In 2017, the audiovisual trade organization known as InfoComm formally changed its name to the Audio Visual and Integrated Experiences Association or AVIXA. The addition of that little “X” caused some consternation among many in the industry at the time, and there are still some industry Luddites who take shots at the idea of adding […]

Cory’s is celebrating 70 years of success in the rental and staging market this year. We recently sat down with Brad Poarch, Cory’s CEO, to discuss the company’s evolution and its plans for the future. rAVe [PUBS]: Congrats on 70 years! Can you give us the short version of the Cory’s origin story? BRAD POARCH: […]

Extron just debuted the smallest AV-over-IP Encoder in the world (literally handheld-sized) into its NAV ecosystem with the NAV E 121, and it’s already shipping. The NAV E 121 streams ultra-low latency and high-quality HDMI video and audio over 1 Gbps copper Ethernet and standard IP networks. This new economical NAV encoder is just half […]

A new company called OliverIQ debuted this week, offering what it is calling a “Smart Home as a Service (SHaaS) platform.” OliverIQ aims to scale its SHaaS platform offering product support, unlimited online and phone support, in-home assistance and security system monitoring. Homeowners get unlimited technical support calls, as well as access to OliverIQ’s comprehensive […]

Gerald Ivar “Jerry” Williams, a pioneer in the field of assistive listening technology, passed away Nov. 30, 2023, at the age of 96. A native Minnesotan, Jerry’s journey into the world of electronics began during World War II when he enlisted in the Navy and served as an electronic technician’s mate aboard the USS Artemis. […]

I am a native Mainer. I was born in Lewiston, attended school, got married, had children, work and live in the city. For me, there is no other place that I will ever be able to call home like Lewiston, Maine. Infamously, the country got to know the name of Lewiston on Oct. 25 as […]

This survey is now closed — keep a lookout for our February 2024 temperature check survey! Welcome to the first Temperature Check Survey of 2024! This month, we’re setting the scene by asking a few questions that gauge your predictions for the AV market. Gary always makes predictions with his Kayye’s Krystal Ball article (coming […]

In September, AMX announced a new line of controllers. The most interesting thing about these controllers is, per AMX’s press release, the ability to “simultaneously process a virtually unlimited number of scripts written in JavaScript, Python or Groovy and natively support Low-Code development with Node-RED.” I have written before on the problems with walled gardens, […]

Remember that one guy in your classes who would ask the professor a “question?” I used quotes because their question was always a thinly veiled excuse to expound and fill up the air with their own opinions. I never liked that guy when I was in school. As a result, I try to avoid being […]

The rAVe team is thrilled be able to announce this year’s Best of DSE Awards! Earlier this month, the DSE (now dubbed the Digital Signage Experience) show was held alongside of the LDI (a massive lighting show) in Las Vegas. We literally shot videos of every product on the show floor —they’re all here: https://www.ravepubs.com/dse/ […]

The rAVe team is thrilled to announce our very first Best of LDI awards in 2023! We did get to cover a bit of this show last year, but this was the first time we covered the entire show floor, and we are thrilled to bring that coverage to you now in terms of our […]

I am on a mail list that has recently had a thread about whether dedicated computers are still necessary. There are several arguments for and against this, although in this particular thread most of the arguments seemed to be for removing the dedicated computers. For some background, higher education has a long history of providing […]

In my last rAVe column, I summarized some recent cyberattacks on MGM and Caesars’ casinos. In that article, I tried to drop some social engineering science and some lessons learned from Scattered Spider (aka 0ktapus, UNC3944, Starfraud, Scatter Swine, Muddled Libra and most recently, Octo Tempest). I warned #AVtweeps about their aggressive social engineering Tactics, […]

Now contractors can add dimming control to any project with the FX Luminaire, using a push-button design that works with any low-voltage fixture. Compatible with all low-voltage transformers, the new dimmer is an add-on accessory for any landscape lighting system. Its fully potted design enables easy installation in standard junction boxes or in the field […]

We made it! Day Two of DSE and LDI. If you were at the show(s) this year, you may have noticed some familiar faces video shooting on the show floor this time. That’s because it was entirely our full-time staff! We each had a video section, and I was humbled by the fact that I […]

ACT Entertainment acquired tvONE, aiming at the live events market with the Green Hippo line of media servers and digital display products. The acquisition marks the first foray into video equipment for ACT Entertainment, a manufacturer and distributor of products to the entertainment industry. Since 2017, the company has completed multiple acquisitions bringing RapcoHorizon, AC […]

