How to Run Updates on Android:

How to run updates In Windows (Windows 10)

How to run updates on a Mac

There are many other devices, apps, and and other device types/software that you could run updates on.

What if I’m told to run updates while surfing the web?

The key point is that you should run updates frequently, but also be careful to be sure you’re running legitimate updates.

If a browser window pops up and tells you to run updates, don’t do it.

Chances are very good that most of the software and devices you use will have a built in place for running updates.

So why should you run updates?

We think we covered it pretty well in this month’s newsletter. In case you haven’t read it already, we’ve re-posted it below.

What does that mean?

The post Run System Updates: How and Why to Update Your System appeared first on Lighthouse Technologies.

Thanks so much for helping us to be #1 for Home Automation in the Woodlands!

It’s because of your ongoing support for us and our business, year after year, that we continue to receive the Best of the Woodlands award!

Other award categories included:

• Best Home and Commercial Security
• Best Computer and Electronics

Once again, thank you for your ongoing support of our business to help improve your life through excellent home automation and security, and stay tuned for news about our upcoming anniversary party!

The post Home Automation Best Of The Woodlands: 2016! appeared first on Lighthouse Technologies.

Thank you for making us the #1 Home Theater/Automation company in the Woodlands in 2015!

We would like to ask for a little bit of your time to vote for us in 2016.

We are in 3 different categories this year!

Please see below on how to complete your voting.

Thank you for your continued support!

Here’s how to vote for us:

1. Register (or login) at Woodlands Online.

2. Vote for us for Business Of The Year

3. Vote for us in three different sub-categories under “Shopping”

4. Scroll down and submit your vote!

Here’s a quick video to show how to vote for us once you’re registered for Woodlands Online.

The post Vote for us: Best of the Woodlands 2016! appeared first on Lighthouse Technologies.

But it’s sort of a confusing phrase and doesn’t necessarily mean anything for most people.

Today we are going to help clear that up with simple language for you.

So, the Internet of Things – what does that even mean, and why should you care?

First, a bit about IP Addresses…

An IP address is like your home address. It’s a way for mail to arrive at it’s intended destination, and a way for people to find you.

Up until a few years ago, all Internet connected devices had IP addresses like this:

xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx

This was called IPV4.

There were four places for IP Addresses

111.222.333.444

A typical IPV4 address might have looked like this:

192.168.123.184

The problem with this was that humans were literally running out of IP addresses.

So many new devices were coming online that the planet didn’t have enough addresses.

So the world switched to IPV6.

That looks like this:

xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx

What does this mean?

It means that it will be a long, long time before we can make enough devices to use up all of the available addresses.

It also means that every device (literally anything that has electronics in it) can have it’s own unique address.

• Your coffee maker can have it’s own IP address.
• Your fridge can have it’s own IP address.
• Your dishwasher can have it’s own IP address.
• Etc.

What would be the advantage of this?

Maybe it’s been a week since you last ran your dishwasher. It can send you a text message to let you know that it needs to be run.

Maybe your smart fridge will scan some of the items on the shelves and drop you a quick email to let you know that the same gallon of milk has been sitting, untouched, in the back row of the fridge for more than two weeks and that you may want to check the expiration date.

While this kind of hyper-connected total information awareness may be a bit overwhelming for some, the Internet of Things allows us so many abilities and tools for home automation.

The above examples may seem a bit benign, or easy to ask “What would the benefit of that be?” but then, you can look at something like your sprinkler system having it’s own IP Address.

• You go on vacation and leave your sprinklers set to automatically run every day for 20 minutes. While you’re on vacation, you read the weather report back home and discover that it’s been unseasonably raining every day at home. It will continue to rain back home for entire time you are on vacation. You simply open an app on your phone and turn off your sprinklers.
• Total savings during 10 days on vacation from this one small example?
• $60 off of your water bill at the end of the month.

The Internet of Things is essentially a much more effective way for individual things to communicate with each other. Anything with sensors can be linked up for machine to machine, or machine to human interaction. The Internet of Things makes it possible to control anything from anywhere, because as long as you are on the Internet, no matter where you are, you can access the device via it’s own IP address.

