European Custom Installer

System Integration for the Connected Home

TVs, Displays and Mounts

An Outdoor TV That Rises & Unfolds, Design by Porsche

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C SeedIn its world premiere, the C SEED 201 TV takes high-tech TV onto the outdoors with a 201-inch (5.11m) 16:9 LED screen. But this is more than just a big screen…

You can direct the performance by radio remote control. You press a button to raise up the screen to the desired height from its hidden shaft in the ground and then rotate it to a maximum of 270 degree angle for optimal viewing comfort.

The C SEED 201 column takes 15 seconds to achieve its full height of 4.65 m (15 ft). After the next 25 seconds, 7 massive LED panels soundlessly unfold. A TV tech sculpture now dominates the outdoor scene…

Designed by Porsche Design Studio, The C SEED 201 grew out of a passion to deliver the ultimate outdoor LED TV…

Instead of taking up space when not in use, the C SEED 201 folds up and retreats below ground, where it stays safe and dry in its water-resistant shaft. Only to rise again…and again…and again…

Go C SEED 201

W. Europeans Show TV Everywhere Interest

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Park Associates says around 15-30% of W. European broadband households show interest in a TV Everywhere solution allowing them to view TV programming on multiple devices.

TV EverywhereThe UK shows most interest, with 30% of broadband households saying they are willing to pay more for such services-- with Spain and Italy following close behind.

The report shows around 30% of broadband households would switch to a provider offering free TV Everywhere, while 10-20% would consolidate mobile and internet services with a single provider to access TV Everywhere services.

Park Associates says providers can only charge extra fees for TV Everywhere "so long nobody else offers it for free"-- the prisoner's dilemma in economic action, basically.

Go Consumers in W. Europe Interested in TV Everywhere (Parks Associates)

Motorola Acquisition: Good News for Google TV?

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IHS iSuppli predicts Motorola Mobility will be good news for the faltering Google TV, as global IPTV and set-top box shipments should reach 295.9M by 2015, growing by 240% from 86.9M in 2011.

After all, Motorola is the WW no. 2 STB vendor-- providing Google "access to an already established customer base," iSuppli says.

STB Shipments

High prices and lack of content hamper current Google TV products (Logitech's Revue and Sony's Google TVs), leading to a lack of customer interest.

Through Motorola, Google will now be able to further integrate Android with the IPTV platform, while GoogleTV will get a market foothold through STBs.

However, cable operators remain a challenge to Google TV-Motorola STB integration, especially should GoogleTV provide enough free content to make customers cut their cable subscriptions.

Will cable operators want to sell a product potentially cannibalising their business?

Go Google's Motorola Mobility Acquisition Boosts Google TV (IHS iSuppli)

Sanus Mounts to Match the Flat TVs

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If TVs get thinner, what about the mounting?

VMF322If your customers tire of TV screens that stick out from the wall, at IFA the consumer brand of Milestone AV Technologies, the largest flat panel TV mount manufacturer worldwide, releases two new Sanus Super Slim full-motion mounts.

The Holy Grail of mounting is to be as flat as the wall and the new Sanus VMF322 and VLF320 Super-Slim full-motion mounts place flat-panel TVs very, very close to the wall while still offering full-motion capabilities.

The Super-Slim Sanus design sits just 1.4" (3,56 cm) for the VMF322 and 1.23" (3,12 cm) VLF320 from the wall, accentuating that Twiggy-look of the latest ultra-thin TVs.

Your customer can still easily tilt TV with the touch of a finger, and these models extend 22" (55,8 cm) for the VMF322 and 20" (50,8 cm) for the VLF320 from the wall.

An integrated cable management system hides all the wiring and cabling within the extension arm. Decorative covers conceal mounting hardware for a finished look. Post-install levelling adjustments ensure TVs are perfectly positioned after hanging.

Milestone AV Technologies, manufacturer of Chief and Sanus brand AV mounting and display solutions, recently merged with Da-Lite Screen Company, manufacturer of Da-Lite, Projecta and Procolor brands of commercial and residential projection screens.

The combination of Milestone and Da-Lite creates a consolidated company in mounting solutions, AV furniture, and projection screens across both commercial and consumer AV markets with nearly 1000 employees worldwide and eight major operating locations around the globe.

 

Making Any Display 3D-Ready

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3D Now shows how installers can retrofit their customers' older projectors and TVs to display 3D content at CEDIA Expo 2011 with its Theatre range.

3D nowThe range consists of 2 devices-- Theater and TheaterPlus+-- which one installs between TV/projector and video source.

Theater is the basic plug and play model, while TheaterPlus+ is the professional version with 7.2 surround sound and distributed multi-zone 3D capability, working through HDMI Matrix.

Both carry out the same task-- converting a signal from a 3D HDMI source into 3D video viewable on non-3D displays via 3D Now active shutter glasses.

The products will be available on Q1 2012, and 3D Now is currently looking for dealers.

Go 3D Now

New LEDs from Philips at IFA 2011

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Philips launches the DesignLine LED TV range at IFA 2011, aiming at your more style-conscious customers as it "embodies the philosophy that home entertainment devices should integrate into the living environment rather than impose upon it."

Philips DesignLineMarketing-speak aside, the range consists of 2 models-- Edge and Tilt TV-- and a home theatre audio system.

The Edge TV appears ideal for low living room tables, as leaning backwards at 6 degrees and "resembles a floating picture frame," according to Philips.

It comes in white and glass, and carries Philips' Ambilight on 2 side, Easy 3D, Smart TV features and wifi connectivity.

Meanwhile the Tilt TV lives up to its name, leaning backwards by 10 degrees. It features a "floating glass screen" with an either black or white frame.

The Tilt TV will be available in 22" and 26" sizes, with a Digital Crystal Clear image processor.

The range also includes the matching SoundHub home theatre, with speakers featuring a reclining stance and exposed titanium tweeters.

Go Philips DesignLine TVs

Touching Plasmas with a Pen at IFA

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LG displays its PentouchTV plasma series at IFA 2011-- bringing stylus-based touch controls to big screen TVs.

LG PentouchTVHowever one needs to connect their display to a Windows PC to take advantage of touch-based features using the included pen-- allowing PC file access and editing.

PenTouchTVs also carry drawing (for budding artists to draw directly on the screen), calendar and gallery software.

A 4-legged stand makes sure the TV remains stable when customers make use of Pentouch features.

The PentouchTV series handles simultaneous 2-pen use and is available in 50" (50PV490) and 60" (60PV490) models, as well as a 60" (60PZ850) 3DTV model (includes a pair of active shutter glasses).

Go LG Adding "Touch of Plasma" to Home Entertainment