For the first time, RelampIt is currently hosting a bulk sales event running only during the month of May. This is a great time for distributors and dealers to stock up on a variety of replacement projector lamps at amazing prices.

RelampIt offers professional AV dealers, integrators and AV end users, high quality alternatives to new projector lamps and replacement bulbs. Relamping provides clients an environmentally responsible options to purchasing costly new replacement projector lamps; reducing waste and cost. For this event RelampIt decided to list much of their overstock items at generous prices when 5 or more lamps are purchased in a single transaction. Replacement lamps to be included in the event feature some of the top brands in projector lamps and are built with the highest quality components and workmanship available. Quality is of no concern with RelampIt who is also backing sales made during this event with their unprecedented 90-day warranty, from installation.

It is a perfect time for dealers and distributors to stock up during RelampIt’s blow out event. Visit www.relampit.com to see the list of lamps available during the limited time sales event Please contact sales@relampit.com to discuss quantity and cost with our sales representatives.

RelampIt provides relamping services for the projection display industry. RelampIt has developed a process that allows projection lamps to be remanufactured at a reduced cost without compromising lifetime or performance. RelampIt also offers a no charge projector lamp recycling service. The RelampIt Projector Lamp Recycling Center, focuses on reducing waste and environmental contamination from the lamps found in front and rear projectors. For more information about relamping and recycling or to become a RelampIt dealer, call 1(631)244-0051, email gms@relampit.com or visit our NEW website at www.relampit.com.

Christie®, a leader in simulation projection display and visualization solutions, is offering a free educational forum dedicated to the world of visual display requirements for simulation on May 9 at the Institute for Simulation and Training at the University of Central Florida.

Whether you’re a visual systems software or product development engineer, a program manager or technical specialist in the simulation industry, you will benefit from this one-day, chock-full session that includes technical presentations designed to increase one’s knowledge of various visual display requirements: image metrics and quality, system considerations, synchronization, maintenance, specifications, and system integration.*

Learn from special presentations provided by:
• NASA’s Dr. Barbara Sweet, aerospace engineer /Human Machine Systems: image quality requirements and impact of system update rates
• Dr. Charles J. Lloyd, President, Visual Performance LLC, on stereoscopic/collimated display integration
• Christie’s own simulation and product experts: Static and dynamic image quality metrics, including 3D cues; system and multi-channel considerations, including warping and blending; product specifications and what they mean; system synchronization and latency; system maintenance

Specialists in simulation and training interested in attending are requested to register online by May 4, at Christie SIM University. Limited seating. Questions can be directed to the SIM University team.

*Agenda and program subject to change without notice.

Christie® announced today at CinemaCon that Cinema 21, Indonesia’s largest cinema chain, has ordered 300 Christie DLP Digital Cinema® projectors including the Christie Solaria® CP2220, Christie CP4220 and Christie CP4230 models.

Almost 100 units purchased are Christie’s 4K digital cinema projectors. “Our experience with Christie has been a positive one. Almost 90 percent of the installation has been done and Christie provides fast and reliable technical support. The projectors also produce very high-quality and sharp images and they are very reliable in terms of technology,� said Suryo Suherman, president, Cinema 21.

Working together with Christie’s Indonesian partner, PT Megatech Engineering, the installation is expected to be fully completed by June this year in the entire country. “We’ve been working with Christie for more than five years and the company has always been a technological leader with groundbreaking advancements such as the Christie 4K projectors as well as high frame rate (HRF) projection development. Through Christie, we hope to bring the latest technologies to the audience in Indonesia,� commented Rudy Susanto, president, PT Megatech Engineering.

“Christie, as the pioneer of digital cinema projection technology, and also the first to present digital solutions based on 4K, is committed to deliver the best cinema projection solution and service to our customers. We are very happy to establish this new relationship with Cinema 21. With the cinema industry experiencing such vigorous growth in Indonesia, we are confident we will be able to continue serving film operators like Cinema 21 with the same level of commitment and dedication that we always have,� said Lin Yu, vice president, Christie Asia Pacific.

