Volume 3, Issue 6 — June 26, 2017
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Editorials Editorials Editorials Editorials
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rAVe NOW’s InfoComm Coverage Is Next Best Thing to Being There
By Gary Kayye rAVe Founder
There’s no substitute for going to InfoComm — it’s a must-attend trade show if you are in the commercial AV industry. But, not everyone is allowed to attend.
If you weren’t one of the lucky 44,077 people that were in Orlando for InfoComm 2017, then we have a solution for you.
We actually brought over 25 reporters to the show. So, we have way, way, way more coverage than anyone else. And, we covered more than you could have had you attended yourself.
How? Well, we went to every single booth on the show floor and shot videos (1,650+ of them) of all the new products launched at InfoComm this year. And, we recorded podcasts (45+), we video live-streamed daily each day using Facebook LIVE, we wrote blogs 20+), we published 300+ news stories and we shot in excess of 3,500 photos from the show floor!
And, it’s all in one, searchable, dedicated website — a website we built just for infoComm 2017. Check it out here.
InfoComm 2018 is in Las Vegas so you should put it on your calendar now — June 6-8, 2018!
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How to Make Auditorium AV Work for Everyone in the Room
By Richard Mackie Anna Valley Project Manager
It’s natural to focus on the audience when designing AV solutions for auditoriums. These rooms are created with the sole intention of communicating a message to an audience so there’s no arguing that the people watching your presentation are the most important people in the room. But their experience alone doesn’t determine whether your auditorium AV solution is effective.
There are four people that AV designers need to consider when creating auditorium AV solutions – and only one of them is in the audience. Focus on making the AV experience comfortable for all four of the following people and you will have created an audio-visual solution that lives up to its name.
The Presenter
A nervous, flustered presenter sets the audience on edge. The AV system should help the presenter feel relaxed and in control by providing a passive aid that helps them communicate their message. If the presenter worries about the AV technology for a second, then the system has failed them.
Auditorium AV equipment designed to put presenters at ease
- Comfort monitors make it easy for presenters to glance at slides or notes during their presentation from anywhere on stage – so they don’t have to worry about losing their train of thought, or turn around to check what slide the audience is seeing. These flat video screens can be positioned at the foot of the stage where the audience isn’t likely to notice them, are less distracting than handheld notes and allow the presenter to move around while maintaining eye contact with the audience.
- For scripted presentations that need to be word-perfect, teleprompters can take the pressure of learning scripts off presenters. Whether camera-mounted or stand-alone, teleprompters project the written speech onto mirrored glass, which is positioned so that the presenter can maintain eye contact with the audience while reading the script. They’re especially useful if a presentation includes a lot of detail or technical specifications, as they allow the presenter to focus on connecting with the audience rather than retaining the information.
- Just as comfort screens provide the presenter with a way of monitoring what visuals are being projected to the audience, discreet audio monitors facing back to the presenter ensure that they can hear themselves speaking at the same volume that the audience hears. This sets the presenter’s mind at ease and prevents them either whispering inaudibly or over-projecting.
The Auditorium AV technician
Control room errors like delayed video playback, incorrectly balanced microphones and missed lighting cues can ruin an otherwise-flawless presentation. The AV technician’s ability to keep presentations running to plan, and adapt to last minute changes without incident, depends on them being comfortable with both their equipment and their ability to make it work.
How to keep the AV technician in control
- Whether the AV team is internal, professional or a combination of the two has a big impact on your choice of equipment – less skilled, internal teams might prefer systems that are simple to operate and rely on preset configurations, while professionals would normally choose the advanced functionality that more complex systems provide.
- Any equipment purchases should be made with futureproofing in mind. Choose equipment that will not only meet your immediate requirements, but that provides additional contingency for unexpected situations – that way you won’t have to hire another mixing desk because you’ve run out of audio inputs.
- Consider the control room location and what monitoring equipment you’ll need to make sure that the AV technician can see and hear what the audience can. They can’t monitor audio levels and cue content if they can’t see the video screens or hear the audio outputs.
- Comms are an often-overlooked piece of auditorium technology that have the potential to be presentation game-changers. Being able to communicate with the presenter, stage manager and event organisers allows your AV technician to become a proactive member of the team rather than simply reacting to events as they unfold
The person with the worst seat in the auditorium audience
It’s pretty easy to deliver an AV experience that satisfies the person sitting in the middle of the audience, but will that same solution work for the person sitting at a 170-degree angle to the stage, or the people in the back row? By designing an AV solution that focuses on the person with the worst seat in the audience, you are more likely to satisfy the whole audience.
The most common problems faced by the person in the worst seat
- They can’t see the stage or the video screens from a comfortable position. Having to perch on the edge of their seat or crane their necks to see distracts the audience from the presentation. Strategically placed repeater screens allow everyone in the audience to sit back, relax and focus on the content.
- The content on the video screens isn’t clear. There are several factors that can affect the clarity of content on video displays – from the type of video display, to screen and text size, ambient lighting, and even system maintenance. Look out for our next blog post on selecting the right video display system for your auditorium for more on this topic.
- They can’t hear. It’s important to invest sufficiently in audio design to achieve uniform audio quality and volume throughout your space – your AV designer should ensure that the speaker placement provides a flat frequency response and doesn’t create any dead spots. You can then use a mixing desk during the event to adjust EQ, noise gate compression and other tweaks like compensation for specific types of voices.
Sometimes the worst seat isn’t even in the auditorium
Streaming presentations to remote audiences can significantly reduce event costs and increase reach – but only if the necessary planning and tech is in place to provide a positive experience for online viewers. Virtual attendees aren’t a captive audience and can easily be distracted by other factors in their environment, so it’s particularly important that your AV quality captures and keeps their attention.
