Volume 11, Issue 20 — October 31, 2014
|
Editorial Editorial Editorial
|
|
Industry News rAVe BlogSquad Control & Signal Processing Projection Cables, Furniture, Mounts, Racks, Screens and Accessories
|
|
|
Smart TVs and How AV Pros Need To Be Smarter Still
By Lee Distad rAVe Columnist
I loathe the word “convergence.” For nearly two decades, it’s been a byword that has been beaten to death. Yet for the longest time it was also a word that didn’t deliver the goods: so much talk about convergence, with little to show for it.
I’m willing to admit that it’s changed over time and for the better. For one thing, look at the range of connected TVs now — from Samsung, LG and everybody else and their ability to access online content like Netflix and Facebook.
There’s also the fact that according to industry analysts Netflix alone now accounts for more than a third (34.2 percent if you want to be precise) of downstream Internet usage in North America during evening hours.
“Evening hours” are of course what broadcast networks have referred to as “Prime Time Television” since the 1950s.
Notably, from what I’ve witnessed and heard reported from industry experts in the field, much of that Netflix access is not just via laptop or iPad, but is being viewed on TV screens.
Understandably that’s why there’s been much made of this, with broadcasters weeping to the regulators, and Internet service providers like AT&T cashing on their subscribers with higher charges for monthly data in excess of 250GB a month.
At the same time, Netflix made headlines earlier this year for striking a deal with Verizon and Comcast to get direct ISP access, and agree to pay for infrastructure upgrades in order to improve service to subscribers.
Aside from the soap opera of regulatory complaints and the endless sordid show broadband providers put on in skating dangerously close to the thin ice of anti-trust laws, back here on earth in the AV channel opportunities abound for integrators to demonstrate not only the WOW factor of connected TVs, but their own expertise in making it all work.
I know that’s a major focus for the big box stores, although they’re still not very good at it. Not long ago I was chatting with someone high in the ranks at Best Buy’s Geek Squad. He was extremely enthusiastic about Geek Squad’s efforts to promote their services integrating connected TVs in the client’s home networks.
That’s a clear sign that AV dealers are needed to apply their network skills, both for incorporating connected TVs into their clients’ systems, and to be accessible to new clients who call up to have a professional “fix” a system that the big box stores screwed up.
The days are long past where a dealer who was installing an AV system could opt to not be responsible for the client’s network. It was once the case that, like they often do with HDTV-PVRs work with them but take no responsibility for them.
That ship has sailed. AV equipment now has an absolute reliance on the network, and the onus is now on AV pros to take responsibility for their client’s home networks, not just by running cable, but also specifying and installing the correct Ethernet and wireless hardware.
Today the amount of network traffic inside single family detached homes dwarfs the network traffic that was in office buildings ten years ago. On top of that there’s the bandwidth pressure from competing networks in the neighborhood. I liken the competing Wi-Fi routers in neighborhoods and apartment blocks to the dormitory stereo wars of the1970s and 1980s where the simplest way to enjoy your music was to drown out everyone else’s.
AV pros need to specify routers and switches that are able to handle the bandwidth-intensive requirements of streaming AV. That means getting clients to spend more for rugged IT-level equipment, and not whatever was on sale at the Big Box store.
It may seem aggravating to have one more thing in the client’s system that is your direct responsibility, but the reality is that a network that has been designed and built to be robust will have fewer problems down the road than one the client has DIY’ed. And with labor dollars allocated appropriately and service contracts in place maintaining the client’s network will be more profitable than you might think. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
|
Fall Gaming Update
By Matt Cooper Lead Designer
Fall is officially here and there have been many updates to the major consoles as well as a few big game releases this summer. You’ll want to keep up on the new abilities of the major systems so you’ll be able to answer questions from customers, as well as new ways to integrate gaming into a theater.
The Xbox One
There were a few issues with the Xbox One at release time, and some of the have been resolved, and some of them have, sadly, not. One particular issue has been irksome, particularly for custom installers: the Kinect cable length. Until this June, the Xbox required the use and purchase of the bundled motion sensor and were stuck with the 9-foot tether. This is STLL the case — although one upside is that Microsoft has started selling bundles without the Kinect and now gives GPU cycles back to the box when the Kinect is not being used. There are also no third-party extension cables from companies like Monoprice. Why? I interviewed a representative from Monoprice, and they say that Microsoft is working with them directly on the project. It’s that same partnership that is also slowing the normally speedy development cycle down.
