Enterprise Connect 2025 has come and gone, and if one thing is clear, it’s that AI isn’t just a supporting act anymore — it’s the star of the show. From Microsoft and Zoom to Cisco and nearly every other major player, AI-driven automation, intelligent assistants and workflow enhancements dominated the conversation. Everything was described as […]

There’s an old expression I’m sure you’ve all heard that goes, “It’s not what you say but how you say it.” No one likes receiving bad news, and sometimes there’s no alternative: You just have to give it to them straight. That said, there’s always room for nuance. I’m going to bring up a very […]

As I virtually watched colleagues and friends jet off to Barcelona last month, I thought about the  interconnected aspects of our world. We can hop on a plane in the U.S. and — within hours — be anywhere in the world. I have never been to Barcelona. In fact, have only been to one other […]

By Steve Thorburn On the evening of Wednesday, March 6, 2025, Scott R. Sharer passed away after a seven-year battle with brain atrophy and dementia caused by vascular degeneration. A gifted communicator, teacher, and engineer, Scott was also a beloved brother and a friend to many in our industry. I first met Scott at InfoComm […]

Spring is (basically) here, and that means AV roadshows are in full force! I love to attend a roadshow whenever one makes an appearance in North Carolina because it gives me a lot of face time with manufacturers that I otherwise might not get. When I realized Sennheiser was taking a tour around the U.S., […]

One day, I was on the road, making targeted cold calls. When I walked into one of my stops, the guy working at the parts counter immediately recognized me as a sales rep. Before I could even introduce myself, he said something to the effect of, “We’re corporate, and our head office is in New […]

I have long felt that hybrid meetings are the worst. Trying to navigate the waters of meeting with several people in person, some remote, some wanting to display from their own laptop, etc., all becomes very complicated very quickly. Typically, when I set up a meeting, if more than one person needs to join remotely, […]

Welcome to the recap of rePLAY ISE 2025! Today, we will give you the recap of the recap—and so much more. During this event, Gary and Steph take us through the Best of ISE 2025 Awards, some of our 2,400 product videos, and honestly, just some really cool AV technology that you do not want […]

As the saying goes, “The devil is in the details.” At the same time, a popular aphorism states, “You’ve got to spend money to make money.” I take issue with that aphorism because there are more exceptions to it than examples. In reality you’ve got to make money to make money, then take a disciplined […]

If you’ve ever seen “When Harry Met Sally,” you know it’s a great example of a relationship that didn’t work the first time. Or the second. Or even the third. But eventually, after years of near misses, misunderstandings and stubborn resistance, Harry and Sally found themselves perfectly matched. That’s an apt analogy for what’s happening […]

Many of us constantly monitor the Kastle Office Occupancy Reports that come out weekly. And, for the last two years, there hasn’t been much to report. But, this past month — and this week — set new records in recent years. In fact, we hit a post-pandemic record for office occupancy in the top 10 […]

It’s post ISE, and although I observed this year’s show from afar, I was able to gather a lot of information via my team on the ground in Barcelona, as well as the quantity of videos and interviews produced on the floor and shared on platforms like rAVe and social media like Linked In. I […]

At ISE 2025, at the annual industry awards powered by Inavation and ISE, Telmaco took first prize in the Government and Public sector for its work on the UN Africa renovation. Every now and then in the ProAV business, if you’re lucky, you get to touch a special project … a project that not only […]

Years ago, I was in Calgary doing store visits. I stopped at the location of one of my retail accounts, and the salespeople exclaimed, “Lee! Thank goodness you’re here! Our manager was fired last month, and none of us know how to place orders on your portal!” First, I showed the keyholder how to access […]

Shure Incorporated is celebrating its 100th anniversary, marking a century of pioneering innovation, quality, and unyielding commitment to audio excellence. S.N. Shure started the Company in downtown Chicago in 1925 selling radio parts kits. In 1932, Shure became one of only a few U.S. microphone manufacturers with the introduction of the Model 33N microphone. Since […]

ISE 2025 was filled with the potential of an upcoming AV Cloud onslaught. Big brands such as Legrand AV, Crestron, QSC, Shure, BrightSign, Philips, Sennheiser, and Microsoft each had cloud-related pre-show announcements and were pitching their versions of managing products via the cloud. The show was simply too big to walk in four days, but […]

