An exhibit area called “Tools of the Trade” will be shown for the first time at NSCA. From the smallest tools to enterprise software, this new area plans to demonstrate all sorts of integrator solutions. NSCA says the new exhibit is the result of a member survey, which indicated integrators are looking for problem-solving devices […]

The new Mediatech MT-52-BM, ButtonMate 52, is a configurable room control panel capable of directly controlling RS-232, IR and Contact Closure-controlled devices such as A/V switchers, projectors, VCR/DVD players, document cameras, etc. This controller is designed for direct control of 4 IR devices (using 2 dual head emitters), two relay controlled devices, and 2 RS-232 […]

Associated Press is reporting that Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Entertainment and Digital Cinema Implementation Partners (DCIP) are teaming up to develop a digital film delivery system for beaming, via satellite and broadband, movies to U.S. exhibitors. This technology has been discussed to death for a decade and usually, it makes the studios and distributors skittish, […]

TV One brought new presentation switching products to NSCA, including a nine-input seamless switcher and a method for adding additional inputs. The C2-7110 Dual Channel Multi-format Presentation Switcher uses the CORIO EXP Front Panel, which gives the user 48-button functionality, multi-way navigation control and integrated LCD. It’s all located directly on the front of the […]

Tuesday May 1, Sheraton Palo Alto, California, and 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 […]

Notes from the Kitchen Table   One of the most honored places in a home is the kitchen table. The dining room, if you have one, might offer a more elegant setting, but it is often reserved for more formal occasions. The kitchen table is where families and close friends gather to eat, play games, read […]

InfoComm announced the special events we can expect at the upcoming conference. The fourth annual Manufacturers Forum, scheduled from 4-5:30 pm on June 18th, offers a glimpse into AV industry trends and predictions from some of the biggest names in the business. This free event is moderated by Gary Kayye. CTS, of Kayye Consulting, and […]

Barco introduced a 56-inch quad full high definition display, the LC-5621. The LC-5621 has a configurable ambient light sensor, a wide viewing angle and adjustable color temperature. This display is especially designed for applications such as studio backdrops and broadcast control rooms where multiple video inputs need to be monitored. The adjustable color temperature setting […]

Bretford will show at InfoComm the company’s new Flat Panels Digital Kiosks, which are designed for security, networking and information retrieval in public locations. The company points to hotel lobbies or business centers, where visitors might check meeting locations or flight schedules, or at malls, where shoppers can get more information about stores. The FPDK02 […]

Minicom Advanced Systems is showing its newest generation of player-to-screen digital signage solutions at the Digital Signage Expo in Chicago, May 16-17. Minicom will be highlighting its DS Vision 3000, a CATx-based distribution system for delivering HD video and stereo-audio to multiple screens up to 1,000 feet. The DS Vision has serial management for remote […]

Mayville Products is bringing a new range of racks to InfoComm. The Stantron brand of racks and accessories, to be shown at the show, include the Presentation Rack, new PowerMount system for thin power strips, and a new range of cable management options. These systems, along with a range of products for lighting and cooling, […]

Broadcast Pix is bringing to InfoComm a new DVI input/output board for its Slate switcher line. The modular Slate input/output architecture has three I/O boards, including: SD digital, analog, and HD for 720p and 1080i later this year. The new DVI board will add both a DVI input and a DVI output and includes adapters […]

Premier Mounts has a new flat panel mount that allows you to rotate your display 360 degrees. The Rotary Series is designed for flat panels between 37 and 61 inches. It also mates directly with any floor stand and it works with dual-pole stands. This mount is PERFECT and will be a big hit in […]

Christie, again taking a leadership role in yet another vertical market, announced the Christie Mirage HD Series, the first native 1920 x 1080 HD, 3-chip DLP projectors with active stereo. Christie says the series has 41 percent more resolution than previous 3D projection technology. The company says its new platform allows images to be powered […]

Planar acquired the privately-owned Runco for $36.7 million in cash. The acquisition includes the Runco and Vidikron brands as well as the company’s CineWide and Video Xtreme technologies. This is THE biggest projector news in at least two years, and maybe the biggest projector news – ever — in the HomeAV market. Planar, spearheaded by […]

By Gary Kayye 10. Just look at the panelists. Heck, just having Andrew Edwards, President of Extron, and George Feldstein, founder of Crestron, on the panel together is reason in itself to go. 9. I think I will sit George and Andrew next to each other. 8. Harman’s Michael MacDonald will be there and his […]

