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Special Announcement Join Gary Kayye at Two Events in May!
Editorial HD Conferencing COULD be the AV/IT Conduit
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Welcome to another edition of rAVe! We’ve been talking about AV-IT integration forever but until now, there hasn’t been an easy path for ProAV dealers to get into IT. Until now. Read my editorial to see where I think your next move is for getting into IT. I’m hitting the road in May, first at the SPL Technology Seminar in California, then at the Electrograph Display Technology Experience in May 3 in Chicago. Won’t you join me? Details are below. Enjoy the issue! Gary Kayye, CTS Special Announcement Join Gary Kayye at the SPL Technology Seminar
Wednesday May 2, Hyatt Regency San Francisco, California While at the seminar, you will learn more about one of the hottest topics in today’s conferencing market, the convergence of AV, IT and IP, from Gary Kayye of Kayye Consulting, a leading marketing and consulting firm for the AV industry. Do you need to get answers on how to improve the communication and productivity at your organization while holding down costs? Join us at an SPL Technology Seminar, where we are bringing together the leading audio and video vendors to demonstrate their products and answer your AV and conferencing questions. RSVP by calling (925) 404-0440 or emailing cbuck@splis.com
Thanks to our sponsor D-Tools, worldwide leader in easy-to-use, highly accurate system design software. System Integration just got easier!
rAVe — the most widely-read eNewsletter in the ProAV industry — is offering a way to extend the life of your application stories. Within the newsletter, we will link to your case study in a special section called AV in Action – the Case Study Quarterly. The entire rAVe subscriber list can read YOUR case study/application story for three whole months. Space is limited. Contact Sara Abrons at sabrons@kayye.com.
Editorial HD Conferencing COULD be the AV/IT Conduit
OK, marketingspeak! Blah, Blah, Blah.,. But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that they may be on to something. They are probably even right. There is no doubt that videoconferencing has a reputation of never quite delivering on its promise – over-promised and under-delivered. Most VTC manufacturers will readily admit this (off-line). So, why not make up a new word and re-sell it as something totally new – Hey, isn’t driving a Lexus a lot more luxurious than driving a Toyota? And, certainly Mazda has nothing on Infinity. But, what really made me stop and think was what they, Cisco, may be onto here. By introducing this technology, Cisco is “officially” in the ProAV business now. Sure, they claim that they are only going to sell it through 25 Cisco-certified partners (none of which are known as traditional ProAV integrators, by the way). But, one way or another, they are in the ProAV business now. And, maybe we now have the conduit to the AV/IT convergence because Cisco isn’t selling a videoconferencing system. Cisco is selling a network add-on. A network value-add. IT managers get networks. As far as they’re concerned, networks work. Every major ProAV tradeshow, conference, advisory board or writer (including this one) has been pushing the AV/IT convergence bandwagon for a few years now the writing’s on the proverbial wall. And, just because it’s only happened in HomeAV, so far, doesn’t mean that it won’t happen in ProAV. In fact, to the contrary – because wireless and networked video and audio are pervasive in the home, it will, in fact, rise up to the Pro world too. Maybe HD conferencing is the pathway to the professional AV future – for integrators. It’s clear to me that most integration firms get it. While some have lived in IT-denial, most of you have been out there getting educated and integrating AMX, Extron and Crestron network-enabled control systems. But, not totally. With the exception of a few systems out there designed by companies like Waveguide, Shen Milsom Wilke, and Pelton Marsh Kinsella, the majority of AV systems out there are AV-centric with an IT port. What we need to strive for are IT systems with an AV port. This is where products like Crestron’s Adagio and AMX’s MAX are taking the HomeAV world and will, eventually, take the professional AV community. So, maybe it will take Cisco, an IT company, rather than a Polycom or Tandberg (both AV companies) to push us into the IT realm and AV-enabled IT systems. I wish them the best of luck as, although they certainly have the resources to pull it off, I certainly (along with many of you) remember Cisco’s IP/TV and its promise to do some really similar stuff to what the TelePresence system claims. And if they do pull it off, the word videoconferencing might not be so bad after all!
Reprinted with permission from Sound & Communications. Founded in 1955, Sound & Communications is the premiere magazine for AV systems integrators, contractors and consultants. To subscribe or read sample articles, go to http://www.soundandcommunications.com.
