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Archive of the New Products Category

NAB2013: IDC to Introduce Next Generation Laser Platform for Targeted Ad Insertion

Solution helps broadcasters increase ad revenues and reduce costs by delivering targeted local ad insertion and satellite reception in one edge device

Ottawa, ON – International Datacasting (TSX: IDC), a global leader in digital content distribution for the world’s premiere radio and television broadcasters, will launch the next generation of its LASER Targeted Ad Insertion Platform at the 2013 NAB Show, April 8 – 11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (Booth SU3711). The LASER platform provides targeted local ad insertion and DVB-S/S2 satellite video reception in a single edge device.

Globally, broadcasters and service providers lose millions of dollars in ad revenues every year because of licensing, regulatory and copyright issues specific to certain regions throughout the world. With the LASER solution, operators can provide regionalized ad insertion and blackout management for satellite delivered content – from one cost-effective platform. The solution’s blackout capabilities ensure that the broadcaster can safely sell and distribute any network-wide ad, even if it is not permitted or suitable for the entire distribution footprint.

“With the LASER platform, television networks and content redistributors can capture a greater share of ad revenue,” said Del Lippert, Chairman of the Board and Interim CEO at IDC. The LASER platform provides greater flexibility for broadcasters to offer advertisers both dynamic ad targeting and flexible ad footprints, enabling the best possible brand experience.”

“We believe the LASER platform solves crucial broadcasting needs at an attractive price-point,” Lippert added. “This next generation product has passed extensive testing by an international broadcaster and is well on its way to helping broadcasters open new doors to maximizing their advertising inventories and revenues.”

About International Datacasting Corporation:

International Datacasting Corporation (TSX: IDC) is a global leader in digital content distribution for the world’s premiere broadcasters in radio, television, data and digital cinema. IDC offers a broad portfolio of advanced solutions including the STAR Pro Audio solution, LASER targeted ad insertion platform, and the Digital Tattoo DTH over IP gateway. The company’s products and solutions are in demand for radio and television networks, targeted ad insertion, digital cinema, 3D live events, satellite news gathering, sports contribution, VOD, and IPTV. IDC is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with regional offices in Arnhem, the Netherlands and in San Diego, California. The company has installations in over 100 countries and service offices in Thailand and Singapore, with an international network of value-added partners and resellers. For more information visit: www.datacast.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements reflecting IDC’s objectives, estimates and expectations that may involve risks and uncertainties, including statements about expected revenue impacts. IDC’s actual results, performance, achievements and developments may differ materially from the results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such statements. Factors that might cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, competitive developments; risks associated with IDC’s growth; any difficulties with integrating acquired product lines into IDC’s business and/or manufacturing procedures; any difficulties or disputes with IDC’s subcontractors, contract manufacturers and suppliers; IDC’s dependence on the development and growth of the satellite datacasting market; a lengthy and variable sales cycle for IDC’s products and services; IDC’s reliance on a small number of customers for a large percentage of its revenue; regulatory risks and intellectual property infringement. IDC assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as expressly required by applicable law. Forward-looking statements are provided to assist external stakeholders in understanding IDC’s expectations as at the date of this release and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. More detailed information about potential factors that could affect IDC’s financial and business results is included in the public documents IDC files from time to time with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, including, without limitation, IDC’s Annual Information Form dated April 29, 2011.

Laser Projection Demonstration Lights Up G.I. Joe: Retaliation at AMC Theatres®’ Burbank 16, Using Christie Technology

Christie®, a global leader in cinema projection, is pleased to present Paramount Pictures’ highly anticipated G.I. JOE: RETALIATION on March 28 at AMC Theatres’ (AMC) Burbank 16’s ETX theatre. Christie is joining forces with AMC using laser projection technology to project the 3D movie at brightness levels of 14 foot lamberts (ft-L) – a “first” in the world of commercial cinema projection – on a 65-foot wide screen. This technology test will last for a two-week period and will be the first time that the average moviegoer will be able to enjoy compelling, immersive 3D images delivered at 2D light levels.

Paramount, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM) and Skydance Productions, in association with Hasbro®, will release G.I. JOE: RETALIATION in digital 3D theaters across the U.S. and Canada beginning March 28.

“As a leader in innovation in the movie exhibition industry, AMC Theatres continues to push the envelope, looking for new ways to improve the movie-going experience for our guests,” said Dan Huerta, vice president, Digital Systems, AMC. “We are delighted to enlist a technology leader like Christie to provide a sneak peek at a major advance in movie-illumination levels that is on the horizon.”

Mark Christiansen, EVP of World Wide Operations for Paramount Pictures said, “We fully support the advancement of cutting edge technologies to further enhance the theatrical presentation for moviegoers. Laser projection provides incredible brightness, making each film look all the greater, but its impact on 3D is startling.”

