Volume 8, Issue 13 — July 8, 2010
|
Share
this issue
of rAVe! | | | | | | |
|
 | |  |
| | |
|
 Click above for more information |
Welcome to another issue of rAVe ProAV Edition!  We hope you all enjoyed your 4th of July holidays as much as we did. In today's issue, we're doing the second half of our InfoComm 2010 coverage. You can see more coverage in our last issue here: http://www.ravepro.com/issues/2010/06/rpvol8iss12/index.html
We'll be doing our rAVe Best of InfoComm 2010 Awards in our next issue so be sure to come back! I'm also following up today to an article I wrote six months ago about the death of projectors, with another reason we may see a decline in the use of the technology. Check it out below and let me know what you think. Enjoy the issue! –Gary Kayye Back to Top
|
 Click above for more information |
The Projector's Dying a Rapid Death: Part 2
By Gary Kayye, CTS  In the January 21, 2010 issue of rAVe ProAV Edition, I penned a column on how and why I believe we’ve entered the last decade of the front-screen projector in nearly all ProAV applications. Ultimately, my essay on the subject concluded that with the growth (literally) of large-screen LCDs and other impending flat-screen technologies, it’ll be hard to keep using projectors in most applications as the advantages of direct-view displays (e.g., brightness, space, ambient light effects, etc.) far and away outpace the disadvantages of projection displays.
Six months later, I stand by my hypothesis, but I’ve also realized that there’s another factor that I didn’t even point out in my original column that very well may have an even greater effect on the devolution of projectors than even 100” LCDs – the rapid rise of the personal information display (PID).
One PID in particular, the Apple iPad, is a perfect example of how we could very well see the future of presenting directly to our PIDs rather than via large-screen projection.
Imagine if you were in a room where every attendee of a meeting had an iPad and the presentation slides were being streamed, in real-time, to the iPads while they were being presented live. Now imagine those same slides being automatically stored, in order of the presentation, to the iPads. And, in addition to saving them, you could annotate over them, write notes or highlight terms being discussed by the presenter and share them via the network with someone, anyone, anywhere.
But, there’s more. Imagine if your iPad could record that same presenter’s speech and time-code it to the presentation so you could literally listen (or share) it over and over again – forever.
OK, now, you tell me, why would you use a projector?
Back to Top
|
 Click above for more information |
SMART Technologies Officially Files IPO  SMART Technologies, a provider of interactive whiteboards, announced that it has filed a registration statement and preliminary prosepectus with the SEC for an initial public offering (IPO) in both the United States and Canada. We first reported we thought a SMART IPO was coming during InfoComm 2009 after SMART CEO Nancy Knowlton hinted at it during their press conference. It's been a busy year for SMART, which recently announced it will acquire NextWindow — a company it was suing a year prior to that for patent infringement. See below the press release regarding the IPO in full.
__________________________________
SMART Technologies Files for Proposed Initial Public Offering
SMART Technologies Inc., a global provider of interactive whiteboards, today announced that it has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission and a preliminary prospectus in each of the provinces and territories of Canada relating to a proposed initial public offering of its Class A Subordinate Voting Shares in the United States and Canada. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined. Upon completion of the offering, the Class A Subordinate Voting Shares will be dual listed, trading under the symbol SMT on NASDAQ and SMA on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank Securities and RBC Capital Markets will act as joint senior bookrunners for the offering. BofA Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse will act as junior bookrunners. CIBC, Cowen and Company, Piper Jaffray and Thomas Weisel Partners will act as co-managers.
A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This media release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor may there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
A preliminary prospectus containing important information relating to these securities has been filed with securities commissions or similar authorities in each of the jurisdictions of Canada. The preliminary prospectus is still subject to completion or amendment. Copies of the Canadian preliminary prospectus may be obtained from the underwriters at the addresses set out below. There will not be any sale or any acceptance of an offer to buy the securities until a receipt for the final prospectus has been issued.
The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. When available, a copy of the U.S. preliminary prospectus for the offering can be obtained from Morgan Stanley, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014 or telephone: 1.866.718.1649; from Deutsche Bank Securities, Attention: Prospectus Department, 100 Plaza One, Jersey City, NJ 07311 or telephone: 1.800.503.4611; or from RBC Capital Markets, Attention: Prospectus Department, Three World Financial Center, 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10281-8098 or telephone 877.822.4089; and a copy of the Canadian preliminary prospectus for the offering can be obtained from www.sedar.com.
