NanoLumens 112" NanoFlex Display Wins 2011 DIGI Award From Digital Signage Magazine

NanoLumens®, the pioneering Norcross, Georgia-based company that last year introduced the world’s first large format flexible display technology today announced that it has been awarded Digital Signage Magazine’s 2012 DIGI Award for its 112” NanoFlex® display.

According to David Keene, Executive Editor of Digital Signage magazine and Chair of the Judges Committee of the DIGI Awards, "The DIGI Award Judges clearly felt that NanoLumens’ new-generation LED displays were innovative both in terms of technical achievement, and in terms of expanding the market for digital signage."

The DIGI Awards recognize the resellers, integrators and service providers who have gone the extra mile to ensure success for their clients, as well as the best new products for the digital signage market. The winners are featured in the Digital Signage Best Practices Guide, which will be available as a digital edition January 5, 2012, with the print issue to follow in February. In the Best Practices Guide, editors look in-depth at selected DIGI Award entries to find out how selected entries demonstrate digital signage Best Practices.

According to NanoLumens President Rick Cope, “Our NanoFlex display is enabling event production companies, convention venues, transit centers, businesses and retail locations to display their video content and digital messaging in locations that were never before possible. It’s even being used as a mobile messaging platform, since its ultra-light weight makes it perfect for relocating to the highest traffic area on any particular day or for each event. With NanoLumens full line of flexible and non-flexible large digital displays, the possibilities are endless for customer engagement, advertising and displaying video.”

First introduced in 2010, NanoFlex™ digital displays remain the only solution of their kind. They conform to fit any surface, are thin, lightweight and energy efficient, and can be mounted as easily as a work of art. NanoLumens is the only company in the world able to reliably manufacture ultra-thin and lightweight, easy-to-install and maintain, seamless 6mm pixel pitch flexible LED displays in virtually any shape or size to meet each customer’s unique requirements.

Designed and assembled entirely in the United States, NanoLumens displays are now available in both flexible and non-flexible frames in four product lines: NanoFlex™ and NanoWrap™ flexible displays; NanoSlim™ non-flexible rectangular displays; and NanoShape™ non-flexible round, square, and triangular displays.

Headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, NanoLumens, Inc. (www.nanolumens.com) is a privately held corporation engaged in the research, product development and component design for unique flexible displays that address a yawning technology gap in the $14 billion digital display industry. NanoLumens has built a portfolio of more than 20 international families of issued and filed patents on its flexible display technology that effectively address the commercial market void between relatively small flat-panel displays and huge, limited application LED boards. NanoLumens technology is not constrained by standard sizes and shapes, or by the size, noise and cost issues associated with commercial LED products.

Niles Introduces Two New Powerful High Fidelity Compact Subwoofer Ideal For Any Size Room

Expanding its line of powerful high-fidelity subwoofers, Niles®, The First Name In Custom Installation®, today announced the introduction of two new stylish compact subwoofers engineered with designers in mind, the SW6.5 and the SW8.

“With these new stylishly-designed compact subwoofers, installers can place a high-powered, highly attractive and easily concealed subwoofer virtually anywhere for a home theater or home audio system,” said Mike ‘Sparky’ Detmer, President of Niles. “These subwoofers outperform their larger rivals and offer superior sound quality and design for all residential and light commercial installations.”

Engineered with the designer in mind, the SW6.5’s and SW8’s ultra-compact sizes and fingerprint-resistant piano-black finishes present an aesthetically pleasing profile that is easy to blend into any décor. Pairing a long-throw front-firing woofer with dual long-throw side-mounted passive radiators, the compact subwoofers deliver the power of subwoofers four times their size, making them perfect for any setup requiring more bass in less space.

In addition to the designer-friendly features, the SW6.5 and SW8 have even more technical features that make them perfect for the custom installation industry. They both feature automated turn-on via 12 volt trigger or audio signal sensing and include a built in CAT5 balun to enable audio delivery over easy-to-use CAT5 cable. Additionally, both models come with a built-in bracket-mount that is compatible with the optional OmniMount® 30.0 ST-MP to allow easy wall or ceiling mounting, making it perfect for bars, restaurants and other light commercial installations. Installers can further increase the subwoofers’ placement flexibility by going wireless with the optional Niles SW-T wireless transceiver and SW-R receiver that easily attaches to a built-in mounting port on the rear of the subwoofers.

As for the audio, the SW6.5 produces 200W RMS power and up to 800W peak power through a 6.5” active driver and two 6.5” passive radiators with a frequency response of 42-200Hz. This unbelievable power is delivered from a cabinet that is smaller than 10 inches-cubed and weighs only 11 pounds.

The SW8 ups the ante, producing 300W RMS power and up to 1200W peak power through an 8” active driver and two 8” passive radiators with a frequency response of 36-200Hz. Once again, this room-filling bass performance comes from an amazingly small cabinet about 12 inches-cubed that weighs only 16.5 pounds.

The subwoofer’s long throw active drivers feature a black anodized aluminum cone that provides superior rigidity compared to conventional paper cone designs. The dual anodized aluminum cone passive radiators provide additional driver surface area that combine with the active driver to produce higher output than a larger single active driver.

Both models include both LFE and stereo line level inputs and unbuffered stereo pass-through line outputs, allowing up to four subwoofers to be wired from a single receiver output. The adjustable frequency control features a bypass positions, eliminating low pass filtering within the subwoofer, and variable phase control (0°-180°) allows for precise phase matching with the main speakers.

The SW6.5 and the SW8 will be showcased January 10–13, 2012 at International CES 2012 at The AVC Group’s Hospitality Suite 2876 in the East Tower of the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, as well as January 31–February 2, 2012 at ISE Stand 1N73 at The Amsterdam RAI in The Netherlands.

Xantech Commercial Products Used by JW Tel-Tronics for Upgrade to Law Enforcement Operations Center in Seattle Area

Seattle-based JW Tel-Tronics, which offers complete A/V installation and integration services for local municipalities, educational institutions and hospitals, recently upgraded the operations center of a Seattle-area law enforcement agency using IP Web-based control equipment from Xantech, a leader in the field of audio/video remote control and distribution for 40 years. The control system upgrade included a WIC1200 Web Intelligent Controller, IPRS232 XtraLink IP™ units, an RT8 Addressable IR Router and a 79144 Amplified Connecting Block.

According to JW Tel-Tronics systems integration engineer Judith Pile, the Xantech components have enhanced control and operation of the newly upgraded A/V equipment installed at the operations center, which is a command post within the agency that is used during major public events and emergencies. “They wanted something more sophisticated and easier to operate,” she says of the installed systems.

Pile and JW Tel-Tronic replaced the previous A/V system, comprising three projectors and a composite video system, with four flat screen televisions flanked by two projected images. “They’ve got ten computer stations in the room,” details Pile. “And they’ve got four DVRs that are all being fed from satellite TV, plus a VGA matrix switcher. Not only did they want all the signals to go everywhere but they also wanted it to be easy to operate. They were insistent that they did not need a touch screen; they just wanted to control it from a computer.”

Six IPRS232 XtraLink IP units enable the transmission of RS232 serial commands (the IPRS232 also handles RS422 or RS485) over the IP network to the flat screen displays and the projectors. “Those work like a charm,” she reports. The volume levels of an existing amplifier were also brought under IR control, she reports.

The operations center is typically activated for large public gatherings, such as parades, as well as emergency situations. “It’s not a dispatch room, but they have a computer system that tells them what units are where, so they can keep track of what’s going on,” explains Pile. “And they’ve got four DVRs with cable TV, so they can also monitor the local stations.” One of the computer stations is dedicated to the fire department, for when they are involved,” she adds.

Although this was not Pile’s first experience with Xantech components, it was her first time installing an entire setup from the company. “I’d used their IR emitters and things, but this was the first time with a control system,” she elaborates. Unfamiliar with programming the WIC1200, she did have to contact the manufacturer for assistance, and was pleased with the response. “There was great support,” she reports.

