Volume 15, Issue 5 — March 2, 2017
|
Industry News Control & Signal Processing Digital Signage Projection Audio Unified Collaborative Conferencing Cables, Cases, Furniture, Mounts, Racks, Screens & Accessories
|
|
|
Is the Screen Business About to Disappear?
By Gary Kayye rAVe Founder
In the ProAV market, unless you’re blind (or just like to deny truths), you see the writing on the wall, LITERALLY (you’ll get that pun if you keep reading). The projection screen market is about to nearly die a somewhat rapid death.
Let’s look at the reasons why:
1. The flat screen monitor (LCD and LED) market are kicking-*ss in the meeting rooms. Nearly every integrator in the world is specifying flat-screen LCD’s instead of projectors in every install that calls for a display that’s smaller than 80”. Sure, the projection market still owns the 82” and above category, but, that won’t last — there’s a plethora of 84”, 90” and 100” LCDs and LED-lit LCDs on their way to the market — cheap and light. Note that I did NOT say the classroom market — that is DOMINATED by Epson right now and their BrightLink Pro as well as their inexpensive 3LCD projection line are keeping that world for themselves for a while — classrooms don’t switch out technology as often. So, that will dry up slower — but, keep reading as this doesn’t help the screen market one bit!
2. The Collaboration Board market is about to explode — Microsoft Surface HUB, Cisco Spark Board, InFocus Mondopad and soon to be, Newline Avocor, Jamboard and NEC’s InfinityBoard, are all going to beat the crap out of the projector. In any market where an 84″ (and smaller) projection screen would have been used, the Collaboration Board is going to head-butt them to the floor. These all-in-one room simplifiers are going to be LOVED by clients and “path of least resistance” will dictate that you will integrate them all over the place — not just in meeting rooms but in classrooms, hallways, huddle spaces, nooks, corners, etc., etc., etc.
3. And, now for the pun — the wall: The new generation of 4K projectors are all bright enough and high-resolution enough to NOT need screens. Instead, you’ll install projectors — in spaces that still need them (or want them) — that will project on walls. Yes, literally on walls. (Thus, the “writing is on the wall”, line above, haha). Wall color, texture, obstacles — none of that will matter. You’ll just color-correct and image-map that out of the projected display. And, the wall will become the screen. Nureva’s SPAN foreshadowed this.
So, no, the projection market isn’t going to die.
But the screen market is.
So, is there room for the big-five — the five big companies making screens? The screen will be around a lot longer in the home theater market, the portable projection market, the traveling presenter market and the large-venue market (well, that last one is also short-lived due to the incoming onslaught of large-format LEDs about to flood the ProAV space) but, those markets are simply not big enough to support five big screen companies.
Wow, the timing of that sale of Da-Lite to Milestone AV seems even more genius now, doesn’t it?
So, while the rest of the ProAV market is about to see a sort of a second-coming of every display technology around, the screen market is about to become the prune of the ProAV space. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
|
Why the Screen Business isn’t Disappearing Any Time Soon
By Mark Coxon rAVe Blogger
Today another eulogy was given to AV technology. As with most AV eulogies, the problem is that the technology declared dead is still alive and well. In this instance, the projection screen business was “buried alive” by Gary in his latest blog “Is the Screen Business About to Disappear?” However, like Uma Thurman in Kill Bill, I’m about to punch through that coffin, explaining why the screen business isn’t disappearing anytime soon.
In full disclosure, I work for a company that owns a screen manufacturer, as well as several other AV product companies. However, my outlook is not based on my manufacturer affiliation, but rather my real world experiences as an integrator and the experiences that end users have.
Gary’s blog puts forth three theories on why screens will disappear. I encourage you to read his whole blog that is linked above, but in short, his arguments are LCD and LED screens are proliferating, interactive displays are gaining in popularity, and that in today’s world, projecting on the wall is just as good. Since the last point is really used in the article as the final death blow, I’d like to address that first.
The Wall.
Projecting on the wall is not a new idea. People have tried it for a long time with varying results. The reason projecting on walls has not displaced the screen business is because it rarely turns out well. Why is that?
Walls aren’t flat.
Show me a wall built by a GC, and I’ll show you the ripples in it. Whether the studs are not flush before sheet rock or the tape and mud seams are slightly imperfect, most walls are not flat. Project on one of these walls and you will quickly see straight lines become curved.
Now Gary argues that projection mapping could correct this and theoretically it could, but these ripples are small and slight. Short throw projectors, like the ones mentioned in the article, exacerbate the problem, as the short focal length means less tolerance for wavy surfaces and enhanced distortion. Projection mapping is great at adjusting for protrusions, corners and other architectural features, but adjusting for these tiny imperfections would be a little more difficult. Now add the cost of that software and programming in each job and you may just find that a screen wasn’t a bad investment after all.
Even if you could map out all of the imperfections from a visual standpoint, there is still an issue with interactive projection, in that the scanning system that tracks the touch interactions needs a flat surface as well for accuracy. Imperfections in the wall of varying depths will create potential calibration issues and a sub-par interactive experience with false touches.
As a final note, I installed an interactive projector in a high-end real estate office in 2011 and projected onto a wall coated with Opti-Rite wall covering that turns the wall into a white board. The wall was not flat and caused the projected image to be wavy and distorted in places, all issues that having a proper rigid, interactive screen would have corrected. Luckily, that projector only used an IR pen for the interactive component, so the issues with a laser scanning, touch-enabled interactive system were not an issue in that project.
Walls aren’t smooth.
