Volume 11, Issue 19 — October 10, 2013
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Where is This Economy Going?
By Norbert Hildebrand DisplaySearch
As the summer of 2013 is officially over and the last quarter of this year begins, we are all anxious to see how the holiday season will play out and which way the economy is heading. For several years we have seen very poor economic conditions and one of the longest recessions in the last few decades. One the positive side we see a slow, but steady increase in the economic indicators.
There is a good discussion of the U.S. economic trends by Doug Short. I will show some of his graphs to illustrate the current economic status.
Source: www.advisorperspectives.com
The graph illustrates clearly that while we are not in a recession any more, we are still far below the average consumer sentiment level for non-recession years. In the lower part you see the GDP growth still being above zero, however, the growth is much slower than in earlier years.
Another indicator I wanted to show is the Small Business Optimism Index from the NFIB (National Foundation of Independent Business). According to the data, the small businesses around the country have never recovered from the financial crisis. Starting in 2007 their Optimism Index went downhill and never recovered to the pre-recession level.
Source: www.advisorperspectives.com
Overall this does not paint a very good picture. While overall the economy might be doing better, it never got into the growth scenario we saw during the last two decades. With small businesses and consumers not being overly optimistic about the future,we have to ask the question how good the holiday season will be.
When we think about the CE industry and the display industry especially, we have to keep in mind that the US is an important country, but not the only one that can drive the world economy. China and Europe have become economic equals to the U.S. and what happens there matters as much as here at home.
As Europe is not one country, economic trends are difficult to obtain and interpret. As some countries are doing well, others are suffering at the same time. Taking a look at China shows that not everything is positive there either. When we compare the consumer confidence of the US with China we see that both tend to follow each other.
Source: www.tradingeconomics.com
The Black line representing the U.S. and the red dashed line representing China. Overall they do correlate pretty well over the last five years. While in the earlier parts of the graph, the U.S. seems to lead the consumer confidence development, this may have reversed in recent years as the consumer confidence in China seems to be more in sync with the U.S. It could also be that the consumer confidence in these strong economies are heading in different directions.
At the same time, the CEA published its data on the consumer sentiment towards technology spending. This index looks how likely consumers will spend money on consumer electronics. This ICTE (Index of Consumer Technology Expectations) dipped in September by 6.5 points to a value of 80.7 points. A recent study by the CEA showed that of the 51 percent of consumers planning on buying electronics this year, the majority (62 percent) will wait for Black Friday. Not a good indicator for any improvements in the consumer electronics business.
This does not make for a rosy outlook for the coming months. On the other hand, Apple reported record sales of its just released iPhones. With the imminent release of the new iPad generation coming up pretty soon, Apple might be able to shift the CE sales up a notch into more positive territory.
Either way, the crystal balls are little cloudy right now and as it seems the economy could head up or down. Leave a Comment
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Are 3D and 4K on Different Trajectories? Yes and No
By Chris Chinnock Display Central
Many consumers and professionals alike think 3D is out and 4K is in. A new forecast report on 3DTVs from Futuresource got me thinking about the trajectories of these two mega-trends. The reality is much more nuanced than a simple in/out conclusion.
Let’s start with the forecast. Futuresource says that by 2017, 58 percent of all TVs worldwide will be 3D models, up from 18 percent in 2012. That will represent 157.7M 3DTVs in 2017 vs. 59.3M in 2012. That’s great adoption of a technology that started in 2010.
4K/UHD TVs are three years behind the introduction of 3DTVs, but few forecasters think 4K will comprise 58 percent of TV sales seven years after their introduction. In the U.S., for example, CEA thinks there will be 57K UHD TVs sold in 2013, rising to 1M by 2015. That’s about the same pace of adoption that 3DTVs experienced early on.
It is also important to note that most of the new 4K/UHD TVs also support the display of 3D content using either active or passive glasses.
Where the trajectories start to diverge is with content. For the best 3D experience, you need natively authored 3D content or theatrical-class conversion. For three years, many efforts were initiated to create more 3D content with ever advancing tools and technology across a wide array of content categories. Today, those efforts have met with mixed results with some operations like ESPN 3D, the BBC, Canal Plus and Foxtel curtailing their 3D channels. On the other hand, BSkyB, Virgin Media, 3Net and channels in China and Korea remain enthusiastic about 3D production. In addition, a steady slate of 3D movies is coming and remains a profitable and stable segment.
4K content is really hard to get right now. I can attest to this personally as I have been trying to source 4K content for the demo reel we will create for the 4K/UHD Demo at the upcoming SMPTE Fall Conference. I can find a limited supply of 4K 24 frame content, but 50 or 60 frame content is very rare (although we will have some at the demo).
