Take1 And Event Safety Alliance To Host Industry’s First Webinar On Live Event Safety

Asserting that the live event production industry can no longer take a passive approach to life safety, Take1 Insurance, the leading insurance provider to the entertainment industry, today announced that it was teaming up with the Event Safety Alliance (ESA) to host the industry’s first webinar focused on producing safer live events.

Scott Carroll, Seinor VP & Program
Director of Take1 Insurance

According to Scott Carroll, Executive Vice President & Program Director of Take1 Insurance, the precedent-setting webinar will take place on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at 2 p.m EST and is open to anyone involved in the business of producing and staging live events. Registration for the webinar is now open at this website.

“The time for discussion is over and the time to take action is at hand,” Carroll stressed today. “For years we have emphasized the need for live event producers to take the time to prepare for the unimaginable and now, thanks to the leadership position taken by Jim Digby and the Event Safety Alliance, the industry can utilize the ESA’s“Event Safety Guide” to prepare complete emergency action plans that include having the right insurance coverage in place.”

Carroll emphasized that, “Investing 60 minutes to learn more about the issues involved in producing safer live events is not too much to ask of any of us, given the number of incidents that have occurred over the last several years. It is our hope that ‘A 60-Minute Introduction to Producing Safer Live Events’ is the first in a series of additional Take1 sponsored topic focused webinars that involve a broad range of industry professionals in a very important discussion.”

Jim Digby, President of ESA

“Due to a series of tragic accidents, life safety has become a major concern to many within the live event industry,” explained Jim Digby, founder of the Event Safety Alliance. “Whether you work directly on productions or provide support to them, everyone has a role to play in ensuring the well-being of our performers, workers, and audience members. In this webinar, leaders from ESA and Take1 will detail the importance and responsibilities of event safety for those who promote, produce, and insure live events. You’ll learn more about the mission and activities of the ESA, along with our vision for the future, as well as the solutions offered by Take1. Most importantly, we’ll discuss critical tools and resources currently in development, and how the insurance industry can work with the ESA to create safer live events.”

A week after the Event Safety webinar, the Event Safety Alliance will take its message of “be prepared” to LDI 2013 (November 22–24, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada) where it will host a presentation entitled “The Event Safety Guide: The Future of Safe, Responsible Show Production” on November 23, 2013 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Las Vegas Convention Center. At 3:30 p.m. the same day, the ESA will host a 90-minute roundtable discussion entitled “You Are The ESA” at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The Event Safety Alliance was founded in 2011 by Jim Digby, a 30+ year veteran of the entertainment industry. He is the founder of Collaborative Endeavour Group (CEG), providing international touring strategies and complete production solutions for the live entertainment industry. He currently serves as Director of Touring and Production for the multi-million selling artists Linkin Park, and has previously worked with artists as diverse as The Backstreet Boys, Bon Jovi and Marilyn Manson. A long-time advocate for event safety and ethical touring models, he is a three-time recipient of Tourlink’s “Production Manager of the year” award, as well as the Parnelli’s “Production Manager of the Year” award for 2012.

NanoLumens Releases Studio Pro LED Display Series For Broadcast Industry

 

NanoLumens® today announced its Studio Pro Series LED displays for broadcast studio applications. The breakthrough large-format displays address all of the challenges traditionally associated with LED broadcast display systems and promise to revolutionize the way studios design their sets.

NanoLumens formally introduced the Studio Pro Series last week at the Atlanta, Georgia regional section of the Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers (SMPTE) September meeting, which they co-hosted with Sony at the NanoLumens corporate headquarters. More than 55 engineers attended the unveiling, which included a demonstration of the Studio Pro displays with a Sony 4K professional camera.

“The need to rely on bulky, heat generating, and noisy rear projection display systems is officially over,” asserted NanoLumens President & CEO Rick Cope. “Our new Studio Pro Series of LED broadcast displays allows designers to create sets in entirely new ways with displays that are less than 6 inches thick while cutting down on cost, heat, energy consumption, and maintenance issues.”

According to Cope, “The best way to prove a breakthrough technology is to subject it to real-world testing with the same high-end cameras and equipment and that is exactly what we did using Sony’s world-class professional cameras.”

The Studio Pro Series allows set designers to better create sets to more effectively engage their viewers while eliminating the single biggest performance issue that has limited the use of LED displays in broadcast applications — the moiré effect.

Photo Caption 1: SPMTE engineers examine NanoLumens’ new Studio Pro display.
Photo Caption 2: NanoLumens CEO Rick Cope discusses Nixels, which comprise the Studio Pro display, with an SPMTE engineer.

