Eastern Suffolk BOCES Chooses Xantech For Enhanced Conferencing Options

The Eastern Suffolk BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services), located in Holbrook, New York, is now able to hold meetings of all sizes, thanks to the innovation of the integration team at Symbrant Technologies, which recently integrated a wide range of Xantech products into the building’s four conference rooms, allowing for multiple configurations of the rooms, as well as enabling projection capabilities. The system is managed by a combination of five Xantech CSPLCD64G touch panels and five Xantech WIC1200 Web Intelligent Controllers.  

Symbrant was asked to integrate a system that would allow for four separate side-by-side conference rooms to operate in several different configurations. The system allows for the merging of any combination of the four rooms, or for separate conference rooms. The Xantech WIC1200 lets the staff at the Eastern Suffolk BOCES control the room configurations easily, and the system’s new Xantech webpage makes controlling the system as simple as possible. Each room features a projector that can display content from seven different inputs including a Blu-ray player, cable box and Apple TV plus VGA, HDMI, component and composite wall inputs. The system features an EnGenius WAP for Wi-Fi, and all content can be displayed on the projectors with just the touch of a button.

Keith Dalia of Symbrant Technologies has been working with Xantech products for years, so he knew it was a perfect fit for the project. “The WIC1200 makes it extremely easy to configure the conference rooms in any arrangement that is needed. The system can also be controlled by an iPad, and with the CSPLCD touch panels the projectors can be used to show content from the Blu-ray player or Apple TV, making it very easy to deliver presentations that require video.” 

The newly controlled conference rooms are important not just for meetings concerning BOCES, but also for local businesses that rent out conference rooms in the building for staff meetings or client presentations. Each room now includes a microphone setup, as well as eight in-ceiling speakers and a Kramer scaler for video switching. 

“I’ve been integrating Xantech-controlled systems for the last six years, and they have always been incredibly helpful,” added Dalia. “Xantech is always available to offer service and support and their help is reflected in the end result.”

 Xantech's WIC1200 Web Intelligent Controller is a stand-alone room controller for networked/web-based control featuring two IR Ports, two Serial Ports, two contact closure ports, two Digital I/O ports and two Ethernet ports (one with power over Ethernet [POE]) for TCP/IP telnet control with less intrusion into facility IP networks. On its own, the Web Intelligent Controller is an event-driven component with two RS232 ports (configurable for RS422 and RS232) and a single IP port. The Event Manager is capable of timed events, calendar events, Telnet and serial events as well a full FTP site, web server and email server. 
The CSPLCD64G touch panel is part of Xantech’s Commercial LCD Touchscreen Controller series that consists of two interactive touch panels — a 3.9" and 6.4" diagonal color graphic touch panel. All functionality and screen graphics are fully programmable using Xantech's intuitive and easy to use Dragon Drop-IR^TM programming software using either the RS232 or USB ports located behind the detachable faceplate. Each touch panel comes with an extensive library of built-in IR codes and the ability to learn IR codes via the Learning Eye or from Dragon Drop-IR^TM software. As with the other Smart Pads, these new touch panels are designed to be standalone controllers with the ability to output IR commands onto the standard Xantech four-wire IR bus. These new touch panels also have the ability to transmit and receive RS232 commands utilizing the optional RS422 to RS232 Module (model RS422232). 

About Xantech: Xantech designs and manufactures an extensive range of audio, video and control products and systems, many of which have become de facto industry standards. Xantech IR products are specified into more audio/video installations than any other brand. Xantech also supplies hi-definition HDMI video solutions, touch-panels and IP control systems for residential and commercial applications, multi-room audio/video systems, audio source components and processors, and software programming tools. Products are sold to professional installers and distributors directly from Xantech. Xantech’s products are marketed in North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe. For additional information about Xantech and its innovative products, please visit www.xantech.com.   

Xantech is part of the CORE® Brands division of Nortek, Inc. CORE Brands combines the product and marketing strengths of ten iconic audio, power management and control brands into a single business unit that includes ATON®, BlueBOLT®, ELAN®, Furman®, Niles®, Panamax®, Proficient®, SpeakerCraft®, Sunfire® and Xantech® brands. 

Xantech is a subsidiary of Nortek, Inc., a global, diversified company whose many market-leading brands deliver broad capabilities and a wide array of innovative, technology-driven products and solutions for lifestyle improvement at home and at work.  Please visit www.nortekinc.com for more information.

