Griffin Integrated Communications

Stampede Named New U.S. Distributor for RADVISION

2012-03-08T09:58:00.000-05:00

Strengthening its position as the industry’s leadingprovider of end-to-end video conferencing solutions, StampedePresentation Products Inc. today entered into an agreement with RADVISION to distribute a suite ofRADVISION products within the United States. The new partnership expands Stampede’s offerings for high definition andstandard definition video conferencing and gives Stampede’s dealers more optionswhen choosing a state-of-the-art video conferencing system.

According to StampedePresident Kevin Kelly, “More and more businesses, both small and large, areutilizing video conferencing to save time and money, which makes RADVISION’sprofessional-grade video conferencing products a very exciting addition to ourproduct range and gives our dealers a greater ability to win more jobs.Stampede is committed to providing our dealers with the best solution for everyclient, and now with RADVISION’s infrastructure, middleware and client-basedvideo solutions, they can specify some of the industry’s most reliable,highest-quality systems for all of their video conferencing needs.”

RADVISION’s General Manager of the Americas, GabyKoren, said, “Through our new distribution agreement, Stampede is giving itsU.S. dealers access to some of the most advanced industry leadingvideoconferencing products available today. Our video conferencing solutions are best-in-class, and by teaming withStampede’s resellers nationwide, we now have a best-of-breed, cost-effectivevideo solution that will help them grow their businesses while also protectingthe investments of their customers.”

The RADVISION product lines offered by Stampedeinclude the SCOPIA MCU, SCOPIA Elite 5000 MCU, and the SCOPIA Desktop PCapplication.

RADVISION’s SCOPIA MCU provides a very cost effective multi-partyconferencing solution for an enterprise network. SCOPIA MCUs are optimized forsupport of standard definition (SD) endpoints but can also fully support highdefinition (HD) endpoints. SCOPIA MCUs can be used in a cost effectivedeployment supporting a mixed SD and HD application or can augment a deploymentof SCOPIA Elite MCUs for cost effective support of SD endpoints in the network.

The SCOPIA Elite 5000 MCUSeries is RADVISION’s next generation platform for high definition multi-partyconferencing. Utilizing the latest in DSP technology, SCOPIA Elite’s advancedmedia processing supports 1080p HD and provides advanced connectivity, dynamicresource allocation, and individual video layouts per participant yieldinguncompromised video performance.

SCOPIA Desktop isdesigned to meet the demands of high performance video conferencing with astandard PC and Internet connection. It includes the latest in videotechnology providing High Definition H.264 for viewing both meetingparticipants and data collaboration. Its audio system provides echocancellation, background noise suppression, and is highly resilient to networkerrors common on the Internet.

About Stampede

Knownfor its value-added distribution, Amherst, New York-based Stampede is theleading distributor of presentation equipment including LCD/DLP projectors andflat panel displays. Stampede provides a complete range of brand name presentationequipment to a variety of audio/video, computer, and home theater resellers andintegrators in the United States, Canada and Latin America. These resellersrely on Stampede for value-added services in distribution, marketing andsolution- based sales. Stampede annually produces the “Big Book of AV,” an816-page catalog and companion website (www.BigBookofAV.com) providing hundredsof sales, installation and spec tips for Stampede’s dealers in addition toproduct details on more than 5,000 SKUs. For more information on Stampede, logonto www.stampedeglobal.com.

It's 'All In The Family' For This Minnesota Crew When It Comes To The Elan g! Entertainment and Control System

2012-03-06T10:24:00.000-05:00

At some point in lifeeveryone can experience tech envy — that transformational moment when you see afriend with a cool new gadget and think, “Wow, I need that right now!” Well, for this family who all work together ata family-owned company in Avon, Minnesota, this all-too-familiar feeling didn’tstem from a simple iPod or TV purchase, it arose from experiencing firsthandthe amazing capabilities of a full-fledged ELAN® g! Entertainment andControl System.

Scott, who first had anELAN control system installed in his new home in 2008 and recently upgraded toELAN g!, loves using his iPhone to control his lighting, heating, security,surveillance cameras and media, and even likes to play pranks on his wife whenhe’s on business trips, like switching the channel on the TV. Much of his family and relatives live nearby,and they work together at a family-owned company, so Scott was eager to showoff the system. When everything was said and done, custom integrator Cybermation, Inc. ended up installingfive full home control systems and an a/v system in the homes and businesses ofScott’s family and friends.

“Scott was so in lovewith his system that it became contagious—everyone that he showed thislife-changing technology to decided they had to have it too!” said CybermationCEO Tom Ardolf. “He showed them what he could do with iPhone, or PC, or thein-wall touch panels, and they were hooked. This business has always thrived onword-of-mouth referrals, and the easy-to-use g! system takes that idea to awhole new level.”

When Scott’s brother Chris saw his award-winningg! system, he fell in love with the sleek, powerful HR2 multimedia and homecontrol remote, which provides classic television remote controls plus fullaccess to every home system integrated with g! through its 2.4” touchscreen. Though he was no technologyexpert, Chris saw the value and simplicity of home control and had Cybermationinstall the ELAN g! system in his home, too.

Now Chris has 8 HR2remotes for TVs all over his home, which also let him control the home’s 12zones of audio, Lutron Homeworks lighting, HVAC, security system and severalsurveillance cameras located throughout the home’s exterior.

“I love the mediafunctions of the g! system, and it makes so many things at home so much easierto do,” Chris said. “It makes shuttingdown the house at night a breeze, it lets me check on the house when I’m nothome, and it’s especially cool when we sit down to watch TV or a movie. All I need is the HR2 remote, and we canwatch anything we want from the Kaleidescape or on TV. There’s no wandering around in the darkbecause I can turn off the lights and adjust the heat or air conditioning rightfrom the couch, and everything is quick and really easy to use.”

Cousin Tom visited Scott’s home and was equallyimpressed with the home control capabilities, and soon enough he was the proudowner of a full g! control system, complete with a Kaleidescape Media Server,several automated TV mounts, and even a golf simulator.

When Scott was ready toupgrade his 2008 system to the newly-introduced g! system, he asked Cybermationif they could transplant his existing system into his father’s house, whichthey were more than happy to do.

Lastly, after hearing theentire family swoon about their new smart homes, their co-worker Ken revealedthat he’s known about the awesome power of home automation for years, and infact had an ELAN system installed in his home in 2007, a full year before Scottdid. That’s why when he saw the iPhoneintegration in the new g! system, he immediately recognized the potential forhis sports training facility. Utilizedprimarily by hockey players for training purposes, the facility is now equippedwith an ELAN g! system that gives Ken Internet-accessible video surveillance,multi-zone audio distribution, and even allows the athletes to dock their iPodsand listen to their own music while they practice and train.

“The g! system is just as useful inmy training facility as it is in Scott’s house,” said Ken. “Scott uses it to control everything, and Iuse it here because it allows my guests to listen to their own music, lets memonitor the security system from the road, and makes it easy to expand thesystem in the future, which I’m planning on doing soon. Everyone that trains here loves being able tojust dock their iPods and go, and they think it’s as cool as I did when I putthe older ELAN system in my home in 2007. It’s amazing that the g! system lets me check the surveillance camerason my iPhone even when I’m away from the building, and it really helps give mepeace of mind. We even keep the parentsin the action with a 50-inch TV in the lobby that displays the cameras feedsfrom the training areas.”

Available starting at $2,000 for a single-room,four sub-system control solution, the ELAN g! Home Entertainment and ControlSystem can be expanded quickly and cost-effectively to enable whole-homecontrol of every system. ELAN g!provides users with the most uniform and intuitive icon-based control fromtheir favorite devices, including TVs, touch screens, touchpads, PCs, iPhones,and iPads. And the system's IP backbone makes it just as easy to control thesystem from across the room—or across the globe.

The ELAN g! System has been awarded a 2011Residential Systems Magazine RESI Award, a 2011 Custom Retailer MagazineEXCITE! Award, a 2011 CE Pro Magazine BEST Award, a Platinum Level 2011 CEAMark of Excellence Award by the Consumer Electronics Association and a 2011 Gold Level Electronic House Magazine Productof the Year Award.

About ELAN Home Systems: Since 1990 ELAN® Home Systems has been an industry leadingmanufacturer of innovative, award-winning Multi-Room audio/video systems. ELANsystems were the first to integrate audio, video, phones and third-partyproducts to create a seamless, easy-to-use "whole house" solution. ELANsystems and products are distributed through a comprehensive channel of selectDealers and Distributors throughout the United States, Canada and more than 58countries worldwide. ELAN Home Systems is part of The AVC Group. To learn more, visit www.elanhomesystems.com.

About The AVC Group, LLC:
Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, The AVC Group, LLC (www.theavcgroup.com) is a portfolio of pre-eminent manufacturers and marketersof state-of-the-art consumer and commercial audio, video, and control systemsolutions. The AVC Group is comprised of the following industry leading brands:NILES® Audio (www.nilesaudio.com), ELAN®Home Systems (www.elanhomesystems.com),Xantech® (www.xantech.com), ATON® (www.atonhome.com), andSunfire® (www.sunfire.com). The AVC Group, LLC is a subsidiary of Nortek, Inc.'s (www.nortek-inc.com) Home Technology Group.

NanoLumens Showcases Entire Line of Flex And Non-Flex Displays at The 2012 Digital Signage Expo in Las Vegas

2012-03-06T09:43:00.000-05:00

NanoLumens®, who lastyear introduced the world to large format flexible digital display technology,today formally unveiled its entire line of recently introduced Flex andNon-Flexible Displays at the 2012 DigitalSignage Expo in Las Vegas, Nevadaat Booth #1045 in the Las Vegas Convention Center. The unveiling at this year’s Expo marks thefirst time that the company is showcasing its entire line of commerciallyavailable products in one spectacular exhibit.

“Having announced the commercialavailability of our product line at the 2011 CETW Conference in New York, weare here at DSE 2012 to demonstrate to our customers that we have fullycommercialized our revolutionary “digital wall paper” technology that literallyturns any surface into a powerful communications platform — while eliminatingvirtually all of the weight, installation, energy, and cost efficiency issuesassociated with traditional large format digital displays,” declared Rick Cope,President & CEO of NanoLumens.

NanoFlex™and NanoWrap™ flex digital displaysremain the only solution of their kind. They conform to fit anysurface, are thin, lightweight, energy efficient and can be mounted as easilyas a work of art. The revolutionary flexdisplay technology shatters the traditional usage limitations of large formatdigital displays.

“Our Flex technology cannow be assembled to satisfy any shape and size requirements, so any locationcan now become a dynamic and dramatic video display” explained Cope. “At thesame time, our line of NanoSlim™ andNanoShape™ non-flexible displays,available in 6mm, 5mm, and 4mm pixel pitches, offer customers a morecost-effective alternative when flexibility is not a requirement.”

According to Cope, NanoLumens remains the onlycompany in the world able to reliably manufacture ultra-thin and lightweight,easy-to-install and maintain, seamless6mm pixel pitch flexible digital displays in virtually any shape or size to meet each customer’s unique requirements.

The company’s patenteddisplay technology, which allows customers to select from 4mm up to 10mm pixelpitches (depending on the model), promises to transform the way marketersengage their customers indoors and out of doors in every type of trade show,retail, hospitality, stadium, arena, transportation and public eventenvironment.

“Now, any surface can become a compellingdisplay surface as simply as hanging a mirror,” Cope emphasized. “This product line is going to forever changethe rules of the game when it comes to creative customer engagement.”

In addition to beingultra-lightweight and energy efficient, NanoLumens displays feature a seamless,edge-to-edge picture quality (up to a brightness of 5,000 nits) that can beviewed from any angle or any distance without color shift or picturedrop-off. Designed and engineered to beenergy efficient, NanoLumens displays consume significantly less energyper-square foot than conventional digital displays. Further underscoring theircommitment to eco-friendly technology, the NanoLumens displays are composed ofup to 50% reclaimed materials, and are completely recyclable. What’s more, some new NanoLumens displays canbe serviced from the front, makingmaintenance easier than ever before possible.

Designed and assembled entirely in the UnitedStates, NanoLumens displays are available in both flexible and non-flexibleframes in four product lines: NanoFlex™and NanoWrap™ flexible displays; NanoSlim™ non-flexible rectangulardisplays; and NanoShape™non-flexible round, square, and triangular displays.

The company’s technologyhas been recognized by Entrepreneur magazine as a 2011 future-proof tech trendand was cited by The Wall Street Journal in its 2010 Technology InnovationsAwards. NanoLumens’ technology alsoreceived the 2011 Breakthrough Technology of the Year Award at the AmericanTechnology Awards. Digital SignageMagazine awarded the NanoLumens NanoFlex a 2011 DIGI Award for “Best NewDisplay Device – NonLCD or Plasma”.

For more informationabout NanoLumens Digital Flex and Non-Flexible Displays, please visit www.nanolumens.com or call (678) 421-9694.

About NanoLumens:

Headquartered inNorcross, Georgia, NanoLumens, Inc. (www.nanolumens.com) is a privately held corporation engaged inthe research, product development and component design for unique flexibledisplays that address a yawning technology gap in the $14 billion digitaldisplay industry. Since its founding in 2006,NanoLumens has built a portfolio of more than 20 international families ofissued and filed patents on its flexible display technology that effectivelyaddress the commercial market void between relatively small flat-panel displaysand huge, limited application LED boards. NanoLumens technology is notconstrained by standard sizes and shapes, or by the size, noise and cost issuesassociated with commercial LED products.

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IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort To Host Second Mixed Martial Arts Event To Benefit The Kevin Piper Jr. Memorial Fund

2012-03-05T09:54:00.000-05:00

Reinforcing itscommitment to help meet the long-term needs of the larger Key West Community,IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort today announced that it will sponsor a Mixed MartialArts event to benefit the Kevin Piper Jr. Memorial Fund’s drive to establish ahyperbaric facility in the Lower Keys, as well as fund first aid refreshercourses and establish a memorial scholarship fund in the name of Kevin PiperJr. It is hoped that the installation of a multiplace hyperbaric chamber in thecommunity will help prevent future tragedies of the type that claimed the lifeof local resident Kevin Piper Jr. in June 2011.

According to IBIS BAYWaterfront Resort general manager Tony Osborn, the Mixed Martial Arts eventwill take place on May 17th, 2012 at the resort and will feature 8-12individual fights in all major weight classes. The event is being produced by MMA Solutions Global, Inc. of Fort WaltonBeach, Florida.

“Our first Mixed Martial Arts Event, which was held onFebruary 16^th, raised more than $7,000 for the Kevin Piper Jr.Memorial Fund while providing the community with an opportunity to cometogether for a worthy cause,” Osborn explained. “Based on the success of this first event we have decided to sponsor aseries of Mixed Martial Arts events over the course of the next year in thehope that they will generate all of the money the Fund needs to establish ahyperbaric facility in the Lower Keys, and help prevent future tragedies.”

Speaking on behalf of the Kevin Piper Jr. Memorial Fund,Kevin Piper Sr. noted that the event provides the community with a very specialopportunity to once again raise money for the foundation that was set up in thememory of his son, and continue working toward the goal of getting a hyperbaricchamber in Key West.

“What IBIS BAY is doing for the Fund is incredible,” Pipersaid. “With the exceptional donation we received from the first MMA fight, andall of the excitement that surrounded the event, we are confident that theproceeds from the upcoming bouts will go a long way to helping us achieve ourgoals.”

According to IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort owner Chris Holland,the fighters participating in the May 17th event will be the winners of aseries of Mixed Martial Arts events conducted throughout the state of Floridaduring the previous month. “Thus, peoplewho attend the May 17^th event can expect to see some very excitingmoments,” Holland emphasized.

Prior to the main event, which is expected to start at 6PM,there will be a V.I.P dinner from 4-6, for those who purchase a V.I.P. tablefor the event. The dinner will include drinks, food, and music. Regularadmission tickets for the event can be purchased for $25 per ticket, whileV.I.P. tables will be available for $500 and can fit up to 8 people. Reservedgeneral admission tickets, limited to 150 seats, will be on sale for $40. Thedoors open at 5PM for regular admission ticket holders.

For more information on purchasing a V.I.P. table or regularadmission tickets, please contact Jason Wells at (305) 849-0023.

For information regarding the Kevin Piper Memorial Fundplease call or write:

Kevin Piper Jr. Memorial Fund Inc.

