SANUS is now shipping two new pieces within the Basic Series furniture line -- the new BFV357 and BFV353 audio video stands. The BFV357 stand offers: Thick tempered glass on a powder-coated steel frame Cable management system organizes and keeps cables hidden Open design maximizes airflow to equipment and provides easy access to back of components Adjustable feet ensure furniture is level on any surface The BFV353 stand includes: Cable management system organizes and keeps cables hidden Media storage basket helps keep remotes and other accessories organized Adjustable feet ensure furniture is level on any surface Both furniture stands are quick and easy to assemble, and they are compatible with the SANUS FMS Furniture Mount System and the SANUS ELM701 Anti-Tip Strap. For more information on the BFV357, click here: http://www.sanus.com/us/en/products/av-foundations/av-basic/BFV357 For more information on the BFV353, click here: http://www.sanus.com/us/en/products/av-foundations/av-basic/BFV353

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NSCA Executive Director Chuck Wilson has authored a book titled “Under the Social Influence,” which focuses on specific influences that can impact a successful life and career. All book proceeds will benefit the NSCA Education Foundation, which helps further the education of systems integration professionals.

Wilson reflects on the past 30 years of owning and managing both corporate and non-profit companies, and discusses through humor and real-life stories the impact of cross-generational employees in the workplace. This no-nonsense, tough-love playbook for those struggling to get ahead and those under the influence of negative social situations is written primarily for younger generations entering the workforce.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to be invited into our members companies to evaluate organizational issues where I witnessed so many of their younger employees struggling with work and life balance issues, situational awareness, financial woes, reputation management, workplace drama and of course the addiction to social media,” said Wilson. “After hearing similar stories across different companies, I decided to put my thoughts in writing to share with all generations. Likewise, I’ve seen some very impressive examples of doing it right... we can learn a great deal from those stories as well.”    
   
Wilson's new book is available for purchase at a variety of online retailers including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Those interested in purchasing bulk orders should visit http://www.800CEOread.com to receive additional discounts.  

Wilson will also provide opportunities for presentations or workshops based on the book. For more information on “Under the Social Influence” or to purchase the book, visit http://www.underthesocialinfluence.com. ; Add a comment

Extron's new two input 3G-SDI Card for the Quantum Elite videowall processing system accepts SDI, HD-SDI and 3G-SDI signals. The new 3G-SDI input card features Extron high performance scaling technology, motion adaptive deinterlacing and film mode cadence detection to ensure high quality image presentation on videowall displays. Automatic source format detection captures 480i and 576i SDI sources, HD-SDI sources up to 1080i/60 Hz and 3G-SDI sources up to 1080p/60 Hz, complying with SMPTE 259M, 292M and 424M digital video standards. SDI, HD-SDI and 3G-SDI input support is also available for the Quantum Connect videowall processing system.

Extron says that Extron Quantum Series videowall processing systems deliver reliable multi-image presentations intended for demanding, mission-critical environments. They feature high performance graphics and video processing and a dedicated high-speed video bus that maintains real-time performance under heavy input loads. Quantum Series processors can simultaneously display hundreds of windows of high quality graphics and video, making them ideal for medium to large videowall systems in environments including public spaces, corporate buildings, surveillance, visualization and command and control.

To view a product video and for more information, please visit http://www.extron.com/quantumsdipr Add a comment

Pakedge Device & Software today announced the introduction of its S8Pe -- an Eight Port Gigabit Unmanaged PoE and PoE+ Switch, which supports up to four ports with PoE+ power or up to eight ports with full gigabit PoE (Power over Ethernet).

The S8Pe can deliver up to 31.5 watts per port to four ports, making it ideal for use with high-power wireless access points and touch panels, high-definition IP cameras, HDMI-over-IP transmitters, home automation PoE+ controllers and other devices that require PoE+ operation and gigabit Ethernet connectivity.

The Pakedge S8Pe is equipped with eight auto-speed-sensing 10/100/1000 Mbps ports. It offers plug-and-play operation without any software to configure. The S8Pe meets 802.3at and 802.3af standards and features Intelligent Endspan PoE Detection – it will not turn on until it detects a valid PoE signature from the devices connected downstream. This useful feature protects against damage to non-compliant equipment.

Housed in a 1U metal enclosure with supplied rack-mount brackets and front-panel indicator lights, the S8Pe's connections are all from the back panel for easy cable access in a structured wiring panel, equipment rack or A/V cabinets. The S8Pe is also equipped with a power switch for easy on-off access.

Here are the specs: http://www.pakedge.com/docs/S8PeBrochure.pdf Add a comment

The Digital Signage Federation will host four regional evening "meet and greet" events in 2013. These will be designed to:

 

• Facilitate networking and business opportunity among local industry professionals, and
• Support the DSF's educational and member outreach in key markets that have evidenced growth and a high level of interest in this sector.

Why should you, your colleagues, clients or prospective clients be there? Because no matter what business you’re in -- being unaware of the many creative ways your organization can make money by being involved in this industry is a lost opportunity.

The Digital Signage Federation Board of Directors will be in Dallas at the Wednesday, March 20th event to conversationally share their business experience, enumerate industry opportunity, and discuss the benefits of membership in the Digital Signage Federation.

Randy Dearborn, Vice President, Multimedia & Guest Technology, MGM Resorts, and DSF Board Member at Large, will not only share the many ways in which his company's multi-property and multinational use of digital signage has improved the guest experience, but also which resources the DSF provides he finds most useful in his business.

Attendance is limited, so if you would like to attend, have a colleague in the Dallas area, or have a client or prospective client you feel would benefit from getting to know why our industry should be important to them - and how the DSF can help - please register, or encourage them to register ASAP on the DSF website at: http://www.digitalsignagefederation.org/Default.aspx?pageId=813898&eventId=617862&EventViewMode=EventDetails

The dates and cities that these events will be held in 2013 are:

• Dallas, TX, March 20th
• Toronto, Canada, June 26th
• Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN, Sept. 25th
• Southern California, Dec. 4th (specific city TBD)

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Larger flat panels, namely 70” and larger, are becoming more and more affordable, including a 90” model from Sharp coming in right around the $10k mark. We are talking sizes and prices that were, until now, reserved for projectors and projection screens. Many will agree that projectors still have their place and will continue to have it.

When thinking about commercial applications, high-end conference rooms and fancy sports bars may be the most impacted by this shift as the price of larger flat panels is now falling to the point where they would be comparable to a good mid-range projector and screen. There are still many applications where projectors will remain strong. K-12 is a good example of this, where often budgets are restricted and projectors can be had for less than $1,000. Additionally, many classrooms are now outfitted with interactive white boards which, by design, require a projector.

Further, there are still many venues where a very large screen is required, such as lecture halls, auditoriums, and large churches. With a 152” plasma display costing around $500k, the cost of a high end projector and screen is much easier to swallow at this point, and can still produce images significantly larger. On the flip side, there are projectors that are small enough to fit in your pocket that can project images as large at 70”, perfect for those on the go or for mobile presenters.

For the purpose of this discussion I am talking projectors, specifically projection screens, and determining the proper size screen for a particular space. According to InfoComm’s CTS Exam Guide, the maximum viewing distance is based on the amount of detail in the image. For the majority of the viewing public, the viewing distance should be no greater than 150 times the character height. For video, the closest viewer should be no closer than the width of the screen and the farthest viewer should be no farther than eight times the height of the screen. For computer data, the closest viewer should be no closer than the width of the screen and the farthest viewer should be no farther than six times the height of the screen.

Using the same math, you can determine an appropriate screen size based on viewer distance.

Examine the following formula:
S(H) = D / S(L)
S(H) = Screen Height, D = Distance of Farthest Viewer, S(L) = Screen Detail Factor (See Below)

4 – Engineering Drawings, Medical Images, Very Fine Detail
6 – Web Pages, Spreadsheets, Simple Presentations
8 – Motion Video

So if you are designing a conference room where the farthest viewer will be 24 feet from the screen, and content will be primarily general presentations such as PowerPoint or Web pages, you would calculate the screen height by dividing 24 by 6, which is 4 feet. Based on a 4-foot screen height, that gives you roughly an 84” diagonal if you are dealing with a 4:3 aspect ratio, or roughly a 94” diagonal screen in a 16:10 aspect ratio.

Now, you also have to take into account the ceiling height in the room. Generally, the bottom of the screen should be approximately 40” to 48” above the floor, so you will need clearance for the area underneath the screen, the height of the screen and housing, as well as the distance required for any projector lens offset. If you are working in a room with a low ceiling and you are not able to have clearance for all of these factors, then you will be limited as far as the size of screen that will physically fit in the space. In this case you would naturally try and find the largest possible screen for the area.

So in summary, the next time you are trying to determine an appropriate screen size, there are two main factors you need to consider. First are the dimensions of the audience area and second is the projection format or detail of content that will be displayed. The above formula will prove very useful once you have both pieces of information. Remember that in certain instances, you may be restricted by ceiling height, which in that case you will just want to find the largest screen height that will fit while considering the distance from the floor and projector offset. Add a comment

For calendar year 2012, sales of interactive whiteboards and interactive flat panel displays in the education and corporate sectors are up 15 percent annually, to nearly one million displays, according to the latest quarterly research from Futuresource Consulting. This is despite the increasing presence of personal tablet devices in the education sector, which continue to gain a foothold. The following data provides key highlights from the market report.

Asia: Best Ever Year for Sales

Asia has, by far, achieved its largest ever quarter, with nearly 70 percent annual growth. China - for the first year the world's biggest market - achieved a significant sales volume. Futuresource expectations are that the huge education tenders will continue. India also experienced a substantial quarter, with more than 100 percent increase in the year.

