Volume 14, Issue 18 — September 21, 2017
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Industry News Audio TVs Projection Lighting Control & Signal Processing Cables, Furniture, Mounts, Racks, Screens and Accessories
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Dealing With RFQs
By Lee Distad rAVe Columnist
Anybody who sells into commercial, industrial or institutional channels has to deal with Requests For Quotes. A request for quotation (abbreviated as RFQ) is how large organizations invite vendors to bid on systems, services or individual products.
For AV pros, quotations on systems and services are the most common. Additionally, what’s asked for the in RFQ typically goes beyond price or specifications, and can include derivate metrics such as change order policies, payment terms and other considerations. And typically, when an RFQ is put out, suppliers have a specified deadline within which to submit their quotes in order to be considered.
On the surface, RFQs are a straightforward concept. However, in the real world, there are always factors that complicate and confound the process.
Right off the bat, the RFQ is dependent upon the people at the organization who’ve written out the RFQ, and their understanding of what they require.
Human nature being what it is, that understanding can vary widely. Even among industrial clients who have a strong technical background there can be a gulf between what the client thinks he wants, and what he actually needs for the application he’s seeking a solution for.
In a more open, less regimented interaction between vendor and prospect, there’s a needs-assessment: you, the vendor, asking specific questions and asking still more questions based on the answers received, in order to flesh out a more clear picture of what an appropriate solution looks like.
The challenge here is that the RFQ process, by its nature, hamstrings the vendor’s ability to conduct a needs-assessment. There’s the potential to quote out on something that’s wildly inappropriate for the prospective buyer.
It certainly doesn’t help that sometimes prospects issue an RFQ when what they really ought to have issues was a Request for Tender (RFT) or Request for Information (RFI).
Just a brief digression is in order here. A Request For Tender differs from an RFQ in that vendors are submitting a proposal for products or services as specified by the prospect, but the negotiations over cost will occur at a later time. It’s often the case with government procurement that RFTs are mandated by law in order to avoid the perception of favoritism or conflict of interest.
Requests For Information (RFI) are entirely different from RFQ or RFP. In this case, the purpose of releasing an RFI is to collect information on what the vendor is capable of offering.
This information is gathered by the people in charge of procurement for a few reasons. In some cases it will be considered future reference, when issuing RFQs. In others, it’s a more open-ended process, seeking insight from vendors about what possible applications might be in the prospect’s interests. You can think of it as the prospect conducting their own needs-assessment, and asking vendors for their support with the process.
Getting back on track here, relating back to what I said about the RFQ process lacking proper needs assessment, the most common complaint vendors have about RFQ is that putting a quote together can be time consuming, require not only technical and sales skills, but also require a crystal ball, as you try to guess what the prospect is actually fishing for.
To add insult to injury, that time and effort to assemble a quote isn’t guaranteed to pay off. Whether an RFQ leads to further discussion between vendor and prospect, or the prospect simply receives competing quotes and puts up a wall with no further communication depends entirely on the prospect organization’s prevailing ethos.
Trying to open up discussion with procurement manages for whom radio silence is Standard Operating Procedure is a particular exercise in frustration.
Further, it’s not at all uncommon for the RFQ process to be more or less a charade: an incumbent supplier has the business locked down, but internal rules require the procurement managers to float out an RFQ to interested vendors purely to maintain the appearance of fair play.
In instances like that, the temptation is there to respond to an RFQ with a ludicrous low-ball quotation. The sentiment there is, “I’m not going to win this business, but they’re going to go back to their favored vendor and grind them down for a better deal that erodes my competitor’s margins.”
Is it petty? Absolutely. Does it happen? Definitely.
Yet as much as RFQs are a lot of effort for uncertain return, you’ve got a zero percent chance of winning the business if you don’t participate.
In the next installment I’ll segue from complaining about RFQs to offering solutions to improve your chances of winning the bid. Leave a Comment
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Crestron Exiting CEDIA Was GENIUS
By Gary Kayye rAVe Founder
It appears that Crestron can, in fact, predict the future. The 2017 CEDIA Expo is shaping up to be a very good show. We have a team of five people out in San Diego right now covering it live and you can follow our coverage here.
The show floor is beautiful and we’ll spend the morning, right before the floor opens today, going around shooting booth photos and tweeting new gear. You can see the photos — when they are posted here — or on our Facebook Page. And, you should, if you aren’t already, follow our live coverage on Twitter here.
But, Crestron is breathing a huge sigh of relief this morning for not exhibiting. Why? The show is a giant race to the bottom!
Now, I don’t really mean that in a bad way — it’s a show full of app-based control systems, a plethora of entry-level product announcements — in fact, the top-two HomeAV projector manufacturers in the world, Epson and Sony, both decided their big launches for CEDIA 2017 would be “entry-level” and “cost-effective” 4K and/or laser projectors. Nothing high-end at all. The new 4K Blu Ray players? Yep, you guessed it, all “value-priced.”
Heck, even the big, high-end audio companies are all promoting control and distribution via Amazon Alexa! Huh?
Look, CEDIA is evolving… The show is EXACTLY what it should be. Truth is, everyone’s kind of a DYI and companies like Amazon and Google (e.g., Home and Nest) are driving the trend. Not Control4, not Crestron, not Savant, not NameAnyControlSystemCompanyHere. So, the show — the Expo — is doing it all right!
