Next week, NAD Electronics will debut its new T 977, a seven–channel amplifier (replacing the NAD T 975) at a list of $2,799. The T 977 is specified to deliver 140 watts of continuous power out of each of its seven channels. NAD rates its receivers with a 4-ohm load, with all channels driven simultaneously, over the full frequency bandwidth (20 Hz - 20 kHz), and at rated distortion.

The T 977 employs NAD's PowerDrive which claims to nearly double the effective power on transients by adding a second high-voltage rail to a well regulated, high-current power supply. The result is an "overdrive" that can nearly double the continuous power on a short-term, dynamic power basis. A soft clipping feature limits high frequency energy during clipping to protect the loudspeaker from damage. Any amplifier that is overdriven (asked to generate levels beyond its undistorted capabilities) will produce distortion (clipping). The result is not only very harsh sound but can often damage speakers, especially tweeters. The selectable "soft clipping" feature on NAD amplifiers, including the T 977, transforms the music waveform as the point of clipping approaches, resulting in much clearer reproduction and simultaneous protection of speakers, according to NAD.

The T 977 is a GreenAV receiver in that it saves energy via an automatic standby mode, during which it only draws 0.5 watts of power. It was developed with system integration in mind as it includes a programmable 12V trigger input and individual gain adjustments for each channel.

Here are all the specs: http://www.nadelectronics.com Add a comment

Depending on who you ask, business in the residential AV channel are up and down. Believe it or not, some AV install dealers say business is good.

Yet at the same time, even in my own city, more AV install dealers have closed their doors in the past five years than in the previous ten, including some surprises -- dealers whose businesses spanned decades.

They say a rising tide lifts all boats. In a booming economy, you can make a tidy living picking the low hanging fruit from the tree. Certainly in the years leading up to 2007 I saw a half dozen newbie AV install companies open their doors and say, “We’re integrators!”

Without exception they’re all gone now.

It’s as easy for salesmen to get lazy as it is for owners to not check their spending when times are good.

But when the market is soft, salespeople have to sharpen their skills, and have to do some actual work.

If you’re seeing fewer qualified prospects, then it’s not rocket science that you need to close more of them in order to sell as many or more projects than you did before.

We’re not talking corner used car lot closing, either. I’m talking about three crucial steps in the sales process that, amazingly, salespeople often forget to follow faithfully.

I know, because I’ve been just as guilty as anybody else of taking shortcuts.

Yet just like in sports, flawlessly and repeatedly executing the basics typically puts more points on the board than fancy lay-ups.
 
Go prospecting. “Hunters” are salespeople who have a knack for going out, cold calling and drumming up business. “Farmers” are salespeople who do better serving business that’s been put in front of them, whether it’s handling existing clients or dealing with people who walk in the door in a retail setting.

When business slows down, farmers need to learn to be hunters, even if it’s not their strength; sorry to have to break it to you.

Successful prospecting is its own column entirely, but in brief, do the following:

Make a list of who you’re going to approach; builders, designers, architects, retail stores, whoever. Then work that list from top to bottom. Don’t stop until you’ve knocked on every door. You’ll get more deals that way than leaning up against a counter in your showroom waiting for it to happen by accident.

Qualify like you mean it. Nothing is more important than qualifying prospective clients. Not just learning what they think they need, but also uncovering hidden needs, hot buttons that will lead to buying signal and sometimes even oblique signals that lead you off on a profitable tangent you hadn’t initially sensed early on in the discussion.

If there’s anything at all that I can feel justified in tooting my own horn about, it’s the fact that I really listen to what clients say, and find needs that they didn’t even know they had until I showed them something that they now can’t live without.

True stories: I’ve routinely found $20,000+ projects in customers who were casually asking about TV sizes. In one case a phone call looking for a $3,000 Bose unit turned into a $500,000 whole-home job.

I’m done bragging. The lesson here is look beyond appearances, and look for possibilities.

If you follow up, you’ll be one of the only salesperson who does. No one, no matter how good they think they are, closes every prospect on the first meeting. Salespeople need to be proactive, collect contact information from  their prospects and follow up diligently.

Mine your list of prospects regularly. If he says he’ll be back tomorrow, call him the day after. If they won’t be ready to make a decision for six months, call him back in three. Use your head, read the situation and take the time between now and then to build rapport, make sure that he knows you’re the one for the job, and be diligent about keeping your promises to follow up.

This almost never happens, by the way. When I’m shopping for a big-ticket item, and I’m not ready to buy, I always test salespeople by asking them to follow up with me. I’m not even leaving it up to them; I’m asking them to do it.

On average, four out of five salesmen don’t do it. Ever.

Who do you think ends up getting that business?

That’s right, the one who calls me back.

Lee Distad is a rAVe columnist and freelance writer covering topics from CE to global business and finance in both print and online. Reach him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Add a comment

Designed for casual learning environments, Bretford's new MOTIV High Back Sofa includes a comfortable sitting space with integrated power accessibility to charge laptops, tablets and other mobile devices.

The Bretford MOTIV High Back Sofa is engineered for comfort, privacy and power support in any lounge environment. Bretford says it's the only high back sofa available with a power module that includes an AC outlet as well as USB charging. The newest addition to the popular line of Bretford MOTIV soft seating, it was designed for use in casual learning environments, such as higher education libraries, lounges and cafés, but is also perfect for common areas of K-12 schools corporate offices and public buildings.

All MOTIV soft seating products, which include modular and freestanding sofas, chairs and benches, can be upholstered in a wide variety of fabrics and leathers and are available with optional power. When combined with Bretford’s occasional tables, the MOTIV line transforms casual spaces into informal learning environments.

Here are all the details: http://bretford.com/products/motiv-high-back-sofas/ Add a comment

Since Q2’12, the LCD TV panel market has witnessed a shift in screen sizes, with new models focused on 28”, 29”, 39”, 43”, 48”, 50”, 58” and 60” displays. The rise of the new sizes has become the hottest topic in the LCD TV market. According to the Quarterly Large-Area TFT Panel Shipment Report, these new LCD TV panel sizes accounted for 12 percent of total LCD TV panels shipped in Q3’12, up from 5 percent in Q1’12 and 8 percent in Q2’12. We forecast that the share of these new sizes will stabilize in Q4’12 before passing 15 percent in 1H’13, based on panel makers’ shipment plans. We expect the new sizes to change the LCD TV panel supply in 2013.

Changes in the product mix of the LCD TV panel makers will be driven by some of the panel makers are moving to produce the most efficient sizes, regardless of the market demand. After a period of losses, panel makers will prioritize profit margins to survive. So, while the end market might prefer 32” which is comparatively cheaper, panel makers may have to cut 32” panel allocation in order to produce 39”, which has a higher panel price and in better production efficiency.

2012-2013 LCD TV Panel Shipment Plans




Source: Quarterly Large-Area TFT Panel Shipment Report

The largest change will be in 32”, the supply of which will fall from 94 million in 2012 to 79 million in 2013. The decrease is due to a product mix shift in Gen 6 and 8 fabs, with panel makers planning to produce more 39” on Gen 6 and 46” or 55” on Gen 8. Meanwhile, 26” will be replaced by 28/29”, which will be increased by 7 million. Both 39” and 50” sizes are quite popular in many regions, and panel makers plan to ship 15 million 39” panels and 12 million 50” panels in 2013, substantial growth from 2012. Capacity on Gen 6 and 7 lines will be allocated to produce the 39” and 50”, respectively. Finally, panel makers are determined to expand the larger size LCD TV market, with 50” and larger panel shipments expected to increase from 20 million in 2012, to 34 million in 2013. Such growth would also be critical to consuming a large amount of LCD capacity in area terms.

For LCD TV panel buyers, it will be very challenging in 2013 to secure panel supply in certain sizes, while preventing inventory to accumulate in other sizes, as the end market demand might be quite different. Allocation as well as inventory control will be higher priority than panel pricing, while availability of some sizes will be more important than panel technology or quality. The value chain relationships between panel makers and TV brands might be more complicated in 2013, as TV brands might have to qualify new panel suppliers quickly and adjust allocation of the existing suppliers in order to secure supply of certain sizes. Add a comment

Apple has filed a patent application, 20120296777, which describes a dynamic signage system for a sales environment such as an Apple Store. The dynamic signage device (which turns out to be an iPad) is associated with promoting a product to a customer in an interactive manner.

The device could automatically check for updated product information and modify its display based on the updated product information.

Management of multiple dynamic signage devices could be coordinated within and across stores, and an interactive floor-map creation system incorporating dynamic signage devices could facilitate changing the associations between products and dynamic signage devices.

Apple may or may not be planning to sell digital signage. as these are designed for the company's own use (just like Apple's point of sale system, which the company designed in-house but does not sell). But the significance is that Apple is America’s leading retailer and therefore an example to all.

Apple's retail stores make $6,050 in sales per square foot, the most of any American retailer, according to RetailSail. In fact, Apple's sales per square foot are twice that of Tiffany and Co., the famous luxury retailer (of Breakfast at Tiffany’s fame) which earns only $3,017 in sales per square foot.

With the exception of Apple and Tiffany and Co., no other U.S. retailer exceeded $2,000 in sales per square foot.

With $51.5 million per store, Apple also ranked among the top 10 retailers for highest sales per store. No wonder the company wants to protect that revenue with further investment in digital signage technology. Add a comment

Extron opened a new regional sales office in Johannesburg, South Africa to provide convenient access for customers in Africa. The facility includes a state-of-the-art training room fully equipped to showcase and demonstrate the latest in Extron technologies and solutions. The first Extron Institute will be the School of AV Technologies for System Designers and will take place on Jan. 23-24, 2013. The facility also offers meeting space, a demo area and workspace for an expanding support team.

"Our new office in Johannesburg is another example of our commitment to expand training and make it easier to reach our customers," says Jérôme Guéras, vice president of sales, EMEA. "We wanted to give African customers the opportunity to participate in training classes in a local facility where they can learn about the newest technologies and see demonstrations of products and applications. This gives them a level of support that can only come directly from a manufacturer."