Sony is leading the charge in priming the 4K content engine promising to make many movies available on 4K by year’s end for their 4KTV customers. That’s a good start, but it is content dedicated to one TV platform. Sound similiar to the early days of 3D?
But there is a lot of activity behind the scenes now with plans being considered to refinish movies in 4K. These are films that were shot in 4K, but finished in 2K. There is also a lot of consideration for upconversion and scaling of 1080 movies to 4K. These scaling engines are quite good, but that means 4K content will have to be delivered to the home. Alternatively, many of the 4K TVs today already have built-in upscaling and conversion engines that do a very good job of converting 1080 content to 4K. This is another capability that several companies will showcase in the 4K/UHD demo.
Upscaling and converting of 2D content to 3D is not as mature as the 1080 to 4K scaling and upconversion. This means 4K will have an adoption advantage over 3D here. In addition, the use model with 4K does not change, i.e., there are no glasses to wear to enjoy 4K.
No-glasses 3D is probably to key to the next wave of 3D — which I feel with inevitably come. Here, a 4K panel makes all the difference in creating a much-improved glasses-free 3D image. Tools to convert stereo 3D content to multi-view 3D content for these glasses-free displays are here today, and will certainly improve going forward. The displays are here today too, but will likely need another couple of years of improvement before they start to be taken seriously by consumers again. TV brands need to be very careful how they package and market 3D TV 2.0.
So the bottom line is that there are both similarities and difference in the adoption of 3D and 4K in the consumer TV space, but these paths could easily merge within three to five years. Leave a Comment
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OK, Now Plasma Really Is Dead
By Gary Kayye rAVe Founder
Panasonic will be announcing the death of plasma later this month as it plans to wind down its plasma panel production in March of 2014.
Panasonic, the world’s largest manufacturer of plasma displays, will cease production because the consumer group just can’t sell enough plasma to make it price competitive (or profitable enough) against LCD-based LCD and traditional CFL-based LCD HDTVs. This is despite the fact that the professional division of Plasma has differentiated itself from the LCD market with large-format plasma as large as 103″ diagonal as well as one that’s touch-screen — the 85″ ProPlasma. And, they’re selling.
But with the volume of the consumer market driving most HDTV and monitor production lines, it’s clear that LCD (for now) is winning the TV war and, for the most part, the Korean manufacturers are winning in consumer TV markets with nearly a 45 percent market share, according to Reuters.
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InfoComm: Pro AV Forecast: Peaks and Valleys?
By Brad Grimes InfoComm International
AV companies are at it again. You’re reporting growing sales, surging cash balances and two-year-high gross margins. What’s not to love about these business conditions?
“We are seeing a strong uptick in all the AV indicators,” reports Frank Coker, CEO of CoreConnex, which recently published a new InfoComm AV Industry Index, based on real-world business data from companies that take adavantage of the Corelytics Financial Dashboard software through InfoComm. ”Our big caution is that this is somewhat of a repeat of a spike we saw last year that was followed by several months of downtrend. Our research shows that seasonal patterns have not been consistent over the past four years, so we shouldn’t assume a pullback is inevitable, but caution would be appropriate.”
In a nutshell, according to InfoComm members who use the dashboard, monthly sales growth is up 16 percent over six months, gross margins are up almost 50 percent for the same period, and the rise in cash balanaces is almost off the charts.
Ken LaCroix, CEO of TrackPoint Business Advisors, one of several companies available to advise AV comnpanies through the Corelytics program, expects companies to put fresh capital to use to drive profits. He notes that sales trends have been variable, but are pointed up, and advises AV firms to manage margins and cash to remain healthy.
What of Frank Coker’s cautionary tone? I got him on the horn to ask him a few things about the data and his impressions:
Question: Looking back at last year’s spike, followed by the downtrend, in retrospect, what happened, and what can AV companies learn from it going into this current spike?
Frank: Given that this spike is mid-year, shortly after the big InfoComm show, it’s possible that new announcements and promotions led to a bump in sales that settled back to a normal pace soon after the bump. It’s unlikely that it has to do with budget cycles, which normally happen late in the year or early in the year. In any case, this pattern did not show up three years ago, so this is either a new pattern that might be the new norm, or it is a passing phenomenon. But the more important learning is this: Don’t overreact to a spike in revenues and don’t assume that you need to start staffing up. Staffing needs to be driven by longer term trend lines and not by short-term peaks.
Question: What kind of caution would be appropriate?
Frank: One great way to handle spikes is to hire contract staff to fill in gaps and to help with delivering commitments from a jump in orders. Hiring staff too soon can put a big drag on a company when normal dips in revenue occur. Contract staff can be used as shock absorbers for both increases and decreases in revenue. When you see that you are consistently paying more than a full-time employee’s salary on contractors with a specific skill set, that would be a good time to start looking for the next hire. There are some great companies out there that specialize in providing contract AV experts.