DIGIPOWER Enters Exclusive U.S. Distribution Agreement to ‘Extend the Reach’ of Quik Pod® Monopod/Tripods

MIZCO International, the industry-leading manufacturer of technology accessories designed to support and enhance the mobile tech lifestyle of today’s active consumer, today announced that its DIGIPOWER division had entered into an exclusive agreement to distribute the phenomenally popular line of Quik Pod® extendable hand-held telescopic monopods and tripods that were created by the legendary inventor Wayne Fromm and his company Fromm Works. 

According to DIGIPOWER President Maurice Mizrahi, the agreement with Fromm Works to distribute the Quik Pod line of Pro, Pro+, Explorer II, DSLR, and DSLR/POV models through its United States dealer network is a win-win for both parties.  “Quik Pod has become a sensation among a very large mobile consumer audience that loves to record their every move and activity both at home and outdoors,” Mizrahi said today.  “This amazingly innovative product line is a natural addition to the DIGIPOWER line of retail products and it provides our dealers with an exciting new solution to offer customers.”

Wayne Fromm, founder and President of Fromm Works today noted that, “The combination of our innovative product line with DIGIPOWER’s retail distribution network creates a significant new opportunity to put the Quik Pod solution in front of millions of consumers.  This agreement begins the next exciting chapter in the Quik Pod story!”

Quik Pod is the world’s first line of extendable telescopic hand-held monopods and tripods that allow consumers to quickly and easily include themselves in photos and videos.  Designed to collapse and fit perfectly in any size backpack, knapsack, or purse, Quik Pods attach easily to any camera, camcorder, smartphone or GoPro camera, enabling consumers to capture a memorable moment without the assistance of strangers!  “With Quik Pod, consumers can now take self-portraits or make videos of themselves without having to ask strangers for assistance,” Mizrahi emphasized.  “They provide an extendable reach when consumers need it most and can be used underwater with an underwater camera.”

According to Mizrahi, the entire line of Quik Pod Pro, Pro+, Explorer II, DSLR, and DSLR/POV models will be on display at CES 2013 in Booth #30842 in South Hall 3 of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Fromm Works is a father and daughter team. Company Founder Wayne Fromm has invented over 50 commercially successful products including his latest, the Quik Pod, the world's first handheld telescopic monopod/tripod and "Disney's Beauty and the Beast Magic Talking Mirror." Wayne's daughter Sage Fromm grew up in the inventing industry and now co-creates new products and is part of all aspects of the Quik Pod business.

Fromm is a successful inventor and entrepreneur with patents in the U.S. and other countries to his credit. His creations include other hits including “Disney's Aladdin Magic Lamp", "Crayola's Color and Show Projector", "Saban's Power Ranger Room Defender" and "Nestle's Nesquik Magic Milkshake Maker". His company co-marketed the successful toy, "Crazy Bones" a popular collectible that was featured as a McDonald's Happy Meal gift. Sage grew up in the business and has completed an Honors Degree in Psychology on her way to a PhD. Fromm Works Inc. proudly supports various non-profit organizations including the Starlight Children's Foundation.

About MIZCO International

Headquartered in Avenel, New Jersey, MIZCO International is the world's fastest growing supplier of mobile phone headsets and accessories, as well as imaging and iPhone power solutions.  Founded in 1990, MIZCO markets products under the Cellular Innovations, DIGIPOWER, iEssentials, Ecko Unlimited, MIZCO Sports, ToughTested, and Travelocity brands.  The company currently offers more than 1,000 products through a global dealer network.  For more information on MIZCO and its product offerings call 1.800.266.4026 or visit www.mizco.com.

Take1 Insurance Debuts New Website

Take 1 Entertainment Insurance today launched a striking new web site designed and written by the creative team at Griffin!  The new site strategically positions this leading entertainment industry insurance solutions provider as the only insurance provider focused on meeting the unique needs of the live event, film and television production, post production, and rental and staging industries.  A coordinated print and online advertising campaign will break early in 2013 to drive traffic to the new site. Visit www.take1insurance.com to experience the new site!

