Adding a Subscriber section to Projector Reviews is a tricky thing.  I’m of the sort of person who hates finding out one day, that I have to pay for something that was free until today.  I figure most other people resent that as well.  Well, I value all of you enough, that I felt in launching a subscriber area I needed to offer additional content, rather than lock existing content behind a subscriber “paywall”.

For those of you who didn’t read the previous blogs:  Our new site redesign, will be a major update, look completely different, and should be live late May or June.  The previous blog even has a large image of the initial wireframe of the new homepage.

I’ve already warned in a couple of reviews, that we are collecting some data on projectors that we’ve never published.  Soon that info will be available to you in the Subscriber area.  (BTW the price isn’t set yet, but probably $12.99 a year, give or take).

Also available to subscribers will be some special offers.  I can’t tell you any yet, because I’m just negotiating, nothing concrete.  But, for example, I’m talking to 3 screen manufacturers so far, about providing a special $15-$25 additional savings when one of our subscribers buys their brand screen from a dealer (or direct if they sell direct), so the subscriber can register for the extra discount (which might be fulfilled with an itunes card, or pre-paid debit card, or… ), we’re still working on that.

I’m talking to the dealers who advertise on our site about making offers also, only for our subscribers.  And I’m talking to projector manufacturers, of course.  One idea I’ve bandied about, is a special rebate when a subscriber orders an extra pair of 3D glasses.  Anything that makes sense.  Basically I’m hoping to have 8-10 special offers, so that basically, any of our subscribers that buys a projector, or a screen, or perhaps a calibration disc, can get a value savings that’s more than the cost of our subscription! Fair enough?   I mean, even without any offers, I expect you all to find the $12.99 (+/-) value just in the extra content provided , but, I figured why not sweeten the pot.  Why not let you save  a few dollars too.

So, what’s the new content?   Perhaps the single most obvious thing is more detailed calibration information.  We will be providing Calman graphic display data  from Mike’s reviews, and we’ll be providing CMS – individual color calibration settings for most projectors we review.  We already have that information set aside for about a dozen home theater projectors, and all new home projectors that have a proper CMS…  That will all go live when the subscriber area is ready.

Want more?  Of course.  Short videos will be added to the subscriber area that will help understand features. For example I’m putting the finishing touches on a video about JVC’s “4K” e-shift2, which will show you how the different settings of e-shift2 significantly affect picture clarity.

There may also be short podcasts while I’m actually reviewing a projector.  Perhaps a 30 second audio where I mention that “I’m looking at the XYZ and ABC projectors side by side in a fully darkened room.  I’m starting with running the bond night train scene several times to look at dark shadow detail… here’s what I see…   The standard photo of the Bond night train and the same from competing projectors, of course, will still be in the main review.

Videos.  From the viewing counts I can see that many of you have watched some of our “Video Summaries of Reviews”.  To date we’ve done about 25 Projector Reviews TV videos.  It was the PR TV project that demanded the site redesign, and a subscriber area to make it complete.  Here’s the scoop.

I wanted to produce a significant number of videos a year, but the cost in time and money is hefty.  The idea was to create informational videos, such as our “How to Choose the Right Home Theater Projector for a Family Room Environment”, in 4 parts.   Or Black Level Performance – why it’s so important…   Problem has been the time and cost.  The solution was to also create video summaries of some of our reviews. So, to accomplish this the goal was to approach the projector manufacturers.  When I or other review sites publishes a review, it’s very common for the manufacturer to “buy” a Permission.  That is, they pay for the priviledge to display our award graphic (Hot Product Award, etc.) and pull a quote or two from the review to use on their website, in their advertising, etc.

Basically I offered a pretty hefty Permission fee for us to create a video summary that the manufacturer advertiser could put on their site, give to their dealers, youtube, etc…  I figured that the money coming in for the Permissions would cover the costs of all the the informational videos.

Oops, not so fast.  Some manufacturers were very excited and have participated, but that created a problem.  Not every manufacturer wants to “play”.  OK, so, in theory, I don’t create a “video summaries” for their projectors.  Seems reasonable, except, there are a few projectors that I would simply want to create a video for due to the importance of that projector in the market.  Making those extra videos is an expensive “money losing” option.  And from that, came the subscriber idea.

Here’s the examples:  Look to the Projector Reviews TV page.  Note lots of Epson videos – they pay for the priviledge.  Sony is another… Mind you no hard feelings, but Panasonic decided for whatever reason (including possibly budget), not to buy a Permission for the Panasonic PT-AE8000U, a projector I consider a major player.  I felt we needed to make that video, and we did.  Lisa (she produces the videos) tells me that the PT-AE8000U video, the last of a batch of 10  will be ready this coming week).  What to do?

Easy.  The Panasonic PT-AE8000U video will be available for subscribers, but since there’s no “permission” they can’t put it on youtube, on their site, etc.  Only our subscribers can view it.