82 Cutthroat Drive

Cudjoe Key, FL 33042

305.304.4063

About IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort:
The IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort (www.ibisbayresort.com) embodiesthe very best of Key West and offers guests a vacation experience like noother. With a full deck of options for active adventure-seekers, Hemingwaybuffs, or travelers who want to fit in with the locals, there is somethingspecial for every guest. Featuring classic Key West architecture and design,600 feet of beautiful private beach, a 20-foot poolside movie screen foroutdoor movie nights and the Lighthouse Restaurant, IBIS BAY Waterfront Resortis more than a resort—it’s a destination.

Elan g! Controls Breathtaking Outdoor Theater And Multi-Zone Audio System

2012-02-29T10:30:00.000-05:00

Not all outdoor hometheaters are created equal. They don’t all feature a super-bright 5,500 lumen1080p Digital Projections projector, a permanently installed Stewart StarGlas102” glass rear projection screen, or a 2,000 Watt surround sound system. Even rarer is a professional-grade poolsideentertainment center that really goes the distance, combining iPad and iPhonecontrol of the LED landscape lighting, Jandy pool equipment, and the pool houseHVAC and multi-zone audio system through the ELAN® g! Home Entertainment andControl system. But this awe-inspiringoutdoor media Shangri-la does exist, and it’s thanks to the custom installationprofessionals at Sarasota, Florida-based SmartHouse Integration.

Living in Sarasota,Florida, the Odegard family spends a lot of the year outdoors enjoying thebeautiful warm weather and wanted to create a stylish, relaxing outdoorentertainment center where they could watch movies and sports all year long.

“I’m not a huge techguy,” Eric Odegard said, “and this was the first time I really saw how all thesystems in my home could be tied together and controlled on my iPhone, which Icarry with me everywhere. Now that I’vegotten used to having all of this control, I’m going to expand the system toinclude the pool heater and the Jacuzzi controls, and also the security systemin the main house. I’ll be able to havethe jacuzzi heated up and ready to go when I get home, and then disengage thesecurity system as I’m walking up to the front door. How cool is that? Add that to the greatparties we’ve been able to throw, including the outdoor Super Bowl party wejust had, and this system really blows us away. SmartHouse Integration and the guys at Onyx Development who designed thepool house really created an amazing backyard living space that we can enjoyyear round.”

With their amazing newoutdoor theater and surround system, they’re free to host parties and watchmovies in their own backyard. And withthe ELAN g! system they can use their iPhones or iPads to control the theaterand audio system, the landscape lights, the HVAC and audio in the pool house,and soon the security system in the main house, too.

According to SmartHouse president Mark van denBroek, “When the Odegards were getting ready to start their home addition andpool renovation, they said they wanted a great outdoor audio system, of course,but they’d really love to be able to watch movies and sports with family and friendswhile lounging at the pool. I told themthat not only could I design a beautiful outdoor home theater like they’venever seen, but I could let them control everything—the projector, the LEDlandscape lights, the pool house HVAC and multi-zone audio, and even the poolequipment—with an iPad and iPhone through the ELAN g! system. Eric is a huge iPhone fan, so that really puthim over the top.

“As you can see, theresults lived up to the hype. We usedsome of the best projection and outdoor audio equipment available to give thema theater that rivals the quality of any commercial movie theater out there,and the entire system can be set up with a couple swipes and taps on an iPad.The projector is so powerful the family can even watch sports outdoors in thedaytime, partly thanks to a removable TV overhang that Onyx built. We also installed an ELAN TS2 in-wall touchscreen in the pool house that allows anyone to control the whole system frominside.”

The poolside theater iscomplete with a DirecTV HD receiver and Samsung Blu-ray player, so thehomeowner can enjoy all of his sports and movies in the comfort of his ownbackyard.

The ELAN g! Control System providesusers with the most uniform and intuitive icon-based control from theirfavorite devices including TVs, touchscreens, touchpads, PCs, iPhones andiPads. The standardized interface works across platforms, so that the trendyg!Mobile app users love on the iPhone appears and works similarly on ELANtouchscreens, valets and handheld remotes as well as users' televisions andmobile devices. And the system's IP backbone makes it just as easy to controlthe system from across the room - or across the globe.

Individual "apps" for eachsubsystem allow the user to control security, climate, lighting, media,irrigation, pool/spa, messaging, video and photos with the flick of a finger.Access is fast and secure through any ELAN home interface or globally withmobile Internet enabled devices like the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Netbooks andPC Tablets. Since the intuitive interface empowers users with personalizedscheduling and detailed history views, high consumption subsystems likelighting and climate can be closely monitored and managed for a greenerlifestyle - and substantial energy savings.

About ELAN Home Systems:

Since 1990 ELAN® Home Systems hasbeen an industry leading manufacturer of innovative, award-winning Multi-Roomaudio/video systems. ELAN systems were the first to integrate audio, video,phones and third-party products to create a seamless, easy-to-use "wholehouse" solution. ELAN systems and products are distributed through acomprehensive channel of select Dealers and Distributors throughout the UnitedStates, Canada and more than 58 countries worldwide. ELAN Home Systems is partof The AVC Group. To learn more, visit www.elanhomesystems.com.

About The AVC Group,LLC:

Headquarteredin Carlsbad, California, The AVC Group,LLC is a portfolio of pre-eminent manufacturers and marketers ofstate-of-the-art consumer and commercial audio, video, and control systemsolutions. The AVC Group is comprised ofthe following industry leading brands: Niles®,ELAN® Home Systems, Xantech®, ATON®and Sunfire®. The AVC Group, LLC is asubsidiary of Nortek, Inc.’s HomeTechnology Group.

iEssentials Unveils New Line of iPad2 Accessories At 2012 International Home and Housewares Show

2012-02-28T09:37:00.001-05:00

TheiEssentials division of MIZCO Internationalis introducing a complete line of iEssentials accessories for the new iPad2,all designed to increase the functionality of the iPad2, and keep it protectedduring everyday use. This new line ofaccessories will be on display at the 2012 International Home and HousewaresShow in Booth S4844, at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Thenew iEssentials 360 Stand for iPad2, featuresa 360-degree rotating display that allows for the iPad2 to be displayed at anyangle for optimal viewing. The compact stand folds up for easy storage, andfeatures a black rubberized finish, with extra grip on the bottom for securityand stability. Available for immediate delivery, at the suggested retail priceof $20.00.

iEssentialsis also introducing three new protective cases for the iPad2. The Smart Case features a hard plasticclip-on bottom shell, with an attached folding top cover that immediately shutsdown the iPad2 when closed. Available for immediate delivery, for $29.99, theSmart Case is available in four colors. The stylish Leather Folio Case is the perfect solution for those seeking aclassic folio case. The Leather Folio, is available for immediate delivery for$24.99, and includes a stylus. The UniversalNeoprene Tablet Cases are available in a zipper model and a sleeve model.The Universal Neoprene Tablet ZipperCase features a zipper pocket for storage of cables and other accessories,and the Universal Neoprene Tablet SleeveCase features a fold-over closure, and is reversible. Both models are available in 7” and 10”sizes, for $9.99 and $14.99 respectively.

Toensure privacy, and a scratch-free display, iEssentials offers a variety ofscreen protectors in “Privacy” or “Mirror” versions, all for the suggestedretail price of $7.99.

Thenew Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard forthe iPad2, is available for immediate delivery, and carries a suggested retailprice of $49.99.

About Mizco International

Headquarteredin Avenel, New Jersey, Mizco International (www.mizco.com)

is one of theworld's fastest growing suppliers of mobile phone headsets

andaccessories, as well as imaging and iPhone power solutions. Founded

in 1990,Mizco markets products under the Cellular Innovations, DIGIPOWER, iEssentials, Travelocity, and EckoUnltd. brands. The company currently offers more than 1,000 products through aglobal dealer network. For

moreinformation on Mizco and its product offerings call 1.800.266.4026

or visit www.mizco.com.

Expanded Line of Travelocity Travel and Portable Technology Products to Debut at Home and Housewares Show 2012

2012-02-27T10:41:00.000-05:00

Moving to meet thegrowing market demand for a greater variety of Travelocity® branded travel andmobile technology accessories, MIZCOInternational, the industry-leading multi-brand manufacturer and marketerof high performance value mobile technology solutions, will debut an expandedline of four new Travelocity® products at the 2012 International Home andHousewares Show, which runs from March 10 – 13, 2012. The introduction will bemade by MIZCO Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing David Strumeier,at Booth S4844 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

The new ready-to-goin-store product programs include the “Powerto Go” free-standing tower of portable power solutions, the “Waterproof Series” of waterproof casesand bags, the “Travel Tablet CaseSeries” of neoprene cases, and an expanded series of “Microbead Plush Travel Pillows.”

“The response of ourretail partners to our Travelocity line of travel and mobile tech accessoryproducts has been nothing short of phenomenal, “ Strumeier said today. “And the reason for the line’s success isfirmly grounded in the consumer’s recognition of and respect for theTravelocity brand, which is beloved by hundreds of millions of travelingconsumers around the world. We areextending the reach of this iconic brand by attaching it directly to an evergrowing line of innovatively designed, high performance travel and techaccessory products that meet genuine traveler needs.”

Available for immediatedelivery, the new Travelocity ‘Power To Go’ merchandiser display includes a3-in-1 charger, AC|DC converter, USB travel charger, USB car charger, stereohands-free headset, three-port travel outlet, travel tech case, Samsung and LGcompatible car charger, Samsung and LG compatible travel charger, Applelicensed iPhone car charger, Apple licensed iPhone travel charger, mini andmicro compatible car charger, mini and micro compatible travel charger, minicompatible car charger, mini compatible travel charger, micro compatible carcharger, and a micro compatible travel charger.

The Travelocity“Waterproof Series” includes a universal cell phone case, an iPad case, atablet case, and a camera case, all featuring a watertight closures, controlaccess through clear window, an adjustable neck or shoulder strap, and built-inUV protection. Additional specialfeatures include a watertight earphone port with waterproof headphones for thecell phone case, and room for camera lens zoom in the camera case.

The Travelocity “TravelTablet Case Series” features travel friendly, form-fitted neoprene cases inSKUs designed to fit all 7-8” and 9-10” models of tablets and provide completeprotection against damage. Featuringheavy-duty zippers and closed-seam construction for security, form-fittingneoprene and a cushioned interior for extra durability and added protection,these cases are slim and small enough to fit inside another travel bag to keeptablet devices scratch-free and protected while on the go. Available in Black, Blue, Navy, Red, Purple,Pink, Blue Plaid, Red Plaid, White Polka-dot, Houndstooth, Pink Polka-dot, RedHearts, Cheetah, Zebra, and Color Hearts.

The newly expandedTravelocity “Microbead Plush Travel Pillow” line builds upon the establishedpopularity of Travelocity’s travel pillows. The line features ultra-soft fleecelined pillows for the ultimate in comfort, a snug fit around the neck formaximum support, and thousands of polystyrene microbeads for comfort andrelaxation. Available for immediatedelivery in six colors including Black Polka-dot, PinkPolka-dot, Houndstooth, Zebra, Cheetah, Color Hearts.

Additional product photography isavailable upon request.

About TravelocityGlobal
Travelocity® is committed to being the traveler's champion-- before, during and after the trip – and provides the most comprehensive andproactive guarantee in theindustry. This customer-driven focus, backed by 24/7 live phone support,competitive prices and powerful shopping technology has made Travelocity one ofthe largest travel companies in the world. Travelocity also owns and operates:Travelocity Business® for corporate travel; igougo.com, a leading online travelcommunity; lastminute.com, a leader in European online travel; and ZUJI, aleader in Asia-Pacific online travel. Travelocity is owned by Sabre HoldingsCorporation, a world leader in travel marketing and distribution.

About Mizco International

Headquartered in Avenel,New Jersey, Mizco International is one ofthe world's fastest growing suppliers of mobile phone headsets and accessories,as well as imaging and iPhone power solutions. Founded in 1990, Mizco marketsproducts under the Cellular Innovations, DIGIPOWER, iEssentials, EckoUnlimited, and Travelocity brands. The company currently offers more than 1,000products through a global dealer network. For more information on Mizco and itsproduct offerings call 1.800.266.4026 or visit www.mizco.com.

Elan Home Systems Debuts Enhanced Online Tech Forum To Accelerate Peer-To-Peer Communication And Resource Sharing

2012-02-27T09:48:00.000-05:00

In a move designed to accelerate the sharing ofproduct, installation, and service related information among its growing andexpanding dealer base, ELAN® Home Systems today announced the launch of a newonline Tech Forum. The launch closelycoincides with the introduction of the brand’s new, state-of-the-art consumerfacing web site at www.elanhomesystems.com.

According to Joe Lautner, Manager of BusinessDevelopment and Project Management at ELAN Home Systems, the new Tech Forum isavailable exclusively to authorized ELAN dealers, who can now access the forum24/7/365 after entering into the password-protected dealer section of the newweb site. “Coincident with the launch ofour totally new web site, we are taking our dealer support programs to a wholenew level and the round-the-clock availability of this new Tech Forum is oneexample of our commitment to accelerate the distribution and sharing ofinformation that will help our dealers to sell and install ELAN g! systems toevery type of residential and commercial customer they serve.”

Indeed, the new ELAN Tech Forum takes theold-fashioned idea of a bulletin board and redefines it for a new generation ofdealers. Anchored by carefullypre-selected subject matter information threads, as well as a new search enginethat allows dealers to instantaneously comb through product information to findthe exact information they need when they need it most, the new Tech Forum isactively monitored by trained ELAN technical support specialists who respond toevery dealer question.

“Weare very excited to offer ELAN dealers an online community, where they can cometogether and get the answers they need in the simplest way possible. With ourfantastic new search engine, finding specific answers to dealer issues is nolonger like finding a needle in a haystack. Instead of having to search throughextensive documents and manuals, dealers can now simply run a search for theissue they are having and find an answer right away.“

Thanksto the informal nature of the forum, which is available to dealers at all hoursof the day, the members of the ELAN team are not the only ones who can helpsolve problems. Dealers are also encouraged to provide advice whenknowledgeable about an issue that a fellow dealer posts. Though all answersoffered by dealers are monitored by ELAN for complete accuracy, thepeer-to-peer assistance has been beneficial in establishing a welcoming onlinevenue where dealers can comfortably seek help.

“Notonly is this a great resource for problem solving and 3^rd partyintegration tips, but dealers can also inspire each other and network with oneanother,” said Eric Wieland, Technical Services Manager. “The tech forum isanother way for dealers to get the information they need when they need it.Different people like different resources. The more options available to solveproblems and build a concrete knowledge base, the better.”

Sinceits initial Beta launch this past October, there has been a steady increase ofdealers joining the forum and getting in on the undeniable resourcefulness ofthe site. The forum averages five new members and 30 posts a day, and is sureto grow even larger as word-of-mouth spreads about the benefits of thiscollective online community for ELAN dealers.

About ELAN Home Systems:

Since 1990 ELAN® Home Systems has been an industry leadingmanufacturer of innovative, award-winning Multi-Room audio/video systems. ELANsystems were the first to integrate audio, video, phones and third-partyproducts to create a seamless, easy-to-use "whole-house" solution. ELANsystems and products are distributed through a comprehensive channel of selectDealers and Distributors throughout the United States, Canada and more than 58countries worldwide. ELAN Home Systems is part of The AVC Group. To learn more,visit www.elanhomesystems.com.

About The AVC Group, LLC:

Headquarteredin Carlsbad, California, TheAVC Group, LLC is a portfolio of pre-eminent manufacturers and marketers of state-of-the-artconsumer and commercial audio, video, and control system solutions. The AVCGroup is comprised of the following industry leading brands: Niles®, ELAN®Home Systems, Xantech®, ATON® and Sunfire®. The AVC Group, LLCis a subsidiary of Nortek,Inc.’sHome Technology Group.

Elan Home Systems Debuts New g! Software Version 5.4 With Across-The-Board Enhancements

2012-02-23T09:56:00.000-05:00

ELAN® Home Systems today announcedthat the ELAN® g! Version 5.4 software is now available to dealers. The new software adds increased iPad app functionality,KNX support, updates to the newest drivers and enhancements to the userinterface.

According to Joe Lautner,ELAN Manager of Business Development & Product Management, “The new Version5.4 software update is a great achievement resulting in the strongest and mostreliable ELAN platform to date. Welistened to dealer and user feedback and made significant improvements to boththe user interface and the dealer configurator to enhance both simple andcomplex installations. We’ve made iteven easier to manage a zone that has two separate source volume controls,control a zone with multiple displays, and added an innovative way to manage abar or restaurant with multiple TVs. With all of these improvements, we are giving dealers much more room forcustomization, all while making the system easier to operate for the end user.”

