September 3, 2008 -- CEDIA EXPO -- Booth 469B -- The Media Center Integrator Alliance (MCIA) announces its entrance into the custom install channel to drive adoption and raise awareness of the Media Center ecosystem. Comprised of some of the industry's top companies, MCIA was founded to provide both integrators and manufacturers with best practices and training for technologies using Media Center.

Through the MCIA, the industry for the first time will enjoy a central point of contact and interaction for all things Media Center. The founding members of MCIA now comprise the Board of Directors and include Gabe Gravning of AMD, Fred Bargetzi of Crestron, Ameer Karim of HP, Greg Schlechter of Intel, Seale Moorer of Life|ware, Kevin Collins of Microsoft Corporation, and Brian Paper of Niveus Media.

"Based on the shared idea that the capabilities of the manufacturers and integrators that currently support or wish to support Media Center technologies are greater when combined, MCIA hopes to pool resources and ideas…

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WESTBURY, N.Y. — VidaBox LLC proudly presents its new line of automation and media management packaged solutions called vAutomation, powered by Charmed Quark Controller (CQC), the popular control and automation system from Charmed Quark Systems, Ltd. As an extremely powerful, professional-level software package, CQC allows mid-to-high-end custom integrators to offer automation solutions with the features, flexibility, and extensibility formerly found only on more expensive and proprietary systems.

"One of our goals has always been to simplify every AV project as much as possible for the custom installer and integrator," says Steven Cheung, president of VidaBox. "By pre-installing CQC with our VidaBox systems, our dealers can now offer complete solutions where users can access their entire AV media library while controlling any automatable system in the home — right at their fingertips — through a single, easy-to-use, customized touch screen interface. CQC can control or accept feedback from devices via TCP/IP, RS-232, IR, and other standard communication protocols, making it compatible with a…

AudioControl is unveiling at CEDIA 2008 a new high definition theater platform.

The Concert AVR-1, developed on the new generation platform, is a surround sound receiver/controller designed for premium performance.

Don't just admire it for its high gloss front panel, blue LED display, and custom designed bezel. The unit has gold plated, high current 5-way binding posts and 120 individual I/Os for video and audio connections.

The Concert AVR-1 supports the latest surround codecs -- Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master -- along with traditional formats of Dolby Digital and DTS High Resolution.

The receiver accepts signals from up to five discrete full HDMI 1080p inputs. The dual HDMI outputs are assignable by the integrator to allow for priority switching via the display device.

Component, composite and S-Video signals are also automatically upconverted and scaled to their maximum potential resolutions.

The AVR-1 employs AudioControl’s Class H amplifier topology…

Neothings, Inc. will introduce at CEDIA 2008 three new products that extend its line of Cat 5-based video distribution systems: an 8x16 matrix switch, a stackable 12x8 matrix that can grow up to 12x96, and a surface mount Cat 5 receiver.

The Delano is an 8 input by 16 output HD component video matrix switch, featuring RCA inputs and Cat5 outputs. The system can send full HD video up to 1,000 feet away to the Hornet Cat 5 receiver. Neothings expects to being production shipments on October 1st. The Delano will have an MSRP of $2,999.

Larger sports bar systems will benefit from the Hawthorne, a 12 input by 8 output stacking matrix. Each input has a fully buffered, high bandwidth passthrough connection. This allows multiple units to be stacked building up to a 12 x 96 non blocking matrix. Only the 8 matrix outputs are Cat5, so multiple Hawthornes can be stacked with the Imperial, creating a mixed cabling environment of both Cat5…

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DENVER, Colo. — Liberty Wire & Cable, worldwide supplier of a broad range of wire and cable products for the audio/video trade, including custom installers and systems integrators, has announced publication of its first guide to fiber optic products and solutions, now available to the custom Installation community at CEDIA EXPO 2008.

Designed for A/V and Custom Installation professionals, Fiber Optic Solutions is a full-color, easy to read guide to products, solutions and services. Its packed with vital information about bulk fiber and bulk fiber connectors, virtually unbreakable durable fiber, field termination kits, molded and custom fiber assemblies, and electronics using fiber connections — making it a convenient literature reference for busy professionals.

