3D "Yay" and "Nay" Sayers
By Pete Putnam
Insight Media Analyst We’re coming up on a month since the 2010 CES, and like partygoers waking up with a hangover, manufacturers, analysts, and reporters are slowly sobering up, taking a second, harder look at the blizzard of 3D products and demonstrations that dominated this year’s show… and what it all means.
TV manufacturers are definitely looking for a new angle or gimmick to drive TV sales through the next decade. HDTV by itself was a powerful sales motivator for the first ten years of the 21st century. Combined with large, inexpensive flat-panel TVs and high-resolution optical disc media, it created a buying frenzy that had its peak right before the current recession.
Will 3D provide the next spark for TV sales? It’s hard to say. There is considerable interest in stereoscopic TV; the long lines outside the Panasonic and Toshiba CES booths were ample evidence of that. And there’s no question that 3D works very well in certain configurations, such as on large screens in darkened rooms.
The fact is, 3D right now is like the Oklahoma Territory in the 1890s. 3D "Boomers" are lining up for the starting gun, so they can rush out and stake their claims to the 3D market. Meanwhile, some 3D "Sooners" are already jumping the gun, hoping to get their products established before 3D-to-the-home standards are adopted.
There’s no question TV manufacturers want this to work. Samsung announced last week that it had begun mass production of 40-inch, 46-inch, and 55-inch LCD panels with LED backlights that use 240Hz image processing. These panels are specifically designed to work with active shutter 3D glasses and the response time is claimed to be 4 milliseconds.
Samsung’s 7000-series and 8000-series plasma TVs are already equipped to handle 3D active shutter content and were also unveiled at the show. Both lines of TVs have 2D to 3D format conversion as well, so that is an emphatic "Yay!" for 3D.
On the other side, cable TV giant Comcast’s CEO Brian Roberts has weighed in with his two cents. Speaking to a Wall Street Journal reporter last week, Roberts said the 3D demos he saw at CES were "…the most impressive he has seen," according to a story in Broadcasting and Cable.
But Roberts tempered his remarks by saying, "The question is; are you going to want to sit there and wear glasses four hours a day to watch TV. I don’t think so." Roberts also stated his belief that the real impetus for TV now is "…everywhere, all the time viewing" rather than 3D. Is that a "Nay?"
Brian Mitchell, founder of the popular eCoustics.com Web site, today released a list of ‘Ten Reasons Why 3D TV May Fail.’ Some of those include the argument that "…3D viewing abruptly alters the social nature of TV watching," along with the pitfalls from "lack of content" and "consumer confusion" about 3D. That’s definitely a "Nay!"
As regular DD readers know, ESPN, Discovery and DirecTV have all made commitments to launch 3D channels this year. ESPN will kick off (no pun intended) with World Cup coverage in 3D, while DirecTV’s 3D channels should be up and running by June, thanks to a new satellite that just went into orbit.
Launching new channels (let alone satellites) is an expensive proposition, and there’s no guarantee any of these efforts will succeed. So I’d say these new 3D HDTV program and channel commitments qualify as emphatic "Yays!"
These 3D ‘ups and downs’ mirror the problems that HDTV ran into when it first tried to lift off in the late 1990s. Remember? There were competing HD program formats (1080i and 720p), along with TV networks who said HD wasn’t even a sensible business proposition (Fox), a lack of professional production equipment, difficulties with the digital TV transmission format (the 8VSB vs. COFDM wars), and a slew of confusing TV definitions from CEA (SDTV, EDTV, HD-compatible, HD-ready).
Somehow consumers, producers, and TV networks managed to overcome all of this chaos and make HDTV a reality. So it’s still way too early in the game to claim that 3D is destined to fail. Similarly, it’s a good idea to avoid putting on rose-colored active shutter glasses, and assume 3D is going to be as successful as HDTV. There’s still too much work to be done, not the least of which is educating consumers about 3D — in particular, how it works and how it will be implemented in the home.
That’s neither a "Yay," nor a "Nay." It’s just a reality check… Pete Putnam is an analyst for Insight Media. Reach him at pete@hdtvexpert.com Back to Top Cable vs. Internet – The Battle for Eyeballs Gets Serious
By Andy Marken “Dry land is not a myth. I've seen it (Kevin Costner, Waterworld). I don't know what the big fuss is about. I saw that movie nine times.” – Chip Douglas (The Cable Guy, 1996)
Click Away – A big screen TV, cold beer, bag of chips and the remote and you have a happy man. For many, television is a mild, easy escape from the realities of the day. But a growing number of people exercise all their fingers, surfing for their content. Source – Columbia Pictures
If you wonder why the number of people who are overweight today is on an alarming increase, all you have to do is look closely at TV viewing habits.
