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Volume 9, Issue 23 — December 12, 2012
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The Holiday Season And AV Pros
By Lee Distad
rAVe Columnist It’s almost mid-December already and the holiday selling season is well underway. By now I’m sure that veteran AV pros all have their stockings hung by the chimney, with care. And, if you’re anything like me, counting your blessings that you’re not in retail.
Seasoned retailers are well aware that the holiday season can be a real Gong Show, for better or for worse: long hours, long lines at the registers and product piled high and deep. Fortunately for most AV Pros, unless they’re a hybrid retailer/integrator, it is just another month. And for commercial integration specialists it can actually be kind of slow.
I remember my first December in AV installation after years in retail. Keeping normal 9-to-5 office hours was a shock to the system, not to mention not having to go to work on Boxing Day!
Not only that, but we also don’t load up on inventory for the holidays. Because integrators only buy for projects on a just-in-time basis, you just don’t get the volume prices or rebate incentives that retailers get by ordering huge numbers of boxes at once. All that might qualify as out of the ordinary is a few quick projects from clients who absolutely need them installed before Christmas. Fortunately, jobsite scheduling on new construction slows down so it’s easy to be flexible to accommodate rush jobs.
It’s clear then that the impact that the holiday season has on dealers in the custom channel depends largely on their participation in the retail trade. Regardless, the dealers I spoke with all take steps to tackle the holiday season according to their priorities.
But while the sales and installation business might not be as frenetic as retail, that doesn’t mean that system monitoring and service calls get a reprieve. With the number of clients entertaining at home at this time of year, it’s guaranteed that if someone’s AV system is going to act up now is the time.
There’s any number of reasons why a service may be required over the holidays; but regardless, whether small and minor or more serious, if you’re prepared, this is your company’s chance to play the hero.
For starters, be proactive, rather than reactive. A lot of clients won’t bother to call over trivial glitches, even if it bugs them. That’s why it pays to make regular follow-up calls. In a friendly out of the blue chat, a client is more likely to say, “Oh by the way, sometimes the channel that I want doesn’t select when I press it.”
So call them up to wish them a Christmas, Chanukah or even a Zarathustra greeting, and politely ask how things are going. You might even drum up a spontaneous sale (although that’s not your number one priority here), and if they admit to a minor problem that can be addressed before it becomes major, then great!
Also, expect to be on call: Maintain regular office hours, even if you abbreviate them over the holiday. That way you’re available immediately on the phone if any clients have concerns about their systems. Outside normal hours, leave an emergency number on your office voice mail message. Quite often, many calls can be resolved via either your remote access to their automation system or, if you’re old school, a quick tutorial over the phone.
The best thing about IP-enabled automation hardware is that in the event of a service issue, all that’s needed is a laptop and an Internet connection, and your tech is able to log on to the client’s system and check their software and its settings, or hardboot a glitching HD-PVR without having to leave home, not to mention allowing them to go to even greater lengths to service clients, such as fixing the system at their winter home in Hawaii or out in the country.
Proper preparation prevents poor performance (you might have heard me say that before). Prepare to be able to effectively address client’s system issues over the holidays, and that will help keep them merry and bright.
Lee Distad is a rAVe columnist and freelance writer covering topics from CE to global business and finance in both print and online. Reach him at lee@ravepubs.com
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We're Under Attack By… The Electrical Unions
By Gary Kayye
rAVe Founder In states all over the country, electrical unions are trying to convince state and local governments that low-voltage installs need to be handled by them.
That's right — to keep people safe from the 5-, 7-, 11- and 12-volt signals (and, of course 70-volt audio systems too) running down speaker wire, Ethernet cables, RS232 cabling and through HDMI ports, apparently we need electricians pulling, terminating and interconnecting those wires. Not to mention, making sure it's all done right.
Give me a break. This is a scam. You know it, I know it and the electrical unions nationwide know it.
So, why are they doing this? More and more signals can travel the low voltage way (e.g., we can power and charge tablets and phones via USB and we can run security cameras and control systems via PoE — power-over-Ethernet) and soon TVs and projectors will be powered via HDMI and Cat5 – no high-voltage cabling required. So, the need for the over-priced, high voltage contractor will soon be diminished to just rough-ins.
The union is coming to the rescue… of their members (not the consumers!).
