rAVe Pro Edition, Volume 3, Issue 6

Introduction

Welcome to another issue of rAVe!

We’re starting to see more Wi-Fi projectors hit the market, which is great news! But now organizations have to get serious about installing wireless networks to take advantage of all the new wireless devices in the pipeline. The wireless trend is going to apply to all AV soon – connecting projectors, networks of displays, control systems -- everything. The simplicity and ability to get rid of cable maintenance is, well, priceless.

For those of you who haven’t yet had a chance to visit our new blog, here’s your chance. We’ve reprinted a few of the postings there as a sample. Come on over and post your comments, too!

Whether you’re working with people across the street or across the country, you can conference quickly and easily with Smart Technology's Bridgit software. You can work on a document, revise a spreadsheet or give technical assistance – all in real time, right from your desk.

Bridgit software takes the clutter out of conferencing. You just give your conference a name, invite your participants and go. You don’t need to book in advance or upload files. Your participants don’t need to have used the software before. All they need is a PC and an Internet connection.

It’s About Time!!!

Bridgit software helps you get things done. In less than a minute, you can respond to a client, get feedback from colleagues or follow up with a sales prospect. Instead of waiting to deliver documents, you can show information right from your computer screen. Writing tools and webcam support help you understand each other quickly.

This BLOWS AWAY WebEx and all the over-bloated, over-engineered Internet-based web conferencing software. Bridgit is all you really need for over 95% of those applications and UNLIKE ALL OF THE OTHERS, it's simple to use and works 100% of the time.

Have a news tip? Send them to rAVe Editor-in-Chief Denise Harrison -- dharrison@kayye.com

Randy J. Pagnan,

President-Elect of the International Communications Industries Association, Inc. (ICIA), announced today that he has sold his interest in Large Screen Displays, LLC, based in Santa Ana, California.

Pagnan has been involved in the display business for two decades, beginning with his Electrohome (now Christie) days in the 1980’s, continuing in the 1990’s developing his passion for rear projection during his Trooper days with American Video Communications, and bringing him into the present with Large Screen Displays, where he served as Chief Operating Officer for the last six years, spearheading the Pi Projected Images custom fabrication and rear screen manufacturing side.

Pagnan states, "It’s time to move on to new challenges, and I look forward to applying my creativity and unique experience as both an integrator and a manufacturer in the audiovisual industry—and in particular the demanding, high-end, display-based applications.”

Randy plans to enjoy basking in the unusual California sunshine as he formulates his next business enterprise. Randy Pagnan can be reached at 714-496-1726 and randy@rpvisuals.com.

http://www.rpvisuals.com

Columbia, Maryland-based SPL Integrated Solutions is now offering clients a nationwide 24/7 help desk, including support for AV, videoconferencing, streaming media and multimedia technologies. The company is using customer relationship management software from Salesforce.com and Five9. SPL says recent expansions mean they can dispatch to client sites anywhere in the country.

The pricing model includes per visit or service plans ranging from one to three years. SPL will also provide staffing.

That’s a huge undertaking and SPL is one of the companies that can pull it off. A look at the offices listed on the SPL website shows full U.S. coverage, too.

For more information, go to http://www.splis.com/NewsEvents/pressreleases/04_01_05_HelpdeskNews.htm

NEC Targets IT Managers With Online Game

NEC is publishing a new website specifically targeting IT managers to create awareness of the company’s projectors. The website includes information about the products and service policies and as a lure to bring IT managers to the site, there are four online games. The winner with the highest score in each of the games wins a 61-inch plasma. Each game is only available to play for a limited time before the next game is online.

The promotion runs until September, which should give them plenty of time to get word to the IT community.

Having a program devoted specifically to IT managers is definitely a good idea and this gives IT managers a legitimate excuse to play games at work. Good move.

For more information, go to http://www.necitguy.com/home.html

InfoComm/ICIA, Custom Retailer Partner on Residential Pavilion

ICIA and North American Publishing Company's (NAPCO) Consumer Technology Publishing Group announced that Custom Retailer, a leading NAPCO monthly magazine, will be the media sponsor for the first Residential Pavilion at ICIA's upcoming InfoComm International tradeshow, June 4-10, 2005, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Custom Retailer, published by NAPCO's Consumer Technology Publishing Group, provides in-depth coverage of technologies and strategies for specialty consumer electronics retailers.

The Residential Pavilion will create for attendees an unparalleled opportunity to learn more about home theater systems, residential lighting devices and controllers, high-definition displays, residential audio systems, security systems, electronics, home automation, satellite equipment, networking hardware and software, and home entertainment furnishings and accessories.

InfoComm is again expected to be larger than ever, with more than 725 exhibitors and 25,000 attendees.

For more information, go to http://www.infocomm.org

We’ll be seeing a lot more of this. NEC announced a new Wi-Fi 802.11g wireless projector, and also packs in some of NEC’s best projector features. The WT610 uses NEC’s lensless mirror design for short throw distances (40-inch image from 2.5 inches away or 100-inch image from 26 inches away). It also has nice specs, 2000 ANSI lumens, 3500:1 contrast ratio and XGA resolution (1024x768). It can, of course, also be attached to the physical LAN.

