Latest Headlines: Dr. Ampel Talks About Truth in Specs and Advertising, NSCA Opens Its Business Awards, Avenview Has a New Video Wall Solution
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Volume 15, Issue 23.2 — December 13, 2017
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Industry News Audio Control & Signal Processing Projection Displays Media Players, Recording & Distribution Cables, Cases, Furniture, Mounts, Racks, Screens & Accessories
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The Truth and Nothing But the Truth?
By Dr. Frederick Ampel President & Principal, Technology Visions Analytics
The title of this column is a phrase that is the basis of a legal oath that has been part of English Law since at least medieval times and has essentially become embedded in our shared societal structure. The beliefs that have come to encompass our laws and governance concepts remain at their core based on the codices of Roman law, probably the versions from around 200 or so BCE. In the Roman treatises from that time the focus was on one major idea: precision of language.
Also of considerable concern within that focus were two basic social principles: fairness (aequitas) and practicality (utilitas). That fixation on precise and exact legal terminology to avoid ambiguity or even misinterpretation of ideas and rules has remained as a convention through the millennia.
Why? Because these ideas have also framed our fundamental cultural concepts of fairness and practicality and helped delineate the definitions trustworthiness and honesty. These are important to our whole social fabric because time has proven, repeatedly that the truth can be distorted by only including some of the facts; and/or by giving misleading indications about how to interpret these facts. Sometimes the partial use of truth can be used to give legitimacy to deception.
And that short introductory essay brings us to our main discussion.
How far from the truth are we willing to allow the information we rely on to migrate?
If what I see and hear every day both in the information about products and services and in the promises made by software developers and suppliers is to be used as the data point — way, way too far!
The Minefield of Software
Let’s look at the software side first, since it has become inescapable in systems deployed today. To an exponentially increasing extent, critical systems that were once controlled mechanically, or by people, are coming to depend on code as was recently discussed in an article authored by James Somers entitled “The Coming Software Apocalypse,” published by The Atlantic in September 2017.
That article notes, ominously, that this problem “was perhaps never clearer than in the summer of 2015, when on a single day, United Airlines grounded its fleet because of a problem with its departure-management system; trading was suspended on the New York Stock Exchange after an upgrade; the front page of The Wall Street Journal’s website crashed; and Seattle’s 911 system went down because a remotely located router failed. The simultaneous breakdown of so many software systems smelled at first of a coordinated cyber attack. Almost more frightening was the realization, later that same day, that it was just a coincidence.”
Nancy Leveson, a professor of aeronautics and astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who has been studying software safety for 35 years commented in that same article that, “When we had electromechanical systems, we used to be able to test them exhaustively, we used to be able to think through all the things it could do, all the states it could get into. For example, the electromechanical interlocking that controlled train movements at railroad crossings only had so many configurations; a few sheets of paper could describe the whole system, and you could run physical trains against each configuration to see how it would behave. Once you’d built and tested it, you knew exactly what you were dealing with.” (Leveson became widely know for her report on the Therac-25, a radiation-therapy machine that killed six patients because of a software error.)
But as industry in general and our world in particular is rapidly discovering, software is different. Just by editing a text file (which could be stored in a “cloud” server anywhere on the planet), the same chipset can become the core of an autopilot or the server responsible for an inventory-control system. It doesn’t know and it doesn’t care about the functionality it is assigned.
This flexibility is software’s miracle and its curse. Because it can be changed inexpensively, software is constantly changed and because it’s unmoored from anything physical — a program that is a thousand times more complex than another takes up the same actual space — it tends to grow without bound. Witness the bloatware install size of any word processing program of your choice today, against the size of that same program even five years ago — the growth is by orders of magnitude at least — and to what end? How much of the additional functionality is ever actually used even by so-called ‘power users’? I’d wager not much more than a small double-digit percentage!
Professor Leveson went on to pointedly say, “the problem is that we are attempting to build systems that are beyond our ability to intellectually manage and for the most part software engineers don’t understand the problem they’re trying to solve, and don’t care to… because they’re too wrapped up in getting their code to simply work at all.”
The landmine waiting to be stepped on here is this scenario: The software did exactly what it was told to do. The reason it failed is that it was told to do the wrong thing.
The Plan vs. The Unexpected
I don’t know about you, but my computer is always doing what I tell it to instead of what I wanted it to, but… I don’t always know what I should tell it to do, especially when it presents one of those “unexpected error” messages. In that same vein, it seems from conversations with numerous consultants and integrators over the last year or so that the consensus is that the biggest issue with AV systems is that with even a moderately complex control design, it is virtually impossible to test every possible operating state or condition to see what happens with unplanned button pushes or function calls. You diligently conduct reasonable proof of performance tests to ensure that it does what you expect by using expected button pushes in expected sequences and look for dead ends or lockups. There’s no amount of time you could devote to even getting close to being able to test what happens when people push buttons in more random or inappropriate sequences or what happens when a frustrated client is impatient and pushes buttons in too fast a sequence. The undeniable fact is that our species is extraordinarily unpredictable and is prone to taking the unexpected (or at from a programming standpoint the “Well, we never considered that option,” path only intensified this quandary.