Trident’s Tough Cases Make Perfect Holiday Gifts For All Those “Just In Case” Moments

Let’s face it – the more engaged American consumers become with all of their mobile devices, the more likely it is that their smartphones and tablets will be dropped, banged, stepped on or run over! This holiday season, Trident Case® offers a complete line of its Kraken A.M.S. Series military-grade smartphone and tablet cases designed to protect devices from being harmed in even the most punishing usage environments.

Available in more than 40 color combinations, the Kraken A.M.S. Series is one of the only lines of smartphone and tablet cases independently tested to meet Military Standard MIL-STD-810F to protect damage caused by excessive vibration, dust, sand, rain or drops. That covers just about every type of “just in case” situation you’ll encounter, whether you’re taking your tablet to the beach or your phone to a hiking trail! In fact, the Kraken A.M.S. Series has been tested to withstand 26 drops onto concrete from a height of four feet! Since seeing is believing, click here to watch the rigorous military testing that each and every Kraken A.M.S. case goes through.

Offering case solutions for the most popular smartphones and tablets from Apple, Blackberry, HTC, Motorola and Samsung, Kraken A.M.S. cases feature a special accessories port on the rear that allows you to attach more than three dozen accessories such as hand straps, media stands, wire organizers and vehicle mounts.

When you buy a Kraken A.M.S. case, you can feel good about helping the environment, too, because the American-manufactured cases are made with bio-enhanced plastic that is degradable, compostable and recyclable! Trident Case incorporates bio-enhanced resin into plastic based products, making for an effective solution to reducing carbon footprint and contributing to a greener earth.

As an added bonus, Kraken A.M.S. cases are actually two cases in one! They consist of a Perseus silicone case on the inside and a Kraken A.M.S. exoskeleton on the outside, so the exoskeleton can be removed should the user desire a different look or feel.

The Kraken A.M.S. series for smartphones, available starting at a suggested retail price of $49.95, and the Kraken A.M.S. series for tablets, available at a suggested retail price of $69.95, are available online at www.tridentcase.com. While there, be sure to check out Trident’s Cyclops, Aegis, Electra, Apollo, and Perseus A.M.S. Series of cases. You’ll be amazed!

Note that A.M.S. accessories and mounts are only compatible with the full three-piece Kraken A.M.S. case. Other accessories are compatible with all Trident case series, and each accessory on the website clearly states which cases it can be used with.

Northwest Kansas Technical College Uses Trident Kraken Cases To Protect Students' iPads in Punishing Learning Environments

Apple® iPads have been hailed as one of the best investments any K-12 school or college can make for its students. Like any investment, however, iPads come with inherent risk. They can break easily, scratch, dent, or otherwise be damaged to the point of becoming a $500 brick, and cash-strapped students, K-12 schools and colleges simply can’t take the chance of incurring extra expenses due to breakage.


That’s why Northwest Kansas Technical College (Northwest Tech) realized they needed to offer each student the best protective case for their devices, and decided on the Trident Kraken A.M.S. case, according to Northwest Tech Director of Technology Brad Bergsma. He said the school first allowed students to buy their own cases and then began providing a case for each student the next year, but none of them were the perfect fit for the students’ needs.

“Northwest Tech is a hands-on technical college where students are treated as if they are working a real job.” Bergsma said, “We incorporated iPads as a learning tool as soon as they were introduced back in 2010, and have since seen our enrollment grow year after year. We quickly found that students will purchase cheaper protective cases to save money, but after several instances of damaged devices, we decided that the school needed to provide every student with a strong, resilient protective case as well. We tried Otterbox cases but the students didn’t like how difficult they were to remove, so we tested the Trident Kraken A.M.S. case and have since purchased nearly 300 of them for the new Fall 2013 students.”

All across the campus students use their iPads to access the school’s iTunes U content and Learning Management System, research new ways to complete tasks online, collaborate with teachers and other students, and to document their projects and ensure things get put back together the right way with the iSight camera. With constant use comes constant abuse, as students are often working in dirty, dusty, and even oily environments, as well as the inevitable drops and dings that happen in an environment where automotive repair and construction skills are being honed and tested.

“There is an alignment app for the automotive students that speeds up their adjustments, but they need to take the iPad underneath the vehicle with them, so it’s a dirty, oily environment where it’s likely the device would get scratched or dropped,” Bergsma said. “And the cosmetology students use an app that allows them to schedule appointments, track and maintain customer info and look up new designs and info in class. If it weren’t for the Kraken A.M.S. cases, these students would have hair and cosmetic products all over their iPads in about 30 seconds, just like the automotive students would have oil and dirt. It’s a necessity to protect the iPads, and the Kraken cases are the best way we’ve found to do so.”