Noted Dr. Don Shaw, senior director, Product Management, Christie Entertainment Solutions, “Audiences will be impressed with 3D shown at 14 foot-lamberts, which is much brighter than current technology produces on most screens. This test of our laser technology will demonstrate how spectacularly a moviemaker’s vision can be realized when shown at light levels normally only possible for 2D movies. Audiences who attend the AMC Burbank 16 during the laser demonstration will see a 50 percent increase in the typical contrast ratio for 3D on a crystal-clear 4K projector and we’re confident that the average moviegoer will relish this new level of immersive experience.”

Christie Laser-Projection Juggernaut Gaining Speed, Building on Previous Successes
Commenting on the laser projector test, Dr. Shaw said, “This is not the first time that Christie has employed laser technology to stretch the boundaries of digital cinema projection. Last year, Christie also showed select exhibitors in Asia how 72,000 Lumens could be achieved, in a demonstration of our prototype laser projector in Beijing.

“And at IBC 2012 Amsterdam this past September, I was pleased to preface the showing of Hugo 3D – the first CPG (Cameron Pace Group) certified movie – along with noted stereographers, Demetri Portelli and Corey Turner (‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon’), which was then projected using Christie’s laser-light projector prototype.”

Christie hosted its first laser projector demo for cinema industry luminaries including Douglas Trumbull, Gordon E. Sawyer Academy Award winner, at its High Frame Rate Summit held in its manufacturing and engineering headquarters in Kitchener, Ontario in April 2012.

Hitachi’s New CP-X3030WN and CP-X2530WN 3LCD Projectors Combine Versatile Features, Enhance Connectivity and Outstanding Value

CHULA VISTA, California, March 21, 2013 — Hitachi America, Ltd., Digital Media Division, Business Solutions Group today introduced its CP-X3030WN, CP-X2530WN 3LCD projectors, which offer superior image quality, connectivity and ease of use including iPad compatibility, making them ideal for a wide range of business, educational and commercial applications.

The CP-X3030WN delivers 3,200 lumens and the CP-X2530WN provides 2,700 lumens, while both incorporate Hitachi’s exclusive Intelligent Eco ImageCare energy-saving technology that actively controls lamp power between 36 and 100 percent, delivering less power to the lamp during darker scenes and more during brighter scenes to conserve energy use and extend lamp life. The CP-X3030WN and CP-X2530WN deliver up to a 4000:1 contrast ratio for bright, vivid colors and sharp images.

Both projectors provide a full array of A/V connectivity options including HDMI, component, composite and S-video inputs, with RGB inputs and outputs, audio connections, and an RS-232C port for integrated A/V system control. Both projectors also feature a microphone input.

The CP-X3030WN and CP-X2530WN feature iPad compatibility – both can display images directly from an iPad via Hitachi’s Projector Quick connection. Both models also offer network compatibility via wired or optional wireless connection (via a USB wireless card) and can be remotely controlled via a local area network (LAN). A Moderator Control Mode lets a moderator control the output of up to 50 computers through the network into the projector.

Both of these projectors also feature Hitachi’s PC-Less Presentation feature that enables users to project images directly from a USB drive or other USB storage device, eliminating the need to connect a laptop or desktop computer.

The CP-X3030WN and CP-X2530WN are designed for total ease of use, thanks to an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) that can be displayed in 33 languages. Both models provide comprehensive picture adjustment functions and a host of performance and convenience features including an upgraded Template function displays white or black lines to make writing on a whiteboard or blackboard easier; improved Zoom functions; an Input Source Naming function lets the user customize the names of input sources and more. Both projectors come with a remote that provides MyMemory, MyText, MySource and MyScreen buttons for fast access to frequently used functions and sources.

For more information on Hitachi visit www.hitachi-america.us/digitalmedia

Follow Hitachi on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hitachi-Projectors/131067323636829

Follow Hitachi on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/HALProjectors

About Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi America, Ltd., headquartered in Tarrytown, New York, a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., and its subsidiary companies offer a broad range of electronics, power and industrial equipment and services, automotive products and consumer electronics with operations throughout the Americas. For more information, visit www.hitachi-america.us. For information on other Hitachi Group companies in the United States, please visit www.hitachi.us.

Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 320,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2011 (ended March 31, 2012) consolidated revenues totaled 9,665 billion yen ($117.8 billion). Hitachi will focus more than ever on the Social Innovation Business, which includes information and telecommunication systems, power systems, environmental, industrial and transportation systems, and social and urban systems, as well as the sophisticated materials and key devices that support them. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company’s website at http://www.hitachi.com.

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Haivision Announces the General Availability of Makito X2 – the Highest Density H.264 HD Encoding Appliance

Haivision’s Makito X2 delivers extreme quality to reduce bandwidth needs by as much as 50 percent and provides the highest HD encoding density available for live streaming

MONTREAL and CHICAGO — March 21, 2013 — Haivision today announced the general availability of Makito™ X2, the company’s next generation, dual channel, low-latency HD-SDI H.264 encoder. The Makito X2 is the first Haivision product to incorporate the company’s Makito X Series technology, delivering higher quality video to meet HD streaming challenges at a significantly reduced bitrate. The Makito X2 also achieves the highest 1080p60 H.264 encoding density supporting up to 12 sources in a single rack unit chassis.

