Picture

Smart Home Security helps you protect and control the entire perimeter of your home – including the garage. 

From protecting your car and guarding your tools, to securing a common but easily overlooked entry point to your home, a Smart Home Security system powered by Alarm.com has you covered. 

Here’s what it will give you:

Smart Access 
70% of Americans use their garage door as the primary entrance to their home. 

That’s a lot of opportunity to leave it open by accident.  A connected garage door powered by Alarm.com helps eliminate this problem. 

Using your location as a trigger, our exclusive Geo-Services feature alerts you if you leave home without securing the garage. You’ll get a pop-up smartphone alert that lets you close the door right away, from wherever you are.  You can also create an alert to tell you if the door is left open for a certain amount of time. 

Most garage doors made after 1998 can be retrofitted to integrate them into a Smart Home system. 

Monitored Security 
From lawnmowers to tools, you probably have thousands of dollars’ worth of contents in your garage. If you’re a car enthusiast or dedicated DIY-er, multiply that figure by ten. A wireless Smart Home Security system protects your property and is easy to extend into an attached garage. 

You’ll always know when the garage door is opened, and our exclusive image sensor will detect movement and send you a picture of what caused it.  If you add a video camera to your system, you can record a clip automatically every time the door opens. You can view your images and clips anytime, anywhere, from your smartphone (or Apple Watch). 

Our systems are also professionally monitored. That means that if there’s a break-in, trained security professionals will respond and dispatch emergency services. 

Smart Fire Safety 
With power tools and gasoline on hand, your garage is one of the most fire-prone places in your home after the kitchen. A connected smoke detector powered by Alarm.com will instantly alert the professionals in the event of a fire.  Your smart home security system will also keep you safe by shutting down your HVAC system to keep smoke from spreading, turning on your smart lights, and alerting you via your smartphone. 

No Weak Spots 
It’s tempting to leave the door that connects your garage to your home unlocked, especially when you know the garage door is closed behind you. However, this door should be secured day and night as a potential entryway to your home. 

A smart lock with a keypad is perfect for this role. A simple four-digit code lets you back into the house, eliminating the need to carry your keys around with you. As a bonus, if you have an older teenager who’s started driving, you can give them their own user code which triggers a smartphone alert, letting you know they’re home safe. 

Want a Smarter Garage? 
Professionally installed, configured and monitored, a Smart Home Security system is the smartest upgrade you can make to your garage and home this year. 


Picture

If you have a big home improvement project lined up this summer, you’ll likely be working with a contractor for at least part of the job. 

Smart Home Security system—a great home feature in its own right—is incredibly useful for helping this part of your project run more smoothly. 

It makes things more convenient for you and your contractor, helps you stay aware of what’s happening on the project, and maintains the security of your property, even while there’s a lot of activity in your home. Here’s how. 

Smart Access – Convenience and Security 
Your contractor needs easy access to your home, whether you’re there or not. 

A “smart access” solution combines smart locks, user codes and real-time alerts on your smartphone so you can let a contractor in, no matter where you are. 

You get the convenience of letting the contractor come and go, with the security of controlling access and knowing when they’re there or not. No more waiting by the door to let the contractor in when you have a busy day ahead of you, and no more leaving keys under the mat. 

You can use your smartphone app to let a contractor in remotely, or you can give them a unique user code that lets them open your smart lock and disarm your security panel when they arrive. You can set up user codes to only work when you expect the contractor, so you get convenience without sacrificing security. 

Alerts Let You Know Everything’s On Schedule 
User codes help you keep track of when contractors arrive and leave, providing a useful ‘log’ of time spent in your home. It’s easy to set up a smartphone alert that lets you know instantly when your contractor uses their door code. 

You can also set up visual alerts with an image sensor, giving you a visual update of who’s on the job and when. If your Smart Home includes video monitoring, you can even view a live feed of your project as it takes shape. 

If you’re planning a major renovation that will have you living elsewhere for a while, you can also save on your broadband costs.  Alarm.com-powered systems use a cellular connection, so you can cancel broadband and still manage access to your home and use our image sensor. 

