Author: Aishwarya Sathe

Home is a safe space—or at least, that’s how it should be. Too often, lack of home security system threatens peace of mind. For those of us who need more than a locked door and a prayer, tech like smart home safes and wireless video surveillance systems helps to keep homes safe.

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about security equipment. Having the right home security systems transforms your home into a watchful sentinel. We’ll explore different types of equipment and where to shop for the best video surveillance system. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or just want a safer home, we hope this post helps you make informed choices for a safer home.

Types of Video Cameras

Surveillance cameras are the eyes of your home security system. The best security cameras come with features such as remote monitoring or triggered activation. While advanced features are always an added plus, it’s also important to cover the basics. Your camera should include HD video capture and clear audio at bare minimum. Here are your options for the camera itself:

1. Indoor Security Cameras:

Indoor surveillance video recorders cover the interior of the home, as the name suggests. They’re commonly used in living rooms, hallways, and other key areas. These cameras will often be placed in discreet, hidden areas to get the most coverage. Some models also offer two-way audio communication. 

2. Outdoor Security Cameras:

Video surveillance systems work a bit differently outdoors. Unlike other cameras, they’re designed to withstand the elements. They monitor the exterior of your property, from the driveway to the porch. The best home video surveillance systems for the outdoors will also be optimized for night-time. We recommend cameras with night vision capability for 24/7 surveillance.

 

3. PTZ Cameras (Pan-Tilt-Zoom):

PTZ cameras have remote control of the camera’s direction and zoom. This makes them excellent for monitoring larger open areas with a single camera. They track and capture moving objects or individuals with ease. 

4. Wireless Cameras:

Wireless cameras are a popular and convenient way to keep your home safe. The difference between a wireless and wired camera is the former transmits over a wireless network to a receiver that connects to a viewing device. That footage can later be stored in a computer or cloud. Installing wireless cameras is easy– all you need is a reliable Wi-Fi connection. 

Wireless video surveillance system installation is simple. Its simplicity is great for beginners or anyone living in an apartment. One of the best wireless security cameras out there is the Reolink Argus PT. It’s ideal for both indoors and outdoors, and comes with all the essential features, including sensitive motion detection, night vision, and even PTZ. 

5. Smart Cameras:

Smart cameras connect to your home’s smart ecosystem, allowing integration with other devices and voice control. Many smart cameras also include an app, so you can check on your home’s security while on the go. These surveillance recorders often come equipped with useful features such as facial recognition and object detection.

 

Types of Alarm Systems 

Alarm systems are just as important as video surveillance systems. They serve as both a deterrent and a notification system. They come in various forms, depending on your security needs:

1. Burglar Alarms

These alarm systems detect unauthorized entry through doors, windows, or motion sensors in the home. They sound a loud, blaring alarm to scare off intruders and alert occupants. Some come equipped with a code system requiring visitors to enter a code to deactivate the alarm before it sets off. Burglar alarms may even have an app that notifies you when the alarm is triggered, so you can contact authorities right away. 

2. Fire Alarms

In the event of a fire, a fire alarm could save your life. They detect smoke, heat, or the presence of a fire. Once they trigger, a loud alarm is set off, alerting everyone to evacuate the building. These alarms are vital for early detection and rapid response to fires. 

3. Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Nobody wants to think about the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning in the home, but it happens. In the event of a leak, it’s important not to let the carbon monoxide go undetected. Installing an alarm that can detect the presence of this deadly gas is an easy preparatory measure you can take. 

DirectNine has Surveillance to Keep You Safe 

A reliable home video surveillance system is an investment that will protect your home and keep you safe. DirectNine has everything you need to upgrade and install your home’s security measures. Check out DirectNine’s wide tech selection on our online store! 

Projectors are found in a variety of environments, from home movie theaters to school classrooms. In business settings, presentation projectors are workplace staples. Whether you’re using one to focus attention during a sales meeting or making a pitch more engaging with eye-catching visuals, projectors get the job done with a professional flair. What’s more, business video projectors allow presenters to share visuals from anywhere in the room from their computer, phone, or tablet. 

How does a projector work? 