The ELAN g! Configuratoris now more powerful than ever, allowing integrators to give users simplecontrol of two zones of audio in the same room, such as a TV’s speakers andwhole home speakers in the same room, and also control two TVs in the sameroom. For homes with bar rooms featuringmultiple displays, ELAN has developed a new screen in the g! interface thatshows multiple displays, giving one touch control of the source, volume andon/off functions for each display.

ELAN is also introducing the new g! ReferenceGuide, a comprehensive collection of tips and explanations split into twosections. Section one includes tips and explanations for common applicationsincluding backing up a system, developing customized controls, running g!Connect on a Mac, setting up end-user manager lighting scenes, the newConfigurator functions for multiple displays and home bars, and many more. The second section provides a field-by-fielddescription in the 5.4 Configurator.

The g! Version 5.4 software adds a significantnumber of features to the iPod Touch and iPhone g! apps and gives the iPad g!app identical functionality to the TS10 in-wall touch screen for security,climate, lighting and entertainment. The new software also allows for allsupported systems to display in widescreen landscape mode and gives users theability to remotely view recorded surveillance video with an enhanced DVRviewing feature on both the iPad and iPhone. The new iPad App will be the most powerful and comprehensive homeentertainment and control iPad app on the market.

The g! Version 5.4 software incorporates a number of third-party driver updatesincluding LUTRON RadioRA 2 lighting and shade controls, and the new Lutronthermostats. ELAN is also pleased toannounce being one of the first integration partners for the Lutron HomeWorksQS International product line. TheVersion 5.4 software also includes driver updates for the latest A/V receiversfrom Denon, Integra, Marantz and Yamaha. Thenew 5.4 software also add support for ELAN’s new S1616 audio matrix.

At the end of March, even more functionality willbe added to the g! 5.4 software. A new g! Tools will consolidate many of thetools used to help dealers install and support systems including transferringfiles, managing firmware updates, keeping support documents organized andup-to-date, and a dashboard for managing multiple systems. They will also release the irrigation andmessaging apps for g!Mobile.

The ELAN g! Entertainment & ControlSystem provides users with the most uniform and intuitive icon-based controlfrom their favorite devices including TVs, touchscreens, touchpads, PCs, iPhonesand iPads. The standardized interface works across platforms, so that thetrendy g!Mobile app users love on the iPhone appears and works similarly onELAN touchscreens, valets and handheld remotes as well as users' televisionsand mobile devices. And the system's IP backbone makes it just as easy tocontrol the system from across the room - or across the globe.

Boston Red Sox Relief Pitcher Mark Melancon Finds The 'Perfect Pitch' With The Niles ICS Home Audio System

2012-02-22T10:13:00.002-05:00

The Boston Red Sox’ newest relief pitcher, Mark Melancon, knows all aboutthe quest for the perfect pitch. Whilethe perfect knuckleball or slider can take a career to master, it took Melanconjust a few minutes to find the ‘perfect pitch’ in his Houston, Texas area homewith the Niles® ICS Whole-Home Audio System. Now Markcan enjoy his favorite music wherever and whenever he wants with 11 audio zonesthat he controls with a Niles iRemote® and simple in-wall Niles Contactkeypads.

According to Melancon, who pitched two seasons for the Houston Astrosbefore joining the Boston Red Sox roster during this past off season, “Theprevious owners had a Niles system installed, so in the process of purchasingthe house I got to try it out, and it just blew me away. It was so easy to use for all kinds of musicin every room, and then they pulled it out and took it with them when theymoved out! Honestly, all it took toconvince me to install the Niles ICS system was a couple minutes using thetouch screens and listening to the awesome sound quality.

“My favorite part of the system has to be theiRemote,” Melancon continued. “It letsme go through the entire system and change the music source and the volume forany zone in the house, even when I’m out in the yard. Sometimes I even use it to play pranks on mywife, like changing the music on her when she’s in the living room and I’moutside. I also like the touch screendisplays in the wall because they’re easy to use, and they really add anotherelement to the house; people see them when they’re walking through and it catchestheir interest.”

According to installation expert Prashant Mody of Modia, Melancon couldn’t have asked for a betterwhole-home audio system. “The family wanted to have fast, easy access to all oftheir music in every room and outdoors, so the Niles ICS System was the idealchoice. We often have to show ourclients exactly what their new home tech can do for them, but this systemreally explains itself, as Mark learned when he toured the open house.”

In addition to the home’s seven indoor audio zonesoutfitted with Niles CM series ceiling-mount speakers and a new SW8 compactsubwoofer in the living room entertainment center, there are four outdoor zonesfeaturing Niles GeoRealistic™ Rock Speakers and OS Series OutdoorSpeakers. When the Melancons are out inthe yard the Niles iRemote gives them quick access to all of their musicsources, including iPods, Pandora, am/fm radio and Sirius Satellite Radio,which they may add when they return after the baseball season.

Melancon said that the whole-home audio system hasmade his mornings brighter, and when he wakes up he goes right for the Contactkeypad

“The first thing I do in the morning is hit the keypad in the bedroom sothere’s music playing when I get down to the kitchen, so my wife and I can jamout to some tunes while we have breakfast. Then I usually head outside to do some work and put on music wherever Iam.”

“I dreamed about having a house for so long,” Melancon said. “Withthe Niles audio system I can make any spot in the house the perfect place torelax, work, or whatever I need to do, and it makes the house that much morespecial. When I come back to Houstonafter spending the season in Boston, I’ll be able to simply press a button andfeel at home again.”

With a simple, intuitive user interface that is displayed on Nilesin-wall Contact panels, accessing an incredible range of music sources hasnever been easier. With the Niles ICSSystem, users can connect to their iTunes libraries, digital music files,Pandora Internet radio, Rhapsody, Sirius|XM Radio, and all traditional audiosources including CD players, DVD and Blu-ray players, iPods, am/fm radio andtheir computers or tablet devices. TheNiles Multi-Zone GXR2 Amplifier makes it easy to access the whole home (oryacht) from one interface, giving users complete control over their entireaudio experience, from home theaters to outdoor music.

About Niles®:

California-based Niles® is a 33-year-old brandrecognized as The First Name in Custom Installation®. Niles is a leading designer,manufacturer and marketer of audio/video custom installation products andaccessories and is guided by its vision to be the world’s leading provider ofproducts and services that enable professional custom installers to design andinstall systems that delight their customers. To that end, Niles pursues amission to provide solutions for end users that enable simple and easy accessto home entertainment and that integrate seamlessly with other low voltagesubsystems like lighting, Internet, security and HVAC in residential and lightcommercial environments. Niles conducts its business with a promise to treatits customers, employees, suppliers and stakeholders with fairness and respectand to foster teamwork, innovation and a commitment to be the best ineverything it does. Additional information may be obtained by visiting www.nilesaudio.com.

About The AVC Group, LLC:

Elan Launches Remarkably User-Friendly Web Site Showcasing The Complete Capabilities of Elan g!

2012-02-21T09:30:00.000-05:00

TheELAN g! Entertainment and Control System has become the custom installationindustry’s control system to beat since it was introduced two years ago. ELANHome Systems has added to that lead today by introducing the industry’s mostuser-friendly and easily navigable web site, www.elanhomesystems.com, which allowsconsumers to experience all the wonders of g! from the comfort of theirhomes. Containing all the educationalinfo, photos, home profiles and packaged home control solutions a homeownerneeds to make a purchasing decision right at their fingertips, entering theworld of whole-home entertainment and control just got a whole lot easier!

“Ournew web site showcases and amplifies the remarkable capabilities of the ELAN g!Entertainment and Control System like,” said ELAN President Paul Starkey. “It operates simultaneously as a compellingand informative portal for consumers and an extremely effective tool for ourdealers and installers. We encouragedealers to leverage the creative capabilities of the new site in their in-storepresentation programs.”

Thecompletely redesigned site offers consumers a first-hand look at the g! systemlike never before with an extensive photo portfolio of g! installations, asearchable full product catalog, a list of all integration partners, good,better and best home system templates to match every consumer’s need or budget,a slideshow brochure, a TV commercial, several TV news spots and videos, andeven a demo of the ELAN g! user interface and its nine apps. With each visit to the site it becomes clearerthat the ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System is the simplest whole homecontrol system to buy, install and use.

The site has several new features that directly benefit ELAN dealerssuch as a complete product catalog that can be searched or downloaded, puttingthe entire ELAN line in the hands of the dealers right on their smartphones,tablets or laptops. The new photo library includes dozens of professionalphotos of the g! system components, ELAN Elios speakers, and brand logos fordealers to use in marketing materials and on their own web sites. The site alsoprovides key management contact info for dealers and installers and links toELAN’s Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages for additional videos andup-to-the-minute updates. The g! system’s bragging rights are well deserved,and are documented in an up-to-date awards section which details all awardsELAN has received, and a press section containing press releases about cool newinstallations and uses of the g! system. Dealer and consumer testimonials show visitors that people really lovethe g! system and are using it to make their lives easier and improve theirhomes.

Available starting at $2,000 for a single-room,four sub-system control solution, the ELAN g! Series Control System can be expandedquickly and cost-effectively to enable whole-home control of every system. ELAN g! provides users with the most uniformand intuitive icon-based control from their favorite devices, including TVs,touch screens, touchpads, PCs, iPhones, and iPads. And the system's IP backbonemakes it just as easy to control the system from across the room—or across theglobe.

About ELAN Home Systems:

Since 1990 ELAN® Home Systems has been an industry leadingmanufacturer of innovative, award-winning Multi-Room audio/video systems. ELANsystems were the first to integrate audio, video, phones and third-partyproducts to create a seamless, easy-to-use "whole-house" solution.ELAN systems and products are distributed through a comprehensive channel ofselect Dealers and Distributors throughout the United States, Canada and morethan 58 countries worldwide. ELAN Home Systems is part of The AVC Group. Tolearn more, visit www.elanhomesystems.com.

About The AVC Group, LLC:

Headquarteredin Carlsbad, California, The AVC Group,LLC is a portfolio of pre-eminent manufacturers and marketers ofstate-of-the-art consumer and commercial audio, video, and control systemsolutions. The AVC Group is comprised of the following industry leading brands:Niles®, ELAN® Home Systems, Xantech®, ATON®and Sunfire®. The AVC Group, LLC is asubsidiary of Nortek, Inc.’s HomeTechnology Group.

The AVC Group Launches Expanded Worldwide Training Program

2012-02-17T09:38:00.002-05:00

Movingto provide its consolidated international distributor network with a new levelof training support, The AVC Group today announced the roll out of acomprehensive 2012 Training Program that combines Trade Show, Internet, andField based classes into one comprehensive global training initiative.

Accordingto Ken Johnsen, International Training Manager at The AVC Group, the newprogram was rolled out last month at ISE 2012 and featured brand specifictraining on the ELAN, Niles, Xantech, Sunfire, and ATON brands. “Over a five day period we trained a largepercentage of our European distributor partners and their trainers on everyaspect of each brand’s product line,” Johnsen emphasized. “We are now taking this same integratedapproach and bringing it to every part of the world.”

Theentire focus of The AVC Group’s international education effort, Johnsenemphasized, is to ‘train the trainers’ to be complete experts in all of thefive brands’ product offerings. “Ourgoal is to provide our distributors with the tools they need to successfullyrepresent any brand within The AVC Group. To achieve this goal, we are combining Trade Show, Internet, and Field-basedclasses into a single comprehensive program that allows for the largest numberof trainers to be trained in the most time and cost-efficient way possible. These training courses will culminate in aCertificate of Completion for various products and techniques unique to thebrands of The AVC Group.”

Regardingtrade show centric events, Johnson said that The AVC Group will be hostingmulti-brand training at CEDIA 2012 in Indianapolis. Field-based training is now scheduled to takeplace as follows: February 2012 inAustralia and New Zealand; March 2012 in Russia and Europe; April 2012 inBeijing, Shanghai and Southeast Asia; June 2012 in Peru and Brazil; July 2012in India and Dubai; September 2012 in Carlsbad, California; October 2012 inAsia and Southeast Asia. Johnsenstressed that each Field-based program will be structured to meet the needs ofeach region, and most likely be a week-long exercise that he calls a “HiFive”training event. This event will have twofull days devoted to ELAN, and one day each devoted to Niles and Xantech, and ahalf-day each to Sunfire and ATON.

RegardingInternet training events, Johnsen plans to utilize each brand’s alreadyestablished on-line training videos and classes, while at the same time,creating smaller, highly focused sales and technical trainings that willemphasize software updates, system designing, programming techniques, as wellas launches in new product categories. These trainings will be delivered viaWebEx, Skype and/or conference calls.

Formore information about specific training events and schedules, distributors areencouraged to contact Ken Johnsen directly at kjohnsen@theavcgroup.com by phone at +1760-710-0546 or Skype using kenneth.johnsen6.

About The AVC Group, LLC:

The AVC Group, LLC is a subsidiary of Nortek, Inc. and is part of Nortek’s Home Technology Group,an over-arching designation for a segment of home electronics companies thatincludes manufacturers producing nationally-recognized brands in categoriessuch as stereo and home theater speakers, distributed audio and video systems,lighting controls, structured wiring systems, residential and commercialsecurity and access control equipment, and Internet connected mediaproducts. Nortek is headquartered inProvidence, RI and is a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of innovative, brandedresidential and commercial ventilation, HVAC, and home technology convenienceand security products.

Sony Visual Imaging Products Group Names Stampede United States Distributor For Sony EVI Series Video Cameras

2012-02-08T09:24:00.001-05:00

Building on the success of itsrelationship with the Sony Visual Imaging Products Group, Stampede PresentationProducts, Inc. today announced that it has been named a United States distributorof the popular Sony EVI Series of pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) video cameras. According to Stampede President & COOKevin Kelly, effective immediately Stampede assumes responsibility for thesales and marketing of the Sony EVI-HD7V, EVI-HD3V, EVI-D70, EVI-D70/W,EVI-D100, and EVI-HD1 Video Cameras.

“These Sony EVI Cameras provide addedchoices for the growing range of video conferencing, distance learning, houseof worship, hospitals, nursing homes, event center, concert hall, and remotejustice applications where imaging superiority, reliability, and installationflexibility are critically important,” Kelly emphasized today. “The addition of these cameras to our productoffering provides our dealers with a new product line to bring to theirend-user customers. We are expanding therange of possible installation environments our dealers can pursue — and thatis what Stampede is fundamentally all about: creating new market opportunitieswhile strengthening core channel strengths.”

Stampede Presentation Products, Inc. isthe exclusive North American distributor of Sony Video Conferencing solutions.

According to Tim Henry, National SalesManager, Visual Imaging Products Group, Sony Electronics, Inc., “Stampede hasalready taken the Sony Video Conferencing line to an unprecedented new level ofsuccess. The addition of Sony EVI VideoCameras to their product portfolio is the next logical step in our expandingbusiness relationship. We believe the combinationof our video conferencing solutions, together with our EVI Video Cameras,provides Stampede dealers and their customers with an unbeatable range ofsystems to

choose from.”

Sony EVI Video Cameras combinesophisticated signal processing with extensive exposure control options tomaximize image quality under even the most challenging conditions. Camera settings and pan/tilt/zoom functionscan be performed remotely at high speed via RS-232C interface (VISCA™protocol).

AboutStampede

Known for its value-added distribution,Amherst, NY-based Stampede is the leading distributor of presentation equipmentincluding LCD/DLP projectors and flat panel displays. Stampede provides acomplete range of brand name presentation equipment to a variety ofaudio/video, computer, and home theater resellers and integrators in the UnitedStates, Canada and Latin America. These resellers rely on Stampede forvalue-added services in distribution, marketing and solution- based sales.Stampede annually produces the “Big Book of AV,” an 816-page catalog andcompanion website (www.BigBookofAV.com)providing hundreds of sales, installation and spec tips for Stampede’s dealersin addition to product details on more than 5,000 SKUs. For more information onStampede, log onto www.stampedeglobal.com.

Award-Winning Homebuilder Makes Elan g! System Standard For Every New Home He Builds

2012-02-07T10:35:00.001-05:00

After installing the ELAN®g! Entertainment and Control System in the award-winning Power Haus in 2011,Florida homebuilder Josh Wynnehas decided to include a base ELAN g! system in every new home he builds. With the help of Mark van den Broek, President of SmartHouse Integration, Josh isproviding every new client with a customizable, completely intuitive andeasy-to-use home control system that offers iPhone, iPad and in-wall touchpanel control of every core system in the home, from the lighting to the audioto heat.

