AVNation TV

Category: Display

  • NBC Sports Selects LED Video Wall Provider for Its Production of 2024 Olympic & Paralympic Games in Paris

    NBC Sports Selects LED Video Wall Provider for Its Production of 2024 Olympic & Paralympic Games in Paris

    Planar is a visualization technology company that offers high-quality image performance for demanding environments like broadcast studios, virtual production, government, corporate, and educational facilities. They are the market leader for LED video displays, with offices in Oregon, Europe, and Asia.

    NBC Sports has selected Planar to provide LED video walls for its production of the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics. The coverage will feature multi-platform offerings across NBCUniversal’s networks and streaming services, with Planar’s LED technology enhancing the broadcast with high brightness and precision.

    Planar’s LED video walls offer superior image detail and reliability, making them an ideal choice for NBC Sports to deliver an elevated viewing experience. Planar’s long-standing partnership with NBC Sports and their advanced LED solutions support the network’s goal of presenting high-quality, vibrant visuals to viewers.

    NBC Sports has selected Planar to provide LED video walls for its production of the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics, July 24 – August 11, and August 28 – September 8, respectively.

    NBCUniversal’s coverage of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 will feature multi-platform offerings across NBC, Peacock, USA Network, E!, CNBC, GOLF Channel, Spanish-language networks Telemundo and Universo, and NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app. Every day, NBC will provide Olympic fans with at least nine hours of daytime coverage of the Summer Games’ most exciting events, including live finals coverage. Peacock will be the streaming home of the 2024 Paris Olympics, providing fans with the most-comprehensive Olympic destination in U.S. media history, including live streaming coverage of every sport and event and all 329 medal events.

    The Opening Ceremony will be presented on Friday, July 26, live on NBC and Peacock and again in primetime. NBCUniversal is presenting its 19th Olympic Games, 12th consecutive overall, and owns the U.S. media rights on all platforms to all Olympic Games through 2032. The Paralympics take place from Paris August 28 – September 8, 2024.

    NBC Sports will utilize Planar’s award-winning LED solutions to present high brightness and superior precision for unrivaled image detail, helping NBC Sports route the excitement in Paris back to viewers watching coverage of the Games in the United States. NBC Sports’ production will feature Planar® DirectLight® Pro Series LED video wall in a 1.2 millimeter pixel pitch, as well as an outdoor Planar® Luminate™ Ultra Series LED video wall in a 1.5 millimeter pixel pitch for its production of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

    “Planar has been a long-time trusted partner of NBC Sports,” Atila Ozkaplan, VP of Production Operations, Olympics. “We’re excited to continue to feature their LED display technology in Paris and use their latest fine pixel pitch outdoor LED product line for the first time in our Primetime studio, showcasing the incredible visuals created by our talented graphics teams in their full vibrancy.”

    Planar has worked with NBC Sports since 2016, assisting NBC Sports’ production efforts at previous Olympics and other major international sports events in Asia and South America.

    “Planar’s state-of-the-art LED video walls seamlessly disappear inside many of the world’s finest broadcast studios, enabling elevated storytelling and unmatched viewing experiences,” said Planar Executive Vice President Adam Schmidt. “We’re delighted to once again support NBC Sports for another legendary presentation with visualization solutions that reliably deliver for broadcasters and viewers alike.”

  • Samsung Joins the Los Angeles Chargers to Announce Official Opening of “The Bolt”

    Samsung Joins the Los Angeles Chargers to Announce Official Opening of “The Bolt”

    The Los Angeles Chargers announce the official opening of “The Bolt,” the team’s new state-of-the-art training facility and corporate headquarters. Located on One Chargers Way, the El Segundo-based facility boasts expansive views of the LA Basin – including the Downtown skyline, Griffith Observatory and iconic Hollywood sign – and sits within four miles of LAX, popular South Bay beaches and SoFi Stadium.

    Encompassing 150,000 square feet of breathtaking architectural design, The Bolt boasts an ecosystem of over 250 Samsung LED displays spread across a meticulously planned three-level layout. The Bolt sits on 14 acres, including three full natural grass practice fields. The ground floor features an expansive locker room, equipment room, training & medical space, weight room, hydrotherapy room, recovery room, sauna, steam room, barber’s area, multiple player lounges and direct access to practice fields, a lap/rehab pool and an outdoor lounge featuring a BBQ, firepit and full sun outdoor televisions.

