Are You Ready to Party Outdoors?
This post is devoted to outdoor entertainment. Spring is here–and summer is coming soon! Are you ready? Don’t wait several months only to realize there isn’t enough time, or the supply chain problem still exists…let’s do this now! This is the perfect time to assess, plan and install elements that...
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How to Keep Your Technology Systems Working
If you have A/V equipment in your home or business, it’s likely at some point it will need service. From minor issues to major headaches–or even preventative maintenance to ensure continuous performance–the best thing is to plan ahead. At IDS our goal is to keep you connected, with technology that...
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Top 10 Reasons to Install a Custom Video Surveillance System
Security is one of the most important aspects of homeownership or owning a business. There are many ways to do this, some more effective than others, but nothing compares to a customized, professionally installed system. Below we give you IDS’s top ten reasons why this is important. Great visual deterrent...
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Upgrading Your TV? How to Decide What to Buy
Time to upgrade your TV? With different features, sizes and technologies available, it gets confusing. We’re going to review the main components in this decision, to make it easier for you. OPTIONS Currently there are only 3 types of TV technologies available to consider: OLED, QLED and LED. Plasma and...
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Home Technology in the Age of COVID-19
With COVID-19 still a serious threat, restrictions and caution have us continuing to spend more time at home. From work to play, our technology needs have changed greatly and the way we use our technology has been impacted as well. Below is a list of elements of technology to review...
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Get Your Portable Outdoor Movie Theater Now!
If you’re ready to take your outdoor viewing to the next level, let IDS create a portable movie theater for you. Packages include an inflatable screen, projector, speakers, rolling cart, DVD player and streaming services. Perfect for summer nights under the stars! Easy to maintain social distancing while enjoying the...
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Get Ready for a Summer At Home!
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many things have changed, primarily the amount and quality of time we are spending in and around our homes. It looks like we’ll continue to spend most of our time at home this summer, with summer camps or vacations not ready to happen. The bright side...
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How to Remain Connected with Parents or Grandparents While You Can’t See Them in Person
Social distancing is now a part of everyone’s vocabulary. And while it’s hard for all of us to figure out how to pass the time or interact with others safely, it can be especially difficult for seniors who haven’t been able to see friends and family because of their increased...
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Change Passwords When Selling or Buying a New Home
If you are selling your home or buying a new home, changing smart home, automation, security and Wi-Fi passwords and access is often an overlooked task. Within the busyness of financial transactions and the logistics of packing and moving, this important factor can be inadvertently pushed aside. This can cause...
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A Home Theater Can Be the Coolest Room in Your Home
You’re at a point in your life where you’re ready to take the home technology entertainment plunge. You’ve decided to install a home theater. Congratulations! Why not take your movies/TV shows/streaming entertainment to the next level? You deserve it! Before you put on your swimsuit, remember two words: Professional Installation....
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Thanksgiving and football—are you ready with the right TV?
It’s almost Thanksgiving! That means plenty of delicious food, great company and a lot of football. If you’ve got the turkey covered and the whole family is coming over, the only thing left is to be sure you’ve got the right TV for watching the games. Still using that 40”...
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How to Eliminate Aesthetic Technology Pollution
Admit it; you love your entertainment technology. Where would we be without TV and music? They enhance, educate and entertain us. Movies, shows, streaming series and sports, along with a variety of music and sound are a major form of entertainment for many. What happens, though, when you’re not watching...
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How Motorized Window Treatments Change Your Life
Has this ever happened to you? You and the family just sat down to stream your favorite series on your gorgeous big screen TV and you realize there’s an annoying glare in the room. After waving your hands frantically in front of where you believe the source is, you find...
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Do You Have the Right Lighting for Outdoor Entertaining?
It’s that wonderful time of year! We are spending more time outside and starting to entertain outdoors as well. Swimming, playing and relaxing are on the menu as well as patio dining, outdoor movie nights, and parties. Are YOU ready? If you can’t shout a resounding ‘heck, yeah!’ then you...
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Being Outside is Good For Your Health; Take Your Music With You!
Experts say it’s important to spend time outdoors. Being outside has many advantages including improving memory, fighting depression and lowering blood pressure. When we are outdoors, our heart rates and levels of the stress hormone cortisol decrease. Those lowered levels of cortisol last for several days after serious outdoor exposure....
