NanoLumens Strengthens Channel Management Sales Team With Appointment of Two New Sales Directors

To meet the growing market demand for its line of flexible and fixed LED displays, NanoLumens® today announced the appointment of Ben Sewell and Ilidio Vincente to the position of Sales Director, effective immediately, according to an announcement made today by Karen Robinson, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing.

“The appointment of Ben and Ilidio brings significant and necessary depth to our sales team,” Robinson said today.  “The market demand for NanoLumens flexible and fixed LED displays is growing rapidly in all vertical market channels.  Both Ben and Ilidio have the critical experience, skills, and commitment that will help us to continue to meet our ambitious growth targets.  They bring a winning ‘can-do’ spirit with them to NanoLumens that will serve them, and the company, well!”

Prior to joining NanoLumens, Ben Sewell served from 2008 as the Director of Sales/South-Central Region at Adaptive Micro Systems, LLC, based in San Antonio, Texas, where he was responsible for directing sales, business development and strategic planning functions for a diverse array of indoor and outdoor hardware and software product lines. Prior to this, he held the position of Partner and Director of Sales at SSA, LLC from 2007 to 2008, where he successfully developed and sold new product lines and services for the Texas-based sign manufacturer throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico.  Sewell began his career in 2005 as an Account Associate at Motivational Systems, Inc., after being awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2004.

Ilidio Vincente comes to NanoLumens with a solid career in sales, including previous positions at Yesco Electronics, where he served as the Regional Sales Manager from 2011 to 2012, and Adaptive MicroSystems, where he held the position of Director of Sales/Northeast Region from 2008 to 2011. While at Adaptive MicroSystems, he developed the National Account program and utilized their dealer network to support all the National Accounts and OEM accounts including Jones Signs, Everbrite, Icon Solutions, AGI, Sign Resources, Visual Communications, Rockwell Automation/ Allen Bradley, GTECH Corp, WMS, and Electrometric International.

From 1998 through 2008, Vincente was with FedEx Services, based in Warren, Rhode Island, where he held a number of increasingly important strategic sales and management positions, including serving as a Major Account Executive.  Ilidio Vincente began his business career in 1997 as a Sales Manager at Palomar Medical, Inc., after receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in 1997.  He also earned a Master of Business Administration degree in Global Business & Organizational Leadership from Johnson & Wales University in 2007.

NanoLumens displays are extremely slim, ultra-lightweight, energy efficient, and 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. The company’s patented display technology, which allows customers to select from 4mm up to 10mm pixel pitch (depending on the model), promises to transform the way marketers engage their customers in every type of trade show, retail, hospitality, stadium, arena, transportation and public event environment.

NanoLumens displays are designed and engineered with the environment in mind, and consume significantly less energy per square foot than conventional digital displays. Further emphasizing their commitment to eco-friendly technology, NanoLumens displays are composed of up to 50 percent reclaimed materials, and are completely recyclable.  What’s more, some NanoLumens displays can be serviced from the front, making maintenance easier than ever before possible.

Designed and assembled in the United States, NanoLumens displays are available in both flexible and fixed frames in five product lines: NanoFlex™, NanoFlex Wrap, and NanoFlex Ribbon flexible displays; NanoSlim™ fixed rectangular displays; and NanoShape™ fixed round, square, and triangular displays.

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.  Digital Signage Magazine awarded the NanoLumens NanoFlex a 2011 DIGI Award for “Best New Display Device – Non-LCD or Plasma.”

About NanoLumens:

Headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, NanoLumens, Inc. (www.nanolumens.com) is a privately held corporation engaged in the research, product development, marketing and sales of unique flexible and fixed displays that address a yawning technology gap in the $14 billion digital display industry.  Since its founding in 2006, 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 weight, noise and cost issues traditionally associated with commercial LED products.

