Stretching Your CEDIA EXPO Dollars Stay Tuned for Social Media Discounts on Your CEDIA EXPO Registration Everyone loves a good deal, right? Stay tuned into CEDIA’s social media updates for discounts codes valid on your CEDIA EXPO registration. Follow @CEDIA on Twitter, like the CEDIA Facebook page or join the CEDIA Group on LinkedIn and keep current on all the latest CEDIA EXPO news.
Check Out Updated Deals on Flights
New this year, CEDIA is helping you find the best deals on airfare. According to U.S. Department of Transportation data, Indianapolis’ average domestic fare ($279.61) is lower than the national average of $306.38. Click here for a list of flight options, updated weekly.
Take Advantage of these Awesome Free Events at CEDIA EXPO
The Future Technology Pavilion – The 2011 Future Technology Pavilion will simulate a future home environment, with rooms focused on technologies for the living room, kitchen, bath, bedroom, game room and garage. The Future Technology Pavilion provides insight on what you need to learn now to be profitable later. Make sure your schedule includes a visit to this year’s pavilion. Click here to learn more
The Annual Keynote Breakfast – Learn ways to thrive in the “new normal” economy from Tim Costello, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Builder Homesite, Inc., and New Home Technologies, LLC, at the Keynote Breakfast, September 9 at 8:30 a.m.
Costello will help you learn how to identify business opportunities as the building industry continues to adjust to a future that looks significantly different from the past. Attendees will learn about drivers of the current economy and how to capitalize on the change. The Keynote Breakfast is free to attend and will take place in the 500 Ballroom of the Indiana Convention Center. Check out the special events page here to learn more.
CEDIA EXPO Half Time Show – CEDIA has combined the popular Michael Heiss/Rich Green Pre-Game and Post-Game Show into a single Half-Time Show. We’ll give you the highlights of what is new on the show floor while you still have time to check them out for yourself. Like any good sporting event, we will have audience participation, so bring your own finds from the EXPO floor and share them with your peers. This all-new format will let you make the most of your CEDIA EXPO experience by helping make sure you don’t miss a thing.
Back to Top Discounts Available on CEDIA Benchmarking Surveys Ordered Before September 11 Looking for industry statistics on gross revenues, employee compensation, project types and sizes, product usage, or marketing strategies? It’s all in the CEDIA Benchmarking Survey. Check out some of the key findings here. The CEDIA Benchmarking Survey is a valuable external reference and provides best practices to evaluate, design, and improve business operations. A CEDIA EXPO show rate is available for the Benchmarking Survey. A discount of 35% is available for all reports pre-ordered before Sept. 11 through the CEDIA Marketplace.
Back to Top Sharp Launches EliteLED Line of HDTVs Sharp is bringing back the Elite moniker in the form of the new Elite LED LCD TV line that will launch later this month. The Elite line of HDTVs will be the brands new flagship product carrying the high-end price and branding from Sharp. Elite LED LCD TVs will be available in 60" and 70" initially, with larger and smaller sizes debuting in 2012.
You can see the new line here: http://www.EliteLCDTV.com Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top NEC Launches 2nd Generation E Series LCDs NEC Display today added a few models to its entry-grade E Series large-screen displays, including 32-inch (E322), 42-inch (E422), 46-inch (E462) and 55-inch (E552) models that are aimed at digital signage, solutions for conference rooms, retail stores, waiting rooms and corporate lobbies.
Adding RS-232 control, the E Series include an integrated USB media player, 1080p native resolution, 3 HDMI inputs (as well as component and VGA connectivity), 5000:1 contrast ratio and a built-in ATSC tuner. All four models will ship in August at a list price of $449, $699, $899 and $1349, respectively.
If you want to see all the specs, go here: http://www.necdisplay.com/category/large-screen-displays Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top Sonance Ships In-Ground Subs The long-awaited in-ground subwoofer line from Sonance is now shipping. Both the LS10SUB (10") and the LS12SUB (12") started shipping this month and are compatible with 70-volt systems (outputting 100 and 200 watts, respectively). Both are part of the Landscape Series from Sonance.
The concept behind the Sonance Landscape Series uses strategically placed “satellite” speakers that are hidden within garden beds or in amongst the foliage of trees. A subwoofer enclosure is then buried under ground or within shrubs, with just an earth-colored hood dispersing sound perfectly. It’s all about blending discreetly into the surroundings. The Sonance Landscape Series satellites are constructed of a high quality PVC composite molded with UV-stable color for durability, and a powder coated steel mesh to protect vital speaker parts. The LS10SUB features a textured coating around the subwoofer enclosure and a “Hammertone” powder coated finish on the canopy for strength and camouflage.