Founded in 1987, Cinema 21 is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year in commemoration of its dominance in the Indonesian entertainment industry. It will soon be presenting an enhanced cinematic viewing experience with its newly-built large-screen movie theaters in Indonesia. The first one is scheduled to open on May 4, 2012, to coincide with the premiere of “The Avengers.� It currently operates a total of 575 screens spanning over 122 locations across Indonesia. Its theaters are expected to be 100 percent digital by June 2012.

Christie®, a global visual technology company, today introduced the Christie® IMB, an integrated media block solution that seamlessly converts and delivers feature-film and alternative content within a secure environment to all of Christie’s 2K and 4K, DCI-compliant Solaria® Series 2 projectors.

Built into Christie projectors or easily inserted into previously purchased units, the Christie IMB utilizes industry standard, non-proprietary storage solutions, giving exhibitors the smoothest possible transition to HFR (high frame rate) and 3D projection standards. Launched at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, following several months of commercial field trials, the Christie IMB provides an integrated solution from a single, trusted equipment supplier. Christie used its IMB at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) conference last week for hourly presentations of HFR cinema content on a single CP2220 Solaria projector, complete with automatic and seamless switching between different frame rates. This demo will also be held at CinemaCon. DCI Compliance certification is expected shortly.

“Most digital projector installations use a media block in an external server that is linked by cables to the projector,� said Don Shaw, senior director, Entertainment Solutions, Christie. “This creates bandwidth limitations that have an impact on picture quality, and restrict the system’s ability to offer higher frame rates and increased pixel resolution. The Christie IMB operates within the projector, becoming an integral part of the display device. The result is a secure connection that can manage the high bandwidth required for HFR and 4K content while maintaining terrific image quality.�

All Solaria Series 2 projectors are designed to integrate seamlessly with the Christie IMB and the Christie Previsto™ High Frame Rate (HFR) technology. Featuring complete cinema content support, as well as MPEG2 and H.264 support for pre-show advertising and alternative content, the design of Christie’s IMB is grounded in a solid understanding of the projector’s software, thermals, vibrations and internal power supply, ensuring the most reliable projection system on the market.

The combination of the Christie CP4220 or Christie CP4230 projectors and Christie IMB, offered by the world’s largest manufacturer of digital cinema projectors, brings exhibitors ultimate confidence that they will be ready for upcoming 4K or 3D HFR movies in a single projector system. The first HFR feature film, The Hobbit, is scheduled for release in December 2012.

The IMB design reduces complexity because it eliminates the need for an exhibitor to support varied servers and IMBs currently on the market from different manufacturers. Christie achieves a fully integrated system solution by ensuring seamless interaction between its IMB and Christie Avias-TMSâ„¢, a Theater Management System (TMS) software application that allows exhibitors to centrally manage and orchestrate all of their projection operations within a cinema multiplex .

“Christie now offers a ground-breaking, single projection solution that converts and delivers packaged feature film content within a secure, DCI-compliant environment, while providing the option to upgrade to full HFR capabilities. Because we also manufacture the projector that forms the keystone of our advanced digital cinema solution, we eliminate compatibility issues that could occur in media blocks from third party suppliers, especially following software upgrade cycles,� said Shaw.

Christie’s Commitment to HFR
The two main goals of Christie’s HFR activities are to help the industry develop the best HFR content and the best delivery system for HFR content. The first goal involves assisting leading-edge filmmakers and post-production companies in perfecting HFR movie creation, so the industry has the most engaging, entertaining content possible. The second goal is to assist exhibitors in showing these 3D HFR movies in all their glory. To these ends, Christie is helping create the standards for 3D HFR movies through formal and informal technology-development alliances with major producers and directors, post production facilities, studios and technology partners. On the exhibitor’s front, Christie provides one stop shopping for all the hardware, software and services that enable exhibitors to deliver a filmmaker’s vision in stunning 3D HFR quality. For more information visit http://www.higherframerates.com.