Projectors have three key features that help them project images: light, lenses, and imaging technology. The light source is manipulated to create an image, focused through a lens, and projected on a screen or wall. The imaging system is used to make the image larger on screen. 

As a rule of thumb, the more expensive a projector is, the better the image quality. Still, there’s a lot more on how to pick a projector than its price tag. In this guide, we’ll break down what you should look for in the best office projector for your needs. 

Types of Projectors

Office projectors can be broken down into many different categories. However, keep in mind that none of the features mentioned on each of these types are mutually exclusive. For example, there are small portable projects that can still easily command a whole board room. With that aside, let’s get into some of the general types of projectors.  

Pocket Projectors: 

A pocket projector is a handheld, battery-operated device. Not only are these projectors portable, business projectors in this category are easy to set up and break down. On the downside, their brightness and image quality pales to more advanced options. If you’re looking for a solid pocket projector that can connect to your phone, we recommend the Kodak Luma. 

Short Throw and Ultra Short Throw Projectors: 

This is often the best projector for business rooms that are small or oddly shaped. The benefit of these projectors is their ability to project large images from short distances. It can be hard to tell these two types apart, so here’s a brief rundown: 

• Short throw projectors project a distance of 3-6 feet, use a bulb as a light source, and tend to be a little cheaper.
• Ultra short throw projectors project a distance of only 1-2 feet, use a laser as a light source, and are pricier than short-throw projectors. Most of the time, a short throw projector is fine for projecting in small conference rooms. Ultra short throw projectors work best in even smaller rooms, like a home living room. 
  
  

Boardroom Projectors:

A boardroom projector is the best projector for presentations in larger boardrooms. These office projectors come with advanced features such as ambient lighting, interchangeable lenses, and the ability to show two streams at once. 

Large Venue Projectors: 

By far the most impressive type of video projector, these are designed to be used in auditoriums or large, multipurpose rooms. They offer features such as high-performance video processing, sealed optics, and bright images. They often require additional setup, including projection rooms, power lines, and sound systems. For a big event, large venue projectors are undoubtedly the best video projectors. 

What to Look For in the Best Business Projectors 

Now that you know the variety of office projectors out there, let’s get into the most important features to look for. 

Resolution

The ideal resolution depends on the level of detail you want shown on the projector. The image resolution simply refers to how many pixels are in the image. The higher the resolution, the more pixels, which makes for a clearer image. For most business settings, the lowest acceptable resolution is XGA (1024 x 78). Other higher resolutions are also available, such as SVGA, WXGA, 1080p, and 4k. 

Brightness

One of the most important features of a projector is its brightness. You’ll find the range of brightness varies from different types of projectors. For a pocket projector, you only need a brightness of around 400 ANSI lumens. However, bigger spaces require a lot more light. If you’re purchasing a boardroom projector, opt for one with a brightness of 5,000 lumens. That number should be doubled for large-venue projectors. 

Size 

Considering the size and weight may seem like a given, but remember your projector’s size should match its intended use. If users plan on moving it around the office, having a large projector would be impractical. Anything above 6 pounds would probably be too heavy. However, a conference room projector that stays in one place doesn’t have those restraints. 

Choose the Right Projector With DirectNine

Knowing how to choose video projectors can be tricky, but once you know what to look for, it’s a lot easier. Whether you need a small, portable projector or a new model with advanced features, Directnine has you covered. Shop our online store today to find the right projector for your business needs.

In the age of mobile phones, dedicated audio players have lost a bit of their popularity. But they’re still much more relevant than you’d think. Though most casual music listeners won’t notice a huge difference, to passionate audiophiles, it’s actually quite significant. Though listening to music on your phone is more convenient. A device that texts, calls, browses the internet, plays games, and does so much more while still fitting in your pocket has to make some compromises. So your listening experience won’t be of the same quality as it would with a dedicated music player. That being said, let’s take a look at some of the things to look out for when picking your own music player.

Look for High Sound Quality

First and most importantly, look for a music player that supports high-quality sound. The sound quality of the audio player itself will determine how clear your music can be heard, whether or not you can pick up on its subtleties, and more, so even though you may have to pay more for higher audio quality, it’s well worth the investment.

