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Volume 9, Issue 3 — February 16, 2012
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In Fiscal 2011, Sony Sinks While Samsung Soars
By Ken Werner
Senior Editor and Analyst, Insight Media Howard Stringer’s disastrous seven-year tenure as Sony’s CEO is nearly at an end, leaving it to successor Kazuo Hirai to rebuild – if he can – the castle Sir Howard leaves in ruins. Am I exaggerating? Sony will lose at least ¥220B in fiscal 2011, its fourth consecutive annual loss. As of fiscal 2011, the TV business will have lost money for eight straight years.
To be fair to Sony, the high value of the yen makes it very hard for Japanese consumer electronics companies to compete, and Panasonic and Sharp are predicting their worst losses on record, although Sony was losing money on its TV business while its Japanese competitors were still doing well. Hirai said he will be closing less competitive businesses. That will not include the television business, he said, but will it include outsourcing TV manufacturing to TCL or Hon Hai, which has already purchased Sony TV assembly plants in Mexico and Europe.
"We weren’t able to select areas where we want to concentrate, so we ended up keeping products that became commoditized," Hirai said. "We want to make our focus clear soon." Last week, Hirai said he intended to expand Sony’s presence in mobile devices and become involved in new areas such as medical. Since Sony’s current offerings in the mobile space have been eclipsed by those from Apple, Samsung, HTC and Motorola, it is easy to wonder what corrective action Hirai can come up with at this late date. Perhaps Toru Katsumoto (senior general manager of Sony’s Personal Imaging & Sound Business Group), who spearheaded the brilliant success of Sony’s Alpha camera business, can contribute.
Even though Sony is the author of many of its own misfortunes, it shares in a national problem. "Japan’s consumer-electronics makers are in a total breakdown," said Masamitsu Ohki, a fund manager at Stats Investment Management Co., a Tokyo-based hedge fund. "They need to compete with ideas, not technology," he told Bloomberg’s Mariko Yasu and Naoko Fujimura earlier this month. Panasonic will forecast a ¥780B loss, the worst since the company’s founding in 1918, and Sharp predicted a loss of ¥290, its worst in a century.
Together, the Japanese CE leaders will lose about US$17B in fiscal 2011, significantly less than the US$22B Samsung will put into capital expenditures.
The dire nature of their predicament has not been lost on Sony and Panasonic, who have said they will increase their emphasis on medical devices, solar panels, and rechargeable batteries. At its large CES 2012 press briefing, Sharp seemingly talked as much about its solar cell manufacturing at Sakai as its LCD panel manufacturing.
In contrast, Samsung reported a 17 percent increase in Q4′11 net income. Overall in 2011, Samsung recorded sales of KRW 165 trillion (6.7 percent YoY growth), operating profit of KRW 16.2 trillion, and net profit of KRW 13.7 trillion. Profits slipped somewhat at the end of the year, but remained solidly in the black. LG, Samsung’s Korean competitor, was also in the black. "The Japanese consumer electronics makers shouldn’t compete with the Koreans in the same market," Koji Toda, chief fund manager at Resona Bank Ltd. in Tokyo, told Yasu and Fujimura. "The environment surrounding Japanese manufacturers is very harsh."
"Samsung is a marvelous manufacturer," said Edwin Merner, president of Atlantis Investment Research in Tokyo. "They can make good things at a very low price. Sony can’t do that."
Of the Japanese leaders, Panasonic seems to be in the strongest position. Shiro Mikoshiba, an analyst at Nomura Holdings Inc. in Tokyo gave Panny a "buy" rating in a report issued earlier this week, saying "Panasonic continues to be among electronics makers with prospects of large profit increases next fiscal year."
Ken Werner is a senior analyst and editor for Insight Media. Reach him at kwerner@insightmedia.info Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top Why Sony is in BIG, BIG, BIG Trouble
By Gary Kayye
Founder, rAVe [Publications] In the past two weeks, Panasonic, Sharp and Sony have all announced they're expecting $17 Billion in losses for their fiscal-year ending March 2012. The biggest loss will be sustained by Panasonic who announced its expectation to be just under $11 Billion. At first glance, all three announcements seem to make the future prospects for Japanese electronics manufacturers, well, bleak. But, if you drill down, the real loser in all this is Sony — by far.
