Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Trident Cases And Arkon Mounts Lock Down Mobile Devices For First Responders


For first responders, finding the fastest route to an emergency is crucial. Mobile applications such as Google Maps provide optimal driving routes, live traffic updates, and estimated arrival times. To simultaneously protect and secure mobile devices in unpredictable environments, Trident Case® has created the perfect solution – Kraken A.M.S. smartphone cases that physically lock into a vehicle with an Arkon mount.


Whether driving in an ambulance, a fire truck, or a police car, Trident’s Kraken A.M.S.-compatible Arkon mounts are specially designed to provide optimal mobile device viewing and placement in any setting. With Arkon mounts, both the driver and the passenger can view vital information simultaneously, abandoning the discomfort of manually holding the device during a time of crisis.


Mounts range from temporary to permanent, with a solution available for just about every surface type, including dashboards and windshields. Arkon mounts include eight suction-based windshield and surface mounts, ten vehicle mounts that connect to either cup holders, seat rails, air vents and headrests, and three drill base mounts that provide a more permanent solution.


Trident’s Kraken A.M.S. Series is custom built to work with a variety of need-specific Arkon mounts. The Kraken A.M.S. Series is Trident’s most rugged line, independently tested to meet the Military Standard MIL-STD-810F for resistance to rain, dust, intense vibrations and drops onto concrete.


A variety of case and mount options are available immediately at Trident’s first responders website, giving officials the tools they need to protect their technology investments. Each Trident Kraken A.M.S. case is available in a minimum of five colors and is constructed using bio-enhanced plastic that is biodegradable, compostable and recyclable.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Advanced Designs Unique Mobile Video Wall In Two Weeks For New CTV Show "The Social"


What do you do when your TV show uses a video wall for direct viewer interaction, but the entire set needs to be mobile because other shows film on the same soundstage throughout the day? According to the makers of the new CTV talk show “The Social”, you call Advanced, Canada’s premier AV and IT integrator, to develop an innovative mobile video wall solution that can be easily rolled on and off the set!

Advanced recognized that the show needed a solution as technologically advanced as the show’s concept, which capitalizes on social media to make viewers a very literal part of the show, allowing folks at home to tweet and message the show in real time and influence discussions and pose questions. It’s the 21st century’s answer to the old mainstay of “let’s go to our next caller”, and the set deserved a 21st century display to show the audience’s input.

The most amazing thing may not be the display itself, but the fact that Advanced designed, built and installed the custom mount and display in just two weeks working only after-hours, from the day the order was placed to completion. According to Advanced’s General Manager of Systems Integration Omar Prashad, systems such as this one usually require a 4-6 week lead time, which meant that the team had to work literally 24 hours a day for the final two days to have it finished on time for the show’s debut on Monday, September 2.

“We’ve never built a mobile video wall before,” he said, “so there was a lot of brainstorming at the very beginning to determine the best way to build the mount that houses all nine 46-inch displays. It's not something a lot of AV companies could do, but we developed a custom mobile mounting solution with custom welding that can be moved by a single person, even though it weighs nearly 800 pounds. We also couldn’t be on the set during the day because it’s used for a variety of programming, so we constructed the mount offsite, then spent the final two days working around the clock to get it integrated with the switchboard and working flawlessly for its debut on the air on Monday.”

The video wall is composed of nine 46-inch ultra-thin NEC X463UN displays, creating a nearly seamless 138-inchdisplay that gives viewers an HD view of show graphics that may include photos, videos, text and live viewer feeds from Twitter and other social networks. The video feed is delivered directly from the switchboard to a Kramer scaler that optimizes the incoming signal and then sends to the video wall.

“It was a lot of pressure to design, deliver, color calibrate and make sure it was 100 percent working in such a short time frame, but it was exciting to see it all happen,” Prashad added. “There’s nothing Advanced can’t do, and this last-minute mobile video wall is an incredible proof of that philosophy.”