Back to Top
InfoComm's InfoComm Report: In Their Words  InfoComm 2010 was a resounding success and we appreciate your participation. This year's Show hosted more than 300 jam-packed educational seminars, 925 exhibitors and was the second largest Show in InfoComm history with over 32,000 attendees!
Miss the Keynote featuring Cisco’s Marthin De Beer discussing the future of video? Watch it here: http://vidego.multicastmedia.com/player.php?p=fn16w146
Were you too busy to leave the show floor to take classes? InfoComm OnDemand is a new program allowing you to view 16 incredible seminars at your leisure! CTS renewal units are available here (including rAVe Founder, Gary Kayye’s Social Media for ProAV Integrators Seminar): http://www.infocommshow.org/infocomm2010/public/Content.aspx?ID=1203
Save the Date for InfoComm 2011!
Attend the conference: June 11-17, Exhibits: June 15-17 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
Interested in speaking at InfoComm 2011? Be sure to submit your proposal today! Submissions are due Friday, September 17: http://infocommshow.org/infocomm2011/public/CFP_ProposalSubmission.aspx
Back to Top
NSCA's InfoComm Report
SpinetiX received the NEC Best of InfoComm 2010 award and a $25,000 prize for its HMP100 Hyper Media Player. The company then graciously contributed its prize to both the NSCA Education Foundation and the International Communications Industries Foundation.
Two other events helped raise money to result in the NSCA Education Foundation’s most successful InfoComm. The Putting Challenge, sponsored by Herman Procurement & Logistics, was a popular feature in the NSCA Zone where golfers competed for daily cash prizes.
 The highlight of the Foundation’s events was the Industry Charity Concert, featuring the industry’s own Drunk Unkles, who stole the show at the state-of-the-art Vanity Night Club in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino to bring in $55,000 at the standing-room-only event. Sponsors include: AMX, AVI-SPL, Advanced Sound Company, Barco, Cerami & Associates, Christie Digital, FSR, NEC, Shen Milsom & Wilke, and SurgeX.
Additionally, the Education Foundation changed leadership, handing over a very successful three terms of presidency under Tom Frericks, president/CEO at Copp Systems Integrator. Taking over will be Andy Musci, president of Altel Systems Inc., and outgoing president of the NSCA Board of Directors. Joining the Education Foundation board will be Catherine Shanahan, president at Shanahan Sound. Frericks will remain on the board as a director. Back to Top
Gary Kayye to Speak at Synnex FOCUS Seminar on July 20 in Chicago  CHICAGO 2010 – July 20, 2010
Hyatt Regency Chicago
Join your SYNNEX Professional AV team, industry experts, and top manufacturers for FOCUS Chicago 2010, a one-day event to educate, support, and connect Professional AV dealers and IT resellers engaged in this evolving market.
This is a FREE EVENT with lunch and cocktail reception.
- Hear expert industry speakers: Gary Kayye, Lyle Bunn, Joe Cornwall, and Howard Lichtman
- Meet top manufacturer reps and technical gurus
- Get hands-on training in the Vendor Solutions Showcase
- Learn more about hot topics such as Social Media, TMDS Environment, Digital Signage Evolution and New Opportunities, and Telepresence Technology!
- Meet your SYNNEX Professional AV Team
- Receive Training and Educational Credits
Don’t miss this great networking and educational opportunity! If you have any questions, contact us at ProAV@synnex.com.
Register Now!
https://www.signup4.net/Public/ap.aspx?EID=FOCU25E Back to Top
InfoComm Goes DS: Digital Signage, That Is Back to Top
|
Click above for more information |
DPI Shows New 3-Chip, 1080p DLP Line at InfoComm  Digital Projection debuted the new HIGHlite Cine 1080p-260 and HIGHlite Cine 1080p-260 HC projectors at InfoComm last month. Both are positioned by DPI as “affordable” 1080p native 3-chip DLP projectors for the ProAV market.
The first is the HIGHlite Cine 1080p-260 HC (High Contrast), which is optimized to produce 2,000 lumens with a 20,000:1 contrast ratio on screens up to 12’ wide. The second is the HIGHlite Cine 1080p-260 HC, optimized to produce maximum brightness, delivering up to 3,500 lumens for small to mid size venues.
The new HIGHlite Cine line are considered compact and lightweight (especially for 3-chip DLP projectors), and have a lens shift range of 120 percent vertical and 30 percent horizontal and accommodate lens options from 0.7 and 1.0:1 fixed lenses plus zoom lenses with throw ratios ranging from 1.25:1 up to 5.0:1. Connectivity includes two HDMI inputs, as well as RGB via D-15, component, composite and S-Video inputs.