Been there? Anyone have a viable answer to this dilemma? If you do please help the rest of us.
Close Loop, Closed Minds
And all of those keep you awake at night problems, don’t even consider the two other gigantic problems surging through the software world:
- The promises about functionality and compatibility made by overly optimistic vendors which of course all of our clients have read, seen, or even worse actually believed and…
- The continuing practice by far to many vendors of designing deliberately incompatible products, and deploying un-announced software revisions, that force us to solve the “how do we make all this connect and talk to itself issues on the job, in the field, with the client tapping his/her foot impatiently as we spend time (and money) fixing something that should NEVER have occurred in the first place?” problem. I’ve lost count of the number of times I or my colleagues have been in contact with a vendor’s tech support and heard that whistling death phrase, “We’ve never heard of that happening before.” Or its even more fatal companion: “That’s simply not possible.” Sound all too familiar?
Don’t think the un-announced software or firmware deployments or the can’t happen guarantee could affect you? You are wrong! Let’s look briefly at a recent apparently simple but disastrous example.
Around 3 a.m. one night not too long ago, a major TV manufacturer pushed out a firmware/software update from its offshore headquarters to every one of its 55 inches and larger, newly introduced multi-thousand dollar 4K UHD TVs. The number of units being “targeted” by this improvement was in the six-figure range globally. The update was sent in at least 10 languages and automatically downloaded by the units, which then installed the new code upon power up.
So far so good you might think. NOT SO! There was an untested, unresolved and unfixable bug in the code. It rendered every hand-held remote inoperable. No longer could anyone make any changes using the remote. And… the update ‘locked’ the turn-on volume for the sets audio systems at maximum, regardless of any previous setting. The new firmware/software totally overwrote everything that had been in place including any custom settings and all calibrations.
Imagine the surprise of the set owners the next day when they pushed on and discovered nothing would happen. If they manually turned the set on at the panel they were immediately deafened by the volume setting. And the off button no longer worked. The only way to turn things off was to unplug the set. The only solution to the software issue was to force the set to restore its factory defaults (an option only available in the non-user accessible service menu).
The company’s customer service number exploded and all you could get was a busy signal (for days) and their consumer website crashed! The North American offices had had no idea what had happened.
It took a day and a half to trace it down to the unannounced update, and then at least four more days to get the information out to owners/dealers/retailers, etc. Overall it was a two-week long nightmare caused by a simple failure to bother to check the update BEFORE spewing it worldwide. What was wrong? A simple, easily-caught (if anyone had bothered to look) reversed numeral sequence in the update to the sets’ remote control recognition software made all non-service menu related commands useless.
Sure it was an annoying and painful episode, but it never had to happen, if common sense and any sort of quality control mindset had been in place in the software/firmware department’s operations.
So the next time you hear “that can’t happen” or any similar phrase, be apprehensive and — more importantly — check to see if the statement is actually true.
Hardware Myths and Fantasies
Look at any hardware data sheet or brochure and what do you find? A lot of technical details, probably a good dose of marketing fluff and blather, and some very carefully worded content about functionality, warranty and a half-dozen, brutally dense legalese disclaimers in tiny text about everything and anything that might conceivably be an issue down the road.
What is clearly missing from all of this is a functionality and reliability discussion or, better yet, warranty of serviceability for the task intended, the one they claim it can do in the marketing fluff.
Globally we have a ton of standards and specifications to tell us the most mundane details about any technical parameter or engineering figure of merit. Just a quick list includes those published and maintained by AES, AVIXA and IEC.
Various countries or other governmental entities (cities, states, provinces, etc.) may have additional specific standards or requirements — these should be verified and conformance assured either by the manufacturer or its distribution structure.
So there’s no shortage of data and details on the pure specification side of the fence. In fact, there are immense documents describing in microscopic detail how this information is to be formatted, presented and collated.
For example in the U.S. and Canada, we have the CSI/CSC structure and the Technical Specification Format, Master Format and multiple Division formats, rules, regulations and requirements for any building project, construction job or… you name it, there’s a rulebook for it. The level of detail required could easily require employing someone full time just to manage the paperwork.
