The Rise of the Cloud and Networked Software and the Realities of Embedded Infrastructure

“It’s all going to be in the cloud” — that’s what researchers seem to be saying to the whole AV/IT world. Let’s dive into the hardware vs. software debate, for things are not always what they seem. Indeed, technologies like digital signage storage/retrieval and security archives are already on or are migrating to some conglomeration […]

The Rise of the Cloud and Networked Software and the Realities of Embedded Infrastructure

The End of the Beginning

It’s all going to be in the cloud — that’s what the researchers seem to be saying to the whole AV/IT world. 
Certainly technologies like digital signage storage and retrieval and a lot of security archive are already on or migrating to cloud or some hybrid of the cloud based platforms. The reality is perhaps […]

The End of the Beginning

Tiner’s New Take on AVaaS

In late June, Andrew Davis posted a blog entry here on rAVe in which he declared that “in 10 years or less, what was once the AV industry is going to be a be a footnote in the history of business technology.” In the post he made the argument that software will, essentially, take over […]

Tiner’s New Take on AVaaS

Software Is Eating AV

“…software is eating the world.” — Marc Andreessen In 10 years or less, what was once the AV industry is going to be a be a footnote in the history of business technology, somewhere among the overhead projector and the fax machine. This hardware-centric industry we call home, this perpetual contest of who sells both […]

Software Is Eating AV

Enterprise-Grade Home Networks Will Come From Access Networks and Domotz Partnership

Access Networks announced today that it has partnered with Domotz. As a result of this new partnership, Access Networks is now outfitting every newly deployed Core custom system with the powerful, flexible and scalable Domotz solution for remote network monitoring and management. Hence, Access Networks and its growing network of dealers will have the means […]

Enterprise-Grade Home Networks Will Come From Access Networks and Domotz Partnership

Crestron Rolls Out New Features to the XiO Cloud

Crestron has debuted new features in the latest version of Crestron XiO Cloud. Crestron XiO Cloud supports a direct device-to-cloud connection via an Azure IoT Hub, with no additional hardware. You register your devices at the time of purchase and everything needed to manage your devices is available in the cloud portal. Azure services provide […]

Crestron Rolls Out New Features to the XiO Cloud

New Carousel Digital Signage Player Allows for Cloud Signage

Carousel Digital Signage has extended player support for Carousel Cloud, its recently-introduced subscription-based SaaS platform, to Mersive Solstice wireless displays and BrightSign media players. Previously only available for Apple TV devices, Carousel Cloud users now have a choice of three suppliers for content playout to suit their requirements and preferences. Now shipping, Carousel Cloud brings […]

New Carousel Digital Signage Player Allows for Cloud Signage

Intel Unite Adds Cloud Option to Unite Collaboration Solution 

Intel Corporation launched the Intel Unite Cloud Service today, which enables choice in deployment and management of Intel Unite solution for organizations of all sizes, from large enterprise to small businesses. Customers now have the ability to choose whether to host Intel Unite solution on premise or in the cloud to modernize their collaboration environment. Thus, Intel now offers the […]

Intel Unite Adds Cloud Option to Unite Collaboration Solution 

Notes From the Trenches

Over the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with dozens of AV and IT professionals tasked with deploying and supporting enterprise video conferencing. Although every project is different, a few themes seem to be consistent across all my conversations, and so I’ve come up with the following “notes from the AV/IT trenches.” […]

Notes From the Trenches

We’re Impressed With the New Barix Paging Cloud

In one of the most innovative product launches rAVe has seen in a few years, Barix today announced Paging Cloud, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution that brings paging into the smartphone. Integrating easily with almost all existing paging and public address systems, Paging Cloud records paging messages and sends them directly to registered smartphones, enabling visitors […]

We’re Impressed With the New Barix Paging Cloud

Crestron’s XiO Cloud-Based Deployment, Management and Monitoring Platform Make North American Debut at InfoComm 2018

Crestron announced today that Crestron XiO Cloud, its cloud-based provisioning and management solution, will make its North American debut at InfoComm. Built on the Microsoft Azure platform, Crestron says its XiO Cloud enables organizations to simultaneously configure and deploy an unlimited number of Crestron products. IT managers can then monitor and manage all devices from […]

Crestron’s XiO Cloud-Based Deployment, Management and Monitoring Platform Make North American Debut at InfoComm 2018

