Volume 13, Issue 18 — September 23, 2015
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Editorial Editorial Editorial
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Projection Control & Signal Processing Audio Digital Signage Unified Collaborative Conferencing Cables, Cases, Furniture, Mounts, Racks, Screens & Accessories
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Open and Closed — Brief Discussion of WolfVision and Kramer
By Leonard Suskin Pixel and Ink-Stained Wretch
Post-InfoComm, the good folks at WolfVision brought their new Cynap collaboration appliance to the office for a demo and a chat. Cynap is the latest entry into the increasingly crowded wireless collaboration space, competing with not only the WePresent and its OEM cousins (Barco Clickshare CSM, Crestron Air Media, Extron Sharepoint, etc.), but also with the purely software-based Mersive Solstice and Kramer’s software/hardware hybrid Via. Specific product capabilities aside, distinctions between these raise interesting big-picture philosophical design questions worth exploring.
The first thing that interested me is how WolfVision discusses the genesis of its collaboration appliance as an outgrowth of its well-known line of document cameras. One way for this segment to stay relevant in a world increasingly focused on digital media is to bring the collaborative tools on which we’ve come to rely to the world of physical objects; a document camera that can also share content wirelessly, annotate and even stream it to another room is a far more interesting, valuable and modern device than a document camera which simply takes a picture. With the addition of an extra video input or two, such a device might even be all one needs for a small classroom optimized for local presentations. The next logical step, of course, was to take away the camera. Again, the world is becoming digital. Some applications might still need a document camera, but there are more which will find use for the collaborative tools but NOT need to bring in physical objects.
In my mind, this leads to an obvious next question: You took the camera out of the box. Why not now take the box out of the box? Everything that the Cynap does — screen mirroring from mobile devices, whiteboarding, streaming — is, like nearly everything else we do, a software application. Why not let it be just software? It would allow an instance of Cynap to run virtually on a server in some environments, share space in a room PC with a soft-codec and other tools, or be deployed as an appliance for those cases in which an appliance is appropriate. This was not rights direction Wolfvision has chosen to take; under the hood, the Cynap is a fairly custom Linux application that they have no intention of freeing from the box. The company’s reasoning — and there is a measure of logic to this — is that it wants to ensure that users do not have a poor experience due to decisions outside of Wolfvision’s control. It is the same reason that it does not allow third-party applications to run on the device; there is some form of videoconferencing coming, but it will be a custom application with plans to cooperate with other types of endpoints over the BlueJeans network. If a user wants something else, they’ll need to work directly with Wolfvision to accommodate them.
Contrast the Kramer Via. The larger Via appliance is, under the hood, a Windows 7 machine. This means that virtually any Windows 7 application can run on it and, to varying extents, take advantage of Via’s sharing and collaborative tools. If you use Skype for Business as your communications tool, download Skype onto the Via. If you later switch to a Google Apps environment, then you can easily delete Skype and load Hangouts. Or keep both. An argument can be made that this increases the responsibilities of IT support staffs for revision control if nothing else. While this is a fair point, this is a big part of what IT staffs do. It is, perhaps, an invisible cost, but in a large enterprise environment it might be a very minor one; at a certain level of deployment it might mean little more than a slightly increased workload for existing support staff.
An appliance such as the Cynap, of course, is still software on the inside and still should have some level of support. In this case, however, support flows from the manufacturer. The rather hefty initial price-tag for the Cynap, in a traditional hardware model, included a two-year service contract. To contrast, more purely software applications might have a very low or even zero initial cost coupled with an annual license fee based on numbers of seats. This kind of solution is interesting in that it completely rewrites the usual practices of those of us in the AV business: Capability becomes more fluid, cost is better measured in operational rather than capital expenses and, ironically, a measure of customization is lost.
In case it isn’t clear, my personal bias is towards open systems and devices. Allowing third-party application invites customization, personalized decisions and leverages the countless thousands of hours many, many workers in the software industry have spent developing tools and applications. A device that can access Windows or even Android or iOS applications already has the support of large-scale developer communities, while a closed device is restricted to in-house programming staff. On the other hand, of course, I’ve had clients who prioritize reliability and consistency of experience over flexibility. This includes end users who would, in my estimation, be very well served with software solutions but have concerns about support, revision control and reliability. For such clients a closed device such as the Cynap can be an excellent fit; from the perspective of the clients’ internal support team, it’s a (literal in this case) black box that does what you want it to. Yes, they lose flexibility to add new Windows applications. With that they lose the task of managing Windows updates, security concerns and a slew of support tasks.
As I said, I have my biases. That doesn’t mean that they’re always right, and that sometimes a closed box isn’t better than an open one. Leave a Comment
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Designing With Your Customers: Building Innovative Products That People Actually Want
By Christopher Jaynes CTO and Founder, Mersive
I know it’s been a while since my last post but I just got back from an Alpine climbing expedition in the Canadian Rockies. I would like to cover something I had plenty of time to think about while stuck in a tent on a glacier waiting for the weather to clear. It’s a topic that is important to anyone who is designing products — the balance between giving your customers what they want and surprising them with what they need.
If you simply ask customers what they want and bolt on the features they describe — you will quickly find yourself with a poorly designed product and, likely, a disappointed customer. I know our customers look to us to bring them value in ways that are refreshing and not incremental but still solve problems for them in a real way.