    Samsung technology on the ground floor includes:

    • Samsung 4K Smart Signage in sizes ranging from 43 to 85 inches for displaying nutrition, strength and performance information.
    • Samsung XRB outdoor LED ribbon displays on the east façade of the facility emulate the ribbon displays surrounding the field at the Chargers’ home at SoFi Stadium.
    • Samsung’s QLED 4K outdoor TV, The Terrace, in the outdoor lounge offers advanced glare resistance so players can view content in any weather condition.

    The second floor is home to an oversized team dining room and kitchen – helmed by Wolfgang Puck Catering – complete with a tile mosaic Chargers helmet-inspired pizza oven, carvery, smoothie and coffee bars, pasta station, Grill station, stand-alone island salad bar and rotating daily Global fare station. Also home to offices for both coaching and football operations staff, the floor includes all positional meeting rooms (including a turf outdoor walk-thru space on the second level balcony) as well as a two-story team meeting room. Samsung LCD signage in the executive offices, conference rooms and meeting areas fosters team collaboration.

    The top floor features a soon-to-be-completed private, members-only club with wrap-around outdoor view balcony, lounge, dining area and private dining room. The third level also serves as the hub for all executive and business staff offices, conference rooms and content creation hubs.

    “I haven’t been this excited in a long time,” said Chargers Controlling Owner and Chairman of the Board Dean Spanos. “I see it in the community, I see it within the organization – from our staff to our players to our coaches, it’s electrifying. Jim Harbaugh being here has brought a new sense of awareness about our team; how important it is to us and to the community. And now you have this new facility that everyone’s been talking about for more than two years now. Our fans are excited. You see it everywhere you go. I hear how they can’t wait to come to camp. Can’t wait to see ‘The Bolt.’ This took a lot of time and a lot of hard work, and I just feel fortunate that our staff, players and fans will be able to enjoy this for years to come.”

    With innovation at the forefront, The Bolt creatively displays cutting-edge modern technology on all levels. The main reception area of the facility presents guests a striking three-story Samsung ISC Indoor LED upon entry while the media center, adjacent to the showpiece staircase, utilizes a Samsung LCD Video Wall as a backdrop for press conferences. Perhaps equally as impressive but not seen, The Bolt also delivers Verizon’s cloud-based mobility, security, 5G edge, and private 5G network solutions to prioritize connectivity developed for a competitive culture.

    “With the opening of The Bolt, the Chargers build on its reputation as one of professional football’s most technologically advanced teams,” said David Phelps, Head of the Display Division, Samsung Electronics America. “The sprawling, impressive facility will be a hub not only for the team to gear up for a winning season but also to electrify excitement among Chargers fans. From the eye-catching Indoor LED display in the entrance to the network of displays on each level, every fan who steps into The Bolt will feel inspired and more connected to the team than ever before.”

    Another key feature of the building unveiled earlier in the week, the Chargers Walk of Fame adorns the entrance to The Bolt. Honoring each member of the Chargers Hall of Fame with their own terrazzo tile and brass inlay, the walk was commissioned by the Chargers and executed by the same company that installs displays on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

    “It’s a small way to say ‘thank you’ to the greats that played for our team over the last 60-plus years,” said Spanos. “It’s the first thing you see when you come into this building which really, to me, says that this is the foundation of our team.”

    The Bolt will open its doors to the public on July 13-14. During the exclusive two-day event, fans will have the opportunity to tour various areas on the first level of the building, including the main lobby atrium, press conference space, Chargers locker room, the turf pad running the length of practice field #1 and also view the weight room through the three retractable doors that create an indoor/outdoor training space for the team. Reservations for the seven hourly tour windows each day maxed out within the first 30 minutes of being posted to the Chargers site.

    “Our fans are part of the Chargers family,” said Spanos. “This is theirs as much as it is ours, and I want them to feel that when they come here.”

    Additionally, the Chargers will kick off their inaugural training camp at The Bolt beginning July 24. As in previous years, fans will need to pre-register for their free tickets. In all, the team will host 12 public practices during the first three weeks of training camp – four each week. With limited capacity, registration to attend practice will take place in waves through chargers.com/camp. Fans will be able to register to attend Week 1 practices beginning Monday, July 15, Week 2 practices beginning Monday, July 22 and Week 3 practices beginning Monday, July 29.

  • Popular Planar UltraRes L Series All-in-One LED Platform Introduces Unique 122-inch Model

    Popular Planar UltraRes L Series All-in-One LED Platform Introduces Unique 122-inch Model

    Planar is a visualization technology company that offers high-quality image performance for demanding environments like broadcast studios, virtual production, government, corporate, and educational facilities. They are the market leader for LED video displays, with offices in Oregon, Europe, and Asia.