Smart Home Security Provides Peace of Mind 
A Smart Home gives you the ability to lock your front door (and garage door) and arm your security system remotely when a contractor leaves, restoring your house to its secure state instantly. And, when the job is complete, you can simply delete your contractor’s user code from your system, with no keys to hand back. 

Happy remodeling! 


Picture

Your home has a lot to tell you. Now, thanks to smart home security, it also has a voice. 

From fire alarms to teen parties, an Alarm.com-powered Smart Home keeps you aware of everything that matters, no matter where you are, through real-time text and video alerts. 

In extreme cases, like a fire, tornado or potential break-in, knowing what’s going on can literally save your life. The rest of the time, you’ll enjoy enhanced peace of mind, comfort, protection, and the ability to address problems before they get worse. It can really change your life for the better. 

Smart Home awareness is simple to manage. You opt into the type of alerts that are meaningful to you, and your alarm system filters out the events that don’t matter to you. Thanks to the wealth of data that your smart home security system has from its sensors and devices, it knows the difference. 

So, what’s good to know? 

Know when something’s wrong 
In an alarm event at your property, you’ll be the first to know, even if you’re not there, via a smartphone alert. Your 24/7 professional monitoring service will also be alerted immediately; they’ll assess the situation and dispatch emergency personnel to your home if necessary. 

Even if your security panel or phone line is damaged, Alarm.com will still alert everyone who needs to know thanks to our Crash and Smash protection and secure cellular connection. 

Know when something’s right 
Awareness also gives you confirmation that things are going right. For example, you can set up an alert that lets you know your children are home from school every day, based on them entering their user code into your alarm panel. It’s not just for kids – you can use these alerts to keep track of contractors, dog walkers and even out-of-town guests. 

Know when there’s danger 
When integrated into an Alarm.com Smart Home, your smoke and C02 sensors will instantly alert you and the professionals if your property is in danger. This gives you valuable time to get home and tackle the problem if it’s safe to do so. One Alarm.com user was able to save his dogs from a house fire after receiving an alert. Another user was able to get his family to safety with minutes to spare before a tornado struck his house, thanks to an Alarm.com severe weather alert. 

If you’re out of town regularly, you can even set up an alert for a trusted neighbor – a great option for peace of mind when travelling. 

Know when you forgot 
It’s easy to forget to arm your security system when you’re on your way to work in the morning. Alarm.com’s Geo-Services feature will alert you if you forgot. You won’t need to return home either: simply use your smartphone app to arm your Smart Home security system remotely. 

Know when you need to act 
Emergencies aside, many minor home events can cause problems if you’re unaware of them. Toddlers open freezers… and leave them open. Teens let other teens into the house when you’re out. Guests change the temperature on your thermostat without telling you. All of these problems can be detected with different Smart Home sensors, generating alerts that let you know there’s a problem. 

And know when you don’t 
How can you tell if an intruder or a squirrel set off your porch’s motion detector? It’s easy when you use an image sensor. This small device combines motion detection with the ability to send you a snapshot of whatever caused the motion, giving you instant insight on what’s going on. If you have a video solution on your porch, meanwhile, you can create smart rules that filter your video alerts according to specific event triggers. For example, you can rule out video alerts from your hallway camera if the alarm system is disarmed. 


Picture

  • National channel to feature real-time news coverage
  • WeatherNation app debuts on select DISH set-top boxes including the Hopper
  • DISH offers six-week free preview to customers nationwide

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.– DISH Network L.L.C. has launched WeatherNation®, a leading multi-format, local, regional and national television weather news service. The multi-year agreement includes a channel focused on national weather information as well as an interactive app that allows customers to quickly view their local weather.

“DISH customers asked for more weather coverage around the clock,” said Warren Schlichting, DISH senior vice president of programming. “With the addition of WeatherNation’s offerings, our customers have even greater access to weather news and information when it matters most.”

WeatherNation’s interactive app is available on DISH’s award-winning Hopper® Whole-Home HD DVR and select other set-top boxes. The app offers DISH customers instant access to the local weather in up to 10 different locations.

“24 hours a day, seven days a week, our certified meteorologists deliver the latest weather news and forecasts,” said Michael Norton, president of WeatherNation. “Moreover, our great relationships with trusted local weather experts across the nation allow us to provide focused weather information at DISH customers’ fingertips on a regional and local basis.”