There is a constant balance between innovation and incrementalism that needs to take place to build great products. Many of the world’s great products that answered a need at the time, could not have been invented by a user-directed questionnaire or a product focus group. The car — ‘make horses go faster’; the lightbulb — ‘make candle wicks slower to burn’; the iPhone…this is just not how ALL great products, or even great features within products, are created.
I spend a lot of time discussing our roadmap with customers and partners. I’d like to think they know that their input is reflected in our product, and that they are happy with the results. As an example, we are often asked when annotation will be available as a feature within Solstice. In our context, ‘annotation’ typically means augmenting data that is being shared to a conference room display. However, other preexisting products have turned annotation into finger painting over content with a toolset that looks a lot like Microsoft paint from 1988. Based on our own studies, we’ve found that this type of ‘annotation’ has a utilization rate of less than 1 percent.
Could I simply bolt on this capability to Solstice and sell more product by checking this box? Of course. Would I do that to our customers? No way.
Instead, our job is to look behind the request for annotation to find out what customers really want. Why are they asking for it? What are the first principles behind the need to annotate multiple content sources in a meeting? How would people really want to collaboratively annotate a work surface if they hadn’t had to adopt the paint metaphor that came with Windows 3.11?
Our approach to designing new features is to treat our customers as partners during the design process. I regularly share storyboards and ideas with key partners as they emerge from our design group. Customers provide key insights but aren’t burdened with telling us exactly what they want – it’s our job to figure that out. The approach seems to work for us, so I wanted to share it with my readers.
If I had to sum up our approach it involves three aspects:
- Look for the need that drives a feature request: Ask yourself why a particular feature is being requested. Sometimes it’s obvious and sometimes it takes a longer conversation about how users behave. How do they perceive value? This requires plenty of careful thinking about designing to discover the need behind the feature.
- Have your customers guide your thinking, but not lead it: Once you think you know what problem you need to address, begin with first principles in design. Are the current approaches to the feature the correct metaphor of interaction? Is there an opportunity to improve how it’s done? Make sure to include your customers during this phase, they will be the ones to tell you if your approach solves their problem or brings value.
- Propose plenty of ‘what if’s’: Make sure when you are in dialog with partners and customers that they understand what is possible. Ask the question, ‘What if you don’t ride a horse at all? Instead a machine carries you and others to your destination.’ Listen for their reactions, make the tradeoffs clear, and then design around the constraints.
At the end of the day, great products exceed expectations. They go beyond what users know they want or need, and they surprise and delight by solving a problem in an insightful, meaningful way. So the designers out there can’t depend on customer feedback exclusively for their design direction. The resulting products would most likely lack innovation not to mention coherence. But customer feedback shouldn’t be ignored either, since it sheds light on the needs of the market as well as areas to improve the product. In my experience, the best results have always come from learning what customers need, but then designing a solution that goes beyond what the customer asked for to surprise them with an innovative solution to their problem. Leave a Comment
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The Art of Marketing Marketing
By Jennifer Davis VP Marketing, Planar
A few months ago, I spoke at an event sponsored by the Technology Association of Oregon on the alignment of sales and marketing. In the course of that conversation, the idea of marketing marketing (promoting the idea of and need for marketing in the company) was raised. Many companies de-value marketing, considering it the department that makes pretty pictures or the administrative support for the sales team. Others strongly value the strategic involvement of marketing in product strategy, branding, strategic planning, and industry leadership. I am blessed to work for an organization that models the latter, but I certainly am familiar with the former.
Usually, this lack of respect or understanding for the role of marketing in the organization takes two forms:
- Exclusion from decision making and strategic conversations (a focus on tactical execution only, often exemplified by only having junior marketing staff who report up into another function like sales or G&A)
- Lack of adequate resources to do high-quality marketing work (budget, time, or resource limitations that keep the work tactical and reactionary)
This topic is a big one (worthy of more than one post). To get the conversation started, here are four key questions that you can ask yourself to help you answer the question of how to market marketing in your organization.
1. Can you express your motivation for wanting to market marketing in terms of overall business results?
Do you think that investing in a marketing automation system and nurturing campaigns will generate 20 percent more revenue next year? Do you believe that improving the brand consistency across the organization will lead to higher customer perception of quality and improve gross margins by 2 percent for the next product launch? Do you believe that developing a new interactive platform for sharing product benefits with your sales channel will reduce the sales cycle by two months resulting in a 13 percent increase in revenue with the same effort? Do you believe that having a seat at the decision making table would improve the company results or employee engagement demonstrably? These are the types of questions you should be asking, when you are thinking of advocating for anything in a business environment. What is the business impact for the change you are advocating?
If you don’t know how to answer these questions, it could be an indication that you are not yet ready to advocate for a larger and more impactful role for marketing in your company… and that you should get ready. That in itself, should be a call to action to learn more about your business, your drivers of value in the market, your customer problems, your solutions, and overall business strategy… and how score is kept financially.
2. What is the perception of your brand and that of “marketing” in your organization? What should it be? What is the gap?
Before you would embark on a brand building campaign, you would always begin with data to identify the “as is” state and to quantify the “to be” state. And to identify the gap between these states. Often this accomplished with surveys, voice of the customer, share of voice analysis, or other tools. Why not do the same thing within your organization to gauge how far away the organization is from what you envision as the ideal?
It is also important to know whether your brand is strong enough in the organization to lead that charge? What are you known for in the organization? Why do people come to you? Does that align with what you need it to be to advocate the change you are advocating? What can you do to change the perception and reputation?
