Volume 12, Issue 4 — February 28, 2014
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Editorial Editorial Editorial
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Industry News rAVe BlogSquad Control & Signal Processing Displays Digital Signage Audio Cables, Cases, Furniture, Mounts, Racks, Screens & Accessories In Brief
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Famous Last Words
By Joel Rollins rAVe Columnist
Each year at this time, I am alerted to the coming of spring by that special fragrance that’s in the air, by those sounds that indicate the coming of a new season.
In our business, that fragrance is the smell of shrink wrap and packing peanuts, and it harkens the coming of new technologies that will change the way we do business.The sounds are the voices of the currently dominant players who are loudly and proudly denying that such changes are possible.
I can always tell which new technologies will be successful by listening to the naysayers, denying the usefulness or necessity of the new tech. And there’s no better way to determine which “big boys” are about to get their comeuppance.
There are a number of ways that the big players use to deny that they can be upstaged or displaced. Let’s take a brief and nostalgic look at a few of them:
Denying Product Necessity
Market leaders tend to rely on this one when faced with a new product, service or technology that they don’t have in their arsenal. It’s an excuse for complacency (or a way to hide the panic they are feeling internally). The best example I can think of currently is RIM, which brought us the Blackberry (or “Crackberry”). When faced with the onslaught of the iPhone, the company’s co-CEO actually said: “There may be 300,000 apps for the iPhone and iPad, but the only app you really need is the browser.” — Jim Balsillie, November 2010
There is no better industry for this kind of dismissal by the big players. Take a look at some of the other gems from the past that remind us to take these statements with a grain of salt – or to look at investing in their competition:
- “I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” — Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943
- “There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” — Ken Olson, president, chairman & founder of Digital Equipment Co, 1977
- “640K ought to be enough for anybody.” — Bill Gates, 1981
- “Apple is already dead.” — Nathan Myhrvold, former Microsoft CTO, 1997
Dismissing the Issues
Another great sign of a big player that’s begging to be taken down a peg is for them to deny issues surrounding their own product, even among the truly great players. Here’s an instructive example from the 800-pound gorilla of software:
- “Two years from now, spam will be solved.” –Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, 2004
And one from a huge company they helped to displace:
- “Almost all of the many predictions now being made about 1996 hinge on the Internet’s continuing exponential growth. But I predict the Internet will soon go spectacularly supernova and in 1996 catastrophically collapse.” — Robert Metcalfe, founder of 3Com, 1995
Can’t Be Done
Another way the big guns, and the market in general, blind themselves to possibilities is the “It isn’t technically feasible” or “the market won’t buy it” approach. It’s been used in our market to deny everything from the coming of digital video to the possibility of today’s high definition streaming, but the best examples I can think of are these:
- “In today’s regulatory environment, it’s virtually impossible to violate rules… it’s impossible for a violation to go undetected, and certainly not for a considerable period of time.” –Investment guru and current federal prisoner Bernard Madoff, Oct. 27, 2007
- “The concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to earn better than a “C,” the idea must be feasible.” — A Yale University management professor in response to a paper from his student, Fred Smith, which proposed reliable overnight delivery service. Smith went on to found Federal Express Corp.
So, when looking for new technologies to watch, watch for the denials by their competitors. When the leaders spend time and effort to deny the possibility of new competition, or new technologies, they point the way for the market.
Is this a conscious decision on their part? A delaying action? Possibly, but in my opinion, there’s another reason, and I leave you with one final quote:
“You have attributed conditions to villainy that simply result from stupidity.” ― Robert A. Heinlein, The Green Hills of Earth Leave a Comment
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AV People: Ike Eckstein of Visual Word Systems
By Molly Stillman rAVe Director of Marketing & New Business Development
Forty-two-year AV industry veteran Ike Eckstein is one of those rare breeds who isn’t afraid to speak his mind, isn’t afraid to work overtime, and believes in the core value of taking care of your customers.
“I never wrote a resume in my life,” said Ike as he recalled his early days in the industry. “While I was in my junior year of college at Pace University, I was living in Queens and worked part time at a bank as a stock boy. I’d ride the subway every day and I’d stand on the same platform and nod at the same people day in and day out.
“This one day I see this woman who I would see regularly and she asked me if I was looking for a job. I told her, ‘Yeah.’ And that’s how I got my first AV job. I was an AV salesperson making $150 a week.”
Ike worked at an AV company for nine years. This was during the time of word processors and eight inch floppy discs – before the days of PCs and laptops. After nine years, Ike and his colleague Ed Boyle left the company to start their own — Visual Word Systems.
“I’d schlep around equipment on the subway going from company to company selling wireless remote controls for slide projectors and portable 8mm cartridge film projectors,” said Ike. “At the time our business was 80 percent sales and 20 percent rentals, but the major players began offering many of the same products at a lower price and suddenly I began to see the writing on the wall… I had to make a business decision, I can b*tch and complain [about the major players] or I can change the way I do business.”
So Ike decided to change the way he did business flipping Visual Word’s model to an 80 percent rental and 20 percent sales company.
As Ike and Ed have been in business over the years, Ike has continued to run his business on a few basic principles that he commits himself to.
“These basic business principles are really so simple that they just work. And they are in no particular order,” he says. “First, everyone talks about it… customer service. We’re not in the AV industry, we’re in the customer service industry. It’s all about making sure the customer is taken care of.
“Second, give people a straight answer. All answers are black or white, not gray. It’s either yes or not. So many people fib and refuse to tell the truth, that’s just not good practice.
