New Game World

Consumer Tech September
By Richard M. Sherwin and Jan Jaben-Eilon

What Recession? High-end Electronics, home automation products storm through Hot-lanta. New Product Launches from New York City.

Atlanta, Georgia: While the recession has hurt the mainstream consumer electronics, home computer retailer and manufacturer, the custom design, networked home and high end pro-sumer side of the market displayed an abundance of new products and services at CEDIA.
While CEDIA  is not  quite recession proof, its customer base still wants the latest, greatest, easiest, fastest and coolest devices and services and there’s no let-up in what they’ll be purchasing this fall and winter.
CEDIA, the Custom Electronics Design Industry Association’s 20th annual event, had to move from its friendly environs in Denver because even in this “challenged” tech market, the show had outgrown the Mile High City. Too bad though, as Atlanta’s convention center may be the worst place, to view, sample, kick the tires of Panasonic’s upcoming 3D home theater system, JVC’s super HD projector system, Yamaha’s wonderful home audio video switching system and Sharp’s giant size super flat HD system. 
Monster Cables’ truly thin HDMI cables and upcoming Lady Gaga headphones and a myriad of (finally) wireless audio-video transmission methods…among 100s of other award-winning audio-video and home automation products, were great to play with but we never saw so many tired buyers and industry gurus, with some exhibits nearly a mile or two in walking distance from each other.
And to illustrate why this show is different than most CE and PC events, you only had to look at the new Blue Ray players to tell the difference. While the rest of us are figuring $200 is about the price we would pay for the Blue Ray experience, Sharp’s, model BD-HP52U will ship in October at a $349 suggested retail. Step-up features include 2GB of onboard memory for BD-Live support, a new chassis system, JPEG photo and MP3 music playback, and an RS-232 control port for system integration control purposes. JVC launched a pro model Blue Ray player recorder (sorry you can’t copy your disks but you can make pro versions of your HD camcorder content). The most realistic applications for the recorders, the company acknowledged, is making copies and edited programming from video camera footage or making quick Blu-ray duplicates of commercial videos from daily shoots, and similar legitimate commercial pre- and post-production applications.
The decks will also play back Blu-ray Discs in FullHD resolution as well as DVDs.
The models, which come from JVC's Pro Products, division, include the SR-HD1500 and SR-HD1250 Blu-ray Disc and HDD recorders. Each has a built-in Blu-ray recorder and an internal hard disk drive for easy duplication and disc authoring without a PC.

Both will record professional BDMV (with menu) or BDAV discs. Advanced MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 (H.264) encoding provides support for HD and SD sources, and a built-in format converter can down-convert HD content for recording to a standard DVD. They range from $2,000 to $2,500.
High-end audio maker NAD added built-in Wi-Fi, PC networking, 7.1-channel analog outputs and embedded 1GB flash memory to its next generation of Blue-ray players, cost $999-suggested T577 and $1,999 Master-series M56. Both products are the company's first networked devices, and both feature wired Ethernet port and embedded Wi-Fi to stream BD-Live content from the Internet. They also feature DLNA certification to stream audio, video and photos stored on a networked PC.

And while you and I try not to spend more than $50 for a home telephone, Panasonic showed off a telephony system that I would like to spring for because of its usefulness and time- and money-saving features. Its’ DECT 6.0 telephone system enables users to transfer up to 600 mobile-phone contacts to its built-in directory via Bluetooth.
The two-line phone, model KX-TG9382T, is Energy Star certified, includes a 40-minute digital answering machine, three-line conferencing capability, Silent mode, and has a keypad and speakerphone on the base unit and handsets.
Additionally, the base unit can be paired with any Bluetooth-enabled headset for hands-free use.
The transfer option on the phone's menu screen guides a user through the process, displaying each entry as it is automatically transferred in alphabetical order, allowing users to track progress.
"Until now, businesspeople and consumers have had to manage their cell-phone and home or home-office phone directories separately or, at best, transfer phonebook entries one at a time, which is time-consuming," said Joe Taylor, president of Panasonic Communications Company of North America. "With the KX-TG9382T, even a 600-name phonebook transfers in just a few minutes, so it's easier than ever to keep your contacts at your fingertips."
A base unit with one cordless handset (KX-TG9381T) has a suggested retail of $169. The two-handset/base station bundle (KX-TG9382T) will be $229. The system can be expanded to include up to six handsets (KX-TGA939T, at $79 each.)