WeatherNation (Channel 215) will be available to DISH customers nationwide during a six-week free preview and will join the lineup of DISH’s America’s Top 120 programming package and above.

About Weather Nation TV, Inc.

WeatherNation TV, Inc., headquartered in Denver, produces a suite of services including the WeatherNation TV network, which provides 24/7 coverage of current and severe weather news and information in a compelling, meteorologist-hosted format, available in both HD and standard definition. WeatherNation® supports the weather-related needs of a variety of clients ranging from local broadcasters, to cable/satellite operators, to publishers and original equipment manufacturers. WeatherNation’s award-winning digital platform includes over-the-top services with the industry’s most robust degree of interactivity, complemented by an easy-to-navigate website with the most relevant weather information. WeatherNation was recently recognized by CableFax as the best in the industry in the area of Connected TV/Smart TV. For more information about WeatherNation, please contact [email protected] or (800) 343-9516. Visit www.weathernationtv.com.















Picture

DISH Network L.L.C. and Outside Television announced Outside Television will join DISH’s Multi-Sport Pack of premium sports entertainment immediately, giving millions of active outside enthusiasts across the nation the opportunity to enjoy the popular action channel based on Outside Magazine and its acclaimed adventurist brand.

This new multi-year agreement provides DISH Multi-Sport subscribers access to the people, places, sports and adventures that make the outside world an inspiration and experience like no other as told by iconic trailblazers willing to challenge themselves against the world’s most spectacular landscapes and natural elements.

“We’ve partnered with Outside Television to take our customers directly into the action of extreme outdoor sports,” said Josh Clark, DISH vice president of programming. “We are expanding our lineup of active outdoor lifestyle programming and unconventional sports coverage from mountaineering to BASE jumping and kitesurfing.”

Outside Television is available to all DISH customers now through May 6 during a month-long free preview. The preview arrives just in time to include several of the most grueling trans-oceanic legs of the annual 38,739-nautical mile Volvo Ocean Race in “Life at the Extreme” and new season premieres of Outside Television’s acclaimed series “Locals” and “Outlook: Icons Revealed” to feature Amazonian and Arctic explorer Mike Horn, renowned half-pipe snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler and freestyle ski champion Julian Carr, among others.

“Outside strives to inspire people to get outside and participate in the world beyond their living rooms, and DISH is finding new ways to attract just the kinds of people who would rather make their own adventures rather than follow a more conventional path,” said Dennis Gillespie, senior vice president of distribution for Outside Television. “We’re pleased to partner with DISH to enable every one of the more than 140 million active outside enthusiasts living across the U.S. to now find their own way into Outside Television.”

With more than 35 channels of America’s top sports services, DISH’s Multi-Sport Pack offers fans and enthusiasts the very best in live games, expert analysis, in-depth coverage and direct immersion into one-of-a-kind experiences at an unbeatable value. Outside Television joins the Multi-Sport Pack on Channel 390 in the DISH programming lineup.










Picture

NEW YORK & ENGLEWOOD, Colo.

DISH Network L.L.C., Major League Baseball (MLB) and MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM) have reached a wide-ranging multi-year agreement that includes the launch of MLB EXTRA INNINGS on DISH, including authenticated access to the #1 LIVE streaming sports service, MLB.TV. The deal also sets the stage for in-market streaming of MLB games in the future. DISH and MLB Network also reached a multi-year renewal agreement for continued carriage of MLB Network and MLB Network Strike Zone, including digital rights for those channels on DISHAnywhere.com and via the DISH AnywhereTM app.

“We’re pleased to expand our relationship with MLB Network”

“We’re excited that DISH customers will continue to have access to exclusive games and the latest news and analysis with MLB Network and MLB Network Strike Zone,” said Rob McGlarry, MLB Network president.

“We’re pleased to expand our relationship with MLB Network,” said Warren Schlichting, DISH senior vice president of programming. “MLB EXTRA INNINGS is a must-have for displaced fans, and we’re excited to offer it in time for the season to begin.”