    Planar has announced a new 122-inch addition to its Planar UltraRes L Series all-in-one LED platform, designed for medium-sized conference rooms and classrooms. This display features advanced MicroLED technology, increased color gamut, Full HD resolution, and 800-nit brightness.

    Planar’s introduction of a 122-inch display to the UltraRes L Series is a strategic move to meet customer demands for a medium-sized all-in-one LED solution suitable for conference rooms and classrooms. This new model maintains the series’ high standards with features like MicroLED technology, an increased color gamut, Full HD resolution, and energy-efficient brightness. By expanding their product range, Planar strengthens their position in the market, offering flexible, user-friendly displays that cater to various environment sizes, thereby broadening their customer base and enhancing user experience.

    Today, Planar, a global leader in visualization technology, announced an addition to the award-winning Planar® UltraRes™ L Series all-in-one LED platform with the release of a unique 122-inch display model. This additional size continues Planar’s commitment to customers, providing accessibility to user-friendly, all-in-one LED displays.

    The 122-inch display is designed to support smaller, medium-sized conference rooms and classrooms, with the same new and improved benefits of the award-winning Planar UltraRes L Series.

    The newest size features the Planar UltraRes L Series all-in-one LED platform’s latest advancements, including an increased color gamut and MicroLED technology delivering more vibrant colors, deeper blacks and better contrast for a more immersive user experience. Customers also benefit from Full HD resolution and 800-nit brightness, producing three times more brightness while consuming much less power per unit of brightness.

    The launch of the 122-inch display follows Planar’s introduction of a 109-inch model as well as MicroLED technology for enhanced visual performance in June. The recent additions to the popular Planar UltraRes L Series all-in-one LED platform strengthen the company’s commitment to offering flexible LED solutions that support ease of use and hassle-free deployment.

    “Planar customers have requested a 122-inch size which offers an expanded digital canvas to optimally fit into medium-sized conference rooms and classrooms,” said Robert Detwiler, senior director of product management and training at Planar. “With this introduction, our award-winning Planar UltraRes L Series all-in-one LED platform now offers a size to cover a majority of small, medium and large-sized environments. We’re excited to further our efforts of making LED accessible for more customers in more settings.”

    The 109-inch, 122-inch and 136-inch Planar UltraRes L Series all-in-one LED displays enable quick assembly with only two people and can be powered using a single 110V cable. In addition to step-by-step installation, the platform’s intuitive, pre-configured column LED design supports simplified maintenance. Planar UltraRes L Series all-in-one LED displays also allow customers to integrate the solution in a fixed location or as a mobile resource with rolling floor stand and wall mount options. This includes lobby and control room settings, in addition to classrooms, meeting rooms and beyond.

    Planar UltraRes L Series all-in-one LED displays include on-board processing, an ultra slim bezel, 24×7 reliability and integrated video and audio electronics as well as 10-point IR touch technology for quick collaboration. Content sharing and collaboration is further enhanced with the solution’s five video inputs, which allow users to view up to four sources at once. Planar UltraRes L Series all-in-one LED platform supports picture-in-picture, dual, triple and quad layouts. An industry-leading five-year limited warranty also offers peace-of-mind investment protection.

    The new 122-inch Planar UltraRes L Series all-in-one LED display will start shipping through Planar’s global network of authorized resellers in October.

  • Wall-sized LG Dvled Display and Cloi Robot Bring Savi’s New Commercial AV Experience Center to Life

    Wall-sized LG Dvled Display and Cloi Robot Bring Savi’s New Commercial AV Experience Center to Life

    At the new Dallas, Texas headquarters of SAVI Controls, a leading innovator of audio, video and lighting control and automation systems, the company has created what may be the world’s most advanced commercial AV experience center for dealers and end customers.

    The highlight of the center is a 24-foot-wide by 10-foot-high LG MAGNIT DVLED display that serves as an interactive virtual design interface, offering guests a convincing life-sized virtual space with live editing of on-screen rooms and accurate virtual comparisons of display sizes, with various other LG digital displays providing supplemental content.

    “The SAVI Experience Room is un-like anything we’ve done before, and to our knowledge is the first life-size virtual design environment in North America, as well as the first truly com-mercial-focused experience center of this magnitude,” said Derek Wilson, SAVI’s co-founder and CVO. “Our guests and potential customers are treated to a one-of-a-kind product showroom that demonstrates our mas-tery of digital AV technologies and shows how we can deliver extraordi-nary experiences and optimized integrations for their projects. From the fullscreen ‘x-ray view’ that displays what the DVLED rear mounting hardware looks like to the side-by-side virtual com-parison of various display sizes, we are doing things here that simply can’t be done without a large fine-pitch LG DVLED display.”

