Volume 11, Issue 15 — August 15, 2013
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A Review of the Wainhouse UC&C Summit
By Darcy Harrell CEO, Total Marketing
The palatable excitement from June’s InfoComm is slowly starting to wane. The thrill of new technology and product introductions, as well as the entrance of new market players, has been replaced as the doldrums of the everyday demo, quote, close rhythm takes over. In North Texas, it’s hot… and I don’t mean mildly hot, I mean burn yourself on your leather seats everyday kind of hot. So, when an opportunity presented itself to escape to Northern California to expand my knowledge of the unified communications (UC) and collaboration markets and current trends associated, maybe with a little networking on the side, I jumped at the chance.
I’ve been a dedicated follower of Wainhouse Research for many years. Most recently, I’ve followed closely the projections and trends specifically around the videoconferencing industry, which has continued to grow in size and also in recognition as new players have entered the last few years. As video has become more of a mainstream technology, more enterprise entities are now incorporating videoconferencing into their overall UC or collaboration strategy.
Wainhouse Research puts on an annual event billed as “the major unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) event in North America,” offering participants “the perfect meeting place to learn the latest developments in the industry, hear from world-renowned analysts and develop collaborative strategies for 2013 and beyond.” Wainhouse has been putting on these events for over a decade and each year, according to organizer Alan Greenberg, the event has grown in size and as well as quality of attendees. My experience was that of an intimate gathering (sub-200) of a wide range of UC professionals, each of whom brings a unique perspective to the industry and is genuinely vested in its future.
There were also a host of manufacturers and software providers including relative newcomers to the industry: Mersive, showcasing its Solstice product, as well as TelyLabs and its sub-$1000 room-based codec.
Most of the additional attendees included a host of service providers and a handful of end users. Noteably absent were the AV players as less than a handful of recognizable integrators and consultants were in attendance.
What I liked about the format was the small numbers encouraged a great deal of interactivity amongst attendees. Presentations were interactive and included time for audience Q&A. The intimate nature of the event fueled this.
Presentation topics and discussion highlights included impact of BYOD/BYOA in the enterprise, the changing face of higher education, the impact of Microsoft Lync and the disruption of the videoconferencing market with new products and services. What I learned, or rather, what was emphasized throughout the conference was that the UC&C market is changing more now than it ever has before. We have moved from presentation-based corporate environments, designed by and for top executives to collaborative spaces, designed and demanded by the knowledge workers who utilize them for daily tasks. The large auditoriums and boardrooms are being enhanced (and sometimes replaced) with smaller “huddle” rooms where groups gather to collaborate on projects and ideas. Those huddle rooms need to connect to others, as well as the larger boardrooms and even to individuals. This evolution presents such a huge opportunity for technology integrators to work with these organizations on finding solutions that meet the needs of decision-based workflows as well as generational-based workplace demands.
The main propeller of utilizing collaborative technology in the enterprise is no longer travel cost savings or green initiatives, but rather adapting to the way people WANT to work. Consumerization is the main driver of this. No one wants to book a room in advance, have the AV guy (or girl) on standby, read a manual or troubleshoot anything. They want to bring their device or devices and communicate as simply as FaceTime or Skype has allowed them to do so.
If the quick poll of Wainhouse attendees on devices in possession is any indication (the “winner” had six), enterprises and educational institutes need to focus not just on BYOD, but BYODs(!) and the more importantly, the bandwidth necessary to support.
The question is, what are people doing with all these devices and the applications associated (BYOA)? Smart phones and tablets have become our weapons — the “Swiss Army knife” of our daily lives, allowing for everything from calls and texts to gaming and social media. Wainhouse has been following how people use devices and the research shows a continual increase in usage for audio, web and videoconferencing on the device. Additionally, cloud archival, streaming and instant messaging are becoming much more prevalent through various free applications. For the enterprise, this means not only greater collaboration and sharing internally, but also the opportunity for more B2C communication. With the prevalent use of social media and everyone having advice and opinions, businesses must communicate directly with consumers to maintain relevancy.
So, with consumers at the enterprise level and their cultivation of these “weapons,” IT departments have not been equipped with the resources to support them. How do we, as hardware and service providers adapt to the needs of IT? This includes building more robust networks, providing products that not only address the disparateness of devices, but also provide metrics/analytics on usage and adoption. Today, integrators have numerous tools available to provide these kinds of services, but you must be engaged with the right people and asking the right questions to have the right opportunities.
What about higher education? The current administration has a major emphasis on accessibility of post-secondary education for all Americans. President Obama set a goal that by 2020, America would once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. Ellen Wagner, executive director of WCET likens this “Edudotcom Boom” to similar booms (and later busts) the U.S. has experienced in technology and real estate. Today, government subsidized debt fuels much of higher ed growth. Consumers are also bearing the weight of cost increases. In fact, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, student loan debt continues to grow, now surpassing credit card and auto-related debts in the U.S. How will higher education institutions keep up with the demand while still remaining relevant AND affordable? For those with commercial interests in higher education, be aware of trends towards MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) and competency-based learning. These trends move away from the traditional classroom environment, no matter how “tech-savvy” those rooms might be, and into a virtual environment that’s more accessible to more students.