Now Gary argues that wall texture isn’t an issue, but physics of light argue differently. If you’ve ever played pool, you know that angle of entry equals angle of exit. Higher resolution projectors don’t solve this problem. They make it worse. As pixels get smaller, the chances of texture on a projection surface reflecting that pixel away from the eyes as opposed to straight back to the eye actually increases. Moire effect also becomes more of a potential issue as texture increases. Speckle in laser projectors has been seen to increase as the texture of the projected surface increases. This is why screen technology has continually gotten smoother with each iteration. The proper screen will mitigate all of the potential negative effects that a textured wall would create.
Walls aren’t uniform.
Uniformity in a projected image matters. If an image has hotspots or varying levels of brightness, the quality immediately suffers. This applies to LCD and LED displays, video walls, and arrays as well. Go look at a video wall that has not been properly calibrated and you will instantly see this is true.
A painted wall may seem like it has even coverage, but shine some bright light on it and you will immediately expose the truth. You will see where the paint is applied unevenly, where there are thicker coats of paint than in other parts of the wall, and even where the mud and tape seams may reflect light differently than where the paint is just on the sheet rock. The resulting image can look splotchy and striated.
As an integrator, I once did a job where we built a simulator. It used a 6-degree of motion platform (like Star Tours at Disneyland) and utilized a 30,000-lumen projector to create the imagery. The client insisted on projecting on their curved wall as opposed to buying a curved screen. The moment the system was powered up, the streaks in the painted wall were immediately visible and the customer did not have time to properly spray the wall (multiple spray coats done horizontally from top to bottom until even coverage is achieved) before the attraction opened. The result was an experience that was less than immersive, something that would have been avoided if the proper screen was used.
Walls don’t reject ambient light.
Ambient light rejection (ALR) is a real thing in the screen world. If you want to achieve contrast ratios in a projected image, you need to be able to reject ambient light. You can’t project black. ALR screens typically have a base gray level that enhances the blacks and the screen has gain properties that keep the colors correct and the whites white. Painting a wall gray will not have the same effect, as paint does not have those gain properties. It will add a base level gray to white and all the colors in between.
Gary asserts that color correction could be applied to address varying wall colors, and that is in theory true. However, a base wall color other than white will change the white levels as well. Depending on the shade of the wall, you may have to add lumens to the projector to get your white levels back, and then color correct for the hue of the paint. Here’s the problem, lumens are expensive. Even if you wanted to use the wall, add lumens and color correct the image, odds are you just spent more money in projector brightness and labor than you saved by not utilizing the proper screen.
There is no wall.
Go into many corporate environments and you will see conference rooms. All of those rooms technically have walls. However, many of those conference rooms are fish tanks with glass walls on all sides. Others have glass walls on the entry side and a window opposite of the entry. In these cases, many times the room dictates that the screen needs to go in front of a piece of glass or in front of a window. When this happens a drop down projection screen may be the only option, as there is no solid wall to project upon anyway, even if all the problems above did not exist.
Now I’m not saying that there aren’t applications where you may want to utilize a wall for projection. There may be. However, those walls should be purpose built so that they are flat, smooth and painted evenly with a white paint to help assure that the images are correct and acceptable. These would be purpose built spaces, not places where projectors are just added to an existing room as an afterthought. Even then, a system where top and bottom pre-leveled tracks are installed to the wall and then projection material stretched between those tracks would create a better surface.
As another point on this, a large amount of manual projection screens are utilized in schools, and these screens pull down in front of charts, maps or chalkboards which means the wall is not free for projection even if you wanted to utilize it.
LCD and LED Proliferation
I won’t spend a lot of time here, as Gary concedes that large venues or rooms where screens need to be larger than 100″ in diagonal will still need projectors. If LCD and LED aren’t killing projectors, then they aren’t killing projection screens either.
Price per square foot of the screens, installations where the existing structure can’t support the weight of a video wall, complexity of mounting solutions, etc. may all preclude LCD and LED in many installations.
In all of these cases, a projector and a screen will still be the preferred solution.
Interactive Displays
There is no doubt that there is a renewed buzz around interactive displays, especially with the introduction of Jamboard, Surface Hub and Spark. But here’s a little secret.
Interactive displays aren’t new.
Interactive displays are being utilized more, but those sales will affect traditional flat panel sales as much if not more than they will affect the projection screen business.
These interactive displays top out at 84″ right now. In rooms where larger screens are needed, these will not kill projection screens. In the hierarchy of importance, visibility trumps interactivity. What good is an interactive display if no one can see it? In these cases an interactive projector will be used instead and because of the issues above, a proper screen should be utilized to assure video quality and interactive accuracy.
Here’s another secret.
Interactive displays aren’t cheap.
Don’t get me wrong, interactive displays are worth the money when the application demands it. I used to work for an interactive display manufacturer so I know the benefits and applications well. However, I also know from my experiences selling them, that in areas where no interactivity is actually needed, they will not be purchased just because they are cool.
Interactive displays are built for small rooms with viewers and participants that will stand close to and touch the screen. This is not the traditional application for most projection screens anyway.
The projection screen market IS changing.
So, all of the above being said, I’d be remiss to recognize that the projection screen market is changing.
Flat, rigid, writable projection screens are taking the place of traditional pull down screens in front of white boards as more interactive projectors enter the market.
Transparent and translucent projections screens or projection films are finding more applications in digital signage applications like window displays and mediatecture due to the capabilities of laser projectors to run without bulb replacements and in new orientations.
Ambient light rejection screens are allowing projectors to be placed in brighter environments to maximize brightness and contrast without compromising screen size.
Specialty projectable paints and wall coatings or fabric wall systems will be incredibly important as more immersive AR and VR environments are created.
However none of these shifts spell death. Technology always changes and applications shift. It is our AV reality.