Question: What does it say that seasonal patterns aren’t consistent?
Frank: Seasonal patterns in industries tend to be stable when the economy is stable and the products and services being sold are stable. And of course, the opposite is true. When the economy is in fluctuation and when there is a constant flow of disruptive new technology and pricing changes in an industry, the patterns become erratic and inconsistent. We know that all these variables are at work in the AV industry, so you cannot make a lot of simplifying assumptions about pro AV business patterns. This all means that pro AV companies need to have the right balance of aggressive market positioning combined with cautious investments in long-term resource commitments. It also means it is extremely important to have a deep line of credit with your bank. And the best time to get or increase your line of credit is when you don’t need it (during a peak) so that you have the needed reserve when you need it (during a dip). It’s nearly impossible to get a great line of credit if you wait until you need it. You know the story about waiting until it rains before you fix the leak in the roof. The people that complain the most about banks are often the ones that wait until it rains to fix their roof.
Dear readers, how’s business where are you are? And if you’re interested in using the Corelytics Dashboard at a discount for InfoComm members, learn more here.
This column was reprinted with permission from InfoComm and originally appeared here. Leave a Comment
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Your Next Competitor is Staples as It Enters the Control Market Selling HomeAV, ProAV and IT Gear
At CEDIA, Staples, the world’s largest office products company and second largest Internet retailer, announced Staples Connect — an exclusive offering that lets customers’ home or office technology interact and be controlled by a single app. Staples is promoting it to end-users as: “With the touch of a button, Staples Connect lets customers shut down their office, turning off lights, lowering shades and locking doors, while at the same time turning on their lights and heat at home.”
Staples Connect consists of a multi-platform app and universal “Hub” that allows a multitude of devices to talk to each other. The Staples Connect Hub (basically a Linksys router) will be available online and in a limited number of Staples stores for $99 this November. Customers can hand-pick products from some of the biggest names in lighting control and lighting, like Lutron, Philips and GE, climate control by Honeywell, and door lock brands like Yale and First Alert.
Staples Connect, unfortunately for CIs, is easy to set-up for consumers, but installation will also be available through Staples EasyTech Services. Customers can either select a starter kit or choose specific products and services to start with, and add new devices as they go.
Here’s the link: http://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/marketing/staples-connect/ Leave a Comment
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Crestron Launches Modules Store for Crestron Control Systems
Whether Crestron dealers and partners need a module to drop into a Crestron system or want to sell one they have designed, the new Crestron Application Market (ApplicationMarket.Crestron.com) is the place to go.
Crestron Partner Modules are created specifically to support popular AV, security, lighting, HVAC and other diverse products using Crestron’s RS232 and IP communications protocols. These are all labeled by Crestron as drag-and-drop modules designed to let you add third-party products into Crestron systems.
Crestron says the site features simple navigation and enhanced search tools, making it easy to sort through the 1,000+ modules to locate the one you need. Everything is listed alphabetically and you can sort by most recent, manufacturer, or device type. You can click on any of the partners or devices to see a complete module description, UI design and more.
You can see it all here. Leave a Comment
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rAVe to LIVE Stream Almo ProAV E4 AV Tour Next Week
By Gary Kayye rAVe Founder
I am excited to announce that we will be streaming LIVE (in HD) both my Kayye’s Krystal Ball Keynote as well as the Tech Expert Brain Freeze Panel (sponsored by NEC Display) during both of the fall Almo ProAV E4 AV Tours; in Irvine, Calif. on Fri., Oct. 18th and in Seacaucus, NJ on Wed., Nov. 13th.
For four years now, I have been honored to deliver the Almo E4 AV Tour keynote and, for four years, we’ve been asked to make it available to people who couldn’t make one of the four tour stops annually.
Certainly, if you’re going to be in the Irvine area on October 18th, you should attend the event live; however, if you’re anywhere else in the world and would like to watch me deliver the keynote at the Almo E4 AV Tour LIVE, all you need to do is open a browser and link to http://go.almoproav.com/e4live — and we’re going to stream it live in HD (H.264 format) for FREE!
Here’s what my keynote is all about:
For 12 years, my Krystal Ball has been one of the most-read annual columns by AV integrators, consultants and manufacturers. Covering the future trends in each technology and product sector, I’ve been able to predict what the future held for projectors, flat panels, VTC, digital signage, signal routing and a plethora of other segments of the market with nearly 90 percent accuracy — proven by simply reviewing his predictions each year.