Products covered in its pages include Liberty’s best-selling bulk break-out fiber cables, bulk distribution cables, plenum-rated cables, Organizer Packs of 25 connectors in reusable carrying-cases, a DigitaLinx Fiber Optic Extender, stock and custom wall plates, and Corning’s UniCam Premium Tool Kit, which…

AUSTIN, Texas — NetStreams, the global leader in networked A/V systems based on Internet Protocol (IP) standards, has announced its DigiLinX 202 Authorization Training dealer training session for CEDIA Expo 2008.

Dates:
September 4th at 9 a.m.
September 5th at 9 a.m.

Class: DigiLinX 202 Authorization Training

Description: Each day will begin with a discussion of NetStreams products followed by an in-depth look at how to design your next project for use with the NetStreams DigiLinX system.

Part two of the training will be a hands-on session with NetStreams equipment and the DigiLinX dealer setup program. Dealers wishing to attend the afternoon portion of the training must have a Windows PC (or equivalent) and a NetStreams demo kit in order to participate.

Dealers that participate in both the morning and afternoon session will be eligible for CEDIA CEU credit, and will have completed the NetStreams 202 Dealer…

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Furman, a world-leading provider of power management solutions, today announced that industry-recognized engineer Garth Powell will conduct a training session at the upcoming CEDIA Expo 2008 in Denver, Colo. The hour-long seminar, entitled "AC Power — The Foundation of Every Premium Home Theater System," will be held on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 2:00 p.m. in the Quartz B room at the Hyatt Regency. In his presentation, Powell will share his experience to aid other industry professionals in achieving the highest sound and video quality through smart use of AC power.

Today's A/V professionals face unprecedented challenges when it comes to AC power and its effect on sensitive digital equipment. With ground loops, hum bars, and damage from surges, comprehensive power management control and conditioning is no longer an option for the performance and protection of A/V components — it's a necessity.

During the session, Powell will cover how the right power conditioning technology…

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – OmniMount will offer two Continuing Education Unit (CEU) manufacturers' training sessions at CEDIA Expo 2008 in Denver, CO. OmniMount's National Training Manager, Steve Singleton, will focus on OmniMount's innovative custom mounting solutions to help dealers "Make Every Job Count" by maximizing the salability and profit potential of each opportunity. The course is open to all system designers and custom installers – CEDIA members will earn CEU credits.

OmniMount's Innovative Custom Mounting Solutions training course will provide installation professionals with information on the company's full line of unique mounting products designed to make installations easier and more cost effective. Attendees will get in-depth information about the world's best visual display applications, including OmniMount's new MotionPicture series of powered mounts, as well as other projector, custom component installations, and custom A/V furniture solutions.

Both sessions will be held in the Hyatt Regency Room Quartz B – dates and times are as follows:

• Thursday, September 4th…

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Motivated both by good conscience and by a heightened nationwide interest in "green" living, Richard Gray's Power Company announces a new campaign to educate its certified dealer base about the potential tax credits and other energy efficiency benefits that its power management systems can provide. The campaign kicks off at CEDIA EXPO 2008 with an RGPC PowerVault training session on Friday, September 5 th , from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Colorado Convention Center, Room 606.

"Clearly, we are not saying the PowerVault or any RGPC product is ‘green'," said RGPC President Rick Komendera. "However, if an RGPC dealer can sell a $25,000 power management device like PowerVault because the homeowner offsets a percentage of that cost with rebates or tax credits earned by installing a renewable energy system, everyone benefits—the dealer, the homeowner and the planet."

All RGPC product trainings and certifications now will cover tips and selling points about intelligent energy consumption. The company particularly aims…

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PACIFIC, Missouri — Lowell Manufacturing held a 3-day product training session with its CEDIA representative sales force and local dealers to provide hands-on interaction and competitive analysis of Lowell’s rack and power products.

“Seeing and participating in product demonstrations gives our reps and dealers a tangible understanding of how Lowell racks and power products give customers a better value,” said John Lowell, president of Lowell Manufacturing.

“Product training combined with the opportunity to tour the company’s highly automated manufacturing facility provides enhanced appreciation for how Lowell produces furniture-quality, US-made racks and advanced surge suppression products with 10-year warranty.”

The company’s CEDIA representative sales force is comprised of the Custom Integration Representative Alliance (CIRA) that consists of fourteen regional sales agencies providing a direct national solution for servicing the custom home integration industry. CIRA representatives and Lowell management will be in the Lowell booth at CEDIA.

Visit Lowell at http://www.lowellmfg.com or…