Volume 10, Issue 3 — March 21, 2018

You can’t ask us to nominate you.

And, you can’t get an award by advertising or sponsoring us or paying for it. And, there are NO Awards entry fees!

We sent reporters to EVERY booth/stand at ISE 2018 and we selected the TOP products in every possible product category for our 2018 Best of ISE Awards. No other publication — or entity for that matter — goes to very booth at the ISE show and sees every new product demo’d or launched at ISE in Amsterdam annually — so these are THE BEST of THE BEST.

So, if you are wondering which products were the best at ISE and outperformed the others in their respective categories, this is it: the 2018 Best of ISE Awards. And if you are a manufacturer who won an award, be proud! You were hand-selected by our editors and reporters after evaluating every new product shown at ISE in your product category. We didn’t just pick these “on the show floor” during the show or by using spec-sheets distributed prior to the show — we picked these by actually looking at each and every product and comparing them to the competition. In fact, this is why it took us en entire month to award these… You truly are the BEST of ISE!

Finally, as the ISE show is really four shows in one — it’s a HomeAV show, a ProAV show, a Digital Signage show and Rental & Staging show — we’ve decided to separate the awards into different categories, based on their application. So, for 2018, there are five awards categories:

Conferencing, Collaboration & Meeting Rooms: The biggest trend in meetings rooms is collaboration and collaboration include both wired and wireless system, video, audio and far-site connectivity. This category of the Best of ISE products serves every aspect of the typical meeting room or huddle room space:

• Best New Videoconferencing Product: Lifesize Icon 450
• Best New Videoconferencing Accessory: Angekis Autopilot Tracking System
• Best Videoconferencing System: RealPresence Debut
• Best New Conferencing System Product: DisplayNote Mosaic
• Best New Audio Conferencing Product: Nureva Dual HDL300
• Best UC PTZ Camera: Logitech MeetUp
• Best New Audio Conferencing System: Polycom SoundStructure C-Series
• Best Collaboration System Product: Nureva Wall
• Best New Wireless Collaboration System: DVDO TILE
• Best New Wireless Collaboration Product: Kindermann Klick & Show
• Best Collaboration Software Product: UC Workspace Quicklaunch
• Best New Collaboration Board: Sharp BIG PAD
• Best New Collaboration Board Accessory: Panacast 2s Camera
• Best Audio Conferencing Product: Nureva Dual HDL300
• Best Huddle Room System: Avocor F-Series
• Best New Meeting Room Projector: Panasonic PT-MZ Series
• Best New Meeting Room Audio Product (tie): Yamaha CS-700 and ClearOne AnalogX
• Best New Meeting Room Product: Televic Conference Plixus
• Best New Meeting Room Speakers: Genelec 4000 Series
• Best New Huddle Room System: Cisco Spark Room Series
• Best New Huddle Room Display: NEC InfinityBoard
• Best New Huddle Room Accessory (tie): Biamp Devio CR1 and zioxi powerHubs
• Best New PTZ Camera: Vaddio Roboshot IW
• Best room Microphone (tie): TAIDEN HCS-5335 and Biamp Tesira TCM Ceiling Beamtracking Microphones
• Best Video Wall System: MultiTaction Hybrid Wall
• Best Wireless Accessory: Crestron FreeForm
• Best Wireless Technology: Barco ClickShare CSE-800
• Best New Short Throw Projector Product: Hitachi LP-AW4001 3LCD Laser
• Best New Wireless Product: NorthVision
• Best Wireless System Product: Vivitek NovoConnect With LauncherPlus

Network AV & Signal Distribution: Everything’s going AV-over-IP — but not quite yet. This category includes both AV-over-IP products as well as other ways of getting signals from source to display:

• Best New Video Interface: Kramer DGKat 2.0
• Best New Video System Accessory: Aurora HDBaseT Supercharged
• Best New Control System Software Product: Barco Event Master 5.1
• Best New AV-over-IP Transport System: SDVoE’s 10Gbps
• Best ProAV Control System Interface Concept: VuWall Debuts TRx 2.0 AV Network Management
• Best HomeAV Control System Hardware: Legrand Nuvo P30 Touch Screen Controller