New IBIS BAY Beach Resort Brings 1950s Key West Style to 21st Century Travelers

Thanks to the vision and commitment of former New York ad executive Chris Holland, Key West’s biggest eyesore has been transformed into its biggest ‘site’ for sore eyes — the new IBIS BAY Beach Resort!  For years, one of the first things visitors to Key West would see was a struggling property called The Blue Lagoon Motel.  It did have one thing going for it, however: it was one of only eight Key West hotels with a private beach, and it happened to be the biggest of them all.  Since then, Holland has even extended the beach, so that it’s now the largest private beach in Key West!

Now just two years later, the resort has benefitted from significant renovations and upgrades including redesigned rooms, new furnishings, new landscaping, the popular new Stoned Crab restaurant that specialized in stone crab and a new dock for fresh daily deliveries from local fishermen.  IBIS BAY has quickly become a favorite among travelers and locals and is already having a big impact on the local community through the many events and fundraisers it hosts.  As the island’s only beach resort to embrace Key West’s Cuban history, IBIS BAY stands alone as both a resort and a destination.  Holland is all about authentic travel, and he fuses his personal design aesthetic with the island’s classic 1950s style to create a fun, unique Key West destination.

“We don’t want to be the Ritz Carlton and have that hotel chain sameness because it’s so boring!  We’re looking to provide travelers with a unique experience that allows them to enjoy the Key West of the 1950s while utilizing the advantages of modern technology to ensure a pleasant and fun-packed stay.   Our Fun Desk booking service is Key West’s one-stop shop for the island’s best dining, shopping, adventures, tours and rentals, so we’ve got something for everyone.  We’re not going for Palm Beach,” Holland emphasized, “we’re going for Jimmy Buffet.”

The new on-site Stoned Crab restaurant offers a true boat-to-table seafood experience with daily deliveries of fresh stone crab, lobster and other locally caught delicacies that go right from the dock to the kitchen. Located adjacent to IBIS BAY with its own dock, the restaurant has beena big hit with locals and visitors who love dining on the freshest seafood anywhere, including the local Key West delicacy, stone crab!

“A lot of air travelers see the giant crab claw on our restaurant’s roof,” Holland continued, “and their first question off the plane is ‘What’s that giant crab restaurant?’  It’s really amazing how much people love our stone crab dishes.  Recently a couple took a 7 p.m. flight from Miami to Key West just so they could enjoy the fresh stone crab claws that The Stoned Crab is famous for.  Then they turned around and took the 9:30 pm flight back home.  Whether it’s the food, the atmosphere or the special events we host, we’re all about keeping things fresh and exciting, so there’s always something fun going on at IBIS BAY!”

IBIS BAY is a study in contrast, maintaining the classic Key West feel while including all the modern amenities and technologies that travelers expect.  Pelicans and ibis birds roam the pebble stone courtyard, palm trees and hammocks dot the white sand beaches, and parrots and iguanas can be found all over the resort.  The design aesthetic mirrors classic 1950s Miami/Havana, contrasting with the flat screen TVs in every room and the Fun Desk that offers guests and locals an easy way to plan a whole day or week full of exciting Key West activities.  Even the resort’s approach to maintenance is high tech, with the maid staff now using eco-friendly clean UV wands to sanitize each and every room.

The 80-room resort caters to all kinds of travelers, from families to fishermen to honeymooners, with special dock-front rooms for boaters, plus it sits adjacent to Key West’s hottest new fresh seafood restaurant, The Stoned Crab.  And to make IBIS BAY’s white sand beaches even better, Holland has extended it to more than 600 feet, so that it’s now Key West’s largest private beach!

Holland came to Key West, like a lot of people, as a second homeowner.  But he brought with him nearly 30 years of experience as the founder and creative director of Holland Advertising in New York, and as creative director for Ted Bates in Hong Kong prior to founding his own agency.  Holland has created memorable campaigns for clients as diverse as Panasonic, AIWA, McCall’s magazine and Esquire.  His creative sensibility is apparent everywhere in what’s taking place today at IBIS BAY.

“People say that Key West is like no other place on Earth, and IBIS BAY Beach Resort is like no other place in Key West,” said Holland.  “Since I took over the Blue Lagoon and turned it into IBIS BAY we’ve made incredible improvements and progress, creating a truly unique destination that has everything a traveler could ask for, from the gorgeous beaches and ocean views to the updated rooms, friendly service and stellar dining.”

What’s more, IBIS BAY hosts a wide variety of special events, from weddings and local designer fashion shows to Thursday night poolside Dive-In Movies and fundraisers like mixed martial arts fight nights for local causes and charities.  Holland and the resort have quickly become an important part of the Key West community.