Lou Nanni, InfoComm Director of Certification, Announces Retirement
A personal reflection of Lou from Gary Kayye: “I have never been to Lou’s house, but I will bet you that his garage is the most organized garage you’ve ever seen – including every tool with its place; labeled. I was the Vice-Chair of the InfoComm PETC committee when Lou came aboard InfoComm (then known as ICIA) and I remember thinking, to myself, how this former military and obviously extremely organized guy would HATE this unorganized industry and, more specifically, the incredible amount of random thinking that come from our committee. I was wrong. In fact, he sort of whipped us in shape and forced us to think more logically and have method to our madness. Lou was a pain in the butt but I will bet he will tell you the same thing about those of us on the PETC at the time, including me. Congratulations Lou and have a giant German pretzel on me.” — Gary Kayye Nanni came to InfoComm in December 1996 after 24-year career in the United States Coast Guard. “Lou’s military background and organizational talents helped launch InfoComm’s Certified Technology Specialist Program,” said Randal A. Lemke, Ph.D., Executive Director, InfoComm International. “Lou was the first person I hired at InfoComm and under his leadership we have gone from 50 CTS holders to over 6,000. He will be missed by all at the association and in the industry.” “Lou’s contributions during his 10 years at InfoComm have been critical to the great success of the certification program as it moves to its next phase with ANSI-ISO 17024 accreditation,” said Melissa Taggart, InfoComm Senior Vice President of Education, Certification and Standards. “Industry volunteers often cite his integrity and commitment to fairness in testing as Lou’s greatest strengths. We will also miss his enthusiasm for introducing new workers into the industry and his zest for life.” Lou and his wife Eva are moving to Florida, which will act as their home base as they travel the world together. “It is a great feeling to leave the certification program in great shape, and be able to travel, surf fish and attend German festivals,” said Nanni. “We are ready for the next adventure.” For more information, go to http://www.infocomm.org/cps/rde/xchg/infocomm/hs.xsl/avindustry_3368.htm Barco Introduces Display Wall Manager, Shows New iCon Model at NAB
What makes these products unusual is they each have onboard computers that can store data locally and can also connect to the network and act like any other networked computer. So they can pull data either from the local drive or from the server.
For more information on iCon, go to http://www.barco.com/Presentation/en/products/productclass.asp?class=347 For more information on XDS-1000, go to http://www.barco.com/Presentation/en/products/product.asp?gennr=1701 Epson Targets ProAV With Three New Projectors
The PowerLite 1810p and 1815p 3LCD projectors ($2,699 ESP and $2,999 ESP) are both specified at 3500 lumens and XGA 1024 x 768 resolution, 500:1 or 600:1 contrast ratio, and weigh 6.5 and 6.9 pounds. The 1815p model includes wireless a/b/g, USB Type A connectivity to any PC, as well as RJ-45 wired LAN connectivity for remote monitoring and control. For control via the IP network, Epson also added a new GUI interface that lets users remotely play and pause presentations as well as adjust images (i.e., e-zoom, keystone correction, volume, color mode, etc.). The new PC-free interfaces (also including USB port and Compact Flash) show files as thumbnails, including JPEG, GIF, BMP, PNG, SIT, MPEG1, and MPEG2. So, network administrators can manage files on installed units from any location. Epson touts east set-up, an A/V Mute Slide function for pausing during presentations, eight color modes, and two brightness levels, among the features of these two new projectors. The new education-specific projector is the PowerLite 83c ($899 ESP). This is specified up to 2200 lumens with a seven-watt speaker, a built-in closed captioning decoder, and wired LAN connectivity. Other specifications include XGA resolution and up to 400:1 contrast ratio.This new projector weighs 6.4 pounds, uses 3LCD technology, has a five-second on/off feature and seven color modes. It also has a sleep timer for prolonging lamp life. Nice specs for the price. For more information, go to http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/index.jsp?ref=haa Two New Large-Venue 10,000-Lumen Projectors From Panasonic
