Introduction: Waiting for infoComm
Editorial: The Final Sayye by Gary Kayye At infoComm, Focus on Education
News: 1. Da-Lite Announces Crestron Support for SCB-100 Serial Control Board
2. Are Plasmas Getting Smaller-Literally?
3. MARGI Systems Introduces Presenter-to-Go for New Palm Handhelds
4. Mitsubishi Introduces 2500 ANSI Lumen Projector in a 6.6 lb. Box
5. Epson Introduces Two New XGA Networkable Projectors 6. Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Introduces Consumer Electronics Industry's First HDTV Receiver/Network Controller
7 Duocom Canada Ltd. to Conduct Management Buy-Out From MCSi
8. Construction Specifications Institute to Release MasterFormat Draft 4
9. Christie Introduces New Simulation Projectors – LCD and DLP Models
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Introduction Waiting for infoComm We are exactly five weeks away from infoComm and the excitement and anticipation is growing – the parties, the booths, the friends, the parties and the education. Speaking of education, personally, I believe that is the most important and best part of infoComm. In fact, in this issue of Gary Kayye's rAVe, I specifically recommend courses that you need to take at the June event in Orlando. Check them out as I am sure they will fill up. And, if you're planning to attend infoComm but don't want to pay for admission (in other words, want a free pass), Kayye Consulting has a limited number of them available. To register online, go to http://www.infocomm.org/freepass then complete your profile and click submit. Then enter code FREE and select the name of the company that supplied your pass from the list. This pass is good for a FREE 3-day admission to the InfoComm 2003 exhibits only. To add any training sessions or special events, you should follow the instructions to register online, adding the sessions or events à la carte. You will be able to view a summary of your selections with pricing. Finally, before you read on, I want to draw your attention to an exciting new offering through Gary Kayye's rAVe. It's called AV Jobs. AV Jobs is a new service offered by Kayye Consulting as a resource to AV professionals seeking opportunities/employment with companies in the professional audiovisual industry. So, if you or someone you know is looking for a job in the AV industry, we will help you find it. However, we will not take what are known as blind resumes where someone is already employed by an AV company and simply wants to find a new job so asks us to post his/her resume without contact information. Your contact information must be posted on the resume as well as your job experiences. So, if you are currently unemployed or have been the unfortunate victim of a "downsizing" in your organization, please contact us for more information at jobs@kayye.com or go to http://www.kayye.com/resources/av_jobs.asp and read all about our new service. And, if you are interested in having your resume posted and referenced in Gary Kayye's rAVe, please email us a copy in Word format at jobs@kayye.com. There is a one-time fee for posting resumes, and you will be contacted for payment information once the resume is approved. Resumes are posted to the AV Jobs section of http://www.kayye.com until we receive email notification from you to remove the listing. New resumes will always be listed in the next issue of Gary Kayye's rAVe. And, if you're looking for people to hire, check out http://www.kayye.com/resources/av_jobs.asp and see who's looking. In fact, we already have two resumes posted from two highly qualified AV veterans: Joe Hathaway (former Systems Account Manager of Spinitar's Phoenix office) and Robert Miller (formerly of NEC's OEM division). They both have impressive resumes. OK, well, that's it for now, enjoy Gary Kayye's rAVe and make sure you stop by our booth at InfoComm (Booth #:3033) and say hello!