USA: Market Continues Falling

In the USA volumes fell to 27 percent below 2011, as previously forecast by Futuresource, and the education market is expect to continue to drop over the next few years. By the end of this year almost half of K-12 classrooms will have an interactive display and the early models sold into the market are not yet ready for replacement. The rise of tablet devices will also impede growth of interactive displays.

EMEA: Strong Growth

EMEA experienced its largest year of sales, achieving 24 percent annual growth. Sales in Russia almost doubled their 2011 levels.

The Global Perspective

Futuresource forecasts show that the total display technologies market of interactive whiteboards, interactive flat panels and interactive projectors will reach 1.16 million devices by 2017. However, the adoption rates of the three products are very different by country and even by region. Futuresource has compared all three technologies in eight regions and countries.

Looking at some of the country tenders, Saudi Arabia, pending for some time, started shipping. However, the Mexico tender, hanging for several years, was canceled.

Over three million tablets were purchased by schools in 2012 and this has definitely contributed to the increased competition for education budgets. However, The scale of the corporate space presents a number viable opportunities. With over 67 million meeting rooms worldwide, this segment of the corporate market alone is twice the scale of school classrooms. As a result, the corporate market is forecast to be the fastest growing sector, increasing to 30 percent by 2017. This growth will be in more developed markets like the USA, UK, Germany and Sweden. Add a comment

The Christie stand at the Frankfurt Prolight+Sound show will focus on Christie's Nitro Solutions (integrated moving yokes), MicroTiles as well as their Roadster J and M Series 3-chip DLP projectors.

The Christie Nitro YK100 is a single-arm yoke that has been purpose designed for the Christie M Series and Christie LX1500 to provide a range of brightness levels (5,700 to 15,000 ANSI lumens) to choose from. This flexible system includes an interchangeable head system that enables users to replace the video projector with another Christie projector on the yoke — with movement and control manageable via DMX protocol. Also present will be the ChristieYK50, a small, dual-arm yoke, which supports the Christie LX700 and Christie LHD700 projectors.

These yokes can be flown, rigged or set up at floor level, according to application requirements. To demonstrate this versatility Christie will stage a comparison between the YK100 and a standard automated discharge light — positioned next to each other and running off the same DMX console.

This is designed to prove conclusively the benefits rental stagers and lighting designers can derive from using a yoke-based system to show video content that can be changed on the fly rather than having to create new gobos for the fixed moving light each time.

The ability of the Christie J Series and M Series to take performance to a new level will also be demonstrated via a projection mapping display onto an uneven surface. Nitro yokes will be used to add branding and extend the visuals shown on the façade to other areas of the stand and to enhance the impact of the projection onto floors, ceilings etc.

Here are the details of the Christie Nitro: http://www.christiedigital.com/en-us/business/products/moving-digital-luminaires/pages/default.aspx Add a comment

ihiji and SnapAV have partnered to provide a cloud-based power management of SnapAV WattBox IP products using ihiji’s NetNinja suite within the ihiji invision web portal. Consolidating this data eliminates the need to incorporate multiple remote monitoring systems to gain insight into the health and wellbeing of a growing assortment of connected devices. Dealers can now manage power, network and control system devices from SnapAV and other manufacturers without the confusion associated with utilizing multiple tools.

Beyond WattBox products, ihiji’s NetNinja suite supports soft reboots of many other devices such as Control Processors, Touch panels and DirecTV receivers, as well as hard power cycles through Power Over Ethernet switches, which enable one-click reboots of PoE ports. By incorporating SnapAV WattBox functionality, this powerful new combination creates one of the most robust, yet cost-effective, remote monitoring and management solutions available.

Installing the ihiji invision system is simple. The solution was engineered to eliminate the need for on-site network configuration, port forwarding, and firewall configuration to ensure a rapid and secure installation and ongoing access when a reboot is needed. Dealers benefit from immediate time and cost savings from reduced truck rolls and warranty service calls.

Dealers interested in learning more about how ihiji’s cloud based solution can complement the SnapAV WattBox line or those wishing to gain access to a recently recorded ihiji and SnapAV webinar are invited to contact David Rench of ihiji at (512) 538-0520 or SnapAV Sales at (866) 424-4489.

ihiji is here: http://www.ihiji.com Add a comment

Atlona is now shipping its HDMI extenders featuring HDBaseT with signal transmission to a distance of up to 328 feet (100 meters). Atlona says both the AT-HDTX-RSNET transmitter and AT-HDRX-RSNET receiver offer provide bidirectional control with Ethernet, RS-232 and IR remote control for compatibility with third-party control systems. By using Power over Category cable (PoCc), AV, IR RS-232 and power can be sent over a single category cable without the need for a receiver power supply.

The new RSNET family of HDMI extenders feature locking HDMI ports, USB ports for in-field firmware updates and captive screw connectors for IR, RS-232 and RJ45 Ethernet connectors. Resolutions up to UltraHD (4Kx2K) and CEC pass-through are also supported by the devices. Along with 3D, the RSNET family transmits all embedded audio signals including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Convenient captive-screw terminations for control and power (24 vdc on HDTX and PoCc on HDRX).

Here are the specs: http://www.atlona.com Add a comment

The tenth annual Digital Signage Expo (DSE) show held last month in Las Vegas and we covered it LIVE via our rAVe NOW Microsite -- including posting more than 350 videos, 20 blogs and over 350 tweets. And it can all be seen here: http://www.rAVeNOWdse.com.

Show management has just confirmed that the new benchmarks established at DSE 2013 last month include:

• 4,080 qualified attendees (excluding exhibitors)
• Record conference attendance
• Record international attendance from a total of 77 countries
• Record 211 exhibitors
• A record show floor space

We've put all the DSE stats together in an easy to read Infographic here: http://ravepubs.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10237:infographic-dse-2013-stats&catid=253:rave-infographics&Itemid=577 Add a comment

Disclaimer: This represents the opinion and experience of me personally and does not represent any specific policy, law or official guidance. Understanding what happens in a bid-protest will help your firm manage its expectations on what may happen with the entire solicitation and may help you be successful working with the government.

No one on either side of the procurement process wants to discuss the bid protest and how it affects businesses trying to sell products and services to federal government. The main object in this article is to clearly address some great feedback I received on my inaugural column on Hiccup’s in Procurement.  

The feedback received relates to the possibility of an inappropriate relationship between a participating vendor in the open procurement and the government representative handling the procurement.
 
Being an idealist, and someone who tries to find the good out of every bad situation, I try not to think this happens. However, I also do understand the reality of some people and their behavior, which can be professionally inappropriate, not to mention legally murky. So what do you as a vendor do, when you suspect another vendor is getting preferential treatment in an open solicitation?

Please note I am not promoting the idea that any vendor should have the attitude, “when in doubt, PROTEST.” I think the key is to educate contractors what options are available in the event you do need to protest an open procurement. It’s essential to understand that once a protest is filed, everything stops, and a new timeline begins.

First, the simple fact is if your firm doesn’t have concrete evidence, you shouldn’t be making accusations or starting protests. Protests can and most likely will be costly to all parties involved. They should not be taken lightly.

So how do you enter into a protest? Well, since I’m a technologist, not a lawyer, I wouldn’t be the best person to completely answer that question. However, if you are protesting an open procurement where the Federal Government is involved, then the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has a tremendous amount of helpful information for you, all of which can be found here: http://www.gao.gov/legal/bids/bidfaqs.html.

However, not all bid protests are done through the GAO. This is where a good lawyer can help you. There are three potential places to file a protest. The first is with the government agency itself, the second is with the GAO and the third is with the United States Court of Federal Claims (http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/). I can’t stress enough that a good lawyer is needed when attempting this type of action.

Looking at the GAO provided statistics, bid protests are on the rise, up 5 percent from fiscal year 2011, with a total filing of 2,475. This total represents more than just what I’ve discussed. However, one important fact is more people are at least asking for reviews on bids, and as I see anytime you have “checks and balance,” the end user is always the winner. The full GAO annual report can be found here:  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-162SP  

Don Palmer has 15 years in Civilian Federal service, during all of which he's been involved with AV- and IT-related project management, including aspects of budget and procurement. Prior to joining the federal government, Don worked in telecommunications and network communications with a large outsourcing call center. Reach him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Add a comment

Geostellar today announced the launch at SXSW of a first-of-its-kind online Sustainable Energy Network that the company claims helps homeowners slash costs, save money and fight climate change by reducing carbon pollution. This is all through the use of advanced home energy simulations, expert guidance and a broad array of solar installation, equipment and financing options. The social platform connects homeowners together to share expertise and encouragement and to promote the successful deployment of solar energy and energy efficient technologies.

Geostellar is a sustainable energy network that uses a social platform you can see here: http://geostellar.com/ Add a comment

Vaddio announced a major software update to the AV Bridge and ClearVIEW HD-USB PTZ camera that adds support for 4.2.0-encoded video applications including WebEx, Microsoft Lync and GoToMeeting.

“When recording lectures with detailed classroom and presentation content, HD video is essential and the higher video resolutions work great,” said COO of Vaddio, Mark Steen. “But when you’re network only provides limited bandwidth, sometimes lower resolutions are the only way to go. Streaming an HD video call, only to have it scaled down on the soft client end, doesn’t make much sense and eats up a lot of bandwidth.”

For more information on the ClearVIEW HD-USB Camera and AV Bridge software upgrade please visit the Vaddio website at http://www.vaddio.com in the Tech Center. Add a comment

Extron's new VNS 104 Multi-Stream Decoding Software decodes and presents one or four video sources and one associated stereo audio source streamed from VN-Matrix 225 or 200 Series Encoders and VN-Matrix Recorder. VNS 104 multi-stream decoding software includes text overlay and status messaging features, which are valuable for distinguishing between AV sources during operation and system commissioning.