Christie® has announced the launch of the new Christie® SKA-3D™ digital cinema processor, a powerful product innovation that delivers flawless audio performance and 2D/3D image playback from virtually any content source on any brand of projector with separate L/R eye dual DVI inputs. It is a true, high-caliber “all in one� cinema processor that ends equipment rack clutter by combining multiple units typically found in a projection booth – an audio processor, digital crossovers, video scaler, 3D decoders, video cross conversion and more – into a single, lightweight and compact box.

On the video front, the new Christie SKA-3D, featuring full support for SENSIO® Hi-Fi 3D and RealD Format, seamlessly switches between multiple 2D/3D alternative content sources – including pre-show advertising servers, Blu-ray players, Sony PlayStation®, set-top boxes, personal computers and satellite feeds – which in turn facilitate new revenue streams for digital cinema owners through the playback of any content available to them.

Additionally, the Christie SKA-3D provides audio support for up to 16 DCI-AES input channels from the cinema server/Integrated Media Block (IMB) and is configurable with up to ten balanced analog outputs and five, two-way crossovers, as well as built-in support for Hearing Impaired (HI) and Visually Impaired-Narrative (VI-N) audio outputs. It is fully equipped with high-end audio processing features such as 1/3 octave EQ for main channels, parametric EQ for LFE channel, adjustable lip-sync delay, individual speaker channel delays, microphone input, and flexible input to output channel mapping to support any installed equipment.

Beyond that, with numerous analog/digital audio connectors and extensive support for Dolby® and DTS® multichannel audio formats, this is the only cinema processor that is up to the task of making a cinema owner’s alternative content sound as spectacular as the sound heard in feature presentations.

“The Christie SKA-3D is ideal for new digital cinema installations where performance and value are critical in today’s budget-conscious environment. It is also a cost-effective upgrade to those existing installations with older processors that cannot accept digital input from their cinema servers, IMBs, or various alternative content sources,� noted Don Shaw, senior director, Entertainment Solutions, Christie.

Swiss Army Knife of Cinema Processors
Many older installations today use multiple boxes for alternative content support, video scaling, A/D & D/A conversion, audio processing, and digital crossovers. “To upgrade their systems, owners would need to add a digital-to-analog converter that can cost thousands of dollars or upgrade their audio processor – all expensive propositions,� said Shaw. “The Christie SKA-3D delivers the digital input these older theatres need, while upgrading their processing and connectivity capabilities and integrating the widest range of alternative content feeds and interfaces in a single product and at a reasonable price.�

No other audio processor on the market today can match the scaling/processing/switching capabilities of the Christie SKA-3D while providing 3D playback from any consumer product into a digital cinema projector, added Shaw. “With Christie SKA-3D, exhibitors can expand their portfolio offerings at a lower cost, while improving and enhancing the audio quality of their digital cinema presentations,� he noted.

“Because it can be used with any projector and brand – not just D-cinema – it can provide professional audio processing for the most popular A/V products and gaming systems in the market,� said Shaw. “In fact, although not its primary market, one can even envision the Christie SKA-3D forming part of the ultimate home theater set-up in the future.�

The Christie SKA-3D will be on display in Christie booth #2111 and in the Milano Room at CinemaCon 2012, held April 23 – 26 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

CHULA VISTA, California, April 25, 2012 – Hitachi America, Ltd., Digital Media Division, Business Solutions Group today announced the introduction of its TB-1 Wireless USB Tablet. The TB-1 tablet with pen gives users the ability to write or draw over images from a compatible Hitachi projector, and provides a variety of interactive functions.

The TB-1 features an 8-inch by 5-inch touch-sensitive screen that lets users write or draw over video or still images that are projected from connected sources such as a computer, DVD player or other device. No special software is required. The TB-1 communicates with the projector via wireless, without the need for a cable.