The Sonance Landscape Series was designed to operate under the most extreme weather conditions, from -20° to 190° Fahrenheit (-29° to 88° Celsius). Durable and lightweight materials, triple sealed enclosures and waterproof connectors, combined with marine grade components allow Sonance Landscape Series speakers to stand up to the harshest surf, sun, sand, snow and salt, according to the company.
If you want more details, download this [PDF]: https://www.ravepubs.com/utility/images/sonance-landscapebrochure.pdf Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top NAD Ships Network-Based Audio Amp NAD's new C 446, designed as a streaming audio receiver, has started shipping. Capable of streaming via a network (wirelessly) from computers, Android phones, Apple iOS devices or network hard drives is also integrated with Internet radio and conventional FM/AM radio too. The C 446 supports MP3, FLAC, WMA, WAV, and AAC file formats via UPnP and DLNA.
The $800 C 446 also includes USB playback, Wi-Fi control, a user-friendly Internet radio portal, support for cloud music services, such as Last.fm and has RS232 control.
To see all the specs, go here: http://nadelectronics.com/products/tuners/C-446-Digital-Media-Tuner Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top Onkyo Adds AUPEO! and Last.fm to Receiver Line Just this week, Onkyo added support for the global AUPEO! Personal Radio service and expanded support for Last.fm on all its network-capable A/V receivers. The AUPEO! service, delivered online and free of charge, offers a wide range of more than 120 specialized music channels for users to choose from. Last.fm is a also an Internet Radio service, but it differentiates itself by offering live concerts, the ability to network with other listeners and customize listening preferences.
AUPEO! and Last.fm functionality will be incorporated on all new 2011 Onkyo network receivers. A firmware upgrade for current owners of 2011 Onkyo network receivers was made available for a network upgrade starting August 8th.
For more information on Last.fm, go here: http://www.last.fm/
For more information on AUPEO!, go here: https://www.aupeo.com/ Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top New 1080p 24" Touch Panel from Crestron Ships This month, Crestron announced that the V24-C 24" HD Touch Screen, an addition to its family of high-definition V-Panel touch screens, is now available. The V24-C is a 24" touch screen control system that also allows for streaming video (including HDCP-compliant, content-protected DVDs, Blu-ray discs HDTV signals) and music, Web surfing, real-time onscreen annotation and more without requiring a separate computer. Offering a 178-degree horizontal and vertical viewing angle, the V24-C includes a built-in HD scaler that converts anything in to a 1920x1080p output and includes a mount that allows it to be viewed and used horizontally or vertically.
For all the specs, go here. Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top RTI's Pro Control Brand to Ship Following CEDIA In a market that's probably the one of the most crowded in HomeAV, it's tough to differentiate if you're a control system manufacturer, but RTI's Pro Control brand is banking on price as its differentiating factor. The company's mantra is "professional-grade control systems at mainstream prices."
Its launch products will be two remotes and two control processors.
The Remotes: The PRO24.r and PRO24.z both feature 2.4-inch LCD touch screens and programmable backlit hard buttons packaged with a wizard-based software for programming for integrators. The PRO24.r (MSRP $249) and PRO24.z (MSRP $449) are targeted for release in September.
The processors: The ProLink.r and ProLink.z processors include routable IR ports with adjustable output strength, two RS232 ports and an Ethernet port, as well as two voltage-sensing inputs for management of connected devices. The ProLink.z processor with integrated 2.4-GHz Zigbee antenna provides advanced control via six IR output ports, an Ethernet port for network control of a virtually unlimited number of devices and two two-way RS-232 ports for bidirectional communication. The ProLink.r features an integrated 433-MHz RF antenna for one-way communication via the PRO24.r touch screen controller. Both processors integrate with iPhone, iPod touch, iPad or PCs and are customizable via the wizard-based Pro Control software. The ProLink.r (MSRP $249) and ProLink.z (MSRP $449) are also targeted for release in September.
For complete specs or to become an integrator, go to: http://www.procontrol.com/ Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top RTI Debuts iPhone and iPad App Remote Technologies Incorporated's (RTI) RTiPanel App for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad is finally available on the Apple Store. Originally launched back in June at InfoComm, the App has some unique features such as two-way feedback, a customizable user interface (something nearly no control apps have) and highly optimized connection speeds. The App provides complete control over any RTI control system with an XP series control processor. rAVe NOW actually shot a video of it at InfoComm, which you can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEpWuGxEOFA
To download the free App, go here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rtipanel/id454328684?mt=8 Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top NAD Debuts $900 3D Receiver NAD announced the immediate availability of the NAD T 748 ($900 MSRP), an affordable AV receiver that provides support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio surround sound formats and digital video technology, including 3D. Integrated with four HDMI inputs and upscaling for all the analog ports to 1080p via the HDMI output, the T748 also includes an Audio Return Channel (ARC) and Consumer Electronic Control (CEC).
