Smart Living Now June 09

Your NEW LOCAL magazine for Smarthome living

A pocket rocket info pack of home technology, gadgets,furniture, interior design and construction ideas.

Hadleigh, Ipswich & Woodbridge Districts

Safe as houses: Home securityin the modern world

Furniture Designers:What makes them tick?

Flat Screens: A great picture isonly half the experience

Docktastic:The best iPod docks & players

Win Win Win!Win Win Win!HiFi speakers competition on page 16

This monthsfeatures

CONSERVATORIES . ORANGERIES . WINDOWS . DOORS

Notcutts Garden Centre Ipswich Road Woodbridge T: 01394 386666 www.countrysidehi.co.uk

Beautifully designed contemporary conservatories

Adding a well designed conservatory to your home createsthe most idyllic of rooms for reading, dining, playing or simplysitting back in your favourite chair enjoying a glass of wine.

Sounds tempting? Why not give us a call to arrange a free design consultation atyour home, or pop up to our showsite within Notcutts Garden Centre for a coffeeand an informal chat.

We’d love to see you.

June 09

ArtcousticPictureSp

eakers

SmartlivingNow.Mag.June.NEW.layout:Smart livingLayout 1 9/6/09 13:16

Insert yourheadline here

(We thought we’d let our hand-made furniture speak for itself )

Download a Nick Bournebrochure at: www.nickbourne.com

t. 01473 322020e. [email protected]


1Please mention Smartliving Now magazine when replying to any advertisements

Smartliving NowMagazine

Publisher: Charles [email protected]

Editor: Janine [email protected]

Consultant Journalist/PR: Neil [email protected]

Smartliving Now MagazineP.O. Box 101, Ipswich IP7 9BE

The second issue is in thebag and your new SmartlivingNow magazine has causedquite a stir.

With positive responses from all points of the Hadleigh,Ipswich, Woodbridge corridor and questioning emails fromother publications, it’s great to have made such an impact!

The transformation from Spring to Summer is happening withalacrity and it is simply amazing what a little sunshine can dofor the spirit. Gone are the burning effergies of Darling andBrown and the shock of the insane BNP seats in Europe andin are the thoughts of a better, brighter future albeit a two yearwork in progress.

To brighten your outlook further still, in this issue we considerthe best of the iPod docks and players on the market, we talkto two top furniture designers, consider the matter of homesecurity and take a look at some of the new offerings in thefield of TV screen technology soon to be landing on ourshores.

We have also updated our regular ‘Ultimate Collection’feature which includes a sleeping pod fresh from the GrandDesign’s show and offer our first competition where you couldwin a pair of hi-fi speakers on page 16.

All a prelude to our fantastic bumper summer edition forJuly/August to help you relax and enjoy your holidays

Check out our new website www.smartlivingnow.co.uk andplease feel free to contact our panel of experts if you haveany questions about a particular element of design ortechnology.

Know anyone who would like to receive the Smartliving Nowmagazine? Send us the details and we’ll send them a copy.

The paper used for this publication isfrom sustainable managed sources inNorth America & Europe only.

Design, content and compilation of thispublication are protected by copyright.

2009 Smartliving Now. All rights reserved.While all reasonable care is taken to ensurethe accuracy of information included in thismagazine, the publishers take noresponsibility for statements made bycontributors or advertisers or for loss arisingfrom non- publication of any advertisement.Smartliving Now magazine is in no wayresponsible for the outcome or quality of anybusiness transaction between the advertisedsupplier and our readers or customers.

Please recycle this publicationwhen finished with.

Expert PanelExpert PanelThe Smartliving Now panel comprises industry experts from everycorner of lifestyle design and technology. These people know theirbeans so if you have any questions be sure to contact them direct.

Alastair Gardner from Signals in Ipswich has been designing and buildinghi-end hi-fi systems for more years than he cares to remember. A twochannel (stereo) nut, it would take a lot to convince Alastair of any othermedium available that would challenge his views on the purity of hi-endmusic reproduction. [email protected]

Graham Owens from Technovations in Gt Bentley, has designed lightinginstallations for theme parks and visitor centres worldwide. But, he alsoworks in the residential sector, creating inspiring and relaxing environmentsand carrying out technical installations for homes all over the [email protected]

Ian Mackenzie from Iconic Home in Ipswich is an ex Army Air CorpComputer Technician who has had extensive training in Home Automationand Security. Since taking over at Iconic Home he has created awardnominated home automation designs for private clients all overSouthern England. [email protected]

John Kersley and business partner Julian Pawsey are working at the cuttingedge of landscape design & construction. With 18 years of experiencebehind them they have also constructed gardens for various designers at theRHS Chelsea Flower Show in London. [email protected]

Steve Clark from Heatsave Systems has become one of only a handfull oftechnical engineers to be trained on the new Swedish NIBE geothermalclimate systems, heat recovery systems and air & water heat pumpinstallations. [email protected]

ChampioningSustainability

Please mention Smartliving Now magazine when corresponding with our expert panel


2

With every store and market selling iPod players and docks it makes sense to do a bit ofhomework and make sure you get the right product for the right application. If you justwant a small system that won’t cost much to replace for the kids or in the garage thenthere is a plethora of cheaper but adequate brands such as Klipsch, Logitech, Sony, JBLand Intempo. In my experience you might want to avoid some of the really low endofferings as they simply chuck out such a thin and tinny sound that you’ll probably end upwith tinitus and a head tick after a few hours of listening. (Some from the Logic3 stable forinstance).