The South Africa office is staffed by Extron S3 Institute experts and features a familiar variety of Extron training choices, including hands-on training using real-world scenarios and courses to pursue various Extron Certifications.

Here's Extron's story on the office: http://www.extron.com/company/article.aspx?id=johannesburgpr Add a comment

We're adding both Healthcare AV and Government AV technology to our existing rAVe GreenAV newsletter, making an all new eNewsletter called rAVe GHGav.

Why?

All year, we debated launching a new eNewsletter totally focused on Healthcare AV. The healthcare market is booming -- some say it's because of the new healthcare law and some say it's inspite of it. No matter what it is, there's a lot of money being spent to upgrade everything from the software used to track patient records to the technology used to monitor patients -- heck, just today, I learned of a mobile vital signs monitor from a company called Sotera (and they say they've taken orders for nearly a million of them already). And, guess what? That data is streamed via the network to giant NEC monitors in hospitals.

Simultaneously, one of our largest sponsors of rAVe GreenAV asked us to consider adding a Government AV section to our GreenAV eNewsletter -- since most "real" GreenAV systems are being driven by government specs.

Then late this summer came the announcement that the National eHealth Collaborative (NeHC), a public-private partnership that accelerates secure and meaningful use of health IT, and InfoComm International, the InfoComm show people, announced their partnership as co-hosts of the inaugural Technology Crossroads Conference in Washington, DC on November 27-28. And, it was held in conjunction with the GovComm 2012 Expo.

Thus, rAVe GreenAV's fate was sealed - it would become rAVe GHGav: still the industry's first and only AV publication focused on GreenAV technology, but now the industry's first and only publication focused on Government AV systems and Healthcare AV too!



The first rAVe GreenAV was already published, which you can read here. If you're already a subscriber to rAVe GreenAV, you don't need to do anything as your subscription will carry over into rAVe GHGav. If you're not a subscriber yet, you can subscribe for free here: http://www.ravepubs.com/subscribe Add a comment

Right now, there isn’t much bigger than big data. Big data, data mining and business intelligence (BI) are the hottest terms around, and our industry is poised to capitalize on this trend.

In case you’re still a little unsure about these terms, here is my best explanation of the relationship between these terms, beginning with data. Data is just what it sounds like... raw numbers, facts or text that are captured and stored in some type of repository (aka a database). Then, by the process of data mining (through some type of analytical technology or human review), these numbers are organized into patterns and outcomes that can be referred to as information. Finally, by applying historical analysis and forecasting models, we generate knowledge, or intelligence, that will improve business results.
 
One of my all-time favorite stories of how big data and BI achieves results is the story of how a grocery chain identified the relationship between diapers and beer. They gathered data on the behavior of their male shoppers and organized this data into patterns of goods purchased, and on what days. Then, they were able to identify a relationship between their diaper and beer purchases on Thursdays and Saturdays. With this intel, they were able to increase revenue by selling those products at full price on those particular days, and improving product placement between the two (would love to hear the story of how they got the diapers closer to the beer!).

OK, so here we are halfway through this Green AV column and you haven’t heard a word about sustainability or AV... well, here goes. I see two ways that we, as AV professionals, can participate in the big data trend -- mostly as it relates to what I’ve been calling Smart AV. As I see it, Smart AV is an audiovisual system that is designed to produce an improved quality of experience for the user, influences better business results and will improve the impact on the environment.

And, if we’re talking Smart AV, then we must discuss intelligent buildings. How do they become intelligent? By collecting data about all of the factors in an environment, performing analysis of this data and ultimately creating predictive technologies that will anticipate the needs and behaviors of the inhabitants. And this absolutely includes data to make your building greener (mostly in terms of energy efficiency), which we should easily be able to provide! As a matter of fact, you might just want to check out the impressive Green Building Council database on building efficiency at Gbig.org and see where we fit.

You know how the pro AV market was long intimidated by the encroachment of IT on our industry? Well, before long, with the data and information we can gather and supply with our networked systems, we may just see those IT peeps holding roundtable discussion groups at their annual conferences about the best ways to manage (or, better yet, cooperate with) the expansion of the AV market into their traditional territory.

Midori Connolly is the founder of AVGirl Productions in California. She wrote the first-ever set of Sustainable Staging best practices after discovering none existed. She was the co-chair of the AV committee for the ASTM Standard for Environmentally Sustainable Meetings and is a speaker, writer and consultant for green practices in live events and meeting planning. Reach her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Add a comment

Today Dukane announced a new addition to its voice augmentation line of microphones in the form of the new I-Hear 1. The I-Hear 1 is a pole-mounted speaker unit that contains the amplifier and speaker. Designed for classrooms to add amplification for a teacher, it includes a lightweight transmitter on a lanyard with volume adjustment knob and has a range of 55 feet using RF at 2.4GHz (same as 802.11b WiFi). It automatically selects any of 20 separate channels and comes complete with lapel mic, transmitter and speaker unit. Dukane says the system uses a rechargeable Lithium battery for eight-plus hours of operation. It lists for $299.

Here are all the specs: http://www.dukane.com/av/default.asp Add a comment

Earlier this month a very important person in our industry asked me a very straightforward question: Have we (the AV/IT industry) proven that there is a market for sustainable technology? In other words, do we believe there is a sizable group of buyers out there willing to pay a little more to have their projects undergo the STEP process? I answered honestly that I wasn’t sure how big that pool was, nor was I sure where the pain threshold lay in terms of additional fees to deliver a more sustainable system. Since then, I’ve been thinking long and hard about this question.

From my own experience I can certainly point to enterprise clients my firm has engaged and projects we have won based, in part, on our leadership in sustainability. I have pitched STEP on many occasions and seen the “aha moment” in peoples’ eyes as they understand the imminent logic of having not only a sustainable core building, but also that same sustainability mindset applied to the technology coursing throughout their building. It’s just an obvious follow through that aligns with what many clients are already doing in terms of their building programs.

However, we also have been living through four years of a pretty tough economy in the construction industry, and while our industry has fared better than most, our partners in the architectural and construction community have not been having a lot of fun. Thus, fees have been reduced all throughout the design and construction process, and “sustainability” has morphed into a gallows-humor term about simply staying in business another year as opposed to doing something good for future generations.

We also live in an era, I believe, of post-recession, green-rating-system fatigue. LEED doesn’t have the luster it had a few years ago. In many architecture firms it’s almost become a commodity. I’ve heard several architects say that LEED has become so second nature to them that it’s hard for them to not deliver a LEED-Silver building anymore. Their specs are just set up that way. I’ve also been in more and more project kickoff meetings where owners say they want the design team to follow LEED principles, but they (the owner) will not be paying tens of thousands of dollars just to get a pretty LEED plaque for the lobby of their building. It is against this backdrop that we are trying to introduce these same owners to STEP.

However, there are also some clients who want to push way beyond LEED. They are ready for something more. They want a smart, sustainable building, and some even want to go net-zero if they can only find the partners who can take them there.
We seem to be at a crossroad of sorts.

Over the past five and half years I’ve written 41 articles—more than 44,000 words—on this little topic of green AV. That’s almost the length of an average non-fiction book. What a long, strange trip it’s been.

Back in the summer of 2007 when I wrote my first article, everything about sustainability was new—at least to our industry. We were busy learning strange acronyms like VOC (volatile organic compounds) and RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances); new terms like heat-island effect, load shedding and carbon credits; and exploring new associations like the U.S. Green Building Council to see if this was a place to learn and network with like-minded people.

The modern environmental movement, which had begun in earnest with the publication of Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” in 1962 and had grown in the 1970s with cultural signposts like the No Nukes concert, the beginning of the annual Earth Day celebrations and the ubiquitous Keep America Beautiful commercials with the iconic image if a crying Iron Eyes Cody, came into sharp relief in 2006 with the release of “An Inconvenient Truth.” This film, combined with reading “Cradle to Cradle,” is what made environmental awareness jump from like 50th on my list of things I thought and cared about to somewhere up in my top 10 list. It changed me, both personally and professionally. The cars my wife and I drove in 2006 averaged under 20 miles per gallon. Today, my family owns only hybrids that average well over 40 miles per gallon. My company, which had nothing to say about sustainability prior to 2007, is now winning business because we are known for our thought leadership on this issue. And along the way I have had the pleasure of building relationships with people who inspire me with their passion for this topic.

However, the questions still remain: How big of a market is there for sustainable technology and how much will people be willing to pay for it? How can we best make the ROI argument to justify the cost, or is that the wrong paradigm altogether?

Perhaps we should focus on the real special sauce we bring to the party: making a building smart and the owners who occupy it even smarter. Think about a smart phone or a smart car. If you’ve bought new car recently, did you create an ROI spreadsheet on what the Bluetooth, navigation, rear-view camera, etc, payback period was, or did you just say, “I want a car that has all that smart stuff in it. It will make me more efficient and safer in my travels.” The same goes for a smart phone. I’m starting to think we need to pivot our pitch toward the benefits of smart without losing sight of the positive aspects of sustainability.

So that’s what I intend to do, and with that declaration I have a little announcement to make: This will be my last monthly EcoSystems article. While it has been a great joy to be able to express myself each month in this column, I want to spend some time with my head down figuring out where this movement is going and see what I can learn. I hope to pop up a few times a year with updates on that quest, but I will be handing over this column space to my good buddy, Raymond Kent, one of this year’s recipients of the InfoComm Green AV Award. You guys are in good hands with Ray. We all have lots to learn from him. And Midori, keep marching on, sister. I’m rooting for you.

Before I close I have three thank yous: First and foremost, I want to thank Gary Kayye for this opportunity. I had only two conditions when Gary asked me to write for rAVe: I wanted to be able to say whatever I wanted to say, and I essentially wanted to be left alone and remain an independent voice in this cause. Gary, to his credit, gave me the freedom to say everything I wanted to say and allowed me to keep my voice independent in these columns. To Gary, Sara and everyone at rAVe, I appreciate you keeping your word and working with me for the past two and half years, even as I pushed my deadlines to the bitter end each month.

Second, I have to thank my faithful editor and monthly nag, Julie Benz. Julie, it’s been a wonderful ride trying to write an article each month that you would find better than the last one. You were always my target audience, and if I could make you laugh or inspire you, then I knew I had something. And thank you for teaching me grammar all along the way. You make it look like I was paying attention in college English class.

