Thursday 15 November 2012

The world's first panoramic projector for professional business

2560 x 1080 Resolution - WOW !!!!!! 

The ProjectionDesign F35 panorama, with its unique Picture-by-Picture imaging capabilities on a 21 : 9 display enables collaborative viewing in wide-screen with just one projector, where there is normally two. The unique 2560 x 1080 pixel resolution, Dual Head inputs with Picture-by-Picture and with no need for blend and warp, colour matching or realignment makes the F35 panorama ideal for use in any collaborative environment. The F35 panorama effectively replaces any installation with two SXGA+ projectors side-by-side.


Sunday 4 November 2012

Vivitek projector with embedded media player

The Vivitek D863 is a high-performance digital projector that offers exceptional digital images with full color saturation. This projector features native XGA resolution, multiple connectivity options and 3000 ANSI Lumen of brightness. Add 3D-ready capabilities, and the D863 is the ideal projector for just about any multimedia/video applications. Great functionality, high performance and excellent value for money, all found in the Vivitek D863.



Integrated media and document viewer conveniently plays documents, photos, videos and audio files without the need to connect a PC



http://www.avc.co.za/pages/products/projectors/vivitek.php






Thursday 18 October 2012

PTN Modular Wall Plates - COMING SOON !!!

PTN's new modular Wallplate products will be available in South Africa before the end of 2012. Available in Single and Double gang models. 9 different input modules are available with all the common AV connections.



To learn more about PTN Products, visit www.ptnelectronics.co.za 



Monday 15 October 2012

AVC updates it's BBBEE status

Audio Visual Centre has achieved a Level 4 BBBEE rating. This enables customers to claim 100% of their total spend with AVC towards the preferential procurement measurement for their own BBBEE rating. 

A copy of AVC's BBBEE verification certificate is available on-line at the following LINK






Wednesday 3 October 2012

Pro-Systems News South Africa: Digital Issue 3rd Quarter 2012

Very interesting publication of South Africa's AV Industry.  Some great articles on AV installations and AV System Products.




Click here to view the digital issue of Pro-Systems News l 3rd quarter 2012, where you will find the latest technology news in AV System Integration, Live Events and Studio & Broadcast Audio






Monday 10 September 2012

PTN Interface products have arrived


PTN AV Connection panels are now available. All products are fitted with South African power plugs.

The modular interface products are the ideal solution for AV integrators.

Check out in-depth specifications at PTN electronics












Tuesday 28 August 2012

AVC re-vamping the fleet

We just received delivery of our first vehicle with our new vehicle signage. In the next couple of months all our technical support vehicles (in all the branches) will be upgraded to this style.

I LOVE IT !!!



Monday 20 August 2012

Grandview make GIANT Curved Screens

You need a massive projection screen !!! Here is a 15 x 3 metre curved fix frame screen getting it's final QC before packing and shipment from Grandview Large Screen production facility.


Check out Grandview's entire range at www.grandview.co.za


Tuesday 7 August 2012

Grandview's 3D High Gain Screens have arrived

Grandview has released a new fabric available in the permanent fixed frame screen range. The material is ideal for 3D or 2D projectors and environments with high-ambient lighting conditions. The projection screen below is made up of Matt White (top half) and 3D High Gain Material (bottom half) for comparison purposes.

HD Video - No Lights


 


HD Video - Full Florescent lights ON





Computer Image - Full Florescent lights ON



Computer Image - No Lights



This material is available as a standard stock item in Fixed Frame and Curved. Sizes available 100, 106 and 120 inch - 16:9. All other sizes and aspect ratios available on order.

Friday 3 August 2012

Sony VPL-E 200 Series Projectors

Sony has launch a new range of projectors. The E-series has all the bells and whistles you require in your training or classroom.




