Biamp conference room solutions are now approved by Zoom for use with both Zoom software and Zoom Rooms. Thus, Biamp now supports bidirectional mute synchronization to share mute or unmute commands with Zoom. (This means Biamp microphones display mute status — red or green — and pass mute commands to the overall system with the […]

Last week, Almo Professional A/V unveiled the first E4 Evolution (E4v), a predominantly live, regionally-focused virtual learning event — part of the E4 Experience. Attended virtually by more than 1,400 participants, the three E4vs (West Coast, Central, East Coast) included live sessions worth AVIXA CTS Renewal Units (RUs) delivered by presenters who tackled topics such […]

Plantronics and Poly unveiled a new series of Poly Room Solutions for Microsoft Teams Rooms Friday. These are the Poly G10-T, G40-T and G80-T. The listed solutions include audio and video tools for users on Microsoft Teams and give IT managers the ability to scale for meeting rooms of all sizes. Teams has more than […]

We weren’t sure whether to continue with the Readers’ Choice Awards this year. To be honest, with COVID-19 affecting so many different aspects of our work and our lives, it didn’t seem like the right time. That’s when it hit us. We began giving out these awards as a way to let our audience tell […]

By Tom LeBlanc National Systems Contractors Association Integration firms looking beyond the COVID-19 crisis need to strategize for a corporate client base with re-prioritized technology demands. As integration companies battle through a COVID-19-depleted market, there is much uncertainty about what the future of the integration industry holds. One feeling, however, has been consistent throughout NSCA’s […]

AVIXA has announced registration is open for its virtual show InfoComm 2020 Connected, taking place June 16-18. The show will gather thought leaders from multiple ProAV disciplines — and it will host conversations on the opportunities and challenges facing the industry. Here are a few sneak peeks of what the sessions will include: Kay Sargent, […]

Atlona has expanded the HDVS-CAM family of PTZ cameras with two new camera models that are purpose-built for HDBaseT and HDMI interfacing. The Atlona HDVS-CAM family is aimed at UCC systems as well as lecture capture and distance learning. The two new models are native 1080@60Hz, include auto-focusing, a quick pan-and-tilt mechanism with minimal noise […]

Crestron is announcing Crestron HomeTime in collaboration with Logitech and Zoom to deliver a videoconferencing, home control and unified communications experience engineered for socializing, remote learning and working from home. Crestron HomeTime is a unification of the Logitech MeetUp conference camera with the Crestron UC Engine that integrates with Crestron control to deliver the optimal […]

NEC Corporation of America has announced the availability of NEC UNIVERGE BLUE CONNECT, a fully integrated and born-in-the-cloud UCaaS solution, and NEC UNIVERGE BLUE ENGAGE, a CCaaS solution for businesses of all sizes. UNIVERGE BLUE CONNECT is a cloud-based communications system. It’s a video and audio platform that helps manage team communications and collaboration. UNIVERGE […]

As with many events in the world right now, Almo Professional A/V canceled its E4 Experience(s) that was supposed to happen this spring. Instead, the distributor held an totally online version — calling it the E4 Evolution or E4v. I wrote a sneak preview about it a couple of weeks ago. But in case you […]

Mimo Monitors joined forces with Revel Digital software to create a touch-free, temperature-taking platform using its digital signage tech. Designed for entrances to grocery stores, office buildings, schools, assisted living facilities and more, this so-called “enterprise-grade platform” is customizable to ensure it can optimize every business’s needs. It contains the premium Mimo Monitors hardware display […]

Responsiveness and Reliability As any regular reader of my columns will know, one of my significant beliefs is critical to any relationship between a manufacturer and consultants/specifiers. It’s about two things: responsiveness and reliability. Therefore, I present the following story as an illustration of precisely what NOT to do if you are a manufacturer. Take […]

Over the years, I’ve noticed an odd trend with companies and products. Simply stated, everyone and everything gets pigeonholed. As users, we tend to focus on the same companies when it comes to certain types of products. Even within categories of products, we tend to use the same ones all the time and rarely reach […]

Just as USB 3 becomes the standard for new USB devices, Key Digital introduced the new KD-X USB2 USB 2.0 transmitter and receiver extender kit. It’s designed for USB 1.1 – 2.0 devices. This new extender is slated for release in the second quarter of 2020 (so basically, now). Installation of the KD-XUSB2 allows USB […]

Vaddio is shipping the Vaddio Device Controller, a 10” touch-screen controller. The Vaddio Device Controller integrates its online user interface and was designed to access browser-based user interfaces of dozens of Vaddio connected devices like PTZ cameras, EasyIP peripherals and AV bridges. PoE power and an included commercial-grade, steel, tabletop mount with category cable routing […]

In June 2019, Barco filed suit in the United States against Delta Electronics, Inc. and its subsidiary Vivitek Corporation for infringement of its ClickShare patents. Now, less than a year after the case began, Delta and Vivitek have agreed to withdraw their LauncherPlus products from the U.S. market. Barco’s U.S. lawsuit against Delta and Vivitek […]

