MMD, the company behind Philips-branded LCD monitors and public signage solutions, joined with AOpen to show the digital signage solution "Smart Insert" at ISE.

Owners of digital signage gear can now easily adopt entry level media players to minimize starting costs and later upgrade to high performance media players in a swap when HD content playback is needed.

Smart Insert can also reduce maintenance fees and time: when one media player goes wrong, just replace the media player to continue broadcasting. Or change the media player hardware and software system in the shortest time.

AOpen's proposes the DE2700 is an option to start digital signage at economic cost. The DE45-PRO and DE7000 series give high performance systems with 1080P video playback capability. AOpen also supplies fanless Digital Engine models for certain applications to prevent dust and maintenance problems.

With Mobile on Desktop technology and support from Intel, AOpen Digital Engine is compact (200mm x 200mm x 60mm or less) and built with Intel Core 2 Due CPU, DDRIII memory and nVIDIA ION chipset that gives performance options for all kinds of fancy content.

For durable and stable operation, each AOpen Digital Engine has 40,000 MTBF hours under its belt and has passed 8G operation shock and 0.5Grms operation vibration tests.

Philips Smart Insert is currently available on the following models: BDL4251V, BDL5231V. From March 2010 it will be available on the BDL4230E and on the BDL6551V from April 2010.

Go Philips public signage solutions

Go Acer & Philips Smart Insert

Light Blue Optics is showing some cool holographic applications – real-world applications. HLP, or Holographic Laser Projection, is a totally new projection technology that allows images to be projected on any surface.

Watch the video (use web link below).

OK, now that you’ve seen their technology, check out the applications they have. Our favourite is projected menus on table surfaces in restaurants.

This is a very cool technology that WILL have an impact on our market, soon!

Watch Light Blue Optics

Zero Creative demonstrated its glasses-free 3D digital signage software during the ISE.

The Zero Creative technology is called autostereoscopy and uses state of the art lenticular lenses attached to the LCD panel. This lens breaks the original image in 8 seperate viewing angles on sub-pixel level, so that one's left and right eye will see different images. The lenticular lens is fully transparent.

Last summer, the company introduced its real-time 3D Digital Signage platform entirely based on a 3D engine. The software, named 3DZignage, enables users to create and deploy 3D advertisements on autostereoscopic displays, such as the xyZ 3D Display. Zero Creative is expecting an annual growth in xyZ 3D Display sales of more than 300% this year.

Go Zero Creative

rAVe [Publications] attended the official unveiling of the Christie MicroTiles line in Times Square last month. Although we had already seen the MicroTiles at InfoComm in a private suite, it wasn't until last month that we understood the game-changing impact Christie will have with MicroTiles. And, to be perfectly honest, we don't even think that Christie has a handle on how big of a product they have on their hand with MicroTiles.

Why are we so bullish on MicroTiles? Simple: it's a differentiator that LITERALLY gives way to very creative, unique "out of the box/rectangle" projection images and puts that in the hands of the most creative systems designers on the market.

The actual individual tiles are rear-screen, DLP projected, 16"W x 12"H (20" diagonally), 20" deep and weigh 20 pounds. That in itself is not impressive, unless you were or are in the projection CUBE business.

MicroTiles immediately renders that market, with its giant, multi-person, color-management horror problems, useless. MicroTiles are the ultimate "cube" solution, in our opinion, as they are portable, single-person installable and, because they are LED-lit, are calibrated to AUTOMATICALLY color-correct and light-uniformity by talking to each other. Yes, talking to each other.

For example, if you have to replace one, the new one AUTOMATICALLY adjusts BOTH color-temperature AND light output to conform to the worst-performing Tile. But since they are LED, the worst case is 20 percent light output loss over 60,000-hours.

The real strength, however, is in the shapes, sizes and creative installs you can do with MicroTiles. They're a bit expensive for boardroom and conference room installs, but for rental, staging and large venue applications -- watch out -- these could take over quickly.

Why? Again, they are automatic. Not only do they auto-correct for color and light uniformity, but they literally figure out the size and shape of the image you are making and re-calibrate the image to be shown without ANY signal or wall processor. Seriously. How? They have IR-sensors that allow them to see which Tile is next to, on top of and below it. Thus, it figures out where each Tile is positioned and re-purposes the image shape and size accordingly. Seriously, this works. We saw it, live, in NYC last week!

