Google’s Project Starline to Bring 3D Holographic Videoconferencing Booths to AV Market

Google announced the company has been working to perfect Project Starline — a technology project that combines hardware and software to enable friends, families and co-workers to “feel together” — for years. And, the demo was stunning. Watch this video so you’ll understand what I am writing about here: To make this experience possible, Google […]

Google’s Project Starline to Bring 3D Holographic Videoconferencing Booths to AV Market

“Alexa, Clean Out My Desk”

By Kate Couch How will smart devices be used in the corporate world in years and months to come? Last year, the corporate office took a large turn as many of us had to begin working remotely from home. This created an entirely new world for audiovisual — Zoom. Zoom, as most companies are aware, […]

“Alexa, Clean Out My Desk”

Google — Is the Future No Longer Free?

For educational institutions far and wide, public and private, kindergarten to graduate school, Google services have one thing we all love — the price was right! For many of us, that meant it was free. There have always been some premium services that you can choose to pay for if you are a Google school, […]

Google — Is the Future No Longer Free?

From Entertainment and Search, to Smart Home Control, Voice Assistant Technology Comes of Age

By Jack Wetherill Futuresource Consulting Smart speakers continue to capture the hearts and wallets of consumers, driving demand for wireless speakers and establishing a wider acceptance of voice assistants. By the end of 2019, 21 million smart speakers were in use in Western European homes, on track to exceed 32 million by the end of […]

From Entertainment and Search, to Smart Home Control, Voice Assistant Technology Comes of Age

A Recap of LAVNCH EMEA’s Collaboration Session

What better LAVNCH EMEA session to recap on UCC Collaborative Day than the one titled “Collaboration Session?” I’m not being facetious; I was really excited to hear what this one had in store. And I was excited for the familiar faces in it: Jane Hammersley of Collabtech, Lieven Bertier of Barco, Nia Celestin of DTEN, […]

A Recap of LAVNCH EMEA’s Collaboration Session

Elo Says It Has World’s First Interactive Display Line Certified by Google

Elo today announced upgrades to its Android-based I-Series, PayPoint, PayPoint Plus and Backpack products, with the availability of Google Play Services across its full line of 10- to 70-inch interactive solutions. Elo’s new third generation series of Android products enable access to the latest Google Mobile Services apps, including Google Chrome, YouTube, Play Store access […]

Elo Says It Has World’s First Interactive Display Line Certified by Google

Philips Professional Display Releases MediaSuite Pro TV Across EMEA

Philips Professional Display Solutions (Philips PDS) has announced its complete range of new, Google-certified, Android-powered MediaSuite Pro TVs is now available to all customers across EMEA. Unveiled during ISE 2019 in Amsterdam, the new Philips PDS MediaSuite range has been designed to help revolutionise the way businesses and end-users can access and broadcast digital content, […]

Philips Professional Display Releases MediaSuite Pro TV Across EMEA

Avaya Deepens Integration With Google Cloud, Adds AI

Avaya Holdings today announced further integration with Google Cloud Contact Center AI to provide better experiences. This includes embedding Google’s machine learning within Avaya conversation services powering the contact center, enabling easy integration of AI capabilities regardless of channel, promoting a consistent and intelligent experience for customers and delivering true omni-channel experiences with AI. Avaya […]

Avaya Deepens Integration With Google Cloud, Adds AI

Home Technology’s Rise of the Smart Displays

Digital assistants are all the rage these days and they seem to live in so many places like your car radio, watches, smart phones, tablet, computers and the very popular “smart speaker” category. The smart speaker category has grown rapidly and has seen adoption from major brand names in the audio and tech industries — […]

Home Technology’s Rise of the Smart Displays

SYNNEX Continues to Invest in Google Ecosystem to Offer Cloud Services for Recurring Revenue

THIS IS A PROMOTED POST FROM SYNNEX   Everyone in nearly every industry is talking about the cloud. And, you likely already use it — whether you realize it or not. If you have your smartphone backing up your photos online, that’s the cloud. If you collaborate on documents with others, that’s the cloud. If […]

SYNNEX Continues to Invest in Google Ecosystem to Offer Cloud Services for Recurring Revenue

Savant Adds Google Home

Savant has announced compatibility between Savant’s smart home ecosystem and the Google Home Assistant speech-recognition engine. Savant pioneered the use of voice control as part of the connected home by introducing the Savant Pro Remote, enabling homeowners to activate a Savant Scene, choose a favorite channel or select a source within their entertainment system. With […]