SpinetiX Announces Cloud-Based Signage System Called ARYA at InfoComm

SpinetiX is announcing an end-to-end digital signage solution called SpinetiX ARYA, a new cloud-based solution. SpinetiX ARYA is designed to deliver diverse content to any number of screens at any time, from anywhere and from any device by leveraging users’ own photos, videos and company brand identity. It allows users to create screen-based communication for […]

SpinetiX Announces Cloud-Based Signage System Called ARYA at InfoComm

Black Box Intros Coalesce Professional All-in-One Videoconferencing and Wireless Presentation System

Black Box today introduced Coalesce Professional, an enterprise-ready all-in-one videoconferencing and wireless presentation system that lets remote teams collaborate like they’re in one room. Coalesce Professional features enterprise-level, advanced functionality like splash screen customization and central deployment/management. The system is infinitely scalable from the maintenance/monitoring perspective via its central management portal and from a budget perspective with its competitive […]

Black Box Intros Coalesce Professional All-in-One Videoconferencing and Wireless Presentation System

The Demand for AV as a Service: A Tech Manager’s Perspective

There seems to be a continuing debate out there on the demand for a true AV as a Service, (AVaaS) model. I have seen good points on both sides of the argument, each giving some logical reasons as to why a true AVaaS model is either the future of AV or an idealistic pipe-dream. There […]

The Demand for AV as a Service: A Tech Manager’s Perspective

Collaboration: What’s Next?

Over my last couple of columns, we have talked about the trend in meetings towards group collaboration, and the equipment and setups that will be necessary to accommodate this trend, as collaboration (and extended collaboration through social media) become the norm in public meetings. This led several of you to ask the question, “what is […]

Collaboration: What’s Next?

Global Caché Commercial AV Line About to Ship and Barco Can’t Wait

Global Caché announced today they will begin shipping the new Global Caché Commercial Line (CL) to distributors and will service the market via manufacturers’ reps. Global Caché products connect any IR, serial and contact closure device to a Wi-Fi and/or IP network so it can be controlled, automated and maintained by network-based software. The company offers other […]

Global Caché Commercial AV Line About to Ship and Barco Can’t Wait

Cisco Debuts Spark Board and Spark Meetings

Cisco just launched two all-in-one, cloud-based products in Cisco Spark Board and Cisco Spark Meeting. Cisco says it invented Spark Board to clean up the conference-room chaos and connect physical rooms to virtual spaces. The Cisco Spark Board will be available in both 55” and 70” sizes. It’s basically a few products in one, including: A […]

Cisco Debuts Spark Board and Spark Meetings

The HD and 4K Video Storage Issue Facing Churches

It is incredible to consider that less than 100 years ago, the original video signals had about 210 lines of resolution, evolving to 512 lines in 1952 with the advent of color television, to the eventual jump to 1920×1080 (pixels instead of lines) for High Definition (HD) video. It’s now possible to get 4K resolution […]

The HD and 4K Video Storage Issue Facing Churches

The Future of Development in AV and Collaboration

Some say the future is now. I say the future is now, as well as in the innovations that continue to present themselves for the end user, as well as the industry integrator. In April 2013 I wrote one of my first rAVe blogs where I detailed the purchase of a new Windows laptop after […]

The Future of Development in AV and Collaboration

The Need to Develop an IT-Based Mindset to Sell Cloud and Software Solutions

I had an interesting conversation the other day with someone who has been talking about possibly bringing me on to do sales for his company. He has been talking for a while about a recurring revenue based solution sales position and then goes on to call it a “cloud salesman.” Then I think to myself […]

The Need to Develop an IT-Based Mindset to Sell Cloud and Software Solutions

Integration Sales – Are You Meeting the Online Resources Challenge?

How do we define the proper way to do business in this era of rapid technological advancement? Where business was once all about the cold-call dials and networking events, with marketing materials present in his or her briefcase as one went out on the sales call, the new age of technology and media has added […]

Integration Sales – Are You Meeting the Online Resources Challenge?

Can There Finally Be a “New UCC Mindset?”

To refresh the memories, when entering the UCC Pavilion at InfoComm 2016 this is what you were witness to: Videoconferencing and telepresence systems Remote worker / teleworker technologies Cloud services Unified communications and collaboration technologies Networked interactive whiteboards Unified communications as a service (UCaaS) providers Videoconferencing as a service (VCaaS) providers Managed services providers Collaboration […]

Can There Finally Be a “New UCC Mindset?”