“Homebuyers today wanttechnology that can simplify things they do and improve their quality of life,”Wynne said. “By including a base home entertainment and control package withthe ELAN g! system, Mark and I are giving clients a taste of thepossibilities. From now on, every newclient of mine is going to be able to use an iPad to control their six-zoneaudio system, lights, HVAC, pool controls, irrigation and security system. Andwe let them know right from the start that the possibilities really areendless—they can add to the system now as they see fit, and even prewire forfuture upgrades.”

The partnership is one of the firstof its kind, pairing an award-winning homebuilder, and award-winning customintegrator, and the award-winning ELAN g! Entertainment and Home ControlSystem. Each home is custom designed and built, so the layout of each ELAN g!system is completely customizable. Ifthe client isn’t ready to expand the system just yet but wants to put three oftheir audio zones in the backyard, they can do it!

According to van denBroek, “Working with Josh to make home control an integral part of every househe builds is something that virtually no one else is doing, and it shows thathe is ready to give every one of his clients a home that is personalized beyondtheir wildest dreams. Each new homebuyercan specify how they want their package laid out, and can expand from the basesystem to include shade control, additional audio or video zones, or add moretouch screen interfaces, HR2 remotes and OSD on-screen displays for controllingthe system right on the TV.”

According to Wynne,choosing the right system is the first critical step to get homeowners toaccept that new technology can greatly simplify and improve their homes. TheELAN g! system was his choice because it so simple to use that he knows everyclient will be able to master the user interface quickly, regardless of theirage or technological prowess.

“The majority of myclients are building their last home,” Wynne said. “They are interested inimproving quality of life and security, and want nice things in their home, butdon’t want to have to fuss with the tech side of it. Where 10 years ago virtually every personwould quickly be intimidated by a room with five remotes in it, nearly everyonenow can operate and iPhone and iPad, because they are so easy to learn touse. The ELAN g! system operates thesame way, with a simple touch and swipe interface that is identical on everyinterface device they sell, as well as on iPhones, iPads and iPod touches.”

Each new homebuyer willreceive a base ELAN g! system that consists of an ELAN HC6 Home Controller andan ELAN M86 multi-room audio controller the provide six independent zones ofaudio. It will incorporate LutronRadioRA lighting both indoors and outdoors, the home’s HVAC systems, pool andspa controls, and the irrigation and security systems as well. Each client will be able to access the systemthrough two TS7 7” in-wall touch screens, three TS2 4” in-wall touch pads, oneHR2 multimedia and home control remote, and one iPad with the g! apppreinstalled. They can also get the appfor any existing iPhones, iPads, iPod touches, Apple computers or PCs theycurrently own.

Van den Broek added that, “Mycustomers love their systems more in the third year than they did in the firstyear. The system can grow with the ownerand is constantly being updated to include the newest music and video sources,as well as new interface devices and software upgrades that make the systemeven simpler and faster to use. Becauseexpanding the system is a relatively simple process, people like to addadditional surveillance cameras or purchase motorized window shades once theyrealize how much the g! system has changed how they live in their homes.”

ELAN Home Systems will showcase itsg! series of home control solutions for builders at the 2012 NAHB InternationalBuilders’ Show in The AVC Group’s Booth #4959 at the Orange County ConventionCenter from Feb. 8-11.

Josh Wynne Construction andSmartHouse Integration, both based in Sarasota, Florida, recently joined forceson the Power Haus, the greenest home in the U.S. The Power Haus won Josh WynneConstruction several LEED awards, Aurora awards and other green building awardsin 2011. SmartHouse Integration was alsorecognized as an outstanding industry leader in 2011 when it was awarded theCEA 2011 Mark of Excellence Home Of The Year Platinum Award for anotherSarasota job, dubbed “San Remo”.

About ELAN Home Systems:

About The AVC Group,LLC:

Marc Ecko Introduces Expanded Line Of Headphones, Bluetooth Speakers And IPhone Cases To Meet Growing Market Demand

2012-02-07T10:33:00.000-05:00

Respondingto the overwhelming consumer demand for a greater variety of styles in itsover-the-ear headphone product line, Marc Ecko today announced the immediatemarket introduction of an expanded line of *UNLTD.SOUND headphones, as well as two new Bluetooth speakers and severaladditions to the *UNLTD.ESSENTIALSline of products that are distributedworldwide exclusively by MIZCO International (www.mizco.com).

“Eachand every consumer has different standards for his or her gadgets. It’simportant to offer a variety of products that can meet each person’s individualneeds and taste,” said Steve Kops, Executive Vice President of Sales for theEcko UNLTD. line at MIZCO. “Our products have always stood out in terms of fashionand performance, and as someone who relies so heavily on their own personalgear, I know how essential it is to offer a line of products that is as design-forwardas it is performance based. The *ecko unltd. line of products truly stands atthe forefront of both fashion and function.”

A new addition to theUNLTD.SOUND line, The EXHIBIT Series of art-infused over-the-ear headphonesfeatures the unique designs of some of today’s top street artists from allaround the world. They are available infive designs, based on the colors green, blue, red, grey and graffiti white. Atan MSRP of $39.99 headphones feature 40mm drivers for outstanding audio clarity,a frequency range of 20Hz-20kHz, 100mW max input power, and a 1.2m cable.

According to Kops, “Marc startedthe new Exhibit Artists Series to highlight the top creative talents fromaround the world in new consumer areas including clothing, footwear, wristwatches, iPhone cases and of course headphones. The Exhibit Series ofheadphones represents the most influential new artists and gives every person achance to express themselves while they enjoy incredible sound quality.”

The EXHIBIT Series Slim Fit Cases foriPhone 4/4S also feature designs inspired by the world’s top creativetalent. They are lightweight, durableand feature high protection covers, as well as a rubber finish for a premiumfeel. The EXHIBIT Slim Fit Cases,available for $19.99, are designed with a play-through feature to enable fullaccess to all buttons and ports.

In addition totraditional wired headphones, the *UNLTD.SOUNDline has expanded to include The LINK, aset of Bluetooth over-the-ear headphones thatcan be synced to your iPhone, mobiledevice, tablet or MP3 player. The LINK,available in black and white, isalso equipped with a noise-canceling microphone, controls for music playbackand phone calls, and is foldable for easy storage and travel. The LINK has an MSRP of $109.99, and specificationsinclude Bluetooth 2.1, built in 190mAh Li-ion rechargeable battery, 33ft rangefrom Bluetooth source, standby time of 100 hours, talk time of 8 hours and anaudio playtime of 6 hours.

Announced prior to thisyear’s CES, and recognized by the International CES Innovations Design andEngineering Showcase, the *ecko unltd. SPRAY,was officially debuted to the market. TheBluetooth speaker comes in the form of a spray paint can, paying homage toEcko’s roots, and includes an AC adapter to charge the Li-ion battery, as wellas a input cable for non-Bluetooth devices. The SPRAY, at an MSRP of $159.99,also features a 3.5mm audio jack, two 45mm bass radiators, two 40mmdrivers, 4ohm, Rated power 3w, 50-20kHZ, SPL 83dB, with Neodymium high-energymagnets.

Alsoavailable is the BLAST, a portable Bluetoothspeaker that features function control, a microphone that can be used a speakerfor your Smartphone, and a rechargeable lithium battery. At an MSRP of $59.99,the BLAST is available in white, redand black.

The *UNLTD.ESSENTIALSline has expanded to feature iPAD-2FOLIO cases made of durable canvas carrying cases designed for the AppleiPad 2. The cases are available in two “finishes” including a shiny, glossyfinish and a durable, matte finish. Both versions of the case feature a securemagnetic cover with an auto sleep and wake feature, as well as a soft nanofiberlining for scratch resistance. The iPAD-2FOLIO, available for $39.99, alsosports a dual face-time and keyboard stand, full access to all ports and connections,and an inside organizer for papers and business cards.

About MarcEcko Enterprises

Marc Ecko Enterprises is a full-scale globalfashion and lifestyle company with reported sales of over $1.5 billion in 2009and approximately 1,000 employees worldwide. Over the past 17 years, the groupof companies that comprise Marc Ecko Enterprises (MEE) has grown to include: *Eckounltd., the largest young men’s brand in better department stores today;Eckored, a young women’s brand both identified by the ‘World Famous Rhino’logo; Marc Ecko Cut & Sew, a contemporary menswear line; Zoo York, thefirst and largest east coast action sport brand; Marc Ecko Entertainment, aninteractive entertainment and videogame unit; and Complex Media LLC, apublishing and new media division.

About Mizco International

Headquarteredin Avenel, New Jersey, Mizco International (www.mizco.com) is one of the world's fastestgrowing suppliers of mobile phone headsets and accessories, as well as imagingand iPhone power solutions. Founded in1990, Mizco markets products under the Cellular Innovations, DIGIPOWER,iEssentials and Travelocity brands. Thecompany currently offers more than 1,000 products through a global dealernetwork. For more information on Mizcoand its product offerings call 1.800.266.4026 or visit www.mizco.com.

NanoLumens Installs First NanoSlim Display at a Cosmetics Store in New York

2012-02-06T10:45:00.000-05:00

NanoLumens® is taking customer engagement to a entirely newlevel with the installation of a NanoSlim™ LED display in the front window of a brand new retail cosmeticsstore in New York’s SoHo shopping and arts neighborhood. According toNanoLumens President & CEO Rick Cope, the installation, which was made atthe M·A·C Cosmetics store, marks the first time the company’s revolutionary “digital wallpaper” is beinginstalled in a fixed retail installation, and it points the way to the futureof compelling retail customer engagement.

“SoHo represents thecutting edge in art, retail, and fashion,” Cope said today. “It attracts millions of visitors from allover the world. Retailers looking tomake a lasting impression on this very discerning audience know that they have togo beyond the ‘usual’ methods of engaging and holding the attention ofconsumers. They have to stop them intheir tracks and immerse them in a messaging environment that compels them toenter the store. Our first fixed retailinstallation is designed to do just that.”

Indeed, the NanoSlim display installed inthe SoHo store will most certainly stop consumers in their tracks. It measures 4.5’ wide by 9’ tall and is lessthan 3 inches deep, allowing the retailer to maximize valuable retail floorspace. The display boasts a seamless 4mmpixel pitch with stunning resolution, high brightness and superior off-axisviewing angles to effectively engage consumers from any distance or viewingangle.

Diversified Media Group(DMG), which installed the NanoFlex display, sees a bright future forbusinesses and venues that utilize the amazingly versatile and eye-popping technology, accordingto DMG President John Melillo.

“Our designers and engineers were excited about theNanoLumens displays from the very first time they saw them,” Melillo said. “They really are unlike any other displays onthe market today—they’re lightweight, ultra-bright and rugged, so they arecapable for use in popular retail stores, as well as transportation centers andother large high-traffic venues. Thesedisplays will breeze through bumps and splashes that would knock out otherdisplays. Our experiential design teamrecognizes that what really sets the NanoLumens displays apart is they can bebuilt to any size with nobezels—there’s no lines or breaks in the picture at any size imaginable, custombuilt to fit any application.”

According to Cope,consumers have learned to tune out traditional video displaysin public just as they have learned to fast-forward through commercials ontheir home’s DVR.

“Whether in SoHo or in ashopping mall where stores are all vying for the attention of millions ofshoppers each year, traditional displays have become ineffective in engaging andholding the consumer’s attention,” Cope said. “When people pass by a storefrontand see stunning seamless visuals on a 9-foot tall, 4.5-foot wide video displayjust inside the doors, they can’t help but stop and check it out.”

First introduced in 2010,NanoLumens award-winning LED displays remain the only solution of theirkind. NanoLumens is the only company inthe world able to reliably manufacture ultra-thin and lightweight,easy-to-install and maintain, seamless 4mm pixel pitch flexible LED displays invirtually any shape or size to meeteach customer’s unique requirements.

Designed and assembledentirely in the United States, NanoLumens displays are now available in bothflexible and non-flexible frames in four product lines: NanoFlex™ and NanoFlex Wrap flexible displays; NanoSlim™non-flexible rectangular displays; and NanoShape™non-flexible round, square, and triangular displays.

Combined, the DiversifiedCompanies, headquartered in Kenilworth, New Jersey, (www.divmedia.net) account for more than $125 million in revenue, handling fullservice integration and development of managed network solutions. DiversifiedSystems and its sister companies—Diversified Media Group, Sky Web Digital Mediaand DiamondLYTE—provide aggregated media, technology consulting, engineering,management and integration services to the broadcast & cable, Fortune500,sports & entertainment, out of home advertising, education, government,retail and healthcare markets.

Headquartered inNorcross, Georgia, NanoLumens, Inc. (www.nanolumens.com) is a privately held corporation engaged in theresearch, product development and component design for unique flexible displaysthat address a yawning technology gap in the $14 billion digital displayindustry. NanoLumens has built a portfolio of more than 20 internationalfamilies of issued and filed patents on its flexible display technology thateffectively address the commercial market void between relatively smallflat-panel displays and huge, limited application LED boards. NanoLumenstechnology is not constrained by standard sizes and shapes, or by the size,noise and cost issues associated with commercial LED products.

Flexible Digital Display Technology Stands Poised to Revolutionize How, When and Where Displays are Used, Says NanoLumens President Rick Cope

2012-02-06T10:36:00.000-05:00

Advanced flexible displaytechnology is making flexible communications displays cost-effective andallowing owners to position digital signage in previously inaccessible locationsand use them in ways that were never possible before. Because of the infinitenumber of uses and applications that benefit from lightweight displays that canbe installed quickly and easily, the flexible display revolution is beginningtoday.

“Make no mistake aboutit, NanoLumens flexible LED displaysaren’t going to just transform the digital signage industry,” said NanoLumens®President Rick Cope. “They are going torevolutionize it beyond our wildest imaginations. Whether it’s hanging windowdisplays, electronic message boards, digital billboards or large scale digitalvideo displays, the uses for digital communications displays are as varied asthe brands that manufacture them.

“There are so many industriesthat utilize signage—storefronts, event venues, event production companies,billboard advertisers, transit centers, bars and restaurants, stadiums andarenas—that the digital signage market is fragmented with unique productsspecifically designed to cater to every possible need. By designing a display that can literallybend to accommodate any installation, we’ve created one display to rule themall.“

For example, to make sureevery attendee at the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party’s 2011 GreaterToronto Area Dinner could clearly view party leader Tim Hudak’s speech, the event’sproduction company, Metalworks Production Group, knew they needed a large display that could be set up and broken downquickly and easily, could be viewed from any angle and was bright enough to beviewed from hundreds of feet away.

Metalworks went to theaudiovisual experts at APG Displays to find the ideal solution, and were toldthat NanoLumens NanoFlex™ lightweight flexible displays, a relatively newtechnology, were their best option. Metalworks ended up deploying two NanoLumensNanoFlex 112” flexible digital displays on either side of the speaker’s podiumto provide an optimal viewing experience for all attendees. And it’s a good thing they did, because theevent turned out to be the largest and most successful dinner in the party’shistory, drawing more than 800 supporters and candidates to attend and raisingnearly $1.5 million (Canadian) for the party!

With the staggeringnumber of application-specific displays being manufactured today, this type ofmulti-use display is a breath of fresh air. With the advent of large, lightweight, variable-brightness, flexible digitaldisplays that can be relocated easily and hung on a wall as simply as apainting, the need to juggle an inventory of projectors and flat screen LCDdisplays becomes a thing of the past.

“Think of thepossibilities for a flexible digital display that is 112” diagonal, weighs only85 pounds and can be put nearly anywhere, including being hung from theceiling, mounted on a curved wall or wrapped around a column,” Cope said. “Here are just a few: outdoor advertising,roadside signs, information displays at transit centers and malls, video wallsfor concert tours and public or private events, or even a completely mobileadvertising or information display for large venues such as convention centersor stadiums.”

For Metalworks, it wasvital that they be able to set up and break down the video displays quickly andeasily without needing a whole crew of workers because the dinner was only afew hours long. The NanoLumens NanoFlexdisplays were indeed the perfect solution for this, because they are solightweight, need minimal labor to install and don’t require any heavy orcumbersome rigging.