- Good quality audio is vital. Online participants might tolerate less than perfect video quality but they’ll be lost without clear audio. Take a separate mixed output from the desk and ensure you have a suitable quality audio interface for your webcasting system. Monitor the audio on the stream and ensure the level is neither too hot (causing distortion) or too quiet.
- Choose the best cameras you can afford – ideally, broadcast-quality cameras should be used.
- Provide the full visual experience. If you’ve sharing a video stream only, then use a mixing desk to cut between slides, videos and live action rather than pointing the camera at the stage and expecting participants to follow slides projected on a screen behind the presenter. If possible, provide presentations and supporting material as separate elements of the online delivery so that remote audiences can interact with these independently.
The auditorium manager
The auditorium manager is responsible for the day-to-day running of the events space – keeping the clients happy and the business running. They need to maximise the return on the space by minimising downtime. Equipment breakdowns cost them time and money and can damage their venue’s reputation.
How to reduce the impact of AV maintenance on an auditorium’s bottom line
- Specify known, reliable equipment of an industry standard, with a good warranty period that provides support. Make sure that all purchased equipment comes with a good service package.
- Make sure that your integrator’s service-level-agreement provides you with technical support when you need it. Most SLA costs are based on the turnaround time between a fault or breakdown being reported and a support team arriving on site – the shorter this time, the more your support agreement will cost.
- While 24-hour support will also cost more than 9-5 cover, it also means that auditorium bookings can continue during the day while repairs are done overnight.
- Keep budget aside for a preventative maintenance agreement with your AV integrator. This covers 6-monthly or annual equipment health checks and non-urgent repairs so that technical issues can be identified and addressed before they cause breakdowns.
As with most AV solutions, the secret to auditorium AV is to focus on the people – the technology is just a means of delivering a message. Get in touch with the Anna Valley team to discuss your next corporate AV project.
This column was reprinted with permission from Anna Valley Integration and originally appeared here. Leave a Comment
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Google Jamboard Review – 2017
By Craig Heiman CEO, AV Planners
I’m approached by many vendors as an AV integrator so it takes a lot for me to get excited. However, when I heard Google was coming out with a new collaboration board, I had to meet with them to see it for myself. I was invited to check out the new Google Jamboard at their headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. As an audiovisual expert who has seen the evolution of interactive collaboration tools, I believe THIS is truly a game changer!
EASY TO USE.
It REALLY is easy to use.
There is nothing more frustrating for me than to walk into a building where we’ve installed the latest interactive board technology and see it is not being used. The truth is people get nervous and intimidated when using these boards. The problem is these types of boards are too complicated and people end up using them as a expensive stand alone whiteboard for notes. The industry that truly embraces this board technology is K-12 teachers that receive regular in-service training. But what about the corporate world? If you’re not using your interactive board to its maximum potential, you’re really missing out. Google has found a solution to this problem with the development of the Google Jamboard. Walk up to a Jamboard and within minutes you’ll be an expert. It’s intuitive in that you simply use it like a ‘real’ white board: An eraser erases (and cleans the screen at the same time), a pen writes (with 1-millimeter accuracy), and for those moments you just need to erase with your finger, you can. There are even added fun sensory details such as when you erase you can see the flakes trickling down the screen. Need to remove an image? Just flick and push it away as fast as removing a pinned photo on a cork board. The tools also come charger free, so you won’t have to worry about running out of ink or battery life either! So whether you have new hires, guests or vendors, anyone is able to instantly use the Google Jam Board.
ANY DEVICE
No operating or device wars here.
In my industry, the compatibility of devices can be a big issue. I’m talking beyond OS, PC and Mac debates. Everyone wants to be universal, and I think Google finally has it down. This is a universal board meaning that it is agnostic to any platform. The ability to integrate a variety of devices to the board makes it truly unique! If you can’t get to a computer, just use the Google Apps on your phone or tablet. If you can use Google’s G-Suite, you’re already connected, and that makes everything much simpler. Which brings me to….
IT’S GOOGLE
You’re already using it.
It’s clear Google invested a lot of time, research, and resources into developing the perfect interactive whiteboard (and it even looks cool). It contains awesome integrated features such as a fully integrated camera, speakers, and microphone as well as the ability to collaborate with other Jamboards. What if you need to find and clip an image? Use the integrated Google search. Yet, it’s the integrated use of G-suite, that really blows the competition out of the water. G-Suite contains online office tools that includes Gmail, cloud drive, docs, sheets, slides, and hangouts that seamlessly integrate with the Jamboard. If you’re like me, and already use G-suite to collaborate with your team, the Jamboard is a natural addition. For example, you can use Google docs to share information in real-time at a meeting, in front of the board, or across the country on your tablet or on your phone. The Jamboard TRULY gives you the flexibility for anyone to collaborate from ANYWHERE using the software you more than likely are already using.
In conclusion, this is Google’s first real device for the boardroom and they really nailed it. I’m energized and excited about a product because I know the Google Jamboard will be this year’s must-have collaboration tool. AV Planners is also thrilled to be among the very first companies to offer the Jamboard to the end user. Give us a call and let us set up a demonstration of the amazing new product.
Learn more about the Google Jamboard.
This blog was reprinted with permission from Craig Heiman and originally appeared here. Leave a Comment
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As-a-What? The Trend From Ownership to Use
By Jean Pierre Overbeek CEO, BIS Group
Monday morning. The alarm rings, a bit too early for my liking. I probably shouldn’t have watched the last two series on Netflix yesterday evening after the traditional Sunday evening football matches on TV… after the morning ritual of having a shower, getting dressed, having breakfast and coffee, I check my first emails of today on my tablet. I check out a number of social media sites and read some newspapers. The paper versions have ceased to exist a couple of years ago. This is now all digital with a handy app that selects the interesting newspapers for me. After saying goodbye to my family, I drive off to the office. I am one of the hundreds of thousands of Dutch people owning a company car. In the car, I enjoy good music for half an hour via Spotify on my mobile before the hectic pace of the day starts. No traffic jams today. Despite the slow start this morning, I arrive well on time at the office. A rental property by the way. We want to remain flexible with our housing because of the recent growth of our activity.