Trident Case And Arkon Mounts Mean Business For Progressive Retailers Using Mobile Devices To Conduct Transactions


There’s a revolution happening in the way brick-and-mortar retailers conduct business. Cash registers are being traded in for tablets. Employees working the floor use smartphones to conduct transactions, manage inventory and help customers. Everywhere we look, store and business owners are realizing the benefits of going mobile, and it’s enabling them to increase efficiency, improve customer service and effectively manage overhead costs.

Trident Case®, manufacturer of the toughest mobile device cases, today announced a dynamic partnership with Arkon®, maker of the most reliable mobile device mounts, to provide case and mount packages that add protection to every retailer’s business plan.

 According to Erin Luzzi, Director of Marketing at Trident, “Tablets and smartphones are being used every day by progressive retailers who understand that using mobile devices to transact business is the way of the future. By providing one source for the toughest tablet cases and the most flexible, reliable mounts, we have simplified the buying process for retailers looking to protect their investment in mobile technology. The Arkon mounts are available directly through Trident, and they are custom configured to work optimally with our Kraken A.M.S. Series cases.”

According to Luzzi, the Kraken A.M.S.-compatible Arkon mounts are specially designed to provide optimal mobile device viewing and placement in any setting imaginable. The mounts range from temporary to permanent, with a solution available for just about every surface type. Trident’s Kraken A.M.S. Series cases are custom built to work with 27 need-specific Arkon mounts. The Kraken A.M.S. Series is Trident’s most rugged line, meeting the Military Standard MIL-STD-810F for protection from rain, dust, drops onto concrete and intense vibrations. This means that a user’s device will be safe even if they drop it from four feet high onto concrete two dozen times, and that dust and dirt won’t get into the device’s ports and buttons.

With solutions for the most popular smartphones and tablets from Apple, Blackberry, HTC, LG, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Sony, this partnership addresses the widest range of consumers possible. The compatible Arkon mounts include eight removable suction-based windshield and surface mounts, 10 vehicle mounts that connect to either cup holders, seat rails, air vents, headrests, lighter sockets or sun visors, two rail mounts that are perfect for bicycles, hand trucks or carts, four clamp mounts that are ideal removable solutions for desks and workstations, and three drill base mounts that provide a more permanent solution and are perfect for desktop, wall or under-cabinet mounting.

Additionally, Trident’s media stand is ideal for carrying tablets around retail stores and conducting transactions away from the traditional counter space.

A variety of case and mount options are available immediately at Trident’s Retail Solutions website, giving drivers the tools they need to protect their technology investments. Each Trident case is available in a minimum of five colors and is constructed using bio-enhanced plastic that is biodegradable, compostable and recyclable.

Stampede Reports Record Year Of Growth And Expansion At 2013 Vendor Summit



Asserting that the Age of Interactivity is now giving way to a new Age of Hyperactivity characterized by an always-fast, always-on Internet, Stampede Presentation Products, Inc. yesterday told attendees at its 2013 Vendor Summit that a new era of unprecedented opportunity was now unfolding — creating sales opportunities for dealers that were unimaginable a few short years ago.

The annual two-day Stampede Vendor Summit, the industry’s only event of its kind, took place October 7-8, 2013 at the Marriott Hotel in Amherst, New York and featured a mix of immersive one-on-one sales interactions between manufacturers and the Stampede sales team, information-packed presentations from InfoComm Senior Vice President John Fuchs and PMA Analyst Rosemary Abowd, a challenging vision of a future built around ‘The Internet of Things’ by AV Girl futurist Midori Connolly, and an engaging dealer panel discussion of business and technology trends hosted by New Bay Media’s Lindsey Adler and EH Publishing’s Craig MacCormack.

“At a time when the traditional AV industry is maturing, a new personalized industry is rising up to take its place, one that is built upon the ideas of connecting, integrating, and sharing devices in entirely new eco-systems built around highly customized software applications,” predicted Stampede President & COO Kevin Kelly. “This shift is challenging our industry to stop using the terms ‘audio and video’ and start using the terms ‘see, hear and control’ in order to understand the business opportunities that this shift is creating.”