    The SAVI Experience Center is the first thing guests encounter when they enter the headquarters building, and it is used as the grand finale of official tours. The eye-catching 0.9mm LG webOS™ DVLED display covers an entire wall while several vertically-oriented LG LCD displays highlight the various virtual locations the DVLED demos can display, including stadiums, offices, hospital-ity businesses and real SAVI projects from all over the world.

    “We wanted to help our customers skip the imagining step and go straight to real life-size visual-ization, and the fine-pitch LG DVLED gave us that opportunity,” Wilson added. “We live with this technology every day, and the new immersive tour gives dealers and business owners hands-on experience with real-time control, and it all happens in a virtual environment so we can cus-tomize it or add more environments over time without having to physically construct new rooms. So far, we have multiple demos, including real-world photos from local sports bars and golf enter-tainment venues that we turned into controllable virtual spaces.”

    For many guests, it is also their first time seeing the power and capabilities of LG’s CLOi GuideBot robotic assistant, which is used to reserve and activate meeting spaces, offer receptionist services, lead tours and even provide automated demos of connected lights and AV equipment.

    Tour guests also get to use the intuitive, web-based SAVI interface for themselves on a tablet or phone, so they can see how easy it is to navigate, adjust and control any space, including specific applications like the powerful SAVI Canvas that enables instant content dissemination across en-tire display networks.

    “SAVI has shown that you don’t have to build a physical space to demonstrate physical experiences,” said Michael Kosla, senior vice pres-ident, LG Business Solutions USA. “With this high-resolution wall-sized LG DVLED display, they can simu-late any kind of virtual room or envi-ronment they want and make live changes on the screen, including swapping AV components and play-ing live content on various virtual screens. The 0.9mm pixel pitch looks so real that it feels like you can walk into the virtual room, and many tour guests end up touching the display out of curiosity and awe. And that’s not even mentioning the full-building control demo that shows SAVI’s mastery of im-plementation and system design.”

    Delivering “wow factor” played a role in the concept for this space, but its functional utility ce-mented it as a vital part of the new SAVI headquarters. In addition to the on-screen virtual envi-ronments with real-time interactions and editing, the huge display also makes an excellent canvas to show how SAVI’s solutions can control entire buildings. In one part of the demo, live views of other rooms in the facility are displayed on screen, including office spaces where workers are

    sitting. With the touch of a button, the tour guide can show how easy it is to adjust lighting color or control the LG digital displays in any room remotely.

    As a video distribution solution largely built on webOS software to eliminate the box behind every display, SAVI Canvas is natively compatible with LG commercial displays and technologies, which is why the company often recommends customers use LG solutions. That’s part of the rea-son LG technologies are deployed everywhere from the Experience Center to desktop monitors to boardrooms, helping show SAVI’s commitment to optimized integrated AV solutions.

    “Through our relationship with LG we are also making the space available for LG and dealers to give their customers demos, making it a win-win that helps expedite decision making and project approvals,” Wilson concluded. “With customizations like our CLOi GuideBot programming, we are showing and offering specialized features customers can utilize that wouldn’t be realistic if they simply purchased the individual hardware pieces without our solutions and software. In the end, lots of people leave here more excited than when they arrived, and that’s one of the best outcomes we could hope for.”

    The software and hardware solution for the virtual DVLED wall in the SAVI Experience Center is a one-of-a-kind creation designed for this space, which SAVI and LG may replicate in additional locations to provide even greater access to SAVI and LG sales reps and custom integrators.

  • Carousel Digital Signage Achieves TX-RAMP Level 1 Certification

    Carousel Digital Signage Achieves TX-RAMP Level 1 Certification

    Carousel is a user-friendly, scalable, and reliable digital signage content management software, a division of Tightrope Media Systems.

    Carousel Digital Signage has achieved Level 1 Certification under the Texas Risk and Authorization Management Program (TX-RAMP), making Carousel Cloud a recommended and secure solution for state government agencies, including higher education institutions. They also released an updated SOC 2 Type 2 Compliance report confirming their internal security controls.

    The certification and compliance report demonstrate Carousel Cloud’s commitment to robust cybersecurity measures, ensuring their technology is secure and reliable for public sector use. This approval by the Texas Department of Information Resources reassures customers of the product’s security and compliance with stringent IT requirements.

    Carousel Digital Signage has achieved Level 1 Certification under the Texas Risk and Authorization Management Program (TX-RAMP), a Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) program that makes governmental technology more secure, cost-effective and forward-looking. The Level 1 Certification approves and recommends Carousel Cloud for use with all state government agencies including higher education community colleges.