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Editorial — The Final Sayye by Gary Kayye At infoComm, Focus on Education Forget about the exhibits. Don't plan your infoComm experience backwards. Most people attending infoComm plan their show experience around the exhibits and their ability to peruse the show floor and see all the manufacturers they need to see. Then, depending on the appointments they make and the meetings they attend in the booth, they determine the leftover time slots for taking in a course or two through infoComm's extensive show educational offerings. That's exactly opposite of what you should be doing. What I think you should do is immediately (after you finish reading this column, of course) go to the infoComm educational section on their web site and pick educational courses relevant to your interests and expertise. Plan to attend them all and then with the time you have left, visit booths, attend parties and go to meetings. Certainly, I haven't been attending infoComm as long as industry icons Fred Dixon (who's come to over 45 shows in 50 years), Kevin Collins, Mackie Baron, Harold Thiel and Andrew Edwards. But I will bet that if you asked every one of them what part of the industry's premiere ProAV show they have gotten the most out of over the years, they will unanimously say the educational offerings. Education in our market is crucial. The first time an LCD projector was ever shown to the ProAV market was in a class at COMTEX (the previous name of infoComm). The first time the concept for a DLP projector was explained to AV geeks was at a seminar at infoComm. And, the first time a networked system was demonstrated was in a seminar at infoComm. Sure, these technologies and trends eventually hit the floor, but the time and attention given to attendees of a seminar by the instructor far exceeds the time given to a question on the typical show floor booth. And, by the way, while the industry's marketing gurus from each exhibiting manufacturer hang out with PR kits in their respective booths, the engineering department's "geeks" are teaching technology at a seminar down the hall. So, before you plan your foray to Orlando May 31-June 6, go to: http://infoComm03.expoexchange.com/_event1/expoexchange/itinerary/session_planner.asp and take a look at the more than 150 seminars and workshops being offered and make sure you attend as many as possible. But, here are a few I see as "must attend" seminars for all infoComm attendees: MT48 – AV Takes Over IT by Dave Silberstein, CTS & Marcus Simmons
W11 – Design a Conference Room Audio System by Gordon Moore, CTS
W12 – Videoconferencing Installation Applications by Scott Sharer, CTS
S19 – Digital Interfacing in Presentation Systems by Jody Thomas, CTS
S23 – The Renovation Survival Kit by Joe Schuch, CTS-D
S26 – Selling AV Systems in the Government, Church, and Education Markets by Mike Weems, CTS, MCP
S33 – AV & IT: Collision or Convergence by Max Kopsho, CTS, MCSE
S94 – Networking in Projection Systems by Jody Thomas, CTS Sure, this is only a sample of what's being offered at the show, but the biggest trend and most profitable potential segment of our market in regards to system integration is networking. Networking will allow system monitoring and service to propel virtually any integration firm to another level of capabilities. At infoComm nothing on the show floor covers the impact of the network like the seminars do. Four of the seminars above address that trend. And, as audio is most ProAV salesperson's weakness (including mine), the two courses listed are musts, as both Gordon and Scott are two of the best in our market. But, this only scratches the surface of what ICIA's offering in education at this year's event in June. So mark your calendar and map out your time. But don't overlook education, as it's the best investment you will make while attending the show. Back to top
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News Gary Kayye's rAVe will be reporting LIVE from infoComm. Manufacturers, be sure to send your news announcements and images the minute you have them ready to rAVe Editor-in-Chief Denise Harrison — dharrison@kayye.com In addition, there are limited advertising/sponsorship opportunities to anyone interested in advertising in Gary Kayye's rAVe, infoComm edition. Write to advertising@kayye.com for more information.
1. Da-Lite Announces Crestron Support for SCB-100 Serial Control Board Systems Integrators now have integrated RS-232 control over Da-Lite's SCB-100 serial control board from any Crestron control system. As part of Crestron's I2P partner program, Da-Lite and other companies work to get their products to operate from within the Crestron control systems environment. Crestron completed compatibility testing and made source code available to systems integrators as a download on its website at http://www.crestron.com/dealer-tech_resources/design_center/modules/da-lite/default.asp Da-Lite's ISC family includes the first screen solution with integrated dual RS-232 control / relay control, the smallest Ethernet adapter available in the professional audiovisual marketplace, and the first standards-based asset management solution for a non-projector product. The SCB-100 Serial Control Board allows for control over a screen using RS-232C communication and/or relay closures. Designed from the simplest to most sophisticated system installations, a single Serial Control Board provides control over any single motor screen, masking screen or projector lift. With dual RS-232 ports, simultaneous communication with a NET-100 Ethernet-Serial adapter and a Crestron control system is possible. The Serial Control Board is available as a factory installed option inside the Contour and Advantage series screens, or in an external enclosure for use with legacy screen and projector lift models. For more information about Da-Lite ISC, go to http://www.da-lite.com/whats_hot/whatshot.php?id=33 For more information about Crestron control systems, go to http://www.crestron.com
