May/June Tech Guide

Includes innovative offerings from Atlona, Clevertouch, Crestron and more

Author:: Duncan Proctor
Publish date:: Jun 13, 2018

A selection of the latest AV products and services now available

Product type: AV over IP distribution platformTarget market: Corporate, education and live event venuesWhat’s new? Atlona has added an USB over IP product line to OmniStream for versatile, cost-effective signal extension and distribution. Now shipping, the new OmniStream 311 (AT-OMNI-311) and OmniStream 324 (AT-OMNI-324) can be used standalone or as part of the company’s complete All-IP Meeting Space solution. In either capacity, the AT-OMNI-311 and AT-OMNI-324 offer unprecedented scalability and reliability for medium-to-large commercial AV systems.Details: Both USB over IP products work in tandem to seamlessly integrate within a wide variety of system design scenarios for soft codec conferencing and remote keyboard/mouse control, and are especially ideal for networked signal extension and distribution in huddle rooms and meeting rooms. Up to seven AT-OMNI-324 peripheral device adapters can interface with one AT-OMNI-311 host device adapter to extend USB signals over the network. Each AT-OMNI-324 can accommodate up to four peripheral devices (such as PTZ cameras, microphones and DSPs) in its hub. Available: NowWhere can I buy? Atlona partners worldwide Price: POA

Product type: Wireless systemsTarget market: Permanent audio installation, touringWhat’s new? The fourth generation of Audio-Technica’s 3000 Series wireless now offers interchangeable capsules and twice the frequency range of its predecessor Details: With a class-leading 60MHz tuning range the new 3000 Series systems are available in four frequency bands – DE2 (470–530MHz), EE1 (530–590MHz), EF1 (590–650MHz) and FG1 (650–700MHz). Frequencies can be easily scanned and selected on the receiver and then synced with the transmitter via IR sync functionality. The 3000 Series also lets users set a backup frequency that can be quickly swapped by pressing the transmitter’s multifunction button in the event of unexpected interference. Available system configurations feature an ATW-R3210 receiver along with an ATW-T3201 body-pack or ATW-T3202 handheld transmitter. The ATW-T3202 comes with either an ATW-C510 dynamic or ATW-C710 condenser interchangeable cardioid capsule, and its industry-standard thread allows for the use of Audio-Technica and other compatible capsules. Both transmitters feature rugged, metal housings and are powered by two AA batteries.Antenna power is available for powered antennas and other in-line RF devices. A ground-lift switch helps eliminate audible hum caused by ground loops and the systems feature both balanced and unbalanced audio output jacks.Available: Spring/summer 2018Where can I buy? Visit https://eu.audio-technica.com/buy for details Price: TBC

Product type: TouchscreenTarget market: Enterprise, Further and Higher EducationWhat’s new? The only large format touchscreen on the market that is secure, has the ability to sit off the network and will connect to any device. It is the most accurate, responsive, and cost-effective touch screen technology available, mirroring the smoothness of a smartphone or tablet on a large interactive flat panel.Details: True-Bonded Capacitive Touch has achieved the accuracy and responsiveness of smartphones and tablets on large displays by removing the air gaps between the layers of the screen and touch interface. Through a highly specialised clean manufacturing process, True-Bonded Capacitive Touch has achieved industry-leading responsiveness at <15ms, and accuracy with just 1mm tolerance, all with no time lag.The pressure-sensitive touch properties will respond to finger touch or your capacitive pen, preventing accidental annotations. With no bezel, the screens are both thinner and lighter than other display touchscreen on the market. Our open platform design guarantees that any device, on any platform (be it Apple, Google, or Microsoft), can connect and take advantage of the capacitive touch technology.Each screen comes with Remote Management technology and optional Over-the-Air updates saving time of your IT department. With 4K resolution and true anti-glare toughened glass, Clevertouch screens excel in presentations, collaboration with colleagues, video conferencing, and architecture/art sketching.Capacitive Touch is the only true bonded screen shipping in the UK that guarantees ease of use for end users and hassle-free maintenance for the IT department. Available: NowWhere can I buy? www.clevertouch.com/where-to-buyPrice: POA

Product type: wireless presentation systemTarget market: education, corporate, meeting spaces and huddle spacesWhat’s new? The Crestron Airmedia Wireless Presentation Gateway was a ground breaking solution that set the industry standard for enterprise-wireless presentation. Now, the best wireless presentation just got better. Featuring AirMedia 2.0 technology, the fastest, easiest, most manageable, and secure wireless presentation solution. AM-300 also offers a DM input, HDMI in and out, LAN port for power and communications, and full display control.Details: AirMedia 2.0 offers: the lowest latency for optimal network efficiency; the lowest bandwidth consumption so keyboard and mouse movements track in real-time; utlra smooth video playback; on-screen display with connectivity instructions, room availability, and meeting details when connected to a calendaring platform; mirroring with Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS without Bonjoursoftware; cloud-based deployment and management; and enterprise-grade network security.While other products provide just a wireless access point, exposing confidential content to potential security breaches, AirMedia 2.0 is a network-based wireless presentation technology that leverages the latest security protocols: 802.1x network access control; Active Directory user authentication; AES-128 content encryption; and SSH, SSL, TLS, and HTTPS. AirMedia 2.0 is a network-based appliance that can be deployed, configured, and managed from the cloud. Using Crestron XiO Cloud or the built-in web tool, the mobile app can be silently deployed to laptops and smart devices across the enterprise, and user access rights and firmware updates can be remotely managed. Available: NowWhere can I buy? Crestron approved dealersPrice: £2,500