“And third, strong financials. Be able to pay your bills. If I call up a manufacturer or rep firm and I say I want to buy 50 of this or 50 of that, the rep will give me a price. But, if I have bad credit, he’s not going to go the extra yard to give me a deal.
“The hardest part of any industry [any job] is being a business man. Many, many people have gone out of business simply because they’re not good business people.”
Ike’s seen the good, the bad and the ugly of the business side of the industry. He’s seen the mistakes that other’s have made, including ones he has made, and worked tirelessly to make them right and learn from them.
Ike is a character and he knows it. Oftentimes his business practices may seem unorthodox or out of the ordinary, but it works for him. It’s what makes Ike tick.
Visual Word, for example, does not have voicemail.
He’s asked all the time: “But how do you survive?”
“Because we are a small company,” he says, “and so after six rings, if nobody answers the phone, the call automatically goes to my personal cell phone. If it’s after 6 p.m., I still answer the phone.”
It’s that part of his business model that has helped to make such a small company located in the heart of Manhattan so successful. He’s there at any time, day or night for his customers and for that, his customers never forget him and he creates loyal customers for life. He’s proud of the fact that they can work all year round. “I am Jewish and my business partner is Catholic,” he joked. “So we can work on Rosh Hashanah and Christmas.”
Ike isn’t afraid of taking on challenges either. Finding solutions to problems, any problem, is what fuels him. He often partners with other rental and staging companies to get the job done. For the last three years, Visual Word provided an LED truck for the annual Fourth of July Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating contest that takes place at Coney Island in Brooklyn.
Outside of the industry, Ike is a family man with a storied background. His parents are Holocaust survivors.
“[My parents] escaped from Poland and went to Paris, France where they lived for three years. They had to stay there and wait to get the proper paperwork and then they went to Canada,” he says.
Ike was born in Montreal, Canada (he likes to say how he can never run for President of the United States), then moved to Queens, New York and now calls New Jersey home.
His wife of 38 years, Lynn, is a Juilliard graduate and a classical pianist. They have a son, Brad and a daughter, Danielle. Ike loves his family, loves his life and loves enjoying the little things. But at the end of the day, he loves what he does for a living.
“I’m here to be profitable [in this business],” he said. “That’s the key. It’s not how much you bill a year, it’s how much you make a year. I want to know how much profit there was. I want to take care of my customers. I want to do good business.”
As he says, Ike may be a character, but he’s one incredibly smart, savvy and knowledgable character and many businesses can learn a thing or eight from him. Check out his website Visual Word System – Save Your @$$ AV. Leave a Comment
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Lang Evaluates Laser/Phosphor and Laser Projectors
By Matt Brennesholtz DisplayDaily
At ISE 2014 in Amsterdam, Lang AG (Lindlar, Germany) had both a booth and a private viewing room. The viewing room focused on laser/phosphor and pure laser projectors and I got a tour of it hosted by Markus Ries, director of Lang Academy, and Peter Mathia, product manager for projectors.
Lang AG is a sales and rental company for professional AV equipment. According to Ries, the company is not a rental and staging company that serves end users directly. Lang acts as a “dry-hire” cross-rental company, serving the market with large quantities of projection, display, LED and image processing equipment. Its customers are not end users, but the rental and staging companies.
Lang Academy is the branch of Lang that does training for ProAV people. This training is more than simple hands-on training for Pro AV installers and operators. For example, last fall it hosted the 4K Forum and in May it’s hosting a free all-day seminar, “Women @ Interactive – Seminar For Women In Media Technology.”
As part of his duties as product manager of Lang AG, Peter Mathia evaluates projectors that Lang is considering purchasing to add to its rental inventory. As part of this projector evaluation program, there were three demos of laser/phosphor and laser projectors in the Lang viewing room at ISE. Mathia also provides feedback, based on measurements he makes, to the projector manufacturers on the suitability of projector prototypes to the Pro AV industry and suggests modifications to designs that would simplify their use in the field. It is then up to the projector makers to decide if these suggestions can be implemented and then do the necessary design work.
The first projector I saw was the NEC pure laser projector. The projector is a 4K, three-panel DLP projector and the lasers are external and connected to the projector by fiber optic cables. Each external laser module provides enough light to produce 5,000 lumens at the screen and the projector I saw was using two modules for 10K lumens. Each laser source was connected to the projector via two fiber optic cables, as can be seen in the photo. The image produced on the screen was excellent, with good colors. Slight speckle was visible in the image when viewed close up, but at normal viewing distances this speckle was invisible.
Left is the NEC laser projector, with the four fiber optic connections visible. Right is the image produced.
There has been debate about whether laser projectors should have the lasers embedded in the projector itself or if they should be external, perhaps in a central laser room, and connected to the projector via optical fiber. Mathia pointed out to me that these fibers capable of carrying high-powered laser beams cost about $1,000/meter ($305/foot) and this could impose an impossible cost burden on lasers any significant distance from the projector, especially if four fibers were needed to connect the lasers to the projector.
The second demonstration was a side-by-side comparison of the DPI HIGHlite 12K laser projector and a lamp-based projector from Panasonic, using dual 355W UHM lamps. The two projectors had WUXGA (1920×1200) resolution, although the DPI projector used 0.67” DLP imagers and the Panasonic used 0.9” imagers. The two projectors were set up for the same luminance at the screen.
Mathia said he did this side-by-side comparison to show laser/phosphor projector colorimetry now equaled the colorimetry of lamp-based projectors, with both projectors matching Rec. 709 very closely.
