Generation Y (And Z)
By Gary Kayye, CTS  If you think it was tough getting old people in your company to adopt new technology, wait until you see how tough it will be for YOU to employ new talent.
Generation Y is entering the workforce and they grew up not just playing video games, but mastering them on the first try. They never knew a day without cell phones (and they are OK with the quality issues — they don't complain nearly as much about it as you do) and they would rather communicate via email than in person.
You, on the other hand, think that personal contact is the best way to make and cultivate relationships, you would rather call and leave a voicemail than send an email. You feel that mentoring someone has to be in person. Right?
Generation Y thinks you dress terribly and that you must be uncomfortable in those clothes, they wonder why it takes so long for you to make a decision and they can't understand why you stock so much wire when the world's going wireless.
You think they're spending too much time on their computer Googling stuff, think that the Facebooking they're doing all the time is a giant black hole of time-wasting and you're actually pondering blocking YouTube on your network — a sort of "punish the masses for the sins of a few" philosophy that must still work.
They think you're old and irrelevant, except for the fact that you gave them a job.
But, wait til you see the next generation: Generation Z
Generation Z has now entered college and they seldom use email (just ask your kids – they're TEXTING) as it's too slow, they don't write with pencils or pens, they don't watch TV (they stream it when they want it) and they would never buy something that wasn't totally wireless.
But, have no fear, you've got a few more years before you have to deal with them.
Let's focus on Generation Y and how you CAN leverage their talents:
1. Relationship Sales: They DO, in fact, believe in the value of relationship sales – but they think your way of doing it is, well, stodgy. And, truly, it is. In fact, their way of building relationships is quite amazing. Using the "friend of a friend" philosophy, they leverage their Facebook Friends and their IM buddies to get whatever information they want or need. And, they do it quickly! Keep an open mind as, truth be told, we took way, way too long to build most of the relationships we have. And, we certainly don't leverage them as well as we could.
2. Personal Technology Tools: Generation Y doesn't know a day where a laptop wasn't around. They expect to be connected to the Internet all the time and they have mastered the ability to find software tools quickly — without the days or research we've typically put in to find some software app. that will make us more efficient, ironically. As stated above, they use their friends and their friends of friends to find out what's out there, what's working (and what doesn't) and they're right 90 percent of the time. And when they're wrong, they don't dwell upon it — they move along to something else that works.
3. Social Media: Generation Y does this better than anyone. They know and understand social media way, way better than anyone else in your company — especially your marketing department who, by the way, is just out to get more money. Why would they recommend social media marketing tools when they're free? Don't assign your social media marketing strategy to some 35-year-old marketing person, assign it to those that not only use it, but have lived with it for years.
4. Bouncing: Look, Generation Y will be honest and tell you that, although 3D is cool, it's a fad that will never catch on in every home in America. Sure you might not want to hear what they have to say all the time, but they'll explain that, logically, the hassle of the glasses, the lack of comfort and the inability to create the environment (in most homes) that makes 3D truly immersive will keep it from being mainstream. Sure, they'll sell it for you, but don't expect them to endorse it. Use Generation Y to bounce new technologies off of. Streaming vs. CableTV/SatelliteTV, place shifting vs. living room watching, whole house audio vs. personal audio players, etc. They've got a pulse on what's likely to fly. What's cool to us aging AV geeks may just be hackneyed to those living in technology, and not just talking about technology.
Look, what I'm trying to say is simple: leverage your new talent. You may not realize it, but you're hiring people that know A LOT more than you do and, in the end, they'll make you look better — remember, you're the boss. But, you've got to be open-minded that you, in fact, may not know what's best for your company or your clients in this new day and age.
And, that phone screen, to them, is way bigger than they ever thought they would need… Still squinting???
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Pacific Media Predicts 5 Million 3D Projectors to be Sold in 2014  Dominated by DLP technology, the future of the projector market is 3D, according to Pacific Media Associates (PMA), the premiere info-gathering firm for worldwide front projector market information.