3. What “marketing” does your customer really need?
This should probably be the first question, as anything (besides that which is required for regulatory, legal, or financial compliance) that isn’t seen and appreciated by customers, probably isn’t worth doing. It is the definition of waste and the hallmark of bureaucracy. But coming back to my point, what value does the customer perceive in the marketing you do?
Are they able to make better and faster decisions because of their access to technical information? Are your resellers able to sell more because of the sales tools you provide? Are they able to reduce their costs with more accurate quoting resources? Are they able to achieve business results because of the value proposition of the products you provide?
Some service firms have found that dedicated sales and marketing staff is not nearly as effective as sending their consultants right out to their clients to share expertise directly and we their appetite for more (a topic covered extensively in Patrick Lencioni’s book Getting Naked). Some technical engineering firms, web site developers or agencies find that their engineering teams are best equipped to sell and market to their technical buyers and that all that is needed from marketing is some communication tools to help facilitate these conversations. Even at Planar, there is a lot of “marketing” that happens in customer conversations with account managers and technical sales professionals in the field. That is often good and necessary for our technical, system-style products. Each business will be different.
And finally…
4. What is the winning formula that is worth repeating?
Like any system, it is important to look and inputs and outputs. If you want to answer questions one through three, a good place to start is your wins. Where are some situations that have gone well that you think are worthy of replication? Go back and analyze a big order, a design win, or project award and ask everyone involved how it came to be, the touch points with the organization, what sales tools or marketing resources were used, and what made the difference. There is no sense automating or “improving the efficiency” of things that are not effective. Said another way, finding faster ways to lose money is to find a better way to drive yourself out of business. But if you focus on what is going right, you will find a platform from which you can advocate smart change and gain the respect of the organization and the resources to replicate what is working. Leave a Comment
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Epson Expands EX-Series Projector Lineup with Sub- $1,000 Pro Series Epson today introduced new Pro series portable projectors including the EX9200 Pro (WUXGA) and the EX7240 Pro (WXGA ) models. In addition, Epson introduced an EX3240, a portable version. All three models are spec’d at 3,200 lumens, a 10,000 hour lamp life and native HD (1080 or 720) display capability.
The EX9200 Pro is a native 1920×1200 resolution 3LCD projector while the EX7240 is a 1280×800 resolution 3LCD. Both projectors include HDMI and MHL ports as well as wireless projection and quick control features including Instant Off – which quickly powers down the projector with no cool down time; Sleep Mode (A/V Mute) pauses the presentation without turning off the projector; and Direct Power Off/On delivers wall switch power control.
The $799 EX9200 Pro is here, the $649 EX7240 is here and the portable $449 EX3240 is here. Leave a Comment
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NEC Debuts New M Series NEC Display just announced a new generation of M Series short-throw projectors that are aimed at collaboration application. Using the latest DLP technology from Texas Instruments, the 3,300-lumen M333XS and 3,500-lumen M353WS models deliver contrast ratio specs at 10,000:1, are filter free, and have 0.6:1 and 0.48:1 throw ratios, respectively.
Environmentally-friendly features include ECO Mode with ambient light sensor, which increases lamp life up to 8,000 hours, while lowering power consumption, as well as quick start (3 to 4 seconds) and auto power on via the RGB input connector. A carbon savings meter calculates the positive effects of operating the projectors in ECO Mode.
Software lets K-12, higher education and business users network their projectors for easier management and control. The Image Express Utility Lite function allows up to 16 devices – from PCs, tablets and smart phones – to be wirelessly connected to each projector concurrently. Thumbnail images give presenters easy visibility to each participating device so they can easily toggle between sources.
The projectors also include NEC DisplayNote Software, an app that lets leaders and participants present, share and annotate content from any platform or device so their notes are automatically saved. Additional DisplayNote licenses are available for purchase.
The M333XS and M353WS projectors include the following features:
- XGA and WXGA native resolutions, respectively
- DLP engine, featuring BrilliantColor Technology
- HDMI 3D display up to 144Hz
- DICOM display mode
- Dual HDMI inputs to connect to multiple external devices
- Automatic keystone correction technology, which instantly projects a square image even when the projector is set up at a steep offset angle to the screen
- Sealed optics engine
- 20-watt speaker
- Microphone input
- Low power consumption (0.2W in stand-by mode), which minimizes energy costs
- Optional interactive camera module (NP03Wi) and wireless dongle (NP05LM1)
The NP-M333XS is here.
The NP-M353WS is here. Leave a Comment
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Christie Captiva Is Shortest Short Throw EverChristie just launched the Captiva Series of 1-chip DLP laser/phosphor illuminated ultra short throw projectors capable of projecting 140″ diagonal in landscape or portrait mode.
With the choice of a 3,500-lumen HD 1920×1080 (DHD400S) or 1920×720 resolution, 3,000-lumen (DUW350S) aspect ratios, the Christie Captiva Series is aimed at classroom, conference room or retail environments. Based on laser phosphor illumination, these solid state lampless projectors provide 20,000 hours of lamp life.
Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Atlona Ships 4K HDMI Matrix SwitchersAtlona has begun shipping its two new 4K HDMI-to-HDMI switchers, the AT-UHD-H2H-88M, an 8×8 matrix, and the 4×4 AT-UHD-H2H-44M. Introduced in June at the InfoComm show, both switchers are specified for 4K/UHD video @ 60 Hz and support content with HDCP 2.2 copy protection.
Ideal for professional HDMI signal routing where a number of AV sources must be shared among four or eight zones, the matrixes allow any or all input sources to be distributed simultaneously to any or all output zones. Source and zone selection can be made via front panel controls, handheld remote, or via virtually any 3rd-party control system.