Both these three-chip DLP projectors are specified at 10,000 lumens, 5000:1 contrast ratio with 10-bit video processing. They also have an Auto Cleaning Robot, an automatic filter cleaning system for extending the times between filter maintenance. The PT-D10000U and PT-DW10000U use a new liquid-cooling system that directly cools the DLP chips and allows them to be used in temperatures up to 45°C (113°F). The projectors have built-in multi-screen support so they can project large, multi-screen images with edge blending, without any additional equipment. The result is a seamless image using up to 100 sources (10 ft. x 10 ft.). Both models are networkable with wired LAN. They are basically identical, except for the PT-DW10000U’s higher resolution. The PT-D10000U and PT-DW10000U projectors will be available in the first quarter for MSRPs of $54,999, and $74,999. For more information, go to http://catalog2.panasonic.com TI Takes New Digital Cinema Chip to ShoWest
Digital Cinema is a technology that we’ve known for years will, eventually, become standard. But it is only now hitting its stride. TI says DLP Cinema adoption increased by more than 350 percent globally through 2006 and it is currently installed in 3,334 screens in commercial theaters worldwide. For more information, go to http://www.dlp.com Premier Cart Designed for Low Profile, Optimized Viewing
The 40-inch pole height allows the user to position the display as needed. The flexibility features are 35-degree upward tilt, 10-degree downward tilt, and 360-degree portrait or landscape rotation. For more information, go to http://www.premiermounts.com/pressRoom/NRPremierMountsDigitalSignageCart.pdf New Scaler and Presentation Switcher From Kramer
The VP-419xl accepts an NTSC video signal in composite video, s-video or component video format and will up convert that signal to one of 8 computer graphics video and HDTV output resolutions. The unit also has a 15-pin HD computer graphics video input that when selected, or when the unit is powered off, will be routed directly to the output. The computer graphics video output resolutions available are VGA (640×480), SVGA (800×600), XGA (1024×768) and SXGA (1280×1024). The HDTV output resolutions are 480p, 576p, 720p and 1080i. All signals are output on a 15-pin HD connector. The VP-419xl has per-pixel motion compensated de-interlacing for artifact-free images, automatic detection for 3:2 pull-down for 24fps material and a vertical temporal filter to remove jagged artifacts. This scaler will automatically detect NTSC and PAL video sources, can output 4×3 or 16×19 aspect ratios and has on-screen display for setup and adjustment. The VP-419xl has a built-in proc amp for convenient signal adjustment and it can be controlled via front panel buttons or the included IR remote control. It also has non-volatile memory to retain the last settings used prior to powering down. Two units of the VP-419xl can be rack mounted side by side for professional system use with the optional RK-80N rack mount adapter. The VP-419xl is shipping for list $595. For more information, go to http://www.kramerelectronics.com/news_full_story.asp?iNews=204
The Presentation Switcher section of the VP-23RC includes three 4×1 video switchers – composite, s-Video and computer graphics video with stereo audio — and one 4×1 master audio switcher. The computer graphics video section has both a 15-pin HD output and a CAT5 output for long distance signal transmission. Audio features include built-in 5-watt per channel amplifiers, volume control and microphone input with Mic Talk-Over feature. The VP-23RC can be controlled via the IR remote, RS-232 or RS-485 serial control or through the Ethernet port. The unit also has a front panel lock out feature to prevent tampering. The Media/Room Controller section of the VP-23RC uses technology in Kramer’s newest RC-8IR universal room controller plus several enhancements. The controller section controls both A/V equipment such as projectors, DVD players and audio equipment, along with room functions such as lights, blinds or motorized screens/projector lifts. Eight backlit buttons can each execute 15 commands, and the buttons can be labeled. In addition to switching sources, each of the input buttons on the switcher section can also execute up to 15 commands per button, providing a truly systemized approach to source integration with room control. One unique feature of the VP-23RC is that it has the ability to address and control up to five products with unique IP addresses so it sends commands to networked AV devices through an Internet connection from across the room or from anywhere in the world. The VP-23RC is available from Kramer Electronics USA at a list price of $1,750. For more information, go to http://www.kramerelectronics.com/news_full_story.asp?iNews=203 AMX Introduces New Camera Control, Matrix Switching Products at NAB
