A rAVe DS Thank You!
By Gary Kayye, CTS I want to take the opportunity as we close year one on rAVe DS to say THANK YOU! Of our five North America-based publications, rAVe DS [Digital Signage] is the fastest growing publication we've ever had and it keeps growing in subscribers exponentially every quarter! And, in a down economy and a time when other publications have cut back to bi-monthly or to not publishing at all, we owe this to our readers AND our sponsors NEC Display, VISIX and Synnex who believed in our concept and signed up with us before we even had a single reader! So, again, thank you!
So, what's in store for rAVe DS in the second year?
Well, according to noted DS expert Lyle Bunn, we'll see more growth – but even in small places. He told me last week in Atlanta that he believed the largest segment of growth for the DS market would be the small companies that run our communities. Doctors' offices, dentists, local retail shops and more. I tend to agree because the CMS tools are there through lot of small, powerful tools from companies like Rise Vision, Omnivex and VISIX, and the advertising sales engine was launched via NEC's VUKUNET, plus there a plenty of affordable displays out there for any application.
And, we've got a few surprises, a number of additions and a lot of the same – good quality, opinionated content.
Surprises? It's no secret that we're leveraging social media to grow our reach and expertise, but we're going to use it to help you grow too, in 2010. We'll be adding features to rAVe's site in 2010 with a totally new redesign in January 2010 that will make our site faster, our content even more real-time and provide you with a knowledge base of information and education you can leverage 24/7/365. In addition, we'll be covering the major industry trade shows via rAVe NOW – including the DSE Show – in 2010 so that even if you can't attend, we'll put you there with Live Tweets and rAVe NOW Videos from the show floor.
Finally, we want to hear from you. If you have something you'd like to see us add or a feature you think we need to add, just tell us. Send it to pr@ravepubs.com DM us on Twitter @ravepubs or call us at 919-969-7501.
Thank you!
Gary Kayye
rAVE [Publications] Founder
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ActiVia iPhone App Permits Remote Mobile The ActiVia iPhone App allows mobile users to manage digital signage networks from the palm of their hand. With access to the ActiVia Constellation Manager admin console, the ActiVia iPhone App provides a system overview dashboard for the signage network, in addition to device management, monitoring, and media channel functionalities.
The ActiVia iPhone App is ideal for environments such as QSR, hospitality, and retail where a local user, who may not have ongoing access to a PC, can manage their signage network while performing duties on the go.
Check it out at: http://www.stratacache.com/3!_video_lib.php?page=iapp Back to Top Keywest Launches MediaPOD Keywest Technology is shipping its new MediaPOD Encore digital signage system that includes both CMS and browser-based control. MediaPOD Encore includes HDMI output as well as support for DVI and VGA output. It also offers WiFi and Ethernet connectivity. The MediaPOD system includes a media player that requires no software loading or configuration and is offered in either a 32GB or a 160GB version.
Interested in becoming a dealer, or reading more? Go to: http://www.keywesttechnology.com/products/media-pod/
Back to Top AGL Launches Outdoor LCDs As LCD monitors become more commoditized, there is an increasing demand for applying them as advertising display media and digital signage applications. But, not all LCDs are created equal – no one would use a consumer panel for a DS vertical display application, for example. And, although there are plenty of niche so-called high-end LCD manufacturers, there aren’t many outdoor suppliers. Well, that’s about to change with AGL now launching a series of 22-inch, 24-inch and 32-inch “commercial-grade” LCD monitors with 1920×1080 full HD resolution and 1000 nit high brightness spec for outdoor applications.
These monitors are supposedly waterproof, usable in direct sunlight, touch-screen sensitive and can operate in -22 to +140 degrees F.
To learn more, go to: http://www.appliedgreenlight.com/?q=taxonomy/term/25 Back to Top GestureTek Debuts CUBE V3: A Portable, Interactive Display for DS Applications GestureTek Inc. recently announced the launch of the CUBE Release 3.0 – a turnkey, portable, plug-and-play interactive projection display system for DS applications. GestureTek is the inventor and holder of dozens of patents in camera-enabled gesture recognition technology for interactive display, presentation and entertainment systems.
With the CUBE V3, it’s easier than ever to project interactive content onto any surface – including floors, walls and tabletops. By simply changing the position of the CUBE, interactive advertising can be projected vertically or horizontally, depending on the customers’ requirements. The CUBE V3 control panel is sophisticated and simple to use, enabling users to change their own backgrounds and special effects with a quick click of the mouse. It's as simple as dropping image files from one folder into another. The CUBE also has the ability to be linked to a server, making it possible to retrieve user metrics and system information.
For more information on CUBE V3 and to see some cool apps, go to: http://www.gesturetek.com/cube/introduction.php
Back to Top TiroMedia Shows TMP N6, a DS Media Player TiroMedia’s newest DS Media Player, dubbed the TMP-N6, is extremely flexible — it can be used in standalone mode where only a USB thumb drive is needed, or it can receive content via the network that can be managed from a web server or TiroMedia's CMS.
The USB option allows small digital signage operators to leverage digital signage technologies without a complicated setup. The player also comes with a remote control that allows for a list of options to be managed directly by the operator (transition effects, display time, auto on/off, etc).
When used in a networked mode, the player can easily receive content updates from any web server. This is due to the fact that it relies on open standards for communication and updates. The player is also 100 percent compatible with TiroMedia's CMS which provides even more tools for managing a network of players.
