Sanus Systems is at CEDIA Expo 2009 showing off its new Super Slim Mounts, which allow CE pros to mount flat-panel TVs as close as .55 inches from a wall or .82 inches when using a tilting model.

Sanus says it redesigned its booth (No. 2458) to make it more educational for CE pros, demoing custom technologies like:

• ProSet post-installation height and level adjustment
• FollowThru cable management
• Adjustable Virtual Axis tilt

Sanus is also displaying its HDpro Series, a handpicked selection of Sanus products designed specifically for CE pros.

Among the new products is a series of AV equipment racks that "offer proven Sanus quality at a competitive price."

The CFR115 (15U) and CFR127 (27U) offer a turnkey solution and come with side and rear panels and a lockable front door. The HDpro CFR518 (18U) and HDpro CFR535 (35U) are fully customizable and offer a deeper configuration of 711.2mm for large components.

Also new are the…

Sharp’s new BD-HP52U Aquos Blu-ray Player will feature Netflix streaming.

The BD-HP52U, which is displayed in Sharp's CEDIA Expo 2009 booth, will ship in October.

Sharp expects Netflix streaming to be available in November. “We’re in the midst of signing a contract with Netflix,” says Sharp spokesperson Melissa Non.

The BD-HP52U models that ship in October will be able to get the Netflix "watch instantly" feature through an update, while the ones shipped after the contract is signed will be Netflix-ready.

Other features:

• RS-232 port
• BD Live support
• HDMI 1.3 digital output
• Deep Color
• AQUOS link
• Surround-sound formats include Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio via HDMI digital output
• Decodes Dolby Digital Plus
• Anti-vibration chassis

Sharp will join a growing list of manufacturers that have partnered with Netflix to offer its “watch instantly” library of 17,000 movies and TV titles. MSRP: $379

AMX has released some details about its CEDIA Expo 2009 contest in which dealers can win a home theater.

The contest was teased in our “Where to Find Free Stuff at CEDIA Expo 2009” guide, but AMX now offers more on its “AMXhome Configure This!” challenge.

Basically, CEDIA Expo 2009 attendees that enter the contest in AMX’s booth (No. 1707) are given some parameters for a system installation. They can then use an AMXhome Web Configuration Tool at several stations in the booth to design a solution.

The solutions that AMX deems best win various prizes, including a grand prize $27,653 home theater and Modero MVP-5200 EXPerience Kits.

From AMX:

Build an AMXhome using the AMXhome Web Configuration Tool from the request of a ‘typical home owner’, submit your solution for review and win one of the…

CEDIA Expo 2009 isn't about the Atlanta nightlife or getting free stuff from manufacturers.

But they are nice perks.

CE Pro can’t help you much with the nightlife, but we can help you get some free stuff from Expo Exhibitors. Here is a sample of some contests and giveaways on the CEDIA Expo 2009 show floor:

FireFold (booth No. 6429): Photo with Model Spokeswoman

Looking to make a splash with CE pros (especially the male ones) in its CEDIA Expo debut, FireFold is offering attendees a chance to meet model Linsey, get a photo with her and download it from a unique URL.

It’s also giving away tote bags, bottle openers, lanyards, koozies, sports bags and more.

Elk Products (booth No. 315): Free Touchscreen

Attendees can register to win an ELK-TS07 touchscreen and…

Sony and Harman International are looking to create a new buzz at CEDIA Expo 2009 in Atlanta.

Both companies are bolstering their Expo presence in efforts to increase their shares of the integration market.

Sony and Harman both restructured to work better with custom dealers.

Sony: Less Products, More Space

“This is the biggest [CEDIA Expo] for us ever,” says Sony PR manager Greg Belloni.

Sony will have its largest booth ever at the upcoming show — it also appears to be one of the largest at this year's Expo — but its emphasis won’t be on product demonstrations. It’s more about conversations with dealers and meetings.

“Rather than putting out all our new products as we’ve done in the past, we’re focusing more on products that matter to the CEDIA crowd,” Belloni says.