2. Are Plasmas Getting Smaller-Literally? Sub-40" plasmas went from a 12 to a 22 percent share from October 2002 to February 2003, according to the Plasma/LCD Displays Reseller Tracking Service from Pacific Media Associates (PMA). PMA credits the increase with a 7 percent decline in the average street price, while prices for 40" and above panels declined less than 1 percent. They also cited Sony's push into the consumer market with more models and a 50-percent market share. For more information, go to http://www.pacificmediaassociates.com/Press_releases/press_release.htm
3. MARGI Systems Introduces Presenter-to-Go for New Palm Handhelds Although I don't know anyone personally making presentations from a handheld PDA, I am sure its time is drawing near. One day these new powerful PDA's (many costing hundreds of dollars more than the average laptop) may be the handheld interactive device I have been calling the personal information displays (PIDs). For now, they are really cool, albeit expensive, daytimers. But, for the ultimate early adopter (like my business partner, Jody Thomas) the new Presenter-to-Go SD from MARGI Systems is now compatible with Palm's new Tungsten C and Zire 71 handhelds. The combination lets users store presentations in their handhelds – no laptop required – making for lighter travel for a mobile presenter or anyone who doesn't want to carry a laptop every time they want to conduct a presentation. This is assuming, of course, that you don't have all the bells and whistles that make these handhelds heavier than many laptops! Presenter-to-Go is compatible with all Palm handhelds that have an expansion slot for SD Cards, SDIO, MultiMediaCard media and PowerPoint, or any printable application displays in XGA (1024 x 768) resolution via an LCD or DLP projector or plasma. Presenter-to-Go sells for $199 and is available on the MARGI Systems Web site: http://www.margi.com
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4. Mitsubishi Introduces 2500 ANSI Lumen Projector in a 6.6 lb. Box Mitsubishi has a new, really nice, extra-bright portable. The XD350U ColorView is 6.6 lbs., 2500 ANSI lumens projector that's compatible with Mitsubishi Digital's new ProjectorView networking system, allowing connection to the LAN through an assigned IP address, and controlled and monitored with a web browser. The XD350U is a native XGA (1024 x 768) projector and Mitsubishi claims that it has a 2000:1 contrast ratio. Price is $6,495 with a three-year warranty on parts and labor. That's a pretty good price for the brightness and contrast, but that level of warranty is perhaps its worst selling point – long warranties cloud up the mix when it comes to users' understanding of the difference between a warranty service claim and a system service claim. If you're a regular reader of my columns, you know how I feel about long warranties and what they do to reduce margins for integrators by confusing the user. For more information about the unit, go to http://www.mitsubishi-presentations.com/html/xd350u.htm
5. Epson Introduces Two New XGA Networkable Projectors Epson introduced its brightest projector yet with the PowerLite 8300i. Claimed to have 5200 ANSI lumens and 1200:1 contrast ratio, it's maybe the brightest fully networkable projector on the market – making it perfect for churches, auditoriums or lecture halls. The second model, the 7800p, is a 3500 ANSI lumens, 700:1 contrast ratio projector designed for boardroom, meeting room and training room environments. Both are networkable in what EPSON calls "out-of-box" networking. Epson says its new EasyManagement software lets an IT department monitor, maintain and control the projectors from a remote location or from the web browser. You can use built-in RJ45 Ethernet ports for checking the power status or lamp hours, in addition to powering the projector on/off, and you can set up email alerts for performance issues. Epson's system seems to bring them equal to that of the networking levels of Sony, Christie, InFocus and Sanyo. One cool feature I read about in this projector is something EPSON calls Wall Shot, available only on the 7800p. What it does is creative in that if you are projecting on colored surfaces, not exactly white (i.e. gray, beige, off-white, blue — for portable applications, or for the home where you are temporarily using a wall, not a screen), the projector has settings that automatically adjust color when projecting on these colored surfaces. It appears that what EPSON has done is pre-programmed different color-temperature settings so that users don't have to. Now, I am not at all looking at this as a realistic permanent application feature, but it is creative for portable applications where screens aren't readily available. However, as this is a networked projector, it will be used most often in permanent applications so I don't see the purpose in this particular projector. But I do think it is cool. Inputs include D-sub15 (XGA), RGBHV on BNC's, DVI, S-Video, video and the obligatory monitor out. There are additional optional lenses, remote with USB mouse, and the projectors can easily be stacked for large venue applications. The PowerLite 8300i is $9,999 and the PowerLite 7800p is $4,899. For more information, go to http://www.epson.com
6. Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Introduces Consumer Electronics' Industry's First HDTV Receiver/Network Controller Now that home theater systems are a jumble of analog and digital inputs, outputs and components, it is time for someone to simplify. That's the idea behind Mitsubishi's HD-5000 HDTV receiver and network controller. The HD-5000 has two analog tuners, one digital tuner, a full input array for connection to HD and non-HD home theater components, three FireWire connections for AV networking, the HAVi software system, NetCommand, on-screen, icon-based analog and digital control system, and the full functionality of a high-performance television system in a set-top-box design says the company. As they put it, it's silly to connect an HD display to a low-performance VCR to watch television. Right, and this is a good start. Mitsubishi releases it to the ProAV channel in late spring at the suggested price of $1,699. For more information, go to http://www.mitsubishi-tv.com