Lastly, I want to thank all the readers and friends out there who have inspired me over these past years. For all of you who forwarded one of my articles to your associates, tweeted about my column, or simply sent me a nice email, I greatly appreciate it. It can be a lonely place sitting in front of a flashing cursor every month wondering if I really had anything to say, but you guys kept me going when I doubted myself.

I’m not done with this journey, not by a long shot. I do firmly believe we have a valuable proposition to make to our clients. I’m just rolling up my sleeves for the next five years.

Always be closing. Walker out. (Drops mic.)

Scott Walker, CTS-D, LEED® AP, is president and CEO of Waveguide Consulting, a leading AV, IT and acoustical consulting firm. He is also a past president of InfoComm International. Scott is recognized as being one of the primary forces behind the founding of the Sustainable Technology Environments Program (STEP) rating system and currently is a member of the STEP Foundation board, which is responsible for managing the STEP program. Scott can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Add a comment

MXL Microphones' new FR-500WK is basically a kit comprised of the FR-500WT Transmitter and the FR-500WR Receiver, plus accessories geared toward DSLR users. The MXL FR-500WK lets videographers add audio to video without the need for cables.   

The FR-500WK Wireless Audio System is designed for interviews and field reporting, with a range of up to 280 meters in a straight line of view. Distinguishing features include easy access group and channel controls, a wide frequency response from 40Hz to 18kHz, and an Ultra High Frequency from 566.25 to 589.75. Other features include:

• 64 channel selections. (4 groups x 16 channels)
• LED lights indicate different channel groups.
• Long transmission range: up to 280m in line of sight
• Long battery life (2x AA): up to 10 hrs

The FR-500WT Transmitter has a built-in microphone, 1/8" (3.5 mm) mic jack and line in. A discreet omni lavalier microphone is included. The FR-500WR Receiver has a built-in speaker, 1/8" (3.5 mm) headphone jack and line out. A hot shoe adapter and a 1/8” to 1/8” cable are included to mount the receiver on top of a DSLR camera. A 1/8” to XLR male cable and ¼” adapter are included to connect the receiver to mixers and other pro audio gear. Additionally, the receiver can be used with headphones and a recording device.

Here are all the details: http://www.mxlmics.com/microphones/Kits/ Add a comment

Pacific Media Associates (PMA) has released its latest industry forecasts for the worldwide projector market. An 18 percent growth rate -- to 11.3 million units worldwide -- is expected for the projector industry in 2013. And, there are some especially bright spots in several industry segments which are expected to  contribute significantly to this growth.

Solid state illumination (SSI) projectors are expected to outperform the overall market, though growth continues to be hindered somewhat by ongoing budget constraints in the U.S. and Western European education markets. Despite that, PMA anticipates strong future growth for this segment based on the expectation that several additional manufacturers will begin selling SSI projectors beginning in 2013.

While the D-Cinema conversions for major cinema chains worldwide is slowing, a crop of new lower-cost models geared at smaller, independent theaters and other public venues will continue to move this segment forward at a better pace than previous forecasts showed. This is especially true in China, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.

The PMA forecast for the worldwide home theater market is also positive, with the expectation for solid growth in future years, as home theater projector trends will be positively impacted by major sporting events such as the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, 2016 Euro Football in France, and the 2016 Winter Olympics in Brazil.

Another area of strong anticipated growth is in the New Era Integrated projector segment, for models built-in to other host devices, such as cell phones, cameras and camcorders. PMA has forecast a very strong 68% growth rate for this segment, to over 1.4 million units worldwide in 2013, and expects unit volume to again more than double in 2014. Add a comment

There is no doubt that the big news (and hype) from CES 2013 will be around 4K or UHDTV panels, monitors and TVs. They deserve to be recognized and promoted, but I suspect they will be over hyped. The hype bubble will burst when consumers realize they want one, but they have pay a huge premium for this resolution. Even the manufacturers acknowledge that they won’t be selling many UHDTVs in the next couple of years – but they just can’t stop the marketing machine that will promote this next big thing. Remember how 3D was the next big thing at CES 2010 and a pretty big thing at CES 2011?  Many professionals, consumers and journalists have formed an opinion about 3D (good, bad or neutral), and there is not a lot of discussion, hype or buzz around this topic today in the U.S. (that’s not the case outside the U.S.). Nevertheless, there is a lot more activity going on in 3D than most realize.  While much of the activity is focused on content creation, 4K will give the technology a big boost too. At CES, I will be focusing on 3D and 4K developments, primarily. I will also be creating video news articles at the event, so if you want to set up a meeting, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . One event you need to be aware of is a special conference being put together by The International 3D Society and 3D @ Home Consortium called “3D’s 20/20 Vision.” For those interested in 3D, these sessions offer a great opportunity to learn about 3D and interact with some of the best innovators in the industry. The sessions are listed below (I’ll be moderating the 3D: Eye Can See Clearly Now – The New Prescription session) 3D’s 20/20 Vision Overview – January 8, 2013 – N262 1-1:30 p.m.  The Big Picture: 2013 Preview 1:30-2:15 p.m.  3DTV World View 2013 2:15-2:45 p.m. The Summer Olympics London: 3D’s Historic First 2:45-3:15 p.m. 3D Consumer Connection – The CE/Content Partnership 3:15-3:45 p.m. 3D Anywhere, Anytime – Theatrical to Tablets 3:45-4:25 p.m. 3D: Eye Can See Clearly Now – The New Prescription 4:25-5 p.m. From HD to Ultra Hi-Def to Auto Stereo Register: http://cesweb.org/Conference-Program/Conference-Tracks.aspx See full agenda: http://www.display-central.com/3d/i3ds-and-3dhome-sponsor-3d-conference-at-ces-2013/ But as the title of this article suggests, 3D loves 4K. Have you noticed that the new crop of 84” UHDTVs for consumers all offer passive polarized 3D, while the HiSense 4K TV offers active 3D (with 3840×2160 resolution per eye!)? These offer outstanding 3D images, folks. I also expect to see glasses-free 3D displays using 4K panels. StreamTV Networks has a press conference on Monday and tells us they will be showing 50” and 60” models that will be offered at affordable prices. I will be very curious to see the image quality. In addition, the company is discussing setting up special Ultra-D 2160p transcoders at broadcaster head-ends to deliver formatted content directly to the TVs for optimal image quality. I suspect this is a version of a 2D plus depth format, but we will let you know more later. And this is the tip of the 4K and 3D iceberg.  Keep checking our Display Central web site as we post stories and videos from CES 2013.

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Much has been written about best practices in the deployment of digital signage networks. Starting with content and content strategy, hardware and software choices, operations and physical deployment, there is much to consider. Many of these choices are easier to make when the network and the endpoints have a single owner, such as a corporate-owned retail network or a campus network. In an aggregated, place-based network such as those located in medical waiting rooms, public areas or bars, there is one network owner calling the shots on execution and usually multiple endpoint owners with specific needs that must be met. One segment that has vast potential and specific needs is that of franchised operations and dealerships. This article will examine the opportunities and challenges in the deployment of digital signage in franchise and dealer locations.

According to the International Franchise Association's 2012 Franchise Business Economic Outlook, retail automotive, food, restaurant and lodging franchises represent 400,120 establishments (locations), generating $451.3 billion in revenue. Those numbers do not include the huge business services sector, which has a mixture of retail- and service-oriented businesses. They also do not include product distribution franchises such as auto and truck dealers. Clearly, retail franchise businesses represent a very large, important, and growing sector of the economy. Dealerships are also a large economic force. Automotive dealers represent the largest sector. The National Automobile Dealer Association reported that 17,700 new vehicle dealerships in the U.S. drove $512 billion in 2010 revenue. But dealerships are not limited to cars. There are also truck, sporting equipment, appliance and many other types of product distribution dealerships with established retail locations. There are nuances to understand when looking at these important markets.

Franchises and dealerships generally leverage a brand and centralized marketing to support retail locations owned and operated by business partners aligned with the franchisor or brand. The franchisees and dealers are independent business owners, and usually have the ability to make localized decisions with regard to technology and marketing beyond any obligations to fund and/or participate in centralized campaigns. Making a capital investment to deploy digital signage is a relatively straightforward process for a corporation, where a single signature can commit the resources to deploy hundreds or thousands of sites. That is not the case in a franchise environment. Franchisees and dealers are generally small businesses and typically prioritize a marketing-driven investment in digital signage lower than the franchisor or brand owner might. Given the option to spend thousands of dollars to get started, many will defer or pass altogether. In the absence of a contractually mandated deployment, which is typically difficult to achieve for capital items that are not operationally oriented, getting the buy-in to achieve a network of scale can be difficult. But it is certainly not impossible. Getting it done has similarities to the typical internal corporate process, but special steps must be taken to meet the needs of the franchisee and dealer partners.

Building the ROI story

Digital signage is a method of presenting brand messaging, location information and communicating with customers that requires investment and ongoing care and feeding. It can either augment or replace traditional signage programs already in place. As such, it is often difficult for franchisees and dealers to justify the capital expenditure in the context of their day-to-day business. If a digital signage initiative is to be accepted across a franchisee or dealer base, then it must have a strong sponsor at the franchisor/brand level, and that sponsor must demonstrate to its partners that there is a strong return on investment.

The ROI story begins with clear and measurable objectives for the initiative. This could include increased unit sales of promoted items, higher average ticket, customer satisfaction, greater frequency of customer visits, or any number of other desired outcomes. Once the objectives are clear, a pilot program with one or more willing and influential franchisees or dealers can be designed to measure results in test and control locations. In addition to producing valuable data that can be used to help the entire franchisee/dealer base to understand the value of digital signage to them, a pilot also provides an initial learning base related to content and operations. Both the data and the lessons learned can be used to iterate a continuously better product. A successful pilot can be the basis for a strong marketing campaign to the entire base.