The agreement provides a path for consumers to have authenticated access to stream live in-market games on digital properties from MLB, local programmers and pay-TV providers. In-market live streaming would require additional agreements between the parties including DISH, MLBAM and programmers with local TV rights of MLB games.

MLB Network (channel 152) will continue to be available starting in DISH’s America’s Top 200 programming package as well as in Multi-Sport Pack. MLB Network Strike Zone (channel 153) will continue to be available in Multi-Sport Pack.

MLB EXTRA INNINGS (channel 476 on DISH’s Hopper® Whole-Home HD DVR, starting on channel 900 for customers with other set-top-boxes) will be in free preview for all DISH customers starting Opening Day, April 6-12. MLB EXTRA INNINGS is available for the 2015 season for $195, and subscribers to the package will soon have access to the Technology & Engineering Emmy Award winning MLB.TV. This enables authenticated subscribers to watch every out-of-market game LIVE or on-demand on more than 400 supported devices.

Financial terms were not disclosed.








Picture

Completely integrate your cloud communications system into Google for Work.

Make Gmail™ and Google Calendar™ your business communications hub.

  • Make and receive calls and business texts from Gmail with your RingCentral cloud phone system.
  • Increase Google Hangouts™ attendance from 15 to 1,000 with RingCentral Conferencing.
  • Fax directly from Google Drive™ and Google Docs™ using native fax capabilities.

Advanced cloud phone features expand the power of your Google platform.

  • Combine RingCentral and Google contacts in one easy-to-search screen.
  • Schedule RingCentral Meetings® or audio conferences from within Google Calendar.
  • Click to dial any phone number that appears in Gmail.
  • Listen to your voicemails directly within Gmail.
  • View your complete communications history—calls, texts, faxes, and voicemails.

Extend Google Hangouts access to everyone.

  • Enable non-users to dial into and participate in your Hangouts.
  • Invite as many as 1,000 audio participants to a single Hangout.
  • Archive the audio portion of your Hangouts with RingCentral call recording.

Picture

Home security is extremely important, but sometimes homeowners don’t recognize their need for it until their home has been broken into. Once a break-in has occurred, installing a home security system may seem like a measure taken too late, but it’s a smart step to take, because properties that have suffered a burglary are four times more likely to be targeted again. It’s important to take steps to prevent future incidents and bolster your family’s state of mind. Unfortunately, during the chaotic aftermath of a burglary, it’s easy for homeowners to become overwhelmed and not know the right steps to take. Here, we offer a timeline of actions to take after a break-in.

  • Immediately following a break in: Call the police immediately. You must file a police report within 24 hours in order to file an insurance claim, and if you report it quickly, there is a greater likelihood of the police catching the culprit. If you get a look at the intruder, make notes while you’re waiting for the police, so that you will be able to clearly tell them details like the person’s sex, race, age, clothing, height and which direction he or she went. You can look around to see what’s missing, but don’t touch anything if you can help it, and consider going to a neighbor’s house until the police arrive. Once the police give you the go-ahead, you‘ll be able to begin reclaiming your home, by cleaning up broken glass, boarding up windows, discarding broken or unusable furniture, and covering damage to make the house feel more like your home again.
  • The next day: If you haven’t already done so, call the insurance company and file a claim. You’ll need to provide the number from the police report to do this. Now is the time to take pictures documenting damage and loss, as well as collecting receipts, serial numbers and other pertinent information, so that you can provide the claims adjuster with this information when he or she comes out to the house.
  • In the coming weeks: Identify your home’s weak spots to prevent a future break-in. Reinforce your windows, install deadbolts and install motion detecting security lights to make your home a safer place. Now is the time to decide on a new home security system, as well, enlisting the help of experts to protect your assets. Visit pawn shops in your area, to see if you can recover any of your belongings; sometimes items show up weeks later, so keep checking back for things that are important to you.
  • In the long run: Having your living space violated has a much more far-reaching impact than the simple loss of belongings. If you or a family member experiences ongoing feelings of anxiety you may want to consider counseling to help cope with the emotional and psychological repercussions of a break-in.  After all, it’s your home and it should feel like it.

