then will we proceed by procuring the system parts, but we’ll also keep in close contact with you as an installation timeframe approaches.
During the installation, we’ll deploy your system and all of the behind-the-scenes components which serve up your media and information, and fully test all front-end features, such as movie rentals, universal remote controls, network backups, multi-room playback, etc. This ensures that when we leave, your system is fully functional as per the original intentions documented in the design proposal phase.
We’ll also cover all of the features of your system and answer any further questions you might have in a dedicated system training appointment; bookable at the end of our installation session, or shortly thereafter. We’ll cover all of the user interfaces for controlling playback, importing new media content, and get you completely comfortable and confident with taking full advantage of your new system.