At the office, the first appointment of today is with our CFO. We have decided to analyze our gas, water and electricity consumption. With just over 220 employees, we are a medium-sized business user and because of the great dynamics in the energy market, this offers opportunities to also achieve our CSR ambitions in this field by dealing differently with our energy, e.g., start using green energy. In addition, it is an interesting session to gain insight into our costs again. In my private life I am also aware of this again thanks to the campaign of a major Rotterdam energy company giving insight into the energy consumption at consumers with ‘Toon’ by supplying a smart energy meter virtually for free at a new energy contract. This leads to great awareness.
After the appointment with our CFO, we have an evaluation with the management of our IT department. They are going through a busy period. We are in the middle of a migration to a new ERP system of Exact containing, among other things, HRM and CRM modules. All these solutions are cloud based. We have also provided all our employees with Microsoft Office 365 this year. In addition, we fully updated our entire printer park. The word printer park actually doesn’t cover it. Our copiers and scanners, together with the printers, have become so-called multi-functionals. Despite working more and more digitally, we believed that the time had come to update this park. In short, our IT specialists had quite a lot of pizza and Chinese takeaway at the offices in the last months… as much of the migration work is conducted after office hours.
In the meantime, I receive a call from one of my children. The Wi-Fi doesn’t work properly at home. With a number of assignments that they must carry out for school this is a rather big challenge. She cannot even access her iCloud files. At least, that’s the main reason. I presume that not being able to reach various social media sites also plays a role, but I give her the number of the help desk and wish her good luck. She has bad memories of the last school holidays, which was a more-than-great holiday by the way, but at the all-inclusive resort the Wi-Fi was less than great. We couldn’t even write home. So I had to explain to my youngest child what a postcard is. A great phenomenon. He grew up with WhatsApp, Instagram and Snapchat. “But dad, we will arrive home before the post card arrives? And how can grandpa and grandma reply to the card? Also with a postcard?” Suddenly I really feel 43.
Why are some of the words in this article in bold, you may think? Well, that’s relatively easy. To my mind, all the things described above are not very revolutionary and truly recognizable to many people. I work for a great and dynamic business, which provides the business market of professional audiovisual and related IT solutions. A company characterized by rapidly changing innovations in the transfer of image and sound. A great business. Our organization provides solutions that increasingly end up in the so-called primary process at our clients. In other words, our business connections can often no longer carry out their work without our solutions. This year, we will provide approximately 6,000 spaces such as classrooms, auditoria, waiting and meeting rooms in hospitals, meeting rooms and conference rooms with these solutions. That’s why we consider IT and AV solutions as the fourth utility, in addition to gas, water and electricity. I can assure you, when on holiday — just like their peers — my children prefer good Wi-Fi and as fifth in the row (three children and mum and dad), a lukewarm shower over a hot shower, but no poor Wi-Fi.
In addition, all bold issues ended up in my life “as-a-service.” I pay a sum monthly for the service and I am flexible in its use. I haven’t purchased any of the bold issues — not in my private life and not for work either. For you probably the same applies.
That’s why, as an organization, we had the idea to offer our solutions and products in the same manner to our business connections. Yet a number of industry peers seem somewhat skeptical. Supply audiovisual solutions as a service? Solutions that virtually all need a hardware and/or software update after three years in their relatively short lifespan and after five years of upgrading or even a technology swap, we entirely change the products for new ones. Why would clients want this as a service?
My answer? Tell me one reason why not… all other utilities are also offered as a service.
This column was reprinted with permission from Jean Pierre Overbeek and originally appeared here. Leave a Comment
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Advanced Education Partners with EZ-Robot for AI Learning in K-12Furthering its commitment to introduce and support the integration of innovative technology into K-12 classrooms, Advanced Education today announced that it has been named an authorized provider for EZ-Robot and its Revolution Robot Kits, a groundbreaking new platform that encourages students to build and program their own robots. The appointment, which encompasses the entire suite of EZ-Robot products, also includes the introduction of Advanced Education’s “Educational Bundles” that equip administrators with all the components they need to fully utilize the platform.
To facilitate the needs of today’s school robotics programs and to accommodate curriculum requirements, Advanced Education has introduced its new “Education Bundles,” which include three robots, a variety of connectors and adaptors, spare servos, and an ultra-sonic distance sensor. “It may seem daunting for schools to experiment with new technology that requires a significant amount of equipment,” McPherson commented, “but our ‘Education Bundles’ are designed to minimize cost and maximize efficiency. We want to make it easy for both students and educators to utilize the tools available to them today.”
The EZ Robot Revolution platform features simple clip’n’play robot building blocks — called EZ-Bits — that are user-controlled, or autonomously programmed, over a Wi-Fi connection from a student’s PC or mobile device. Each EZ-Robot includes built-in cameras and speakers that can support GPS, ultra-sonic distance sensors, infrared sensors, and augmented reality glasses.
Once assembled, an EZ-Robot enables the implementation of cutting-edge technological features such as vision tracking and learning, mobile apps, speech recognition, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and hundreds more. Each EZ-Robot can be programmed by new users with the visual interface, or through traditional real-world programming using C++, C# and Visual Basic. Additionally, students can download the EZ-Robots’ free software on their home computer to allow them to work on their robot projects at home. All EZ-Robots be controlled with Wii remotes, Xbox 360 controllers, joysticks, Android and iPhones, tablets, computers, augmented reality glasses or by voice.
