Introduction

Welcome to the inaugural edition of rAVe Asia e-newsletter

We are most pleased to present to you the inaugural edition of rAVe Asia e-newsletter. The rAVe Asia e-newsletter will be presented to you every month in your email inbox, providing you with the latest product and technology information from the industry. We will also be offering opinions from key industry players on challenges, trends and about the state of the AV industry, both from the commercial as well as the home end. We sincerely hope that you will enjoy reading rAVe Asia.

We would like to also wish all our Chinese readers a very Happy Chinese New Year.

In the meantime Enjoy the read.

Thomas Richard Prakasam

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Editorial

Kayye’s Krystal Ball, V.09

By Gary Kayye, CTS

Welcome to my tenth annual Krystal Ball feature predicting the upcoming year for commercial AV (and even some home AV) technology, trends and products. If you’re a regular reader, you know that, each year, I actually start by reviewing my own predictions from last year. See my predictions from last year here:

http://www.ravepro.com/issues/2008/01/rpvol6iss1/index.html#edit

Also see my mid-year review of those predictions in Sound & Communications "Sight Lines" in June 2008.

Why do I do it this way? Well, when I was a kid, I loved TV and always watched those TV psychics sell their predictions to viewers who called in with their credit card numbers. Every year, they would reappear on TV selling the next year’s predictions, but I could never remember what they predicted to see if they were right. I always wanted them to remind me of their previous predictions so I could see if it was worth the price. (I knew my dad’s credit card number.)

In this case, my predictions are free. You’re probably not paying to read this, so keep this in perspective. But, if I may say so myself, over the past nine years, I’ve actually done a pretty good job...or been real lucky.

So, onto the review of my predictions for 2008, and then I will jump into predictions for 2009.

Last Year’s Predictions

IP-IP-IP: I started my predictions for 2008 by saying we’d see a proliferation of IP-enabled AV devices. I specifically named the digital signage market as being the driver of this.

Well, the home AV market has jumped in on this ahead of commercial AV—a trend I’ve noted in recent years (home AV integrators and users adopting new technology long before commercial AV integrators and users). Most home AV integrators are installing streaming video (or video-on-demand) servers in almost every home they do now. AppleTV, Roku and Kaleidescape are a few of the leading boxes being installed. The commercial AV market is behind in this trend, but I see a big upswing in this segment since Summer 2008, especially in the digital signage niche.

In fact, control, management and content are nearly 100% delivered via IP-enabled AV networks. This has allowed some fairly new players to become market leaders quickly, such as Visix, Roku and Ronin, to name a few.

I would highly recommend that you get into the digital signage market. Why? Well, although the market’s far from mature and still using cutting-edge technology to send and receive content, it’s the identical way you will be integrating standard commercial AV systems (via the network) in the not-too-distant future; this will give you a good understanding of how networked-based AV systems should and will work.

Control is KEY: I predicted that the control market was close to an evolutionary revolution. There are just too many things lining up in favor of it.

Here was my point: The control system is the user interface to the entire AV-enabled room. You walk in a room full of thousands of dollars of AV gear and, to turn it on, the first thing you have to do is use the control system. Whether it is a keypad, a touchscreen or a handheld remote, you must use something that simplifies the use of the AV room.

But, as technology has allowed for sleek software features, nice aesthetic designs and the use of Windows-enabled drivers, many clients are wondering, “Why can’t I use a $1500 tablet PC to control all this stuff in the room and save myself $5000 on the price of a traditional touchpanel?”

The answer is simple: The key to a successful control system isn’t in the hardware; it’s in the software. Actually, you can use a tablet PC and, by doing that, you will save $4000 to $5000, but who’s going to manage all the control protocols for each of the devices when they’re installed...much less a year later when the customer wants to add a new source to the system?

Ah, but what about this revolution? Well, for 2008, I predicted that more and more products would become IP-enabled (meaning they can be controlled via an Ethernet network port and without custom protocols or stupid RS232 ports); there is standardization of control functions in devices. As that occurs, you will see more control options that are completely network-based.

But, this transition is not going to be complete in one year. Over the next three years, you will see every AV system built go from being primarily RS232, I/O and IR-based control to exclusively IP-based control.

Well, I was only partially right. The control market has clearly gone toward simplification: Look at what Extron has done in the past 12 months, for example. But, that revolutionary change hasn’t occurred...yet. It may be because the cloud AV-based control system companies haven’t finished engineering their software, yet, or it may be that Crestron, Extron and AMX haven’t decided to go totally-network based. But, I stand behind this prediction and believe it will fully transform in 2009. (For information about the cloud AV future and my opinion about where I think this is all going, read about it in my 2009 technology forecast.)