Kayye’s Krystal Ball will debut as a live keynote at the ALMO E4 Shows. I will not only tell you what will happen in each market category of the next 12 months, but I’ll also look forward and tell you what will happen with everything you market and sell over the next two to three years, too. And, I’ll do it product by product — technology by technology. So, you’ll be able to design all your systems and specify all your products to be future-proof. I promise!
I hope you’ll join me – either live (you can see the entire agenda here.) or watch my live stream here: www.ravepubs.com/e4 starting at Noon, EST, on Friday, October 18th.
Oh, and if you want to see what the Almo E4 AV Tour is all about, watch this special (Almost Daily) Rants and rAVe Video interview I did today with Almo VP of Marketing Melody Craigmyle:Leave a Comment
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Integrated Systems Europe – the Mega-Tradeshow – Opens Registration
ISE 2014 will be the best-attended AV and IT systems integration trade show held anywhere in the world, with more than 45,000 attendees drawn to Amsterdam by innovations from over 900 exhibitors. The 2013 show was amazing and we covered it all with this dedicated MicroSite.
ISE was launched in 2004 to fulfill the need for a pan-European forum for the emerging markets of professional AV and electronic systems integration. The show grew quickly to become the undisputed annual marketplace for these industries — a focus not only for doing business but also for networking, education and technological innovation.
Always owned by not-for-profit trade associations, ISE has been a joint venture between InfoComm International and the CEDIA since 2007. As well as ensuring that all proceeds from ISE are re-invested into the industry, these associations act as the cornerstone of the event’s extensive education program, which continues to grow year after year.
As in the past seven years, ISE 2014 will be held at the superb Amsterdam RAI, occupying every hall of this world-leading meeting and convention venue. The show will attract professionals from every link in the systems integration value-chain, including manufacturers, distributors, dealers, contractors and consultants. ISE also draws ever-growing numbers of end customers, from fields as diverse as education, sports, corporate facilities, hospitality and live events.
Register for ISE 2014 here. Leave a Comment
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Hagai Says Goodbye to Gefen Gefen has announced its founder, Hagai Gefen, has left the company to pursue other interests. Moving forward, Gefen will be led by Sean Burke, group president of Nortek Technology Solutions group.
“This is a natural evolution that we have all been anticipating for some time now,” said Burke. “We have worked very closely with Hagai and his executive team at Gefen to ensure a smooth and effective transition. Best of all, our new team is extremely excited about the opportunities to propel the Gefen business into the next generation of premium audio/visual solutions.”
During his 25 year tenure with the company, Mr. Gefen became widely recognized for his first-to-market developments. These include being one of the first to implement connectivity solutions for the emerging DVI, HDMI and 3G-SDI formats as well as being among the first to bring reliable wireless high-definition video extension to market. He is also responsible for growing the company from a small, localized business into a multi-national signal management solutions company that was purchased by Nortek in 2006.
As president of Gefen, Burke will work closely with the executive management team to guarantee that Gefen remains on the leading edge of new technologies and their applications. He is being joined by Kevin E. Weiss, vice president, global sales and business development. Weiss brings more than 20 years of experience in developing and growing small, mid-size and large enterprise technology businesses, with a proven record of executing transformative strategies for new business growth.
Gefen is here.
Here is Hagai’s LinkedIn Profile. Leave a Comment
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rAVe Scoop: Almo to Distribute Epson ProAV LineThis morning, rAVe Founder Gary Kayye, recorded a special edition of his Daily Rants and rAVes and we got a big scoop!
It appears that Almo ProAV is about to announce that it’s the first ProAV distributor to distribute the entire Epson projection line, including the Epson BrightLink line. The details are in this video (below) at the 7-minute mark, however, I think you should consider watching the entire video as it also summarizes both the fall Almo Pro A/V E4 AV Tour and a new partnership we have that will bring the keynote and the luncheon experts panel to anyone, everywhere!
How? Well, we’re going to stream it, LIVE via HD (H.264) so that you can watch it using any browser to watch it. All you have to do is go to www.ravepubs.com/e4 at noon EST on Fri., October 18th and you’ll be able to watch the keynote LIVE on any smart phone, tablet or computer.
So, here’s the complete video interview from this morning between Almo’s VP of Marketing, Melody Craigmyle and Gary Kayye.
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ihiji Announces Over 100 New Features for invisionihiji announced today the addition of nearly 100 new features to its cloud-based remote network monitoring and management system, ihiji invision. Most of ihiji’s newest features will be showcased at this week’s CEDIA Expo in Denver and increase visibility and provide secure access to remote installations. Other additions include new manufacturer integrations, detailed user permissions, Power over Ethernet (PoE) reboots and robust remote management functionalities.
ihiji’s NetNinjas will also be on display at CEDIA and include a set of features that allow for simple, one-click, cloud-based reboots of devices such as routers, switches, control processors, PoE devices, IP power devices, and touch panels – all from within the ihiji invision system. ConnectNinja is the newest addition to the NetNinjas suite and is used to establish a secure remote connection with any device on a customer’s network. This support mechanism will provide full remote access to integrators and eliminates the need for complex VPN connections or insecure port forwarding. The ConnectNinja also complements the ihiji invision portal’s newer features, such as fully enabled manageable user permissions across individual sites, which is used to heighten secure site access control.
