Marshall Electronics introduces two new room signs -- the DP-1203K with a built-in processor and the DV-1202K monitor.

Marshall’s DP-1203K is a 12.1” digital sign featuring a built-in Atom processor with an Intel board in both surface and flush mount units.

The DV-1202K is a monitor featuring both HDMI and VGA inputs to run content from a variety of external sources. It can act as a stand-alone room sign via RS232 control. Comes in both surface and flush mount units.

Go Room signs from Marshall Electronics

Starbucks has more than 20,000 shops in the world but not one of them was in India. Until now. Starbucks, in a joint venture with Tata Global Beverages, opened its first shop in Mumbai. This store opening was reinforced by a video mapping projection on the Elphinstone Building where this first Indian Starbucks coffee shop is housed.

The projection on the 40m wide building was a challenge because of the short distance between the façade and the public (and the typical short time frame allowed for creation and delivery.) Because of this short distance, integrator NuFormer had to make sure that the projection could be seen from a wide variety of viewing angles.

The projection show was split up into two parts: a 4-minute projection on Tata Global Beverages and Starbucks Coffee Company (the partnership bringing Tata Starbucks to India) and a second projection on the famous Starbucks Experience.

Hardware and technical expertise were provided by DynaMix Media.

Watch Tata Starbucks Mumbai Video

Passengers using the moving walkway in Terminal A at Brussels airport, the underground network that seems endless, need distractions and they are the perfect audience.

As you approach, a hidden camera (behind the screen featuring the Deloitte name and logo) is activated. In front of your eyes, as if a special show just for your passing, the on-screen image shatters into 30,000 tiny pieces, releasing atmospheric sound from overhead speakers.

It’s a stunning acoustic accompaniment of orchestral proportions, all synchronised to a vivid cinematic display. And it’s all for you… (Unless of course there are 200 other passengers on the moving walkways but still, it’s a cool trick and catches you out.)

This is the first interactive screen installation to appear at Brussels airport, commissioned by Deloitte not only as brand-building but also to emphasize their depth of IT capability.

Because IP networks are growing in speed and capability (and so are video signals), we need new standards for interoperability that will allow video producers, broadcasters and distributors to transport HD and other uncompressed video signals using equipment from a wide variety of suppliers.”

That’s why The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) and the Video Services Forum (VSF) announce the latest two standards in a series that creates a standardized framework for the transport of video-over-Internet-Protocol (IP) networks.

The latest additions are known officially as SMPTE ST 2022-5:2012 Forward Error Correction for High Bit Rate Media Transport Over IP Networks and SMPTE ST 2022-6:2012 Transport of High Bit Rate Media Signals over IP Networks (HBRMT), are available via the SMPTE digital library.

The inaugural Smart Building Conference @ ISE lines up international experts familiar with the latest trends in integration, energy management, intelligent building, working and living.

With the promise of a day full of industry insight, opinion, practical design advice and business intelligence, the Conference will take place at the Amsterdam RAI on Monday 28 January – the day before ISE 2013 opens.

A joint venture of ISE’s co-owners CEDIA and InfoComm International, the Smart Building Conference programme will attract architects, design consultants, developers, electrical contractors and other key stakeholders in the construction sector, along with the electronic systems integrators, distributors and manufacturer channels from ISE’s core audience.

“While other events have taken a star-gazing approach to the topic, the Smart Building Conference @ ISE promises a practical look at how intelligent buildings are already being designed, built and used,” comments Mike Blackman, Managing Director, Integrated Systems Events. “Delegates will learn how emerging technologies offer them new possibilities today, not just in the future.”

The Conference programme includes expert case studies illustrating the different possibilities available in specific technology areas, along with bigger-picture presentations from some of the industry’s pre-eminent educators and consultants.

By Tim Kridel

[Editor’s note] This column was reprinted with permission from InfoComm International (link below).

Pro AV is increasingly about IP networking, with everything from audio to video surveillance traversing Ethernet. If you’re not running power over that cable, too, you’re missing an opportunity to reduce the cost and complexity of your installations.

From Wikipedia:

“Power over Ethernet, or PoE technology, describes a system to pass electrical power safely, along with data, on Ethernet cabling. The IEEE standard for PoE requires category 5 cable or higher for high power levels, but can operate with category 3 cable if less power is required. Power is supplied in common mode over two or more of the differential pairs of wires found in the Ethernet cables and comes from a power supply within a PoE-enabled networking device, such as an Ethernet switch, or can be injected into a cable run with a midspan power supply.”

In practical terms, AV integrators can use Power over Ethernet (PoE) products to eliminate the need for running a separate electrical line to each camera, touch panel or other AV device. And depending on local building codes, PoE can reduce or eliminate the need to hire an electrician. (Caveat: Some states, such as Connecticut, require a license to do low-voltage installations, including those involving PoE.)

MMD, the license partner for Philips Public Signage, adds an EMEA purchase incentive -- a free license of Omnitapps Professional software with every 6 or 32 touch points display ordered.

The software, developed by Omnivision, normally sells at 795 euros. It consists of a collection of applications that enables new and stunning ways to present products and services via multi-touch gestures.

Resellers buying a display from the multi-user touch range will find each display will come with Omnitapps Professional software. This promotion is running until the end of January 2013!

Omnitapps is a software suite developed for touch screens with business purposes, running under Windows 7 and 8, and is supported by Philips Public Signage. It can be used on various sizes of touch screens and touch tables with resolutions from 1360x768 up to Full HD. It's customizable and includes 18 different applications, plus every month a new app is added. Updates are free of charge.

Go Omnitapps

Remember earlier this year when The Gores Group acquired ELO Touch Solutions for $380 million?

Now The Gores Group will buy the Broadcast Communications of Harris Corporation for $225 million. The price includes $160 million in cash at closing, a $15 million subordinated promissory note and an earn-out of up to $50 million based on future performance. The transaction, expected to be completed in early calendar year 2013, is subject to customary regulatory review (and closing conditions).

"The sale of Broadcast Communications reflects our strategy to optimize our business portfolio and focus on our core businesses," says William M. Brown, president and CEO of Harris.

The Broadcast Communications group of Harris holds far more than Digital Signage, but Harris is a significant DOOH player helping companies like 7-Eleven TV across 4344 stores.

The Harris Broadcast division will retain the Harris name for another three years while it transitions to a new brand. No products or product lines are being targeted for discontinuation. In broadcasting, the latest Versio release—introduced at IBC—is on track to ship this month. A major product announcement in the workflow, infrastructure and networking space, or WIN, is in the works.