    Level 1 Certification is ideal for businesses like Carousel Digital Signage that process low-impact, low-sensitivity data in the cloud for broader public consumption. The certification, valid for three years, confirms Carousel Cloud as a secure and reliable technology partner for education and government facilities that represent two of Carousel Digital Signage’s busiest verticals.

    Carousel Cloud has also just released an updated SOC 2 Type 2 Compliance report, which confirms that Carousel has implemented the appropriate internal controls around security to protect customer data delivered to digital signage end points in the cloud.

    Carolyn Korchik, Director of Information Security and Compliance for Carousel Digital Signage, shares that she and her team built onto its existing SOC 2-approved cloud security framework for cybersecurity to achieve TX-RAMP Level 1 Certification. DIR analyzed all cybersecurity risks and solutions built into the Carousel Cloud framework before approving its certification.

    “TX-RAMP Level 1 Certification requires many of the same controls for active monitoring of security-related procedures, and the certification itself is an assessment of our cybersecurity procedures,” said Korchik. “There is no additional cost to our education and government customers in Texas. As an approved vendor, new customers are assured that we have met DIR’s stringent IT and cloud security requirements, and all necessary policies and controls are built into the Carousel Cloud framework.”

  • The Grove Hotel tunes in to 225 customised Philips MediaSuite to deliver five star guest room entertainment Netflix ready™ and with Google Cast™

    The Grove Hotel tunes in to 225 customised Philips MediaSuite to deliver five star guest room entertainment Netflix ready™ and with Google Cast™

    The Grove Hotel, one of the UK’s most prestigious five star retreats, has teamed up with PPDS, the exclusive global provider of Philips Professional Displays, to revolutionise the in-room entertainment experience with the installation of 225 Google Cast and Netflix ready Philips MediaSuite TVs within its luxury guestrooms.

    A short distance from Central London and synonymous with the rich and famous – with Tom Cruise, the Beckhams, Hugh Grant, and Kylie Minogue among some of the well-known guests in recent years – The Grove Hotel’s existing TV setup had become outdated, failing to address modern viewing preferences and falling short of guest expectations.

    Part of an extensive upgrade and refurbishment project, The Grove Hotel – owned by the Ralph Trustees Ltd hospitality group – sought a TV solution to provide best-in-class picture quality together with seamless casting capabilities, embedded streaming and gaming apps, plus the ability to deliver personalised content on a room-by-room basis, enabling guests to take control of their own viewing experiences.

    Following extensive global research, The Grove Hotel teamed up with PPDS, identifying the company’s unique Google Cast and Netflix ready Philips MediaSuite TV range as the only dedicated hospitality solution in the global market capable of meeting its high requirements and exacting standards.

    Home comforts

    Designed to offer a seamless transition between home and the hotel room, 189 Philips MediaSuite TVs – adopted by many of the world’s leading global hotel chains – were successfully installed in the guest rooms in The Grove Hotel’s contemporary West Wing.

    Following the overwhelmingly positive feedback from guests, the project was quickly extended to include an additional 36 Philips MediaSuite TVs (43”-54”) in the 13 rooms and 12 suites in The Grove’s stunning Grade II listed Mansion House.

    Philip Hallam, Group IT Technical Manager, Ralph Trustees Ltd, commented: “I have been continually reviewing the guest experience over the last 20 years or so. In particular, what I have been looking for is a product that can provide seamless streaming services and experiences to our guests. Five years ago, when I began this journey, I wasn’t able to find anything that matched our requirements or our ambitions. That was, until I found Philips MediaSuite.”

    Like a fine wine

    As the world’s first hospitality TV to feature Google Cast and Netflix ready functionality, launched back in 2019, the Philips MediaSuite TVs enable guests staying at The Grove Hotel to easily access and cast all their favourite content from their preferred accounts (including DAZN, Disney+, Prime, YouTube™, and more) directly onto the TV using their own personal connected device, whatever the operating system. With no additional wires or hardware, the risk of tampering or costly dongle thefts is eliminated, while all customer data – such as login credentials– is automatically cleared upon checkout.

    Running on Android, and further extending the role and benefits of the in-room TV, guests at The Grove Hotel also have seamless access to a multitude of apps via the Google Play store, with games, news, travel, weather, and information on local attractions among those available through the TV.

    In addition, as part of PPDS’ long-term commitment to its Android technology and supporting businesses with their sustainability ambitions, Philips MediaSuite TVs can also receive regular software updates, adding the latest apps, services, and features. This allows the TVs to improve with age, reducing unnecessary hardware upgrades (and electronic waste), while maintaining a consistent user experience in every room.

