It might have been EnMDS or MiniQii but EnQii Holdings and Minicom Digital Signage (MDS) needed a new name for the merger of their companies.

Announced at InfoComm, that new name is: ComQi.

Choosing a totally new name means both companies given up some recognition, yet the merger gets a clean slate as a new entity.

ComQi aims to provide integrators with an end-to-end solution encompassing media distribution, network management, content management and proof-of-performance, while reducing capital and operational costs.

At the end of March 2011, SpinetiX have sold out of their first batch of 5000 units of HMP200 Hyper Media Players with pre-loaded Fusion Software.

The HMP200 Hyper Media Player uses only 7 watts of power due to its solid state design. The unit has a lifetime guarantee, an attractive offering for integrators, installers and users. The creation of bespoke applications such as multi-screen videowalls, interactive kiosks and touch screens is simplified by the fact that, like all SpinetiX players, the HMP200 is based on open protocols such as SVG and JavaScript.

iBASE Technology introduces the SI-18 Signature Book, an ultra-compact digital signage player that the company calls “the world’s smallest x86 digital signage player.”

Powered by the AMD Embedded G-Series APU that packs two CPU cores and 80 GPU cores on one piece of silicon, the SI-18 measures 4.9” (12.44cm) x 4.9” (12.44cm) x 1.3” (3.3 cm) and features an industrial grade all-metal chassis with integrated mounting brackets.

VIA brings its range of graphics and multi-display solutions to this year's Digital signage Expo, including its latest, the eH1 graphics card.

The VIA eH1 supports DirectX 10.1, OpenGL 3.1, OpenGL ES 2.0 and the stereoscopic 3D technologies, while handling multiple HD content streams. It is a low profile PCI-E add-in board, carrying the 64-bit S3 Chrome 5400E GPU.

The company says it is ideal for embedded applications involving sophisticated graphics and HD video, such as digital signage and advertising, POS, POI and casino gaming.

Also on show is VIA's ARM-based system-on-chip digital signage solutions-- the VIA EPIA Mini-ITX boards. The series includes the latest VIA Nano X2 dual-core processor and boards carrying the multimedia-focused VIA VX900 chipset.

Finally there's the VIA VIPRO panel series (combining a full feature range inside an industrial-grade LCD panel) and the VMPC ultra thin, fanless system-- turning any standard display into a digital signage device via thru-chassis VESA mounting design.

Go VIA Displays Embedded Graphics Solutions

CEO Jeff Hastings stopped by our Web TV show at ISE to tell us the European installations of its BrightSign low cost solid state digital signage player in 2010 totalled more than 20,000.

Of particular note, FNAC took 1500 sign controllers for 80 of their stores in what is presumably the largest digital signage network in France.

The highlight of its ISE participation, explained Hastings, is its new Tabletop Digital Signage Solution, the TD1012. This tabletop is a solid state tower that doesn’t require a PC or external power or wiring.

For use out of box, TD1012 offers a steel enclosure with Wifi inside, 12.1” hi res screen, and 12 hours of battery life. This freestanding tower and be placed anywhere signage is needed and wireless networking lets users keep content fresh.

Go BrightSign freestanding TD1012

Watch our interview BrightSign CEO Jeff Hastings on Web TV

Calling itself “the only Scala platform partner in Europe with an embedded certified player,” Mdina Media came all the way from Holland to ISE with a trio of embedded solutions that featured small size, plug & play and lower power.

One example is their Nano-ITX embedded system powered by an Intel Duo Core processor. with the world’s first Nvidia NMP9 embedded ION Chipset 9400m graphics onboard. This system features Green PC standards at 20w under normal operating conditions. An SSD drive, a wireless card, and a Compact Card reader (for loading data & software) complete the special features.

Or maybe you would prefer the world’s first low power embedded board with AMD Embedded G-Series Platform? This mini-ITX (17.7 x 17.7 x 5 cm high) is low-powered optimized (9 and 18 watt versions). The system can be deployed in computer intensive areas where high end graphics are key....with advanced interfaces such as 6Gb/s SATA, second generation PCI and HD audio. An integrated DDR3 memory running at 1066MHz is standard.

Go Mdina Media

Making its global debut at InfoComm Asia, SpinetiX launches the HMP200 Hyper Media Player, a high-end digital signage media player capable of publishing information, video, pictures and text in 1080p Full HD to any screen or display device.

Ultra-compact, lightweight and with max. power consumption of 7W, the HMP200 can be concealed behind a screen, installed with ‘zero config’ network integration, and then, says the manufacturer, "simply forgotten about." There are no moving parts, the device has no vulnerability to PC viruses or OS issues, so SpinetiX offers a lifetime warranty for every Hyper Media Player it sells.

As well as decoding HD video, the HMP200 can publish data, audio, and dynamic content from RSS feeds, widgets and instant messaging using SpinetiX’s own Fusion software, which resides inside the unit and is part of the package.

The creation of bespoke applications such as multi-screen videowalls, interactive kiosks and touchscreens is also possible as theHMP200 is based on open protocols such as SVG and JavaScript. There are comprehensive scheduling options and the unit’s standard 8GB of solid-state memory can be expanded via USB 2.0.

Go SpinetiX's Full HD, HMP200

Digital View releases an easy-install digital signage kit, with a pre-configured media control server and a number of networkable, low cost ViewStream HD digital media players.

Designed to operate within an office, retail or public environment, for a ready-made digital signage network, all the user need do is plug the server and media players into their existing local area network. The media server runs Digital View’s free DV-SYNC software, which is scalable and can be configured to run as many ViewStream media players as required, with no additional license costs or monthly fees.

The DV-SYNC application controls the distribution of digital signage media content across the network. It uses FTP technology to deliver media scheduling and to collect content play-out and compliance information.

The Digital Signage in a Box solution is offered with two compact ViewStream media player options-- both of which provide professional digital content presentation with crystal-clear media playback, Linux reliability and 3 year warranty.

The ViewStream VS-520 is a full HD 1080p, gapless track-to-track playback and a range of outputs to drive any LCD display, projector or video wall. ViewStream VS-320 is a compact, low cost player that offers 720p HD playback.

The Digital Signage in a Box package includes a Content Management Server pre-loaded with DV-SYNC, a user-defined quantity of ViewStream media players and a copy of the DV-Studio playlist list creation tool.

Go ‘Digital Signage In A Box’