Digital Signage & Public Spaces: The fastest growing segment of AV over the past half-dozen years to so been digital signage. So, it makes sense for this to have its own category of award-winning products:

• Best New Screen Product: Screen Innovations Solo Wireless Screen
• Best New Overall Digital Signage Display Product: Philips Q Line Series
• Best New Digital Signage Touch Display: LANG GhosT-OLED Touch
• Best New Digital Signage Display: NEC P754Q
• Best New Digital Signage Hardware Product (tie): Chief Impact On-Wall Kiosk and MOBIMA WAYU
• Best Digital Signage Software Product: BARIX RetailPlayer
• Best Digital Signage Accessory: Pixelart
• Best New Digital Signage Product for AV Integrators: Delta Displays NovoDS 4K
• Best New Digital Signage Media Player: BrightSign XD Series Media Players
• Best New Digital Signage OS: Navori QL 2.0
• Best New Outdoor Digital Signage Display: VideoTree Oceana
• Best Use of Augmented Reality: Realfiction DeepFrame
• Best Overall LED Wall Product: ABSEN Acclaim
• Best Modular LED Wall Product: Christie Velvet CorePlus LED
• Best New Video Wall Display: Barco UniSee
• Best Video Wall Product: Peerless-AV SmartMount Supreme
• Best New Rigid LED Wall Product: Leyard DirectLight 0.7mm
• Best New Flexible LED Wall Product: LG Transparent LED Film
• Best New Video Wall Accessory: Baanto Mod-u-lar Frame
• Best Portable PA System: Bose Professional S1 Pro
• Best Emergency Services AV Product: LDA Audio Tech LDA ONE
• Best Transparent Display: LG Transparent OLED

Rental, Staging & Live Events: If you’re one of the 30,000 or so AV’ers in the rental, staging or live events markets, you’ll love this category of new award-winning ISE products aimed specifically at making your job easier or adding to the wow-factor of your application:

• Best New Rental/Staging Projector: Epson L20000U
• Best New Rental and Staging Product: Absen COBALT
• Best New Rental/Staging Accessory: Blackmagic Design ATEM 1 M/E Advanced Panel
• Best Rental and Staging Speakers: Renkus-Heinz ICONYX Steerable Arrays
• Best Live Mixer for Installs: CADAC CDCseven Audio Console
• Best Microphone Mixer: Bose Professional ToneMatch Stereo Mixers
• Best New Live Production Mixer for Installs: PreSonus Series 3 Mixer
• Best Rental/Staging Product for Live Events (tie): Epson Pro EB-L1755U and Sharp’s 8K ecosystem
• Best New Live Events Control System Hardware: RGBlink T-Series

Education and Installed Large Venue Products: These are, exactly as it’s titled, new products at ISE that were aimed specifically at the education and large venue (lecture halls and auditoriums) markets. So, if you design, sell or integrate AV technology aimed at the education segment of AV, you’ll want to check out these award-winning ISE products aimed at learning environments or giant rooms:

• Best New UP and Coming Education Product: Barco WeConnect
• Best New Product for Higher Ed Market (tie): Vivitek NovoCast and  Itech Net Lectern
• Best K-12 Classroom Product: Kaptivo
• Best New Document Camera: WolfVision VZ-8neo+ Visualizer
• Best New Classroom Accessory: AmpliVox Classroom Audio System
• Best High-End Fixed Install Projector: NEC 4K PH3501QL RB Laser
• Best New Large Venue Projector: EPSON EB-L12000
• Best New 4K DLP Projector: NEC PX1005QL
• Best New 4K 3LCD Projector: EPSON EB-L12000
• Best Audio Reinforcement/Asst Listening Product: Listen Technologies ListenTalk

Overall Winners: This category of winners represent the best of the best at ISE 2018. These are the 28 best new products at ISE 2018 that work for any and every application of AV:

• Best Overall New Product: Samsung The Wall Professional
• Most Creative New Product: Barco AVaaS
• Best New Video Product: DVDO TILE
• Best Video-over-IP Product: InFocus Jupiter StreamPoint
• Best New System Projector: Sony VPL-FHZ90L Laser Projector
• Best New Home Theater Projector: Optoma UHZ65 Cinema Projector
• Best Projection Technology: DPI 8K Laser
• Best New Flat-Panel Display (Overall): LG Transparent OLED
• Best New Audio Product: TASCAM DA-6400
• Best New Audio Product (tie): AEX VPA Series and Sennheiser Cockpit
• Best ProAV Speakers: Meyer Sound Bluehorn
• Best New Audio Accessory: Dan Dugan Model E-2A Automixer
• Best HomeAV Speakers: Legard Nuvo Series Two Landscape Speakers
• Best AV Mount or Rack Sysem: Middle Atlantic Proximity In-Wall Boxes
• Best New ProAV Furniture Product: TeamMate WorksZone Collaboration Pods
• Best New HomeAV Furniture Product: Cineak Largo Chair
• Best ISE Demo: Epson Story
• Best Concept Product: Dataton Watchout Blacktrax Integration
• Best ProAV Mobile App: KorbytGo
• Best Service/Product You Probably Didn’t See: Kino-mo Hypervsn
• Best New Technology: Christie GUARDIAN
• Best In-Field Integrator Product: MSolutions’ HDBaseT Testers
• Best New AV Integrator Service: Crestron XiO Cloud
• Most Ubiquitous Technology: SDVoE
• Best Booth at ISE: NEC
• Best ISE Gutsy/Kudos Award: Christie Integrating SDVoE into BOXER
• Best Lighting Fixture: Exterior Projector

SaveSave

SaveSave

I was recently in Jacksonville for our annual sales meeting. One of the highlights of that meeting was when our guest presenter, Amahl Hazelton, director of communications for Destinations at Moment Factory, shared a plethora of interactive AV experiences they developed around specific public spaces.

Now, I have heard the term “place-based entertainment” many times in my career, with the idea being that through the use of creative technology and space, you turn the “place” into a true “destination.” So even though I was familiar with the concept, Amahl actually introduced me to a new term describing the design and realization of these spaces.

Placemaking

If you want to see some amazing examples of some placemaking, feel free to look at the sizzle reels on Moment Factory’s site as they are very well done.

Placemaking really extends beyond traditional AV, however, as it not only requires an understanding of technology, it also requires some insight into human psychology and behavior and why they visit the public spaces they do. It also requires a unique understanding of urban planning and architecture as well as the historical context of the space at hand and how that can be leveraged to create a destination.

When I was on the integration side, anytime I was able to speak to someone about a lobby project, a visitors’ center, an interactive tour, etc., I always talked to the potential client about creating a true destination.

I define a destination as an experience so compelling that you’d travel to see it, even if you weren’t interested in the company, product, service or subject matter. 

For instance, I go out of my way to walk into the SalesForce lobby just to see their amazing large format content, even though I really have no other business at SalesForce. In this case, their lobby goes from something you had to walk through to accomplish your goal elsewhere in the building, to the lobby visit becoming the actual goal itself. It becomes the destination. This is really a subset of placemaking called creative placemaking.

Creative placemaking is just one more way that AV companies can focus on experience and leverage their technical expertise to partner with content creators and architects to create amazing destinations.

Many integrators already have the right connections inside their government and corporate accounts. Many times there may be separate decision makers for these spaces as well. Integrators may have to leave the IT department and walk down the hall to marketing or the C-Suite as well. Either way, integrators today have amazing opportunities to expand their services beyond operations centers and huddle, conference and boardrooms and out into the public spaces as well to leverage a new focus on experiences and create true destinations.

Now it’s just time to capitalize on them.

The Planar Simplicity Series 4K features:

• Wide variety of sizes (43”, 55”, 65”, 75” and 86”)
• Exceptional clarity with four times the resolution of Full HD
• Whisper-quiet fanless design
• Native 4K resolution at up to 60Hz support for smooth video and mouse tracking
• Integrated signage tools, such as USB playback with scheduling and LAN distribution, eliminating the need for third-party hardware
• Built-in speakers

All the details are here or here.