Gaming projectors drive prices (and profits) down even further: There has been a plethora of sub-$1000 projectors that have driven sales in places like Best Buy, Office Depot and the internet. At first glance, they seem comparable to higher-end, specification-based projectors, but they are far from ruggedized: Many have weak lamps and just don’t hang with what is needed in a classroom or meeting room.

But, some do. This trend of sub-$1000 projectors has destroyed margin opportunities on the entire entry-level and mid-level systems market (at least where projectors are concerned), and will hit the higher end of the market with sub-$2000 projectors in 2009 that are in the 4K light output level!

Digital Signage Boom: 2008 will be remembered as the year that the digital signage market finally exploded.
Well, this one was dead-on. In fact, there are four digital signage shows now! And, now we’re seeing specialized digital signage integration firms. This is great for the commercial AV market because this, as I mentioned before, is the same network we will use eventually to send content and control integrated systems.

As mentioned earlier, I recommend that you enter the digital signage market sooner rather than later because this is more than a trend: It’s an emerging market!

LED WOW: I predicted you’d see the first flat-panel LEDs aimed squarely at the flat-panel LCD display market in 2008. Incredible advancements in technology—down to 4mm full-color LEDs—have made indoor small-form-factor LED flat-panel displays the answer to bright ambient light environments. Companies such as Lighthouse and Barco have jumped on that opportunity and, in fact, have worked not only to displace LCDs, but also rear-screen projectors that used to have to be hung in giant cabinets from the ceiling. These LEDs are still price prohibitive (and in most cases way too bright) for your average meeting room application, but you’ll see more advancement in 2009 and, by 2010, expect real competition in the small form factors where super-bright, long-lasting images are a must—and LED power consumption gives it a big advantage to those going “green.”

Plasma Comeback or Death? I predicted that 2008 would start the decline of plasma sales that eventually would spell its death by 2011.

The first half of 2008 saw the rapid increase of LCD and a decline of plasma sales.

But, as the recession took hold in the latter half of 2008, most sales tracking firms cite plasma sales increasing because people want bigger for less...and plasma costs as much as 50% less than LCD in same-size configurations. But, this is truly driven by the recession and eventually will come to an end. However, because 2009 will see a full year of a recession, we likely will see plasma sales increasing all year long.

3D: I predicted that 2008 would be the year we saw 3D again. Well, the very first InfoComm booth I toured, Da-Lite Screen’s, was all about 3D. Then, I saw 3D displays at Sony, Philips, Samsung, Electrograph, NEC, JVC, Texas Instrument’s DLP division and a dozen other manufacturers featured 3D-based sections there. Some of this is being driven by Hollywood, with more than 30 movies scheduled for 2009 using 3D glasses and technology.

This will spill over into the home for sure and, believe it or not, into the commercial AV space, too. In fact, Da-Lite’s demonstration at InfoComm of the 3D Virtual Black screen material had a number of corporate and educational demos using 3D applications.

Verticalization: I predicted that 2008 would see a movement of the commercial AV integrator back to an organization based on verticalization. What the heck is verticalization? Well, companies that target specific vertical markets with specific vertical market experts have done quite well. In other words, instead of having salespeople who sell by territory or region, have them sell by vertical market expertise (i.e., education, worship, hospital, government, etc.). In 2008, you saw more and more verticalization than ever before.

The days of selling stuff based on a technical expertise are here. Now, we must become application experts and sell stuff (systems) based on understanding the workflow of the client and how you can add AV technology to improve that workflow outcome. This is a tried and true successful model and makes a lot more sense than breaking out a sales region by ZIP code.

Distribution: I noted how big and strong Electrograph had grown in 2007 and predicted that it, and the other distributors, would get more of the commercial AV business in 2008. This, in fact, has happened. More and more dealers are relying on distributors to help them manage inventory needs and cash flow—not directly, but indirectly. Using distributors means that a dealer doesn’t have to make large commitments to manufacturers and can get discount pricing on just about anything.

I see 2009 being a good year for distributors. More and more manufacturers are making their products available via distributors and, as manufacturers crack down on the sell-to-anyone-that-breathes mentality, you will see more dealers turning to distributors. Also, it works both ways: As manufacturers have old inventory to dump to make way for new products, using distributors to blow through inventories is a great idea.

The Killer InfoComm: I predicted that, with the NSCA Expo gone, you would see the ultimate AV trade show in InfoComm 2008. And, it was! Almost 35,000 people—the most ever to attend any audiovisual trade show in history—attended the show in Las Vegas in June. It was a great event that probably requires another day, though. Three days are not enough to navigate a show this size! I hope the InfoComm Executive Committee will look seriously at making it a four-day show, adding a dealer-only day. We need a true industry-insider show, and making one day only for those of us inside the commercial AV market would be a great start!