The biggest and best addition to the Xbox One software is the addition of external hard drives. Now that so many games are direct download purchases — as well as movies and music — the internal hard-dive can fill up fast. Now, you can connect a USB 3 external hard-drive to use with the system. You could even get fancy and connect a massive drive with RAID redundancy to impress and up-sell a client. Also updated is improved support for more video codecs like MKV. I’m not saying that you could play a hard-drive full of sketchy movies that were downloaded off the Internet (*cough* except you totally could *cough*). I wouldn’t mention this as an service to clients, obviously. The other great movie option for the Xbox is new support for DNLA servers. You can watch movies running on a DNLA enabled server on your home network. A desktop or laptop computer can now stream movies to the Xbox without having to download them to a hard drive.
There have been a lot of smaller UI changes, including better snapping and switching between apps, better friend management and the addition of free monthly games for Xbox Live subscribers. Great for families with kids who don’t want to shell out $60 every time they get tired of their current games. One other useful feature just launched last week includes the ability to cause the controllers to buzz when you’ve lost them in your house — a bit like the Find My iPhone feature on an iOS device (but no fancy map). The last feature that jumped out to me was the ability to put the box to sleep mid-game, and then have the game start up at the same point when the box wakes up.
For installers, some of the best new features are those added to the Live TV app. If you remember, this app enables the Xbox to ride on top of content brought in from your DVR, as well as control AV devices in the room with blasted IR — either from leads or shot out of the Kinect to bounce around the room. This was always a minor, and somewhat poorly supported feature, but they have taken steps this October to improve integration with cables boxes in many markets (they are a bit vague about which ones) and add support to on-screen channel and programing guides to really replace your crappy cable box’s UI. I think for recorded programs, I’m not sure but you probably have to flip back to the DVR’s UI. Weirdly, it does not offer much support, other than pass-through, for their own media server product, the Windows Media Center. Probably an issue of separate departments not communicating with each-other.
The most successful non-launch game titles for the Xbox have been Titanfall and Destiny. Both multiplayer shooters — although Destiny has more or a story and cooperative game play (and Peter Dinklage providing narration). Both could be good titles to throw into an installation to show off a finished theater install.
The PlayStation 4
I’ll come out and admit it — but after 3/4 of a year using both consoles, I like the PS4 better. I just enjoy the controller, the UI and the game selection on Sony’s platform better. But, you’ll find that many customers are also pretty polarized on the platform issue and you’ll just have to ask what they want.
Sony’s most interesting addition to the PS4 is the cloud extension to gaming. Financially, it’s like renting a game for a low fee. Technically it’s more like the now-dead service OnLive. [EDIT: I wrongly pronounced OnLive to be dead, when in fact, they are still going strong. From new OnLive enabled gaming peripherals to pre-installed apps on Philips Android OS TVs and Samsung tablets. I’ll write a dedicated article about OnLive next month. Check out games.onlive.com.] A game is hosted and rendered out in the cloud — the resulting video is streamed to your device. The interesting thing about this method is that the device is just a thin client. You could play the same game on your phone as the PS4.
The other interesting thing Sony is doing with the now service is letting you play multi-player games with friends who have not purchased the game. It’s kind of a great idea for marketing games via word-of-mouth. Playing a game with a friend is going to be much more effective than any advertising campaign could ever hope for. The service will also offer a mode where you can “hand off” control of a game to a friend who wants to help. That particular feature does bring to mind many horrible kids I knew when I was 8 who insisted on “helping” to get more game-time when it wasn’t their turn.
The Wii U
Even though Nintendo’s flagship console pre-dated the release of the Xbox One and PS4, it still lagged behind in interest and sales (unless you have a kid around 10 who loves Skylanders and Disney Infinity). But, this summer and fall have brought the “killer apps” that may make the system worth buying. First this summer Mario Cart 8 was released, which makes for a genuinely fun party game with many players. Mario Cart has always hit that sweet spot between accessibility and intense competition with multi-player.
This week comes the hotly anticipated Super Smash Bros. — a brawler where you can match up beloved Nintendo characters (including, randomly, the Wii Fit mannequin) as well as other third party-licensed characters like Sonic, Final Fantasy characters, Megaman and Pac Man. I personally know people who waited a year and a half to buy a Wii U just for this name.