Some of the features:



  • 2 x RGB, HDMI, USB, S-Video, Video in, RJ45 and RS232 Inputs1 x Monitor and  Mic Audio / Speaker out.
  • 3 years projector warranty  and 3 year lamp (or 3000 hours) warranty
  • Up to 7000 hour lamp hours
  • Security measures, including password protection, and physical anti-theft anchor points.
  • Optional Wireless USB Module

Wednesday 1 August 2012

Evoko wins Best New Digital Signage Hardware Product award at InfoComm 2012

Evoko room manager does it again !!!


If you want more info or an on-site demo, contact us

Check out this video from Infocomm 2012



Monday 23 July 2012

Brighter Cheaper Projectors

By looks of this article, LCD projectors could double in brightness, and battery operated "pico"projectors could become more energy efficient.  An entry level LCD projector runs at a claimed 2500 lumen. With this new polarising technology, will these become 5000 lumen ?

At present 5000 lumen models are suggested for screen-sizes of 150 inches and bigger. This could change the entire marketing scope for projectors, especially in high ambient light applications.


Well done to the researchers at North Carolina State University


READ MORE...

Friday 20 July 2012

Evoko now supports Google Business Apps

Evoko Room Manager, our room-booking solution with touch sensitive screens that displays the status of a meeting room, now has support for Google Apps. - Google Calendar.


For more information about Evoko Room Manager, please visit: http://www.avc.co.za/pages/products/av-accessories/evoko-room-manager.php


Monday 16 July 2012

University of Johannesburg Installation

What a job !!!

The project entailed 3 venues with 28 x 55" LCD Monitors and 6 x NEC WXGA Projectors. All venues' sources needed to be distributed to the other venues and vice versa. Basic AV Control is done by Crestron's MPC Presentation Controllers link. Signal Distribution and RS-232 control signals is done by PTN Electronics Matrix Switchers and Twisted pair products  link.



Powerlite AV Mounting Products and AV Furniture were deployed in this project link.


Grandview's Fixed Frame Screens were used in all venues link





Friday 13 July 2012

Crestron's Latest and Greatest Control Products

Take a tour of the Crestron Integrated by Design tunnel from InfoComm 2012 and learn just how everything is made to work together seamlessly.



Thursday 12 July 2012

Forget the droptest, rather use a potato cannon

Got to love it when a manufacturer is this confident about their product. That is a seriously strong transmitter. 


Wednesday 11 July 2012

AMX Multi Preview Modero X Series Touch Panels

WOW, these touchpanels are impressive. I like AMX's approach to the tablet devices encroachment into their once lucrative touchpanel business.



Monday 9 July 2012

Class D Amplifiers

Came a cross this really interesting article on Class D Amplifiers. We are using them more and more in our AV installations. Great read !!

by Steve Somers

One of my favorite Class D products at present is PTN's PA2B Amplifier. Dynamite in a small package !!



Tuesday 3 July 2012

Grandview Ceiling Recessed Motorised Projection Screen

Check out this awesome new product from Grandview. Hits our shores August 2012.






Ultra High Definition Television

Very interesting video. Great insight into the future of display technologies. Can't believe that 640 x 480 VGA was once a standard !! Full HD is 1920 x 1080. UHDTV is a staggering 7680 x 4320 resolution.



AMX - 30 years young !!!

Wow, AMX is 30 years old.  One of the pioneers of AV control systems, and still pushing the technology boundaries. Well done and keep making those wicked AV products :) 


AMX30 facebook page

Wednesday 13 June 2012

Panasonic Projectors go GREEN

Well done Panasonic, nice to see a major projector manufacturer embracing Green Technologies.


3000 lumens, FULL HD with LED light source with 20,000 hours usage. Can't wait to play with these.


Read More:  Projector Central


Friday 25 May 2012

Samsung tablet with built-in projector, what next ???  Wonder how long the battery will last on this ?




HDMI, HDCP, and the Analog Sunset

A funny discussion on how the AV industry gets dictated to use technology that doesn't make sense.