Finally, the Economy: I predicted that the economy in 2008 didn’t look good and that, although we would have growth, it would be less than 10%.

This one was dead-on, too. The economy sucks as I write this in mid-November, and still will by the time this is published in December.

2009 will see a recovery, but not until the second half of the year. But, don’t give up! Watch expenses carefully, but don’t disappear. Cutting marketing is not the way to wade through a recession: Spend money better and smarter, and cut out the fat and the (I hate to say this as blunt as this, but it has to be said) people who should have been cut a long time ago. Work smarter and manage your past relationships better.

There will be a trend toward bigger government in 2009, with the new president, and why not leverage this? We all know and remember what happened in the last recession: Government increased AV spending for itself and education. And, if you will recall, houses of worship spent more, too: They had more as more people went to church to pray about the nervous economy.

Don’t believe me? Here’s proof: During last Sunday’s service, my church’s minister actually announced that financial pledges for 2009 are up more than 10% over 2008, and that is without some 20% of the congregation left to make their pledges.

Our increased taxes will increase spending. Our increased spending will drive more AV sales. Sure, we may not see as much military spending in an Obama presidency, but a lot of money previously spent on wars may just go into spending on education, infrastructure and meeting rooms!

My last prediction for 2008 was that the University of North Carolina would win the 2008 Men’s Basketball Championship: Wrong: Kansas won!

Now, What About 2009?

Projectors will become smaller: The so-called pico-projector is coming in 2009. We’ve been seeing prototypes of pocket-sized projectors for years, and now it’s close to reality with 2009 looming...and battery-operated, too!

Although this is not going to be a boom for the commercial AV segment, it has a lot of application options to offer with portable projectors that are palm-sized. Promised to be two- to four-hour battery life capable, the size of an Apple iPhone and resolutions around that old standard VGA port, these pico-projectors will bring the AV market a lot of press.

Laser projectors will debut in 2009: Finally, we will see the debut of the laser-based projector. Promised for years, laser projectors are supposed to bring us an option of UHP (ultra high performance) lamps, and are said to bring us much better colorimetry. Currently, UHP lamps only deliver about 40% of the color gamut that we (as humans) can see. Everyone from the laser industry claims that using laser as a light source will bring us up to 90% of the color gamut.

If this happens, we will see even better color from rear- and front-screen projectors. Whereas now, using metal-halide lamps, we have images that are on the blue side of the color gamut, we will have a white-point that is closer to white than red (like halogen), green or blue colorimetry.

The first of these likely will come from a Japanese manufacturer (and probably in the form of a consumer rear-screen TV), with everyone watching to see if they are successful. If it works, expect to see laser become a big deal and probably the most talked about new projection technology since TI’s 1990s debut of DLP.

Flatter-flat screens: 2009 will bring us super-flat flat-screen TVs. Mirroring more like what you see with a laptop’s LCD screen, you will see flat-screen LCDs that will be in the one-inch-thin range. This will be big for commercial AV.

One of the inhibiting factors to LCDs actually competing with front-screen projectors is the weight. Take away the thickness and you will take away a lot of plastic and electronics that will eliminate a lot of the weight. One pioneer here is Sharp. Sharp has actually shown a 52-inch LCD screen that’s only 0.6-inch thick, Sony has announced a consumer-version LCD monitor that is 0.5-inch thick, and Samsung introduced a 40-inch 1080p LCD that’s 0.39-inch thick. We will see super-thin LCDs by the end of 2009, and they will completely overtake the flat-screen market by 2010. This is one reason that plasma will die by 2011 (a prediction I made back in 2007).

Green: Going green will be the trend of 2009, from consumer AV to commercial AV. Although many of you are tired of this hackneyed cry of the environmentalists, the time finally has come to make this a mantra of your company. Mark my words, you will see every commercial AV manufacturer make a commitment to some power-saving standard (certainly ENERGY STAR is the leading one) that will make it a marketing tool for sales departments everywhere. And, rightfully so, to be honest. Have you ever taken the temperature of an AV rack with gear full of cooling fans? It’s staggering. Then, throw in a few cable TV DVRs and you don’t need a coffee maker or microwave during installation.

Going green will be a big theme of the next few years, especially under a Sierra Club-endorsed President Obama. (I’ll bet it would have been that way for McCain, too.)

No matter who you are, the gas pricing scam of 2008 forced us all to wake up to the energy issue. Saving energy will be something that everyone will harness. You will see LCDs go green, projectors redesigned to deliver standby modes that sap up less than 1 watt of power and federal entities buying AV that is green when given the option.