See all the specs at: http://www.tiromedia.com/TMPN6.aspx Back to Top Barix Introduces Low-Cost, Intelligent IP Network Controller Barix AG this week launched (and is already shipping) the Barionet 50, a low-cost IP automation controller, monitoring device and visualization system now shipping. A fully programmable network controller, the $179 Barionet 50 is ideal for interfacing devices and real world I/O via IP with open, standards based monitoring and control platforms.
The Barionet 50 is a modular component that can operate standalone or in concert with other units, web servers and control systems. Professional applications include access control, machine data collection and environmental monitoring of everything from temperature to water pressure. However, the fully programmable Barionet 50 can implement serial protocols, serve as the “intelligent” component in a data collection system, or take actions based on the provided data on the interfaces. This makes the Barionet 50 ideal as the core component of smaller automation systems, data logging installations and alerting applications.
For more information, go to: http://www.barix.com/Barionet_50/1351/ Back to Top Campbell-Ewald Helps NEC Develop VUKUNET NEC Display enlisted giant ad agency Campbell-Ewald to help develop its newest product, VUKUNET, a web-based platform that connects digital signage network owners to a new world of potential advertising revenue and also provides advertisers and ad agencies a revolutionary way to leverage digital out-of-home advertising. If you didn’t see our review of VUKUNET, go here and read it: http://www.ravepro.com/digital_signage/issues/2009/11/index.html#t0923
NEC Display Solutions engaged Campbell-Ewald thirteen months ago to help bring the VUKUNET vision to life. Working with the NEC team, Campbell-Ewald contributed its ad industry insights and user experiences to VUKUNET's design and development. From there, the teams collaborated on identity development, including product name and logo design, as well as product launch strategy and execution.
For more specifics on VUKUNET, go to: http://www.vukunet.com/ Back to Top Digital Signage Expo Accepting Nominations for Awards Digital Signage Expo (DSE), the world’s largest International Tradeshow and Conference dedicated to digital signage, interactive technology and out-of-home networks, is now accepting nominations for its 6th Annual APEX & Content Awards. Submission forms are available at http://www.dse2010.com. The submissions deadline has been extended to December 22, 2009.
This year the APEX Awards have been expanded to include ten categories: Arts/Entertainment/Recreation, Corporate & Government, Education, Healthcare, Hotels, Public Spaces, Restaurants & Drinking Places, Retail, Stadiums, and Transportation. Content nominees must have a new or current digital signage or interactive technology program installed or in rollout phase between February 2009-February 2010. Independent industry panels will judge the APEX and Content Award entries submitted for all end-user categories.
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Bare Escentuals Blasts into Digital Signage Times Square in New York City is bright. LED displays abound there more than any other place in the US – including Las Vegas. It's so bright with all the ambient light generated by these LEDs that people who live around there describe it as 24 hours of daylight. Makeup retailer Bare Escentuals was getting lost in the retail mix, fighting everyone from M&Ms and their 70' LED to American Eagle and their 200' monster of an electric outdoor sign.
The Goal
Make Bare Escentuals stand out in busy Times Square, while delivering the messaging that they have a belief that products can actually be good, makeup can be fun, business can be personal and companies can behave more like communities. They contracted well-known integrator MUZAK to make it happen.
How'd They Do It?
Throwing money at it by simply integrating a low-resolution LED wasn't the solution, since Bare Escentuals wanted HD to look like HD – not like little red, green and blue dots. MUZAK decided to use super-bright Digital Projection Titan HD-600's rear-screen projected via SSI's Accent Film Screen (60"x106") so that they could display HD in native HD 1920×1080 resolution. Driven by BrightSign HD-1010 DS Media Players, the content is changed to reflect the store's plan to drive traffic into the store with specials, product information and their "optimistic outlook shared by women everywhere who believe that while makeup can’t change the world, it can change people. And people who are inspired can make all the difference." The projectors were mounted in a custom constructed attic “cat walk” above the ceiling at their new retail store in Times Square and “show” displays through rear-projection film that is applied to the inside of the exterior windows; the “audience” is the people walking around this area of Times Square. Back to Top So, that's rAVe DS [Digital Signage] for this month! Remember, we are here to HELP the AV market penetrate the DS market. Less than 5 percent of the DS market is integrated by AV companies. The other 95 percent is IT-based. Now, there are AV publications and even an association that would like to draw those IT people in to AV (it would increase readers, right? – and more readers means they can charge more for ads). That is NOT what we are doing. rAVe DS is specifically designed to pull AV into the DS market and teach AV companies how to take business away from the currently dominated by IT market.
For those of you NEW to rAVe, you just read a 100% opinionated ePublication that's designed to help AV integrators. We not only report the news and new product stories of the digital signage 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
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. rAVe Rental [and Staging] launched in November 2007. rAVe ED [Education] launched in May 2008. rAVe DS [Digital Signage] was launched in January 2009.
To read more about my background, our team, and what we do, go to https://www.ravepubs.com
Back to Top Copyright 2009 – rAVe [Publications] – All rights reserved – All rights reserved. For reprint policies, contact rAVe [Publications], 510 Meadowmont Village Circle, Suite 376 – Chapel Hill, NC 27517 – (919) 969-7501. Email: sara@ravepubs.com
rAVe Rental [and Staging] contains the opinions of the author only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of other persons or companies or its sponsors. |