If you don’t mind having a washed out, splotchy, patterned, wavy image that needs to be corrected for color and geometry, has reduced interactive accuracy and screen resolution and requires a brighter, more expensive projector to restore white levels… then by all means, use the wall. Heck, maybe the bed sheet will kill the projection screen business too.
I’ll declare projection screens dead when large format OLED film can be applied like wall paper to a wall or rolled up like a drop down screen at a reasonable price.
Until then, you may want to invest in a projection screen. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
VESA Highlights Growing DisplayPort Alt Mode Adoption and Latest DisplayPort DevelopmentsIf you want to understand the future of digital-video routing, follow the USB-C connector — it’s being adopted by everyone from computer companies to tablet companies (even Apple). So, no more VGA and, potentially for high-end applications, no more HDMI. The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) today announced that, thanks to escalating adoption by OEMs and chipmakers, the DisplayPort standard is continuing to gain momentum in the mobile consumer electronics space. Much of this recent growth stems from adoption of the DisplayPort Alternate Mode (“Alt Mode”) that is supported by dozens of commercially available products to date using the new USB Type-C connector. This adoption is being fueled by the industry-leading display performance, robustness, versatility, system integration and interoperability that DisplayPort enables. Moreover, recent developments such as the completion and release of the DisplayPort Alt Mode Compliance Test Specification (CTS) and the establishment of the DisplayPort High Bit Rate 3 (HBR3) Early Product Certification Program for video source and display products are expected to further ecosystem growth and drive adoption for these advanced technologies.
According to market research firm Strategy Analytics, more than 110 million handsets and tablet devices have been sold as of Q4 2016 that include native DisplayPort, DisplayPort Alt Mode and MyDP.
Learn more here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
InfoComm 2017 Registration Now OPENRegistration for InfoComm 2017 is officially open at infocommshow.org. InfoComm 2017, taking place June 10-16 (exhibits: June 14-16).
In addition to Emerging Trends Day, InfoComm 2017 will feature a new Center Stage, located on the exhibit floor, where AV industry thought leaders will showcase case studies and real-world AV solutions to customers’ enterprise technology challenges. A schedule of free Center Stage presentations will be available soon on infocommshow.org.
“Through Emerging Trends Day and Center Stage, InfoComm 2017 attendees will see how audiovisual technology is creating remarkable solutions and customer outcomes,” said Jason McGraw, CTS, CAE, senior vice president of expositions, InfoComm International. “Along with our TIDE conference, plus a variety of new sessions added to our regular education offerings, attendees will gain fresh context for all the new products that will be on display from 1,000 exhibitors.”
Also new this year is TIDE (Technology. Innovation. Design. Experience.), a one-day conference at InfoComm 2017 for examining the strategic impact of AV technology. It was created not just for AV professionals, but also for design professionals and enterprise technology customers. TIDE will feature keynote speakers Matthew Luhn, one of the original story creators at Pixar, and virtual reality pioneer Nonny de la Peña. For more information, go here.
InfoComm 2017 will also introduce the new Immersive Technology Pavilion, an area dedicated to augmented reality, virtual reality and 360-degree video solutions. The new pavilion will include hands-on experiences of application-specific VR environments, and attendees will learn how AR, VR and 360 video (sometimes called immersive video) can be used in commercial AV applications.
Emerging Trends Day will kick off with Pete Putman, CTS, of ROAM Consulting, who will provide his annual forecast of future trends in the pro-AV industry. Next, Dr. S. Ann Earon, President of Telemanagement Resources International, will moderate a series of 30-minute briefings with the nine 2017 Emerging Trends Fellows. Attendees can join some or all of the sessions.
Register here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
We Are Attending the Almo E4 AV Tour — Why Aren’t You? Almo’s E4 AV Tour is back! The AV industry’s favorite distributor roadshow kicks off 2017 in the Chicago area next month (March 22nd) at the Drury Lane Theatre and Conference Center and in April in San Jose, California at the DoubleTree by Hilton San Jose — and this year’s event has a lot of new stuff — new AV gear, new 4K technology, new AV-over-IP, new everything. Here’s how you can register for either stop on their Spring 2017 tour: http://e4avtour.com
The day will start (after a free breakfast) with my 4K keynote — 4K: NO MYTHS, NO EXAGGERATIONS – JUST THE FACTS. The AV industry is riddled with misinformation about 4K including exaggerated specs, compatibility and performance. Meanwhile, AV integrators are left to sort out what’s real 4K or simulated 4K, only to be left vulnerable to making serious mistakes. This session will educate you on everything you REALLY need to know on how to specify, sell and integrate 4K systems right the first time. No myths, no “spec speak” — just the facts.
After the keynote, there’s an exclusive backstage tour of the 4K set-up and the show floor opens with over 40 exhibitors showing the latest in AV technology and gear. Companies like NEC Display, Samsung and Epson will show new 4K displays, plus Barco, Kramer and ZeeVee will debuts new 4K and AV-over-IP systems and then a plethora of companies will show the latest in wireless AV collaboration tools. The E4 also has the largest selection of audio vendors at any distributor conference in the industry.
But, education is at the heart of all the E4 events. Over 10 InfoComm CTS RU-approved courses pepper the day with a complete schedule of all the educational sessions here. Heck, even just my 4K Keynote alone is worth 1.5 CTS RUs! Other sessions include classes on OLED technology, the latest on interactive displays, digital signage content creation, the impact of Dante on audio and there’s even a panel discussion on IoT (the Internet of Things) that’s served up during the free lunch buffet.