But, if you want someperformance from your digitalsystem and maybe some addedtechnology to boost the ease ofpositioning and capacity thenhere are a few that are worthlooking into and maybe eventesting at a local hi-fi specialist.

First off the block is the MarantzIS301. It brings all the sonicbenefits of an audiophile dockand, for those who wish to,literally, stay in touch with Apple'swonderful and familiar interface,this ingenious bit of kit is theanswer.

The Marantz IS301 packageincludes a compact, detachable Bluetooth-equipped module. Simply plug this adapter intoyour iPod and it sends audio information, via Bluetooth (A2DP), to the docking station. Inturn, the docking station is connected to your hi-fi via a supplied receiver unit. This set-uplets you control the Apple device as usual, while enjoying hi-fi quality sound.

If you prefer, the iPod can be docked in the conventional manner, in the Marantz cradle,where it will be charged and, via USB, can connect to iTunes. The cradled approach alsomeans you can even deliver video from your iPod’s library when this is wired to the RXreceiver unit. The cradle’s flexible design means it can be put on a table or wall mounted.Further neat touches are the source and volume controls, making operation a completebreeze.

Oh, and to top-off this new unit’s list of ‘friendly’ features, no iPod connection adapters arerequired.

Marantz IS301

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Quality lighting & electrical accessories

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95 Fore Street,Ipswich, IP4 1JZTel: 01473 230099E-mail: [email protected]


At 64cm wide Zeppelin is a smooth looking dock fromBowers & Wilkins and is crammed full of quality.It doesn’t do anything fancy, like streaming music orlink to the internet but what it does do is proper audiosound and scale.

From it’s heavy industrial but sleek design eminatesan audio punch to the belly; solid, taut and integratedsound which will fill a reasonably sized bedroom oroffice.

Aided by a downward-firing bass driver mounted in thecentre, just behind your iPod, there is also a pair ofreflex ports sculpted into the back of the machinewhich help air flow, and in turn, bass extension.At the front a sturdy metal arm houses the dock, andbasic functions (stop, go, forward, backward, volumeup and down) are handled by the remote control.

You name it, this sleek audio/video system plays it;young ALFiE’s not a fussy sort. The integrated iPod dock means the entertainment hub isready and waiting for your Apple portable’s tunes, while the rear panel’s auxiliary-in socketmeans you can swiftly hook-up an MP3 player. CDs, of course, are catered for – includingrecordable discs – while movie fans can drop in a DVD, letting ALFiE provide vision aswell as sound. Happy to lounge in any room in the house, the Roth Audio system’s radioalarm (AM/FM) and bundled remote control mean ALFiE is especially handy in thebedroom department.

Wherever you choose to lay down with ALFiE, however, you can rely on Roth Audio tosupply high-quality sound and vision. The unit’s built-in audio engine is no slouch,powering out a total of 40 watts, and using a 2.1 amplifier and speaker combination toprovide room-filling sound. Sneak a peek under its chassis, and you realise the use of anever-so-clever downward-firing subwoofer helps beef-up the tracks, while allowing ALFiEto maintain a trim figure.

B&W Zeppelin

326

Roth Audio ALFiE

Simply call us on 01473 823366for friendly advice and quotations on any printed item

You are welcometo call in at any timewithout appointment or,if it is more convenient,we will be pleased to visit you.

Keith Avis Printers,68 High Street, Hadleigh, Ipswich IP7 [email protected]


4

Know your beans

Please mention Smartliving Now magazine when enquiring about features

Espresso BlendBrazil/ColombiaRoasted lighter than usual, the lower temperatures reachedmean a more pronounced fruity tone is present, whilehazelnut and vanilla notes are all notably present in the finish.

Rwanda Fully Washed Grade AAn extremely well-rounded coffee from southern Rwanda lacedwith tangerine and red cherry top notes. Enjoy its syrupy sweetcharacter.

Nicaragua SHGA delightful coffee with almond nougat sweetness brightened byfruity notes and balanced with a hint of chocolate. A rich andsatisfying coffee for drinking all day long. This coffee isRainforest Alliance Certified Coffee.

Sumatra MandelhingA very smooth coffee with a rich, heavy body and an intense,earthy flavour spiced with a hint of licorice. Very similar to itsmore famous cousin Java with even more body.

Kenya ‘AA’Full bodied with an intense blackcurrant aroma, thiscoffee’s flavourful notes burst through its rich milkchocolate sweetness to deliver a zesty grapefruitcrispness.