Wagner encourages us to think like an “educatian” vs. an educator, and look at the mission and vision of the higher education institutions (not to mention backing government policies) when developing technology maps and plans for the future. Recording, streaming and archiving of content will continue to be of monumental importance for higher education to scale. Of lesser importance will be the institution in which one attends (sorry, Ivy League), but rather what a student can perform based on what he/she has learned. No matter how many fewer boxes it takes to set up the AV in a classroom today, in order to plan for the future, we must help colleges and universities to understand how to engage students in new and unique ways for scalability and affordability.
Videoconferencing certainly has a play here, in higher education as well as at the enterprise, to facilitate the face to face collaboration the market continues to demand. Interestingly enough, only 5 percent of said addressable market is even utilizing videoconferencing and studies have shown (thank you, Wainhouse) that even that 5 percent only uses videoconferencing technology 20 percent of the time. This begs the question, what industry would even exist with these metrics? The aforementioned FaceTime and Skype have brought the concept of videoconferencing out of the boardroom/classroom and to the masses, but we still haven’t seen the “pervasiveness” of video we’ve been talking about for so long. So, why now? With the evolution of video switching architectures and upgrades to ITU video standards (H.265), it’s possible to do more with less… less infrastructure, less cost, less bandwidth = more opportunity for video at multiple levels.
Now, not every codec or application is standards-based, and today every environment seems to contain a heterogeneous assortment of hardware. Due to this, perhaps the most exciting development, or disrupter, is VaaS, Video as a Service. By eliminating the need for costly infrastructure (and the ongoing service agreements that accompany it), a campus or enterprise can associate video as an OppEx vs. CapEx expenditure. This also allows for cross-platform communication and functionality. At this year’s InfoComm alone, there were at least five new start-ups (supported mostly by ex-TANDBERG/Cisco executives and engineers) who were presenting varying levels of VaaS to the market – and those are just the ones focused on the AV market!
Unified communications is certainly driving video-based communications at the desktop level with simple user interfaces and mobile applications. Microsoft is leading the way with Lync in terms of market share in this space. Video isn’t something that has been quite as widely adopted here, although the opportunity is there. Today, the bandwidth required for quality of calls as well as the necessary peripherals keep the video piece from wider adoption. A huge opportunity is development of UCaaS to seamlessly integrate the video, audio and web portions of conferencing to a more robust system, thus creating a more fluid user experience.
Overall, I believe the future of UC&C for technology integrators is bright. We must learn how to take what we know and apply it to the future when we develop technology plans for our customers. For the most part, a customer doesn’t know what’s possible unless you help them see how technology can solve their problems today and meet their goals for the future, even assisting in those goals as true partners do.
Please take the time to explore Wainhouse’s site for further insight into this expanding industry. Create a user account and register at cp.wainhouse.com for access to press releases, forecasts and whitepapers. And plan to attend next year’s summit! AV is a huge part of the collaborative technologies and we, as AV professionals, need to further engage in the opportunities associated. Leave a Comment
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Director of AV, Meet Director of Security
By Scott Tiner rAVe Columnist
In July of this year, one of our local sales and integration firms, Advance Technology Inc. (ATI), won the Installer of the Year award from Security Sales & Integration Magazine. You can check out the news release here. What struck me about the article is that ATI is using some sophisticated tools for remote maintenance and support. You can read about it in the article, but in short, they are using the network and the cloud to better support their customers and make sure they keep their security systems running. This is something I have written and spoken about on many occasions, but in relation to supporting AV.
You also may be interested to know that ATI is also an AV integration firm. I find it surprising that we don’t find more companies who have joined these specialities. Wisely, ATI keeps the specialities as separate divisions, but clearly so much of what they do relate to each other. Cameras, along with monitors and control systems to manage the security systems, are all AV devices.
Reading the article made me think more and more about what we can do on our campuses to keep our students safe and to respond in the case of an emergency. It also makes me wonder why in so many cases, the AV team and security team don’t work together as much as they could to provide a safer environment. I can only imagine it is due to the fact that both divisions think they are experts in their fields and don’t want the other division telling them how to do their work. Unfortunately, this attitude only causes a lack of progress and potentially costs us money.
A specific area of collaboration is cameras and audio in classrooms. More and more of us are installing class capture systems in our classrooms. These systems include cameras and microphones. Why don’t we meet with our security team and talk about how, in an emergency, these systems could be activated for use by security? The most obvious examples here would be a hostage situation, an active shooter or some type of standoff. Being able to look into a room and see and hear what is happening could be invaluable to security who was trying to end the situation. In our case, this system would be very easy to implement. The rooms that we have installed class capture in all have Crestron Capture HD equipment. This allows us to stream the content. With a iPad or iPhone control you could turn on the streaming, get instructions on how to view it and control the camera. Vaddio has its AV Bridge, which would provide a very similar service at a modest cost.
