All Products Filed in Displays

Friday, August 27, 2010

Right now Apple's iPad is certainly a hot product for installers to integrate into their home control systems solutions, but there are other touchpanel products on the market that installers can use.

Home Automation, Inc.'s (HAI) new OmniTouchPro home control software is designed to be versatile whole-house control/automation solution that enables CE Pros to use third-party touchpanels in their home automation system installations.

HAI says the software (part number 1131) is the same interface that it runs on its Omnitouch 5.7e, 10p and 10pe touchpanels, and that it will run on most third-party touchpanels that employ Microsoft Windows XP, Vista and Win7.

Once installed and setup as part of a system, the software can be used by homeowners to access and control their security, lighting, HVAC, audio/video and other electronics sub-systems. Installers can also customize the appearance of the interface through the use of color choices, icons, floorplans, room-specific pages and other elements.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

There's no question that powerline technologies have advanced far beyond the Clapper.

A good example of how far the technologies have advanced can be found in Western Digital's WD Livewire Powerline AV Network kit.

Western Digital says the product is compatible with the HomePlug AV powerline networking standard and it allows CE Pros to retrofit a home with network connections by using its existing electrical outlets.

The Lake Forest, Calif.-based computing company says the system offers 200Mbps of data transfer speeds and enough ports to support the connection of seven networked devices, which could be anything from a console gaming system, to a Blu-ray Disc player with BD Live technologies.

Western Digital adds the powerline solution also supports 1080p video streams and its set up is plug-and-play to facilitate quick installations.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Within the world of custom electronics the mere reference of the manufacturer VIZIO usually elicits a variety of opinions.

There is however no disputing the company's popularity. The Calif.-based company is one of the most popular manufacturers in the entire world of consumer electronics.

On Aug. 20 the company announced that its Xtreme VIZIO Technology (XVT) TruLED LED LCD televisions have started to ship. The line of products includes a range of five screen sizes: 32 inch, 37 inch, 42 inch, 47 inch and 55 inch, and they incorporate the company's Smart Dimming LED dimming technology, dual-band 802.11n wireless Internet connectivity, VIZIO's Web apps, and multiple HDMI inputs.

In addition, all of the TVs offer VIZIO's Smooth Motion video processing, IR/Bluetooth remote controls that include QWERTY keyboards and full backlit LED lighting for improved contrast ratios.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

With new housing starts still lagging and the economy continuing to splutter along, installers are now moving into the retrofit market.

Middleton, Wisc.-based Intelix's new DIGI-HD-COAX A/V extender enables custom installers to walk into an existing home and distribute high-definition video signals over a single coax cable.

The solution works with a home's existing RG-59 and RG-6 cables and the company says it can transmit 1080p video up to 300 feet and 1080i up to 675 feet. In addition, the transmission solution also includes signal amplification technologies to allow installers to daisy chain a system to feed as many as 10 displays.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

For years SurgeX has developed and engineered power protection products for the commercial market.

Now after dabbling in the residential channel, the company has fully committed to bringing its its commercial-grade technologies to the custom installation market through the release of its XU115 AC Surge Eliminator and Power Conditioner.

The XU115 is the first product in the N.C.-based company's Eliminator Series, and SurgeX says the unit includes its Impedance Tolerant EMI/RFI noise filtering, as well as its browser-based powered management options for remote control of power settings and other diagnostic functions.

In addition, the 2U-high XU115 also provides voltage regulation, UPS backup and the company's proprietary Advanced Series Mode surge protection technology that is said to eliminate all surges up to 3,000 volts and 3,000 amps with no residual harm like voltage let-through and ground contamination.

Monday, August 16, 2010

It's amazing how fast the market for 3D televisions is developing. About this time a year ago 3D televisions were wildly expensive when compared to traditional flat-panel televisions, but today with companies like Panasonic pushing down the price points for 3D televisions, the technologies are becoming more approachable for a wider group of consumers.

Panasonic's newly announced additions to its VIERA GT25 Series of plasma televisions provides consumers with a choice of two affordable 3D televisions. The 42-inch TC-P42G25 and 50-inch TC-P50GT25 both offer users the company's 600Hz Sub-field video processing technology, 1080p resolutions, VIERA Image Viewer (for viewing still photos), 24fps (frame-per-second) compatibility, active-shutter 3D, and VIERA Link for the streaming of Web content from Netflix, Amazon On-Demand, Pandora and Twitter.

Henry Hauser, vice president of merchandising, display group for Panasonic, says that Panasonic has been at the forefront of the 3D market and now with the release of these two new 3D televisions, consumers will now be able save money while purchasing state-of-art televisions. "From the beginning, Panasonic has led the charge into the immersive world of 3D home entertainment by offering end-to-end 3D home entertainment solutions, including full HD 3D VIERA plasma TVs, 3D Blu-ray disc players, professional and consumer 3D camcorders, the nation's first suite of 3D TV channels with partner DirecTV, and the authoring of 3D Blu-ray movies in cooperation with the Hollywood studios," he says.

"The debut of our VIERA GT25 Series of full HD 3D TVs further expands our portfolio of 3D offerings and makes it even easier for consumers to join the immersive world of full HD 3D for the home."

The televisions also include the ability to convert 2D content to 3D, and the TVs, which are priced at $1,700 and $2,100 respectively, also require consumers to purchase 3D glasses separately to view the content.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

With devices like Blu-ray players, HDTVs and streaming devices becoming commodity items, these products are more accessible than ever to a broader range of consumers.

Audio Authority's new HXE-11 HDMI over Coax system provides installers a simple way of connecting those devices and facilitating their clients' high-definition home theater needs.

The system is capable of transmitting and receiving 1080p video and lossless audio over a single RG-6 cable for more than 200 feet.