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The Coolest Whole House Music System
Has this happened to you?—you’re listening to your favorite song on your little Bluetooth speaker and you walk to another part of your house. When you return your song is, well, over. Or you want to have your favorite podcast playing outside while you prepare for entertaining. We feel you....
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Why Builders, Designers and Architects Need a Professional AV Company
If you’re an industry professional—builder, contractor, designer, architect—you’ll want to consider working with a professional AV company for your clients’ home technology needs. It’s important for several reasons: –If you’re building a home, you want to work with an AV company that works with YOU. You’ll gain control of the...
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Have You Watched Your Home Lately?
Isn’t it a perfect time of year for a getaway? You’re ready for sunshine, white beaches, gentle ocean waves lapping at the shore…you get the idea. It’s easy enough to book a vacation, but have you given thought to securing your home while you are away? Installing a few do-it-yourself...
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Cool Tech Gifts for the Holidays
Happy holidays! There’s still plenty of shopping time left, and we are highlighting some of the latest, coolest, and just plain fun tech products available. Whether you’re just getting your feet wet with some of these products, or you’re an avid tech fan looking for the latest toys, this list...
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A Mobile Technology Update in Time for the Holidays
We love our cell phones. Sometimes even a little too much. They do so much for us and keep us in touch with family and friends in so many ways. With the holidays coming up, this is a good time for a mobile tech update, in case you’re in the...
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How You Can Maximize Outdoor Entertainment Time Into the Fall
By the time September rolls around, most people close their pools, cover the patio furniture, and pull out all the cozy blankets for football season…watched from inside their homes. What if we told you there was another way to enjoy football (or movies or shows)? You can extend your outdoor...
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Advantages of Professional Audio/Video Installation in Commercial Environments
If you have commercial space that needs new audio/video technology, it’s important to consider a professional installer. While some members of your staff may know how to wire a room or set up some video cameras, when the time comes for your company to really shine during important presentations or...
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How Control4 Makes Home Automation Awesome
Picture this. You arrive home, and with one touch, your lights come on, the shades close, and your favorite music starts to play. As the sun sets, your porch light goes on, and at 9pm your home security system is armed. Sounds sweet, right? It is! At IDS, Control4 is...
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Outdoor TV for the Whole Family to Enjoy
Let’s face it—we love our screens. Young or older, small screens or large, we devour content on our devices. Sometimes it’s a good thing, sometimes not so much. For this post, we’ll go with the good thing angle. If we’re being honest, let’s admit that even on an absolutely stunning...
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Why You Need OvrC Cloud-Based Remote Support for Electronic Devices
If you’re not already familiar with OvrC, you have some catching up to do. OvrC is an awesome, cloud-based support for maintaining and servicing all of your electronic and networking equipment. It’s another way of ensuring that you get the most out of your home’s technology. What does that...
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This Could Happen To You (or Why You Need a Professional to Install Your Home Technology Systems)
Can you imagine being left with this bird’s nest after investing time, money and energy to design new technology throughout your home? Home theater, home automation, security system, Wi-Fi networks, whole-home music. Sounds heavenly, right? Not if this tangled web of unprofessionalism is what you’re left with. Who does this?...
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You’ve Got to Incorporate A/V Planning in Your New Home or Renovation
Are you building a new home or a vacation home? Planning a major renovation of your current home? Congratulations! But—wait! Have you thought about how you’re going to handle your technology? We’re talking about integrating your home Wi-Fi, security system, home automation and entertainment throughout your home. During renovations and...
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Why the Super Bowl Is Such a Big Deal and Why You Need the Right TV
Did you ever wonder how the Super Bowl became such a big thing? Let’s start with some quick stats. According to a 2017 Gallup Poll, 37% of U.S. adults pick football as their favorite sport to watch. The next most popular sport to watch—basketball—weighs in with only 11% watching. To...
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Why You Really Want Whole House Music
It’s the holidays! Joy, cheer and of course, holiday music! You’re expecting guests and everyone in your home is preparing. Dad is making appetizers in the kitchen, mom is finishing soaking in the tub, and the kids are doing their thing in their rooms. Imagine the same scenario but this...