Why?
Well, Panasonic is actually in a good position – they've finally absorbed Sanyo, something that cost them a fortune and took almost three years to do, but that acquisition positions them well in all sorts of consumer electronics goods and commercial AV gear and makes them the world-leader in Green gear – a place a lot of companies would like to be in. In fact, they will be the world's largest manufacturer of battery-operated stuff as well as solar energy products.
Sharp just completed a giant LCD manufacturing facility that, although it's not running at full-cpacity, is a world-class plant capable of manufacturing LCDs as large as 100" and as small as those found in smartphones. And, they're brand image is pristine.
But Sony, on the other hand, might want to consider a radical change in strategy. After record losses, a gaming console that hasn't changed in nearly five years (and that's been the only real profitable division of Sony for the last three years) and giving up is partnership with Samsung on the LCD front, Sony's well positioned for, well, staying in the red. Although they have one of the nicest HDTV lines, they're overpriced for the performance advantage and have no stand-out product differentiation from LG, Samsung, Panasonic or even VIZIO for that matter. The rest of the consumer product line is no different than anyone else's and, as you all know, they're a year behind every other projector and digital signage manufacturer in features, specs and product design.
They're also still the most arrogant company on the planet. They still think they're at the top of the AV gear food-chain and they're pissing off integrators, distributors and customer alike. Just call in and try to get customer support to help you with a problem. The scripts their call centers use assume the caller is plain stupid and are severely lacking in their understanding of routing and distributing of HDMI and completely blind to the issues surrounding ARC (Audio Return Channel).
And, I can't see a single thing going the company's way. Sony's new president, Kazuo Hirai, will be limited in what he can do as Sony traditionally has never allowed its chief's to have much control – every decision has to be approved by committee, and, although he was the chief of consumer electronics and games, that group has consistently posted losses of 10-20 percent every quarter for the past two years – in fact, the company's most recent Q3 earnings were actually down 24 percent.
So, if your primary line of AV gear is Sony, and you enjoy the professionalism a Japanese company provides you, you might want to take a look at NEC's and Panasonic's as an alternative to projectors and commerical-grade LCDs, and Sharp for HomeAV HDTVs.
Sony's on life-support — and the oxygen supply is running out. Leave a Comment
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Walking In A Wireless Wonderland
By Lee Distad
rAVe Columnist If you were to assemble a list of the most common questions potential clients will ask, right after the inevitable “Which is better, LED or Plasma?”, the number two would be, "Is it all going to be wireless?"
We all know by now that wireless technologies have made enormous strides. There are hardware solutions today that make me think back to site surveys I did five or six years ago where I thought, "I really wish I had a wireless solution for this." That said, while there are any number of great wireless applications, we also know that they can’t do everything.
An important guideline to live by as a designer is "just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should." While wireless mesh networks for lighting control are a godsend for retrofit installations, they shouldn’t be the first choice for new home construction. In retrofits, if you have a situation where some of the installation can be hardwired but some needs to be wireless, sketch it out, and make decisions on which needs to be which, and how they should best be installed.
It is one of my cardinal beliefs that the client’s home is not the place to start testing out new hardware, or experimenting with new ideas. A big part of the reason I believe that is because I’ve done it, and learned the hard way why it’s a bad idea.
Don’t get stars in your eyes reading the press release for new vaporware. Dealers need to evaluate new vendors, new technologies and new interfaces in their showroom before they even hint to clients that they exist. Spending time working on them in the showroom allows all of you, whether designers, installers or programmers, to come to grips with a new product. By doing this, you know its limitations, and how to deal with them when you take it out to the jobsite. Deviate from this policy, and you’ll waste hours putting a Band-Aid on something that shouldn’t have gone wrong in the first place.
Since your automation system is going to be a part of your client’s home Ethernet/wireless network you will need to specify a wireless router that is recommended by your automation vendor, as not every product can be counted on to receive a grade of "plays well with others."