It’s all free and open to anyone but, you need to register. You can see all the tour details here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
AMX Debuts Enova DGX Audio Switching Boards With Dante Networked Audio TechnologyHARMAN Professional Solutions’ AMX today introduced Enova DGX Audio Switching Boards with Dante integration that deliver Dante networked audio feeds to and from Enova DGX 100 Series Digital Media Switchers. The new Dante board kits expand Enova DGX enclosures with up to 16 channels of networked audio, enabling flexible audio switching between traditional AV solutions and the industry’s standard networked audio format.
Audio Switching Boards with Dante bring audio insertion and breakaway switching capabilities, as well as Dante networked-audio compatibility to the Enova DGX platform. With support for up to 16 stereo decoded inputs and outputs, users can independently route audio from traditional and networked AV sources to virtually any other directly connected or networked AV device via internal switching and standard CAT5e, CAT6 or fiber optic network connection.
Like other audio switching boards for the Enova DGX platform, Audio Switching Boards with Dante are offered in pairs, with one board providing direct Dante networked audio connections on the input side, and a separate board for the output side of Enova DGX enclosures. The new audio switching boards are available in two models, each compatible with varying Enova DGX solutions. The DGX3200-ASB-DANTE kit brings eight stereo decoded inputs and encoded outputs to Enova DGX 800, 1600 and 3200 enclosures, while the DGX6400-ASB-DANTE kit brings 16 stereo decoded inputs and encoded outputs to Enova DGX 6400 enclosures.
Enova DGX Audio Switching Board Kits with Dante will be available in June 2017. More information is here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
Extron Intros New TLP Pro 725T Touch Panel Extron just launched the TLP Pro 725T TouchLink Pro Touchpanel. Inside this newly-designed touchpanel, there’s a new quad-core processor and eight times more memory feeding the 7-inch 1024×600 (with 24-bit color) capacitive touchscreen. The new touchscreen includes scratch and smudge-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass and it has a design unlike any other Extron touch panel.
Extron says the new TLP Pro 725T is future-proof not only because of the quad-core processor and increased RAM but it just runs faster. These performance enhancements offer an enhanced user experience now, while providing memory and processing power to support new features and capabilities in the future via firmware updates. All TouchLink Pro touchpanels can be customized using Extron GUI Designer software. Other features include Power over Ethernet (PoE) over a single Ethernet cable, compatibility with all IP Link Pro control processors and it’s part of the TouchLink product line.
Here are all the tech specs. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
PureLink Debuts More HDMI 2.0 ProductsPureLink has introduced a new series of HDMI 2.0 Transmitter and Receiver products for 4K60 (4:4:4 at 8-bit color) signal management.
The HCE III Tx/Rx and HTE III Tx/Rx extender pairs are HDMI 2.0 compliant HDBaseT extension systems with what PureLink says is “a light compression technology” over a single CATx cable. Like all 4K HDBaseT products, the Transmitter can send 4K video up to 70 meters and 1080p up to 100 meters. It’s capable of transmitting signals up to 18 Gbps and supports the BT.2020 color space. Both use PoE (power over Ethernet) and can be controlled via IP, RS 232 and IR. For consumer applications, the’ve added CEC support. Here are all the specs.Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Extron Introduces Compact Control Processor with Dedicated AV LAN Port
Extron just introduced the IPCP Pro 255, a compact, high performance IP Link Pro control processor with a dedicated AV LAN port.It features advanced security standards and dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, which ensure compatibility with multiple TouchLink Pro touchpanels using a standard network infrastructure. Of the two Ethernet ports, the AV LAN is designed to control local AV devices, and safeguard them from outside intrusion or interference. The IPCP Pro 255 can be used with Extron LinkLicense, which further enhances the capabilities of Extron Pro Series control systems. The IPCP Pro 255 is an ideal choice for controlling multiple devices and control signal types within AV systems requiring an isolated AV network.
The IPCP Pro 255 features a DHCP server for the AV LAN that streamlines system setup and management. It automatically distributes IP addresses and network configuration parameters for the AV devices connected to the local AV LAN. The AV LAN port permits communications from the Ethernet port for remote management and firmware updates for Extron devices, and restricts other Ethernet traffic. The Extron IPCP Pro 255 can be configured using Global Configurator Plus or Global Configurator Professional software or programmed using Extron Global Scripter. For enterprise-wide applications, GlobalViewer Enterprise can provide centralized AV resource monitoring, management, and control over a computer network.
Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
AMX Debuts N2400 Series AV-Over-IP GbE Networks
At ISE, AMX launched something similar to what Crestron launched yesterday — the N2400 Series video encoders and decoders, which send 4K video Gigabit Ethernet networks. Spec’d with support for 4K video at 60Hz and 4:4:4 (8-bit color) the N2400 uses JPEG 2000 encoding to deliver content at native frame rate and color space over Gigabit Ethernet with two frames of latency. With support for HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2, the N2400 Series is compatible with all the latest most 4K sources.
Because the N2400 Series can be PoE+ (Power over Ethernet) powered thus, they can connected to a 12VDC power, or by an Ethernet connection from the local network switch. N2400 encoders and decoders also use the same control APIs, software and web interfaces as existing AMX Networked AV solutions.
Here are all the tech specs.Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
Rohde & Schwarz Debuts Video Board Supporting Both SDI and Video-over-IP
The new R&S Prios family of video boards from Rohde & Schwarz is designed for OEM customers from all areas of professional video and digital film technology. The first member of this family, the R&S Prios SDI, offers the classic SDI interfaces and also supports 10G Ethernet for video over IP. It can be configured for eight independent 1080p60 video channels or for two 4K/UHDp60 channels.