Yep!
We’re watching more content… especially TV.
Across the country, folks are stretched out on the couch with a beverage and empty-calorie snack.
The Council for Research Excellence found: - The average TV time per day for an individual was 353 minutes (nearly six hours)
- The average computer time was 142 minutes (about 2-3/4 hours)
Add to that the fantastic results turned in by movies this past year, and it’s no wonder your behind is… aaahh, spreading.
For some reason, people love their TVs.
Of course, the tight economy and need for a break in this “always-on-world” may help drive our need for the screen.
Popular Screens
According to The Conference Board: - 107.5 mln LCD TVs sold in 2008
- 135 mln satellite, cable and IPTV subscriptions worldwide
- 55 percent of Americans have HDTVs
- 144 bln digital TVs will sell by 2011
- 25 percent of US households have a DVR/PVR
- 720k HDTVs sold in France in 2 months, preceding Rugby World Cup
- 75 percent of HDTVs sold by 2011 will be LCD TVs
- 84 percent of UK homes have digital television
- 90 percent of HDTV owners are happy with picture quality
- China exported 52.4 mln televisions last year, 42.4 mln domestically
- China to lead the world in IPTV by 2011
- Flat panel TV spending to exceed $140 bln last year
- IPTV video services to generate $26.3 bln by 2011
- Plasma displays to grow 30 percent this year
- Residential video to generate $190 bln worldwide last year
The Cable Guy, Google or the Web folks are chanting, “This is our destiny!”
The cable and Tellywood guys like the Internet because they advertise all their shows there so you turn on your set or go to the movies.
The Internet folks think that as long as you’re on “their” screen, what the heck; stick with them.
They paraphrase The Cable Guy’s own explanation: “Can I be frank? I don't think you listen to her. I think you tell her what she wants to hear. She wants you to thirst for knowledge about who she is, all the complicated splendor that is women. When your love is truly giving, it will come back to you ten fold.”
The challenge is that:
1. Most folks don’t like the idea of a computer in their living/family room
2. Tellywood can’t figure out how they’re going to make the same bundle of money they do today with their “10 M sets are tuned to us, there’s 3.5 people per household, that’s who you’re buying” model vs. the Internet’s click, pay, view model.
Just Say No
Internet folks point out that Jobs totally invigorated the music industry with his “i” products/service.
Volume Up, Gross Down – In almost no time at all, the music industry shifted from volumes of discs to volumes of individual songs. The only problem (for the industry) is that it took the control (and profits) out of their hands. Source — RIAA
Really worked for him. Apple is sitting on a $15+ billion cash horde.
So what if the music industry is on life support?
Tellywood will be damned if they’ll put the control of their content in anyone else’s hands… especially Steve’s!
All the pieces are in place with broadband, PCs, HDTV sets and other devices.
Connected Home – HDTV sales jumped the last two years and demand continues to grow as more and more homes have multiple sets. Broadband connectivity and multiple PCs are giving consumers a wider range of entertainment choices without the cable cost. Source — Forrester
For ordinary folks, putting them together isn’t quite there yet.
All we need is: - Standards-based, open architecture for applications, services
- Infinite content choices that will make broadcast, online content available from anywhere
- Scalable, efficient system management
- An intelligent network that will personalize service to the viewer
Heck, might as well throw world peace into the equation.
Content people are pretty happy with Chip Douglas’ status quo, “I got you the big screen TV, deluxe karaoke machine, and THX quality sound!”
But more households around the globe have broadband Internet service.
Broadband Homes – Broadband service to households has grown rapidly and service is now provided to almost every home in industrial countries. The U.S. still ranks 12th in broadband deployment and is classified as a “developing country” in this area. Source – Gartner
People have begun to discover that there is a lot of great stuff out there to enjoy in Chris Anderson’s Long Tail content concept.
All folks want to do is have more content. You know: broadcast/personal TV, Web browsing, social entertainment, time-shifted and on-demand video, on their big screen set.
In the U.S., everyone is working to deliver a solution. The result is a patchwork of boxes and services – some for the TV, some for the PC, some for the recycle bin.