The Makito X2 carries forward the extreme performance of the original Makito with 55 millisecond encoding latency. Tailored for the most demanding enterprise, medical, and military applications, the Makito X2 also supports multi-bitrate (MBR) streaming and can output 4 different stream bitrate profiles per source (from 32 kbps to 25 Mbps) over MPEG transport stream or RTMP. Other advanced and mature features, many inherited from the Makito, include downscaling, de-interlacing, deblocking, forward error correction, encryption, closed captioning, and key length value (KLV) metadata for full motion video (FMV) applications.

“In order to address today’s video workflows within the enterprise and across the Internet, system designers look for bandwidth efficiency,” said Mirko Wicha, president, and CEO of Haivision. “Not only does the Makito X2 yield the same quality at half the bandwidth, it couples this with remarkable density, performance, and features so our clients can address mission critical applications.”

Haivision’s low latency encoder is ideal for virtually any streaming challenge, including video backhaul, interactive applications, HIPAA compliant streaming in healthcare, delivering critical video feeds to financial traders and general purpose campus IPTV. The Makito X2 can also support enterprise head-end projects such as delivering HD channels throughout a facility over secure, encrypted multicast video using Haivision’s Furnace to centrally manage set top boxes and performance multiview players for broadcast monitoring. Supporting multi-bitrate streaming and a variety of stream encapsulations, the Makito X2 delivers high quality video to decision makers, collaborators, and casual users regardless of location, network, or device.

Haivision will demonstrate the Makito X2 at the NAB Show in Las Vegas on April 8-11 at booth SL6605.

More information about Haivision is available at www.haivision.com.

About Haivision
Haivision delivers advanced technology for streaming, recording, managing, and distributing secure IP video and interactive media within the enterprise, education, medical/healthcare, and federal/military markets. Haivision is a private company based in Montreal and Chicago, with technical excellence centers in Beaverton, Ore.; Austin, Texas; Atlanta, Ga.; and Hamburg, Germany. With a global sales and support organization, Haivision distributes its products through value-added resellers, system integrators, distributors, and OEMs worldwide. More information is available at www.haivision.com.

All trademarks appearing herein are the property of their respective owners.

Twitter: www.twitter.com/haivision
Facebook: www.facebook.com/haivision
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/haivision

For further information, please contact:
Jennifer Gazin, PR and Communications Manager
Tel: +1 (514) 334-5445
Email: jgazin@haivision.com
Website: www.haivision.com

“David Bowie is”: Sennheiser Helps the V&A Bring Together Sound and Vision

London/Wedemark – March 20, 2013 – The world’s leading museum of art and design, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, has curated a unique exhibition on one of the most influential artists of our times: David Bowie. Designed to take visitors on an unforgettable, multi-faceted journey of sound and style, “David Bowie is” will open its doors to the public on 23 March. In order to ensure the best audio experience for visitors, the V&A has worked in partnership with audio specialist Sennheiser which – alongside other audio equipment – deployed its guidePORT audio guide system and two immersive 3D sound simulations.

David Bowie has been at the forefront of the world of popular music for nearly 50 years, and his immense creativity positions him as one of the most innovative performers of all time. His work is marked by continual re-invention, intellectual depth, musical innovation and striking visual presentation. Re-tracing Bowie’s creativity and influences from all areas of art, the exhibition shows a wealth of material, including videos, stage costumes, album covers, stage sets, photographs and of course Bowie’s music. For this, the exhibition’s curators, V&A’s Victoria Broackes and Geoffrey Marsh, were given unprecedented access to the David Bowie Archive.

Sound at the heart of the exhibition
The exhibition is designed to be an immersive audio experience. Sound quality is therefore one of the most critical elements, and the organisers have drawn on the expertise and technology of audio specialist Sennheiser to craft the exhibition’s rich soundscape.

Fittingly for a tribute to an artist that has embraced technology throughout his career, the exhibition uses leading edge tools to blend sound and vision. Audio guides, powered by Sennheiser’s guidePORT system, automatically provide the music and soundtrack when visitors approach the exhibits and screens, and seamlessly integrate all sound material into the tour. The exhibition will use 550 bodypacks with Sennheiser stereo headphones, offering a simple solution that lets the visitor explore Bowie’s music, art, and style with all their senses.

While two audio events are directly stored on the visitors’ bodypack receivers – a welcome text when entering the exhibition and an “extro” when leaving – all other music and video sound is transmitted as real-time, lip-sync stereo audio from eleven twin cell transmitters. These rack-mount units are located in two control rooms that also accommodate the control PC for the guidePORT system. The visitors’ receivers automatically download the audio when they pass by the corresponding guidePORT antenna units, and “know” which track to play when they approach so-called identifiers, small trigger units placed near the exhibits – just like an indoor GPS.

“This is a fully automated yet entirely personal tour, as the exhibition can be explored in whatever order and at any pace whatsoever. The audio is always played at the right time for each visitor,” explains Norbert Hilbich, Sennheiser Application Engineering, who assisted in the set-up of the guidePORT system. Tours with a tour-guide are possible too. For this, the museum uses a convenient bodypack transmitter with a headset microphone, enabling the guides to both make tailor-made commentary for their guests and trigger any of the pre-recorded exhibition material as they like.