VNS 104 multi-stream decoding software operates on Windows PCs and is managed as a part of a system by a VN-Matrix Enterprise Controller. It offers aspect ratio management for VN-Matrix streams, including FILL, FOLLOW and a 1:1 mode, which can be applied independently to each decoded source. VNS 104 provides an effective method for monitoring multiple streaming sources in a variety of environments including command and control, after action review, training and simulation, and medical or geological visualization.

Here are all the specs: http://www.extron.com/product/product.aspx?id=vns104&s=5 Add a comment

Promethean and Epson today announced a partnership that gives educators in the United States and Canada a wider range of options for converting classrooms into collaborative and interactive learning environments.
 
Under the agreement announced today, customers will be able to purchase Promethean’s teaching and learning software, ActivInspire, from Epson when buying Epson’s industry-leading BrightLink interactive projectors. Each company will provide world-class customer support for their respective products, giving educators full confidence and support as they convert classrooms and learning spaces to interactive work areas.
 
“School districts want to select the best interactive hardware and the best interactive software tools independently that suit their needs and budgets,” said Keith Kratzberg, senior vice president of Epson America, Inc. “This partnership squarely delivers on that request from the education community and seamlessly brings together the highly acclaimed software of Promethean with Epson BrightLink, the top selling line of interactive projectors in the world1, to transform classrooms across the United States and Canada.”
 
Under the agreement, Epson will have licensing rights to sell Promethean ActivInspire to new and existing customers using BrightLink interactive projectors throughout the United States and Canada, providing educators more options as they transition to collaborative, interactive classrooms.
 
“We want to give educators the flexibility to create environments where students can experience a 21stcentury lesson with the tools and resources that make sense to them. By pairing our award-winning interactive teaching and learning software with Epson interactive projectors we provide them with options. And with over a million teachers worldwide using our software, they can have the confidence that using our software with an interactive device will motivate, engage and inspire students,” said Promethean CEO Jim Marshall. Add a comment

Crestron today announced a 5" TSW-550 -- part of its Core 3 UI family of smart phone and tablet styled touch screens that also includes the 7" TSW-750 and 10" TSW-1050. Crestron says it uses capacitive touch (like the iPhone) and has GUI effects and gestures navigation to swipe, scroll, drag and drop. TSW-550 installs easily with the included post-construction bracket and can be neatly and quickly attached directly to drywall and other surfaces. TSW magnetically adheres to its mounting bracket, eliminating any visible screws to provide a clean, hi-tech appearance.

Here are the details: http://www.crestron.com/resources/product_and_programming_resources/catalogs_and_brochures/online_catalog/default.asp?jump=1&model=TSW-550 Add a comment

According to news reports, Sharp is in talks with Samsung on concluding a capital and business alliance. The two sides are believed to be in final negotiations, with Sharp likely to receive around 10 billion yen ($107M) in investment from Samsung, in exchange for a 3 percent stake of Sharp. We believe Samsung’s main purpose is to secure panel supply from Sharp, especially 32” produced on the Gen 8 line (Kaymeyama-II fab) and 40” and 60” from Gen 10 (Sakai fab). Sharp also produces mobile device panels with high resolution using CGS (a form of LTPS) and oxide TFT technology, so it is also likely that Samsung, with huge demand for mobile panels, will also purchase the high resolution mobile panels from Sharp. We believe this decision can be attributed to several causes:

• Samsung and Sharp have long been rivals, but Sharp has apparently determined that forming an alliance with its rival in flat-screen TVs and mobile phone handsets is required to improve its performance and financial standing. Sharp has been struggling with its financial position and has been seeking investment, including Foxconn (which invested in 50 percent of its Sakai Gen 10 fab) and Qualcomm (which invested in $120M and has more than a 5 percent stake). Sharp is also in talks with Intel and Dell. The near-term financial need for Sharp is a loan payment of 200 billion yen in Q3’13.
• Samsung’s purpose is mainly to secure TV panels, especially 32”, 40” and 60”. According to the Quarterly LCD TV Value Chain Report, Sharp has been a key supplier of 40” to Samsung, with more than 400K per quarter, and 60” with more than 200K per quarter in Q3’12. Due to the reduced orders for displays for Apple’s iPad, Sharp has been shifting Gen 8 capacity, which was originally making 9.7” tablet PC panels, to produce 32” LCD TV panels for Samsung. With the Taiwanese retreating from supplying 32” panels, Samsung is eager to secure a new source. Sharp started to ship 32” to Samsung at the beginning of 2013. In total, Samsung will be buying more than one million panels from Sharp, so it may make sense for Samsung to invest to secure the source.
• Given that Sharp is a leader in oxide TFT technology, especially at Gen 8, it’s possible that Samsung can utilize the oxide TFT backplanes from Sharp for its AMOLED TV.
• This may indicate that Samsung wants to continue to source a certain percentage of panels externally. There are indications that Samsung Display is reducing the scale of its own TFT LCD fab investment in China. It’s possible that the Samsung group intends to curb new TFT LCD capacity expansion and focus more on AMOLED TV.
• Foxconn has been intending to make additional investments in Sharp to access more high resolution displays for mobile devices. But Sharp has been reluctant to give Foxconn additional control. The investments from Qualcomm, possibly Intel, and now Samsung indicate that Sharp’s strategy is to balance multiple investors rather than rely on one. Foxconn might not be happy with this because of its poor business relationship with Samsung. However, as Foxconn is seeking to grow its OEM/ODM business and Apple’s growth is limited, it’s also possible that Foxconn will start to talk with Samsung about an OEM/ODM relationship on LCD TV and other mobile devices.

In the business world, there are no permanent enemies or friends. Sharp and Samsung disliked each other in the past, but the present realities may lead them to work together. Sharp is becoming a big ship, with investments from many companies. All of these investors will see different benefits and conflicts in this big Sharp ship.

This column was reprinted with permission from DisplaySearch and originally appeared here. Add a comment

Almo Professional A/V has announced its weekly interactive mini-webinar series “AV Snacks” for March, which will focus on higher education. AV Snacks are designed to provide relevant industry trends, application examples and more to busy AV professionals, presented in a 15-minute webinar format every Friday at 2:00 p.m. E.S.T.
 
The sessions offer a “taste” of a particular topic each week in a format that is lively and engaging, with a five-question quiz that attendees can take to earn specific prizes.

Here are the upcoming webinars:
     
3/8 -- Canon Projectors: “Image Quality as the Main Ingredient”

Putting together a projection system is all about the picture, both in size and quality. There are several different variables, the least of which is the projector itself. With the focus on cheap lumens in many of today's projector lines, has image quality been taken off the table? Canon's focus on lens construction, light path engineering, and superior LCoS technology provides the best image you can get on screen. Join us to learn how Canon projectors make a difference in education environments.

Prize: iTunes Gift Card
Register: https://student.gototraining.com/r/6301254208106305024
           
3/15 -- C2G: “Video Walls: Transition from Analog to Digital Video”  

Learn how digital video is eating up the higher education space. Utilizing C2G's AOC technology, you'll provide optimum performance every time. With many options to choose from, AOC technology has enticing features that will make you come back for seconds!

Prize: Starbucks Gift Card
Register: https://student.gototraining.com/r/2868587702282672896
 
3/22 -- Hitachi: “A Wireless Four Course Meal”  
        
Have you heard of educators struggling to integrate books, video, internet all into one lecture? With Hitachi, effortlessly switch between your devices from one system that can be controlled from a single source (i.e. iPad). Better yet, with a contacted wireless document camera, you can also incorporate in-person supplements to the lecture. From beginning to end, Hitachi makes it easy to serve you a four course meal!

Prize: Gift Card
Register: https://student.gototraining.com/r/4355207687384665088
 
3/29  -- Mitsubishi: “Serving Brilliant Color & Seamless Excellence”  

Provide quality and service with Mitsubishi's 7000 and 8000 series projector models. Perfect for lecture centers and large rooms, the image quality is as sharp as a knife. Even simple text from a PC to a Blu-Ray DVD, the clarity is unmatched. See how we've transformed spaces that will be sure to leave your mouth watering for more!

Prize: Almo Drawstring Backpack
Register: https://student.gototraining.com/r/1470342063774836992
 
All of the AV Snacks sessions are recorded and archived for access after they run: http://www.almoproav.com/events/avsnacks.aspx Add a comment

Last week’s Digital Signage Expo in Las Vegas was the Expo’s 10th anniversary. It amazes me that a segment of our industry has grown to this level in just ten years. I find digital signage to be so interesting, because for what seems to be a fairly straightforward technology, there are so many applications.

Digital signage can serve a lot of needs and be a lot of things, but unfortunately cheap is not one of them. The cost of setting up a single sign can be anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000, depending on your design and vendor. Once you network that equipment, the cost goes up even higher. Education has struggled on this front, as it has been hard for us to find the Return on Investment (ROI) for a system that costs in the tens of thousands of dollars. We don’t have the same monetary incentive that retailers have to use this technology to generate income.

We have been working with digital signs for about six years ago. It began with a request from our Dean of Faculty’s office for a way to post information about upcoming events, or celebrate academic achievements of our faculty and students. The first sign was a success and every year they would ask us to put up another sign in a new location. From the start we used Tightrope Media System because we knew it could grow with us, and we did not need a massive investment up front.

Slowly, one sign became four, then five and now we have a total of 14 digital signs on our campus. This includes one in every academic building, our two athletic buildings, our dining hall, our student center, our admissions office and our theater.