Sony’s ultimate goal at CEDIA Expo is…

CEDIA has asked us to pass along one final reminder that early bird registration for CEDIA Expo 2009 ends July 15.

CEDIA says "budget-conscious attendees can save as much as $60 on tradeshow access and hundreds of dollars on education by registering before the deadline."

CEDIA Expo 2009 is taking place Sept. 9-13 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

Some of the highlights include:

• More than 50 hours of free education available for CEDIA Members
• Keynote speaker Buzz Aldrin will address members at Annual Meeting & Membership Breakfast
• Four all-new discussion panels address hot-button issues such as HDMI and 3D
• Annual Electronic Lifestyles Awards Banquet will include 20th Anniversary Celebration

Stay tuned for more coverage of CEDIA Expo 2009.

Related:

D&M Holdings and Planar, two CEDIA Expo fixtures, aren't exhibiting at CEDIA Expo 2009 in Atlanta.

That means CE pros won’t find Planar’s Runco brand or D&M’s Denon, Marantz, McIntosh, Boston Acoustics and Escient brands on the CEDIA Expo 2009 show floor.

Does this surprise you? In this economy it shouldn’t.

“The trade show industry is seeing an overall decrease of 20 to 25 percent,” says CEDIA director of PR Jamie Antcliff. “CEDIA Expo has experienced some downsizing of exhibitor booths.”

“We consider residential and custom installers as crucial to our current and future business,” says Bob Weissburg, president of D&M Holdings NA. “The decision not to participate [in CEDIA Expo 2009] was a very difficult one.”

D&M’s Explanation

The decision for D&M was about “allocating marketing…

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin of the Apollo 11 crew will be the keynote speaker at the CEDIA Expo.

Aldrin, who is celebrating the 40-year anniversary of the first lunar landing, will address CEDIA members during the association’s annual meeting and membership breakfast on Friday, Sept. 11 at 8 a.m.

The Annual Meeting & Membership Breakfast is open to CEDIA Members only. Members can register to attend as part of their registration for CEDIA Expo.

Like anyone who is old enough, I can vividly recall exactly where I was on July 20, 1969 when Aldrin and Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. I even have an A/V memory to go with it:

I was sitting inches away from the screen of my parent's clunky old RCA TV console cabinet watching. Boy, was it a lousy TV and that moment really exacerbated the bad reception. The images were fuzzy and…

EHX and CE Pro are proud to partner with the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) to bring the EHX experience of a dedicated Custom Electronic exhibition to the 2010 International CES.

As part or our continuing effort to better serve the dealers and integrators in this vibrant industry, CES and EHX maximize the value proposition by offering exclusive benefits to EHX@CES attendees and exhibitors. Far more than a pavilion within another show, EHX@CES is a dedicated show experience for the custom electronics industry.

• Over 50 exhibiting companies participating at EHX@CES, plus hundreds more within CES
• FREE Industry Training on the expo floor at the CE Pro Headquarters
• FREE High End Audio Demo Room access Exclusive EHX@CES Attendee Reception located at CE Pro Headquarters on the expo floor
• Meet and Greet opportunity with the industry leading editors, writers and analysts Access to EHX@CES host hotel room block and discounts

Reach More Custom Electronic Professionals

Here are just a few benefits of participating in EHX@CESA quality audience driven by the…

The changing times require a shift from the same-old same-old, and EHX Spring 2010, which will be held March 24-27, 2010 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., promises to deliver on that with a valuable and fresh new experience that will provide a road map for new growth for custom electronics professionals.

Driven from the leadership perspective of CE Pro's editorial staff, EHX Spring 2010 will reflect the innovation, creativity and experiences dealers are applying across the country in order to succeed in today's changing market.

Attendees to the CE Pro New Opportunities Show will benefit from the most relevant and timely business and technology development sessions delivered in new informal, interactive and personal formats. EHX Spring will expand your view on the potential of new revenue sources through a variety of dealer and industry lead panels and super sessions. Other highlights include our packed expo floor that focuses on the hottest new technologies.

In addition…