Learn about the Cine 260 here: http://www.digitalprojection.com
Learn about the Cine 260 HC here: http://www.digitalprojection.com
Back to Top
Christie Digital Debuts the Ultimate 3D Projector  Christie’s new Mirage WU7K-M is something you gotta see. Featuring a full WUXGA resolution (1920×1200) display and dual lamps (making uniformity nearly perfect), the Christie Mirage WU7K-M is a 6,300 ANSI lumens powerhouse.
With dual-link DVI support at 330MHz full bandwidth and up to 10,000:1 contrast, the projector is designed for stereoscopic 3D applications and includes three modes of 3D input: standard frame rate of up to 120Hz, as well as frame-doubled content for maximum source compatibility and flicker-free operation. With the addition of a second input module, the Dual Input 3D mode enables the display of a frame-locked, passive stereo source for high-performance, active stereo at 120Hz without the need for an external passive to active converter.
It’s spec’d with a lamp life of up to 3,000 hours (per lamp), a fairly low power consumption of only 20 watts in standby, and filter-free, auto-sensing fans and temperature sensors, making it probably the industry’s most efficient “green” 3D projector so far.
Here are all the specs: http://www.christiedigital.com/AMEN/Products/ChristieMirageWU7KM.htm
Back to Top
Sanyo Intros Two Short-Throw 3D Projectors  Last month, Sanyo announced the introduction of two new ultra short-focus projectors with built-in 3D capability. Both projectors feature Sanyo’s compact chassis of about half the size of most other brands’ short-focus projectors. The PDG-DWL2500 is WXGA resolution (1280×800; 16:10 aspect ratio) with 2,500 lumens of brightness. The PDG-DXL2000 is XGA resolution (1024×768; 4:3 aspect ratio), producing 2,000 lumens. Scheduled for release in July 2010, the PDG-DWL2500 has an MSRP of $1,995 and the PDG-DXL2000 has an MSRP of $1,795.
The two projectors are so new they aren’t on Sanyo’s website yet, but you can see their press release here: http://us.sanyo.com:80/News/SANYO-INTRODUCES-TWO-ULTRA-SHORT-FOCUS-3D-READY-PROJECTORS
Back to Top
|
 Click above for more information |
Extron Expands TouchLink Line  At last month’s InfoComm show, Extron rolled out larger panels, a larger controller and an assortment of mounting options that signaled their investment in control technology is only going to get bigger.
The TLP 350MV is a 3.5" touch panel, again, designed for wall or lectern use, in a 3-gang form-factor (making it an easy upgrade for installs using their MediaLink keypads) that also incorporates Power over Ethernet, or PoE. The IPL 500 is the latest addition to their “IP Link” control processor line and offers eight bi-directional serial ports, eight configurable IR/S ports, four relays, four flex I/O ports, Ethernet driver support and four switched DC ports. The increased control capability of the IPL 500 greatly expands the applications for Extron configurable control systems making them competitive to AMX and Crestron in well over 85 percent of all ProAV installs. You can read all the specs here: http://www.extron.com/company/article.aspx?id=ipl500ad
Finally, Extron also added several mounting accessories including wall boxes, surface mount boxes, and pre-construction back boxes as well as VESA and swivel mount options for the various TouchLink touch panels.
To review all the InfoComm TouchLink additions, go to: http://www.extron.com/product/newproducts.aspx#pt35
Back to Top
AMX Adds Two More DVI Ports to Enova  At InfoComm, AMX announced that their Enova DVX-2100HD now includes two independent DVI-I digital video outputs for simultaneous delivery of digital video to two displays. All of the other ports and features are the same. AMX says the DVX-2100HD Enova Total Environment Controller is a room controller that also includes, multi-format input switching, transcoding and scaling, local and remote distribution, plus audio mixing, and amplification – all in a single box. The so-called “new and improved DVX” features two independent DVI-I Digital and Analog video outputs enabling digital video to be delivered to two separate displays.
For complete specs, go here: http://amx.com/products/DVX-2100HD.asp
Back to Top 
Prysm Makes InfoComm Debut: First System to Challenge Christie's MicroTiles  At InfoComm last month, Prysm, Inc. launched the industry’s first real challenge to Christie’s MicroTiles technology, powered by its proprietary technology, Laser Phosphor Display (LPD).