Obviously, the above situations are critical, scary and we hope that we never have to face them. So, are there ways that we can use this technology on a more regular basis for security needs? Indeed, there are. Theft is an issue on most campuses. Technology managers have tried a variety of ways to secure their projectors and other equipment. Thick cables, audible alarms and even cages protect the equipment on many campuses. However, what if we could catch people in the act? With a smart programmer and integrated systems, you could set up a system to record thefts. Rooms could be programmed so that if there is activity detected after a certain time at night, say 10 p.m., the cameras would turn on, go to a preset and begin recording. The video could automatically be uploaded to a server. Or, if connected properly, a notification could be sent to the security office, and they could take a live view of the room. If there is concern about whether activity in the room would set the camera off on too regular of a basis, then how about a trigger that the projector has gone offline? That could begin the recording process. Perhaps you could put a motion detector right at the projector, with a tightly masked area, so the camera will only record when motion is detected right at the projector.
The benefit of a trigger from room activity is that it would be able to record activity other than theft of a projector. Vandalism, theft of other equipment, or just general undesired activities could be prevented.
It’s a win, win for both the security and the AV departments. The security department does not have to pay for cameras in every room, while the AV group does not have to pay for the underlying security infrastructure. Best yet, the college as a whole wins. I imagine that companies like Advance Technology are perfectly poised to get into this business right now. This is because they are already in both businesses. The best piece for integrators like ATI is that they are selling equipment AND a service here. We all know that it is the service that is going to make them the money.
I understand that there are politics involved when it comes to cameras and privacy. People are very wary of cameras recording their activities. I guess for me, the end question is about safety. It needs to come first. However, there are many precautions that could be put in place. One significant step that could be taken is a security override pin number that needs to be entered in order to gain access to these cameras remotely. Whenever this pin gets used, a specified list of people get notified via text message, so we know the system is not being abused.
Like any grand idea, if you want to implement this on your campus, you need to start with a plan. If you go through the work to put all of this in place, but no one knows how to use it when the time comes, then you have failed. So, if you are a tech manager, go sit down with your director of security and let him/her know what is possible. Be part of a proactive plan to keep your campus safe. Are you doing anything like this on your campus? Let me know — I look forward to hearing from you. Leave a Comment
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4K Displays: Is That the Cost or Something Else?
By Steven J. Thorburn, PE, LEED-AP Co-founder, Thorburn Associates
In a word — yes! It is both a cost and a reference to resolution. In the world of film and video, 4K resolution is a picture that has 4096 pixels side-to-side by 2160 pixels top-to-bottom. In the world of flat panel displays, a 4K display or ultra HD has a resolution of 3840×2160 pixels.
So what does all of this mean? It is a reaction to “bigger is better.” Your flat panel TV at home most likely has 1920 pixels side-to-side and 1080 from top-to-bottom. The ratio of 1920 by 1080 is part of the HDTV standard for a display to have an image ratio that is 16 units wide by 9 units tall.
In terms of camera resolution, this would be a 2-megapixel image. A picture or image with this resolution looks great on 30-, 40-, 50-, 60- and 70-inch displays. When we move into 90-inch and larger displays, some people say there is not enough information for a display that large; they say it seems fuzzy.
This discussion about pixels vs. display size is reminiscent of an article we authored on digital cinema a number of years ago when 4K projection was just coming out. As it was then and still is now, it’s all about pixel density. If you do the math, a 45-inch diagonal display is about 40 inches wide and 22 inches tall. That 45-inch display, in HD format has a pixel density of about 50 pixels, or dots per inch (if you are old enough to remember dot matrix printers) side-to-side on the display. If we were to look at a 90-inch diagonal display, it is about 80 inches wide and 45 inches tall and has a pixel density of about 25 pixels or dots per inch. Pixel density and the distance to the display provide you with the clarity factor. If you are so close you can see the display process, that is not good. It is like looking at an image through a screen door.
If we were to look at that same 90-inch display with an ultra HD signal with 3840 pixels across rather than the 1920, then you would be back to looking at about 50 pixels per inch.
So where is this extra information needed? It’s needed anywhere we need images that need to be close to photo realistic, including remote medical diagnostics, map making, CAD/CAM or direct view displays larger than 100 inches. History is a great teacher. This is the same challenge that digital cinema went through: How many pixels do they need to put on the screen to make an image that is good enough, not equal to film, but good enough in the consumer’s view? Digital cinema is stuck at 4K resolution right now, on a 20 to 40 foot if not wider screen. A 4K image on a forty foot screen is about 8 pixels per inch… so it is all about what you want to see: 8 to 16 pixels per inch for the movies, 25 to 50 for TV at your home, or 100 on your laptop. The question is how much information do you want and where?