Designed and assembledentirely in the United States, NanoLumens displays are now available in bothflexible and non-flexible frames in four product lines: NanoFlex™ and NanoFlex Wrapflexible displays; NanoSlim™non-flexible rectangular displays; and NanoShape™non-flexible round, square, and triangular displays.

Headquartered inNorcross, Georgia, NanoLumens, Inc. (www.nanolumens.com)is a privately held corporation engaged in the research, product developmentand component design for unique flexible displays that address a yawningtechnology gap in the $14 billion digital display industry. NanoLumens hasbuilt a portfolio of more than 20 international families of issued and filedpatents on its flexible display technology that effectively address thecommercial market void between relatively small flat-panel displays and huge,limited application LED boards. NanoLumens technology is not constrained bystandard sizes and shapes, or by the size, noise and cost issues associatedwith commercial LED products.

The AVC Group Introduces Entertainment And Control Solutions For Home Builders At 2012 International Home Builders Show

2012-02-01T12:10:00.000-05:00

Asserting that the dream of owning a centrally controlled home whereconsumers manage audio, video, lighting, security, heating, and more from aniPad, touchscreen, or iPhone is now within the reach of virtually everyconsumer, The AVC Group will introduce a series of integrated, customizedentertainment and control solutions for home builders next week at the 2012International Home Builders Show, in Booth#W4959 of the Orlando Convention Center.

Comprising thecustom installation industry's five most iconic brands

(ELAN Home Systems®, Niles®,Xantech®, Sunfire®, and ATON®),these new builder system solutions are designed to provide every type of home,from the smallest cottage to the largest mansion, with an appropriate level ofhigh performance integrated home entertainment and control capability that allowsbuilders to add more homeowner value to their projects and more profit to theirbottom line.

“The first generation of Americans raised on theInternet, smartphones, iPods and iPhones are becoming homebuyers. Theyare going to demand that the homes they buy support their media and technologypassions. This generation is not going to stand for running theirmobile lives from an iPhone only to return home to the dark ages of individualappliance control," said Joe Lautner, Director of Business Development atThe AVC Group.

“Just as yesterday’s homeowners looked for upgraded kitchens andbaths when they purchased their homes, today’s new homebuyers are going to expect integratedcontrol systems to be a part of the homes they purchase. That’s a fact that isgoing to drive market growth and opportunity for our entire industry; in newhome construction, existing home retrofits, and multi-unit apartment andcondominium developments.”

Lautner believes that consumers will benefit from a new generation ofwhat he calls “affordably innovative” system solutions that offer consumers specific levelsof multi-room and multi-function systems that are clearly differentiated byretail price points. “I believe you will soon see every new home, and indeed manyexisting homes, offer system solutions that are price appropriate for the priceof the home. The higher you go in the home price, the greater its degreeof home function integration and control.”

The AVC Group strives to provide builders with entertainment andcontrol solutions that meet the increasingly specific and demanding needs ofthe consumer. With five highly recognized and respected brands, the AVC Group addressedevery conceivable entertainment and control need of every possible customer.Through local custom integrators, the company offers project planning anddesign, fully integrated products that work with an immense number ofthird-party components, professional installation and a great post-sale supportsystem for homeowners. The developmentand engineering teams across the five brands work together to assure consumersthat their home technology offerings will install easily, work togetherseamlessly and perform brilliantly.

“Homebuyers todaywant their homes to integrate customized control systems, and they don’t justexpect it, they demand it,” said Lautner. “Our solutions for home builders providethe ideal system solution for every customer’s needs.”

The ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System is the leadingmulti-room, IP-based entertainment and control system that is designed to bemodular, easy-to-install and upgrade, and is scalable from one-roominstallations to whole-home systems. The ELAN g! system’s unmatched quality hasbeen marked with numerous awards including a Platinum Level 2011 CEA Mark of Excellence Award by theConsumer Electronics Association and a 2011 Product of the Year Award fromBUILDERnews Magazine. The ELAN g! System is at the core of every systemsolution The AVC Group is offering to builders.

Niles is renowned for its extensive range of indoor and outdooraudiophile-quality loudspeakers that blend high fidelity with the highestarchitectural standards. For behind the scenes, Xantech supplies theinfrastructure that makes all the other systems work as one harmonious whole.With Sunfire’s legendary engineering, the consumer is able to easily integratehigh performance home theater audio products that play louder and with superiorfidelity compared to similarly priced speakers, all while maintaining thebrand’s signature impossibly small form factors. ATON offers consumers the world’s first andbest out-of-the-box whole home music system, which provides the simplest andmost affordable way to equip a home with a multi-room, multi-source audiosystem.

AboutThe AVC Group, LLC:
Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, The AVC Group, LLC (www.theavcgroup.com) is a portfolio of pre-eminent manufacturers andmarketers of state-of-the-art consumer and commercial audio, video, and controlsystem solutions. The AVC Group is comprised of the following industry leadingbrands: NILES® Audio (www.nilesaudio.com), ELAN® Home Systems (www.elanhomesystems.com), Xantech® (www.xantech.com), ATON® (www.atonhome.com), and Sunfire® (www.sunfire.com). The AVC Group, LLC is a subsidiary of Nortek,Inc.'s (www.nortek-inc.com) Home Technology Group.

Niles Introduces New Compact Subwoofers With Bracket Mount Capability For Commercial Installs

2012-01-30T10:44:00.000-05:00

Expanding its line of powerful high-fidelity subwoofers, Niles®, The First Name In Custom Installation®, today announced the introduction of two new stylish compact subwoofers designed for use in all kinds of light commercial, retail and restaurant environments, the new Niles SW6.5 and Niles SW8 subwoofers.

“With these new stylish and powerful compact subwoofers, installers can provide high-quality bass for any commercial application, especially those where floor space is at a premium such as restaurants, houses of worship and classrooms,” said Mike ‘Sparky’ Detmer, President of Niles. “These subwoofers outperform their larger rivals and offer superior sound quality, design, and installation flexibility thanks to their wall and ceiling-mounting capabilities.”

Engineered to provide powerful, high quality bass from a small, attractive package perfect for consumer-facing businesses, the SW6.5’s and SW8’s ultra-compact sizes and fingerprint-resistant piano-black accents present an aesthetically pleasing profile that complements any decor. With the built in bracket mount and optional OmniMount® 30.0 ST-MP (purchased separately), these subwoofers can be wall- or ceiling-mounted, making them the ultimate bass solution for restaurants, bars, houses of worship, classrooms and any other location where installers need powerful, high-quality bass without sacrificing on appearance or floor space.

Installers can extend the subwoofers’ placement flexibility even further by going wireless with the optional Niles SW-T wireless transceiver and SW-R receiver that easily attaches to a built-in mounting port on the rear of the subwoofers. With both LFE and stereo line level inputs, and unbuffered stereo pass-through line outputs, up to four subwoofers can be wired from a single receiver output, greatly simplifying the design and installation of multi-sub systems.

Pairing a long-throw front-firing woofer with dual long-throw side-mounted passive radiators, the compact subwoofers deliver the power of subwoofers four times their size, making them perfect for any setup requiring more bass in less space.

The subs are powerful enough for any consumer-facing environment and bring theater quality sound to every audio system. The SW6.5 produces 200W RMS power and up to 800W peak power through a 6.5” active driver and two 6.5” passive radiators with a frequency response of 42-200Hz. This unbelievable power is delivered from a cabinet that is smaller than 10 inches-cubed and weighs only 11 pounds.

The SW8 ups the ante, producing 300W RMS power and up to 1200W peak power through an 8” active driver and two 8” passive radiators with a frequency response of 36-200Hz. Once again, this room-filling bass performance comes from an amazingly small cabinet about 12 inches-cubed that weighs only 16.5 pounds.

In addition to the designer-friendly features, the SW6.5 and SW8 have even more technical features that make them perfect for the custom installation industry. They both feature automated turn-on via 12 volt trigger or audio signal sensing and include a built in CAT5 balun to enable audio delivery over easy-to-use CAT5 cable.

The subwoofer’s long throw active drivers feature a black anodized aluminum cone that provides superior rigidity compared to conventional paper cone designs. The dual anodized aluminum cone passive radiators provide additional driver surface area that combine with the active driver to produce higher output than a larger single active driver.

The adjustable frequency control features a bypass positions, eliminating low pass filtering within the subwoofer, and variable phase control (0°-180°) allows for precise phase matching with the main speakers.

About Niles®:
California-based Niles® is a 34-year-old brand recognized as The First Name in Custom Installation®. Niles is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of audio/video custom installation products and accessories and is guided by its vision to be the world’s leading provider of products and services that enable professional custom installers to design and install systems that delight their customers. To that end, Niles pursues a mission to provide solutions for end users that enable simple and easy access to home entertainment and that integrate seamlessly with other low voltage subsystems like lighting, Internet, security and HVAC in residential and light commercial environments. Niles conducts its business with a promise to treat its customers, employees, suppliers and stakeholders with fairness and respect and to foster teamwork, innovation and a commitment to be the best in everything it does. Additional information may be obtained by visiting www.nilesaudio.com.

About The AVC Group, LLC:
Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, The AVC Group, LLC is a portfolio of pre-eminent manufacturers and marketers of state-of-the-art consumer and commercial audio, video, and control system solutions. The AVC Group is comprised of the following industry leading brands: Niles®, ELAN® Home Systems, Xantech®, ATON® and Sunfire®. The AVC Group, LLC is a subsidiary of Nortek, Inc.’s (www.nortek-inc.com) Home Technology Group.

Stampede Increases Credit Lines to Qualified Dealers; Invests Millions of New Dollars In Product Inventory

2012-01-25T09:47:00.002-05:00

Putting its money squarely behind itsstated commitment to serve as a complete business partner for its 9,000 dealer network,Stampede Presentations Products, Inc. today announced that it is expanding thecredit facilities it offers to qualified dealers and investing millions ofadditional dollars in deepening its product inventory to be in a strongerposition to meet dealer demands for faster order shipments.

“Our dealers have made it very clear to usthat they see 2012 as a very strong year for them if they can obtain the creditthey need and the product they need to complete their customer installations ina timely way,” Stampede President & COO Kevin Kelly said today. “Stampede is in a very strong financialposition to meet both of these needs and we intend to do so by expanding thecredit we offer to qualified dealers and increasing the inventory we carry oncritically important core products, such as displays, projectors, and videoconferencing equipment.”

Stampede has successfully served as abeacon of financial stability for its dealer network throughout the most recentrecession. While many of its competitorscut back in every part of their business, or exited the business entirely, Stampedeinvested tens of millions of dollars in new product lines, companyacquisitions, new technologies, and people. During 2011 alone, Stampede extended over $55 million monthly in creditlines to its dealers. Thiscritically important credit lifeline helped countless customers not onlymaintain their businesses but expand them in very challenging times. And nowthat business in general is improving, Stampede is totally committed toincreasing its financial support to dealers in the two areas that matter mostto them — credit and inventory.

Stampede is able to step in and providethe support its dealers need because it has a record of sustained year-to-yeargrowth despite the recession, a detailed understanding of the economics of theProAV industry, and a rock solid relationship their its financialpartners. “You have to remember thatlast year Stampede experienced a 51-percent growth in unit sales in corecategories and a 48-percent increase in operating profit, constituting the mostsuccessful year in our 15-year history. In fact, Stampede now represents more than 120 different manufacturers,with 35 new lines added just in the last two years, to support our 9,000-plusdealer partners,” Kelly emphasized.

Amplifying this message further, StampedeChief Executive Officer Mark Wilkins invoked Warren Buffet’s famous investmentmaxim in explaining that Stampede’s strategy is to be fearful when others aregreedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. “Ifyou think back to when the financial crisis really started in 2008, creditlines were being closed down almost overnight. Stampede throughout this entiretime provided stable and growing credit to the professional AV marketplace. Wecircled the wagons and, with our financial advisors, we decided that this can’tgo on forever.”

Asa result of their ability to offer financing, Stampede helped keep the marketliquid for countless customers. “We’ve invested millionsof dollars in financing and in additional inventory, to be able to provide thatvalue to those manufacturer partners, and to be able to have that product onhand and available for immediate shipment to our dealers. At the end of the daywe are enabling dealers to do a job that they may not have been able to dothemselves without the value-adds that we provide. It could be a situationwhere they didn’t have access to a certain category of products. It could be asituation where they didn’t have access to certain credit facilities that wouldenable them to do a larger job. We are stepping in an filling in the gapswherever they exist.”

About Stampede

Knownfor its value-added distribution, Amherst, New York-based Stampede is theleading distributor of presentation equipment including LCD/DLP projectors andflat panel displays. Stampede provides a complete range of brand namepresentation equipment to a variety of audio/video, computer, and home theaterresellers and integrators in the United States, Canada and Latin America. Theseresellers rely on Stampede for value-added services in distribution, marketingand solution- based sales. Stampede annually produces the “Big Book of AV,” an816-page catalog and companion website (www.BigBookofAV.com) providing hundredsof sales, installation and spec tips for Stampede’s dealers in addition toproduct details on more than 5,000 SKUs. For more information on Stampede, logonto www.stampedeglobal.com.

Elan Home Systems Announces International Support For Lutron's HomeWorks QS Total Home Control Solution

2012-01-24T11:24:00.003-05:00

Strengthening its nearlytwo-decade relationship with Lutron, ELAN® HomeSystems today announced that its ELAN g!Entertainment and Control System softwareversion 5.4 will support the new international version of Lutron’s HomeWorks QStotal home control system.

According to Joe Lautner,ELAN Product Manager and Business Development, “ELAN products have been workingwith Lutron systems for the better part of two decades, and now our integrationwith the new international HomeWorks QS control system proves that the bestjust keeps getting better. Dealers and customers all around the world can nowcombine the latest in lighting and shading automation from Lutron with the bestin home entertainment and control with the ELAN g! system. And it’s the easiestintegration in the industry—with one click in the ELAN g! Configurator, all ofthe loads, keypads and programming from the Lutron system are automaticallypopulated in the g! Configurator.”

Once an integratorinstalls and programs a Lutron RadioRAÒ2 or HomeWorks QS System, the ELAN g! system imports the data from the Lutronsystem. Once imported, the integrator can pick and choose what they want todisplay on any of the g! user interfaces. ELAN provides templates to match theLutron in-wall keypads so the integrator can simply drop any keypad onto the g!user interface and it will behave the same way as the Lutron in-wall keypad.

The integrator can thenadd automation for the lights to turn on and off based on preset schedules oractivity-based events such as arming or disarming the security system, motiondetection, driveway sensors and more. The g! software also makes it easy to create additional scenes that canbe controlled from any g! interface and are unique from the scenes driven bythe Lutron in-wall keypads.

The g! software version5.4 includes enhanced support for Lutron’s Sivoiaâ QS shade control, offering homeowners more control for improvedenergy management, safety, comfort and convenience. It also integrates Lutron’snew temperature control products.

Lutron’s HomeWorks QS system integrates the control of all yourlights, interior and exterior, and regulates a home’s daylight with windowshade control. The system integrates with other manufacturers’ audio/visual andHVAC controls for broader control of your home environment, and it does all ofthat while saving energy. So you’re not only choosing a system that willredefine your way of living, you’re also investing in a system which can payfor itself over the life of your home.

About Lutron Electronics:

Lutron Electronics,headquartered in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, designs and manufacturesenergy-saving lighting controls, automated window treatments and appliancemodules for both residential and commercial applications. Its innovative,intuitive products can be used to control everything from a single light, to everylight, shade and even standby power in a home or commercial building. Lutronproducts make any space more versatile while enhancing ambiance, comfort andproductivity. They also save energy and make light bulbs last longer, makingthem an eco-friendly addition to the home and workplace. Founded in 1961,Lutron estimates that the installed base of its products saves the nationnearly 10 billion kWh of electricity, or approximately $1 billion in utilitycosts per year. Lutron manufactures more than 16,000 energy-saving productssold in more than 100 countries around the world. To learn more, visit www.lutron.com.

About ELAN Home Systems:

About The AVC Group,LLC:

Headquarteredin Carlsbad, California, The AVC Group, LLC is a portfolio ofpre-eminent manufacturers and marketers of state-of-the-art consumer andcommercial audio, video, and control system solutions. The AVC Group iscomprised of the following industry leading brands: Niles®, ELAN® Home Systems, Xantech®, ATON® and Sunfire®. The AVC Group, LLC is a subsidiary of Nortek, Inc.’s Home Technology Group.