Seenspire’s pay-per-screen plan is inspired by wider industry trends into subscription-based services, to satisfy the content consumption habits of modern audiences. It enables integrators and marketers to automate up to 80% of their content playlists.

Seenspire’s content feeds – which range from news and weather to sports and lifestyle – are licensed from the world’s leading Media partners, including Reuters, AFP and Sky news Arabia. Seenspire also draws upon independent content creators and data providers to add variety – combining hyperlocal content (news, weather, etc.) with agency-grade visual presentations.

The new pricing model is a monthly cost of $27 per screen, billed annually, which decreases as the number of screens increases. For example, at 50 screens, the per-screen subscription price is reduced to $19 per screen. Seenspire’s cloud-based platform delivers Infotainment content in HTML5 format and is compatible Signagelive supported players and SoC Displays.

Sign up here.

Because of an integration partnership between Carousel Digital Signage and Jamf, a device management provider that specializes in helping IT departments bring the Apple experience to corporate, education and government organizations, it allows the Carousel App and Apple TVs running on a digital signage network to be easily monitored and managed as remote IT appliances.

Jamf is the leading Apple device management solution in K-12 schools, making the education sector particularly well-suited for the Carousel App. But the same capabilities and benefits can be applied to corporate campuses and other enterprise-class deployments that want to add our digital signage, or transition their network to a lower cost, more reliable and easily managed solution.

Here are all the details.

Although there have been numerous LED vendors at trade shows for years, those of you who went to ISE last month in Amsterdam will probably agree that it feels like there has been significant development in LED technology in the past year, particularly as it comes to fine pixel pitch displays and Chip-on-Board (CoB) systems. At the show, we saw fine pixel pitch LED displays being used in new applications, including as a replacement for cinema projectors in a movie theater on Samsung’s stand. No doubt we’ll see some innovative LED display demos at DSE in Las Vegas in a couple weeks as well. It is definitely a technology worth taking a deeper dive into.

The report is free to download after the reader fills out some details. The form page will refresh with a link at the bottom of the post, which the reader needs to click in order to download the report. Click here to go to the download page.

The new modular design uses a durable front screen — made of a specialty coated polycarbonate layer – that is rolled into a cylinder for easy transport. This allows integrators to negotiate tight corners and enter through standard doors and passenger elevators during set-up — something that is nearly impossible for traditional large-format displays.

The LPD 6K display is available with Prysm’s visual collaboration platform known as the Prysm Application Suite. The Prysm Application Suite consolidates applications, content, video conferencing and the web into a touch-interactive workspace. This combination is known as the LPD 6K Series and is made up of the following components:

• 190-inch or 135-inch LPD-powered single panel large-format display and Prysm collaboration appliance
• 90-day Prysm software trial license (optional)

The LPD 6K Series is currently in general availability and shipping to partners and customers. All the specs are here.

VITEC’s video wall solution is designed to simplify deployment and management of projects involving IPTV, digital signage and video wall content, while delivering a breathtaking visual experience. The new EZ TV video wall processors are 100-percent hardware-based, feature low-latency native playback of IPTV streams up to 4K and support interactive content, video and imagery transformations. Up to 60 displays can be managed from a single processor, including nonstandard layouts and resolutions of TVs and LED walls.

In addition to the video wall and new DRM integration, the new release adds enterprise IPTV capabilities. This includes time-shifted TV, a new mobile app for iOS and Android devices that allows users to stream video from the field back to HQ in addition to playing IPTV content, real-time enhancement of HEVC streams delivered over lossy networks and TAA-compliant, high-performance end-points.

Here are the details.

The standard ARD-037-N supports 2GB DDR3L-1866 memory, expandable to 8GB, a 64GB mSATA drive  and Intel (Gen7-LP) 4EU SoC-integrated graphics to deliver a robust passenger information system with enhance performance and superb graphics (1920×540) that creates an immersive experience. The platform is based on the IBASE IB11F-420 motherboard featuring a rich combination of I/O and expansion interfaces, including an M.2 B key (3042) for storage or 4G LTE, two GbE RJ45 connectors, HDMI, DisplayPort, four USB 3.0 and an RS232/422/485 serial port.

