The calendar year Q3 projectors market came in at 2032K units, 3.6% up on the previous quarter and showing very slight year-on-year growth on Q3 2011 (2029K units), according to the latest research from Futuresource Consulting.

The flattening and -- in some cases -- decline of the developed markets in Europe and the Americas shows in the Q3 numbers and while growth was achieved across many emerging regions the current suspension of a number of key education projects in territories such as Mexico and Indonesia casts doubt on the prospect of year-on-year worldwide growth for full calendar year 2012 volumes.

In the EMEA region, Western Europe posted a regional total of 304K units, 15% down on Q3 2011, the shortfall in demand coming from the entry level data projector and the home cinema segments (which had achieved good volumes in Q2 2012 prior to the start of the European Football Championships).

However, promotional stock left in the channel after the close of the championships negatively impacted demand with the greatest decline in volumes seen in Germany.

Storage vendor Seagate joins the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE), the consortium of companies behind online movie locker service UltraViolet.

"As a DECE member, Seagate's expertise and perspective on cloud solutions and storage devices will help the organization to evolve those benefits," UltraViolet GM Mark Teitell remarks.

While UltraViolet is best known for streaming it also includes downloads-- meaning Seagate plans to have a foot in the door should the service become more popular with potential customers.

Not to mention UltraViolet content providers will also need more storage for their content servers...

Go UltraViolet

The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) releases the 2nd edition of the Electronic Systems Technical Reference Manual-- the guide to residential electronic systems.

The work of over 30 experts, the latest revision incorporates relevant updates to standards, white papers and recommended practices as well as all-new material on HDMI and troubleshooting.

The 1st edition of the manual was launched back in 2009.

“The Technical Reference Manual is an excellent resource for everyone in the industry,” CEDIA says. “Not only does the book prepare electronic systems professionals for key industry certifications, it can also help them better understand and solve problems, making them more efficient in the field, and more profitable.”

The 2nd edition of the Electronics Systems Technical Reference Manual is available through the CEDIA Marketplace.

Go CEDIA Releases 2nd Edition of Technical Refrence manual

InfoComm MEA 2012 opens on Sun 14 October: it’s now the second edition. After last year’s success, it’s almost one-and-a-half times larger (112 exhibitors, +68% in number of exhibitors and 46% growth in size) than last year’s event.

The secret to the success? Well, it is InfoComm after all. Organised jointly by the Asia-Pacific arm of InfoComm International and the Dubai World Trade Centre, InfoComm MEA benefits immensely from combined expertise and joint resources.

InfoComm MEA’s co-location with Gitex Technology Week (organized by Dubai World Trade Centre) puts the power of AV-IT convergence behind this event. It creates two reasons for many integrators in the region to visit Dubai and attend.

Leading AV companies such as Arrive, Barco, Crestron, Da-Lite Screens, DIS, Extron, Jupiter Systems, LG, Meyer Sound, Mindstec, Mitsubishi, projectiondesign, RGB Spectrum, RTI, Sharp, Sony, Venuetech, Vtron, and Wolfvision will showcase their systems and solutions – ranging from digital signage and content management, telepresence and video-conferencing, interactive multi-media teaching and distance learning, environmental control and facility management, to command and control for traffic, defence or emergency and rescue operations.

Nortek changes the name of the newly-formed Nortek AVC (Audio Video Control) Group-- the name is now "Core Brands" and covers 10 Nortek companies.

Core Brands covers the Aton, BlueBolt, Elan, Furman, Niles, Panamax, Proficient, SpeakerCraft, Sunfire and Xantech brands and handles multiple global distribution channels.

Nortek claims the combination of audio, power management and control brands will leverage economies of scale while boosting the ability of the group to invest in new technology and marketing programs.

"Combining the unique capabilities of each of these 10 formidable brands will deliver new and powerful benefits they can only achieve as a group,” Nortek CEO Michael J. Clarke says.

Panamax president Bill Pollock leads Core Brands, while Panamax/Furman sales and marketing VP Dave Keller oversees worldwide sales. SpeakerCraft/Proficient president Keith Marshall takes over channel management.

Go Nortek Launches New "Core Brands" Group

GreenPeak expands its product portfolio by expanding support for the ZigBee standard-- rolling out new radio chips handling ZigBee Pro, ZigBee IP, RF4CE and ZigBee Green Power.

"We will enable the Smart Home market-– starting with Smart Home enabled set-top boxes/gateways and providing solutions for  devices that will connect to it – including home security, home  care, appliances, energy monitoring and control," GreenPeak CEO Cees Links says.

The company plans to internet access all its offerings to the internet, using the ZigBee standard to brink all devices online via the set-top box.

Cable operators have a part to play in the smart home market (or "Fifth Play")-- taking advantage of their presence in the home by turning STBs into smart home gateways.

Go GreenPeak to Lead the Smart Home Evolution