    Tailored experiences

    Bringing extensive branding, marketing and unique tailored opportunities to guests, all Philips MediaSuite TVs installed at The Grove Hotel are networked over a Tiger TMS hotel property management system (PMS) and use PPDS CMND content management platform.

    The user interface on all Philips MediaSuite TVs has also been customised to feature The Grove Hotel’s iconic colours and branding, together with their design and layout.

    Taking things further, each Philips MediaSuite TV can now be configured to meet the needs and requirements of each guest. This includes but is far from limited to, supporting a wide range of different or preferred languages, adding on-screen messages (such as a personalised welcome or congratulations on special occasions), and even adding specific services, such as games and channels suitable for guests with children, or health-related apps, such as Peloton and iFit.

    Externally, all Philips MediaSuite TVs at The Grove Hotel have had their bezels custom-finished in a stunning pewter colour, completing the look and adding a final layer of exclusivity.

    Kendra Ingram, Professional TV Business Manager at PPDS added: “The feature we’re finding both hoteliers and their guests enjoy around the world on Philips MediaSuite is Google Cast. It’s a fully certified Google product, allowing guests to come in with their phones and cast the content they really want to watch. It’s fast and incredibly simple. And the benefits of Philips MediaSuite extend much further, with an amazing choice of entertainment options to cover almost every preference a guest might have. We’re incredibly proud to have played such an important role in the experience at The Grove – one of the UK’s most luxurious hotels.”

    Philip added: “In the world we live in today, the majority of the content our guests are looking for is actually from their own streaming services. Philips MediaSuite was the standout choice for our guest rooms.”

    Project at a glance 

    • Client: The Grove Hotel
    • Location: Chandlers Cross, Hertfordshire, UK
    • Project: Remastering the West Wing for home-from-home comfort at The Grove
    • Partners: Peter Tyson
    • Products: 43” and 55” Philips MediaSuite TVs
  • SMART Technologies Wins Best of Show at InfoComm 2024 for its SMART Board QX Pro and SMART Board RX Series Interactive Displays

    SMART Technologies Wins Best of Show at InfoComm 2024 for its SMART Board QX Pro and SMART Board RX Series Interactive Displays

    SMART Technologies, a pioneer in interactive technology solutions, has been focusing on quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction since 1987, renowned for its SMART Board® interactive displays and comprehensive software offerings.

    SMART Technologies announced that their SMART Board QX Pro and SMART Board RX Series interactive displays have won the Best of Show awards at InfoComm 2024. These products were recognized for their innovation, ease of use, and comprehensive features tailored for business and educational settings.

    SMART Board QX Pro and RX Series interactive displays won the Best of Show awards at InfoComm 2024 due to their innovative features, ease of use, and superior integration capabilities. The QX Pro excels in business settings with its seamless collaboration tools, while the RX Series caters to educational needs, supporting high interactivity and inclusive classroom experiences. The recognition highlights their excellence and impact in the Pro AV market.

    SMART Technologies, a leading innovator in interactive technology, is pleased to announce the SMART Board QX Pro and SMART Board RX Series interactive displays have won this year’s Best of Show awards at InfoComm 2024.

    “We are honored to be an InfoComm 2024 Best of Show award winner,” said SMART Technologies CEO Nicholas Svensson. “Our teams put a lot of work and energy into creating best-in-class products, so being recognized in this way is fantastic. We aim to set a new standard for collaboration and engagement in boardrooms and classrooms everywhere.”

    The Best of Show award recognizes the very best pro AV products on display at InfoComm 2024, with hundreds of solutions considered. All entries were reviewed by a panel of industry experts, speakers and editors at the LVCC. Factors taken into account include how diverse and comprehensive the product’s features are; how easy it is to use, and how it integrates with other solutions and tools; and how innovative and unique it is within the market.

    “The InfoComm awards are one of our largest throughout the year where we see some of the most innovative Pro AV products and solutions on the market – and this year did not disappoint.” said the Best of Show awards editorial team. “We exceeded our estimates for entries, and the decisions by our awards team to select winners were made harder than ever. That being said,those who have been selected should be extremely proud as they had that something extra that impressed our judges – well done to you all.”

