Lifestyle

Why You Need a Customized, Professionally Installed Security System

Updated 2/21/24 Security is paramount for homeowners and business owners alike, and investing in a customized, professionally installed security system stands out as a highly effective measure.  Below are our top reasons why: Strong Crime Deterrent: A customized security system provides an optimal deterrent to crime. By eliminating ‘dead’ or...
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Why Installing a Home Theater is a Great Idea for Watching the Super Bowl

The big game is coming and you’re already planning the party. The menu is coming together, and you’ll get the right game day clothing and decorations. What about the viewing experience? Here are five reasons why installing a home theater is a great idea for watching the Super Bowl: Immersive...
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Elevating Home Automation with Josh.ai: An In-Depth Overview

In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, smart homes have gained significant popularity due to their convenience, efficiency, and seamless living experience. Among the many players in the home automation realm, Josh.ai emerges as a sophisticated and customizable platform that aims to revolutionize our interaction and control of smart homes....
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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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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 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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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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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 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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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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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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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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