But, the association better beware. They are two different things now. They don’t own the show – they sold it to Emerald Expositions earlier this year – just a few months before the mysterious disappearance of their CEO; still no explanation of that one.
Look, CEDIA, the association, is not hurting for money. In addition to getting a pile of cash for selling the show, they also get a ton (nearly 50 percent) of the profit from the ISE (Integrated Systems Europe) show each year — even though they contribute only about 16 percent of the total exhibitors. It’s a jack-pot payoff money-tree for CEDIA.
So, don’t cry for them as far as money goes — they will survive and thrive as they have tons of money to burn through. And, it would take them a dozen or so years of no income at all for them to lose out. So, nope. CEDIA will survive.
But, they need to evolve. They need to figure this out. Their show is going to become the stepdaughter of CES, the wanna-be CES for slightly higher-end products. But, they don’t have to be. As the lower-end (or as the manufacturers like to call it — the entry level) of the market explodes, the high-end grows, too. Not everyone is happy streaming everything via an AppleTV or Roku. Even if only 1 percent of the AppleTV owners (the SMALLEST of the streaming box companies behind Roku, Amazon FireTV and Chromecast) bought a high-end projector, that would grow the sales of 4K projectors tenfold. So, there’s plenty of high-end to go around.
So, let’s hope the new, incoming CEDIA Board — you can vote NOW — takes the time to plan a strategy. Give up on Crestron as, if they race to the bottom, they’re headed for doom and gloom. But, they will certainly support the high-end efforts an amazing training and certification program that end-users could believe in.
Anyone can call themselves a CI for the CEDIA channel. It didn’t used to be this way. And, Apple, Amazon, Google, Facebook, etc. will keep dumbing-down the process of home automation, entertainment and streaming. But, if I were you, I’d pay attention to what Origin Acoustics’ founder Jeremy Burkhardt’s doing — he’s a freaking genius. While nearly everyone else at CEDIA is bragging about their low-end home AV gear, he’s announcing partnerships with Bang & Olufsen and wooden $15,000 LCR speaker set. #AWESOME.
Maybe Jeremy should be the next CEDIA CEO? Heck F*@%ing yea! Leave a Comment
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InfoComm International Changes Name to AVIXAIn a surprise announcement today, InfoComm International (the organization) changed its name to the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association (AVIXA). For now, InfoComm the trade show will keep its name (both the trade show in the U.S. every June, as well as the international versions such as InfoComm China). They will just be operated by AVIXA instead of InfoComm International.
In the past year, we’ve heard — well, the organization formerly known as InfoComm International talk a lot about the technology experience, or integrated experience, which we’ve heard at shows and in marketing materials. It turns out this was laying the groundwork for a complete rebrand of the organization.
The rebrand evolved out of the strategic plan that the InfoComm board and executive team has been working on for the past two years. At a press event today, David Labuskes, executive and CEO of InfoComm International/AVIXA, said the team did not come to the decision to rebrand lightly. He said, “You shouldn’t change your name. If you can do anything else, you shouldn’t change your name… But [after much thought and discussion], none of the other options worked or were authentic.” He also said, “It’s about the survival of our current members. We evolve or we die.”
AVIXA wants to expand its membership, and based on what we heard today, much of this growth will be through end users, with the goal of enticing content creators and so-called experience directors to the organization. An example of an “experience director” might be someone at a Fortune 500 company who decides what level of collaboration technology she wants her team to use, or an advertising executive who utilizes creative technology in campaigns. AVIXA says it will be changing, or expanding, its membership structure as well, which will include individual memberships that in some cases will have no charge.
AVIXA also said it decided to announce the change now, rather than at the InfoComm show in June, because they didn’t want the announcement to overshadow or in any way take away from the announcements the exhibitors were themselves making.
There will be much more information to come on this big change in the days and weeks to come. Please leave your thoughts in the comments — we want to know what you think. The full statement from AVIXA is below.
InfoComm International has changed its name to the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association (AVIXA). The change reflects AVIXA’s broadening mission to be an industry hub, while also acting as a catalyst for market growth beyond what has been considered traditionally as professional AV.
AVIXA’s trade shows worldwide, including the North America show, June 2-8 in Las Vegas, will continue to operate under the InfoComm name.
“This is an exciting time for our industry and for the advancement of audiovisual solutions across a wide range of customer experiences,” said David Labuskes, CTS, CAE, RCDD, Executive Director and CEO of AVIXA. “Thanks to the innovative, creative efforts of so many members, partners, and their customers, we have collectively grown far beyond what InfoComm International could do to promote AV around the world. AV experiences have become so ubiquitous, and they’ve come to include so many more technologies, and touch so many more personal and professional lives, that we felt compelled to embrace a new identity that more accurately reflects this industry’s excitement and welcomes a far more diverse community of professionals.”
In recent years, AVIXA’s members have evolved to offer much more than audiovisual products and systems. Their innovation and attention to customer requirements has led to an industry of solution providers that use audiovisual technology to create outcomes. AVIXA membership has grown to include experiential designers, content creators, IT companies, and users of AV solutions across a growing cross section of markets. AVIXA’s 2017 InfoComm show in Orlando last June attracted a greater share of AV customers than in any other year.
By adopting the name AVIXA, the industry association, which operates as a trade organization representing companies and a professional society representing individuals, aims to reflect both what its members do (AV) and what they create for customers, which are integrated experiences (IX).