The SDI interfaces are implemented by means of up to four swappable SFP modules, each with two SDI ports. Two of the SDI modules can be replaced with 10G Ethernet modules, making the R&S Prios SDI compatible with the advanced video-over-IP technology. Supported protocols will include SMPTE 2022 for data transmission and SMPTE 2059 for synchronization. Data is transmitted uncompressed in line with SMPTE 2022-6. If necessary, forward error correction in line with SMPTE 2022-5 can be enabled to compensate for the loss of IP packets. Redundant transmission with seamless protection switching in line with SMPTE 2022-7 is also supported. Additional protocols are planned to follow.
The R&S Prios SDI addresses OEM customers in the field of professional film and video, who can integrate the board into their own products. The high degree of flexibility offered by the R&S Prios SDI allows customers to convert their products right in the field from a pure SDI to a mixed (hybrid) SDI/video-over-IP configuration. The combination of SDI and IP enables applications that link conventional video technology with state-of-the-art IP technology using only a single interface board. For example, multiple SDI cameras can be connected directly to the board, whose signals can then be transmitted via a network to centralized recording equipment or to remote editing stations.
Virtual studio applications benefit from the low latency made possible by the fast PCIe 3.0 x8 bus. The four SFP cages combined with the half-length design make the R&S Prios SDI exceptionally compact. As a result, applications involving very complex interfacing tasks that previously often required multiple interface boards can now be implemented on small servers of only one unit.
The software development kit for the R&S Prios family of video boards is compatible with the successful R&S Atomix line of video boards. Applications that support R&S Atomix boards can be adapted for use with R&S Prios boards with minimal effort.
The flexible combination of SDI and IP technology on the R&S Prios SDI is useful for anyone who develops video applications and desires a smooth transition from SDI to video over IP. The product is here.Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
Visix Debuts Stand-Alone Room Management — Sans CMS — With New Connect Room SignsVisix’s new Connect interactive room sign is a new room management system that does not require the company’s AxisTV CMS. This stand-alone solution publishes schedules from Exchange, Exchange 365 and Google Calendar.
The new room sign appliance comes in a widescreen format with red and green availability lights on each side to show whether a room is busy or open. The unit has low power consumption, and can be powered via POE network switches, optional POE injectors or by included DC power supplies.
Clients can make walk-up reservations using the interactive UI, as well as start, extend, end or cancel meetings. Any schedule changes made at the room sign are updated in the client’s calendar system in real time. If a room is busy, users can check for other available rooms on screen. The signs can also run in non-interactive mode and require a PIN for on-screen bookings.
Connect signs show room names and interactive icons for AV tools available in the space. If there is a problem with a resource in the room, clients can report the issue to their administrator at the screen through pop-up dialogs. Once the issue has been reported, the resource icon shows as out of service until the issue is resolved. Clients can also include a logo, and show digital signage messages using an image reader.
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
Hiperwall Intros New “Affordable” Videowall Software Hiperwall today is unveiling the next generation Hiperwall Premium Suite video wall management software. Hiperwall Premium Suite does not require expensive proprietary hardware, making it more cost-effective and budget friendly. The Suite contains the software components considered necessary to set up a video wall or a distributed dynamic visualization system.
The Hiperwall solution features software with a simpler user interface designed for non-technical users which does not require specialized servers or switches. This helps the customer to reduce costs, complexity and power usage while providing the greatest configuration flexibility. The software features an ultra-high resolution display capability with scalable size that can support a combination of objects including still images up to 1GB resolution, HD and UHD videos and streaming content and PC applications. Hiperwall says its software enables enabling the connection of unlimited number of sources via an Ethernet network to an unlimited number of displays in a video wall. It’s also expandable so a user can start small and expand later.
The user can also place content anywhere on local or remote video walls. Sizing the content within the video wall via drag-and-drop, and adding transparency, rotation or shading is simple and intuitive. When making changes on the user interface, the same thing happens on the video wall with no lag.
The company says that Hiperwall Premium Suite software offers the following features that make it more cost-effective:
- Hiperwall is now fault tolerant delivering full active-active fault tolerance capability at a price that was until now out of range except for the most mission critical video wall operations.
- Hiperwall Premium Suite’s software-only platform will work with future technology and hardware advancements. A customer can update or enlarge their existing video wall with Hiperwall’s software upgrades and off-the-shelf hardware.
- There is no limit to the source resolution customers can display or the number of screens they can use for high resolution output. Hiperwall Premium Suite is the only software product that can display high-resolution content, even gigapixel content, at a resolution of more than one billion pixels.
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
NEC Releases 8 New Projectors in New ME Series NEC Display Solutions just announced eight new XGA (1024×768) and WXGA (1280×800) resolution projectors aimed at both classrooms and meeting rooms. The light (about 6 pounds), portable ME Series projectors include 3,000-, 3,300-, 3,600- and 4,000-lumen options and all of them include a 1.7x zoom lens. All of them have VGA, two HDMI and one USB port as well as built-in 20-watt speakers and IR, LAN and RS232 control.
The entire line can use NEC’s MultiPresenter, a multi-user (up to 16 connections from smart phones, tablets and PCs) collaborative screen-sharing solution (wireless) that allows students and instructors to share images, files, documents, presentations and more simultaneously over a wired or wireless network. Operating system agnostic, it combines users of Windows, MAC, iOS and Android operating systems onto a single screen.
The new ME Series projectors also feature advanced geometry adjustments such as horizontal and vertical keystone, cornerstone, and pincushion, which can be easily and quickly made to keep a squared image on the screen, regardless of whether the projector is moved from room to room or permanently installed.