Home automation, a staple of this iconic trade show, was for the first time for our team, not such a boring experience. And in private demos, the home appliance makers were joining the multimedia universe with green supporting washers-dryers, dishwashers and refrigerators and yes, there was industry research showing that consumers will use Internet in kitchen and bath for convenience and time savings.  More on that later….as Atlanta was hot enough that we didn’t spend that much time in the demo kitchens.
But what caught our eye from the get-go is how some of these top of the line TVs (designed to be pencil thin, but yet you have to put 65 or more inches of glass somewhere), were placed in these custom designed simulated living rooms and dens. Also, while plasma and LCD are now less likely to be affected by natural lighting, there’s still a strong emphasis in this segment of the industry, in making lighting just perfect for the perfect TV, Blue Ray player and $50,000 audio system.
Omnimount Systems Inc., has been custom building TV mounts – both OEM and for their own products – for 30 years. New this year is the large mount for the Panasonic 103-inch home theatre TV, designed for the “guy who has too much money and too much time,” says Erick Valkingburg, sales operations manager for Omnimount. The mount sells for $2,900; the TV – according to Panasonic – sells for $50,000. Sixteen bolts and a reinforced, secured wall are required.
Trying to be ecologically mindful, Omnimount stresses that it has taken out all “extra material” in making the product. “The packaging is soy-based ink and the owner’s manual is on the box itself,” Valkingburg pointed out. Recyclable materials are used. The product has been selling for about one year, but this is the first CEDIA in which Omnimount has stressed the eco-friendliness of its products.
Lutron Electronics Co. Inc. was showing off its two brand new lighting control systems, with new shades and integrated products at the CEDIA show. The company which invented the simple dimmer in 1961,  now has both residential and commercial controls for lighting and window shades and employs a proprietary radio frequency within all its systems, says Melissa Andresko, residential media relations manager.
Since the beginning of the year, Lutron has also offered its Eco Home Product collection. “Once people understand the amount of energy they can save, they definitely respond.” Andresko thinks it’s a no-brainer. “You don’t have to give up anything to save money – unlike taking colder showers or turning down the thermostat. You can both save money and make your house look better.”
The behind-the-scenes looks at the chip and system makers like IDT’s way of smoothing out computer video content to TV for Youtube and many of us who get their video from the Internet, was very informative. Because even the $5,000 Sony Bravia XBR Internet-enabled 65-inch TV, looks like drek when you upload a video from Youtube. But companies like IDT and Marvell are increasingly making their presence and product known by selling these chips to the TV makers, in order to improve the content you watch no matter what the video source.
Speaking of video sources, while several of the big TV and Blue Ray player makers have announced support for  a universally agreed upon 3D home TV standard, Panasonic is taking the biggest leading role in 3D by partnering and become the exclusive A/V partner of Avatar, the upcoming super spectacular 3D film by Titanic director James Cameron. In 3D previews of the film here, there’s a chance that this film will finally get 3D TV technology into the mainstream for both home, home theater and regular movie theater use.
James Cameron, Avatar’s director said: "I believe 3D is how we will experience movies, gaming and computing in the near future," he urges. "3D is not something you watch, it's a reality you feel you could step into." Panasonic also provided some of their pro equipment to be used in the making of the film.
Always a big draw at home automation, audio-video showcases, SpeakerCraft didn’t disappoint. It’s newly unveiled Nirv system promises to be the “nextgen” in A/V distribution and control systems. “Being allowed to create the product from the ground up with no legacy system requirements gave us incredible design freedom,” says Jason Craze, SpeakerCraft’s Director of Electronic Development, who headed up the project. “We wanted the system to be powerful, flexible, simplistic to program and to operate with unparalleled audio and video quality. The system has a modular architecture instead of a massive central hub design. This means the dealer will only need to buy the pieces necessary for the specific system he has designed and upgrading or expanding is as simple as adding what is needed to the network.  For the customer it makes it easier to start with a basic system but add on as your pocket book or technology requirements change.” SpeakerCraft claims that unlike other custom installed A/V systems, programming is so easy and intuitive it can save time and money in that most any installer can perform the functions without the need for a higher priced specialist.
All media, data, control, and communication signals are distributed through a single CAT5 cable making system wiring both simple and cost efficient. Beyond standard A/V distribution, the system also integrates theatre surround sound, home automation, and page / intercom into one easy-to-manage package.
“It’s the first system of its kind that allows the user to own the experience instead of having the experience dictated by the equipment,” said Jeremy Burkhardt, SpeakerCrafts President.
Other home automation companies and networked home designers making their mark at the show included Home Automation, Inc. (HAI), an original attendee of the show and leading manufacturer of integrated security and home automation products since 1985. HAI introduced a Touchscreen interface for its OmniTouch 5.7 system. It allows control of lights and small appliances, security and temperature settings, pool and spa temperatures, ventilation, decorative lighting, Whole Home Audio Systems, surveillance video, and other items linked to an HAI Home Control system. In addition it features a larger 5.7 inch LCD display using TFT technology for rich colors and improved viewing angles. It displays video full screen (Touchscreen Hub and Encoder necessary for video), has a speaker instead of a beeper, and has a built-in USB drive connector to allow easy firmware updates.