“The AVIXA Board of Directors has set out an ambitious plan to grow the association, increase awareness of AV experiences, and reinvent our brand in order to propel this industry into the future,” said Gary Hall, CTS-D, CTS-I, President of the AVIXA Board, and Federal Strategy, Planning and Operations Leader at Cisco Systems. “With new and different people and technologies coming into this space, we are thrilled that AVIXA will be home to all of them.”
AVIXA was founded in 1939 as the National Association of Visual Education Dealers. In 1949, NAVED merged with the Allied Non-Theatrical Film Association to form the National Audio-Visual Association. NAVA changed its name to the International Communications Industries Association in 1983, which became InfoComm International in 2005.
“Organizations evolve,” said Labuskes. “AVIXA’s core programs remains the same—training, certification, standards, community, market intelligence, tradeshows—but the industry has changed in exciting ways, and the opportunity to grow the market for audiovisual experience is so vast, it was important that the AV industry’s leading association change with it.”
AVIXA is here. Leave a Comment
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CEDIA Recognizes Outstanding Contributions of Volunteers CEDIA has announced the 2017 volunteers of the year, each of whom has contributed significant time and lent their expertise to help develop and refine CEDIA programs and offerings. Every year, CEDIA recognizes three members: a new volunteer, a training volunteer, and an overall volunteer.
Guy Singleton – Volunteer of the Year: The Cinema Designer
Guy has been a CEDIA volunteer for the past 15 years, and has selflessly dedicated hundreds of volunteer hours to CEDIA. Guy has been an instructor at ISE, the CEDIA show and various other CEDIA training events worldwide. As an ISF instructor (for EMEA) and both THX and HAA certified, he has been instrumental in pushing the boundaries of state-of-the-art screen room designs for the next evolution of both picture and sound, including working on new home cinema best practices. In addition to his training roles, Guy has served as a US and Global Awards judge, he’s worked on various committees and he played a key role in the IET Standards working group.
Owen Maddock – New Volunteer of the Year: ConnectedWorks
Owen has been a CEDIA member since July 2015 and from day one, has immersed himself into the CEDIA community and has become a proactive and positive ambassador for the association. Owen has been the main author for the upcoming continuing professional development (CPD) course on home cinema, demonstrating his passion and commitment to educating design professionals, and creating exciting new content for the industry. Due to his involvement with the CPD working group, volunteering on new member webinars, and talking at design events, Owen has the ability to articulate the importance of being a CEDIA member and more importantly, how members can best utilize the benefits. Owen does a brilliant job of using his own personal experience as valuable evidence of what you can achieve as a CEDIA member.
Larry Heuvelman – Training Volunteer of the Year: TheOwnerConsultant
Larry has been an active volunteer, member, and supporter of CEDIA for close to ten years, lending his more than 35 years of business and ownership experience. Larry was a significant education contributor to the business course selection process for CEDIA 2017 as he volunteered his time to serve on our Business Working Group. He is always willing to provide valuable industry insight for CEDIA and its members by being an active participant within the CEDIA community. For these reasons and many more, no one is more deserving of this award this year.
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Bang & Olufsen and Origin Acoustics Design New Terrestrial Line Array Speakers for Outdoors Origin Acoustics just announced its latest collaborative effort with Bang & Olufsen. The Terrestrial Line Array is a modular speaker system that was created for outdoor applications as part of a landscape audio system.
Made up of a base unit that includes two modules, and can be expanded vertically to as many as six modules, the system can be assembled to meet the precise needs of the installation. The modules are constructed from aluminum and are almost cube shaped with the backside being only slightly smaller than the front. Each cube houses a single 5-inch, full range driver with a VariBlade Lens placed directly in front of the cone to increase high-frequency dispersion. A 70v transformer is also housed in the base unit.
The array can be mounted on a spike driven into the ground, attached to a flat surface with the optional wall-mount or hung from above (under eaves or soffits) with the optional ceiling mount.
Origin engineers have been looking for an opportunity to integrate line array technology into their offering for quite some time, but in an interior installation the benefits are minimal. One of the most impressive advantages of a line array design is its ability to mitigate the SPL fall-off over distance. In simple terms this means the speakers can be placed further from the listening area and still provide the required sound levels. Inside a home this is unnecessary. However, outdoors this effect is very desirable. Imagine speakers placed in the far corners of the backyard that project across the landscape and still provide quality sound on the deck or pool area. Of course, with every Bang & Olufsen product there is a tremendous focus on aesthetics and design. This system is a work of art that not only happens to do an amazing job of sound reproduction, but also makes a beautiful sculpture in any outdoor system designs.
The Terrestrial line array will be shipping in Q1 of 2018. Pricing TBA. Here are the details we know. Leave a Comment
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Genelec Unveils Flagship 7380 Smart Active Subwoofer Genelec just introduced the 7380 Smart Active Subwoofer, which delivers both high SPL and an extended low-distortion LF response in an impressively compact enclosure.
The new flagship of the Smart Active Monitoring subwoofer range, the 7380 can be simply and seamlessly integrated into any monitoring system – from stereo to multi-channel, as well as part of a large-scale 3D Immersive setup. Equipped with a Class-D amplifier section plus all the benefits of Smart Active Monitoring technology, the 7380 partners with Genelec’s “The Ones” series of coaxial three-way monitors, particularly in the creation of Immersive systems for those working with Dolby Atmos, Auro-3D and DTS:X formats.