Finally, all of them have NEC’s Quick Star, have a 9,000 hour lamp and and a three-year labor warranty; and will be available in February 2017. Prices and links to each projector are here:
Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Sennheiser Expands TeamConnect Set Tray MAt ISE 2017 Sennheiser is expanding its range of dedicated business products with two new conferencing solutions: The TeamConnect Wireless Set Tray M offers Sennheiser’s innovative wireless conferencing solution in a new smaller configuration for up to 12 participants. The all-new SL Boundary 114-S DW microphone — part of their SpeechLine family of speech-dedicated microphones, with a fully wireless microphone that ensures effortless room set up and cable-free charging.
The TeamConnect Wireless Set Tray M is a more compact configuration — with two rather than four satellites and is designed for meeting rooms and conferences for up to 12 participants. The new Set Tray M now offers two portable satellites that can be charged with its stationary charging and docking tray. The system delivers multiple connectivity options with any smartphone, laptop or PC via Bluetooth, USB or 3.5-millimeters jack — brilliant flexibility to cater for a broad range of Unified Communications demands.
Dedicated to speech, the new SL Boundary 114-S DW extends the capability of the TeamConnect conferencing system with a wireless solution. The cable free microphone is easily adapted to any conference setting, while its wide coverage ensures that conference participants don’t need to speak directly into or even sit close to the microphone as it automatically picks up and enhances the voices of speakers’ in the room.
The SL Boundary 114-S DW also offers the simplicity of wireless charging and can be charged with Sennheiser’s recently-launched CHG 2W wireless charging solution. The CHG 2W uses inductive power transmission to provide convenient wireless charging for two mobile devices simultaneously. The SL Boundary 114-S DW can also be charged via USB.
All of Sennheiser’s ISE launches are here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Click above to learn more
|
Canon Adds New Flagship LCOS REALiS WUX6500 Projector With Interchangeable LensCanon just launched what they are calling their flagship interchangeable lens LCOS projector, the REALiS WUX6500 ProAV LCOS. In addition, Canon also launched two new DLP projectors, the LV-HD420 Full HD DLP projector and LV-X420 DLP projector as well as a new optional lens, the wide zoom lens LX-IL08WZ. These are all aimed at higher education, museums and large venue applications.
The new Canon REALiS WUX6500 is spec’d at 6500 lumen, uses a native WUXGA resolution (1920×1200) LCoS chip and is integrated with their AISYS-enhancement (scaling). The REALiS WUX6500 can be outfitted with any one of five optional Canon projection lenses ranging from ultra wide angle to ultra long focus zoom (complete chart below). Inputs include HDMI, DVI-I and HDBaseT. Other features include six-axis color adjustment, dynamic gamma, memory color correction and motion blur reduction. Also, there is a special version called the REALiS WUX6500 D Pro AV LCOS projector, which also includes a special DICOM Simulation Mode for displaying monochrome digital X-rays, CAT scans and MRIs.
The other two launches are the compact LV-HD420 and LV-X420 projectors that are (1920×1080) and XGA (1024×768) resolutions respectively, as well as 4200 Lumens and a high-contrast ratio (8,000:1 for the LV-HD420 and 10,000:1 for the LV-X420), both in a 7-pound package. Both models include the DLP BrilliantColor system and have dual HDMI inputs.
The REALiS WUX6500 Pro AV LCOS projector and the REALiS WUX6500 D Pro AV LCOS projector list for $6,249 and $6,879, respectively, and both are currently scheduled to ship in March 2017. The LV-HD420 and LV-X420 DLP projectors have list prices of $1,699 and $1,099, respectively, and both are scheduled to be available in May 2017. The wide zoom lens LX-IL08WZ has a list price of $4,499 and is currently scheduled to be available in March 2017.
More information is here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Vivitek Debuts Two New Laser-Based Large Venue Projectors and a Dual-Lamp Meeting Room Projector
Vivitek has announced two new large venue laser projectors, the DK8500Z and the DU8190Z, both using 20,000 laser light sources. The DK8500Z is 3840×2160 resolution and is 7,500 ANSI lumens and the DU8190Z is a WUXGA projector with 10,000 ANSI lumens brightness. Both projectors offer motorized lens shift and lens position memory function with eight optional lenses ranging from 0.38:1 to 5.31-8.26:1 throw ratio. And, both are integrated with built-in edge-blending, warping and portrait mode projection with 360-degrees capability for digital signage or mapping applications. In addition to the new laser projectors, at ISE 2017 Vivitek also showed a new dual lamp projector, the DU6771. Intended for large meeting rooms where brightness and installation flexibility is a key consideration, the DU6771 is 6,500 ANSI lumens and WUXGA resolution with 3,000:1 contrast ratio. The motorized zoom, focus and lens shift features allow for easy adjustment and movement and image adjustment is made easier with four-corner and keystone corrections.
Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
Attero Tech Debuts unHX2D HDMI Audio-to-Dante Bridge Attero Tech is introducing the new unHX2D HDMI Audio-to-Dante Bridge at ISE 2017 in Amsterdam.
The unHX2D is a Dante enabled HDMI repeater designed to bridge two-channel PCM HDMI audio to/from a Dante audio network. The unHX2D includes two line level analog inputs and outputs that can be independently bridged to/ from a Dante audio network. It supports 4K/60/4:4:4 video pass-through, and can also re-embed audio from a Dante network, an S/PDIF optical input, or balanced line level analog inputs into the outgoing HDMI data.
An adjustable audio delay buffer is included on the Dante output for audio and video lip sync. The unHX2D features flexible audio routing between system input sources and outputs, and easily facilitates bridging audio from either video sources or monitors to a Dante network.
