Making Collaboration Easy is one Smooth Move

It’s a popular buzz word in the Pro AV Industry.  More and more manufacturers are introducing products that enable users to collaborate wirelessly via a single piece of hardware or software-based solution. Many of these solutions are focused on sharing from multiple screens to one master display or from one display to many devices in this BYOD world we live in.  The industry-leading Sharp AQUOS BOARD ® offers both.

ImageCollaboration.  Defined as to work, one with another towards shared goals.

It’s a popular buzz word in the Pro AV Industry.  More and more manufacturers are introducing products that enable users to collaborate wirelessly via a single piece of hardware or software-based solution.  Many of these solutions are focused on sharing from multiple screens to one master display or from one display to many devices in this BYOD world we live in.  The industry-leading Sharp AQUOS BOARD ® offers both.


If you’re looking for more interactive presentations, lively discussions and paperless meetings in both business and education settings, take a look at Sharp’s PN-C series Interactive Display Systems.  Available in 60” and 70” screen sizes, these entry-level models come equipped with Touch Sharp Display Connect software, which allows onscreen content, including handwritten notes and drawings, to be viewed on mobile devices such as PCs, tablets and smartphones. SHARP Display Connect also enables file transfers, interactive onscreen writing and drawing and remote control of the interactive display from mobile devices.  Flexible and cost-effective, the PN-C Series displays provide a platform to boost collaboration (there’s that word!) and enhance the impact of lessons, meetings and presentations.

According to Urban Dictionary, a smooth operator is someone who can handle multiple situations in a fashion that can only be described as awesme, or spectacular…  It goes on to say a smooth operator is someone who tends to be ‘on top of things’ and is usually in control of any given situation.

If you’re looking for the Smooth Operator of AQOUS BOARDS, do yourself a favor and check out the Sharp PN-LW Series, also available in 60 and 70” screens.  With built-in wireless connePN-L Seriesctivity, information can be presented on the AQUOS BOARD interactive display directly from users’ devices – without the need to pre-load files or data.  The 2×2 split screen feature creates a virtual video wall of presentation data, seriously driving (guess what?) collaboration.  As data is not stored during the wireless connection, confidential information cannot be leaked, so information is secure (one less thing to worry about).  And, with up to ten touch points, allowing four users to annotate on-screen at the same time, the power of teamwork has been amplified.

Consider Sharp AQUOS BOARDS and start collaborating.

Enhancing Fan Experience Using LFD

Petco

Being in the Pro Av arena for 10 years there is really not much that I haven’t seen. You would think by now I wouldn’t be the person walking behind a LCD panel in a store or restaurant to see what mount is being used or what type of ceiling accessory it has…..well, you would be wrong! Yes, I am still that person! Just yesterday I received a text message with a picture from my niece while she was at Petco Stadium watching the Padres vs Diamondbacks game, instead of commenting on her experience my first response was “I love that stadium! I was part of their original AV renovation project in the early 2000’s”! Again, I am that person.

With that said, while there is not much in the AV arena I haven’t seen, there is still a TON that impresses me!  Living in Chicago I have access to some of the most historic arenas and stadiums equipped with the best AV systems money can buy.  Last month I had the privilege of going to the United Center to see Adele perform live. While I’ve been to the United Center numerous times over the last year, no other experience compared to this for me.  I walk through the doors on July 13th and see the 35’ x 9’ curved video wall with no other than, yes, you guessed it, Adele!  I was smiling from ear to ear and most definitely felt like a newbie in the AV industry. I am a huge fan. =)

Adele VideoWallAs with many sporting events and concerts, signage was everywhere! Visitors of the United Center can see 64, 42 inch flat panel displays throughout the 100 level concourses, not to mention LED boards inside each of the four main gate entrances.

AdeleI feel very lucky to be part of a great industry like Pro Av! I get to help clients spec in products that enhance their customers experience in many different vertical markets. On July 13th I was just a patron benefiting from a truly immersive fan experience thanks to innovative, Pro Av solutions.

Move Beyond Limits – LG OLED

LG-Business-Solutions_logo

LG is known for technology that “moves beyond the limits”!  OLED is all the buzz in today’s technology market.  But what is OLED?  “Organic Light Emitting Diod’s” are solid state devices made up of thin films of organic molecules that glow when an electric current is introduced.  When the light passes through the layers, it produces spectacular high definition images.  Simple, right?

OLED’s can provide brighter displays with a crisper image and use less power than an LED or LCD in the process.   LG OLED signage provides 5000 times faster motion picture response time, for perfectly clear images without blurring.   And, LG’s perfect OLED design has only two layers, making their digital signage display unbelievably light-weight and incredibly thin; 4.5 mm at its thinnest point.  Unlike other manufacturers, LG uses advanced four color pixel technology that adds a white pixels to the traditional sub-pixel red, green and blue.

Despite the two layer designs and light-weight, LG OLED signage still delivers an awe inspiring picture quality across the entire screen.  Even from wide viewing angles!  If that’s not enough, self-lighting pixels switch off completely to reproduce black.  OLED gives perfect black!  Some LG OLED models provide curved capability, while maintaining an outstanding viewing angle.

What can you expect from an LG OLED TV panel?   Imagine a picture that is bolder and more lifelike.  That old cliché “you need to see it believe it” really holds true for OLED.  Check it out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WH1_gAqEDE

For more on LG OLED Technology, contact your ALMO Business Development Manager for LG

Corinne O’Rawe | DSEG
Business Development Manager| Almo Professional A/V
P. 888-420-2566 x 6220 | C. 716-474-2323 | F.267-350-0321
website: www.almoproav.com

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An Emerging World of Outdoor Displays in Commercial Applications

I’ve noticed over the last year the increasing use of outdoor displays in commercial applications.  Once regulated to residential porches and light commercial use (such as a sports bar’s outdoor covered patio), manufacturers are now producing displays that eliminate the need for environmental enclosures and kiosks.