If this happens in the states where legislations is pending (California, New Jersey, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania and a handful of states in and around New England), this will spell disaster all-around.
The price of installs will go up. The price of gear will go up and the time to do an install will go up — costing everyone more money — and adding someone that, to be frank, isn't needed on the job site.
In fact, what will likely happen, if it does pass, is what you saw in that scene from The Sopranos: There's a construction site and the union boss is sitting in a folding chair at the job site watching the lower-skilled laborers do the work — all the while he is "certifying" it as passing union construction standards. We'll all be required to have a high-voltage electrician sitting on a job site watching us do installs — we just have to pay him off to "certify" the installation since we're working with the super-deadly, 5-volt power coming from a USB-powered VTC camera.
We will just have to provide the folding chair.
Gary Kayye is the founder of rAVe [Publications]. Reach him at gary@ravepubs.com
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Internet Connected LED Light Bulb Comes Home
By Phil Wright
Display Daily Hue, a new product from Philips that is just now reaching market in the Apple store, combines several of my interests including LED lighting, smartphones, tablets, displays, wireless networking and the Internet in intriguing fashion. The Hue lighting system allows the user to wirelessly and remotely control the lighting intensity and color of up to 50 individual Hue bulbs using a smartphone or tablet application.
Starting with the Hue website, www.meethue.com, which is an interesting example of modern web design, to the video below that illustrates the use of the Hue Personal Wireless Lighting system, Philips is launching a product that may appeal to a new and growing consumer electronics market.
The “Philips Hue Connected Bulb – Starter Pack” ($199.95 at the Apple store) consists of three Hue LED light bulbs, a Hue bridge to wirelessly connect the bulbs, and a LAN cable to connect the bridge to a wireless router. The bridge connects to each bulb using the open ZigBee Light Link wireless standard. Each Hue light bulb provides a maximum of 600 lumens (comparable to a 50 watt incandescent bulb) while dissipating only 8.5 watt (80 percent more efficient than the incandescent). The lamp can achieve white light color rendering index (CRI) greater than 90.
Additional bulbs can be purchased for $59.95 each and the bridge can control up to 50 bulbs. Although the Hue system and bulbs are initially only available from the Apple store, an Android OS app (beta version) is available in addition to the iOS version. That Philips has chosen to introduce Hue in cooperation with Apple suggests that the firm is seeking to connect with well-heeled consumers that favor Apple's products.
The Philips Hue Lighting System joins products like the Nest wireless learning thermostat as a recent addition to the home automation market. I expect that the market success of these products will depend strongly on price. For example, if the Philips Hue Starter Pack and 47 additional bulbs were purchased, the resulting cost would be more than $3,000. Of course, few if any home users of the system would require as many as 50 lamps. An initial installation of the Hue system with five or six of the bulbs would cost less than $400. Of course, that is in addition to the cost of a smartphone or tablet which many users have likely already purchased. Time will tell if these relatively sophisticated Internet-controlled lighting systems will attain wide market acceptance. Nevertheless, Internet connectivity of household items will likely become more widely deployed as the “Internet of things” based on wireless technologies like ZigBee Light Link becomes the new reality.
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Share Article Back to Top Kaleidescape Promotes Warner Bros Deal as "Game Changer;" I Say "NOT"
By Gary Kayye
rAVe Founder Yesterday, Kaleidescape announced it signed a multi-year agreement with Warner Bros. Digital Distribution to offer films for purchase. In addition, the company will upgrade all Warner Bros. titles purchased through the Kaleidescape Store to UltraViolet in March 2013. The company went as far as saying that the UltraViolet deal is, "giving users a powerful way to enjoy their collection across their various devices." This agreement also enables a Kaleidescape owner to convert Warner Bros. titles that were previously imported to their Kaleidescape movie server to UltraViolet or to upgrade their Warner Bros. titles from standard definition to high definition – both for a small fee.
Well, first of all, UltraViolet is stupid. In fact, just Google "UltraViolet failure" and see how many articles just simply talk about how much of a failure it is and how people aren't using it. Still don't believe us? Well, how about Googling "Ultraviolet success." You'll see that even when changing the word from failure to success even most of the articles that Google finds talk about the system's failure to gain any successful traction.