While this photograph shows the two projected images as virtually identical, with different content the images often looked different from each other. In general, when the images looked different, the DPI projector produced the subjectively better image. Mathia pointed out that while the Panasonic projector used larger DLP imagers than the DPI projector, it was actually smaller, quieter, lighter and lower power than the DPI unit. He had measured the power for each projector and they were 960W and 1300W for the Panasonic and DPI projectors respectively. These values are significantly different than the specified values in the company literature.
The third demo was a side-by-side comparison of two Panasonic projectors that were virtually identical except one had dual mercury lamps and the other had laser/phosphor illumination. For these two projectors, the colorimetry did not match, with the lamp based unit a close match for Rec. 709 and the laser/phosphor having the “wrong” colors. Subjectively, however, the larger color gamut of the laser/phosphor projector produced a more pleasing image for the video content shown than the lamp projector with Rec. 709 colorimetry.
The important take-away from the Lang viewing room was that while laser/phosphor projectors can equal (or exceed) the performance of lamp-based projectors, there are associated issues yet to be solved by the projector manufacturers. These can include size, weight, cost, noise, etc. On the other hand, mercury lamps are a well developed, mature technology while high-output laser and laser/phosphor projectors are just entering the market and presumably will improve significantly as they mature. Leave a Comment
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iPoint Launches New Proposal and Management System for Integrators iPoint Control is a new software-based CMS (contact management system) that not only tracks client details, but is also integrated with a proposal system, a project management system, invoice and purchase order module, as well as a scheduling and dispatch module. It even syncs with QuickBooks. The Mac- and PC-compatible iPoint software suite uses a responsive design that re-sizes itself for desktop and tablet use. The company says the system is customizable.
If you haven’t heard about it, you should check it out here. Leave a Comment
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ihiji Debuts New Cloud-Based Remote IP Network Scan with Auto-Discovery and WAN Performance MonitoringAt ISE in Amsterdam, ihiji debuted a cloud-based IP Network Scan with Auto-Discovery and Internet Speed Test features. The ihiji invision system now features these new enhancements, which enable ihiji’s cloud-based network management solution for systems integrators and IT managers by providing increased capability to remotely detect, diagnose and resolve network issues while saving the time and cost of troubleshooting or rolling a truck.
The new toolset collects data about all connected devices on a given network and provides a detailed inventory reporting as to the IP address, manufacturer, mac address, last seen and first seen instances. The new Auto-Discovery feature can also convert devices into ihiji-managed devices, further simplifying the configuration process.
ihiji’s new cloud-based WAN Performance Monitoring feature allows technology integrators and IT technicians to check and confirm network functionality and relative upload/download speeds at each of their client sites, either as part of regular maintenance or to assist in resolving service issues. In addition to current Internet quality, this feature also logs and charts connection quality over time, providing Internet latency, upload speed, download speed and network jitter information.
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InfoComm to Host 2nd Annual AV Executive Conference InfoComm International will be hosting its second annual AV Executive Conference and Golf Tournament September 23-25, 2014, at the Omni Montelucia Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Ariz.
The AV Executive Conference is designed to assist systems integrators, design consultants and other industry professionals with the challenging task of building and scaling their organizations. Speakers will engage the audience in a master class format, allowing participants to leave with actionable ideas to enhance their business strategy.
Building on the success of last year’s event, more than 150 leading AV executives are expected to participate. Last year, nearly every attendee indicated that they would attend again and recommend the event to a colleague. Popular features are returning, including the interactive Homework Express, which allows attendees to work with peers to apply the lessons of the day, and the Digital Expert Bar, which provides one-on-one coaching on social media presence.
“The AV Executive Conference allows industry leaders to break away from the everyday and connect in a meaningful way,” said David Labuskes, CTS, RCDD, executive director and CEO, InfoComm International. “It is not just a parade of talking heads, but an interactive forum designed to help you absorb business advice from world-class speakers, network with the leading names in AV and create actionable plans to improve your business, all in a beautiful setting.”
An optional ICIF charity golf tournament to benefit InfoComm’s foundation will be held in the afternoon of the second day after the conclusion of the conference program.
The cost of attending the conference will be $1,195 for members and $1,395 for non-members, with registrations received before July 18, 2014 receiving a $100 discount. Additional registrations from the same company are $895. Registration will be available in late March here. Leave a Comment
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Barco to Enter Residential Market in 2014One of the first products that Barco ever built was a radio — that was nearly 80-years ago. Now, nearly 40 percent of the digital cinema screens in the world at movie theaters are equipped with Barco’s projectors.
It was only a matter of time before they entered the home theater and home cinema markets.
Now, it’s official. Barco has launched a group called Barco Residential that will debut a line of home entertainment products in 2014. No products yet, but stay tuned, we will cover it. Leave a Comment
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Bob Coffeen Wins NSCA Lifetime Achievement Award BobNSCA has announced that Bob Coffeen has won the association’s annual Per Haugen Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Coffeen will be recognized on Sat., March 1, 2014, during NSCA’s 16th annual Business & Leadership Conference in Dallas.
“We’re honored to pay tribute to someone who continues to move the industry forward,” says NSCA Executive Director Chuck Wilson. “Bob has committed his professional life to combining architecture and audio technology. He serves as a great example to many new leaders within our industry. I had the great fortune of learning most of what I know about audio systems from him.”