A portion of that massive set of formats and rules requires inclusion of a section in the project documentation that describes equipment and systems requirements. Each major piece of equipment required for the project should have a paragraph that describes concisely and in detail, the minimum acceptable specifications for the item.
Unless it is a public project, there are usually two or three pre-accepted makes and models listed for each item. That section also has this little-hidden gem: “This information gives the bidders a very clear idea of the expected quality.”
Please take careful note of that wording — expected quality — not actual quality, promised quality, guaranteed quality, tested for quality or any other kind of quality assurance, only “expected.” Well golly gee, I expected to get a million dollars from Publishers Clearing House, but…
Is expected the best we can hope for? Is the truth what someone decides it is or is it based on incontrovertible and verifiable facts and data?
The Real World
Out there, where the customers are, published specifications performance is beside the point. In fact, it is totally, utterly, completely, absolutely and unequivocally irrelevant!
Other than within the tour-sound universe, where equipment rider(s) may call for specific brands or models to satisfy a perceived or possibly actual artistic requirement, brand identity is not front-of-mind with the majority of end-users/buyers.
Certainly, there may be name recognition, word of mouth created opinion on need or desire (the “well, our major competitor’s facility uses xyz so shouldn’t we?” statement). But putting those essentially artificial needs aside, what logo is on a power amplifier is not really a make-or-break issue for clients (with of course the caveat that there is always one to whom it really does matter for a reason you will never really know).
Twenty-first century automated manufacturing processes, globally sourced component supply chains and a host of other factors make it very, very, very hard to separate any one of the 40 or so 1 kilowatt-per-channel amplifiers costing $500 to $999 you can easily find on any major gear website, based on pure numerical data or rated (expected) performance information. In fact, it is essentially impossible using simply the numbers if you remove the marketing/brand identity from the data — I know. I’ve tested this many times with “knowledgeable” professionals asking them to pick out their favorite brand simply based on stated generic technical data.
But these sets of data, which amount to a performance promise, are not the information we need or should be using to decide what to specify, what to install or who to support product-wise.
New Rules for a New World
It’s time for a new constitution (as The Who said), wherein we have a “BILL OF THE TRUTH” requirement for all hardware and software we are expected to recommend, buy, specify, install or otherwise have involvement (and thus responsibility) for.
Herewith are the provisions of the “BILL OF THE TRUTH”:
- No product shall be made available for sale or use until it has been thoroughly and completely tested in real-world conditions under normal operating parameters by non-manufacturer third-party verification.
- No updates or changes to existing software or firmware may be automatically installed.
- No software shall be sold until it has been tested “in the real world” under normal end-user conditions, by a neutral third party verification process using actual hardware upon which the software is ‘expected’ to function.
- A new parameter for hardware shall be implemented stating the MTBF [mean time before/between failure] conditions and how that data was derived and verified.
- All core or kernel code for software shall be tested and verified as to its suitability and functionality on the actual platform and with the accompanying hardware and software that would typically be deployed to ensure that it actually works.
- Specifiers/buyers/installers and related professionals shall be indemnified by a hold-harmless clause in which the costs associated with making a system or device functional shall be born by its manufacturer or developer in the case of software.
- No assumed or expected functionality shall be allowed in a product specification/sales sheet until and unless that performance or functionality has been third party verified to actually exist.
- Software or firmware source code written in a language other than English shall be tested and verified to function in English and any other language in which it is expected to be sold /used/operate. No un-tested code shall be permitted with a product in any language.
- Control systems shall be tested not only for expected functionality but for non-expected conditions or operation to ensure that no harm or failure can be induced by such operation.
- Your ideas here!
It is time we got more than we expected and less ‘it can’t possibly do that’ from our supply chain.
Help write the new BILL OF TRUTH for equipment and software. We shall no longer be asked to tolerate being used as beta test platforms for unfinished hardware or software. It’s time for the truth to be simply that and not some highly manipulated carefully couched, legal CYA verbiage. Leave a Comment
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D-Tools Introduces Mobile Quote 2.0 iPad AppD-Tools today announced the release of Mobile Quote 2.0, a native iPad companion app for the D-Tools System Integrator (SI) platform. Mobile Quote 2.0 says it can make it easy for industry salespeople to seamlessly generate a project scope and pricing estimate for client review and approval during the initial client meeting. The data collected is then instantaneously transferred into D-Tools SI for further design development and project management, eliminating the need to transfer handwritten notes into instructions for system designers just to have that same data re-entered into a D-Tools proposal.
