Volume 12, Issue 5.2 — March 17, 2014
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Editorial Editorial Editorial
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Industry News rAVe BlogSquad rAVe RADIO Audio Digital Signage Unified Collaborative Conferencing Control & Signal Processing In Brief
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The Importance of Being First
By Mark Coxon rAVe Blogger
If you have read anything that I have written on innovation over the last several years, you already know that I am very critical at times of things that I deem to be results of “me too” thinking.
Every few years we see some truly innovative or new ideas. For years in between however we seem to be blasted at trade shows by another 50 companies all jumping on the bandwagon to create copy cat products with no real unique value proposition. The pitch is typically: “Well, you already buy these anyway, why not buy them from us?” These type of companies typically saturate the market, quickly creating a race to the bottom on price, as they had little R&D investment in developing the product in the first place.
This type of product introduction strategy rarely creates large gains for any manufacturer. The reason being is that it enters the product cycle after the time that high margins are able to be demanded based on the novelty and innovation of the company that first introduced the product.
This phenomenon is not unique to small companies or AV, but can exist even in innovative large companies as well.
I remember working for IBM in early 2000. IBM spent more money in R&D and registered more patents than Compaq, HP and Dell combined. It was a machine when it came to creating unique IP. Typically, what the company would do is develop a new and innovative product or feature in a product. Then it would immediately sell the rights to use the technology to its competitors, with one caveat — IBM would place a window of time on the implementation or product release by the competitors. The agreement would be to share the technology so the competitors could get it ready for market, but then set a time frame of say, two years, during which time IBM could sell its own flavor of the innovation in the marketplace without having any competition for that set amount of time.
IBM knew the importance of being first. There was only one problem. It never seemed to capitalize on it, at least in the Intel based PC/laptop sector. It would develop a technology, license it out, and then fail to get its own product to market before that window expired. The result was that Compaq or HP would release its version first, the window had opened, and then IBM looked like the copycat coming to market later, even though it did all the real work. It was not surprising to me when IBM sold its PC/Thinkpad business to Lenovo, as it just never made the turn quick enough.
Sometimes you can be second to market with a product that is substantially better than the product that created the category. In this case there is always the possibility of being successful if you can prove the value of the improvements and if you can get anyone to listen or care once they have already set a path with the product that was first.
IBM also learned this lesson again when it purchased Lotus Software. Lotus 123 and Lotus Notes were deemed to be highly superior to the MS Office products of the time, at least from a features and benefits perspective. The problem was that Microsoft was first in the space an already had the market share. Compatibility was a huge issue and IT staffs did not want to run a mixed environment. Ask your kids what Lotus is and then watch the look on their faces. Being first is many times more valuable than being “better.”
There is a book called Six Disciplines: Execution Revolution that does a good job of explaining the profit wave from innovation to commoditization. The author charts it out as the Business Excellence Model.
The chart shows you that you should try to move from Innovation, to Sustainability and Reliability, to Commoditization and Economies of Scale while trying to avoid Firefighting in any stage as much as possible.
True profits are larger in the beginning, while market demand is low and the product is at a premium. Then as market demand grows, competitors start to enter and you have decreased margins but the benefit of experience and name recognition the new competition does not have. Finally, as more competitors emerge and the level of experience needed to be successful becomes smaller and less relevant, the firm that developed the product hopefully has realized the economies of scale needed to sustain revenues through higher numbers of lower margin product.
The trick here is knowing when to Jump The Curve.
Innovative companies need to, as the book says, “innovate purposely.” They have to know when to slaughter the cash cow product that has been commoditized and feed the new calf that will feed them through the next product cycle.
Companies that can’t see when to jump, end up in the “me too” stage, hanging on continuously by reactive innovation, being consistently in a “me too” mentality that may sustain them over time, but only in a way that leaves them in the second or third tier forever. They never enjoy high profits or the market and mind share of the innovator.
