Volume 11, Issue 21 — November 8, 2013
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What Can Be Learned From Panasonic’s Exit from Plasma?
By Paul Gray DisplaySearch
Panasonic’s final announcement of its exit from plasma display manufacturing signals the end of the road for the technology. It is worth reflecting on some conclusions:
- When Panasonic started its plasma business, it was by no means clear that large (say 40”+) LCD displays would be viable. There were a number of other approaches: plasma addressed LCD (PALC) for one, along with field emission displays (FED/SED). Strategy is about choices and Panasonic’s decision to go with PDP was unfortunate only in hindsight. Sharp made the right bet (LCD) but had a poor outcome: branding and timely investment seem to have had as much effect on the outcome as technology choices.
- Competing with a different but non-disruptive technology is dangerous. Plasma’s biggest problem was that far more companies had committed to LCD. Samsung and LGE were at best uncommitted to PDP. Panasonic’s PDP research team had to counter every move in LCD and translate it to their technology supported only by their own turnover. Inevitably they slowly lost ground, in the same way that Philips lost to TFT with its TFD (thin film diode) LCD process in the 1990s. Toshiba’s SED never got beyond the demonstration stage.
- The best technology doesn’t always win. Consumers buy benefits, not technology or features. A superior technology gives a head start, but perhaps little more.
- ‘Good enough’ is good enough. Markets move in sudden leaps, not steady incremental improvements. HD is good enough for most consumers: few can see the subtle display differences on real programming content and even fewer will pay extra.
There are some stark lessons for OLED. One of its benefits has been explained as ‘it’s an emissive technology.’ Plasma is emissive, yet that wasn’t enough to save it. OLED has to compete with an entrenched, depreciated, mature technology in LCD. This is a very different situation to the dash towards flat panel TV that we saw in the last decade. Furthermore, high-value TV markets are saturated and OLED offers only incremental benefits over LCD at this time.
OLED may well be a winning solution in other applications where extreme thinness, lightness, color and contrast are truly valued. Camera viewfinders, aerospace and mobile look to be far more fertile opportunities. Smart phones are growing far faster than TV, while markets like lighting could be completely revolutionized by OLED. Perhaps the obsession with OLED TV is a distraction from playing to OLED’s real strengths.
This column was reprinted with permission from DisplaySearch and originally appeared here. Leave a Comment
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The Cornerstones of Running a Successful Business: Part One
By Loyd Ivey CEO, MiTek Corporation
Running a successful business involves many things — infrastructure, product, support and great people. Developing these things is actually easier than you might think and revolves around a key point. The key to success in business is the same as success in life; live the golden rule, be humble and treat people with respect.
This is an easy lesson that anyone can implement and it applies to not only our customers, but also to the people we work with. If everyone stopped trying to impress or one up each other, and treated others as they want to be treated, more business would get done and the reason is simple: When we treat people with respect and act with humility, we form a relationship built on trust.
Everybody knows that business is based on relationships. If you can’t trust that the people you are doing business with are going to respect you and your company, it’s impossible for that relationship to be successful. In the free market there are a lot of options for buyers and sellers. Some people are going to be out strictly for themselves and do whatever it takes to make a profit without thought to the consequences to other people involved. This may sometimes be an effective short-term strategy but is not successful in the long term as is evident by the long list of companies that have been bankrupted or bought out over the last decade.
Trust has to be earned in any relationship. Doing what you say you are going to do and then executing it is the easiest way to build trust with a business partner. We are an interconnected industry. If one person says that something is going to get done and it doesn’t, that can have a domino effect on an entire job. Manufacturers, integrators, and contractors cannot stand-alone; we need each other in order to deliver on customer requirements and expectations. If one link in that chain is weak disaster can follow. But if you are doing business with people you trust and have relationships with, those risks are minimized since everyone is working together toward a common goal, rather than for themselves.
Treating your internal customers with the same respect that you show your external customers is just as important. Respect allows your employees to feel like they are part of something that is bigger than they are. Engaged employees work harder and smarter and view their job as a career rather than a paycheck. They want to see the company succeed because you respect them and their value to the company. Companies that don’t recognize employee contributions or reward unprofessional behavior cannot expect their employees to take ownership in their professional roles, and when that happens, the results are high turnover, theft, and other negative consequences that will hinder any company from being successful.