So, no Kaleidescape, this is NOT a so-called game changer. Why in the heck would anyone buy into this when you can get content like this using iTunes and an AppleTV or a ROKU media player? Seriously?
They explained in the press announcement that, “We couldn’t be more excited about working with Warner Bros. and offering this extensive catalog of well-known and well-loved titles to our customers,” said Michael Malcolm, founder, chairman and CEO of Kaleidescape. “In addition, the inclusion of UltraViolet in our service will give owners of Kaleidescape movie servers a whole new way to enjoy their content.”
Through this licensing agreement, Kaleidescape System owners will initially have the ability to buy thousands of Warner Bros. titles via the Kaleidescape Store. When UltraViolet functionality is launched in March 2013, available titles that are purchased now will be automatically upgraded to UltraViolet at no additional charge. These titles can then be accessed through UltraViolet compatible applications including Flixster.
Good luck with this…
Here's how you find Kaleidescape: http://www.kaleidescape.com/
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Share Article Back to Top Take Your Choice — Screens, Pipes, Content
By Andy Marken
Marken Communications “The wick is almost out, Felix. All I want is for the candle to glow one last time rather than curse the darkness.” – Oscar Madison, “The Odd Couple II,” Paramount, 1998
Source – “The Odd Couple II,” Paramount
Our office system was recently used to watch three segments of Yahoo’s mini-series Cybergeddon (the nine segments total 95 minutes). Except for the less-than-subtle product placement, it was as good as lots of movies and better than most TV fare. Then, as a family, we used our large-screen, interconnected TV to watch the presidential debates. OK, not as “a family,” but we were in the same room.
The wife watched the big screen and another analysis on her ultrabook.
Our son streamed it from YouTube on his iPad.
Our daughter watched and Tweeted on her smartphone.
I watched a little of everyone’s on everything and was reminded of Oscar’s comments, “I don't care. I agreed. I did my part.”
The Only Screen that Matters
It reminded me of recent comments by Mitch Joel, president of Twist Image, “The only screen that matters is the screen that is in front of you.”
It really doesn’t matter which one you’re using for your news, information and entertainment.
If you’re pushing TVs, you say that nothing is better or more versatile than an interconnected TV — especially one that’s 3D and, after CES (Consumer Electronics Show), will have a 4K screen (super, super HD).
There’s no 4K content on the horizon, but what the heck!
If you’re looking to move a lot of iPads, you say there’s nothing more versatile for enjoying anywhere than a new iPad — better yet, a new iPad + iPad Mini. Of course, when/if iTV arrives, you’ll modify your pitch.
If you’re Motorola or Nokia, you say your smartphone is clearly the best.
If you sell all of the options, it just doesn’t matter… just buy ‘em!
Since what seems like the beginning of time, there was always a TV set in the home. Everyone gathered around it, ate their microwave dinners and watched whatever was on. It isn’t really a profitable business for the manufacturers, but there’s great volume and is becoming a flickering bright light for the CEA (Consumer Electronics Association) that runs CES.
Pushing Screens
To keep the factories humming, the “brands” made a convincing case for more screens — family room, bedroom, media room, out by the pool, kitchen — the more, the merrier.
Then, suddenly people began streaming and downloading video, rather than watching whatever the networks, stations, cable folks decided they should watch. Folks could leave the TV and watch stuff anywhere, everywhere with their phone, tablet, laptop.
The television — the very foundation of the home — is becoming just another screen.
Oscar looked concerned and said, “Maybe he's just bluffing.” To keep up, set makers are pushing Web-connected televisions loaded with apps (Netflix, Vudu, Hulu, etc).
The industry tried (and is still trying) 3D, but that hasn’t been very successful because you’re still tied to “their” content and there’s so much more available!
According to NPD and Nielsen, even with all of the viewing options, the TV set is still the family video viewing solution of choice.
NPD said that 45 percent of the web video watched is on the TV set, taking over the #1 spot from the PC. Not that the TV set is necessarily connected to the iNet like the manufacturers envisioned, but there are more options:
- 43 percent connected TVs
- 47 percent video game consoles (Wii, Xbox 360, PS3)
- 62 percent streaming media players (Roku, Boxee, Apple TV)
- 38 percent computers with direct wired connection to TV
- 21 percent of BD players
Pushing Content
The switch to Web TV has physical cable and networks a little concerned because it means people like Yahoo!, Google, Amazon, Apple and others around the globe could have greater entertainment/news impact and influence. And how difficult could it be for them to have their supply chain knock out a few gazillion very large screen monitors?