Also, at CEDIA, ihiji will enable cloud-based monitoring and remote reboot capabilities for DirecTV and Sonos devices as well as products from companies such as SnapAV, Panamax, Middle Atlantic, Pakedge, Planet, Control4, Crestron, Richard Gray’s Power Company and more.
Here they are. Leave a Comment
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Christie Beats Sony to Market and Installs First Laser-Only Projector Christie will supply and install the world’s first commercial digital laser projection solution at the Seattle Cinerama Theatre, a 4K Christie digital laser projector, with scalable light output up to 60,000 lumens.
“When hi-tech visionary Paul G. Allen bought the theater in 1999, he gave Cinerama full rein to innovate in order to provide our community with a cutting-edge movie-going experience,” said Greg Wood, Cinerama theater manager. “Selecting a laser projection solution — with its ability to render 2D and 3D movies with stunning clarity and brilliant, accurate color rendition — is in keeping with this tradition. We were excited by demonstrations of the technology earlier this year by Christie and we are looking forward to welcoming this reliable and brilliant laser projector installation to our space.”
Christie recently received the first U.S. FDA approval of variance allowing the sale of laser projectors for use in a cinema, which is the first and only such variance to date approved for a manufacturer of DCI-compliant cinema projectors.
Site scoping and technical evaluations began in August, with an anticipated switch over from conventional digital projection to the latest Christie digital cinema laser projector planned for early next year.
Christie intends to introduce a wide range of laser projectors building on core technologies and architectures, to power applications for the digital cinema, ProAV, visualization and simulation markets, throughout 2013 and beyond.
Here are details on the cinema.
Here are the specs of the projector. Leave a Comment
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dB Technologies Intros Sigma Series Active Speaker Line
The new Sigma Series of loudspeakers from dB Technologies is a new portable audio system for live sound that the company says can be set up quickly and can be easily tweaked after rigging.
The Sigma Series features new custom speaker components designed exclusively for the series by RCF, as well as the latest generation of DSPs and dB Technologies Digipro power amplifiers. The series features three cabinets which can be used by themselves, or stacked or pole mounted to create the size system necessary for the venue.
Included in the Sigma Series are the S115 15” two-way active speaker, S215 double 15” quasi three-way active speaker and S118 18” subwoofer:
- S115 — 15” two-way active system: This is a full range FOH speaker featuring a 15” woofer with 3” voice coil couples with a 1.4” high frequency titanium compression driver with 2.8” voice coil on a 60×40 CD horn waveguide. Specs include a frequency response of 46 Hz-20 kHz (+/- 10 dB), a new generation 1000-watt RMS Digipro G2 amplifier and 133 dB max SPL.
- S215 — Dual 15” quasi three-way active system: Many venues demand high SPL and low frequency response. This full range system provides just that in a single cabinet. Loaded with dual 15” phase-plugged woofers with 3” voice coils, coupled with a 1.4” titanium compression driver with 2.8” voice coil on a 60×40 CD horn waveguide, this system is designed to handle considerable loads. Specs include a frequency response of 42 Hz-20 kHz (+/- 10 dB), a new generation 1400-watt RMS Digipro G2 amplifier and a maximum of 139 dB max SPL.
- S118 — 18” active subwoofer: It offers an 18” low frequency woofer with 4” voice coil. Features include a frequency response of 32 Hz-110 Hz with switchable crossover at 80 Hz and 100 Hz, plus a new generation 1400 watt RMS Digipro G2 amplifier. This subwoofer cabinet achieves 134 dB max SPL.
The Sigma Series features 24-bit/48 kHz DSP with system presets (flat, boost) and limiter (dual active peak, RMS, thermal). The Digipro G2 power amp modules are rated at more than 90 percent efficient and designed to ensures that the output of the cabinets remains even and transparent.
Unique to this series is the H.E.T. cabinet housing. Remarkably rugged, the housings are made of premium quality multiply wood with a hardwearing, durable and scratch-resistant coating. Rugged plastic side panels provide excellent protection for the housing as well as integrated grips for transport. The cabinets are also designed so they can be easily stacked, or offer pole mount option.
Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Extron Intros XTP Transmitters Specifically for Floor Boxes Extron’s new XTP T FB 202 is a two-input XTP transmitter in a unique form factor designed for floor boxes commonly used in European AV installations, rAVe Europe reported this week.
The XTP T FB 202 can be conveniently mounted into a variety of floor boxes from OBO Bettermann, MK by Honeywell, Electraplan and PUK. This XTP transmitter sends HDMI or RGBHV video, audio, control and Ethernet up to 330 feet (100 meters) over a single CATx cable.
It is HDCP-compliant and supports computer-video up to 1920×1200, including HDTV 1080p/60 Deep Color and 2K. The XTP T FB 202 features automatic switching between inputs with selectable prioritization, and can be powered over the same CATx cable. The XTP T FB 202 is designed for use in XTP Systems for signal distribution and long-distance transmission between remote endpoints.
The XTP T FB 202 includes enhanced audio and control capabilities. It can transmit HDMI with its embedded audio, or alternatively, embed audio from a separate analog stereo input prior to transmission. The XTP T FB 202 also allows Ethernet extension and insertion of bidirectional RS232 and IR for LAN access and AV device control at remote locations.
To further simplify integration with HDMI-equipped devices, this XTP transmitter features two Extron technologies. EDID Minder ensures continuous EDID communication between devices. For transmission of HDMI signals with protected content, Key Minder authenticates and maintains HDCP encryption to provide quick and reliable transmission across the XTP System infrastructure.
Here are all the details. Leave a Comment
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Kramer Intros HDBaseT Lite Transmitter and Receiver Kramer’s TP-580T and TP-580R are a transmitter and receiver, respectively, using HDBaseT Lite technology to send HDMI with embedded audio, bi-directional RS232 and IR over distances of up to 230 feet (70 meters). For resolutions above 1080p60 and up to 4K, they can transmit up to 131 feet (40 meters), according to Kramer.
The TP-580T and TP-580R support HDCP, 3D Pass-through, Deep Color, x.v.Color, CEC, Lip Sync, HDMI Uncompressed Audio Channels, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD. They are each housed in a compact Kramer Tool enclosure and powered by the supplied 12v adapter.
So far, Epson and Panasonic (and soon Mitsubishi and InFocus) have direct HDBaseT inputs. You can get all the specs here. Leave a Comment
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Stampede Debuts CENTRO 8 for DemoPadStampede Presentation Products just unveiled the new CENTRO 8 control processor for the DemoPad control system. The IP-based DemoPad sends control signals to Wi-Fi but can also control devices that are not IP enabled, which installers can integrate through alternative methods such as IR or RS232 with affordable IP gateways of the new CENTRO 8.
The CENTRO 8 is basically a control processor (19″ rack mount) with two way communication that features 16 individually addressable IR ports. Using an HD-BaseT Matrix with IR pass through, integrators can simply use jack to jack leads (supplied) from the first eight IR ports into the corresponding IR ports on the matrix. Then at the balun end, a jack to IR bud completes the control loop to enable IR control from iOS and Android devices in each zone, with no additional hardware required. The remaining eight IR ports on the CENTRO 8 are typically used in conjunction with the four RS232 ports to control source equipment located in the rack.
The DemoPad custom design software enables integrators to create a completely customized interface and then it gets uploaded and paired to a DemoPad end-user app, which is purchased through the Apple store or Android Play market, allowing integrators to easily create bespoke systems for each customer and then upload complete control solutions to as many smartphones or tablets as required. It monitors connected devices and listens to requests from Apple iOS and selected Android hand held devices. It provides feedback as to current status of all connected devices (subject to device compatibility) and can receive and store scheduled requests for a variety of tasks including lighting dusk until dawn controls, access control and security arm / disarm, to more simple ‘turn TV on’ at a set time.
The CENTRO 8 has a built in web server and can store a local copy of the DemoPad project for retrieval or upload to a new device.
System specifications include:
- Control processor with 4GB internal program memory
- External 12v Power Supply
- 2x USB general purpose connector ports
- 1x RJ45 LAN 10/100 Ethernet port
- 1x HDMI output 1 x Stereo audio out jack
- 4x Bi-Directional RS232 communication ports
- 8x Digital Input ports (volt free operation)
- 4x Low Voltage <30v Relay outputs
- 16x Infra Red output ports (individually addressable)
- Built in HTTP/HTTPS web server and timers for scheduling
For more information about DemoPad, click here. Leave a Comment
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Extron Now Shipping Scalers for 3G-SDI and HDMI Cross Conversion Extron is now shipping the DSC 3G-HD A and the DSC HD-3G A scalers for 3G-SDI and HDMI. The DSC 3G-HD A converts 3G-SDI, HD-SDI and SDI video signals to HDMI, while the DSC HD-3G A converts HDMI to 3G-SDI/HD-SDI/SDI. Both products feature advanced Extron video signal processing with 1080i deinterlacing, Deep Color processing, aspect ratio control and additional processing features for optimal format conversion and image quality. A wide range of selectable output rates is available, independent of the input video resolution or frame rate, to ensure compatibility with downstream equipment. For both products, audio from the analog stereo input or the digital video input may be embedded onto the video output.