Featuring up to 170mS of stereo delay for audio-video lip sync, and user selectable EDID settings, the unHX2D typically replaces two or three pieces of equipment previously required to de-embed two channel PCM audio from an HDMI source and bridge it to a Dante network. The unHX2D can be controlled over the Dante network for ease of integration with control systems.
Designed for applications including conferencing, control rooms, video teleconferencing, presentation rooms, classrooms and instructional facilities, the unHX2D offers simple network control protocol for easy integration with third party control systems. Features include front panel indications of Dante status, HDMI connectivity and digital audio format and easy software configuration via Attero Tech unify Control Panel for Mac/Windows.
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
SpeakerCraft Debuts Dolby Atmos Enabled In-Wall Height Speaker at ISE
SpeakerCraft has what they are claiming is the world’s first Dolby Atmos enabled in-wall height speaker, the AIM Series 2 ATX100, at ISE 2017. The SpeakerCraft ATX100 reflects sound off the ceiling to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead, to bring entertainment alive for the audience.
The ATX100 is the architectural in-wall solution to the traditional floor-standing or bookshelf height speakers currently available. The design adheres to Dolby’s recommended specifications and requirements for optimal performance. The ATX100’s dual drivers and tweeter fire upward into the acoustically controlled wave guide that projects the Dolby Atmos height cue information off the ceiling, creating the immersive effect. The ¾” custom titanium dome tweeter with high-energy Neodymium magnet structure boasts frequency response up to 22kHz. With its dual 2½” Kevlar-reinforced pulp mid-bass drivers, the ATX100 can handle up to 125 watts of amplifier power at 8 ohms. The ATX100 Height Speaker will list for $349 and here are the specs. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
James Loudspeaker Redesigns QXC Mounting System Making Upside-Down Ceiling Installations Easier James Loudspeaker has redesigned the mounting system for their QXC series of architectural speakers, making it dramatically easier for integrators to secure them in place. The new QXC loudspeakers utilize a lightweight aluminum frame with semi-circular clamps that attach to the ceiling or wall surface using stainless steel hardware. Once the frame has been secured with speaker mounting screws in place, the QXC speaker can be simply rotated into position using the provided keyhole shaped receptacles in the speaker’s mounting flange. This methodology eliminates the need for the installer, often perched precariously on a ladder, from having to balance the speaker while simultaneously holding tools and hardware.
Here’s a real-time video they made doing a ceiling install.
The QXC Series speakers (available in 6.5 and 8-inch models) feature aluminum cone woofers with Santoprene rubber surrounds and quad aluminum tweeter arrays. Here are the details. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Studio Technologies Expands Dante Beltpack Range Studio Technologies just introduced the new Model 371 Intercom Beltpack. The compact, lightweight unit combines the features offered by broadcast-style, two-channel party-line (PL) intercom user devices with a single-channel listen output and a four-pin male XLR headset interface connector.
The flexibility of Dante and its inherent support of standard IP networks mean that multiple Model 371 units can be used in PL intercom applications with help from audio matrix units, such as the new Studio Technologies Model 5422 Dante Intercom Audio Engines. Model 371 units can also be directly interfaced with ports on compatible matrix intercom systems.
The Model 371 has switches that allow control of the microphone pre-amplifier gain and talk button operation and each button can be individually configured for push to talk or push to talk/tap to latch operation. An integrated call function allows Model 371 users to send and receive channel-specific visual alert signals. Additional features include integrated sidetone, remote microphone off and application firmware updating via a USB port. Model 371 units interface with twisted-pair Ethernet local-area-networks using standard RJ45 patch cables. This LAN connection provides both Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) and bidirectional digital audio signals.
Using a low-noise, wide dynamic-range microphone pre-amplifier and VCA-based dynamics controller (compressor) input, audio quality is preserved and the chance of signal overload is minimized. The resulting signal is routed to an analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) section that supports a sampling rate of 48 kHz and a bit depth of 24. The now-digital audio signal routes through a processor and onto a Dante interface section where it is packaged for transport over Ethernet. Similar care is taken with the two audio signals that arrive via the Dante interface. The resulting audio quality of the Model 371’s two independent talk and listen channels is excellent, with low distortion, low noise and high headroom.
All the details are here. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
Microsoft Surface Hub Gets Stormboard Whiteboard CapabilityStormboard today released a major upgrade to enable the first and only real-time drawing capability between multiple Surface Hubs. Teams in the same room or remotely on their own devices can now draw together on the same shared whiteboard.
Stormboard users could always collaborate in real-time but the sketching component was limited to one user at one time. This release lets unlimited users in unlimited locations on any device draw together.
Because the Surface Hub pens have an identity (the only device on the market that does) Stormboard takes advantage many Surface Hub specific features including:
- Full pen and touch support with the pen used for creation and drawing and your fingers used for navigation.
- Multiple pen support with independent drawing tools for each pen. For example, this allows one user to draw with a thin blue line while the other is drawing a big red circle on the diagram on the same Surface Hub.
- Users can erase individual items on the whiteboard by simply using the opposite end of the pen to erase.
- Users can use the NFC reader on the Surface Hub to instantly log into their Stormboard account rather than typing their password in front of a room of people on an 84” touchscreen.
Additional features of this major upgrade available on all devices include:
- Drawing between an unlimited number of devices, users and locations.
- Easy to use due to the ultra-minimal interface.
- Fully cross-platform — Works on any modern web browser, tablet or natively on the Microsoft Surface Hub.
- Infinite whiteboard canvas so you never run out of space.
- Multiple drawing tools including eraser, lines, arrows, circles, squares and polygons.
- Sketching on images so you can draw on and markup a screenshot, architectural diagram or the latest prototype of your product.