The resort also recently introduced a new block of fishermen-focused rooms, called “The IBIS BAY Fish Camp”, where a boat ramp sits just outside the rooms and visitors can arrive by car or boat.  With seven fish-themed double queen suites right on the water, each with a kitchenette, it’s the perfect place for fishermen to get a head start on the day and then haul back the day’s catch.

About IBIS BAY Beach Resort:

IBIS BAY Beach 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 Stoned Crab restaurant, IBIS BAY Beach Resort is more than a resort—it’s a destination.

Dedicated Interfaces Remain Vital For Today's Control Systems

Custom integrators who allow their clients to think that an iPhone, iPad or Android device is the first — and last word — in home control are doing them, and the industry they serve, a disservice, according to Joe Lautner, Control Group Director at CORE® Brands, which manufactures and markets the industry-leading ELAN® g! Entertainment and Control System.  "Let's not put the cart in front of the horse," Lautner stressed today.  "The phenomenal popularity of Apple and Android interfaces has had an incredibly strong and positive impact on our industry, but their control features are limited when compared to the capabilities of dedicated interfaces."

According to Lautner, every integrator knows there are a lot of things that are simply easier, faster and more convenient to do on a dedicated wand-style remote or hard-wired in-wall touch screen.  Special features such as always-on intercoms, hard buttons for commonly used functions and deeper accessibility into security, energy management and media controls make these interfaces a necessary element to deliver the full functionality of a robust home control system.  “And as homeowners add more wireless devices that can congest their Wi-Fi networks, hard-wired control interfaces ensure reliable access to the system.”

Lautner stressed that advanced technology is now a part of everyday life, and cable companies have begun promising cheap home automation from a smartphone.  Because of this, he explained, it’s easy for consumers to lose sight of the value of more expensive touch screens and remotes that industry professionals consider must-haves.

“Increasingly, integrators are working with clients who assume that their smartphone is the only device they need to control their home.  It’s up to us to educate the consumer,“ Lautner stressed.

While it’s convenient to be able to log while away from home, it’s also true that when in the home, using a smartphone may add four or five steps to simply change the volume or pause the TV.  Wand-style remotes are still the best solution for home theater and home audio control.

 

In-wall touch screens also have several advantages that are obvious to integrators but may be more elusive to their clients.  Lautner continued, “You always know where it is, you can’t drop it, you never have to charge it, you and your kids can’t break it, toddlers can’t reach it, it won’t slow down because you have 1,000 Instagram updates, you can set different home screens and accessibility options for different users, it’s always on, it’s available for other family members to use when you aren’t home, and some models can double as TVs, making them perfect for kitchens and bathrooms. 

“Using a smartphone for home control is like using an air mattress,” Lautner concluded.  “It’s extremely useful when you’re out of the house, and can be valuable in a pinch when you’re home, but it doesn’t provide the same level of functionality as a real mattress designed specifically for everyday use.  Smartphones are great for remote accessibility, but once you’re inside the house there are much better ways to manage your home control system.”

About CORE® Brands:

CORE® Brands is a subsidiary of Nortek, Inc., a global, diversified company whose many market-leading brands deliver broad capabilities and a wide array of innovative, technology-driven products and solutions for lifestyle improvement at home and at work.  Please visit www.nortekinc.com for more information.  CORE Brands combines the product and marketing strengths of ten iconic audio, power management and control brands into a single business unit that includes ATON®, BlueBOLT®, ELAN®, Furman®, Niles®, Panamax®, Proficient®, SpeakerCraft®, Sunfire® and Xantech® brands.

Stampede Appoints Brian Dietz To The Position Of Vice President Of Sales In Its Direct Response Group

Moving strategically to further develop business opportunities for its vendor partners in the consumer electronics channel, Stampede Presentation Products, Inc., North America’s largest value-added distributor of ProAV solutions, today announced the appointment of Brian Dietz to the position of Vice President of Sales, Direct Response Group. According to Stampede President & COO Kevin Kelly, to whom Dietz reports, the appointment is effective immediately.

“Stampede is committed to developing business opportunities for our vendor partners in every channel where AV products and systems are sold, and that increasingly includes the consumer electronics channel which has seen and will continue to see a blurring of the line that has traditionally separated professional from consumer AV,” Kelly emphasized today.