I have met a lot of people in my life — people I have worked for, people I have done business with, and people that have worked for me. I have always told each of them, don’t do business with people that you don’t trust or that don’t treat you with respect, just for the money. When you do something just for the money, you sell out your integrity. People will think you can be bought and will eventually run all over you.
The bottom line is, treat everyone you meet as you would like them to treat you, only do business with people that you trust, and remember that you only have one try at this thing we call life so we should always strive to get the most out of it. Leave a Comment
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The Evolution of Large-Venue Projection: Is Laser the Next Frontier?
By Richard Marples Strategic Marketing Director, Venues & Attractions, Barco
The entertainment world has a virtually unquenchable thirst for innovative media, embracing new technologies as soon as they’re introduced to power their creative visions. Today’s large venue projectors have evolved in technical sophistication to the point whereby visual entertainment is limited only by show producers’ imaginations. From projection mapping on mountains to virtually morphing objects on giant screens, the sky’s the limit when it comes to creating innovative entertainment venues with stunning visualization.
One of the hot, new trends is laser illumination — but there are several other aspects to consider based on new and emerging technologies. So, let’s take a closer look at where projection technologies are heading and how you can make the most of them to optimize your live events.
Projector illumination: two roads diverged
Up until recently, event producers had to rely upon xenon-based lamps as the principle light source for large-venue projectors. UHP high-pressure mercury arc lamps have grown in strength with brighter and brighter versions introduced seemingly every year. We now have single 450W UHP lamps producing around 5,500 lumens on a single chip DLP projector at a cost that we could only have dreamed of a few years ago. These advances are only expected to continue as lamp manufacturers continue to push the envelope.
Solid state lighting solutions came to the forefront a couple of years ago in the form of LED-based products. Although they have proven to be an extremely reliable light source, they have never really delivered on the brightness front. They are used more often in rear projection cubes where light output requirements aren’t that high compared to event projection levels, and where very long life time, low power consumption and good color performance are much appreciated. I don’t think we are going to see LED break into the large venue projection market in the foreseeable future.
One of the most exciting new developments in projector illumination has to do with variable, or “FLEX” lumens option as Barco calls it, with regard to our latest large-venue models. This innovative feature enables rental and staging houses to lock the brightness of a projector at a desired level so they can inventory a single model to deliver many brightness variants. As a result, they can better control the costs to maintain a fleet of projectors while maximizing lamp lifetime and keeping expenses to a minimum.
The laser equation What we are starting to see are hybrid laser projectors that use different combinations of Laser, Laser Phosphor and LED. This market is very much in its infancy due to a number of reasons. First, legislation in much of the developed world prohibits the use of lasers inside projectors above a certain power because of some outdated laws still on the books that were created to protect audiences in laser light shows in the ’70s and ’80s. Although a laser-powered projector is no more dangerous than a lamp-powered projector, the law will need to change before we see lasers being used properly.
Secondly, the prices of the actual lasers are still very high compared to traditional lamp costs. It is virtually impossible today to make the business case for direct laser-powered projectors versus lamps, which is why we are now seeing a path toward laser phosphor route being taken. Laser phosphor basically makes use of the cheaper blue lasers in combination with a phosphor wheel to produce red and green. We see projectors on the market now that touch about 3,000 to 4,000 lumens with promises of 20,000 hours of lifetime or so.
Based on the customers that I speak to, there seems to be some skepticism about whether these projectors will deliver the goods. Consumers should carefully read the fine print of the warranty to verify what’s included and what’s not. Even if the lasers do last the stated duration, they aren’t much good if the phosphor wheel has failed. Another question to ask is what light output can you expect to get towards the back-end of the lifetime? The laser phosphor route is however a good technology that allows for especially single chip DLP projectors to be produced at a reasonable cost probably up to about 10,000 lumens eventually.
Barco has demonstrated direct laser projectors delivering 55,000+ lumens and we still offer the brightest digital cinema projector in the world using a traditional xenon lamp. Our current brightest Xenon-based Rental & Staging projector delivers 40,000 lumens, and we have clients that regularly double stack them for shows and installations. So it is obvious that the appetite for brightness is certainly there! I’m sure you’ll see many manufacturers, including us, pushing up brightness as soon as legislation and laser pricing allows us to do so, both in single-chip and three-chip projectors, as well as in direct laser and laser phosphor configurations.