According to PMA, the worldwide front projector market for 3D-enabled models will grow from about 1.0 million during 2010 to nearly 5.4 million in 2010. “PMA forecasts that the lion’s share of annual shipments will be those models incorporating TI’s DLP (Digital Light Processing) technology because it takes very little additional effort or cost to make those models 3D-ready,” said Dr. William Coggshall, President of Pacific Media Associates. “In the immediate future it appears to us at PMA that consumer-oriented markets for gaming, TV (especially sports), and movies will get more attention than education. The demand for 3D digital cinema currently outstrips supply, so if projector makers can leverage that to boost sales of home theater models the projector business will benefit. And the high price of 3D-enabled flat panel TVs compared with front projectors means that ardent gamers could choose projectors,” concludes Coggshall. To read all about PMA’s 3D projections, go to: http://www.pacificmediaassociates.com/ Back to Top
ClearOne Dumps Residential Distributors for NetStreams Products — Goes Direct to Qualified Dealers  ClearOne recently announced that it will now offer for sale its NetStreams branded HomeAV products directly to “qualified” dealers in the U.S. — thus, qualified dealers will no longer be required to purchase NetStreams residential products through distribution. ClearOne says it made these changes to strengthen its business relationship with NetStreams dealers and address changes in a rapidly evolving marketplace. This transition from a two-tier distribution sales model to direct sales to qualified resellers will benefit both integrators and end customers by shortening the lines of communication for pre and post sales support as well as streamlining product fulfillment.
As part of this direct to dealer initiative, ClearOne has:
- Recruited a nationwide team of trained and responsive independent manufacturer's representatives to work with NetStreams Residential Dealers to help them support and build their business.
- Established an internal Technical Sales team to assist qualified dealers with pre-sales and post sales technical support, system design, product education, system quotes and on-site services.
- Completely redesigned and enhanced its dealer training program.
To learn how to become a NetStreams dealer, email techsales@netstreams.com. Back to Top
Can't Attend CEDIA? rAVe to Cover it LIVE!  For the second year in a row, we’re Expo’s official LIVE show CEDIA OnDemand press company. Last year, we Tweeted (@ravepubs) and shot more than 300 videos of all sorts of new products launched at CEDIA Expo and posted them all during the show — so if you can’t come to CEDIA, it’ll be almost as good as being there (sans the parties and education, of course).
Obviously, NOTHING can substitute for Expo in person, but our rAVe CEDIA OnDemand coverage will be as close as you can get as we’ll have our entire team of columnists out on the show floor Tweeting about every new product they see as well as shooting hundreds of one-minute videos allowing every manufacturer to show you haven’t seen. Interested in following us on Twitter so you can get all our live, on the show floor Tweets? Go to http://twitter.com/ravepubs and click on FOLLOW right now. Want to watch all the CEDIA 2010 videos we shoot as we post them? Bookmark here: https://www.ravepubs.com/cediaexpo
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HDMI Over One Coax?  According to Audio Authority, they’ve got the best HDMI-over-Coax (one single coax) transmitter/receiver set on the market. Dubbed the 1341T (transmitter) and 1341R (receiver), they sell a kit of both called the HXE-11 that they say can transmit 1080p video up to 200 feet over 1 GHz sweep-tested RG-6 cable, and they even claim that longer distances are possible over higher-bandwidth cable. And, they also say that Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD:Master Audio signals are supported with no negative effect on distance of run.
The HXE-11 package (MSRP: $598) consists of the Model 1341T Transmitter ($299) and the Model 1341R Receiver ($299). You can see diagrams and specs here: http://www.audioauthority.com/product_details/HXE-11/Extender/10/1
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Onkyo Adds Two More Home Theater Receivers  Adding two new models to their home theater receiver line, Onkyo says the mid-priced HT-RC260 and the more “upscale” HT-RC270 are both 7.2-channel systems with the latest 3D-Ready HDMI-1.4a interface. It supports surround sound via Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio codecs. Both models also include Audyssey DSX and Dolby Pro Logic IIz for added sonic dimensions, and Faroudja DCDI Cinema video processing to upscale video to full 1080p output regardless of the input source resolution.