Bob Coffeen currently serves as a lecturer and adjunct associate professor of architecture at the University of Kansas School of Architecture, Design, and Planning. Previously, he served as an engineering officer for the U.S. Army before going to work for Burns & McDonnell in Kansas City. From there, he founded an acoustics consulting firm in Kansas. He began teaching in 1992 after owning and operating the firm for more than 35 years.
Coffeen adds the Per Haugen Lifetime Achievement Award to his ever-growing list of industry accomplishments. He has also received NSCA’s University Educator of the Year three times and the 2011 Acoustical Society of America’s Rossing Prize for Education in Acoustics.
His research has included significant topics such as the effect of fabric roofs on stadium acoustical systems as well as using small amounts of audio delay to reduce comb filtering between loudspeakers within the same room.
While serving as a mentor to several University of Kansas School of Architecture, Design, and Planning scholars, Coffeen has encouraged several students to pursue work in the acoustics and AV fields.
The Per Haugen Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded based on:
- Dedication to philanthropy and social responsibility
- Business practices with high ethics, values, integrity, and honesty
- Active leadership in the financial well-being of his/her company and NSCA
- Strong values in every aspect of his/her life
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Blonder Tongue and Monroe Electronics Collaborate on Emergency Alert Management Solution Blonder Tongue and Monroe Electronics have teamed up to create an emergency alert information and distribution platform for the campus environment — whether it be university, government, enterprise, retail or stadium — without requiring a set-top box (STB). Monroe Electronics’ One-Net SE emergency alert system (EAS) has been integrated with the EQAM-420B EdgeQAM with EAS from Blonder Tongue, allowing cable operators to deliver customized, local emergency alert information to viewers in a manner that is easy, cost-effective, and scalable.
After receiving emergency alert information from national, local, and private agencies, Monroe Electronics’ One-Net SE generates a customized EAS message and transmits the information to the EQAM-420B with EAS for distribution into the television system. The EQAM-420B with EAS features a dual Gigabit Ethernet input and a QAM coaxial output with a separate Ethernet management port, simplifying network connections. The EdgeQAM aggregates multiple SD and HD programs received in IP format and delivers them over a standard coaxial distribution network. Standard programming is replaced with full-screen text, video, and accompanying audio to ensure an impactful reception on the viewer. Since no STBs are needed at viewing locations, it’s easy to reach every viewer at the lowest possible cost.
Based on a modular design, the EQAM-420B with EAS can be scaled to support anywhere between one to hundreds of channels, providing operators with a flexible, cost-effective solution that is perfect for a wide variety of markets, including education, enterprise, healthcare, and hospitality. An intuitive Web-based interface simplifies setup and operation, lowering the learning curve for operators and eliminating the need for IT support. Remote monitoring and control can be performed via a comprehensive user interface that is compatible with standard Web browsers.
Controlled by a simple web browser interface, the Monroe Electronics’ One-Net SE is FCC-certified and IPAWS conformant, ensuring EAS messages are properly formatted and understood by the viewing audience. Optional AM/FM/NOAA internal receivers allow radio inputs for monitoring any standard over-the-air EAS alerts. Using tiered security enables multiple, simultaneous users, and a unique text-to-speech functionality automatically creates a consistent voice to accompany text messages, saving time and eliminating errors.
Blonder Tongue’s next-generation EQAM-420B with EAS supports up to 64 MPEG-2/H.264 single program transport streams (SPTS) or 16 multi-program transport streams (MPTS). Each program can maintain up to one video and two audio elementary streams. The IGMPv3-capable solution can be configured with one to four modules, each with four adjacent QAM channels for a total of 16 QAM channels (40 dBmV). PMT and PID values are passed through without changes to ensure accurate program information. The EdgeQAM solution also features a soft, IP-enabled EAS trigger and SNMPv2 support for product and network management.
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Almo Professional A/V Announces New Additions to “Navigate to New Horizons” E4 Dallas Event on March 11 Almo Professional A/V, in partnership with InfoComm International, has announced new additions to its first 2014 E4 AV Tour, scheduled to take place in Dallas on March 11. Themed “Navigate to New Horizons,” E4 Dallas attendees can expect hands-on training sessions worth InfoComm Renewal Units, U.S. debuts of new products, one-on-one time with 36 manufacturing partners, live demos of Pro AV systems and lots of networking opportunities.
The Epson Integrator Certifications (EIC) offer solutions to make meeting rooms more effective, provide insight on the Color Brightness standard and provide high-level information required to answer technical questions about Epson projectors. In addition, EIC trainings incorporate third-party tools to enhance the overall projection experience, allowing AV resellers to make the best recommendations for customers. The training includes three sessions. In the first, attendees learn about Color Light Output standards and how to overcome challenging projection environments. The second session focuses on Chief’s Integrated Interactive System for the Epson BrightLink Pro 1410Wi and Da-Lite’s step-by-step selection process for the right screen fabric. And in the third, attendees will hear about five AV technologies that will define the next five years.
ATEN, designer and manufacturer of advanced connectivity and management solutions, has joined the E4 tour and will showcase an array of KVM switches and extenders, over IP solutions, and video products at the E4 Dallas event. Other new products that will be featured in Dallas include:
- Barco ClickShare Inside: ClickShare Inside will make its U.S. debut at E4 Dallas. This option integrates Barco’s ClickShare wireless presentation system into a Present projector for the best in projection and collaboration in one. As a result, users can wirelessly share their content on-screen for true collaboration in corporate AV applications.