Standing 26.97″ (685mm) in height with a width of 28.27″ (718mm) and depth of 19.37″ (492mm), the 7380 features an 800W Class-D amplifier driving a custom 15-inch long-throw woofer that, combined with Genelec’s acclaimed LSE spiral enclosure, produces a maximum SPL of 119 dB (123 dB peak) plus precise low-frequency response down to 16 Hz.
The incorporation of Genelec’s acclaimed Smart Active Monitoring technology puts the 7380 at the heart of a larger family of smart monitors and subwoofers from across the Genelec range. With GLM software for PC or Mac, up to 40 Smart Active Monitors and subwoofers can be networked with instantly recallable system configurations and advanced auto-calibration features including level, time-of-flight and phase adjustments. GLM users benefit from extensive room compensation features including an adjustable crossover frequency and 20 parametric notch filters, ensuring that the 7380 can be optimized to achieve the best possible performance even in challenging acoustic environments. Crucially, GLM also supports both centralized and distributed bass management modes, depending on the type of monitors being used.
However, the 7380 is just as effective in a non-Smart Active Monitoring environment. A full complement of DIP switches can be easily accessed on the front panel, facilitating a full-featured standalone mode, including advanced calibration for hybrid systems in which traditional main monitors are used. In standalone mode, the crossover frequency is fixed at 85Hz. Finally, for those working with multi-channel audio, the 7380 offers 7.1 channel XLR analog inputs and outputs, while an AES/EBU digital connection can be used either for stereo operation or for full 7.1 digital with the addition of Genelec’s optional 9301 Digital Interface.
Here are all the details. Leave a Comment
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The DaVinci Group Launches In-Wall SubwooferThe DaVinci Group, Inc. (TDG) will launch the Piston10 in-wall/in-ceiling subwoofer, a new-concept architectural subwoofer with an ultra long-excursion driver designed to offer deeper, more controlled bass and at the same time bring a new, fun visual element. TDG says the Piston10 is the first design that in effect turns the client’s wall or ceiling into an infinite speaker baffle and their in-wall cavity into a large-volume cabinet helping to properly load the driver to produce deeper, richer in-wall bass than previously thought possible.
Integrators will find the Piston10 easy to mount using the very familiar four standard mounting dogs. Made out of a space-age, glass-infused, white polymer material, the Piston10 reverse inverted woofer looks attractive out of the box, but it is fully paintable in order to blend into a room.
The Piston10 will work fine with any professional amplifier, although TDG of course strongly recommends the Vanguard Dynamics SDA-200 Amplifier.
Piston10 Provisional specifications:
- High Power 10-inch Reverse Inverted Subwoofer Made of Glass-Infused Polymer Material
- Unique Dual-Diaphragm Design
- Recommended Power: 200 watts @ 4Ω
- Lifetime warranty
- Availability: TBD
- $500 list
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Control4 Launches Triad Multi-Room Audio Line and Expanded Music Service Integrations with iHeartRadio and SpotifyControl4 Corporation today announces the immediate availability of an extensive Triad-branded line of high-resolution audio products. The new line includes the Triad AMS-24 and AMS-8 Audio Matrix Switches, Triad 8-Zone Power Amplifier, and Triad One Streaming Amplifier. Control4 has also added two music services with native integration into Control4 EA Controllers including iHeartRadio and Spotify. Over 65 percent of Control4 homeowners enjoy multi-room audio, affirming entertainment as a fundamental feature of a Control4 Smart Home. To enhance the audio experience for customers, in January 2016, Control4 introduced its EA Series controllers featuring high-resolution audio. Furthering its commitment to high-quality audio, in February 2017, the company acquired Triad Speakers, Inc., a leader in advanced speaker technology with best-in-class, custom speaker solutions.
Recognizing that dealers need audio solutions for large and small projects that deliver multi-room optimization and clean sound, Control4 rolls out two new high-resolution audio matrix switches that enable homeowners to enjoy music from 8 to 96 separate zones anywhere in the home. The Triad Audio Matrix Switches distribute audio sources throughout the home so that homeowners can listen to any source in any room, in stunning, ultra-clear, high-resolution. Equipped with digital coaxial, optical, and analog inputs to connect a broad range of source devices, the new audio matrix switches deliver an astounding -105 dB signal-to-noise ratio to maintain sound quality throughout the home. Each audio output can be adjusted with independent gain, bass, treble, 10-band parametric equalizer, balance, loudness, and mono-summing controls for precise audio customization in each room or audio zone. The ultra-compact design conserves precious rack space utilizing only 1RU and 2RU for the AMS-8 and AMS-24, respectively.
The new Triad Audio Matrix Switches can be paired with the new Triad 8-Zone Power Amplifier (AMP-8) to deliver flexible and scalable audio amplification for installations of any size. The Triad AMP-8 delivers eight zones of high-resolution amplification with an extraordinary -109 dB signal-to-noise ratio and 0.003 percent total harmonic distortion for exceptional audio throughout the entire home. The AMP-8 is designed to centralize audio amplification, hiding away clutter and electronics while delivering exceptional high-resolution sound for the entire home. The compact design is built around proven, powerful and reliable ICEpower technology delivering 100 watts per channel from eight zones and only 1RU of rack space. When extra power is needed, AMP-8 is bridgeable to 200 watts per channel. Superior audio quality and fast wake-from-standby make this amplifier ideal for audio in any home.