We have learned some things over the years which have made the digital signage system add value to our community. This first step in this project, like any successful project is to define who does what. As the IT/AV people, we spec, design, install and support the digital signs, but we do not create content. To that end, we are at a point where we do not even provide training for our users. Our communications office has taken on the role of  creating all the templates, and training all the users. Each sign has its own local admin who can create content, edit content and approve content. This gives us the ability to keep the signs fresh and updated. No one person is responsible for the content, and most importantly, we (my group) are not responsible for the content. This should be a familiar concept between the IT/AV and Communications groups at institutions. We went through this years ago when IT got out of the business of updating content on web pages. In fact, the model we use for our digital signs is almost an exact duplicate of what we do with our web pages.

In addition to the standard task of advertising events, we have found several additional uses for our digital signs. One task is to stream live video to the signs. We have used this for major campus events such as commencement and convocation. We also use it for remote monitoring. For example, a digital sign outside our concert hall serves as a audio and video monitor of the event happening inside the hall. As people show up late they can see what is going on inside without walking in and interrupting the performance. When they see a break, they can sneak in.  During our athletics contests we stream video to the monitors outside of the gymnasium, so people who go to grab a snack or a bit of fresh air can still see what is happening. This proved very useful during a swim meet for our local high school teams. All of the families could not fit in the pool area, so they watched the monitor outside and would rotate in and out as their own child’s event came and went. The beauty of all this is that it is automatically programmed to switch the content. So, right before an event starts, the video feed turns on. Once the event ends, the content goes back to the regularly scheduled content.

A wonderful feature of a networked digital signage system is the ability to make a global announcement. With a networked system a user can log into a web page and set an alert to all the monitors on your campus, or to subsets of the signs. This may pass important information to customers, like closings due to weather. Obviously, we all hope that we never need to use this system in a time of violence or danger on campus, but we also need to be aware of the possibility. I recommend you put a policy in place on how you would handle this situation. In our case, our security office does not directly use the Tightrope System. It is such a rare event that they need to use it, when the time comes they will have forgotten how. Instead, we have identified a couple of everyday users who they would contact in an emergency and those people would set the alert message.

One thing that I will caution against is trying to develop your own custom built digital signage system. I know of a couple cases where this was attempted and neither of them ended very well. In both cases the technology manager got into a position where he was the only person who could support these systems. So, while it looked like a lot of money was being saved up front, one has to question how much money was spent in support of these devices and how much time was lost waiting for this single point of support. When the first request for a digital sign came to our department, there was some discussion of putting a Mac Mini behind a monitor and running a slide show. While this would have been less expensive up front, it was not scalable and would have required a great deal of training and support. If we have taken this approach we would be a real pinch right now trying to support 14 signs.

Integrators and designers can help technology managers on this front, by showing them all the various options for digital signage and more importantly, the various things it allows you to do.  Show us these features and tell us how other educational institutions are using them. Budgets are tight, and we may have pressure from above to use an inexpensive “Mac Mini” type solution.  You can arm us with the right information to educate our customers. Also, give us some options as to how we can grow. Many schools can not afford a $100,000 investment up front.  

In a recent blog on rAVe I wrote about convergence -- this is another example of where convergence is simply a part of life. You will eventually, if not immediately, need a server that links all your digital sign boxes. Each device will need to be on the network, and it is desirable to have the system connected into your authentication system so the accounts link to accounts your users already have (LDAP, active directory, etc.). All of this will require strong partnership with your networking folks. Many systems now branch in other systems. For example, they can read and display RSS feeds and they can tie into your campus scheduling system and show events from it based on criteria you define. The Tightrope system, for example, gives you Web pages that display your digital signage content. Maybe it is time to take your network administrator out to lunch.

Have you started using digital signage in your institution? Was it a success? How did you setup your team and what equipment did you use? I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

Scott is very active in the field, having presented at both regional and national conferences. In 2011, he was appointed as chair of the Technology Managers Council of InfoComm. Scott can be contacted via LinkedIn, on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/stiner or via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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InfoComm 2013 will introduce the latest advances in technology and solutions for digital signage, bringing together leading manufacturers and service providers with end-users at the annual event taking place June 8-14 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

Digital signage is one of the most rapidly expanding fields in the audiovisual industry, with applications in retail, corporate, hospitality, institutional markets and more. “Digital signage has changed the public landscape, and its presence is growing,” said InfoComm Executive Director and CEO David Labuskes, CTS, RCDD. “InfoComm 2013 exhibitors, systems integrators, software engineers and design consultants will share best practices, along with the latest content creation techniques and hardware delivery solutions, to engage audiences and communicate effectively. InfoComm 2013 is the largest digital signage marketplace for institutional buyers and technology managers in retail, government, corporate and hospitality spaces.”

Digital Signage Pavilion

The Digital Signage Pavilion located on the show floor, will bring attendees together to see innovative products from the leading manufacturers, best practices presentations and training. The Digital Signage Presentation Stage, located within pavilion, will feature case studies and strategic advice throughout the show. The Digital Signage Content Creation Zone will provide attendees the opportunity to get up close and personal with top content providers through demonstrations, as well as training.

Featured digital signage products and services include:

• Display system technologies and media players
• Digital signage software
• Content management systems
• Network infrastructure products

Beyond the Show Floor

The Digital Signage Training Sampler, offered by InfoComm University, will offer four new courses to address the opportunities and challenges of visual messaging and digital signage, including Digital Signage in Universities and Technology Trends in Digital Signage.

Before the show floor opens, DisplaySearch will be hosting the Flat Panel Display Conference at InfoComm. Held on Tuesday, June 11, this day-long conference will focus on display-based solutions for vertical professional markets. The agenda will include supply chain trends, case studies, and the effect of mobile products.

InfoComm 2013, the largest commercial audiovisual show, expects 35,000 attendees from wide-ranging market sectors, including business, government, military, education, worship, healthcare, hospitality, retail and entertainment. Along with a trade show floor that exhibits the latest from all of the industry leaders in audiovisual, staging, signage and more, the educational programming provides attendees with opportunities to develop skills and update certifications during the conference.

For more news on InfoComm 2013, click here: http://www.infocommshow.org Add a comment

NEC Display added two super-slim displays to its specialty X Series portfolio in the form of the 46-inch X462S and 55-inch X552S. NEC is calling these "industrial-strength." Using LED backlighting and a mere 1.8 inches deep, the X462S and X552S are not only super-slim and ultra light, but they also deliver a brightness of 700 cd/m².  
In addition, these super-slim displays include the Open Pluggable Specification (OPS) slot, a standardization designed to simplify installations, use and maintenance of digital signage. Users receive full connectivity, including DisplayPort, HDMI and DVI-D, as well as remote management through the Network Control and Communication tools.

The X462S and X552S displays include the following features:

 

• LED backlighting technology, which reduces power consumption and contributes to a lightweight design with minimal 1.8-inch depth
• Commercial-grade LCD panel and components, which enable extended run times
• 1920x1080 native resolution, which provides stunning image clarity
• 500/700 cd/m² brightness (typical/maximum) and 3,000:1 contrast ratio delivering brilliant imagery
• DisplayPort, HDMI and DVI-D (in/out), which enable connectivity to a wide range of peripherals
• RS-232C, LAN and DDC/CI for external control
• TileMatrix, which facilitates video walls up to 100 displays in 10x10 configurations
• Optional color-calibration solution, which enables color uniformity and fidelity across individual and multiple screens
• Real-time clock, which has the ability to set schedules for on/off times 24/7 and can be set to warm up 30 minutes before use for optimum color representation
• Built-in ATSC digital tuner

The X462S and X552S are available at minimum advertised prices of $1,999 and $3,099, respectively and are here: http://www.necdisplay.com/category/large-screen-displays

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BenQ's new entry-level M6 Series MS616ST, MX618ST, MX662 and MW663 models are spec'd at contrast ratios of 13,000:1 and up to 3,500 ANSI lumens of brightness. They also include BenQ's SmartEco technology to cut energy consumption by up to 70 percent. Designed for corporate, classroom and personal spaces, the MS616ST (SVGA) and MX618ST (XGA) are short-throw projectors offering wireless connectivity for "Bring Your Own Device" (BYOD) scenarios. The higher brightness versions are the MX662 (XGA projector spec'd at 3,500 ANSI lumens) and the MW663 (a WXGA wide-screen projector spec'd at 3,000 ANSI lumens).

One interesting feature is that the BenQ M6 Series features wireless display options for cable-free connection to content sources. When paired with BenQ's Qpresenter app for the iPhone and iPad, users can transfer files from their handheld iOS devices directly to the projection screen. What makes them green is that BenQ's SmartEco technology allows users the same brightness, features and performance at a lower total cost of ownership (TCO). For instance, in "Smart Eco" mode, projectors automatically adjust lamp power by up to 70 percent in order to use just the right amount of brightness needed. The result is an 6,500 hours of lamp life without any compromise to picture quality, according to BenQ. To further reduce power consumption, an "Eco Blank" mode allows teachers or presenters to blank out the screen whenever projection isn't needed while a "No Source Detected" mode automatically lowers brightness to 30 percent when no display has been detected for more than three minutes. An audio pass through function also preserves lamp life by enabling only sound when projectors are on standby.

Available now, the BenQ MS616ST, MX618ST, MX662 and MW663 retail at $699, $899, $799, and $799 respectively. Here they are: http://www.benq.us/products/product_line.cfm?plid=8 Add a comment

Polycom's new SoundStation Connect plugs directly into any laptop or desktop USB port, letting users of soft-phone apps such as Polycom RealPresence Desktop 2.0, Microsoft Lync, Skype or IBM Sametime get HD-quality audio conferencing technology for small-group meetings in the office, at home or when traveling.