- Planar Clarity Matrix with G2 Architecture: G2 Architecture sets a new benchmark with a tiled bezel width as small as 3.7mm with stunning 4K input capability and 10-bit color processing for better color depth and uniformity. Planar’s built-in Big Picture Plus Processing allows sources to be scaled across the entire video wall or section of the video wall.
- Sharp AQUOS Q+ with Quattron and Revelation Technologies: Delivers 10 million more subpixels than Full 1080p HD TVs. Revelation technology also includes a built-in upscaler, which makes everything sharper and more vivid. These TVs are future-ready and able to play 4K content but at half the cost.
- BrightSign 4K Resolution Media Player: The first digital signage media player company to launch a 4K resolution media player for digital signage applications. Using fan-less solid state storage, the yet un-named player will make one of its first appearances in the U.S. at E4 Dallas.
- Samsung 55-Inch OLED TV: Includes a timeless curved design and a frame inspired by a modern art gallery. The One Connect box merges all cable connections into a single cable for a clean back finish. Samsung OLED TVs boast minimalistic elegance that’s stunning whether they are turned on or off.
- Chief CONNEXSYS Video Wall System: Solves the common video wall challenges of speed, alignment, serviceability and rigidity. It provides the ability to level each row once by using a strut channel to connect multiple mounts together with a simple-to-use install system that can handle the largest requirements.
- C2G Miracast Wireless Adapter: Enjoy expanded use of a tablet, smartphone or other mobile device by streaming videos, movies, images and other content to the TV in crisp 1080p resolution. Create a new sharing experience with this easy-to-set-up wireless adapter for in-room content streaming.
- Elo Touch Ultra-Thin 55-Inch Touchscreen: The 5501L Interactive Digital Signage display combines an optical multi-touchscreen with a professional-grade, large-format display in a slim, integrated package. The large, wide-screen format offers a high quality, interactive canvas for attracting and engaging customers.
E4 Dallas is on March 11, 2014, at the Hyatt Regency Dallas and runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is an entirely free event, including parking, for Almo Pro A/V’s reseller, integrator and consultant partners. To register, click here. Leave a Comment
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Texas Instruments Unveils Smallest HD DLP Pico ChipsetToday at Mobile World Congress, Texas Instruments released the 0.3” HD Tilt & Roll Pixel (TRP) DLP Pico chipset, its smallest, most power-efficient micro-mirror array. This chipset can generate high-definition (HD) displays from compact electronics, including tablets, smartphones, accessories, wearable displays, augmented reality displays, interactive surface computing, digital signage and control panels.
The new 0.3” HD TRP chipset leverages TI’s proprietary TRP DLP architecture and adaptive IntelliBrightT suite of algorithms to deliver higher brightness and lower power consumption than previous DLP Pico chipset architectures. Additionally, the chipset’s fast switching speeds of up to thousands of times per second enables the smallest true-color RGB engines with 120-Hz video performance. TI says it’s actively working with leading developers and manufacturers to bring products to market in 2014 that incorporate the 0.3” HD TRP chipset, in order to encourage end-product development.
“TI has been a strong and innovative supplier to us,” said Edward Tang, CEO of Avegant. “We are already utilizing the innovative 0.3” HD TRP chipset in our virtual retinal display product, the Avegant Glyph, to beam images directly onto the human eye. We selected this chipset based on its HD image quality, flexibility and power savings.”
“This HD chipset represents a major milestone for DLP; we are achieving two times the number of pixels in a 0.3-inch MEMS device with 30 percent greater optical efficiency and up to 50 percent power savings on a frame-by-frame basis than our previous architectures,” said Frank Moizio, business unit manager of DLP Pico. “This allows developers to create a wider variety of applications and products in smaller form factors than ever before.”
To learn more about the DLP Pico 0.3” HD TRP chipset, go here. Leave a Comment
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RTI Now Shipping All New CX7 Countertop User InterfaceRemote Technologies Incorporated (RTI) is now shipping the CX7, a wired user interface for “always on” control panel. Designed for hard-wired installations on a countertop or under a cabinet, the CX7 is an adjustable tilt 7-inch multi-touch capacitive touchscreen LCD with analog audio and video inputs, stereo speakers, wired and wireless Ethernet, proximity and ambient light sensors.
The CX7 allows users to view and listen to sources such as satellite TV on its 7-inch, 800×480 WVGA LCD and integrated stereo speakers. It also features wired 10/100 Base-T and wireless Ethernet, which provide two-way control and feedback, access to Web pages, video from network security cameras and programming. In addition, a built-in camera and microphone will offer intercom capabilities in the future. Proximity and light sensors automatically bring the unit to life when it’s approached by an end user as well.
The CX7′s display can be lifted straight up, laid nearly flat, tilted at any level in-between, or the unit can even be inverted and mounted under a cabinet. The CX7 features multiple power source options, such as the included power supply and Power over Ethernet (PoE). Built-in high-output IR provides direct control of devices without the need for a separate control processor.
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Extron Introduces New Compact Two Channel Amplifier with More Power Extron has launched the new XPA 1002 Plus, a half rack 1U, convection cooled power amplifier delivering two channels of 100 watts into 4 or 8 ohms. This professional grade amplifier offers more power than the original XPA 1002, but features the same 105 dB signal-to-noise ratio and 0.05 percent THD+N specifications. The XPA 1002 Plus is an ENERGY STAR qualified amplifier with an Extron exclusive highly efficient, advanced Class D amplifier design. It also features patented CDRS – Class D Ripple Suppression technology that provides a smooth, clean audio waveform and an improvement in signal fidelity over conventional Class D amplifiers. The XPA 1002 Plus is housed in a half rack width metal enclosure, conserving rack space and weighing only 2.5 lbs (1.1 kg).