In the bumper summer edition ofSmartliving Now we’ll be going throughthe complete history of coffee withAzzouz and our friends at Coffee Link inIpswich’s Neptune Marina, but for now,here is a preview selection of ourfavourite coffee.

Let us create the right environment for you...

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?Something for theweekend sir

24 5

Simon TweakermanSimon TweakermanImpress your friends by copying our all-knowing Apple officianado’s latest exploitsas an iPod card playing magician on our website. www.smartlivingnow.co.uk

He tweaks as he sleeps

Do you find it slightly controversial that as cardrivers we are forever beaten about the brow andcharged through the nose for polluting this greatplanet of ours when other bigger things that domassively more harm slide under the radarvirtually undetected?

The Guardian has reported on new researchshowing that in one year, a single large containership can emit cancer and asthma-causing

pollutants equivalent to that of 50 million cars. The low grade bunker fuel used bythe worlds 90,000 cargo ships contains up to 2,000 times the amount of sulphurcompared to diesel fuel used in automobiles. The recent boom in the global tradeof manufactured goods has also resulted in a new breed of super sized containership which consume fuel not by the gallons, but by tons per hour, and shippingnow accounts for 90% of global trade by volume.

So we’re not just guilty of driving to and from our mega shopping spree’s andconsuming everything we need (and a lot we don’t), we’re also guilty of getting itall shipped here too. Damn this conscience of mine!

It is rumoured that the new, yet to be released, iPhone (3) may have a plethera ofimprovements.

New improved RAM, new 3.2 MP camera, Adobe Flash support, HD videorecording and playback, TV downloads and a digital compass which could meanusing Google maps and Street view with over-laid graphics and turn-by-turnnavigation. All this AND you should be able to transfer data, music and mediafiles mid-call.

If only getting a clear connection, when you need to speak to someone was givenas much priority!

Something for theweekend sirNo, no, not that... food!Monsieur Mark David from the Cooking Experience helps us top upthe carbs as we prepare:

PECAN, PARMESAN & OREGANO FOCACCIA

1 kg Strong white flour2 sachets Easy Bake Yeast5 tablespoons approx Olive Oil2 teaspoons Salt2 teaspoons Sugar22 floz Warm Water2 tablespoons roughly chopped pecan nuts2 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese1 tablespoon dried oregano, 6 cloves Garlic,finely chopped.

SAUSAGES WITH A TWIST (serves 4 )

8 decent English sausages.1 tablespoon each of soy sauce and honey1 teasp sesame seeds.

PORK RIB CHOPS WITH BLACK TREACLE MARINADE (serves 4)

4 large pork rib chops on the bone.1 tablespoon black treacle,1 tablespoon tomato ketchup1 tablespoon soy sauce.1 teasp dried mixed herbs Mix the marinade and spread

each chop. Rest for 1 hour andbarbecue as for the sausages.

Mix the marinade and cover eachsausage. Barbecue the sausagesfast for about 2 mins each sideand move to a cooler section.

Combine flour, sugar, salt and yeast together. Stir well. Add theliquids, stir with a wooden spoon until dough ball is formed.Remove from bowl and scrape any debris out of the bowl,adding to dough. Work with hands until a clean ball is formed.Knead 8 minutes. Place in bowl again and prove in a warmplace until double in size, about 1 hour. Knock back, add nuts,cheese and oregano and knead again until these ingredientsare incorporated. Roll or stretch dough to fit a normal roastingtin. Line the tin with greased Bakewell parchment or Bacoglide.Place dough in tin making sure the dough reaches the sides.With your index finger poke holes about 2 inches apart all overthe dough. Pour in some olive oil until the holes are full andsprinkle the garlic over, add also optional rock salt over the top.Prove again for about 1 hour or until doubled in size. Bake200oC (top oven AGA in the middle) for about 20 minutes .Turn out onto a rack. Test by tapping the bread, if it soundshollow its ready, if it gives and is still squashy, return to oven.

Mark Davidwww.cookingexperience.co.uk

The Italian theme for the first focaccia recipe together with thearomatic nature of the dish lends itself to a 2008 Fiano/Greco, A.Mano, Puglia, Italy £7.85(left). This clean, dry and delicately scented (with Fiano's fresia character), oak free white is abeautifully fresh and mid-weight wine.

The Pork Chop Ribs will need something with plenty of flavour, so try this 2006 Willunga 100Grenache, McLaren Vale, South Australia £8.60 (above). Ripe and full with an irresistibleloganberry nose. Though full, the palate is fresh and deliciously approachable.

www.winesofinterest.co.uk. Please mention SmartLivingNow magazine when ordering.


6

With the death of the big black or grey box TV’s in thecorner of the room, most families seem to have a flat screenTV somewhere in the house these days, although some ofthese earlier models can hardly be deemed as size zero.

Even with the most forgiving mentality it has to be admitted that afew of these beasts, once mounted on the wall, stand a clear eightinches into the room, so they hardly meld with the decor!