Oscar was right on when he said, “Tell me when it hurts.”
After all, it’s just another screen.
And while you “know” the reason you have your computer, iPad, iPhone is for all of the important social networking stuff you have to do, Pew found that watching video clearly outranks everything else you do online.
Video Watching Outranks Other Online Activities
We recognize that there are a lot of very smart people out there saying we’re seeing the end of the PC world, but we disagree… emphatically. We do work — real work — on our computers (desktop and laptop). We occasionally watch some video; but mostly, we use it for work. Our iPad is for email, conference notes and entertainment.
A tablet makes it easy to sit 10 to 12 inches from the screen and channel surf without irritating the other person watching her favorite show. People can, and do, watch them everywhere — living room, bedroom, porch, kitchen, dining room and yes, even in the bathroom.
Great Personal Viewing
We don’t say the tablet beats the overall quality or immersive value of the big screen set, but when you have something special you want to watch or want to watch your own stuff on a cross-country, cross-pond flight, its ideal. Of course, the rather quietly introduced YouTube.com/TV is a “network” that will really help change the landscape because it looks/feels like TV.
Once you’re set up and ready to go, it does away with the old-fashioned menus and boxes you expect to see with any Web/iNet TV.
Oscar watched the video on all of the screens and said, “This is the biggest deja vu anybody has ever had.”
With offerings like this and Yahoo! TV, our son recently proclaimed that entertainment has finally released to the anywhere, anytime, any device stuff the industry has been touting for years. Even though it has only been available for a little while, he — and others who sorta count — say that 21st Century entertainment is really here.
Content Pipes
And that has to concern the content control pipe owners. Screens are increasingly becoming more connected. Not just to the Internet, but to one another. As Twist’s Joel noted, the screens are becoming smart pieces of glass and plastic that connect us to our content, and people are increasingly going to watch their screen their way.
Unlike Joel, however, we don’t see the PC disappearing from the landscape.
There are reasons we have the array of devices we own and use:
- Smartphone? Check
- iPad? Yep
- Ultrabook? Uh Huh
- Personal/portable cloud? Oh Yeah
When I travel and go through airport security I expect the TSA folks to earn their money!
Source – “The Odd Couple II,” Paramount
If we want to catch up on work or catch up on the last segments of Cybergeddon, our options are at hand and we agree with Felix that it “doesn't make any difference.”
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Share Article Back to Top Global Display Market worth $164.24 Billion by 2017 According to a new market research report, Global Display Market (2012 – 2017) published by MarketsandMarkets, the total global display market is expected to reach $164.24 billion by 2017, at a CAGR of 3.1 percent from 2012 to 2017.
The global display market encompasses many technologies: E-ink, OLED, TFT-LCD, LED-LCD, LED, DLP, LCoS, and Plasma.
OLED display, for example, also has a huge market share in smartphone and related applications and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 31.2 percent with revenue worth $5.10 billion in 2017.
The major technologies that will contribute more to the global display market are OLED, E-ink, DLP, LCoS—together expected to grow from 2012 to 2017 at a CAGR greater than 30 percent while TFT-LCD and LED technologies will grow less than 20 percent.
The types of display include conventional display, flexible display, transparent display, and 3D display. Among these, flexible display type is projected to increase its market share in next 5 years. While transparent display will not see any growth until 2013 because of it being in development stage, it will catch up in late 2014-15, growing at a CAGR of 91.1 percent (increasing demand only after it is commercially successful). 3D display has made its point and will continue to fulfill display needs in vertical markets such as healthcare application and will grow at a CAGR of 26.1 percent from 2012-2017.
From 2012 to 2017, consumer application will contribute to the global display application market with a share of 62.71 percent in 2017 from 64.27 percent in 2012, a decline of 1.58 percent.
No. America is the leading region in the overall display market– followed by Europe and APAC. In ROW, Middle East and Africa are the largest contributors.