Leveraging the brand

Most brands and franchisors have invested large amounts of capital in development of their brand messaging. Many spend big dollars on an ongoing basis to market the brand on TV, online, in print, at trade shows and much more. As a result, they have assets, people, processes and partners in place to develop and adapt content that would be appropriate for a digital signage program. Perhaps the biggest lift that a franchisor or brand can provide to its partners in the field is to assume the cost of developing and managing content. Of course, that also implies the assumption of control of the content, which is essential for consistency of message and adherence to branding standards. Brands and franchisors should not overlook their social media efforts as a source of engaging content for the digital signage network. Social media has proven to be highly engaging for customers, offering them a chance to become part of the brand's community, whether that be via Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, or other social media channels. Providing great content, the backbone of an engaging and successful digital signage network, is the first step to making the decision to adopt the technology an easy one for franchisees.

Creating a program that makes sense

The relationship between the franchisor or brand and its franchisees and dealers can vary greatly. Not every program can be made mandatory, especially ones that involve capital expenditure as digital signage does. Therefore, the creation of a program on the foundation of a good ROI case and investment at the brand level is essential to gain buy-in from a substantial majority of the retail base. Beyond the internal marketing and co-investment, a centrally managed (and possibly subsidized) leasing program can make it easy for the franchisees and dealers to budget the investment as a monthly expense. In some cases, it can make good sense to "bundle" a digital signage program with a centrally negotiated broadband package, as broadband has become another utility and has many uses beyond the relatively low requirements of digital signage. Creating value, ROI and partnership in a digital signage marketing initiative makes good sense.

Centralizing operations without sacrificing localized control

Managing the content centrally provides control and consistency of messaging, as mentioned above. It allows the heavy lifting of programming a far-flung network to be carried out efficiently, and is generally a good idea. That said, it is critical to support some level of local control to recognize the uniqueness of each location and to allow for variations in merchandise mix, geography, and customer preference. Providing this type of local input is an excellent way to engage the franchisees and dealers in the program. One method for doing so is the use of a Web-based portal that gives local managers the ability to fine-tune their playlist from pre-approved messages, or to add custom pieces within the framework of a playlist. The two important concepts in providing local input are to essentially firewall local users from the central application and to have clear guidelines (and possibly approval procedures) for insertion of local content.

Integration with other systems

Digital signage can be a very effective tool on its own. However, its value is greatly increased when it is integrated with other systems. Price and item content can be synched with inventory and POS applications. The emerging integration point for digital signage is mobile applications. The ability to use the digital sign as an activation point to engage customers on their own devices with a branded application or Web experience is very valuable. Today such activation largely occurs via calls to action in the video content, SMS messaging and QR codes. In the not-too-distant future, we expect Near Field Communications (NFC) to be the dominant linkage between digital signage, mobile devices and POS. A customer can be attracted by a video promoting a coupon special, receive the coupon by waving his/her smartphone at an NFC hotpot, and then redeem the coupon and pay for the transaction with another wave at POS. NFC integration has the potential to be a customer marketing game-changer.

Continuous improvement and re-invention of the network

Once a digital signage network is rolled out beyond the initial pilot, it is important to continuously improve the network, its content and its effectiveness. One way to do so is to identify best practices that bubble up from the local users, and then to proliferate them to all users. Another is to learn from customers both through surveys and interviews as well as analysis of data. Testing content, promotions and messages in segments of the network before rolling them out is also a smart way to leverage the ability of digital signage systems to segment the distribution of content effectively and to very rapidly make global changes as required. The digital signage network should evolve, just as the underlying brand does. Given the powerful tools of digital media and the flexibility of digital signage platforms, there is no reason to have a network get stale. In this context, re-invention is really just a reflection of re-investment in a valuable asset.

The unique operating environment of franchised and dealer-based businesses requires a differentiated approach to the deployment of digital signage networks. While the decentralized nature of the retail presence often makes the decision to get started a more complicated matter than a typical corporate effort, engaging franchisees and dealers in a brand marketing effort can have very significant benefits for the brand and its partners.

Copyright © Platt Retail Institute 2012 and reprinted with permission. All rights reserved. See the entire PRI Resource Library at http://www.plattretailinstitute.org/library.

This column was reprinted with permission from the Digital Signage Connection and originally appeared here.

Ken Goldberg has been the CEO of Real Digital Media since 2004, where his experience in information technology, retail systems and entrepreneurship have all been put to use. Add a comment

Sony introduced this week the new S-series LCD line, which completes the company's transition from CFL-based backlighting to LED-based backlighting for its LCD displays. The S-series is available in both 42" (FWD-S42H2) and 46" models (FWD-S46H2) and utilizes an edge-lit LED. They are specified at 700 cd/m2 brightness and are integrated with DICOM simulated gamma settings for medical reference use. They have both VGA and HDMI inputs as well as HD-SDI/SDI. Control is RS232 or Ethernet and the displays can be mounted in portrait or landscape orientation.

Here are the specs for the FWD-S42H2: http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/product-FWDS42H2/
Here are the specs for the FWD-S46H2 http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/product-FWDS46H2/ Add a comment

Sony two newest projectors are the VPL-FH36 and VPL-FH31, which are both 3LCD projectors designed for installs and rentals. They are spec'd with 5,200 lumens and 4,300 lumens (non-ANSI) brightness, respectively, and a 2000:1 contrast ratio. Offering native WXGA resolution (1920x1200), these projectors have HDMI, VGA, DVI and RGBHV input ports, have Ethernet content delivery and control and include up to vertical optical lens shift of +60% -0% and horizontal optical lens shift of +/-32%.

Both models are available in white or black enclosures and have PIP and Picture by Picture Image Projection.

Here are the specs of the VPL-FH31: http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/product-VPLFH31/W/
Here are the specs for the VPL-FH36: http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/product-VPLFH36/W/ Add a comment

Almo Pro A/V today announced a new distribution relationship with TouchSystems, designer of customized touch-enabled products. As a result, Almo Pro A/V reseller partners now have access to touch integrated displays and monitors from Sharp Professional and NEC Display Solutions. TouchSystems has also joined Almo’s popular traveling E4 AV Tour, which will commence in the spring of 2013, coming to Chicago in March and San Francisco in April.
 
“With TouchSystems on board, our partners now have more options to customize their displays so they can bring a new dimension of creativity to projects that require touch technology,” said Sam Taylor, executive vice president and COO for Almo Professional A/V. “NEC and Sharp Professional are some of our best-selling lines so it’s important for us to be able to provide more ways to modify the flat screens to enhance an install or become the centerpiece for an entirely new one.”
 
Carol Nordin, president of TouchSystems, said, “Our relationship with Almo has been strengthened through our collaboration on a custom design project for a national footwear retailer. An official partnership will help us to strengthen existing ties and to be able to offer more interactive large-format solutions to people in the A/V industry. We have great expectations for our partnership and look forward to what the future holds for the both of us.”

Here is TouchSystems: http://www.touchsystems.com/ Add a comment

With Vaddio’s new CeilingVIEW HD-18 DocCam document camera systems, you can add HD magnification and dimension to original objects, documents or drawings. Replacing Vaddio's CeilingVIEW HD document camera, the new CeilingVIEW HD-18 DocCAM features an 18x optical zoom lens for enhanced detail and greater zoom capabilities, and a 1.3 megapixel CCD image sensor with a 1.8-LUX for better-quality low-light performance. Users can select from either HD resolutions through Vaddio's Quick-Connect system or the analog RGBHV output on the camera backbox.

The CeilingVIEW HD-18 DocCAM is a high definition ceiling-mounted document camera system capable of 16:9 resolutions at 1080p, 1080i and 720p, and 4:3 resolutions at 480i and 576i.

Complete specs on both are here: http://www.vaddio.com/category/high-definition-document-cameras Add a comment

Video Furniture International's LFT-7000 is designed to handle LCDs that weigh up to 300 pounds and are as large as 90" diagonal. Fitted with 5" metal casters with ballbearings and non-marking wheels, the LFT-7000 includes a wiring channel inside the main pillar and has a scratch resistant powder-coated finish with a frame that's shark gray. It includes an integrated 3U rack and the display can move up and down the pillar. The LFT-7000 is 51 3/8" wide, has a 33" depth and is 71 3/4" high. It also includes a remote (for operating the TV lift so it can raise and lower on the center pillar) and is ADA compliant.

Here are all the specs: http://www.video-furn.com/m_LFT7000.html?v Add a comment

In what could be a shake-up on many levels of the projection market, Barco, today, bought a majority stake of projectiondesign. projectiondesign, a Norway-based projector manufacturer owned primarily by Herkules Capital, sold 61 percent of its stock to Barco, based in Belgium. The remaining shares of projectiondesign will be held by minority shareholders including projectiondesign's president Jorn Erickson - who, we have been told, will remain in charge of projectiondesign.

So, why is this a shake-up?

Well, for one, Barco has struggled in the projection market of late. They've simply dominated the LED market, but have not been able to keep any sizable market share in the meeting room, portable or education projection markets. In fact, they haven't been a top 5 manufacturer in any projection category (other than digital cinema) for nearly four years.

Also, projectiondesign is an OEM manufacturer for a few major brands based here in North America. Barco may decide to cut those ties and keep the projectiondesign line for themselves -- as an OEM or continue under the projectiondesign brand -- or both.

Finally, this gives Barco not only ProAV market share in projection, but also in the home cinema and home theater markets.

This will be one to watch carefully. And, expect more consolidation of projection brands in 2013 as we know of at least two other brands that are up for sale.

Below is the press release from Barco.

_________________________

Barco acquires majority share in Norway’s projectiondesign®

Barco, the Belgium-headquartered global leader in digital visualization, announced today that it has acquired 61% of the shares of projectiondesign®, a Norway-based leader in projection technology, from private equity fund Herkules Capital. The remaining shares of projectiondesign® are held by minority shareholders.

The combination of Barco and projectiondesign® creates a market leader in projection solutions for both large- and mid-venue markets. The transaction advances Barco’s strategy to expand into the mid-segment of its target markets and to strengthen its number one position in high-performance projection technology.