Pair With a Solid Pair of Headphones

Once you have a nice, high-quality audio player picked out, you’ll need an equally high-quality pair of headphones to go with it. Even if the audio player itself supports high-quality sound, it won’t matter if you’re using low-quality headphones. Ensure that both the player and the headphones you’re connecting to the player are of a high enough quality for you, and you’ll have an absolutely unparalleled listening experience.

Pick a Player That Supports Your Files

Audio files can save in a number of different formats such as .mp4 and .wav, each of which requires a different programming structure to be read and played back properly. While most music players will support multiple formats, you’d be hard-pressed to find a player that supports all of them, so be sure to pick out an audio player that can properly play your existing library of music files.

In the event that your music library has too many file types for an audio player to cover them all, you can resort to converting them into compatible files instead. Services like Cloud Convert can access for free on the internet, and will take your existing audio files, copy them, and then return them to you in a format of your choice. This may lead to loss of audio quality in some cases. So it’s best used as a last resort, but it’s better than having to re-buy your favorite songs in a compatible format.

Look for a Long-Lasting Battery

 If you already have a habit of listening to music on your phone. You probably know that there’s nothing more frustrating than your battery running out of juice in the middle of your favorite song. To prevent this from happening with your audio player, be sure to find one that has a longer battery life. While this may raise the price point a bit. The convenience of being able to go a while without charging means that your audio player can go with you wherever you go. You won’t ever have to worry about being without your favorite playlist.

Consider Storage Space

Chances are, you’ve also encountered the issue of storage space when it comes to music. With so many great songs out there. It’s difficult to pick which ones you want to keep and which ones will have to stay on another device. Therefore, it’s best to avoid making this choice entirely by investing in an audio player with a large storage capacity. While some have their storage built in. Others rely on external storage like an SD card. So we recommend investing in the latter, as storage can easily upgrade whenever you need.

Pick Something Within Your Price Range

As with most pieces of technology, you get what you pay for when it comes to audio music players. There are the obvious features that will lead to a higher price point. Like superior battery life, a larger storage capacity, or higher audio quality. There are also several other factors that come with their own considerations.

For example, are you planning to listen to your music from a library of prepurchased. Downloaded music files, or would you prefer to listen to them from a music streaming service like Spotify or SoundCloud? If you’re opting for downloads only. You can save a bit of money by purchasing a player without web access. If you’re planning to stream, you can probably get away with skimping on storage space a bit. Consider where, when, and how you plan to use your audio player. Invest in one that will meet your needs at an appropriate price point.

Looking for more great tech products and recommendations? Feel free to visit us at DirectNine today!

Pets are just as much of a family member as human relatives, so naturally, many pet owners want to include pets in their family photo shoots. However, trying to get the perfect family photo with your pet presents a number of unique challenges that you wouldn’t have to deal with in a humans-only photo shoot. Fortunately, it’s easy enough to prepare for and mitigate these challenges, so check out our quick guide for photo session with your Pet.

Teach Your Pet to Become Comfortable With Being Handled

One of the greatest challenges you’ll face as a pet owner trying to get the perfect photo is posing. Of course, animals don’t know how to pose for a picture. While you can simply move them into the right position, many of them aren’t all too keen on that idea, either. To that end, it’s best to train them to be comfortable with being picked up and moved if they aren’t already, making it easy for you to get them in the perfect position for your photo shoot.

Teach Your Pet to Sit Still

Of course, teaching them to be more comfortable with being posed isn’t going to do you any good if they won’t stay there once you’ve put them in a pose. Be sure your pet can stay posed for as long as it takes to get a few photos, incentivizing them with treats if you need. During the training process, it helps to have a command and release word like “stay” and “go” respectively, giving your pet a more concrete idea of when it is and isn’t okay to break their pose.

Find the Right Photographer

Finally, be sure to find a photographer who’s equipped to do photo shoots involving animals. Many photographers specialize in pet photography specifically. So they’ll have the equipment and unique skill set needed to get the perfect photos of your furry friends. In addition to the training you’ve already given your pet. Most pet photographers have a few tricks up their sleeve to grab and keep an animal’s attention. Photographer ensures that they’ll keep their eyes on the camera, maintain their pose, and perfectly display their unique personality for your photo shoot.