Indeed, according to Kelly, Stampede has taken a number of strategic steps to empower its 11,000 dealers to take advantage of this seismic shift by consumers and professionals to connect, integrate and share devices at work, school, government and home. “In 2013 we added 20 new product lines and several new core platforms that traditional AV products can attach to,” Kelly emphasized.

“And the results of these additions speak for themselves as we conclude a fifth year of record-breaking growth — a year where earnings grew by 46 percent.” Equally important, according to Kelly, is the fact that the company’s sales grew in all three of its primary product categories — displays, projectors, and unified communications, which is by far the fastest growing segment of the company’s business. “During the Q2 period, our unified communications category sales increased by more than 239 percent over the same period in 2012 and that growth is being driven by the shift from an audio/video world view to a see-hear-control world view.”

Kelly reaffirmed Stampede’s commitment to constantly add value to every system installation it is involved with. “Value adds margin for our dealers,” Kelly told Vendor Summit attendees. “And, thus far in 2013, Stampede is adding value at an unprecedented level that cannot be matched by any other distributor in the business today. We can add this value on a consistent basis because we are focused exclusively on meeting the needs of the ProAV dealer community. We are not distracted by other industries and market segments. We devote 100 percent of our time and considerable resources to helping dealers grow their business.”

Meeting the demands of growth, however, requires an expanding commitment to maintain face-to-face training, online learning, and readily available credit facilities to qualified dealers, “all of which Stampede is committed to providing,” Kelly added. “In fact, in 2013 alone, we have increased our available monthly credit line by 28 percent, enabling us to serve as a bank to our dealer partners. In 2014 we will be opening a new southwest regional office and adding to our field sales team network to increase the number of contacts we can have with dealers and their customers. ”

Photo caption: Left to right: Jeff Willis, Senior Vice President of Stampede; Mark Wilkins, Founder and CEO of Stampede; Kevin Kelly, President and COO of Stampede.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Custom Cases And Mounts Keep Warehouse Workers' Mobile Devices Safe, Secure, And Accessible


Fleet and warehouse facilities utilize smartphones and tablets to oversee vital functions each day. While manufacturers track inventory and shipping dates with internet-enabled devices, fleet managers direct forklifts while using GPS capabilities. In such large scale environments, keeping track of mobile devices can be a burden for managers. In order to simultaneously secure and protect smartphones, Trident Case® has created the perfect solution – Kraken A.M.S. smartphone cases that physically lock onto any surface with an Arkon mount.

By using a custom-designed, physically locked-in mount, facility workers no longer have to keep their smartphones in their pockets or be burdened with uncomfortable armbands. Trident Case and Arkon mounts provide facilities with 25 mounts that can be configured with Trident’s Kraken A.M.S. Series cases. When combined, the cases and mounts provide superior protection and placement options to fit any need and occupy any space.

 For facility management scenarios, Arkon mounts include eight suction-based windshield and surface mounts, ten vehicle mounts that connect to either cup holders, seat rails, air vents and headrests for facility fleets, and three drill base mounts that provide a more permanent solution.

Trident’s Kraken A.M.S. Series is custom built to work with a variety of need-specific Arkon mounts. The Kraken A.M.S. Series is Trident’s most rugged line, independently tested to meet the Military Standard MIL-STD-810F for resistance to rain, dust, drops onto concrete and intense vibrations.

With solutions for the most popular smartphones and tablets from Apple, Blackberry, HTC, Nokia, Sony, LG, Motorola and Samsung, this partnership addresses the widest range of consumers possible. The mounts range from temporary to permanent, with a solution available for just about every surface type.

Arkon Resources, Inc. is a manufacturer and global supplier of car, home and office mobile mounting solutions designed for use with tablet computers, smartphones, cameras, portable GPS, satellite radios and other portable devices.