The flexibility of Mobile Quote 2.0 enables industry salespeople to be as general or specific as they desire. If the objective is to quickly capture what device types are required in which rooms and get a ballpark price, the iPad app can simply pull a price allowance from the list of items in the appropriate sub-category in the D-Tools product catalog based on a global or item-specific good/better/best selection. On the other hand, if a more precise design and pricing is required, Mobile Quote 2.0 leverages project templates and packages from the D-Tools’ product catalog to complete an accurate system design and price by room and by system in minutes. If details regarding item placement, product preferences, owner furnished equipment and the like are desired, the app enables the entry of room notes, system notes, item notes and images taken from the iPad camera. Users can also make pricing and labor adjustments on the fly.
For system integrators that collect a design retainer, Mobile Quote 2.0 has a built-in design retainer calculator based on a percentage of the estimated contract total, a dollar amount per square foot, or a designated fixed amount. Not only that, the app requests client approval via e-signature and allows D-Tools customers to collect the design retainer, or even contract deposit, on the spot using their preferred mobile payments solution (e.g., Square). Collecting a design retainer up front locks out the competition and compensates system integrators for their design efforts during the sales process, a cost often borne by the system integrator as a sales expense.
Mobile Quote 2.0 is available for download via the Apple app store here and can be installed for free. However, every customer must purchase Mobile Quote 2.0 licenses in order to fully use Mobile Quote. Device licenses are priced at $25.00 per iPad device per month and available exclusively via the SI 2017 application. For more information on purchasing Mobile Quote 2.0, please click here.
Click here for a brief video introduction to Mobile Quote 2.0, or for a more in-depth video demonstration, click here.
Here are the details on D-Tools’ site. Leave a Comment
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SMPTE Publishes ST 2110 Standards for Professional Media Over Managed IP NetworksSMPTE today announced the publication of the first standards within SMPTE ST 2110, Professional Media Over Managed IP Networks.
SMPTE ST 2110 is a new standards suite that specifies the carriage, synchronization, and description of separate elementary essence streams over professional internet protocol (IP) networks in real-time for the purposes of live production, playout, and other professional media applications. The following documents are now available in the SMPTE digital library here:
- SMPTE ST 2110-10/-20/-30 — addressing system concerns and uncompressed video and audio streams
- SMPTE ST 2110-21 — specifying traffic shaping and delivery timing of uncompressed video
“Professional media is a uniquely challenging field because of its real-time nature and high quality-of-service requirements, both of which consumers may take for granted,” said SMPTE President Matthew Goldman, senior vice president of technology, TV and media at Ericsson. “The standardization of SMPTE ST 2110 documents provides broadcasters, producers and media technology suppliers with the tools they need to meet these requirements while working in the IP realm.”
With SMPTE ST 2110 standards, intrafacility traffic now can be all-IP, which means that organizations can rely on one common data center infrastructure rather than two separate facilities for SDI and IP switching/routing. The foundation for the first SMPTE ST 2110 standards came from the Video Services Forum (VSF) Technical Recommendation for Transport of Uncompressed Elementary Stream Media Over IP (TR-03), which VSF agreed to make available to SMPTE as a contribution toward the new suite of standards.
SMPTE ST 2110 standards make it possible to separately route and break away the essence streams — audio, video, and ancillary data. This advance simplifies, for example, the addition of captions, subtitles, and teletext, as well as tasks such as the processing of multiple audio languages and types. Each essence flow may be routed separately and brought together again at the endpoint. Each of the component flows — audio, video and ancillary data (there may be multiple streams of each type) — is synchronized, so the essence streams are co-timed to one another while remaining independent.
The new SMPTE ST 2110 standard suite was a primary focus of the IP Showcase in the Centennial Exhibit Hall at SMPTE 2017, where SMPTE joined with the Audio Engineering Society (AES), Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA), European Broadcasting Union (EBU), IABM, Media Networking Alliance (MNA), and Video Services Forum (VSF) to support the event. The IP Showcase featured the latest advances in IP technology for the professional media industries and demonstrated how the SMPTE ST 2110 standard suite adds value. Numerous interoperability demonstrations assisted broadcast/IT engineers, CEOs, producers, and others in understanding how they can leverage the benefits of SMPTE ST 2110 standards.
SMPTE is currently developing a dedicated course on ST 2110 for its Virtual Classroom which will be offered beginning in February 2018. Currently SMPTE’s Internetworking, Routing & Switching Programs courses, as well as the Essentials of IP Media Transport for Broadcasters, help to provide a solid foundation in networking. SMPTE Virtual Classroom course descriptions and registration are available here.