Cash Flow
Telco providers see online, on-demand TV as another opportunity to enhance their growth (income).
With IPTV (iTV is probably already taken) all content is on-demand.
Subscribers like it because they don’t have to do any time-shifting (programming the DVR), waiting for the reruns when you forgot, buying it from iTunes or inviting yourself to your neighbor’s place.
It’s just sitting there waiting for you.
Subscribers agree with Steve Kovacs, “I don't want you messing with my life!”
Heck, you’re already used to searching and retrieving from the Web, so why not a little TV and Hollywood content as well?
Worldwide, more than 40 M households subscribe to IPTV service. Depending on the forecast you believe, the number could grow to 100M by 2011.
IPTV Growth – While IPTV is slowly gathering steam in the Americas, it is widely used in Europe and the Pacific Basin as the prime source of at-home entertainment. Internet-enabled TVs and the growing comfort of putting (hiding) a PC in the living/family room will help people have their entertainment their way, rather than living by the TV schedule. Source — Infonetics
Cable guys are looking at the trend and saying, “Sounds like heart break to me.”
Even without IPTV subscriptions, a growing number of people are regularly getting their entertainment online.
Internet News, Entertainment – People are increasingly finding that it is faster, easier and cheaper to turn to their PC and the Internet for the types of content they want to watch. With just a little searching and a few clicks, you can find the stuff that interests you. Source — Nielsen
PC Entertainment
Most simply watch the content on their PC because: - they missed the show on their TV set
- they can watch anytime
- it’s free
- fewer, shorter ads online
- with a little “research,” they can find old TV shows and stuff that are no longer on the air
We don’t fall to pieces if we have to wait until we miss a show…it’s just empty mind calories anyway.
And, scrounging up, watching things like Johnny Carson, the Rat Pack and George Carlin is… awesome!!!
While the small screen is okay for many folks, there are those brave 21st century adventurers who want to enjoy the great content, cut the cable, enjoy it – all of it – on their big screen TV set.
They take The Cable Guy at his word, “Free cable is the ultimate aphrodisiac.”
And they get more… lots more!
Hey, with cable prices going nowhere but up some of the PC/CE folks might come up with something for us.
Internet connections are appearing on TV sets in the U.S. (people in the EU and Pacific Basin have been enjoying it for years, wondering what’s wrong with folks in the Americas).
Until then, we’ll spend some quality time with the kids watching stuff.
TV Their Way – The younger generations, that grew up with a keyboard in their hands, were quick to find indie video and “ancient” content that had been posted. With TV producers and news programs being quickly put online, it’s the natural place for their entertainment. Adults and boomers have also made the transition. It’s nice to spend quality time with the kids.
They’ve got this Web surfing stuff down pat!
In the distance though, we hear The Cable Guy screaming, “Someone has to save all the other cable boys and girls, someone has to kill the babysitter.”
It’s not our fault we raised really smart kids!!! Andy Marken is principal of Marken Communications. Contact him at andy@markencomm.com Back to Top Business Owners and Managers – What are You Doing to Make Your Company Better? Getting the upper hand on competitors is easier said than done. What are you doing to give your company the competitive advantage? Do you have a plan in place to make your company the most successful it can be? Are you employees working to their full potential, and doing the right work for their skills? If you answered no or are unsure about any of those questions, then you should plan on attending CEDIA Management Conference 2010.
Over the course of four days, CEDIA Management Conference 2010 offers attendees the opportunity to learn fundamental skills needed to build a successful business. With information from the Rockefeller Habits, instructors and speakers will guide business owners and managers through the key steps needed to develop and foster a solid business. Break-out sessions will focus on topics critical to success, ranging from finance to employee develop to branding. CEDIA’s popular Registered Outreach Instructor (ROI) “Train the Trainer” course will also be offered for FREE to those who register for Management Conference.
Learn how to employ principles of success that will benefit your company for years to come. In 2010, Management Conference is more affordable than ever, and as a rAVe Home subscriber you can save $100 off your registration by using the discount code “MC10Sponsor” when you register online. CEDIA members also save $400 off the non-member rate. Make the smart investment, and register today.
Management Conference will be held March 3-6 in New Orleans, LA.
Visit http://www.cedia.org/mc for additional information on courses and other offerings at CEDIA Management Conference 2010.