Both the UHD-H2H-88M and the UHD-H2H-44M offer an integrated web server with web GUI which provides HDCP/EDID reporting, system configuration, and device status plus I/O routing from tablets, smart phones or PCs. To reduce integration time and cost, both matrixes provide TCP/IP, RS232 and IR connections for the control system interface.
According to Atlona, both matrixes provide fast, flicker-free switching between sources with no signal loss to other zones. The matrixes are both rack mountable, occupying 1U, full rack width enclosure. Details are here. Leave a Comment
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Extron Ships XTP II CrossPoint Matrix Switcher – World’s First 50 Gbps BackplaneExtron just started shipping the new XTP II CrossPoint 6400 matrix switcher with a 50 Gbps digital switching backplane that delivers the highest level of performance in the Pro AV industry. The XTP II enables the deployment of an AV system infrastructure with a switching bandwidth that exceeds the data rate required to distribute 4K/60 video with 4:4:4 chroma sampling at 16 bits per color. These matrix switchers can be configured with a variety of boards, including any of the existing products in the XTP Systems family and the new series of XTP 4K fiber optic boards and endpoints. XTP II is the definitive AV industry standard you can depend on now and in the future to meet the challenges of 4K and beyond.
XTP Systems provide a completely integrated switching and distribution solution for multiple digital and analog formats. They support local connectivity, as well as extended transmission capability to send video, audio, bidirectional RS‑232 and IR, and Ethernet up to 330 feet (100 meters) over a shielded CATx cable, and even greater distances over fiber optic cabling. The larger matrix switcher sizes up to 64×64 provide a wide range of possibilities for new applications and system upgrades to support emerging video standards and formats.
Here are the specs. Leave a Comment
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Crestron Expands DigitalMedia 4K Lineup with Introduction of Copper Input Blade and HDMI Output Blade Crestron has expanded its DigitalMedia solutions with the introduction of two new blades designed to enable Crestron DM-MD64X64 or DM-MD128X128 switchers to deliver 4K and Ultra HD video. Each blade provides eight inputs or outputs and adds support for HDCP 2.2.
Now shipping, the new 8-Channel 4K HDMI Input Blade for DM switchers (DMB-4K-I-C) provides eight DM inputs, and Crestron claims that it supports any resolution up to 4K and Ultra HD video. The DMB-4K-I-C input blade and the 8-Channel HDBaseT 4K DigitalMedia Output Blade (DMB-4K-O-C) are compatible with the PoDM (Power over DM) redundant power supply (DM-PSU-3X8-RPS). Each power supply can drive up to three blades.
The DMB-4K-O-HD output blade provides eight independent HDMI outputs and Crestron says it’s designed for 4K/60 scaling and audio extracting capabilities. Each output can be individually scaled and audio extracting enables the audio to de-embed from the HDMI video and transmit the digital audio to powered speakers, amplifiers, and other audio components.
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LynTec Expands RPC Panel Lineup to Support More Circuit Breakers Per Panel
LynTec today announced it has added three new circuit count panels to its RPC line of remote-control breaker panels. The new panels make it possible for LynTec customers to add more circuits to their designs in the same horizontal wall space to control a greater number of components, as needed.
Taking advantage of a change in the National Electrical Code that removed the prohibition of more than 42 circuit breakers in a single panel, LynTec expanded its RPC panel lineup to support 48, 66, and 84 circuit breaker positions, respectively. Previously, RPC panels were available only with 30 or 42 circuit breaker slots. Now customers have incremental options between the 30- and 84-position panels with no increase in width. All RPC panels leverage the RPC controller’s ability to address up to 168 motorized circuit breakers. The new panels are also available as Main Lug Only (MLO) and Main Circuit Breaker (MCB) in 225-, 400- and 600-amp interiors.
LynTec’s 48-, 66-, and 84-slot RPC panels are already shipping and details are here. Leave a Comment
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Atlona Ships First Two HDMI over HDBaseT Extenders with 4K HDCP 2.2
Atlona told rAVe today they started shipping two new HDMI over HDBaseT signal extender kits for long distance transmission spec’d to handle 4K/UHD capability and HDCP 2.2 copy protection pass-through: The AT-UHD-EX-70C and the AT-UHD-EX-70. Both models were announced earlier this year at ISE 2015 in Amsterdam.
Providing 70 meters (230 ft.) of signal extension, the AT-UHD-EX-70C Transmitter/Receiver kit includes pass-through of bidirectional RS-232 and 12V IR control signals and is designed for use with Atlona matrix switchers. Also offering 70 meters of signal extension, the AT-UHD-EX-70 Transmitter/Receiver kit is designed for residential or commercial point-to-point applications and features PoE to remotely power the receiver from the transmitter to save time and integration costs by eliminating the AC power outlet at the receiver.
Details on both are here. Leave a Comment
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Extron Intros DXP 4K HDMI Matrix Series with Audio De-EmbeddingExtron has launched a new DXP HD 4K Series of high performance HDMI matrix switchers for resolutions up to 4K, including 1080p/60 with Deep Color. They are HDCP compliant, and support HDMI data rates to 10.2 Gbps, Deep Color up to 12-bit, 3D and HD lossless audio formats. Extron technologies such as SpeedSwitch, Key Minder, and EDID Minder, along with automatic input cable equalization and output reclocking, ensure dependable system operation with exceptional switching speeds and compatibility between devices. The matrix switchers also feature built-in de-embedding, enabling digital audio from any input to be assigned to the digital or analog stereo outputs for streamlined integration. They are available in I/O sizes from 4×4 to 16×16.