As to the price, You should be able to get a 4K display at your favorite box store for about $6,000 right now. The price should be down to about $4,000 dollars for the holidays and definitely for the Super Bowl. Ultimately, the questions we always ask is, what are you looking at, what do you need to see, how much resolution is needed to support your computer desktop, or is a life at stake? These are the questions that will help you decide if 4K is needed or if it is just the next wow factor. A 4K image on a screen less than 80 inches just to watch movies or sports… you will have the bragging rights of the neighborhood, but will you see the difference? Most experts would say no.
Steven J. Thorburn, PE, LEED-AP is co-founder of Thorburn Associates, Inc., an acoustics, technology and lighting design firm with offices in California, Florida and North Carolina. He is a recipient of InfoComm’s Educator of the Year award and is active in the design and development of projects around the world. Leave a Comment
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PMA’s Tracking Service Shows Top-Selling Projector Models in June Include Epson, InFocus and Mitsubishi PMA Research has posted its most recent Projector Tracking Service results to the “Top-Selling Projectors” area of their website and we’ve created an infographic to help you graphically see the Top 5. For more than 15 years now, PMA Research has collected monthly sell-through data from leading North American projector dealers, retailers, web resellers and distributors. Its Tracking Service family of monthly reports offers timely sell-through data and analysis on unit sales, true volume-weighted street prices, and inventories of front projectors for these channels.
Each month, PMA Research posts the Top 5 Projector Lists for the following product categories:
Pico and Personal Projectors – For Pico and Personal projectors, the June results showed that Optoma had two of the best-selling projectors in June. 3M took top honors with the best-selling MP410. Optoma filled the number two and three spots with the PK-320 and ML300. Vivitek’s Qumi Q2 came in fourth. AAXA rounded out the Top 5 list with its P3 Pico. This Top 5 list is compiled from data collected from PMA’s monthly Retail Projector Tracking Service sample, which is made up of North American retailers and web resellers.
Mainstream Projectors – For the Mainstream category, the June results showed that Epson and InFocus had multiple projectors on this Top 5 list. InFocus had the best-selling IN112, and also filled the number three spot with its IN114. Casio’s XJ-M250 took the number two spot. Epson rounded out the Top 5 with a pair of projectors, the PowerLite X12 and PowerLite 93+, in the fourth and fifth spots. This Top 5 list is compiled from data collected from PMA’s monthly Distributor Projector Tracking Service sample, which is made up of North American distributors.
High-End Projectors – For High-End projectors, the June 2013 results showed Mitsubishi taking top honors. For the second month in a row, Mitsubishi filled the top two spots with the WD720 and XD700. Epson filled the final three spots with its PowerLite Pro G5450WU, the PowerLite 1945W and PowerLite Pro G6050W. This Top 5 list is compiled from data collected from PMA’s monthly Pro AV Projector Tracking Service sample, which is made up of North American dealers and integrators.
PMA can be found here. Leave a Comment
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Smart Building Conference to Take Place in London in OctoberIntegrated Systems Events announced recently that its Smart Building Conference will come to London on Tues., Oct. 15. A joint venture of the company’s not-for-profit association owners, CEDIA and InfoComm, the conference was held for the first time in Amsterdam in January of this year (during ISE 2013), where it drew a sell-out attendance of over 150 professional delegates.
“After an extensive period of industry consultation, we are convinced that smart buildings represent a fantastic opportunity for the professional AV and electronic systems integration industry,” says Mike Blackman, managing director, Integrated Systems Events.
“The ability of AV professionals to integrate the disparate technologies in a building into an efficient, manageable and scalable system is without parallel anywhere in the construction business. We see the Smart Building Conference as the premier forum in which our community can learn about the opportunities that are available to it and how those opportunities can best be exploited.”
While the inaugural Smart Building Conference had an international flavor, the London event is being given a more local focus, with speakers encouraged to present case studies, market-research data and keynote addresses inspired by trends in the UK market. Blackman believes this will make the conference particularly appealing to InfoComm and CEDIA members in the UK, who will receive generous discounts on delegate pricing.
While the event will begin and end with plenary sessions, the late morning and early afternoon will see parallel tracks for the residential and commercial sectors, allowing delegates to choose the seminars that are most closely linked to their area of business. Blackman says topics will include building automation, energy management, security and access control, IT facilities integration, HVAC and lighting control, and much more.
The event will be held at Dexter House, in the heart of London, and will be MC’d by Bob Snyder, editor-in-chief of Channel Media Europe and rAVe Europe, reprising the role he performed at the widely praised Amsterdam event.
For more information on the event, click here. Leave a Comment
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ClearOne Q2 Earnings Almost Identical to Last Quarter ClearOne today reported its financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013.
