by Brian Rhatigan | Jan 20, 2016 | Digital Signage, Education, News
It seems flat panel displays are virtually everywhere these days and have gotten larger, thinner, lighter, and less expensive than ever. Not that long ago in applications requiring a large image a projector was the natural choice, however as flat panels have evolved you are now seeing them installed where historically it would have been a projector. I am not denying the benefits of using a flat panel display, but there are many reasons why projection would be the way to go.
For starters, let’s look at image size. Generally speaking 98” is about the largest flat panel that is readily available at this time. So in instances where an image of larger than 98” diagonal is required, projection becomes the only option to use for a single display device without the complexity of multi-screen video walls. This is pretty clear cut, but size is not the only consideration.
Often audio visual components are integrated into high end architectural spaces including corporate board rooms, lecture centers, training facilities, and more where the display device may not always be in use and for aesthetic reasons the client may not want to “see” the technology in the room. Most projectors are ceiling mounted and generally out of view or can be installed in a lift that can disappear into the ceiling. Projection screens also can disappear when not in use by recessing flush into the ceiling.
Another key consideration is cost. While flat panels have certainly become affordable, however once you get up into the larger sizes above 80”- 90” the costs can still be prohibitive in many cases where projection will often be much more affordable. For illustration purposes consider a 98” professional grade monitor at a cost of $32,679.00 compared to an installation class projector like the Epson PowerLite Pro G 6770WU which is 1920×1200 resolution at 6000 lumens available at a retail price of $5,699.00.
When it comes to unique display applications there are times when a flat panel display is simply not an option. Think about events where you have projection on floor surfaces or on buildings. With projection mapping some really unique projects can be pulled off. A really cool example of this was recently featured in a case study on the basketball arena at Pensacola Christian College using Epson Pro G projectors:
Both flat panel displays and projectors have their pros and cons, however projection is still and will continue to be a great choice for many display applications. For assistance in selecting the right Epson projector or to learn more, contact Brian Rhatigan at [email protected] or 888.420.2566 x6546.
by Rob Ziv | Jan 15, 2016 | News
What is the first thing that comes to mind when someone says the name Bose Professional?
Remember that thought.
Ironically, even when emphasizing the word Professional in the name, Bose has such a strong brand image that as member of the Pro AV industry, you still may have thought of a specific consumer product. If you are a typical end user reading this, you may have been thinking about a high end audio brand in general. Bose Professional may be one of the best kept secrets in the Pro AV market – and this has been true for almost 30 years. Those in the know realize that Bose Professional is comprised of diverse products that are designed and built specifically for the Pro AV market. These are not rehashed consumer units at all.
Bose professional division’s backing from the larger Bose organization certainly helps when it comes to providing R&D resources, along with testing and support. In a similar manner Lamborghini, Porsche, Bentley, Audi, and Bugatti all receive backing from their parent company. If you knew Volkswagen owns all these companies, would you now look at a Lamborghini Aventador, Porsche 911, Audi R8, or Bugatti Chiron and say they are just VW Beetles in disguise? Probably not.
Bose Professional’s research extends into both their products and their go-to-market strategies; with a focus on positive outcomes for the dealer/integrator and the end user. The decision to leverage the Bose name on the professional side of the company makes sales easier and increases the likelihood of favorable customer responses to proposals. Bose Professional’s installed products are not available online; reducing price shopping from customers. The portable products with limited online availability have strict MAP policies providing further protection. I have seen Bose go to great lengths to protect projects for dealers that specify their products for design build projects. The way Bose conducts business by itself makes them worthy of consideration for projects.
I remember being introduced to Bose Professional during the late 80’s when working for a Pro AV dealer / studio design company. It took me a while to look beyond Bose as the manufacturer of the then-popular Wave Radio, but I am glad I did. In retrospect, I understand why the pro division has stayed a secret for so long. Bose has become the competitive advantage offered by many dealers and they don’t want their competition to know. Until recently, Bose was only available via a restricted direct reseller program. Almo’s value added distribution model has earned us the ability to provide Bose Professional to qualified resellers.
There is a lot of value in the line from both a technical and business perspective. If you want to learn more, check out a replay of the webinar introducing the Bose Professional line, take a look at the microsite or reach out to your Almo account manager. As always, feel free to contact me directly. There is more to the story that you will want to know.