Looking for more great photography tips and high-quality tech products? Visit us at DirectNine today!

Home security cameras are a useful way to ensure your home, family, and property are safe, protected against theft and harm. There are several good options when it comes to a home camera system. In this article, we’ll discuss why you may be interested in security cameras, the different options available, and where to purchase a high quality security camera system.

Reasons to Buy Security Cameras

Despite how safe your home should feel, it may not be as safe a place as you’d like it to be. Sometimes it can feel like your security is as precarious as the home in this picture! 

So why would you want to buy security cameras for the house? There are several reasons why this might be the case, including:

• Living in a rough neighborhood. The cost of living has increased, making it difficult to find a home in a crime-free neighborhood unless you have a lot of money. Not everyone can afford to live in a serene gated community with an HOA.
• For insurance purposes. If there’s been an uptick of wildlife activity in the area, or you live in an area prone to natural disaster, it’s a good idea to have security cameras. For home owners, it’s inevitable that you’ll live in a disaster-prone area; you just get to choose which disaster.
• Feeling unsafe within the home. Sometimes homeowners feel insecure/unsafe about a person they have in their home, whether it’s a temporary renter, a service repairman, or a babysitter/nanny. Parents install nanny cams to be sure their young children aren’t being mistreated, and a homeowner may choose to install cameras within shared living spaces in the home to protect against theft. 
  
  

Different Types of Home Security Cameras

There are two different types of cameras: outdoor cameras and indoor cameras. The main differences between the two are cost and weather resistance. As you might expect, outdoor cameras are more weather resistant, so they cost more, especially if you’re looking for the best outdoor security cameras. 

CCTV cameras

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras may immediately bring to mind security footage from an old spy show, but they aren’t limited to just analog cameras. A CCTV camera system can be digital too, and for outdoor or indoor use. 

Common CCTV camera types include:

• Dome cameras
• Bullet cameras
• C-mount cameras
• Day/Night cameras
• Infrared cameras
• And more

Wireless cameras

Wireless security cameras can be for outdoor or indoor use, though wireless outdoor cameras are more common due to their versatile nature (and the lack of outdoor outlets). As we mentioned before, they are typically better at standing up to inclement weather than indoor cameras, making them a good choice for an all-around camera. The best security camera set (if you’re looking for outdoor and indoor use) would be an outdoor wireless camera.

Wireless surveillance cameras for home use typically connect through Wi-Fi, and there are many options to choose from. 

Doorbell cameras

Another popular option for homeowners is the doorbell camera. These have a number of uses and have replaced the “peepholes” from days past. Now you can use them to:

• Check the identity of the person standing outside your door
• Ensure no one is stealing your packages (or protect you if someone does)
• Make sure your kids arrive home safely
• Protect against car theft
• Deal with frustrating neighbors
• Remotely open your door to guests
• And so much more
  
  

Where Can I Find the Best Security Cameras?

It may be tempting to find cheap home security cameras, but the truth is that you get what you pay for. Instead of looking for the cheapest option, you should search for the best buy. Security cameras of all sorts are available here at DirectNine, ranging from reasonable prices to more high-end security cameras for homes. Finding the best home security camera system doesn’t have to be complicated anymore.

Find the best security camera for your home by shopping your region today!

If you prefer watching movies from the comfort of your own home, you need a solid home theater setup to enjoy it to the fullest. From finding the perfect speaker system to picking out your favorite crystal-clear display, here’s everything you need to look for when putting together your home theater dream setup.

Finding the Perfect Speakers

If you want to enjoy a cinema-quality film experience, you need a cinema-quality speaker setup. Your standard sound system won’t cut it in most cases, so you’ll need to throw in a few upgrades. First of all, there are your standard woofers. Even if you have a more basic sound system, it most likely includes a set of woofers, as they tend to cover the main range of sounds.

Subwoofers, however, serve to reinforce your woofers, covering lower frequencies and providing rich, punchy bass. As standard woofers often struggle with lower sound ranges, subwoofers are a necessity if you want a full-bodied cinematic sound.

Though it’s optional, adding a sound bar to the setup makes for the perfect finishing touch to your cinematic sound system. Sound bars typically contain both woofers and subwoofers, helping to project sound throughout the room.