“Eco-friendly” –was once again the keyword at CEDIA. From companies that manufacture mounting hardware for TVs, to TV manufacturers, nearly all were touting and marketing the energy savings derived from their new products.
Mitsubishi’s new Laservue is the “only TV brand with a laser light system that is so energy efficient, it consumes less than a 99 watt light bulb consistently,” says Nick Norton, senior brand manager. Apparently this came as a surprise to the TV manufacturer. “We knew it would be more efficient to illuminate the screen, but we thought it would use half the energy consumption and it’s actually one-quarter the energy consumption.”
Based on this discovery, Mitsubishi launched a “carbon neutral” marketing campaign on Facebook. For the first 5,000 Facebook and Twitter members following the campaign, the company would donate $1 to offset carbon usage.
According to Norton, studies indicate that 80 percent of TV purchasers said energy efficiency was the most important feature in their buying decision.
Mitsubishi was also exhibiting its Unisen series that provides a “unification of the senses. The entire line is an integrated sound projector that makes the sound bounce off the walls of the room, and you don’t need to hookup to any speakers.” Two of the LCD flat panel TVs started shipping in July, with the third in early September. The screen sizes of the three are 40-inch, 46-inch and 52-inch.
Even Microsoft – which was displaying its new Windows 7, to be launched October 22 – pointed to its power management features designed to save energy.
Only Crestron minimized any unique energy features of its products. “Our products are by nature ecofriendly,” said Vincent Bruno, director of marketing at Crestron.
Sony, Sharp, Panasonic and LG already have “greener” TVs and sophisticated recycling initiatives in place.
BYTES & PIECES:
--Firelight Technologies Pty, Ltd., leader in game development audio products, has become the first to utilize the latest DTS technology. It’s now integrated into their FMOD Sound System products. DTS Neural Surround is able to provide fully immersive 7.1 channel surround sound over a 5.1 or 2.0 signal.
--Logitech announced its new Squeezebox Touch Wi-Fi music player which uses a touch screen with an existing Wi-Fi network to stream digital tunes to a stereo. It includes a 4.3-inch color touch screen, support for high-resolution encoding and 802.11g wireless networking which optimizes network speeds and provides a secure connection – all for $299.99. Logitech also introduced its Squeezebox Radio Wi-Fi music player for $199.99. Both the Logitech Squeezebox Radio and Squeezebox Touch integrates into an existing WiFi or Ethernet-based home network.
--JVC unveiled several new home theater products, including a line of D-ILA front projectors, a 3D LCD monitor and a 32-inch LCD monitor that measures a mere 6.4 mm deep.
--Stewart Filmscreen announced five new products, including AcoustiShade that controls both incoming light and distracting noise coming through windows; LED Accent Lighting System, designed to enhance viewing environments and create mood lighting for any room in the house; an LED lighting system designed to backlight the Cabaret projection screens with the appropriate color setting to enhance viewing environments; the Slimline CineCurve is now applicable for smaller home theater rooms due to its newly redesigned housing that is 2 inches narrower on each side; and the Americana, its second retractable screen created especially for the lifestyle customer.
--Sherwood Newcastle announced several new products: its BDP-5004 Blu-ray player (MSRP of $199.95) to be available in October and high-performance RD-8504 Receiver (MSRP of $599.95) available in September; in addition, initial shipments of the R-904N NetBoxx Internet A/V receiver which can playback both physical disc media and Internet/streaming media without requiring a PC; and to ship by the end of September, R-972 receiver with Trinnov Optimizer at an MSRP of $1,799.95 and the R-774 A/V receiver with an MSRP of $849.95.