Each Trident case is available in a minimum of five colors and is constructed using bio-enhanced plastic that is biodegradable, compostable and recyclable. To browse the full lineup of Trident mobile device cases and Arkon mounts, visit http://www.tridentcase.com/company/arkon.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Custom Cases And Mounts Provide Stability And Protection For Bikers' Mobile Devices



Smartphones have become an integral part of the modern exercise routine, providing maps, GPS tracking, timers and music to keep people motivated and on track. Since mountain bikers and casual cruisers need easy, fast access to their smartphones and can’t risk dropping the expensive devices, Trident Case® has created the perfect solution - Kraken A.M.S. smartphone cases that physically lock into a custom bike rail mount by Arkon.

The Kraken A.M.S. Series is Trident’s most rugged line, independently tested to withstand rain, dust, drops onto concrete and intense vibrations, and meets the Military Standard MIL-STD-810F. By using a custom-designed, physically locked-in mount, bikers no longer have to keep their smartphones in their pockets or be burdened with uncomfortable armbands. With the Kraken case and Arkon bike rail mount they can be assured their devices are safe, secure and ready to access at a moment’s notice, right on their handlebars. This provides constant connection to maps, fitness tracking apps and music, and makes answering phone calls easy.

In addition to the bike rail mount, Trident Case® has partnered with Arkon mounts to create more than two dozen custom mounts for a variety of usage scenarios that lock into Trident’s Kraken A.M.S. Series cases for smartphones and tablets. When combined, the cases and mounts provide superior protection and secure placement options for any scenario from biking and boating to watching backseat movies in a car.

Trident-compatible Arkon mounts are specially designed to provide optimal mobile device viewing and placement in any outdoor setting. The mounts range from temporary to permanent, with a solution available for just about every surface type.

With solutions for the most popular smartphones and tablets from Apple, Blackberry, HTC, Motorola and Samsung, this partnership addresses the widest range of consumers possible. The compatible Arkon mounts include eight suction-based windshield and surface mounts, 10 vehicle mounts that connect to either cup holders, seat rails, air vents, headrests, lighter sockets or sun visors, two rail mounts that are perfect for bicycles, hand trucks or carts, four clamp mounts that are ideal removable solutions for desks and workstations, and three drill base mounts that provide a more permanent solution and are perfect for wall or under-cabinet mounting.


Arkon Resources, Inc. is a manufacturer and global supplier of car, home and office mobile mounting solutions designed for use with tablet computers, smartphones, cameras, portable GPS, satellite radios and other portable devices.

Each Trident case is available in a minimum of five colors and is constructed using bio-enhanced plastic that is biodegradable, compostable and recyclable. To browse the full lineup of Trident mobile device cases and Arkon mounts, visit http://www.tridentcase.com/company/arkon.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Boaters Lock Down Mobile Devices With Custom-Fitted Cases And Mounts


Smartphones and tablets are indispensable tools for the modern boater. Fishermen utilize apps to locate the most plentiful fishing spots, and sailors navigate the seas with digital maps and GPS. Whether speeding across a lake or navigating across an ocean, boaters need to be sure their mobile electronics are secure, protected and won’t fall out of a mount if the seas get rough.

To provide peace of mind for boaters, Trident Case® has partnered with Arkon mounts to create more than two dozen custom mounts that physically lock into Trident’s Kraken A.M.S. Series cases. When combined, the cases and mounts provide superior protection and secure placement options for any need, on or below deck.

Trident-compatible Arkon mounts are specially designed to provide optimal mobile device viewing and placement in any outdoor setting. The mounts range from temporary to permanent, with a solution available for just about every surface type. Trident’s Kraken A.M.S. Series are custom built to work with a variety of need-specific Arkon mounts. The Kraken A.M.S. Series is Trident’s most rugged line, independently tested to withstand rain, dust, drops onto concrete and intense vibrations, and meets the Military Standard MIL-STD-810F.