Not much else to say, other than they are about USD$3700 per Tile, and we highly recommend that you consider watching this 4:28-video we shot that demos MicroTiles perfectly for you!

The audio sucks on this video, but you CAN hear it, but more importantly, you'll see them in action in all shapes and sizes. Remember, you can change shapes and size on-the-fly, literally, as each Tile figures out where it is in relation to the projected image.

Go and watch the video for Christie MicroTiles

 Litemax of Taiwan shows LITILE34, its LCD panel wall.

The company says, "Large-size LCD panels are still restricted by it size (the world largest LCD panel is 108 inch) and brightness (normal brightness – 500nits, not suitable for outdoor applications). In addition, the resolution of LED wall is too low to watch it nearby."

To improve these display restrictions, Litemax developed five core technologies, including Sunlight Readable Tech., Optical Fiber Tech, Thermal Dissipation Solution, Video Wall Mechanical Structure and Video.

LITILE34 features Sunlight Readable, a brightness of 1200 nits. LITILE34 modules can be stacked up and become an unlimited-size video wall. Moreover, LITILE34 LCD modules are the same as bricks which can be composed for different activities, applications and places.

At a recent product launch conference, Litemax showed an "L-shape" video wall displaying marketing messages created by LITILE modules.

Go Litemax

With the Multeos M401 and M461 public displays, NEC Display Solutions launches 40" and 46" monitors with 1920 x 1080 resolution for the design-minded.

"It very often happens that store owners choose TV sets when it comes to selecting screens for their digital signage systems – for design reasons," says Thorsten Prsybyl, Product Line Manager Public Displays Europe at NEC Display Solutions. Their panels, however, fall significantly short of dedicated public displays in terms of quality and reliability. "With the Multeos product range, we are focusing on customers that appreciate professional technology and an appealing design," continues Prsybyl.

The NEC Option Slot for expansion modules such as the built-in PC or the DVI Daisy Chain Board offers technical as well as visual advantages. The extensions replace external distribution equipment and the cables they depend upon.

As well as DVI and HDMI, Multeos M401 and M461 offer a DisplayPort connection, Ethernet connection, and RS-232 interface.

The displays offer extended combination possibilities for picture-in-pictures from different signal sources. The simultaneous input for two PCs is now also possible via DVI and VGA.

NEC Display Solutions offers two special Multeos introduction bundles starting January 2010. With the purchase of a new Multeos model, customers can choose between a free (otherwise optional) stand and a free wall mount solution.

Multeos M401 and M461 will be commercially available as from December 2009 in black or silver priced at €1574 respectively €2099 (inc. VAT). NEC Display Solutions Europe offers a 3-year warranty for its displays including backlights.

Go NEC MULTEOS-M461

Creosity releases the Stealth Series HD digital signage system for the mainstream retail marketplace.

All Stealth displays contain integrated Ethernet and wireless adapters, enabling real-time updates to advertising, content and schedules internet.

With a Stealth Series AR display, you order, remove it from the box, hang it on the wall and turn it on. You'll be automatically connected to the web-based SignPassage media management command center.

Stealth Series is available in 20", 22", 24", and 32" (16:9) HD formats. All products are capable of a maximum of 1920 x 1080 (at 30 frames per second), enabling broadcast quality (720p & 1080p), HD display of both video and still life content. Stealth Series displays are illuminated at a 400-500 cd/M2 of brightness, and 20000:1 contrast ratio.

All Stealth products are constructed with industrial grade aircraft aluminum.

Go Stealth

If you took a photo of rush hour in London Waterloo station, you'd have another camera staring back at you.

In a super-sized promo for Panasonic's new Lumix DMX-ZX1, a camera was built to proportion around a 103" plasma screen (Panasonic TH-103PF10) that doubles for the camera's view finder.

The 3.6 metre high and 2 metre wide fibre glass camera weighs 160kg and was built by a team of 6 artists over a 5 weeks.

The 8xLife campaign has seen giant sculptures appear in high profile locations in cities across the UK including a postbox, traffic cone, park bench, crumpled coffee cup and pigeon.

The oversized Lumix spent 3 days at Waterloo before embarking on a tour of London train stations ending up next week at London Liverpool Street.

Go Panasonic's professional plasma range