Several Extron technologies included with the DXP HD 4K Series simplify integration of HDMI-enabled devices. EDID Minder automatically manages EDID by maintaining continuous EDID communication with each source, ensuring that sources power up properly and reliably output content for display. For HDMI signals with protected content. Key Minder authenticates and maintains continuous HDCP encryption to support reliable switching while enabling simultaneous distribution of a single source signal to one or more displays, and SpeedSwitch Technology provides ultra-fast switching of encrypted signals.
The DXP HD 4K Series also switches embedded digital audio from HDMI source signals, along with the corresponding video, to any or all of the selected outputs. To further streamline integration, de-embedded audio can be routed to digital or analog stereo audio outputs to support a separate sound system. The technologies and capabilities built into DXP HD 4K Series ensure high performance AV signal routing, with a fully digital pathway that maintains the highest possible audio and image quality for multiple sources and displays.
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ATEN Extends HDBaseT Line with Cost Effective HDBaseT-Lite Video Extender SeriesATEN today announced the second series of HDBaseT-certified extenders. ATEN’s claims its new HDBaseT-Lite Series are HDBaseT Class B solutions with a transmission distance of up to 70 meters. The HDBaseT Lite series boasts a comprehensive set of features teamed with an affordable price, perfectly complementing ATEN’s existing Class A line (up to 100 meters).
ATEN’s new HDBaseT-Lite Series consists of three models designed to suit a range of applications and budgets:
- VE802: HDMI HDBaseT-Lite Extender with POH
- VE801: HDMI HDBaseT-Lite Extender
- VE601: DVI HDBaseT-Lite Extender
Of the HDBaseT-Lite Series, the VE802 HDMI HDBaseT-Lite Extender with PoH offers the most extensive set of features. The PoH (Power over HDBaseT) function allows power to be transmitted from transmitter to receiver via the Cat 5e/6a cable, simplifying cable deployments and reducing installation costs as the receiver requires no additional power source. The VE802 also has a bi-directional RS232 serial port and a bi-directional IR Channel port for control and configuration. For more basic A/V extension applications, the VE801 provides similar functionality to the VE802 but without the added features of PoH, IR and RS232 support.
Alternatively, the VE601 is is designed for applications which require a DVI-compliant extender. All models include interference-resistant technology and support resolutions up to 4K (however, buyer beware, as the company is not saying what color bit depth of 4K these work with).
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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AKG Intros MicroLite Series Ultra-Miniature Microphones AKG, a brand owned by HARMAN, just launched the MicroLite series of miniature wearable “reference” microphones — including a lavalier, ear-hook and headworn options.
The LC81 MD is the smallest cardioid lavalier microphone on the market (a diameter of 4.8 millimeters, a length of 10 millimeters and a weight of 2 grams). The microphone’s sensitive cardioid polar pattern picks up a wide range of frequencies and provides flexibility in getting the best sound from the source. It’s available in four colors.
The LC82 MD omni-directional lavalier microphone has a diameter of 3 millimeters and a length of 6.5 millimeters, making it one of the smallest omni-directional microphones in the world, according to AKG. Ideal for musicals, theater, churches, broadcast and large-format presentations, the LC82 MD also ensures that moisture and makeup won’t dampen a performance. Like the LC81 MD, the LC82 MD is available in four colors.
Similar to their lavalier counterparts, the EC81 MD and EC82 MD ear-hook microphones provide additional options but it’s designed for theater, broadcast, musical performances and conferences. Each microphone offers a flexible ear-hook and adjustable boom length for comfort, while users can choose between a cardioid (EC81 MD) or omni-directional (EC82 MD) model. The EC82 MD also features a highly moisture-resistant design. Both microphones are available in two colors.
For those who prefer an even more traditional fit, the HC81 MD and HC82 MC omni-directional headworn microphones features ear-hooks and an adjustable boom. Each microphone is available in two colors, and the HC82 MC features a moisture-resistant design.
All MicroLite microphones feature a cable with a Microdot connector, which is compatible with a variety of different connections, as well as all major manufacturers of wireless microphone systems. This provides the flexibility to integrate the MicroLite microphones into a variety of environments, and customize the system for optimal performance.
A variety of accessories are also available with the MicroLite series, including wire-mesh protection caps, foam windscreens, phantom power adapters, lavalier clips, and perspiration and makeup protectors. More information is here. Leave a Comment
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TASCAM Announces Celesonic US-20×20 TASCAM’s new Celesonic US-20×20 packs 20 channels of USB 3.0/2.0 connectivity analog and digital I/O into a single rack space. Eight Ultra-HDDA microphone preamps provide 56dB of gain and high headroom and up to ten channels of digital I/O are included on ADAT and S/PDIF connectors, with word clock also provided for use with external clocks like TASCAM’s CG-1000. MIDI I/O allows use with controllers and synthesizers, and sample rates up to 192kHz/24-bit are supported. A built-in DSP mixer includes parametric EQ and compression on every channel and a stereo reverb send for great-sounding monitor mixes. The DSP mixer can also be used as a live mixer or submixer with computer control. The US-20×20 has three modes: audio interface, digital mixer, and 8-channel digital mic preamp.