Graham Hallett, Xantech President, stated, “Because of the WIC1200’s intuitive operation and ease of programming via our Web Designer 3.0 software, we are finding it to be the system of choice for commercial integrators and system installers. Working closely with Xantech’s service and support team, Judith was able to get the right product for the right application, and considering the system is being used in critical life-and-death situations, it has to work the first time and every time, which made Xantech the logical choice.”

For more information, please visit www.xantechcommercial.com.

ELAN Debuts 10" Tabletop and Under-Cabinet Mounted Color LCD Touch Screen Interface

Offering installers and consumers an interface device for every location and application, ELAN® Home Systems today added a new 10” hard-wired tabletop and under-cabinet mounted color LCD touch screen to its award-winning family of user-friendly ELAN g! system interfaces.

According to Joe Lautner, ELAN Product Manager and New Business Development, “The new VL10 Valet provides our custom installation dealers, consumers and commercial customers with a convenient, always-on user interface that is perfect for use in homes, board rooms and bars. It features ELAN’s user-friendly ‘touch and swipe’ design and is an ideal control solution for kitchens and bedside tables, where it can double as a TV thanks to the included analog video input.”

Available for immediate delivery to dealers, The ELAN VL10 Valet features a 16:9 wide screen format, a built-in speaker and microphone for messaging, simple IP connectivity for communication, non-volatile flash memory, quick & easy programming, a screen saver mode that can display photos and it is compatible with all ELAN system controllers.

The g! family of interfaces is ELAN’s breakthrough series of touchscreen devices and applications that put total entertainment and control right at a consumer’s fingertips. No matter what is being controlled – the home, office, restaurant & bar, conference room or classroom — this exciting group of g! interfaces enable users to control everything in a fast, powerful, and most importantly, intuitive way. Each one of ELAN’s tabletop, handheld, mobile and in-wall interfaces has the uniform g! look and feel, creating a consistent user experience that is both familiar and satisfying. Users simply touch one of the fun g! interface icons and have immediate control of their media, lighting, climate, security, video and much more.

In addition to the new VL10 Valet, the ELAN family of interfaces includes the award-winning HR2 handheld remote control that is the ultimate merger of television remote and home control, the TS Series 10”, 7” and 4” Touch Screens and the g! mobile applications for the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad. The ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System also provides interfaces for PCs and On-Screen Displays allowing for entertainment and home control from a television.

The ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System provides users with the most uniform and intuitive icon-based control from their favorite devices. The standardized interface works across platforms, so that the trendy g! Mobile app users love on the iPhone appears and works similarly on ELAN Touch Screens, valets and handheld remotes as well as users' televisions and mobile devices. And the system's IP backbone makes it just as easy to control the system from across the room - or across the globe.

Individual "apps" for each subsystem allow the user to control security, climate, lighting, media, irrigation, pool/spa, messaging, video and photos with the flick of a finger. Access is fast and secure through any ELAN home interface or globally with mobile Internet enabled devices like the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Netbooks, and PC Tablets. Since the intuitive interface empowers users with personalized scheduling and detailed history views, high consumption subsystems like lighting and climate can be closely monitored and managed for a greener lifestyle - and substantial energy savings.

The ELAN VL10 Valet will be showcased Jan. 10–13 at International CES 2012 at The AVC Group’s Hospitality Suite 2876 in the East Tower of the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, as well as Jan. 31–Feb. 2 at ISE Stand 1N73 at The Amsterdam RAI in The Netherlands.

NanoLumens Delivers A Stunning Performance At The Ontario Progressive Conservative Party's Record-Breaking Fundraising Dinner

To make sure every attendee at the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party’s November 2011 Greater Toronto Area Dinner could clearly view party leader Tim Hudak’s speech, the event’s production company Metalworks Production Group knew they needed a super bright, vivid display that could be set up and broken down quickly and easily, viewed from any angle and was bright enough to be seen clearly from hundreds of feet away.

To find the right solution for this event, Metalworks turned to the audiovisual experts at APG Displays, who recommended they deploy two NanoLumens NanoFlex 112” flexible digital displays on either side of the speaker’s podium to allow for optimal viewing for all attendees. And it’s a good thing they did, because the event turned out to be the largest and most successful dinner in the party’s history, drawing more than 800 supporters and candidates and raising nearly (Canadian) $1.5 million for the party.

Because the dinner was just a few hours long, it was vital that Metalworks Production Group be able to set up and break down the digital displays quickly and easily without needing a whole crew of workers. The NanoLumens NanoFlex displays were the perfect solution for this because they weigh just 85 pounds, need minimal labor to install and don’t require any heavy or cumbersome rigging. In fact, NanoLumens is the only manufacturer that sells a flexible, durable, lightweight digital display solution that is bright enough to be seen from hundreds of feet away and provides a vibrant, consistent edge-to-edge image quality no matter the viewing angle or how close the viewer is to the screens.

“Metalworks Production Group had never used the NanoLumens displays,” said David Weatherhead, Vice President of APG Displays, “so they really were shocked when we told them about the NanoFlex 112” display that could be set up and broken down in less than two hours. Using a projection screen or a traditional digital display would have required more people and much more time to install, so the NanoLumens displays turned out to be the perfect solution for the event. The picture quality is amazing, and they looked beautiful from every spot in the room.”

According to NanoLumens President and CEO Rick Cope, “The Greater Toronto Area Dinner is exactly the kind of environment that NanoLumens Flex displays were made for. Special events are a rapidly growing market for digital displays, provided that the displays can be moved in and out quickly and can be deployed in every type of room environment with minimal structural requirements. NanoLumens Flex displays make it possible for events to be held in any environment, indoors or outdoors without regard to weather, and provide the opportunity to create a mobile messaging platform by moving the lightweight display to different locations throughout the event.”

The NanoLumens NanoFlex 112” flexible digital display is truly the only display of its kind. Currently there is no other digital display this large that can claim it is waterproof, has a two-inch thickness, a mere 85 pound weight, brightness capability up to 5,000 nits, uses far less energy than traditional displays and is literally flexible enough to fit any application. Whether the situation calls for the perfect quick display solution for a two-hour event, a display that can be moved around from room to room or a unique and creative permanent installation, the NanoFlex display is the ideal solution, making it the simplest, most durable display ever.

First introduced in 2010, NanoFlex™ digital displays remain the only solution of their kind. They conform to fit any surface, are thin, lightweight and energy efficient, and can be mounted as easily as a work of art. NanoLumens is the only company in the world able to reliably manufacture ultra-thin and lightweight, easy-to-install and maintain, seamless 6mm pixel pitch flexible LED displays in virtually any shape or size to meet each customer’s unique requirements.

Designed and assembled entirely in the United States, NanoLumens displays are now available in both flexible and non-flexible frames in four product lines: NanoFlex™ and NanoWrap™ flexible displays; NanoSlim™ non-flexible rectangular displays; and NanoShape™ non-flexible round, square, and triangular displays.

APG Displays’ rental division searches the world for the most innovative, high impact audiovisual products and brings them to special events, meetings and trade shows in Canada and the U.S. We are proud to offer one of the most comprehensive portfolios of cutting-edge large video display solutions, each with customized accessories, specialist technical support, and full system design and installation services. We have worked with some of the largest exhibit, conference and production houses in the business, providing tailored support for each client. We also partner with some of the biggest A/V names in the country with our exclusive Trade Partner Program. APG Displays is a member of MPI, ITRA, TSE, ISES, and Tourism Toronto special event and rental organizations.

Headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, NanoLumens, Inc. (www.nanolumens.com) is a privately held corporation engaged in the research, product development and component design for unique flexible displays that address a yawning technology gap in the $14 billion digital display industry. NanoLumens has built a portfolio of more than 20 international families of issued and filed patents on its flexible display technology that effectively address the commercial market void between relatively small flat-panel displays and huge, limited application LED boards. NanoLumens technology is not constrained by standard sizes and shapes, or by the size, noise and cost issues associated with commercial LED products.