Thursday 3 May 2012

AVC Durban Video Wall Installation

AVC Durban have just commissioned an awesome AV installation. The system consists of a 2x2 NEC video wall, Crestron Control System, Kramer switching equipment, Powerlite connection panels and Sony HD Video Conferencing setup.




Very nicely put together - well done guys

Thursday 19 April 2012

3D is better on a curved screen

At the NAB show, which is taking place in Las Vegas this week, a team from the Communications Research Centre of Canada is demonstrating how it believes 3D content is better viewed using a curved display. Watch the short video from Engadget, in which research technologist Ron Renaud describes how using a curved surface removes the floating effect of 3D objects and creates a more realistic viewing experience.


Check out the video:


http://cdn.static.viddler.com/flash/as3/full-publisher.swf?ref=&key=f48ad85&offsetTime=0

Tuesday 17 April 2012

Is 3D A 'Rejected' Technology?

What ?  This is amazing, and 3D has only been around for a couple of years.  Shows once again how quickly technology is moving and changing.


Read More Here: http://channelnews.com.au/Display/3D_TV/Q5Q9R9M6    

Thursday 12 April 2012

Pictures from the Randshow 2012

The Randshow has been a really great experience. The public are loving the Home Theatre Equipment and technology available. Blu-Ray, Full HD, 3D and HD PVR are all the buzz.  


Check out some pics at our facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.387663614587908.91773.244238295597108&type=1

Friday 6 April 2012

Check out AVC @ Randshow 2012

AVC's Showroom is situated at Link 5/6 - Office 17


Check out our latest AV gear from Grandview, Vivitek and Wharfedale


Loads of show specials


If you wanting to kit out your Home Theatre, this is the spot to go check out.


6 -15 April 2012


http://www.randshow.co.za/#

Sunday 25 March 2012

Avaya Enters Into Agreement to Acquire RADVISION Ltd.

Another major acquisition, looks like we will have another major player to take on Polycom and Cisco.  


Read More 

Friday 16 March 2012

Tuesday 13 March 2012

Cisco - No. 1 in Video Conference

IDC Reports VTC Market is now $2.7 Billion
The IDC Worldwide Enterprise Videoconferencing and Telepresence Qview shows a strong Q4 2011 with videoconferencing revenue growing 19% quarter over quarter and 24.6% year over year to reach $807.9 million. Specifically, the single-codec telepresence segment of the market grew 38.7% year over year to $444.1 million and now accounts for 55.0% of the total market.
For the full year 2011, total enterprise videoconferencing market revenue reached $2.7 billion, an increase of 20.5% over the full year 2010. This compares favorably versus the 16.6% growth we saw in 2010 over 2009, further pointing to an accelerated adoption of video in the enterprise.
Cisco 4Q11 results beat the overall market with its 35% year-over-year growth. Cisco remains the clear market leader and now holds 54.3% of the market, an improvement over the 51.7% in 3Q11 and 50.2% in 4Q10. Cisco's full year 2011 revenue increased 48.7% over the same period in 2010.
In comparison, Polycom's revenue increased 15.2% year over year in 4Q11, which meant that Polycom recorded 20.8% annual growth for the full year 2011.


Read More: http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS23344012


Check out a graphic representation of the numbers: 
http://accounts.icharts.net/portal/app?page=TeamChartDetail&sp=SM3rVyihD&service=external

The worlds best In-wall iPad™ docking system

Very nice product. Going to look good in our installs. The security feature makes the iPad a very good and secure touchpanel replacement 



Thursday 8 March 2012

Optoma has introduced its all-new EcoBright line of lamp-free, maintenance-free projectors.

Wow, - 2000 lumens from LED with 10000 hour lamp (415 days continuously) and 40% less energy consumption than the Metal Halide models. Well done Optoma, this is the future of projectors (and basically all other display devices)

Wednesday 7 March 2012

Kramer .... looking to the future !