Toronto Radiohead Stage Collapse May Prompt Non-Specialized Insurance Providers To Leave Live Event Industry

The recent Radiohead stage collapse in Toronto that left one dead and three injured could have serious ramifications for the live event industry, according to Scott Carroll, Executive Vice President and Program Director of Take1 Insurance, the entertainment industry's leading specialist insurance provider.  The unfortunate event could renew calls for stricter regulations for stage construction and engineering, potentially convincing less experienced insurance providers to abandon the industry.  And with fewer providers there is less competition, which could lead to higher premiums.

“The live event industry is a unique market for insurance providers,” Carroll stressed today, “and many simply don’t have the knowledge or experience to fully comprehend the risks and liabilities. There have been several large outdoor stage collapses in the last few years, and it’s likely that the industry will form more stringent regulations and oversight for rigging jobs of this magnitude.  As in any industry, if new regulations are implemented some insurance companies will start to reevaluate their business in this market. The fact is that every company involved in live events should have an insurance carrier who knows the risks and has experience handling claims in this industry. 

“After this latest collapse, all live event companies are going to take a hard look at what they are doing to prevent this type of thing from happening.” Carroll continued. “It would also be wise for them to speak with their current insurance provider to ask about their experience in this space and their plans to continue serving the industry.  If some insurance providers leave the industry, the decreased competition will cause the price of new policies to go up.  So the smart move for business owners is to take action now, rather than waiting until policies are more expensive.”

Amplifying Carroll’s points, Stephen Isenberg, President of Impact Audio Visual, Inc., which has offices in Burbank, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Montreal, Quebec, states that the having right insurance provider is vital to the long-term health of the company.

“When I hear about a stage collapse or accident at a live event, my first thoughts are always for anyone injured,” Isenberg said.  “Then, inevitably I think, ‘what would happen if an accident like that destroyed hundreds of thousands of dollars of my equipment?’  We provide digital signage for high-profile events such as the 2010 Vancouver Olympics as well as many high profile music festivals across North America, so we need to know that our insurance provider is the most experienced and knowledgable in the live event industry.  That’s when I find comfort in the fact that Take1 insures Impact Audio Visual. 

“Take1’s carrier is Fireman’s Fund, which knows the nature of the live event business and is always seeking to understand the day-to-day liabilities and issues.  For instance, indoor concerts are in buildings where there are engineers who know rig points and load bearing characteristics, whereas an outdoor stage, by its nature, is not as exact or permanent.   Fireman’s fund understands all of this and has extensive experience in handling claims.

“Another important factor is that Take1 and Fireman’s Fund have the knowledge and experience to continue serving the live event industry.  We stay with them because the personal attention we receive is second to none, and every issue we’ve ever had has been resolved quickly and efficiently.  That’s what we need from an insurance provider.”

Carroll is quick to point out that insurance for an outdoor event is not the same as insurance for a company who sometimes performs or works at outside events.  He also notes that as staging systems are increasingly upgraded to bring the look and feel of indoor events to the outdoors, the insurance industry needs to study the underwriting issues and learn new questions that need to be addressed, as well as possibly introducing stricter risk mitigation requirements from clients.

Take1’s specialty program has designed inland marine coverage, among other specialty coverages for the entertainment industry, that automatically applies everywhere in the world, without the need for additional riders or endorsements.  It eliminates co-insurance, thus protecting 100 percent of the insured value of the equipment covered; provides automatic replacement cost valuation; allows for separate limits in key individual coverage areas like owned equipment, equipment rented from others, equipment in the insured’s Care Custody and Control (CCC), and equipment in transit; flood coverage for equipment in transit; and blanket limits that eliminate the need for clients’ to itemize each and every piece of equipment, cable, LED panel, etc. being covered.

About U.S. Risk Insurance Group
U. S. Risk Insurance Group, Inc. (www.usrisk.com) is a specialty lines underwriting manager and wholesale broker headquartered in Dallas. Operating 11 domestic and international branches, it offers a broad range of products and services through its affiliate companies, which include U.S. Risk Underwriters, U.S. Risk Brokers, Oxford Insurance Brokers, Ltd. (London), Advocate Reinsurance Partners, LLC, and Unisource Program Administrators.