To download the rAVe subscriber discount coupon visit http://www.cedia.org/pdf/MC_Sponsor_rAVe.pdf. Back to Top Experienced Technicians Take Note: CEDIA Offers Updated Home Theater Boot Camp Refining your skills and expanding your services can lead to increased revenue. Potential clients are looking for new ways to make their homes more comfortable and enjoyable, and a new home theater or media room may be just what they are looking for. Attend CEDIA’s next Home Theater Boot Camp to perfect your skills, so that you can offer the best possible services and designs to your clients.
CEDIA has revamped its Home Theater Boot Camp (formerly Advanced Residential EST Boot Camp) to make it more beneficial and educational for students. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the home theater installation process, which includes several hours of hands-on lab activities. Over the course of three days, students will get the chance to install a complete home theater from wiring to final calibration.
If you already have a basic knowledge of electronic systems and have worked in the industry for 24 months or more, this is the ideal course for you to take to harness new skills and advanced training that can equate to increased sales and jobs in the future.
Upcoming Course:
February 24-26, 2010
CEDIA Training Facility
Indianapolis, IN
Right now CEDIA is offering the Home Theater Boot Camp at reduced pricing. Register now and pay $250 less than in previous years.
For more information and to register, please visit http://www.cedia.org/htbootcamp. Back to Top 3D Part of HDMI Specification Version 1.4 Available HDMI Licensing has made the 3D portion of the HDMI Specification Version 1.4 available for public download on the HDMI Web site. This document provides public access to the 3D portion of version 1.4 of the HDMI Specification for organizations that require access to this portion of the Specification but have not executed an HDMI Adopter Agreement.
The download is extracted from version 1.4 of the HDMI Specification. The HDMI Consortium intends to release a 1.4a version of the HDMI Specification shortly, which will include updates to the 3D portion of the Specification.
To get it, go here: http://www.hdmi.org/manufacturer/specification.aspx Back to Top Are you a BIG 3D'er? Whether you’re a fan of 3D or not, you must have thought about whether it will make it in the high-end HomeAV market. Is it going to be relegated to the theater-going public, or will it be a huge hit in the home? Well, New York Times Columnist David Pogue has a video for you…
Check it out at: http://nytv.wieck.com/categories/73/videos/3546 Back to Top Panasonic Adds 3D Plasma to Line Shown at trade shows for months, the 3D version of the Viera plasma line will be launched in May 2010 with two 1080p versions that will be 50” and 54” (ranging in price between $4500 and $6000). No specific details are available, yet, but they are claiming the usual plasma-based contrast ratio of above 5,000,000:1 and they’re supposedly 120Hz (not 240Hz).
Again, if you want details, you’ll have to wait, or if you read Japanese, go here:: http://www.sofmap.com/search_result/exec/?mode=SEARCH&styp=p_bar&product_type=NEW&product_type=USED&gid=&keyword=TH-P54VT2&GO_L.x=0&GO_L.y=0 Back to Top 3D Blu-ray Players Debut Panasonic is the first Blu-ray manufacturer to actually show a production model 3D recorder/player in the form of the DMP-BDT900K. It’s HDMI 1.4 capable, includes 2 HDMI ports, 2 USB ports (in and out) and an Ethernet port (for connecting to Netflix). No price, yet, but expect it to be in the range of $1000 and you’ll see it here in the U.S. around April.
Want more specs, translate this: http://www.sofmap.com/product_detail/exec/_/sku=11371059/-/gid=AY21000000 Back to Top projectiondesign Releases Unique Remote-Lamp Projector Although this projector doesn’t have many HomeAV applications, we thought you might want to see it – it’s unique. projectiondesign has launched a projector that actually remotely locates the lamp source away from the projector itself. Designed for environments where you need a totally encapsulated projection design (vent-less projector for harsh environments – think bars where there is a lot of smoke), the single-chip DLP-based FR12 is an SXGA+ resolution (1400×1050) that’s spec’d to be brighter than 3000 ANSI lumens – but in this case, the lamp is actually remotely located away from the projector itself (up to 100 feet away) in a 3U rack mountable enclosure.
The FR12 was launched at ISE and isn’t on projectiondesign’s website yet, but when it is, it will be here: http://www.projectiondesign.com/Default.asp?CatID=1070 Back to Top Velodyne's SC-602 Amplifier Offers Control of 2 Subs The SC-602 dual-mono amplifier, available from Velodyne Acoustics, controls up to two SC-600 Series in-wall, in-floor or in-ceiling subwoofers. The two-unit high, rack-mount SC-602 is the newest addition to the SC-600 Series which includes the SC-600 IW (In-Wall) and SC-600 IF/IC (In-Floor/In-Ceiling) subwoofers and the single-sub SC-600 amplifier. The SC-600 Series are affordable, easy-to-use subwoofer systems designed for the HomeAV market.