Triad One is a single-zone, high-resolution, wired and wireless streaming amplifier. It is slim and powerful and the most flexible way to put music in any room of a home. Simply plug in power and connect to a wired or wireless network, connect it to the Control4 system, and the Triad One can play music, from local files or streaming music services, without the need to pull speaker wire back to a central location. Triad One boasts 100 watts of power per channel with an impressive -107 dB signal-to-noise level and support for high-resolution audio playback up to 192kHz/24bit, for incredible sound in any room. Also included is a built-in 10-band parametric equalizer delivering exceptional sound output and room optimization.
Equipped with digital and analog audio inputs, the Triad One distributes and synchronizes local audio sources, such as television audio, turntable or media players, over the IP network throughout a larger audio system. Triad One is a great solution to power speakers and soundbars in a bedroom, kitchen or other location and includes IR outputs to control TVs and other local devices. A line-level subwoofer output rounds out the Triad One for deep bass when connected to a powered subwoofer. Triad One is available in white and black and can be installed horizontally or vertically on either a bookshelf, mounted behind a TV, or in the rack.
Control4’s new Triad audio solutions are shipping today worldwide and are priced as follows: Triad AMS-24 ($2,400 U.S. list) and Triad AMS-8 ($1,200 U.S. list) Audio Matrix Switches; Triad 8-Zone Power Amplifier ($1,700 U.S. list); Triad One Streaming Amplifier ($700 U.S. list). Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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New FIBARO Smart Plug Monitors Energy Usage and Connects DevicesFIBARO is introducing a smart power adapter called Wall Plug to the U.S. market at CEDIA EXPO 2017. With spots for a regular powered device and USB, users can plug essentially any kind of device into the adapter and monitor power levels and energy usage. Plus, it gives any dumb device the ability to be controlled by popular Z-Wave smart home hubs, including Fibaro’s Home Center 2 and HCL.
Basically a smart outlet adapter, Wall Plug monitors power consumption at the plug and USB port independently. The color ring provides a visual cue of the device’s current power load and when connected to Fibaro’s Home Center Lite or Home Center 2, allows users to set a maximum power limit for each connected device. If the device gets too warm or power consumption goes beyond the specified amount, a purple light will flash. Likewise, if there is a short circuit on one of the connected devices, the Wall Plug will automatically shut down power to that device, thus protecting other electrical devices in the home from damage. Along with visual cues, the system also instantly alerts users of any problems via SMS or email and can activate pre-defined scenes.
Users can also check the current energy consumption of other connected devices throughout the home within the configuration interface of Fibaro’s Home Center 2 or HCL controllers. Using a computer or the Fibaro mobile app, users can see clear and detailed graphs of historical data, pie charts showing the energy drain of each connected device, and a list of the top five energy consumers in the home as well as make changes to improve efficiency.
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Séura Introduces SMART Mirrors at CEDIA 2017 Séura is bringing SMART technology to the bathroom with the introduction of the Séura SMART Mirror. The new mirrors transcend television viewing, providing consumers instant access to a personalized home screen for a more efficient and comfortable morning routine.
This new mirror integrates a multi-functional display, allowing consumers to seamlessly and instantly connect to their calendar, email, weather and favorite apps, and watch television while they prepare for their day. Personalized home screens allow for faster, easier access to what matters most to the user with over a million widgets and apps available via the Google App Store. Consumers can be connected to their digital world as they prepare for the day ahead.
Séura SMART Mirrors have hands-free voice activation and touch control options that enable multi-tasking and are also ideal for the bathroom environment. Voice activation allows for a simple and intuitive control option for those with busy or wet hands to compose emails, search, play a song or add to a shopping list. Touch control allows users the option to scroll through content, select new applications and adjust the size and placement of apps and widgets within their personal dashboard.
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Barco Residential Introduces New Medea 4K Projector With HDR10 Support Barco Residential’s new Medea projector is a native 4K (3840×2160) resolution projector that designed as an entry-level projector for home cinema that includes HDR10 support. The outstanding image quality is powered by a new optical engine and laser light source, providing significantly improved image uniformity, nearly instant on/off, and a light source life of up to 40,000 hours for maximum performance and convenience.
A liquid cooling system allows the projector to operate in any orientation. Combined with a choice of seven all-glass lens options, wide lens shift and the unique built-in warp engine, integrators can now provide unmatched flexibility in terms of projector positioning and architectural integration. Sharing the same advanced control system as the award-winning Balder and Loki projectors, Medea provides comprehensive PC- or Mac-based remote configuration and control from the best seat in any home theater or media room.
Medea details are here. Leave a Comment
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Lutron Adds to HomeWorks QS SystemLutron Electronics today announced the availability of new Lutron Connect packages as well as a family of DIN rail panels and modules, opening the door to more project opportunities for its HomeWorks QS system integrators.
The new Lutron Connect packages include a 1-link processor and the Lutron Connect Bridge. These packages reduce the starting price of a HomeWorks QS system and bring the Lutron Connect app with remote access and expanded cloud based integration to every project. Additionally, HomeWorks QS integrators can now utilize the new DIN power panels and modules to provide flexible dimming and switching solutions on the QS link. DIN power modules (DPMs) are specifically designed for the best LED dimming performance available.