Niles Stakes Out New Ground With A High Fidelity Weatherproof Outdoor Speaker And Subwoofer

2012-01-24T11:21:00.000-05:00

Niles®, The First Name In CustomInstallation®, is staking out new ground with its new audiophile-grade weatherproof speaker andsubwoofer that bring indoor quality sound to the outdoors. FeaturingNiles’ legendary engineering, rugged construction, long-lasting materials and asleek design that blends in with any outdoor aesthetic, the new GS Garden Speaker and In-Ground Subwooferdeliver superior audio fidelity for all outdoor applications.

Accordingto Mike ‘Sparky’ Detmer, president of Niles, “With our new GS Garden Speaker andIn-Ground Subwoofer, music lovers and audiophiles can enjoy Niles’ renownedindoor sound quality, outdoors. Now anypatio, garden, backyard, landscape or pool area can be home to an attractivehigh fidelity audio system that is built to last.”

Housedin UV-stabilized, long-lasting ABS plastic, the Niles GS4 4” Satellite Loudspeaker ensures years of trouble-freeperformance that can withstand Mother Nature’s toughest extremes, evensurviving temperature extremes of -50 degrees to 185 degrees Fahrenheit.Precision-tuned and voiced to provide the high fidelity audio that Niles isfamous for, the GS4 loudspeaker impresses immediately and its wide dispersioncharacteristics allows users to enjoy the best outdoor audio experience withthe ultimate flexibility in speaker placement. Thanks to the pre-installed wall-mount brackets and Niles’ Twist &Lock® connection, the speaker caneasily be mounted on a wall or stake-mounted anywhere high fidelity audio isdesired.

TheGS4 loudspeaker features a 4” mineral-filled polypropylene woofer forlong-lasting performance with rich, deep sound and a 1” Teteron® tweeter withultra-wide dispersion to maximize the sound quality in outdoor environments.With the included UV-resistant cables and waterproof wire-nuts, owners canenjoy long-lasting, trouble free, reliable connections.

The Niles GSS10 10” In-Ground Subwoofer isdesigned to bring deep, rich bass to the outdoors from an enclosure thatdisappears into the landscaping. Constructed from industrial strength PVC, theGSS10 will provide years of listening pleasure when installed properly.Featuring a completely paintable port tube that rises out of the ground todisperse the sound, the GSS10 can remain totally hidden from view whileproviding the powerful bass of a 10” Niles subwoofer.

TheGSS10 features a 10” mineral-filled polypropylene woofer and can outputfrequencies from 25Hz to 110Hz at volumes up to 110 decibels. With a recommended burial depth of just16”-18” and dimensions of 14” x 30”, installation is simple and the subwoofercan be placed just about anywhere.

All GS Garden Speakers arebacked by Niles’ Limited Lifetime Warranty. For moreinformation on Niles’ GS Garden Speakers,please visit http://www.nilesaudio.com.

About Niles®:

About The AVC Group, LLC:

Headquarteredin Carlsbad, California, The AVC Group,LLC is a portfolio of pre-eminent manufacturers and marketers ofstate-of-the-art consumer and commercial audio, video, and control systemsolutions. The AVC Group is comprised of the following industry leading brands:Niles®, ELAN® Home Systems, Xantech®, ATON®and Sunfire®. The AVC Group, LLC is asubsidiary of Nortek, Inc.’s (www.nortek-inc.com) Home Technology Group.

Xantech Launches New XtraLink Kits

2012-01-23T11:23:00.000-05:00

Xantech, a leader in the field of audio/video remote control and distributionfor 40 years, will next week introduce the new XtraLink infrared-over-coax kitsthat allow remote control operation of a satellite receiver, cable box, DVDplayer or other device from a second room using existing coaxial cabling. Thesenew Xantech XtraLink IR-over-coax kits support the latest generation of LCD andplasma display screens and work in all lighting conditions. This new introduction will take place at ISE2012, in the Amsterdam RAI, at Stand 1N73.

Introduced in response tothe growing residential market and with input from contractors and systemintegrators, the new XtraLink kits allow IR remote control functionality to beimplemented over previously installed coax cabling without impacting the cableand antenna TV signals currently being carried, and without the need to installadditional cable runs. The DL85CK DinkyLink Coax IR – Surface Mount and HL85CKHiddenlink Coax IR –Table Top kits each include an injector, which introducesthe IR signal into the existing coax cable, and a coupler that interfacesbetween the coax cable and the device being controlled. Each kit, which takeonly minutes to install without the need for tools, also includes Xantech’sbest-selling, Hall of Fame Dinkylink surface-mount IR receiver, IR emitters,power supply and coax jumper cables.

For installations thatrequire IR-over-coax remote control to more than one room, Xantech is alsointroducing the DL85CX Dinky Link Coax Expansion Kit and HL85CX Hidden LinkCoax Expansion Kit. Each kit includes an IR receiver, injector, power supplyand coax jumper cable for use in conjunction with a standard DinkyLink orHiddenlink Coax IR Kit as appropriate.

Graham Hallett, XantechPresident, stated, “Our new XtraLink IR-over-coax kits have been designed withcontractors and system integrators in mind. As more look toward expanding theirbusiness into residential installations, the use of existing cable makes everyone’slives easier, including the end user. We are proud to offer the newIR-over-coax kits and our compatible products to this unique and growingmarket.”

Visit www.xantech.com for more information.

About Xantech:

Xantech designs andmanufactures an extensive range of audio, video and control products andsystems, many of which have become de facto industry standards. Xantech IRproducts are specified into more audio/video installations than any otherbrand. Xantech also supplies hi-definition HDMI video solutions, touch-panelsand IP control systems for residential and commercial applications, multi-roomaudio/video systems, audio source components and processors, and softwareprogramming tools.

Products are sold toprofessional installers and distributors directly from Xantech. Xantech’sproducts are marketed in North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, Asiaand Europe. Xantech is a part of The AVC Group in Carlsbad, California. Foradditional information about Xantech and its innovative products, please visit www.xantech.com.

About The AVC Group, LLC:

Headquartered inCarlsbad, California, The AVC Group, LLC is a portfolio of pre-eminentmanufacturers and marketers of state-of-the-art consumer and commercial audio,video and control system solutions. The AVC Group is comprised of the followingindustry leading brands: NILES® Audio, ELAN® Home Systems, Xantech®,ATON®, and Sunfire®.The AVC Group, LLC is a subsidiary of Nortek, Inc.’s Home Technology Group.

Xantech is exhibiting at booth #1N73 at Integrated Systems Europe 2012 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Rookie integrator Goes From "Zero to Hero" In Less Than 6 Months With The ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System

2012-01-19T12:42:00.001-05:00

Allit takes to go from an average “Joel” to a professional custom integrator witha nearly six-figure job under your belt is determination, vision and about sixmonths — if, that is, you choose to work with the ELAN® g! Entertainment & ControlSystem. That’s precisely what JoelBerrettini, a former world-traveling musician and 12-year professional ITveteran, learned last May when he decided to change careers and start a newcustom installation company, IT and MediaSolutions.

From May through August 2011, he learned everything he could abouthome control systems. He went totrade shows and took classes for every system out there, from Crestron toControl4, and after meeting representatives from each company, comparing thecosts and learning to actually use each system, he determined that ELAN g! wasthe top choice for value, ease of use, ease of installation and dealersupport.

“I’vebeen working with high tech equipment most of my life, whether on the road as atouring musician, in my recording studio or in my career as an ITprofessional,” said Berrettini. “So I know that the easier something is to useand the more attractive it looks, the more people will buy it, fall in lovewith it and make it a part of their everyday lives. That’s what drew me to theELAN g! system. Not only does ithave the simplest user interface in the industry, which is very familiar foranyone who’s ever used an iPhone or iPod, but the entire ELAN management teamwas so supportive and helpful to get me started as an integrator that othermanufacturers just couldn’t even begin to compare.

“Thetruth is nobody cares about the box! It doesn’t matter to the end user which component is installed, it’s allabout the quality of living and the experience of using and interacting withthe technology! That’s why beforeI ever pitched the ELAN system to a client, I personally installed a full-blownsystem into my own home so I couldeat, sleep and breathe ELAN, and then speak truthfully about the ways it makeslife easier and can simplify how you control every system in your house,restaurant, bar or office.”

Berrettinihas just completed his first installation, a nearly six-figure system for the Boneyard Pub & Grille’s new secondlocation in Sussex, Wisconsin, and it took him just seven weeks from start tofinish. Jim Jones, the pub’sowner, recognized Berrettini’s passion for perfection before he even contractedthe job when Berrettini came up with a complete redesign of the TV systemlayout for the whole restaurant. The new layout maximized the viewing areas andensured that every guest could see the TVs without having to move or turnaround, and it helped land him the contract.

Accordingto Jim Jones, “Joel was here everyday for nearly two months and he’s beenextremely supportive in helping me and my employees learn the best way to usethe system for every situation. The ELAN g! system is an incredible improvement over what we have in theoriginal Boneyard Pub & Grille and it’s making the whole entertainmentaspect infinitely easier to manage, and therefore better for me and myguests. All of the TVs come onautomatically at 6 a.m. when we open for breakfast, it’s easy to go through thesurveillance camera footage if I need to view an event, and I controleverything from one device. Theother location is more work and has bugs in the system, because it’s very hardto get 16 DirecTV boxes to work and change channels using just the standard-issueremote.

“Ifit weren’t for Joel, I probably wouldn’t have used such high quality componentsin the new private party room” Jones continued. “He set up a 106-inch screenwith an HD projector and a 3,000 Watt 5.1 surround stereo system, so I can hostall kind of events and parties and even movie screenings in the room. I have people fighting over the roomfor the big game in February! Joel’s knowledge, expertise, dedication, and faith in the ELAN g! systemreally gave me everything I wanted in an entertainment and security system forthe restaurant.”

The restaurant has 32 Samsung LED TVs, ranging from 40 to 55 inches,and the audio system uses two Niles SI-1230 amplifiers and an ELAN D12amplifier to power 60 speakers, bringing hi-def audio and video to every guestin every seat in the house. Berrettini didn’t stop at an audio/video system,either. The restaurant’ssurveillance and security systems are fully integrated, and they plan toincorporate the thermostats soon.

“Thetruth is there are three types of people in the world,” said Berrettini. “Thosethat make things happen, those that watch things happen, and those that say‘umm, what happened?’ I makethings happen. I wanted to becomea custom integrator because it’s fun! How many other careers let you literally change the way people live, andsee it happen right before your eyes? The final reveal was my favorite part, when I walked Jim through therestaurant and showed him how everything worked together, and how the TVs andspeakers would automatically turn on and all be set to the right stations.”

Berrettini has gone the extra mile at every turn, even helpingprogram the restaurant’s electronic outdoor sign and spending nights andweekends on site to make sure that any issues could be addressed quickly andthe employees could learn to use the system in a real-world environment. It’samazing what a little motivation can do, and Berrettini is living, breathingproof that anyone who seriously wants to become a custom integrator can do so withthe support of the ELAN management and the ELAN g! system.

Available starting at $2,000 for a single-room,four sub-system control solution, the ELAN g! Series Control System can beexpanded quickly and cost-effectively to enable whole-home control of everysystem. ELAN g! provides userswith the most uniform and intuitive icon-based control from their favoritedevices, including TVs, touch screens, touchpads, PCs, iPhones, and iPads. Andthe system's IP backbone makes it just as easy to control the system fromacross the room—or across the globe.

Stampede Breaks New Ground in Dealer Education with Launch of Industry's First Online Courses at Stampede University

2012-01-18T10:53:00.000-05:00

Stampede Presentation Products Inc., the leadingvalue-added distributor of ProAV solutions, today announced the addition of acompletely integrated series of online courses to its Stampede Universitytraining curriculum, making Stampede the first ProAV distributor to offeronline courses to its dealers at times that meet each dealer’s uniquerequirements. In addition, Stampede President & COO Kevin Kelly said thatthe University is now offering new categories of courses to address the largerbusiness issues confronting today’s dealer, including mergers and acquisitionsand new market development.

“Today’s ProAV dealer is challenged as neverbefore to find new ways to grow and expand their business that go far beyondthe basics of product knowledge,” Kelly emphasized. “To be sure, dealers mustbe fully educated on the products they sell, but they now need to be experts inlong term business planning, business transition, and new market development.What’s more, their businesses run virtually around the clock. All of this meansthat a university tasked to meet their needs must keep pace with the demands ofthe times. That is what we are doing with Stampede University.”

According to Kelly, Stampede University’straining programs now include more business-oriented courses, including courseson transitions and mergers and acquisitions, as well as a consulting programdesigned to help residential dealers develop commercial markets and vice versa.What’s more, many of these courses will now be available online 24/7/365 toallow learners to proceed at their own pace and on their own schedule.

These new course offerings come in addition toStampede University’s already substantial collection of dealer and integratorlearning aids found on the website. These include training materials in theform of webinars, how-to videos, white papers and other media that cover thebreadth of the AV technology experience from video walls to distance-learningtechnology, and represent large numbers of major equipment manufacturers,including Hitachi, Sharp, VUKUNET, InFocus, NEC and Samsung.

No other AV systems distributor offers a morecomprehensive and knowledgeable array of training materials than StampedeUniversity, and Stampede has established its learning proposition to be abridge between manufacturers and dealer/integrators, achieving unprecedentedsynergies by serving the needs of both simultaneously. “Part of our mission isthat not only do we have to offer a value to our customers but also we have tooffer a value to our suppliers,” explained Kelly. “A significant part of the valuewe offer to a manufacturer through Stampede University is by educating themarketplace in new technologies, and manufacturers do want to teach dealers howto use their products and how to sell their products. In that way, we act as avery necessary bridge between the manufacturer and the dealer.”

Kelly pointed out that Stampede University’straining hub not only disseminates product training widely but also does itcost-effectively for manufacturers: instead of multiple manufacturersredundantly mimicking each others’ training efforts, Stampede University actsas a portal through which dealers and systems integrators can search for andfind new products and platforms as well as the training and information they’llneed to best leverage them. The enhanced availability of information throughStampede University has enabled many dealers to broaden their product andservices offerings to customers, and that’s helping the AV industry as a whole,as it continues to operate in a challenging economic environment.

“More than ever, knowledge is power, asdealer/integrators seek out new markets, add core competencies and expand theirknowledge base, in the effort to bolster revenues. Stampede University is thesole commercial resource nationally that can offer that necessary link betweenmanufacturer and integrator to assure the needed exchange of information thatwill guarantee future success. “We know that knowledge and training are thekeys to the future in this industry,” said Kelly. “And Stampede University existsto make sure they are always available to our customers.”

About Stampede

Known for its value-added distribution, Amherst,New York-based Stampede is the leading distributor of presentation equipmentincluding LCD/DLP projectors and flat panel displays. Stampede provides acomplete range of brand name presentation equipment to a variety ofaudio/video, computer, and home theater resellers and integrators in the UnitedStates, Canada and Latin America. These resellers rely on Stampede forvalue-added services in distribution, marketing and solution- based sales.Stampede annually produces the “Big Book of AV,” an 816-page catalog andcompanion website (www.BigBookofAV.com) providing hundreds of sales,installation and spec tips for Stampede’s dealers in addition to productdetails on more than 5,000 SKUs. For more information on Stampede, log onto www.stampedeglobal.com.

Elan g! Entertainment And Control System Now Compliant With The KNX Standard

2012-01-17T10:17:00.000-05:00

Adding momentum to its international product marketing programs, ELAN® Home Systems today announcedthat it has joined the KNX Association, creator and owner of KNX technology —the worldwide standard for all applications in home and building control. Atthe same time, the company said that its industry-leading ELAN g! Entertainmentand Control System is now compatible with KNX Certified lighting, climate,shade, and input/output devices.

“We are very excited toannounce that our groundbreaking g! entertainment and control system nowintegrates with KNX devices,” ELAN Home Systems President Paul Starkey saidtoday. “Our international customers havebeen asking us to integrate with KNX and we now do so. As a result of this certification, and ourcommitment to continue to work with the KNX standard in our ongoing productdevelopment programs, we expect the ELAN g! system to become even more popularthroughout the world.”

In welcoming ELAN HomeSystems into the KNX Association, Mr. Heinz Lux, Director of the KNXAssociation, noted that, “KNX is the most successful standard for home andbuilding control throughout Europe and Asia and we are very pleased to haveELAN Home Systems embrace it as their control standard as well. ELAN’s support of our goals and mission willhelp us to expand KNX throughout the world, including the United States. We look forward to working with ELAN’s teamto make the KNX standard even stronger in the years to come.”