Resolution on the rise
Higher resolution is beginning to play a bigger role in large venue projection. Many show producers want to play back content in its original format, so 4K projectors are a necessity. We also see a trend for more and more resolution to support the very data rich content sets that customers are using in fixed installation projects. PC graphics cards are now capable of such high resolutions that customers want display devices to be able to view the content that they generate. Unfortunately, DLP chips are currently limited to 4K resolution and we don’t see alternative technologies gaining momentum in Large Venue because of the brightness required to push through the system.
However, in the collaboration space, we do expect to see more and more multi-channel blended screens that are capable of higher resolutions. projectiondesign, recently acquired by Barco, is the only company to date to offer a single-chip WQXGA (2560×1600) model as well as a unique Panorama projector with 21:9 2560×1080 resolution. These projectors can deliver a greatly enhanced user experience to boost the efficiency of meetings when used on a large screen in a collaborative work environment with multi-windows, data sheets, video conferencing and more. The image quality that projectiondesign projectors manage from just a single chip, a technology traditionally associated with much less expensive images, is of a very high quality.
Image processing matters
With the increasing demand for higher and higher resolution, there is a corresponding need for more powerful image processing, i.e., the processor has to be able to process many more pixels, and quickly, because frame rates are on the up as well to allow projection of 3D images. Ultra-fast switching and perfect scaling of multi-format images and sources can be accomplished with presentation switchers produced by leading manufacturers.
Blending technology is another area that has improved in general with an increasing number of manufacturers recognizing the need to perform black level compensation, in other words, adjust the black levels so that the blended region does not look so bright on dark scenes.
Another arena ripe for positive changes with respect to large venue is the delivery system. Customers should consider systems like BarcoLink, which can deliver images to projectors faultlessly and cheaply via a proprietary link that uses a single coax cable with BNC connectors to deliver 1920×1200 images at up to 60Hz over 100m. While it is possible to use systems such as HD-BaseT and other data-cabled solutions, they may not be robust enough for large venue rental and staging needs.
The price of being green
Many of the technological advancements in projector illumination, including LED, Laser and Laser/Phosphor, will make projectors more energy efficient. Using better quality optics is another way to increase efficiency, and manufacturers are working to develop more efficient prisms and light pipes that result in fewer light losses. But these are only viable in projectors that require very big amounts of light output.
However, the vast majority of customers, in my experience, are less concerned about the energy efficiency of the projector and much more focused on the initial purchase price. They would also rather have a brighter projector than one that consumes less energy. I believe this is for a number of reasons, but the main one I see is that you have two different departments involved. On the one hand, you have a purchasing department, which is typically rewarded by bringing down company expenditures on capital goods. However, these individuals have little to do with running those projectors once they are installed, so aren’t concerned with factoring in operating costs.
The fact is that until governments establish legislation that forces everyone to be greener, consumers will largely continue to maintain their current priorities. Once everyone, meaning competitors, are all being forced to comply with stricter environmental standards, companies will get on the bandwagon to employ a solution that’s green and also meets their light output and cost requirements.
By keeping all of these factors in mind when considering large venue projectors, rental and staging companies and show producers can stay abreast of new technologies and build an effective arsenal to meet their show needs now, and in the future. Leave a Comment
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Smart Building Conference 2013 Draws Sellout London CrowdMore than 140 delegates packed into London’s Dexter House last week to attend the Smart Building Conference 2013 — a joint venture of InfoComm International and CEDIA.
Attendees were treated to insights from some 20 speakers, with separate tracks dedicated to the commercial and residential building markets book-ended by plenary sessions open and relevant to all. In the morning, the residential track focused on smart energy management while the commercial track examined technology trends. These roles were reversed in the afternoon, giving delegates another level of session choice.
Bob Snyder, editor-in-chief of Channel Media Europe (including rAVe EUROPE) and the Conference’s MC for the day, began proceedings by introducing the event’s two keynote speakers: energy-industry blogger and consultant Dr. Steven Fawkes and Jeremy Towler of the Building Services Research & Information Association (BSRIA).
The conference then divided into its parallel residential and commercial tracks, hosted by CEDIA’s Matt Dodd and InfoComm’s Allen Weidman. To conclude, all delegates attended a presentation by Rick Holland of the Technology Strategy Board on how businesses can apply for a share of £4million in funding being made available by the UK government to collaborative R&D into the energy management of buildings.