Companies like Crestron have been historically good at creating a MInimum Viable Product (MVP) and getting it to market quickly. The product is often not even all the way out of beta, but the company gets it to market and then helps its integration partners through the process of getting it to work and perfecting it or adding features as needed. This type of innovation allows Crestron to invest a minimal amount in the MVP, and then use sales revenues to improve and invest in the advancement of that MVP in realtime. At the end of the first few jobs, that MVP has changed dramatically, and the next wave of products is inherently better. If they waited and perfected the MVP first before releasing it, they may have just missed that all important opportunity to be first.
So as manufacturers and AV firms, my challenge is to ditch “me too” and replace it with “me first.” Companies that do take a risk but also reap the biggest rewards. If you do decide to follow and counter-punch by being second to market with a product that is “better,” make sure you have a great sales and marketing budget to get the word out. It’s always good to be better, but it still seems best to be first. Leave a Comment
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Organically Certified Displays: OLED May Become Cheaper (And More Organic)
By Christopher Jaynes CTO and Founder, Mersive
Recent research has discovered a new approach to Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED) that may reduce or eliminate the need for the rare (and costly) metals needed to manufacture OLED displays. Thanks to collaborative research at Regensburg, University of Bonn, University of Utah, and MIT — the cost and impact of OLED displays will be going down. How is this possible? Read on if you want more than the headline.
What are Organic Light Emitting Diodes?
Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) are becoming the building blocks of choice for consumer displays for their ability to generate deep blacks and bright colors without the need for a global backlight (thus being thinner than technologies like LCD). One of the drawbacks of OLEDs is the expense since they require rare metals during manufacturing and the cost of those metals is significant.
Typically, iridium and platinum are required in OLEDs — driving demand for mining operations in remote locations of the world and increasing the amount of Iridium that, ultimately, needs to be disposed of without reaching our drinking water (hopefully).
How is it possible to reduce the cost and impact of OLED displays?
Let’s first recall how OLEDs produce images. Their operation is based on a fundamental principle of atomic and molecular physics called absorption — electrons moving from one energy state to another emit a fixed amount of light. I won’t go into all the details here, but if an atom needs an electron (referred to as an electron hole) and “falls” into that hole, a photon is emitted. Conversely, when an atom absorbs a photon, it can move an electron into a higher energy state. OLEDs trap organic molecules between two conductive plates (a cathode and anode). An electrical current is applied across the plates and through the trapped organic molecules. The molecules neighboring the cathode are “given” electrons while the anode pulls electrons from the organic molecules nearby. The result is a two-layer sandwich with extra electrons in one half of the material and electron “holes” in the second half. When electrons fall into these holes, a photon is emitted, creating light. By controlling the application of current, you can create small regions of light (pixels) in your display.
It turns out that the color (wavelength) of the photon that is emitted is related to the atomic number of the atom containing the electron hole. The wavelength can be estimated by the Rydberg Formula that relates emitted color to the atomic number and contains the quantum energy constant. Using this principle, manufacturers will make use of different organic elements to create the color primaries that need to be emitted (think red/green/blue ). Finally, to control brightness levels, a stronger current is applied to force more photons to be emitted over shorter periods of time. Now you have controllable color and brightness over a spatial region that contains the organic elements — the price of entry in creating a display.
Most of my readers are familiar, at a high level, with the advantages of OLED — each element in an OLED emits it own light that can be switched on and off. This means better black levels, bright spatially localized color and manufacturing advantages when you don’t have to include a backlight technology like LCD requires. For example, OLED can be built into curved displays.
However, the requirement for rare metals has kept costs high. Why the need for the metals? It turns out that my description of atomic emission is not yet complete. In order to decide if an atom will release a photon when the electron falls into place, the quantum spin of both the electron and the “hole” need to be taken into account. Spin is an atomic property that, at a marco level, gives rise to magnetism and, similarly, governs how very small things, like electrons, interact. Because an electron has two possible spin states, there are four possible spin combinations between an electron and the corresponding “hole” it falls into. Only one of these combinations will emit a photon, while the other three emits energy in the form of heat. Yes, you heard me right, left unchecked, your OLED TV would only transfer 1/4th of its energy into light and the rest would just warm your living room. In order to avoid this problem, the carbon molecules are combined with the hydrocarbon molecules to modify the spin states of the holes. Creating a statistically greater mix of states that will generate light. Very clever — but expensive.