Three ELAN g! Homes Featured In CEDIA's Spring 2012 Electronic Lifestyles Magazine

Asserting that its g! system is now the preferred choice of dealers and installers looking for a state-of-the-art entertainment and control system that is easy to install, easy to maintain, easy to update, and easy for the consumer to use across all control devices, ELAN® Home Systems today announced that three of the thirteen home installations featured in the forthcoming Spring 2012 edition of CEDIA’s Electronic Lifestyles® magazine are ELAN g! Systems.  

Electronic Lifestyles magazine is published three times a year by North American Publishing Co. (NAPCO) and is the custom installation industry's only lifestyle oriented coffee table-style magazine that is distributed to more than 30,000 dealers, installers, architects, interior designers, home builders and solutions manufacturers.

According to ELAN’ Paul Starkey, “Having three g! installations featured in the Spring 2012 edition of Electronic Lifestyles is a powerful illustration of just how much momentum has been achieved for this remarkable entertainment and control solution over the last two years.  We believe that the ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System is absolutely the most user friendly solution that is also the easiest to install, expand and maintain, requiring the least amount of code and shorter installation time than competing systems.  More and more dealers every day are discovering this for themselves and their businesses are growing as a direct result.”

The Spring 2012 edition of Electronics Lifestyles magazine will feature three homes with ELAN g! Systems installed by Piscataway, N.J.-based Electronics Design Group, Miami, Fla.-based Audio One, and Juarez, Mexico-based New Technology Experience.

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. ELAN Home Systems is part of The AVC Group.  To learn more visit www.elanhomesystems.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 Home Technology Group.

NanoLumens "NanoBar" Brings Real-Time Twitter Feed To Ben & Jerry's New Flagship Retail Store in Tokyo, Japan

Ben & Jerry’s has a long tradition of breaking ground with inventive new flavors and monikers for their world-famous ice cream, so when the company decided to open its very first retail location in Japan, it had to be an innovative store, complete with the company’s first digital menu boards and a live Twitter feed display. 

With such a unique and specific purpose, the Twitter feed couldn’t be displayed on just any digital display or boring four-color LED ticker, it needed to really pop.  That’s why they contacted NanoLumens to build them an 8-foot wide, 4.5-inch tall, full color 6mm pixel pitch LED display, unofficially dubbed the ‘NanoBar’.

According to Josh Byrd, NanoLumens Director of Marketing, “The ‘NanoBar’ LED display that we built for Ben & Jerry’s is a prime example of how NanoLumens can design and build an eye-catching, energy efficient LED display for literally any application. 

“With our flexible and non-flexible displays that can be built to any size and shape, all a company needs to do is imagine a use for digital signage, and our team can make it a reality.  By showcasing their live Twitter feed in the store on a vibrant full color ticker-type of display, Ben & Jerry’s has taken customer interaction to a whole new level, and NanoLumens is proud to provide the exact technology they need to do so.”

The ‘NanoBar’ display’s content is powered by software developed by Scala, which also provides content for the store’s digital menu boards behind the register counter.

NanoLumens displays are extremely slim, ultra-lightweight, energy efficient, and 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. The company’s patented display technology, which allows customers to select from 4mm up to 10mm pixel pitch (depending on the model), promises to transform the way marketers engage their customers in every type of trade show, retail, hospitality, stadium, arena, transportation and public event environment.

NanoLumens displays are designed and engineered with the environment in mind, and consume significantly less energy per square foot than conventional digital displays. Further emphasizing their commitment to eco-friendly technology, NanoLumens displays are composed of up to 50 percent reclaimed materials, and are completely recyclable.  What’s more, some NanoLumens displays can be serviced from the front, making maintenance easier than ever before possible.