If you are given a list of several units that are recommended, go to the router manufacturer’s website and do some homework. If a particular model of router has been on the market for over a year, and the last firmware update was done yesterday, that product may not be the most reliable choice to put in the field.
In the troubleshooting phase, once you’ve has identified the problem, your next step is to decide upon the best solution. Don’t over-think this; sometimes the best solution is the least technical one. In one retrofit installation I once did, the client’s suite of 2.4 Ghz cordless phones was interfering with our wireless audio distribution network. The best solution was almost Alexandrian in its simplicity — one of our installers drove to Costco, and spent $150 to buy the client a new set of 2.4 Ghz cordless phones from a different brand. Problem solved!
If only every wireless issue was that easy!
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 Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top What Children Can Teach Us About Simplicity, Intuition and Curiosity
By Mike Cearly
SVP, Digital Strategy, Fleishman-Hillard The following is reprinted with permission from the Digital Screenmedia Association (DSA). For more information, go to http://www.digitalscreenmedia.org.
It is simple — if you want to make a touch screen anything, for it to be successful, the experience must be intuitive. And if you want to make it intuitive, here’s a few suggestions:
1. Look at what Apple has done
2. Look at your mobile device(s)
3. Look at your favorite websites
4. Watch children interact with them
That’s right. Children. The key to making successful touch screen experiences might just lie in the children.
Watch how my daughter, age 6, works through this experience that we came across at the Dallas Zoo: http://www.youtube.com/embed/dnS1eW2gOmw And, now, watch how my son, age 3, works through the same experience: http://www.youtube.com/embed/C7fgPWmCcoY Both, intuitively know what to do — press a picture or a button. In my daughter’s case (who has had computer training), her first instinct is to look for the pointer and drag it to the button or picture. Im my son’s case (who has only had phone/iPad training), his first instinct is to press the colorful thing(s) on the screen. This particular experience was laid out in a very simple format and flow. Simplicity certainly helps.
I found it interesting that they both instantly wanted to interact with these screens. I did see a few adults interacting with the screens, but the children that I saw just wanted to touch it and play with it. I think they might liken anything touch screen to games, but their curiosity drives their wish to interact.
Isn’t it funny that our curiosity becomes much more selective as we grow older, specifically around new technology? How can we capture the curiosity of a child for an everyday, grown-up experience? We have to continue getting creative, continue pushing. But we also need to get back to basics and create things that are simple and intuitive. Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top This Week From rAVe's BlogSquad Back to Top Con·nect: Verb, To Join If you think about it, every day you are connecting in one way, shape, or form. In a literal sense you are connecting plugs into outlets, USBs into drives and phones into chargers. But on the flip side, we are also connecting in ways a little more figuratively. Connecting to gyms in order to burn off pesky holiday weight or connecting to flights as we travel on business and/or pleasure. But one of the best ways of connecting is through building relationships.
One core component in CEDIA’s 2012 initiatives is connecting. We want to connect members with the right education materials to help their businesses run better. We want to connect members with other industry associations to help them gather leads in places that aren’t so obvious.
However you look at it (figuratively or literally), the art of connecting is taking action. Here are a few ways CEDIA is working to connect you with new business.
1. Connecting with Industry Partners
CEDIA is building core industry relationships at the local level. This year CEDIA is reaching out to chapter level representatives at industry related associations such as the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) to promote education offered by CEDIA Registered Outreach Instructors (ROIs). Presenting education to partners has proved a viable source of qualified leads for CEDIA members. Learn more about the ROI program here.
2. Connecting You with Business
One of the best benefits of a trade association is the potential business leads and networking opportunities you are able to receive. Whether it is consumer leads through the CEDIA Finder Service or finding that perfect employee though the CEDIA Career Center, CEDIA helps our members connect. Without your membership, networking and connecting could be harder and a little more time consuming …kind of like dial-up in a fast-connecting world.
an class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> Connecting with the Media
CEDIA offers unique opportunities for CEDIA members to showcase their projects not only to the industry but also to the consumer audience through the Electronic Lifestyles® Awards competition. Entrants and winners alike have benefited from media exposure in trade and consumer publications.