Cloud AV: If you’ve heard of cloud computing, you’ll understand this (according to Wikipedia: cloud computing is internet-based ("cloud") development and use of computer technology ("computing"). If not, this may be a leap. But, 2009 will bring us the debut of the cloud-based AV systems. What are they? Well, right now, we pack meeting rooms and lecture halls with AV gear that runs itself. Imagine if the projector had a network device (like a browser) that could navigate any network (like a typical browser navigates websites), to find any file or video and play it right there in the room or in any room on campus. Or, maybe all rooms on campus, simultaneously.

This will require some sort of netbook-like projection system or display: a display with a tiny embedded computer that is nothing unless connected to the network. Then, when connected, it becomes a web browsing media player capable of playing whatever content is sent to it, and capable of fetching content on its own.

Cloud AV systems will take their first steps, albeit maybe baby ones, in 2009. What eventually will happen is like what is happening in the digital signage world now: In digital signage, either the display has an integrated media player in it now (like a mini-netbook), or it has one behind it. Take a look; all of them have them! In any case, that “computer” is being controlled, managed and fed content from a head-end across the network. So, that content can be a presentation, weather, stock information, news, video and even live TV, all across the network.

Imagine this being the meeting room hub in the future. That is what we will see and how we will get to this cloud AV systems future. All you will have, one day, is a projector in a room that is networked and pulling content, being managed and controlled via the network from anywhere across the internet.

But, to get there, we need embedded projectors, we need network devices in every product category and we need AV integrators with the vision to build it. If you’re doing digital signage now, you’re in a great position to get there; if not, you have to be.

For example, consider a university. It has projectors in every classroom on campus with various content from visiting lecturers using laptops to network-based content driven to the display from professors. All of a sudden, there’s a campus-wide emergency. That emergency information is sent to every display across campus, instantaneously, all via the network.

Control systems will be dumbed-down: Many control systems today are just too darn complicated. I am sure AMX and Crestron would disagree, but they are fulfilling their own prophecy. Actually, even they might agree because they, along with Extron, which pioneered simple control with MediaLink, are starting to build simple control systems that don’t take an engineer to program, and can be configured on the fly.

2009 will bring us even simpler control systems. The success of these simpler systems, and their ability to be networked and managed via one head-end, will drive their acceptance. If you aren’t already looking at ways to put in a sophisticated touchpanel-less control system that is simple to program and operate, you will in 2009.

This trend of dumbing down control systems will continue and there will be plenty of inexpensive touchpanels out there so you won’t have to build everything around a $3000 color LCD that’s mostly used for lowering the screen and turning a projector on and off. For example, what about the iPhone?

iPhone/Android Control: Speaking of the iPhone, Google has launched its own iPhone-ish phone operating system called Android. These two products make touchscreen phones fully functional $300 control interfaces. Couple them with a CPU or a plethora of network-enabled AV gear, and you have a whole new way of controlling AV.

Watch for 2009 to be the year a few totally new control system companies enter the market with their own iPhone- and Android-like interfaces that will allow you to build fully functional rooms and control them seamlessly with iPod Touches, iPhones and other inexpensive multi-touch color screens.

HD-VTC Year 2009: I predict that 2009 will be a boom for videoconferencing, but not for the reason you may think. Saying that videoconferencing systems finally work—almost perfectly on almost every type of network—is powerful, and the fact they are cheaper than flying around the world for a meeting makes a strong argument, but there is another reason: fixed costs versus variable costs. It’s not the cost of the flight that will boost VTC technology; it’s the cost of the meeting in general. The flight is one thing, but the golf, the dinner, the lunches and snacks, the hotel rooms, the meeting fees, the setup and breakdown costs... that’s why.

So, if you are in the VTC market, you will have a great 2009. This will be one of the leading AV products to get you into a facility to talk about the rest of the AV systems world. And, again, this leverages the network: an inexpensive way to connect to anyone anywhere, way cheaper than flying around.

Case in point: I was supposed to go to Hong Kong in November. I had to cancel the trip at the last minute, but I connected via my Polycom HDX 9004 system (an HD VTC system) to InfoComm Asia in Hong Kong from my office in Chapel Hill NC. I delivered a two-hour seminar called AV-2001 (it’s one of the keynote speeches I regularly deliver at dealer shows and industry events).

The cost of the connection was about $300. I saved $3500 in airfare, $1500 in hotel bills, $600 in food and four days minimum of my life. InfoComm was happy, the attendees were happy and, heck, we used the technology we’ve all been touting for years as the future of AV.

Finally, the Microsoft Rumor: There’s a rumor that Microsoft is trying to buy a manufacturer in the commercial AV market. Of course, because Microsoft is a public company, representatives will not confirm anything, but I believe it makes sense for Microsoft and 2009 could be the year the company enters commercial AV.