Using the integrated touch panel, the operator can select cameras, visually track and change their movement, store and recall presets and adjust each camera's settings. The controller also includes a proportional pan/tilt/zoom joystick and controls for focus, iris and speed. With the right hand on the soft wrist pad, the operator can also intuitively guide the camera and twist the joystick to zoom the lens in and out. The NXP-PLV supports up to six cameras and will be available within 90 days. AMX has also integrated CatPro technology, which transmits high-resolution RGBHV + Stereo Audio over category cable into its line of AutoPatch Optima Series Matrix Switchers. The new 4×8 and 8×8 RGBHV + Stereo to CatPro Boards transmit local computer video signals up to 1,000 feet and at resolutions up to 1600×1200 and 1920×1080. The CatPro Boards support up to eight outputs. The Optima 8×4 and 8×8 RGBHV + Stereo to CatPro Boards will be available Q2 2007. The other product from AMX is the High Definition Serial Digital Interface (HD-SDI) Board for its AutoPatch Optima Series Matrix Switcher line. The Optima HD-SDI Board provides routing in a smaller footprint and is designed for broadcast, post-production or medical applications using HD-SDI cameras, playback equipment or other sources. This is available now. For more information, go to http://www.amx.com/ Sony OLED to Ship by Year End: Reuters
According to Reuters, the OLED display was the most popular attraction at a recent event. “At a display forum in Tokyo, customers, suppliers and even rival TV makers turned their backs on 50-inch and bigger TVs to throng before Sony's tiny 11-inch OLED TVs.” Apparently, the image was far more vivid than any of the LCD or plasmas anywhere near it. The drawback is that as of now, OLED displays are very expensive, according to the report. Reuters says that other companies developing OLED include Seiko Epson Corp., Canon Inc., Samsung and a joint venture between Toshiba Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. For the whole story, go to http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKSCH32430420070413
New Tabletop Touch Panel, Multimedia Presentation System From Crestron
The fixed-tilt design has a 37-degree angle for use on a lectern, table or counter, and you can add the optional SMK-8T swivel mount accessory to permanently mount the TPMC-8T to a flat surface with a 330-degree rotation. Cables can be routed through the center of the swivel mechanism for a completely hidden solution. The embedded PC in the TPMC-8T allows for Web access via Internet Explorer, streaming media using WindowsMedia, and PC application viewers for MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Acrobat, meetings with NetMeeting and Skype and, of course, AV distribution, lighting, climate, and security control.
It uses a 2-Series control engine, e-Control webserver, internal power supply and, according to Crestron, out-of-the-box switching and audio control. For more information, go to http://www.crestron.com/press_room/press_releases/
ClearOne Announces Chat 150 for Cisco Telephones
The Chat 150 connects directly to the headset port of the Cisco phone so there is no need to pull additional phone lines. Also, users can switch between headset mode and speaker phone mode. Chat 150 for Cisco ships this month. For more information, go to http://www.b2i.us
Industry Organizations Meet to Discuss Government Relations Programs
This group has individual programs that haven’t, to date, worked in concert. Now, the seven participating associations want to coordinate efforts to stop legislative actions negatively impacting the associations' members and industries. For more information, go to http://www.infocomm.org/cps/rde/xchg/infocomm/
 Well, that's it for this edition of rAVe! Thank you for spending time with me as we muse the industry's happenings. To continue getting my newsletter, or to sign up a friend, click the link below. To send me feedback, don't reply to this newsletter – instead, write to me at gkayye@kayye.com or for editorial: Denise Harrison at dharrison@kayye.com A little about me: Gary Kayye, CTS, founder of Kayye Consulting. Gary Kayye, an audiovisual veteran and columnist, began the widely-read KNews, a premier industry newsletter, in the late 1990s, and created the model for and was co-founder of AV Avenue – which later became InfoComm IQ. Kayye Consulting is a company that is committed to furthering the interests and success of dealers, manufacturers, and other companies within the professional audiovisual industry. Gary Kayye's rAVe was launched in February 2003. rAVe Home Edition co-sponsored by CEDIA launched in February, 2004. To read more about my background, our staff, and what we do, go to http://www.kayye.com
Copyright 2007 – Kayye Consulting – All rights reserved. For reprint policies, contact Kayye Consulting, 400 Meadowmont Village Circle, Suite 425 – Chapel Hill, NC 27517 – 919/969-7501. Email: dharrison@kayye.com Gary Kayye's 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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