Projectiondesign®: state-of-the-art projection technology

Projectiondesign® develops and manufactures compact projectors for a variety of professional markets including training and simulation, visitor attractions (museums, theme parks), scientific visualization, collaboration rooms (Corporate AV) and control rooms. The compact projectors are equipped with high-quality optics, high resolution and LED illumination, and feature quiet operation. The company custom-designs and develops all optics, hardware, software and industrial design for each projector model in-house. Founded in 2001, projectiondesign® is headquartered in Fredrikstad, Norway, and has 17 international offices. Projectiondesign® employs about 200 people and achieved sales of approximately €57 million in 2011.

Increased market share in the mid-venue market

“Projectiondesign® is a very well respected leader for projectors in the below 10k lumens range for professional markets. The company enjoys an enviable reputation for combining innovative technology with leading design,” comments Eric Van Zele, Barco’s CEO and President. “This investment clearly underscores our determination to pursue global growth in all mid-segment markets. With projectiondesign®, we will expand our portfolio to offer state-of-the-art solutions for the Simulation, Virtual Reality and Corporate AV markets as we continue to leverage our global sales coverage and our channels in Asia and Latin America in particular.”

Highlights

• Complementary product portfolio
Projectiondesign®’s product portfolio of compact, high-quality projectors rounds out Barco’s portfolio of business, large-venue and simulation projectors.

• Complementary technology  
Barco’s focus on 3-chip DLP technology and high-brightness solutions for the large-venue market fits well with the focus of projectiondesign® on developing 1-chip DLP solutions for the mid-venue market.  This collaboration between two industrial players will open up further growth opportunities in the mid-venue market.
 
• Complementary geographic footprint
Projectiondesign® has a strong presence in Northern Europe while Barco has strong sales coverage in Asia, Latin America and Europe.  By joining forces with projectiondesign®, Barco will also increase its coverage in North America.

• Matching culture and values
Projectiondesign® and Barco share a similar entrepreneurial culture and both companies place high value on innovation and customer satisfaction.

About projectiondesign®

Projectiondesign® is a Norwegian company that designs, manufactures and markets a range of high- performance projectors and supporting systems for professional, business and consumer applications. Among its core markets are high-resolution scientific visualization, visual training and simulation, medical imaging, broadcast and post production, public media and entertainment. Projectiondesign® is located in Fredrikstad, Norway, with representatives in more than 17 offices throughout the world.

About Barco

Barco, a global technology company, designs and develops visualization products for a variety of selected professional markets. Barco has its own facilities for Sales & Marketing, Customer Support, R&D and Manufacturing in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. Barco (NYSE Euronext Brussels: BAR) is active in more than 90 countries with about 3,700 employees worldwide. Barco posted sales of 1.041 billion euro in 2011. Add a comment

Steven Emspak, partner at AV consulting firm Shen Milsom & Wilke, LLC, wasted no time when I asked, “So, how did you get into the AV industry?”

He said, “The industry is so obtuse, there is no direct path. You don’t go to school and come out with a degree in AV psychoanalysis. You evolve into this industry. It’s really, really cool. The industry has all these interesting people with very different backgrounds. I say this with all love and respect, having been in this industry a long time -- the early industry guys, myself included, were a bunch of ‘jacks of all trades, masters of none.’ The early AV guys had a roll of duct tape and a flashlight and probably told you, ‘Oh, I’ll take a look at that for you.’ That’s how a lot of people get into this industry and as a result gives us huge diversity.”

So, the long and the short of it is, Steve gradually made his way into the industry by way of the music and audio. Steve likes to refer to audio as the “forgotten stepchild of the AV community.”

As a little kid, Steve was curious about electronics. He remembers being a young child with a loudspeaker and transformer in hand -- he plugged them into the wall and they broke. There may have also been a little smoke as a result. But the thought lingered and curiosity began to build.

At the same time, Steve had been playing around with music, as kids are often want to do, but he realized there was this convergence going on between instruments and audio equipment that he continued to explore.

On Halloween in 1966, Steve was drafted into the Army. After a few tests, the Army thought Steve had an aptitude towards electronics, and so, he was shipped off to the US Army Engineering School.

Fast forward to today. Steve, a highly successful AV consultant and member of the famous (infamous maybe?) AV band the Drunk Unkles, has one more thing he’s dealing with these days that many people may not know about: the loss of his hearing. Steve, an AV guy and a musician, wears hearing aids -- and is almost deaf without them.

In January of 2006, Steven was attending a NAMM show and at the back of the room they had the H.E.A.R. institute doing free hearing screenings, so he decided to get checked out.

As he came out from the test, the audiologist was holding the test results and asked Steven, “Do you look closely both ways before you cross the street?” He said, “It’s that bad, huh?” The audiologist replied, “Yes. It’s that bad.” His hearing, at this point, is degenerative. It’ll only continue to worsen.

Steve spoke of what his hearing loss is attributed, saying, “It was years and years of sticking my head in speakers and spending time at concerts and in nightclubs where sound systems were so huge my chest was caving in and we’d come and our ears would be ringing and we’d think it was awesome. And today, I think that it isn’t cool -- it wasn’t cool. Why? Because today I can’t hear.” And that is a significant price to pay, with no refunds available.

He says, “We’re stupid. We don’t pay attention to the stuff going on around us -- and at some point in the future, it may impact us -- positively or negatively. First it was in the context of architecture and now in the context of hearing loss.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“What I mean,” Steve replied, “is, that things happen around us naturally. All kinds of things. A building goes up next to you. You remember seeing the notice, you remember learning about the construction, and you had the opportunity to say, ‘No, I don’t want that building there,’ but it’s too late. The building is there and you’ve lost the view, you’ve lost your sight or whatever. My brain transitions that same thought to hearing loss. I remember spending time trying to figure out what that buzz in the cabinet was and I’d tell the sound guy to ‘turn it up’ and there I am with my head in a speaker with the sound blaring. We weren’t paying attention, we all knew that sooner or later it would become a problem, we are not invincible!”

Steve is clearly passionate about this issue. He believes it’s his job, the job of his generation, to raise awareness -- especially with the younger generation -- to help them avoid ignorance.

“We [the AV industry] have an obligation to raise awareness. Even though the audio component has become a stepchild to video (and that will rear its head and come and bite us very soon!), as humans we cannot communicate as well if we can’t hear. And we can prevent it.”

Steve also spoke of other preventative measures, saying, “Don’t ignore it. Get your hearing checked, even if you think nothing’s wrong. If you’ve been walking around with those earbuds too loud, you’re bound to do damage at some point. Pay attention. Get tested. Understand what’s going on. Don’t be an idiot and believe that you are invincible because you are not.”

So, what does Steve do when he’s not being an AV consultant and raising awareness of hearing loss? Well, he’s probably spending time with his wife Meryl or his two daughters, Stacey, 29, and Danielle, 25.

Steve lives out on Long Island with his wife, but a number a years ago, they bought an old farm house in the epicenter of the musical community of New York state: Woodstock.

It’s been a solid six-year project, but Steve and Meryl have been remodeling the old home and rebuilding it piece by piece, soon to tackle re-building the outhouse!

“Work is work, and it’s fun,” he said. “You can involve your family and friends in that, but you need to spend time with them. But I guess when anybody who spends a good portion of their life in a particular industry, gradually, your friends and family are that industry. And I like to think they’re all my friends and a part of my family.”

Well said, Steve. Well said.

Molly Stillman is the director of marketing and new business development for rAVe [Publications]. Reach her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Do you know someone in the industry with an interesting story that should be featured in our monthly column? This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and let her know. Add a comment

Extron's new DTP HDMI 330 is a long-distance transmitter and receiver set for long distance transmission of HDMI, audio and bi-directional RS232 and IR control signals up to 330 feet (100 meters) over a single CATx cable. The HDCP-compliant extender provides an effective means for extending HDMI with embedded multi-channel audio from HDMI-equipped devices. In addition, the DTP HDMI 330 accepts analog stereo audio signals and digitizes them for simultaneous transmission over the same twisted pair cable.

The DTP HDMI 330 is compatible with CAT5e, CAT6 and CAT7 twisted pair cable and can be used as a point-to-point solution or integrated with an HDMI matrix switcher to extend inputs or outputs to remote locations. It supports signal resolutions up to 1080p/60 and 1920x1200 and supports HDMI specification features including data rates up to 6.75 Gbps, Deep Color up to 12-bit, 3D, HD lossless audio formats and CEC. For added flexibility, either the transmitter or receiver can be powered over the original twisted pair cable, allowing both devices to share one external power supply.

Here are all the specs: http://www.extron.com/company/article.aspx?id=dtphdmi330 Add a comment

AmpliVox Sound Systems has introduced a new rechargeable battery pack option for its updated Mity-Meg Plus (S602M) 25-watt megaphone. The company says the quick-charging S1405 lithium-ion battery pack replaces conventional alkaline batteries to maintain the Mity-Meg’s sound amplification for up to 40 hours of typical use. The battery pack also weighs far less than conventional batteries, making the Mity-Meg Plus lighter and easier to use for extended periods.

The new S1405 battery pack offers a number of advantages to alkaline batteries, including:

• Reduced Weight: The new Mighty-Meg Plus with the optional S1405 lithium-ion battery pack weighs just 2.65 pounds, 30 percent less than a comparable model with disposable batteries.
• Longer Battery Life: With up to 40 hours of use time per charge, the S1405 easily surpasses the use time of alkaline batteries.
• Lower Operating Cost: The S1405 eliminates the need to frequently replace disposable batteries.
• Green Conscious: Rechargeable batteries are an environmentally friendly choice, reducing the number of toxic disposable batteries in landfills.
• Always Ready: The S1405 holds its charge when not in use for up to six months, and can be fully charged from any power outlet in four hours using its integrated wall charger.

The Mity-Meg Plus is AmpliVox’s most powerful megaphone, with an effective range of up to one mile. Using Piezo microphone technology, it delivers up to 40 percent longer battery life than other megaphones. The Mity-Meg’s plastic construction is weatherproof and shockproof. It can be used in talk, siren and whistle modes with adjustable volume control. The Mity-Meg Plus also includes an integrated battery level indicator, detachable corded mic, pistol grip and shoulder strap.