With solutions for the most popular smartphones and tablets from Apple, Blackberry, HTC, Motorola and Samsung, this partnership addresses the widest range of consumers possible. The compatible Arkon mounts include eight suction-based windshield and surface mounts, 10 vehicle mounts that connect to either cup holders, seat rails, air vents, headrests, lighter sockets or sun visors, two rail mounts that are perfect for bicycles, hand trucks or carts, four clamp mounts that are ideal removable solutions for desks and workstations, and three drill base mounts that provide a more permanent solution and are perfect for wall or under-cabinet mounting.

Arkon Resources, Inc. is a manufacturer and global supplier of car, home and office mobile mounting solutions designed for use with tablet computers, smartphones, cameras, portable GPS, satellite radios and other portable devices.

Each Trident case is available in a minimum of five colors and is constructed using bio-enhanced plastic that is biodegradable, compostable and recyclable. To browse the full lineup of Trident mobile device cases and Arkon mounts, visit http://www.tridentcase.com/company/arkon.

Trident iPad Cases Provide Maximum Protection For Deer Point Elementary School's Autism Classroom



At Deer Point Elementary in Panama City, Florida, teacher William Weatherly has had great success using Apple® iPads in his autism classroom, but he quickly realized he needed top-notch cases to protect the devices from drops and spills. That’s why the school is using Trident Kraken A.M.S. iPad cases to protect their investment and ensure each student continues to have the best possible learning experience.

Weatherly’s class uses nine iPads – one for each student – for various lessons in both reading and mathematics. The tablet’s software also assists in developing communication skills in autistic students with speaking disabilities.

To ensure that the iPads survive, Weatherly required the most durable cases possible. “Our class relies heavily on iPads for daily instruction, because that’s the way the students learn best,” he said today. “Trident cases have been on the devices for a year, and have completely held up against drops, spills and temper tantrums.”

As teachers rely more and more on technology to conduct lessons, Trident Case is committed to providing the highest level of protection for tablets that will preserve tablets through plenty of wear-and-tear scenarios in all school environments, including K-12 and higher education.

“Trident cases really perform the way they say they do,” Weatherly said. “I have been recommending these cases to the administration because students can benefit from protected smart devices in schools. As far as technology goes these days, there are many apps that cater to schools. Books can already be pre-logged. There’s no more excuse of ‘I left it at home’.”

According to Weatherly, the curriculum utilizes software called Nearpod that enables teachers to control each individual device. This way, teachers can administer quizzes, questions and lessons simultaneously to students who each have their own tablet in the classroom.

When Weatherly’s students attend other classes within the school they take the iPads with them, which means that they physically leave the classroom. This requires even more protection from the cases.

“We are thrilled to see our Kraken A.M.S. cases being put to such good use in a challenging K12 classroom environment, but we are not surprised,” said Erin Luzzi, Vice President of Marketing at Trident Case. “The Kraken A.M.S. Series for smartphones and tablets is designed to stand up and perform optimally in the most punishing usage environments. More and more schools are adopting the Kraken A.M.S. Series as a sensible purchase that protects their investment in tablet technology.”

In a YouTube video created by Weatherly, students of the autism program demonstrate the type of damage a tablet may experience in a learning environment. “I would rate it a ten out of ten,” Zachary, a student, said in the video after dropping his iPad on the ground.

The Kraken A.M.S. Series cases are the strongest, most durable cases made by Trident. The case consists of a shock-absorbing silicone inner layer covered by a hardened polycarbonate outer-casing, with a built-in screen protector to provide maximum protection. The attachment port at the back of the case also features a mounting accessory that supports accessories such as media stands or clips. Kraken cases also meet U.S. military standards to protect mobile devices against rain, dust, drops and vibration.

Trident Case® offers six series of protective carrying solutions providing one, two, or three layers of protection: Kraken A.M.S. Series, Aegis Series, Cyclops Series, Perseus A.M.S. Series, Electra Series, and Apollo Series. All Trident cases use bio-enhanced, plastic based products that are recyclable, compostable, and degradable. Trident cases are manufactured in the USA.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Trident Case And Arkon Mounts Offer Mobile Protection For The Road Ahead



Whether you’re riding on two, four or sixteen wheels, professional drivers depend on their mobile devices to drive them forward. Anyone who operates a vehicle for a living — drivers of trucks, buses and cars — can attest to the benefits of using mobile technology: tablets and smartphones streamline navigation, communication and coordination, making life on the road easier than ever before. But when the road gets bumpy, there’s only one place to turn to protect the technology that keeps them connected to the world at large — Trident Case®.