Style has slowly been given a much larger voice in the buyingprocess fuelled generally by the female of the house making morepurchasing decisions on technology and the men watching moreand more of Messrs Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen, Kevin McCloudand Diarmuid Gavin. This has filtered through to the manufacturersand product designers and some of the new screen technologyborn from this ideal is quite refreshing.

Plasma, LCD and OLED

Like choosing cars, it’s extremely difficult to decide what to buythese days. We like certain features in certain models but also otherfeatures in other models. It’s all a bit of a dilemma really.

Well, with global behemoth Pioneer exiting the flat screen TVmarket by the end of this year it at least lets you focus on a slightlynarrower field.

Plasmas are the older siblings in the flat screen market and have suffered on the size front(depth) considerably in comparison to the other technologies. But the more recent Plasmascreens are getting slimmer and have a fantastically clear picture which you can view fromthe most acute angles - a bonus in itself when it comes to placing the screen in a room forall to see. A new Samsung 50” model has just been reported to be a mere 29mm deepand that includes housing the tuner, although I doubt it will be ready formarket until early next year.

When you go for a demonstration (and you always should) make sure the blacks arereally deep and sharp and you have as many input connection options as possible,including at least two HDMI (a modern day scart) slots so you can plug in other itemssuch as DVD’s and music systems.

A Great Picture Is OnlyHalf The ExperienceNeil Farrow reports

Call Steve Clark on 01473 657403 or 07850 326194

[email protected]

renewablesheat recovery systemsair/water heat pumpsgeothermal systemsunderfloor heatingsolar thermal


7

A lot of screen talk harps on about HD (hi-definition), and there is a difference in detail,but only if you’re viewing HD content from a specific HD channel or a Blu-ray DVD player.Otherwise it’s down to what detail you are happy with and what price you want to pay.Good starting points would be from Panasonic and LG. The Panasonic TX-P42X10B is a42” HD ready screen with a plethora of inputs, great black tones, sharp neutral colourpalette and great value for around the £700 mark. If you want a monster screen the 50”LG 50PG7000 will give you an abundance of connections including Bluetooth and USBand has vibrant colour tones. All for a cracking price of about £1100.

LCD (liquid crystal display) screens tend to be thinner than the Plasmas and therefore fitinto a room setting more easily. The earlier designs had limitations on size (width)compared with plasma and also had problems following motion as they used to suffer witha sort of ‘ghosting’ effect, especially with sports. This has all but been eradicated now withrecent technological advances and the bigger sizes are now competing with the Plasmaswithout the bulk behind. Amongst others, the ones to watch are from the likes of Toshibaand Samsung. The £800 Tosh 42RV555D (42 inch) puts in a solid performance with crispand detailed images and for £500 the Samsung LE32A558 (32 inch) is a steal with full HDand great blacks, especially with DVD’s.

Although still in its infancy the latest technology to hit the journals is the OLED (organiclight-emitting diode) screen. Because there is no need for a backlight these almost fraillooking wafer thin panels can be as little as 5mm thick! Mainly used in the mobile market,Samsung seem to have the monopoly on this new technology and revealed a full HDOLED screen of 40” late last year. The trouble is, because of the production costs and thesuspect longevity of the technology at this stage, it will be a while before we see theseinterior design beauties in the stores.

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cutting edge designexpert & friendly advice


8 21

A sound investment – Food for thought

All this talk of screens may have you salivating in your napkins but they are just the meatand potatoes. You need the juicy gravy to make the whole thing come together otherwiseyou’re left with a dry unpalatable and slightly bare plate.

When it comes to the cinema experience, you cannot get the fullpicture... without sound.

The sound is the gravy that binds it all together and since the demise of the big black boxTV’s, which at least had some semblance of sound quality, generally the Plasmas andLCDs fall way short of the mark.

As expected the speakers come in all shapes, sizes and qualities too. But if you’re lookingat interior products for a well used room I would recommend steering clear of the hugebox speakers (yes, the audio industry suffered from it in the past too), after all, we aretalking about style here.

The minimalist approach would be a single speaker bar which incorporates a left, centreand right speaker in one design, giving the effect of surround sound if not the actual fullmonty.

These bar speakers are mainly finished in satin back, lacquered black or aluminium andare slung directly under the screen with a special bracket. No visual wires, no mess. Butthen again, not the ultimate option. Leaders in the sound bar arena are brands such asYamaha, B&W, Marantz, Polk Audio and Definitive Technology. The traditional tried andtested route would be a surround sound package of three front speakers, two rearspeakers and a subwoofer. Thefront or centre speaker dealswith the bulk of the maindialogue fixing the charactersto the screen while the left andright along with the rears dealwith all the ambient peripheralsound effects. Then for thereal hum dinger bangs andcrashes of the action moviesyou need a sturdy deep,trouser shakin’ subwoofer.