More information about SMPTE ST 2110 standards is available here. Further information about SMPTE and its standards work is available here. Leave a Comment
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VESA Defines New Standard to Help Speed PC Industry Adoption of HDR in Laptop and Desktop MonitorsThe Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) today announced it has defined the display industry’s first fully open standard specifying high dynamic range (HDR) quality, including luminance, color gamut, bit depth and rise time, through the release of a test specification. The new VESA High-Performance Monitor and Display Compliance Test Specification (DisplayHDR) initially addresses the needs of laptop displays and PC desktop monitors that use liquid crystal display (LCD) panels. The first release of the specification, DisplayHDR version 1.0, establishes three distinct levels of HDR system performance to facilitate adoption of HDR throughout the PC market. HDR provides better contrast and color accuracy as well as more vibrant colors compared to Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) displays, and is gaining interest for a wide range of applications, including movie viewing, gaming and creation of photo and video content.
VESA Certified DisplayHDR brand logos representing three distinct levels of HDR system performance.
VESA developed the DisplayHDR specification with the input of more than two dozen active member companies. These members include major OEMs that make displays, graphic cards, CPUs, panels, display drivers and other components, as well as color calibration providers. A list of participating companies is available here.
DisplayHDR v1.0 focuses on LCDs, which represent more than 99 percent of displays in the PC market. VESA anticipates future releases to address organic light emitting diode (OLED) and other display technologies as they become more common, as well as the addition of higher levels of HDR performance. While development of DisplayHDR was driven by the needs of the PC market, it can serve to drive new levels of HDR performance in other markets as well.
The specification establishes three HDR performance levels for PC displays: baseline (DisplayHDR 400), mid-range (DisplayHDR 600) and high-end (DisplayHDR 1000). These levels are established and certified using eight specific parameter requirements and associated tests, which include:
- Three peak luminance tests involving different scenarios — small spot/high luminance, brief period full-screen flash luminance and optimized use in bright environments (e.g., outside daylight or bright office lighting);
- Two contrast measurement tests — one for native panel contrast and one for local dimming;
- Color testing of both the BT.709 and DCI-P3 color gamuts;
- Bit-depth requirement tests — these stipulate a minimum bit depth and include a simple visual test for end users to confirm results;
- HDR response performance test — sets performance criteria for backlight responsiveness ideal for gaming and rapid action in movies by analyzing the speed at which the backlight can respond to changes in luminance levels.
For more information on the open DisplayHDR specification and test tool, go here. Leave a Comment
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NSCA Opens Business AwardsSystems integrators are encouraged to apply at no cost for NSCA’s 2018 Excellence in Business Awards. Submissions will be accepted through Jan. 17, 2018. Winners will receive recognition throughout the year in various NSCA and industry publications, as well as reduced admission to NSCA’s 20th annual Business & Leadership Conference ($999 as opposed to $1,499). Companies with solid business sense and creative tactics continually beat their competitors to the finish line – whether it’s through successful strategies in fiscal responsibility, marketing, training, or strategic advancement. NSCA’s Excellence in Business Awards recognize integrators that address challenges head-on by implementing tactics and strategies to improve business performance. Applications can be found here. Winners will be announced on Feb. 2, 2018. Integrators can apply in one of six categories:
- Business Performance (establishing methods for accurate job costing, new ways to trim operating expenses, etc.)
- Employee Engagement (corporate culture exercises, increasing job satisfaction, etc.)
- Differentiating Strategies (implementing new sales strategies, growth strategies, etc.)
- Strategic Transformation (entering new markets, increasing RMR, etc.)
- Customer Experience (increasing customer satisfaction scores or repeat business, etc.)
- Talent Development (cross-training, onboarding, recruiting, career development, etc.)
“Every year, the applications for our Excellence in Business Awards get better,” says NSCA Executive Director Chuck Wilson. “This honor is just one way NSCA recognizes integrators that have made significant transformations to achieve business goals, improve the customer experience, engage employees, differentiate themselves, and stay relevant.”
The Excellence in Business Awards will be presented at NSCA’s 20th annual Business & Leadership Conference, held Feb. 28-March 2, 2018, in Irving, TX. Winners will be honored during the Welcome Reception, where they will discuss their business strategies and transformations. For more information about the conference, or to register, go here. Leave a Comment
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Extron Introduces Compact Two-Channel Dante Audio Interface Extron Electronics just launched the new AXI 02 AT, a compact audio interface that extracts two channels from a Dante audio network. This 1/8 rack width Dante audio interface provides two channels of output to devices without Dante connectivity. It features two line level analog outputs and a mirrored two-channel S/PDIF output. The AXI 02 AT interfaces with any Dante-equipped audio device, such as an Extron DMP 128 Plus C AT, over a standard local area network and is powered through PoE. The AXI 02 AT is also compatible with Extron Rack Shelves and ZipClip mounting solutions.
“Dante is the preferred audio networking solution deployed by AV integrators across all professional AV environments,” says Casey Hall, vice president of world wide sales and marketing for Extron. “The AXI 02 AT provides a compact, cost-effective solution for taking two channels from the Dante network and providing the signal to local devices.”