The new research I mentioned is exciting in that it makes use of the fact that, if an electrically excited state is left that way long enough, the spin state will flip into a state that will always emit a photon. So, if a hole can be created but not filled for a few milliseconds, it is almost always going to be found in the correct (more energy efficient) spin state. This sounds like a short amount of time, but keep in mind that it typically takes on the order of nanoseconds for an electron to find and fall into an electron whole. The new approach under development, then focuses on ways to stall this process. The technique that they report in a paper in Angewandte Chemie uses peculiarly shaped organic molecules that are able to trap the free electron long enough that the spin state of the hole will have flipped prior to absorption. It’s very clever, and has great promise.
Obviously, given how recent the results are, it’ll be some time before manufacturers are able to take advantage, and more time after that before you’re able to buy a TV based on the new class of materials. It’s exciting to see how quickly the science of displays continues to advance and to those who think the AV industry is stagnant, I suggest that you take a careful look at where OLEDs may take us in the next few years. Leave a Comment
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Energy Management Where Are You?
By Lee Distad rAVe Columnist
If the road to Hell is paved with good intentions, then the road to progress is paved with technologies that never lived up to their hype.
For every technology or product category that changed the industry, the world, or both, there’s always one or more losers; they were marketed just as hard, with tons of cash thrown at their promotion, trumpeted by the trade media as the greatest thing since sliced bread, and yet never went anywhere. And then there are categories that have been heavily marketed, haven’t died, but by the same token have never really caught on.
I’ve been paying attention to energy management since 2008, and maybe earlier. And while for the longest time it seemed that, like the weather, everybody was talking about it, but nobody was prepared to do anything about it, there’s more systems support from automation vendors. All that’s needed now is some interest from integrators and end users.
The Whys
It has become more commonplace for end users to see the need to maintain a greener footprint. Whether it’s in the IT sector and the move to cloud based computing to reduce server footprint or the A/V industry and the need to turn lights and systems off when people aren’t in a room, the general consensus is that we’re more energy conscientious than ever.
But really, how many clients ask for energy management as part of an installation? One the one hand when you install a complete lighting package that includes shades, dimmers and HVAC control, you get energy management by default.
When it comes to commercial installations, energy conservation can be a factor, and there needs to be a focus on the point in time where the savings in energy covers the initial fixed cost of the system installed. That means that when making a proposal, sales designers need to present a real time energy saving return to the client. That may well be the key to closing the deal.
Conversely, and somewhat oddly, in the residential market, energy savings is usually one of the last reason’s a client will install a system in a home. Instead, most of these systems are added on by the integrator as a result of doing other work already in the home, such as adding a theater or music distribution in the home.
It’s quite common for the lighting/energy management part of the sale to only be in part of the house initially, but within six months to a year, the integrator is often called back to include the remainder of the house, as the client now better understands the benefits of the system and has lived with it for a while. That means there are opportunities for additional revenue from existing clients.
The Hows
There are essentially are two types of solutions. The first are stand-alone and local passive solutions in the form of occupancy or vacancy sensors that automatically shut-off lights and payloads, and dimmers controlled by occupants who reduce the amount of load.
These are more suited for single rooms or limited areas or retrofit projects. The second type is programmable and networked energy controls that are flexible enough to deactivate lights and loads based on time and occupancy patterns and at the same time provide data analysis on the amount of energy consumption.
These are the solutions that are intended to be remotely monitored. This begins by installing a meter on the main power supply to the building, which will give feedback on energy consumption to the control system. Changes in usage, and graphed usage trends can then be reviewed by the users.
Drilling down, there are four characteristics of active energy management. The first is temperature setback, where the temperature is auto set to a comfortable level based on outside temperature.