Erin Luzzi, VP of Marketing at Trident Case®, noted that, “For punishing environments like those at Northwest Tech in Goodland, Kansas, where students learn in on-site automotive garages and cosmetology salons low-quality cases would result in more than a few headaches and unexpected costs for students. Our Kraken A.M.S. cases offer unbeatable protection for the most punishing environments and are used in real world environments like construction sites and hospitals, so they were the ideal solution to protect this school’s investment.”

The Kraken cases are certified by U.S. military standards to protect mobile devices against rain, dust, drops and vibration. They each have a permanent screen protector that protects the device’s screen from scratches and dirt, as well as an attachment port on the rear of the case that can be locked into more than two dozen mounts from Trident and Arkon.

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®. Every series supports a broad range of devices from manufacturers including Apple®, Samsung®, HTC®, Motorola®, and more. All Trident cases use bio-enhanced plastic based products that are degradable, compostable, and recyclable. Over the past two years, Trident Case has invested in the infrastructure and resources necessary to manufacture its tough cases, with style, in the United States of America.

Trident Case Partners With Huawei As Authorized Case Designer and Manufacturer

Furthering its commitment to provide the best cases for all of today’s most popular mobile devices, Trident Case®, a California-based manufacturer of tough and stylish mobile device cases, today announced that it has partnered with Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology solutions provider, to design and manufacture several series of protective cases for a variety of Huawei devices. According to Trident Vice President of Marketing Erin Luzzi, Trident is proud to be one of only two officially authorized manufacturers of cases for Huawei devices.

“Huawei is going to play an increasingly large role in the smartphone market in 2014 and beyond,” Luzzi said, “and Trident Case will be there every step of the way providing the ultimate combination of style and protection. Our specially designed cases meet Huawei’s rigorous standards for performance, function and style, and allow the company to offer an exclusive line of accessories that work perfectly with their smartphones.”

Since mid-August the company has produced cases for more than half a dozen Huawei devices available from U.S. providers such as T-Mobile, MetroPCS and others. Each case will include Trident’s bio-enhanced plastic that is degradable and compostable, and over time the line will become part of Trident’s “Made In The USA” program.

The Huawei cases by Trident fall under three new series: the $39.99 MSRP Nestled Series, the $34.95 MSRP Happy Stripes Series and the $19.95 MSRP Precision Series. The Nestled Series provides tough protection and improved grip with a polycarbonate shell, a protective silicone sleeve, a self-applicable screen protector and a belt clip/holster; the Happy Stripes Series offers a unique colorful twist on rugged protection and includes a polycarbonate shell, a protective silicone sleeve, a self-applicable screen protector and modern-styled prints; the Precision Series protects devices with minimal bulk and consists of a polycarbonate shell with an overbuilt edge for extra drop protection, plus a self-applicable screen protector.

Trident Case currently offers six full series of protective carrying solutions providing one, two, or three layers of protection: Kraken AMS Series®, Aegis Series®, Cyclops Series®, Perseus AMS Series®, Electra Series® and Apollo Series®. Every series supports a broad range of devices from manufacturers including Apple®, Samsung®, HTC®, Motorola®, and more. All Trident cases use bio-enhanced plastic based products that are degradable, compostable, and recyclable. Over the past two years, Trident Case has invested in the infrastructure and resources necessary to manufacture its tough cases, with style, in the United States of America.

Award-Winning Homebuilders Use ELAN g! To Capitalize On Housing Market Recovery

Consumer confidence is high, new home sales surged 8.3 percent in May and new home prices have climbed month over month in 2013, so it’s clear the housing market is recovering. Builders need to find ways to stand out and capitalize on this market growth, and one way to do so is to offer things that others don’t even consider, like total home control. Award-winning builders Jim Blansfield of Danbury, Connecticut-based Blansfield Builders, Inc. and Josh Wynne of Sarasota, Florida-based Josh Wynne Construction have both partnered with local integrators and found huge success using the ELAN® g! Entertainment and Control System to help close new home sales.

“I’m a believer in ‘the new normal’ way of thinking,” Blansfield said, “and with the affordable and expandable control solutions made possible by ELAN g!, home control is the new normal! In the past two years, I’ve closed several new homes by demoing the g! system for prospective clients. I have a g! system in my own home, so I’m the first person to say how easy it is to use, and my clients are consistently impressed that I include technology in my designs and recommendations, because many other builders minimize the importance of home technologies.”

Since partnering with the Danbury integration firm Structured Home Solutions, Blansfield has built 13 homes that include ELAN g! systems of varying size and complexity. Whether the new buyers were looking for enhanced security, HVAC scheduling, lighting, irrigation and pool controls, or super simple whole-home audio and video systems, every client received a custom solution tailored to their specific needs. From a business perspective, Blansfield knows that his knowledge, appreciation and passion for technology place him in an entirely different category from other builders.