Designed and assembled in the United States, NanoLumens displays are available in both flexible and fixed frames in five product lines: NanoFlex™, NanoFlex Wrap, and NanoFlex Ribbon flexible displays; NanoSlim™ fixed rectangular displays; and NanoShape™ fixed round, square, and triangular displays.

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.  Digital Signage Magazine awarded the NanoLumens NanoFlex a 2011 DIGI Award for “Best New Display Device – Non-LCD or Plasma.”

About NanoLumens:

Headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, NanoLumens, Inc. (www.nanolumens.com) is a privately held corporation engaged in the research, product development, marketing and sales of unique flexible and fixed displays that address a yawning technology gap in the $14 billion digital display industry.  Since its founding in 2006, 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 weight, noise and cost issues traditionally associated with commercial LED products.

Xantech Celebrates Continued Leadership In Commercial Market At INFOCOMM 2012

Xantech is at InfoComm 2012 celebrating a year of providing system integrators with solutions in a variety of installs ranging from law enforcement facilities to training facilities to sports bars. Each installation offered Xantech the opportunity to enhance a commercial establishment with its reliable product selection and easy-to-use interface.

Xantech President, Graham Hallett stated, “At INFOCOM 2011, we celebrated our 40^th Anniversary and two-millionth installation, and this year at INFCOMM 2012, Xantech shows no signs of slowing down.  Our products consistently answer the needs of our integrators for any job they are awarded, regardless of the end-user’s needs or system capabilities. We’re happy to mark another successful year with our valued integrator partners, by showcasing a selection of the year’s most exciting installations.”

Key installation partners over the past twelve months include Circle City Audio, DSL Sound, JW Tel-Tronics, and Muzak/Functional Communications.

Circle City Audio was called in to integrate a Xantech-controlled system into the Plainfield Fire Territory #123 station and training facility in Plainfield, Indiana. The station’s new AV system is now controlled by a combination of the Xantech CSPLCD64G touch panel and WIC1200 intelligent web controller. 

Xantech provided the core technology systems that enabled the “strength and conditioning” training room at United States Naval Academy’s Ricketts Hall to become an advanced state-of-the-art facility. As part of a technology upgrade, AV systems integrator DSL Sound of Hagerstown, Maryland, installed a Xantech control system consisting of the WIC1200 Web Intelligent Controller, two CWTC10 Wireless Touch Controllers, CSPLCD64G in-wall touch panels and a host of IPRS232 XtraLink IP modules.

Seattle-based JW Tel-Tronics upgraded the operations center of a Seattle-area law enforcement agency using IP Web-based control equipment from Xantech. 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.

Patrons of the Golf Play Café in Rochester, New York can now hit into the four simulators’ 20 x 20-foot screens and watch their friends do so on a dozen LG 60- and 42-inch LCD monitors throughout the bar and restaurant, thanks to Muzak/Functional Communications, who installed a system that features the Xantech IPRS232s and WIC1200 Web Intelligent Controller.

Visit www.xantech.com for more information.

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. Xantech is a part of The AVC Group in Carlsbad, California. For additional information about Xantech and its innovative products, please visit www.xantech.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® Audio, ELAN® Home Systems, Xantech®, ATON®, and Sunfire®. The AVC Group, LLC is a subsidiary of Nortek, Inc.’s Home Technology Group.

NanoLumens® Introduces Expanded Display Options At INFOCOMM 2012 That Promise To Exceed Customers' Imaginations

Asserting that technology must live up to, and even exceed, the imaginations of its customers, NanoLumens®, the pioneering Norcross, Georgia based company that last year introduced the world to large format flexible digital display technology, today announced several enhancements to its product line. The enhancements were unveiled by Josh Byrd, NanoLumens Director of Marketing, at Booth #N2169 in the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Leading the way, according to Byrd, is the announcement that all NanoSlim™ displays are now available in Portrait models. The NanoSlim™ Portrait displays range in size from 114” to 224” and are available in 4-8mm pixel pitch. Less than 3-inches thick and ultra-lightweight, the new displays can be hung simply and easily with standard integrated mounting brackets and are perfect for retail centers, brand showcases and advertising networks. NanoLumens is showcasing a 145” NanoSlim™ Portrait display in their booth at INFOCOMM 2012.