The Designer Awards competition features seven project categories, including Integrated Home, Special Project, and Home Theater. The entry system for the Designer Awards will close Friday, May 4 at 5:00 p.m. (Pacific). Click here to learn more or to enter your award-worthy project.
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Extron and Middle Atlantic Partner to Invent New Rack Mount Standard
Middle Atlantic Products, in conjunction with Extron Electronics, is initiating and supporting the establishment of a new standard for half-width rack systems for AV integration.
Working in cooperation with the Electronic Components Industry Association (ECIA), Extron and Middle Atlantic are seeking to establish and maintain a specific ECIA standard for what has typically been offered as a custom rack offering until now. To further strengthen the quality and application of the standard, the two companies are inviting manufacturers of compact-format devices to join a communication and working group for this effort.
Both manufacturers have recently developed product families — the Extron Half Rack Shelf System and Middle Atlantic’s new HR Series Half Racks — which both fit within and incorporate the proposed 10 5/8” overall width defined in the proposed new standard. Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top AMX Ships Modero X Panels AMX is finally shipping the Modero X Series Touch Panels introduced at InfoComm 2011. The frameless, panoramic and widescreen touch panels with a low-profile design allow for control, Apps and video all on one screen since they are 2:1 aspect ratio or higher. The Modero X Series touch panels integrate a high definition camera in tabletop models for video chat and conferencing, Bluetooth and USB external phone connections, high definition video streaming and support for NFC.
With the initial shipment, AMX is releasing the 20.3” and 19.4” panoramic models, in tabletop and wall-mounted options. The 20.3” model measures 18.7” wide and 7.75” tall for over 145 square inches of usable control surface. The 19.4” model measures 18.7” wide and 5.15” tall, creating over 96 square inches of usable control surface.
The three additional Modero X Series models, in 4.3”, 7” and 10” widescreen, will begin shipping in Q2. Complete specs are here: http://www.amx.com/products/categoryTouchPanels.asp#Modero%20X%20Series%20Panoramic%20Touch%20Panels
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Share Article Back to Top Crestron Integrates With Microsoft Kinect Crestron Labs demonstrated a new technology by Microsoft that allows Microsoft Kinect technology to be supported on any Windows-based system — and not just the Xbox. Crestron engineers created, and are testing, gestures that integrate Kinect with Crestron control. Crestron control systems will read Kinect gestures so, for example, presenters can sweep their hands left or right to advance/reverse a PowerPoint Presentation and raise or lower hands to dim/raise the lights in the room. We shot a video of this earlier this week at the ISE Show in Amsterdam that explains it: https://www.ravepubs.com/index.php?option=com_ravevideo&ravevideo_id=6364&view=ravevideo Leave a Comment
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Atlantic Technology Licenses H-PAS to SpeakerCraft Atlantic Technology has signed an agreement with SpeakerCraft to collaborate in the development of new loudspeaker systems using Atlantic's revolutionary H-PAS bass configuration technology. Through application of H-PAS technology, SpeakerCraft will be able to provide its customers with loudspeakers that Atlantic says will deliver deeper and smoother bass in much smaller cabinets than was previously possible.
H-PAS, or Hybrid Pressure Acceleration System, is an enclosure configuration that combines elements of several different speaker architectures — acoustic suspension, bass reflex, inverse horn and transmission line — to produce exceptional bass response and low distortion while utilizing cabinets that are considerably more compact than those of speakers with similar performance.
The H-PAS configuration was originally developed by Philip Clements of Solus/Clements. In 2009, Atlantic Technology assembled a team of audio engineers and computer scientists to create, in collaboration with Clements, a proprietary algorithm that could be used to apply H-PAS to a wide range of enclosure shapes and sizes. In January 2012 the United States Patent and Trademark office issued the first patent on H-PAS enclosure architectures; Atlantic Technology expects to obtain additional patents on the technology in the coming year.