“Any builders who resist change and aren’t prepared to talk to clients about integrated home control solutions will hurt themselves in the long run,” he said. “I even push remodel clients to install the ELAN g! system because it adds so much value to the home, and brings it into the 21st century more so than new countertops or an updated bathroom could ever do.”

Josh Wynne has had similar success integrating advanced home technologies with the ELAN g! system, and has teamed up with Sarasota integrator SmartHouse Integration to offer his new clients the best that modern home technology has to offer. Wynne is building four new LEED Platinum certified homes in 2013, each featuring the ELAN g! system to control core subsystems such as AV, HVAC, security, lighting, window shades, irrigation, garage doors, pool controls and surveillance cameras.

According to Wynne, “I’ve strived to make a basic home automation package standard for every new home I build. When smartphones came on the market a lot more people started to see how easily these advanced systems could integrate into their homes and help them live more simply and comfortably, and I’ve used that culture movement to benefit my business. Most of my projects are relatively big budget, around the $1 million mark, but there’s absolutely no reason that a $250,000 home shouldn’t include a multi-room audio system, an integrated HVAC or lighting system that saves money and energy, or a security and surveillance system that can be accessed remotely from any smartphone or tablet.

Both builders agree that determining the buyers’ interests is key to selling advanced home control solutions, whether they love music and want multi-room audio or desire heightened peace of mind and would benefit from a mobile-accessible security and surveillance system. From there it’s a small leap to demo the entire ELAN g! system and highlight all the trappings that easy-to-use home control offers. Another thing they agree on is the need to use a reliable, qualified integrator to make the homeowner’s technological dreams a practical reality. That’s why they’ve each partnered with a top integration firm in their respective regions, and worked together to craft custom solutions that make every home the perfect living environment for the owners.

Integrator Finds The Sound Of Success With Niles Cynema Soundfield In-Wall Soundbar

International custom electronics integrator Jim Beaumont of HomeTech Europe has installed hundreds, if not thousands of different products throughout his career, and he’s never seen anything quite as unique as the Niles Cynema Soundfield in-wall soundbar from Core Brands. As the first of its kind, the Cynema Soundfield naturally has some ‘wow’ factor to it, but according to Beaumont it’s the practical application of a high-quality soundbar that virtually disappears that’s making it fly off the shelves.

“When I heard about the Niles Cynema Soundfield I knew some of my clients would love it, but I didn’t think I’d sell 10 of them in the first month!” Beaumont said. “Niles recognized that homeowners want good sound to match their attractive wall-mounted TVs, but they also want it to be as unobtrusive as the TV itself. With TVs getting thinner and thinner, the TV manufacturers have run out of room for good speakers, and the only solution when your TV is an inch off the wall is to put the speakers into the wall itself.”

Beaumont says his clients and the designers he works with immediately see the value in a soundbar that can be painted over and literally disappear into the wall. For years, in-wall speakers have been the preferred solution of integrators and interior designers because they blend into the room, but they can be expensive and difficult to install in an existing room because of wiring and additional components such as amplifiers and AV receivers. The Cynema Soundfield solves this issue because it requires just two wires, one for audio signal and one for power, and it can be installed in less than an hour by a certified Niles installer, even if the TV is already hung on the wall.

“It’s easy to sell because it can be used in retrofits, new homes, board rooms and even retail locations like hotel lobbies, without anyone even knowing it’s there,” Beaumont continued. “Several of my clients were so excited when I showed it to them that they bought multiple units for multiple rooms. I think the market for this innovative premium sound solution could be huge, and I’m going to sell as many of them as I can.”

And it’s easy to complete the home theater experience with one of Niles’ small, powerful subwoofers and wireless kit, so the sub can go anywhere the homeowners want without running wires. The wireless kit hooks right up to the Cynema Soundfield’s amplifier, so there’s no separate amp or receiver necessary.

What makes the Cynema Soundfield so unique is its rail system; the only thing that gets cut into the wall is a thin metal rail that sits flush with the drywall, and then the three individual speakers and the amplifier simply lock into the rail. With such a fast installation time, models that match TVs of all sizes, plenty of power and fidelity (30W RMS per speaker, three speakers per soundbar) and the ability to paint the grill and make the speaker invisible, the Niles Cynema Soundfield is a hot item for electronics integrators and design-conscious homeowners everywhere.

The Cynema Soundfield includes inputs for optical audio, HDMI and analog audio, and can also be integrated into a multi-room audio system. It features autosense turn-on so that no separate remote is required, and it simply turns on whenever it receives an audio signal from either the TV or a connected multi-room audio system.