Digicom Technology News

According to several sources close to FlatpanelsHD Samsung will present a 400/480 Hz TV at the upcoming IFA 2009 consumer electronics fair in Berlin in September. The new technology is a step up from Samsung existing 200 Hz technology but utilizes a slightly different underlying functional method.

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Print management and cost recovery solutions capture two key industry awards

Plantation, FL – August 17, 2009 – Equitrac Corporation is pleased to announce that two of its industry leading print and cost management solutions have been named “BERTLs BEST” for 2009.

For the third straight year Equitrac Professional was awarded the “Best Print Management and Cost Recovery Solution for Professional Services Firms.” Equitrac Office captured the “Best Enterprise-Level Print Management and Security Solution” category. BERTL analysts review current product lines and new product introductions to identify a select group of devices and software that stand apart from the others. Winners are selected after rigorous analysis of the hundreds of digital imaging devices, software, and management utilities in the world-wide marketplace.

In this edition:

• Top 5 Reasons to use Video Conferencing
• Recent Audio Visual Fit-outs
• Webcasting from Digicom
• New Products
• Ricoh Latest News

Click here to read the pdf>>

Toshiba is taking a final step down from the HD TV war and will enter the Blu-ray market, according to reports from Japanese newspaper, the Yomiuri Shimbun.
The newspaper said the Japanese electronics manufacturer would introduce play-only models that read Blu-ray discs and DVDs by the end of the year. With the demise of HD DVD and rising Blu-ray sales Toshiba was under huge pressure to throw its support behind the victorious format.

Although it seems like the obvious choice for Toshiba, many will see it as a huge blow to the company that desperately fought the Blu-ray format with HD DVD. The company had tried various avenues, including releasing an enhanced DVD player, before succumbing to the prevailing standard.

Yomiuri also reported that its “sources” had said Toshiba was attempting to supersede Blu-ray with “next-generation” technology before finally accepting that the standard had become too big to ignore.

Although details from Toshiba are presently scant, many news sites are already quoting BD 18 as the model number of the new player.

Thanks to InAVate for this article.

20 July 2009

Vaddio, manufacturer and OEM distributor of PTZ cameras and camera control systems, equipped Canadian-based Applied Electronics with a TrackVIEW automated camera tracking system to record class lectures and presentations for remote viewing at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario. Mackintosh-Corry Hall Classroom with Vaddio Queens University Principal, Dr. Thomas R. Williams, created several different taskforces throughout the university with the direction to explore, review and make preliminary recommendations on key issues facing the university, both in short term and long term. One of these taskforces focused on alternatives in curriculum delivery outside of the classroom. Video streaming would allow students to access classes from another room on campus or even from their own living room, eliminating the need for more classroom space. "We were looking for a solution that would help automate the capturing of lectures and presentations," explained Luc Wauters, analyst, ITServices at Queen's University, who specialises in Teaching & Learning Support. "We needed a scalable solution that was worry free and did not necessarily require a camera operator."With the guidance of Wauters, Vaddio’s TrackVIEW system was installed in the Faculty and Staff Learning Facility in Mackintosh-Corry Hall, a 65-seat, tiered lecture theatre. TrackVIEW is a presenter-controlled camera system that incorporates both monitor-based tracking and camera pre-set tracking.

Read the full story here

Following revelations that extending the technology to PCs could drastically revolutionise working practices, Microsoft held a demonstration of possible uses. The company showed how multiple touchscreens, combined with voice and gesture control, could create a futuristic office environment.

Technology review site, CNET reported from the Washington demonstration saying that it included hologram-like videoconferencing, a virtual digital assistant and multiple surface computers, along with voice-, touch- and gesture-recognition technology.

The demonstration depicted an office that would completely immerse employees, with a multi-touch surface computer as a desk and displays for office walls. This creates a hugely versatile environment as the wall displays can act as a virtual window or extra workspace. Microsoft demonstrated workspace options, transforming the walls into a collection of digital photos and a corkboard of sticky notes. The demonstrator also used depth cameras to place himself within an architectural demonstration. He was then able to virtually walk around a building concept.

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WEST CALDWELL, N.J., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Ricoh Americas Corporation, a leading provider of digital office equipment, today announced that it will offer eCopy's advanced desktop document imaging software, PaperWorks(TM). Replacing the eCopy Desktop(TM) solution, PaperWorks is a more robust version that allows users to easily scan, merge and modify documents, connect with other business software applications they utilize daily, and communicate with the back office applications for improved document workflow management.

Read more @ prnewswire.com

According to reports released on June 18, 2009 by DisplaySearch, Samsung is currently ranked as the number one supplier in the world digital signage market, with 13 percent and 14.2 percent of total volumes and revenues, respectively.

Samsung demonstrated its growth both in developed and developing countries, with its market share of 17.9 percent in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (in revenues), 12.2 percent in North America, and 17.4 percent in China, 23.6 percent in Asia Pacific, and 28.3 percent in South America. Furthermore, Samsung has positioned itself as a true premium brand in high-tech flat panel display market and also ranked first in average street prices (ASPs) with USD 1,282, around USD100 higher than competitors.

Targeting the global video wall market, Samsung recently released the 460UTn super-thin LCD display with a bezel of just 6.7mm. The company also launched an innovative advertising display solution which, with its use audience measurement technology, can automatically recognise the gender and age of the audience and deliver tailored advertising.

Jinhwan Kim, Vice President of Visual Display Division at Samsung Electronics, said: “Samsung Electronics has become the number one brand in visual displays including displays, TV sets, and digital signage.”

"In particular, becoming number one in digital signage is an historical event, because this proves that Samsung is successfully moving from hardware manufacturer to a value-added solution provider,” he added.