With the help of an interactive voting system supplied by technology partner IML, the Conference organizers were able to obtain an immediate indication of the program’s value to delegates.
When asked to rate their overall knowledge of smart building before the sessions began, 32 percent of delegates indicated their knowledge was ‘Good’, 38 percent said it was ‘Fair’ and 12 percent admitted it was ‘Poor’. When the same vote was taken at the end of the day, the ‘Good’ figure had risen to 58 percent, while ‘Fair’ had dropped to 27 percent and the ‘Poor’ number was just 2 percent.
When asked if they knew the difference between a ‘smart building’ and a ‘green building,’ 94 percent of delegates responded that they did at the end of the day. Before the program commenced, the figure was 64 percent.
Summing up the day, Mike Blackman, managing director, Integrated Systems Events, said, “We have had a fantastic day of discussion, networking and product demonstration here in London, and fulfilled our goal of creating a landmark event in the development of the smart-building industry in the UK.
“Our focus now shifts to the next Smart Building Conference in Amsterdam on Mon., Feb. 3 2014 — the eve of the next ISE show. There we will take some of the same themes that were explored in London and give them a European dimension, with the objective of further developing the AV industry’s role in making buildings smarter.”
More information about the Amsterdam event will be available shortly here. Leave a Comment
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AV Market in Middle East and Africa to Double to $4 Billion USD by 2015With the Middle East and Africa (MEA) among the fastest-growing regions in the world for AV technology, InfoComm MEA 2013, held last month in Dubai, showcased the latest audiovisual communications technology and posted strong growth figures in attendance. Specific product categories with rapid growth in MEA include videoconferencing, control systems, and displays — is increasingly used across a wide range of vertical markets, from education to hospitality.
Middle East and Africa’s pro-AV technology market is projected to grow from USD 1.92 billion in 2009 to USD 4.34 billion by 2015, according to trade association InfoComm International.
Co-located at GITEX Technology Week at the Dubai World Trade Centre, InfoComm MEA 2013 ran from Oct. 20-24. This year’s show saw a 23 percent increase in visitors to 14,770 unique visitors, and featured 184 exhibitors from 33 countries across nearly 10,000 square metres of exhibition space, according to the event’s organizers. Of the 14,770 unique visitors, 89 percent were crossovers from GITEX. 83 percent of exhibitors said their participation was worthwhile, with 91 percent citing high-quality visitors, per a show survey.
Abdulla Al Bahrani, AGM Digital Service, Ministry Of Education, Oman, said: “The entire InfoComm MEA set up within GITEX is great, bringing together AV technology and equipment under one roof. Attending the event helped us in our annual sourcing process and meeting potential suppliers, and we plan on developing business relationships with several exhibitors.”
As part of the InfoComm MEA Summit, attendees participated in a variety of educational and networking sessions on market perspectives and technology updates for specific industries.
InfoComm MEA organizers — InfoComm Asia Pte Ltd., the Asia Pacific regional subsidiary of InfoComm International, and the Dubai World Trade Centre — are planning for next year. For more information on the show, click here. Leave a Comment
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Christie Ships Mirage WQ-L Projector Christie’s newest Mirage WQ-L projector is an LED, 1-chip DLP projection system featuring WQXGA (2560×1600) resolution and 800 ANSI lumens. Using an LED light engine rated at 60,000-hours (approximately 6.5 years) life cycle, the Christie Mirage WQ-L includes Christie ArrayLOC for synchronized color and brightness management, which Christie says reduces calibration requirements. The Christie Mirage WQ-L is targeted at the aerospace, automotive, oil and gas, government, education and entertainment markets.
The Christie Mirage WQ-L operates off the exclusive Christie KoRE electronics and firmware platform, which provides the most extensive level of input capability and control flexibility available for advanced visualizations systems.
The Christie Mirage WQ-L is shipping now and all the details specs are here. Leave a Comment
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BenQ’s Revamped 3000 Lumen M5 Projector Series Debuts BenQ America just introduced its revamped line of M5 series projectors: the MS504, MS521, MX505, MX522 and MW523. These projectors are aimed at small- to medium-sized spaces, specified with 3,000 ANSI lumens and a 10,000 hour lamp life. Every model uses BenQ’s SmartEco technology that includes a “no source detected” mode that automatically lowers brightness to 30 percent when no display has been detected for more than three minutes and a standby mode with power consumption to less than 0.5 watts during periods of inactivity.