Next is dimming. Dimming the lights provides instant feedback. Which means that users are more inclined to leave lights off after seeing what leaving them on actually costs.
The third characteristic is dormancy settings. Occupancy sensors are installed in rooms, and systems are be programmed to put unused rooms into sleep mode.
Lastly, daylight harvesting is a major way to conserve energy and show clients the savings. Daylight harvesting uses photo sensors to scale the output of the building’s lighting fixtures to the ambient natural light from outside. This both saves energy and increases occupant comfort.
In fact, a couple of years ago one of my good friends industry, Barry Wosk, president of Sound Developments, incorporated daylight harvesting in the automation design of the new warehouse and head office he built in Vancouver, BC.
Of course, the best way to sell anything is to demonstrate it.
Your automation vendor, whichever one it might be, already has substantial product offerings and installation expertise. Doubtless they’ll even cut you a price break for buying and installing a demo system in your showroom and office.
One question that gets asked a lot is whether energy management is an added value for AV Pros or a standalone category?
Really, it’s both. AV Pros who commit to it soon discover that demand for energy management comes in two types: as part of a more traditional AV installation, and by itself, sometimes lighting control only, sometimes not.
As in all things in this business, there are dealers that cater specifically to this service, so it definitely can be a standalone project or just an add-on sale to a “home theater” project.
First Image via Tendril Second Image via GE Leave a Comment
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WolfVision Launches New vSolution Line WolfVision’s new vSolution line includes the VZ‐ 9.4F and VZ‐9.4L Desktop Visualizers, as well as the VZ‐C6 Ceiling Visualizer. In addition to the ability to display both ‘live’ and external sources, they feature onboard HD video capture with audio, enabling the recording of complete multimedia presentations and lectures.
WolfVision says that recordings are not limited to just the Visualizer’s own camera, but also external display material from connected PCs or tablets, such as digital images, PowerPoint, PDFs, or webpages. These can all be easily captured, including audio. Presentations can be streamed to computers, tablets or smartphones, either on an internal network or over the internet.
The VZ‐ 9.4 Series and VZ‐ C6 Visualizers offer integrated WLAN, 8GB internal memory plus additional USB stick memory expansion, and HDMI input and output. The VZ‐ 9.4L and VZ‐ C6 Visualizers feature WolfVision’s Synchronized Lasermarkers and a Synchronized Lightfield, respectively, for easier positioning of objects. The VZ‐ 9.4F has a native 1080p HD camera with up to 60 frames per second; the VZ‐ 9.4L comes with a native 720p HD /WXGA camera at 30 fps; and the VZ‐ C6 has a native 1080p HD camera with 30 fps.
All three Visualizers are compatible with WolfVision’s new vConnect for iPad software that enables it to be used as a multimedia control dashboard. Presentations can be stored either locally on the iPad or in Dropbox and can be displayed on screen to audiences or via the in‐app Web browser.
Here are all the details. Leave a Comment
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AMX Debuts Two New H.264 Video Encoders AMX’s new H.264 Encoders are designed to allow live video from cameras as well as video from PCs, set-top boxes and more to be streamed onto any network.
The AMX H.264 Encoder is available in two models — the NMX-ENC-1100 and NMX-ENC-1105. Both feature a multi-format input to support digital video signals, including MPEG-2 TS over UDP and RTP, as well as legacy analog sources such as an SDI source. The NMX-ENC-1100 is now shipping in the U.S., while the NMX-ENC-1105 will begin shipping later this month. AMX says that both models are expected to ship globally in June 2014.