To learn how H-PAS works, go here: http://www.atlantictechnology.com/default.asp?IsDev=True&NodeId=158 Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top SnapAV's Episode On-Wall LCRs and SoundBars Ship Episode Speakers, the audio brand of SnapAV, is now shipping its first soundbars and on-wall LCRs. Part of what SnapAV says is its second generation lineup of loudspeakers, dubbed the Episode 300 Series Soundbars, they are available in 30- and 40-inch widths at $499 and $599 list price, respectively. For use as either individual front channel or surround sound speakers, also new are the Episode 300 Series On-Wall LCRs for medium and large-sized TVs at $199 and $299 list, respectively.
SnapAV says that both the soundbars and on-wall LCRs are timbre-matched; components include .75-inch Ferro-fluid cooled silk dome tweeters, 3-inch polypropylene woofers with Nomex Spiders and high-temperature voice coils and a 3-inch passive radiator per woofer. They are finished in a high-gloss piano black and outfitted with black mesh grills.
You can see all the specs here: http://www.episodespeakers.com/ Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top ihiji Ships Network Appliance for IP Monitoring and Control ihiji, known for its cloud-based remote monitoring system, has started shipping the INV-APP-500 — a remote monitoring hardware "appliance" that's designed to allow dealers to help homeowners reduce remote servicing costs by enabling remote power management via the cloud for existing IP-based power products. It lists for $200 and simply is placed in line with the power connector, providing both an Ethernet and USB jack for control.
Want more details? Go here: http://www.ihiji.com/ Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top DVDO Ships Wireless HD Solution The DVDO Air WirelessHD system is designed for wireless transmission of uncompressed HD content from HD sources to an HDTV, operating at 60GHz frequency to deliver 1080p video and 7.1 surround sound audio for 2D and 3D formats. DVDO Air also transmits HDMI signals, including commands from the Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) protocol.
DVDO Air consists of a wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver and a receiver-mounting clip that easily secures to the wall or to the top of the HDTV. Using what DVDO claims is an uncompressed transmission system that enables the delivery of 1080p video and 3D images, with 7.1 channel lossless surround sound, the system delivers quality on par with a wired connection. And by operating in a band of frequencies well above those used by other wireless devices in the home or office, DVDO Air performs without any interference from walkie-talkies, Wi-Fi systems and phone networks, including cordless and cell phones. DVDO says it can send wireless HDMI up to 30 meters. We've ordered one to try out, so we'll let you know how it works.
All the specs are here: http://www.dvdo.com/air.aspx Leave a Comment
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Atlona Adds Home Collection Consumer Product Line Atlona's new LinkCast Wireless HD system allows connection of multiple HDMI-based devices wirelessly to an HDTV or projector up to 40 feet away. LinkCast includes one A/V base station (AT-LINKCASTAV) and one LinkCast System Expander (AT-LINKCAST-HTX). The LinkCast A/V base station connects to the HDTV or projector's HDMI input, while the LinkCast System Expander plugs into any device with an HDMI output and standard USB connection for power.
LinkConnect is a complete suite of cables, adapters and other connectivity solutions that Atlona claims is capable of delivering bandwidth up to 17+ Gbps and up to 4Kx2K HD video resolution support.
The Atlona Home Collection will be available to U.S. consumers in Q1 2012 and European consumers in Q2 2012 but specs are not available on the Atlona website yet. The product will be shown at ISE in Amsterdam. Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top Onkyo Adds New Entry-Level Home Theater Receivers Today Onkyo added four new home theater receivers including one with THX certification and the first to employ Silicon Image's InstaPrevue and Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) technologies.
The four new models are the Onkyo TX-NR616 THX-Certified 7.2-Channel Network Receiver, TX-NR515 7.2-Channel Network Receiver, TX-NR414 5.1-Channel Network Receiver and TX-SR313 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver.