These new HomeWorks QS connect packages and DIN offering provide:
- Simplicity: New 1-link processor is ideal for smaller projects. This is a cost saving solution when only one link type is required (RF or QS). For multi-processor projects, the one-link processor can be configured to any link type including: QS Wired, RF, RPM Panel or H48/Q96. DIN power modules support any lighting load type so integrators can easily adjust for last minute changes to the lighting fixtures. The 1-link HomeWorks QS processor and the DIN solutions are supported in version 12.0 of the HomeWorks QS Designer Software.
- Space-savings: New DIN rail panels for installation in smaller spaces. Lutron’s DIN rail family includes various DPMs: Phase Adaptive Dimmers, Switches, 0-10V Dimmers and EcoSystem digital controllers as well as multiple enclosures of different sizes to hold the DPMs. These new panels provide more dimming zones per panel minimizing the equipment footprint, ideal for apartments, condominiums and yachts.
- Cost-effectiveness: Fewer panels are needed for budget-conscious projects. This solution provides price sensitive options for smaller projects by using the 1-link processor and reducing the number of interfaces
- Complete compatibility: Works with all existing HomeWorks QS components with access to all HomeWorks QS luxury control options. DPMs also provide the best LED dimming performance available, including options for phase control, 0-10V and digital.
Available this October, Sivoia QS configurable power panels will further maximize flexibility for wired shading products. The panels are available in 10 output and 30 output versions and provide a pre-wire landing point during construction. When shades are installed, power supply modules with five outputs are easily snapped into place.
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FX Luminaire Announced New SPA LED Path Light for Budget-Conscious HomeownersOver a decade ago, FX Luminaire introduced a sleek copper-and-brass path light called the SP. Today, the SP remains the industry standard, and its high quality and ubiquity across landscapes is testament to its popularity. Inspired by the beauty, simplicity, and timeless design of the SP, FX Luminaire has developed a sister fixture made of aluminum — aptly named the SPA — for clients who desire the look and functionality of the SP, but who require a lower price.
Providing a full value-line lighting system allows contractors to expand their businesses by pursuing a more diverse range of clientele. The price point of the SPA, combined with the RS-LED up light and upcoming low-wattage EX transformer, allows new contractors to enter the lighting market with a low-cost, system-level solution. It also encourages existing contractors to present an FX solution when budget becomes an issue.
Like its predecessor, the SPA is designed for minimalist themes or compact spaces, where larger path lights just won’t work. Because the beam spread of the SPA provides maximum projection with minimum glare, this graceful fixture is equally at home among lush perennial borders and sparse succulent themes.
The SPA path light is available now here. Leave a Comment
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Samsung Integrates Control4 SDDP Technology in its 2017 4K Ultra-HDTV Lineup and New Ultra HD Blu-Ray Player Samsung Electronics America Inc. has incorporated Control4 Simple Device Discovery Protocol (SDDP) software into its technology to simplify integration with Control4 automation systems. The integration, coupled with Control4 Certified driver support for the entire 2017 4K UHD TV lineup and the new UBD-M9700 4K UHD Blu-ray Player, debuting at the CEDIA 2017 show in San Diego, is integral to Samsung’s position in the connected home and aligns an impressive home entertainment product line with the interests of smart homeowners.
The Control4 Certified drivers produce lightning-fast response times for consumers with little to no lag and full access to the Samsung Smart Hub Command List. Customers no longer need a separate digital media device for access to leading streaming services like Netflix, Amazon and YouTube. Additionally, SDDP makes it simple for installers to add devices to Control4 projects by automatically identifying and downloading the latest Control4 Certified driver. These functionalities will be presented during CEDIA and an over-the-network firmware update to activate them on QLED Series, MU Series, The Frame and the new M9700 is forthcoming.
With an SDDP-enabled device, a Control4 home automation system automatically finds, identifies, authenticates, adds and connects the device nearly instantaneously during the initial installation – reducing the complexity and configuration time for installers as well as reducing potential incompatibility with other devices within consumers’ homes. With Samsung TVs now featuring SDDP and Control4 Certified drivers, integrators can feel confident choosing Samsung for smart home projects resulting in efficient and seamless installations along with the best consumer experience.
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ZeeVee Shows 4K Compressed AV-Over-IP 1G Ethernet Switch with ZyPerUHDZeeVee announced the expansion of its ZyPer IP based distribution platform with the launch of the new ZyPerUHD. ZeeVee now offers both compressed and uncompressed options for delivering 4K over a standard Ethernet switch (4K @ 60Hz 4:2:0).
The new ZyperUHD encoders and decoders provide ultra-low latency (less than two frames), compressed video up to Ultra-HD/4K resolution using an off-the-shelf 1Gb Ethernet switch. This makes it possible for businesses to deploy UHD throughout their facility and even interconnect campuses while leveraging their existing IP infrastructure. ZeeVee is the first company to offer a full line of AV over IP and AV over RF solutions.
ZyPerUHD is capable of supporting HDR. It can address video walls up to 5×5 and is HDCP 2.2 compliant. It is compatible with ZeeVee’s MaestroZ Management Platform making configuration simple and rapid. The management platform allows for ZyPerUHD to network to a nearly unlimited number of sources and displays and offers an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) which allows for switching sources, and creating video walls. The ZyPerUHD follows ZeeVee’s core belief that software applications driven over standards based Ethernet networks are the future of AV distribution, and offer far more capability and flexibility than proprietary and matrix switched hardware.