The WT610 is a DLP projector and weighs 13 pounds. NEC is not only marketing it for connecting a laptop to a projector wirelessly in the conference room, but also to home users.

MSRP is $6,995.

For more information, go to http://www.necvisualsystems.com/applicationFiles/productDetails/appl_productDetail.cfm?Product_id=463

Speaking of more of this, Epson has two new sub-four-pound wireless-ready projectors using 3LCD technology. The PowerLite 732c (comes with an 802.11b/g card) and PowerLite 737c (Wi-Fi wireless 802.11g) are specified at XGA resolution and 2000 ANSI lumens, and are compatible with Apple’s Keynote software.

The PowerLite 737c’s is also equipped with an interesting feature that will appeal to professional photographers and home users alike. The built-in software enables digital images, such as high-resolution jpeg photos, to be projected in slideshows using PC-less storage devices such as USB memory, external hard drives or directly from digital cameras. The slideshows can be controlled by the projector either manually or with automatic/timed advancement. Users can also adjust color temperatures and individual settings.

The EPSON PowerLite 737c and 732c will be available for MSRPs of $2,099 and $1,899 respectively.

For more on the PowerLite 737c, go to http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consumer/consDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=54782597

For more on the PowerLite 732c, go to http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consumer/consDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=54527209

ViewSonic introduced a 4500-ANSI lumen projector, the brightest yet among their product offerings. The PJ1172 is specified at 800:1 contrast ratio, XGA (1024 x 768) resolution and ViewSonic is touting the short and long throw bayonet lens options for projecting in any size room. This model has digital horizontal and vertical keystone correction, power focus, power zoom and lens shift.

MSRP on the PJ 1172 is $5,499.

For more information, go to http://www.viewsonic.com/companyinfo/pressrelease_detail.cfm?key_press_release=815

Kramer Electronics introduced the SP-11D multi-standard, multi-format video processor, a broadcast quality processor with Proc Amp controls, standards conversion, signal format conversion and time base correction.

The SP-11D will accept an input signal in various formats including composite, Y/C, YUV, RGB, RGBS or SDI, and will output all these formats simultaneously. It will convert signals to any video standard (NTSC, PAL, SECAM), and the output can be genlocked to an external video reference. Alternatively, the SP-11D can synthesize its own timing to provide a full time-base corrected (TBC) output. The unit also has a genlock input, a genlock output and a split-screen output.

Proc Amp controls include video gain, brightness, contrast, color, hue and both horizontal and vertical sharpness control. The unit also offers a full range of color control features for the YUV and RGB color spaces and includes a four-field processing memory for improved picture quality. It also has 16 non-volatile memory locations for storing and recalling settings and will retain the last used settings upon power down.

The SP-11D also has a split-screen output for easy viewing of the “before and after” effects of Proc Amp changes made to the input signal. It also has a freeze frame function.

MSRP on the SP-11D is $3,895.00.

For more information, go to http://www.kramerelectronics.com/indexes/desc.asp?p=sp-11d

GuiFX, which makes interfaces for AMX and Crestron control panels, developed The Cockpit, a cute interface that looks just like the cockpit of an airplane. It was developed with Hollywood-style high quality graphics but the touch interface is simple to understand. It was developed specifically for Crestron’s TPMC-10 Isys i/O wireless touchpanel with embedded PC.

It’s pretty cute, really.

For more on this, go to http://www.guifx.com/product_info.php?products_id=290

For more on Crestron’s TPMC-10, go to http://www.crestron.com/products/show_products.asp?jump=jump&type=commercial&model=TPMC-10

Simtrol Announces New Versions of ONGOER and OnGuard Device Control Software

Simtrol announced new versions of its ONGOER and OnGuard device control software for Windows. The company says the software is particularly useful for controlling incompatible devices over a network. ONGOER is PC device control software and OnGuard provides remote, server-based proactive monitoring, management, scheduling, and diagnostics.

ONGOER release 3.22 has new data collection capabilities for use with OnGuard reporting features. These features help users better manage devices and also increase the scalability.

For more information, go to http://www.simtrol.com/

IP-based videoconferencing is expected to be as common as any other PC attachment soon and plenty of companies want to own that space (Microsoft, Polycom, etc.). Sony is no exception. The company is teaming up with Glowpoint to combine Sony hardware and Glowpoint software and services to make videoconferencing to “make video as easy, reliable and dependable as the phone or e-mail.”

Sony’s vision includes both conferencing at work and at home.

The first prototype, to be shown at NAB, will be designed for television broadcasters.

For more information, go to http://www.glowpoint.com/glow_press/2005/glow040705pr.htm

The rAVe Blog -- http://www.kayyerave.blogspot.com/ - where we discuss all things Pro and HomeAV, is up and running now. We post what has always set rAVe apart – opinions – about anything and everything that stands out to us as interesting and noteworthy.

Here are some recent postings. Go to the website for more.