The XPA 1002 Plus amplifier is an energy efficient product that conserves energy, conserving costs. It includes an auto power-down feature that automatically places the amplifier into standby after a period of inactivity, and consumes just 10 watts when idle and less than 1 watt in standby mode. It also has an ultra low inrush current draw to prevent power circuit overload that occurs when multiple amplifiers are switched on simultaneously. This feature eliminates the need for power sequencing in systems with multiple amplifiers in large centralized equipment racks, and prevents other equipment from experiencing power interruption from associated power surges. The XPA 1002 Plus is housed in a compact 1U, half rack width enclosure and is UL 2043 plenum rated, which allows for a concealed installation above a drop ceiling to prevent theft while providing convenient placement of AV equipment.
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Clear-Com Debuts Eclipse HX-Delta Digital Matrix Intercom System at ISE Clear-Com is launching the new Eclipse HX-Delta Digital Matrix System at ISE 2014. The Eclipse HX-Delta digital matrix system is integrated with up to 256 internal ports, has two CPU cards and houses four interface cards and three interface modules — all in a 3U enclosure. Clear-Com designed the matrix to work over dedicated Cat5, IP infrastructures (LAN, WAN and Internet), as well as fiber networks. It also works with digital wireless beltpacks and IP-based virtual panels. Additionally, interface modules allow external sources including four-wire audio, partylines, telephone lines and MADI to be routed to user keypanels or beltpacks. Powered by the latest EHX v7.5 software, up to 64 Eclipse HX matrices can be connected to form a single networked installation.
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Arrive Tries Again via Liberty AV Solutions Distribution AgreementThis week we posted a news release about how Arrive Systems — a cloud-based AV control and signal management system — has decided to appoint Liberty AV Solutions – best known for its wire, VGA and HDMI distribution products — as its distributor in the USA.
Arrive came to the market some three or four years ago with a big debut at InfoComm showing off some very sophisticated network-based AV systems they’d installed in the some Middle Eastern universities. At that time, we were impressed and thought this had potential. But we’ve challenged Arrive for over a year and a half to point out a single, complete installation in the U.S. where we could speak to the client about how the products and technology are working for them. To date, we’ve had no such referral. It appears that this agreement with Liberty AV Solutions is to solve their obvious awareness and US supply issues — so, maybe we’ll soon have our first reference for an installed system.
Last year, Arrive appointed former Extron exec Lee Dodson as president. Lee is an industry veteran, having served in a product marketing and managing position at Sony Display, then as president at Premier Mounts before moving to Arrive. Lee knows the ProAV market well and likely knows that Liberty’s reach to nearly every AV integrator in the US is key to Arrive’s success. If Arrive can’t get traction in the U.S. with Liberty, they likely never will.
Arrive Systems is here and Liberty is here. Leave a Comment
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Extron Debuts Five Input Audio Expansion Processor with AEC and DanteExtron’s new AXP 50 C AT is a five-input audio expansion processor with Extron ProDSP for integrating remote microphones and other sources onto a Dante-enabled Extron DMP 128 audio system. A single Ethernet cable to a central equipment rack can link multiple AXP 50 C AT units, avoiding the effort and expense of pulling one cable for each mic. The AXP 50 C AT provides 48 volt phantom power to its mic/line inputs. Dedicated signal processing is available for each input, including gain, filtering, dynamics, and AEC — acoustic echo cancellation.
In an installation with a large number of mics, the AXP 50 C AT audio expansion processor places audio signals onto the Dante audio network using standard IP networking. Signals are received as expansion inputs at one or more DMP 128 AT processors. A sound system designer can incorporate several AXP 50 C AT input expanders to create large mixing matrixes of remote inputs for DMP 128 AT processors using the built-in four-port Gigabit switch. This greatly simplifies scalability and the audio cabling infrastructure by avoiding long analog mic cable runs. The compact 1U, half rack width enclosure enables convenient installation underneath a conference table, inside a credenza, or anywhere microphones or other sources may be situated.
All the detailed specs are here. Leave a Comment
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Panasonic Debuts New Lamp-Free Projector, Weatherproof Display, Status Monitoring Software and More at DSE 2014At DSE, Panasonic demonstrated its newest offerings, including the PT-RZ670U lamp-free projector, TH-47LFX60U ruggedized and weatherproof outdoor display, TH-47LFV5U video wall display and ET-SWA100 status-monitoring software.
The PT-RZ670U is a lamp-free projector that uses a 1-chip DLP laser projector specified at 6,000 lumens and 20,000 hours of operation. Equipped with DIGITAL LINK (Panasonic’s branding for HDBaseT), a feature that — when connected to a compatible switcher — makes it possible to transmit AV content and control signals via a single CAT5e cable or higher, from a distance of up to 328 feet. The PT-RZ670U will be available in Fall 2014.
The TH-47LFX60U is a ruggedized and weatherproof outdoor display with a brightness spec of 2,000 cd/m, even under direct sunlight. Because of its extreme durability, the display can resist temperature changes ranging from -4 °F to 122 °F. IP55 level dust and water resistance makes it ideal for outdoor installations, such as drive-through menus and public transportation signage. The TH-47LFX60U will be available in Spring 2014.