What’s more, according to Byrd, all NanoSlim™ and NanoShape™ models are now available as double-sided displays. Combined with NanoLumens’ superior off-axis viewing, these new double-sided displays make it possible to capture viewer attention from virtually any angle. The ultra-lightweight dual-sided models are less than 4-inches thick, and can be suspended using standard integrated mounting brackets. Now shopping centers, transit stations, corporate lobbies, exhibit halls and more can utilize dual-sided display technology without the bulk traditionally associated with traditional LED technology.

Finally, the company is unveiling its line of NanoFlex Ribbon™ flexible displays that bring out-of-the-box display capabilities to architects, designers and creative professionals. Designed using NanoLumens patented flex display technology, the revolutionary new ribbon displays can conform to curved surfaces, both concave and convex, and can be used in multiple configurations to exacting specifications in order to create unique architectural elements that accent any space. The NanoFlex Ribbon™ is offered in 16x60 inch, 6mm pixel pitch sections, enabling endless creative combinations and like all NanoLumens displays, NanoFlex Ribbon™ is extremely thin, ultra-lightweight and energy efficient. 

“Our revolutionary display technology virtually shatters the barriers that have traditionally prevented customers from buying displays that live up to their imaginations,” Byrd said today.  “Every digital signage customer wants to be able to deploy display solutions that enhance the message being communicated to their audience without limitations being imposed by the technology.  NanoLumens displays, and the enhancements being introduced today at INFOCOMM, allow our customers to have solutions in any shape or size, any curvature, flexible or fixed, single- or double-sided.  Now there is nothing that stands in the way of customers achieving their wildest digital signage solution dream.”

NanoLumens displays are extremely slim, ultra-lightweight, energy efficient, and 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. The company’s patented display technology, which allows customers to select from 4mm up to 10mm pixel pitch (depending on the model), promises to transform the way marketers engage their customers in every type of trade show, retail, hospitality, stadium, arena, transportation and public event environment.

NanoLumens displays are designed and engineered with the environment in mind, and consume significantly less energy per square foot than conventional digital displays. Further emphasizing their commitment to eco-friendly technology, NanoLumens displays are composed of up to 50 percent reclaimed materials, and are completely recyclable.  What’s more, some NanoLumens displays can be serviced from the front, making maintenance easier than ever before possible.

Designed and assembled in the United States, NanoLumens displays are available in both flexible and fixed frames in five product lines: NanoFlex™, NanoFlex Wrap, and NanoFlex Ribbon flexible displays; NanoSlim™ fixed rectangular displays; and NanoShape™ fixed round, square, and triangular displays.

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.  Digital Signage Magazine awarded the NanoLumens NanoFlex a 2011 DIGI Award for “Best New Display Device – Non-LCD or Plasma.”

About NanoLumens:

Headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, NanoLumens, Inc. (www.nanolumens.com) is a privately held corporation engaged in the research, product development, marketing and sales of unique flexible and fixed displays that address a yawning technology gap in the $14 billion digital display industry.  Since its founding in 2006, 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 weight, noise and cost issues traditionally associated with commercial LED products.

Sony And Stampede Make Bold Move To Drive Market Adoption Of Affordable HD Quality Video Conferencing

Moving decisively to expand the market for affordably priced HD quality video conferencing solutions, Stampede Presentation Products Inc. (www.stampedeglobal.com) today opened its INFOCOMM 2012 sales and marketing program with the announcement that, effective immediately, it was reducing the list price on three Sony Video Conferencing Systems by as much as 44%. 