Here are the details.

The new PeerAir is being marketed for homes, corporate settings, classrooms and rental and staging.

The new PeerAir is available now and here are all the tech specs.

Previously, this market had been dominated by education, and specifically the K-12 market. The corporate meeting room market has remained an almost untapped market, but the scale of the opportunity is vast, with 32 million corporate meeting rooms globally and well under one million displays installed to date. “The entrance of Microsoft, Google and Cisco is starting to change the industry dynamic, says Colin Messenger, senior market analyst at Futuresource Consulting. “These providers are leveraging their existing channel and user relationships and promoting ‘all-in-one’ meeting room solutions. The volume of interactive displays sold into the corporate market expanded over 30 percent in 2017.”

New interactive touch technologies such as FlatFrog in-glass technology is used by, at least, five major brands and provides a very impressive and highly accurate touch experience. Dell, NEC, HiteVision and Viewsonic are all adding the technology to their high-end ranges. Projective Capacitive (PCAP) technology, often found in the mobile device industry, is also starting to appear; Microsoft’s Surface Hub and Cisco’s Spark Board both have PCAP. With no frame, as the glass goes to edge, it provides better aesthetics, as well as high accuracy and faster speed of writing.

There is a trend towards more display personalisation. This is very useful for a teacher or corporate user moving between classroom/meeting rooms who can set up the display to a pre-set height, content and configurations via biometric fingerprint reader or NFC card.

“Display sizes are increasing, 70” + screens are taking over from 60” and 84” screens are being replaced with 86” versions. This shift is being driven by panel manufacturers moving to new lines with more efficient processes, leading to less wastage and an increased number of panels during production. Also, bezels are becoming narrower, so the actual visible screen real estate is bigger,” adds Messenger.

4K and multi-touch is now standard with most offerings, at least ten touch points. Panel providers are rapidly transitioning large screen sizes (60”+) to 4K from 1080p.

Futuresource has published a 90 page report examines the current state of the interactive display market across 67 countries, exploring market segmentation, drivers and barriers as well as detailed five-year forecasts. You can buy it here.

Resolutions up to 4K/60 are supported when using both HDMI and DisplayPort. When uncompressed, zero latency video is delivered at 4K/60 (4:2:0). With light compression and visually lossless latency (less than one frame), video is delivered at 4K/60 (4:4:4).

Both transmitter and receiver come equipped with a 1G Ethernet Switch port to connect network devices. RS232 and IR provide remote control options. A wall-mount bracket kit is included.

When paired with MuxLab’s ProDigital Network Controller (model 500811), remote configuration and control of the entire AV over IP system is accomplished. Here are all the details.

Like what? Well, here’s a quick round-up:

• For starters, Optoma has a new native 4K laser projector with HDR10 in the form of the UHZ65.
• Panasonic showed its brand-new 75BQE1, a 75-Inch 4K touch panel display.
• Sharp demoed its new 4K AQUOS BOARD.
• And, Barco showed its integration of its new Overture control system with ClickShare.
• If you’re in the digital signage market, you’ll want to see this new product from Zebrix (it’s the simplest content management system I’ve ever seen).

But, there’s a whole lot more! In fact, we shot over 50 videos of new products launched in the last three months and you can see them all (and the rest of our E4 AV Tour coverage — including many of the educational sessions) here.

Originally developed to combine the advantages of a floor-standing enclosure and wall-mounted cabinet in one unit, the SR Series provides the easy rear access and space savings of a wall rack via a unique swing-out cabinet section that pivots on a weight-bearing floor base. The Wider SR Series takes into account that systems are evolving as equipment continues to increase in capability and decrease in size, offering integrators a different option for mounting systems closer to the point of use.