The ZyPerUHD features HDMI input with HDMI loop-out and balanced audio input/output ports for managing audio. USB connectivity is provided for integration with touch panels and KVM. Source and display control is facilitated through RS232, IR and USB ports. Using industry standard IP networking technology, ZeeVee is the most scalable and easily controlled way for sending HD, UHD or 4K video to any display, enterprise, building or stadium without using expensive, proprietary AV Matrix switchers.
With the expansion of ZeeVee’s IP offering, the ZyPer product suite can support almost every video distribution requirement – from compressed HD with ZyPerHD; compressed 4K with ZyPerUHD; and uncompressed, zero-latency UHD/4K video with ZyPer4K.
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iPoint Control Partners With Portal to Provide Fully Integrated Product Database AccessiPoint LLC today announced iPoint Control’s full integration with the Portal product database. This latest update to the business management platform gives iPoint Control users convenient access to over 1 million aggregated products within the Portal product catalog.
In addition to Portal access, iPoint Control users will be able to create a data library with customized descriptions, pictures, and pricing. As prices get updated within Portal, users can select which products to update within their iPoint Control data library, further automating project specifications and business proposals.
Details on iPoint and the iPoint Control platform are here. Leave a Comment
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Control4 Releases Expanded 4Sight Services and New OS 2.10Control4 Corporation announces a series of new capabilities with today’s release of Control4 4Sight service at CEDIA 2017 in San Diego, CA. Control4 unveiled a new homeowner customization functionality called When >> Then Automation and a new audio/video Intercom App that enables homeowners to receive door station intercom calls on their mobile devices, at home or away.
Part of the Control4 OS 2.10 software release, new native streaming music services from iHeartRadio and Spotify are also available today on Control4 systems. Smart Home Personalization and Fine-Tuning after the Pro Install After a dealer completes a Control4 installation and homeowners have the chance to experience living in their smart homes, the family often wants to tweak and fine-tune the automation without having to engage their dealer to make simple adjustments. The ability for homeowners to edit and add to the automation within their home has been a top request by both Control4 customers and dealers. When >> Then, now included with the Control4 4Sight service, is an intuitive, easy-to-use web interface, enabling customers to make adjustments to the automation settings in their homes directly, personalizing their Control4 system at any time after the installation.
For the first time, Control4 provides homeowners with the direct ability to create smart home actions when a button is pressed, when motion is detected, when a condition occurs, when it’s a specific time, or when a door is opened or closed. For example, with When >> Then, homeowners can change the schedule for the porch light, change which music plays when a living room keypad button is pressed, or send a push notification when the garage door is opened.
Control4’s When >> Then personalization takes a simple approach; the user selects a When (on a schedule, with a touch of a button, or after an event) and selects a Then action to take place (turn on a light, start a playlist, or send a push notification). Homeowners who subscribe to the 4Sight service and have OS 2.10 installed will have immediate access to the When >> Then on customer.control4.com.
Also available today with the 4Sight service is the new Control4 Intercom App for iOS and Android devices. Homeowners can now receive Control4 Door Station and audio/video intercom calls directly on their mobile devices, providing them visibility and access to their front gate or front door from anywhere in the world. Unique to Control4, while on a call in the Intercom App, with a single tap, homeowners can activate their Control4 automation such as turn on lights, open the gate, or unlock the front door without leaving the app; a perfect blend of peace of mind and home control.
The Control4 Intercom App is now available for early access to Control4 Dealers through the company’s beta program. 4Sight, the Must-Have Subscription Service for the Control4 Smart Home Focusing on providing homeowners fantastic smart home experiences, the newly enhanced 4Sight service via the Control4 OS 2.10 release includes: When >> Then Automation oAfter a dealer completes the initial install, homeowners can use When >> Then Automation to fine-tune their smart home. Intercom App for iOS and Android oGet audio/video calls from your door station to a mobile phone and to touchscreens in the house. Voice Control with Amazon Alexa oEasily set up the Control4 Smart Home Skill for Amazon Alexa and start using voice commands to control a home. Available in the U.S., UK and Germany.
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Savant Debuts Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Touch-Screen Thermostat Savant has announced today the introduction of the Savant Multi-STAT, a touch screen multipurpose thermostat as part of the Savant Climate solution. The Savant Multi-STAT claims to be a completely new approach to the residential thermostat, elegantly and discreetly placing control and automation functionality alongside climate settings in easy reach throughout the home.
The Multi-STAT provides homeowners with convenient access to Savant Scenes with a finger swipe of the color touch screen, giving them instant access to numerous automation events in conjunction with climate control such as lighting, entertainment and others. The Multi-STAT’s user interface is identical to the premium glass touch screen found in Savant’s award-winning Pro Remote and will deliver easy and intuitive access to the smart home functionality that simplifies daily life. For added convenience, all of the Multi-STAT’s features can be accessed remotely via mobile devices using the Savant Pro 8 App.
The Savant Multi-STAT is compatible with both standard and heat pump-based HVAC systems and can be locally connected to both 10K and 1-wire bus sensors. The Savant Multi-STAT is configurable for either Fahrenheit or Celsius, and can be connected to a wide variety of indoor and outdoor temperature sensors, slab sensors and humidity sensors. Users can take advantage of Savant’s HVAC scheduler as well as climate related notifications to their mobile device, tailoring all of these settings to best suit their lifestyle. The Savant Multi-STAT can be deployed stand alone or in combination with the Savant Climate platform to provide up to 48 zones of expansion.