Dante enables audio system scalability over a local area network using standard Internet protocols. The family of Dante-enabled products from Extron work together as part of a complete networked audio system solution and integrate with other Dante-enabled products to create efficient, scalable system designs. They accommodate a wide range of audio routing needs in a variety of applications.
All the specs on the AXI 02 AT are here. Leave a Comment
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Avenview Intros New Video Wall Solution — AVXWALL+Developed to be flexible, scalable and customizable, the AVXWALL series is a video wall solution that uses a modular processor, hot swappable I/O cards and is custom built and customized for each project.
AVXWALL+ is Avenview’s second-generation modular videowall processor that they say has a more powerful processor, more bandwidth and more featuresrequired for control rooms.
Built on a hardware platform, the AVXWALL+ uses FPGA processors (not a PC platform) and they say that means it’s not susceptible to system crashes, viruses or computer hacks. Startup time is very fast (less than 00:20 seconds) and each of the I/O cards are hot swappable — if any card needs to be upgraded or replaced, the entire system does not have to be shut down, thereby increasing uptime.
The AVXWALL+ is HDCP compliant, is available in multiple chassis sizes (from 2U – 28U), is capable of accommodating up to 156 inputs and 156 outputs and has an on screen display for full control of the AVXWALL+ with a mouse and keyboard connected directly to the unit.
Optional eight-port KVM cards are available to provide control of up to eight USB or HID compatible devices per card. The main operator can therefore have access to and control of multiple workstations with a single connected keyboard and mouse.
The optional confidence monitor card provides an output of the entire videowall to another screen for the operator to view, monitor, stream or record for backup and security purposes.
Here are all the tech specs. Leave a Comment
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Altinex Debuts TNP327 and TNP327C Interconnect Boxes Altinex just launched the TNP327 and TNP327C Tilt ‘N Plug tabletop interconnect boxes. Available in both standard and custom configurations, the TNP327 is designed for mounting into tables, podiums or other furniture as part of a presentation system. Inputs are accessed by pushing down on the top cover, allowing the unit to tilt open. The inputs are hidden by pressing down on the top cover until the latching mechanism engages. In its closed position, the top panel lies nearly flush with the table’s top — held in place by the latching mechanism.
In its stock configuration, the new Altinex TNP327 offers dual 12-amp grounded AC sockets, along with two RJ45 network connectors, two USB connectors and two HDMI pass-through cables. The passive cables are six feet in length and are bundled together for organized cable management. The power cable is split to deliver power to both outlets on the tabletop from a single AC plug.
The Altinex TNP327 Tilt ‘N Plug interconnect box is available now at $425 and $475 for custom configurations of the TNP327C. More information is here and here. Leave a Comment
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Gefen Ships 4K Scaler Gefen from Core Brands today announced that its 4K 600 MHz 1:2 Scaler with EDID Detective and Audio-De-Embedder (EXT-UHD600A-12-DS) is now shipping. Gefen says that it has independent scalers built into each of its two HDMI outputs and one output can downscale a 4K 600 MHz signal to 1080p while the other can upscale an HD signal to 4K Ultra HD 600 MHz. In addition to its scaling and splitting capabilities, the unit also features advanced EDID management with built in, pass-through and user EDID capabilities. Gefen claims the scaler has the capability to handle 4096×2160 to 60 Hz 4:4:4 and 4K Ultra HD 3860×2160 to 60 Hz, 4:4:4 — both at 10-bit color — with HDR-10.
The new 1:2 scaler also de-embeds audio from HDMI, and outputs it as L/R analog and TOSLINK Optical Digital Audio (2 channel LPCM, and up to 5.1 channels of Bitstream). Multichannel digital audio includes 7.1 channels of LPCM and HBR (High Bit Rate) digital audio formats, such as Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, DTS:X and DTS-HD Master Audio are passed through to both HDMI outputs.
The new Gefen scaler also supports 1080p Full HD, WUXGA (1920×1200 to 60 Hz), 3DTV (1080p) and 12-bit Deep Color (1080p).
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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Extron Intros New 4K/60 HDMI Distribution Amplifiers Extron just introduced the new DA HD 4K PLUS Series one input, multiple output distribution amplifiers for HDMI signals at resolutions up to 4K/60 @ 4:4:4 chroma sampling. The DA HD 4K PLUS Seriesare HDCP 2.2 compliant, and support data rates up to 18 Gbps, HDR, Deep Color up to 12-bit, 3D and HD lossless audio formats. They also include integrator-friendly features such as automatic input cable equalization, automatic color bit depth management and selectable output muting via RS232. The DA HD 4K PLUS Series distribution amplifiers are available in two, four and six output sizes and are ideal for applications that require the distribution of a 4K/60 HDMI source signal to multiple displays.