I’d love some feedback if you have learned something you would want to share from game setups you’ve installed this year. From a cool room setup, custom signal routing to financial lessons you’ve learned from working in this space of the AV industry. Feel free to leave a comment or e-mail me at matt@ravepubs.com. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
LCD TV Brands’ Production Expected To Reach Record High in October
By David Hsieh DisplaySearch
Since Q2’14, LCD TV panels have been in tight supply due to increases in purchasing by some leading LCD TV brands. As shown in our Monthly Large-Area LCD Pricing Report, prices for mainstream sizes (32”, 40”, 42”, 48”/49” and even 50”, 55”) have been increasing. In Q3’14, we reported that leading TV brands Samsung and LG Electronics increased their 2014 annual business plan to 48M and 34M units, respectively, which has helped the LCD TV panel — especially open cell — shortage to continue. Chinese TV makers also are gearing up for the Q4’14 and 2015 holidays, and are increasing their panel forecasts.
As reported in MarketWise-LCD Industry Dynamics, the top 15 LCD TV brands produced 15.5M LCD TVs in August, the highest monthly total since January. Preliminary estimates are for the production amount to reach 18.7M in September, which would be 9 percent growth Y/Y.
As TV brands continue to increase production in response to strong market pull and in preparation for the holiday seasons, we expect the top 15’s production will reach 21.1M in October, which will be 15 percent growth Y/Y, which as we show would be not only the highest this year, but ever. We then expect monthly production to fall, but maintain a higher level than in Q3.
October is typically the seasonal peak for global TV production and set shipments, but the record high expected this year shows how determined the TV brands are to see strong Q4 sales. In fact, many leading brands, including Samsung, LGE, Sony and Chinese, have reduced retail prices (for some models by double digits) in an attempt to stimulate sell-through.
All of the top 15 brands are expected to increase October production except Chinese TV makers, who are facing fewer working days due to the October National Holidays. But brands like Samsung and LGE in particular are increasing October production and shipment plans by more than 40 percent M/M. Samsung and LGE accounted for 48 percent of global revenues in Q2’14, according to the Quarterly Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report, so they have great power over panel allocation and price negotiation.
For panel makers, the strong uptick in October and the still-strong TV production in Q4’14 could indicate that panel demand will not fall drastically and will remain in tight supply in Q4. While excess panel shipments in Q2 caused concern for panel inventories, TV makers’ strong production plans may indicate that inventory might not be much of a concern, at least for the rest of this year.
Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
Registration Opens for ISEThe Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) show has officially opened registration for the 2015 event, being held in Amsterdam Feb. 10-12, 2015. Over 50,000 people are expected to attend as it’s truly a mega-AV show with both HomeAV and ProAV technology, products and companies exhibiting. There is no doubt the 2015 event will be a lot bigger than the 2014 event as this past month’s CEDIA Expo was one of the best HomeAV show in 10 years and InfoComm set attendance records too. Plus, we expect that more North American attendees will attend than ever before — making it truly a world-show — not just a European or EMEA show.
Here’s our ISE 2014 MicroSite with over 1,300 videos of products launched at the 2014 event in Amsterdam.
To register for the 2015 event, go here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
CEDIA Executive Director Plans To Step Down By End of 2015The executive director of CEDIA, Don Gilpin, will step down as leader of the home technology industry association by the end of 2015. Gilpin has been with CEDIA since 1998 and became executive director and COO in 2006.
Chairman Larry Pexton and the board of directors will search for Gilpin’s replacement immediately. Gilpin will assist the board of directors in this search process and he is expected to remain on board for a transitional period after his successor is named.
“After considerable thought and discussions with CEDIA’s Executive Committee, I felt next year would be the right time to leave,” said Gilpin. “When I came to CEDIA, seventeen years ago as the Director of CEDIA EXPO, I could not have imagined the incredible run I would have and the wonderful people I met over the years.”
Gilpin said that CEDIA has had three solid years of recovery after the recession and he expects CEDIA to continue to experience growth next year.
“We have a solid management team at CEDIA and I am confident in their ability to continue CEDIA’s success story,” said Gilpin.
“We respect Gilpin’s decision and praise him for his loyalty, leadership, and strategic guidance through challenging financial times and key initiatives over the last seventeen years,” said Larry Pexton CEDIA chairman of the board. “CEDIA is well-positioned for future growth thanks to the hard work and oversight of CEDIA goods and services under Gilpin’s leadership.”