Stampede Named Exclusive United States Distributor of Ken-A-Vision AV/IT Product Lines

Stampede Presentations Products, Inc., North America’s largest value added distributor of professional audio video (ProAV) solutions, has been named the exclusive United States distributor of Ken-A-Vision Manufacturing Inc.'s AV/IT line of award-winning document cameras/visualizers, specialty cameras and camera accessories, according to a joint announcement made by Stampede President & COO Kevin Kelly and Ken-A-Vision Director of Distribution & OEM Projects Robert De John.

“No other company has the market expertise, dealer network and established end user customer relationships to help us achieve our long-term sales objectives than Stampede,” De John said today. “To help us fully take advantage of this expertise, we have decided to consolidate our existing distributor program, effective January 2, 2012, and sell all of our AV/IT products through Stampede. I am confident that Stampede’s value added support programs will continue to provide our customers with the highest level of care and respect that they have come to expect from Ken-A-Vision.”

According to Robert De John, and for over 65 years, Ken-A-Vision has created innovative and award-winning educational products for students and teachers around the world. The company’s leading products include its FlexCam, Vision Viewer and Video Flex document cameras and visualizers.

“We are proud and honored to be chosen to be the exclusive United States distributor of this extremely innovative product line,” Kevin Kelly said today. “Stampede’s strength in the K-12 education market makes us the ideal way for Ken-A-Vision to reach its core customer base while simultaneously bringing their product line to end users in other vertical market channels.”

About Ken-A-Vision
A leader in digital presentation solutions, document cameras, microscopes and applications software, Ken-A-Vision provides high quality, cost-effective products. For 65 years, Ken-A-Vision has created innovative products for the global market such as the Microprojector, the Comprehensive Scope 2 line, the Kena digital microscope and the Video Flex camera line. Based in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A., Ken-A-Vision helps students see more, do more and learn more. For more information, visit www.ken-a-vision.com or contact solutions@ken-a-vision.com

About Stampede
Known for its value-added distribution, Amherst, NY-based Stampede is the leading distributor of presentation equipment including LCD/DLP projectors and flat panel displays. Stampede provides a complete range of brand name presentation equipment to a variety of audio/video, computer, and home theater resellers and integrators in the United States, Canada and Latin America. These resellers rely on Stampede for value-added services in distribution, marketing and solution- based sales. Stampede annually produces the “Big Book of AV,” an 816-page catalog and companion website (www.BigBookofAV.com) providing hundreds of sales, installation and spec tips for Stampede’s dealers in addition to product details on more than 5,000 SKUs. For more information on Stampede, log onto www.stampedeglobal.com.

City of Key West, Florida Gets All "Sneaky" When It Comes To Raising Money For Local Breast Cancer Support Programs!

Leave it to Key West, Florida to come up with a novel new way to have fun while raising money to fund local programs that support breast cancer patients and their families. The southernmost city in the continental United States has teamed up with local waterfront resort IBIS BAY to create a special weeklong public awareness and fundraising program to benefit the Florida Keys Unit of the American Cancer Society. In fact, the city has declared the week of December 26-31, 2011, “Real Men Wear Pink Shoes Week”, and is asking all men, and women, of Key West to purchase and wear pink Converse® Chuck Taylor® Hi-Top sneakers all over the city to show their support. The fundraiser has already gotten off to a great start, and people all over Key West are showing off their new Pink Shoes in this new video!

The novel idea is the brainchild of Chris Holland, a cancer survivor himself and the owner/operator of the IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort. "Breast cancer affects a surprisingly large number of people in the Keys and we wanted to do something to help raise funds for local programs that will make a direct impact on the quality of patients' lives," he explained. "At the same time, we knew we needed to come up with a new way to grab and hold peoples' attention and get them to want to really support the cause. That's where the pink Chuck Taylor Hi-Top sneakers come in. They're such an All-American sneaker. And Key West, with all of its zaniness and openness, is still the quintessential All-American city."

Holland approached the Florida Keys Unit of the American Cancer Society and Converse, both of whom immediately loved the idea and jumped in. Converse donated 500 pairs of pink sneakers. IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort is selling the sneakers and donating 100 percent of the proceeds to the Florida Unit of the American Cancer Society, which will use the proceeds to support several local programs for breast cancer patients including:

• Reach To Recovery, a one-on-one support program in which a breast cancer survivor counsels and provides emotional support for a newly diagnosed patient at their home, over the phone, or in the hospital.
• Road To Recovery, a program that provides transport for patients to and from treatment appointments and doctor visits.
• Triple Touch, an educational program that teaches women how to do self-examinations and encourages all women over 40 years to schedule a doctor’s examination every year.
• Look Good, Feel Better, a program that provides makeovers and fine makeup for patients who have undergone chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

According to Carrie Helliesen, Executive Director of the Florida Keys Unit of The American Cancer Society, “‘Real Men Wear Pink Sneakers Week’ is a great fundraising and awareness initiative that literally puts boots on the ground in the fight against breast cancer in Key West and lets participants show their support wherever they go. The Florida Keys Unit of The American Cancer Society strives to provide a wide range of support programs to help patients both emotionally and physically, so having the backing of the community at large is vital to our continued service and success. Chris Holland’s idea for men wearing pink shoes to support the women in their lives is the most unique and fun-based fundraiser we’ve ever been a part of.”

As an added incentive to participate, the weeklong fundraising and awareness initiative will culminate with a Pink Converse New Year’s Eve Party at IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort, Key West’s most original waterfront destination. All those who purchase a pair of the pink Converse sneakers are invited to wear them to the party and celebrate the new year Key West-style!

About IBIS Bay Waterfront Resort:
The IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort (www.ibisbayresort.com) embodies the very best of Key West and offers guests a vacation experience like no other. With a full deck of options for active adventure-seekers, Hemingway buffs, or travelers who want to fit in with the locals, there is something special for every guest. Featuring classic Key West architecture and design, 600 feet of beautiful private beach, a 20-foot poolside movie screen for outdoor movie nights and the Lighthouse Restaurant, IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort is more than a resort—it’s a destination.

About the American Cancer Society:
Together with our millions of supporters, the American Cancer Society (ACS) saves lives and creates a world with less cancer and more birthdays by helping people stay well, helping people get well, by finding cures, and by fighting back.
The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the ACS has 12 chartered Divisions, more than 900 local offices nationwide, and a presence in more than 5,100 communities. To learn more, visit www.cancer.org.

Xantech Control Products Once Again Selected for FCCI Insurance Group Office Facilities

Largo, Florida-based Technical Resource Group (TRG) recently completed a major upgrade of the AV systems in the executive boardroom at the corporate headquarters and Florida regional office of FCCI Insurance Group in Sarasota, Florida, which includes control solutions from Xantech, a leader in the field of audio/video remote control and distribution for 40 years. The project also involved the reconfiguration of one of FCCI’s three training/conference rooms, which TRG upgraded two years ago with Xantech touch screen displays and control equipment.

Keith Gilliam, TRG System Design/Engineer, was pleased to make a return visit to FCCI in order to install more Xantech equipment. “This is their first upgrade in the executive boardroom; FCCI had grown out of the existing technology and replaced it with state-of-the-art digital audio, video and control technology,” he reveals. “It worked out very well to have Xantech’s WIC1200 Web Intelligent Controller control everything. The Web Intelligent Controller was chosen to manage all of the digital A/V and the system controls, which included the contact closures for the screen and projector lift.”

There are 22 stations located around the conference table in FCCI’s executive boardroom, at which each participant can connect his or her laptop computer, according to Keith Gilliam. The existing VGA inputs at each station were retained and HDMI inputs were added. “This will maintain compatibility with current generation laptops and provide connectivity well into the future,” he explains. “Each of the 22 stations is configured with hi-def video inputs, and we’re controlling the video switcher’s HDMI, VGA and DVI inputs through the Xantech WIC1200.”

Each station is additionally equipped with a Shure MX Series podium microphone, and the room is fully outfitted with ceiling speakers. The microphones and speakers are processed through a Biamp Systems Audia FLEX DSP unit. “The Xantech WIC1200 is controlling the volumes of all of the inputs, where we govern the audio switching along with controlling volumes to the Biamp system,” says Keith Gilliam.