Special (Unplanned) Events at NSCA

The weather in Orlando during NSCA was clear, sunny,and just lovely. Well, outside, anyway. Inside, it was another story late Thursday afternoon as the ceiling above the Christie booth let forth a downpour that went on and on and on.

“As soon as the pipe burst, a swarm of Christie people and NSCA staffers were pulling critical gear from the booth and covering the rest with anything waterproof,” says Max Kopsho, Christie product manager. “Thanks to the heroic efforts of everyone involved, none of the equipment was seriously damaged and we were able to get our booth fully operational in time for the next day on the show floor.”

Kopsho says personnel from Freeman Decorating also jumped in to help, and the booth was back in running condition as of 1 a.m.

“I'd like to make a special point of noting some of the considerable efforts and hard work put forth by the technical support and events management team at Christie,” says Kopsho. “Steve Capling, our events manager, took command and led the charge to a full recovery. He proved himself to be a great example of grace under fire (or water, in this case). Billy DeWolf and Paul Comella, two of our finest field application engineers, jumped into action and used their vast technical know-how and years of trade show experience to do in hours what normally takes days to do. Dave Muscat, our Canadian sales manager (who as of this trade show is an honorary 'techie'), spent the evening and part of the early morning tearing down and setting up the Christie booth.

“As a product manager, I have always been proud of the products we develop at Christie and this show is especially unique. We have some new high end 3-chip 10Bit DLP projectors that will just blow you away. Now I have to say that this experience has made me even prouder. Who else can say their projectors can survive a flood and prove it? More importantly and seriously I do have to say that this experience does have me feeling very proud about the people I work with, not just at Christie, but throughout this industry.”

Friday afternoon brought another surprise when a voice over the loudspeaker ordered everyone to evacuate. That sent the crowd of thousands dashing to the door until another voice came on saying it was a false alarm. The voice also said later the evacuation didn’t apply to the attendees at NSCA, but I later spoke to someone who had been at the Global Pet Expo next door and she didn’t hear any of it.

It might have been mildly amusing to many, in hindsite, but not to at least one New Yorker with whom I spoke later that day. Those sorts of mistakes terrify anyone who has been through such trauma as 9/11.

Denise Harrison, Editor-in-Chief, rAVe

Note: Someone posted the following as a comment on my NSCA wrap-up article. The video is WELL worth a look. Very funny stuff.

”Anonymous said...
see the Christie booth sprinkler video here:”

http://webpavement.blogspot.com/2005/03/christie-sprinkler-mishap-nsca-2005.html

Sanyo's 16:9 4000 ANSI lumens projector is AWESOME!

My new favorite projector is the ultimate cross-over projector, in my opinion. Sanyo's new PLV-WF10 is the industry's first, bright 16:9 projector that's affordable. At under $13,000, this 4K lumen native 720p LCD projector is PERFECT for boardroom, conference room, large venue and even home cinema applications.

It's about time!

There are thousands of applications out there where the need for a bright, 16:9 aspect ratio projector is required. What's taken the projector market so long to get us here? Well, I'm not going to worry any longer about that and will recommend the new Sanyo PLV-WF10 to anyone and everyone who asks.

-- Gary Kayye

Breakout Products are Hard to Find These Days

But I found one. DayView Glass, distributed by Pro Display USA, is one such breakthrough product. It is actually a film placed over any glass, such as a window, which can be used as a rear or front projection screen. When not in use, you can make the window clear (with no noticeable change to the window) or opaque for privacy.

Now, this new technology is breakthrough because you can put it on the windows of a fishbowl conference room, in any window that separates two rooms, anywhere there is glass.

But what really makes this breakthrough is the imagination of the company CEO, Angelo Skiparnias, who foresees all kinds of new ways dealers can sell this technology. One recent installation at a retail store is a good example of creative advertising using this new technology. As a shopper passes by the retail store window, a sensor “wakes up” the projector and screen. Audio comes on saying hello, and stopping the shopper, who is then presented with a short video advertising a specific product. At the end of the video, the window clears to show the actual product in the retail store window display. You can do this with clothes, jewelry, food, cars – anything at all.

Another consideration with this technology is that the size of the image is only limited by the size of the glass. That means you can project huge indoor or outdoor displays. Now, we’re talking sports arenas, marinas, hotels, convention centers – even the entire sides of buildings.

Pretty creative. But the best example is a concept Angelo explained of making an entire building disappear. Let's say you have a building that has the Hollywood Hills and Hollywood sign as the backdrop. Using a few image captures, projectors and this new DayView glass, you could project the background onto the foreground and voila, the building now looks like it blends into the surroundings.

-- Denise Harrison

EPSON Projectors on Sale!

Go to the home page for EPSON USA -- http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/index.jsp -- and check out what's at the bottom right hand corner.

Projectors on sale!

Yep, a manufacturer selling projectors, direct, at 40 percent off list price. Sure, it's a discontinued projector model, but watch this carefully as it could become a trend - projector manufacturers selling at dealer-level pricing to the end-user. Good or bad? I guess it depends on who you are - and, of course, the support that's backing it.

-- Gary Kayye