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Oblong Adds More Sub-$50K Mezzanine Systems Oblong Industries today announced an expanded product range and series naming convention for its flagship immersive visual collaboration solution, Mezzanine. Along with hardware and software innovations that drive the entry price point for a full Mezzanine solution below $50,000, Oblong is adding seamless integrations with popular enterprise utilities including calendaring and Skype for Business.
Mezzanine is now offered in three new, smaller configurations all at the sub-$50,000 price category.
Mezzanine 200 Series: This dual screen configuration for small to medium sized teaming rooms that delivers collaboration concurrently with up to 10 shared devices, gestural interaction and real-time control by multiple participants are now available in a familiar form factor.
Mezzanine 300 Series: While many conferencing systems provide only one content channel, Mezzanine 300 uses a three-screen configuration. The Mezzanine 300’s shared workspace matches that of their flagship Series 600 and 650 solutions, allowing customers to extend the immersive Mezzanine experience to satellite offices at a lower cost. Mezzanine 300 is fully upgradeable to Mezzanine 600 Series. The 300 Series will be added here after InfoComm.
Mezzanine 600 Series: Beyond the practical benefits of the three-screen primary workspace shared across locations, and the three-screen secondary workspace for those in the room, the “wow” factor of the large multi-dimensional workspace makes a strong impression during presentations. This six-screen Mezzanine configuration features new spatial tracking technology that requires no room remediation; new in-room server options reduce cost and installation complexity. The 600 Series is here.
Oblong is here. Leave a Comment
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Christie Launches New Spyder X80Today Christie introduced an all new processor in the Spyder lineup with the Christie Spyder X80. Delivering what Christie says is four times the pixel management capacity of anything else available on the market, the new Spyder X80 is capable of handling 4K at a 60Hz refresh rate on a single channel.
The new Christie Spyder X80 multi-screen windowing processor offers many capabilities for rental staging and large scale experiences that help make display walls easy to set up and manage, while incorporating the latest standards and connectors, including HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2, and 12G HDSDI. Christie Spyder X80 solves both the large and small display canvas needs of today, with enough power to solve display needs of the foreseeable future.
The new Christie Spyder X80 offers an array of innovative features and benefits:
- Large display canvas support – A modular configuration supporting up to 24 inputs and 16 outputs, with all connections capable of displaying 4K at 60/50Hz, customers benefit from 4K support for narrow pixel pitch LED, tiled video walls, plus complex, multi-display projection environments
- Card chassis based design allows customers to match input and output needs with room to change and upgrade in the future
- All source content can be displayed freely across multiple types of displays including displays configured in portrait mode with Spyder’s ability to rotate outputs individually
- Single channel 4K support on every channel – Christie Spyder X80 supports 4K at 60Hz at 8/10/12 bit processing on a single cable, plus 4K at 120Hz on dual or quad cables
- Super low latency – Continuing in the Spyder tradition, 80 megapixels and 4K at 60Hz support has super low latency impact
- 24/7 operation – Proprietary hardware processor allows 24/7 operation for the most demanding and critical applications
- Scalable and flexible – With industry leading scaling and format conversion, customers can mix and match multiple SD, HD, 4K, and stereoscopic video formats without compromising the creativity to flexibly arrange and manipulate content while maintaining original picture quality
- Christie Spyder Studio client software (GUI) — Advancing Spyder’s reputation for show control, from simple presets to complex frame accurate timelines, Spyder Studio has the flexibility and functionality required for the most demanding live environment
The Christie Spyder X80 is at InfoComm (in Orlando, Fla. June in the Christie booth #2553 next week or you can see it here. Leave a Comment
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QSC Announces Next-Generation Q-SYS Enterprise Core Processors QSC has added new products to the Q-SYS Enterprise Core category. Running exclusively on Dell server hardware, these industry-first solutions combine the processing capabilities of the Q-SYS realtime operating system with the Dell R730XL hardware platform. The result is the only IT-grade solution available on the market that brings audio, video and control (AV&C) processing into the datacenter.
These new Q-SYS Enterprise Core processors represent the first fully integrated AV&C solution demonstrating the future of the industry and its shift towards standards-based IT platforms. The use of standard, mainstream hardware reflects a typical enterprise IT environment and provides several benefits, particularly for corporate clients and global enterprises, including:
- Centralized Shared Resource: Enterprises can take advantage of the corporate infrastructure and place Q-SYS Core processors alongside other building-wide IT services such as VoIP, UC&C, as well as security and access control servers. Both the Q-SYS Core 2200 and Core 5200 processors provide up to 512×512 network audio channels while offering an abundance of raw processing power. The Q-SYS Core 2200 offers 128 built-in, fully routable acoustic echo cancelation (AEC) processors while the Q-SYS Core 5200 offers 256 AEC processors.
- Flexibility: Provides the ability to serve all meeting, conferencing, presentation and lobby spaces from a single platform designed from the outset to provide full AV&C requirements for AV/IT environments.
- Simplicity and Familiarity: Utilizes common hardware familiar to IT managers worldwide with integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) for simple integration with existing IT asset management and monitoring tools.
- Reliability: World-renowned robust engineering found in the Dell R730XL server platform provides IT users with peace of mind that its AV&C solution is built on industry-leading hardware, designed to last, with standard features such as dual redundant networking and hot swappable power supplies and fans.
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WolfVision Launches New Cynap 365 WolfVision has a new addition to the Cynap portfolio with the new vSolution Cynap 365 — marketed as the first and only collaboration device to offer full wired and wireless 4K AV connectivity with an intuitive Office 365 and Skype for business endpoint for a more robust, open VC solution. It is designed for collaborative meeting rooms, huddle spaces, and interactive learning rooms. Cynap 365 is optimized for environments that want maximum display and sharing options with the ability to conference in outside contacts for greater collaboration as well as easier sharing and accessing content.