Within a seismic-certified enclosure, the new Wider SR Series Pivoting Wall Rack is available in 24 RU, 40 RU and 46 RU options. Featuring the SR Series’ unique pivoting floor base, this solution saves an average of nine square feet per cabinet, which is ideal for compact spaces that have a smaller footprint and do not require clearance at the rear of the cabinet, saving aisle space. The rack also incorporates Middle Atlantic’s built-in cable management and patented tool-free QuickMount system for center section mounting.

Here are the tech specs.

The RS-121 houses two swappable modules: the MicroBox-1100A-E01 computer module and the ARD-1006-A07-TX HDBaseT KVM transmitter module. These two modules are inter-connected internally via HDMI, USB and RS232.

Arista’s RS-121-E01 integrates an Intel Atom E3845 1.9GHz quad-core CPU and up to 8GB DDR3 memory. The system is capable to run either Microsoft Windows or the Open Source Linux operating system. Accessible ports on the front of the RS-121 include a four port USB 3.0 hub, dual Gigabit Ethernet, one RS232/422/485 BIOS selectable COM port, a CFast slot and a VGA port.

The HDBaseT transmitter module on the RS-121 provides an HDMI loop-out, a 2-port 10/100 Mbps Ethernet pass through hub, plus a Power over HDBaseT output. With a single CAT6 cable, the unit transmits video signals, RS-232, USB and 10/100 Ethernet, as well as PoE. Equally notable, the RS-121 provides the ultimate integrator-friendly installation experience.

The Arista RS-121 will be available by the end of March 2018 for $845. Here are the tech specs.

Features include:

• Built-in SoC: An integrated SoC controller, driven by the Arm Cortex-A17 quad core processor (max. 1.8 GHz) with 2 GB memory and 8 GB storage, integrates Android OS (4.4) for third-party Android platform apps.
• Flexibility: Whether in a landscape or portrait orientation, the displays can be installed face-up, face-down, or tilted forward or backward at an angle of up to 90 degrees. Designed for easy hanging installation, they can be suspended from four corners of the rear housing with wires.
• Expandability: They are equipped with an Intel Mini OPS-compatible expansion slot that provides for an optional HDBaseT receiver board (PN-ZB03H), wireless board (PN-ZB03W), or computing board (PN-ZB03AO). An optional wireless adaptor (PN-ZW01) is also available.
• SHARP Open Architecture Platform: The PN-B Series offers end users easy ways to download, store and play content directly from the display. Web-based digital signage content can be displayed by entering a URL in the embedded HTML5 browser, while videos and still images can be routed through the pre-installed media player. And for more advanced applications, leading Content Management Software providers have ported their Android-based application to run on the PN-B Series embedded SoC.

The PN-B401 and PN-B501 displays can be found here.

Solution: Leading international marketing company, Bazaarvoice, turned to technology partner LG Electronics and full-service audio, video and technology integrator Felix Media Solutions to provide visually stunning digital signage displays that excite and engage casual observers and employees alike. The super-narrow bezel-to-bezel width (less than 0.14 inches or 3.5 millimeters) enabled the seamless connectivity Bazaarvoice sought to create a powerful 3×3 video wall capable of displaying crisp, crystal clear content in Full HD.

Results: Since the video wall’s installation, Bazaarvoice has experienced extremely positive feedback from both the employees and visitors who frequent the leading technology provider’s headquarters location in Austin. The implementation of the Full HD LG 3×3 video wall enabled Bazaarvoice to elevate its lobby into an immersive and engaging experience that can be easily updated in real-time.

The Challenge

Bazaarvoice is a network that connects brands and retailers to the authentic voices of people where they shop. Each month, more than 700 million shopper devices view and share authentic opinions, questions and experiences about tens of millions of products in the Bazaarvoice network.

In order to meet the evolving needs of the headquarters location’s high volume of employees, clients and VIP visitors, Bazaarvoice challenged itself to identify and utilize a digital signage solution that would give real-time updates of crucial information. As an extension of this, the displays would need to possess the ability to accurately and clearly display the rich colors and vivid details necessary for exhibiting graphs and data sets, as well as attention-grabbing wayfinding information, updates and news, even to those who might be positioned at a distance. Even more so, the displays would need to seamlessly connect to one another for a quick, simple installation that would stay within the projected timing of the larger lobby construction, and would be easy to use afterwards.