Savant Adds Google Home

Chromecast Now Supported in Roon — a New Hi-Fi Experience Awaits

Good news, everyone! Roon now streams to any Chromecast device, Google Home smart speakers, Chromecast Audio and Chromecast audio receivers, as well as a ton of third party devices. Roon announced it on their blog earlier this month (07/06/18) and you can read the full announcement here. “In addition to Chromecast streaming, today’s release includes […]

Chromecast Now Supported in Roon — a New Hi-Fi Experience Awaits

Videxio Announces Interoperability for Hangouts Meet by G Suite

Videxio has announced that it has signed an agreement with Google Cloud in partnership with Pexip and will be one of the first to offer video conferencing interoperability for Hangouts Meet. The new Hangouts Meet interoperability service means that users will be able to join Hangouts Meet using their existing video communication solution, whether that […]

Videxio Announces Interoperability for Hangouts Meet by G Suite

Techlash vs Technological Advancements

Recently, a friend came to visit and left “The Economist” magazine on my table.  He said he tried to give it to his sons. But as I opened them up, the pages were stiff, as if they had just been retrieved from the printing press.  I flipped to the Editor’s page titled, “The World in […]

Techlash vs Technological Advancements

Amazon vs. Google Part 2

Smart homes and smart buildings aren’t for the ultra-rich… anymore. We’ve come to a time in our existence where our technological advancements have allowed for desire, need and know how of a more connected lifestyle, between home and work. After all, it’s no longer about a work-life balance, it’s really all about the work-life blend […]

Amazon vs. Google Part 2

Amazon VS. Google Part 1

Is anyone really surprised that Amazon bought Ring Labs? It doesn’t seem like that big of a shock, or shocking at all for that matter. Since they released their original Echo product, initially to Prime members only, and then later to the masses in mid 2015, the smart assistant, Alexa enabled, speaker and personal assistant […]

Amazon VS. Google Part 1

Google Updates Jamboard by Adding AI-Powered AutoDraw Integration as Well as a Mobile App

Google’s Jamboard is the company’s version of a collaboration board — exclusively for Google’s G-suite of apps. In addition to adding new country availability, Google has added an AI-powered feature called AutoDraw. AutoDraw is a new drawing tool in Jamboard that auto-detects sketches you make and pairs them with images. This works with both local and rooms […]

Google Updates Jamboard by Adding AI-Powered AutoDraw Integration as Well as a Mobile App

Google Enters the Videoconferencing Market With Hardware Kit

Google has had Hangouts — a software-based SORT-OF videoconferencing suite for years. But hardly anyone uses it. But now the company’s launched a hardware kit hardware including an ASUS Chromebox, USB camera (10.1” diagonal, IPS, 16:10, 1280×800 resolution), controller, speaker and mic set, known as the Speakermic. The Speakermic, custom designed and built by Google, […]

Google Enters the Videoconferencing Market With Hardware Kit

Advanced Partners with Google and BenQ to Launch New Google Jamboard in Canada

Continuing its efforts to promote the integration of innovative collaborative technologies into corporate and educational spaces, North American AV and collaboration technology solution provider Advanced today announced a new partnership with Google and BenQ to distribute Google Jamboard throughout Canada. Google Jamboard is a 55-inch, 4K display on which users can write, explore and import content on the web, […]

Advanced Partners with Google and BenQ to Launch New Google Jamboard in Canada

Advanced Partners with Google and BenQ to Distribute Google Jamboard in Canada

AV and collaboration technology solution provider Advanced today announced a new partnership with Google and BenQ to distribute Google Jamboard throughout Canada. Google Jamboard is a 55-inch, 4K display on which users can write, explore and import content on the web, and save their sketches and brainstorms to the cloud. Users can draw on the […]

Advanced Partners with Google and BenQ to Distribute Google Jamboard in Canada

Do Collaboration Boards Have a Place in Higher Education?

When SMART put out its first SMART Boards years ago, I found the concept intriguing. However, being in higher ed, the software that went along with the products always seemed a bit too elementary for the people I work with. Additionally, I could not see many uses where a small white board would be sufficient […]

Do Collaboration Boards Have a Place in Higher Education?

Google and BenQ Ship Jamboard Collaboration Board

The category of Collaboration Boards really became big earlier this year with the launch of 10+ new brands into the space at ISE in Amsterdam. One of those was Google. The Google Jamboard is a 55″, 4K (3840×2160) digital whiteboard that teams can use to brainstorm, write notes, sketch plans and receive immediate feedback from remote team members […]

Google and BenQ Ship Jamboard Collaboration Board

Is the Microsoft Surface Hub An Overpriced Collaboration Board?