Cynap 365 offers access to Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint files, whether stored locally or on the cloud, and grants users the ability to share , collaborate, modify and save content in an open, cooperative environment that is easy to use and simple to access.
Other features include a built-in media player which enables content materials of all types from cloud or network drives, recording, streaming and comprehensive BYOD. Cynap 365 offers the most powerful set of features for any collaboration solution on the market. For presenters and lecturers, Cynap Core offers the convenience of utilizing content materials downloaded from the cloud or simply stored on a USB drive, eliminating the need for a laptop or computer. A digital whiteboard is also available for sharing notes on-screen and users can annotate over any open window, enabling spontaneous collaboration in any environment.
With built-in Skype4Business connectivity, as well as wireless screen mirroring for all iOS, Android, Windows and Mac devices, Cynap 365 adds one-click telepresence for your conferencing environments and support for AirPlay, Chromecast, and Miracast protocols means that no software, apps or dongles are needed when sharing content by utilizing wireless technology that’s already built into every mobile device.
Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Optoma Intros Two Native 4K Projectors Under $2,500Optoma is announcing two industry firsts today. The Optoma UHD60 and UHD65 are native 4K projectors, with both models below $2,500. The Optoma UHD60 and UHD65 are both 3840×2160 UHD resolution, include High Dynamic Range (HDR) compatibility using HDR10, along with REC.2020 wide color gamut and DCI-P3 coverage. They feature vertical lens shift and a 1.6x zoom. Both have two HDMI inputs and one HDCP 2.2 port.
The $1,999 Optoma UHD60 offers:
- Brightness: 3,000 lumens
- Contrast ratio: 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio with Dynamic Black enabled
- White chassis
The $2,499 Optoma UHD65 offers:
- Brightness: 2,200 lumens
- Contrast ratio: 1,200,000:1 contrast ratio with Dynamic Black enabled
- Color: Cinematic color via HDR compatibility and RGBRGB color wheel
- Black chassis
Here are all the details. Leave a Comment
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Logitech Intros Logitech MeetUp Conference Camera Aimed at Huddle RoomsLogitech just announced a USB-based conference camera called the Logitech MeetUp. Designed specifically for small conference rooms and huddle rooms, MeetUp’s 120-degree field of view makes every seat at the table clearly visible during a meeting. With acoustics custom-tuned for huddle rooms and a compact all-in-one design, MeetUp is USB and connected to any USB-conferencing hub or computer.
Logitech MeetUp is designed to work with virtually any video conferencing software application and cloud service, including Skype for Business, Cisco collaboration applications and all Logitech Collaboration Program partners such as BlueJeans, BroadSoft, Vidyo and Zoom.
MeetUp captures a very-wide 120-degree field of view with the option to pan an additional 25 degrees to the left and right. A new low-distortion lens, UltraHD 4K optics, and three camera presets make it a perfect option for a quick, high-quality camera in a small meeting room or Huddle space. MeetUp has integrated audio optimized for huddle room spaces in that three sound-isolating mics and a voice-optimized speaker help ensure everyone is heard as clearly as they are seen. MeetUp is Microsoft Cortana certified for voice commands with any Windows 10 system. For larger rooms, where meeting participants are more than eight feet from the microphone, customers may also purchase the Logitech Expansion Mic for MeetUp.
Logitech also introduced its ConferenceCam Soft Remote, an app that easily turns a smartphone or tablet into a remote control for Logitech MeetUp. ConferenceCam Soft Remote features all the controls available on the Logitech remote. It is compatible with both Android and iOS devices and will be available in July for free from the Google Play or Apple App stores.
Gary Kayye got the detailed scoop on the MeetUp camera this week via a rAVe RADIO pre-InfoComm Videocast, which you can watch here. Logitech will demo this in its booth (#2681) next week.
Logitech MeetUp will be available in July 2017 and will list for $899 in the U.S, €1,099 in Europe and £999 in the U.K. Here are all the detailed specs. Leave a Comment
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Crestron Ships SSW Room Availability Hallway SignCrestron’s new SSW Room Availability Hallway Sign is a wall mounted room sign that illuminates bright green to indicate an available room, and red to indicate an occupied room. The SSW is perfectly visible from up to 50 feet away and yet highly energy efficient, utilizing less than 2 watts.
Integrators connect the SSW to a Crestron TSW x60 Series touch screen (via the included 15′ USB cable) for a programming-free solution with what Crestron is calling instant out of the box functionality. Alternatively, multiple hallway signs can be connected to a Crestron control system up to 3,000 feet away via Cresnet cable.
Housed in an enclosure that can be custom engraved with the room name (or left blank), the SSW can accommodate a choice of font sizes and the option of one or two lines of text. The acrylic lights up, outlining the edges of the sign and the engraved room name or number. By connecting to a Crestron control system and using Crestron Studio or SIMPL, programmers can customize the RGB capabilities of the SSW such as displaying company or team colors, adjusting brightness, fading in and out in 1% increments, and flashing.
The LED module installs flush with the wall via a single gang box or p-ring that allows connection to a Cresnet or USB cable. The acrylic face of the sign attaches with two screws. The designer molding slides over the sconce-style acrylic sign and attaches with two built-in magnets.
All the product specs are here. Leave a Comment
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Discover Video Introduces DV Express HD Streaming System at Infocomm Discover Video today announced the innovative DV Express compact system for live streaming, digital signage and Video on Demand. DV Express is ideal for small to medium organizations that need a low cost, on premises, HD streaming platform. Schools, government agencies, small to medium businesses and healthcare enterprises will benefit from plug and play nature of the DV Express system.
DV Express includes four built-in HD encoders that can be used to stream any live video source such as TV channels, cameras (live events), announcements and security feeds. It also includes a complete digital signage system with unlimited signs. DV Express can be expanded with Discover Video software and hardware encoders, SignStick-2 signage media players and set top boxes.