Microsoft is in a perfect position to come into our market, but I would also think that the home AV market might be its first target. The movies-on-demand segment is growing by leaps and bounds with Netflix, Apple and cable TV providers dominating that segment right now.

So, no totally bold predictions, but watch Microsoft carefully as the company could play its cards for us and become a big commercial AV player by year’s end.

Reprinted with permission from Sound & Communications. Founded in 1955, Sound & Communications is the premiere magazine for AV systems integrators, contractors and consultants. To subscribe or read sample articles, go to http://www.soundandcommunications.com

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Industry News

SurgeX Merges With Electronic Systems Protection, Inc.

SurgeX, a manufacturer of professional AC surge elimination and power conditioning products for the professional AV, broadcast, and multimedia marketplaces announced that they have merged their North American operations with Electronic Systems Protection, Inc. (ESP), an original equipment manufacturer of power protection technology.

The merger will extend ESP’s product line capabilities and enable SurgeX to expand within existing markets and penetrate new markets using ESP’s resources and expanded distribution. The companies say that SurgeX management will join the ESP team and by late January, all product manufacturing will be consolidated into ESP’s facility in Zebulon, NC.

Michael McCook, SurgeX senior principal and owner of New Frontier Electronics Inc. said, “This is an exciting milestone for our company and we are eager to work with ESP. ESP is an excellent company and this merger will allow SurgeX to offer our customers and partners expanded resources, sales and marketing expertise, enhanced product solutions, expanded manufacturing capabilities and broader engineering resources. I look forward to working together with ESP to ensure a rapid and seamless transition and to continue building the SurgeX brand for years to come.”

“SurgeX’s product offering along with its position in the ProAV market, make it an ideal fit for our company,” said Steve Cole, president of ESP. “SurgeX’s solutions, talent and customers complement ESP’s business and extend our ability to deliver compelling products and services to new industries. As a result of this acquisition, SurgeX’s diverse product line, and ESP’s manufacturing expertise, we will be able to expand into new markets as the premier provider of power protection solutions.”

For more information on the companies or the merger, go to www.surgex.com or www.realpowerprotection.com

Photo is of SurgeX Senior Principal Michael McCook and ESP President Steve Cole

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Integrator Solutions

Da-Lite Introduces 3D Projector Solution

Da-Lite Screen Company announced last month the introduction of its new 3D Projector Stackers. Constructed from a sturdy aluminum extrusion with steel projector cradles, Da-Lite’s 3D Projector Stackers are a mounting solution for front or rear projection stereoscopic 3D displays. Available with two shelf sizes (either 10” x 19” or 19” x 33 ½”) the 3D Projector Stackers accommodate the most common projectors in the market – turning any projection system into 3D capable systems with perfect alignment. Each unit has two cradles to mount two projectors in either a tabletop or inverted format. Because projector alignment is the critical element in 3D displays, each cradle offers a host of fine tuning adjustments to make image alignment simple and efficient.

See all the specs at: http://www.dalite.com/products/product.php?cID=58&pID=470

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Kramer Debuts VP-411DS

On Christmas Eve, Kramer Electronics announced the release of its VP-411DS computer graphics video automatic standby switcher with user-selectable input priority assignment. The VP-411DS is aimed at presentation room, boardroom, training room or classroom applications with passive wall plate or desk-mounted inputs. The Kramer VP-411DS is basically a 4x1 VGA switcher that puts itself in stand-by when not being used (or it doesn’t see activity after a specified period of time).

Read all about the 411DS at: http://www.kramer-us.com/indexes/item.asp?name=VP-411DS

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Extron’s New Decora-Style VGA Cat5 Transmitter/Receiver Ships

Are you routing via Cat5 yet? Well, if not, give this a try: Extron Electronics announced that the MTP R 15HD RSA D is now shipping. The new Decora mount twisted pair receiver accepts VGA, RS-232 control signals, and mono audio over a single UTP cable. It is compatible with resolutions up to 1920x1200, and will support cable runs of 600 feet (185 meters) or more with XGA signals, and 450 feet (135 meters) or more with UXGA signals. It also offers separate continuously variable level and peaking controls to compensate for signal loss over long cable runs.

Extron specifies that the RGB bandwidth is 350 MHz (-3dB). It’s also got selectable gain and peaking, and active PC audio buffering. Selectable stereo or dual mono audio output allows for a choice of stereo audio or actively summed L+R mono audio on both outputs.