Available in SVGA (MS504 and MS521), XGA (MX505 and MX522) and WXGA (MW523) resolutions and the new projectors use BenQ’s Colorific image system that they claim gives contrast ratios of 13000:1.
For 3D applications, the MS521, MX522 and MW523 feature 3D Blu-ray compatibility while the MS504 and MX505 are capable of stereoscopic 3D-ready projection. Available end of November, BenQ’s new MS504, MS521, MX505, MX522 and MW523 retail at $429, $489, $499, $529 and $749, respectively.
Complete specs are here. Leave a Comment
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BEHRINGER X32 CORE Digital Live/Recording Mixer ShipsThe BEHRINGER X32 CORE 40-Input, 25-Bus Digital Mixer, fitting into a single rack space, integrates with BEHRINGER’s Cat5e digital audio systems, including S16 Stage Boxes, P16 personal monitoring, iQ-Series intelligent loudspeakers and other X32 family products.
Up to six S16 Digital Stage Boxes, each containing 16 MIDAS-design pre-amps, can be connected to two of KLARK TEKNIK’s SuperMac AES50 ports, providing access to a total of 96 inputs and 48 outputs. Full Ethernet and OSC based remote control of all mixing parameters is available via the X32-Mix app for iPad or the X32-Edit software for Mac, Windows and Linux — all of which are free downloads. Connecting the X32 CORE to any available wired or wireless IP network enables the engineer to move about and make adjustments to parameters from anywhere in the venue. Performers can even use the X32-Q iPhone app to mix their own wired or wireless personal monitor sound right on stage.
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HARMAN’s JBL Professional Introduces 9320 Large-Format Cinema Surround LoudspeakerHARMAN’s JBL Professional today announced the introduction of its 9320 Cinema Surround loudspeaker, a large-format loudspeaker designed for high power handling, extended bass response and wide dynamic range in professional cinema applications. The two-way JBL 9320 features a 12-inch MB12-8 low-frequency driver and 2408H-1 high-frequency compression driver. The large JBL Progressive Transition rotatable waveguide ensures 120×60 degree coverage and smooth frequency response with the loudspeaker mounted horizontally or vertically.
The MB12-8 low-frequency driver provides high power-handling capability and bass extension and the 2408H-1 high-frequency compression driver is designed to be mated with JBL’s Progressive Transition Waveguide, which HARMAN claims provides constant beamwidth and directivity across a 120-degree horizontal/ 60-degree vertical coverage pattern, along with smoother frequency response and a more seamless blend with the woofer. The waveguide is rotatable, enabling the 9320 to be used a vertical or horizontal mounting position.
The JBL 9320 enclosure is fitted with M10 threaded mounting points on the top and on the sides to facilitate U-bracket mounting. In addition, four M10 mounting points are located at the rear, arranged in a standard pattern to accept a variety of multi-mount brackets. The speaker terminals are located on top of the cabinet and the enclosure is constructed of multi-ply birch coated with JBL’s DuraFlex finish and is heavily braced to maximize low-frequency performance.
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ClearOne Ships CONNECT Audio Adapters for AVB, CobraNetThe CONNECT AVB and the CONNECT CobraNet are audio adapters, or on-ramps and off-ramps, to allow for networked audio using either CobraNet or AVB systems on to the CONNECT Pro or CONVERGE SR products from ClearOne. Capable of handling up to 8×8 digital audio channels, these CONNECT adapters use a 48KHz sampling rate and have a dynamic range of >100 dB. Connectors include RJ45 for both (CobraNet or AVB) and RJ45 for connecting it all to the existing network. The CONNECT adapters are both 1/3 rack width and 1RU high and use only 5 volts of power.
The CONNECT CobraNet is shipping now and the CONNECT AVB is available soon.
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Vaddio Ships GroupSTATIONVaddio says that GroupSTATION makes it easy to create BYOD-ready meeting rooms by providing a single solution that connects to the user’s device. The Vaddio solution includes the necessary peripherals to create a high-quality multi-use room and group collaboration experience: an HD PTZ camera, loudspeakers, microphones and a control dock. Users simply connect personal devices to the GroupSTATION or HuddleSTATION control dock via a USB or HDMI connection and begin using their favorite collaboration tools.