According to Kelly, Dietz brings more than 35 years of senior consumer electronics sales experience to his new position at Stampede. “Our goal is to cover absolutely every area of the AV industry and to serve our manufacturers by developing sustainable incremental sales from every vertical market. With the addition of Brian to our team, I have no doubt that we will be able to create new business for our existing partners, secure new vendor partners looking to benefit from our expertise and significantly expand the size of the overall market for ProAV solutions throughout the consumer market.”

Prior to joining the sales team at Stampede, Dietz worked at M. Rothman & Company, Inc. from 1997-2012, where he served as the Vice President of Sales for the New Jersey-based consumer electronics distributor. Prior to this, he held the position of Director of Sales for the East Coast Zone at Sharp Electronics from 1987-1997. After graduating from Long Island University in 1973, Dietz spent the next seven years serving as the Regional Sales Manager of the East Coast Zone for JVC.

“I’m very excited to be joining Stampede as they continue to expand their already-dominant presence in the ProAV industry,” said Dietz. “I have more than 35 years of sales experience in the consumer electronics industry and I know that I have the knowledge and enthusiasm that will help Stampede accelerate its rate of growth in this market segment.”

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.

Stampede Helps ProAV Integrator Make The Big Time

Every ProAV integration company has to start somewhere, and that often involves partnering with distributors that can decide the fate of the integrator based on the credit line they extend, the support they provide and the product selection they offer.  When Vancouver-based NGX Interactive grew their digital content company into a full-fledged integration firm, they contacted several ProAV distributors and found that Stampede was the only distributor that really understood their business plan and believed in them from the start, extending them a line of credit and even helping them to choose the best products and lend design advice for their installations.

“The problem for a lot of small firms is they have a tough time getting accounts with large distributors due to credit issues and other factors,” said NGX VP of Business Development Thomas Hepburn.“We had been purchasing from local resellers and it just wasn’t a sustainable business model—the costs were too high and there was no personal relationship.  One of our friends at a display manufacturer recommended we reach out to Stampede, and once we did they recognized right away that we were a small firm with big ambitions.

“Stampede believed in what we were doing and wanted to get on board, and ever since our relationship with them has been incredible.  From the advice and personal support they provide to their never-fail service and on-time delivery, they have helped us grow and deliver amazing ProAV solutions.”

Since partnering with Stampede in 2011, NGX has completed several large installations featuring new technologies such as multi-touch video walls and projection video wallsatthe University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences building and an interactive game that combines carnival-style water guns with a large video wall for a new exhibit at TELUS World of Science BC.  The company works on the cutting edge of touch technologies and has also implemented multitouch tabletop displays for several clients.

According to Stampede President and COO Kevin Kelly, “We partner with ProAV integrators of all sizes, whether they are new or have been around for 30 years, and provide them the same unparalleled level of service and support we’ve become famous in the industry for. To succeed in this industry, integrators need to have a partner they can rely on to deliver exactly what they need, right when they need it, and be able to help them choose products and design complex AV systems that delight their clients.

We’re always thrilled when we can help a new partner grow and deliver above and beyond their clients’ expectations.  NGX Interactive is just one example of how Stampede supports the little guys, and their story is inspiring to other new ProAV integrators hoping to get their big break.”

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.

Advanced Named As A 2012 Top Systems Integrator By Systems Contractor News

Underscoring its position as Canada’s leading, and fastest growing, AV and IT systems integration company, Advanced today announced that it has been named one of Systems Contractor News’ Top 50 Systems Integrators for 2012— the only Canadian company to make the prestigious list published annually by North America’s leading systems integration news publication.  According to Mark Mulford, President & CEO of Advanced, the firm placed 36th on the list.

“We are tremendously proud to be the only Canadian AV integrator on the list, and it’s an honor to be listed among the best systems integration companies in North America,” said Mulford. “Advanced has designed and installed state-of-the-art AV and IT system solutions in every imaginable commercial environment, from corporate offices, to television studios, to educational facilities. We continue to offer the absolute best in terms of innovative technology and services, and our rate of growth shows that our customers understand and appreciate this dedication to innovation.”

Systems Contractor News annually releases their list of the top 50 systems integrators in the United States and Canada, based on each company's revenue for commercial AV system design and installation, as well as its total revenue for the current year. To be eligible for Top 50 consideration, a company's revenue for commercial AV system design and installation must account for over 50 percent of its total revenue.