For the 2013 second quarter, revenue was $11.70 million, compared with $11.66 million for the second quarter of 2012. Gross profit was $6.9 million, or 59 percent of revenue, compared with $7.1 million, or 61 percent of revenue, for the second quarter of 2012. Non-GAAP operating income increased by 7 percent to $1.8 million from $1.7 million for the 2012 second quarter. Non-GAAP net income grew 40 percent to $1.2 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, from $885,000, or $0.10 per diluted share, last year. Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA for the 2013 second quarter increased 9 percent to$2.0 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, from $1.9 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, a year ago.
For the first half of 2013, revenue rose to $23.0 million from $21.8 million for the same period in 2012. Gross profit was $13.9 million, or 60 percent of revenue, compared with $13.2 million, or 61 percent of revenue, for the first half of 2012. Non-GAAP operating income for the first half of 2013 increased by 22 percent to $3.2 million from $2.6 million for the second half of 2012. Non-GAAP net income for the 2013 year-to-date period grew 46 percent to $2.2 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, from $1.5 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, last year. Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA for the first half of 2013 increased 18 percent to $3.6 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, from $3.1 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, for the corresponding period a year ago.
The reconciliation between GAAP and Non-GAAP measures is available in the tables attached to this release.
At June 30, 2013, the company had cash, cash equivalents, and investments of $41.6 million. The company continues to selectively evaluate modest acquisition and organic growth opportunities to complement its product portfolio.
“At the halfway mark for fiscal 2013, we are optimistic that our positive momentum will continue,” said Zee Hakimoglu, president, CEO and chairman of ClearOne. “Although the company’s performance in the Asia and EMEA markets continues to reflect a slowdown in growth and lingering macroeconomic uncertainty, we remain confident that the best is yet to come, as the market continues to recognize the value of the lower-cost software-based solutions that define the future in video and are addressed by the strong ClearOne offering.”
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Futuresource: 522,000 Professional Flat Panel Displays Shipped in Q2 2013According to the latest research from Futuresource Consulting, in Q2 2013 the market for professional displays declined by 0.7 percent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ), but experienced year-on-year growth (YoY) of 4.8 percent, ending the quarter on 521,998 global shipments.
Americas
The climate remains difficult for international display vendors and the Americas region was the only region to experience QoQ growth, with almost all countries experiencing uplift. Brazil underperformed in Q2, with unrest in the country slowing the market for displays. The U.S. market remains difficult with restricted budgets offering limited project opportunities, causing the region to lack consistent growth.
APAC and EMEA
The Asia/Pacific and EMEA regions both experienced negative QoQ growth, as sales in key markets (Japan, India, Germany, France and Russia) declined over the quarter. Samsung was the only leading brand to experience growth this quarter, finding opportunities in key countries where other vendors failed.
Product Coverage
The super narrow bezel display market has been in decline in recent quarters, however the market bounced back in Q2 and grew more than 10 percent QoQ. The market for displays with <5-millimeter bezels has seen negative growth for consecutive quarters, but this market also bounced back with a 15.5 percent growth in Q2.
The large screen market (greater than 60-inch) has been of particular interest to vendors looking for high margin sales. This product category experienced a boost to its line-up as vendors began offering 84-inch 4K displays. The 60-inch+ size category accounted for 6.6 percent of Q2 volumes, but 28.1 percent of the market value.
Future Source’s report can be found here. Leave a Comment
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Kramer Adds Two New DisplayPort Distribution Amplifiers Kramer Electronics introduced today the VM-2DP and the VM-4DP DisplayPort Distribution Amplifiers.
The VM-2DP 1:2 DisplayPort Distribution Amplifier accepts a DisplayPort (DP) input signal and distributes it to two DisplayPort (DP) outputs, while the 1:4 VM-4DP distributes a DP signal to four DP outputs. Both offer a maximum data rate of 10.8Gbps (2.7Gbps per graphic channel) and a maximum resolution capability of 2560×1600 @ 60 Hz. They are also HDTV compatible and HDCP compliant.
The VM-2DP and the VM-4DP feature Kramer’s I-EDIDPro Intelligent EDID Processing technology, in which an Intelligent EDID handling and processing algorithm ensures Plug and Play operation for DisplayPort systems. The VM-2DP and the VM-4DP also feature Kramer’s Equalization and re-Klocking Technology, which rebuilds the digital signal to travel longer distances.
The VM-2DP is a compact DigiTOOLS — three units can be rack mounted side-by-side in a 1U rack space, whereas the VM-4DP is a standard 19” rack mount 1U size. Rack ears are included.