For more information on the AmpliVox S602M Mity-Meg Plus and the S1405 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack, visit http://blog.ampli.com/2012/12/rechargeable-megaphone-with-optional-battery-pack.html or http://www.ampli.com/pdf/spec-s602m.pdf Add a comment

Emotiva Audio Corporation introduced this month an affordable new preamp/surround processor, the UMC-200.
 
The UMC-200 includes Emotiva’s new EmoQ Gen 2 enhanced multi-channel automatic room correction, which the company says automatically adjusts your home theater system to match room acoustics for easy setup. All you have to do is plug in the included calibration microphone and let EmoQ set up the system. All adjustments can also be set manually too, including a flexible quadruple bass management system, eleven user programmable fully parametric equalizers per channel and configurable speaker crossover points and slopes. There are outputs for both balanced and unbalanced subwoofers, and the ability to bi-amp the main front channels.
 
The UMC-200 offers four HDMI inputs, which Emotiva says are equipped with quick switching technology. It has a Video-On-Standby feature that can send audio and video to a TV even when UMC-200 is switched into standby mode. Last Video Memory lets users continue to view the last selected video input while listening to an audio-only source.
 
The UMC-200’s 7.1 multichannel surround sound decoder capabilities include DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS Neo:6, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, and Pro Logic IIz. Audio connections include four pairs of stereo analog inputs and a separate 7.1 channel set of pure analog direct inputs for connecting an SACD player or external surround source, plus a full assortment of digital audio inputs (including two Toslink, two Coax S/PDIF inputs and 24-bit/192-kHz decoding). An optional Bluetooth module, which includes support for the latest apt-X high-quality audio CODECs, facilitates wireless connectivity too. Audio outputs on the UMC-200 include a full set of 7.1 main outputs, a balanced subwoofer output, a separate stereo down-mix output and two fully assignable stereo zone outputs.

The UMC-200 is available now for $699 list. For more information, go to http://shop.emotiva.com/products/umc200 Add a comment

Digital Signage Expo (DSE) will offer an all-new comprehensive four-part Hardware, Software & Connectivity Seminar Program that will showcase the latest technologies in software, video players, video walls and streaming video technologies.

Because hardware, software and connectivity choices are evolving rapidly, DSE’s Hardware, Software & Connectivity Seminar Program, to be presented in Las Vegas Feb. 27-28, 2013, is designed to help network operators and administrators sort through the wealth of choices to better identify what will work for them.

Topics to be covered include:

• How to assess and choose the right software for your project
• How to build hardware specs and choose the right digital signage player
• Best practices for adding live video
• Advances in multi-display technologies

For industry professionals who have obtained Digital Signage Expert Group (DSEG) certification, each seminar they attend counts toward one DSEG renewal credit.

Registration for the trade show and the Seminar Program is now available here: http://www.digitalsignageexpo.net Add a comment

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Energy Efficiency Standardization Coordination Collaborative (EESCC) is soliciting input regarding relevant standards, codes, guidelines and conformance programs that are available or under development, and what perceived gaps in energy efficiency standardization and conformance activities currently exist.

The EESCC has set up online forms to make it easy for stakeholders to submit information about relevant standardization documents (standards, codes, guidelines, and regulations), conformance programs, and standardization gaps. Submissions should consider the following questions:

• What standardization documents or conformance programs related to the built environment currently exist and what are on the horizon?
• What is the goal of the document or conformance program in question?
• Who is the standardization document or conformance program intended to serve, and how is it being used in the market?
• Is the document or conformance program being implemented at the state or federal level?
• What building types does the document or conformance program apply to?

Submissions regarding major gaps, challenges, or untapped opportunities in the energy standardization landscape are also encouraged. Submitters are asked to explain why the gap is a priority, who the affected stakeholders are, and how the gap could be addressed by the public or private sector.

Here are the forms:

Online entry form for documents (standards, codes, guides, and regulations): http://toolswiki.ansi.org/tiki-index.php?page=EESCCSInputForm

Online entry form for conformance programs: http://toolswiki.ansi.org/tiki-index.php?page=EESCCCInputForm

Online entry form for potential gaps in the standardization landscape: http://toolswiki.ansi.org/tiki-index.php?page=EESCCGInputForm Add a comment

USAV, an association of leading professional audiovisual integrators, announced today that it has named distributor Almo Professional A/V the newest USAV Preferred Manufacturer Partner, effective Jan. 1, 2013. USAV’s national alliance of members now have access to Almo Pro A/V’s professional product lines, sales team and business development managers, distribution centers and education programs.

Sam Taylor, EVP/COO for Almo Professional A/V, says “The USAV Preferred Manufacturer Partner program is made up of a selective group of suppliers that can best serve the growth needs and interests of USAV’s elite integrator community and it is a privilege to now be among this leadership. We are confident that our product offering and access, brand-specific business development managers, CTS certified sales team and multitude of marketing and education programs will provide valuable business opportunities for USAV members.”

USAV will have access to the entire Almo Pro A/V line card of 30 manufacturers including ComQi, Key Digital, NanoLumens, Panasonic Displays, Panasonic Projectors, Panasonic Broadcast, QSC, SunbriteTV, ZeeVee and the consumer product lines for Panasonic, Samsung and Sharp.

USAV supports ProAV dealers with two levels of membership. The USAV buying group provides preferred pricing and cash rebates for members buying product from USAV Preferred Manufacturer Partners. The integration services group provides the same purchasing power, and also gives members the opportunity to participate in meetings where executives from USAV integration companies collaborate.

Learn more about USAV here: http://www.usavgroup.net

Learn more about Almo Professional A/V here: http://www.almoproav.com Add a comment

Sanus is now shipping its ELM806 PowerBridge, an in-wall power and cable management system that allows users the ability to hide power, video and other cables discreetly behind the wall and out of plain sight.

The ELM806 PowerBridge features:

• In-wall power connectors ensure simple snap connection without the need for an electrician
• Perfect for wall mounts, creating more usable space behind a mounted TV
• Recessed, in-wall installation provides cable management to conceal component cables for a flawless finished look
• Hardware and template included for easy installation

To see all the specs, click here: http://www.sanus.com/us/en/products/elements/accessories-miscellaneous/ELM806 Add a comment

Key Digital introduced today a new line of HDMI cables, called the Champion Series Hi-Fi Commercial PRO HDMI Cables, designed specifically for commercial applications. The cables range from 1.5 feet up to 75 feet. The Champion Series cables are equipped with the latest HDMI features, including 4K resolution support, 3D, HDMI Ethernet and Audio Return Channel. They also support next generation of digital audio bit-streams including Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD Master Audio. They also offer what Key Digital is calling IQ Control technology, a configurable Control line over HDMI that supports any two of the following: CEC, ARC, IR or RS232. To see all the specs, click here [PDF]: http://keydigital.com/Downloads/Champion/2012_Champion_HDMI_Cables.pdf

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SnapAV is introducing a line of BINARY HDBaseT extenders that the company says can send HD video (up to 4K resolution), as well as audio, IR, power and RS232 control signals over Cat5e or Cat6 up to 230 feet. They say the extenders can even transmit HDMI video (including HDMI with 3D) with Deep Color (36 bit) and HDCP 2.0, as well as support Dolby True HD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD Master and LPCM audio formats.

In addition, SnapAV's extenders support the POC (Power Over Cable) option in HDBaseT so you can send power over the same Cat5e/6 cable that extends your video, audio and control signals, eliminating the need for a power supply next  to the receiver.

Here are all the specs: http://www.snapav.com/p-1326-b-500-ext-230-rs.aspx Add a comment

Korean TV panel makers are in the process of adjusting their priorities. The adjustment is mainly due to difficulties in commercializing AMOLED TV, but also to the fact that the outlook for 4Kx2K (ultra-high definition) TV is becoming more promising.

Since the beginning of 2012, when both Samsung and LG Display demonstrated 55” AMOLED TV at CES, both have been claiming they will mass-produce large size AMOLED TVs panel within the year. However the commercialization plan has been delayed repeatedly. At the same time, aggressive pricing of some large size LCD TV on Black Friday and the resulting sales shows that, for many end users, a larger and cheaper LCD TV is more attractive than a high-end, slim, and fancy OLED TV. The emphasis on AMOLED TV has been reduced, and the new focus is on the high definition.

A fundamental challenge for AMOLED TV remains manufacturing yield. Pilot production indicates that 55” AMOLED TV panel straight yield (without repair) is in single digits due to instability in the large backplanes (using LTPS or oxide TFT). Total yield (after repair) is estimated to be less than 30 percent. Finally, frit encapsulation is too fragile for large area TV, and is resulting in reduced panel life.

Because of the high manufacturing costs, 55” AMOLED TV set prices are expected to be in the $10K range, a very high price compared to comparable LCD TVs. Also, due to the lifespan and reliability issues, after service costs are not predictable. There may be a need for a large advertising and education campaign to highlight AMOLED’s advantages compared to LCD TV.

After IFA 2012, Korean panel makers lost some confidence in AMOLED, and began to feel that they could not justify a further investment into capacity expansion for AMOLED. At the same time, the visual quality of 4Kx2K became clearer to consumers. For panel makers, 4Kx2K LCD TV seems to be easier to manufacture than 4Kx2K AMOLED TV.

The ways in which Korean panel makers are adjusting their AMOLED and 4Kx2K TV panel development priority are shown below.

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Russian-based soft-codec VTC manufacturer TrueConf has had a desktop VTC system application that was capable of connecting Windows and Android users together for a while. Now it's MAC OS and iOS capable too.

The TrueConf video conferencing solution for OS X is designed for OS X 10.7 and its older versions. It provides video conferencing calls for the corporate video network TrueConf Server, as well as the cloud video conferencing service TrueConf Online.

Currently, TrueConf solutions for OS ? are available for download on the TrueConf website: http://trueconf.com/download/trueconf-client.dmg Add a comment

InfoComm International has announced the new Randal A. Lemke Center for Professional Development at InfoComm International headquarters in Fairfax, Va.

Built to incorporate InfoComm’s standards and designed as a STEP-rated facility, this is the ultimate AV classroom, perfect for collaboration.