DV Express key features:
- Four built-in HD encoders with HDMI inputs for live streaming
- Up to 1000 simultaneous video streams to computers, mobile devices and TVs
- Up to 10,000 hours of video storage for VOD
- Complete digital signage system delivering images, video, RSS, etc. to TVs
- Priority Alert Notification system
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QSC Intros Eight-Channel CXD-Q Series Network Processing Amplifiers for the Q-SYS Platform QSC has introduced the CXD-Q and CXD-Qn eight-channel network processing amplifiers. Designed specifically for integration with the Q-SYS Platform, these amplifiers can take advantage of a “whole system” design philosophy where they can be configured and managed like all other elements of a Q-SYS system. The CXD-Q Series also features its Flexible Amplifier Summing Technology (FAST), which enables the ability to combine up to four channels for higher output power.
These models are capable of providing up to 8,000-watt peak and 5,000-watt continuous with low-Z, 70-volt or 100-volt direct drive available on all channels. The “Q” models offer eight channels mic/line input directly on the back of the amplifiers acting as a Q-SYS on-ramp for additional amplification. By contrast, the analog inputs have been removed on the “Qn” models, which help reduce system cost when a purely networked amplifier is needed. Both models include eight bi-directional GPIO connections that can be used for analog or digital inputs or outputs to/from the Q-SYS Platform.
Housed in a 2U rack-mount configuration, the eight-channel CXD-Q Series models replace equipment taking up nearly three times the rack space. Here are all the details. Leave a Comment
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wePresent Intros New WiCS-2100 wePresent re-announced the launch of their newest model, the WiCS-2100. First shown at Integrated Systems Europe in February, the WiCS-2100 is the first in the new line of wireless collaboration systems.
The WiCS-2100 is a wireless presentation and collaboration solution that allows presentation, interaction and collaboration between users with any kind of device. WiCS-2100 supports Windows or Mac computers, smartphones, tablets and Chromebooks for wireless connectivity.
WiCS-2100 offers complete integration with Chromecast and Airplay devices, including audio and video support. This allows users of both mirroring solutions to collaborate simultaneously and take advantage of the full range of on-board interaction and collaboration tools available, such as on screen annotation and interactive whiteboard capabilities.
WiCS-2100 is the first wePresent model to offer an “eco” standby mode which allows for reduced power consumption. Eco standby mode utilizes discreet power to maintain functionality while conserving energy use. For environments where moderator control is crucial, WiCS-2100 offers the conference controller an on-screen user preview for all connected users.
Here are all the detailed specs. Leave a Comment
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Anchor Audio Debuts Battery-Powered, Wireless, Portable Line Array Systems at InfoComm 2017 Anchor Audio’s newest arrival to the Anchor AIR product line – the Bigfoot and Beacon AIR – will debut at InfoComm. The company first released AIR wireless companion speakers in their flagship Liberty Platinum product line in June 2016, and throughout the year added the battery-powered wireless connection technology into the MegaVox Pro, Go Getter, and lastly the Bigfoot Line Array and Beacon Line Array. All systems with AIR technology have complete wireless connectivity between units. The Bigfoot and Beacon AIRsystems are not passive companion units, but rather, are main units with either an AIR transmitter or receiver built-in. The units can be used in tandem for larger coverage or separately as stand-alone units.
The Bigfoot and Beacon AIR systems are battery powered, operate six to eight hours or more on a single charge, and can be placed 150 feet or more from one another. A single transmitter can connect to an unlimited number of AIR receivers. AIR wireless technology operates within the 900 MHz frequency, which is one of the few clear frequency bands available and, therefore, limits interference from competing signals. The Beacon is the official wireless PA system of rAVe’s THE GAME, by the way. We’ve used it since it debuted.
The Bigfoot and Beacon portable line arrays are durable and easy to transport with built-in wheels and handles. Delivering 130 and 120 dB of clear sound respectively, these portable sound systems are ideal for both music and voice amplification making them truly versatile. All Anchor Audio sound systems are available with up to two wireless microphone receivers in addition to the AIR wireless companion transmitter.
The Bigfoot and Beacon AIR portable line arrays are shipping now. Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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Draper Introduces Larger, Quieter Shade with FlexShade Recharge Draper announces FlexShade Recharge, a quiet, battery-operated shade with rechargeable batteries, here at InfoComm. Draper’s FlexShade Recharge is designed for flexible installations and can be installed in a variety of places, including larger window openings. Available up to 12 feet high and 12 feet wide, the FlexShade Recharge features simple installation, similar to a manual window shade. The batteries last longer and are more powerful than those in other systems, and with no external battery wand, extra space isn’t required for the batteries. With FlexShade Recharge battery is hidden inside the roller tube and can be recharged from a 110V outlet or an optional solar panel.
FlexShade Recharge has a touch-sensitive remote control, or a flush-mount wall switch and works with all the major control systems. FlexShade Recharge also features several accessories, including a maintenance charger, solar panel for battery motors and cable extenders. In addition, the FlexShade Recharge app can be used to control or program the shades. Since the motor has bi-directional communication, the app even knows when it’s time to charge the battery.
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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Epiphan Video Launches Streaming Device Aimed at Facebook Live and YouTube creatorsEpiphan Video is launching Epiphan Webcaster X2 at InfoComm 2017. A dedicated hardware encoder for live streaming, Webcaster X2 enables creators on YouTube and Facebook Live to create high-quality live content directly from their cameras or any HDMI source. Using the respective live streaming APIs, Webcaster X2 is fully integrated with these social streaming platforms. From pairing with the user’s account to viewing audience reactions and questions, the lightweight and portable Webcaster X2 has everything needed to simplify live video streaming.
