Xyte, maker of cloud-based support tools for AV, recently published its midyear 2025 AV Cloud Data Report. I encourage you to read it — it offers some interesting insight into how the AV industry views the cloud. Before I go further, I should put my cards on the table. I’m a strong supporter of cloud-based […]

AVIXA’s InfoComm show used to be the launchpad for every new ProAV product. For decades, brands would either wait until the early summer show to unveil their newest gear or drop their press releases days before the doors opened. Somewhere in the last decade, that shifted to ISE — the European counterpart to InfoComm, co-owned […]

I’m shocked that only one display company has been smart enough to buy a media server company. The irony? You can’t have one without the other. Everything else connected to a projector or monitor is optional — not required. But in the case of a media server, a display — whether it’s a projector, LED, […]

When I talk to my dealers, sometimes I feel like a broken record. It’s certainly true that I have a number of speeches prepared and in the can for situations where the topic is applicable. One of them is that inventory is a necessary evil: You need to sell inventory to make money, but the […]

The Higher Education Technology Managers Alliance (HETMA) recently announced its newest initiative: Road to 10K. Many in higher ed — about 3,000, according to HETMA — are already aware of and part of the organization. HETMA is open only to higher education technology managers. It’s not a list for salespeople to pitch their wares. It’s […]

In a world that never stops talking, it’s funny how hard it’s become to get anyone to actually answer the phone. I’ve spent a career helping organizations communicate more clearly — whether that meant running video over fiber across the rooftops of Washington Square Park, rolling out enterprise collaboration platforms or moderating panels about the […]

By Chuck Brooks Extreme Networks and the Avnu Alliance No matter the application, today’s professional audiovisual (ProAV) networks are responsible for transmitting multiple streams of data — whether audio, video, show control or another crucial element — over shared infrastructure. While we’ve yet to fully move beyond isolated systems, completely converged networking is still rare […]

Part of the reason this post is titled the way it is: I’m nodding to an old aphorism — “complaining without offering a solution is just whining.” And yes, I’ll admit up front that I don’t have a solution for what I’m complaining about. The news this month? Google will no longer support the first- […]

This article features the audiovisual industry’s role in this dramatic trilogy — and serves as a polite wake-up call to the industry and manufacturers. Every great movement in history eventually hits that awkward moment when the hype train pulls into the reality station. Esports is no different. Once the underdog of digital entertainment, it’s now […]

In Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” Juliet famously muses, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Lovely sentiment. But Juliet never had to set up a conference room before a board meeting. In the AV industry, names matter. In fact, they often become shorthand for […]

I recently attended a few cybersecurity education sessions at InfoComm 2025. (Yes, there were multiple sessions focused on security — that alone is pretty newsworthy.) During one of the classes, someone in the audience said something along the lines of: Government security regulation isn’t necessary — eventually, the less secure vendors will gain a bad […]

In late May, I did something to my neck and shoulder that caused significant pain. After a few visits to the doctor, they ordered an MRI. MRIs are a fascinating tool in modern medicine that continues to amaze me. However, four weeks later, I’m still in pain and have no answer as to what the […]

In the middle of an AI hype cycle full of generative tools that mostly generate headlines, a Chinese content platform has built something that actually works — and does something different. It doesn’t generate video from text. It doesn’t edit video, either. It re-shoots your video. Digitally. No camera, no crew, no cost. Kuaishou is […]

Something I’ve observed over the years is that people in the same occupations or career paths often share similar backgrounds and personalities. I know; it’s a chicken-and-egg situation: Do people like that gravitate to the field, or does the work and training shape them into that type? Maybe a little of both. My professional training […]

By Annabelle Kayye Sales and Success Manager, SpinetiX LaGuardia has become my favorite airport. First, it’s a Delta hub — team Delta forever. Second, after its renovations, it actually feels like a modern airport: clean, well-organized and surprisingly pleasant. I am not one to be dramatic, but I’d genuinely rather walk to my destination than […]

One of the most interesting products I saw at InfoComm this year wasn’t a piece of hardware — it was software. And in my opinion, that’s a trend that continues to grow as technology advances: The software is becoming the star. Jetbuilt’s new product, Jetbot, is one of the more productive uses of AI I’ve […]