As ISE 2025 comes to a close, one thing is certain… the cloud is becoming the backbone of Pro AV. Walking the show floor, I heard more mentions of cloud-based platforms than ever before. From remote device management to content delivery and AV-over-IP, it’s clear that the industry is embracing cloud technologies at an accelerating […]

Back in 2015, the AV and collaboration industry was all-in on the death of the large conference room. The huddle room was the future, analysts claimed, brandishing inverted pyramid charts that showed demand shifting toward smaller spaces for two to three people rather than cavernous boardrooms seating 20 or more. And then, just as the […]

Alright. I will be writing this again in 10-minute chunks of time. Apparently. Let’s talk about today. My calendar was full to the brim with appointments and I got to check out the tech and insights from: I entrusted Gary with running around the show floor and keeping his eyes peeled for anything that he […]

Day 2 of ISE 2025 was all about one thing: broadcast production and its growing influence on Pro AV. Yesterday, I focused on the impact of AI, but today, it became even clearer that the lines between broadcast and Pro AV are blurring faster than ever. Walking the show floor, you can’t miss it—Blackmagic has […]

Wow; it’s been a minute since I wrote one of these. Okay. Deep breath. Let’s go. ISE 2025 is probably the biggest trade show I’ve ever seen in my life. There is so. much. happening. More manufacturers than I can possibly get to — in fact, I barely made it out of Hall 3 on […]

Day 1 of ISE 2025 is in the books, and if one thing is clear—it’s that our industry is in for a game-changing year. I spent the day exploring the show floor, talking to industry leaders, and diving into the latest technologies. Here are some of my biggest takeaways from Day 1 at ISE. AI […]

Often at the start of a new year, I give thought to what the next year will bring. How will technology affect our work? What incredible new things will pop up in the consumer world that will soon be something we have to deal with in an enterprise environment? This year, 2025, brings a different […]

ISE 2025 is gearing up to be one of the most exciting ProAV events of the year, packed with new technology, immersive experiences, and inspiring keynotes. From esports to AI-powered AV, here are five things to watch for at this year’s show in Barcelona from Feb. 4-7. Make sure to tune into our trade show […]

It took more than two years, but First Impression in Netherlands succeeded: the company has earned certification as a B Corporation, a global movement to measure and certify a company’s entire social and environmental impact. First Impression joins 9,000+ companies worldwide that want their business to make a positive impact on people and the planet. […]

My role as an Experience Design Professional often intersects with my passions for biology, neuroscience and human behavior, and for good reason. To truly create a transportive experience, you need to immerse someone completely in a new world, making them forget that they’re in an alternate reality. I’ve often reflected on the challenges of a […]

When the vice president of the European Commission called on Taylor Swift to mobilize young Europeans to vote, the irony wasn’t lost on Liveurope. And Liveeurope is fighting back. Liveurope, as an EU-founded organization, brings together Europe’s iconic concert venues to fight for European music diversity. The group includes 24 famous venues in 24 European […]

At the time I am writing this, Christmas is past, and so is Boxing Day. New Year’s Eve is just around the corner. And I’m doing a cleanup on my reporting for our Q4 promotional activities, so that’s what my thoughts are centered on. When it comes to running promotions for your dealers and their […]

In May 2024, a news scandal hit higher ed. University of North Carolina administrators had secretly recorded a professor. Admins used the classroom recording system in order to do this. There are a number of stories in the press about this, including this one in “Inside Higher Ed” and this follow up from the same publication. There is much […]

As I write this, I’ve just returned home from the 2025 CES conference. With about 36 hours to let my thoughts settle, I’ve outlined my biggest takeaways from this year’s event. Here they are, in no particular order. First, the evolution of consumer earbuds is remarkable. As I discussed in an earlier blog, these devices […]

My mom called me to tell me about a cyberattack. I can’t make this stuff up. She said that she had recently gone to Stop & Shop, an East-coast grocery chain with more than 300 locations because she needed a cucumber. But they were out of cucumbers. She said they were also very low on […]

What’s the big buzz at CES 2025? That’s right, wireless earbuds. About 10 years after the price of earbuds nosedived, driving many high-end manufacturers out of the market, they’re back — and they’re not just about music or calling anymore. Once synonymous with cheap, commodity-level tech, earbuds are now reinventing themselves as multifunctional devices packed […]