    Key features of the winning products include:

    • SMART Board QX Pro is designed for business settings and has everything users need to deliver a seamless interactive and collaborative meeting experience. It’s the all-in-one performance display for the modern hybrid workplace. A powerfully simple user experience, the QX Pro includes exclusive-to-SMART technology that allows multiple users to freely write, erase and gesture at the same time across platforms and applications.
    • SMART Board RX Series is built specifically to meet the challenges of classrooms with high interactivity needs classrooms, including early learning and students with accessibility needs. With its market-leading ease of use, it is the only interactive display that offers user-programmable tools like cubes and stamps that can be used on the screen to help teachers support inclusive classrooms. With the RX series, students can walk up to the display and engage with content and each other. They can write, touch, and erase at the same time for a collaborative and engaging experience.
  • Double Play: Professional Baseball 2024 is in Full Swing with Samsung Displays

    Double Play: Professional Baseball 2024 is in Full Swing with Samsung Displays

    “If you build it, they will come.” This spring, professional baseball stadiums nationwide opened their gates for opening day, welcoming fans for another exciting season of baseball. The stadium atmosphere was palpable, filled with iconic ballpark fare, the excitement of the crowds and new immersive technologies to elevate the game-day experience.

    Recently, Samsung had the honor of working with legendary teams like the New York Mets and Houston Astros to upgrade their home stadiums with larger-than-life outdoor LED scoreboards and other cutting-edge displays throughout the venues.

    Bright lights, big Citi Field

    On March 21, Samsung joined the New York Mets for its annual What’s New Event at Citi Field to unveil a new 3D anamorphic, two-sided LED display now installed in the stadium’s concourse. The one-of-a-kind 3D display provides fans with an engaging, immersive experience no matter what side they are standing in front of. Each side of the display can showcase different content ranging from scoreboard updates to player stats and advertisements from the Mets’ partners.

    “We are showcasing the next phase in our amazing partnership with Samsung and continuing our mission to transform the fan experience via digital display technology,” said Oscar Fernandez, ​​Senior Vice President of Technology for the New York Mets. “We started this joint effort three years ago to enhance the fan experience at Citi Field. Fast forward to today and we now have a refreshed rotunda with new LED ribbons throughout the seating bowl, large format display TVs, 1,300 displays throughout the stadium and the biggest scoreboard in the MLB to connect with fans and bring them closer to the action on the field.”

    Samsung and Citi Field have been working together since 2021 to elevate the stadium experience for Mets fans and visitors. In 2023, the Mets unveiled its new scoreboard totaling 17,400 square feet, making it the largest scoreboard in a professional baseball stadium. The scoreboard is double-sided, being tall enough to be seen along the highway so the fan experience begins before they even enter Citi Field. The stadium also features a smaller scoreboard located along the second baseline. Other displays inside the stadium include signage within the team stores at Citi Field, digital menu boards at the concession stands and digital dioramas and billboards around the concourse for advertising.

    “We value our relationship with the Mets. Together, we are constantly pushing new technology advancements with one goal in mind — to wow every fan who enters Citi Field,” said Don Szczepaniak, Vice President, Service Delivery, Samsung Electronics America. “The displays and connected stadium experience at Citi Field will continue to bring in fans near and afar, and distinguish the Mets as one of the most innovative, future-minded teams in professional baseball.”

    Houston, we have a scoreboard

    Last year, the Houston Astros also did a digital makeover of its home at Minute Maid Stadium, including a primary scoreboard, left-field scoreboard and ribbon boards. The stadium’s 6,875-square-foot new scoreboard, nicknamed “El Grande,” located in centerfield delivers a clear view to fans from every angle and is one part of a larger video board spanning eight stories, featuring 5.3 million stunning LEDs designed to digitally enhance the fan experience like never before.

    The Astros’ retractable roof at the stadium and natural grass field are unique features of Minute Maid Stadium that make the venue a crown jewel of downtown Houston. Samsung worked with the Astros to ensure the El Grande scoreboard would be a major aesthetic and technological upgrade while fitting seamlessly with the stadium’s iconic design. Other upgrade features include replacing the smaller scoreboard on the left side of the field for enhanced visibility. Over 45,000 square feet of ribbon displays now wrap around the stadium and act as a medium for game information, team branding and advertising space for additional revenue generation. Combined, the total number of displays in the stadium adds up to 54,000 square feet and 9.8 million LEDs to create a dazzling spectacle for Astros fans.

    “No matter where an Astro fan is seated at Minute Maid Park, they have a perfect view of the game. Even in the Texas sun, the LED display provides them a clear picture of the action inning after inning,” said David Phelps, Head of the Display Division, Samsung Electronics America. “With these technology upgrades, we wanted to ensure the gameday experience felt modern but preserved the timeless charm of the stadium.”