The DSC 3G-HD A and DSC HD-3G A offer several features that enhance and simplify AV system integration. Both scalers feature input equalization which conditions incoming 3G-SDI or HDMI signals to compensate for signal loss over long input cables. The DSC 3G-HD A includes an SDI input loop-through with reclocking to eliminate high frequency jitter. The DSC HD-3G A features a genlock input with loop-through and two simultaneous 3G-SDI/HD-SDI/SDI outputs.
Enhanced audio capabilities for both products include audio embedding, input gain and attenuation controls, and input audio muting. For the DSC 3G-HD A, analog stereo audio or up to four pairs of AES audio channels from the SDI input can be embedded onto the HDMI output. With the DSC HD-3G A, analog stereo audio or HDMI multi-channel PCM audio can be embedded onto the SDI outputs.
For more information on the DSC 3G-HD A, go here.
For more information on the DSC HD-3G A, go here. Leave a Comment
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Analog Way Debuts Pulse2 Analog Way’s Pulse2 is a mixer and matrix switcher that’s based on its Midra platform. Pulse2 adds several improvements over the original Pulse, including a size increase — it’s now housed in a 2RU enclosure — with better air circulation and cooling. It now has eight seamless inputs and 14 input plugs: 4x universal analog, 4x DVI-D, 4x HDMI and 2x 3G-SDI plugs and offers something Analog Way is calling CleanCut — the ability to fade through black or loss of sync. EDID management is included for six of the eight inputs.
Pulse2′s two outputs are matrix and can be scaled. It has features such as pan, zoom, edge blending, fade, dissolve, cut, wipe, slide, audio breakaway, audio delay and balanced stereo outputs, plus internal test patterns for setup and two frame layers with background and foreground positions. Analog Way claims that preset management has also been improved. In addition, Pulse2 offers “Swap and Split” — the ability to switch between a PIP and a live background source (Swap), or the display of two PIPs side-by-side on a colored or frame background (Split).
Full specs are here. Leave a Comment
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Audinate Adds AEQ to Dante Licensing
AEQ announced that it has entered into a license agreement with Audinate to develop its broadcast products with Dante digital media networking. AEQ manufactures communications equipment, automation systems, audio mixers and routing systems for the radio and television broadcast markets.
Built on existing networking protocols and standards, Audinate’s Dante technology is a plug and play networking solution that delivers ultra-low latency and tightly synchronized media, while simplifying installation and configuration of digital media networks.
Dante networking is widely accepted among broadcast and pro audio manufacturers because it is a self-configuring network that uses standard Internet Protocols over either 100 Mbps and 1 Gigabit Ethernet. Set-up is easy, with devices that automatically discover one another and one-click signal routing with user-editable names. Dante has now been adopted by more than 100 OEMs, with over 175 Dante products to choose from and more being launched all the time.
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Screen Innovations Announces Black Diamond Rear-Pro FilmScreen Innovations (SI) will announce at CEDIA a new film-based projection screen material, dubbed Black Diamond Rear-Pro Film, which is a light-diffusing rear projection film that can be applied to any transparent surface (like a window in a retail store) to turn it into a projection surface.
SI’s Black Diamond Rear-Pro Film is available in 60” x 99’ rolls that ship on a 2-inch core or it can be purchased already laminated to glass or acrylic as a finished solution. A typical installation might be on an attic wall or even a garage wall for a unique outdoor movie experience, but the options are extensive.
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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FSR’s DR-SOCK Provides Help for Pulling CablesFSR’s new DR-SOCK is a creative cable-pulling tool designed to simplify and accelerate every installation requiring cables and connectors.
The DR-SOCK is pre-assembled, easily accessible in frustration-proof packaging and re-useable. It protects cables and connectors from being damaged by taking the stress off the connection points while pulling through a conduit. The design opens up to 1.25 inches, and features brightly colored sleeve tips to enable easy identification and a steel ring to allow quick and positive attachment of a pull snake. DR-SOCK can be used to safely pull FSR’s new Digital Ribbon Cables as well as others with connector shells.