Black Friday has come and gone. Not for the first time, I am struck by the differences between working in distribution and frontline retail. Chatting with one of my vendor contacts on Friday, I reflected that Black Friday was a quiet day for me. The only emails I received on Black Friday — both of […]

Hello everyone! You might know me as the managing editor of rAVe [PUBS], co-host of rAVe [TV] or, if you attended DSE and/or LDI 2023, perhaps you know me as that woman who came around and strong-armed you into shooting product videos. Just kidding! I know you all secretly love being the star of a […]

As the year comes to a close, we want to know your thoughts on how ProAV has changed throughout 2023. You can check out the results of last month’s rAVe Temperature Check here. This month’s survey is now CLOSED. Keep an eye out for this month’s results and for next month’s survey! 

As DSE and LDI are swiftly approaching on Dec. 3-5, we’ve crafted a guide to help you make the most of your time at both shows. We consulted with the respective show directors of DSE and LDI, along with input from past attendees and exhibitors, to compile the must-see highlights from these co-located trade shows. […]

As November draws to a close, it’s time to review the results of this month’s Temperature Check focused on the ever-changing landscape of digital signage. For November’s survey, we were interested in learning about what the digital signage industry looks like from our reader’s perspectives and how this segment of the AV industry is framing […]

It’s official—registration is now open for LAVNCH WEEK 9, the industry’s flagship virtual event for ProAV, UCC, digital signage and EdTech practitioners! The event will take place on the LAVNCH platform March 18-24, 2024. “We’re thrilled to be returning with what will be another successful LAVNCH WEEK,” said Gary Kayye, founder of rAVe [PUBS] and LAVNCH WEEK 9 […]

While this article features two lectern companies, it’s really about all lecterns. The author has no commercial involvement with any of the companies mentioned in this article. There it is, always on stage. Standing on a podium for so long and so often, some of the users even call it a podium. But it’s not […]

On Wednesday, Dec. 13, LAVNCH [CODE] will host its first-ever chain reaction event where a panel of experts will dig into everything you need to know about the metaverse. The event will begin with Megan A. Dutta, LAVNCH [CODE]’s editor-in-chief, giving a brief intro and then posing a question to an industry expert. The expert will then […]

As integrators, at the bare minimum, we are value added resellers of AV equipment. We make AV systems more valuable than the sum of their parts through expertise in installation, maintenance, and long term support of technology. However as prices decrease, all-in-one products replace multiple SKUs, and systems come preconfigured out of the box, that […]

As the year comes to a close, the rAVe [PUBS] team is excited to present 2023 ProAV Wrapped, a LAVNCH & LEARN covering all facets of the industry. Led by Megan A. Dutta, a panel of experts — including Xzavia Killikelly, CTS, Peerless-AV’s Kevin McDonald and Southtown AV’s Heather Sidorowicz — will discuss ProAV trends, […]

Audinate made it clear the company wants to be known as an AV-over-IP brand — not just an audio-over-IP brand — with a new logo, tagline, etc. Audinate will emphasize the Dante brand more in the market, given the strong connection and recognition with customers. The Dante AV-over-IP platform tagline, “One Connection. Endless Possibilities” will […]

The SDVoE Alliance, a nonprofit consortium of technology providers collaborating to standardize the adoption of Ethernet to transport AV signals in professional AV environments, announces Justin Kennington has resigned from his role as president, effective immediately, and introduces Stephane Tremblay as president of the SDVoE Alliance. In 2016, Kennington conceived and founded the SDVoE Alliance […]

A recent discussion on social media centered around relationship selling, what it was and the value of it for all the parties involved. It was a great topic, but on a social media platform, there is very limited time and space to discuss something so important, so I am expanding on my thinking here. Relationship […]

The Digital Signage Experience (DSE) is less than two weeks away, and, again, it will be co-located with the LDI Show. The industry’s only exclusively digital signage show, DSE includes both a two-day exhibit hall and an educational component. DSE’s David Drain joined me on my latest videocast to talk about the event — after […]

By Todd Heberlein Exertis Almo When my friends and I were kids, there really wasn’t a question of IF you were going to play sports, but rather which sports your parents would allow you to play. Every kid in my neighborhood was involved in some sort of team sport, ranging from baseball to volleyball. As […]

Google has recently announced that it is winding down the JamBoard product, and it will no longer be available after December 2024. Along with no longer selling the hardware, the software is also being discontinued. In a little over one year, the product will be completely useless. Google has said that it will work with […]