For assistance in selecting the right Bose® Professional product for your next install, contact Rob Ziv at [email protected] or 888.420.2566 x6589.
by John Wills | Jan 15, 2016 | Digital Signage, News
NEC’s complete 46″ 2×2 LCD TileMatrix™ Digital Video Wall Solution
So when did your end user last consider refreshing an older video wall? What a great question. I bet most end users consider replacing or reconfiguring video walls a prohibitive exercise of expense for soft dollar returns. In other words, it’s about metrics related to advertising attention or informational effectiveness. But soft dollars are challenging to measure and hard for integrators to include in project proposals designed to convince end users.
But today there’s more! When advances in large display panel technology, mount designs, content software, signal distribution, and control are combined with lower purchase, implementation, and operational costs, a “perfect storm” of hard cost justification opportunity begins to form. Add in the possibility that the end user’s current video wall may be fully depreciated as a capital expense, and BINGO! ….. dealers and integrators have a great pitch to sell.
In the coming month, Almo ProAV will be reviewing the opportunities with Video Wall Refresh. In the meantime, here are some quick items to consider:
NEC’s 90″ Large Screen E905
- Energy Savings: Today’s panels are much more efficient in operation, substantially reducing energy costs. Those savings alone can nearly justify a whole project.
- Advanced Design and Features: One example is ambient light sensors that provide auto dimming. Another example is High Brightness (high nit) panels for high ambient light environments
- Lower Install Costs: Today’s mount designs reduce install time. Easy to use color calibration tools reduce install time as well
- Lower Large Format Display Costs: Perhaps consider a single 90”+ display rather than a 2×2 wall, for example
Look for discussion guide to Video Wall Refresh in the coming months.
by Melody Craigmyle | Jan 12, 2016 | Events, News, Uncategorized
I’ve been waiting patiently since October to write about one of the most interesting experiences I’ve had in a long time – our visit to Bose Corporate Headquarters in Boston. For those of you who have been in the Pro AV industry a long time, you hear the words “factory tour” and you have flash backs of walking miles in hot warehouses, speeches about operational excellence and those signs that read “No Accidents in 213 days!”. This was not the case at Bose, which started at the uber impressive Wall of Patents (which was actually not a wall but a long corridor because there are SO many of them) . I asked our tour guide where he had been before Bose, thinking he would name another audio company and he said, “Finishing my Ph.D at Harvard”. Suffice it to say there are A LOT of REALLY brilliant people at Bose engineering A LOT of brilliant technology.
I had no idea there was an actual Dr. Bose before my trip. He was a professor at MIT and fostered a culture of research, excellence and courage to try new things. You immediately get this strong sense of culture when talking to anyone working there, which thanks to Dr. Bose, remains a privately held company that is dedicated to R&D. We saw it in action in, of all places, the shuttle bus! Look, it’s the Almo event at Bose!
And then, there is a specially designed seat on the shuttle with Bose seat suspension technology, the smoothest ride on the road. Here’s our Director of Business Development, Brian Rhatigan experiencing the ride:
This was the tip of the iceberg. The day was filled with all sorts of amazing experiences.
Ever imagine being in an underground bunker with a couple of hundred speakers going at full blast just to see at what point they fail? Been there, done that.
Ever imagine seeing speakers baked, sea salted, cooled, dropped, kicked, stretched and stressed to the absolute limit? Been there, done that too. You can’t believe the trials and tribulation they put their products through! All to make sure they are providing you with the highest quality products, even in the most outrageous of conditions.
Here we are at the end of the tour in a room that blocks all sorts of signals for specialized testing. Don’t ask me to explain it because after all, I’m in marketing. That’s why we have our audio BDM extraordinare, Rob Ziv.
Almo ProAV team at Bose Headquarters (from left): Brian Rhatigan, Melody Craigmyle & Sam Taylor
I can’t tell you how excited we are to partner with Bose. And I think our dealers are going to be very impressed with the level of excellence, innovation and support from the folks at Bose plus our team of highly trained account managers. Take a look at Bose’s microsite for learn more.
Often audio visual components are integrated into high end architectural spaces including corporate board rooms, lecture centers, training facilities, and more where the display device may not always be in use and for aesthetic reasons the client may not want to “see” the technology in the room. Most projectors are ceiling mounted and generally out of view or can be installed in a lift that can disappear into the ceiling. Projection screens also can disappear when not in use by recessing flush into the ceiling.