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Why Your Home Theater Should Be Professionally Installed
You mounted your new 4K OLED TV on the wall. The amazing speakers you bought are placed strategically on tables or the floor around the TV. Your Netflix subscription is up to date, and you’ve got a brand new Blu-ray Disc player. You somehow ran wires and hid them in...
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Why Home Automation is the Coolest Gift for the Holidays
When you think of home automation, you might imagine it’s just a way to adjust the lights and set your alarm system. Is that really all there is? Not at all! Home automation is a lifestyle change that eases and simplifies the way you can enjoy your home and surroundings....
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Get smart about carbon monoxide
Get smart about carbon monoxide! With Fall coming you’ll spend more time indoors, and as the weather cools you’ll turn your heating system back on, get a nice fire going in the fireplace, and you’ll start warming up your car before heading out. Part of your transition to cooler weather...
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The pre-vacation home security checklist you need to read
You’re going away! You’ve waited months—possibly longer—for your perfect vacation. Time to pack your bags, board your pets (unless they’re coming!), grab the kids and get away. Is your home truly protected and did you take enough precautions to ensure the safety of your home while you’re gone? Below is a...
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Custom home security solutions keep your family safe
Owning a home is one of life’s biggest milestones. You move in, change the locks, see that all the windows have working locks, replace the bulbs in the entry lights, and trim the shrubbery around the perimeter. You’re all safe and secure. Right? Not really. The only way to truly...
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Streaming your way to a great movie experience
For those of you familiar with streaming TV and movie content, we’d like to take it up a notch and discuss the different ways to stream. All streaming devices function in a similar manner – they connect to or through your TV and once connected to your home Wi-Fi, they...
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Why you need a service plan for your home technology
Congratulations! Your beautiful home theater was installed. Your Wi-Fi was upgraded, music has been installed throughout your home, and it’s all been integrated through home automation. You’ve also installed a complete security system along with surveillance cameras. Everything is perfect. You’re watching, streaming, listening, monitoring…and thoroughly enjoying your electronic lifestyle....
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What’s a Hulu? or Your Handy Guide to Video Streaming Services
Many of you may remember running down to your local video rental store to grab the latest release and settle in for movie night. And you may also remember when all the new releases were unavailable, and though there were movies galore to be rented, how many times could you...
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8 Ways Home Technology Can Make Your Life Easier
In today’s hi-tech society, it seems like everyone is seeking new ways to incorporate “smart” technology into their lives. The following are 8 easy ways that you can enjoy the benefits of the same technological innovation inside your home. 1. Transform Your Home Lifestyle Smart home technology gives you the...
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DIY TV Tuning with THX Tune Up App
THX Tune Up is an iOS app for the iPhone 4 and higher, iPod touch fourth generation and higher and iPad 2 and higher that is worth downloading if you want to effortlessly control the audio and video quality of your home theater home system. It costs $1.99 on the...
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Essential Home Security System Components
Electronic alarm systems consist of the control panel, sensors, a minimum of one keypad for disarming and arming the system, motion detectors and some form of a warning signal. Understanding the components in an alarm system is imperative to knowing what they do and what you need to secure the...
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Home Theater Installation – What You Should Know
It’s perhaps every homeowner’s dream to have that rocking home theater system. It’ll impress friends, entertain guests and give you a place to go to relax and unwind. A home theater is complete with surround sound, projector screens – maybe even a specific seating area to compliment the home cinema...
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5 Hot Home Technologies for this Summer
With warm weather comes hot new products in the home technology world. So what are some of the most sought after gadgets for this year? We compiled a list of the most commonly asked about home technologies on every home owners wish list this Summer.
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Home Surveillance Systems – Why They Are In Such High Demand
In another era, a simple loud alarm alerted the neighborhood of an attempted break in. In relatively safe communities, this was all that was required to stop the attempt. As technology improved, home security systems got better, but they also had drawbacks. The newer systems meant an install that was...
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Theater Projectors and Screens – Why Now Is The Time To Consider Them
If you’re in the market for a new television, you may want also want to consider a projector/screen combo. Where once projectors were unable to compete with the clarity, quality and longevity of televisions, today’s improvements on this decades-old technology are putting that theater room you’ve been dreaming of within reach.