If you don’t have a home security system, One-Stop Communications can help. With features like remote security monitoring, One-Stop Communications has a security system to fit the needs of every home and family. 

Sources
http://lifehacker.com/what-should-i-do-if-i-get-robbed-1251681893
http://www.safewise.com/blog/what-to-do-when-your-house-is-broken-into
http://www.ackermansecurity.com/resources/blog/weve-been-robbed-6-point-checklist-of-what-to-do-after-a-home-break-in
http://www.safewise.com/blog/how-your-family-can-recover-after-a-burglary/
http://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2013/may/18/what-do-after-burglary
http://www.itstactical.com/intellicom/mindset/what-to-do-in-the-crucial-three-hours-after-a-burglary/









Picture

The Consumer Electronics Show has come and gone, leaving behind it a picture of the changes to come to the world of home automation. Coming close on the heels of Christmas, the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is like a second holiday for technology buffs. The coolest new products were spread across 2 million square feet of showroom space, and 170,000 attendees ate it up like candy.

Here are five takeaways from this year’s event:

Home automation remains in the spotlightAs expected, home automation was one of the show’s biggest stars. There were new offerings from established manufacturers and providers like Honeywell, Interlogix, Alarm.com and Nortek. Google and Samsung each revealed more about their strategies, while Apple was conspicuous with its absence. And newer DIY players with names like MyFox, Smanos and Chuango joined existing offerings from iSmartAlarm, iControl and Canary.

Right now, it’s a land of confusion. But sooner or later, the market will shake out and the best solutions will bubble to the surface. In the meantime, no one could blame consumers for waiting to see who survives the competition before opening their wallets.

Stuck on self-monitoringHome security is acknowledged to be the centerpiece of home automation, but it’s surprising to see how many solutions still depend on self-monitoring rather than central monitoring.

That always brings us back to the same issues. How many consumers understand the responsibility of having to react quickly and correctly every time the smartphone signals an alarm? How many are ready to hand that responsibility off to a neighbor or family member instead of a trained professional? And how often will a homeowner have to sweat when they’re without cellular coverage, or stuck in a situation where they can’t instantly react?

Being able to monitor your house remotely sounds like a great idea, but it’s hard not to recognize the value of professionally monitored systems. 

The camera will be kingWired magazine noted that some of the most useful smart-home solutions are variations of good old video cameras. They’re becoming smarter as they begin to incorporate technology for facial recognition, threat assessment, environmental control, or even health monitoring. 

As video gets more affordable, practical and versatile, it may become very appealing to consumers who have already come to accept the fact that cameras practically watch our every move. It would be a small leap to being comfortable with having one in your home, particularly when it offers powerful functionality.

Sexy vs. practical – The media tends to sell a smart-home image of a fantasy world where all your household devices work together like a symphony. Wired offers a different vision: a relatively limited number of practical devices – not just video, but locks, thermostats, light bulbs and other devices you use each day – that will be useful, reliable and easy to control with your smartphone.

But hey, how can a remote-controlled front door compete with a flower pot that tells you whenever a houseplant needs to be watered?

Wonderful world of wearablesWearables were also big at CES this year. The emphasis was on not only expanding and improving functionality, but also making them a little more attractive.

The technology also went beyond what you can wear on your wrist:

  • Skin sensors that will communicate a person’s temperature or other vital signs directly to a smartphone. There also was discussion of a temporary tattoo that could be used to track vital signs of hospital patients.
  • Smart clothing that could theoretically take the place of a personal trainer, monitoring the effectiveness or technique of your exercise regimen.
  • Last but not least, a belt that not only tracks your activity, but automatically adjusts when you sit or stand. As if that weren’t enough, it also reminds you that maybe it’s time to drop a few pounds.