This can be set up as well to be password protected so that only you and those you choose can access these devices.

The Internet Of Things and Home Automation

The Internet of Things affects everyone, and a variety of industries. When it comes to automating your home, it brings about new opportunities at every turn. Can you see what your kids are watching while you’re not home? Sure. Can you access security cameras from anywhere in the world? No problem. Can your cell phone send a signal to your home when you’re 5 minutes away from your house to turn up the heater and start the gas fire place? No problem.

Whether it be a coffee machine or a t.v., you can have complete remote control access, or automate any portion of your technological life. You can take control of devices that are outfitted with the right technologies, which can make life very convenient even when you are great distances away from any device.

Who Will Internet of Things Affect?

The Internet of Things will affect everyone.

In picking a example relevant to automation in the Woodlands…

It’s easy to see how rapidly the population has grown rapidly in this community. More people = more traffic. More traffic equals more likelihood of accidents.

Maybe it’s December, and your house “knows” to turn down the heat during the day since no one is home. You normally get home at 5:30 PM. Your home normally “knows” to turn on certain lights, start the fire, begin boiling water in the electric tea kettle, and turn up the heater, so that your house is ready for you to walk in the door right at 5:30. But because of an accident up ahead of you on the road, your phone sees you’re going to be about forty-five minutes later getting home, and so it automatically communicates with all of these devices (fire, tea kettle, home heat, home lighting system) and delays all of them by 45 minutes. Your normal routine for coming home will be the same, even though your commute was irregular on this particular day.

If you’d like to learn more about how the Internet Of Things can be of benefit for you, or to learn more about how we can help automate your life, please contact Lighthouse Technologies.

This entry was posted in Lighthouse Technologies News. Direct Link: http://www.onelighthouse.com/what-is-the-internet-of-things/

The post What is the Internet Of Things (IOT)? appeared first on Lighthouse Technologies.

Lighthouse Technologies placed in best of the Woodlands for the following categories

1st Place: Best Home Theater and Automation

2nd Place: Best Home and Commercial Security

2nd Place: Best Computer Repair Services

We couldn’t have done it without your help in the voting.

Certainly the only reason we are even here is because of the opportunities you provide us to give great service.

Thank you once again for helping us be the Best of the Woodlands, 2015!

The post #1 IN THE WOODLANDS: BEST OF THE WOODLANDS appeared first on Lighthouse Technologies.

Shoppers looking for home automation and technology in Houston, Texas and surrounding areas have added security in knowing local business Lighthouse Technologies has recently been promoted to a platinum level Savant Dealer. Savant is the leading company in home automation and only a few companies have received this high-level recognition.

Many experts agree that the future of home luxury and functionality lies in home features that can be controlled through smart devices. In the Houston area the company leading the way in this exciting market has been Lighthouse Technologies, local specialists in home theater, audio/video, security, surveillance, and home automation. Recently, the company announced that they have been recognized for their hard and smart work by being promoted to a platinum level Savant dealer which is Savant’s highest rating available. Savant is the leader in home automation who offers control of lighting, climate, entertainment, security and more from their innovative app for smart devices. Customers have responded to this news with enthusiasm.

“Reaching Savant’s Platinum dealer status is a great honor for Lighthouse Technologies,” commented Brian Kraft, CEO of Lighthouse Technologies. “We are now amongst the top 4 dealers in the southwest region for installing and maintaining Savant automation systems. We are qualified and certified to install all of Savant’s product lines. It’s a great privilege to be one of Savant’s Platinum Dealers and a real win/win for our valued customers as well.”

Kraft continued, “The present and future of home technology is being able to operate everything from televisions, to security systems, stereos, lights and much more right from a iPhone, iPad or Android device, and that’s exactly what we’re offering.”

According to the company, only four dealers out of 80 in the southwest are Savant Platinum status.

Lighthouse Technologies is happy to serve customers in the greater Houston, Texas area including the Woodlands, Conroe and surrounding areas.