7. Duocom Canada Ltd. to Conduct Management Buy-Out From MCSi Duocom Canada Ltd. announced that it will buy back the company from MCSi and take it private. The buyout is led by a senior management team, which expects to complete the MBO by the end of the second quarter of 2003. Duocom has 13 offices around Canada and has three divisions: presentation products, systems integration and AV services. Last year, Duocom acquired Global Conference Communication Services, which provides simultaneous interpretation services in a wide variety of languages using digital equipment. I think this is a good move for both Duocom and MCSi. Although many think of Canada as not much different than the USA in business, it really is. It's truly like running a company with an office in any foreign country from the headquarters location. Sure the language is identical in much of Canada, but billing, installing, selling and communicating is different than in the USA. And, I think it is no secret that MCSi's restructuring plan is to fix problems at home and bring the company back to profitability as quickly as possible. And, the principals at Duocom who founded the company (Ross Fairholm and Marg Hachey) are still at Duocom in Canada and it makes for an easy transition back to a private company. You may see this emulated in a few more offices. More information about Duocom can be found at http://www.duocom.ca
8. Construction Specifications Institute to Release MasterFormat Draft 4 For those of you who have been actively following the modification of the CSI (Constructions Specifications Institute) MasterFormat and its integration of AV into that standard, it's getting closer to final launch. The MasterFormat from CSI is the most commonly used specification format for non-residential construction. It's what they call the "Dewey Decimal System" of the construction industry. CSI plans to release its MasterFormat Draft 4 in the next few weeks. One focus of the current drafts of MasterFormat is the growth and increased complexity of computer and communications systems, including Pro AV. The first draft of the current revision (revisions happen every five or so years) was released in February 2002. A second draft, derived from the industry's input on the first draft, was released in October 2002. A third draft is posted at CSINet, where MasterFormat's users can comment on it. Go to http://www.csinet.org/technic/mfrevision.htm#draft3 Draft 4 is the final version to be submitted for the industry's input. It will be posted for feedback throughout the fall. The new MasterFormat is scheduled to be published during the summer of 2004.
9. Christie Introduces New Simulation Projectors – LCD and DLP Models This may be the most specific I have ever seen a product announcement get for recommended applications of these projectors. Even if these projectors weren't perfect for these particular applications, immediately Christie is taking a perceived leadership position with this series of projectors in the minds of the people/integrators serving those markets. Great, creative! Basically, Christie introduced a line of three entry-level projectors for high-resolution imaging for simulation/training. Dubbed the Matrix, this line is supposedly designed for aircraft, ship's bridge, air traffic control and land vehicle simulators, military training, CAD design and entertainment (can't get more targeted than that – someone at Christie certainly read Tom Peter's infamous book FOCUS). The Matrix 1500 is specified as a 1500 ANSI lumens, a single-chip DLP with SXGA resolution and contrast ratio of 1000:1. It's based on the Dark Metal DMD light engine. The Matrix 2500 is specified as a 2500 ANSI lumens, 3-chip 1.8" LCD projector with SXGA resolution. It's based on dual 100W UHP illumination system with 700:1 contrast ratio. The Matrix 3500 is a 3500 ANSI lumens, 3-chip LCD with UXGA resolution, and is based on quad 100W UHP – spec'd at 1000:1 contrast ratio. Christie's news release for the three models describes some technology specifically designed to respond to the needs of simulation. The company's Digital Color Management, for example, combined with custom gamma adjustment, helps produce what they call "true color representation, color matching and color uniformity". A Minimum Processing Latency feature — less than one frame delay – allows for extremely fast simulator response time to user's commands. Christie says this provides sharp, vibrant images without loss of detail, flicker, smearing or motion artifacts. For more information, go to http://www.christiedigital.com/portfolios/3d-port.asp Back to top
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Well, that's it for the sixth edition of rAVe! Thank you for spending time with me as we muse the industry's happenings. To continue getting my newsletter, or to sign up a friend, click the link below. To send me feedback and news tips, don't reply to this newsletter – instead, write to me at gkayye@kayye.com. A little about me: Gary Kayye, CTS, founder of Kayye Consulting. Gary Kayye, an audiovisual veteran and columnist, began the widely-read KNews, a premier industry newsletter, in the late 1990s, and created the model for and was co-founder of AV Avenue – which later became InfoComm IQ. Kayye Consulting is a company that is committed to furthering the interests and success of dealers, manufacturers, and other companies within the professional audiovisual industry. To read more about my background, our staff, and what we do, go to http://www.kayye.com Back to top
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