Benefits of the SoundStation Connect include:

 

• Clear conversations: Polycom Voice technology reduces background noise, echo, and feedback, while microphone     pickup covers more than 7 feet in diameter
• Easy to deploy with broad interoperability: Plug-and-play with no software driver needed,  the device runs on USB power and works with any UC soft-phone app running on computers that support USB audio
• Easy to use and transport: The ultra-simple UI with volume up, down and mute makes it easy for anyone to use

Polycom SoundStation Connect will be available in Q2 2013 and will list for $299. Here are the specs: http://www.polycom.com/products-services/voice/conferencing-solutions/conferencing-phones/soundstation-connect.html

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Improved TV receivers with higher-performance tuners may be on the way, if receiver manufacturers agree with the FCC. The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (often called “the Spectrum Act”) was signed into law a year ago, and authorized the use of “incentive auctions” of broadcast spectrum. Included in the Act was a requirement that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a study on the effect of spectrum reassignment on wireless transmission systems, including all telecommunications, broadcast, satellite, mobile or other communications systems that employ radio spectrum.  Part of that requirement included a requirement to consider the value of improving receiver performance as it relates to increasing spectral efficiency.

That study has now been released, including a report to Congress entitled “Further Consideration of Options to Improve Receiver Performance Needed.” The report identifies three challenges to improving receiver performance: lack of coordination across industries when developing voluntary standards, lack of incentives for manufacturers or spectrum users to incur costs associated with using more robust receivers, and the difficulty of accommodating a changing spectrum environment.

The broadcast and consumer electronics industries are generally on opposite sides of the fence concerning mandated receiver performance, and several examples illustrate the scenario. When color TV was first introduced in the 1950s, there was one company that stood to benefit from development of both ends of the content food chain: RCA.  Controlling a growing broadcast network (NBC) as well as commercial broadcast equipment and television receivers meant that the umbrella corporation had a good chance to profit – which it did, subsidizing new product development and then reaping the rewards all around.  But it wasn’t until the mid '60s that a concerted effort to promote color programming really made the difference, by which time substantial investments had been made in the consumer electronics industry.

Along the way, with broadcasters now crowding the VHF channels 2 through 13, the FCC opened up the UHF spectrum for television use, hoping to bring on more stations and competition. But receiver manufacturers saw no need to support spectrum that would require new product development and specifications. So, Congress passed the All-Channel Receiver Act of 1962, allowing the FCC to require that all television set manufacturers must include UHF tuners, so that new UHF TV stations on channels 14 to 83 could be received by the public.

An unintended consequence of this Act was that new receivers would be susceptible to interference from combinations of channels known as “taboos,” ultimately decreasing the actual number of available channels in any particular broadcast market. These problems have been corrected in modern digital television receivers, due to advances in receiver technology as well as the different interfering qualities of digital modulation.

When DTV receivers emerged, there were complaints that reception was marginal, at best, raising the specter of a legal mandate. But CE manufacturers – including those with patent income – had much to lose from poor receiver performance, and new DTV chips from various manufacturers quickly emerged as market forces drove a competitive environment where better receivers would incur fewer product returns.

But with the growing stature of the Consumer Electronics Association, the CE industry’s primary mechanism for capital beltway lobbying, new initiatives aimed at requiring receiver standards now face powerful – and political – opposition. And razor-thin profit margins make any added costs extremely hard to justify, especially if the improvements would yield a benefit that is lost on the customer when they power up their TV. Further clouding the issue is the fact that tighter receiver standards are blindly aimed at more dense use of the spectrum, which would in some cases benefit non-incumbent spectrum entrants, whose presence does not directly benefit the purchaser of the improved receiver.

The FCC has issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making on various aspects of conducting incentive auctions of broadcast spectrum; comments were due in January, and reply comments are due on March 12. Add a comment

There are some categories in AV that become ubiquitous and define the entire channel. DVD and flat panel displays come to mind as easy examples.

Then there are products that transform the landscape almost as soon as they arrive, creating an entire new device ecosystem and clobbering its predecessors. The best example of that would the iPad and its impact on non-tablet touchpanel automation interfaces and, well, pretty much everything else.

Then there are products are categories that are widely recognized as being “a good idea” but never really seeing the traction in the marketplace that their supporters might have hoped for. While this will probably garner me some hate mail from certain PR flacks, energy management for automation systems seems to fit into this bracket.

Lastly, you have emergent categories where it remains to be seen whether they’ll see something resembling success or turn out to be all Sturm und Drang, with little real adoption.

I’m sorry to say, it’s starting to look like Home Health Care is the latter.

Let’s back up for a minute, and start with some definitions. For those of you who’ve been solely focused on AV and more standard control system fodder like shades and lighting, the pitch for Home Health Care is that there are 100 million people is the U.S. who are reaching retirement age. At the same time, there’s reported to be a shortage of health care professionals. Enter the prospect of remote monitoring of health care.

It’s important to further clarify what that means. As far as most people are concerned, Home Health Care is synonymous with PERS, the Personal Injury Service. Most people of a certain age recall the tagline “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!” That’s reactive technology: You push a button and something happens. The solutions that are encompassed by HHC are proactive, preventative solutions.
HHC’s boosters put it in the context of ongoing wellness: using the feedback and data from the system for preventative care.

That includes medication management, and GPS-enabled reporting as well as solutions that monitor blood pressure, bodyweight, movement around the house, including frequency of bathroom breaks and sleep patterns, which provide care givers with a more complete picture of a subject’s well-being.

The selling points that have been used to build interest in the category is that there is a large potential client base, which points to the potential for recurring revenue, as well the nature of the category’s technology. With the variables involved in personalizing HHC to end users, it’s challenging to be a turnkey technology, which would apparently make it ideal for integrators: It’s just more black boxes to program and monitory.

The biggest problem I foresee as it relates to HHC gaining traction amongst AV integrators is that the integration channel is not HHC’s first kick at the cat at finding a channel, and not its last either.
If you ask them, HHC’s promoters will tell you that early on in the category’s development, circa 2005 or so, the first attempts of the main HHC startups was through the healthcare industry. A lot of work went into educating that market, but the hurdle they have yet to get over, especially with long term health care facilities like senior’s residences is the perception that HHC is a replacement for trained and qualified personnel, rather than a new set of tools to improve standards of care.

While HHC vendors are still working on that channel, in the meantime they’ve spent the last couple of years promoting the category to the AV integrator channel, most notably in their partnership with CEDIA, and CEDIA’s formation of a committee to promote the benefits of HHC to its members.

That’s where I came in, having spent a few years in the trade media for AV, and having interviewed HHC executives and PR people, and written a few articles here and there along lines of “Home Health Care Is Coming, Hurray!”

The net result so far in AV integration seems to mirror HHC’s inroads in the healthcare industry: not much.

Which is why I find myself unsurprised to see Home Health Care companies working hard to promote their category to an entirely different channel: the Mobile industry (where I work now, having moved over from AV almost two years ago).

The Mobile/Wireless sector of CES, as well as dedicated Mobile shows in the past year have seen delegations of HHC vendors marketing their technology’s “potential” to suppliers and resellers of smartphones and related products. Interestingly, and perhaps again unsurprisingly, the sales pitch their using on Mobile companies is almost exactly what they were pitching to AV integrators: gadgets and recurring revenue.

As Yogi Berra said, “it’s like déjà vu all over again.”

So far, talking with my peers in Mobile, the reception that HHC is receiving is lukewarm, at best.

Is Home Health Care ever going to gain traction any channel? I’m averse to being the guy who says “Never!” about anything, but so far at least HHC hasn’t caught fire in two channels and it’s starting to look like the third time won’t be the charm either.

What will it take? I’d be keen to hear from someone who thinks they know.

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 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Add a comment

NEC announced today the 42-inch V423 LCD display, an addition to its commercial-grade V Series that utilizes LED backlighting for improved power consumption and a slimmer cabinet depth.

NEC says the V423 offers a 46 percent decrease in power consumption while maintaining its brightness (450 cd/m² maximum brightness). The edge-lit LED backlight enables a slimmer cabinet depth and lightweight design. With a full HD panel, integrated temperature sensors and fans, the V423 large-screen display is ideal for applications that require extended use, such as retail stores, restaurants, indoor venues, training facilities and corporate boardrooms.

The V423 also features built-in, 10-watt speakers and an Open Pluggable Specification (OPS) compliant expansion slot. Video, RS-232 control and power are passed internally from the display to the computer, eliminating additional cabling.

The V423 includes the following features:

• LED backlighting technology for reduced power consumption
• Commercial-grade LCD panel and components, which enable extended run times
• 1920x1080 native resolution
• 320/450 cd/m² brightness (typical/maximum) and 1300:1 contrast ratio
• DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI-D (in/out), VGA 15 pin D-sub (Composite, Component, S-Video)
• RS-232C, Ethernet (RJ45), IR Remote, DDC/CI for external control
• Built-in, 10-watt speakers enhance the experience with superior sound
• TileMatrix, which facilitates video walls up to 10x10
• Built-in ATSC digital tuner, which allows for high-definition broadcast capabilities (V423-AVT model only)
• Bundled solution, which includes a V423 display and single board computer (OPS-PCAF-WS) for simple digital signage (V423-PC model only)
• Optional accessories, including speakers, stand, a variety of internal and external computers, digital tuner, calibration kit and wall mount

 The V423 display is available at a minimum advertised price of $899. The V423-AVT and V423-PC models are priced at $1,099 and $1,699, respectively.