The Savant Multi-STAT is expected to ship starting Q4, 2017 for $520. Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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Control4 Announces Pakedge Wireless Router Control4 Corporation today announces the immediate availability of the Pakedge WR-1 with BakPak Lite, an integrated network router and wireless access point with built-in cloud-based network management. Pakedge provides networking capability for connected homes, and at $300 U.S. MSRP, the WR-1 with BakPak management software enables Control4 Dealers to provide a new consumer segment the benefits of a monitored, intelligent home network. The WR-1 implements new 802.11ac Wave 2 Wi-Fi technology, providing solid reliability and throughput to support the growing number of connected devices in homes. Included on the WR-1, BakPak Lite provides integrators the ability to proactively manage a customer’s home network by delivering real-time visibility of network health and remote diagnostics for the wireless router, enabling troubleshooting options to mitigate downtime and reduce the costs of on-site service calls.
The WR-1 supports 802.11ac Wave 2 wireless and 500MB LAN-to-WAN, blending high-performance wireless and fast throughput. It also enables multiple connected devices to leverage the bandwidth in the home more efficiently through multi-user multiple-input, multiple-output (MU-MIMO). When the Wi-Fi coverage needs to be increased within the home, the WR-1 can also be expanded with up to two additional wireless access points.
Dealers can use the WR-1 with BakPak to efficiently support a new customer base, without adding monitoring devices to a project or paying additional monthly fees. A single interface provides convenient remote network management from a desktop or smartphone with the ability to run speed tests, check internet connectivity status, and change wireless settings on the WR-1. BakPak Lite enables the remote management for the WR-1 wireless router itself, remote management for the entire network, including home automation products, is available with BakPak on the Pakedge RK-1 Router and NK-1 Wireless Controller. The Pakedge WR-1 with BakPak Lite is available and shipping today for $300 U.S. list.
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Panamax Adds Local IP Control to BlueBOLT at CEDIA 2017 Panamax today announced the introduction of the BlueBOLT-CV2, a new interface enabling energy management features of Panamax PRO products to be managed from the local network without requiring a cloud connection.
Integrators can monitor their clients’ power as well as set up a number of notifications alerting them of network and or power anomalies. Scheduled events and auto-reboot functions help eliminate manually re-booting the network as well as eliminating most service calls while troubleshooting and resolving the tech issue remotely. This adds value to the residential integrators’ portfolio as well as lowers their labor costs by not requiring a trip to the installation site to manually reboot devices, such as control systems, set-top box/DVRs, media servers and network devices.
The BlueBOLT-CV2 is designed to deliver locally controlled BlueBOLT functionality to the Panamax M4315-PRO, M4320-PRO and MB1500. Cloud connection is only needed for set up, after which all control can be managed from the embedded web pages.
Shipping now, the BlueBOLT-CV2 is here. Leave a Comment
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Middle Atlantic Intros Home Wiring and Power Infrastructure Solution for Behind TVs Middle Atlantic Products debuted the Proximity Series AV storage solution at CEDIA 2017. The Proximity Series Sliding Mounting Plate and In-Wall Boxes provide integrators with a flexible offering to reliably support the growing network of small devices and component-intense systems in residential applications right behind the display.
The Proximity Series Sliding Mounting Plate is designed to mount directly to the wall behind the display. Integrators need only to slide the plate out and unhook it from the sliding mechanism for installation and servicing. They can mount small devices onto the 15-inch by 10-inch mounting space and service them without the additional time and labor of removing the display.
For even more AV systems storage capacity of component-intense systems, the Proximity Series now includes an in-wall box designed to fit both 16-inch and 24-inch stud bays. Engineered to provide convenient, recessed storage for localized, all-in-one system support, this versatile solution can be placed vertically to mount easily into a 16-inch stud bay or horizontally to fit within a commercial-sized 24-inch stud bay.
Both the Proximity Series Sliding Mounting Plate and the In-Wall Box solutions feature Middle Atlantic’s patented, tool-free Lever Lock system, which accommodates, conceals and reliably mounts a range of AV components to speed up serviceability.
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For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe HomeAV 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% opinionated. We not only report the news and new product stories of the high-end HomeAV 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).
Don’t like us, then go away — unsubscribe! Just use the link below.
To send me feedback, don’t reply to this newsletter – instead, write directly to me at gary@ravepubs.com or for editorial ideas: Editor-in-Chief Sara Abrons at sara@ravepubs.com
A little about me: I graduated from Journalism School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (where I am adjunct faculty). I’ve been in the AV-industry since 1987 where I started with Extron and eventually moved to AMX. So, I guess I am an industry veteran (although I don’t think I am that old). I have been an opinionated columnist for a number of industry publications and in the late 1990s I started the widely read KNews eNewsletter (the first in the AV market) and also created the model for and was co-founder of AV Avenue – which is now known as InfoComm IQ. rAVe Publications has been around since 2003, when we launched our original newsletter, rAVe ProAV Edition.
rAVe HomeAV Edition, co-published with CEDIA, launched in February, 2004.
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rAVe HomeAV Edition contains the opinions of the author only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of other persons or companies or its sponsors. |
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