Monitor Audio GSW-12 subwoofer

Definitive Technology SSA-50sound bar

Why have you chosen Corian/Wood as your preferred medium and do you workwith other materials?

MELROSE. I love Corian! It’s so flexible. I can work it like wood or thermoform it likeplastic and it is so durable. The surface finish is tough and seems to get even morebeautiful with age. I love the way it can be used inside or outside and if you did manage todamage it you can inconspicuously repair it. I love the way the pure colours look againstnatural materials such as stone or wooden floors and I think Corian gives a home amodern vibrancy you can not get from other materials.

I am a bit of a material geek and have thousands of samples! I think I now have enoughexperience to take on jobs in pretty much any material. I studied fine carpentry, metalworking, ceramics amongst other ways of making things at uni and I have never stoppedlearning. At the moment as well as Corian I am in love with glass. It is a lot more limited inhow you can work with it and what you can do with it but its just so beautiful, especiallyrecycled glass like eluna. I think my ideal house will have a balance of old and newmaterials.

BOURNE. I like to try to incorporatematerials other than wood into my workbut this can sometimes be difficult dueto the fact that most of my work isbespoke to my clients needs. Mybackground means that I haveknowledge and experience of perspex,acrylics, stainless steel, aluminium andlaminates, the latter being my personalfavorite and a material that I do usequite regularly now, for both its range ofcolours and surfaces. I am really tryingto encorporate colour into my work andalso like the gloss finishes which areavailable. An example of my stainlesssteel work is on show now at the Hayward Gallery on the south bank. Made for recentTurner prize winner Mark Wallinger, it is a tardis in mirror polished stainless steel which hecommissioned in 2001 and represented Britain at the Venice biennale that same year.

What exciting new ideas can you tell us about?

MELROSE. Blimey, where do I start! I am playing around with so many things at themoment. The main areas of focus at the moment are with my friends at ReadingUniversity robotics ‘Samurai Technologies’. I want to start using robotic mechanisms infurniture and I am also experimenting with colour changing surfaces using Corian andLEDs. Playing around with some new concept materials from Perspex and developing newways to make sculptural shapes with Corian.

BOURNE. My exciting project which is simmering at the moment involves the NationalTrust and an Italian laminate manufacturer. Not a big thing but hopefully innovative andsuccessful, something that will only be determined once the piece is made. I can say nomore about that at the moment, but watch this space!

Nick Bourne’s retro desk with laminatetop and hardwood mixes


Furniture

920Please mention Smartliving Now magazine when replying to any advertisements or featuresPlease mention Smartliving Now magazine when replying to any advertisements or features

If you are willing to invest in quality youwill be rewarded and some of thesesurround sound speakers come inbeautifully designed slim cabinets ofreal wood, coloured lacquer or polishedaluminium finishes. As eluded to in lastmonths feature on framing, some evencome disguised as framed wallartworks, pictures or graphics.

Try Eclipse, Definitive Technology orPolk Audio for the polished aluminium,Dali or Monitor Audio for the luxury realwood and lacquer finishes and Kaurusor Artcoustic for the picture framespeakers.

Most speaker companies now offer wallmounted speakers along with in-wallspeakers and in-ceiling speakers.Granted, with in-wall/ceiling speakers itis a major upheaval if you have tochase wires over hill and dale, but theresults are simply shear luxury. Some ofthe best in class here are B&W, MonitorAudio, Speaker Craft, Niles Audio andSonance.

A final option could be wi-fi sound and/or vision. It may be occasionally intermittent but nowires mean no fuss and having the option of switching rooms without ripping up carpethas an endearing charm. There are a few decent options out there from brands such asSonos, KEF and Philips but my guess is there will be a lot more options within the nexteighteen months.

With the rise of internetshopping it would be easy to slipinto the false sense of securitybehind a computer screen andclick away filling your basket withall sorts of cheap and cheerfulaudio and video equipment; andfor a children’s room that maywell suffice. But believe me, ifyou crave that cinemaexperience, want that wow factor,enjoy the media experience

together as a family and value technology and craftsmanship, you need to get down to alocal audio visual or hi-fi dealer with a demonstration room, sit down and breathe in thefantastic jaw-dropping excitement a good system can deliver.

B&W XT Series 5.1 system

What got you into design and who influenced you?

MELROSE. It was a lecturer at Basingstoke College of technology that changed mydirection into furniture design. He was a design lecturer that took us for one module on myengineering course. He liked what I had done and knew engineering wasn’t really flickingmy switch. I preferred something more instant, theory didn’t turn me on and actuallymaking things seemed the right direction to go.

Many people haveinfluenced me. Mostlygood lecturers atcollege and uni. I think Iwas really lucky, I metsome amazing teachersthat all had completelydifferent angles forapproaching design.Some of them madebeautiful items and Iwanted to be creatingthings of as good a quality. Of the International Design Giants I guess Mark Newsom ismy favourite he has experimented in so many materials and his product design is so freshbut has subtle undertones of a retro space age that I too adore.