- Features of the $499 Celesonic US-20×20 include:20-in / 20-out USB Audio Interface
- Eight Ultra-HDDA Microphone preamps with 56dB of gain and high headroom
- USB 3.0 or 2.0 connection to computer (USB 3.0 requires Windows 10 operating system)
- Supports up to 192kHz / 24-bit audio (at reduced channel count)
- ADAT optical multichannel digital input and output supports S-MUX (8 ch @ 48k, 4 ch @ 96k, 2 ch @ 192kHz)
- Stereo S/PDIF digital in and out
- Word clock in and out
- Two headphone outputs with 70mW/ch output power
- MIDI input and output
- Class-compliant driver supports iOS connection over USB 2.0
- Includes both angled bio-cell side panels and rack ears
- Built-in DSP mixer with parametric EQ and compression per channel, stereo reverb on send/return
- Dedicated power supply included
- Three operation modes: audio interface/ mic pre/ mixer
The specifics are here. Leave a Comment
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Extron Now Shipping SM 28T Two-Way Surface Mount Speaker Extron is shipping the SM 28T SpeedMount Surface Mount Speaker, a two-way speaker with a patent pending, concealed wall mounting system. It features an 8″ (20.3 cm) woofer with dual tuned ports that extends low frequency response down to 59 Hz, and a 1.1″ (2.8 cm) silk dome tweeter that reaches up to 22 kHz without the brittle sound associated with metallic domes. This speaker has an 8 ohm direct power rating of 90 watts continuous pink noise, and 180 watts continuous program capacity. It includes a six-position power tap selector, accessible through the grille, for 70 volt and 100 volt modes up to 64 watts. The SM 28T delivers accurate voice and detailed music reproduction on and off-axis through a unique baffle placement and crossover design that ensures smooth and even power response. The Extron exclusive mounting system is designed to accommodate division-of-labor installations and save costs. The SM 28T is designed for classrooms, conference rooms, exercise facilities, retail spaces, auditoriums, spaces with raised or exposed ceilings, and other environments where high performance surface mount speakers are desired.
To meet a variety of installation needs, the flexible mounting system includes a 0° mounting plate and a 10° mounting adapter. The 0° mounting plate provides the electrical connections and allows the SM 28T to be oriented vertically or horizontally, flush with the wall. When the versatile 10° mounting adapter is added to the mounting plate, the SM 28T can be positioned with a 10° tilt downward, upward, left, or right.
The SM 28T saves time and installation costs for AV system contractors working with low-voltage contractors in a division-of-labor installation. During rough-in, a low-voltage contractor installs the mounting system on the wall and terminates the speaker cable to the mount’s integrated wiring contacts. Later, the AV system contractor completes the installation by sliding the SM 28T onto the mount.
The SM 28T is sold in pairs and carries a 5 year parts and labor warranty. It is available in a black or white finish and includes a 0° mounting plate and a 10° mounting adapter. Also available is an optional yoke mount kit for the SM 28T. It allows for vertical or horizontal speaker mounting on a wall, or on a ceiling, and provides 180° of pivot in 10° detented steps.
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Sennheiser’s New EK 6042 Two-Channel Camera Receiver Works With Both Analog and Digital TransmittersSennheiser just unveiled a new slot-in camera receiver that redefines compatibility: the EK 6042 is a true-diversity, two-channel receiver that can work with both analog and digital Sennheiser transmitters across a bandwidth of 184 MHz. Designed for Sennheiser’s Digital 9000 series, it and can operate with all analog transmitters that feature Sennheiser’s HiDyn plus or HDX companders. The receiver will become available in spring 2016.
The camera receiver chooses its own operating mode depending on the transmitter, and also selects the appropriate bandwidth and frequency in the UHF range between 470 and 654 MHz. As a true diversity receiver with four separate receiver circuits, the EK 6042 is extra-reliable, even in difficult RF environments.
The EK 6042 can be combined with either a 15-pin adapter to slot directly into Sony cameras, or a 25-pin adapter for Unislot- and SuperSlot-compatible devices.
For camcorders without an audio receiver slot, a special backpanel adapter for the EK 6042 is available as an accessory. If the camera does not supply power to the receiver, a “piggyback” power adapter can be attached to this housing and fitted with two hot-swappable BA 61 battery packs.
The EK 6042 camera receiver will become available in spring 2016. Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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Clear-Com Debuts 2.4GHz FreeSpeak II Wireless IntercomClear-Com’s newest FreeSpeak II roaming wireless solution debuted last week. This is not a replacement of the 1.92 GHz system as the FreeSpeak II 1.9GHz system is designed to be used in countries where the 1.9GHz band is prohibited. The FreeSpeak II 2.4GHz offers identical capabilities as the 1.9GHz, and can operate as a standalone or an integrated wireless intercom solution with Clear-Com’s Eclipse HX matrix system.
Although the FreeSpeak II 2.4GHz version uses a separate yet similar set of beltpacks and transceiver antennas compared to the 1.9GHz version, the same base station or integrated matrix solution can co-operate with a mix of 1.9GHz and 2.4GHz beltpacks and antennas; thus increasing both the quantity of wireless users and cell roaming area.
When using the base station, up to 20 full-duplex wireless beltpacks using either or both 1.9GHz and 2.4GHz bands can be connected. In an integrated Eclipse HX matrix setup, as many as 50 1.9GHz and 40 2.4GHz (or 25 1.9GHz in North America plus 40 2.4GHz) full-duplex wireless beltpacks can be used at the same time by strategically placing up to 20 or more distributed remote antennas to create an expansive roaming coverage zone. These beltpack users are then able to directly communicate with any other remote or local matrix panel or other wireless or wired beltpack user who is on the Eclipse HX Matrix System network.