The HT-RC270 is THX-Select 2Plus Certified and features Audyssey MultEQ for room equalization setup, is fully network capable with both DLNA 1.5 and Windows 7 compatibility for PC audio and Internet radio and includes Sirius.
The Onkyo HT-RC260 and HT-RC270 are currently available with suggested retail prices of $499 and $849 respectively. You can learn more at: http://www.onkyousa.com/prod_class.cfm?class=Receiver
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Salamander Expands LED Lighting  At CEDIA Expo 2010, Salamander Designs, known for their weirdly modern furniture, seating and mounting products for HomeAV applications, will launch the Salamander Lighting System, a unique, modular LED-based illumination solution for HomeAV cabinets.
The new Lighting System is specifically designed for Salamander’s line of HomeAV accessories including the Furniture Mate, a free-standing, so-called universal mount for HDTVs, an IR repeater that allows a remote control to operate through solid doors, and its group of power conditioning products.
The Salamander Lighting System uses slim, versatile rods that are modular, expandable and subtle for backlighting TVs, or for highlighting in-cabinet and under-cabinet spaces.
You can’t see it yet since it’s debuting at CEDIA, but when it’s on their website, it will be here: http://www.salamanderdesigns.com/products/index.jsp
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Yamaha Debuts New Flagship Receiver Line  Dubbed AVENTAGE, the new flagship series of HomeAV receivers all include 7.2 audio channels with full HD Audio decoding (Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio; Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio); Four SCENE buttons; iPod compatibility (with optional YDS-12 or YID-W10 wireless yAired dock); Bluetooth compatibility; Compressed Music Enhancer; Low Jitter PLL Circuitry; HDMI V.1.4a 3D Pass-through with ARC (Audio Return Channel); YPAO room optimizer; and analog-to-HDMI 1080p video upscaling with video de-interlacing of non-HD sources. The entire series is integrated with Deep Color (30/36 bit) technology, x.v.Color, 24Hz refresh, audio input assign capability for HDMI and component video inputs and auto lip-sync compensation, which Yamaha claims automatically eliminates audio/video sync issues.
Yamaha says the top two units in the AVENTAGE series are the industry’s first A/V receivers to incorporate the exceptional HQV “Vida” video processing chipset to ensure peak video performance. The top four units also feature dual HDMI or “Zone B” output capability for convenient dual HDTV viewing for the main room or use in a secondary room to share all available main system HDMI sources.
Yamaha’s AVENTAGE Series line consists of five models (all 3D capable) AV receivers: the RX-A700 (90W x 7; MSRP: $649.95), RX-A800 (95W x 7; MSRP: $799.95), RX-A1000 (105W x 7; MSRP $1099.95), RX-A2000 (130W x 7; MSRP $1499.95) and the RX-A3000 (140W x 7; MSRP $1899.95). For complete specs, go to: http://www.yamaha.com
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iPort Shows iPad Wall-Mount Integration  iPort’s latest in-wall mounting system, the CM-IW200, is for those of you out there trying to find an elegant way to mount iPads being used as either media servers, control panels, or both in HomeAV applications. In addition to an in-wall mount, the CM-IW200 provides a continuous charge, home button access and different magnet bezel options to hide the systems mounting inside the wall. To learn more, go to: http://www.iportmusic.com/products/CM
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Klipsch Intros Reference II Series Speakers  Just in time for CEDIA, Klipsch has launched its Reference II Series speakers, an improvement to their popular Reference speakers and comprised of 17 speaker models.