Keith Gilliam reports FCCI requested an easy-to-use system that required no more than one or two button pushes to operate or reconfigure the installed equipment. “We’re also using two Xantech 10.4-inch WiFi CWTC10 Commercial Wireless Touch Controllers as wireless interfaces, so they can have simple control to turn the room on and off. When they turn the system on it lowers the screen, turns on the projector, lowers the projector, and reconfigures the video inputs.”

The executives operating the board meetings can use the Xantech CWTC10 to configure the boardroom to any station or video input they need, he says. “They can call up a station and reconfigure it with a couple of button pushes.” This is made possible by employing Xantech’s recently introduced Web Designer 3.0 software, which provides a simple drag-and-drop programming solution for the easy creation of a customized graphic user interface on any web-based system’s remote control device.

For more information, please visit www.xantechcommercial.com.

New Stereo Earbud Headphones for Children Feature Built-In Volume Limit to Protect Hearing

For the millions of children who now have their own smartphone, iPhone®, iPod®, or MP3 music player, the iESSENTIALS® division of MIZCO International today introduced a new line of earbud headphones designed specifically to ensure the safety of their ears while enjoying their music.

Available for $9.99, the new comfortable in-ear RoboBuds™ line offers five fun, colorful “robot” characters: “Phantom”, “Streke”, “Electrika”, “PowerBot”, and “CrimsonRobo”. Each set of earbuds features a robot character on the cord that slides up and down and serves as the set’s cord management system. The RoboBuds are designed with a volume limiting output of 85 dB (decibels) to protect children’s ears.

“Children are embracing music at younger and younger ages than ever before, and that requires manufacturers to go further than ever before to design products that can help protect against unintended damage caused by sudden increases in music volume,” explained Mike Mizrahi, Creative Director at MIZCO International.

“Our new line of iESSENTIALS RoboBuds provides kids of all ages with a high performance audio accessory that is every bit as safe to use as they are fun to collect and use. Parents no longer need to worry about their children hurting their hearing because of unsafely loud music. Our RoboBud earbuds automatically limit output to 85 db, which means parents can let their children turn the music up as loud as they want but the volume will never rise to a level that hurts their children’s hearing!”

What’s more, the colorful and varied line of RoboBud earbuds, complete with five characters to collect, ensures that children will never again have to settle for plain white, uncomfortable plastic earbuds, and parents will never have to worry about the safety of their childrens’ ears! The introduction of the five earbud models is only the first phase of the product line, with the addition of over-the-ear models to follow.

The City Of Key West, Florida Declares Week Of December 26, 2011 "Real Men Wear Pink Sneakers Week" In Support Of The American Cancer Society!

Real men may still not eat quiche, but this holiday season, from December 26-31, 2011, Key West men—and women—will definitely be wearing plenty of pink sneakers as part of the "Real Men Wear Pink Sneakers Week" breast cancer fundraising and awareness initiative announced today by Key West Mayor Craig Cates and IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort Owner Chris Holland.

The city and resort have teamed up to create a week-long public awareness program for which Converse® has donated 500 pairs of pink Chuck Taylor® Hi-Top sneakers to the Florida Keys Unit of the American Cancer Society. The sneakers can be purchased by the public for $50 per pair either by contacting the IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort Fun Desk by phone (305.296.0616) or in person.

One hundred percent of the proceeds will go directly to the Florida Keys Unit of the American Cancer Society to benefit several breast cancer patient support programs including:

• Reach To Recovery, a one-on-one support program in which a breast cancer survivor counsels and provides emotional support for a newly diagnosed patient at their home, over the phone, or in the hospital.
• Road To Recovery, a program that provides transport for patients to and from treatment appointments and doctor visits.
• Triple Touch, an educational program that teaches women how to do self-examinations and encourages all women over 40 years to schedule a doctor’s examination every year.
• Look Good, Feel Better, a program that provides makeovers and fine makeup for patients who have undergone chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

According to Mayor Cates, he, along with Key West’s city managers and district commissioners, will wear the pink sneakers all week long.

According to Carrie Helliesen, Executive Director of the Florida Keys Unit of The American Cancer Society, “The ‘Real Men Wear Pink Sneakers Week” is an amazing fundraising and awareness initiative for the Florida Keys Unit of The American Cancer Society. The Mayor’s proclamation encouraging men to ensure the women in their lives receive annual mammograms exemplifies the truth that women don’t have to do it alone. Key West has a vast support community to help with everything from transportation to the doctor to educational programs for women young and old, and it means a lot that the city and Chris Holland have taken the lead in the fight against breast cancer.”

The weeklong fundraising program will culminate with a Pink Converse New Year’s Eve Party at IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort, Key West’s most original waterfront destination. All those who purchase a pair of the pink Converse sneakers are invited to wear them out and celebrate the New Year Key West style! The party will start at 8 p.m. on December 31 and will feature great live music performed by Key West’s own MuseGurus. There will be free Pink Key West shrimp, a cash bar, prizes for pink outfits and a special ‘pink’ movie that will be shown on the resort’s new 20-foot poolside movie screen.

“New Year’s Eve is a time for celebration, and this year we are using that joyful spirit for a good cause by raising money for the Florida Keys Unit of the American Cancer Society,” said Chris Holland, owner of IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort and one of the fundraiser’s main organizers. “As a cancer survivor myself and board member of the Florida Keys Unit of The American Cancer Society, this cause is near and dear to my heart. Mayor Cates and the city of Key West, along with Converse and all those who purchase a pair of sneakers and participate are helping in the fight against breast cancer with their involvement in ‘Real Men Wear Pink Sneakers Week’.”

To order your pink sneakers and show your support for the Florida Keys Unit of The American Cancer Society, please call IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort at 305-296-0616, or stop by in person and visit the resort’s Fun Desk to purchase your sneakers. The resort is located at 3101 N. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West.

The IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort embodies the very best of Key West and offers guests a vacation experience like no other. With a full deck of options for active adventure-seekers, Hemingway buffs, or travelers who want to fit in with the locals, there is something special for every guest. Featuring classic Key West architecture and design, 600 feet of beautiful private beach, a 20-foot poolside movie screen for outdoor movie nights and the Lighthouse Restaurant, IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort is more than a resort—it’s a destination.

About the American Cancer Society:
Together with our millions of supporters, the American Cancer Society (ACS) saves lives and creates a world with less cancer and more birthdays by helping people stay well, helping people get well, by finding cures, and by fighting back. The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the ACS has 12 chartered Divisions, more than 900 local offices nationwide, and a presence in more than 5,100 communities. To learn more, visit www.cancer.org.

Sentina LED Signage Completes High Tech Atmosphere of Innovative Wine Café

 The premier wine store and tasting room in Hope Mills, North Carolina isn’t just any old wine store. Featuring Sentina™ LED signage solutions for countertop and window advertising, several flat screen TVs, an automated wine dispensing system that can pour up to 12 different bottles of wine and free WiFi for customers, The Wine Café updates the classic fine wine experience into the 21st century and offers guests an experience unlike any other.

“I love modern technology, and I know it is a large part of everyday life for people today, so I want my stores to use the latest technologies to offer a different, more modern, and better experience than other wine stores,” said Angie Malave, Owner and CEO of The Wine Café. “From the wine pouring system to the touch screen register, every part of my store is up-to-date and meant to impress my guests. That extends to my advertising as well, which is why I use Sestina’s LED uSigns on my countertops and in the windows. I host events for the store and for local clubs throughout the year, and I need the uSign’s flexibility to be able to plug the sign in or use a battery pack to bring it outside when I host outdoor events. And I even hang one in the window to attract passersby.”

Malave started out using one Sentina LB-8 uSign digital signage display at The Wine Café to advertise specials, showcase new products and provide information during events or promote upcoming events, and quickly realized that she wanted to do more. She purchase two additional uSigns and has since had several customers remark about how “cool” the signs are, and how they like them better than plain poster advertisements.