3D audio simulation

The audio voyage through the exhibition culminates in two extraordinary 3D audio experiences. Viewing footage of David Bowie perform live concerts and recordings filmed for TV, visitors are enveloped within a fantastically spatial performance of his music delivered by hidden Neumann and Klein+Hummel loudspeakers. This 3D sound experience is also used during Tony Visconti’s evocative “mash-up” of Bowie songs, created specially for the exhibition by Bowie’s long-term producer.

To enable both stereo and mono material to be played as a 3D reproduction, an upmix algorithm by Sennheiser’s Gregor Zielinsky was used. “We had some really old mono material, not exactly recorded under the best of circumstances”, explained Gregor Zielinsky, International Recording Applications Manager. “With the algorithm and some fine-tuning in the studio we ensured that this rare material can now be enjoyed in an astonishingly new form.”

Geoffrey Marsh, co-curator of the exhibition, said, “’David Bowie is’ will integrate over 300 objects and costumes from the David Bowie Archive with high-quality sound and video to create a seamless evocation of Bowie’s career over five decades. This is the first major UK exhibition where sound is an integral part of the interpretation. Working with Sennheiser on audio delivery has been a fantastic opportunity. They have pushed the boundaries as to how sound can evoke, provoke and inspire visitors and they have created a genuinely multi-media museum experience which has been a challenging objective but one we are delighted to have done with Sennheiser’s support and expertise.“

Paul Whiting, President of Global Sales at Sennheiser, commented: “The Victoria and Albert Museum designed ‘David Bowie is’ to be as much about the sonic as the visual. The Sennheiser audio guide and groundbreaking sound system were installed with this in mind. Our sound engineers have used their considerable expertise and the kind of audio design normally found only at major music events. Sennheiser was innovating when many of these sounds were created, and we have pushed the barriers of sound again to enable you to hear Aladdin Sane, Ziggy Stardust and the Thin White Duke the way Bowie, Visconti or Eno intended.”

Following its run at the V&A the exhibition will tour internationally (venues to be confirmed).

The Sennheiser Group, with its headquarters in Wedemark near Hanover, Germany, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems. The family-owned company, which was established in 1945, recorded sales of around €531 million euros in 2011. Sennheiser employs more than 2,100 people worldwide, and has manufacturing plants in Germany, Ireland and the USA. The company is represented worldwide by subsidiaries in France, Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Germany, Denmark (Nordic), Russia, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, Japan, China, Canada, Mexico and the USA, as well as by long-term trading partners in many other countries. Also part of the Sennheiser Group are Georg Neumann GmbH, Berlin (studio microphones and monitor loudspeakers), and the joint venture Sennheiser Communications A/S (headsets for PCs, offices and call centres).

You can find all the latest information on Sennheiser by visiting our website at www.sennheiser.com.

For more information about the V&A “David Bowie is“ exhibition (23 March – 11 August 2013) please contact the V&A Press Office press.office@vam.ac.uk or +44 (0) 2079422502.

The equipment used includes…
(for the tourguide system):
• 550 guidePORT bodypack receivers for visitors (GP EK 3202-5-1)
• 1,000 dynamic stereo headphones (PX 100 II) with hygiene pads
• 11 cell transmitters for transmitting music and soundtrack to visitors (GP SR 3200-2)
• 34 active antenna modules (GP AM 3000) for the cell transmitters
• 48 indoor indentifiers (GP ID 3200-IN) to trigger the audio
• 55 charging units (GP L 3202-10)
• 1 bodypack transmitter with headset mic for a tour-guide (GP SK 3202-0-1 and HS 2)
• guidePORT installation and statistics software
(for the 3D simulation):
• 10 Neumann O 410 three-way loudspeakers
• 4 Neumann KH 870 sub-woofers
• 2 Klein+Hummel IS 153 three-way loudspeakers
• 8 Klein+Hummel IS 123 three-way loudspeakers
• 2 Klein+Hummel IS Sub 215 subwoofers

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JVC to Debut New Products, Upgraded Capabilities for GY-HM650 ProHD Mobile News Camera at NAB 2013

WAYNE, NJ – JVC Professional Products Company, a division of JVC Americas Corp., will introduce a variety of new products, reveal major broadcast industry sales, and unveil an upgraded version of its handheld mobile news camera, the GY-HM650, at the 2013 NAB Show (Booth C4314), which runs April 8-11 in Las Vegas, Nev.

When equipped with a Verizon 4G LTE modem connected to the back of the camera via USB, the GY-HM650 2.0 upgrade leverages the camera’s unique dual codec technology to stream live video transmissions in the background while shooters continue to record footage. The camera already records HD or SD footage in multiple file formats – including native XDCAM EX™ (.MP4), Final Cut Pro™ (.MOV), and AVCHD – and is capable of uploading recorded clips to an FTP server.