All the details can be found at: http://www.extron.com/product/product.aspx?id=mtpr15hdrsad&search=MTP%20R%2015HD%20RSA%20D

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PS Audio Ships New PowerPlay CloudAV-Based Power Conditioner

PS Audio is now shipping the world’s first cloud computing (or CloudAV) based line of power conditioners. What’s that mean? Well, they are web controlled power conditioners to utilize so-called “cloud computing” for access and control. Cloud computing represents a major paradigm shift in control and communication over the internet that will eventually create a major shift in both the PC and AV industries – you can read more about it in my 2009 Krystal Ball piece above.

The main advantage of PowerPlay’s cloud computing configuration is a way to communicate without a fixed web address and the ability to increase capacity or add capabilities on the fly without investing in new infrastructure, training new personnel, or licensing new software.

PowerPlay’s list of control features include multiple IR commands, hard reboot by zone, ping based auto reboot for modems, assignable priority for battery backup, scheduled green vacation time, power on/off, email notification of events and hourly power line conditions and event logging. Instead of the classic client-to-client approach based on the power conditioner’s internal web page accessed through a specific web address, cloud computing places all the control, software and access in a network "cloud" accessible from anywhere in the world through a secure dealer website.

To learn more, please go to: http://www.psaudio.com/ps/products/

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Digital Signage

Visix Introduces Comprehensive Digital Signage AxisTV Training Package

Are you doing Digital Signage (DS) yet? If not, here’s your chance as Visix, Inc. has introduced a comprehensive training package for customers, integrators, partners and resellers utilizing their powerful digital signage software platform, AxisTV. The package includes online training sessions and a feature-packed box set of AxisTV tools and resources. Visix is the one-and-only digital signage company that was started by AV-industry veterans – not an IT company – so they are very AV-focused and are proactively helping integrators understand and get into the DS market.

Each training package allows AxisTV clients to enroll an unlimited number of participants in four interactive web-based training classes led by a certified AxisTV Software instructor. The courses include Basic Content Creation, Design and Configuration, and System Administrative Management, as well as a two-hour customized training session tailored to the client’s areas of interest.

Participating organizations also receive a one-hour Q&A session within 30 days of completing their training curriculum and new-feature training following any major AxisTV software release for one year. Participants can access and download an audio and screen capture recording of their sessions for 60 days following a web-based training. And, they’re even offering on-site training if you prefer.

Each training package purchase includes a box set of printed training guides, a DVD with over 60 tutorial videos, and a USB drive with supplemental guides, PowerPoint presentations, sample content, 20 free backgrounds, links and contacts, and technical manuals and user guides for Axis TV’s most commonly used features.

Learn all about Visix at: http://www.visix.com/

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Featured Article

Is Microsoft Making A Play for CEDIA HomeAV?

By Gary Kayye, CTS

In Monday’s Wall Street Journal, Nick Wingfield wrote about Microsoft’s big plans towards touch screen technology.

Wingfield wrote, “While Apple Inc’s iPhone kicked off the craze for touch-sensing screens on mobile phones, Microsoft Corp. is pushing a similar technology for personal-computer screens that could eventually replace the computer mouse.”

In fact, Microsoft is investing $24 million in an Israeli start-up, N-Trig Ltd., whose primary product is touch screen technology. Its investment, Wingfield says, will ensure that their touch technology will integrate into Windows 7 -- Microsoft’s next generation Windows operating system.

Rumors have been around for a couple of years that Crestron and Microsoft are working together on some massive project. It certainly makes sense, as Crestron is the premiere custom programmable company with the largest market share around. And, with the future of computing apparently heading the way of touch -- i.e., HP’s TouchSmart PCs, Apple’s integration of a multi-touch touch-pad in all their laptops, and the plethora of touch screen phones that have followed the iPhone -- it’s certainly possible that we may see some collaborative example of a home media PC filled with Crestron expertise and control some time in 2009.

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Entertainment Systems

SIM2 and Entertainment Experience Team Up for HD Media Systems

SIM2 and a company called Entertainment Experience say they will offer home consumers an All-in-One Digital Entertainment Media System that provides professional cinema quality systems for all entertainment media including digital motion pictures from HDGIANTS.

The SIM2 and Entertainment Experience System includes the Grand Cinema C3X 1080 or HT5000E 3-chip DLP projectors and an Entertainment Experience Media Center that manages Blu-ray and DVD, Playstation and Xbox Games, HDTV, HD Video, Personal Computer and HDGIANTS digital movies. The Entertainment Experience Media Center provides the core media management and supports 1080p and 720p, all major color and encoding standards including Mpeg2, Mpeg4, H.264, and VC1 at bit rates up to three times higher than conventional HD and full Microsoft Digital Rights Management with HDCP display file encryption. The system also claims to provide automatic contrast control for differing levels of ambient light (although not specifying exactly how they are doing that). In addition, the Media Center can switch what SIM2 calls “an Audio/Video Signal (AVS) Processor” among 18 video inputs including HDMI/HDCP, SD/HD component, S-video and composite and provide 2 HDMI output at 1920x1080, 60 Hertz. Thus, allowing home consumers to enjoy the proprietary cinema color on large screens for Blu-ray and DVD, Xbox and Playstation Games, HDTV, HD Video and Personal Computer input. The AVS Processor also includes 10-bit processing, adaptive de-interlacing for both SD and HD, edge enhancement without ringing, adaptive noise reduction and extensive color and grey level calibration.