“I recently held the grand opening of my second Wine Café location, and I will be using the Sentina uSigns there as well,” Malave continued. “I’m the first wine store in the area to bring these modern technologies to the wine tasting and buying experience, and my customers and guests have taken notice. Sales are up, people are happy, and my tasting events have all been very successful! Whether it’s promoting information about new varietals or an upcoming event, the digital signs and the TVs inside really set my store apart from my competition. What I really like is that it’s so easy to update and change the advertisements—all I have to do is print out a new flyer on a transparency and slip it into the Sentina uSign.”

Designed to replace wasteful fluorescent-based signage, Sentina™ uSign™ displays advance the state-of-the-art in energy-efficient LED lighting technology in a number of significant ways. First, the displays feature customized Super LED lights that are 20 percent brighter than conventional LED lights. Second, these Super LED lights are embedded behind a proprietary Shoji screen-based Optical Reflection Panel, OptiLight, that produces an ultra-bright, evenly dispersed edge-to-edge light that virtually eliminates heat emission. Third, the ultra-lightweight display frames are constructed entirely of recycled plastic. Fourth, each Sentina uSign frame consumes just six watts, translating to an operating cost of less than a penny per day in normal usage. Fifth, and perhaps most importantly of all, each 8.5” x 11” display costs just $80.00.

According to Datexx President Mei Noguchi, “The LB-8 uSign is the perfect solution for any business that wants to display information, advertising, promotions or large photos on a counter, or hang it on a wall or window. Because it is low-cost, consumes so little energy, uses LED lights that will work forever and is so simple to update with new transparencies that can be made on any printer, every customer-facing business can utilize the Sentina uSign to attract new customers and impress old customers alike. With options ranging from a single uSign to a tower consisting of 16 uSigns in a 360 degree display, there is a solution for every situation and any sized store.”

The Wine Café (www.thewinecafeus.com) is the first store in Cumberland County, North Carolina to offer an interactive wine tasting experience featuring automated wine dispensing units and family owned wines from around the world. It is a unique wine café that truly goes “beyond the bottle”, letting guests experience wine in an entirely new way. After visiting The Wine Café, wine will never be the same!

Headquartered in Kenilworth, New Jersey, Datexx is a leading manufacturer and marketer of innovatively designed, affordably priced products that help consumers manage their time and money. For more than 15 years, the company has proudly met the needs of smart consumers seeking smarter living solutions. To date, more than 20-million consumers have joined the Datexx family of satisfied customers.

BUILDERnews Names ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System A Best Product of 2011!

The ELAN® g! Entertainment and Control System today was named a Best Product of 2011 by BUILDERnews magazine, the national residential and multifamily media brand for builders, developers, contractors and designers. Each year, BUILDERnews’ editorial staff undergoes a rigid and lengthy process to choose winners based on innovation and potential impact on the builder and remodeler for ease of use, competitiveness, upsell potential and product effectiveness.

“Even in a challenging economy, there are still hundreds of products released and bought to the market every year. This year’s honorees represent some of the nation’s most innovative products in the industry and ones that our editorial team felt readers would find most useful to build better and stay competitive in 2012,” said D.C. Curry-Rothwell, CEO and publisher of BUILDERnews.

“We were impressed by the latest generation of the ELAN g! entertainment and control system, one of the most innovative products we’ve seen in years, because it lets architects and builders add in the latest in home entertainment and control technology in a whole new way,” he said. “Besides sleek good looks and the “wow” technology factor, these systems can be set up and configured by professional installers in a few hours, instead of days, via interface templates.”

According to the magazine’s editorial review staff, “ELAN promises eye-popping user interfaces that deliver unparalleled ease-of-use and control of the entire home. An intuitive and uniform navigation scheme makes using the system ultra-user-friendly, from across the room or across the globe. Individual "apps" allow for seamless control of each subsystem - such as security, climate, lighting, media and more – even while on the go from an iPhone or PC. This product delivers.”

Products were nominated for innovation, their potential for competitive differentiation in the builder marketplace, and margin potential. More than 200 products were nominated, and editors then narrowed the nominees to six products in each of 12 categories. Those products went to an independent editorial advisory panel that chose two winners for each category.

According to Joe Lautner, ELAN Product Manager and Business Development, “Builders all over the world have begun to incorporate home technology systems into their designs, and now BUILDERnews has recognized ELAN g! as an innovative Smart Home solution that is also profitable for builders to install in their projects. It has become a favorite of builders and homeowners because it is scalable for any budget and any sized home. Every homebuilder can now offer whole-home entertainment and automation to his clients with a simple, intuitive user interface that is as easy to use as an iPhone or iPad. The ELAN g! system helps builders to differentiate their homes from competitors and lets homeowners simply control every aspect of their home.”

The Niles IntelliControl ICS System Now Features iPad/iPhone Control Through The ELAN g! System

Niles®, The First Name In Custom Installation®, today announced that it is now possible to immediately provide its Niles IntelliControl® ICS System customers with iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch control capability with the market introduction of the new ELAN® g! 5.3 software upgrade for the ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System.

The free software upgrade that was released today by ELAN Home Systems is available to all qualified dealers, according to Niles President Mike “Sparky” Detmer. What’s more, the ELAN g!Mobile 5.3 app for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch now offers complete control of both the ELAN g! system and the Niles ICS System, and is available from the iTunes store.

According to Detmer, “Today the Niles ICS System, the industry’s most powerful and versatile whole-home audio solution, gained immeasurable new value with the addition of iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch control capability. Accessing all of the most popular music sources including iTunes® libraries, Pandora® Internet Radio, Rhapsody® and Sirius|XM® Internet Radio is now easier and more convenient than ever.

“The introduction of the g!Mobile 5.3 app comes at an amazing time and refreshes the entire Niles ICS System just as we surpass 15,000 ICS installations. And what’s more, with the integration with ELAN home controllers, Niles dealers gain an incredibly simple entryway for educating their clients about whole-home automation.”

The Niles IntelliControl ICS System is a unique whole-house audio distribution system that incorporates any music and metadata from iPods, Sirius|XM Satellite and Internet Radio, Pandora Internet Radio, Rhapsody, local music files on home computers or NAS drives, AM/FM radio, HD Radio™ and any other analog audio source. Users can access their personal music libraries and terrestrial, satellite and Internet radio sources through intuitive, easy-to-use in-wall touch screens and touchpads, handheld remotes and portable touch screens that provide full source, song, station and playlist information.

The backbone of ICS is the GXR2 Modular MultiZone Receiver, which was designed and engineered to be 'future-proof' and adaptable to meet the constantly changing demands of custom installers and their clients. The newest option for the GXR2 is the IM-NET streaming media module, which offers custom installation professionals a high-performance solution for providing their clients easy access to all of their favorite Internet-based music content including Pandora Radio, Rhapsody and SIRIUS|XM. Metadata for all digital music is can be displayed on connected control devices and user interfaces including the Niles Contact, a full-color wall-mount touch screen.

With the release of the g! Mobile5.3 app for control of the ICS system, in addition to being able to access all of a client’s favorite sources, the ICS system now provides access from the client’s favorite control devices: their iPads and iPhones.

About Niles®:
California-based Niles® is a 33-year-old brand recognized as The First Name in Custom Installation®. Niles is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of audio/video custom installation products and accessories and is guided by its vision to be the world’s leading provider of products and services that enable professional custom installers to design and install systems that delight their customers. To that end, Niles pursues a mission to provide solutions for end users that enable simple and easy access to home entertainment and that integrate seamlessly with other low voltage subsystems like lighting, Internet, security and HVAC in residential and light commercial environments. Niles conducts its business with a promise to treat its customers, employees, suppliers and stakeholders with fairness and respect and to foster teamwork, innovation and a commitment to be the best in everything it does. Additional information may be obtained by visiting www.nilesaudio.com.

