The beauty of an high definition TV (HDTV) is that their maintenance isn’t actually all that difficult. You will, however, have to be careful of what you can do and how to do it.

A microfibre cloth is the ideal cleaning implement since they don’t attract dust and leave zero lint behind. They can be effective at wiping a surface clean and are also good at picking up oil residue that tends to stick on the screen surface when grubby hands make contact.

Start by gently cleaning along the edges of the screen, corner to corner. Then use the same pattern until you get to the centre. If there’s any leftover dust or blemishes, gently rub over those areas again until you get the desired results. Fingerprints and other marks can sometimes be a nuisance to eliminate but just be patient and rub them off in slow, deliberate swipes. You can dampen the cloth a little bit with warm water, if you want, but not too much or excess water could affect the screen.

From there, it’s usually best to use the other side of the cloth to wipe down the rest of the TV, including the stand. After you’re done, put it in a glass of hot water (with no soap) and leave it there for an hour or so. Take it out, rinse the excess water and hang to dry. When it’s ready, it’ll be exactly as it was before and ready to use again.

Adapted from PC World Canada

A new all-in-one package from NEC, ideal for your lobby area to help impress, educate or entertain your visitors.

This display system, highlighted by thr 40″ NEC AccuSync PV40 digital LCD TV, is designed to provide a cost-effective, turnkey solution that is highly flexible and easily editable.

Even non-technical uses have the ability to tailor rich-media content to a variety of applications.

• High-definition (HD) NEC LCD display
• Integrated tuner
• Detachable TruSurround XT speaker
• Custom tilt wall mounting system
• SceneStudio Pro content management software
• EscapeWire Solutions design voucher
• NOW Micro Medius Digital Engine
• Tripp Lite TLP606B power strip

The NEC Lobby Signage Solution is now available from Advanced Products Group, supplying digital signage solutions in Canada.

New from NEC is the 2×2 LCD Tilematrix™ Video wall solution, an all-in-one, easy-to-configure and cost-effective solution ideal for dynamic digital signage, information displa and command & control applications.

• XtraView® wide-angle viewing technology
• Rapid Reponse™ technology
• 6-axis color engine
• High-efficiency backlight
• Digital factory PerfectAlign® mounting system
• Premium quality Extron® cables
• Tripp Lit Isobar6 surge compressor

Advanced Products Group supply the NEC and other large video wall display solutions in Canada.

NEC recently commissioned the University of Utah to conduct research on productivity gains of widescreen monitors versus dual or single traditional aspect ratio monitors.

This study compared 26-Inch MultiSync widescreen, 24-inch MultiSync widescreen and 20-inch MultiSync traditional format (MS LCD2070NX at 1600×1200 resolution) monitors.

Additional references were made to the findings from the 2003 multi-monitor productivity study which compared dual versus single 18-inch MultiSync traditional format monitors (MS LCD1855NX at 1280×1024 resolution).

Ninety-six respondents were randomly assigned a display sequence which included a single 20-inch monitor configuration, a dual 20-inch monitor configuration, and either a 24-inch Wide or 26-inch Wide monitor configuration.

Respondents were randomly assigned both text and spreadsheet editing tasks, which were completed on each display configuration. Time and editing performance measurements were analyzed for each respondent on each monitor configuration.

You can download the NEC case study here and find out the results.

With our APG Displays division, we are used to installations that have impact with digital signage and large plasma and LCD installations.

As is our sister company in the UK - PSCO with these recent installations.

HMV: A New Generation of Retail Technology (Merry Hill, UK)

PSCo worked with TouchVision’s Jim Ofield, Engineering and Services Director, to deploy a next generation 3 x 3 Infinite Plasma wall in the HMV’s store window to enable advertising of music promotions and other features. The seamless wall solution is perfect for use in shop windows with its new anti-reflective coating, and tiny gap between screens.

Jura: The Cutting-Edge of Technology (Mayfair, UK)

Jura, the luxury watch retailer, recently invested in a renovation which saw the addition of the world’s largest plasma screen to their Mayfair store. In addition, two 46” Vitze interactive touch screens were also installed forming an extraordinary in-store AV solution.

Extraordinary A/V for Channel 4’s ‘Big 4’ Art Project
Channel 4 launched the Big Art Project as part of their celebration of the network’s 25th anniversary. A 50-foot-high metal ‘4′ was constructed at the channel’s Horseferry Road headquarters and was unveiled by Culture Minister Margaret Hodge. The ‘4’ mirrors the channel’s on-air identity with metal bars forming the channel’s logo when viewed from a particular angle becomes instantly recognizable.

Four artists will have the opportunity to customize the ‘Big 4’ over the next 12 months. The first adaptation of the work, entitled Heart, was by British artist/photographer Nick Knight, with sound design by Nick Ryan. The current adaptation by Mark Titchner, Find Our World in Yours Find Your World in Ours, allows the public to record their own thoughts and feelings about the media. Edited footage is then played back on video monitors mounted on the structure. Mark Titchner’s design used six weather resistant AQUiVO outdoor screens to enhance the interactivity of the sculpture.