For more information, click here: http://www.necdisplay.com/p/large--screen-displays/v423 Add a comment

Extron Electronics is shipping the IN1606, a six-input, HDCP-compliant video scaler that includes four HDMI inputs, two universal analog video inputs and two simultaneous HDMI outputs. The IN1606 accepts a wide variety of video formats including HDMI, HDTV, RGB and standard definition video. Its video scaling engine features 1080i deinterlacing, Deep Color processing and seamless switching with support for up to 1920x1200 and 2K output resolutions. Enhanced audio features include six stereo inputs, fixed and variable stereo outputs, two mic/line inputs with ducking and 48 V phantom power, plus HDMI audio embedding and de-embedding. The IN1606 also offers a complete AV switching system with flexible control options including Ethernet, RS-232, and USB.

To enhance and simplify integration, the IN1606 features SpeedSwitch Technology, which Extron says provides exceptional switching speed for HDCP-encrypted content. EDID Minder and Key Minder automatically manage EDID communication and HDCP key negotiation between input and output devices to ensure reliable operation. The IN1606 also provides immediate visual confirmation and real-time HDCP status verification.

With HDMI audio embedding and de-embedding, the IN1606 can insert analog input audio signals onto the HDMI output or extract embedded HDMI audio signals. Audio breakaway allows the analog audio channels to be separated from corresponding video signals so that the audio channels can operate as an independent switcher. The IN1606 also provides control of advanced audio configuration settings, such as audio gain, attenuation, mixing and ducking.

For more information, click here: http://www.extron.com/in1606pr. Add a comment

At DSE, Planar Systems, Inc. announced its 84-inch Planar UltraResTM display product line, designed for ultra-high resolution commercial applications.

The new Planar UltraRes 4K displays provide native ultra–high definition resolution (3840x2160), outstanding image quality and a range of configurations. Planar UltraRes displays are ideal for professionals in a wide variety of commercial industries who require a large viewing area, very high pixel density and enterprise-level features that allow teams to collaborate around more immersive and detailed visual information.

Making the Most of High-Resolution Information

Planar UltraRes 84-inch displays are designed for applications including energy, geospatial, engineering and design, architecture, aerospace, control room, collaborative conference room, medical imaging, science and digital signage, among others.

Features include:

• LED-lit LCD technology, selectable dynamic contrast and local dimming for enhanced contrast
• 60Hz refresh rate and 10-bit color
• A slim metal bezel
• Failover power supply for 24x7 environments
• Planar Profile Mounting System, which allows for an extremely slim profile when wall-mounted (about three inches) and provides a front service access mode
• Advanced energy-efficient design that utilizes edge-lit LED technology and passive cooling
• Ability to switch to standby mode when no source is detected
• Consumption of less than 0.5 watt of standby power
• Modular for easy repair

Planar UltraRes displays come in three base models:

• UR8450-LX: 2D landscape display ideal for conference and control rooms
• UR8450-MX: 2D landscape and portrait, higher brightness model designed for digital
• signage and other higher ambient light environments
• UR8450-3D: 2D and 3D landscape support, ideal for decision rooms where both 2D
• and 3D images and video are viewed

Planar says the 4K displays will be available in the second quarter of this year. For more information, visit http://www.planar.com Add a comment

Panasonic told rAVe today that its new SOLID SHINE Series of lamp-free projectors with DIGITAL LINK technology are already shipping. The LED/laser light source in the SOLID SHINE Series of one-chip DLP projectors is specified with a 20,000 hours light-source life span. All models in the series are spec'd to deliver 3,500 lumens of brightness. Integrated with a DIGITAL LINK terminal, and by combining an optional interface box with its HDMI and other input terminals, a user can transmit uncompressed HD digital video, audio and control signals (Ethernet, RS-232C) for up to 100 meters (328 feet) through a single CAT5e cable.
 
DIGITAL LINK is an original function added to technology based on the transmission standards used in Crestron’s DigitalMedia 8G+ and Extron’s XTP Systems, as well as others. Signals from the ET-YFB100G Digital Interface Box can also be relayed to a non-DIGITAL LINK-ready projector by using another manufacturer’s equipment based on the same technology.
 
The PT-RZ470/RZ370 Series projectors offer installation flexibility, with a 2x zoom, wide lens shift capability, HDMI/DVI digital inputs and Crestron RoomView compatibility. The PT-RZ470 Series offers additional flexibility with portrait mode projection capability, as well as edge blending, color matching and 3D.

The PT-RZ370 Series, which includes the PT-RZ370U (1920x1080) and PT-RW330U (1280x800), are available immediately and list for $5,899 and $4,599, respectively. The PT-RZ470 Series, which includes the PT-RZ470UK/UW (1920x1080) and PT-RW430UK/UW (1280x800) will be available in March and will list for $6,799 and $5,499, respectively.

Here are all the specs: http://panasonic.com/business/projectors/ Add a comment

BenQ's new SH940 is a native 1920x1080p resolution DLP projector that's specified at 4,000 lumens and a contrast ratio of 50,000:1. Included with horizontal and vertical lens shift, 2D keystone correction and throw ratios of up to 2.43, the SH940 is aimed at both home theater applications since it includes an HDMI ports and a VGA port in addition to a set of five BNC (RGBHV) for connecting systems the old-fashioned way.

For IT managers maintaining facility-wide installations, features such as scheduling, monitoring, email alerts and control of multiple A/V gear are all provided through an intuitive user interface to make maintenance easier. With a LAN control feature, the SH940 also provides support for Crestron, SNMP, PJLink, and AMX systems, enabling remote management and control in addition to projector maintenance from workstations.

To reduce energy costs, power-saving features such as an "Eco Blank Mode" allow presenters to blank out the projection screen whenever the projector is not in use, while a standby mode will lower power consumption to less than 0.5W while the SH940 is inactive. Lamp replacement has also been made extra easy with access from the side or top of the projector while a filter-free optical system and BenQ's no color decay further reduces the TCO of the device.

The SH940 is shipping now and lists for $3,999. You can see all the specs at: http://www.BenQ.us Add a comment

Extron is now shipping its new DSC 301 HD, a compact HDCP-compliant video scaler. This scaler has an HDMI input, a configurable high resolution analog input, a composite video input and an HDMI output. Featuring an advanced scaling engine with 30-bit processing and 1080i deinterlacing, the DSC 301 HD delivers uncompromised picture quality for output resolutions up to 1920x1200, including 1080p and 2K. It includes EDID Minder, automatic input switching and simplifies system connections by embedding audio from one of the three stereo inputs onto the HDMI output.

The DSC 301 HD offers several features that enhance and simplify AV system setup and operation. For HDMI signals with protected content, Key Minder authenticates and maintains continuous HDCP encryption between input sources and displays to ensure quick and reliable switching. EDID Minder ensures that the display's capabilities are communicated to connected video sources to obtain an optimal image. Front panel controls, intuitive on-screen menus, plus USB and RS-232 connections provide flexible control and monitoring capability.

To view a product video and for more information, please visit http://www.extron.com/dsc301hdpr Add a comment

Insight Media had a chance to visit with 2D-to-3D conversion house StereoD (Burbank, Calif.), where President William Sherak gave us a tour, discussed the 3D conversion pipeline, and provided screenings of some recent high profile Hollywood conversions. My conclusion? 3D conversion has come a long way in two years and can now rival, and in some ways, exceed the results possible from native 3D capture.

Sherak’s message to the industry is that they want to demystify the 3D conversion process, implying that his competitors have made it mysterious and hard to fathom. And, by the end of the meeting, he has done just that.

One of the most effective tools he has is a demo reel that shows how the conversion process is accomplished using the following sequence.

1) Receive assets such as original 2D plates, or 2D or 3D elements (from the VFX house) and perform an ingest into their proprietary asset and pipeline management system called CTAC.

2) After an extensive shot-by-shot review, the rotoscope team begins “Roto Annotations.” These are representative frames from each shot that have defined colors and guides that tell the roto team how to break down each object for depth.

3) The roto team performs their work, and produces a simplified version of the completed roto.

4) Once the roto is complete, it is handed off to the depth team that use proprietary software, VDX, and other tools to define the scene’s depth.

5) Then, if the shot needs it, an in-house VFX team will add 3D augmentation for things like smoke, sparks, rain, confetti or any type of particles.

6) Finally the paint team adds the final polish to the shot to ensure a beautiful end result.

The quality of the conversion process is also evident in the films they have worked on like Titanic, The Avengers, Thor, Captain America, Red Bull Stratos, Hansel & Gretel Witch Hunters, Katy Perry Part of Me and others. Plus, they have some big titles in the works like Star Trek and others we were told about, but can’t name. As you can see, StereoD has a close relationship with Marvel with the fifth conversion project now underway using a well-established pipeline.

The level of conversion that StereoD offers is not cheap ranging from $50K to $100K per minute. The costs vary based on the complexity of the scenes and visual effects, and if they get a “flat” movie or if they can get the get the separate visual effects to render as part of their conversion process. As a result, StereoD, which is a subsidiary of Delux, now has 1000 employees with 40 percent in the U.S. and the rest mostly in India.

The most time consuming part is the “painting”, which is the generation of missing pixels that must be created on a frame-by-frame basis by qualified graphic artists – with knowledge of stereoscopy.

One of Sherak’s favorite expressions is that they can “bend space.” What he means by this is that they have the ability to create a different 3D rendering of various parts of the frame. That means they can have a different camera separation for example, for the foreground, midground and background to achieve a visual look that one cannot get with native 3D camera capture. This technique can even be used on native stereo content to change the 3D experience.

Sherak says part of the bad reputation of 3D conversion was forged in the early days where projects were rushed through the process. Today, he says most projects now have a minimum of about 12 weeks, but that varies from project to project, of course. Titanic, with its 180K frames, took nearly a year to complete.