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Almo Pro A/V Expands Content Creation Service OfferingThis week Almo Professional A/V expanded its exclusive Content Creation Services to include a new option, thereby deepening the range of revenue-generating content creation choices for partners looking to add this service into their digital signage mix. Almo will give resellers and integrators the opportunity to try out the new ”Almo Content Creator” option during a series of “E4 Experience” hands-on workshops taking place on the fall E4 Tour in Houston on September 11 and New York on October 8.
“Truth is, most AV resellers and integrators selling digital signage have no problem specifying or installing hardware or software but struggle when it comes to content,” said Brian Rhatigan, director of business development for Almo Professional A/V. “We took that feedback a year ago and created a model that allows our partners to sell various content platforms as part of a complete digital signage system. At the same time, offering content creation enables our partners to stay in front of customers on a regular basis and provides the foundation for an ongoing revenue stream for years after a system is installed.”
According to Rhatigan, the new Almo Content Creator option is ideal for small businesses that don’t have a large budget but require content that’s more attractive than a standard PowerPoint. Resellers and integrators will have a firsthand opportunity to create content using this option and publish it via a network-connected BrightSign player during an E4 Experience workshop this fall.
Almo Content Creation Services include:
- Option #1: Almo Content Creator. An easy, self-serve online system that allows any user to create their own digital signage content. The online system offers two methods to create content: “Do it For Me” or “Do it Myself.” The first asks a few basic questions and automatically creates eight ads. Users simply pick one then make adjustments to fit their vision. The second method offers templates, thousands of pictures and easy-to-use tools. Logos and photos can also be uploaded to make professional videos and advertisements. Partners pay only for the content rendered and there’s no charge to experiment with the system.
- Option #2: Almo On-Demand Custom Portal. An inexpensive content management system (CMS) web application that makes it easy for anyone to make basic changes to their signs anywhere and at any time. Almo creates custom sign(s) with customer branding that live in the cloud. Users can update those sign(s) such as price changes, line items or promotions and the digital signage is updated in minutes.
- Option #3: Almo Content Creation Services. Leverages years of experience in design and deployment of digital signage projects across the globe. Almo creates custom content from a very basic menu board or directory to very complex signage built on high resolution video walls and/or touch screens, regardless of whether it’s indoors, outdoors, large or small, a single location or a national rollout.
About the E4 AV Tour
Now in its sixth year, the E4 AV Tour has traveled to cities around the country to provide product, technical and business training needs to thousands of resellers and installers while creating the ideal forum for professional networking. Named the best Training, Consulting/Business Service two years in a row, the E4 program fuels up AV professionals by offering a full day of educational sessions worth InfoComm Renewal Units as well as exclusive access to the newest high energy AV products and services. For more information about E4 Houston and E4 New York, go here. Leave a Comment
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BOGO Alert: VDO360 Gives Away Plantronics Calisto Speakerphone With Every Beacon VPTZH-03 Camera
In case you missed it at InfoComm, VDO360 debuted its new VPTZH-03 (aka The Beacon) — a USB 2.0 camera that’s part of their Compass series. And, now, they’re giving away a Plantronics Calisto Speakerphone with every Beacon they sell!
The Beacon is the best USB 2.0 PTZ camera on the market with a focus range/depth of field: f4.9-49mm/60cm-infinity and an optical distortion spec of only 1.2% -+0.8%. Adding PTZ cameras to AV systems used to be time-consuming and expensive. But, not any more – especially with the VPTZH-03. Allowing for HD over USB at 1080p (30fps), the VDO360 HDPTZ-03 includes preset camera positions, dual-IR receiver control, a fiend-of-view of Diagonal 66.6-7.2, Horizontal 53.2-5.3, Vertical 39.8-4.2 and has the smoothest movement in the ProAV market.
Some AV-room specific features include:
- Seven presets on handheld the remote or via desktop control (or can be pre-programmed)
- Dual IR receivers:
- One in the base and one in the lens assembly for a wide range of control positions
- IR controls include a “Video Mute”
- Accu Pan and Tilt:
- Slow movement when you need it for fine tuning of camera position
- Rapid motion when you move a wide range
- It uses a belt drive for smooth pan and tilt — not the “jerkiness” you are familiar with from most USB-based PTZ cameras out there
The VDO360 VPTZH-03 Beacon lists for $899. The giveaway will extend through October 30th. More information about the Beacon is here. Leave a Comment
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Need an HDMI 2.0 Test Tool?Over the past few years, UHD TVs have been a mix of HDCP 2.2 and 1.4, 300MHz and 600MHz — even to the point of varying by port. AVPro has developed a new test tool, the Murideo Fresco SIX-G, for the AV integration market to confirm HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 compliance at the 18 GBP/sec level.
A partial list of features includes:
- HDMI 2.0 — 600 MHz — 2160P60 4:4:4 maximum resolution
- Video Bandwidth — 18 GBP/sec.
- HDCP Selectable — 2.2, 1.4, None — Confirms if the system will work or not
- Hot Plug Detect & HDCP lights
- Portable/Battery Operated
- Over 100 patterns for setup, calibration and troubleshooting
- ISF Certified — includes ISF Test Patterns like PLUGE, Chroma Multiburst, Color Girls & more.
- EDID Read/Write Functionality
- Audio Confidence Tests
- Optimized Ergonomics — 3” Color OLED Display, Simplified Menus CalMan Supported
- 48 Bit per Pixel Color Depth Available
- USB Control & PC Software for navigation enhancement.