Both the VM-2DP and VM-4DP are shipping now. For more information about the VM-2DP, click here and for more information about the VM-4DP, click here. Leave a Comment
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Extron Ships HDMI/VGA Switcher with Integrated Fiber Optic Transmitter Extron Electronics is now shipping the new FOX T USW 103, a three-input switcher with an integrated fiber optic transmitter for long haul transmission of HDCP-compliant HDMI, RGBHV, or HD component video (up to 1920×1200 or 1080p/60), stereo audio and RS232 control signals over fiber optic cabling. Analog AV input signals are digitized to ensure that a high quality signal is transmitted to the final destination. It offers features such as EDID Minder, Key Minder, audio embedding, auto-input switching, RS232 control, and real-time system monitoring. The compact, low profile FOX T USW 103 allows for discreet installation such as beneath a table or in a lectern.
The FOX T USW 103 is compatible with FOX Series HDMI, DVI Plus, DVI and VGA receivers. This transmitter can also be used in combination with FOX Series matrix switchers for HDCP-compliant signal distribution systems up to 1000×1000 and larger. To ensure system operability, EDID Minder manages EDID communication between sources and destinations, and Key Minder continuously authenticates HDCP encryption. It’s available in multi-mode and single-mode models.
For more information on the FOX T USW 103, click here. Leave a Comment
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projectiondesign Partners with HoloVis for Immersive Game System projectiondesign and HoloVis are partnering on something called MotionDome, which is basically a “system-in-a-package” from projectiondesign that’s aimed at helping to create gaming or ride simulators in 2D or 3D. It offers four F35 AS3D active stereoscopic 3D DLP projectors edge blended on a curved screen display, positioned above the participant’s eye line to create a completely immersive experience.
This will all debut at the EAS 2013 show in Paris in September.
The only public details of the project and partnership are here. Leave a Comment
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Acer Debuts K132 DLP LED Portable ProjectorAcer’s new K132 is an LED-lit DLP pico projector measuring just 5.5″ (L) x 4.6″ (W) x 1.6″ (H) that claims over 500 ANSI lumens at WXGA resolution (1280×800). The contrast ratio spec is 10,000:1.
LED-based, the K132 has a long lamp life of 30,000 hours in Extreme Eco mode that reduces standby power consumption by up to 90 percent — from 5 watts to 0.5 watts. It also goes 20,000 hours in standard mode. LED lamps offer many benefits, including a longer lifespan with an always-available light source, instant on/off capability and better color saturation. With no breakable filaments or tubes, LED lamps are durable and reduce environmental impact, since there are no hazardous mercury or halogen gases.
All the specs are here. Leave a Comment
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Lab.gruppen Intros New LUCIA Decentralized Installation AmplifierThe two-channel LUCIA (Localized Utility Compact Intelligent Amplification) from Lab.gruppen is a compact Energy Star compliant Class D amplifier platform with DSP in the smallest amplifier the company has ever produced. LUCIA is designed for small AV applications that don’t need a distributed system with centralized rack-mounted amplification, matrixing and processing.
The LUCIA is four models across two power configurations — 2x60W and 2x120W – each available with either four-in, four-out matrix-mixer and configurable DSP features (LUCIA 120/2M, LUCIA 240/2M) or in a basic two-in, two-out configuration (LUCIA 120/2 and LUCIA 240/2). While all models are equipped with DSP pre-configured ‘out of the box’ for operation in typical applications, the matrix also allows for USB connection (with Windows and Mac LUCIA configuration software) to unlock the full potential of the processing and mix-matrix to meet specific system requirements.
Conceivably, each LUCIA model could drive up to 16 speakers on a localized low-impedance system (eight per channel — if the loudspeakers were 16 ohms).
All the detailed specs are here. Leave a Comment
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Anchor Ships Go Getter Portable Sound SystemAnchor Audio’s newest portable sound system, the Go Getter, will begin shipping on Sept. 1, 2013 and like all Anchor products, it’s built and shipped same-day. The Go Getter includes customizable options available on the speaker, including wireless capability and the addition of an MP3/CD player. The Go Getter is battery powered and easy to set up.
Anchor Audio will be releasing the Go Getter Portable Sound System with various package options that will start at $995 (with one wireless receiver, a built-in MP3/CD player, choice of wireless microphone and a stand).
The Go Getter is specified at 109dB of sound and is designed for both voice and playing music. It can be used indoors or outdoors, and reaches crowds of up to 500+ people. Weighing in at just 23 pounds, the Go Getter is lightweight, easy to transport and set up on a speaker stand.
The Go Getter options include a built-in MP3/CD player, and single or dual UHF wireless receivers – each with 16 user-selectable channels. It is comprised of a 6.5″ woven fiber woofer, and a high-output horn tweeter. The back panel features two universal microphone inputs, and an LED battery display that indicates charging and low battery. Additionally, there is a line out that can power an optional companion speaker to double your crowd coverage.