BOURNE. I always made things as a child, whether it was Lego, plasticine, model kits,origami or any other material I could lay my hands on, so I suppose I was always going tobe a maker. I studied sculpture so came to woodwork via an unusual route and also hadthe addition of using an artists eye when working.

My making career began in earnest when I took up the position of head woodworker atMike Smith Studio in London, where we made many pieces of artwork for contemporaryartists, most of whom had come out of the Goldsmith’s ‘Brit-Art’ movement. Whilst there Imade anything from a faithful but slightly oversized copy of an electric chair to a copy ofthe witness box that was used in the Lockerbie trial in Holland.

I can’t say if any one designer has influenced me but I do like twentieth century designand often find myself looking at the Deco period, for its simplicity and elegance.

I asked two young talented designers, Stuart Melrose andNick Bourne, who work with Corian & wood respectively, afew questions to try and find out what makes them tick.

FurnitureCharlie Woodthorpe investigates

The Höhle table by Stuart Melrose uses black or white Corian


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18 11

The first all-electric family car went on sale in the United Kingdom last month. Electric CarCorporation Plc (ECC) has launched a lithium ion battery-powered, all-electric version ofthe Citroen C1, called the C1 Ev'ie. Unlike the previous largest selling electric vehicle inBritain – the Indian-built Reva G-Wiz, which was legally classed as a quadricycle – the C1Ev’ie is a proper car, albeit a mini car.

The Citroen C1 Ev'ie is assembled in the UK from donor cars supplied with Citroen'sblessing. The standard 1.0 liter 60 hp (50 Kw) petrol engine is replaced by a 30kw electricmotor, powered by 25 li-ion batteries mounted in place of the fuel tank. The total packcapacity is not specified but with a range of 60 to 70 miles(96–112 km), battery capacity is estimated to be about 16kilowatt-hours (kWh). ECC believes one of the keys tobuilding a successful electric car is the battery managementsystem (BMS). The company has developed what itdescribes as a sophisticated BMS, which – when coupledwith regenerative braking – provides much greater range andlonger battery life.

The C1 Ev’ie applies light regenerative braking, as soon asyou take your foot off the throttle, to generate the mostelectricity possible from the regenerative energy system.The standard 5-speed gearbox is retained but is modified tostay permanently in third gear. Reverse is taken care of by reversing the electric motor, asis the case with most electric vehicles.

A full charge takes six hours from a domestic 13 amp socket at a cost of about 90p, whichresults in a fuel cost of less than 2p per mile. London is one of the most pro-electricalvehicle (EV) cities in the world, with more than 300 dedicated EV charging points alreadyinstalled and plans to introduce more than 25,000. Other EV incentives include no roadtax, no London congestion charge and free parking on top of the already significant fuelsavings from running an electric vehicle.

The vehicle's top speed of 60 mph is just short of the speed limit on UK motorways, but itis more than enough for urban driving. The C1 Ev’ie, which is available in both 3 and5-door versions, comes standard with the usual safety equipment, such as ABS, airbag,side impact door protection, crumple zones and mod cons like electric power steering andelectric windows. If the price of £16,850 is too steep, ECC is also offering to rent or leasethe vehicles. Given unleaded fuel prices in the UK are about £1.00 per litre – even with thepetrol C1 getting 43 miles-per-gallon – it seems clear that the premium retail cost of theC1 Ev'ie over a standard £9495 petrol-powered C1 may still make financial sense.

Citroen is charged!Citroen is charged!Labour’s Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, recently called a special crime prevention summitto discuss practical measures to help keep crime down and confidently made the followingstatement “Burglary has more than halved in the last ten years and I am determined tostay on the front foot. Previous downturns have seen increases in acquisitive crimes but Ido not accept this is inevitable. There will be a small minority of criminals who think theycan take advantage in tough times.Let me tell them now, they can’t andthey won’t get away with it”.

Tough words from a lady who has hersecurity paid for by us, the taxpayer,but what about the man in the street?

As usual with politics, Mrs Smith'sopinion is slightly at odds with arecent independent survey by Abbeywhich suggested that

the number ofdomestic break-in’smay increase duringthe recession,

as increasing numbers ofimpoverished people turn to crime.

On one hand I don’t wish toscare-monger people into thinking they are all going to be burgled, because it just doesn’thappen like that. But, it may be a good time to at least look at a few options available andbetter still, know your legal rights when it comes to dealing with a break-in or securitysituation. Knowing your legal rights is, in some ways, as effective as installing the systemitself.

Apparently the first system started in America around the late 1850’s. A guy called EdwinHolmes invented and installed the world's first burglar alarm. The system was a verysimple machine; a spring was released upon the opening of a window or door, whichwould then close an electrical circuit.

Security technology has dramaticallychanged in the last ten years.Biometric entry systems are on theincrease like this fore finger entry scan pad.

SAFE AS... ERR... HOUSESAre you up-to-date with your home security

Information supplied by Ian McKenzieEdited by Neil Farrow

?