I really like this video, it is short, sharp and to the point. Great to see these manufacturers addressing the problems we deall with everyday.  Can't wait to play with this kit.

http://www.inavateonthenet.net/video/47856/Kramer-demonstrates-Step-In-solution.aspx

Tuesday 21 February 2012

Apple TV....an actual Television...not the media player

Wonder if this product will take off like the iPod, iPhone and iPad. Seems a weird market to get into, considering how TV giants like Samsung and Sony are all "down-sizing" their TV operations.  Probably find the secret will be "one size fits all"

I like the idea of the 20:9 aspect ratio and artificial intelligence system.

TV's are becoming the home PC of the future.

Read More....http://www.channelnews.com.au/Display/Industry/C4D3T6S2

Thursday 16 February 2012

Samsung to sell off LCD Division ???

Wow, the biggest TV manufacturer decides to get rid of their LCD business, something is up. Maybe this indicates a better technology (than LCD/LED) is on it's the way or there is no or little profit in TV's. I suspect it is abit of both.  Also I think the Smart TV market isn't as lucrative as initially suspected.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17037742

Monday 13 February 2012

Crestron's Motion Control

Crestron and Microsoft Kinect. Got to love this tech. Imagine how cool (and weird looking) it will be to control your home theatre or boardroom with gestures.

The tablet revolution has brought this gesture and motion control technology to the fore.



Thursday 9 February 2012

ClearOne to Acquire VCON Video Conferencing Ltd.

Has ClearOne left it too late. VCON has some very interesting video conference products. Should be interesting to see how ClearOne's Audio and VCON's Video technologies merge. Full Story

AVC has used ClearOne's audio products on numerous installations, typically for microphone mixing in Audio and Video conferencing environments.



Presently, The Polycom Soundstructure offering has become AVC's preferred solution, and this is mainly due to local pricing, support and lastly the ease of use of the Soundstructure's setup interface.



Wednesday 8 February 2012

Who should own the control system code?

Interesting discussion - http://tinyurl.com/7aqtzhy


AVC's position on this matter is; the end-user pays for programming, so they own the source code.


It maybe a different matter if the programmer did not charge for the programming, but the end-user should be made aware what the programmer's policy is, especially if the source code is not going be given to the end user.


It is a very strange way of customer retention and have seen end-users having to pay for re-programming of existing AV Systems.


The argument of intellectual property doesn't make sense, if you charge your customer.

Sunday 5 February 2012

Crestron energy management software

Crestron Fusion EM™ is the energy management component of Fusion. Analyze energy consumption; turn lights on or off; set actions for when a room is occupied; adjust heating/cooling set points; edit demand response settings and more - all from the web-based interface. - http://tinyurl.com/88sv5j9


This is the future of our Brave New World. Looks like a very interesting software package.



Wednesday 25 January 2012

This is very cool....amazing what can be done with projectors, and some clever software


Wednesday 18 January 2012

Grandview Motorised Projector Lift has arrived !!!

Grandview's latest product innovation has arrived in South Africa.

Holds up to 20kg projector, built-in cable management, RF Remote control, External control port, 1000mm ceiling drop, requires 330mm ceiling void, sealed ceiling unit

Will post more info, in the near future.

Thursday 12 January 2012

Grandview Wireless Power Synchronisation Controller

Grandview has come up with a simple, cost effective way of eliminating the need for a separate remote or switch for your  motorised screen. The unit is able to sense the power state of the projector and in-turn send a wireless signal to a motorised screen receiver. The receiver will then activate the screen up or down, in sync with the power mode of the projector. Nice and simple

New Grandview pricelist - now available online - http://grandview.co.za/GV%20Retail%20Pricelist%20online.pdf

New Products added include Grandview's brand new Motorised Projector Lift, Mobile LCD Stands, Projector Brackets and the ultra cool Wireless Projector/Screen Synchronization unit.

 I will post a separate blog explaining this cool new product.