Using two Class D amplifiers with 400 watts peak power each and 200 watts RMS each, the SC-602 comes complete with a one-touch, five-band Auto-EQ room bass correction system and IR remote with customized listening presets for movies, R&B/rock, jazz/classical and games. Subwoofer volume, phase and night mode can also be adjusted via the remote control. The SC-602 amplifier is easily connected to one or two subwoofers with conventional speaker wire and includes RS-232 control, 12V trigger and an IR repeater jack.
You can learn more at: http://www.velodyne.com/products/product.aspx?ID=53&sid=666e459p Back to Top Atlantic Debuts Low-Cost, Networkable In-Ceiling Speaker Options Atlantic Technology last week announced a 6” IP-based speaker that they are calling “a modestly-priced in-ceiling loudspeaker that delivers excellent sound quality for a wide variety of music and home theater applications.” Like all of the company's dual-mode Internet Protocol (IP) speakers, the Atlantic Technology ICTS-6.1-IP is fully compatible with IP-based whole-house systems like NetSteams, or it can be connected using conventional speaker wires.
The Atlantic ICTS-6.1-IP uses a 6-1/2-inch long-excursion Polypropylene woofer and a pivoting 1-inch silk dome tweeter. Atlantic says they are driven through a multi-element crossover and they include both conventional speaker terminals and an IP connector for networkable whole-house distribution systems.
You can learn more about the $125 ICTS-6.1-IP at: http://www.atlantictechnology.com/default.asp?NodeId=152 Back to Top Crestron Ships Prodigy Audio Amp Crestron’s PAMP-4X100 Processor Amplifier for the HomeAV market-based Prodigy control system is designed to provide audio to multiple rooms. Designed for the Prodigy line of affordable control solutions, the PAMP-4X100 delivers six stereo sources to four rooms at 50 watts per channel, and can be expanded up to 12 rooms. Room volume control and source selection are available from the front panel, a PTL4 touch-panel, PLX2 handheld remote, wired or wireless audio keypads, iPhone or iPod touch.
You can learn more about the Prodigy line at: http://www.crestron.com/prodigy Back to Top Polk Debuts In-Ceiling Speakers Dubbed the Vanishing Series, Polk showed a line of oval and round in-ceiling speakers that they say are as good as their stand-alone speakers. One of the last holdouts for in-ceiling speakers (they have in-wall speakers already), Polk says the speakers will ship by the end of Q2 2010 and will be priced between $230 and $540 each.
Polk says they are almost identical to the in-wall in that their bezel is only 3mm and the speaker’s grills are only between 6-7mm from surface of the ceiling.
To learn more, go to: http://www.polkaudio.com/customaudio/inceiling.php Back to Top Triad Shows Entry-Level Line of Subwoofer Line Last week, Triad Speakers introduced three “entry-level,” powered, in-room subwoofers. The Mini, Bronze and Silver OmniSubs are what Triad says are “fully-featured,” attractive and compact packages that “deliver high output with deep bass extension.” At $500, $650 and $800 MSRP each, these new solutions represent Triad’s most affordable in-room subwoofers to date. Like all Triad Subs, they include signal-sensing power-on with adjustable sensitivity; user presets (Normal, Music, Cinema, Night); boundary compensation for optimum performance regardless of placement; a simple parametric equalizer; gain and delay adjustments, and both line level and speaker level inputs.
Check out all the specs at: http://www.triadspeakers.com/products/irmdspsub.html Back to Top Skype-Embedded LCD TVs Skype has signed a deal with LG and Panasonic to integrate their videoconferencing technology into future HDTVs. Skype’s service integrated into the LCDs would allow for free video calls with other Skype users – and may even be compatible with 3rd party videoconferencing services like those from Polycom and Cisco – in addition to Apple’s iChat service.
The service, scheduled to be started mid-2010, will be supported by a separate line of “higher-end” HDTS offered by LG and Panasonic and will require at least a 1Mbps Internet connection – however, it will be available via wireless and wired connectivity.