The announcement of Advanced’s inclusion on the Top 50 list comes after a year that included several high-profile commercial installations for the company. In October, Advanced designed and installed AV and IT solutions in 55 rooms of GE’s new Grid IQ Global Innovation Center in Markham, Ontario. The project included the installation of a 58-foot LPD video wall in the facility’s new Customer Experience Center. This past summer, Advanced helped CTV/Bell Media with the construction of an impressive video wall display for CTV’s Olympic coverage in London. Advanced installed two large Orion video walls that were used to broadcast live event coverage across Canada.

“Our amazing work on several high-profile installations has solidified our position as Canada’s premier AV and IT integration company, and our inclusion on the Top 50 list only serves to underscore that,” added Mulford. “We look forward to exploring more commercial installation opportunities in the coming year so that we can continue to provide top-of-the-line service and expertise to all.”

About Advanced

Advanced is a leading audiovisual and collaborative communications company working with corporations, government agencies, healthcare, and educational organizations throughout Canada and beyond.  Dedicated to innovation in technology and services, Advanced has a strong set of businesses aligned to meet today’s needs.  The company offers presentation and videoconferencing solutions in addition to complete integrated systems, visual collaboration systems, rental and staging services, repair, maintenance, and value-added integration services including design and engineering, installation and audiovisual consulting. Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Advanced also has offices in Toronto, Ottawa, London and Sudbury with partner offices located in Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver. To learn more visit www.advanced-inc.com.

ELAN To Introduce New g!6.2 Software Update At ISE 2013

The world’s most sophisticated and user-friendly entertainment and control system, ELAN® g!, is about to become even more user- and integrator-friendly with the ISE 2013 market debut of the new ELAN g!6.2 Software Update which features support for international weather forecasting, a host of new drivers and ‘back end’ improvements to make it even easier for integrators to program and install.  The formal introduction of the new software update will take place at ISE 2013 in Stand 1N80.

According to ELAN Home Systems Brand Manager Robert Ridenour, the announcement of the new software update, in addition to bringing critically important new functionality to market, comes less than one month after the company began delivering its g!6.0 software and underscores the speed of product enhancements that are now underway at ELAN.

“With sales of the ELAN g! System hitting critical mass around the world, we are dedicated to accelerating the pace of software development that will ensure that the ELAN g! system remains the easiest to install, use, and update entertainment and control system available from any manufacturer,” Ridenour said today.

According to Ridenour, the new ELAN g!6.2 Software Update features a host of new features including support for true global weather forecasting that will allow g! customers in every part of the world to access and display weather forecasts for their geographic area.  What’s more, the g!6.2 software will allow dealers to program specific automation trigger events based on the local forecast, including, but not limited to, temperature, humidity, wind, and weather alerts for automation of things like motorized window shutters and shades, internal climate set points and distribution of email alerts to the homeowner, among others. 

“Automating the home via weather information is something that few other manufacturers can accomplish and this adds a great new feature set for ELAN g! integrators,” commented Ridenour.

The new ELAN g!6.2 Software Update also provides support for a host of new drivers, including manufacturers like Rako Lighting, Cool Master, and Clipsal Lighting, among others.  In addition, the new update delivers an improved dealer- programming interface that further shortens the time required to program a g! system. 

“Over the last year the international appeal of the ELAN g! system has grown significantly, in no small part due to the introduction of KNX support, Chinese language support, support of international streaming content and Android support,” Ridenour stressed.  “Today’s announcement will serve to strengthen g!’s international appeal that much further.  We look forward to a very exciting ISE 2013.”

About ELAN Home Systems:

Since 1990 ELAN® Home Systems has been an industry leading manufacturer of innovative, award-winning Multi-Room audio/video systems. ELAN systems were the first to integrate audio, video, phones and third-party products to create a seamless, easy-to-use "whole house" solution. ELAN systems and products are distributed through a comprehensive channel of select Dealers and Distributors throughout the United States, Canada and more than 58 countries worldwide.  To learn more, visit www.elanhomesystems.com. ELAN is part of the CORE Brands division of the Nortek Technology Solutions Segment (www.nortek-inc.com).  CORE Brands combines the product and marketing strengths of ten iconic audio, power management and control brands into a single business unit that includes ATON®, BlueBOLT®, ELAN®, Furman®, Niles®, Panamax®, Proficient®, SpeakerCraft®, Sunfire® and Xantech® brands.