With the deluge of new collaboration boards that will hit the market over the next six months (this was the most popular launch product at ISE  in Amsterdam, last month), there’s no question that Microsoft will have to cut the price of their Surface Hub — or, no one who knows any better will buy it. They can’t keep ripping […]

Is the Microsoft Surface Hub An Overpriced Collaboration Board?

Will Microsoft Be Able to Continue to Rip People Off With Their Surface HUB?

With the deluge of new “Collaboration Boards” that will hit the market over the next six months (this was the most popular launch product at ISE this month), there’s no question that Microsoft will have to cut the price of their Surface Hub. They can’t keep ripping people off at $8,000 — $9,000 (55″) and $20,000 (84″) […]

Will Microsoft Be Able to Continue to Rip People Off With Their Surface HUB?

Google’s Jamboard Will Now List for $5,000 and Ship in May

We have a new, lower, price ($5,000 and a $600 per board annual service contract) and a shipping date (May 20th) for the Google Jamboard.Want to save $300 on the service contract? Buy it now — as it will only be $300 if you buy one before the end of the summer. As we reported last […]

Google’s Jamboard Will Now List for $5,000 and Ship in May

The Crazy, Cautious and Amazing Future of Collaboration Boards — My Virtual Visit to ISE 2017

I am in Amsterdam. Or, at least I believe I am at this point. As many of you know, I am in the middle of a very large project and was unable to travel to Amsterdam for ISE this year. This is a pilgrimage I’ve made every year for quite a long time, in fact […]

The Crazy, Cautious and Amazing Future of Collaboration Boards — My Virtual Visit to ISE 2017

Hello? Is Anyone Listening?

Amazon’s hottest selling items for 2016 were the Echo and its little brother Dot. These devices, along with their competitors from Google and Apple, are revolutionizing the way we interact with our homes and are quickly moving into the workplace. These voice command and control devices allow the participant to use their voices with simple […]

Hello? Is Anyone Listening?

Why Google’s JamBoard Could Actually Be a Disruptive Game-Changer

Yes, it’s only 55″ but, don’t discount it as a potential game-changer in our market. Every single PR firm in the commercial AV market has used the term “game-changer” or “disruptive” to describe a client’s new product or service. But most of the time, that’s just hype or hyperbole. However, even though Google (and their […]

Why Google’s JamBoard Could Actually Be a Disruptive Game-Changer

More About Google’s Jamboard, the 55″ 4K Interactive LCD Whiteboard Aimed at InFocus MondoPad, Sharp AQUOS BOARD, Microsoft Surface Hub and Smart Technologies

Google, yesterday, announced an exclusive (at least so far) deal with projector company BenQ to distribute its new interactive LCD called Google Jamboard. It’s a portable (on four wheels), 55” 4K (3840×2160) resolution LCD monitor that’s integrated with Google’s G Suite — email, videoconferencing, cloud collaboration of Google Docs, device management, file sharing, etc. Pull […]

More About Google’s Jamboard, the 55″ 4K Interactive LCD Whiteboard Aimed at InFocus MondoPad, Sharp AQUOS BOARD, Microsoft Surface Hub and Smart Technologies

BenQ Gets Distribution Deal with Google’s Collaboration Panel, Jamboard

BenQ America today announced it will exclusively bring to market Jamboard, a 4K Ultra High Definition (UHD) touch-enabled device aimed at enhancing collaboration in the enterprise workplace. Headlining BenQ’s portfolio of interactive flat panels (IFPs), the 55-inch Jamboard is part of Google’s collaboration line of products called G Suite — designed for conference room or […]

BenQ Gets Distribution Deal with Google’s Collaboration Panel, Jamboard

Integration Is What You Do — Not What Apple, Google and Amazon Do

CEDIA CEO Vin Bruno recently told a group of residential integrators that his organization wants to help the AV integration community transition away from using the term “integrator” and move towards using the term “technologist.” While I applaud CEDIA for proactively moving towards helping the integration community as a whole — something they clearly haven’t […]

Integration Is What You Do — Not What Apple, Google and Amazon Do

Head of Global Sales – Strategic Partners at Google becomes President of Americas Business at Pexip

I was delivered this news this morning that, as I and others will see it, certainly impacts the video conferencing world: Pexip Hires Amy Kim of Google, Inc. as President of its Americas Business Pexip, one of the industry’s leading innovators in scalable, distributed collaboration software, today announced that it has hired Amy Kim of Google, […]

Head of Global Sales – Strategic Partners at Google becomes President of Americas Business at Pexip