The TX-NR616, the flagship model, adds THX Select2 Plus and, along with the TX-NR515 and TX-NR414, offers InstaPrevue, which provides on-screen video thumbnails to show the content currently available on HDMI-connected components making input source selection easy. All four are network-based receivers, either using the hard-wired connection or wireless via an optional Onkyo UWF-1 Wireless USB adapter, so they can stream Internet radio stations, stream from services such as Spotify or MP3tunes 'Cloud' services or connect to computers and other devices on the network.
The TX-NR616 and TX-NR515 also have Qdeo processing technology by Marvell, offering analog video upscaling to 1080p, and up to 4K (4096×2160) scaling when used with a compatible 4K display. Onkyo has given the TX-SR313 four HDMI inputs, while the TX-NR414 has six. All support 3D video, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding and ARC through an easy-to-use interactive OSD. The top models incorporate eight HDMI inputs plus two outputs for connecting a TV and a projector. A ‘Q’ remote button overlays a ‘Quick Set-Up’ menu on the program being watched via HDMI.
The TX-NR616 will be available in April at a list price of $699; the TX-NR515, TX-NR414 and TX-SR313 will all be available in March at list prices of $599, $499 and $299, respectively. Find out more information here: http://www.onkyousa.com/ Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top Sanus Ships BFV157 AV Stand The Foundations Basic Series BFV157 AV Stand, a new part of the SANUS furniture lineup, is now shipping. The BFV157 offers what Sanus calls a mid-century modern look with a combination of steel and tempered-glass materials and can be easily assembled without tools. The furniture's open design allows maximum airflow and easy access to the back of AV equipment. A large middle shelf can hold up to four components, and a floating media storage box provides a place for storing remotes and other small accessories. The BFV157 also features adjustable feet so the furniture stays level on any surface. An integrated wire management system helps keep cables organized.
The furniture is ideal for all media components and TVs up to 60″ and is compatible with the SANUS FMS01 Furniture Mount System and the SANUS ELM701 TV anti-tip strap. Complete specs are here: http://www.sanus.com/us/en/fms Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top Pakedge Debuts Gigabit PoE Injector Pakedge Device & Software just launched a new PoE injector dubbed the PI-05, specifically designed for custom home networking systems. The PI-05 is a Gigabit IEEE 802.3at-compliant PoE injector that eliminates the need to connect a device such as an IP camera, wireless access point (WAP) or VoIP telephone to a separate AC outlet. The PI-05 delivers high-powered output, with maximum power of 34 watts and up to 25 watts at the powered device, enabling it to power high-demand devices such as HD cameras. The PI-05 delivers Ethernet signals at Gigabit speeds and features Endspan Intelligent Detection, meaning it will not turn on the power until it detects a valid PoE signature from the device attached downstream on the Ethernet cable.
In addition, voltage is inserted at 48 volts into the Ethernet cable, eliminating the possibility of voltage drops due to cable length. The PI-05 will power any device that is fully compliant with the IEEE 802.3at PoE standard, not just other Pakedge components.
The PI-05 is compact, measuring approximately 4.6" x 2.95" x 1.6" and features a heat-dissipating metal housing with integral wall-mount flanges. It supports 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit Ethernet speeds and fully passes all VLAN tagging. The PI-05 has Ethernet surge, overload and short circuit protection, plus is FCC and CE-approved and RoHS-compliant.
Full specs are here: http://www.pakedge.com/products-accessories.html Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top Runco Adds a Less-Expensive 3D Projector Runco (now owned by Planar) has launched its most affordable 3D projector yet (relatively speaking — it's still $27,995), in the form of the Runco LS-12d, a 3D projector that utilizes active 3D technology and comes equipped with three sets of active shutter glasses. The LS-12d is also the first projector to ship with Runco’s new Dimension Digital Controller (DC-300), which Runco claims has been engineered to enhance 3D performance of Runco 3D-enabled products. Using 1080p native, 3-chip DLP projection technology, the LS-12d is housed in a pretty cool enclosure (almost looks round) that can be custom colored. Light output is spec'd at 1845 Lumens with a 250:1 ANSI contrast ratio. It uses a 260-watt lamp that has a typical life of 3000-hours and it weighs in at 41 pounds.