Available starting at under $2,000 for asingle-room, four sub-system control solution, the ELAN g! Series ControlSystem can be expanded quickly and cost-effectively to enable whole-home controlof every room appliance. ELAN g!provides users with the most uniform and intuitive icon-based control fromtheir favorite devices, including TVs, touch screens, touchpads, PCs, iPhones,and iPads. The standardized interface works across platforms, so that thetrendy g!Mobile app users love on the iPhone appears and works similarly onELAN touch screens, valets and handheld remotes as well as users' televisionsand mobile devices. And the system's IP backbone makes it just as easy to controlthe system from across the room - or across the globe.

The ELAN g! system has been awarded a 2011Residential Systems Magazine RESI Award, a 2011 Custom Retailer MagazineEXCITE! Award, A 2011 CE Pro Magazine BEST Award, as well as a Platinum Level2011 CEA Mark of Excellence Award by the Consumer Electronics Association and a2011 Gold Level Electronic House Magazine Product of the Year Award.

The ELAN andKNX integration will be showcased January 31–February 2at ISE Stand 1N73 at The Amsterdam RAI in The Netherlands.

About KNX:

The KNX Association is the creator and owner of the KNX technology– the worldwide standard for all applications in home and building control,ranging from lighting and shutter control to various security systems, heating,ventilation, air conditioning, monitoring, alarming, water control, energymanagement, smart metering as well as household appliances, audio/video andlots more. KNX is theworldwide standard for home and building control with a single, manufacturerindependent design and commissioning tool (ETS), with a complete set ofsupported communication media (TP, PL, RF and IP) as well as a complete set ofsupported configuration modes (system and easy mode). KNX is approved as a European (CENELEC EN 50090 and CEN EN 13321-1)and an International standard (ISO/IEC 14543-3). This standard is based uponmore than 20 years of experience in the market. Over 250 member companiesworldwide from different application domains have almost 7000 KNX certified product groups intheir catalogues. The KNX Associationhas partnership agreements with more than 30,000 installer companies in almost100 countries.

About ELANHome Systems:

About The AVC Group, LLC:

Headquarteredin Carlsbad, California, The AVC Group,LLC is a portfolio of pre-eminent manufacturers and marketers ofstate-of-the-art consumer and commercial audio, video, and control system solutions. The AVC Group is comprised of the followingindustry leading brands: Niles®, ELAN® Home Systems, Xantech®, ATON®and Sunfire®. The AVC Group, LLC is asubsidiary of Nortek, Inc.’s (www.nortek-inc.com) Home Technology Group.

DigiPower Introduces World's First Cross-Brand Tablet and Smartphone Charger

2012-01-13T10:45:00.000-05:00

Recognizing thatnot all chargers work with all USB devices, MizcoInternational’s DIGIPOWER division today introduced the world’s firstcross-brand tablet and smartphone charger. The Cross-Brand Tablet and Smartphone Charger features a simplethree-position Smart Switch that allows it to optimally charge USB-poweredtablets from major manufacturers such as Apple, Samsung, HTC and BlackBerry.What’s more, it’s also designed to charge USB-powered smartphones with maximumcharging efficiency. The charger debuted at Booth #31240 at 2012 InternationalCES in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Providing up to 2.1 amps of power, the Cross-Brand Tablet andSmartphone Charger is capable of rapidly charging any portable USB device aconsumer may have, and its super compact design features a convenient flip-uppower plug making it ideal for use on-the-go.

“Many tablets and smartphones have different power requirements forcharging, which until today meant that each device needed its own charger,” DIGIPOWER President Maurice Mizrahi said. “Withour charger’s adjustable Smart Switch, users can set the charger to recognizetheir device and charge it effectively and with maximum efficiency. Finally,consumers no longer need to carry several chargers with them to charge all oftheir mobile devices, and retailers only have to carry one SKU to supportmultiple devices, helping to save space and simplify their business!

“We strive toprovide retailers and consumers with the most useful technology innovationsthat both increase sales and simplify the lives of buyers,” Mizrahi continued.“The Cross-Brand Tablet and Smartphone Charger is our latest achievement insolving the issues associated with today’s mobile lifestyle.”

Theultra-compact charger is available immediately at retailers and online storeswith an MSRP of just $29.99. The charger features over-voltage, over-currentand short circuit protection, ensuring long life and successful charging everytime.

About Mizco International

Headquartered in Avenel,New Jersey, Mizco International (www.mizco.com)is one of the world's fastest growing suppliers of mobile phone headsets andaccessories, as well as imaging and iPhone power solutions. Founded in 1990,Mizco markets products under the Cellular Innovations, DIGIPOWER, iEssentials, Ecko Unlimited and Travelocitybrands. The company currently offers more than 1,000 products through a globaldealer network. For more information on Mizco and its product offerings call1.800.266.4026 or visit www.mizco.com.

Mizco International's "Tough Tested" Series Offers Consumers Rugged, Professional Grade Mobile Phone Accessory Products

2012-01-12T10:36:00.000-05:00

Mizco International today announced the expansion ofits award-winning “Tough Tested” series of heavy-duty, professional grademobile technology accessories for general consumers. The expanded Tough Tested linenow includes a new over-the-ear ToughTested Bluetooth Earpiece, ToughTested Smartphone Cases and ToughTested Pro Car Charger, all designed, engineered, and manufactured to meetthe exacting usage requirements and needs of professional drivers. These mobileaccessories are perfect for all drivers and travelers and feature rugged,heavy-duty construction that can handle any abuse, such as drops and dings,that a wearer might throw at them.

According to Sam Mizrahi, “As we designed this line, we took intoaccount the testimonials of professional drivers and contractors who spend longhours on the road, using their devices. We made sure the products all had useful features that made their usagemore simple, and more comfortable. Along the way, we realized, that thesefeatures are useful and desirable, to the everyday consumer, as well.”

Drawingon the success and features of the over-the-head Tough Tested LYTE COMM 737 andPRO BOOM 747 Bluetooth headsets, the line now features a miniature,over-the-ear Tough Tested BluetoothEarpiece. Available for $49.99, the earpiece features a flexible andadjustable earclip for the user’s comfort, as well as a rubberized,heat-retardant finish. Perfect for life on the road, the earpiece also features10x noise cancelling technology, which reduces background noise by producing frequenciesopposite to any external sounds such as wind and passing traffic, making themsilent. The earpiece features the latest 2.1 Bluetooth software, seven hours oftalk-time, 200 hours of standby power, and includes Home, Car and USB chargingsolutions.

Availablefor immediate delivery, at a suggested retail price of $29.99, the new Tough Tested Pro Car Charger features a12-foot-long, high-gauge cord, that allows drivers to charge and use theirsmartphones and USB devices from anywhere in their vehicle. The high-gauge cordhas been tested for ten pounds of weight resistance, to ensure it’s strengthand durability. Finished with a heat retardant, rubberized coating, the Pro CarCharger is available in models for the iPhone/iPod as well as micro-USB and mini-USB,allowing for easy on-the-go charging of all current phone models, GPS devices,and other mobile tech products. The ProCar Charger features a 30-minute quick charge, and a 3-light chargeindicator (power, charging and fully charged).

ToughTested has also launched a complete range of Smartphone Cases, all made to endure the most heavy usage. Made ofrugged and durable padded canvas, the Tough Tested Rugged Smartphone Cases feature multiple options for ensuringphones are secure in the case, including a Velcro-secured flap and snap buckleclosure. Offered in Black, Digital Camouflage, Classic Camouflage or Khaki, thecases feature a steel belt buckle, complete with karabiner clip for securingcases to belts, pockets and more, the cases carry a suggested retail price ofonly $14.99. The Workman Holster Case featuresa leather case that mounts onto a workbelt. Available for immediate delivery,at a suggested retail price of $24.99, the WorkmanHolster Case fits all smartphones. The Tough Tested Rubberized Impact Case features extra-thick and durable blacksilicone, to absorb the impact for dropped phones. Available for immediatedelivery, and carrying a $19.99 suggested retail price, the case fits iPhone4and most popular smartphones on the market today. For the ultimate insmartphone protection, Tough Tested has introduced the Duro Protection Case, that features three layers of protection. Thecase features an inner protective hard plastic shell with screen protector, arubber shock absorbing middle layer, and an outer hard, protective shell thathas a rotating belt clip holster. The DuroProtection Case is available for immediate delivery, at a suggested retailprice of $29.99.

ToughTested has also brought to market, a new UniversalGooseneck Mount windshield mount for smartphones, GPS devices, andsatellite radio devices. The mount, thatsteadies the devices against shocks and vibrations generated by the vehicle’smovement while on the road, is available for immediate delivery for $14.99.

Thenew products join the best-selling LYTE COMM 737 and PRO BOOM 747 Bluetoothheadsets that feature 10X noise canceling technology, DSP dual mic technology,background noise reduction, and a 180-degree flex boom mic. Each model alsodelivers up to six hours of talk time and 250 hours of standby time. Theheadsets also incorporate a boom mic, adjustable mic stem, adjustable headband,call waiting, 3-way calling, voice activated dialing, one-touch call answer/end,as well as a USB Travel Charger and USB Cable.

About Mizco International

Headquartered in Avenel,New Jersey, Mizco International (www.mizco.com)

is one of the world'sfastest growing suppliers of mobile phone headsets

and accessories, as wellas imaging and iPhone power solutions. Founded

in 1990, Mizco marketsproducts under the Cellular Innovations,

DIGIPOWER, iEssentials, Travelocity, and Ecko Unltd.brands. The company currently offers more than 1,000 products through a globaldealer network. For

more information on Mizcoand its product offerings call 1.800.266.4026

orvisit www.mizco.com.

Niles' New Outdoor Speakers And In-Ground Subwoofer Offer High Fidelity Audio And Sleek Design

2012-01-11T12:22:00.000-05:00

Niles®, The First Name In Custom Installation®, today introduced a new line of outdoor speakers and an in-ground subwoofer, which all feature rugged construction, long-lasting materials and deliver superior audio fidelity for all outdoor applications. The new GS Garden Speakers deliver Niles’ legendary high performance sound quality and the speakers’ rugged construction gives dealers an ideal, long-lasting outdoor audio solution.

According to Mike ‘Sparky’ Detmer, president of Niles, “The introduction of our new GS Garden Speakers and In-Ground Subwoofer allow dealers to offer the same level of audio quality and sleek, blend-in designs for outside applications as Niles in-ceiling speakers provide inside the home. Installers can now install powerful, high fidelity outdoor audio systems to fit any environment with minimal visibility.”

Housed in UV-stabilized, long-lasting ABS plastic, the Niles GS4 4” Satellite Loudspeaker ensures years of trouble-free performance that can withstand Mother Nature’s toughest extremes, even surviving temperature extremes of -50 degrees to 185 degrees Fahrenheit. Precision tuned and voiced to provide the high fidelity audio that Niles is famous for, the GS4 loudspeakers impress immediately, and their wide dispersion characteristics allow users to enjoy the best outdoor audio experience with the ultimate flexibility in speaker placement. Installers can utilize the pre-installed wall-mount brackets or use Niles Twist & Lock® connection to easily change to the included stake mount.

The GS4 loudspeakers feature a 4” mineral-filled polypropylene woofer for long-lasting performance with rich, deep sound and a 1” Teteron® tweeter with ultra-wide dispersion to maximize the sound quality in outdoor environments. With the included UV-resistant cables and waterproof wire-nuts, owners can enjoy trouble free, reliable connections.

The Niles GSS10 10” In-Ground Subwoofer is designed to bring deep, rich bass to the outdoors from a subwoofer that disappears into the landscaping. Constructed from industrial strength PVC, the GSS10 will provide years of listening pleasure when installed properly. Featuring a completely paintable port tube that rises out of the ground to disperse the sound, the GSS10 can remain totally hidden from view, all while providing the powerful bass of a 10” Niles subwoofer.

The GSS10 features a 10” mineral-filled polypropylene woofer and can output frequencies from 25Hz to 110Hz at up to 110dB. With a recommended burial depth of just 16”-18” and dimensions of 14” x 30”, installation is simple and installers can place the subwoofer almost anywhere.

The GS Garden Speakers will be showcased January 10–13, 2012 at International CES 2012 at The AVC Group’s Hospitality Suite 2876 in the East Tower of the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, as well as January 31–February 2, 2012 at ISE Stand 1N73 at The Amsterdam RAI in The Netherlands.

All GS Garden Speakers are backed by Niles’ Limited Lifetime Warranty. For more information on Niles’ GS Garden Speakers, please visit nilesaudio.com.

Marc Ecko Fuses Fashion, Function And Features In New "Spray" Bluetooth Speaker

2012-01-11T11:23:00.000-05:00

Bringingan unprecedented new level of fashion, function and features to a Bluetoothspeaker, Marc Ecko today introduced the Spray ™, thenewest addition to the Ecko UNLTD.SOUND lineof powerful, stylish mobile audio products distributed worldwide by MIZCO International. The announcement was madeat 2012 International CES in Las Vegas, Nevada at Booth #31240 in South Hall 3of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“One year after introducing the world’s first designer-inspiredconsumer electronics brand, we’re proud to unveil an award-winning Bluetoothspeaker that looks like no other speaker consumers have ever seen,” said SteveKops, Executive Vice President of Sales for the Ecko UNLTD. line at MIZCO. “Thepowerful new Ecko Spray truly stands out from the crowd and lets consumers hearthe colors sound can make with a uniquely stylish Bluetooth speaker that goesanywhere they want to listen, from their bedroom to the park.”

Graffitihas played an important role in Marc’s creative vision ever since he firstglimpsed the vibrantly painted subway trains rumbling through New YorkCity. In designing a Bluetooth speakerthat looks and feels like a Spray paint can, he is sharing a part of his historyand paying homage to those artists who first inspired him.

Availablefor delivery in March, at an MSRP of $159.99, the Spray is the ultimate Bluetoothspeaker for use with iPods, iPhones, iPads, laptops and PCs, and all Android,BlackBerry and Windows smartphones. With two full-range high-output 40mmdrivers delivering 3W each and two 45mm bass radiators, it can fill a room withhigh-fidelity audio or bring music to the outdoors thanks to the high-capacityLi-Ion battery that provides up to 10 hours of play time.

UtilizingBluetooth 2.1 technology the Spray pairs with any Bluetooth device up to amaximum range of 30 feet, includes a built-in microphone that enableshands-free calling with any Bluetooth cell phone and has a 3.5mm line input fordirect connection to any music player or smartphone. The Spray’s dome twists tocontrol volume and skip to the next or previous song, and the Spray’s nozzle isa button that controls the play/pause and call functions.

Designedin the United States, the Spray has a high gloss black finish and includes ahigh-density metal grille. The high capacity Li-Ion rechargeable battery isuser-replaceable, so owners can carry spare batteries to provide virtuallyunlimited playtime.

About Marc Ecko Enterprises

Marc Ecko Enterprisesis a full-scale global fashion and lifestyle company with reported sales ofover $1.5 billion in 2009 and approximately 1,000 employees worldwide. Over thepast 17 years, the group of companies that comprise Marc Ecko Enterprises (MEE)has grown to include: Ecko Unltd., the largest young men’s brand in betterdepartment stores today; Eckored, a young women’s brand both identified by the‘World Famous Rhino’ logo; Marc Ecko Cut & Sew, a contemporary menswearline; Marc Ecko Entertainment, an interactive entertainment and videogame unit;and Complex Media LLC, a publishing and new media division.

About Mizco International

Headquarteredin Avenel, New Jersey, Mizco International (www.mizco.com)is one of the world's fastest growing suppliers of mobile phone headsets andaccessories, as well as imaging and iPhone power solutions. Founded in 1990,Mizco markets products under the Cellular Innovations, DIGIPOWER, iEssentialsand Travelocity brands. The company currently offers more than 1,000 productsthrough a global dealer network. For more information on Mizco and its productofferings call 1.800.266.4026 or visit www.mizco.com.

New Elan 16-Channel Multi-Zone Amplifier/Controller Simplifies Installation With Built-In Multi-Room Controller Technology

2012-01-10T11:38:00.000-05:00

ELAN® Home Systems todayannounced the introduction of a powerful new 16-channel multi-zoneamplifier/controller that combines the functionality of the ELAN D16 amplifierand S128P multi-zone controller into one new component that simplifies andlowers the total cost of a system installation for dealers and their clients.The new ELAN S1616AAmplifier/Controller, which is designed to integrate exclusively with the ELANg! System, will be available for delivery in the United States in January 2012.