    “The technology upgrades to the stadiums are unique for each team, but all achieve one goal—to elevate the venue experience like never before,” added David Phelps. “The Mets and Astros all hit a home run in setting new standards for fan engagement, communications and revenue generation. We hope to help more esteemed teams integrate immersive technologies that draw fans into the stadiums on game day and keep them coming back for more.”

  • Carousel Digital Signage Announces Microsoft Suite Integrations

    Carousel Digital Signage Announces Microsoft Suite Integrations

    Carousel is a user-friendly, scalable, and reliable digital signage content management software, a division of Tightrope Media Systems.

    Carousel Digital Signage has integrated its Carousel Cloud platform with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word. This allows users to create content in these familiar Microsoft tools and distribute it seamlessly through their digital signage networks. This integration simplifies workflows and enhances communication in corporate and educational environments.

    This integration addresses the need for simplified workflows by enabling users to work in tools they are already comfortable with, eliminating the need to learn new software. It also facilitates efficient content distribution and real-time updates, enhancing internal communication for businesses and educational institutions.

    Carousel Digital Signage continues to expand its content creation universe through native integrations with three of the most widely used software solutions in the world. Available immediately, Carousel Cloud customers may leverage the content they create in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word for distribution throughout their digital signage networks.

    “Our customers continue to seek ways to simplify their workflows,” said Jennifer McCleary, Director of Engineering at Carousel Digital Signage. “Many of them are avid Microsoft users who use Excel, PowerPoint, and Word every day. These integrations allow them to continue working in the tools that they’re already accustomed to using without having to learn a new solution.”

    In the corporate environment, this seamless workflow model is practical for inward-facing communications featuring important information that employees need throughout the workday. For example, a manufacturing company may benefit from displaying Excel spreadsheets that list production quantities and inventory status on the factory floor. HR departments can now easily deliver PowerPoint presentations designed for employee onboarding sessions to the signage in classrooms and surrounding areas.

    Educational institutions also stand to benefit from these integrations. In K-12 schools, morning announcements and lunchtime menus that are created in Microsoft Word can be distributed campus-wide, or in specified zones. In higher education, updates to class schedules or information on special events may also be transmitted in this way.

    These benefits extend to the Carousel Daily app, which allows Carousel Cloud customers to push content created in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word to the iPads and iPhones of the viewers they’re targeting. This enables employees to consult company announcements, sales numbers, and project status whether they’re in the office or working remotely, as well as giving students and parents offsite access to school news.

    All three integrations feature a cut-and-paste public URL. Carousel Cloud will automatically post changes made in either Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, or Word without requiring users to take any additional steps, resulting in an intuitive content creation process for Carousel Cloud customers.

    “What’s powerful about Carousel’s integration with the Microsoft Suite is that it lets people work in the tools that they’ve been using for years,” McCleary said. “You don’t have to learn a new software. You just keep working the way you always have, and Carousel Cloud takes care of the rest.”

  • Take your hands off the new Avocor Line

    Take your hands off the new Avocor Line

    Avocor expands their non-touch line

    Remember when Avocor was just that interactive flat panel company? Those days are long gone. At InfoComm 2024 the company is flexing their muscles as a full-stack communication solutions powerhouse, serving up communication displays for corporate and government suits to campus IT managers. Enter the K Series.

    The K Series is Avocor’s answer to spaces that don’t need touchy-feely screens but still crave that visual punch. Think of it as the cool, collected cousin to their interactive displays. Avocor would say the same visual goodness that powers their interactive versions lives in the K Series.

    The new K Series is available in a range of sizes from a modest 55 inches all the way up to a wall-devouring 98 inches. These displays are ready to make your PowerPoint slides pop like never before. The new displays also are available in traditional 16:9 ratio and the new 21:9 as well. We all know 21:9 is what Microsoft Teams is trying to make a thing. Whether it becomes standard practice is yet to materialize. If that’s the direction you and your team are going, Avocor has one for you.

    The K Series comes on the heels of Avocor’s recent forays into digital signage and LED solutions. These non-touch displays are aimed at meeting spaces where interactivity isn’t necessary but high-quality visuals are crucial. The move also gives customers who have standardized on Avocor interactive displays the ability to deploy the same display brand across their campuses. Standardizing on a single display company isn’t a luxury. Think about servers, switches, or laptops. There’s a reason you have the same company for all those devices. Same with displays here. Same company, same support.

    Available in sizes ranging from 55 to 98 inches, the K Series is positioned to compete in the growing market for video-enabled spaces. With prices starting just under $1000 MSRP, Avocor is targeting organizations looking to outfit multiple rooms with professional-grade displays.