To enhance and simplify integration, front panel indicators provide easy monitoring and troubleshooting. Outputs can be muted independently via RS232, allowing content to be previewed on a local monitor. Also featured are Extron EDID Minder and Key Minder technologies to maintain continuous EDID communication between connected devices, ensuring simultaneous distribution of HDCP-encrypted source content. Each output on the DA HD 4K PLUS Series provides +5 VDC, 250 mA for powering peripheral devices.
The DA2 HD 4K PLUS is housed in a 1″ (2.5 cm) high, quarter rack width metal enclosure that can be mounted in a rack or discreetly installed beneath a desk. It includes an external, universal power supply for worldwide power compatibility. The DA4 HD 4K PLUS and DA6 HD 4K PLUS are housed in 1U high, half rack width metal enclosures, are rack-mountable and are equipped with internal universal power supplies.
Here are all the tech specs. Leave a Comment
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advoli Launches HDBaseT Certified PCIe Graphics Card Advoli Limited announced this week the advoli TA6 Graphics Card, claiming it to be the world’s first HDBaseT certified PCIe 16x graphics card. The TA6 Graphics Card, powered by the AMD Embedded Radeon E9550 Series GPU, delivers six HDBaseT channels with independent 4K (UHD) resolution videos over 100 meters distance, using CAT cables.
The full commercial launch of the advoli TA6 Graphics Card will be at ISE 2018 in Amsterdam, where advoli will have a live demo at the HDBaseT Alliance booth (Hall 5, Booth S100).
In addition to audio and video, the advoli TA6 Graphics Card comes with HDBaseT and cable diagnostics, pass-through IR (in/out), full emulated controls — encoding/decoding of IR, RS232 and CEC signals through serial command interface. These features and remote diagnostic capabilities simplify support for system integrators of audiovisual installations.
The advoli TA6 Graphics Card has a modular design, and can use various Type A and Type B MXM modules, allowing for easy upgrades to more processing power in the future. The advoli TA6 Graphics Card provides a high–performance experience, thanks to the integrated AMD Embedded Radeon E9550 Series GPU. No custom advoli drivers are needed. Future TA6 Graphics Cards will be available with lower processing power, delivering FHD over 150 meters per hop, targeting lower cost and greater distance installations.
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Optoma Intros New Line of High Brightness Projectors for Classroom and Corporate Environments Optoma today announced five new projectors designed to bring high brightness into classrooms, corporate boardrooms and multipurpose offices: the WU465, EH465, EH460ST, W460 and X460.
The Optoma WU465 and Optoma EH465 are WUXGA (1920×1200) and 1920×1080 HD resolution projector spec’d at 4,800 lumens of brightness, a 20,000:1 contrast ratio and a 1: 1.5x zoom ratio. Pricing is $1,299 and $1,199, respectively.
The Optoma EH460ST is 1920×1080 HD resolution and also spec’d at a 20,000:1 contrast ratio but at 4,200 lumens. It’s priced at $1,099.
The Optoma W460 and Optoma X460 are WXGA (1280×800) and XGA (1024×768) resolution respectively, are also 20,000:1 contrast ratio and have a 1:1.2x zoom. The Optoma W460 is spec’d at 4,600 lumens of brightness, and the Optoma X460 4,500 lumens and they are available for $849 and $799, respectively.
All of the new Optoma 460 and 465 models feature two HDMI inputs (with MHL as well as VGA-in/out, audio-in/out, RJ45, USB reader and RS232C. These projectors also provide both USB display screen mirroring and wireless screen mirroring capabilities for Android, iOS, PC, Mac OS X and Windows devices.
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Delta Launches Indoor LED with new FE Series Family Delta Display Solutions’ new FE Series Fine Pitch Indoor LEDs are designed for high ambient light environments and come in 1.26, 1.58, 1.9 and 2.5mm pixel pitches. And Delta now offers the LED cabinets in pre-configured sizes ranging from 110” to 220” in full HD and 220” up to 440” in UHD resolution. The fine-pitch pixels choices and size configurations accommodate a wide range of viewing distances and applications. Each is in an exact 16:9 aspect ratio, which fits standard content supplied via many sources.
The aluminum die-cast frame is designed so that each LED module attaches magnetically to the cabinet.