About The AVC Group, LLC:
Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, The AVC Group, LLC is a portfolio of pre-eminent manufacturers and marketers of state-of-the-art consumer and commercial audio, video, and control system solutions. The AVC Group is comprised of the following industry leading brands: Niles®, ELAN® Home Systems, Xantech®, ATON® and Sunfire®. The AVC Group, LLC is a subsidiary of Nortek, Inc.’s (www.nortek-inc.com) Home Technology Group.

Stampede Announces Plans To Bring Its 2012 Big Book Of AV Tour To 13 Cities In The U.S. And Canada

Seeking to make its 2012 Big Book of AV Tour (BBOAV) even bigger and more successful than its just completed 2011 tour, Stampede, the leading value-added distributor of professional audio video solutions, today announced plans to bring its phenomenally popular Big Book of AV Tour to 13 cities in the United States and Canada in 2012. What’s more, Stampede said it will double the length of each day’s exhibit hours and increase the number of on-site training programs.

“Our 2011 Big Book of AV Tour was the biggest, most successful tour in the three year history of the program,” Stampede President & COO Kevin Kelly said today. “Frankly, given the fact that we hit nine cities and educated several thousand attendees during the 2011 tour, it’s going to be a challenge to make the 2012 tour even bigger and better — but we have the programs underway that will do just that.”

According to Kelly, increasing the number of cities visited, doubling the length of each day’s exhibit hours, increasing the number and variety of on-site training programs, opening up the tour to more end users, and making affordable video conferencing a centerpiece of every tour stop will help strengthen the BBOAV Tour as the largest event of its kind in North America.

“We’re thrilled that the Big Book of AV Tour continues to grow and reach more dealers each year,” Kelly said. “This tour provides dealers across the country a chance to experience the latest AV technologies and equipment and learn not only how to use them, but also which ones to use for each unique job. When coupled with our Stampede University live training events on topics such as 3D technology, touch technology and digital signage, The Big Book of AV Tour is a dealer’s one-stop event for staying up-to-date on everything AV.”

The Big Book of AV Tour supports and extends the reach of the company’s The Big Book of AV, The Ultimate Audio/Video Resource Book. The 2011 tour offered a chance for dealers to see live projector and display demonstrations and take part in Stampede University live training events on topics such as 3D technology, touch technology and digital signage. In addition, dealers in attendance had the opportunity to become CTS and DSCE certified.

Published each year by Stampede, The Big Book of AV contains more than 800 pages and features thousands of products that are ideal for home theaters, schools, houses of worship and just about any venue. The book offers buyer tips for selecting the right AV equipment and recommends products to enhance the performance of displays and projectors. The book also includes a Manufacturer Resource Section with contact info for every featured brand and a glossary of commonly used AV industry terms to help dealers understand the latest technology language. The Big Book of AV is also available for free online at www.bigbookofav.com and is now compatible with iPhones, iPads and Android mobile devices.

Attendees of the 2011 tour saw the latest solutions from a variety of vendors including Atlas Sound, Avteq, BenQ, Casio, Chief, Epson, Gefen, Hall Research, Hitachi Solutions, Kramer, Lumens, Mitsubishi, Mustang, NEC, Optoma, Peerless, Perfect Path, ProSales, TechGlobal, Samsung, Severtson Screens, Sharp and Sony.

About Stampede
Known for its value-added distribution, Amherst, New York-based Stampede is the leading distributor of presentation equipment including LCD/DLP projectors and flat panel displays. Stampede provides a complete range of brand name presentation equipment to a variety of audio/video, computer, and home theater resellers and integrators in the United States, Canada and Latin America. These resellers rely on Stampede for value-added services in distribution, marketing and solution- based sales. Stampede annually produces the “Big Book of AV,” an 816-page catalog and companion website (www.BigBookofAV.com) providing hundreds of sales, installation and spec tips for Stampede’s dealers in addition to product details on more than 5,000 SKUs. For more information on Stampede, log onto www.stampedeglobal.com.

NanoLumens Begins Worldwide Delivery of Expanded Line of Flex And Non-Flex Displays

Following on the heels of its debut at the recent CETW 2011 Show in New York, NanoLumens®, developers of the world’s first large format flexible digital display, today commenced worldwide deliveries of its expanded line of Flex Displays as well as its first line of Non-Flexible Displays.

“The era of fully commercialized digital wallpaper is now underway,” said NanoLumens President & CEO Rick Cope. “Now any indoor or outdoor surface can be turned into a powerful communications platform — while eliminating virtually all of the weight, installation, energy, and cost efficiency issues associated with traditional large format digital displays.”

NanoFlex™ and NanoWrap™ flex digital displays remain the only solution of their kind. They conform to fit any surface, are thin, lightweight, energy efficient and can be mounted as easily as a work of art. The revolutionary flex display technology shattered the traditional usage limitations of large format digital displays.

NanoSlim™ and NanoShape™ non-flexible displays, available in 6mm, 5mm, and 4mm pixel pitches, offer customers a more cost-effective alternative when flexibility is not a requirement.

According to Cope, NanoLumens is the only company able to reliably manufacture ultra-thin and lightweight, easy-to-install and maintain, seamless 6mm pixel pitch flexible digital displays in virtually any shape or size to meet each customer’s unique requirements.

The company’s patented display technology, which allows customers to select from 4mm up to 10mm pixel pitches (depending on the model), promises to transform the way marketers engage their customers indoors and out of doors in every type of trade show, retail, hospitality, stadium, arena, transportation and public event environment. The NanoWrap display gives advertisers the ability to utilize columns for 360-degree advertisements like no one has ever seen before. The display can be mounted on any column with at least a 28-inch diameter.

“Now, any surface can become a compelling display surface as simply as hanging a mirror,” Cope emphasized. “This product line is going to forever change the rules of the game when it comes to creative customer engagement.”

In addition to being ultra-lightweight and energy efficient, NanoLumens displays feature a seamless, edge-to-edge picture quality (up to a brightness of 5,000 nits) that can be viewed from any angle or any distance without color shift or picture drop-off. Designed and engineered to be energy efficient, NanoLumens displays consume significantly less energy per-square foot than conventional digital displays. Further underscoring their commitment to eco-friendly technology, the NanoLumens displays are composed of up to 50% reclaimed materials, and are completely recyclable. What’s more, some new NanoLumens displays can be serviced from the front, making maintenance easier than ever before possible.

The company’s technology has been recognized by Entrepreneur magazine as a 2011 future-proof tech trend and was cited by The Wall Street Journal in its 2010 Technology Innovations Awards. NanoLumens’ technology also received the 2011 Breakthrough Technology of the Year Award at the American Technology Awards.

For more information about NanoLumens LED Flex and Non-Flexible Displays, please visit www.nanolumens.com or call (678) 421-9694.

New Line Of *EckoUNLTD. Earbud Headphones Available For Holiday Shopping

Mark Ecko is giving holiday shoppers something to get really excited about this year. The trend-setting fashion designer, multimedia artist, and technology entrepreneur today announced that his first line of groundbreaking *ECKOUNLTD. earbud headphones are now available in limited quantities at www.ecko.com.

Ecko emphasized the importance of mobile devices and his eagerness to share this new line of earbud headphones with consumers this holiday season, saying, “I can’t imagine life without my gadgets. From my phone to my laptop I am totally dependent on my gear to keep me informed, entertained, and connected. For me mobile technology is not just a bunch of cables and ports.”

Six new earbud headphone styles — “Zone,” “Chaos II,” “Stomp,” “Lace,” “Zip,” and “Chain” — will be available in limited quantities beginning on November 22, 2011 at www.ecko.com, under an exclusive licensing agreement with Mizco International’s (www.mizco.com) DIGIPOWER Division. Each new style lives up to its respective name, featuring a fusion of fashion and function unique to each series. Suggested retail prices range between $12.99 and $39.99.

The “Zone” earbuds feature the iconic *ecko Rhino on the outer surface of the earpieces. Available for $12.99, in black, red, green, and yellow, the earbuds include a one-meter cable compatible with iPods, iPhones and Android smartphones and three sizes of ear-piece gels.