Employees can collaborate remotely with PowerPoint or Keynote presentations, engage in high definition videoconferencing using Skype, Microsoft Lync, WebEx or any other application, as well as record meetings for review and provide record keeping of participants who could not attend the meeting. Users can also use SIP-based Voice over IP (VoIP) for multi-person audio conferencing or stream videos over IP using YouTube, Vimeo or any other application of their choice.
It’s that simple: Whatever device employees want to use, whatever operating system they have, whatever way they want to collaborate, and whatever application they want to use — they can.
The Vaddio GroupSTATION details are here. Leave a Comment
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Vivitek Targets IWB Market with New NovoBoard Whiteboard Frame Adapter
Vivitek has launched NovoBoard, a new, adjustable interactive whiteboard proximity frame. The NovoBoard frame can be installed on any school whiteboard to turn the surface to be interactive with the combination of a projector. With its built in IR LED optical sensing system, NovoBoard enables two users to write simultaneously on the board using a finger or stylus pen. Simple to install and operate, NovoBoard is a good solution for schools and academies looking for a cost effective way to add touch screen technology to their classrooms. Key features of the NovoBoard include an easy to install and lightweight design, an adjustable frame size from 69” to 95” and a plug and play USB port.
NovoBoard also comes bundled with free NovoTeach software for a complete interactive learning experience. NovoTeach is an interactive whiteboard (IWB) software package that is designed especially for teaching at all learning levels, whether classroom teaching or lecture material preparation. With multipoint-sensing enabled and a Vivitek interactive projector, it is an effective and powerful tool that offers a new blueprint for future-proof interactive learning.
The NovoBoard Small, 69″-80” lists for about $800 USD and the NovoBoard Large, 80″-95” is about $1,100 USD. You can find out more information about both here.
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Pakedge Debuts R10 GatewaysPakedge Device & Software’s newest product is the R10U and R10 pre-configured gateway appliances, designed for the custom-installation, smart networking and security system segments of larger residential and commercial networks. Both gateways come preconfigured and provide 16 LAN switch ports on the front and are configured with eight VLANs with Pakedge’s data management protocol called “TruStream.”
The R10U and R10 are identical except the R10U incorporates Pakedge’s UTM Unified Threat Management parental website controls and system antivirus protection. UTM provides an extremely high level of protection by blocking viruses, questionable websites and other unwanted content at the gateway before it can get past the firewall. Offering three levels of user access, UTM blocks unwanted website groups for the entire home and blocks selected devices from questionable websites. The R10 also includes a host of effective security features including parental website control. For both models, security scanning is done within hardware (ASIC) rather than software, which results in increased network speed.
Designed for use with streaming media and devices like streaming high-definition IP cameras, HDMI over IP transmitters and high-throughput wireless access devices, both models also feature WAN, USB management, console and DMZ ports. The DMZ port allows for easy connection of web servers, FTP servers or gaming consoles without additional configuration and provides an extra level of security to a LAN or WAN. The USB port enables easy connection to the gateway’s GUI (graphical user interface) without having to know the router’s IP address.
The iU rack mountable R10 is here. Leave a Comment
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LynTec Updates RPC Panel LynTec today announced the availability of its RPC (Remote Power Controller) Series Panel version 2. The update combines the latest generation of motorized circuit breaker technology with a new and improved controller, featuring more memory and a faster processor for real-time monitoring down to the circuit level and the capacity to use multiple control protocols simultaneously — now including sACN.
Engineered to protect and control installed entertainment A/V/L systems, LynTec’s RPC v2 provides increased memory capacity and faster internal processing. The controller is available across the entire RPC product line, offering users point-and-click installation and setup with the company’s motorized circuit breaker panels, retrofit relay panels and mobile power distribution panels. The RPC v2 also features two important market firsts: the capacity to use multiple control protocols simultaneously and an emergency auto-on function to activate egress lighting via contact closure inputs from fire alarms.
The RPC controller features an on-board server that is accessible on a network or from any smart device as well as motorized circuit breakers that can be loaded per specific user requirements. The device also includes built-in auto-off and brownout features that allow controlled shutdown and restart of circuit breakers, optional sequential on/off at the circuit level and the ability for third-party control directly from systems via TCP/IP, DMX, RS232, sACN or contact closures.