Complete specs are here: http://www.planar.com/specs/runco-pop/?id=997-6747-00 Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top HAI Ships Bus-Based Lighting Control Home Automation, Inc. (HAI) is finally shipping its bus-based Omni-Bus Lighting Control Network product line, which is basically a central lighting control system. Installed at the multi-button programmable wall switches (instead of replacing the master panel), the Omni-Bus modules utilize DIN-Rail and includes an advanced dimmer capable of controlling CFL, LED, Electronic Low-Voltage (ELV), Halogen and incandescent lighting sources. HAI claims that it's the most energy-efficient lighting system it's ever had.
All modules are capable of controlling 120-240V, 50/60 Hz while the Omni-Bus system is powered by a digital power supply. The products are broken down into four segments: Core Products (Required), Load Control Modules, Switch Interfaces and Accessories. Products are available for control of lighting loads, fans, motors, pumps, shutters, shades and more.
All modules are CE, FCC, UL (ETL) approved and will be shipping by the end of Q1 2012. You can see all the options and specs here: http://www.homeauto.com/Products/OmniBus/OmniBus.asp Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top CEDIA Now Accepting Entries for Lifestyles Award Competition CEDIA's annual Electronic Lifestyles Awards competition is now underway, with the online entry system officially open. CEDIA members interested in entering may view guidelines and begin the entry process now at http://www.cedia.org/awards.
CEDIA has made some changes to the Awards program to make it easier for members to enter. Entrants no longer need to mail in hard copy submissions; the entire entry process is online. In addition, the Designer Awards competition is no longer limited to members with CEDIA Certified Professionals on staff; all electronic systems contractor (ESC) members may enter.
The Designer Awards competition features seven project categories, including Integrated Home, Special Project, and Home Theater. The Electronic Lifestyles Awards competition provides a unique platform for ESCs to showcase their projects not only to the industry but also to the consumer audience through CEDIA’s continued partnership with http://www.HGTVRemodels.com (formerly HGTVPro.com) on the People’s Pick award competition. The entry system for the Designer Awards will close Friday, May 4 at 5:00 p.m. (Pacific).
Visitors to http://www.HGTVRemodels.com will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite projects in the Home Theater, Media Room and Integrated Home categories. HGTVRemodels.com's 800,000+ monthly viewers include homeowners as well as building, remodeling and design professionals.
CEDIA also gives manufacturers the opportunity to highlight their best products through the Manufacturers’ Excellence Awards competition. Categories include Best New Product and Product Hall of Fame. Manufacturers can also compete for a Sustainable Lifestyle Product Innovation award, which recognizes a product that facilitates reduced energy consumption. The deadline for entering the Manufacturers’ Excellence Awards competition is Friday, June 1 at 5:00 p.m. (Pacific).
The competition offers a way for manufacturers to gain added exposure surrounding CEDIA EXPO. Last year, finalists in the Manufacturers’ Excellence Awards received over 150 million media impressions from top trade and consumer media outlets.
CEDIA is also accepting nominations for the Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding, creative, innovative and visionary leadership in the residential electronic systems industry. Nominations will be accepted until Friday, May 25 at 5:00 p.m. (Pacific).
Guidelines and entry forms are available at http://www.cedia.org/awards Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top Access Networks Joins ihiji invision Manufacturer Partner Program ihiji announced this month that Access Networks has joined its manufacturer partner program.
To read the complete press release online, click here. Back to Top Definitive Technology Gets Update in D-Tools System Integrator 5.5 D-Tools has announced that Definitive Technology's product line has been updated in D-Tools' System Integrator (SI) 5.5 Software.
To read the complete press release online, click here. Back to Top Séura Names ProAct Sales 2011 Agency of the Year Séura recently announced that ProAct Sales, a metro New York independent sales representative agency, has been named its the 2011 Agency of the Year.
To read the complete press release online, click here. Back to Top Sapphire Marketing Adds Leon Speakers Sapphire Marketing is now the manufacturers' representative for Leon Speakers in the Tri-State area, New England, Upstate New York and eastern Pennsylvania.
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).
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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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