You can see all the Go Getter details here. Leave a Comment
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Atlas Sound Ships BlueBridge DSP Processor LineAtlas Sound told rAVe last week that all models in the new BlueBridge family of DSP audio products are now shipping. The BlueBridge family of products feature drag and drop, open architecture software and can operate on any network. Each model utilizes high quality THAT microphone preamps and 24-bit converters to obtain ultra-low noise floor while still maintaining a smooth sound. BlueBridge models use a 40-bit Floating Point DSP engine to prevent digital clipping and to obtain maximum speed and power to process advanced algorithms in complex system designs. Models are available in configurations ranging from two I/O to 16 I/O with all models using the same DSP engine. Additionally, Atlas offers four models that feature Dante inputs/outputs allowing for true digital audio transmission over the network.
The BlueBridge platform also includes a system manager that allows for third party hardware integration and remote control and a 16-input / 16-output expansion box with Dante. A selection of wall controllers and touch panels will be released soon to complement the audio processors and allow for total system control and configuration capability.
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PreSonos Ships CoActual Monitor SpeakersPreSonus is now shipping the Sceptre-series CoActual studio reference monitors. Featuring a coaxial design that works integrally with a 32-bit, 48 kHz processor using Fulcrum Acoustic’s TQ Temporal Equalization technology, Sceptre CoActual monitors deliver clarity and coherence that has previously only been available in ultra-high-end systems.
The series includes two models. The Sceptre S8 CoActual Studio Monitor combines an 8-inch low/mid-frequency driver and a 1-inch (25 mm), horn-loaded, high-frequency transducer into a single coaxial unit with aligned voice coils and the Sceptre S6 CoActual Studio Monitor’s coaxial speaker integrates a 6.5-inch low/mid-frequency driver and a 1-inch (25 mm), horn-loaded, high-frequency transducer. Both models have acoustic ports.
Sceptre monitors include controls that enable full integration into any studio environment. A four-position Acoustic Space switch controls a second-order shelving filter centered at 100 Hz, with four attenuation settings (no attenuation, -1.5 dB, -3 dB, and -6 dB) so that you can account for the bass response relative to room dimensions and speaker placement. A High Pass switch sets the 12 dB/octave filter’s low-frequency cutoff to linear, 60 Hz, 80 Hz, or 100 Hz. A High-Frequency Driver Adjust switch adjusts the tweeter’s overall level to linear (0 dB), +1 dB, -1.5 dB, or -4 dB. The Sensitivity control ranges from +4 dBu to -10 dBV.
The systems are biamplified: Each transducer is powered by a 90W RMS, Class D power amp with an internal heat sink. All Sceptre-series monitors have a balanced XLR and ¼-inch TRS line-level inputs with A-taper level control.
PreSonus Sceptre CoActual-series list for $749.95 each for the S8 and $649.95 each for the S6. More information is here. Leave a Comment
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Extron Ships Speaker System for Suspended CeilingsExtron’s new SpeedMount Ceiling Speaker System — a patented low profile, plenum rated two-piece ceiling tile speaker system — is now shipping. The CS 1226T SpeedMount speaker system features a unique design that Extron says greatly simplifies ceiling speaker installation and delivers significant time and cost savings. The two-piece system consists of the CS 120P plenum rated enclosure and a CS 26T two-way speaker cartridge. A low-voltage contractor places the CS 120P enclosure directly on the ceiling grid without the need for a tile bridge, C-ring, or tile rails. Signal wiring is then routed to the enclosure. This dramatically cuts installation time and costs during the rough-in phase. Later, an AV technician can quickly complete installation by connecting the CS 26T speaker cartridge to the wiring and securing it into the enclosure. The CS 1226T is the latest in Extron’s expanding lineup of speaker system solutions that divide the installation labor between contractors, reduce parts counts, and streamline sound system integration.
The CS 1226T is available as a complete assembly including a pair of CS 120P enclosures and a pair of CS 26T speaker cartridges. The enclosures and speaker cartridges can also be purchased in pairs separately, so they can be delivered to low-voltage and AV system contractors.
The CS 120P plenum enclosure installs quickly into 2′ x 2′ or metric 600 mm x 600 mm suspended ceiling grids. It features a shallow 5″ (12.7 cm) profile, which simplifies installation into congested ceiling spaces around piping and ducts. The integrated tile bridge of the enclosure rests on the ceiling tile above the grid, evenly distributing the weight of the CS 120P and the CS 26T speaker cartridge. This avoids the need to assemble V-rails and C-rings, greatly reducing the number of installation steps and the chances of losing installation hardware.
The CS 26T speaker cartridge features a 6.5″ (16.5 cm) woofer and a 3/4″ (1.9 cm) tweeter in a coaxial design, and can be used in 70/100 volt or 8 ohm operation. It installs quickly and easily into the CS 120P enclosure. The CS 26T delivers high performance, full-range audio reproduction with a frequency response of 70 Hz to 20 kHz, and is optimized for a wide range of audio presentation applications for music, program, and voice. It features a power rating of 30 watts continuous pink noise and 60 watts continuous program capacity, and offers both direct 8 ohm or 70/100 volt operation with a behind-the-grille, six position power selector switch. The CS 26T features a magnetically attached grille and a thin-edged bezel for a refined appearance on the ceiling.