Another factor that is helping StereoD to win over major Hollywood directors is their approach to working with them. “We want to be style agnostic when working with the directors,” says Sherak. For example, he says that Marvel likes to “make their characters to have big 3D volume, whereas in Titanic, the style was to make the 3D space seem as big as possible. You wanted that boat to go onto infinity,” says Sherak.

Each director approaches the 3D conversion process differently, but all soon become quite engaged in the decision making pretty quickly, explains Sherak. The first part of the process is making the depth decisions for each scene and frame. Here, StereoD says the director can have unlimited revisions until it feels right. Once this is decided, the time consuming tasks of rotoscoping, doing 3D special effects and painting can begin.

This process is done with teams that work on various parts of the film. A lead stereographer guides each team, reviewing content on a 47” or so sized passive 3DTV. Fine tuning can take the form of expanding the depth of the nose or rounding out the face.

All team members attend dailies twice a day, where scenes are “approved”. This helps the team to see how the whole movie is coming together and to develop a consistent style. StereoD has two screening rooms – one a passive polarized set up and the other with active stereo glasses.

And the company does not just work on legacy conversions, but day and date releases too. To support this, they have a fiberoptic private network that can stream extremely high resolution content to several screening rooms around the world to facilitate the decision making process. “We have to deliver the highest quality to be sure these decision makers see exactly the same thing they would see in our facility in Burbank,” explained Sherak.

So there you have it. High quality 3D conversion can be quite masterful, but it comes at a hefty price. But that’s okay. Given time, I would expect many of these tools and skills to begin to migrate to enable lower cost conversions. The really tricky part – painting pixels by trained artists, will be very difficult to replace in the long term – certainly for theatrical screenings where every error can be visible. –Chris Chinnock Add a comment

By my count, LG missed three promised deadlines last year for the commercial introduction of its 55-inch OLED-TV set. Samsung, apparently never happy with the idea of bringing OLED-TVs to market before their time, grudgingly said it, too, would introduce a 55-inch OLED-TV in 2012, but when LG missed its final deadline of the year you could almost hear the sigh of relief rising over the Samsung Electronics headquarters in Suwon.

Now, LG says it has taken 100 pre-orders in Korea for its 55-inchers at a unit price of roughly $10,000, and said at CES the sets will be available in the U.S. market starting in March for about $12,000. The company announced earlier this week that it would invest KRW 706 billion (about US $648 million) in a Gen 8 OLED fab, to be installed in its P9 plant in Paju. LG Display (LGD) will start spending money on the line in Q1’13, and expects volume production to start in H1’14, with a monthly input capacity of 26,000 sheets. LGD will use the RGBW color-by-white process it obtained from Kodak when it bought Kodak’s OLED business.

LG should be able to put 6 55-inch panels on each sheet, which might sound like the line will produce a lot of OLED-TVs. And someday it will. But there are persistent, if highly unofficial, reports, that LGD’s manufacturing yield is running at about 10 percent, with plans to increase it to 30 percent by repairing some of the defective units. That is still a dismal yield, and it will keep prices high until yields improve and manufacturing costs decline.  And they will, eventually.

In fact, we have lived through this story before.  When Samsung began making cell-phone-sized OLED displays, it took more time than anyone – including Samsung – expected before yields rose to acceptable levels and prices came down to acceptable levels, and OLED market projections from the leading market intelligence companies were revised downward multiple times.

Late  last year DisplaySearch projected that 500 OLED-TVs would be shipped worldwide in 2012, 5000 in 2013, 1.7 million in 2014, and 4.8 million in 2015. Now, Displaybank is putting those numbers at 1600 for 2013 and 1.7 million in 2015. And I wouldn’t take bets that those numbers won’t be revised downward before all this is done.

When it comes to OLED-TVs, we have all spent so much time looking at LG and Samsung, that Panasonic and Sony caught many of us by surprise when each of them showed a 56-inch 4K OLED-TV at CES this January. That diagonal and pixel count are unusual enough in the OLED world that you might expect the panels are coming from the same place, and that is partly true. The backplanes are coming from the Gen 6 fab of Taiwan’s AUO. One report said the backplane was LTPS; another that it was IGZO. It is worth noting that AUO has done a great deal of R&D on oxide TFTs over the years. On the other hand, while LTPS is certainly not impossible on a Gen 6 substrate (Samsung has been doing it on its Gen 5.5), it is not easy and it does not scale readily to Gen 8 (although Samsung has been planning to do exactly that for its first Gen 8 OLED plant). I will speculate that IGZO is the more likely approach from AUO, and it is the approach that will ultimately drive OLED prices down faster.

The front planes are different. Panasonic used a printing process for at least some of the OLED front-plane layers, while Sony used vacuum thermal evaporation. Printing of some sort is likely to be a significantly lower-cost approach, but development has been going on for many years.

So where are our OLED-TVs? They’re coming, which is what I said last year. Add a comment

Thanks to the proliferation of jargon and the growth of business-self-help books as a category, expressions like ‘best practices’ get thrown around a lot.

Alas, like most jargon, people say things like that and while being well meaning, fail to really apply those expressions to what they do every day.

What is a best practice, really?

At its most simple, it’s doing something in a way that helps, rather than hinders your goals.

Make no mistake, there’s more than one way to do something, but inevitably there’s always a best way.

Or, as my old boss and mentor, they guy who more than anyone drilled the importance of processes into my brain, used to say, “There’s the wrong way, and there’s OUR way!”

With that in mind, I felt that it was time to codify and compile a summary of best practices of what it takes to make it as an AV Pro, based on both my personal experience, and my observations from networking with AV Pros all over North America.

Successful AV companies all share similarities and, perhaps unsurprisingly, unsuccessful AV companies share similarities too; often by doing the exact opposite of what successful companies do.

So with that in mind, let’s begin.

First, start small, and build your way up from there. Regardless of whether you’re new to the business, or you’ve struck out on your own from an established firm to start your own company, begin by selling and installing projects that are well within your ability to complete on time, and profitably.

While it will stand you in good stead for your entire career, learn the power of knowing when to say “No” to a prospective client.

While this may seem like a forehead slapper to the veteran AV guys reading this, I assure you that this nugget of wisdom isn’t obvious enough.

Virtually every nightmare job I’ve ever seen, been told about or been paid to pick up the pieces on has had one thing in common: a company that bit off more than they could chew, who then compounded the disaster by, when they were already in a hole, continuing to dig.

If all you can reasonably deliver on is “hang and bang” flat panel installs, or setting up a one-room AV system, then do it -- there’s no shame in that.

In fact, my old friend George Berlinguette, owner of Classic HiFi in Sherwood Park, Alberta said it to me best. After barely keeping afloat after a series of huge and nearly disastrous whole-home integration projects he turned his back on large projects and focused his company on the meat-and-potatoes category that delivered not only the most profit, but the most pleasure to do: single room theatre projects between fifty to one hundred thousand dollars. As he put it, “Why risk losing my ass on a big house, when my crew can do a theater room a week, every week?”

Building on the first point, keep your designs and your processes simple. Both your design documents and the way that you install in site need to avoid complexity.

Don’t over-specify, and don’t over-wire your design. Remind yourself that every single box and every single interface between each box is a chance for something to fail. Expect devices and interfaces to fail, and plan accordingly.

Listen, actually listen to what your client wants out of their system, and design accordingly. In so far as it’s in your power to do so, design the control interface so that your client and their children and elderly parents (not just you or your brilliant programmer nerd) can operate it.

Both when pitching the system to the client and drawing out the system, stop and ask yourself, “Just because we can do something, does that mean we should?” If more AV Pros asked themselves this, more often the world would be a better place.

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 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Add a comment

More than 250 systems integration professionals gathered in Phoenix, AZ, last week to discuss strategies to create a profitable business despite a number of transformations affecting their business. NSCA’s 15th Annual Business & Leadership Conference, commonly referred to as “the best ever,” witnessed record-breaking numbers for the fourth year in a row, in addition to welcoming more than 55 first time-attendees from the integrator community.

The industry-specific business conference delivered information to innovate integration professionals that will improve their business life cycles, create leadership among their employees and management teams, utilize economic factors to administer logical business decisions and were inspired to be more by one of the most dynamic speakers the conference has hosted.

“The 2013 BLC deliverable exceeded its billing,” said Advanced AV Vice President of Sales & Marketing John Greene. “The event was business altering. It included a wonderful agenda with informative, challenging and pertinent speakers who delivered business solution on industry issues ranging from economic to marketing, strategic and motivational. This year was even better than 2012, which was remarkable, and the primary reason I attended this year’s event. I will not miss next year and if you are involved in the communication industry you need to consider this conference if you want to stay relevant. The peer networking alone was worth any expense.”
 
Several integration companies have been bringing their entire management staff, from accountants, technology managers to CEOs, and using this conference to kick-off their strategic planning meetings. They incorporate the thought processes and content to build their business plan and check in on their current processes and procedures.

“It was refreshing to have successful speakers finally say ‘it’s time to pull up your bootstraps,’” said Andy Musci, Altel Systems, Inc. president/CEO and a member of the BLC planning committee. “To receive that message and then be inspired to make it happen – I’m looking forward to building off of this momentum.”   

“I am overwhelmed by the response from our attendees, sponsors, and speakers this year,” said Chuck Wilson, NSCA executive director. “Our speakers were thrilled to have such an engaged audience. Their messages resonated with the pain points of our members, the concepts and theories that will improve profits, meet customer expectations and so much more. We truly heard how this was the best event yet and hearing from a couple of our Excellence in Business panelists that they incorporated strategies learned from this conference and improved profits by 50 percent -- it is exciting to realize the impact this conference has on our integrators success.”