Trident Case, manufacturer of the world’s toughest mobile device cases, today announced a dynamic partnership with Arkon®, maker of the world’s most reliable mobile device mounts, to provide case and mount packages that protect and extend the life of every mobile device used in professional driving applications.

According to Erin Luzzi, Director of Marketing at Trident, “Tablets and smartphones are being used every day by tens of thousands of driving professionals who put their mobile devices through the ringer! By providing one source for the world’s toughest tablet cases and the world’s most flexible, reliable mounts, we have simplified the buying process for drivers and eliminated any questions of compatibility. These Arkon mounts are available directly through Trident, and they are custom configured to work optimally with our Kraken A.M.S. cases with the available smartphone and tablet adapters.”

According to Luzzi, the Kraken A.M.S.-compatible Arkon mounts are specially designed to provide optimal mobile device viewing and placement in any setting imaginable. The mounts range from temporary to permanent, with a solution available for just about every surface type. Trident’s Kraken A.M.S. Series cases are custom built to work with 27 need-specific Arkon mounts. The Kraken A.M.S. Series is Trident’s most rugged line, rated to withstand rain, dust, drops onto concrete and intense vibrations, and it meets the Military Standard MIL-STD-810F. This ensures that mobile devices are safe from up to 26 drops onto concrete from four feet, 7.9 inches of rain in an hour at a wind velocity of 40 miles an hour, or sand blown at 59 feet per second for three hours, among other hazards.

With solutions for the most popular smartphones and tablets from Apple, Blackberry, HTC, Motorola and Samsung, this partnership addresses the widest range of consumers possible. The compatible Arkon mounts include eight removable suction-based windshield and surface mounts, 10 vehicle mounts that connect to either cup holders, seat rails, air vents, headrests, lighter sockets or sun visors, two rail mounts that are perfect for bicycles, hand trucks or carts, four clamp mounts that are ideal removable solutions for desks and workstations, and three drill base mounts that provide a more permanent solution and are perfect for desktop, wall or under-cabinet mounting.

A variety of case and mount options are available immediately at Trident’s Professional Driver Solutions web site, giving drivers the tools they need to protect their technology investments. Each Trident Kraken A.M.S. case is available in a minimum of five colors and is constructed using bio-enhanced plastic that is biodegradable, compostable and recyclable.

ELAN Launches Accelerated Dealer Training Certification Program With g! School!


In response to the growing market demand for its award-winning g! Entertainment and Control System, ELAN® Home Systems today announced that it has enhanced its training program to enable prospective dealers to become certified ELAN g! installers in just 20 hours through a combination of online training and a two-day in-person session.

Nearly 1,000 students have already utilized the free on-demand, self-paced training offered at ELAN’s online g! School, which is available 24/7 and provides more than 150 unique courses.

According to Eric Herdman, ELAN Home Systems Content Manager, “Our coordinated approach to dealer certification combines online and in-person training in a way that ensures that any prospect, anywhere in the world, can become an ELAN dealer as quickly as they want to. By combining a free seven-hour online introduction course with a 13- hour, 1.5 day regional on-site training seminar, we provide new dealers with hands-on experience plus a complete understanding of the inner working of the ELAN g! system.”

The certification process is incredibly simple: a new dealer simply visits www.brainshark.com/go/elan and signs up to take the online course, which is available immediately. Upon successful completion of the 7-hour training course, the new dealer contacts an ELAN regional representative to sign up for a 1.5 day, $100 in-person training seminar in their local area that will complete their education. After the in-person seminar, each dealer must pass a final online exam to receive ELAN g! certification, which is sent in a PDF and available immediately so they can get right to work!