The robust screens feature a toughened glass front and an anti-reflective surface that makes them the perfect choice for temporary or permanent outdoor installations.

ref. Digital Signage Universe

InfoComm International, the leading trade association representing the professional audiovisual industry today announced that the International Organization for Standardization’s (ISO) United States representative, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), has accredited InfoComm’s Certified Technology Specialist and Certified Technology Specialist – Installation credentials under ISO/IEC 17024.ISO/IEC 17024 establishes a global benchmark for the certification of personnel. ANSI accredits standards developers, certification bodies and technical advisory groups to both the ISO and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

Many members of the Advanced team are Certified technology Specialists, adding even more reassurance when dealing with our a/v experts at Advanced Solutions, for planning and installation, and our other divisions.

Certified Technology Specialists (CTS) serve clients by creating, operating and servicing AV solutions, while meeting client’s needs, on time and within budget. A Certified Technology Specialist - Installation (CTS-I) installs and maintains audiovisual systems by following specifications, schematics, codes, and safety protocols; administering installation process logistics; troubleshooting and problem solving systems; maintaining tools and equipment; and communicating with clients, designers, other trades, other installers and staff, all while providing exemplary customer service. Ongoing professional education is required to maintain the credentials. A certification is valid for three years and certified individuals must earn 30 renewal units (RUs) within each three-year period, remain in good standing, and abide by the CTS Code of Ethics and Conduct.

The NEC 52″ MultiSync will certainly attract a crowd making it ideal for digital signage and corporate boardrooms.

The ultra-thin-frame model boasts the Digital Signage Technology Suite (DSTS) with nearly 30 feautres that enhance display management, improve screen performance and lower cost of ownership:

• Professional grade panel
• Ultra-thin bezel (19mm)
• Full HD (high-definition) display
• U-shaped bulbs allow for more uniform image
• Durable, sealed module prevents contaminants and dust
• Optional SpectraViewII™ color calibration kit
• Built-in expansion slot
• Optional speakers (AV model only) and stand

The NEC 52″ MultiSync LCD5220 is available from April 2008 from Advanced Products Group or if you may be interested in using the MultiSync in your next A/V installation?

Panasonic President Toshihiro Sakamoto kicked off the first day of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas with a number of announcements, including a new 150-inch plasma TV.

The 150-inch plasma is now the largest plasma screen available in the world coming in at 11 feet wide, with a 2,000-by-4,000 pixel resolution.

“It’s capable of an amazing picture that is four times the resolution of our current full HD plasma displays,” Sakamoto said. “It gives new meaning to the words reality TV.”

Two years ago, Panasonic unveiled a 103-inch plasma TV that was, at the time, the largest available plasma TV, which went on to sell over 3,000 units during 2007, beating any forecasts Panasonic may have had.
The new 150 inch plasma TV has been “designed especially for digital cinema and commercial installations, but might also be found in some very luxurious special homes in the future,” Sakamoto speculated.

Watch out for these coming to Canada soon.

A Canada wide event focusing on the latest advancements in audiovisual technology.

• Unique products
• Collaborative technology
• Digital signage solutions
• Staging Services

The Axis Group Roadshow, touching down in eight cities across Canada, is a Product Showcase and Seminar focusing on the latest in audiovisual technology.

Who should attend?

• IT Managers,
• Facility Managers,
• Purchasing Managers,
• Event Planners,
• Architects and Designers
• Educators

Why attend?

1. Halifax – Tues Jan 29th – Pier 21
2. Montreal – Friday Feb 1st – Centre des Sciences de Montreal 
3. Toronto – Tues Feb 5th – Mississauga Convention Center
4. Winnipeg – Thurs Feb 8th – Winnipeg Convention Centre
5. Regina – Tues Feb 12th – Conexus Arts Centre
6. Saskatoon – Thurs Feb 14th – Western Development Museum
7. Calgary – Wed Feb 20th – Calgary Convention Center
8. Vancouver – Tues March 11th- Renaissance Hotel 

For additional information, visit www.axisgroup.ca/roadshow

Event Sponsors

This week, Panasonic announced the debut of its newest LCD home theater projector with 1080p (1,920 x 1,080 pixel) native resolution: the PT-AE2000E. Designed for savvy home theater enthusiasts and audio video professionals who desire an immersive home entertainment viewing experience, the new projector delivers 1080p images with a carefully-tuned lens system to reproduce remarkable detail and clarity with 1,500 lumen brightness and 16,000:1 contrast ratio.

The new PT-AE2000E model is the next evolution of its predecessor, the PT-AE1000E, which has been widely accepted and used to display professional movies. The new projector reproduces the original picture quality intended by Hollywood movie and television directors - all within the comfort of consumers’ home theaters.

Beautiful Picture Quality with Improved Clarity

The PT-AE2000E model comes equipped with Panasonic’s new optical system that’s designed to display beautifully detailed images with a captivating brightness of 1,500 lumens. Careful craftsmanship is incorporated into each individual optical system by highly skilled technicians to fully optimize the image for full high definition (HD) resolution. The projector’s new Detail Clarity Processor analyzes frequency characteristics of each frame in three dimensions (horizontal, vertical, and along the time axis) and applies necessary sharpness at varying degrees to create natural, life-like images with exceptional clarity.

The PT-AE2000E projector reproduces Hollywood movies, independent films and other entertainment with exceptional color accuracy. Its enhanced unique Pure Color Filter Pro uses optical adjustment to achieve a higher purity level of the three primary colors; it also helps displays deeper, purer blacks. The color space has been extended even more to match the approximate level specified in the digital cinema industry.

For the full specification, and more information about the Panasonic PT-AE2000E, read here.