To read all the specs, go here: http://nadelectronics.com/products/av-receivers/T-748-A/V-Surround-Sound-Receiver Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top Premier Debuts SoundBar/VTC Camera Shelf Premier Mounts recently debuted a new Universal Sound Bar and Camera Shelf, SHLF-SB. The new universal sound bar shelf attaches to Premier Mounts’ P-Series of low profile flat-panel mounts and ECM ceiling mounts. It allows users to mount a sound bar or multiple security cameras below a flat-panel display. According to Premier, virtually any size sound bar can be mounted to this versatile shelf because of its universal mounting arms. Mounting multiple security cameras below a flat-panel display is possible with this new shelf. Five holes spaced evenly along the bar that accept ¼”-20 screws allow for multiple cameras to be mounted for a variety of views.
To see all the specs, go here: http://www.premiermounts.com/product?product=SHLF-SB Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top SnapAV Enters Home Security Market SnapAV's new Wirepath Surveillance line consists of eight cameras (dome and bullet styles at four levels of performance) and three Digital Video Recorders (one basic and one advanced), all controllable via a web browser, an iPhone or Android phone. And, most of the Wirepath Surveillance products are already shipping.
For complete details, go here: http://snapav.com/c-97-surveillance.aspx Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top New $66 Universal Compression Tool Platinum Tools just launched what it is calling the PROCON compression tool, designed as an all-in-one tool for handling RG6, RG6Q/6, RG11/7 connectors as well as F, BNC and RCA.
Built of carbon steel, it uses a rotating head switch, has an adjustable crimp stroke and includes a guide rule on the side of the tool. It lists for only $66 and you can learn more here: http://www.platinumtools.com/products/16213.php?cat=4 Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top Channel Vision Adds Access Control Door Stations to Front Door Intercom Line Channel Vision has added the Access Control Door Stations (DS-3 Series) to its Front Door Intercom line. The DS-3 Series is a three-gang door station that integrates a weather-resistant speaker/microphone, doorbell button, access control keypad and color camera into one entry unit. Available in three configurations, integrators can choose from models that can integrate seamlessly with Channel Vision’s telephone entry products, Channel Vision’s Whole-House CAT5 Intercom Hub, or Panasonics’s popular KSU phone systems. To provide the added security of video identification, an additional option of a hidden color camera is available.
Channel Vision’s DS-3 faceplates are now available in four alloy finishes including Polished Brass, Antique Brass, Oil Rubbed Bronze and Satin Nickel. You can get all the specs here: http://www.channelvision.com Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top SnapAV Adds New HDMI Over Coax Extender Need to send HDMI all over a house that's already pre-wired (but was wired in the 1980s or even 1990s) with Coax, not Cat5? Well, SnapAV's new Binary Single Coax Extender (HDMI 1.3) can send HDMI and IR signals up to 400 feet via RG6 cable. Although this extender doesn't support 3D or 480p, it does support 480i, 720p and 1080i/p at 60Hz and includes both an IR receiver and transmitter port on each end — allowing for bi-directional IR.
If you want to read all the specs, go here: http://www.snapav.com/p-944-b-400-1coax-hdir.aspx Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top LiteTouch Launches Keypad Design/Demo App for iOS The LiteTouch Keypad Studio app — for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad — is a new tool that allows designers, dealers, and homeowners to create virtual representations of the countless keypad combinations available with a LiteTouch lighting control system. LiteTouch keypads are available in 32 finishes, ranging from rich oil-rubbed bronze and satin nickel to bold ocean and simple white. Using the Keypad Studio app, users can pair the faceplate finish with button, engraving, and LED color selections.
The Keypad Studio app is available now as a free download at the iTunes App Store here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/litetouch-keypad-studio/id439286551?mt=8 Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top ESPN 3D to Televise 20 Regular Season College Football Games in 2011 ESPN 3D will double the amount of college football telecasts this year as the network plans to air 20 regular-season games, along with the Allstate BCS National Championship and five postseason bowl games. The network will kick off its second year of extensive college football coverage with two games in five days over Labor Day weekend when UNLV travels to Wisconsin on Thurs., Sept. 1, at 8 p.m. ET with Miami at Maryland on Mon., Sept. 5, at 8 p.m.
The 2011 season marks the return of Miami, Oregon, USC, UCLA, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin to the ESPN 3D schedule and the addition of multiple top programs highlighted by LSU, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, and Texas. It will also be the second straight year the network will air the Dr. Pepper ACC Championship game, slated for Sat., Dec. 3, at 8 p.m.