Both are here. Leave a Comment
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ESP enVision PCS Offers Real-Time Energy Diagnostics Electronic Systems Protection (ESP) new enVision Power Conditioning System (PCS) is a diagnostic and power protection device that measures and records power disturbances in detailed, real-time reports and displays. This cost-saving solution gives service teams the ability to quickly identify power problems that can cause lock-ups and copy quality issues. With fifty power anomalies occurring per month on an average office circuit it will reduce “no-problem found” service calls and parts replacement expenses that negatively impact profitability. Statistically, just informing people of energy usage, visually, creates an 8 to 15 percent drop in energy usage.
enVision constantly measures a wide range of electrical data, such as: line-neutral voltage, neutral-ground voltage, amperage, crest factor, power factor, line frequency and energy usage to inform service technicians when power is impacting a machine’s performance. A real-time scope meter function provides up-to-the-minute analysis of power related events to easily identify problems.
enVision also records over/under voltages, surges, power outages and shut-offs, presenting the data in an easy to read display through a communications module for comprehensive troubleshooting. An internal battery ensures enVision will provide accurate reporting and time stamps, even during extended power outages. Technicians can easily customize voltage recording and shut-off set-points for any device or environment using an easy to use graphical interface.
Additional monitoring and user flexibility is afforded by an LCD interface that provides notifications and easy access to recorded events, parameters and settings. ESP is also developing TCP-IP, Bluetooth, Zigbee and cellular as future communication protocols for enVision.
The enVision PCS is available in five configurations, including a model featuring IEC outlets and 230/10A receptacles for global markets. 230/30A and 230/16A models are also in development for release later this year. Here are all the details. Leave a Comment
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InfoComm Opens Registration for June Show in Las VegasMore than 10,000 of the hottest technology products from more than 950 companies will be featured at InfoComm 2014 in Las Vegas, Nev., June 18-20, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Attendee registration is now available at infocommshow.org.
Not sure if you should go? Well, watch our InfoComm 2013 wrap-up video here and you’ll want to go!
InfoComm 2014 has more than 500,000 net square feet of show floor exhibits and special events space. More than 36,000 professionals are expected to attend the show, with a more than a third of attendees coming from technology managers, specifiers and end-user communities. InfoComm offers technology solutions to a broad spectrum of market sectors, including business, government, military, education, worship, healthcare, hospitality, retail and entertainment.
Showcasing the latest AV technology, InfoComm 2014 provides the multi-billion dollar industry and its customers with a thriving show floor, along with unsurpassed education and training. Attendees will hear from all the leading audio brands in demo rooms and on the show floor, get connected with collaborative conferencing in the Unified Communications and Collaboration Pavilion, see the latest in signs at the Digital Signage Pavilion and experience the latest in illumination and production in the Lighting and Staging Pavilion. The Technologies for Worship Pavilion will feature the latest AV technology applied for House of Worship staff and volunteers, while the new Security Pavilion will feature the latest technology solutions.
InfoComm offers attendees hands-on access to the latest AV and digital signage technology and networking with industry peers, as well as the opportunity to attend a wide range of educational sessions offered by InfoComm University and other groups. Beyond the show floor, AV Technology Tours will allow attendees to see installed AV projects in action and networking activities will bring everyone together, allowing for the development of meaningful conversations and relationships.
This year InfoComm will feature a Solutions Summit that begins pre-show and offers related sessions available throughout the week. There will be Digital Signage and UCC tracks, with the flexibility to move amongst sessions. In addition, InfoComm International, the trade association representing the commercial audiovisual industry will be marking its 75th anniversary this year with an awards dinner.
The U.S. Department of Commerce is supporting InfoComm 2014 by promoting the show to overseas attendees because of its export potential, international interest, U.S. exhibitor offerings, stature and overseas marketing efforts. More than 5,000 attendees from over 110 countries outside of North America are expected to visit the event.
If you’re interested in seeing our 2013 InfoComm MicroSite, where we posted over 1,000 new product videos, 200 blogs and news stories, podcasts and photos, go here. We’ll be doing the same coverage again this year.
Register here. Leave a Comment
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Medialon Starts AV System Monitoring Service Dubbed LonCloud Medialon has announced LonCloud, a new web service to monitor Network-based audiovisual installations equipped with a Medialon controller. Data, such as lamp hour usage of video projectors or video server operations, are permanently monitored by Medialon controllers. Now it is possible to regularly send snapshots of those values to the LonCloud service where users can monitor the data in real time and set up thresholds to send alarms to technicians so they can act before equipment fails.