THIS IS A PROMOTED POST FROM PTZOPTICS By Paul Richards Chief Streaming Officer, PTZOptics The world’s largest work-from-home experiment has pushed the online communication industry forward at a record pace over the first two quarters of 2020. During this time of great change, adaptation has been key for everyone from students to teachers to governors […]

Bose Professional announced the Bose ES1 Ceiling Audio Solution. It’s an in-ceiling UCC audio system designed to compete with ClearOne and Shure — and it is now certified for Microsoft Teams. In addition to a Sennheiser component, the ES1 system includes three Bose products: the ControlSpace EX-440C Dante-enabled conferencing signal processor, the EdgeMax EM180 in-ceiling […]

Planar announced an expansion Wednesday to the company’s portfolio of LED display solutions with the Planar FX Series’ introduction. Planar FX Series fine pixel pitch LED video wall displays bring image detail and resolution historically reserved for lower light private spaces (in indoor and outdoor applications). The Planar FX Series offers outdoor models available in […]

Radial Engineering dropped the new BT-Pro V2. It’s a Bluetooth-enabled stereo direct box that connects wirelessly to smartphones and tablets. It also provides a pair of balanced audio outputs to feed a PA system, studio interface or powered speakers. Applications include houses of worship, installed sound environments (gyms, dance studios), live sound environments, studios, DJ […]

Poly (formerly Plantronics and Polycom) unveiled the latest addition Tuesday to the company’s Blackwire line. The Blackwire 8225 is a corded plug-and-play USB headset. It’s designed to reduce background noise and deliver uninterrupted communications so users can work from anywhere. Three settings of hybrid active noise-canceling (ANC) technology allow users to adjust, to fit their […]

On May 21, T1V will host a webinar featuring Dr. David B. Agus, CEO of the Ellison Institute of USC and contributor to CBS News, as the company addresses COVID-19 and the impact on unified communications and collaboration. While stay-at-home orders have been in place in most parts of the country since March, many questions […]

As streaming video explodes, ZeeVee is reminding the market of its AV-over-IP capabilities with streaming. The company’s streaming product offerings include the H.264 Media Module (quad encoder blade) for the HDbridge 3000 encoder, ZyPerMX2 and ZyPerMX4 H.264 encoder appliances, STBi3 Set Top Box and the ZyPerMX Player (EPG). H.264 Media Module for HDbridge 3000: The […]

Collaboration Squared has upgraded its always-on videoconferencing portal Video Window. Video Window is a platform that creates an extension of physical space for inter-office and remote employee communication. The new Video Window Office adds features attention-grabbing features by allowing users to tap on the screen to “knock” to the far side. (No calls to set […]

By Adam Cox Futuresource Consulting It is not an exaggeration to say that the world as we know it will be forever changed once we emerge from the all-engulfing COVID-19, with one of the major shifts being how we choose to work effectively in the workplace moving forward. Ultimately, collaboration technology is at the center […]

Nureva Inc. announced the addition of connectors in Span Workspace Wednesday. The connectors allow users to show dependencies between notes with red lines — as would be done during analog brainstorming sessions and structured activities like PI Planning. Companies that have implemented frameworks such as Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) and Scrum Scale need digital alternatives, […]

Extron has announced the availability of the NBP 1200C, a furniture-mountable Cable Cubby enclosure with a Network Button Panel integrated directly into the lid. It combines AV control, connectivity and power, and works with all Extron Pro Series control systems and HC 400 Series products. This customizable control panel works with a control processor to […]

Many of us are approaching our third month of stay-at-home orders (while others on the West Coast are looking at their fourth month). We — or at least I — spend much of our time thinking/dreaming about when this will come to an end so that we can get back to a normal routine. However, […]

I want to preface this column by saying, first, that this is intended as a call to action. It is to suggest new strategic initiatives that can transform how we do things. This article has nothing to do with products; it has nothing to do with how we design systems. It’s about processes and a […]

By Adam Cox Futuresource Consulting Populations are adjusting to COVID-19, with social distancing orders having compelled people to find alternatives to face-to-face meetings. As a result, cloud video conferencing solutions have never been more popular. With hundreds of millions of people now working from home, vendors such as Cisco, Lifesize and Microsoft have responded to […]

I had the pleasure of providing live coverage for the first-ever LAVNCH WEEK, an all-digital event put on by THE rAVe Agency in partnership with Zoom last week. After five full days of education sessions, product launches and thought-leadership, I wanted to write a wrap-up story of my favorite moments, broken down by vertical: ProAV, […]

Extron is shipping the new TLP Pro 300M 3.5” portrait wall mount TouchLink Pro Touchpanel. The TLP Pro 300M is designed to control video, audio, lighting, shades, HVAC, security and other systems within virtually any environment. This touch panel is equipped with a 320×480 resolution capacitive touch screen built with scratch and smudge-resistant Corning Gorilla […]