Stampede, the industry’s oldest and largest distributor of ProAV solutions is also the exclusive North American distributor of Sony Video Conferencing equipment.  Over the last year, the company has been driving the market for affordably priced video conferencing through a groundbreaking lease program that makes Sony Video Conferencing available for under $100 per-month.   The announcement of new lower list prices on the Sony PCS-XA80, Sony PCS-XA55 and Sony PCS-XL55 is expected to accelerate demand for system sales.

According to Eric Murphy, Vice President of the Visual Communications Group at Stampede, the list price on the Sony PCS-XA80 HD Video Conferencing Package has been reduced from $8,999 to $4,999 — representing a reduction of 44%.  The list price on the Sony PCS-XA55 HD Video Conferencing Package has been reduced from $5,999 to $3,999 — representing a 33% price reduction.  Finally, the Sony PCS-XL55 All-in-One HD Desktop Codec has been reduced in price 33% from $5,999 to $3,999.

“Dealers can immediately begin to benefit from these new list prices,” Murphy said today.  “We expect that this new pricing program will have a huge impact on sales in both the education and SMB channels.  Educators, in particular, are now making critically important purchase decisions for the start of the new school year in September and we wanted to be ahead of that decision-making curve with this new program.”

The Sony PCS-XA55 is a powerful, compact and stylish HD desktop videoconferencing system that features 720p HD quality images, dual stream data transfer, a HD 8-Megapixel CMOS camera and a high quality microphone with echo cancellation.  The PCS-XA55 connects to any HD display including flat screen TVs and features one-touch dialing with the RF Remote Commander Unit.  Like all Sony products, it can record a videoconference directly to the unit without the requirement of additional equipment.

 

The Sony PCS-XA80 takes the power and capabilities of the PCS-XA55 to the next level by adding an embedded MCU for Multi-point Calls, allowing communication with up to two remote videoconferencing sites (three sites in total) simultaneously. It features the same powerful hardware, HD video capabilities, and a microphone with echo cancellation.

The Sony PCS-XL55 is an all-in-one visual communication system that combines a built-in 720p HD camera, a 16:9 widescreen 21.6-inch WXGA LCD display, stereo speakers and a high-quality microphone with echo cancellation in one compact and sleek body that can even double as a PC display.  The PCS-XL55 also has a convenient Kiosk mode that can be used to provide unattended services for applications such as remote consulting or customized distance learning.

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.

Niles Introduces Four New Speaker Lines For Light Commercial Applications At INFOCOMM 2012

Expanding its commitment to offer all types of installers a wide range of high quality speakers solutions, Niles®, The First Name In Custom Installation®, today announced the market introduction of four new lines of loudspeakers custom designed to meet the needs of light commercial installations. 

The introduction of the new Niles SW6.5 & SW8 subwoofers, CM Ceiling Mount Architectural Loudspeakers, GeoRealistic™ Pro Series, and GS4 Satellite speakers was made today by Niles President Mike “Sparky” Detmer at INFOCOMM 2012 in Booth #C8725 of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“We’re very excited to make available these new superior quality indoor and outdoor speaker and subwoofer lines to commercial installers,” Detmer said today. “The line between commercial and residential installation opportunities continues to blur, and these new speakers are designed to meet the needs of both residential and light commercial installations, particularly in restaurant, bar, spa, corporate, house of worship, classroom and retail environments.”

]The ultra-compact size and fingerprint resistant piano black finish of the Niles SW6.5 and SW8 Subwoofers present an aesthetically pleasing profile that enhances any commercial or corporate setting.  With the built in bracket mount and optional OmniMount® 30.0 ST-MP (purchased separately), these subwoofers can be wall- or ceiling-mounted, making them the ultimate bass solution for restaurants, bars, houses of worship, classrooms and any other location where installers need powerful, high-quality bass without sacrificing design aesthetic or floor space.