“Our solution allows dealers to become familiar with the ELAN g! system on their own time, with the ability to pause, rewind and restart any lesson they need, so they can progress at their own pace and on their schedule,” Herdman emphasized. “Giving them an online introduction before they do the in-person training is invaluable, and there’s nothing to lose because the online courses are free.”

ELAN’s g! School is the latest incarnation of ELAN U, which debuted as the first-ever online installation-training program in 2003. Since then, installers have taken more than 300,000 online lessons, earning the program numerous awards including the CEA Mark of Excellence Award for Best Training and Support Programs and the Inside Track Certificate of Excellence for Best Dealer Training.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Stampede Unveils New DemoPad Controller



Stampede Presentation Products, Inc., North America’s largest high value added Pro AV distributor, today unveiled the new CENTRO 8 control processor for the DemoPad control system. According to Stampede President & COO Kevin Kelly, the introduction of the CENTRO 8 makes DemoPad an extremely attractive control solution for dealers and end-users by simplifying installation and providing highly customizable GUIs to satisfy the unique needs of each project.

“We’re excited to present the expanded DemoPad solution to installers seeking high-quality, high-margin control solutions in the constantly evolving control market,” Kelly said today. “Not only does DemoPad’s software solution offer flexible, customizable control GUIs, but it also allows installers to integrate all key AV elements into the control system, generating opportunities for additional sales of complimentary hardware, such as matrix switchers and IR controllers sourced from other vendors. As we enter the era of ‘The Internet of Things’, DemoPad is leading the way in simplified integration and is aggressively expanding its dealer network throughout North America.”

The CENTRO 8 control processor is a 19" rack mount unit designed to provide two way communication and control of a variety of equipment via an array of input and output ports. Primarily a network device, the CENTRO features a powerful processor board capable of communicating with Apple iOS and Android control interfaces and running complex custom macros and schedules across a network with remote access capability.

The IP-based DemoPad solution sends control signals to Wi-Fi connected devices, so it works equally well with TVs, amplifiers, projectors or blinds that are not IP enabled, which installers can integrate through alternative methods such as IR or RS-232 with affordable IP gateways. DemoPad works with literally 1000s of devices, allowing users to integrate existing products with new devices seamlessly.

The intuitive DemoPad custom design software, available exclusively to DemoPad Certified Installers, enables integrators to create a completely customized interface for the end-user. This programmed custom interface is then uploaded and paired to a DemoPad end-user app, which is purchased through the Apple store or Android Play market, allowing integrators to easily create bespoke systems for each customer and then upload complete control solutions to as many smartphones or tablets as required.

Operating on a network, the CENTRO 8 is the heart of an automation system. It monitors connected devices and listens to requests from Apple iOS and selected Android hand held devices. It provides feedback as to current status of all connected devices (subject to device compatibility) and can receive and store scheduled requests for a variety of tasks including lighting dusk until dawn controls, access control and security arm / disarm, to more simple 'turn TV on' at a set time.

The CENTRO 8 has a built in web server and can store a local copy of the DemoPad project for retrieval or upload to a new device.

The CENTRO 8 features 16 individually addressable IR ports, so using a suitable HD-BaseT Matrix with IR pass through, integrators can simply use jack to jack leads (supplied) from the first eight IR ports into the corresponding IR ports on the matrix. Then at the balun end, a jack to IR bud completes the control loop to enable IR control from iOS and Android devices in each zone, with no additional hardware required. The remaining eight IR ports on the CENTRO 8 are typically used in conjunction with the four RS232 ports to control source equipment located in the rack.

System specifications include:

- Control processor with 4GB internal program memory
- External 12v Power Supply
- 2 x USB general purpose connector ports
- 1 x RJ45 LAN 10/100 Ethernet port
- 1 x HDMI output 1 x Stereo audio out jack
- 4 x Bi-Directional RS232 communication ports
- 8 x Digital Input ports (volt free operation)
- 4 x Low Voltage- 16 x Infra Red output ports (individually addressable)
- Built in HTTP/HTTPS web server and timers for scheduling