For more information, go to http://www.sim2usa.com

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Projection

Digital Projection’s dVision 1080p Projectors Adopt VIDI Technology

DVision 1080P projectors will now begin utilizing Philips' exciting VIDI technology. VIDI is a Philips innovation developed in close cooperation with Texas Instruments in order to optimize the image performance of DLP-based projectors for both video and data applications. VIDI electronics activate the UHP lamp by way of a two-pulse system: one brilliant pulse and one dark pulse. The dark pulse enhances contrast, providing a smoother more vivid image, while the brilliant pulse boosts brightness by up to 25% to 30%, according to Philips. The brilliant pulse ensures there is a noticeable increase in brightness on the projection screen.

The Texas Instruments/Philips partnership in VIDI technology engineering allows the projector to pulse an individual color, or mix of colors by synchronizing the pulsing of the lamp with the cycling of the projector's the color wheel. For example, if you want more red, you can choose to "boost" the lamp output (pulse the lamp output) during the red interval of the color wheel. Thus, red illumination energy can be 25-30% brighter without affecting the overall demands on the lamp or lamp life. By creating a "dark" pulse, grayscale can be improved by up to 2 bits, along with an increase in contrast ratio and a reduction of dither noise by as much as 75%.

Different pulse combinations can be created to optimize projector performance for specific applications. The company says VIDI technology allows color wheel-based projection systems, like DP's iVision and dVision series, to improve performance and flexibility without negatively affecting projector thermal output, efficiency or lamp life.

The DP’s dVision 1080p-XB and XL projectors are currently available with VIDI technology. The dVision 1080p-XC will include VIDI technology in late March 2009.

To learn more about VIDI technology and to see some cool demos on the technology, go to: http://www.lighting.philips.com

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SANYO Debuts New 1080p Projector at CES

While the PLV-1080HD is SANYO's entry-level home theater projector, it is equipped with a state-of-the-art 1080p HD 3LCD panel, an advanced lens-shifting technology, a new variable iris, and SANYO's 3D color management system. The PLV-1080HD is shipping now.

The PLV-1080HD is one of SANYO's least expensive projectors designed for residential installations, offering a HD panel providing 1920x1080 resolution from high definition sources such as Blu-ray discs, HD camcorders, a wide variety of video on-demand services plus paid TV services from cable and satellite companies, in addition to terrestrial-based HD broadcasts.

The PLV-1080HD also incorporates SANYO's 3D color management system that addresses changes in color phase and color level to obtain what the company says is perfect color reproduction. This new color management system was designed to optimize the potential of Deep Color via the projector’s two HDMI 1.3 inputs. Other features include an automatic shutter that protects the lens from dust when not in use and a whisper-quiet fan, rated at only 21dB. Five video modes (Brilliant Cinema/Creative Cinema/Natural/Living/Dynamic) provide pre-calibration for various genres of video material.

Check this out for a full story on this as well as a downloadable spec sheet: http://www.noydcom.com/press_release/sanyo/PLV-1080HD/

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EPSON Also Shows New 1080p Projector

Epson announced the latest addition to its home theater line in the form of a 3LCD 1080p front projector, the PowerLite Home Cinema 6500 UB. The projector offers 1080p resolution with the latest 3LCD D7 chip set for significantly higher contrast, a built-in HQV Reon-VX processor by Silicon Optix, and a wide range of new performance advantages.

Featuring 3LCD technology with Epson’s new “Crystal Clear Fine” D7 chip set and UltraBlack (Vertical Alignment) technology, the Home Cinema 6500 UB displays superb black levels and extraordinary details. 3LCD technology enables the projector to deliver realistic, vibrant colors without the possibility of color break-up, unlike single-chip projectors, which use a spinning color wheel to create their colors. It also allows the Home Cinema 6500 UB to provide a significantly enhanced contrast ratio -- up to 75,000:1 -- to deliver darker blacks and brighter whites.