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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Matrox Intros Fiber-Based 4K KVM ExtenderMatrox’s new Avio F125 is a fiber-optic KVM extender designed to drive 4K signals up to 400 meters. In a strangely written press release, the company specifically says it works with the new Sharp PN-K321 4K Ultra-HD LCD monitor – -but it will work with any 4K display.
It’s actually capable of extending two HD video outputs, or one 2K/4K video, plus keyboard, mouse, stereo analog audio and USB 2.0 devices over a single duplex LC-LC fiber-optic cable up to 400 meters in multimode and 4 kilometers in single mode. Extension of 4K video at 30Hz is ideal for preview and playback of Ultra-HD video content.
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Blonder Tongue Adds New HDE-8C-QAM MPEG2 Video EncoderBlonder Tongue Labs announced this week it’s shipping its new encoder that sends HD video over IP for less than $850 USD per channel. The HDE-8C-QAM MPEG-2 HD supports DolbyDigital audio encoding and accepts programs from eight component or composite inputs, such as satellite receivers and cable set-top boxes. It also offers the built-in ability to switch over any of the primary inputs for a spare input for uninterrupted service. The HDE-8C-QAM HD encodes MPEG-2 video up to 1080i, multiplexes and modulates the eight-input programs into four adjacent clear QAM channels. The encoder’s clean QAM constellation and superior output allow for high channel count head-end deployments. The encoder features an accessible RF test point for monitoring and testing without service interruption.
You can see all the specs here. Leave a Comment
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Gefen Ships 4×4 HDMI Matrix Gefen has debuted a new 4×4 Matrix for HDMI signals, claiming that it does seamless switching between sources. A built-in scaler scales all non-HD content to 1080p and has the ability to resize each image to 16:9 aspect ratio. Some features include the ability to assign names to all inputs and outputs (that show up on-screen), the ability to configure and recall up to ten pre-sets, plus control via a network.
The list price is $1,999 and full specs are here. Leave a Comment
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Blackmagic Design Announces UltraStudio 4K with Thunderbolt 2 Technology Blackmagic Design’s newest offering is the $995 UltraStudio 4K, which uses Thunderbolt 2 technology. The UltraStudio 4K is a rack mount capture and playback device based on Thunderbolt 2 technology, which was developed by Intel and used in most Apple computers. Featuring a machined aluminum front panel with an integrated color LCD, video and audio connections include 6G-SDI, HDMI 4K, analog component/s-video/composite, as well as balanced analog and AES/EBU digital audio.
With 20 Gb/s speed of Thunderbolt 2, UltraStudio 4K is capable of capture and playback Ultra HD, 4K, YUV video at 60 frames per second and Ultra HD 4K RGB video at 30 frames per second via the advanced 6G-SDI video connections. The Thunderbolt loop thru allows connection of up to six devices so customers can connect fast disk arrays for massive amounts of video storage with a single Thunderbolt connection to their computer.
UltraStudio 4K handles virtually every television format, featuring 6G-SDI connections that instantly switch between SD, HD, Ultra HD and 4K, making it a possible solution for post production and broadcast users when working on design, editing, paint, color correction and visual effects tasks. UltraStudio 4K is also perfect for 3D workflow as it features both interleaved/side by side and dual stream capture and playback. Interleaved 3D allows the left and right eye to be interleaved as fields into a single video connection and file, so customers can edit using current editing software.
UltraStudio 4K features include:
- Single Link 6G-SDI, Dual Link 3G-SDI connections, supports SD, HD up to1080p60 and 4K DCI.
- Compatible with Mac OS X computers with Thunderbolt 2 and Thunderbolt.
- SDI inputs include full SDI re-clocking for capture from poor quality SDI sources.
- HDMI in and out, supports SD and HD formats up to 1080p60, frame packing 3D and 4K.
- Component analog in and out.
- Component analog switches to s-video and composite.
- Two-channel balanced analog audio in and out. Additional RCA HiFi audio in.
- Two-channel AES/EBU unbalanced audio in and out.
- Timecode in and out on XLR connectors.
- Genlock/tri-sync input.
- Sony compatible RS422 deck control.
- Supports uncompressed 8/10 bit and compressed video capture and playback.
- Supports Ultra HD and 4K DCI capture and playback using new Single Link 6G-SDI or Dual Link 3G-SDI connections and HDMI.
- Capture/playback of side by side, line by line, top and bottom and frame packing 3D via HDMI.