Now this creates a dilemma I haven’t resolved.  If the Subscriber area was live today, no question – PT-AE8000U video would be there, but since it’s still a couple of months away, I’m warning you all now.  I may put it live on the PRTV page as a “loaner” from the subscriber area – think of it as an “advertisement” of the future goodies behind the “wall”.  If I post the PT-AE8000U video next week, be assured it will be moved behind the subscriber wall when it launches.  I think that’s fair.  as always those “paid videos” will be open to all, those not, subscriber.   In addition, we will up the number of informational videos, but some will be only for subscribers.  You might expect something like this:

A four part video, perhaps:  ”The 3D Revolution:  Choosing the right projector for an awesome 3D viewing experience”  (I’ve got to work in my title lengths.)

Part one of that Video would be on our site, and on Youtube.  Parts 2 and 3 just on our site, and Part 4, a special segment only for subscribers.   In our current site, that would be a three part video.  Extra content for a 4th section will provide extra value for our subscribers.

We’re still coming up with ideas, but we think we can easily justify your roughly $1 a month, for the additional info (and we hope), entertainment.  I don’t know yet if practical, but perhaps (no promise) an occasional scheduled  podcast where we handle some of our subscribers questions or take on topics, or do an interview.   I’m open to your ideas, just try to remember, we are a tiny organization, I am the only full time person.  Now, I get less than 20 hours a week help from Lori and Lisa (wife and college student daughter – both who would rather be doing other things.)  Other than the family, I pay Tony and Mike for their business projector reviews, and Mike to calibrate home theater projectors.  Folks that’s it!    So, go easy on “massive ideas.” Resources are limited.  Of course if we can generate enough subscriber revenue, we can increase staffing.  I’ve already started putting out feelers for a possible full time writer/reviewer for this summer, and alternately one or two more contract reviewer/writers.

That’s more than I intended to tell you so far, but there will be other updates before we launch.  Hang in there!  -art

I promised a blog to tell you a bit about our “Smart Home” plans.  Here goes:

We’re creating a Dream Home!  It will be a Smart Home, a Connected Home, and lucky me, it’s my home (and Lori’s and Lisa’s).

As a former dealer, my old company Presenting Solutions! did some fairly high local automation, although I personally stayed focused on the online “box” side of our projector business.  Note, we mostly did automation for the Navy, and large corporations, rather than home automation.  Back then we were Crestron authorized.  It’s always been easy to automate a home if you  don’t mind throwing six figures of money at the project.  Not all of us, however, (certainly not me) have $100,000 or $250,000 to accomplish that.

Our goal, therefore is to create a Dream Home but do it with limited “old school” systems such as Crestron, AMX, Control4, and instead focus more on the new.  I’m talking  wired/wireless products supporting the Zigbee and Z-Wave alliances, and possibly Insteon too.  We’ll use “old school” were necessary, of course.

The goal is to do this affordably. Wireless for most things will drastically reduce installation costs.  Less centralized control, (but all iOS), will reduce hardware costs in a big way.  As a bonus, we expect our heating bills will drop, and our electric will plummet. Cool!  (Confession, electric will drop, but probably not “plummet” as virtually all the lighting in the house is already mostly LED and some CFL.  but I’m still looking for an average 30% further reduction in our electric bill which has already been reduced by almost 50%.  BTW, for you Android folks, I figure most things we will do using iOS you can do with your Android phones and tablets as well.

Our Dream Home is about to get Smart

Here’s a taste:

Smart Home Automation:   This will be fun.  We will automate my theater, from powering up projectors, satellite boxes, and blu-ray players, to raising and lowering my motorized Studiotek 130 screen. (If I had motorized shades – those too.)  Here’s a night image of RGB LED down facing strip lighting in our patio wall.  Right now, we can control from an RF remote, but soon, from our iOS devices such as iPhones and iPads.

We will use smart lighting.  I am currently in talks with Philips, for example, to provide their new Hue smart bulbs (RGB LED) through most of the home.  I’m talking with NEST (smart thermostat) and others about smart control for HVAC (heating/air), and working with Zigbee and Z-wave alliances for many individual products needed.

For example, while it’s cool to be able to “turn on the house lights from the driveway” or fire up the Jacuzzi, as you leave work by using an iPhone, sometimes you just want to walk in and throw a switch.  For that reason, we’ll be replacing dumb switches with smart ones that will work in conjunction with iOS, wireless, etc.

Same is true for many of the outlets around the house.  I’m having a conversation now with HAI/Leviton about supplying all those switches and outlets. Also talking with other players.

Outdoor lighting – all RGB LED, will also be smart, including energy efficient wall washers to light up the front of the house, and our garden.  Security?  of course.

The Kitchen?  Sorry, we can’t afford a $5000+ LG refrigerator that can tell me when I’m almost out of milk, but overall, we’re tackling  just about everything else in the house.

At the end of the day, the end of the Dream Home project, our Smart Home will be virtually fully controllable from an iPhone or iPad.  Now that’s “smart automation!”  If the technology progresses, by the end of the project (early 2015, we hope we will be able to voice control most of the house via our iPhones and iPads!   You know something like:  ”Siri, please lower the living room lights 30%.” Or:
“Turn on the outside patio lights, set to ‘sunset mode’.”  Or, if it’s a little cool in the theater:  ”Run the heat, theater only, for 5 minutes.”  You get the idea.