“Attendees were very impressed with our built-in file transfer technology when we debuted the GY-HM650 at the NAB Show last year, but that just scratched the surface of what this camera can do,” said Dave Walton, JVC assistant vice president of marketing and communications. “We have added direct support for 4G LTE modems and leveraged our unique dual codec technology to generate live TV streams. Now, you can continue to record footage while you transmit video back to your broadcast facility in real time. It all happens in the camera with a small Verizon modem attached, so there’s no backpack or other add-ons required.”

Customers who currently own GY-HM650s will be able add the new features at no charge with a firmware upgrade.

Also at NAB, JVC will premiere its new GY-HM70U ProHD camcorder. With an MSRP of $1,995, the GY-HM70 will appeal to event/wedding videographers and educational users who want a full-sized, shoulder-mount camcorder but have limited budgets. Built around a 1/2.3-inch 12 megapixel CMOS imager and JVC’s advanced FALCONBRID high-speed processor, the camera records 1080/60p, 1080/60i, and 480/60i (SD) footage in the AVCHD Progressive format to dual SDHC/SDXC memory cards.

Priced for the entry-level professional video market, the GY-HM70 offers a number of innovative features, including JVC’s unique, hot swappable dual battery system, which allows for hours of continuous, uninterrupted shooting. It also includes a high quality 29.5mm wide-angle GT lens that offers smooth 16x dynamic zoom performance, as well as an optical image stabilizer, auto focus, focus assist, and manual focus, iris, and shutter controls.

JVC’s new PS-840UD Professional Series ProVérité 4K 84-inch LCD monitor will make its NAB debut as well. Designed for commercial installations requiring high quality on-screen images at an affordable price, it has a native screen resolution of 3840×2160, four times the resolution of HD, with 120Hz refresh rate and 10 bit color depth. The monitor is scheduled to ship in June with a suggested list price of $14,000.

JVC will also introduce a new portable/studio monitor, the DT-F9L5U. Ideal as a camera viewfinder or field production monitor, it features an 8.2-inch IPS panel with 1280×800 pixel array and mercury-free white LED backlight, plus a variety of inputs for current and legacy equipment. Also on display, JVC’s new GM-552D is a high contrast, full HD 55-inch monitor designed for 24/7 continuous operation in broadcast facilities and other applications.

Traditionally, JVC provides one of the NAB Show’s larger booths. Located in the Central Hall, this year’s exhibit will include a presentation area (with seating) to showcase the GY-HM650 2.0. An expansive camera demonstration area will provide hands-on access to GY-HM600 and GY-HM650 ENG cameras, as well as GY-HM790 ProHD cameras in full studio configurations. Another section of the demonstration area will be dedicated to economical camera options, including the GY-HM70 and GY-HM150 models. The booth will also feature JVC’s extensive professional monitor product lines, as well as an area dedicated to JVC’s professional Blu-ray recorders.

ABOUT JVC PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS COMPANY

Headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey, JVC Professional Products Company is a division of JVC Americas Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of JVC KENWOOD Corporation. JVC is a leading manufacturer and distributor of broadcast and professional video and audio equipment. For further product information, visit JVC’s Web site at http://pro.jvc.com or call (800) 582-5825.

Bigger and Faster is Better With New BenQ XL2720T Professional Gaming Monitor

Newest Addition to Flagship XL Series Features Larger 27-Inch Display and Enhanced 1-ms Response Time for Professional PC and Console Gaming

IRVINE, Calif. — March 19, 2013 — BenQ America Corp., an internationally renowned provider of digital lifestyle innovations, today announced the expansion of its flagship XL Series with the launch of its XL2720T gaming monitor for professional and competitive first-person shooter (FPS) play. Packed with advanced features, the monitor comes equipped with a larger 27-inch display, 120Hz refresh rate, and blazing-fast 1-ms response time to optimize gaming performances. Engineered in conjunction with legendary pro gamers, the XL2720T integrates BenQ’s custom settings such as a Black eQualizer, Display Mode, and Smart Scaling to give gamers a competitive edge over their opponents.

“As the official gaming monitor sponsor for Major League Gaming, BenQ is devoted to bringing professional-grade performance and innovation to serious competitors,” said Bob Wudeck, Director of Retail and e-Commerce at BenQ America Corp. “The new XL2720T builds on our award-winning XL Series by adding a stunning 27-inch screen and faster response time to give FPS gaming even greater levels of immersion and intensity. By combining advanced features, game-specific presets, and dual HDMI connectivity, the XL2720T is set to become the most complete gaming monitor on the market.”

The BenQ XL Series is designed to handle the most demanding gaming conditions and is used in top-tier tournament play for FPS games such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and BattleField, as well as popular console fighting games such as Mortal Kombat(TM). Using an ultra-low 0.002-frame input lag, the XL2720T synchronizes action without latency from mouse motion to give the player complete control over the gaming experience. The monitor’s 120Hz refresh rate and ultra-fast 1-ms response time further bolster player performance to the highest possible level.