The SIX-G takes the guess work out of installation, troubleshooting and calibrating, delivering absolute information about HDMI components that will work and ID ones that won’t work — all in a hand-held, portable field tool — at a price for field service.
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Comprehensive Debuts Tiny, Snagless MicroFlex Cat6 CablesComprehensive Connectivity is shipping a new cable product it’s calling MicroFlex — it’s literally a line of “snagless” patch cables that are 40 percent smaller than standard Cat6 cables. The MicroFlex Pro AV/IT CAT6 Snagless Patch Cables [MCAT6-XX PROBLK, MCAT6-XX PROBLU and MCAT6-XX PROGRY] are built using a 30 gauge twisted pair construction technique that results in up to a 40 percent reduction in outer diameter compared to standard Cat6 cables while, according to Comprehensive, providing full Cat6 bandwidth of up to 550 Mhz.
These MicroFlex Pro AV/IT CAT6 Snagless Patch Cables are designed for SMB applications as well as government, military, information technology and more. Available in three colors (gray, blue and black), it’s easy to specify signal routing for different types of signals and use their color-coding (i.e., video, audio and control each would have their own dedicated color). SureLength markers also indicate the cables length right on the cable itself making staging for installations quick and easy. All the cables have RJ45 connections and meet Category 6 568B 2.1 Draft 9 TIA/EIA standards. They are UL-rated, RoHS-compliant and include a lifetime warranty.
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Chief Adds Da-Lite’s ViewShare Fusion to Mounts Chief is adding Da-Lite’s ViewShare technology to Fusion display mounts. The new ViewShare Fusion kits include all the video conferencing accessories needed to create a bring-your-own-device video conferencing room.
ViewShare technology fills the gap between high-end video conferencing systems and personal smart devices. The solution helps meet the increased need for face-to-face meetings in today’s remote working environment.
ViewShare kits feature:
- A Fusion mountable accessory to position the integrated Logitech C930e Webcam above, below or between displays
- A Jabra SPEAK 410 MS USB speakerphone
- A Belkin powered USB hub
- Easy USB 2.0 connectivity (USB 3.0 ready)
- Components that are Skype for Business Certified, and optimized for Lync and Skype
- Fast and easy setup
The accessory works with all the new Fusion fixed and tilt mounts as well as Fusion carts and stands. An extra-large version is available for bigger displays. The extender version includes a USB to Cat5 extender with power supply for installations requiring more cable reach. Da-Lite’s ViewShare solutions can also be used for larger rooms.
For a full listing of equipment and system requirements, go here. Leave a Comment
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Peerless-AV Intros SmartMount Carts and Mounts for Interactive Displays in Education Aimed at educational installs, Peerless-AV’s new SmartMount solutions offer what they are saying are rugged and aesthetically pleasing designs to support interactive touch panels. Tested to the highest safety standards, the new mounts and carts bring education technology into the modern era, replacing traditional chalkboard and dry-erase boards with an allergen-reducing, safe, clean, and advanced solution.
The new IWB680-W (Over the Chalkboard Mount) is designed to easily mount a touch panel over an existing chalkboard. With the ability to retrofit existing classrooms without having to dispose of old chalkboards and whiteboards, the IBWB680-W minimizes waste, while offering a quick installation and lower overall costs.
Peerless-AV’s new SmartMount Carts also provide cost savings, serving as a mobile solution that can be used in numerous locations in place of purchasing multiple displays for multiple classrooms. In addition, Peerless-AV say the new carts have been extensively tested, ensuring the safety of products enable mobility without the fear of tipping or structural failure, which is particularly important when in use by children.
The new SR542-KAPP Cart has been designed to complement the SMART kapp, a simple, modern replacement to dry-erase boards and flip charts, which allows users to save and share notes as they unfold, all using a regular dry-erase marker.
The SR542-KAPP also offers height adjustment, tilt, and internal cable management, complemented by an attractive finish to make this cart stand out from the rest. The cart provides a robust and sturdy solution ideal for sharing information in any educational setting.
The SR580 and SR598 SmartMount Carts hold interactive panels up to 80″ and up to 98″, respectively. Ideal for extra-large touch displays, these heavy-duty carts offer mobility, appealing design, display height adjustment, and a pre-assembled base to ensure quick assembly, while providing a ridged, but attractive, structure that fits into any décor. The 4″ castors make them easy to move from room to room and the UL certification ensures that it can be done with safety in mind.
In late 2015, Peerless-AV will continue to add to the SmartMount line by introducing two more mounts for large and extra-large displays. The line can be found here. Leave a Comment
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Premier Ships Ceiling Pipe Adapter for SymmetryThe Premier SYM-PA Pipe Adapter allows you to suspend displays from the ceiling, for single-side or back-to-back displays, and works with the SYM-PAC Pipe Adapter Cover to deliver an appealing aesthetic for ceiling applications.
The Symmetry Series line is a configurable solution that reduces installation time by over 40% compared to single display mounting solutions. It is designed for single and multi-site deployments where a repeatable installation is important, and offers these benefits including:
- Easy-to-install, two component design using an interface bar and a set of display brackets
- 6-point (x,y,z) precise adjustment features for easy display alignment
- Built-in service kickstand for 9° of access
- Versatile for wall, stand & ceiling installations
- One system that can be configured to fit a wide variety of digital signage needs, including video walls, digital menu boards, and transportation
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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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