The 1080p native TH-47LFV5U video wall display can run non-stop, leveraging a cooling fan that can be set to operate automatically at high temperatures. The 1080p native
Panasonic’s so-called Early Warning Software is in the form of the ET-SWA100 and it enables customers to monitor devices remotely and receive alerts when a unit is not functioning correctly, has failed or needs maintenance. The software can also suggest maintenance scheduling and monitor device temperature to avoid future issues.
All of the products are brand new and not on the web yet, but when they are, they will be here. Leave a Comment
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Coating Ordinary Glass: New Transparent DisplayResearchers at MIT have come up with a new approach that could have significant advantages over existing systems for transparent displays.
The new system embeds nanoparticles in the transparent material. These tiny particles can be tuned to scatter only certain wavelengths, or colors, or light, while letting all the rest pass right through. The glass remains transparent enough to see colors and shapes clearly through it, while a single-color display is clearly visible on the glass.
The researchers demo this by projecting a blue image in front of a scene containing cups of several colors, all of which can clearly be seen through the projected image.
The team’s demonstration used silver nanoparticles — each about 60 nanometers across — that produce a blue image, but it is possible to create full-color display images using this technique. Three colors (red, green, and blue) will produce what we perceive as full-color, and each of the three colors would still show only a very narrow spectral band, allowing all other hues to pass through freely.
“The glass will look almost perfectly transparent,” says MIT, “because most light is not of that precise wavelength” that the nanoparticles are designed to scatter. That scattering allows the projected image to be seen in much the same way that smoke in the air can reveal the presence of a laser beam passing through it.
Such displays might be used, for example, to project images onto store windows while still allowing passersby to see clearly the merchandise on display inside, or to provide heads-up windshield displays for drivers or pilots, regardless of viewing angle.
This group’s demo is just a proof-of-concept, and that much work remains to optimize the performance of the system. Silver nanoparticles, which are commercially available, were selected for the initial testing because it was “something we could do very simply and cheaply,” the MIT team says. The team’s promising results, without any attempt to optimize the materials, suggest much commercial potential in this approach.
The particles could be incorporated in a thin, inexpensive plastic coating applied to the glass, like the tinting applied to automotive windows. This would work with commercially available laser projectors or conventional projectors that produce the specified color.
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Samsung Announces New Commercial Digital Signage Displays at DSESamsung is showcasing its latest commercial display solutions here at the 2014 Digital Signage Expo (DSE), including an 85-inch UHD (4K resolution) display, ultra-narrow bezel video wall solutions and a new range featuring the next-generation Samsung Smart Signage platform.
Samsung is also announcing the introduction of its new D Series commercial displays, featuring an enhanced system-on-a-chip that now provides support for more advanced applications including touch and video wall configurations — all without the need for an external media player or PC. Built around a Quad Core processor, the next-generation Smart Signage Platform also adds an SD slot for flexible memory expansion as well as built-in Wi-Fi as a standard feature for many models.
By eliminating the need for an external media player, the Samsung Smart Signage Platform simplifies the deployment of digital signage networks, which Samsung says provides organizations an easier, more cost-effective approach to delivering dynamic messaging to their audience. Compared with traditional configurations using external media players or PCs, Samsung claims the Smart Signage Platform reduces the total cost of ownership by up to 40 percent over three years for small- and medium-sized digital signage networks.
In addition to the next-generation Smart Signage Platform system-on-a-chip, the new Samsung D Series commercial displays also introduce a flexible new design approach featuring replaceable bezels in a variety of colors that enable users to customize signage to match any environment. To provide solutions suited for any project, the D Series models are tiered in three product lines: the DB Series, an entry-level lineup providing access to Smart Signage Platform capabilities; the DM Series, the broadest product line, rated for 24/7 operation; the DH Series, the premium lineup offering 700nit brightness. As well as eliminating cables, built-in Wi-Fi on DM and DH Series models enables easy mobile integration including mirroring on content to the display.
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Christie Brings Vive Audio to EMEA market at ISEChristie this month launched the Christie Vive Audio solution in EMEA to help exhibitors “complete the experience” for their movie-going audiences. Christie Vive Audio leverages an articulated, single enclosure line array speaker design and ribbon driver technology, and combines it with the first use of efficient, high-powered Class D amplification in cinema — all at an attainable price point. Christie Vive Audio’s cinema speakers and amplifiers can be easily and efficiently integrated into any existing or new theatre auditorium for the ultimate movie viewing and listening experience.
The complete Christie Vive Audio solution comprises surround and screen channel speakers, subwoofers, and Class D amplifiers. It offers exhibitors the opportunity to provide audiences with the ultimate movie-viewing experience, enveloping them with dynamic, richly detailed and enhanced audio where speech, special effects, music and alternative content sound more natural and lifelike. At the core of the system are the combination of superior sounding screen channel speakers with ribbon driver technology and the proven performance of a line array speaker design, all in a single enclosure.
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Biamp Systems Announces New Paging Input Options and Adapters for VoIP and Analog Paging Systems Biamp Systems today announced the launch of Vocia 1.6, a significant addition to the company’s networked public address and voice evacuation system. Vocia 1.6 provides three new hardware devices — the eight-channel Vocia Input (VI-8) for analog and digital paging inputs, the VoIP-1 telephone-paging adapter and the POTS-1 analog telephone-paging adaptor. A large number of new features and enhancements in Vocia 1.6 software include impedance monitoring for the Vocia VA-8600 amplifier, support for unicast CobraNet local inputs, and a dry contact control input mode for Vocia Life Safety Interface (LSI-16e), VI-8 and Vocia General Purpose I/O (GPIO-1) devices.