With dual HDMI(R) ports, the XL2720T is engineered to provide full HD connectivity with peripherals and console devices including PS3(TM), XBOX(R), Blu-ray(TM) players, PCs, and more. The monitor features a full HD 27-inch widescreen (16:9) display, 12 million:1 dynamic contrast ratio, and LED backlighting to create genuine colors without increasing power consumption. The XL2720T is also certified for NVIDIA(R) 3D Vision(TM) 2 and supports full HD 3D gaming. For even more vivid viewing, the XL2720T is equipped with NVIDIA 3D LightBoost(TM) technology, which allows for up to twice the amount of original screen brightness.

To give players a competitive edge, the XL2720T features BenQ’s Black eQualizer, which enables total gaming visibility by allowing gamers to adjust brightness without over-exposing white levels — revealing critical combat details with improved visibility in darkened areas. To accommodate individual viewing preferences, the Display Mode allows gamers to switch between nine monitor screen sizes, including 17-inch (4:3), 19-inch (4:3), 19-inch widescreen (16:10), 21.5-inch widescreen (16:9), 22-inch widescreen (16:10), 23-inch widescreen (16:9), 23.6-inch widescreen (16:9), 24-inch widescreen (16:9), and 27-inch widescreen (16:9), while Smart Scaling enables players to adjust the screen on-the-fly to virtually any custom size without impacting controller sensitivity.

In addition, the XL2720T offers preset FPS modes with multiple configurations to optimize the monitor’s display. For instance, using the FPS1 Mode, users can apply settings specifically defined for Counter-Strike 1.6, while an FPS2 Mode will optimize the display for Counter-Strike Source. Both modes automatically adjust brightness, contrast, sharpness, and color tint to give gamers an advantage when spotting and tracking their opponents. Using the Game Mode Loader, players can also store the same gaming presets used by pro gamers in titles such as Battlefield 3, Call of Duty(R) 3, Diablo III, and Dota 2. Gamers can also install and save presets onto the monitor’s S Switch for rapid access; thus allowing them to switch swiftly between customized display settings for gaming as well as entertainment. The stylish controller offers a scroll button that facilitates fast navigation and adjustment of the OSD setting.

With its ultra-flexible height adjustment stand, the XL2720T offers the ultimate in convenience and versatility by allowing operation with just one finger to effortlessly adjust the monitor’s height to suit a gamer’s particular sight level. The monitor can also be positioned either vertically or horizontally and comes equipped with a quick-release VESA mount design. A sleek headphone hook on the back of the display helps to keep accessories organized, while a convenient carrying handle makes it a breeze to take the monitor on the road for a LAN party.

The XL2720T is available for pre-order today and retails for $549 in the U.S. and Canada. For information on the full line of BenQ gaming monitors and to download preset gaming modes, visit Gaming.BenQ.com.

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About BenQ America Corp.
The BenQ digital lifestyle brand stands for “Bringing Enjoyment and Quality to Life,” fusing lifestyle with technology, enjoyment with productivity, and aesthetic design with engineering. It is this mantra that has made BenQ the No. 1-selling DLP(R) projector brand worldwide, as well as the No. 1 name in short-throw projectors. BenQ America Corp. offers an extensive line of visual display and presentation solutions that incorporate the very latest technologies. The company delivers a broad range of projectors, flat panel displays, and monitors for any application and market — education, home, gaming, enterprise, government, house of worship, digital signage, AV and IT — with cutting-edge models that lead the industry in performance, reliability, environmental sustainability, and aesthetics. Whether it’s interactive digital whiteboards for classrooms, full HD 3D projectors for home theaters, short-throw projectors for boardrooms, interactive flat panel displays for digital signage, or LED backlight monitors for professional gaming, BenQ continues to defy the limits of digital displays. The company’s products are available across North America through leading value-added distributors, resellers, and retailers.

More information is available at www.BenQ.us or www.BenQ.ca.

About BenQ Corporation
BenQ Corporation is a renowned global trendsetter of connected digital lifestyle devices founded on the brand promise of “Bringing Enjoyment and Quality to Life.” With a keen insight into ever-evolving consumer preferences, BenQ uniquely creates the ideal balance of leading technology and signature design to provide visual and mobile solutions that elevate consumer lifestyles. BenQ continues to delight the world’s consumers with a broad product and embedded technology portfolio spanning digital projectors, monitors, interactive large-format displays, digital cameras and camcorders, mobile computing devices, and lighting solutions.

About BenQ Group
The BenQ Group is a $21+ billion powerhouse comprised of 15+ independent companies operating in over 30 countries across numerous industries with a combined workforce of over 120,000 employees. Each Group member is a recognized leader in its own field, contributing to the BenQ Group’s vast resources, broad R&D, and distinct strategic strengths. By leveraging each company’s vertical specialization to create true scale across horizontal markets, the BenQ Group controls a highly efficient value chain with the unrivaled ability to deliver critical components and world-class solutions in the following industries: TFT-LCD, green energy, fine chemicals and advanced materials, lighting, IC design, precision components, system integration, branded business, and service. The Group is committed to profitable and sustainable businesses that share its long-standing vision of Bringing Enjoyment and Quality to Life.