To learn more about the offering, go to: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0425162920100105 Back to Top Mitsubishi Demos 155" OLED at ISE Show Mitsubishi is hoping OLED can put them back on the rear-screen projection map. Promoted as the world’s first scalable OLED screen technology, the system was revealed last October in Tokyo. Using its own driver electronics, Mitsubishi’s OLED features display modules that can connect with each other to form larger displays (almost any size and shape – they say even curves). Although not specifically a HomeAV product, for those of you out there doing restaurant and bars (as well as digital signage), you'll find applications for giant indoor displays.
At ISE, they put the display together to make a 149” OLED. Unlike conventional LED systems, the OLED's slim, lightweight construction means large screens can be installed on virtually any building surface. With a light output of 1500cd/m², Mitsubishi claims the production model will be several times brighter than an average LCD display, making it suitable for indoor applications in relatively brightly-lit areas – not for outdoor applications, however).
If you want to see it in action, go here: http://www.oled-display.net/mitsubishi-show-155-inch-oled-tv-consists-of-720-10-centimeter-square-panels Back to Top Extron Debuts Cat5e-Based USB Extender Last week, Extron showed a Cat5e-based USB Extender, a two-piece transmitter and receiver set for extending USB up to 450 feet (135 meters) on a single, standard CAT 5/5e/6 or CAT 7 cable. The USB Extender is compatible with USB 1.0, 1.1, or 2.0 and includes a four-port hub supporting simultaneous connection of up to four USB devices. The USB Extender allows for USB 2.0 (peripherals that require high data transfer speeds) including webcams, home security cameras, thumb drives, large-storage media drives and even keyboards and mice.
For integration flexibility, the USB Extender is housed in a compact 1", quarter rack width metal enclosure. External universal power supplies are provided for both the receiver and transmitter. The transmitter can also be powered directly from the USB host port.
For details on the USB Extender, go to: http://www.extron.com/product/product.aspx?id=usbextender&s=0 Back to Top dnp Launches Supernova Flex dnp finally launched a giant electric screen in the form of the 120” (diagonal) Supernova Flex system – available in both wall-mount and recessed ceiling mount configurations. Available in both 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios, the Super Flex is IR controllable (as well as RS232 and 5/12-volt trigger-able), and is available in powder-coated vanishes as well as wood and various gains. The Super Flex is what dnp considers their “flagship” electric screen line and was previously only available in sizes from 72” – 100”. The new 120” Super Flex is ISF certified.
To learn more, go to: http://www.dnp.dk/DNP08/Products/Front-projection/Screens/dnp-Supernova-Flex.aspx Back to Top Sanus Releases HDpro as Timesaving Mounts Sanus is shipping two new Sanus HDpro Series full-motion wall mounts with the easiest post-installation adjustment technology available from Sanus including ProSet: a post-installation adjustment, allowing the installer to adjust the height and level the display after the mount is installed on the wall; and, FollowThru: a cable management system, which conceals and routes cables through the entire length of the mounting arm — even at the elbow — without inhibiting movement. Both mounts also feature pre-assembled interfaces and strong, ultra-light extruded aluminum wall plates for the easiest and quickest installation possible. The QuickConnect system allows the TV to easily click into place, lock and also remove with the push of a release tab.
VisionMount models XF228 and LF228 are being offered within the Sanus HDpro Series, a collection of products designed specifically for professional AV installers and offer 28 inches of full-motion extension. The XF228 supports TVs from 42 to 63 inches and up to 200 lbs., and lists for $619.99. The LF228 supports TVs from 37 to 58 inches and up to 135 lbs., and lists for $469.99. You can find complete details at: http://www.sanus.com/us/en/products/visionmount/full-motion-mount/XF228 Back to Top Crestron Launches XPanel for Mac Finally available: Crestron XPanel for Mac enables anyone to access and control Crestron systems from any connected Mac computer or laptop. XPanel for Mac transforms an iMac or MacBook into a virtual touch panel – saving you a LOT of money.
Crestron says XPanel for Mac replicates the Crestron touch panel experience on a computer screen, so a client can remotely check to see if lights were left on and turn them off, or arm/disarm the security system from any location. System managers can take control of a classroom and help an instructor get a presentation up and running quickly, without physically going to the room.