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Share Article Back to Top WSJ Reports Dell and Intel May Buy or Invest in Sharp – And Sharp Debuts 4K IGZO Display According to a recent Wall Street Journal story, Intel and Dell Computer are considering either buying or investing in Sharp Electronics. For now, the two companies are apparently readying an investment of over $240 Million in exchange for some corporate equity or stock exchange. In addition, San Diego-based Qualcomm is considering an investment as well. There's no question that Sharp's in big trouble financially and it needs to get out of debt — and sell higher margin stuff. Sharp dominated the flat-panel market for years in the mid-1990s and early 2000s, but the company's late jump over to DLP-based projection and LED-based LCD slowed its growth in both consumer TVs and the digital signage markets. In fact, the company isn't even ranked in the top five in digital signage integration. Recently, Sharp's losses included a 16 percent decline in sales from 2011 to 2012, amounting to a nearly $470 Million loss. Sharp, however, is the primary display manufacturer for Apple's iPhone 5 and iPads and its new IGZO technology is impressive. IGZO is made from a mix of indium, gallium, zinc and oxide and allows for very thin active LCD displays, such as those on the aforementioned tablets and phones. It's used for Apple's retina displays. Sharp has now also debuted a 4K (3840×2160) LCD monitor using IGZO, the PN-K321, which will deliver in February 2013 and will likely list around $5,500. It's also only 3.5 millimeters thick. Here are those specs (use Google Translate to read this page): http://www.sharp.co.jp/corporate/report/4k2k/index.html
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New Milestone AV Headquarters Awarded LEED-CI Silver Certification The U.S. Green Building Council has awarded Milestone AV Technologies’ newly renovated global headquarters and design center a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI) Silver certification. Milestone, home to the Chief, Sanus, Da-Lite and Projecta brands, expanded into the new location in Eden Prairie, Minn. earlier this year.
The U.S. Green Building Council developed the LEED rating system to reward designs that reduce environmental impact throughout a range of categories including water efficiency, indoor environmental quality and transportation. Silver certified buildings have reached a designated number of goals toward reducing environmental impacts in these categories.
Architecture firm Mekus Tanager designed Milestone’s new space with a focus on sustainability. The first step in sustainability was to rehabilitate a building with unique design features and great natural light. The updated interior of the building includes natural lighting for 95 percent of regularly occupied seated spaces and ENERGY STAR ratings for 95 percent of the equipment in the building. The building’s design also encourages cross-team interaction and collaboration toward new product innovation.
Other examples of sustainable design solutions that Milestone employs in the new headquarters include:
- 30 percent reduction in water usage with the implementation of low flow fixtures
- 5 percent reduction in energy consumption from lighting fixtures
- 15.5 percent of construction materials were made of recycled content
- 89.5 percent of the construction waste was diverted from the landfill and recycled
- Use of outside air to cool the building’s data center without using additional energy due to Minnesota’s low ambient temperature
- Nearby walking/jogging paths, bicycle storage and shower facilities to encourage alternative ways for employees to commute to work
- Location near four major highways as well as the proposed Southwest Light Rail Transit line
Although LEED-oriented construction calls for a higher initial investment, the reduced long-term operational costs of running a building with efficient electrical and mechanical systems offset the price over time.
More on Milestone’s commitment to environmental responsibility can be found at http://www.milestone.com/sustainability.html
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Share Article Back to Top OmniMount Can Save Your Life OmniMount's new ActionMounts are said to promote healthier movement during traditionally sedentary activities such as home computer use and TV viewing. OmniMount, recognized as a 2012 Gold Fit-Friendly Worksite by the American Heart Association for implementing the same standing culture in the office, will introduce a new line of sit-stand mounting products in January.
Global studies show that people sit up to 15 hours throughout the day, with a significant portion occurring during at-home hours. The Ergotron Sitting-Time Calculator is an online tool to help tally hours spent in the car, at work, at the dinner table and in front of the TV.
Just two hours of sitting reduces good cholesterol by 20 percent, reduces blood flow and raises blood sugar, all of which contribute to obesity and the related chronic, life-shortening diseases. Increasing active movement in otherwise sedentary times of the day will increase blood flow, metabolic rates, energy and alertness, important factors in creating a healthy home life balance.
The ActionMount collection consists of desk-mountable computer and laptop mounts, freestanding desks and interactive TV mounts for panels up to 70 pounds, all with full sit-stand height adjustability. Ergotron Constant Force technology enables display movement with only a light touch for easy and regular repositioning.
