Upgrade Your Drapes With A More Innovative Option

Window shades have a practical and aesthetic appeal as they can be used as a solution to keep dust and excessive light out of your house while ensuring your privacy. Manually operated curtains or blinds may appear to be the conventional option, but there are other choices available to allow us to get more utility from our window shades. Motorized shades operate similarly to curtains while also providing added convenience, making them an indispensable fixture in your Laguna Beach, CA home. If you want to have a unique decor when it comes to your window coverings, you can consider installing motorized shades that have both an aesthetic and functional allure for the modern abode. If you're still on the fence about opting for automated shades, read on to find about their advantages, especially when it comes to user convenience and design appeal.

SEE MORE: SELECTING THE PERFECT WINDOW TREATMENTS FOR YOUR CALIFORNIA HOME

The Perks Of Remote Control

Despite the beauty and charm of classic curtains, it is highly inconvenient that they must be controlled manually, which can become irritating if you're already seated on your sofa across the room or snuggled up in bed.  Motorized shades might be the solution you're looking for if you find it tedious to draw and open curtains during different times of the day. The automatic shades combine sophisticated technology with the elegance of curtains to create a convenient system that can be operated by using a smartphone or touchscreen device and can even link with your home automation system.  This innovative method allows you to open and close your shades electronically at any time of the day since the shades are equipped with a wireless receiver and are powered by long-lasting batteries that do not need to be charged or with an AC power source to guarantee you get the most light in your house while maintaining your privacy. The motorized shades may also be linked to your alarm clock or a timer to open and close according to your schedule, allowing you to keep a routine while still saving electricity.

An Elegant Solution

Motorized shades can be just as stylish as traditional curtains as they are available in a variety of styles, materials, and colors to mix in with your existing décor while still being highly useful and effective at protecting your privacy and controlling the amount of light that enters through your windows. Before you install these shades, you have the option of choosing colors, fabrics, and designs that aligns with your room's color scheme. At Launch Systems, we have extensive experience working with motorized window treatments, which we can set up in your Laguna Beach, CA home. Feel free to call us today at (949) 515-7030, fill out our online contact form, or chat with us using the “Let's Talk” button at the bottom of your screen if you have any further questions. We can't wait to hear from you.

Why Josh.ai Is the Best Home Assistant Voice Control

Home automation has taken the world by storm. The global smart home market is currently projected to grow from 84.5 billion to 138.9 billion by 2026. Of course, a smart home is only as good as the devices that control it.  Ideally, managing your Huntington Beach-area smart home through voice control is one of the easiest and most enjoyable methods. But, until Josh.ai entered the market in 2016, controlling your California property through the spoken word proved frustrating and, at times, ineffective.  Let’s look at how the home assistant voice control market has changed since the invention of Josh.ai.

SEE ALSO: Audio Video Installations Improve Your Entire Property

Natural Language Processing

One of the best features of Josh.ai is his ability to understand natural language. So, for Josh to understand you, you don't have to talk to him like a robot in precise intonations. Instead, you can speak to him just like you'd speak to a friend. The only exception may be that you only have to ask him once.  This friend has a perfect memory. Josh even understands somewhat complicated requests, such as “When I get home tonight, start playing my relaxing playlist, turn on the patio lights to candlelight hue, and heat the spa.” Programming Josh is just like chatting with a person.  Here are a few examples of the commands Josh understands, "Set the lights on the first floor to 30%, play my Indie playlist in the backyard, and turn off the lights, music, fans, and TVs in the family room.” If you tell Josh you’re cold, he’ll know to raise the thermostat. If you tell him it’s too bright, he’ll dim the lights. 

AI Learning

Artificial intelligence refers to a natural language process and a machine's ability to learn. Josh.ai is one of the smartest voice assistants, learning the more you interact with him. This type of learning enables your smart home to become truly “smart.”  One example of Josh’s intelligence is his ability to control Lutron’s Ketralighting. With over 16.7 million colors, Josh can pinpoint the hue. For example, state, "Set the lights to Byzantium,” and watch as your lights change color to a dark, imperial purple. Josh can also remember previous requests. So, if you asked Josh to turn on the TV in the living room, he’ll know what you mean when you follow up with the request, “Make it louder.” 

Secure and Private

Josh.ai never uses your shared information for advertising or marketing purposes. This is an important distinction from Alexa, which sells products through Amazon, and Google’s Assistant, which uses your information to target advertisements. Equipped with a disconnect switch, the microphone on Josh’s Nano device can be disabled completely to create the ultimate privacy when needed. When in conversation mode, Josh can’t hear a thing, and everything you tell Josh is stored locally, not in the cloud. 