The TB-1 also has a whiteboard function in which presenters can draw or write onto the TB-1 and the images will be projected onto a blank screen as if the screen was a whiteboard. Exclusive to Hitachi, the TB-1 offers a touchscreen toolbar that acts as a remote control to let users easily switch between input sources, turn the projector on and off and operate other functions. This unique feature eliminates the need to have the projector remote at hand while using the TB-1.

The TB-1 operates on the 2.4GHz frequency band for reliable wireless operation, with a range of approximately 50 feet depending on conditions. Its rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to 16 hours of operating time between charging.

“Our new TB-1 adds convenience and functionality to Hitachi projectors by giving people the ability to easily highlight what’s being shown on-screen,” said John Glad, product manager, Hitachi America, Ltd., Digital Media Division, Business Solutions Group. “It’s ideal for adding emphasis to business and educational presentations.”

The TB-1 is compatible with the following Hitachi projectors: BZ-1, CP-A221N, CP-AW251N, CP-A301N, CP-X2015WN, CP-X8150, CP-X8160, CP-WX8240 and CP-WX8255.

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

ABOUT HITACHI
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 America, Ltd., Digital Media Division, Business Solutions Group markets LCD projectors, interactive panels and whiteboards and security and observation system products through value added resellers, system integrators, distributors and OEMs.

Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT / TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 360,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2010 (ended March 31, 2011) consolidated revenues totaled 9,315 billion yen ($112.2 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.

Military simulation show highlights renewed focus on raising performance and reducing cost of ownership.

Norway’s projectiondesign® returns to the ITEC Defence, Training, Simulation and Education show this year with the most comprehensive line-up of products it has ever offered to the defence training and simulation market.

FS33 IR makes its debut
Making its worldwide debut at ExCeL, London from 22-24 May is the FS33 IR, the company’s latest LED-illuminated projector to stimulate Night Vision Goggles (NVG) for unrivalled simulated night-time vision. Built around the manufacturer’s ReaLED™ solid-state illumination platform, the FS33 IR adds a fourth LED to the conventional red, green and blue light sources, emitting infra-red light beyond the range visible to the human eye. This produces brighter night-vision imagery when stimulated by NVGs and provides a completely constant light output over time, eliminating the need for recalibration, reducing the maintenance and total cost of ownership to an absolute minimum.

The FS33 IR offers a brightness of unprecedented 1200 ANSI lumens, being by far the brightest projector available that’s capable of realistically visualising night-time and limited visibility scenario, visible day-time or pitch black scenarios from one single channel input. The FS33 IR is optimised for NVGs of all generations, including Generation 3 and Generation 4, as well as versions using specific IR stimuli.

FL35 ReaLEDâ„¢ line-up of LED projectors
projectiondesign now offer the FL35 ReaLED illumination projectors in three resolution variants (WQXGA, WUXGA and 1080p). The FL35 wqxga is the world’s highest-resolution LED projector and on the projectiondesign stand at ITEC 2012, it will be demonstrated in a breathtaking immersive dome display. Offering 100,000 hours of typical service life and double the brightness of projectiondesign’s previous LED models, the FL35 enables the deployment of higher acuity systems and reduced channel counts, making it an ideal visual platform for multi-channel simulation environments.

Immersive displays and breathtaking images
projectiondesign will be showing their F35 AS3D high-resolution active stereoscopic 3D projector in a maritime training and simulation scenario. The F35 AS3D projector will be integrated with 3D submarine content provided by TechViz and motion capture and systems from Vicon.

Additionally, projectiondesign’s F82 sx+ projectors will be integrated to showcase command and control monitoring. SXGA+ resolution users of systems that require 4:3 or closer to 1:1 aspect ratios optimise the usage of pixels. SXGA+ resolution has traditionally been hard to find in three-chip projection. It is particularly useful in simulation and training to address the burgeoning update market where many manufacturers’ legacy projectors require replacement due to age.