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What’s New In Home Automation
Home automation is increasing in popularity as advancements in the technology continue to develop. When smart home systems were initially brought to the public, the option wasn’t affordable for most homeowners. The technology was also complex, and only professionals could set up each component. Current automation systems are more reasonably priced, and...
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5 Things To Consider Before Starting Construction
So you had your home remodeled. Had that extension added to double the size of your home or bought new, knocked down and rebuilt your own custom space. The finishing touches are done and a year, maybe 5 years down the road you decide you want music throughout the house,...
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Hiding, Disguising & Accenting – A trend in Home Technology & Interior Design
Being in the home technology industry for over 25 years has given us quite the overview of changes throughout the years. A few years back we were booming when all of our clients wanted us to hide their cable boxes and components in a remote location so they no longer...
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5 New Year’s Resolutions You Know You Want To Do
2012 is over and done leaving us with nothing but memories and possibilities. Whether you prescribe to the superstitious belief that the last two digits of 2013 ensure bad luck or not, there is no denying that this year (like all years) has the great potential to ring in personal...
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Is Blu-Ray The Last Stand For Hard Media?
As puzzling as the idea may be, the Blu-Ray disc may be the end of the line for hard media. With DVD sales in a tailspin a few years ago, Blu-Ray advocates warred with HD-DVD supporters over the dominant hard media format of the future. The DVD marketplace had been...
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Salt Water Damage – A Detriment To Your Homes Wiring Infrastructure
In the recovery days of Hurricane Sandy, we have received lots of inquiries from both customers and contractors/builders about replacing wiring and cable that has been compromised in the home, mainly due to salt water damage. In most cases, while there are some fixes you can perform on your wiring...
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Critical Pre/Post Storm Safety Tips
While most of these pre/post storm tips are easy to accomplish they are sometimes easily forgotten after being without power for a few days. PLEASE READ AND FORWARD THIS TO YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES AS A REMINDER: If you are without power from a storm, make sure you...
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Generator Users : Critical Safety Information
Special Note: Make sure your generator is at least 6 feet away and exhausting away from the house with the wind blowing fumes in the opposite direction ________________________________________________ If you have lost power or know anyone who has, and are using a portable gas generator PLEASE TAKE PRECAUTIONS. Not properly...
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Important Post Hurricane Information
Stay Safe & Stay Informed Hurricane Sandy has come and gone all in a few days, but what she left in her tracks will take much longer to re-coup from, especially with the coming nor’easter. While we too are trying to get back on our feet, we are also here...
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Saving Your Electronic Equipment From A Power Surge
***PSA for the upcoming Nor’easter/Blizzard*** IF YOU DO LOSE POWER, TURN OFF ALL CIRCUIT BREAKERS OR UNPLUG ANY ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT UNTIL POWER IS RESTORED This past week, the tri-state area was hit with quite possibly, its most devastating storm ever. Hurricane Sandy swept through the east coast over a two...
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Could the future of “Going to the Movies” be… not going at all?
With the release of PRIMA Cinema™, that could be exactly what consumers are in for. Imagine being able to watch a theatrical release of a highly anticipated movie without waiting in line, fighting crowds and all from the comfort of your own home theater. PRIMA Cinema™ has brought that to life, but not...
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What the LCD, LED, OLED!? Deciding on a TV Technology
Television technology has grown significantly over the years, and many people are nowadays interested in three-dimensional television or 3D TV. Which technology is best suited to offer this kind of real-life viewing experience? One of the important factors in determining the quality of images on a television is how black...
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Apple Now Most Valuable Company of All Time – What’s Next?
Apple has recently done it, becoming the most valuable company of all time according to a recent Reuters post. So what’s next for the technology behemoth? Apple is a company that has long been known for its innovative quality products. While Apple TV has been around for a few years,...
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Is Your Wi-Fi Slowing You Down?
Did you know your Internet probably could be faster? Do you find that the more bandwidth you demand from your network, the slower it performs? If you set up your network a few years ago, and then forgot about it, your setup could actually be slowing your connection down. With...
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The IDS Experience – New & Improved
At IDS Audio Video & Technologies, our mission is to provide our customers with superior products, exceptional designs & expert installations, creating an awesome customer experience. Recently we have made some changes and upgrades to continue growing and enhancing that experience for our current and potential clients. The Website: When...
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