The Randal A. Lemke, Ph.D. Center for Professional Development represents the lasting legacy of InfoComm International’s long-time executive director and CEO, who is retiring after 16 years of service. Randy devoted much of his career to creating and improving AV training, certification and standards programs in a quest to improve the standing and performance of the AV industry.

Sponsors that donated equipment include Crestron, Planar, AMX, Polycom, Cisco, Digital Projection, Draper, Listen Technologies, Middle Atlantic, Servoreeler Systems, Shure and SurgeX.

Watch InfoComm's video to learn more about the center: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gtZ4Pk5nhg&feature=youtu.be Add a comment

Yesterday, I was hunting through quotes by one of my favorite authors, Robert A. Heinlein. I was looking for the exact text of his famous quote about technology sufficiently developed being indistinguishable from magic.

But I came across another quote, attributed to this groundbreaking author of science fiction, although I'm sure it is probably older. And I'm sure of that because it's something I consider a basic truth, one our forefathers would have termed "self-evident."

It was: "When one teaches, two learn."

Let me explain why I believe this to be true.

I came into this industry about 28 years ago; I was a hotel manager recruited by my favorite AV company to take over the sales and marketing of their rental and staging department. My boss was Terry Friesenborg, the rental manager (now vice president of InfoComm). This was the early ‘80s, and video and data projection systems were the hot new technology in AV rental. Terry, widely acknowledged as a leader in adopting these new technologies, as well as more traditional AV technologies, had been asked by ICIA to develop and teach a new Institute course: The Fundamentals of AV Rental Operations.

But Terry was a very busy rental manager, and, while he had a good outline for the course, it was now two weeks out from that Institute, and ICIA was asking for the manual for the course so that it could be reproduced and bound for the class, which was sold out. And I could write, after a fashion. So Terry hadn't just recruited me to take over rental sales, he had recruited me to help him produce that manual.

So we stole the giant IBM Selectric typewriter from the office, and the rental department's first Compaq portable PC (the sewing machine-style one with the 7" CRT built in). And we moved into my living room. For a week.

Now, I had always been an amateur photographer and was an early computer enthusiast, and had spent time building the crystal radios that you have all heard about. I had also worked closely with Terry on staging in my capacity as a facility manager. So I was not without technical background.

So, at the end of that week, I must have been one of the most knowledgeable newbies in the history of the audiovisual industry. Imagine being able to spend a solid week of one-on-one learning with an expert who was also a good teacher. Everything I have managed to do in this industry I can trace back to that week with Terry.

At the end of that week I was so drilled up on procedures, facts and figures that Terry asked me to come to Bloomington to teach the course with him. I have always loved teaching, had done a lot of it both in school and within a hotel organization, and was really looking forward to it.

Then Terry and his wife had a baby -- the day we were due to leave for Bloomington.

Suddenly, I was the teacher. I had able help from a couple of our technicians, but the bulk of the classroom presentations would be on me.

The course was a smash success. It went on to be the bestseller among InfoComm courses for several years thereafter. And, at the time, I actually had the least amount of time actually working in the rental industry of anyone in the class.

Some of you will be reading this who did not know this until now.

Another side effect was that those basics, those procedures, those immutable laws of physics were all drilled into my head in ways that simply reading them and memorizing them never could. I came away from that class so confident in what I had learned, that I think I just went back to work and got to start in at a different level than I normally would have.

So the point of my story, and the quote from Robert Heinlein? The very best way to make any set of knowledge your own is to help pass it on to somebody else. Then you own it. Now, I’m not suggesting that any of you jump into a situation like I had. It sounds great now, but I had a number of anxiety attacks at the time. What I am suggesting is that anybody with a desire to stay on top of this technology, anybody who possesses knowledge that could help the rest of their organization, and any of you who just plain have talent for teaching get involved in doing so. Our industry organizations like InfoComm, CEDIA and NSCA all have need of good volunteer teachers. It sounds like a lot to give up a week or two of your time to teach, but trust me, you will walk away from the experience feeling much more confident in the knowledge that you possess.

Oh, and it looks pretty good on your resume, too.

(Note: if any of you have a desire to do this and are unsure of where to best utilize the knowledge that you have, or who just want to ask questions about being in industry trainer, send me an email or respond on our blog. I would be happy to help put you in touch with people that you could work with.)

rAVe Rental [and Staging] contributor Joel R. Rollins, CTS, is general manager of Everett Hall Associates, Inc. and is well known throughout the professional AV industry for his contributions to industry training and his extensive background in AV rental, staging and installation. Joel can be reached at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Add a comment

Video Furniture International (VFI) is introducing the T-526 table, designed as either a free standing table or for placement against a wall, which is purpose-built for collaboration and VTC applications. It comes with monitor mounts for single or dual screen (side-by-side) and an island for which VFI will provide custom cut-outs to fit custom AV gear (integrator specified). The table itself will seat two to six people. It's not only designed to accommodate video conference applications, but is also aimed as a meeting room table that can integrate ProAV gear. The hollow base is accessible by removable panels, for ease of wiring, and eliminates the need for any core drilling or in-wall wiring.  

You can see all the details here: http://video-furn.com/VC-Table-T526.html Add a comment

Extron's new FOX T USW 203 is a three-input switcher (VGA, component or HDMI) with an integrated fiber optic transmitter for long haul transmission of HDCP-compliant HDMI, RGBHV, or HD component video, plus stereo audio and RS232 control signals over fiber optic cabling (or over an HDMI output). The FOX T USW 203 switcher uses Extron's all-digital technology to transmit video images at resolutions up to 1920x1200, including HDTV 1080p/60 and analog AV input signals, which are converted to digital to ensure that a high quality signal is transmitted to the final destination. To streamline installation and system operation, the switcher includes integration-friendly features such as buffered HDMI output and VGA input loop-through, EDID Minder, Key Minder, audio embedding, auto-input switching, RS232 control and real-time system monitoring.

One unique feature is that you can output signals from either the HDMI port (that's buffered) or via Fiber optic (or simultaneously). You can see all the specs here: http://www.extron.com/product/product.aspx?id=foxtusw203 Add a comment

Bloomfield Knoble Inc., Harbor and StreamZap teamed up to create software that would enable the iPad to be used as a self-service kiosk for end users across a series of events. The primary goal was to have the iPad serve as digital signage, but enable users to click through the modified iPad for additional information.

The LocPad solution for Central Kansas Revival (CKR) was a self-service kiosk, although it was set up for multiple purposes, such as for digital signage by pointing people to locations such as bathrooms, which seemed to be the most common use.

CKR used the LocPads as map locators for self service; digital signage to point people to various locations (it was a big revival); digital signs announcing the event for a particular location (time and name of event -- like meeting room signage) and as a self-service donation station (3G iPads were used so people could make credit card donations). Volunteers also used LocPad iPads for internal communication, scheduling, emergencies, etc.

Bloomfield Knoble Inc., Harbor and StreamZap teamed up to create software that would enable the iPad to be used as a self-service kiosk for end users across a series of events.

CHALLENGES

The biggest challenge was working within the constraints of the iPad itself.  It is "easy" to create an application for the iPad, but the LocPad application needed to eliminate the ability of the user to leave the confines of the intended presentation (launching a different application, for example).

SOLUTIONS

Bloomfield Knoble Inc., Harbor and StreamZap created the platform named "LocPad" to enable administrators to whitelist the files they wished users to view while disabling all other functions.  This was achieved through unique code development and extending the application to the root functions of the iPad itself.

RESULTS

Representatives were able to place iPads in venues such as Central Kansas Revival (or hand directly to people) without fear of having people use them for unintended use.  The event (and others that took place in 2011) showed that the LocPad can make the iPad multipurpose without having to create different types of inventory.

This case study was reprinted with permission from the Digital Signage Connection and originally appeared here. Add a comment

Having had a successful series of roadshows over the last four years that brought AV manufacturers to the major cities in India, the full-fledged InfoComm India Exhibition and Summit has finally been launched.

Scheduled to take place from Sept. 17-19, 2013 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai, InfoComm India 2013 will bring India's ProAV industry channel as well as institutional end-users from a wide cross spectrum of vertical markets together in one place.

India is widely acknowledged as having one of the fastest growing economies in the world and is expected to emerge as the world’s second largest economy by year 2050. According to the 2012 InfoComm Market Definition and Strategy Study, the Indian Pro AV market is the fastest growing in Asia and is expected to grow at over 20 percent a year.

Designed to help end users understand how ProAV technologies can benefit their businesses, InfoComm India will host a series of activities that includes an exclusive show preview for VIPs and specially invited guests with food and drinks on Sept. 17, a Hosted Buyers Program, a free-to-attend Infocomm India Summit and many others.

More than 50 percent of the space has already been sold. Join key industry players like AMX, Barco, Christie, Da-Lite, Delta, Extron, Harman, Jupiter Systems, Kramer, projectiondesign and many more.

Here are the details: http://www.infocomm-india.com Add a comment

Christie is introducing an extension to the Christie TVC Series of display wall processors with the new TVC-700, which is a PC-based, simple to install, purpose-built video will processor designed for 24/7 control room environments. It can also be used in rental applications for multi-image IMAG projection.

Using the PCIe bus architecture and state-of-the-art GPU technology, the TVC-700 provides superior graphics and processing power to support multiple applications, inputs and outputs. And, this powerhouse processor supports hardware accelerated 3D applications and ultra-high resolution outputs such as CAD/CAM modeling and data visualization.

Performance features include:

• Enables multi-screen (up to 6) 3D applications
• Ultra-high resolution outputs (DL-DVI to greater than 2560x1600 per screen)
• GPUs with 256MB GDDR RAM per output
• Support for single- and dual-link DVI inputs (up to 10 SL-DVI/RGB/Composite, or 5 DL-DVI inputs)
• Support for large numbers of video inputs (40 total)

Full specs are here: http://www.christiedigital.com/en-us/video-walls/video-wall-solutions/video-wall-controllers/Pages/tvc-700-video-wall-controller.aspx Add a comment

Projector company EIKI has entered the switcher market with its new ProSwitch 400S, aimed at the house of worship, broadcast, education and ProAV markets. The ProSwitch 400S has eight inputs (SDI, two video, s-video, HDMI, VGA, DVI and RGBS) and two outputs (one VGA and one DVI). It's LAN- or RS232-controllable and includes seamless switching with last-frame-hold or fade through black transitions (for scaling and switching live video and IMAG). It  also supports PIP/POP/PAP with a video and computer image sources.