- Capture/playback of side by side, line by line, top and bottom and dual stream 3D via SDI.
- Includes hardware up down and cross conversion on playback.
- Includes hardware SD and HD keying.
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NEC Launches New Flagship P Series LED-Backlit LCDsThis week NEC Display Solutions released the latest generation of its flagship P Series commercial-grade displays: the 40-inch P403, 46-inch P463, 55-inch P553 and 70-inch P703 displays. All feature a new thinner chassis (56 percent thinner), LED edge-lit back lights, two expansion slots, Near Field Communication (NFC) capabilities. They also use 33 percent less power than the last generation.
P Series are commercial-grade displays aimed at harsh install environments, including quick-service restaurants, airports, public information areas, healthcare facilities and retail stores. Integrated with internal temperature sensors with self-diagnostics and fan-based technology to prevent overheating. These 1920×1090 displays are spec’d at 700 cd/m2 brightness and are the first with a built-in NFC sensor. A human sensor accessory can be both an energy saver and enabler of creativity.
The displays also support two expansion slots — one with Open Pluggable Specification (OPS) technology and a second slot for additional connectivity. The OPS slot adheres to the Intel specification for standardizing and simplifying slot-oriented digital signage installations. The second slot allows for customizable input options.
Inputs include DisplayPort, VGA, HDMI and LAN ports. The displays offer PiP capability, IR lock and can be daisy chained. The P403, P463, P553 and P703 are priced at $1,449, $1,829, $2,699 and $8,399, respectively.
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BTX Hires Jessica Tropea as
Fiber Optic Business Development ManagerBTX Technologies, a value-added distributor and manufacturer of interface, integration and system products, has announced that Jessica Tropea has been appointed as the company’s new fiber optic business development manager. In this new position, Tropea will be responsible for the growth of the company’s fiber business to existing and new customers, as well as expansion into new markets. She comes to BTX from Fiber Instrument Sales where she served as an account executive.
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Stampede Hires John Marcolini as VP of Product ManagementStampede Presentation Products, Inc. has appointed John Marcolini to the position of vice president of product management. Marcolini brings 18 years of telecommunications and software experience to his new position at Stampede. Most recently, he served as senior director of product management at Qualcomm Atheros where he was responsible for strategic product roadmap definition and worldwide business development for the connected home product line.
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Revolabs Appoints Randy Lee as Director of Strategic and Channel MarketingRevolabs has named Randy Lee as its director of strategic and channel marketing. Bringing over 20 years of industry experience to Revolabs, Lee is tasked with product marketing and management, strategic marketing and business development, as well as managing product introductions and launches. Previously, Lee worked at Sensata Technologies Inc., where he served as market segment manager for the global sensor supplier.
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Adamson Promotes James Oliver, Martin SchlockwerderAdamson Systems Engineering has announced the promotion of James Oliver to the position of director of marketing & sales. In his new role Oliver will be responsible for the growth of Adamson’s sales worldwide with focus on growing the North American market. These efforts will include defining global brand strategy, offering tour and application support, spearheading product training programs as well as overseeing all marketing efforts.
Adamson Europe GmbH offices have also promoted Martin Schlockwerder to marketing and business development/Europe. Hired as a business development manager/ Europe two years ago, his role has now expanded to include acquiring new distributors in Europe and assisting with key accounts in Germany. Schlockwerder will also handle the press relations for all German speaking countries including campaigns, events and brand awareness.
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NSCA Launches New WebsiteNSCA has unveiled a new website to make it easy for members and industry professionals to find the information they need to run a better systems integration business. On the updated website, you will find policy updates and regulatory news, the latest research data and industry trends, and training resources for business management and leadership.
To see the new website, click here.
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For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe ProAV Edition out there, hopefully you enjoyed another opinion-packed issue!
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Everything we publish is opt-in — we spam NO ONE! rAVe ProAV Edition is our flagship publication with what we believe is a reach of virtually everyone in the ProAV market. rAVe HomeAV Edition is co-published with CEDIA, covering the HomeAV market. We added rAVe Rental [and Staging] in November 2007, rAVe ED [Education] in May 2008 and then rAVe DS [Digital Signage] in January 2009. We added rAVe GHGav [Green, Healthcare & Government AV] in August 2010 and rAVe HOW [House of Worship] in July 2012. You can subscribe to any of those publication or see ALL our archives by going to: https://www.ravepubs.com
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