Best New DS Product 2010: Touted as the biggest all-in-one computer ever, Micro Industries debuted the Messenger 82L at DSE 2010. The Messenger 82L is literally an 82” 1080p LCD with a built-in Windows Embedded PC (2 Duo Mbile Processor) that basically turns this 82” HD-LCD into a giant touch-screen, digital sign. It’s size was impressive for sure, but what impressed us the most is the integration of a completely turnkey, touch-screen-based digital sign all-in-one design.

Best New DS Technology 2010: CyberTouch’s multi-touch technology is the best touch-sensitive hardware add-on we’ve seen thus far.

 

Most Innovative New DS Hardware Product: Christie’s MicroTiles takes this. When we first saw the MicroTiles last year at InfoComm, we weren’t even thinking about the DS market. But, at DSE 2010 they showed a few cool applications for DS using stacked MicroTiles in different configurations.

Most Innovative New DS Software Product: Congratulations to HyperSign who has literally made it possible for ANYONE to design DS content. By allowing PowerPoint templates, RSS Feeds, video and graphics to be uploaded directly to the HyperSign application via the Web (SaaS), HyperSign has the best new SIMPLY signage software app. – we see this as the perfect K2 and small business solution where you don’t have a dedicated graphics team to your DS applications.

Best NEW Indoor DS Display: (tie) NEC’s P701 is the world’s first 70” LCD for DS applications. Christie’s MicroTiles are totally customizable rear-screen DLP cubes that can be stacked in any configuration and any shape.

Best NEW Outdoor DS Display: MRI’s outdoor solutions are totally turnkey (include the display and the weather-proof enclosure) – but their Triple-VU display is awesome!

Most Creative Display Technology: Wow, LG’s new Shine Out technology actually works well in high ambient light applications like storefronts.

Best PC-Based Hardware Solution: If you’ve gotta have a PC-based media player, you can’t go wrong with Visix. They come in small, medium and large configurations; they’re affordable and they’re reliable – way more reliable than your average PC!

Best Non-PC Hardware Solution: Definitely AMX’s IS-SPX000 Player – This 6” DS player is a flash-based DS stand-alone media server that plays JPG, PNG, GIF, MPEG-4, H.264, WMV and even SD video and PowerPoint files at 720p resolution.

Best Entry-Level DS Package: A small company called Flypaper is leading the way with simple, flash-based DS software (think PowerPoint for DS installs).

Best “Oh by the way, we do DS too” Product: This has to go to Sharp’s PN-E Series of LCD monitors – although a leader in the ProAV channel, not even in the top five in the DS world (but most couldn’t be mounted vertically until this year).

Best Personal Messaging Product: The TruMedia’s Audience Measurement Solution is the best personal messaging product out there right now as it has the capability to recognize not only gender, but also dwell time, actual impressions (using eyeball recognition) and engagement level.

Best Interactive DS Product: Four Winds Interactive (FWi) – A fairly simple, turn-key DS solution that’s has a complete package. They’ll even partner with you to project manage your first larger installs until you feel comfortable you can do it all yourself.

Best DS Kiosk: CCS, Inc’s Envirosealed enclosures – Not fancy, but cost-effective, vandal-proof enclosure is perfect for K2 and higher ed applications where you need outdoor signage but you don’t want to pay a fortune for the display (it allows you to use existing, off-the-shelf DS flat screens).

Best Booth at DES 2010: Intel’s Futuristic Look at the DS Future

Best DS Software Add-on App: For the second year in a row, we’ve got to give this to CognoVision whose Anonymous Impression Metric System (AIM) is, by far and away, the best DS intelligent measurement application we’ve ever seen.

Best DS SaaS (Software as a Solution) Network: After looking at them all for a for over a year now, we’ve gotta give it to BroadSign. BroadSign is doing all the right things to keep their SaaS simple, powerful and cost-effective!