“Attending BLC was exactly what I needed to focus my efforts in growing my company, said Gregory Meyet, BAE Technology Inc.; vice president of business development and first-time attendee. “I had decided to attend so that I could meet with other successful integrators, share ideas and develop strong relationships. Growth is my immediate focus for BAE Technology and the BLC provided some strong information to help me achieve that goal!”

Despite arriving to snow in Phoenix, more than 60 golfers participated in the NSCA Education Foundation Golf Tournament which led to three days filled with networking, inspiration, and motivation to build a better business.

“We get asked to sponsor events every day, but Listen Technologies has chosen the BLC due to the incredible networking opportunities,” said co-founder and Vice President of Sales Worldwide for Listen Technologies Corporation Cory Schaeffer. “We have found the caliber of the attendees to be outstanding and with quality time to actually network. I have left each BLC feeling enriched and inspired unlike any other industry event I’ve attended. NSCA has the secret ingredient to pull off the most amazing topics with dynamic speakers.”

NSCA announced the 2014 Business & Leadership Conference at the conclusion of the conference and received nearly 70 registrations on-site. Additionally, the NSCA Education Foundation will offer twice as many Randy Vaughan Founders Awards, 20 in total, for the 2014 event. Award winners will receive complimentary admission to the Business & Leadership Conference, of which Randy Vaughan founded in 1998. The 2014 Business & Leadership Conference will be held February 27 - March 1, in Dallas, TX, at the Four Seasons Las Colinas. Registration is now open by visiting http://www.nsca.org/blc Add a comment

Audinate has announced enhancements to its Dante Virtual Soundcard software for Windows. The Dante Virtual Soundcard allows your PC or Mac to connect your preferred audio application directly to a Dante audio network. Dante Virtual Soundcard uses the standard Ethernet port on your computer to communicate with a network of other Dante enabled devices -- no special hardware is required.
 
With the new Windows Driver Model (WDM) mode in V3.2.0, Dante Virtual Soundcard for Windows now adds support for applications including iTunes, Windows Media Player, Skype and more. PC users can play out or record audio from these applications with professional sound quality.
 
Additional features:

• Choice of 64x64 ASIO or 8x8 WDM mode (presents as four stereo Windows WDM soundcards)
• Choice of 44.1kHz or 48kHz sample rate in WDM mode
• Windows 8 32- and 64 bit support
• Integrated online help
• Installation of Apple Bonjour service no longer required
• Clock performance improvements

Download Dante Virtual Soundcard V3.2.0 for Windows at the Audinate website: http://www.audinate.com/DanteVirtualSoundcard

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Extron introduced the EDID 101H, an EDID Emulator for HDMI signal sources. It features EDID Minder, an Extron exclusive technology that automatically manages EDID communication between connected devices. Pre-stored EDID is communicated to the source based on a user-selected resolution and refresh rate. Alternatively, the EDID 101H can be set to capture and store EDID information when connected to a display. A unique HPD (Hot Plug Detect) port provides control for remote cameras and other signal sources that require a periodic HPD trigger.

The EDID 101H joins the EDID 101 Series of EDID emulators, which includes the EDID 101D for DVI and the EDID 101V for VGA signals. The EDID 101H is housed in a compact 1" high, quarter rack width metal enclosure for convenient, discreet installation. An energy-efficient external universal power supply is included.

Here are all the specs: http://www.extron.com/product/product.aspx?id=edid101h&s=5 Add a comment

Almo Professional A/V announced this week a new distribution agreement with Elo Touch Solutions, a global supplier of touch-enabled Interactive Digital Signage (IDS) technology. Almo Pro A/V reseller partners now have access to Elo’s touch interactive experiences in screen sizes ranging from 7 inches to 70 inches.

“The Elo team is excited to engage with the Almo digital signage thought leaders and certified Pro A/V technology experts,” said Craig Witsoe, CEO, Elo Touch Solutions.  “Together we will help resellers and end-users realize the possibilities for digital signage to help education, government, hospitality, healthcare, and retail organizations enhance their audience experience and optimize communications efficiency.”

“Our resellers are experiencing increasing demand for large format touch-enabled displays,” explained Sam Taylor, executive vice president and COO for Almo Professional A/V. “We’re partnering with Elo Touch Solutions because they provide a broad portfolio of screen sizes and touch technologies our resellers can incorporate into their projects with the service and support to back Elo’s innovative products.”

Almo will show Elo Touch Solutions products in its booth (#1251) at the Digital Signage Expo in Las Vegas this week.
 

Learn more about Almo Pro A/V here: http://www.almoproav.com/

Learn about Elo Touch Solutions here: http://www.elotouch.com

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Today Royal Philips Electronics reported green product sales of EUR 11.3 billion in 2012, marking 45 percent of total sales and moving the company significantly closer to its EcoVision sustainability performance targets of 2015. Healthcare drove the highest green product nominal sales growth with 36 percent and expanded its green product portfolio with 16 new introductions to improve patient outcomes and expand access to care, while reducing environmental impact.

This achievement underscores Philips’ continued focus on driving sustainability throughout the organization and aim to improve the health and well-being of people through innovation. “We are proud to report that today Philips improves the lives  of every 4th person on earth and our ambition is to grow this target to 3 billion a year by 2025 as part of our company’s vision”, said Jim Andrew, chairman of the sustainability board and Philips’ chief strategy and innovation officer. “We have also made huge progress in the environmental impact of our operations and have reached our five-year carbon reduction target of 25 percent this year. This was primarily accomplished through energy saving programs in our major operational sites, green logistics, reduced travel and increased use of renewable energy, which we will continue to implement globally.”

In 2012 Philips invested EUR 569 million in Green Innovation, on track to reach our target of EUR 2 billion by 2015. Lighting led the way by investing over EUR 325 million in innovation towards furthering the LED revolution which aims to substantially reduce carbon dioxide emissions by switching to energy-efficient lighting.

In Consumer Lifestyle the company implemented its voluntary commitment to phase out polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFR) from its products, and for the first time all its espresso coffee machines launched during the year are free of these substances.

Investments in healthcare support the increasing interest that we see in societies across the globe for green hospitals and reduced environmental impact of healthcare. This commitment was recognized by COCIR in choosing Philips Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as the front runner in the industry for energy-efficient MRI with 22 percent lower average energy consumption.

The Philips 2012 sustainability update is an integrated part of the Philips 2012 Annual Report, available at: http://www.annualreport2012.philips.com Add a comment

Delta Products is launching the WX21 and WX31 WideXtreme (WX) megapixel displays that Delta claims can be assembled in under an hour and calibrated in seconds using Mersive's auto-calibrating Sol software. In addition to integrating Mersive's Sol software, the WX series displays are also the first displays to ship with Mersive's Solstice software, a new application that allows multiple users to access and share the display simultaneously using laptops and mobile devices over an existing IP network. Delta’s WX displays effectively solve two of the most common problems found in nearly all conference rooms today: the lack of cost effective beyond HD display systems, and collaborative software to connect, control, and share.

Here are all the stats: http://www.delta-americas.com/displaysolutions/products/WX-Series-Displays/

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Soundcast Systems, developer and manufacturer of wireless music systems, has been purchased by former SpeakerCraft CEO Jeremy Burkhardt. Burkhardt brings 23 years of industry experience to the company. It looks like he's decided to compete directly with his old company. He is also currently suing SpeakerCraft, with whom he had a non-compete, but Burkhardt says is invalid. This should be interesting to watch.

Burkhardt says, "Soundcast is an innovative, engineering driven company and one of the first to deliver high-performance working wireless technology and portable outdoor speakers. The unique opportunity lays in the fact that it's a company with proven cutting-edge wireless, DSP and amplifier technologies with multiple patents under its belt. They've lacked the capital resources to grow the business with more products, marketing and field training initiatives that are necessary for its dealers."

Burkhardt's longtime business partner Jeff Francisco will take the role of CTO at the company, but the company says it will maintain its current management, sales and operations team, including Oscar Ciornei as head of business development. "Soundcast already has a great management and sales team in place, but together we will make a great team even better by adding our collective strengths along with the financial resources I can deliver to the company. With our added people and resources we will strengthen our customer service, technical support, product time-to-market and new product innovations," Burkhardt said.

The headquarters will remain in Chula Vista, Calif. In addition, expansion plans will be announced in the near future for larger headquarters facilities and staffing.

Soundcast's current and ongoing president Mike Weaver states, "Jeremy brings a powerful combination of vision, experience and fervor to Soundcast. All that plus a combination of new products and more ways to use existing platforms to grow with our channel partners. I am excited to work alongside Jeremy, our leadership team and network of global partners to rapidly grow Soundcast to new heights."

The company plans to accelerate the development of new products that best fit the needs of the modern connected world, with many new innovative models slated for 2013 and 2014.

Soundcast has one of the most comprehensive patent portfolios for wireless audio in the world. The company says it plans to aggressively protect the company's intellectual property of its wireless audio, digital amplification and proprietary high-performance battery technologies.

For more information on Soundcast, click here: http://www.soundcastsystems.com

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I've attended every single Almo ProAV E4 AV Tour and it's, by far, the best regional trade show in AV - and not just because i'm the keynote presenter. Seriously, after you attend, if you aren't convinced that their E4 AV Tour isn't the best distributor show you've ever been to, I will PERSONALLY give you a spot in rAVe to write your own rebuttal and post you opinion of the best regional distributor show. Well?

Anyway, I sat down with Melody Craigmyle over Skype this morning and got a preview of what to expect in Chicago next month and also she tells you how you can earn over 10 hours of InfoComm CTS renewal credits by attending.

Here's the entire interview:

And, to register for the show, go to: www.almoproav.com

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