To get started with Webcaster X2, the user connects an HDMI camera, selects YouTube or Facebook Live, and then pairs the device with their account using the pairing code displayed on the front screen. To go live, the user presses a button or clicks the start icon using a mouse and external HDMI display connected to Webcaster X2. At the end of the live broadcast, stopping the stream is done the same way. Using an HDMI display, users can see viewer comments and configure additional streaming options.
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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Bose Professional Intros Panaray MSA12X Modular Steerable Array Loudspeaker Bose Professional announces the introduction of its Panaray MSA12X Modular Steerable Array Loudspeaker. The self-powered Panaray MSA12X features a slim, unobtrusive acoustic design with twelve full-range 2.25-inch transducers (with 75 Hz – 14 kHz response) in a columnar line array configuration, to provide consistent audio levels with outstanding vocal intelligibility and full-range music reinforcement in acoustically challenging spaces.
The MSA12X model includes 12 internal power amplifiers (50 watts per channel; total 600-watt rated power) and onboard DSP to allow digital control and beam steering of array vertical coverage patterns. Proprietary Articulated Array configuration allows wide, 160-degree horizontal coverage. Independent level and EQ control is supported for two separate beams per array, and onboard memory stores up to 10 user-selectable presets. The MSA12X features both Dante network connectivity and line-level analog input.
The modular design allows up to three MSA12X units to be vertically arrayed to increase coverage distance and low-frequency pattern control. The slim, low-profile elegant enclosure mounts close to surfaces, blending in with the visual aesthetic of a space, and its digital control eliminates protruding pitch brackets. An integrated mounting bracket allows up to 90-degrees of pivot away from surfaces. Design, setup, and control of beam coverage is provided by Bose Professional Modeler and ControlSpace software. The MSA12X is available in either black or white finish and is paintable.
Designed for use in houses of worship, auditoriums, museums, transportation facilities, lecture halls, conference facilities and theaters, the Panaray MSA12X Modular Steerable Array Loudspeaker will be previewed during the 2017 InfoComm show and are scheduled for fall 2017 availability. All the details are here. Leave a Comment
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beyerdynamic Launces Quinta TB Wireless Boundary Microphonebeyerdynamic, inc. will launch their new Quinta TB Wireless Boundary Microphone at InfoComm 2017next week. The Quinta TB wireless boundary microphones from the beyerdynamic Quinta product line is specifically for voice transmission during video conferences.
Different operating modes can be set using the system software. In microphone mode, the Quinta CU acts as a multi-channel receiver, in which case a maximum of four Quinta TB’s (depending on the size of the room and the number of participants) can be operated simultaneously. In this mode, the software can be used to connect several central control units. In the conference mode, the Quinta TB acts as a delegate microphone unit and can be used for any traditional conference applications.
Quinta Triple Band technology ensures uninterrupted transmission. The system operates with the highest HD audio quality and 128 bit encryption and a 24-bit PIN code guarantee protection against eavesdropping. The system is distinguished by its speedy recharging time and a long operating time of at least 14 hours. A three-color backlit button with tactile feedback and Braille makes the device accessible, shows all participants the status of the microphone and enables use of the global mute, push-to-talk and push-to-mute modes.
The microphones can be operated with the fully equipped Quinta CU or the new Quinta RS control unit, which has been designed for small meetings and video conferences at an attractive price-performance ratio.
Here are detailed specs. Leave a Comment
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Crestron Adds Amazon Alexa Integration to Commercial AV Control Systems Crestron announced today an expanded partnership with Amazon that brings the power of Alexa to the meeting space. The integration allows employees to start a meeting – from dialing in to the voice or video call to pulling up presentation materials on-screen – with one command. Meeting attendees can also ask Alexa to adjust the room’s A/V, lighting and HVAC, using commands such as “Alexa, tell Crestron it’s too cold in this room.”
Crestron says they and Amazon have been working together for almost a year in the residential market and they wrote to us saying that many Fortune 500 companies that use Crestron were asking to add Amazon Alexa voice-controlled skills to control their office space.
Crestron will be demonstrating Amazon Alexa in the meeting space next week at InfoComm 2017 Booth #1900. And they have details of the new Alexa integration here. Leave a Comment
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HARMAN Introduces Sonique Far Field Voice Input Technology for HomeAV and ProAV Applications HARMAN International, as you know, a subsidiary of Samsung, today announced a new Far Field Voice Input Technology, called Sonique. This technology is intended for the fast-growing market of devices in the Consumer Electronics, Enterprise, and Robotics spaces that utilize voice commands, rather than traditional physical inputs via buttons, keyboard inputs, or mouse clicks. Translation: Harman (with Samsung) will try and make Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s Voice better.
HARMAN is saying the market for devices with voice input capability to exceed $7 billion by 2024 with the majority of the voice-controlled devices expected in several areas, including home hubs, conferencing, healthcare and robotics.
According to HARMAN, Sonique uses a customizable, high performance microphone array, a suite of voice algorithms to accurately capture voice commands, even in high ambient noise environments, and integration with popular natural voice engines, and low distortion speakers.
Sonique will initially be offered in three configurations for specific use-cases. The first configuration will be a two-mic solution. This robust configuration is intended primarily for consumer electronics applications, such as a home hub, which can be easily integrated into a music device, TV set-top box or an internet router. The two-mic configuration is designed for high quality voice inputs at distances up to 4 meters (12 feet).
The second Sonique configuration is a four-mic solution. This configuration is designed for premium home applications, enterprise applications, and robotics applications. The four-mic configuration is for voice inputs at distances up to 6 meters (18 feet).
The third configuration is a seven-mic solution. This configuration is designed for high performance applications, mostly for enterprise and robotics. Featuring a suite of high performance algorithms, the seven-mic solution is for voice inputs at distances up to 8 meters (24 feet) with high ambient noise.