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Crestron Introduces New Battery-Powered Two-Button Wireless Keypad Crestron has introduced a new two-button wireless keypad (HTT-B2EX-BATT) to its line of infiNET EX wireless lighting control products. Available in black or white, the HTT-B2EX-BATT is battery-powered, portable and designed to control a wide range of applications, including as a bedside controller in homes and hotels, a personal workspace controller or a conference room presenter selector.
Aimed at both the home and pro markets, Crestron promotes the keypad as a simple wireless controller for lighting, automation and entertainment. As a bedside remote, it’s fully-programmable to perform tasks such as turn on/off lights or open/close shades. Customized “Good Morning” or “Good Night” presets enable one-touch control of several room features at once. The optional lamp cord tether provides convenience with added security, so the keypad never checks out of the room. Similar to its use in hotel guest rooms and suites, the two-button wireless keypad is also perfect for homes as a portable bedside controller.
For commercial applications, Crestron says that the two-bottom keypad is a cost-effective presentation interface offering one-touch control that makes starting a presentation and switching between presenters is easy and intuitive.
The two-button keypad wirelessly connects to a Crestron control system, substantially reducing wiring and related labor costs of traditional wired systems. Using Crestron infiNET EX 2.4 GHz mesh network technology, the HTT-B2EX-BATT ensures high performance in even the most extreme RF environments. Crestron says the redundant nature of its mesh networking technology means that a command will never be missed which results in faultless operation. Ideal for new and retrofit applications, HTT-B2EX-BATT is powered by two lithium coin cell batteries.
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BenQ’s Interactive IL420 Touch Display Ships BenQ America is now shipping its interactive IL420 touch-screen public information display (PID), featuring a six-point multi-touch technology on a 42-inch screen.
The 1920×1080 resolution, LED-lit IL420 interactive touch LCD display provides scheduling management functions and is optimized for portrait mode scenarios. It includes two built-in, 12-watt speakers, PiP/PBP capabilities, DisplayPort connectivity and RS232/LAN control. For larger signage installations, the device’s Multiple Display Administrator (MDA) application enables the control of up to 98 displays simultaneously through the local network. Brightness is specified at 400 cd/m².
The IL420 retails at a price of $2,499 and complete specs are here. Leave a Comment
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Sharp Ships Commercial 90″ DisplaySharp’s PN-R903 is now shipping with no delay on orders. The 90″ display can be displayed in both portrait and landscape modes and uses an LED-lit 1920×1080 LCD panel that’s specified to output 700 cd/m2 of brightness.
Specifically designed for commercial AV applications, the PN-R903 is designed for 24/7/365 use so it’s ideal for both digital signage and rental applications. It’s less than 5″ deep and has a 176-degree viewing angle. Inputs include VGA, HDMI, DVI and DisplayPort and it can be controlled via LAN or RS232.
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Extron Ships Pass-Through Wallplates for XTP Series T he Extron WPD 100 Series of pass-through, Decora-style wallplates are designed for use with Extron XTP DTP 24 Shielded Twisted Pair cable. The wall plates feature one or two XTP DTP 24 couplers or punch down jacks, depending on the version, and are fully shielded to ensure signal integrity in high EMI/RFI environments. The WPD 100 Series wall plates include a matching white, single-gang, Decora-style wallplate and fit a standard US one-gang size junction box.
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Mersive Adds New Executives Rick Emery and Thomas RugeMersive announced this month it has added two new executives to support the growing demand for its recently released Solstice product. Rick Emery has joined as the vice president of sales and business development and Thomas Ruge has joined as the vice president of product development.
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Almo Professional A/V and ClearOne Partner to Expand Distribution of AV SolutionsAlmo Professional A/V and ClearOne last month announced a new distribution agreement that gives Almo partners access to ClearOne’s software-based video conferencing solutions, select audio conferencing products, multimedia streaming and digital signage.
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Bernadette Yard Added to Vaddio Inside Sales TeamVaddio has promoted Bernadette Yard to the Vaddio inside sales team. Bernadette will be responsible for coordinating and providing video product demonstrations worldwide, providing sales support to Vaddio manufacturer reps and dealers, as well as assisting with system configurations, pricing, part numbers and availability.
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Howard Smart Appointed Senior Technical Support Specialist at TURBOSOUNDTURBOSOUND has hired Howard Smart as senior technical support specialist as of the end of July. Having started his pro audio career with Sussex-based Blue Box Company and worked with many of the UK’s top production companies, Smart brings to the Professional Division an innate knowledge of TURBOSOUND products and a wealth of experience of both national and international concert touring spanning more than 20 years.
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CastNET Hires Joe Bailo as West Regional Director of SalesCastNET announced last month the hiring of Joe Bailo as the western region director of sales. Prior to joining CastNET, Bailo had 19 years experience in sales management and senior management positions with several companies who marketed gaming and casino technology systems.
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