It’s July, which means InfoComm 2025 was officially last month. The dust has settled, I’ve returned from some much-needed PTO, and I’ve had time to reflect on the show as a whole. If I’m honest, InfoComm was mostly a blur. I was on three panels, gave several VIP tours at my company’s booth, and had […]

THIS IS A PROMOTED POST I haven’t missed an InfoComm since I got into the market more than 30 years ago! And my favorite part of the show? Walking the floor to discover hidden-gem products that most people overlook because they’re too focused on the big booths — not the smaller ones. This year, my […]

THIS IS A PROMOTED POST DTEN’s booth at InfoComm 2025 included plenty of technology but it all had one thing in common: scalability. Whether you’re building out a mid-sized conference room, kitting out an executive office, or looking to outfit an entire enterprise campus, DTEN had a solution — and a few surprises. DTEN was […]

THIS IS A PROMOTED POST At InfoComm 2025, Taiwan Excellence brought it. And by it, I mean 17 of its leading brands to showcase innovation at this year’s show. So, what’s Taiwan Excellence and why does it have a pavilion? Taiwan Excellence is a program established by Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs that helps to […]

Disclaimer: This is an opinion piece. The views expressed are those of the author and don’t necessarily represent rAVe [PUBS] or its staff. Trade shows are supposed to showcase the best of what this industry has to offer — new innovations, sleek technology and fresh ideas about how to make work and communication better. InfoComm […]

There’s an old aphorism — and readers know how much I love those — that goes: If you want to be heard, you must make yourself be understood. A big part of my job is communication: I need to clearly communicate with my dealers, and occasionally with their end-user customers. My workday involves relaying deadlines, […]

THIS IS A PROMOTED POST If you’ve ever wanted to see what practical AV gear looks like in action, the FSR booth at InfoComm 2025 was the place to be. While there is plenty to be said about the razzle-dazzle of the brightest and thinnest LEDs and the most responsive of touch screens, FSR is […]

Now that InfoComm 2025 has wrapped, those of us in higher education have a lot to reflect on. Between economic pressures, rising equipment costs and continued challenges in delivering flexible learning environments, this year’s conference felt especially important — and in many ways, it delivered. The HETMA Higher Education Summit stood out as a highlight. […]

At many of my recent in-person presentations, I begin with the often-repeated (questionable) tale that frogs will jump out of a pot of boiling water if you try to put them in, but if you put them in cold water and turn up the heat slowly, they won’t notice the change till it’s too late. […]

Day 2 — what can I say about Day 2? Well, first of all, my Day 2 was positively packed. Interviews, tours and more is what I call it. Not only was I running around the show floor from interview to interview (and doing my very best to be on time), I also got to […]

It’s official — Day 1 of InfoComm 2025 is officially OVER. And wow. The energy is truly something else. You guys may have seen that I wrote all of you and InfoComm a little love letter. I won’t repeat all of that but you can read it here. However, I do just want to echo […]

Dear AV Industry, Mid-June is one of my favorite times of year. And every time someone asks, “What does InfoComm mean to you?” I stumble — because honestly, it means so much that I never quite know where to start. So, before I begin my ninth InfoComm, I wanted to reflect on a few of […]

Even as I complain about this, I’m reminded of the adage: the shoemaker’s children have bare feet. Some readers may already know my home entertainment system is a work in progress. I suspect I’m not alone in that. Back when I was training as a system designer, one lesson drilled into us was to identify […]

As InfoComm approaches, the AV industry is gearing up for a pivotal event — one that promises to address pressing economic challenges and help forecast the market for the year ahead. This year, Orlando takes center stage. It won’t just be about showcasing cutting-edge technologies; it will also serve as a forum for critical conversations […]

In 2013, I was a guest on a debate podcast where we talked about the future impact of IP-enabled devices and software-driven solutions. One of my opponent’s main points of contention in that debate was that AV would always have a secure spot because we have the unique ability to create superior audio experiences in […]

Last week, the rAVe LAVNCH platform hosted its second AV Cloud Summit. It was incredible and one of the highest-attended events we’ve hosted in 2025. The topic of where the so-called AV Cloud will take us has really amped up since its introduction to the market just a couple of years ago. Sure, we’ve had […]