During Gilpin’s management, CEDIA EXPO has grown to be a top 100 tradeshow in America. The association’s footprint also expanded into numerous countries outside of the United States, and Gilpin successfully guided CEDIA financially through the housing market collapse and industry challenges during 2008-2011. In addition, membership has recovered and maintains record-breaking new member growth. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
|
Neets Hopes to Be Your New Control System Company Neets is a privately held Danish company that, although you haven’t heard of them, they are Scandinavia’s leading supplier of AV control systems. And, it plans to make a mark in the U.S. with its new QueBec III control system.
Integrated with an HDMI loop-through, the QueBec III uses that to know when you want to use the connected display or not and then can be programmed with macros to turn not he projector (to the right input), turn on the room lights, lower the screen, etc via three I/O ports, a 12-volt trigger, RS 232 control, IR and USB. And, it actually has two HDMI loop-throughs so you can connect two sources to it and it will handle switching (and switching the projector or LCDs inputs for you). Certainly it’s not seamless, but simple for sure.
We like this approach and think it’s something to consider for controlling hang-and-bang installs where you normally wouldn’t even install a control system. And, here are detailed specs. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Extron DisplayPort to HDMI Scaler Featuring Audio De-Embedding Now Shipping Extron is already shipping its DSC DP-HD A, an HDCP-compliant scaler that converts DisplayPort signals to HDMI. It accepts DisplayPort video at resolutions up to 3840×2160 @ 30 Hz with reduced blanking, and offers high performance scaling with multiple output rates up to 1920×1200, including HDTV 1080p/60 and 2K. The DSC DP-HD A features Extron video signal processing with 1080i de-interlacing and Deep Color processing for optimal image quality. It includes many integrator-friendly features such as auto-memory presets, on-screen display, test patterns, EDID Minder, stereo audio de-embedding and a DisplayPort input loop-through, while the compact enclosure simplifies installation.
The DSC DP-HD A offers several features that enhance and simplify AV system integration. EDID Minder automatically manages EDID communication between the source and display to ensure reliable operation. The DSC DP-HD A includes a buffered DisplayPort input loop-through that provides an output signal for a local monitor. Additional audio capabilities include selectable audio muting and output volume control. The DSC DP-HD A includes a convenient analog two channel audio output for sending de-embedded audio to a sound system or other audio destination. This output can be set for stereo or dual mono.
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
Zigen Launches New PoE ExtenderThe Zigen POE-70 is a 70-meter (230′) HDMI extender (using HDBaseT) over single UTP/STP, with IR and RS232 and POE (48V). Zigen claims that the POE-70 is for 24/7 operation.
The ZIG-POE-70-TX provides a complete solution for detection and powering of POE IEEE 802.3af devices such as the ZIG-POE-70-RX. The ZIG-POE-70-TX POE solution will safely detect, classify, and provide 48V up to 13W power to RX device connected to the HDBaseT port. The TX unit will first read a signature from the TX and only enable power delivery if all constraints are met. During the power delivery the link is continuously monitored for any fault or overloading conditions and the current is limited to avoid hazardous conditions.
The ZIG-POE-70-TX senses the removal of a powered device and turns off 48V power immediately when the RX is disconnected.
Here are the specs. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Extron Now Shipping Single-Gang DTP Wallplate Transmitters for HDMI Extron is already shipping its DTP T HWP 231 D and DTP T HWP 331 D single-gang, Decora-style transmitters for sending HDMI, audio and bi-directional RS232 and IR signals over a shielded CATx cable to Extron DTP-enabled products. The DTP T HWP 231 D extends signals up to 230 feet (70 meters), while the DTP T HWP 331 D extends signals up to 330 feet (100 meters). The one-gang form factor provides maximum space efficiency in wall mount, floor box and furniture mount applications. The transmitters support computer video up to 2560×1600, HDTV 1080p/60 Deep Color and 4K resolutions. Both models also accept analog stereo audio signals for simultaneous transmission over the same shielded twisted pair cable. They feature remote power capability, plus bidirectional RS232 and IR pass-through for remote AV device control.
The DTP T HWP 231 D and DTP T HWP 331 D support 12-bit Deep Color, CEC pass-through and embedded HD lossless audio formats. Both transmitters maintain DDC communication of EDID and HDCP between a source and display for reliable operation. To streamline installation, they can be remotely powered by Extron DTP CrossPoint 84 matrix switchers or other DTP-enabled products over the twisted pair cable. The transmitters also offer an HDBaseT output mode that provides the additional integration convenience of a twisted pair output that is compatible with any HDBaseT-enabled display. The DTP T HWP 231 D and DTP T HWP 331 D mount in an included Decora-style wall plate designed for installation in one-gang U.S. wall boxes.
