You've seen one booth babe you've seen them all.

Or have you?

With the slow economy, many CEDIA 2008 exhibitors were forced to cut costs. The result: some of the homeliest booth babes ever to work the show floor.

Which was the most unsightly? We'll let you decide.

Click here to check out the worst booth babes of CEDIA Expo 2008.

Runco is phasing out its step-down Vidikron brand.

The new "focus, focus, focus is Runco, Runco, Runco," says Andrew Ard of KA Marketing, an independent rep for Runco.

"We've decided to realign our business focus so the center of our business is Runco," says Gerry Perkel, CEO of Planar, the parent company of Runco. "Runco is the key brand, Runco is the key product portfolio. ..."

In fact, says Perkel, "We're committed to building the Best Damn Runco Ever."


That's BDRE, the new company slogan. "We're not just trying to get back to the Runco that was, but to extend that even further, to new products and new technologies," Perkel says.

Runco is not eliminating Vidikron altogether. It just doesn't plan to invest…

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…

PRESS RELEASE

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…

Get ready for the next generation of Windows Vista Media Center, originally known as "Fiji" and now officially dubbed "Media Center TV Pack."

Microsoft is expected to tell all during CEDIA Expo 2008, but for now, even the savviest Microsoft followers are scratching their heads.

Microsoft released TV Pack to OEMs on July 17, and PC makers are beginning to talk about their products – first S1Digital at The Green Button, and now Fluid Digital.

Fluid Digital, based in The Woodlands, Texas, announced this morning its new Media Center with TV Pack.

What is TV Pack?

Even with all of the controversy surrounding Microsoft and Media Center in the past, it seems that Fiji has generated more angst and ire than other Microsoft initiatives.

TV Pack is still shrouded in secrecy. OEMs still are not allowed to talk about its innate features and…

Today is the last day to enter your Media Center installation in Microsoft's Windows Media Center Ultimate Install contest.

If you're the lucky winner, you get a free ride to CEDIA 2008 and a press party thrown in your honor (Saturday, Sept. 6).

Last year's winner, Imperium Smart Systems, was lavished with free press, and this year's champ has even more to gain: flight and accommodations for CEDIA 2008, a trip for two to Microsoft, $1,000 in cash, a professional photo shoot of the job, and a bunch of goodies for the accommodating homeowners – Xbox360 Elite, games, a couple of Zunes and more.


Todd Rutherford of Microsoft's eHome group says the company has received a variety of entries. He reminds dealers that the contest is not just about home control, but about "the entire Media Center experience."

He says, "None of our criteria is centered on using…

Wisdom Audio will offer product training for the Sage Series architectural and in-room audio systems at CEDIA Expo 2008.

Installers who work with these systems can learn more about them by visiting Room 606 at the Colorado Convention Center on September 6 between from 8-9:30 a.m.

Wisdom will conduct a brief overview of the system and cover installation details on both the on-wall and in-wall versions of the Sage Series speakers.

They will also go through setup and calibration of the system, including Audyssey Laboratories MultEQ XT room correction and software.

Those interested in attending can register during CEDIA or sign up online.

Sage Series Training

Date: Saturday, Sept. 6
Time: 8:00–9:30 a.m.
Where: Room 606 at the Colorado Convention Center
Registration: During show or online

Welcome to the third year of CEDIANews.com, brought to you by the editors of CE Pro, the leading reporters in the custom electronics industry.

This year, CEDIANews.com promises more than ever – more fun, more editorial, more opinions, more contests, and more useful information than you will find anywhere else.

Historically, this site has generated 300,000 page views, thanks to our exlusive CEDIA Expo coverage and the ease of navigating the site.

This year also, for the first time, we are producing a special publication, CE Pro's CEDIA Guide, to provide loads of product previews before the show. It is the only book guaranteed to ship before the show.

Beginning now, we want to hear from you.

In the Comments section below, please let us know your thoughts on CEDIA Expo 2008 and the CEDIANews.com

Exhibitors, you can find more information on advertising and editorial here.
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September 5, 2007 -- HAUPPAUGE, NEW YORK -- Electrograph Systems, Inc., one of the nation's largest display technology distributors, today announced it has teamed up with CEDIA, the premier trade association for the residential design & installation of electronics systems, for its all-new Display Technology Experience (DTE) reseller events. Coming to New York and Ft. Lauderdale this fall, Electrograph's DTE training and networking programs have been enhanced with home automation content to accommodate professional resellers serving the residential market.

According to Sam Taylor, president of Electrograph Systems, Inc., "The reality is that almost half of our reseller partners are selling into both the residential and the commercial markets. And Electrograph is committed to helping resellers grow their businesses with the best products, training and services for these industries." He continued, "We are so pleased to have the leading residential electronics systems organization on board to augment our DTE programs. The wealth of knowledge offered through CEDIA will be invaluable to our reseller community."

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