Today, properly specified displays provide many benefits compared to the traditional panel within an enclosure or kiosk.  Some of those benefits include but are not limited to:

  • Weatherproof operation at a considerable lower cost without expensive environmental enclosures & kiosks
  • Better picture due to no gap between the screen and an outer enclosure glass that may hinder picture quality
  • Overall reduction in physical size and weight for the application
  • Simpler mounting and installation
  • Ease of on-going maintenance

But how does a design engineer specify the right outdoor panel for a particular environmental application?  It’s relatively simple – match the properly-rated display to the outdoor demands of the application.  First, assess the application environmental demands:

  • Environmental temperature extremes.
  • Dust & water extremes (both type of dust and at what angles they can attack a panel).
  • Under cover or in direct sunlight.
  • Maintenance access (e.g., mounted high, extremely restricted location, etc.).
  • Exposure to glass-breaking projectiles like rocks and such.

Now, match the display to the environmental demands of the application.

  • Temperature Extremes: Coldest and warmest extremes a display can safely operate.
  • Dust and Moisture: Determine a display’s rating using either a NEMA Enclosure Rating (relative dust & particle resistance measurement) or the more popular “IP’ Rating (Ingress Protection as defined by DIN EN 60529).  An IP rating indicates the external conditions enclosures can withstand.  It describes a display’s scope of protection during use when exposed to temperatures, fuel and oil and their fumes, chemical clouds, acid based moisture and dust entering the display. For example, the “I” in IP has a scale of 1 to 6 that defines the protection against contact and ingress of dust.  The “P” has a scale of 0 to 9k that defines ingress of moisture from water droplets to high pressure steam cleaning.
  • Indirect or Direct Sunlight: If direct sunlight is a factor, consider a panel with UV optical bonding that can eliminate reflection & refraction glare so it can be easily seen in direct sunlight.  Note that simply being a high brightness panel (1500+ nits) doesn’t necessarily translate to good picture in direct sunlight.  It’s hard to out bright the sun!
  • Impact Resistant: Determine if the display needs to be protected from impacts.  And should the screen be broken, make sure it is shatter proof to protect nearby viewers and property.
  • Maintenance: Some displays will be mounted high or in difficult to reach places.  The less maintenance of filters and the ability to be hosed-off or pressure washed can be key.

Almo ProAV partners with Peerless-AV to offer a family of outdoor displays starting with the IP55-rated UltraView Series up to the IP68-rated Xtreme series.  We can match the right display for the environmental demands of temperatures, dust & moisture, direct sunlight, impact resistance, and ease of maintenance.  Also, we will assist in pairing the proper outdoor, wind-rated mount.  Feel free to contact me or your Almo ProAV Account Rep.  We’ll be happy to assist you in specifying the right display for your outdoor application.

LG OLED DAZZLES AND DELIGHTS NEWEST ALMO MARKETING MANAGER

Hi there.  I’m Heather.3A32DBC1-58E4-49A9-B7C2-AF0F0F438234

I was lucky enough to join the Almo Pro AV Marketing Department as a result of the acquisition of IAVI in May this year.  Pretty much right away we ran off to Las Vegas together.  You know how it goes, wining and dining and enjoying the hot summer sun… oh, and InfoComm.  Only the biggest AV show the industry has to offer each year.

While I’m new to Almo, I’m not new to the channel.  Or to Pro AV.  So when I tell you that new technology hardly gets my motor running anymore, you’re probably not surprised.  We all see it all the time.  But this year… this year in Vegas something was different.  This year I was dazzled.  (Almo is amazing, but I’m not talking about my new relationship.  We’ve settled into a nice rhythm, in case you’re wondering, though).

I was dazzled this year by LG Business Solutions’ Dual-View flat OLED Signage Displays.

LG 55EH5C in a commercial application (professional photo)

LG 55EH5C in a commercial application (professional photo)

 

If you were in Vegas last month you’re feeling me right now, right?  This display is sexy.  SEX-EEEEE.

Wall Mounted Dual-View Display in Portrait Mode

Wall Mounted Dual-View Display in Portrait Mode

 

From a distance, the first thing I noticed was the color, the brightness.  Dark, dark blacks.  Bright, vibrant colors.  Perfect color.  Purrrrr-fect.  When you see it from afar you just have to get closer.  And when you do – this is one thin display.  We’re all used to thin by now.  In fact, we expect it.  But this!  This.  Is.  THIN!  Like the majority of the people I saw checking this display out, I had to hold up my phone for perspective.  With the case on (I have the dropsies with my phone) this LG OLED display is thinner than my phone!  Amazing!

LG Dual View flat OLED Signage - floor/base mount

LG Dual View flat OLED Signage – floor/base mount

So here I am.  Dazzled by the colors.  Dazzled by the depth.  But wait!  LG isn’t done dazzling me yet.  This display is dual sided!  Oh, yes.  You heard me.  There is a crystal clear, vividly bright picture on both sides of this ultra-thin 55” display.  My mouth agape, I gawked in awe at this work of art, imagining the impact to so many applications.  I’m wowed.  I’m floored!  But LG’s about to drive it home.  The dual sides can even show different content simultaneously, and this display can be mounted from the ceiling, from a base on the floor or on a wall.  If that’s not enough, the ceiling mount has a motorized mechanism that will rotate the display to capture every viewing angle in the room.

Dual-view flat OLED Signage display on rotating ceiling mount

Dual-view flat OLED Signage display on rotating ceiling mount

How’d they do that?  How did they not sacrifice picture quality?  How did they keep it soooo unbelievably thin?  LG Magic I suppose.

Mind = Blown.

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