A Nod to Bazaarvoice Energy and Culture

Bazaarvoice’s technology platform amplifies shopper voices into the places that influence purchase decisions. Network analytics help marketers and advertisers provide more engaging experiences that drive brand awareness, consideration, sales and loyalty. They were seeking a digital signage solution that complements their own advanced technology and branding expertise.

In a traditional lobby environment, the guest experience is often hindered by dated equipment in uninspiring forms. To avoid this, the Bazaarvoice team was determined to use a large, eye-catching display that would provide clear, bright visuals with vibrant colors. “We were attracted to the ability to balance color through the LG 55-inch video wall displays, the thinness of the bezels and, of course, the ease in which content can be managed through the displays,” said Lionel Felix, president of Felix Media Solutions Inc.

“The advanced display technology from LG brings fresh new interactive experiences to the main lobby area, reinforcing the open, inviting and collaborative culture at Bazaarvoice,” continued Felix.

Even more so, by employing a back-end computer with full-resolution outputs to ensure the visuals are not scaled, Bazaarvoice is now able to use the LG video wall displays to project pixel-accurate images for an incredibly sharp picture.

Cost-Effectiveness Brings Engagement to Life

Cost efficiency was also a key factor for this project. The Bazaarvoice team knew that in order to install the 3×3 video wall desired, they’d need to purchase nine sleek 55-inch class panels in addition to employing an integration team to assist with the installation. Felix Media Solutions was able to not only assist with the end user’s research and select a cost-effective solution that met all of the project’s needs, but they also worked tirelessly to ensure the installation was completed in a timely and efficient manner.

After doing extensive research on the digital signage competitive landscape, the Felix team noticed that LG was able to provide a digital signage solution that fit the needs of the project at a price nearly 25 percent less than leading competitors. When the team shared this with Bazaarvoice, the decision became obvious. Being able to provide engaging and prominent visuals in the building’s most high-trafficked area by leveraging industry-leading display technology at an extremely cost effective price ultimately sealed the deal for Bazaarvoice.

Game-Changing Displays That Are Easy to Install and Easy to Control

Managing an installation in the main entryway of the building required special care and consideration, as the integrators would need to work while employees and visitors continued to use a portion of the space—and they would need to do so quickly. Leveraging the expertise of Felix Media Solutions and LG technology, Bazaarvoice implemented a 3×3 state-of-the-art LG video wall, which uniquely fit the installation environment in the main lobby. The team successfully completed the installation on time thanks to the displays’ effortless connectivity. Using a nine-headed computer to run a signal to each display, the entire video wall easily synced during installation, and would only require minimal control afterwards by Bazaarvoice staff.

Enhanced Experience That Is Here to Stay

Following the installation of the new 3×3 LG video wall, Bazaarvoice has elevated the lobby experience for all employees and visitors within the company’s headquarters. With sleek LG digital signage arranged in an eye-catching video wall with seamless connectivity, the new display serves as a focal point within the lobby, not only enhancing the room’s décor, but also promptly informing the lobby’s many guests of pertinent wayfinding information, company news and relevant metrics for employees.

Felix Media Solutions and Bazaarvoice were so pleased with the picture quality and functionality of the LG video wall, that they also opted to install more than 90 65-inch LG “Commercial Lite” displays (model LG 65540LX) in the conference rooms to create easy-to-use dual-screen setups for video conferencing.

Since the project’s completion, Bazaarvoice has experienced a flood of positive feedback from both internal and external stakeholders. “The LG video wall is the first thing you see when entering the Bazaarvoice headquarters,” explained Trey Linney, Senior Systems Engineer at Bazaarvoice. “It was imperative to choose displays for the task at hand, and above all, the right partner for maintaining a high-quality experience while meeting our budgetary requirements. LG was able to do all of this and more, exceeding our expectations.”