According to ELAN ProductManager Robert Ridenour, “With the S1616A, we’ve taken our popular D16amplifier and upgraded it to include the multi-zone controller capabilitiespreviously available in our S128P controller, giving our dealers the simplest, most profitable solution for distributing whole-houseaudio with the ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System. The S1616A is a16-channel multi-zone amplifier with nearly unlimited configurationoptions—supporting eight stereo or 16 mono inputs and outputs, or anycombination thereof.

“With the ability to use the dual chassis modelas a 16x16 matrix, this amplifier is perfect for any size residentialinstallation, from small homes to mega-mansions. And because dealers can stack up to 15 chassis toprovide up to 120 stereo or 240 mono outputs and it seamlessly integrates withthe ELAN C2 Communications Controller, it is an ideal solution for anyinstallation that requires high quality sound and ultimate flexibility inconfiguration no matter how large the project. The S1616A’s unique combinationof a high power, high quality digital amplifier and up to sixteen stereo inputstakes ELAN multi-room audio systems to a whole new level.”

The new ELAN S1616A is available in single- and dual-chassisversions, both of which include high-pass and low-pass crossovers, RCA inputs,speaker level and banana plug outputs, and feature level, bass and trebleadjustment for each output channel.

The ELAN g! Control System providesusers with the most uniform and intuitive icon-based control from theirfavorite devices including TVs, touchscreens, touchpads, PCs, iPhones and iPads.The standardized interface works across platforms, so that the trendy g!Mobileapp users love on the iPhone appears and works similarly on ELAN touchscreens,valets and handheld remotes as well as users' televisions and mobile devices.And the system's IP backbone makes it just as easy to control the system fromacross the room - or across the globe.

The ELAN S1616AAmplifier/Controller will be showcased January 10–13,2012 at International CES 2012 at The AVC Group’sHospitality Suite 2876 in the East Tower of the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, as wellas January 31–February 2, 2012 at ISE Stand 1N73 at The Amsterdam RAI in TheNetherlands.

About ELANHome Systems:

About The AVC Group, LLC:

Headquarteredin Carlsbad, California, The AVC Group,LLC is a portfolio of pre-eminent manufacturers and marketers ofstate-of-the-art consumer and commercial audio, video, and control systemsolutions. The AVC Group is comprised of the following industry leading brands:Niles®, ELAN® Home Systems, Xantech®, ATON®and Sunfire®. The AVC Group, LLC is asubsidiary of Nortek, Inc.’s (www.nortek-inc.com) Home Technology Group.

Niles Introduces First Designer-Friendly Compact Ceiling Mount Loudspeaker to Blend Into Any Decor

2012-01-10T11:31:00.000-05:00

Following the introduction of its new CM Series Ceiling MountLoudspeakers at CEDIA 2011, Niles®, The First Name In Custom Installation®, todayannounced the introduction of the company’s first-ever compact ceiling mountloudspeaker with a mere four-inch footprint, the CM4PR. It is the first small, designer-friendlyloudspeaker to deliver audiophile grade performanceso speakers can be placed in aesthetically pleasing, unobtrusive areas.

“The introductionof our new designer-friendly compact loudspeaker provides installers with anaudiophile grade solution for any location where space or visibility areissues,” said Mike ‘Sparky’ Detmer, president of Niles. “With a depth of lessthan four inches and a Rear Wave Enclosure that stops sound from bleeding intoother rooms, the CM4PR brings superior quality audio to places that were onceinaccessible and completes our full line of application-specific CM CeilingMount Loudspeakers.”

The CM4PRis a 4" compact ceiling mountloudspeaker was designed with computer optimized Linkwitz Riley crossovercomponents and includes Niles Rear Wave Control that inhibits sound transfer toadjacent rooms. The speaker’s magnetically attached MicroThin™speaker grilles ensure a clean, virtually invisible appearance that blends withthe aesthetics of any room, and can even be painted to match any decor.Optional square grilles provide added design flexibility. The grilles arerust-resistant, permitting loudspeakers to be installed in moisture-prone areassuch as saunas, bathrooms and even outdoors under eaves. The Niles LimitedLifetime Warranty provides the ultimate guarantee to both dealers andhomeowners, promising that Niles loudspeakers offer the ideal solution fortheir audio needs.

The CM4PR features an extremely rigidmineral-filled polypropylene cone that reduces breakup, lowers distortion andprovides enhanced bass response. The butyl rubber surround damps resonance andprovides exceptional durability while the 1” fluid-cooled Teteron® dome tweeter offersultra wide dispersion and silky-smooth high frequency response.

Thiscompact ceiling mount speaker has a frequency response of 70Hz-21kHz and Nilesrecommends using an amplifier that provides 25-100 Watts.

Additionally,the loudspeakers have been voiced specifically to handle dynamic content fromBlu-ray discs as well as compressed music from sources such as iPods, Pandoraand Rhapsody to ensure the best in audiophile performance from virtually anysource.

TheCM4PR will be showcased January 10–13, 2012 at International CES2012 at The AVC Group’s Hospitality Suite 2876 in the East Towerof the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, as well as January 31–February 2, 2012 at ISEStand 1N73 at The Amsterdam RAI in The Netherlands.

For more information on Niles’ CM Architectural Loudspeakers,please visit http://www.nilesaudio.com.

About Niles®:

About The AVC Group, LLC:

Headquarteredin Carlsbad, California, The AVC Group,LLC is a portfolio of pre-eminent manufacturers and marketers ofstate-of-the-art consumer and commercial audio, video, and control systemsolutions. The AVC Group is comprised of the following industry leading brands:Niles®, ELAN® Home Systems, Xantech®, ATON®and Sunfire®. The AVC Group, LLC is asubsidiary of Nortek, Inc.’s (www.nortek-inc.com) Home Technology Group.

DigiPower Unveils The World's First In-Car Wireless Smartphone Charging Solution At CES 2012

2012-01-10T10:26:00.000-05:00

Aiming torevolutionize the way drivers charge their smartphones in the car, Mizco International’s DIGIPOWER division today announcedthe world’s first in-car wireless smartphone charging station, the DrivePad™, at CES 2012 in Las Vegas,Nevada. At the same time, the leading manufacturer and marketer of portablepower solutions for the mobile lifestyle enthusiast will debut the DeskPad, DIGIPOWER’s at-home wirelesssmartphone charger.

“Drivers no longer have to worry about snagging a tangled power cordor plugging in every time they have to charge their phone,” DIGIPOWER PresidentMaurice Mizrahi emphasized today. “With an innovative, sliding “SweetSpot”charging pad for optimal charging performance, a flexible grip that holdssmartphones of all sizes, a convenient FlexArm design and an auxiliary USBpower port, the DrivePad truly is the ultimate in-car wireless chargingsolution.”

According toMizrahi, “Today’s introduction of the DrivePad underscores our commitment toconstantly redefine the standards of portable power products, and this newproduct line’s debut is certain to strengthen our position as the industry’snumber one selling line of portable power solutions.”

The DrivePadintroduces an innovative sliding charge base that allows for perfect alignmentbetween the charge sweet spot of the base station and of the phone. Proper alignment is key to obtain the fastestcharging times for a consumer’s QI enabled device.

“We studied themarket to determine the perceptions associated with wireless charging and foundthe longer charging time to be a problem. So we set out to develop afaster-charging solution, and did so with the DrivePad’s sliding “SweetSpot”optimized charging pad,” said Mizrahi. “Whether on the road or in the home,users no longer have to be shackled to the wall to quickly charge theirdevices. Now they can simply place their smartphone on the DrivePad, then pickit up and go.”

Available for shipment in March 2012, the in-car DrivePad features aFlexArm design, allowing drivers to position the smartphone exactly where theylike it. The DrivePad also features a pivoting head to accommodate eitherportrait or landscape view, flexible grip tabs to securely hold smartphones ofany size and a 1A USB port for charging a second device.

Also available in March 2012, the in-home DeskPad will include aunique perimeter lighting system to make it easy to check the charge status nomatter how the pad is positioned on a desk or nightstand. The perimeterlighting system provides a soft downward projected glow around the product basewithout the harsh light affects of typical Status LEDs. The DeskPad alsoincludes a 1A USB port for charging a second device and an on/off switch forsimple operation.

Suggested retail pricingfor both the DrivePad and DeskPad will be announced when deliveries begin,according to Mizrahi.

The DIGIPOWER DrivePadand DeskPad comply with the Wireless Power Consortium’s Qi standard, so it iscompatible with all existing inductive charging receivers. As a member of theWireless Power Consortium (WPC), DIGIPOWER is committed to providing consumerswith the widest range of today’s most innovative mobile power products. TheWPC, which includes more than 100 major mobile technology manufacturers,introduced the Qi standard in July 2010 defining the operating frequency,operating voltages and basic coil configurations for a wireless power system.Qi is the first global standard that enables interoperability between complianttransmitters and receivers at power levels up to 5W.

About Mizco International

Headquartered in Avenel,New Jersey, Mizco International (www.mizco.com)is one of the world's fastest growing suppliers of mobile phone headsets andaccessories, as well as imaging and iPhone power solutions. Founded in 1990,Mizco markets products under the Cellular Innovations, DIGIPOWER, iEssentials, Ecko Unlimited and Travelocitybrands. The company currently offers more than 1,000 products through a globaldealer network. For more information on Mizco and its product offerings call1.800.266.4026 or visit www.mizco.com.

Converted 19th Century Barn Becomes a 21st Century Marvel with the Elan g! Entertainment and Control System

2012-01-06T11:27:00.000-05:00

Thisnow-converted stable barn was built in 1892, the same year Thomas Edisonreceived his patent for the world’s first two-way telegraph. As much aninnovator as he was, Edison would have had no idea what the terms HDMI,multi-room audio, HVAC and home automation meant, but that’s exactly the kindof 21st century technology that the property’s newest owner has incorporatedinto his new dream home. Complete withthe ELAN® g! Entertainment and Control System, this homehas turned a historic piece of Americana into a truly modern marvel!

For integrator Larry Scott of Artistic Video & Sound,bringing this historic barn up to date was both a challenge and a delight,because the homeowner just happened to know a bit about home automationhimself. He spent two years researchinghome control systems, and Scott recommended the ELAN g! system, so thehomeowner asked him to present g! and compare it against the other systems outthere including Crestron, AMX, Savant and Control4. When the comparisons were done and the voteswere tallied, the homeowner said, “Larry, you’re right. I want ELAN g!”

Accordingto Larry Scott, “This job was kind of unique because the homeowner was soinvolved in choosing the system, and he had learned all about home controlbefore he even came to talk to me. Afterhearing what he wanted to be able to do, I knew the new ELAN g! system was theperfect solution and would give him all the functionality he could ever need aswell as the ability to expand the system later, all at a price that wasreasonable. One of the most importantthings was that it needed to be simple enough for the kids’ nanny and visitingrelatives to use, with no training. And it is! So people don’t walk into the house and say ‘how do we do this, how dowe do that?’, they just do it! In mymind, the g! system was the only option, and luckily for the homeowner, I wasable to make him agree!”

Rather than jumping right into home automation and being stuck with aless-than-ideal system, the homeowner took his time learning about the newesttrends and technologies and evaluating the industry’s top brands, which helpedhim determine the ELAN g! system was his ideal solution.

“Istarted to research home automation five years ago when I was living abroad,and I made sure to learn as much as I could about the capabilities of today’ssystems and hear what both the users and the installers were saying about eachsystem,” said the homeowner. “I subscribedto consumer-facing and trade magazines about custom installation and hometechnology, and I realized that today’s systems can do a whole lot more than Ithought.

“Whenit came time to upgrade my new home I contacted Larry Scott from Artistic Video& Sound because he had done some a/v work for the home’s previous owners,and he really convinced me that the ELAN g! system would give me everything Iwanted in a home entertainment and control system. Basically, the most important things to mewere consolidating control of the HVAC so I didn’t have to keep walking aroundand checking the house’s 11 thermostats, and having one-touch access to all ofmy media, especially all my movies.

“Ihave a huge DVD and Blu-Ray collection, as well as a bunch of digital moviefiles, and with the ELAN g! system and their awesome HR2 remote, it’s supersimple to pull up my favorite movie from the Sony Blu-Ray Changer, or any of mythree cable boxes or three Apple TVs. Idon’t have to leave the room, and I think maybe the best thing is that thereare no wires lying around. Everything is done in the wall, and the only thinganyone sees is the remote and the TV. All the discs, boxes, and wires arebehind the scenes.

“Everypiece of the ELAN g! system looks sleek and subtle, and it’s easy for everyoneto use because it’s intuitive and all of the control interfaces work the same.Some of the other brands had different layouts for different devices, and whowants that? I love that I can take outmy iPhone and check the thermostats when I’m away, and it’s exactly the same asusing the system at home. The bottomline is this system delivers everything I could ask for, makes it easy to use,and was a lot more affordable than some of the other brands.”

In addition to controlling the home’s irrigation and 12-zone audiosystem with 15 pairs of speakers, the g! system also consolidates control forthe home’s six HVAC zones, the security system, and the Lutron Radio RA-2lighting system with 102 dimmers, 15 keypads and 6 energy-saving occupancysensors that turn the lights on and off automatically when people enter orleave a room. And the family can controlthe system from anywhere thanks to the four ELAN TS7 in-wall touch screens,four ELAN HR2 remote controls, and a dedicated wall-mounted iPad running theg!mobile app.

TheHVAC and lighting systems have been programmed to perform optimally to saveenergy and provide the most comfortable living environment. The outdoor lighting is even synced with theastronomical clock so all the lights turn on just after dusk and turn off rightbefore dawn. With all of this taken careof automatically, the homeowner has a lot more time to spend with his familyand watch some of those movies he loves!

Accordingto the homeowner, “One of the things that put me over the top for the g! systemwas the HR2 remote. I tried out theiPhone and iPad interfaces for controlling my TVs and all my movies, but everytime I wanted to do anything there were several steps to get to the controls Ineeded. With the HR2, all my mediacontrols require only a single button push, just like the remotes I grew upwith. There’s no lag, no screens to siftthrough, and it has a touch screen right on the remote that also lets me changethe temperature or lighting scene from the couch without even taking out myiPhone.”

Thehome’s HVAC changes automatically throughout the day based on thepre-programmed schedule, and it’s a breeze to adjust and monitor with six g!thermostats that are quickly controllable from anywhere in the world. And theowners can check in on the house from anywhere, anytime, thanks to sevensurveillance cameras located throughout the interior and exterior of the house.The house has eight flat screen HDTVs, including a media center with a 60”Samsung LED LCD TV and 7.1 surround sound system including a powerful SunfireHRS-12 subwoofer.

Available starting at $2,000 for a single-room, foursub-system control solution, the ELAN g! Series Control System can be expandedquickly and cost-effectively to enable whole-home control of every system. ELAN g! provides users with the most uniformand intuitive icon-based control from their favorite devices, including TVs,touch screens, touchpads, PCs, iPhones, and iPads. And the system's IP backbonemakes it just as easy to control the system from across the room—or across theglobe.

The ELAN g! System has been awarded a 2011 ResidentialSystems Magazine RESI Award, a 2011 Custom Retailer Magazine EXCITE! Award, a2011 CE Pro Magazine BEST Award, a Platinum Level 2011 CEA Mark of ExcellenceAward by the Consumer Electronics Association and a 2011 Gold Level Electronic House Magazine Productof the Year Award.

About ELAN Home Systems:

Since 1990 ELAN® Home Systems has been an industry leadingmanufacturer of innovative, award-winning Multi-Room audio/video systems. ELANsystems were the first to integrate audio, video, phones and third-partyproducts to create a seamless, easy-to-use "whole-house" solution.ELAN systems and products are distributed through a comprehensive channel ofselect Dealers and Distributors throughout the United States, Canada and morethan 58 countries worldwide. ELAN Home Systems is part of The AVC Group. Tolearn more, visit www.elanhomesystems.com.

About The AVC Group, LLC:

Headquarteredin Carlsbad, California, The AVC Group, LLC is a portfolio of pre-eminentmanufacturers and marketers of state-of-the-art consumer and commercial audio,video, and control system solutions. The AVC Group is comprised of thefollowing industry leading brands: Niles®, ELAN® Home Systems, Xantech®, ATON® and Sunfire®. The AVC Group, LLC is a subsidiary of Nortek, Inc.’s Home Technology Group.