 

The new Niles CM Ceiling Mount Architectural Loudspeakers’ thin-bezel and ultra-low profile provides a crisp, clean finish, and the magnetically attached grilles greatly reduce installation time. The series includes round grilles standard and square grilles are available. The grilles can be painted to coordinate with any surrounding décor for added installation flexibility. The grilles are rust-resistant, eliminating service calls for loudspeakers installed in moisture-prone areas such as saunas, bathrooms and even outdoors under eaves.

Niles is also introducing their full range of outdoor speaker solutions, which are perfect for any outdoor commercial environment, such as the patio area of restaurants and bars, the pool areas of hotels, and country club walkways.

 

The GeoRealistic™ Pro Series is the next generation of outdoor speakers designed to deliver an audiophile-quality performance outdoors, in a case that is strong enough to stand up to anything that Mother Nature can deliver. Engineered with a focus on durability, which allows the speakers to be used in any outdoor commercial setting, the Pro Series speakers feature a new NoFade™ Protective Finish and a new four-layer fiberglass weave, ensuring that the speakers are at least five times more durable and long-lasting than the current model of rock speakers, even under the most extreme UV conditions.

In addition to the Pro Series, Niles is introducing the GS4 4” Satellite Loudspeaker, complete with wide dispersion characteristics allow users to enjoy the best outdoor audio experience with the ultimate flexibility in speaker placement.  Thanks to the pre-installed wall-mount brackets and Niles’ Twist & Lock® connection, the speaker can easily be mounted on a wall or stake-mounted anywhere high fidelity audio is desired.

According to Detmer, all four new Niles loudspeaker lines are now available for immediate delivery to dealers and installers.  For more information on order the new speaker lines, please call 1-800-289-4434.

About Niles®:

California-based Niles® is a 34-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.

ELAN Showcases The Commercial Market Success Of Its ELAN g! Entertainment And Control System At INFOCOMM 2012

Underscoring the universal appeal and strengths of its revolutionary g! Entertainment & Control System, ELAN® today announced the market introduction of three new products that will further enhance the system’s use in a wide variety of light commercial market installations.  The debut of the new ELAN S1616A Combination Amplifier/Controller, VL10 Under Cabinet/Tabletop Touch Screen, and g! Tools Installation & System Management Software was made at INFOCOMM 2012 in Booth #C8725 of the Las Vegas Convention Center. 

The introductions, announced by ELAN President Paul Starkey, cap a year of residential and commercial market success that saw the ELAN g! Entertainment & Control System embraced by light commercial installers in a wide variety of restaurants, bars, sports training facilities, hotels, production and manufacturing centers, and retailers.

“In less than two years the ELAN g! System has been recognized by residential and commercial installers and end users as being, hands down, the easiest to install, easiest to manage, easiest to upgrade, and, most importantly, easiest to use entertainment and control system currently available from any manufacturer,” Starkey asserted today.  “Many of our commercial customers started out as happy residential g! customers. Once they experienced the truly unique benefits of living with g! at home they had to have the same experience in their respective line of work!  We expect the use of g! to increase dramatically in corporate offices, doctor’s offices, restaurants, bars, hotels, and in every conceivable type of retail business.”

According to Starkey, today’s introduction of three new products to the g! family are expected to further strengthen the system’s appeal to light commercial installers.

Joining the award-winning family of user-friendly ELAN g! System user interfaces is the new 10” hard-wired tabletop and under-cabinet mounted color LCD touch screen VL10 Valet.   Featuring ELAN’s user-friendly ‘touch and swipe’ design, the VL10 is able to also function as a TV as a result of the included analog video input.  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 new ELAN S1616A Amplifier/Controller is the company’s new 16-channel multi-zone amplifier/controller that combines the functionality of the ELAN D16 amplifier and S128P multi-zone controller into one new component that simplifies and lowers the total cost of a system installation for dealers and their clients. The new product is designed to integrate exclusively with the ELAN g! System, and has nearly unlimited configuration options. The S1616A is available in single- and dual-chassis versions, both of which include high-pass and low-pass crossovers, RCA inputs, speaker level and banana plug outputs, and feature level, bass and treble adjustment for each output channel.