The BenQ Group companies are: BenQ Corporation, AU Optronics Corporation (world’s top manufacturer of large-size TFT-LCD panels), Qisda Corporation, Darfon Electronics Corporation, BenQ Materials Corp., BenQ Guru Corp., BenQ Medical Center, BenQ Medical Technology Corp., BriView Co., Ltd., Daxin Materials Corp., Dazzo Technology Corp., Forhouse Corp., Lextar Electronics Corp., Raydium Semiconductor Corp., and Wellypower Corp.

PR Link: www.ingearpr.com/BenQ/130319.zip
Image Link: www.ingearpr.com/BenQ/XL2720T.zip
Video Link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HatEXRfnfgw&feature=player_embedded

All trademarks and registered trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

ENDS

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ACIR Professional Assists Masters of Illusion Live at The Basie Theatre

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, New Jersey—Whether in Las Vegas or on television, magic has never been hotter. There are more television specials and series involving magic than ever before, and now the hit television show, Masters of Illusion: Impossible Magic, is out of the box and into live theatre. Masters of Illusion: Live is one of the greatest magical touring shows in history, bringing the art of stage illusions live in real time to audiences full of magic fans.

In a recent stop at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, New Jersey, ACIR Professional (Egg Harbor Township) provided engineer Stephen Bonamassa with a Yamaha CL5 and two Rio3224-D input/output racks for use at front of house.

“My work consists of 90% corporate work and about 10% music and entertainment work,” states Bonamassa. “I will say that the CL5 sounds better than other digital Yamaha boards I have used. Features like the touch screen made patching and routing a whole lot easier. I also liked being able to color code input and output channels on the surface.” Bonamassa said another cool feature was being able to assign the right-most bank of eight faders to different presets on the fly. “Having the same option, but different presets, available on the center eight is cool as well. The functionality of the graphic EQ’s on the center eight faders, and the way the input layers flip on the console, independent of what you have punched up on the center and right set of faders are also some helpful features.”

In addition to the CL5, ACIR brought in an entire audio production system including 14 d&b Audiotechnik Q1 Line Array Speakers, two Q Subs, D12 amps’ four Yamaha T3n amplifiers; and Shure SM58s and ULXS4 wireless systems.

For more information on ACIR Professional, visit www.acirpro.com.

For more information on the Yamaha CL Digital Console, visit www.yamahaca.com.

-END-

Matrox to Unveil Matrox Monarch HD Professional Video Streaming and Recording Appliance at the 2013 NAB Show

At the 2013 NAB Show (Las Vegas, April 8-11, booth SL4616), Matrox® Video will demonstrate Matrox Monarch™ HD, a small, easy-to-use video streaming and recording appliance designed for professional video producers who need to simultaneously stream a live event and record a Blu-ray quality version for post-event editing.

Matrox Monarch HD

Matrox Monarch HD — video streaming and recording appliance


From any HDMI input source such as a camera or switcher, Matrox Monarch HD generates an H.264-encoded stream compliant with RTSP or RTMP protocol. While encoding the video at bitrates suitable for live streaming, Matrox Monarch HD simultaneously records a high-quality MP4 file to an SD card, a USB drive, or a network-mapped drive. Matrox Monarch HD is remotely controlled using any computer or mobile device with a web browser.

“Live event producers have been looking for a way to overcome the limitations of today’s content delivery networks that only allow recording and archiving at the lower quality available while streaming,” said Daniel Maloney, technical marketing manager at Matrox. “Matrox Monarch HD solves this problem by providing two independent delivery channels in a single, robust, reliable box, at an unprecedented price.”

Price and availability
The price and availability date for Matrox Monarch HD will be announced on April 8 at the 2013 NAB Show. To be notified when this product become available, visit our website.

About Matrox
Matrox Video is a technology and market leader in the field of HD and SD digital video hardware and software for accelerated H.264 encoding, realtime editing, audio/video input/output, streaming, A/V signal conversion, capture/playout servers, channel-in-a box systems and CGs. Matrox’s Emmy award-winning technology powers a full range of multi-screen content creation and delivery platforms used by broadcasters, telcos, cable operators, post-production facilities, videographers and A/V professionals worldwide. Founded in 1976, Matrox is a privately held company headquartered in Montreal, Canada. For more information, visit www.matrox.com/video.

Vizrt Presents View of the IP-Based Newsroom of the Future

Bringing the IP future of Broadcast News into focus

The creation, distribution and on-air display of broadcast graphics are perhaps the most complex, labor and time intensive parts of the news production process. That’s why it’s important for news department staff to work collaboratively and in many cases simultaneously to get the story out before the competition does.

The key is a fully networked operation that leverages the benefits of the Internet Protocol (IP) to send files in a highly deterministic and reliable way. An IP infrastructure also costs less to deploy and often necessitates less manpower to do so.

After extensive field research and invaluable customer feedback, Vizrt has now embarked on a new product roadmap for its next-generation Viz Engine—the core of its real-time compositing technology—that takes into account all of the advantages of IP while conserving spacing and processing capacity. If new producers want to get the story first, and with the most comprehensive graphics support, they have to move to a workflow that requires the least amount of effort and the most flexibility. Vizrt will display this technology at NAB 2013 in Las Vegas.