Speaking of the theater:  Finally the current 6-9 working remotes for my theater will become an iPad, or iPhone (both).  I can’t wait.  Even our waterfall and it’s lights will be controlled “smartly.”   (Darn didn’t mean to “leak” info about the waterfall.)

OK, that’s a good idea of what we will be making Smart.

The project to complete all aspects of the home is planned to take 18 to 24 months, will be rich in videos, regular blogs, photos,  This will primarily be my effort, but with help from a number of outsiders.  Much of our Dream Home project will be on the main site in the Smart Home area, but some additional information will, naturally be in the subscriber area as well as a “value add” for our “most loyal” readers.

OK…  If you have suggestions, now’s the time.  If your comments are about the Smart Home project, post them on this blog, post comments about the subscriber area on that blog, and the website changes on the first blog.

It is my hope that at the end of the day – make that by the end of the summer, the new site will be up, the Smart Home will be in progress, and overall, there will be videos and other content for all of our new subscribers.  I’m looking forward to most of you becoming subscribers, and I really intend to do what I can to make sure your subscription is a valuable and enjoyable (modest) investment.  -art

Life is getting crazy, but I’ve been meaning for weeks to tell everyone, some details about the new Projector Reviews website, or should I say, redesigned and expanded.

There’s a lot to tell you.  The site is currently being redesigned, by a company I recently hired. Expect the new www.projectorreviews.com site should launch end of May, or June.   I’m going to tell you a good bit, but the important thing is, if you would like to make suggestions, now, is the time. Wireframes of the new Projector Reviews website will finished and coding started in a few weeks.  Comment to this blog, if you would like to help us with those good suggestions!

The three aspects of the new site that are of greatest note are:

• Major new ProjectorReviews.com look and feel.  The new site engine will be WordPress based, rely more heavily on graphics a great User Interface,  and use of panes for showing multiple photos.  These changes will help accomplish two things.  No more incredibly long page swith 20, 30, 40 or more screenfuls, that are typical of current reviews.  Along with this the number of banners per page (not counting the microbannes) will be only about half of current levels.  So, the new site should be cleaner/less cluttered, and easier to navigate.
• Major new expansion:  Smart Home Automation. Our move into this related area, will be launched with a Dream Home – connected home automation project.  I figure everyone with a home projector would probably like to have it in a theater, and anyone with a theater, would like it automated – why not?  And once you are automating, why not the rest of your house, as long as it’s not absurdly expensive, and can save on electric and heating, and…

Thus look for our new section “Smart Home by Projector Reviews.”   The Smart Home will be an ongoing creation starting from an existing “pretty dumb” home, over the next 18-24 months, one project at a time.  We will deal with an entire house, so when done, we’ll  have wireless control of most things,

via wifi and other technologies, and virtually everything will be controllable by iPhone, iPad, Android… For a taste here’s one image  showing the living room fixer upper we bought, shortly after we replaced the flooring (first thing we did).  No, the floor, isn’t “smart, but all those lights you see will be.

• Subscriber Area:  We at Projector Reviews want to give you more information!  We realize we have a large number of occasional or regular visitors, and also newbies (no offense)  that visit regularly while shopping for their first projector.  Our new subscriber area, will primarily add new content to the total, rather than take some of the content that has always been free, and put a price tag on it.  Why not more info for free?  Great idea, but, we are “the press”, and since I know you are all internet users, you likely know well, that monetarily; the online press struggles to survive on advertising.  Oh, our site traffic has almost doubled in the last four years, but advertising revenues are pretty much stuck in low gear.  I need to add  full time reviewer, that only a subscriber  area can help pay for.  Such is life, or as Robert Heinlein made famous “There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch” (The phrase and the acronym are central to Robert Heinlein‘s 1966 science-fiction novel The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, which popularized it) – wiki  (one of my fav short SF books, a classic!  -a)

That’s what’s up here at Projector Reviews – big picture.  Now a few details about each:

To give you a “taste” of the new site, which is still in wireframe design, here’s a shrunken down image of the the upper half of the homepage wireframe:

Preliminary (partial) Wireframe of Projector Reviews new homepage

Look for lots of panes for comparing images.  For example, for our usual Fifth Element Starship image, now there will be the usual 420 wide image, but instead of 6-10 individual images from other projectors below it, those will be a single pane, and you can just scroll through to compare the same image, from different projectors, to the projector being reviewed.  When youlick for a larger version, you’ll get 2 1000 wide images across one above the other, with the image from the review projector and below it, the large image of the selected competitor.  Then you can just click to change competitor images.  Cool?

Next I want to tell you a bit about the subscriber area benefits. and the Smart Home, connected home – Dream Home project.   But, this blog is already too long, so I’ll do two more blogs – one on the new subscriber area and all the goodies it will include, and the second blog will tell you about the Smart Home Automation section and project.

And don’t forget, our 2013 Home Theater Projector Comparison report will publish in the next week!

thanks! -art

TANSTAAFL!