“Chaos II”, available for $14.99, in black, red, blue, and purple, features the *ecko Rhino on the outer surface of the earpieces, a 1 meter cable, inline microphone, controls for the iPod, iPad and iPhone, and three sizes of ear-piece gels.

Available for $19.99, the “Stomp” earbuds feature the iconic Ecko Rhino on the outer surface of the earpieces. Available in black, white, blue, and pink, the earbuds feature a flat 1.2-meter cable with an inline microphone and controls compatible with iPods, iPads, iPhones and Android smartphones. The earbuds include a convenient travel bag, and three sizes of ear-piece gels.

The “Lace” earbuds, available for $24.99, feature a nylon, shoelace style cord, available in black, white, red, and purple. The earbuds feature an inline microphone, controls for iPods, iPads and iPhones, three sizes of ear gels and a convenient travel bag.

The new “Chain” and “Zip” earbuds merge Ecko’s reputation for street-conscious fashion with utilitarian function. Featuring a beaded, dog-tag chain cord design, the “Chain” earbuds are available for $39.99 in black, red, blue, and pink. The “Zip” earbuds feature a functioning zipper cord, and are available in red, white, blue, and gold/black, for $29.99. Both styles of earbuds feature an inline microphone and volume control compatible with iPods, iPhones, and Android smartphones, as well as a convenient travel bag and three sizes of ear-piece gels.

Luxury Yacht Builder Sets Sail With The Niles ICS System!

SanJuanYachts to install Niles ICS System in every new 48-foot SanJuan48 yacht and the company’s new show boat, and make the system available to every client on every yacht model they build.

The Anacortes, Washington-based luxury yacht builder, SanJuanYachts, has a simple vision — redefine what a motor yacht can be from bow to stern. They focus on one yacht, one customer at a time, and they believe that every yacht should be a work of art. This philosophy drives everything they do. It’s who they are. It is why for instance, every material, system, machine and fixture encountered from bow to stern is chosen for its singular performance and beauty — and it is why they have now decided to install the Niles® Intellicontrol® ICS System in every new 48-foot SanJuan48 yacht they build!

“We strive to build the exact yacht that each customer desires, so when a customer came to us and requested we put in the Niles ICS System, we happily obliged,” said co-founder Donald Campbell. “He had used the system in his home and really loved it, so he wanted that same experience in his new SanJuan48. Our team installed the system for the first time with incredible ease, and we soon understood what the owner loved about the system. In fact, we’re so confident in the ICS System that we are installing in our new company show boat. I don’t know any other yacht builders that are using this amazing audio system, but I’m sure they’ll all be rushing to offer it once they see it on display in our show boat.”

“The clean, professional design and appearance of the Niles ICS System and the Contact interfaces are things that we noticed right away. Our installers were able to quickly and easily install and set up the system, and then learn how to use it within minutes. Our previous system used high-end car audio decks in each room and therefore didn’t have centralized control or look as clean as the Niles system. We are going to use this system from now on in every new SanJuan48 we build. The ability to simply integrate streaming music services like Pandora, Rhapsody and Sirius|XM goes above and beyond our previous system and is definitely a feature that new buyers want.”

The Niles ICS System on this SanJuan48 has five zones of audio, each with a stereo pair of speakers. Music and audio sources include am/fm radio, Sirius|XM Satellite Radio, iTunes through an Apple Airport Express, and audio from two 20” and one 26” Samsung LCD LED TVs, each connected to an Apple TV media device. The system is controlled through three Niles Contact touch screen interfaces and two Niles Single in-wall control panel. Internet is provided through a 4G Mobile Hotspot. The system’s layout will be used as a template for future 48-foot yachts.

With a simple, intuitive user interface that is displayed on Niles in-wall Contact panels, accessing an incredible range of music sources has never been easier. With the Niles ICS System, users can connect to their iTunes libraries, digital music files, Pandora Internet radio, Rhapsody, Sirius|XM Radio, and all traditional audio sources including CD players, DVD and Blu-ray players, iPods, am/fm radio and their computers or tablet devices. The Niles Multi-Zone GXR2 Amplifier makes it easy to access the whole home (or yacht) from one interface, giving users complete control over their entire audio experience, from home theaters to outdoor music.

What’s more, by integrating an ELAN Home Controller into the Niles ICS System, it can be controlled by iPhones and iPads through the ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System. SanJuanYachts plans to offer this popular and familiar control interface with every ICS System they install.

ELAN g! Entertainment And Control System Now Supports The Chinese Language

ELAN® g! now features a full 5,800 simplified Mandarin Chinese character set across all TS touch screens, HR2 remote control, computer interface, on-screen display, iPhone and iPad user interfaces.

ELAN will demonstrate Chinese Character integration at CEDIA Shanghai 2011 (Nov. 23 - 25), International CES 2012 in Las Vegas (Jan. 10 - 13, 2012) and at ISE 2012 in Amsterdam (Jan. 31 – Feb. 2, 2012).

Reinforcing its commitment to meet the growing Chinese market demand for its entertainment and control system solutions, ELAN® Home Systems today announced that its revolutionary g! system now supports a full 5,800 simplified Mandarin Chinese character set — a milestone achievement that is expected to immediately impact sales throughout this rapidly growing residential and commercial market for ELAN.

According to ELAN Home Systems President Paul Starkey, the company will demonstrate the g! system’s Chinese language support across all of its interfaces—TS touch screens, the HR2 remote control, computer interface, on-screen display, iPhone and iPad interfaces at the CEDIA Shanghai Expo taking place Nov. 23-25, 2011 at the Shanghai International Convention Centre, at the International CES 2012 at The AVC Group’s Hospitality Suite 2876 in the East Tower of the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel and at ISE 2012 at Stand 1N73 at The Amsterdam RAI in The Netherlands.

“The Chinese market is the second fastest growing market for g! systems outside of the United States,” Starkey said today, “and it is about time that the g! system more completely meets the lifestyle needs of our valued residential and commercial Chinese customers. By featuring a full 5,800 simplified Mandarin Chinese character set, we will be able to meet more of our customers’ needs in the region. At the same time, we can now also support metadata from iPod and MP3 sources.”

With the addition of Chinese, the ELAN g! entertainment and control system now supports a total of seven languages: English, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, French, Italian and Swedish.

Available starting at under $2,000 for a single-room, four sub-system control solution, the ELAN g! Series Control System can be expanded quickly and cost-effectively to enable whole-home control of every room appliance. ELAN g! provides users with the most uniform and intuitive icon-based control from their favorite devices, including TVs, touch screens, touchpads, PCs, iPhones, and iPads. The standardized interface works across platforms, so that the trendy g!Mobile app users love on the iPhone appears and works similarly on ELAN touch screens, valets and handheld remotes as well as users' televisions and mobile devices. And the system's IP backbone makes it just as easy to control the system from across the room - or across the globe.

The ELAN g! system has been awarded a 2011 Residential Systems Magazine RESI Award, a 2011 Custom Retailer Magazine EXC!TE Award, A 2011 CE Pro Magazine BEST Award, as well as a Platinum Level 2011 CEA Mark of Excellence Award by the Consumer Electronics Association and a 2011 Gold Level Electronic House Magazine Product of the Year Award.

NanoLumens NanoFlex Displays Provide Live Video Outdoors At Ontario's 2011 Remembrance Day Ceremony

What are you going to do when you have an outdoor ceremony and need a large, waterproof digital video display that can be set up and taken down quickly? The answer, as APG Displays found, is NanoLumens® 112” NanoFlex™ display. APG Displays, NanoLumens’ exclusive Canadian distributor, supplied two NanoFlex displays to their trade partner Mediaco when Mediaco was called upon to provide a digital video solution for Ontario’s 2011 Remembrance Day ceremony.

Remembrance Day, also known as Armistice Day, is a memorial day that honors all veterans by remembering their selfless courage and commitment on the anniversary of the end of World War I. The 2011 Ontario ceremony featured a speech by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and was held November 11 at the Ontario Veterans Memorial at Queen’s Park, Toronto.