Product type: Presentation remoteTarget market: Education, entrepreneurs What’s new? The next level up from a laser pointer, Spotlight allows you to highlight, magnify and circle parts of a presentation digitally. It can also be used as an on-screen cursor to play video, open links and engage with other embedded content, giving presentations that extra layer of polish.Details: Spotlight is designed to make presentations more engaging, allowing a presenter to digitally interact with their slides and make their presentation come to life. Timed milestones can also be set within the remote's app to send vibration reminders to keep the presenter on track, and has an operating range of up to 100ft. The remote has universal compatibility with Windows and Mac, and can be used with applications such as PowerPoint, Keynote and Google Slides. The rechargeable battery lasts up to three months, and a minute recharging provides three hours of use. The remote is available in three finishes, coming in either gold, slate or silver.Available: NowWhere can I buy? www.logitech.comPrice: £119.99

Product type: High brightness laser ultra short throw projectorTarget market: Retail, digital signage, leisure and hospitality, attractions and museums.What’s new? This is the most compact ultra short throw laser projector on the market with an in-built edge blending and warping processor and HDBaseT. Details: Optoma’s new 4,000-lumen ultra short throw projector - ZH420UST is powered by a DuraCore laser light source which means there are no lamps to replace and therefore maintenance requirements are minimal. It offers advanced installation features including HDBaseT, four corner correction and a built-in edge blending and warping processor - ideal for leisure and hospitality venues.Weighing only 5.5kg, this projector can be mounted just centimetres away from a wall or surface and can project an image size of over 100 inches (254cm).Equipped with 114% Rec709 colour gamut coverage, it delivers superb colour accuracy to produce eye-catching content and bright, lifelike images.The projector’s four corner geometric adjustment makes installation quick and accurate. It is ideal for uneven walls or where a projector placement is awkward and needs to be installed at an angle.It can project downwards and sideways in ‘portrait mode’. This means the projector can be operated on its side, to produce a tall, thin image - perfect for retail digital signage applications. For large-scale projection, the ZH420UST features a built-in edge-blending and warping processor which enables multiple projectors to be warped and blended without additional dedicated hardware. An HDBaseT input is included to simplify cabling requirements and further reduce installation complexity, saving time and reducing costs.Optoma’s DuraCore laser range champions an industry-leading laser light source delivering a minimum of 20,000 hours in full brightness mode. And because there is less requirement for cooling, the laser light source makes the projector quieter than comparable lamp-based models.The ZH420UST has been independently tested and certified with a dust resistance IP5X rating. Outstanding resistance to dust in combination with exceptional brightness ensures the durability and reliability; paramount for 24/7 maintenance free operation in challenging environments.Available: NowWhere can I buy? Optoma EuropePrice: £3,499 ex VAT, £4,199 inc VAT

Product type: Collaboration and wireless presentation solutionTarget market: Higher education active learning classroomsWhat’s new? Cost effective, simple setup, easy to use, collaboration system using multiple Cynap and Cynap Core systemsDetails: vSolution MATRIX represents a significant step forward in learning space design, enabling intuitive control, distribution, and sharing of video and audio between multiple workstation monitors using multiple Cynap, and Cynap Core units connected using network infrastructure. Whereas traditional video-over-IP deployments required the purchase and installation of dedicated encoders and decoders, vSolution Matrix routes high quality/low-latency video streams directly between WolfVision’s Cynap devices over a local-area-network. Video-matrix-distribution is now just a matter of networking Cynap-powered workstations together. Other breakthrough advancements include simple drag-and-drop routing control, live multi-stream previewing, temporary stream-layering over local content, and remote file-sharing/presentation-over-IP.Wireless BYOD screen sharing for all smartphones, tablets, and laptops, is available at every workstation, with no need for apps, dongles or additional software. Annotation and whiteboard funtionality is provided and the Cynap built-in media player handles playback of any content accessed from cloud, network or other connected sources. Enterprise level encryption ensures secure delivery of content materials between workstations, and this scalable, cost effective, and easy-to-install presentation and collaboration solution gives all the performance, and reliability associated with traditional AV distribution methods.Available: NowWhere can I buy? www.wolfvision.comPrice: POA

Atlona OmniStream

Product type: AV over IP distribution platform

Target market: Corporate, education and live event venues

What’s new? Atlona has added an USB over IP product line to OmniStream for versatile, cost-effective signal extension and distribution. Now shipping, the new OmniStream 311 (AT-OMNI-311) and OmniStream 324 (AT-OMNI-324) can be used standalone or as part of the company’s complete All-IP Meeting Space solution. In either capacity, the AT-OMNI-311 and AT-OMNI-324 offer unprecedented scalability and reliability for medium-to-large commercial AV systems.

Details: Both USB over IP products work in tandem to seamlessly integrate within a wide variety of system design scenarios for soft codec conferencing and remote keyboard/mouse control, and are especially ideal for networked signal extension and distribution in huddle rooms and meeting rooms. Up to seven AT-OMNI-324 peripheral device adapters can interface with one AT-OMNI-311 host device adapter to extend USB signals over the network. Each AT-OMNI-324 can accommodate up to four peripheral devices (such as PTZ cameras, microphones and DSPs) in its hub.

Available: Now

Where can I buy? Atlona partners worldwide

Price: POA