Now in its fifth generation, according to Klipsch, the Reference II Series speakers present even higher sound quality due to re-engineered drivers and a new crossover system. Complete with their proprietary Tractrix Horn technology, the new line includes new black metallic finished baffles, machined Cerametallic woofers, logos (if you’re into that sort of selling) and feet.
To new line is here: http://www.klipsch.com/na-en/products/reference/ |
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Gefen Volume Stabilizer Fixes Loud Commercials  In the creative product category with a “regular name,” the new Gefen Auto Volume Stabilizer automatically levels the volume on all television programs and movies to make audio more consistent, eliminating notoriously loud audio spikes during commercials. It also offers the ability to use Dolby Digital decoded 5.1. audio and output it as two-channel (L/R) analog audio.
The product accepts three different audio inputs: two digital (coax; optical) and one analog (L/R). All three inputs can be connected at the same time, with users switching between sources using a selector button on the device or by IR remote.
To see all the specs, go to: http://www.gefen.com/kvm/dproduct.jsp?prod_id=8707
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Extron Ships XTRA Series Power Amplifiers Now Shipping  Extron announced this week the immediate availability of the XPA 2002-70V, XPA 2003C-70V, and XPA 2004 power amplifiers. These compact 1U, convection-cooled, high-power two, three, and four channel amplifiers offer 200 watts rms per channel and up to 800 watts rms total power output. They feature an Extron exclusive advanced Class D design with patented CDRS – Class D Ripple Suppression technology that provides a smooth, clean audio waveform and an improvement in signal fidelity over conventional Class D amplifier designs.
These amplifiers are ENERGY STAR qualified, are housed in a 1U, convection cooled, full rack width enclosure, and do not require fans for cooling. They feature an auto power-down feature that automatically places each amplifier into standby after a period of inactivity, and consume 28 watts or less when idle and less than 1 watt in standby mode. They also have an ultra low inrush current draw to prevent power circuit overload that occurs when multiple amplifiers are switched on simultaneously. Extron says this feature eliminates the need for power sequencing to be built into systems designed with multiple amplifiers in large centralized equipment racks, and prevents other equipment from experiencing power interruption from associated power surges. Additionally, XTRA Series amplifiers feature very low thermal dissipation under full load, which keeps racks and equipment cabinets cool. For more information, go to http://www.extron.com/company/article.aspx?id=xtraseriesad Back to Top
Polk Adds New Sound Bars with Built-in HD Receiver  Beginning in Q1 2011, Polk will ship the new SurroundBar CHT500 Component Home Theater, a 7-channel, single-speaker, two-piece surround system that’s less than 1 ½” inches deep. It’s housed in a 49” black extruded aluminum enclosure. According to Polk, the SurroundBar 500CHT uses an external SDA Control Module, which includes all of the system’s crossover components as well as Polk’s proprietary SDA (Stereo Dimension Array) surround technologies that combine digital signal processing and acoustical geometry to create, well, a lot of hype that someone in marketing wrote.
Since it doesn’t ship until 2011, it’s not on the Polk website yet.
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Crestron Adds Features to ADMS  Native Netflix integration, Hulu movie access, one-step software downloads and daily Internet TV station downloads are a few of the new features on the new Crestron ADMS system upgrade. Designed to be a home media server, the Crestron ADMS is a music, photo and video server for a home theater as well as an Internet-browsing WebTV device. For complete details on ADMS, go to: http://www.crestron.com/solutions/adms_intermedia_delivery_media_server/
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Sharp First with 100GB Blu-ray: BDXL  Sharp is the first optical disc maker to launch a new Blu-ray format (BDXL) that offers 100GB to 128GB of storage. This is pretty interesting since Sony invented Blu-ray! While the existing dual-layer Blu-ray format offers approximately 50GB per disc, the new BDXL format (by increasing the allowed layers on a disc from two to four) gathers up to 128GB for write-once and 100GB for re-writeable type discs.