Here are all the details. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
Epson Updates PowerLite Home Theater Projectors with New FirmwareEpson today released a firmware update that expands the image quality capabilities of several of its award-winning home theater solutions. The update adds Epson’s Detail Enhancement feature to its powerful Super Resolution technology to deliver sharp, rich images and is now available for the Epson PowerLite Pro Cinema 6030UB, Pro Cinema 4030, and Home Cinema 5030UB/5030UBe.
While Epson’s Super Resolution technology detects the change in color from the edge of an object to the background color and sharpens or defines the image, Epson’s Detail Enhancement uses another technique, clarifying the texture and surface appearance of the area within the boundaries of an object. As a result of the firmware update, both video processes work together — one on the edges, the other on the surface area of objects – to increase the fine delicate structure in video images.
Customers that currently own an Epson PowerLite Pro Cinema 6030UB, PowerLite Home Cinema 5030UB/5030UBe or PowerLite Pro Cinema 4030 can access the firmware update online in mid-October for download, and can implement the update in a matter of minutes via a PC and USB connection. Detailed information and instructions are available online for customers that opt to perform the update directly. Customers can also contact dealers for access to and assistance with the firmware update.
Any new Epson PowerLite Pro Cinema 6030UB, PowerLite Home Cinema 5030UB/5030UBe or PowerLite Pro Cinema 4030 model manufactured after mid-October will include the firmware update. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
|
Saker Projection Screen From Elite Ships In Tensioned And Standard Fiberglass-Backed VersionsElite Screens Friday announced that its Saker electric projection screen is now available with a tensioned variation to its original fiberglass-backed material option.
The Saker electric projection screen is designed for the CE retail and pro AV sales channels. The streamlined and durable accurate profiled casing is available in a white color coating. It features a corrugated design for added structural integrity in addition to its sliding wall mounts for a perfectly centered installation. The material drops and rises with the aid of its silent and power-saving synchronous motor. Controls include an RJ45 port for third-party control systems, a full IR/RF control package, and a 5-12 volt trigger to coordinate screen operation with projector’s power cycle that are all included at no extra cost. An added extra is that the RF remote also doubles as a 12-volt trigger.
The new Saker Tension uses Elite’s MaxWhite FG (fiberglass-backed) material with the assistance of an innovative tab-tensioning system for added flatness. The dynamic 1.1 gain matte-white material has a wide viewing angle, black backing that eliminates light penetration and up to 24” extended top border for high ceiling applications. For added product safety, the material is GREENGUARD/UL 2818 Certified and NFPA 701 compliant as well.
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe HomeAV Edition out there, hopefully you enjoyed another opinion-packed issue!
For those of you NEW to rAVe, you just read how we are — we are 100% opinionated. We not only report the news and new product stories of the high-end HomeAV industry, but we stuff the articles full of our opinions. That may include (but is not limited to) whether or not the product is even worth looking at, challenging the manufacturers on their specifications, calling a marketing-spec bluff and suggesting ways integrators market their products better. But, one thing is for sure, we are NOT a trade publication that gets paid for running editorial or product stories. Traditional trade publications get paid to run product stories — that’s why you see what you see in most of the pubs out there. We are different: we run what we want to run and NO ONE is going to pay us to write anything good (or bad).
Don’t like us, then go away — unsubscribe! Just use the link below.
To send me feedback, don’t reply to this newsletter – instead, write directly to me at gary@ravepubs.com or for editorial ideas: Editor-in-Chief Sara Abrons at sara@ravepubs.com
A little about me: I graduated from Journalism School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (where I am adjunct faculty). I’ve been in the AV-industry since 1987 where I started with Extron and eventually moved to AMX. So, I guess I am an industry veteran (although I don’t think I am that old). I have been an opinionated columnist for a number of industry publications and in the late 1990s I started the widely read KNews eNewsletter (the first in the AV market) and also created the model for and was co-founder of AV Avenue – which is now known as InfoComm IQ. rAVe Publications has been around since 2003, when we launched our original newsletter, rAVe ProAV Edition.
rAVe HomeAV Edition, co-published with CEDIA, launched in February, 2004.
To read more about my background, our team, and what we do, go to https://www.ravepubs.com Back to Top |
Copyright 2014 – 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. |
|
|
|