Sources:
http://www.achrnews.com/articles/128464-jan-5-2015-home-automation-and-control-market-worth-1281-billion-by-2020
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/home-automation-market-to-surge-to-us164-billion-by-2019-transparency-market-research-279917242.html
http://www.wired.com/2015/01/home-security-internet-things/
http://gadgets.ndtv.com/wearables/features/ces-2015-wearables-roundup-646523
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/technology/ces-2015-top-10-wearable-4949652


Archives

  • July 2025 (6)
  • June 2025 (1)
  • May 2025 (8)
  • April 2025 (3)
  • March 2025 (2)
  • February 2025 (3)
  • January 2025 (7)
  • December 2024 (3)
  • November 2024 (2)
  • September 2024 (6)
  • August 2024 (3)
  • July 2024 (5)
  • June 2024 (2)
  • April 2024 (1)
  • March 2024 (2)
  • February 2024 (4)
  • January 2024 (4)
  • December 2023 (1)
  • July 2023 (5)
  • June 2023 (4)
  • May 2023 (2)
  • April 2023 (1)
  • September 2022 (1)
  • March 2022 (2)
  • January 2022 (2)
  • December 2021 (3)
  • November 2021 (4)
  • October 2021 (4)
  • September 2021 (6)
  • August 2021 (11)
  • July 2021 (5)
  • June 2021 (2)
  • May 2021 (3)
  • April 2021 (1)
  • March 2021 (5)
  • February 2021 (4)
  • December 2020 (2)
  • November 2020 (7)
  • October 2020 (5)
  • August 2020 (3)
  • July 2020 (2)
  • May 2020 (1)
  • April 2020 (7)
  • March 2020 (6)
  • February 2020 (1)
  • January 2020 (1)
  • December 2019 (1)
  • November 2019 (7)
  • October 2019 (1)
  • August 2019 (2)
  • July 2019 (1)
  • April 2019 (1)
  • March 2019 (1)
  • February 2019 (2)
  • January 2019 (5)
  • December 2018 (1)
  • November 2018 (2)
  • October 2018 (2)
  • September 2018 (2)
  • August 2018 (2)
  • July 2018 (2)
  • June 2018 (4)
  • May 2018 (2)
  • April 2018 (5)
  • March 2018 (2)
  • February 2018 (4)
  • November 2017 (3)
  • August 2017 (1)
  • July 2017 (2)
  • April 2017 (2)
  • March 2017 (3)
  • January 2017 (1)
  • December 2016 (1)
  • November 2016 (5)
  • October 2016 (1)
  • September 2016 (1)
  • August 2016 (1)
  • July 2016 (2)
  • May 2016 (1)
  • April 2016 (4)
  • March 2016 (3)
  • February 2016 (3)
  • December 2015 (4)
  • October 2015 (1)
  • September 2015 (6)
  • August 2015 (3)
  • July 2015 (6)
  • June 2015 (2)
  • May 2015 (5)
  • April 2015 (4)
  • January 2015 (4)
  • December 2014 (5)
  • November 2014 (7)
  • October 2014 (11)
  • September 2014 (3)
  • August 2014 (3)
  • July 2014 (1)
  • June 2014 (4)
  • May 2014 (6)
  • April 2014 (5)
  • March 2014 (10)
  • February 2014 (10)
  • January 2014 (9)
  • December 2013 (1)
  • November 2013 (5)
  • October 2013 (2)
  • September 2013 (6)
  • August 2013 (4)
  • June 2013 (8)
  • May 2013 (8)
  • April 2013 (14)
  • March 2013 (8)
  • February 2013 (4)
  • January 2013 (1)
  • November 2012 (9)
  • October 2012 (8)
  • September 2012 (2)
  • August 2012 (2)
  • July 2012 (6)
  • June 2012 (4)
  • May 2012 (8)
  • April 2012 (7)
  • March 2012 (4)
  • February 2012 (3)
  • January 2012 (1)
  • December 2011 (6)
  • November 2011 (3)
  • October 2011 (5)
  • September 2011 (14)
  • August 2011 (10)
  • July 2011 (6)
  • June 2011 (2)
  • May 2011 (12)
  • April 2011 (6)
  • March 2011 (6)
  • February 2011 (5)
  • January 2011 (8)
  • December 2010 (1)
  • November 2010 (4)
  • October 2010 (7)
  • September 2010 (11)
  • August 2010 (6)
  • July 2010 (7)
  • June 2010 (6)
  • May 2010 (7)
  • April 2010 (2)
  • March 2010 (1)
  • February 2010 (1)
  • January 2010 (5)