Key specs:
- Each individual cabinet has a 16:9 aspect ratio with a 27″ diagonal
- Full-HD configurations available in 110”, 137”, 165” and 220” diagonal
- UHD configurations available in 220”, 275”, 330” and 440” diagonal
- Front installation options
- Certified UL, CB, CE, FCC, CCC
Delta’s FE Series of indoor LED Display Systems start from 75,000 EUR, not including installation. Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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Primeview Expands LED Poster Offerings With New Indoor and Outdoor Rated OptionsPrimeview announces new outdoor and indoor LED Poster digital signage offerings designed for wayfinding, advertising, digital merchandising, concierge and self-service applications.
Designed to support both indoor and outdoor signage needs, Primeview’s says the posters are easy to install, operate and maintained are 24/7 rated.
Primeview’s 1.9-millimeter (PRVLED19PSTR) indoor LED Posters feature various installation options, easy operation, multiple communication modes, high-brightness and low power consumption. The posters can mount in multiple ways such as easel, kiosk, wall and ceilings. Weighing just under 80 pounds, the posters have a thin footprint.
Primeview’s outdoor LED Posters are available in single (PRVLED39ODPSTR-S) and double-sided (PRVLED39ODPSTR-D) versions. Having a total 3.9-millimeter pixel pitch depth, Primeview’s outdoor LED Posters can bring effective advertising value to any environment. Also included are thermostat-controlled fans that quietly adjust to the environment from inside to ensure optimal operating temperature.
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Sharp Launches Ultra-Thin Bezel 55″ PN-V550A MonitorSharp expands its PN-V video wall series with the launch of its 55″ Class (54.6″ diagonal) PN-V55 0A LED ultra-slim bezel professional monitor. With a bezel-to-bezel width of just 3.5 millimeters, the PN-V550A features Sharp ’s Uniform Color Calibration Technology (UCCT).
The PN-V550A monitor is native HD (1920×1080) resolution with a brightness spec of 500 cd/m2 designed for digital, signage and video wall applications. Sharp says their video walls are easy to assemble and control via RS232C or the network. Four monitors set up in a 2×2 configuration, for example, is 4K (3840×2160 pixels), equivalent to a 110″ Class (109.2″ diagonal) screen. Optional Mirror Frames in video walls help lessen the visible lines between monitors by reflecting images of the display content. Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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Magewell Intros New Pro Capture HDMI 4K Plus LTMagewell is now shipping the Pro Capture HDMI 4K Plus LT, the latest member of the company’s Pro Capture family of PCI Express capture hardware. The new model extends the powerful feature set of the previously-released Pro Capture HDMI 4K Plus with HDMI signal loop-through connectivity to simplify wiring and workflows. Like the earlier model, the Pro Capture HDMI 4K Plus LT captures video up to 4096×2160 at 60 frames per second over an HDMI 2.0 input interface, enabling high-quality Ultra HD acquisition for markets and applications including broadcast, medical imaging, gaming, streaming, surveillance and virtual reality (VR) production. The new loop-through connection reduces workflow costs and complexity by enabling source signals to be sent simultaneously to additional displays or equipment without the need for an external HDMI splitter. The new loop-through capabilities deliver these benefits for any type of user but will be particularly popular with price-sensitive gamers, who can now record and live-stream their 4K gaming sessions at 60fps from the HDMI output of their game console without requiring a splitter to also connect their monitor. As with all Magewell Pro Capture cards, input video — along with embedded audio — can be sent to multiple software applications simultaneously, with independent control of the resolution, frame rate and video processing settings for each. 10-bit, FPGA-based video processing provides high-quality up/down/cross-conversion, graphic overlay, de-interlacing and more without taking valuable host system CPU cycles away from third-party software. The Pro Capture HDMI 4K Plus LT supports Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems and is compatible with all popular encoding, streaming, live production, web conferencing, lecture capture, medical imaging and VR creation software. A comprehensive SDK lets third-party developers directly leverage the full feature set of Magewell cards in custom software applications and turnkey solutions. The new Pro Capture HDMI 4K Plus LT is available now. Here are the details.Leave a Comment
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FSR Receives Patent for Innovative Fire-Resistant Wall Box Technology FSR just told us that that it has received a patent on its PWB-FR-450 Fire-Rated Wall Box, the latest offering in its popular PWB series.
The large capacity PWB-FR-450 incorporates fire-resistant intumescent material within the door and its mounting frame for up to 60 minutes of protection. The unique box is completely code-compliant and eliminates the need for constructing double walls. When closed, the PWB-FR-450’s cover is flush to the wall enabling displays to be mounted as close as possible, but also allowing ample room for all other in-wall connections. The innovative cover design provides two large openings, one top and one bottom. These openings provide convection cooling of active components as well as cable exits for multiple connections to the display.
The PWB-FR-450 can accommodate Crestron’s DM-RMC-4K-SCALAR-C receiver/room controller or three AC outlets and four single gang compartments to meet the needs of nearly any installation.
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