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GroomingEssentials

Charlie Woodthorpe reports

Hey guys, lets face it, you can’t improve on perfection but if ourother halves wants to splash out on some male pampering kit whoare we to argue! The Friction Zone Advanced Skin Protectant was

tested this month and the results speak for themselves.Apart from that, give some of these a go... there’s nothingwrong with embracing your feminine side. I know whatyou’re thinking, but I am in a heterosexual marriage withfour kids... although that would be considered such acliche smoke screen in the political world!

4GreatGreat

This ‘Moose-Turising FaceHydrator’ from Australiancompany Moosehead is loadedwith vitamins for healthy skin andA.H.A’s to help with nasty finelines and wrinkles. Apart fromthat, it passes the smell test withinvigorating citrus aromas offull-on tangerines. Moosehead’sfull range is now available in theUK through Sainsbury’s. £4.99for 100ml

For those of you with that highlyover-rated wirey stuff on yourheads (no, I’m not bitter) FudgeMembrane Gas is the perfectalternative to a styling paste.It is said to deliver flexability(bendable hold) without thestiffness - and can be used asstyling or finishing gas to mould,texturise or hold. As it driesinstantly, brushes out easily andis shampoo soluble I’m sure itwill be a boon to gigoloseverywhere. £11.65www.mankind.co.uk

This vitamin enriched (A, C, E, & B5) bodybar (soap to you and me!) from Zirh canaccelerate the production of collagen and isfull of anti-oxidents which have healingcapabilities. Also contained within is oat strawwhich is beneficial for making the skin smooth.Apart from all that it smells fantastic sostarts your day off on a positive note. £12www.carterandbond.com

Friction ZoneOur very own Iron Man and Triathlete JohnChisnal gave it a thumbs up after completingthree gruelling running, swimming andcycling sessions. John said it was a goodanti-chafe product but was head andshoulders above the rest because it didn’twash off with sweat or salt water. His onlycomplaint was the price but conceded “you getwhat you pay for” £12.50 www.carterandbond.com

In today’s climate more and more people areturning to security systems not only to protecttheir property but to protect themselves too. Withover 4 million cameras in UK alone it is a bigindustry.

Major technology changes have occurred in thelast ten years and even the expert can find it

difficult to decide on which system to install due to theoverwhelming choice now available. The best suppliers get

around this conundrum by truly listening to the customers needs,ticking all the right boxes and supply a system that is simple to useand on budget.

Which system is right for you?Closed Circuit Television may seem something right out of Bigbrother, but it is simple, effective and easy to install. As well as anexcellent security device, it can also be used as a great way of

simply vetting people who come to your door, keeping an eyeon your children or watching your pets in the garden.

Systems can start from under £50 for something you can pluginto your TV and can go beyond many thousands of pounds for a

day/night digital zoom, armoured state of the art internet Camera.

Many cameras have a built in PIR (Passive Infra Red) movementdetection facility. PIR (movement activated) cameras can be set toautomatically change the channel on your TV to show the camerapicture (or there is a facility to sound a buzzer instead if you do notwant your TV viewing to be interrupted). The PIR movement sensordetects warm moving objects in its range just like an alarm sensor orautomatic security light.

Multi-Camera SystemsAs these systems contain 2 to 4 cameras, they are perfect for monitoring the front andback of your property, for larger properties or small commercial premises. All the camerassimply plug into a 4 way Switching Unit and this allows you to control which picture yousee on your TV. For example, you can have the picture set to just one camera (say yourfront door) or you can set the switching unit to automatically “Cycle” through each camerain turn at selectable intervals. Either way, if one of the cameras’ PIRs detects movement,the picture will jump to the appropriate camera. The control unit supplied allows switchingbetween the camera pictures at selectable intervals.

Video/DVR SystemThis facility can be added as an option and, once programmed, can automatically startrecording the camera picture on your VCR or DVR when movement is detected by thesensor on the camera. Other facilities are available, such as time & date stamp, whichadds a digital display of the time and date activation took place. Off site recording is alsoan option, for a small fee any cameras on site can be monitored by a server which you canlog into to view from any PC. These systems can send you a text message if anything isdetected letting you know to log in and have a look at the cameras.


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How easy is it to install a CCTV system in the home?Installation of domestic cameras are normally quite simple, some of them being wireless(you still need power) it is just a case of routing the cable through to your TV. Plug intothe Scart or video input and off you go. Black and White cameras usually work better atnight than colour, so think about how much ambient light there is where the camera iscovering. Some cameras switch from colour during the day to Black and White at night.If you want to be able to see further distances at night extra IR lighting may be required.If you need something a little more robust then my advice would be to get an expert inbefore you spend your money.

www.iconic-home.co.uk, www.technovations.co.uk, www.interconnectionltd.co.uk

Win Win Win!A pair of Monitor Audio Radius speakersare up for grabs

Win Win Win!