See them all here: http://www.omnimount.com/play/
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Share Article Back to Top Recently from rAVe's BlogSquad Back to Top Keep Planning for Tomorrow We live in busy times. It’s exciting. It’s exhausting. It’s exhilarating. Sometimes it’s hard to plan what you are going to have for dinner when you have what seems to be a never-ending to-do list with only more to add.
But you love it. Why? Because it challenges you. Because you love the industry, the technology, the creation.
We love it too. CEDIA’s focus is to help you mark-off those to-do items that fall to the wayside and keep you planning for today, tomorrow, and next week. Thank you for letting us on your team.
We are looking forward to bringing you more discounts, more training opportunities, and more peer-to-peer networking opportunities in 2013. Renew your membership today and discover how CEDIA can help you succeed.
Learn more here: http://www.cedia.net/renew
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Volfoni Claims to Solve the "Too Dark" Complaint for 3D Movies Audiences sometimes complain that 3D movies are “too dark.” Now French company Volfoni has introduced a SmartCrystal Cinema polarization modulator that claims 18 percent light efficiency (more light output) when used with Volfoni's passive 3D glasses. And, the company also says it's greener because the projector will use less lamp power (20 percent to 30 percent less light) to accomplish it. It's also simple to integrate because an integrator just needs to slide the modulator in front of the lens of a 3D projector — although you have to use the company's branded passive 3D glasses.
The system works with any with any DCI-compliant DLP projector. It works with projector lamps up to 7kW, and silver screens up to 60 feet wide.
How does it work? Volfoni has added an anti-reflective layer on the glass panel, reducing the loss of light by reflection on the different surfaces of the panel. The company claims this reduces “ghosting” in the world of 3D because its “Surface Switching” technology, combined with a specially optimized panel coating, allows for a "practically" cross-talk free image, according to Volfoni's press release.
Here are all the technical details: http://www.volfoni.com/en/
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Share Article Back to Top Bryston Debuts Preamplifier Bryston's new BP17 is a hybrid analog/digital stereo preamplifier derived from the preamp portion of the B-135 integrated amplifier. With a list price of $3,550, the BP17 can be ordered in four configurations: in its standard form, with an optional moving magnet phono stage, with a high resolution internal DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) or fully loaded with both the DAC and phono stage. The BP17 includes provisions for six stereo RCA inputs (four with DAC option), one stereo RCA output, one stereo tape loop and a headphone output. The Bryston BR2 remote, made from a machined aluminum block, is available as an option.
It's RS232- or IR-controllable, includes two SPDIF inputs, has a frequency response spec of 20Hz – 20kHz +/- .05dB and includes two quick-connect 12 Volt output triggers (one is programmable). The preamplifier is not on Bryson's website yet since it's new. When it is, it will be here: http://www.bryston.com/
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Share Article Back to Top Outlaw Audio Debuts Theater Surround Processor With ARC Outlaw Audio has introduced an aggressively-priced home theater surround processor in the form of its new $500 Model 975 with four HDMI inputs and one HDMI output. The HDMI connections are integrated with Audio Return Channel (ARC) for sending soundtracks back to the processor from the streaming content on your smart TV. Other connections include two inputs and one output each for component video, as well as "legacy "composite and S-video inputs and outputs. With the inclusion of these legacy video connections, the Model 975 also scales 480i to 1080p.
On the audio side, there are two optical and two coaxial digital inputs, five stereo inputs, a record output, a low-noise ¼" headphone jack and a configurable 7.1 multi-channel output for use with surround back or front height enhanced speaker systems.
This processor, although aimed at the home theater market, can easily be dropped into many ED applications as there's a need for a small, inexpensive HDMI switcher with ARC.
Here are all the specs: http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/975.html
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Share Article Back to Top OmniMount Adds Interactive Mounts OmniMount is introducing new mounts at CES, all in a new product category for the company, interactive mounts. The idea behind the interactive mount line is that customers are using TVs for more activities, such as gaming and exercise, that require expanded viewing angles and positions.