Reviews from customers have been remarkably positive.

Judi Barr, a successful Woodlands Realtor and one of Lighthouse Technologies’ clients, said “For me, Lighthouse Technologies is a clear choice as the automation company to design and install home automation solutions in and around the Woodlands.”

Contact Lighthouse Technologies to inquire about having a Savant system installed in your home or business.

The post PLATINUM LEVEL SAVANT DEALER: LIGHTHOUSE TECHNOLOGIES AWARDED PREMIER STATUS appeared first on Lighthouse Technologies.

See the original here

The text of the article is below.

Fun in the sun

Installation Challenge
In addition to TV and streaming music for a new residential pool pavilion, one of the homeowner’s highest priorities was simple control over the entire system.

Solution
Utilizing solutions from RTI, integrator Lighthouse Technologies was able to provide their client with intuitive control over their audio/video using a waterproof iPad® and a sleek handheld controller featuring customized “easy buttons.” These buttons synchronize all speaker zones to the same source and turn the TVs in the same direction with a single button press. Of course, if desired, zones and displays can also be controlled individually.

In addition, Lighthouse Technologies installed two 55- inch displays that drop down from the ceiling of the outdoor bar – that can swivel 360 degrees while another 60-inch LED TV is mounted behind the bar.

“What really makes this installation special for the homeowner, is the displays that drop down from the ceiling…and the ability to control it all from an iPad, while in the water, is the ultimate ‘wow factor.’”
Brian Kraft – Owner, Lighthouse Technologies

See the RTI Review here

The post POOL HOME AUTOMATION IN THE WOODLANDS appeared first on Lighthouse Technologies.

In 2012, a homeowner in The Woodlands, Texas, turned to A/V integrator Lighthouse Technologies to provide outdoor A/V for a new $600,000 pool pavilion at their residence. In addition to TV and streaming music for the pool, hot tub, and outdoor bar, one of the client’s highest priorities was simple, intuitive control over the entire system.

For the pavilion, Lighthouse Technologies installed two 55-inch Samsung displays that drop down from the ceiling of the outdoor bar – and can swivel 360 degrees – via Auton lifts. Another 60-inch LED TV is mounted behind the bar, while two additional displays were installed inside. Content is driven to the screens from a DirecTV receiver and an Apple® TV. Audio is provided by a three-zone Onkyo amplifier. To provide the homeowner with simple control, Lighthouse Technologies utilized solutions from RTI.

The control system features RTI’s RP-1 remote control processor with integrated receiver and the company’s XP-6 control processor, which offers built-in RS-232 ports, relays, IP connectivity, and seven IR outputs. To facilitate integration of third-party devices such as the Onkyo receiver into one seamless and cohesive system, the processor utilizes powerful two-way drivers that provide the user with instant feedback.

The homeowner has complete control over the system on a waterproof iPad® via the RTiPanel app, which offers unique features such as full two-way feedback, dynamic scrolling lists, a completely customizable user interface, and more. In addition, the pavilion includes a dedicated handheld controller – the sleek T1-B – in the event that the iPad is not fully charged, is being used for other tasks, or the WiFi has gone down. Providing the most intuitive control possible for the homeowner and guests, Lighthouse Technologies created macro-programmed “easy buttons” for the iPad and T1-B

“What really makes this installation special for the homeowner, however, is the displays that drop down from the ceiling… and to be able to control it all from an iPad while in the water is the ultimate ‘wow factor.”

Brian Kraft – Owner, Lighthouse Technologies

The customized buttons synchronize all speaker zones to the same source and turn the TVs in the same direction with a single button press. If desired, zones and displays can also be controlled on an individual level.

“The project wrapped up in June, and the homeowner has been extremely happy with the control system, in terms of both reliability and ease of use with the ‘easy buttons.’ For us, RTI’s Integration Designer made it quick and simple to create these customized buttons and deliver this level of functionality to the client,” said Brian Kraft, owner of Lighthouse Technologies.

This article was originally found on RTI’s website

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