Send answers, headed WPK Systems Competition to Smartliving Now MagazineP.O. Box 101, Ipswich. IP7 9BE or email to: [email protected] editors decision is final. No replies will be sent. Winner will be contacted but will need to arrange for delivery of prize.

WPK Systems are offeringa gorgeous pair of MonitorAudio Radius 90 lifestylespeakers in a luxury cherry wood finish. Interested? ...read on

Apart from supplying all your computer and hi-fi needs, WPK Systems of Hadleigh alsohave their own in-house state of the art servers to provide you with safe and secure localhosting. Moreover, they have a fantastic opportunity to help you with all your emailtroubles by using Microsoft Exchange.

Exchange is the system that allows people using mobiles such as the Blackberry (or iPhoneor any other ‘smart phone’) to get and synchronise information on the move. If you travelwith business, wherever you are, you have instant access to all your information.

WPK Systems have invested heavily in creating a system that allows the provision of fully-featured Exchange services for all companies and individuals. You can leave the technicalside to them, they’ll make sure all your email, contacts, calendar and tasks are all backedup and available from anywhere in the world.

Don’t think that Exchange email is aimed at big businesses with huge budgets. It certainlyused to be, but now with hosted services, it is possible for a single account for onecompany to co-exist with fifty accounts for another company. Whatever your business orsize, they’re sure that Exchange can refresh the way you see email – and make your lifeeasier.

To host a single account ([email protected]) WPK are charging £80+VAT per year(with discounts on multiple accounts). Maybe that might sound a lot, but consider this: it’s21p a day.

They can help you get started by importing your current data and then setting up deskcomputers as well as laptops and mobile phones to use this impressive system. Help andsupport is their main priority.

Question 1: What is the name of the email system WPK offer?Question 2: Through WPK Systems, how much does it cost a year to host a singleaccount?

WPK SystemsHome, Business & SchoolIT, Computer Services & Solutions

Website & Email HostingMicrosoft Exchange HostingComputer Sales, Support, Repairs & UpgradesNetwork Management

WPK Systems

5 Lister Road, Hadleigh, Ipswich IP7 5JN

office. 01473 829902 mobile. 07917 [email protected] www.wpksystems.com


Please mention Smartliving Now magazine when replying to any advertisements14

They say it only takes 20 minutes of good sleep during the day to get you fullyrejuvenated and refreshed. That means you can afford to have less sleep at night.

The Napshell: The first of its kind, the napshell is one of the most revolutionarysleeping environments ever made. With a super soft mattress, ambient moodchanging light and state of the artsound system you can powernap at your convenience.Prices start at around11,900 Euro’s.

The brand new Logitech H1100 is the new sleekbrushed aluminium lifestyle remote that offerssimple online programming and a 7.5cmtouchscreen capable of controlling up to 15separate components. With RF (radio frequency)wireless technology, the Harmony 1100 makes iteasy to control the show – even when yourdevices are out of sight.www.iconic-home.co.ukwww.signals.uk.com

For the man who has everything

Philip Watts Design, tongue firmly in cheek,have answered a few questions with theGloo. Having just celebrated its secondbirthday, Gloo is a wall mounted urinalmade of moulded plastic and comes ina full spectrum of colours from blue toorange and white. At around £350, theneat thing with Gloo is that, in the whitemodels, it has embedded fibre optic colouredlights and quite literally Gloo’s in the dark.No excuses for missing the target here then!www.technovations.co.uk

TD712xMK2The latest & greatest top-of-the-rangeEclipse Time Domain loudspeaker.

The artistry of music, the thoughts andfeelings of artists themselves, thedistinctive sounds of each instrument,the exquisite harmonies woven fromnumerous musical notes - you canexperience it all with the new TD712xMK2 likeyou’ve never experienced it before. £5000 a pair.www.signals.uk.com, www.iconic-home.co.uk,www.interconnectionltd.co.uk.

15

ULTIMATE COLLECTION


Your NEW LOCAL magazine for Smarthome living

A pocket rocket info pack of home technology, gadgets,furniture, interior design and construction ideas.

Hadleigh, Ipswich & Woodbridge Districts

Safe as houses: Home securityin the modern world

Furniture Designers:What makes them tick?

Flat Screens: A great picture isonly half the experience

Docktastic:The best iPod docks & players

Win Win Win!Win Win Win!HiFi speakers competition on page 16

This monthsfeatures

CONSERVATORIES . ORANGERIES . WINDOWS . DOORS

Notcutts Garden Centre Ipswich Road Woodbridge T: 01394 386666 www.countrysidehi.co.uk

Beautifully designed contemporary conservatories

Adding a well designed conservatory to your home createsthe most idyllic of rooms for reading, dining, playing or simplysitting back in your favourite chair enjoying a glass of wine.

Sounds tempting? Why not give us a call to arrange a free design consultation atyour home, or pop up to our showsite within Notcutts Garden Centre for a coffeeand an informal chat.

We’d love to see you.

June 09

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Smart Living Now June 09

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Transcript of Smart Living Now June 09