Finding a Display Screen

Once you’ve sorted out the perfect speaker system, you can focus on finding the perfect home theater display screen. Depending on how much space you have, you may prefer a flat screen TV or a projector screen. For smaller spaces, a flatscreen will be more practical, but if you have the room and want to go the extra mile for your home cinema experience, you can’t go wrong with a high-quality projector screen.

 

Picking Out a Projector

If you decided on a flatscreen TV, all you have to do at this point is set everything up and enjoy your setup! If you decided on a projector screen, however, you’ll now have to decide on the projector itself. Look for a projector that supports high image quality, and ensure it’s compatible with your device of choice. Once you’ve picked your projector, however, it’s a simple matter of hooking it up to said device, putting on your favorite movie, and enjoying your brand-new setup!

Looking for more great tech tips, recommendations, and products? Visit us at DirectNine today!

Though working from home has its advantages, you also have to consider the usual background noise of a home, whether that’s family, pets, or neighbors as they go about their daily routine. Fortunately, this is easy enough to remedy. All you need is a solid pair of headphones that will allow you to block out any distractions and focus entirely on your work. Of course, there are a few things to look out for, so let’s take a look at a few of the most important aspects of headphones for working from home

Look for Noise Cancellation

While headphones are typically loud enough to keep you from hearing outside noise, you may want something more effective in case of occurrences like nearby construction. Noise-canceling headphones may be a bit more expensive than other options, but they’re well worth the cost, providing you with your own soundproof bubble of sorts wherever you go. With these noise-canceling headphones, you’ll be able to focus on your work no matter what’s going on outside.

Find a Headset With a Microphone

If you’re in a position that requires you to frequently attend online meetings, investing in a microphone headset is an absolute must, especially if you tend to move your work setup around often. Combining your listening and speaking devices will make on-the-go meetings much simpler than they would be otherwise, allowing you to attend from your home, a coffee shop, or anywhere else you choose.

Keep Audio Quality in Mind

Finally, be sure that you’re purchasing a pair of headphones with the sound quality you want. If you’re just keeping them around for privacy during meetings, you won’t need a premium pair of headphones, but if you enjoy listening to music as you work, consider investing in headphones with a larger driver size. Larger drivers mean stronger, punchier sounds overall, allowing you to hear your favorite songs as they were always meant to be heard. Combine high audio quality with the aforementioned noise cancellation, and you have the perfect headphones for working from home.

Looking for more great tech tips, recommendations, and products? Visit us at DirectNine today!

Phones and tablets are incredibly versatile devices with countless uses for both work and fun, so you stand to benefit from implementing them into your desk setup. Of course, it won’t help much to just place them awkwardly on the side of your desk where you have to pause and pick the device up every time you get a new notification. That being said, let’s take a look at a few of the best phone & tablet gear for your desk setup.

Phone Tripod

First of all, there’s the classic phone tripod. If you’re the type that enjoys watching TV shows or online videos while you work for the sake of background noise. A tripod is just the thing you need. By keeping your phone in a landscape position, it’ll give you quick, streamlined control over your background noise. It allows you to make whatever adjustments you need without losing focus.

Phone & Tablet Wall Mount

Next is a useful wall mount for your phone and tablet. Rather than having your phone lay face down on the desk, you can mount it in a convenient position. It allows you to see incoming messages and other important notifications without breaking your workflow. It’s essentially a seamless integration and stands to drastically reduce the amount of time wasted on scrolling. it also keeps you in the loop for the things that matter.

Desk Organizer With Phone Slot

There’s the desk organizer with a built-in phone slot. One of the most important parts of any effective workspace is that it’s efficiently organized. This extends to the placement of your phone as well. As a result, a desk organizer with a built-in phone slot takes care of both problems at once. It enhances your work setup as a whole.

Wireless Charger

If you aren’t planning on using your phone or tablet as you work. The next best thing is to give it some time to charge. With a wireless charger, all you have to do is place it on the charging pad and leave it alone while you work. Once you’re done, you’ll have a fully-charged phone. You have plenty of free time to enjoy your favorite games and shows as you wind down!

Looking for more great tech products, accessories, and recommendations? Visit us at DirectNine today!