Dubbed the VR-100BR1, the first Sharp BDXL Blu-ray disc player will first be available in Japan in a month or so and then here in the US Sharp will also releasing two new players next month that handle the new BDXL format. Want details? Go to: http://sharp-world.com/corporate/news/100716_2.html
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Control4 Announces More In-Wall Touch Screens  Last week, Control4 announced a new generation of “affordable” dedicated in-wall touch screens called the InfinityEdge — 5-inch and 7-inch edge-to-edge capacitive glass and a low-profile design at $599 and $899, respectively. With a choice of AC power or Power Over Ethernet, wired or Wi-Fi connectivity options and four programmable buttons for macro commands, the InfinityEdge touch screens include Control4’s OS 2.0 and their new Flash-based user interface.
To learn more, go to: http://www.control4.com/infinity/
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News from Global Cache, Panamax/Furman, Sonos… Global Caché announced this month that all of its products are now Control4 certified… Panamax/Furman has promoted Jimmy Paschke to the position of director of custom install sales… Runco announced its exclusive color and printing solution, the Runco FinishPalette for the LightStyle projector series, which enables full-color, large-format projector design options, including licensed logos from NCAA college sports programs, artist impressions, and even custom designed artwork… Sonos has seen 132% year on year growth in U.S. integrator sales, and has doubled its U.S. sales team in the last 18 months. Back to Top 
For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe HomeAV Edition out there, hopefully you enjoyed another opinion-packed issue!
For those of you NEW to rAVe, you just read how we are — we are 100% opinionated. We not only report the news and new product stories of the high-end HomeAV industry, but we stuff the articles full of our opinions. That may include (but is not limited to) whether or not the product is even worth looking at, challenging the manufacturers on their specifications, calling a marketing-spec bluff and suggesting ways integrators market their products better. But, one thing is for sure, we are NOT a trade publication that gets paid for running editorial or product stories. Traditional trade publications get paid to run product stories — that’s why you see what you see in most of the pubs out there. We are different: we run what we want to run and NO ONE is going to pay us to write anything good (or bad).
Don’t like us, then go away — unsubscribe! Just use the link below.
To send me feedback, don't reply to this newsletter – instead, write directly to me at gary@ravepubs.com or for editorial ideas: Editor-in-Chief Sara Abrons at sara@ravepubs.com
A little about me: I graduated from Journalism School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (where I am adjunct faculty). I’ve been in the AV-industry since 1987 where I started with Extron and eventually moved to AMX. So, I guess I am an industry veteran (although I don’t think I am that old). I have been an opinionated columnist for a number of industry publications and in the late 1990s I started the widely read KNews eNewsletter (the first in the AV market) and also created the model for and was co-founder of AV Avenue – which is now known as InfoComm IQ. rAVe Publications has been around since 2003, when we launched our original newsletter, rAVe ProAV Edition.
rAVe HomeAV Edition, co-published with CEDIA, launched in February, 2004.
To read more about my background, our team, and what we do, go to https://www.ravepubs.com Back to Top
Copyright 2010 – rAVe [Publications] – All rights reserved. For reprint policies, contact rAVe [Publications], 210 Old Barn Ln. – Chapel Hill, NC 27517 – 919/969-7501. Email: sara@ravepubs.com
rAVe HomeAV Edition contains the opinions of the author only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of other persons or companies or its sponsors. |
This year’s CEDIA EXPO is stocked with opportunities for you to expand your knowledge of sustainable lifestyles. Take advantage of the opportunity to see an energy monitoring system and other emerging technologies in action at the CEDIA Technology Council’s Future Technology Pavilion. 
Start September off right with Power Hour webinars brought to you by Survival of the Fittest and CEDIA Industry Outreach. Learn about aging and the technology market, including available smart home, tele-health, brain fitness, and fall-detection technologies at the Industry Outreach webinar 