Latest Developments in Videoconferencing and Collaboration with Vidyo

As I have chosen to dedicate focus to UCC in May on rAVe, here I take a look at recent developments that have taken place at well-known vidoconferencing solutions provider Vidyo. Eran Westman, CEO at Vidyo Vidyo™ technology innovations put HD-quality, multipoint video communications within reach of anyone using any device, anywhere. Vidyo’s video collaboration solutions power […]

Latest Developments in Videoconferencing and Collaboration with Vidyo

Ricoh Partners with Videxio to Offer a Cloud Videoconferencing Service

It looks like Fridays are becoming the big news days in UCC, and today happens to be no exception. It was announced today that leading cloud video service provider Videxio has signed a global agreement with Ricoh, where the worldwide technology solutions provider will offer the Videxio service branded as RICOH Unified Communication System Advanced […]

Ricoh Partners with Videxio to Offer a Cloud Videoconferencing Service

Followup to the Acquisition: My Discussions with Polycom and Mitel on Cloud, UCC and Mobility

As the dust settles and the AV industry has begun to ingest the news of Mitel acquiring Polycom in a cash and stock transaction valued at $1.96 billion, it has to be understood that this acquisition can truly re-define UCC in the industry, as well for other markets. This is Mitel’s second acquisition in the […]

Followup to the Acquisition: My Discussions with Polycom and Mitel on Cloud, UCC and Mobility

Combined UCC Power: Mitel and Polycom Announce Merger

Mitel and Polycom announced that the two companies have entered into a definitive merger agreement as talks had recently reached final stages after months of discussions. This has created what has been termed by both a new company with shared vision for seamless communications and collaboration – and according to a statement in a Polycom […]

Combined UCC Power: Mitel and Polycom Announce Merger

Collaboration Overload in the Business World? Some Perspectives For the AV Industry

Collaboration. Every day we hear about new ways to work as a team, new technology products that help to do it, devices introduced into the mix and much more. However may we be overlooking something important when discussing it in general conversation – that being the human element? I would like to begin by giving credit […]

Collaboration Overload in the Business World? Some Perspectives For the AV Industry

A Direct Look at the AV Environment – The Focus Ahead

As it turns out, a new year comes with some new perspectives. As you know I have for the most part of the last year been writing about numerous technologies along with AV/IT (?) –  Cloud, IoT, Virtual Reality and more, as well as features like Convergent TechWeek and This Week (in AV and IT), […]

A Direct Look at the AV Environment – The Focus Ahead

Pexip’s Enterprise Collaboration Platform Deploys on Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Pexip today announced that the newest version of its Infinity platform will enable deployment directly on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud platform. Pexip says their Infinity platform allows organizations to improve work efficiency by simply enabling everyone in organizations of any size to benefit from visual communication and collaboration tools. It seamlessly ties together […]

Pexip’s Enterprise Collaboration Platform Deploys on Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Digital Transformation: Part 1 – Innovation, Disruption and the Necessary Mindshift

Here is the definition of digital: Digital describes electronic technology that generates, stores, and processes data in terms of two states: positive and non-positive. Positive is expressed or represented by the number 1 and non-positive by the number 0. Thus, data transmitted or stored with digital technology is expressed as a string of 0’s and […]

Digital Transformation: Part 1 – Innovation, Disruption and the Necessary Mindshift

ScreenHub Aims to Pioneer Cloud-Based Digital Signage

ScreenHub is a free, software-as-a-service (Saas) content management system for digital screens that they say can be customized to any aspect ratio or pixel matrix. In addition to being compatible with any synchronous digital display, making it ideal for indoor and outdoor LED displays, it can also be implemented on plasma screens and LCD panels. The software […]

ScreenHub Aims to Pioneer Cloud-Based Digital Signage

Convergent TechWeek 10/23

Cloud Video Service Provider Takes Videoconferencing to the Next Level in China Videxio, a leading cloud video service provider, has reaffirmed its commitment to operations in China with the launch of an expanded Chinese service platform, simplified Chinese user interface and cooperation with Huawei to support a fully automated service for Huawei video systems. These enhancements make […]

Convergent TechWeek 10/23