Here's the entire 2011 Schedule of 3D games:
Thurs, Sept. 1 8 p.m. UNLV at Wisconsin
Mon, Sept. 5 8 p.m. Miami at Maryland
Thurs, Sept. 8 8 p.m. Arizona at Oklahoma State
Sat, Sept. 10 7 p.m. BYU at Texas
Thurs, Sept. 15 8 p.m. LSU at Mississippi State
Thurs, Sept. 22 8 p.m. NC State at Cincinnati
Sat., Sept. 24 TBD TBD
Thurs, Sept. 29 8 p.m. South Florida at Pittsburgh
Sat., Oct. 1 TBD TBD
Thurs, Oct. 6 9 p.m. California at Oregon
Thurs, Oct. 13 9 p.m. USC at California
Sat., Oct. 15 TBD TBD
Thurs, Oct. 20 9 p.m. UCLA at Arizona
Thurs, Oct. 27 8 p.m. Virginia at Miami
Tues, Nov. 1 7 p.m. Northern Illinois at Toledo
Fri, Nov. 4 9 p.m. USC at Colorado
Thurs, Nov. 17 8 p.m. North Carolina at Virginia Tech
Sat., Nov. 19 TBD TBD
Thurs, Dec. 1 8 p.m. West Virginia at South Florida
Sat, Dec. 3 8 p.m. Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game
Sat, Dec. 17 9 p.m. R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Tues, Dec. 20 8 p.m. Beef O’Brady’s Bowl St. Petersburg
Thurs, Dec. 29 5:30 p.m. Champs Sports Bowl
Sat, Dec. 31 7:30 p.m. Chick-fil-A Bowl
Mon, Jan. 2 1 p.m. Capital One Bowl
Mon, Jan. 9 8:30 p.m. Allstate BCS National Championship Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top This Week from rAVe NOW's BlogSquad Recently, new rAVe BlogSquadder Chris Bingham talked about the value of a minute of your time, or your team's time, and how you can use it to decide when to say "no" – a valuable skill for any business owner or manager. In contrast, George Tucker discusses the value of uselessness, or what he calls "tinkering," and all the valuable technology that has come from engineers and techies tinkering away in their garages or workstations. Finally, Australian blogger and AV insider Jane Timmins evaluates her experience at Crestron's DigitalMedia Certification course and rAVe columnist Lee Distad analyzes Sharp's decision to bring back the previously-defunct Elite brand of LCD TVs. Back to Top Crestron Hires Andy Bennett as Residential Regional Sales Manager Crestron has announced Andy Bennett as its residential regional sales manager, covering southern California. Bennett most recently worked for Novidor and Firestone, where he was southwest territory manager. To read the complete press release online, click here. Back to Top SpectraCal Announces Training Dates and Locations SpectraCal is presenting several upcoming courses, such as Basic and Advanced Video Calibration and ISF Commercial, lead by instructors such as Joel Silver and Alan Brawn. To see all course locations and dates, click here. Back to Top CEDIA Announces Manufacturers' Excellence Award Finalists CEDIA has announced the finalists for its Manufacturers' Excellence Awards competition. The winners will be announced at the Electronic Lifestyles Awards banquet on Sat., Sept. 10 during CEDIA EXPO 2011. To read the complete press release online and see all the nominees, click here. Back to Top CEDIA Board of Directors Call for Nominations CEDIA is calling for nominations for its Board of Directors for the 2012-2013 calendar year. Four positions are open. Candidates should posess strong leadership qualities, vision and industry perspective. Nominations are due by Aug. 15, 2011. You may nominate yourself. Click here to nominate: http://www.cedia.net/l/24911/78402/ Back to Top CEDIA Tech Council Releases Second Emerging Trends Video The CEDIA Technology Council recently released its second video in its ongoing series on emerging trends. The video series aims to help CEDIA members of the electronic systems industry stay informed of opportunities and threats. To see the video, click here: http://www.cedia.net/l/24972/106554/ To read the complete press release online, click here. Back to Top Savant Adds Channel Vision to Partners in Excellence Program Savant Systems LLC has announced the addition of Channel Vision to its Partners in Excellence cooperative program as a Premier Partner. Premier Partners develop their own product profiles and can promote new products and their compatibility with the Savant environment to their customer bases. To read the complete press release online, click here. Back to Top 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.
To read more about my background, our team, and what we do, go to https://www.ravepubs.com Back to Top Copyright 2011 – rAVe [Publications] – All rights reserved. For reprint policies, contact rAVe [Publications], 210 Old Barn Ln. – Chapel Hill, NC 27517 – 919/969-7501. Email: sara@ravepubs.com
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. |