LonCloud is designed for integrators and offers several levels of access rights, allowing professionals to set up LonCloud monitoring for their customers and resell the monitoring services and charge for it.
For security, Medialon controllers initiate encrypted outbound connections to the LonCloud servers which means there are no firewalls or routers to set up and there are no inbound connections to local sites.
All the details are here. Leave a Comment
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Haivision Adds SRT to Makito SeriesHaivision’s Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) technology is now included on all Makito X Series encoders and decoders. Haivision’s SRT is a transport technology that they claim optimizes streaming performance across unpredictable networks like the Internet. But, when you look up the tech specs or go to their website to learn more about SRT, nothing exists — look for yourself — click on Tech Specs.
Here’s the company’s tech diagram explaining the technology. Haivision is here.
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You Picked InfoComm and ISE to Win rAVe’s 2014 Trade Show BattleIn January, we asked the readers of rAVe which trade shows around the world matter enough for them to attend. As most segments of the ProAV industry continue to grow as our world economy finally starts its recovery, there are clear segments of commercial AV that are benefitting — for example, the digital signage, government and rental/staging segments.
And trade shows stand to benefit in 2014. In the U.S., both InfoComm and CEDIA came up as the two biggest beneficiaries of our survey when we asked ProAV’ers which trade shows they plan to attend in 2014 here in the United States. And, internationally, the big winners were ISE (Integrated Systems Europe) and IBC — both in Amsterdam, coincidentally.
Here are the results from last month’s survey, sponsored by EPSON Leave a Comment
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HARMAN’s JBL Professional Adds LSR310S Powered Studio Sub With XLF to 3 Series Studio Monitor LineHARMAN’s JBL Pro group today introduced the new LSR310S powered studio subwoofer optimized for use with the JBL 3 Series studio monitors, which are the first studio monitors to incorporate JBL’s new Image Control Waveguide technology. Rounding out the 3 Series line, the new LSR310S subwoofer extends the low-frequency response of the system into the 20 Hz range while including an innovative feature that will make the sub attractive to dance music producers.
Driven by an integrated 200 Watt Class D power amplifier, a new 10-inch high excursion woofer works in concert with JBL’s patented Slip Stream Port and claim a response below 27 Hz, with peak output of 113 dB SPL.
Designed to integrate into a broad range of applications the LSR310S features balanced XLR and ¼” inputs, a selectable input sensitivity switch and three crossover settings: 80Hz, XLF and External. The 80 Hz setting implements high and low pass filters to create a seamless blend any manufacturer’s studio monitors. The external setting bypasses all filtering, allowing use of an external crossover. The special XLF setting activates a 120Hz High Pass Filter in conjunction with a low frequency tuning that approximates the tuning used in club playback systems. Using this setting, the bass output more than doubles and the newly developed woofer/amp combination with protective limiting allow the 310S to produce extended bass output continuously without failure.
Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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rAVe Scoop: Extron Debuts Digital Version of PoleVault Classroom System Extron is now shipping a digital version of its PoleVault classroom packaged system, appropriately dubbed the PoleVault Digital. Basically, it’s a family of complete AV switching and control system that seamlessly integrate digital and analog video sources. Each system uses CATx twisted pair cable for transmitting high resolution audio and video signals, and includes network connectivity for Web-based AV resource management, monitoring and control. PoleVault Digital Classroom AV Systems are fully HDCP compliant with support for both HDMI and VGA sources commonly found in modern classrooms. At the heart of these systems is a switcher/amplifier that meets ENERGY STAR requirements for AV products and includes two power saving modes designed to lower energy usage and reduce operating costs.
Each system includes all the necessary audio and video switching, audio amplification, system control, source connectivity, speakers, mounting hardware, and cabling needed for a complete classroom AV system. All that remains is to add a video projector, screen or flat panel display and sources.