Incorporate Sleek Technologies That Make Life Simpler Without Being an Eyesore

When someone mentions smart home technology, do you cringe at the thought? Luckily, modern smart devices aren’t overly techy eyesores that scream futuristic science fiction film. Imagine having your Laguna Beach, CA, home respond to your every need with a simple tap of a button or a voice command without being inundated with technologies that mar your ideal aesthetic. It’s possible with a home integration expert like Launch Systems. Scroll below to learn where you can hide smart home devices in plain sight throughout your Orange County property!

SEE ALSO: Hidden Tech – In Plain Sight Whenever You Want It To Be, Gone When You Don’t

Relax In Style

You press play on your multi-room audio system, then slip into the bathtub at the end of a long day to relax. In-wall and in-ceiling speakers emit soft music while the waterproof hidden TV in the wall plays the latest Netflix show you’re trying to catch up on. At first glance, these smart audio/video technologies aren’t visible, but they come to life for your entertainment with a simple tap of a finger on a smartphone app or on-wall keypad.

4K Artwork

If you aren’t a fan of a black rectangle hanging on the wall when you aren’t watching a movie, the Samsung Frame TV is the perfect solution. Enjoy your personal art and photography collection or use the subscription-based Samsung Art Store to access the world’s top museum and gallery pieces. A beautiful frame paired with available matte layout options truly camouflages this ultra-high-definition smart TV in your living space when you’re not catching up on a show.

Outdoor Living

Expand your sound system to your patio and backyard spaces for the ultimate entertainment experience. Rock speakers blend into your pool landscaping while pumping out a fun pop playlist from Spotify. Satellite speakers and in-ground subwoofers pack a powerful punch for the big game or listening to your favorite podcast while gardening. These outdoor speakers are crafted to withstand salty air, water, and everything else Mother Nature wants to throw at them, yet they blend seamlessly into the foliage. For all of these expertly camouflaged technologies and more, chat with Launch Systems at the bottom of your screen to schedule an at-home audio/video consultation. We can’t wait to bring these smart home options to your Orange County living spaces!

Today’s Smart Homes Require Reliable Home Networks

In today’s world of digital devices and smart automation, almost every home in the U.S. has a home network and internet connection. These networks, however, are not all created equal.  Some offer robust connectivity with no downtime; others lead to dropped connections and streaming content that freezes on your smart TV. Low signal strength and diminished audio and video quality are just a few other technical glitches experienced in homes with an inefficient network.  Fortunately, a robust Wi-Fi installation in your Newport Beach, CA home can change all of that. Let’s look at what’s involved in this type of installation and what it can do for your home in Orange County. 

SEE ALSO: Voice Assistants Deliver Ease of Living to Smart Homes

What Is Wi-Fi Installation? 

A home network connects your devices, such as computers, smart home electronics, and game systems, to the internet and each other. Today’s home networks usually consist of wired and wireless solutions. A wired home connects devices to the internet using Ethernet cables. A wireless home network, also called Wi-Fi, uses radio frequency signals to connect your devices to the internet and each other. This type of connection offers homeowners greater flexibility.  When installed correctly, you can access the internet from anywhere in your home, including your outdoor area. You can also download movies and books, stream music, and binge-watch Netflix without experiencing slow speeds and lost connections. 

The Best Wireless Home Network

At Launch Systems, we partner with top industry brands to provide our clients with the best home automation services on the market. One of these brands is Ruckus.  Ruckus smart Wi-Fi technology is changing the face of the wireless infrastructure market. Smart wireless access points offer larger coverage areas and stronger signals than other wireless technologies, increasing reliability, flexibility, and performance.  The company achieves this through its BeamFlex technology that ensures efficient coverage distribution by seeking out the path of least resistance and mitigating interference.  Their indoor and outdoor wireless access points can shift their focus to devices, reinforcing signal paths and keeping track of where each device is in relation to the access point. In addition, their APs and switches include powerful patented technologies that produce blazing-fast Wi-Fi performance and increased coverage despite challenging dense building materials. 

Securing Your Wi-Fi Network

In today’s world of high-tech cybercriminals, it's essential to protect your Wi-Fi network’s access and keep it from unauthorized users. We use the best practices for your home’s cyber security, helping guard against viruses and intrusion.  A few of these best practices include giving routers unusual names, creating unique, complex passwords and multi-factor authentication, and using the highest level of encryption. In addition, for large estates, setting up multiple network segments, such as an office network and smart home network, can add additional security and limit breaches, should one occur. In addition, we install a guest Wi-Fi network to allow your guests access while still protecting your network. We’ll analyze your home network and create a customized approach to ensure a robust solution. At Launch Systems, we create home networks that deliver unsurpassed speed and connectivity. So wherever you are, in your home or yard, you’ll experience full Wi-Fi coverage on a secure network. To learn more about home networks or schedule a complimentary consultation, chat with us at the bottom of the screen. We look forward to hearing from you!