The ActionMount PLAY series includes single- and double-jointed arm mounts with omni-directional movement – lift, lower, expand, retract, rotate, pan — with only a light-touch, according to OmniMount. Ergotron Constant Force technology counter-balances the weight of the TV. The LIFT series uses the same CF technology in a low profile design, offering up to 18” of vertical lift/lower and 10 degrees of tilt with a 2-inch profile.
For more information on the interactive mount solutions from OmniMount, click here: http://www.omnimount.com/products/tv_wall_mounts/interactive/
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Share Article Back to Top Extron Intros Compact HDMI Fiber Optic Extender Extron's new HFX 100 HDMI Fiber Optic Extender is being promoted as an economical transmitter and receiver set for long distance transmission of HDMI video and embedded multi-channel audio signals over a single fiber optic cable. It extends HDCP-compliant HDMI signals over a multimode cable at lengths up to 300 meters (984 feet). The compact extender uses all-digital technology to deliver perfect pixel-for-pixel transmission of images up to 1920×1200, including HDTV 1080p/60.
The HFX 100 supports HDMI specification features, including data rates up to 6.25 Gbps, 12-bit Deep Color, HD lossless audio formats and CEC. Extron's HDMI cables are attached to the transmitter and receiver, allowing direct connection with source and destination devices. The HFX 100 transmitter and receiver are housed in compact 1U, one-eighth rack width enclosures.
Here are all the specs: http://www.extron.com/product/product.aspx?id=hfx100&search=hfx%20100
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Share Article Back to Top CEDIA to Host Annual Membership Meeting Webinar CEDIA Executive Committee members Gordon van Zuiden (treasurer) and Buzz Delano (secretary) will host CEDIA’s Annual Membership Meeting on Dec. 12, 2012 at 12 p.m. ET via a webinar. This year’s 30-minute meeting will cover key highlights and accomplishments of 2012 as well as the initiatives that have been established for 2013.
The webinar is open to all CEDIA members. Register here: http://www.cedia.net/members_only/AnnualMeeting.php
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Share Article Back to Top Core Brands Hires Chris Bundy Core Brands today announced that the group has named Chris Bundy as its director of marketing communications. Bringing more than 12 years of A/V marketing experience to Core Brands, Bundy is charged with developing and delivering innovative branding, marketing strategies, and product launches across ten brand lines within the home and commercial technology sectors: ATON, BlueBOLT, ELAN, Furman, Niles, Panamax, Proficient, SpeakerCraft, Sunfire and Xantech. Previously Bundy was at Atlona.
To read the complete press release online, click here. Back to Top Pakedge Hires Michelle Coleman as International Sales Manager Pakedge Device & Software announced this month that it has appointed Michelle Coleman as its international sales manager. Previously, Coleman was the distribution sales manager, EMEA for Kaleidescape.
To read the complete press release online, click here. Back to Top Premier Mounts Hires Kathy Bent as CFO Premier Mounts announced this month that Kathy Bent, previously controller, is now Premier Mounts' chief financial officer. Bent will be responsible for planning, implementing, managing, and controlling all financial-related activities of the company. Bent has been with Premier Mounts for the past eight years. In her first position as senior financial analyst, Bent provided all feedback regarding the financial health of the company to Premier's executive management.
To read the complete press release online, click here. Back to Top Haivision Awarded ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 13485:2003 Certifications Haivision, a producer of video networking and IP video distribution solutions, announced this month that the company has achieved International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2008 and ISO 13485:2003 certification for the management system governing the design, development, manufacturing, support and lifecycle of its products.
Haivision's ISO 9001:2008 achievement applies to a quality management system supporting the design, development, production, installation and servicing of the company's encoding, recording, playback, network, management, display and distribution products, and related services, as well as to the systems for continually improving those processes. In addition, the company has achieved ISO 13485:2003 certification, a similar standard specifically required to be a supplier to the medical industry.
To read the complete press release online, click here. Back to Top D-Tools to Exhibit at ISE Under Home Cinema Europe D-Tools will join a group of manufacturers that will be exhibiting together under the banner "Home Cinema Europe" at this year's Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) – Jan. 29-31 at the Amsterdam RAI – Stand #1N53 D. Other manufacturers that will exhibit as part of Home Cinema Europe include ADA, Bitwise Controls, Fortress Seating, D-box, RBH Sound, Tributaries Cables, Screen Innovations and DVDO.
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 2012 – 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. |
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