Here are all the details. Leave a Comment
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VUE Audiotechnik h-8 Is Smallest Speaker in VUE Line VUE Audiotechnik today unveiled the h-8 speaker, which uses an 8-inch transducer with a neodymium compression driver that’s capable of high frequency performance thanks to the Truextent beryllium diaphragm at its core. VUE’s SystemVUE networking technology is standard in the h-8 and that makes it possible to connect one or more h-8′s with any VUE DSP-enabled system via a wired or wireless Ethernet connection to a computer. Once connected, SystemVUE Software provides access to a selection of network and device-level control and monitoring functions.
The h-8′s drivers and electronics are housed in a birch enclosure that includes M10 rigging points and an integrated pole-mount for both portable and fixed installation applications. The h-Class grill and handle surrounds receive a two-part finish that lays a coat of transparent candy-apple red over a black base for a deep hue that’s uniquely VUE. The signature h-Class look is completed with a heavy aluminum rear panel that features a machined “VUE” logo integrated into the heat sinks.
You can see all the h-8 specs here. Leave a Comment
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Mackie Launches SRM450 and SRM350 1000W Portable Speakers Mackie has announced new portable speakers, the SRM450 and SRM350 models, which are spec’d at 1000 watts with custom drivers. Featuring two new audio tools, these new SRM speakers can simplify setup and produce results that Mackie claims simply not found in any other speakers at this price.
You can choose between four application-specific speaker modes. They also have integrated an intelligent feedback destroyer that makes sound check easier. SRM can identify and eliminate feedback using up to four narrow 1/16th octave filters. Both models now benefit from Mackie’s HD Audio Processing, which combines patented acoustic correction DSP with optimization features such as a precision crossover and driver time alignment and phase correction. The SRM450 and SRM350 feature an integrated 2-channel mixer with input-friendly Wide-Z inputs.
The new Mackie SRM450 and SRM350 will be available globally late Q2, 2014. The SRM450 will list for $629.99 and the SRM350 will will list for $519.99. Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Casio Intros New YA-S10 Geometric Correction Box Casio’s new YA-S10 Geometric Correction Box features technology that allows a single projector to display images on curved surfaces. Although aimed at the digital signage market, rAVe sees the YA-S10 as a perfect box for rental applications, as well as retail and trade show applications.
Features of the YA-S10 include:
- High-precision correction and an interface that allows easy modifications using a remote control
- Image correction for curved surfaces using free-form surface compensation with a lattice of up to 81 grid points for adjustments
- Enables users to project images onto curved pillars, round areas, flat surfaces, or any unique shape
- Adjusts any image misalignment or distortion without the need for additional hardware
The YA-S10 lists for $1,999.99 and more information can be found here. Leave a Comment
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Google Integrates Vidyo Technology in Professional Hangouts FeatureVidyo announced details of a partnership with Google – a software-based solution that enables H.323/SIP video conferencing and IP PBX systems to connect users into Google+ Hangout Sessions. The new product will extend usability by allowing connectivity with existing business voice and video solutions from Cisco, Polycom, Lifesize, Avaya and Vidyo. VidyoH2O for Google+ Hangouts will be offered on a subscription basis both on-premise and as a cloud-hosted product.
One application is to videoconference with your doctor — an application being promoted, actively, via Google and the company’s Hangout feature of Google+. Here’s an example of a dermatology service using the Google/Vidyo service already (this site includes a video explaining the service).
Vidyo’s patented VidyoRouter leverages Scalable Video Coding (SVC) for videoconferencing over the Internet (a VTC router-in-the-cloud) for multi-user video calls. WebRTC provides the ability to participate in video calls without a separate client or plug-in installation. WebRTC with scalability will give Web developers who are using VidyoRouter in their implementation access to even better video quality coupled with the no-install advantage. Chrome is expected to be the first browser to support the scalable version of WebRTC and, together, Vidyo and Google will promote this version with relevant standards bodies.
VidyoH2O for Google+ Hangouts is scheduled for general availability on March 31, 2014, on a subscription basis starting at $99/port/month for on-premise deployment, or as a cloud-hosted product for $149/port/month.