Sonique will integrate with all natural voice engines that are available for public use. Amazon’s Alexa and Microsoft’s Cortana are available now. They expect to integrate with other natural voice engines, such as Baidu, Iflytech, Google Assistant, SoundHound, and Siri in the near future.
Here are complete details on HARMAN’s Monique. Leave a Comment
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VuWall Debuts Personal Videowall Solution in New VuStationVuWall’s new VuStation is a KVM solution for “personal” video walls, that allows for multi-source control inside the operator’s personal working surface. It enables the operator to interact with multiple sources on a monitoring and control level from a single station with a single keyboard and mouse.
The collaborative VuStation interface supplies the operator with all critical controls and information on one screen set. The interface also allows the resizing of all windows across the complete input range, accessing multiple sources even if they are on segregated networks. Interfaces can be set up in any configuration with operator accessible templates and groups.
In addition to video walls, we see this as an interesting solution to manage social media in social media control rooms. This could be a bigger announcement than they even realize.
VuStation features include:
- Ability to control multiple windows within one or multiple surface(s)
- Ability to control all sources with one keyboard and mouse
- Customizable view of all windows on your desk
Think digital canvas on a desktop — see anything, anywhere in any configuration.
Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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LG Debuts Transparent LED-Film LG Electronics USA Business Solutions today unveiled a unique new LED display with very cool installation capabilities — the LG Transparent LED Film Display.
The LG Transparent LED Film display (model LAT300MT1) offers digital content and information while interacting seamlessly with its surrounding environment. The versatile LED Film offers over 1,000 nits brightness, with each 480x480mm panel containing 256 LED pixels that support gray-scale tones, a great way to display content and information. The product also supports standard and irregular aspect ratios to provide even more display options with a dynamic look and feel.
At just 0.8 millimeters thick, the 30-millimeter Pixel Pitch display can be installed on any existing glass surface using its self-adhesive transparent film, making it easy to install with minimal construction required. As a result, the LG Transparent LED Film display is ideal for indoor and window-facing areas with large glass surfaces such as retail storefront windows, where it draws the attention of passing customers without obstructing the view of the products behind the glass or blocking light from coming into the store.
Other applications include mass transit rail platforms and safety barriers, where it can display digital content and information while interacting seamlessly with the environment, and lobbies and large public areas where the film can convert ordinary glass into stunning, eye-catching digital signage displays. Even tall glass elevator shafts can be transformed into stunning pillars of graphics and light.
With the ability to connect up to two film panels to the display’s bezel kit and support up to 24 film panels through daisy-chain from the unit controller, the LG Transparent LED Film can be scaled easily to fit a variety of installation environments. Even more, the flexible display works on curved surfaces and in parallel to the bezel, can be cut to size, truly converting any area of ordinary glass into state-of-the-art digital signage.
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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Crestron DM NVX Series Is 4K60, 4:4:4 and HDR AV-Over-IP System on a 1Gb Network Crestron is here at InfoComm four months after ISE where they had the original launch of their new DM NVX Series. Crestron says that DM NVX Series makes it possible to securely transmit stunning 4K60, 4:4:4 and HDR video over standard 1 Gigabit Ethernet, with no latency. A key component of the company’s secure Enterprise Room Solutions, DM NVX Series provides for a scalable network AV solution, from a simple point-to-point setup, to thousands of endpoints and requires only DM NVX Encoders/Decoders. DM NVX integrates with DM HDBaseT, 4K60 fiber and H.264 streaming products.
Crestron also says that the DM NVX Series is the only 4K60, 4:4:4, HDR video over 1Gb Ethernet solution that provides network security at the product level, leveraging a battery of standard network security protocols including 802.1x authentication, Active Directory credential management, PKI authentication, AES encryption, TLS, SSH, HTTPS and secure CIP.
The DM NVX Series is comprised of: DM NVX Encoder/Decoder Boxes (DM-NVX-350, DM-NVX-351) and DM NVX Encoder/Decoder Cards (DM-NVX-350C, DM-NVX-351C), which also provide USB 2.0 routing, built-in DSP, auto-switching and support Ethernet natively, as well as fiber, with optional SPF modules, the DM NVX Card Chassis (DMF-CI-8) and DM XiO Director, a network appliance which serves as a centralized “virtual switcher” that facilitates configuration, control, and management of large-scale DM NVX Series AV networks. DM XiO Director is available in models that support 80 (DM-XIO-DIR-80), 160 (DM-XIO-DIR-160) or unlimited (DM-XIO-DIR-ENT) endpoint devices.
Software residing in the DM NVX Series Encoder/Decoder boxes and cards makes it possible to configure, deploy, and manage entire systems from the web. Integrators choose sources and displays, and set bandwidth and latency to meet the needs of the application and infrastructure. For larger DM NVX Series systems, Crestron’s new DM XiO Director allows you to provision and manage them over a standard IP network.
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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Da-Lite Debuts New Borderless Screen at InfoCommThe new Da-Lite FullVision is a borderless design for use when designing a space that requires the AV to disappear and allow the features of the space and architecture to be at the forefront of the experience in the room. FullVision features a wraparound surface that adheres to the frame with Velcro to speed installation, making it easier to assemble than other products on the market. It’s always seamless and available in standard sizes up to 16 feet wide.
All the tech specs and sizes are here. Leave a Comment
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For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe AVBuyers.Club 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 and HomeAV industries, 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 or say anything good (or bad).
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 ProAV Edition is our flagship newsletter with what we believe is a reach of virtually everyone in the ProAV market. rAVe HomeAV Edition, co-published with CEDIA and launched in February 2004, is, by far, the largest ePub in 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. rAVe Radio, our podcast network, was launched in 2012. AVBuyers.Club, our first publications targeted at end users, launched in May 2015. You can subscribe to any of those publication or see ALL our archives by going to: https://www.ravepubs.com
To read more about my background, our 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. |
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