EPSON Debuts $450 SVGA Projector  Dubbed the VS200, the newest cheap 3LCD from EPSON provides SVGA resolution (800×600) and a claimed 2,300-lumen brightness at a price point of $429. The Epson VS200 includes the Instant On/Off feature, A/V Mute and Epson’s E-TORL lamp technology, which claims to last 5,000 hours in economy mode. Want more information? Go here: http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&sku=V11H391020
Cheap (low cost) in of itself is not a good or bad thing. However, if one’s needs or expectations are modest as it relates to performance specs, spending less for a product from a reputable manufacturer makes good common sense.
–GB
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Extron Ships Flat Field Ceiling Tile Speaker  Extron just announced the immediate availability of the FF 220T, a full-range sound field speaker for 8 ohm direct or 70/100-volt systems. The FF 220T joins the existing FF 120T and has Extron’s patent-pending Flat Field technology, which reduces beaming of mid and high frequencies directly under the speaker and that Extron says delivers consistent sound levels across the listening area. In addition, the FF 220T offers a wide dispersion area of 170 degrees, providing a wide room coverage pattern, which is especially important for rooms with low ceilings like you have in K-12 schools. Using a UL 2043 plenum rated, 2' x 2' x 3.25” (61cm x 61cm x 8.3 cm), aluminized composite enclosure, the FF 220T drops into standard suspended ceilings, providing quicker installations.
Want details? Go to: http://www.extron.com/company/article.aspx?id=ffsad
The white paper at the site, on the Extron's Flat Field Technology, is interesting; likening how it works as similar to how a convex lens focuses light – in reverse.
–GB
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Premier Mac Mini Adapter/Lock  The Mac Mini computer has long been a staple for Mac-friendly schools, but mounting them hasn’t been easy. Premier has just started to ship a mounting bracket, dubbed the CTM-MAC2 that allows you to mount the Mac Mini behind your flat-screen mount and even lock-it in place to prevent theft.
Made with black powder-coated steel, the CTM-MAC2 (7.4”L x 7.8”W x 1.6”D) saves space by holding the Mac Mini behind the mount. But you can still access the DVD drive and neatly organize and arrange the computer’s wiring through specially designed openings in the bracket.
Want all the details? Go here: http://www.premiermounts.com/product.asp?PartId=2072
Can hear several “Cool!” declarations coming from the AV Club house, as this product piece is read.
–GB
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Click above for more information
SMART Sync FINALLY Recognizes Mac  SMART Technologies announced Tuesday that its SMART Sync 2010 classroom management software is now available for the Mac platform. SMART Sync 2010 classroom management software for Mac enables teachers and administrators to monitor and guide student learning and share information instantly. Teachers can transfer and open files directly on student computers, or broadcast shared screens to one or all members of the class. The control functions enable teachers to block specific websites, applications, or the Internet as a whole, or lock student workstations to return attention to the front of the class.
Want more details? Go here: http://www.smarttech.com/sync
Having some experience with earlier (PC) versions of this software, having an option for a “Mac Lab” as well, is a welcomed addition.
–GB Back to Top
ViewSonic Shows New 52" and 42" LCDs  Bragging about 700 nits brightness and claiming a 4000:1 contrast ratio, ViewSonic says its new native 1080p LCDs include a 178-degree viewing angle, slim bezels (19.5mm for the 52” CD5233 model and 16.3mm for the 42” CD4233 version) and can be tiled for video wall applications up to 5×5 – but they’re also about 5” deep. Aimed at the ProAV and digital signage markets, both monitors are shipping now. If you want complete specs on the 42”, go here: http://www.viewsonic.com/products/digital-signage/products/commercial-displays/cd4233.htm
If you want complete specs on the 52”, go here: http://www.viewsonic.com/products/digital-signage/products/commercial-displays/cd5233.htm
If a message is worth communicating, it’s worth making sure the content is done professionally and targeted to the audience… and so it follows the hardware displaying also be Pro grade and manufactured with signage in mind.
–GB Back to Top
Samsung Techwin Shows $780 Document Camera  Dubbed the SAMCAM 860, Samsung’s newest document camera includes 6x optical and 8x digital zoom and SXGA display output and recording of movies with audio at 30fps. It also has compatibility with webcam applications such as SKYPE, GradeCam, Windows Movie Maker; a built-in Macro and Microscope mode; and high-resolution CMOS technology.
Go here to see all the specs: http://www.samcam860.com/
Some interesting, not commonly associated with document cameras, features listed here, like the ability to record with audio at 30 fps.
–GB
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Dukane Shows Five-Pound 2700-Lumen Projector  Listed at a price of only $745, the new Dukane 8789H is a light (5 lbs.), XGA resolution (1024×768), 3LCD projector that includes a lamp that’s spec’d at 4000 hours and garners 2700 lumens (but only 500:1 contrast ratio) – all aimed at the low-cost education market.
If you want complete specs, go here: http://www.dukane.com/av/products/Item_dvProjectors.asp?Model=8789H
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Newest M Series NEC Projectors Aimed at ED market  Last month, NEC announced the new M Series projectors, including the NP-M260X, NP-M260W and NP-M300X. These models were developed to address the needs of schools on a tight budget that require a bright, wired network projector with remote monitoring and control capabilities. The model transitions include the NP-M260X replacing the NP410, NP-M260W replacing the NP410W and NP-M300X replacing the NP510.
All three XGA (1024×768) resolution projectors are what NEC calls “value-driven,” eco-friendly, and portable, featuring wired and wireless (optional) networking, HDMI and USB inputs, high contrast (2000:1) and up to 6000 hours of lamp life (in ECO Mode). The M Series was created with the environment in mind and includes a carbon savings meter, energy-saving features such as Power Save (less than 1 watt in standby mode), quick startup and direct power off.
For complete specs, go here: http://www.necdisplay.com/Products/Series/?series=09c60e0b-879f-4d69-9b08-3f2a6b92ba84
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rAVe Founder to Debut All-New Digital Signage Seminar at ALMO E4 Show  Did you know less than only 16 percent of digital signage installations are done by ProAV integrators? Even the HomeAV market’s doing more digital signage installations than ProAV! Gary has partnered with ALMO Pro A/V to fix that. He’s developed a six-step process for adding a profitable digital signage department to your business. And, it all includes products and technology on display right after his ALMO E4’s spotlight course.
Want to attend? Well, there are two opportunities for you to hear Gary in 2010; Washington, DC on November 10th and New York City on December 15th. Go here to register: http://www.almoproav.com/Events/e4/
If you’re part of ProAV and looking to move into the digital signage market, what better way to get up to speed on what it takes?
–GB
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The Wall, by Pink Floyd, was both a creative musical production and a hugely popular album. The songs, as they were released for radio play, stood on their own melodious merit. And if you bought the double album, you were treated to equally creative deep cuts. And as a demonstration of the whole being truly more than the sum of its parts, the telling of Pink’s deepening isolation is vividly encapsulated through the metaphor of each piece being a “brick in the wall.”
The views expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the authors’ employer(s), past or present.