Vidyo is here. Leave a Comment
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SMART Announces Gen2 of SMART Room System for Microsoft Lync SMART Technologies has announced several new additions to the SMART Room System for Microsoft Lync, including capability for interactive sharing that enables touch and inking into any software application, integration with SMART Meeting Pro PE (Personal Edition) software and the introduction of unbound workspace.
With the introduction of interactive sharing, users can now work with any content directly on the display without being restricted by a mouse and keyboard. The multi-touch capabilities enable natural interaction with any application, letting users easily collaborate using familiar programs.
With the addition of SMART’s Meeting Pro PE software, users are no longer restricted to only making annotations into PowerPoint or the Lync whiteboard. Now notes can be made onto any software application and save directly into the files in the native format for future reference or editing in real time. SMART Meeting Pro also includes something they are calling “unbound workspace” — a whiteboard application that allows for panning and zooming to any level of detail, regardless of the complexity of the content to promote free-flowing, comprehensive collaboration sessions.
The SMART Room System was originally announced with the largest array of interactive display options with three room sizes including both 70” (177.8 centimeters) and 84” (213.36 cm.) display combinations. Now, the company has added two new sizes, including single and dual 55” (139.7 cm.) displays. The range of choices accommodates room sizes ranging from 50 ft2 to 300 ft2, suitable for 2 to 16 participants.
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Extron Shipping Next Generation Fiber Optic DisplayPort Extender for Signals up to 2560×1600Extron is now shipping its FOX II DP, a transmitter and receiver set for long haul transmission of HDCP-compliant DisplayPort video, multi-channel audio, RS232 control and IR control signals over fiber optic cabling. The FOX II DP brings support for higher resolutions up to 2560×1600, multi-channel audio, an audio return channel and IR support to the FOX Series. Extron says it uses all-digital technology to deliver pixel-for-pixel DisplayPort computer-video images up to 2560×1600.
The fiber optic DisplayPort extender is available in multimode and single-mode models. Features include Key Minder, EDID Minder, Auto Input Memory, audio embedding and de-embedding, audio gain and attenuation control and real-time system monitoring. Using Extron’s PCS — Product Configuration Software, the FOX II DP can be programmed quickly.
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Extron Pro Series Control Processors Deliver Speed, Security, Power Extron’s six IP Link Pro Series control processors include built-in Gigabit Ethernet and the latest network protocols, which allows fast, secure connections with multiple TouchLink Pro touch panels using current network infrastructure. IP Link Pro control processors are built to work with TouchLink Pro touch panels and are fully customizable with Extron’s configuration software — Global Configurator Professional.
Within the IP Link Pro family, there are three IPL Pro control processors and three IPCP Pro control processors. All of these control processors provide integration via GlobalViewer Enterprise software. This management software allows users to manage, monitor and control both Extron equipment and third-party equipment such as projectors, displays, computer monitors, Blu-ray and DVD players. IPCP Pro control processors support Extron LinkLicense, which enables the use of third party devices as primary control interfaces.
The IP Link Pro control processors are designed to work together with TouchLink Pro touchpanels for AV system and room control. These processors enable almost any AV device to be controlled, monitored and accessed from a LAN, WAN or the Internet.
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Jack Kline Becomes Chairman, President and CEO of Christie’s Operating CompaniesChristie last month announced that Kenji Hamashima, chairman, president and CEO of the Christie group of companies will step down from his current role effective April 1, 2014.
Jack Kline, president and COO, Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc. will assume the role of chairman, president and CEO of all of Christie’s operating companies, worldwide.
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Jeffrey Volk Promoted to Vice President at Alpha VideoAlpha Video announced that Jeffrey Volk has been promoted from director of the Sports & Entertainment Group to vice president. In addition to his continued management of the Sports & Entertainment Group, Volk will now be part of the management team at Alpha Video who works closely with ownership to plan the strategic vision and direction for the company. He has been in sales and management at Alpha Video since 1993.
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