By Chuck Wilson, NSCA Executive Director In the systems integration business, we seem to spend an inordinate amount of our time focused on technology. This is only natural; true passion for technology is what led many of us to pursue this career path, and there’s something satisfying about forming technology and components into a system […]

rAVe eNewsletters Sponsoring Digital Signage Pavilion at InfoComm Digital signage is one of the fastest growing components in the AV industry and is one more factor driving the convergence of the worlds of AV and IT. InfoComm’s Market Reseach forecasts digital signage to reach over 1 million displays by 2009 and industry players estimate that […]

Planar says the company will show a prototype display of its CoolSign-enabled Integrated Sign solution, a new all-in-one kiosk solution, and a range of rear projection and LCD monitors and touch screens for indoor or outdoor environments.  The prototype of the new iS40 Integrated Sign display appliance will be shown with a 40-inch display and […]

By Brian E. Huff, CTS-D After you’ve been in the Pro AV business for awhile, you start to recognize certain project approaches that have a recognizable and uncomfortable ring.   They often sound logical and reasonable in casual conversation.  But some are extremely ill-advised, and if the client is not educated about the realities of professional […]

Professional Media Group LLC, producer of the EduComm Conference at InfoComm announced two keynote speakers for the EduComm07 Conference, to be held June 19 – 21, 2007 in Anaheim. David Pogue is the personal-technology columnist for The New York Times and an award-winning tech correspondent for CBS News. He is also one of the world’s […]

In a move that will keep InfoComm riding high in ProAV, InfoComm and NXTcomm plan to co-locate their tradeshows in Las Vegas next year at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The organizations also said that they plan to co-locate future events as well. InfoComm has 800 exhibitors, 28,000 attendees and more than 450,000 net square […]

I can’t think of anyone who deserves this more than Sandy.  He doesn’t look it, but he’s been an industry icon for decades! Sandy Schroeder has been named as the 2007 recipient of the NSCA Lifetime Achievement Award, which is given annually to an individual making exceptional contributions to the industry at large. Schroeder, who […]

rAVe Publications are the most widely-read eNewsletters in the ProAV and HomeAV custom installer communities. rAVe gives readers opinions and context with news reported about and for the industries. For more than five years, readers have enjoyed news, editorials, feature articles as well as significant breaking news blasts. rAVe Publications is a division of Kayye […]

Panorama Labs announced the company has successfully built and operated its first magneto-photonic projector. This is a small-scale digital projector built to demonstrate this new technology, which doesn’t use LCDs or micro-mirrors. This uses a micro display light engine based on the principle of magneto-optical switching. Magneto-optical technology is actually best known as a storage […]

The Wi-Fi Alliance certification program for 802.11n Draft 2.0 will launch in late June, according to the Wi-Fi Alliance. The launch includes a new logo that will appear on consumer products that have been tested for industry-wide interoperability, the latest security protection, and backward compatibility with previous generations of Wi-Fi gear. 802.11n has long been […]

Grayson Evans of Training Department Seminars says installers looking for a simple audio and video test signal for field set-up and troubleshooting can use their iPods. He notes video iPods could store your video test and setup signals: PLUGE; SMTPE color bars; resolution test patterns; reference videos (for animations, videos, etc.) All you need for […]

Life|ware announced Life|media, a new line of servers built for digital entertainment as well as home control. The company says it used benchmark internal components and the look and feel of a high-end A/V receiver. The result is from 500GB to 4.5 Terabytes of storage for digital music, movies, pictures, and recorded TV as well […]

JVC announced its second generation Clear Motion Drive high-speed LCD television technology that bumps refresh rates up to 120Hz, as did the previous generation. But this new development is designed specifically for full 1920 x 1080 resolution displays. The design should benefit viewers of both video and gaming graphics with its reduction of blurring the […]

Many view LG’s decision to close its oldest plasma manufacturing plant as representative of a continuing decline in the plasma TV market. LG is closing one plant, and announced it will not increase production in the other two plants. The Wall Street Journal reports that this means production will go from 430,000 panels to 360,000 […]

Eight new 1080p LCD HDTVs were announced by Mitsubishi Digital Electronics, and the company is marketing these as having uniquely thin frames. The models range in price from $2,699 to $5,699 and in sizes from 40 to 52 inches. They offer up the usual proprietary image and color processing technologies and some come with HDMI […]

Audio Design Associates showed at the CEDIA Lifestyles Expo the SWAN system (Structured Wiring Audio Network) – a multi-room audio system aimed at the MDU, tract home and custom built home markets. The company says they designed this to be an easier sell to builders. It lets dealers sell the pre-wire package and structured wiring […]