Here are the details: http://www.fsrinc.com/products/dr-sock.htm Leave a Comment
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Christie Adds 46-Inch LCDChristie added a 46″ LCD cube to its line today in the form of the FHD461-X, a 1920×1080 resolution direct LED-lit LCD that’s specified at 4000:1 contrast ratio and with a brightness of 700 nits (cd/m2). The bezel on this LCD is only 0.13″ (3.4 millimeters) — top/left — and 0.08″ (2.0 millimeters) — bottom/right. Inputs include two HDCP-compliant HDMI ports, VGA, DisplayPort and DVI. This is an Energy-Star compliant display that only uses 0.5 watts in standby. It can be mounted horizontally or vertically in a video-wall application. In addition, the Christie FHD461-X uses a true commercial-grade LCD panel and has an anti-glare coating. One unique feature is that you can control up to 25 panels through single RS232 using Christie’s Video Wall Toolbox software on a remote PC. It’s less than 3.75″ deep.
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Video Conferencing Begins Return to GrowthInfonetics Research has released excerpts from its 2Q13 Enterprise Telepresence and Video Conferencing Equipment report, which tracks dedicated and PBX-based video conferencing and telepresence infrastructure and endpoints: There’s now evidence the videoconferencing market is bouncing back.
“After a tumultuous 2012 that saw growth in the videoconferencing market screech to a halt, sales returned to year-over-year growth in the second quarter of 2013,” says Matthias Machowinski, directing analyst for enterprise networks and video at Infonetics Research. “While the long-term fundamentals look positive and will eventually drive renewed revenue growth, weakness in public sector spending and the move to lower-cost video solutions hamper a more robust recovery this year.”
Other highlights:
- The global enterprise video conferencing and telepresence market totaled $735 million in 2Q13, up 6 percent from the previous quarter, and up 8 percent from the year-ago 2nd quarter.
- PBX-based video system revenue doubled in 2Q13 from 2Q12, as businesses sought cost-effective ways to deploy multimedia communication.
- Dedicated systems, meanwhile, continue to struggle.
- North America is growing again on a year-over-year basis, pointing to a turnaround.
- Results in EMEA over the past few quarters have been encouraging, and Infonetics believes the region could be a top performer in 2013 despite ongoing economic issues.
- Vendor results were mixed in 2Q13: Market leader Cisco’s revenue declined marginally, while #2 Polycom’s was up slightly.
Here are details on the entire report. Leave a Comment
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Elo Touch Solutions Debuts Line Pre-Packaged Touch Solutions Elo Touch Solutions (Elo) announced this week a new line called ‘Elo @ The Office,’ with all products aimed at providing pre-packaged solutions for common building display applications. The bundles combine Elo’s 42-inch to 70-inch all-in-one touch computing hardware with software to enable cloud-based collaboration, digital whiteboard, building directory and virtual receptionist applications. Elo @ The Office partners include Cisco WebEx, Citrix GoToMeeting, Google Hangouts, Microsoft Lync, Microsoft Skype, ReadyTalk and other future cloud-based applications such as QlikView and salesforce.com.
The line is divided up into four main categories of products:
- Elo Corporate Collaboration Solution: A 70-inch touch screen with integrated Intel Core i5 computer running Microsoft Windows that mounts less than 4 inches from the wall and requires only AC power and a network connection.
- Elo Digital Whiteboard Solution: Elo’s 70-inch touch screen integrated with Hitachi StarBoard software.
- Elo Directory Solution: Elo’s 55-inch touch screen integrated with JibeStream NovoTouch software (wayfinding software). The NovoTouch interface allows for directory listing templates and 3D maps to build way finding applications quickly.
- Elo Virtual Receptionist Solution: Elo’s 42-inch touch screen integrated with WinTech’s ALICE receptionist software (allows employees to communicate with visitors in the lobby from their desks using face-to-face video or audio-only conversations). Guests are automatically greeted and told how to use the interactive directory without losing the personal touch of human customer service.
Elo @ The Office solutions will all start shipping within 30 days. Here are all the specifics. Leave a Comment
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Clary Icon Adds 40-Inch Display Clary Icon, manufacturer of the OneScreen system that’s aimed at SMART Technologies’ users as well as those of the InFocus MondoPad, announced today that it is now offering OneScreen in a 40” screen size. OneScreen is basically an HD video, audio and web conferencing system with a multi-touch interactive screen.
OneScreen is interoperable and built on open architecture without any proprietary restraints (although it is Windows-based). Users can add applications and work in a familiar Windows desktop environment while communicating and collaborating through their choice of UC tools. It’s designed to allow people to initiate a video, audio or web conference, share and annotate ideas on a 40″ LCD using Hitachi StarBoard software.
The package includes:
- 40” touch screen LCD monitor
- Mini desktop computer with Windows 7 Pro
- HD PTZ camera
- Wireless keyboard
- Wireless pen tablet
- Interactive whiteboard software
- Video conferencing client
- Softphone
Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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