ELAN’s g!Tools is a new software program that provides dealers with a powerful new tool that greatly simplifies ELAN g! system installation and management by organizing all system documents, firmware, installation guides and support software in one place. g!Tools allows dealers to store and share one-way IR and serial drivers and also provides a dashboard screen for ELAN dealers to view, monitor and launch into every g! system they manage from one location, whether on the PC at their office or on a job site.  This feature allows ELAN dealers to quickly check on multiple g! systems and offers the best access for managing and updating systems, as well as providing on-demand assistance to end users. ELAN has also introduced g!Mobile 5.5 software for iOS devices, which adds irrigation and messaging, and makes g! the most consistent interface in the industry across every device.

The ELAN g! 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 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. ELAN Home Systems is part of The AVC Group.  To learn more, visit www.elanhomesystems.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 Home Technology Group.

NanoLumens® NanoFlex 112 Names 'Best LED Product' By Rental & Staging Magazine In Its 2012 INFOCOMM Product Awards

 
NanoLumens®, the pioneering Norcross, Georgia-based company that last year introduced the world to large format flexible digital display technology today announced that its NanoFlex™ 112 has been cited by Rental & Staging magazine as the ‘Best LED Product’ of the year in the magazine’s 2012 INFOCOMM Product Awards Program. 

The award was presented to NanoLumens Director of Marketing Josh Byrd at a special awards ceremony hosted by Rental & Staging magazine at the INFOCOMM 2012 Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The presentation was made by Adam Goldstein, Executive Vice President & Group Publishing Director of New Bay Media, publishers of Rental & Staging magazine.

“It is a great honor to have our revolutionary LED display acknowledged by Rental & Staging magazine,” said Byrd. “NanoLumens continues to offer unmatched digital display solutions that are as flexible and thin as they are energy efficient. Our 112-inch, lightweight LED display can be elegantly curved and wrapped around contoured walls and structures to meet the specific needs of any environment, including corporate lobbies, high-end retail stores, stadiums, and anywhere else where digital signage is needed. With the NanoFlex™ 112, we have achieved what was once thought to be impossible in the digital signage industry.”

The Rental & Staging Awards recognize the best new products introduced to the staging or AV rental markets from July 2011 to March 2012. NanoLumens full line of displays will be shown at INFOCOMM 2012 at NanoLumens Booth #N2169 in the Las Vegas Convention Center.

NanoLumens displays are extremely slim, ultra-lightweight, energy efficient, and 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. The company’s patented display technology, which allows customers to select from 4mm up to 10mm pixel pitch (depending on the model), promises to transform the way marketers engage their customers in every type of trade show, retail, hospitality, stadium, arena, transportation and public event environment.

NanoLumens displays are designed and engineered with the environment in mind, and consume significantly less energy per square foot than conventional digital displays. Further emphasizing their commitment to eco-friendly technology, NanoLumens displays are composed of up to 50 percent reclaimed materials, and are completely recyclable.  What’s more, some NanoLumens displays can be serviced from the front, making maintenance easier than ever before possible.

Designed and assembled in the United States, NanoLumens displays are available in both flexible and fixed frames in five product lines: NanoFlex™, NanoFlex Wrap, and NanoFlex Ribbon flexible displays; NanoSlim™ fixed rectangular displays; and NanoShape™ fixed round, square, and triangular displays.

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.  Digital Signage Magazine awarded the NanoLumens NanoFlex a 2011 DIGI Award for “Best New Display Device – Non-LCD or Plasma.”

About NanoLumens:

Headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, NanoLumens, Inc. (www.nanolumens.com) is a privately held corporation engaged in the research, product development, marketing and sales of unique flexible and fixed displays that address a yawning technology gap in the $14 billion digital display industry.  Since its founding in 2006, 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 weight, noise and cost issues traditionally associated with commercial LED products.