For all Crestron dealers and partners, XPanel for Mac is a free application available for download from the Crestron website at: http://www.crestron.com/ Back to Top Universal Remote Control and NetStreams Announce Integration of Driver NetStreams, recently acquired by ClearOne, last week announced a FREE NetSteams application is available to download on the URC Toolbox at http://www.urccontrolroom.com/
With the release of the DigiLinX control app for the URC MX-6000, dealers can simply log onto the Universal Remote Control ToolBox site and download the DigiLinX app for the URC MX-6000 controller for free. The addition of the DigiLinX new application for the MX-6000 controller gives users a powerful whole house controller in the palm of their hands that is easy and quick to configure. All of the NetStreams functions are built-into the MX-6000 controller including the tactical buttons on the remote such as volume up and down, mute, channel up and down.
If you’re registered as a URC provider, you can see it at: http://www.urccontrolroom.com/
Back to Top The Coolest Looking Blu-ray Player Ever We’re including a look at what we think is the coolest looking Blu-ray player ever: the Samsung BD-P4600. We know nothing of it’s performance or reliability (or how long it takes to start-up – a spec often, amazingly exaggerated by manufacturers of Blu-ray players), but we do know that it’s got a very low profile design to it, has Wi-Fi, is BD-Live ready and connects to Netflix! Know of a better-looking one? Tell us about it!
Check it out for yourself: http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/tv-video/blu-ray/blu-ray-players/BD-P4600/XAA/index.idx?pagetype=prd_detail&tab=features Back to Top The Very Simple HD Video Player RSF's LoopDVP HD is a very simple HD video player. There are no input controls, and no scripting is necessary. The video files are simply loaded onto the memory card, and the LoopHD plays them back in an alphanumerical loop.
It provides Full HD 1080p playback with up to 25MB/s bit-rate. H264, MPEG4, MPEG2, audio and picture files all supported. HDMI/DVI/VGA/Component out. This is a very elegant plug and play device comes at what the maker calls an "extremely competitive price."
To learn more, go to: http://www.rsf-int.com/prodap/produit.php?lan=en&produit=050 Back to Top S1Digital Intros Blu-ray Disc Changer At CES, S1Digital launched the S1Digital Blu-ray Disc Changer that can hold 100 discs and seamlessly integrates with any S1Digiral Entertainment Server.
When connected to an S1Digital Media Center (or any third party Microsoft Windows 7 or Vista PC that includes media center), users are able to load up to 100 Blu-ray and/or DVD movies into the S1Digital Bly-ray Disc Changer. Using the included playback software, each disc will be scanned and metadata and cover-art automatically downloaded to the server. Once catalogued, users can view more information about the movie, or watch the movie by selecting the appropriate cover-art, which is all available on the familiar and easy-to-use media center interface. The changer is simple to use and enables almost instant access to movies without having to physically find and load each movie.
The $1499 S1Digital Blu-ray Changer will ship later this month and more details can be found here: http://www.s1digital.com/S1Digital_Blu_ray_disc_changer_p/bdc.htm Back to Top For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe HomeAV Edition out there, hopefully you enjoyed another opinion-packed issue!
For those of you NEW to rAVe, you just read how we are — we are 100% opinionated. We not only report the news and new product stories of the high-end HomeAV industry, but we stuff the articles full of our opinions. That may include (but is not limited to) whether or not the product is even worth looking at, challenging the manufacturers on their specifications, calling a marketing-spec bluff and suggesting ways integrators market their products better. But, one thing is for sure, we are NOT a trade publication that gets paid for running editorial or product stories. Traditional trade publications get paid to run product stories — that’s why you see what you see in most of the pubs out there. We are different: we run what we want to run and NO ONE is going to pay us to write anything good (or bad).
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To send me feedback, don't reply to this newsletter – instead, write directly to me at gary@ravepubs.com or for editorial ideas: Editor-in-Chief Sara Abrons at sara@ravepubs.com
A little about me: I graduated from Journalism School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (where I am adjunct faculty). I’ve been in the AV-industry since 1987 where I started with Extron and eventually moved to AMX. So, I guess I am an industry veteran (although I don’t think I am that old). I have been an opinionated columnist for a number of industry publications and in the late 1990s I started the widely read KNews eNewsletter (the first in the AV market) and also created the model for and was co-founder of AV Avenue – which is now known as InfoComm IQ. rAVe Publications has been around since 2003, when we launched our original newsletter, rAVe ProAV Edition.
rAVe HomeAV Edition, co-published with CEDIA, launched in February, 2004.
To read more about my background, our team, and what we do, go to https://www.ravepubs.com Back to Top Copyright 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. |