Supporting up to eight analog or CobraNet paging audio inputs, the new Vocia VI-8 input device rapidly routes signals to any assigned page code. Expanding the interoperability of the Biamp product line, the VI-8 accepts paging audio inputs from Audia and Tesira systems, and can be used in conjunction with monitored Vocia GPIO-1 devices for fire panel supervision and priority for emergency pages. Designed to interface with existing paging stations, the VI-8 is aimed at large venues such as airports, convention centers and healthcare campuses.
The Vocia VoIP-1 is a simple VoIP telephone-paging adapter, and the POTS-1 is an analog telephone-paging adapter. Both are ideal for installations in smaller hospitals and industrial environments, or those that require a simple VoIP or POTS extension capability. Both the VoIP-1 and POTS-1 enable live paging as well as store and forward to assigned page codes within any Vocia installation. The units support two lines with an option to support four lines by ordering the units with an expansion card.
In addition to Vocia’s current End of Line (ELD-1) device, Vocia 1.6 provides the VA-8600 amplifier as an additional way to monitor speaker line health via impedance monitoring. This makes Vocia ideal for installations in which the speaker infrastructure is already in place. Additionally, Unicast CobraNet inputs from both Audia and Tesira systems can be directly routed to Vocia amplifiers, allowing an increased number of background sources to access any one area without affecting the number of simultaneous pages that are possible.
Vocia 1.6 will be available in June and all the specifics are here. Leave a Comment
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Extron Adds DisplayPort to TeamWork SystemsExtron has two new DisplayPort SM “Show Me” Cables for the company’s popular TeamWork Collaboration System. The cables, available with full-size or mini DisplayPort input connectors, actively convert DisplayPort signals to HDMI for use with TeamWork-compatible digital switchers. The cables meet Section 508 accessibility standards and are certified for use with Extron Cable Cubby enclosures. To simplify the process of planning, configuring, and ordering custom TeamWork systems, the new TeamWork System Builder is now available online. The TeamWork System Builder allows users to select from a wide range of Extron switchers, control processors, and cable management enclosures or other architectural connectivity to create a system that fits precise collaboration requirements, for up to eight users.
“Since its introduction early last year, TeamWork has set the benchmark for simple, intuitive, and reliable AV collaboration systems,” says Casey Hall, vice president of sales and marketing for Extron. “These new ‘Show Me’ cables and the TeamWork System Builder provide AV industry consultants, system designers, and integrators with unprecedented flexibility in creating fully custom TeamWork systems for any collaboration application.”
DisplayPort SM “Show Me” Cables allow transmission of digital signals from dual-mode DisplayPort enabled sources. Built-in active circuitry converts DisplayPort into HDMI signals for use with a TeamWork system switcher. The DisplayPort “Show Me” Cable is available in two models: the DP-HDMI SM for sources with full-size DisplayPort outputs, and the MDP-HDMI SM for sources with Mini DisplayPort outputs. These cables are available in six-foot (1.8 m) and twelve-foot (3.6 m) lengths.
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Chief Ships Multi-Directional Ceiling MountsChief is now shipping its Fusion Series Multi-Directional Ceiling Mounts for use in digital display installations that require 360 degree viewing capability from a single column drop.
The mounts come in triple- and quad-display options while keeping the Fusion single ceiling mount features, such as:
- Centris technology provides a continuous range of fingertip tilt from +5 to -20 degrees with four set locking points to eliminate guesswork when adjusting multiple screens
- Compatible with traditional 1.5″ NPT and Chief pin-connection CPA ceiling plates and column systems (sold separately)
- Compatible with most displays 32-60″
- Tool-free screen engagement to secure displays with optional padlock security
The multi-directional adapter can be ordered as an accessory without Fusion mounts to allow for integration of different mount heads. To mount three LCDs, use the LCM3U. To mount four LCDs, use the LCM4U. Leave a Comment
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Peerless-AV Promotes Brian McClimans to Vice President of Global Business DevelopmentPeerless-AV has announced the promotion of Brian McClimans to vice president of global business development effective immediately. McClimans will be expanding his role into a stronger international focus. He will be collaborating with Peerless-AV teams based in London, EMEA, Mexico and South America to further expand upon the European and Mexican team’s accomplishments and establish markets and new products to meet each country’s different needs.
To read the complete press release online, click here. Leave a Comment
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Michael Schaffer Named Scala Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating OfficerScala, Inc. announced this month that it has hired Michael Schaffer as its new chief financial officer and chief operations officer. Reporting to Scala CEO Tom Nix, Schaffer started Jan. 20, 2014. Schaffer will be responsible for Scala’s worldwide finance, technology, facilities and human resources functions.
To read the complete press release online, click here. Leave a Comment
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For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe ProAV Edition out there, hopefully you enjoyed another opinion-packed issue!
For those of you NEW to rAVe, you just read how we are — we are 100 percent opinionated. We not only report the news and new product stories of the ProAV industry, but we stuff the articles full of our opinions. That may include (but is not limited to) whether or not the product is even worth looking at, challenging the manufacturers on their specifications, calling a marketing-spec bluff and suggesting ways integrators market their products better. But, one thing is for sure, we are NOT a trade publication that gets paid for running editorial or product stories. Traditional trade publications get paid to run product stories — that’s why you see what you see in most of the pubs out there. We are different: We run what we want to run and NO ONE is going to pay us to write anything good (or bad).
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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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