According to APG Displays Vice President David Weatherhead, “When Mediaco came to us and said they needed two outdoor displays large enough to be seen from hundreds of feet away, that could be put up and taken down in a single day, the only solution was the NanoLumens 112” NanoFlex flexible display. It’s the only display that satisfies all the needs of this kind of event—it’s easy to put up quickly because it’s very lightweight, it’s super bright so it can be viewed in direct sunlight, it’s viewable from any angle with no loss in picture quality, it’s durable and waterproof for outdoor applications, and it’s more energy efficient than any other display technology available today. And because the NanoFlex display is compatible with virtually all video input sources, using it as a live video display is just as easy as hooking it up to a DVD player.”

According to Karen Robinson, NanoLumens SVP of Marketing and Sales, “With our lightweight, super-bright displays, event producers can now quickly and easily provide large video displays for short events and multi-day festivals. With the ability to move NanoLumens displays from day to day, reduced manpower requirements and significant energy savings over other display technologies, we offer the most portable, versatile and profitable digital video displays available today.”

First introduced in 2010, NanoFlex™ digital displays remain the only solution of their kind. They conform to fit any surface, are thin, lightweight and energy efficient, and can be mounted as easily as a work of art. NanoLumens is the only company in the world able to reliably manufacture ultra-thin and lightweight, easy-to-install and maintain, seamless 6mm pixel pitch flexible LED displays in virtually any shape or size to meet each customer’s unique requirements.

Designed and assembled entirely in the United States, NanoLumens displays are now available in both flexible and non-flexible frames in four product lines: NanoFlex™ and NanoWrap™ flexible displays; NanoSlim™ non-flexible rectangular displays; and NanoShape™ non-flexible round, square, and triangular displays.

APG Displays’ rental division searches the world for the most innovative, high impact audiovisual products and brings them to special events, meetings and trade shows in Canada and the U.S. We are proud to offer one of the most comprehensive portfolios of cutting-edge large video display solutions, each with customized accessories, specialist technical support, and full system design and installation services. We have worked with some of the largest exhibit, conference and production houses in the business, providing tailored support for each client. We also partner with some of the biggest A/V names in the country with our exclusive Trade Partner Program. APG Displays is a member of MPI, ITRA, TSE, ISES, and Tourism Toronto special event and rental organizations.

'Home For The Ages' With ELAN g! Brings Together Family Members Of All Ages

 The most important aspect of any home entertainment or control system is that everyone who wants to use it can do so easily without training. That’s why this ‘home for the ages’ located in Wisconsin features the ELAN g! Home Entertainment and Control System that is simple enough to be used by family members of all ages.

To give their relatives the best and most relaxing experience during their frequent visits to their new lake home, the homeowners wanted to include a state-of-the-art home entertainment and control system that’s easy enough for anyone to use and powerful enough to control everything in the house, from the TVs to the pool equipment.

“Having everything in our home tied together with the ELAN g! system does is amazing, but the best part is it takes less than five minutes to show someone how to use it,” the homeowner said. “We constantly have guests over and host parties, so there are people of all ages using the system. It’s as easy as using an iPod and the interface is the same no matter what device we use, so everyone in our family jumped right in and loved it!”

Hugh Connolly of Lake Forest, Illinois-based HVC Construction Consultants was the homeowners’ representative and in charge of design and development for the home. When Hugh was tasked with putting in a top-of-the-line home entertainment and control system, his cousin Mark Connolly of Scottsdale, Arizona-based Connolly Audio, LLC was his first choice. As first cousins who grew up outside of Chicago within 20 miles of each other, Hugh and Mark Connolly have collaborated on numerous projects throughout the years, both before and after Mark moved to Arizona. In fact, Hugh recently helped Mark design his own home theater in Scottsdale, in which Mark built a professional projection system controlled with the ELAN g! System.

So when the Wisconsin homeowners told Hugh they wanted to install a top-of-the-line home entertainment and control system, Hugh thought of Mark because he knew Mark would deliver every feature and capability the homeowners wanted. Mark flew in to consult and offer his advice, and he quickly developed a rapport with the homeowners and was contracted to design and install the home’s ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System.

“The family knew they wanted a competitively-priced system that gives them full consolidated control of every system in their home—lights, heating, air conditioning, security, surveillance, whole-house audio and video, even the pool equipment,” Mark Connolly said. “And the most important thing was that it be easy to use for everyone in the family, without having to teach them. When I heard all of those words—control everything, easy-to-use, affordable—I knew the ELAN g! System would be the perfect solution. They were thrilled when I showed them that it’s easy enough for them, their kids and their relatives to use with no training.”

And the system really does control everything in the home—seven Aprilaire thermostats, the Lutron lighting system, 24 audio zones that distribute to more than 50 ELAN Elios speakers, eight video zones, the home theater, the Elk Security System, the surveillance system and the Jandy pool controls.

The homeowner wanted a TV alongside the bathroom sink, so Connolly Audio installed an ELAN TS10 10-inch touch screen, which doubles as a TV thanks to its analog video input. Everyone in the family can control the system through another TS10 in the authentic Irish Pub-style bar, two TS7 seven-inch touch screens in the master bedroom and the main basement room, one TS2 four-inch touch pad, an iPad and nine ELAN HR2 remotes—one for every TV in the house! The system is also controllable through the ELAN g! app installed on every computer in the home.

In an effort to keep everything connected and simple to use, Connolly even connected the tennis house, a separate building from the main house located almost 900 feet away. He used cat5 cable to connect the properties so that the two surveillance cameras on the tennis house would be viewable right alongside the two cameras at the main house on the ELAN g! interface.

A walk through the home may only reveal six TVs, but there are two additional flatscreens that were custom installed to be hidden from view! In the great room a painting raises at the touch of a button to reveal an LCD TV built into the wall, and in the master bedroom another LCD TV rises from the base of the bed, giving the owners an uncluttered aesthetic without sacrificing access to their favorite television and movies.

Each of the home’s eight HDTVs can access content from three cable boxes and a Blu-ray player, and any of the 24 audio zones can be set to broadcast music from an iPort iPod dock, Sirius Satellite Radio, am/fm radio or ELAN g!’s own streaming music service, Shoutcast.

The equipment for the system is centrally located in two Slim 5 racks and includes an ELAN HC12 Home Controller, four ELAN S86 Multi-Zone Controllers, four ELAN D12 Amplifiers, one ELAN V85 Component Video Controller, two Panamax BlueBOLT M43Pros and a Panamax BlueBOLT UPS.
The home theater includes a JVC projector and a Screen Innovations Black Diamond screen along and is controlled with an ELAN HR2 remote.

Mark Connolly began experimenting with car audio at the age of 14 and turned his passion for technology and technical perfection into a career that has spanned more than 20 years in the custom installation industry. His expertise has helped him build Connolly Audio 100 percent by referrals, and now he is regularly called upon by industry colleagues to assist on and troubleshoot their installations. He designs and installs full home automation systems and professional home theaters for affluent clients who appreciate his wealth of knowledge and experience, and he prides himself on working closely with clients to deliver the exact solutions they want. Connolly Audio services what they sell, so every client is assured their system will remain as perfect as the day it was completed. With enthusiastic support from his wife Teresa and design assistance from his cousin Hugh, Mark installed a brand new, fully ELAN g!-controlled home theater in his own house that will serve as the client showroom for Connolly Audio.

Available starting at $2,000 for a single-room, four sub-system control solution, the ELAN g! Series Control System can be expanded quickly and cost-effectively to enable whole-home control of every system. ELAN g! provides users with the most uniform and intuitive icon-based control from their favorite devices, including TVs, touch screens, touchpads, PCs, iPhones, and iPads. And the system's IP backbone makes it just as easy to control the system from across the room—or across the globe.

The ELAN g! System has been awarded a 2011 Residential Systems Magazine RESI Award, a 2011 Custom Retailer Magazine EXCITE! Award, a 2011 CE Pro Magazine BEST Award, a Platinum Level 2011 CEA Mark of Excellence Award by the Consumer Electronics Association and a 2011 Gold Level Electronic House Magazine Product of the Year Award.