Petter Ole Jakobsen, Vizrt’s Chief Technology Officer, said that the industry needs to migrate to a platform that can do more with the same resources. IP is the most enabling part of the puzzle.

Yet Jakobsen has even bigger ideas for IP across the product line. The IP-based Viz Engine requires only a network connection and IP input/output. He envisions a day when IP triggers are used to control a media server to play out a rundown of stories, complete with complex transitions, without the need or a traditional production switcher. Vizrt’s timeline editor application is used to place desired graphics and video clips on a timeline. Users then drag the video and graphics elements that are built as MOS objects over to the playlist in Viz Trio—all from within such popular newsroom computer systems.

This process saves significant time and manpower while getting the story to air faster. And using this strategy often times results in less on-air technical errors. For news stations, it’s a veritable win-win all the way around. And since this dedicated server easily fits as a component within a facility’s existing IP-based workflow, there’s no need to interface the unit with the station’s routers, SDI cabling, or other SDI infrastructure. The IP-based Viz Engine can also work in a hybrid mode, SDI in and IP stream out, providing simultaneous output to air as well as to online and mobile environments. The time saving combined with a look that, until now, has not been available for IP productions is thus a fact.

“The idea is to save cost while bringing the reporter and producer closer to their final story, that way the story is conveyed in the most comprehensive way,” Jakobsen said. “We are looking at ways to make our software tools very easy to use and very task-specific so that teams of people can be as efficient as possible.”

Indeed, Vizrt’s IP strategy also allows reporters to edit clips on-site and transfer them back to the station using any IP-enabled transmission device. That could be an expensive mobile production truck or a handheld cell phone. It also supports the tight integration of third-party products alongside the wide array of Vizrt production tools — such as a new Adobe integrations with Viz Media Engine and Viz World as well as the Viz Trio character generator (CG) and Viz Content Pilot. Again, this saves time and resources and gets news to air faster.

Yet the strategy is more than just about speed.

The IP-based Viz Engine handles streaming media and audio and video clips while compositing the graphics in real-time into an IP stream. The IP-based Viz Engine and the Viz Media Engine media asset management (MAM) solution represents a complete, end-to-end solution that allows broadcasters to manage all of their content—from ingest to distribution. This workflow enables them to increase speed and volume, and adapt content for delivery to multiple platforms.

Harnessing the full power of IP, journalists and producers of live newscasts can search for and access Vizrt graphic templates and media content from Viz Content Pilot that open up within a newsroom computer system. Graphics templates are created using the Viz Artist 3D design software and transferred as files across an IP network. Journalists access the Viz Content Pilot template interface from within the newsroom computer system, and then use Viz Media Engine to retrieve the content they want from a Vizrt or third-party media asset management system.

It’s clear that today broadcasters have to work smarter and faster in order to support all of the various distribution platforms (TV, Internet, Mobile video) that are now used to consume news content. Vizrt is determined to help its broadcast news customers leverage the benefits of IP and all of the cost efficiencies and flexibility it brings.

With this capability, the news team can create an unlimited number of graphics where the selected video clips play in pre-designed graphics templates, and streamline production in the process. The maturity of IP technology components and a change in attitude towards video as an IP file has helped broadcasters see what their future in a whole new light. Vizrt’s Jakobsen said the emergence of IP is an evolution that is a long time coming.

It will also be possible to use the systems to produce any number of different graphics (based on any parameter – geography, time of day, weather etc) – which again opens up the door for regionalized sponsorships/commercials allowing for a easily accessible new revenue stream for customers.

“I think the industry has reached a point where it does not deny the benefits of an IP infrastructure anymore and is looking for ways to implement it with the least amount of effort,” he said. “At Vizrt, we’re focused on making deployments easy, fault tolerant and future proof. We really believe that our engineers are working on the IP future of broadcast news today.”

Vizrt will display the IP-based Viz Engine and the Viz Media Engine at NAB 2013, booth SL3305.

About Vizrt:

Vizrt provides real-time 3D graphics and asset management tools for the broadcast industry – from award-winning animations & maps to online publishing tools. Vizrt’s products are used by the world’s leading broadcasters and publishing houses, including: CNN, CBS, Fox, the BBC, BSkyB, ITN, ZDF, Star TV, Network 18, TV Today, CCTV, NHK, The Globe and Mail, Times Online, The Telegraph, and Welt Online. Furthermore, many world-class production houses and corporate institutions such as the Stock Exchanges in New York and London use Vizrt systems.

Vizrt is a public company traded on the Oslo Main List: VIZ, ISIN: IL0010838154. For further information please refer to www.vizrt.com

Martin Burkhalter / CEO / +41 22 365 75 01 / MBurkhalter@vizrt.com

Tomer Wald / CFO / +47 5351 8040 / TWald@vizrt.com

Håvard Myklebust / EVP Products & Marketing / +4791845602 / HMyklebust@vizrt.com

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