ITEC show wide support
As well as taking its own stand, projectiondesign is supporting a number of partners at ITEC, among them Simulation Displays, a division of Paradigm AV Ltd (Stand L100) – all of whom will use the manufacturer’s projectors as part of real-world simulation and training solutions. projectiondesign will also support the ITEC event with the provision of F12 projectors for the ITEC Keynote Welcome Speech held in the Platinum Suite, and breakout conference tracks in the North Gallery Rooms. All projectors on the projectiondesign booth will be displayed using the finest screens from Projecta.

Innovation Showcase and ITEC show hospitality
Additionally, on Wednesday 23 May as part of the ITEC Innovation Showcase, Håkon Andersen, projectiondesign’s Visual Simulation Specialist for APAC and EMEA, will present a paper titled ‘Solid State LED Projection For Full Mission Simulators’ – highlighting the end-user benefits of the latest LED technologies and applications.

On the same day, projectiondesign will participate in the exhibitor hospitality evening, serving traditional Norwegian delicacies and entertainment to ITEC attendees.

Maria Dahl Aagaard, Product Marketing Manager, projectiondesign, enthuses: “ITEC has always been a great platform from which to launch new initiatives in the military training and simulation space, and we are confident that our solutions will again be well-received by this demanding but receptive audience.

“We are looking forward to three days of exacting product demonstrations, productive partner initiatives, and informed conversations with attendees keen to learn more about how projectiondesign’s visual technology know-how can offer them new simulation solutions while simultaneously reducing their operating costs.�

projectiondesign will be on Stand H110 at ITEC from 22-24 May 2012 at the ExCel in London, UK.

Less is more for the Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas in San Diego, where Christie Managed Services has implemented cost effective boothless projection systems, powered by low-maintenance Christie digital cinema projectors, the most powerful and most trusted name for exhibitors joining the digital revolution. Boothless systems eliminate the need for traditional projectionist booth space and require no human operator.

Located in the Del Mar Highlands Town Center in Carmel Valley, Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas features two traditional auditoriums and six with boothless projection systems, seating up to 74 guests, 3D and surround sound technologies, reserved seating options, and high back reclining leather chairs for the ultimate in viewing comfort. Designed and installed by Christie Managed Services as part of a complete customized solution, the boothless systems free up space for an additional row of seating that would normally have been taken up by the projection booths. Christie provided an all-inclusive, turnkey solution for a special lift system that enables the Christie CP2220 DLP Cinema® projectors to be positioned out of the way during normal operation and lowered for maintenance. The Managed Services Team at Christie also installed the audio system, screens, processing equipments, lighting, drapes, library management systems, playback and projection systems, in addition to designing and deploying the boothless capability. Recently, an additional six auditoriums were installed with Christie boothless projection systems at the Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas La Costa location in Carlsbad.

“While we are South America’s largest theater chain, this is our first entry into the U.S. market, and it was critical that every aspect of our patrons’ movie-viewing experience was as perfect as possible,� said Carlos Wellman, managing director of Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas. “We selected Christie because they bring more than 80 years in the exhibition industry, and perfectly understand the old-world traditions of the finest movie houses and the next generation of digital technology to meet the sophisticated demands of today’s moviegoers.�

Matthew Heyman, a Cinépolis consultant on this project added, “Christie’s boothless lifts create the space for Cinépolis to transform its theaters into a unique movie-going experience. These boothless concepts, like the ones Christie designs and installs, are transforming the digital cinema environment.�

“Exhibitors are looking for solutions that enable them to reduce construction costs, while offering the design flexibility to transform older facilities to the look and feel of the luxury cinema,� explained Sean James, vice president of Managed Services for Christie. “Our customers need the benefit of technology without the complexity of integration or the burden of support to accomplish their design and cost reduction goals. We designed and built boothless systems that provide the right environment for the projector and isolate the audience from the noise and heat the projector and server generate while allowing the projection booth to be removed.�

Christie Managed Services provides end-to-end solutions for projection and audio in the cinema environment as well as digital signage solutions for theater lobbies. It also offers service packages that provide exhibitors with support that range from 24/7/365 remote monitoring and technical phone support to on-site preventative maintenance/emergency service and fast, local access to spare parts centrally coordinated from Christie’s Network Operations Center.