The $2900 Home Cinema 6500 UB also features a unique OptiCinema multi-lens system, developed by Fujinon, a leading provider of precision optics to the digital film and HDTV camera industry. This lens system allows for sharp, clear images, and precise focus and adjustment flexibility with the lens shift feature. The projector is also equipped with Silicon Optix’s HQV Reon-VX scaling and de-interlacing video processor to reduce mosquito and block noise, while adding multi-level contrast enhancement and other picture improvement options. In addition, Epson’s new FineFrame technology delivers smoother and sharper motion pictures, while virtually eliminating judder to provide optimum picture detail for viewers.

Full details are not on their web site yet, but when they are, you will find it here: http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/ProductCategory.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=-13923

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Integrator Solutions

Da-Lite Ships New Insta-Theater Plus Sizes

Da-Lite Screen Company announced additional sizes and a new design for the Insta-Theater Plus Projection Screen. Easy to raise and lower with one hand, the new Insta-Theater Plus features a single pneumatic extension arm to allow the screen to be opened to any position. Quick and easy set up along with a lightweight design make portable presentations easier than ever.

The newly redesigned Insta-Theater Plus provides a very cost effective way to conduct a professional presentation. The Insta-Theater Plus is now available in 60”, 80” and 100” diagonal Video format sizes.

To see all the Insta-Theater Products, go to: http://www.dalite.com/products/product.php?cID=19&pID=363

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Envivio Begins Shipping New Mobile TV Encoding Solution

Envivio Inc., a technology provider of IP video convergence encoding solutions from mobile to HD, last month announced that the new Mobile TV configuration of its 4Caster C4 three screens encoder has successfully entered service with several mobile network operators and content aggregators around the world. The Envivio 4Caster C4 simultaneously delivers four channels of video to up to 32 different mobile TV profiles, providing a solid compression platform for operators launching new services or upgrading early generation services based on software encoding platforms.

The 4Caster C4 convergence-encoding platform is the world’s first to provide video compression for all Three Screens of consumer video – TVs, PCs and mobile devices – from a single platform. Designed to enable fixed line and mobile network operators to deliver content simultaneously across the full range of consumer devices, the 4Caster C4 is able to take multiple channels of content and encode them simultaneously to deliver multiple mobile TV profiles, multiple Internet TV profiles, or SD and HD IPTV profiles. The 4Caster C4 supports digital, analog and MPEG-2 Transport Stream over IP inputs as well as a range of video and audio encoding options to enable efficient delivery of content to the Three Screens.

Watch this technology, as it is part of the future of the convergence of TV and mobile phones: http://www.envivio.com/

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Audio

Artcoustic Launches SUPERSTAR iPod Music Server

In late December, Artcoustic launched the SUPERSTAR iPod Music Centre. It’s an amazingly cool looking way to dock an iPod in an artistic-looking speaker – anywhere in the house! Here are the specs:

Amplifier 2 x 150watt into 8ohm
Optional cooling fan
Bass Eq. @ 45Hz flat, +3dB, +6dB
Crossover, full range, 80Hz. 120Hz
Bridged, mono and stereo switch
RCA left and right input terminals
DIN input (Bang & Olufsen ready)
Auto turn on/turn off
Input sensitivity volume control
iPod USB charger

There’s no other way to explain this than to show it to you. If you want to read my specs about it, then you can go to: http://www.artcoustic.com/products/superstar-ipod-music-centre.aspx

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NAD Premieres New HD AV Components at CES

At CES NAD Electronics introduced upgraded HD versions of the T 785, T 775, T765 AV Receivers and the T 175 AV Tuner Preamp-Processor. Additionally, NAD premiered Modular Design Construction (MDC) in the new Masters Series M15HD AV Preamp-Processor.

The MDC-based products include four new entries in NAD’s popular Theater Series -- the T 785 HD AV Receiver, T 775 HD AV Receiver, T 765 HD AV Receiver, and T 175 HD Preamp-Tuner-Processor. It also includes NAD’s first MDC-based Masters Series component, the M15HD Surround Sound Processor. All are based on current models that have been significantly upgraded with the new MDC architecture and various high definition and advanced features.

The T 785 HD AV Receiver, T 175 HD AV Tuner Preamp-Processor and the M15HD AV Preamp-Processor come equipped with NAD’s new AM 200 and VM 200 Modules. As a result, new features include dual 32-bit Aureus 7.1 high-speed digital signal processors (DSPs) by Texas Instruments, Dynamic EQ and Dynamic Volume by Audyssey; decoding for several advanced audio formats, including Dolby True HD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD Master Audio; and Sigma Designs’ VXP broadcast studio quality image processor.

To check all the new NAD products out, go to: http://nadelectronics.com/index

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Final Words

Well, that's it for this edition of rAVe Asia. Thank you for spending time with us as we muse the industry's happenings. To continue getting the newsletter, or to sign up a friend, visit the website: www.raveproasia.com

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