Bidding Adieu to 2008
The sports world is calling last year its best ever. What might AV pros call it? Labels aside, we’ve mined our archives for the best stories, installations, interviews, and more from a year that enjoyed the highs of a record InfoComm, and the lows of an economic recession. Here’s the best (and one worst) of PRO AV for the year gone by. Enjoy.
The sports world is calling last year its best ever. What might AV pros call it? Labels aside, we’ve mined our archives for the best stories, installations, interviews, and more from a year that enjoyed the highs of a record InfoComm, and the lows of an economic recession.
The Real “Best” in Sports
Clearly it’s the enormous HD screens going into new stadiums. Or the awesome sound systems. Seriously, who are the lucky dogs who work on these projects? And how can you get a slice of the pie? Read more.
Best AV Installations…Period
2008 heralded the inaugural PRO AV Spotlight Awards, which recognized 11 projects around the country. From a Marine command center to a DC museum; from an airport lounge at LAX to a hospital suite in Minneapolis, this installs impressed our judges. Read more.
Best Example That Ignorance is Bliss
When 2008 dawned, we could only imagine what the coming recession might look like. But according to InfoComm’s research at the time, the vast majority of AV pros were expecting business to grow. A mere 2.4 percent of AV integrators said 2008 business would be down. Read more.
The Real “Best” In Sports
Best Sign the AV Industry Will Be OK
Still, PRO AV surveyed its readers after the financial industry imploded and it was clear the economy was black and blue. Surprisingly, the majority remained optimistic about the coming year and was already eyeing the various ways they were going to weather the downturn and eventually thrive. Read more.
Best Indication AV Really is Changing
Two words: Cisco Systems. They’ve got a digital signage platform; they’re huge in telepresence (two of the biggest emerging AV technologies); and yes, they’re even starting to sell their own displays. What’s going on here? Read more.
Best Technology Victory That Hasn’t Amounted to Much
Parallax View columnist Pete Putman chronicled the victory of Blu-ray over HD DVD. But as 2008 wore in, it became clear that the spoils didn’t necessarily flow to the victor…and that regular DVD still had a place in an HD world. Read more.
Best Explanation of a Critical Project
Conference rooms are a staple of the AV professional. They span vertical markets and, especially these days, are ripe for AV/IT overhauls (think telepresence, wireless control, etc.). PRO AV contributor Tim Cape, CTS-D, arguably wrote the book on conference design in his lucid description on how AV integration requires careful planning. Read more.
Best Advice for AV Programmers
Protect your intellectual property. Don’t necessarily over-protect it, but Consultant’s Connection columnist Thom Mullins explains how successfully navigating intellectual property rights will be more important going forward. In his words, “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.” Read more.
Bidding Adieu to 2008
The sports world is calling last year its best ever. What might AV pros call it? Labels aside, we’ve mined our archives for the best stories, installations, interviews, and more from a year that enjoyed the highs of a record InfoComm, and the lows of an economic recession. Here’s the best (and one worst) of PRO AV for the year gone by. Enjoy.
Best Definition of THX
Straight from the horse’s mouth: The name THX has nothing to do with George Lucas’ pre-Star Wars film, “THX-1138.” It does, however, incorporate the initials of its developer, Tom Holman, who sees 10.2 audio as the next logical step in surround-sound systems. Read more.
Awesome conference room integration
Best Sign that Signage is Getting Serious
When PRO AV columnist Kris Vollrath ventured off the show floor at last February’s Digital Signage Expo, he came across a critical meeting where a digital signage heavyweight was putting the screws to technology providers. His message: Make your stuff work together nicely or risk losing our business. Read more.
Best Argument for More AV-Architect Collaboration
New PRO AV columnist, acoustical consultant Sam Berkow (his audio column debuts next month), says he speaks the “language of the architect” to help bridge two worlds. Evolving auralization software might also help. Read more.
Best Reason Your Next Install Needs Rabbit Ears
Pete Putman offers a handy primer on broadcast digital television and ATSC and makes the case for adding it to certain AV projects. Get your thinking caps on: Pete breaks down ATSC as only an InfoComm Educator of the Year can do. Read more.
Best Defense of Manufacturer’s Reps
Consultant’s Connection columnist Thom Mullins acknowledges not every AV professional can stand manufacturer’s reps, but he’s not one of them. What makes a good rep? And how can you get the most out of the relationship? Read more.
Best Issue to Tackle All Year Long
It wasn’t until late in 2008 that the FCC sided with companies like Google and Microsoft that wanted to launch new wireless services that might cause headaches for wireless mic users and other AV pros. The white space debat kept our columnists up at night, made them policy wonks, and left companies scrambling to provide answers.
Worst Trend in AV
Fakes. Few people would talk about it on the record (although one Philips executive made an impassioned case for how counterfeit projector bulbs hurt the industry), but off the record AV pros acknowledge that product knock-offs are becoming a problem. Read more.