- Object selection and moving so you can move things around after they have been created.
- Full zoom in and out and a dynamic view finder so you know where you are and can navigate the unlimited space.
- Multiple whiteboards in a single collaborative session so you can keep your ideas organized.
- Saved whiteboards so you can continue where you left off or archive for future reference.
- Built-in undo to fix any mistakes you’ve made.
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
ELB Launches New Collaboration Board
ELB, formerly Electroboard, just debuted Prowise, a native 4K interactive presentation display, digital whiteboard and video conferencing solution (aka collaboration board). Available in 65”, 75” and 84 inches, with built-in Windows 10 PC, wide area microphones, sound bar with sub-woofer and a 1080p conferencing camera, Prowise includes a motorized, height-adjustable mobile stand or a fixed wall mount bracket.
ELB says that all Prowise panels have a dust-resistant, fan-free, silent running design which extends the product life as ventilators and filters are no longer necessary, reducing the cost of maintenance.
Prowise panels integrate with existing ecosystems by supporting single sign-on using Microsoft Office 365 and Google Docs. A Near Field Communication (NFC) chip in the front bezel enables the presenter to sign-in at the swipe of a card. The panels support Windows and Mac gestures and third-party room control systems.
The Prowise collaboration board in 65”, 75’ and 85’ list for $13,189, $16,489 and $18,689 respectively. Here are all the details. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
Premier Mounts Debuts the EPIC LED Mounting Solution
The EPIC Series of Direct View LED Mounting Solutions is specifically for mounting LED displays. While Direct-View LED gets thinner, brighter—and more cost effective, Premier says —integrators must focus on complete solutions to focus on customers needs. With old LCD solutions, and the plasma that preceded them, the industry lived in a heavy, complex world preoccupied with easy installation. With heavy-duty mounting, complex cabling and poor panel accessibility, facilities were burdened with replacement costs and labor, because maintenance was cumbersome.
Today, with Direct-View LED, not only do we have the promise of beautiful—even flexible—display fit for any environment, but we can fulfill the true promise of effective mounting solutions in reducing total costs, which boil down to a few key drivers:
- Installation success and performance
- Maintenance costs and time
- Replacement
Premier says the EPIC LED series mounts achieves all of this, helping advance the industry from the wow factor of LED, to the logic of it’s superior total-cost structure.
Its scissor design (motor optional) enables instant, easy access. And with limited mounting standards in LED, the FXSA, front runner of the EPIC line of mounts, bucks the trend, with easy panel installation.
With the new promise of LED display bringing total-cost economics to AV, the EPIC series is the professional’s choice for mounting premium LED display ranging from Samsung to Planar. And with lighter, thinner, brighter as the end-user’s goal, the EPIC series is the integrator’s choice for the reduction and sustainability of low totals costs through improved installation results and a paradigm shift in total costs.
Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
Epson Debuts AR (Augmented Reality) Glasses
Epson is debuting a new version of their Moverio glasses, dubbed the BT-350, designed for augmented reality (AR) applications in museums, opera houses, exhibition halls and conferences.
The BT-350 are Si-OLED-powered, binocular see-through smart glasses designed for commercial use, and in cultural and entertainment venues. With the BT-350, unused display space appears truly transparent thanks to our Si-OLED micro display technology and its high contrast ratio of 100,000:1. This means augmented content can be immersively overlaid onto the real world, making culture more accessible and exciting.
The transparent OLED integrates a 720p HD display (in the viewer’s frame of view) to augment what the viewer is seeing in person. They use an Intel Atom x5 1.44GHz quad-core CPU and 2GB RAM. Built-in connectivity and sensors include Bluetooth Smart, Wi-Fi, Miracast and motion sensors and they are also compatible with 3D content.
Here are all the different versions of Epson’s VR glasses. Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
LynTec Adds Over-Voltage Protection to RPC Panel Family
LynTec today announced the addition of over-voltage protection to its RPC and RPCR series power control panels.
The new over-voltage protection will function like the panels’ under-voltage protection. The system will monitor the incoming voltage and automatically shut off any protected circuits when the voltage reads 20 percent above or below the selected voltage level for two seconds. When the voltage stabilizes within 20 percent of the designated voltage for five seconds, then the power re-sequences back on as programmed.
From the controller’s embedded web server, the user can select the appropriate protection from a simple drop-down menu on the setup page for each circuit. This allows users to customize the power protection settings for the devices connected to the panel, specifying over-voltage protection for the equipment that needs it most.
Leave a Comment
Share Article
Back to Top |
|
For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe ProAV 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 percent opinionated. We not only report the news and new product stories of the ProAV 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 us feedback, don’t reply to this newsletter. Instead, write directly to founder Gary at gary@ravepubs.com or Editor-in-Chief Sara Abrons at sara@ravepubs.com
Everything we publish is opt-in — we spam NO ONE! rAVe ProAV Edition is our flagship publication with what we believe is a reach of virtually everyone in the ProAV market. rAVe HomeAV Edition is co-published with CEDIA, covering the HomeAV market. We added rAVe Rental [and Staging] in November 2007, rAVe ED [Education] in May 2008 and then rAVe DS [Digital Signage] in January 2009. We added rAVe GHGav [Green, Healthcare & Government AV] in August 2010 and rAVe HOW [House of Worship] in July 2012. You can subscribe to any of those publication or see ALL our archives by going to: https://www.ravepubs.com
To read more about rAVe’s team and what we do, go to https://www.ravepubs.com Back to Top |
Copyright 2017 – rAVe [Publications] – All rights reserved – 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 contains the opinions of the author only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of other persons or companies or its sponsors. |
|
|
|