The Lexington, Ken.-based manufacturer says that the system, which is comprised of a Model 1341T Transmitter and the Model 1341R Receiver, provides installers with an alternative to balun-based Cat-5 solutions.

Audio Authority adds the coax system is HDCP compliant, and that it's set up is plug-and-play with no programming required.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Throughout the history of the custom electronics market, there's been a handful of brands that have supported the channel's growth.

One of those companies is Runco, and recently, the luxury manufacturer of projection and flat-panel video displays introduced two new projectors: the Signature Cinema SC-50d and SC-60d.

Runco has engineered the projectors to reproduce bright, rich pictures through its use of dual UHP lamps and three-chip Texas Instruments' (TI) DLP 1080 chipsets. In addition, the company also includes its external DHD video processor and CineWide with AutoScope technologies for noise-free, aspect-ratio correct image reproduction.

The Ore.-based manufacturer also says the projectors are 3D ready to support both passive and active 3D technologies, and through the use of Runco's Smart Lens system and ISF calibration provisions, installers can calibrate the projectors with preset lens and iris memory for use with masking screens.

Thursday, August 05, 2010

Energy management has been an up and coming technology trend for quite some time and now custom installers can offer these services through Panamax and Furman's BluBOLT version 1.2 firmware update.

The new update allows CE Pros to input energy rates specific to components and their locations. With this information the companies say, the newly updated BlueBOLT technologies will calculate the energy consumption of the products plugged into the BlueBOLT-enabled power conditioners. The technology platform will then report this information in real time, log the information and provide data that can be viewed on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

In addition, Furman and Panamax say that users can set the information to be viewed as kilowatt hours or dollars.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

In today's economy products from companies like Elite Screens can prove to be valuable to installers trying to meet the value demands of discerning consumers.

The company's new Raptor Modular product is the latest version Raptor series screen and it provides CE Pros with a retractable screen product that can be removed from its furniture housing and placed in spaces to completely conceal its existence when it's not in use.

Elite says the product uses its CineWhite Tension material to ensure it remains flat and when this technology is combined with its 1.1 gain and black backing, the screen can be implemented in a variety of room environments without suffering from image quality issues.

In addition, the company says the self-standing projection screen is also available with its non-tensioned, Maxwhite 1.1 gain material, and the line is offered in a choice of three sizes in a 1.78:1 (16:9) ratio: 78 inches, 84 inches and 92 inches.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

With the latest generation of flat-panel televisions incorporating technologies like LED backlighting and 3D viewing options, sales of these products continue to remain strong due to the increased interest in these technologies.

With WallWizard's new XM60, consumers can enjoy the benefits of owning one of these new televisions with additional benefit of freeing up floorspace by wall mounting these sleek new TVs via the XM60.

The XM60 is designed to work with large flat-panel televisions that range from 40 inches to 60 inches, and the company says the mount utilizes a cam mechanism that allows a mounted television to swivel 90 degrees left and right or up and down.

WallWizard says the swivel and tilt options are easy to use and because of its thin profile it matches the industrial designs of today's televisions.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

With the world of residential audio/video expanding rapidly, the applications in which custom installers find themselves using HDMI diversifies everyday.

Kordz's new EVS 7-15m line of HDMI cables is designed to help CE Pros deal with the many installation situations they have to deal with in order to complete an installation.

The company says line addresses longer HDMI cabling runs through the implementation of Redmere Technology's active EQ solution that permits the transmission of data at rates up to 10.2Gbps.

Kordz manufactures the cable with a flat geometry, which allows installers to run it under carpets and tuck it into baseboard trim when in a retrofit environment. Ensuring that connections remain secure after the cabling is pulled, the Australian manufacturer also builds the cables with its firm-fit connectors to help the cables stay in place once they are installed.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Most video enthusiasts prefer the flexibility and visceral impact of a two-piece projection system and now as the market trends into 3D content projection solutions are also emerging.

One existing product that's ready to handle the technology demands of 3D content is Vutec's Silverstar screen. Using a silver-based material and several optical layers, the high-gain 6.0 screen can help projectors produce the brightness and grayscale necessary to reproduce 3D content without losing contrast.

The Fla.-based company offers the screen in a choice of screen sizes and aspect ratios to enable the screen to be used in a variety of residential environments. In addition, the company also offers passive and active versions to accommodate the different technologies used in the 3D video category.

Thursday, July 01, 2010

As good as some of the new wireless technologies have become they will never replace a physical cabled connection.

Vanco's new HDMI over Coaxial Extender allows installers to use coax cable to extend HDMI signals up to 328 feet. The transmission device works with 1080p signals and the company says the product supports HDCP, xvYCC and other HDMI embedded technologies.

With data rate speeds up to 10.2Gbps the extender also works both RG-6 and RG59, and Vanco says the transmitter and receiver duo can connect up to two displays. Vanco also ships the extender with a remote control to switch between devices, and the company says that additional receiver are available so that installers can cascade the signals of a single transmitter to as many as 45 displays.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

One of the great things about flat-panel televisions is that they fit in places that old CRT televisions don't. These placement options allow homeowners to find creative ways to integrate a television into their homes without adding stress to their lives.

Helping to facilitate this these integration possibilities are products like Cabinet Tronix's new Coastal Elements line of TV lift products.

Included in that line of products is the company's Le Bloc Ebony Macassar (LEM) television lift. This lift is available with options such as a universal television mount and a universal remote control. Backed by a five-year warranty, the lift can be placed in places like at the foot of a bed, in the center of a room or against the wall, and homeowners can control the unit through its integrated IR/RF remote control signal repeater system.

The product also includes two HDMI inputs to allow homeowners to connect devices like their cable/satellite boxes and Blu-ray players.