Cinépolis patrons agree that the theater chain got everything right. They rave about the ultra-comfortable high-back recliners and ushers that serve food and alcohol right at their seats in the 21+ theaters. The recliners also have buttons to call for additional service, and special menus are offered to match the theme of the movie.

CinemaCon attendees can view a video that includes the boothless concept at the Christie booth #2111, and speak with a representative of the Christie Managed Services team.

Christie® hosted a high frame rate (HFR) Summit yesterday at Christie’s worldwide center for engineering, research and development in Kitchener, Ontario, touring cinema-industry luminaries through its manufacturing facility and providing the first-ever laser projection of high frame rate cinema and alternative content on to a 30-foot white screen.

Recent Gordon E. Sawyer Academy Award winner Douglas Trumbull, Ian Bidgood, Technical Director, Park Road Post Production; Matt Cowan, Chief Scientific Officer, RealD; John Helliker and Bert Dunk, Directors at the Screen Industries Research and Training Centre and Demetri Portelli, Stereographer met with Christie engineering and product development staff for a vibrant information sharing session and discussion on high frame rates, laser projection, and the future of 3D and 4K projection.

“Our guests were very impressed with our demonstration of high-frame rate content using one of our prototype laser projectors,� said Don Shaw, senior director, Product Management, Christie Entertainment Solutions, “as well as the laser projector development roadmap we shared in these frank discussions.�

Big, Bright and Crystal Clear Will Spark Cinema Industry Renaissance
The consensus of the assembled industry experts was that the industry needs to differentiate itself from the plethora of varied viewing options, from tablets to home theaters and all manner of exhibitor setups, to raise itself out of its current malaise.

Doug Trumbull said “Spectacular movies delivered at high-frame rates, on to big and vividly bright screens, will enable the production and exhibition of amazingly immersive cinema experiences that will be far more powerful than any other medium.�

Echoing Mr. Trumbull’s sentiments, Ian Bidgood suggested that “…3D images must be awe-inspiring to bring back the crowds to theaters worldwide, and the higher brightness levels that are required to do justice to these images, along with higher frame rate material, will be delivered by Christie’s technology in the laser field, with new projector and cinema solutions for today and the future.�

Christie plans on incorporating laser projection technology into its cinema product line, business products line and visualization and simulation solutions where it benefits its customer base.

The Kitchener facility for projection, visualization/simulation, DLP Cinema and LED-based products and solutions is Registered to ISO14001 (Environmental Management System) and Registered to ISO9001 (Quality Management System).

Christie’s Commitment to HFR
The two main goals of Christie’s HFR activities are to help the industry develop the best HFR content and the best delivery system for HFR content. The first goal involves assisting leading-edge filmmakers and post-production companies in perfecting HFR movie creation, so the industry has the most engaging, entertaining content possible. The second goal is to assist exhibitors in showing these 3D HFR movies in all their glory. To these ends, Christie is helping create the standards for 3D HFR movies through formal and informal technology-development alliances with major producers and directors, post production facilities, studios and technology partners. On the exhibitor’s front, Christie provides one stop shopping for all the hardware, software and services that enable exhibitors to deliver a filmmaker’s vision in stunning 3D HFR quality.

Cinema industry leaders including (left to right) Matt Cowan (RealD Inc), Doug Trumbull (Trumbull Ventures LLC), Ian Bidgood (Park Road), Bert Dunk (Screen Industries Research & Training Centre), Demetri Portelli (3D Stereography) and John Helliker (Screen Industries Research & Training Centre) frame Christie’s laser projector prototype at Christie’s Kitchener manufacturing plant. Following a demonstration of high frame rate (HFR) content projected by the laser unit, the industry luminaries shared information and opinions on high frame rates, laser projection, and the future of 3D and 4K projection at Christie’s one-day HFR Summit.