Although larger than the MicroTiles, the Prysm solution is similar in that they are also “building block” style displays that can be stacked in a wide variety of sizes and shapes to form a display image. Using a 25” diagonal (4:3) tile as the foundation, designers, integrators and architects can build displays into a variety of sizes to meet the individual needs of each application. According to Prysm, they LPD blocks feature a viewing angle of nearly 180 degrees in both the horizontal and vertical planes. Each block has a brightness spec of 800nits, an optical seam of .25mm and a refresh rate of 240Hz. Powered by LPD’s solid-state components, the display solution offers what Prysm calls “an internal health monitor and auto-calibration system” for 24/7 continuous operation and stable performance over the life of the application.
For more information, go to: http://www.prysm.com
Back to Top 
Sound-Craft Systems Expands Educator Series of Workstations  Aimed at the education market, Sound-Craft Systems has added the WSV-35 and WSV-45 podium/workstations to their line – adding a locking document camera drawer in place of the folding document camera shelf standard on the WSV-30 and WSV-40.
The new models offer the same compact dimensions as the WSV-30 and WSV-40, with a width of 30” and 40”, respectively, and a common height and depth of 41.5” and 27” on both models. A keyboard tray, locking doors and front access panel, cable access ports, and 3” casters are standard. The interior is partitioned into a CPU tower bay and an equipment bay that can be equipped with either adjustable shelving or 16RU rack rails as options. The WSV-45 also includes a locking accessory drawer. Both are quality constructed of premium oak veneer on an MDF substrate and offered in natural oak, dark stained oak, dark cherry stained oak, or black lacquer on as standards. Other veneers and finishes are available at extra cost.
You can see all the details at: http://www.sound-craft.com/
Back to Top
Epson Shows New Document Camera  Epson launched the DC-11 document camera aimed at K-12 that features a five-megapixel sensor, 10x digital zoom, and 30 frames-per-second video at full resolution (1280×1024). The DC-11 can display up to two full pages of a book and includes a built-in microphone and software that allows teachers to record audio and video to capture classroom lessons and student presentations, which can then be easily uploaded to class websites for students who missed the lesson or are taking the class remotely – VERY COOL!
Want to see this? Go to: http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&sku=ELPDC10S
Back to Top 
Extron Introduces New Handheld Wireless Mic for the Classroom  Extron recently launched the VLH 102 Handheld Microphone, an infrared wireless microphone with a cardioid capsule and durable polycarbonate enclosure for use with Extron VoiceLift classroom sound field systems. VoiceLift Microphone Systems create a sound field within the classroom so that students can hear the instructor over ambient noise levels. Designed for student use in the classroom, the easy-to-hold lightweight VLH 102 microphone features an anti-roll collar to keep the microphone from rolling off flat surfaces and helps prevent the IR emitters from being blocked during use.
Additional features include an On/Off/Mute switch to silence the mic for private conversations or when not in use and an auxiliary input jack to allow playback from audio devices like MP3 players through the system. The mic includes a single, AA-sized, long life 2500 mAh NiMH battery that provides 8 hours of talk time. The battery can be conveniently recharged in the microphone using an external charger or the VLC 202 Desktop Charging Station.
To learn more, go to: http://www.extron.com/company/article.aspx?id=pvmsintgrad&s=0
Back to Top
QSC Unveils SMX Amplifier Line  QSC launched a new amplifier line at InfoComm, dubbed the CMX. The CMX Series is available in four models: the CMX 300V, CMX 500V and CMX 800V, housed in a 2RU chassis design, and the CMX2000V, housed in a 3RU chassis design with power ranges from 185 watts to 2500 watts per channel.
All models feature constant voltage output for distributed audio systems with the CMX300V and CMX500V offering it in mono-mode only, while the CMX800V and CMX2000V featuring constant voltage output in either mono- or stereo-mode. The output sections feature rugged class AB and class H architecture (depending on power level) and efficient class H output sections on the CMX800V and CMX2000V to reduce AC current. Unlike other designs, CMX amplifier output devices are directly mounted to the heat sink for optimum thermal coupling and cooling. Likewise, all CMX amplifiers are protected from damage by output short circuits with automatic current limiting protecting the amplifier from damage until the short is corrected. These amps, however, are not Energy Star-qualified or rated.
To learn more, go to: http://www.qscaudio.com/products/amps/cmx/
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% 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 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. Everything we publish is Opt-in — we spam NO ONE! rAVe ProAV Edition is our flagship ePublication 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 blow away ANY other Publication in the high-end home AV 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. 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 2010 – 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. |
|