ELAN g! Helps Dallas Homeowner Harness the Power and Clean Energy Efficiency of the Sun

A new Dallas-area home now stands as a model for sustainable housing that puts comfort and technology at the center of the home experience.  Thanks to a 48-panel rooftop solar array, the owners minimize their electric bill and will always have uninterrupted power for their ELAN® g! Entertainment and Control System that integrates 10 TVs, 14 audio zones, three surround sound systems, climate controls, 34 motorized Lutron window shades, a security system with 8 surveillance cameras, the pool/spa equipment and irrigation system. 

In addition to its role in the sustainability of the home, the owners chose the ELAN g! system to help eliminate as much wall clutter as possible including thermostats, security panels and pool control panels.  The g! system makes this possible by allowing owners to use their own smartphones, tablets, computers, a few discreet in-wall touchpanels and ELAN HR2 remotes to control every core home system from lighting to AV to irrigation.  

Powering all of this is a 10.56kW rooftop solar array comprised of 48 Sanyo solar panels that produces a total of 45-60kWh every day.  The system can provide enough power for the entire home, but is also tied into the electrical grid so there is never a power shortage during peak usage, and so the owners can sell their excess electricity back to the utility company during low usage times.  This way, the system eventually pays for itself in full!

According to Eco High Fidelity’s Tommy Kissell, many factors play into the energy efficiency of the home, including the specially-angled roof designed to provide ideal placement for the solar panels, premium insulation, two 2,500-gallon rainwater collection barrels for irrigation, tank-less hot water and intelligently-located windows with automated motorized window shades that either let in or block out light depending on the climate inside the home and time of day.  

“Of course one of the keys is the ELAN g! system itself,” Kissell said, “In addition to ELAN’s efficient Class D switching amplifiers that eliminate extra components, g! allows for all of the system components to be centrally located, which reduces the amount of wiring and ensures that every component is connected in the most efficient way possible.  With automation features such as pre-scheduled lighting and heating and event-based actions such as window shades that raise and lower at dawn and dusk, the entire house operates at optimal efficiency.

“ELAN g! gives homeowners an effortless, concrete way to reduce electricity usage while improving their standard of living.  The AV capabilities are second to none, and the whole system is so easy to adjust that the homeowner can make most changes on the fly without even calling us.  And to protect the equipment rack and simplify maintenance we used a Furman BlueBolt UPS that allows us to reset the whole system remotely, which can save us an expensive house call when all that’s required is a reset.”

The homeowners felt it was important to create an incredible AV experience throughout the entire home, which made ELAN g! the ideal choice because it merges energy efficiency with superior quality audio and video distribution.  The house also has an enterprise-grade Pakedge network that provides high speed wi-fi in every room.

“Homeowners looking to lessen their environmental impact want to do so without sacrificing their standard of living,” Kissell continued.  “So as an integrator I need to present a compelling solution that maintains or improves living conditions while reducing energy usage, and that solution is the ELAN g! system.”

According to Kissell, the home’s designer and builder, Artex Development, was integral in the success of this project because the company embraces the importance of technology in today’s new homes.  “A lot of builders today put the electronics integrator last and take a reactionary approach, but Artex was all over the AV and control aspect from day one.  They made us a priority and kept us involved throughout the entire planning and building process, and this approach helped deliver the perfect system for the homeowner.”

The ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System provides users with the most uniform and intuitive icon-based control from their favorite devices including TVs, touchscreens, 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 touchscreens, 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.

About ELAN Home Systems:

Since 1990 ELAN® Home Systems has been an industry leading manufacturer of innovative, award-winning Multi-Room audio/video systems. ELAN systems were the first to integrate audio, video, phones and third-party products to create a seamless, easy-to-use "whole house" solution. ELAN systems and products are distributed through a comprehensive channel of select Dealers and Distributors throughout the United States, Canada and more than 58 countries worldwide.  To learn more, visit www.elanhomesystems.com.  ELAN is part of the CORE Brands division of the Nortek Technology Solutions Segment (www.nortek-inc.com).  CORE Brands combines the product and marketing strengths of ten iconic audio, power management and control brands into a single business unit that includes ATON®, BlueBOLT®, ELAN®, Furman®, Niles®, Panamax®, Proficient®, SpeakerCraft®, Sunfire® and Xantech®