EIKI says the 1U rack-mountable ProSwitch 400S can scale sources up to 1080p and WUXGA (1920x1200) resolutions, uses the Reon HQV video processing chip and is based on Calibre's HQView platform. Calibre and EIKI are partners, with EIKI acting as the North American distributor for Calibre products.

Here are all the specs: http://www.eiki.com/usa/products/EIKI-accessories/proswitch400s Add a comment

Flypaper Studio's new Flypaper Connect for PHP accesses database information via Web services written in PHP to update Flypaper content, making it easy for users to keep content updated without republishing a project.

Flypaper Connect for PHP enables users to update digital signage content quickly by accessing a database and sending the information instantly to a digital signage display. Flypaper offers assistance for organizations that would like help creating the necessary web services or Flypaper content to use with this component.
 
Flypaper Connect for PHP is the fifth component to join the bundled Flypaper Connect family. Other Flypaper Connect components include: Flypaper Connect for Google Docs, Google Calendar, CSV, .Net and Advanced Data Grid. Each Flypaper Connect component empowers users to easily update digital signage content using a variety of tools, without republishing Flypaper projects.
 
To purchase Flypaper Connect, visit the Flypaper Marketplace, accessible through Flypaper 3.7 and Marketplace.Flypaper.com Add a comment

Boxlight's second generation of OutWrite products includes the OutWrite2-.5 and the OutWrite2-1.4. The OutWrite2 series are add-on devices that transform ordinary non-interactive projectors into interactive projectors. The device attaches easily to standard-throw and short-throw projectors. With easy installation and a simple four point calibration, integrators can now turn any flat surface into an interactive surface. The OutWrite2-.5 features a throw ratio of .5:1 and the OutWrite2-1.4 a throw ratio of 1.4:1.
 
The OutWrite2 series uses embedded HID technology and features built-in driver storage allowing interactivity in seconds. It ships with an IR wand and pen, LightPen3 annotation software and a USB cable, in addition to the ceiling mount adapter. At 60 frames per second and an internal 5-megapixel camera, it makes the OutWrite2 one of the most accurate interactive products on the market. With no delay, accuracy within 3 pixels and processing done internally, Boxlight says the OutWrite2 is the perfect companion to any curriculum, learning or annotation software.
 
With optional free LightPen3 dual-user annotation software, the OutWrite2 is now capable of multi-pen and provides split-screen simultaneous multi-user functionality. With the multi-touch package downloaded from Microsoft, you now have all the “multi-touch” functionality included within Windows 7 and 8.
 
The OutWrite2 was developed for users who want interactivity, but have existing projectors, tight budgets or specific projector requirements. The module can be mounted directly onto existing installed projectors (with the included swivel mount) or can be set on a table for portable applications.

The OutWrite2 lists for $499. Here are the specs: http://www.boxlight.com/Products?search=outwrite2 Add a comment

Bloomberg is reporting that Belden, Inc., one of the world's largest manufacturers of cable, has acquired PPC, parent company of PerfectPath wire for $515.7 million. Terms of the complete deal aren't being disclosed, but PPC is a 65-year old company that claims to have wired over 100 million homes in the US is known in the HomeAV market most recently for their PerfectPath line of HDMI wire. According to Bloomberg, PPC had sales of $238 million in fiscal 2012 and were profitable. Belden expects 2012 calendar-year sales to be nearly $2 Billion. Here's the entire story: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-11/belden-buys-ppc-for-515-7-million.html

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FSR is debuting its new CORE family of products that's aimed at small classrooms, boardrooms and meeting rooms where floor space has reached a premium. The CORE stands for Cool Overhead Rack Enclosures. The lines consists of a ceiling box family of products that's installed in standard 2’x2’ or 2’x4’ drop ceiling tiles and provides from two half-rack to four full rack spaces for equipment mounting. Optionally, the Ceiling Box family can be equipped with a projector pole mount adapter so that the projector can mount directly to the ceiling box and cables can disappear through the pole. The newest member of the CORE family is the Top Shelf wall mounted rack. Top Shelf mounts to a wall just below the ceiling in installations without a drop ceiling or where space above the drop ceiling is limited. The Top Shelf provides four rack units of mounting space; the plastic cover allows RF and Wi-Fi signals to pass unobstructed between the equipment and the room. Here are all the specs: http://www.fsrinc.com/products/ts-400.htm

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MultiTouch has just announced a new remote management system called MultiTaction Management Suite, and its first app, MultiTaction Site Manager. The MultiTaction Site Manager enables system integrators, IT managers and content providers to manage thousands of globally dispersed, network connected interactive systems (translation: to manage digital signage systems).
 
This is a great option for AV integrators as it allows for recurring revenue for proactively managing and monitoring DS systems as the MultiTaction Site Manager brings the management of DS displays to the desktop of system integrators. Features include:

• Setting up and configuring displays individually or as multi-display video walls or tables
• Monitoring the status of every display in the network
• Managing the content and applications in real-time on each display or as a group

With MultiTaction Site Manager, interactive displays are transformed to a remotely manageable IT system. This eliminates the need for most on-site tasks and results to considerable cost savings. Reporting the status of each display within the network in real-time allows immediate responses to system changes and improved end user satisfaction. The application also allows content providers to remotely manage the applications and the information that appears on thousands of displays, guaranteeing the immediacy and the effective use of digital signage and other content delivery.

More details about the comapny can be found here: http://www.MultiTaction.com Add a comment

The following is reprinted with permission from the Digital Screenmedia Association (DSA). For more information, go to http://www.digitalscreenmedia.org.

Sony, Toshiba, and Hitachi have put together their techno-wizardry to come up with ultra-thin displays that can be used pretty much anywhere, even in car dashboard displays.

I find this absolutely fascinating. One of the ever shifting challenges with screens is... well... the screen. Wireless connectivity is conquered. And we’re seeing more and more application of wireless power in various formats. But the screen itself remains what it is with the world adopting a wide-screen aspect ratio.

What place does this have in our world? Imagine in retail, where so much time and effort is being put into the design aesthetic of the space. Traditionally, screens were added onto fixtures, or at best fixtures were constructed with screens in mind, but often with standard shapes, sizes, and depths. Too often we see situations where the screen seems like an afterthought.

Now imagine putting this on any surface, even or uneven, with any size, capable of amazing definition and clarity. Imagine how soon in the design phase of an experience that digital screens now live – way sooner than ever before, because they could have the physical properties of printed signage (posters, paper, etc.)

Very cool indeed.

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Marshall Electronics has introduced two new room signs -- the DP-1203K with a built-in processor and the DV-1202K monitor.

Marshall’s DP-1203K is a 12.1” digital sign featuring a built-in Atom processor with an Intel board; it lists for $1,499.95 for both surface and flush mount units.

The DV-1202K is a monitor featuring both HDMI and VGA inputs to run content from a variety of external sources. It can act as a stand-alone room sign via RS232 control. It lists for $899.95 for both surface and flush mount units.

Here are the full specs: http://www.marshalldigitalsignage.com/ Add a comment

Sonos customers no longer need PCs in order to take advantage of multi-room audio -- the latest Sonos Controller app update allows for playback of music stored on iDevices.

Available in iPad and iPhone versions, version 3.8.3 of the app plays audio from the devices directly on the system, without need for Airplay turnarounds or docks. It also handles a number of online music sources, such Amazon Cloud Player, Spotify, Rhapsody and Last.fm. A familiar drag and drop interface handles playlists.

The app is compatible with Sonos component running on v3.8 firmware, as well as the Sonos Play:3 and Play:5 systems. The company gives no mention of a similar update for Android devices, but we imagine one is in the works.

Here are the details: http://www.sonos.com/ Add a comment

For Q3, sales of interactive whiteboards and interactive flat panel displays in the education and corporate sectors are up 22 percent year-on-year, according to Futuresource Consulting.

EMEA experienced its largest quarter ever in terms of sales, achieving 44 percent year-on-year growth, with Vestel completing shipment for phase one of the Fatih tender. Additionally, Russia also had huge sales in the quarter.

The UK market is forecast to have 10 percent growth in 2012 according to Futuresource, the first growth year for the UK in seven years. Interactive flat panel displays begin to take market share from interactive whiteboards and some of the first replacement boards are being purchased, with schools tending to buy the same brands again. Although the BSF (Building Schools for the Future) program was abandoned there is still significant new school construction due to the rise of academies, as well as substantial rebuilding programs within existing schools.

The total worldwide market for interactive whiteboards, interactive flat panels and interactive projectors within education and corporate sectors is forecast to reach 1.5 million by 2015. However, the adoption rates of the three products are very different by country and even by region. Futuresource has compared all three technologies in eight regions/countries.

Futuresource expect the corporate market to be the fastest growing sector, increasing to 24 percent by 2016. This growth will be in the more developed markets like the U.S., UK, Germany and Sweden. The scale of the opportunity in the corporate space is “colossal,” with more than 67 million meeting rooms worldwide -- this segment of the corporate market alone is two-times the scale of school classrooms. However, currently there is no adoption of any specific product, so the market remains open. Add a comment

Holophone introduced this month a line of single-channel stage and studio microphones. Designed for live, recording and broadcast applications, these new Holophone mics also have a customizable appearance.

The new Super C handheld supercardioid condenser is the first in a new line of customizable performance mics created by Holophone. Combining ruggedness and low handling noise with "ergonomic comfort," the Super C features the same proprietary capsule technology employed in Holophone's surround microphones, including the H2-PRO.

Holophone's new mics also deliver individuality, with a design that allows the user to customize the mic's appearance on the fly. Each microphone's casing, windscreen, and grille can be instantly changed to any of a wide range of custom colors.

The Super C includes a custom carrying case, microphone clip and other accessories. It will be available for $499 list price and you can get more details here: http://www.holophone.com/ Add a comment