New York - A special Tennis Edition of Time Warner Cable’s interactive “App Station” was created by digital merchandising agency, Reality Interactive, to support Time Warner Cable’s sponsorship of the US Open.

The Tennis Edition of the App Station was designed in the same style as the version in TWC’s retail locations. The event version shows content that is relevant for the event. It features tennis-specific imagery, and displays a US Open news feed. The App Station features a massive 11-foot touch-screen display.

On the screen, visitors can explore TWC products through four simulated demos of TWC’s mobile apps; TWC TV®, TWC WiFi® Finder, My TWC® and IntelligentHome. These simulated demos were created for TWC by Reality Interactive to inspire customers by showing the benefits of TWC’s apps in the context of their own lives.

TWC is providing attendees with an enhanced event experience by hosting the Time Warner Cable Studios at the US Open. TWC Studios is a dedicated event space which all attendees are invited to visit.  Visitors are able to watch the game live on a multi-screen video wall and engage with fun interactive games. Time Warner Cable Studios also serves as a comfortable spot to relax on benches where visitors can access free WiFi, and charge their mobile devices.

The 2014 US Open takes place August 25 through September 8, at the National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York City. TWC is live and on location through the entire two week event.

About Time Warner Cable

Time Warner Cable is among the largest providers of video, high‐speed data and voice services in the United States, connecting more than 15 million customers to entertainment, information and each other.

About Reality Interactive

Reality Interactive is a leading digital merchandising agency.  The firm specialize in integrating digital signage and interactive showpieces within retail and physical environments.

11Giraffes announces partnership with Samsung and support of Smart Signage all-in-one digital signage hardware platform.

Charlotte, NC --(PR.com)-- 11Giraffes announced today a partnership with Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a leading provider of commercial displays for use in digital signage applications. The two companies now offer the 11Giraffes digital signage platform for use with Samsung’s Smart Signage Platform (SSP) family of devices. Samsung’s SSP consists of commercial digital displays with integrated media players. The integrated platform eliminates the need for external media players and streamlines the deployment process, saving time and money for integrators and businesses alike.

By integrating its content management system with the Samsung SSP, 11Giraffes is able to deploy an industry leading digital signage solution that eliminates the need for external PCs or media players. The Smart Signage Platform offers a streamlined solution that reduces the total cost of ownership for digital signage deployments, providing hardware, installation and operating cost savings. The combined platforms will make life easier for any organization looking to transition from static signage to rich, interactive digital displays.

“While simplifying the installation process and reducing the cost of digital signage deployment, our implementation of SSP has retained all of the enterprise scheduling, remote content management, network monitoring and reporting functionality associated with the 11Giraffes platform,” says 11Giraffes Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Operations, Jim Marascio. “Additionally, SSP allows for the presentation of live television as part of the solution. As such, SSP is perfect for sports bar and waiting room applications.”

“We are truly excited to add 11Giraffes to the Samsung SSP Partner ecosystem,” says Minson Chen, Samsung Business Development Manager responsible for developing the SSP Platform. “The 11Giraffes solution brings an intuitive interface to empower organizations to leverage a powerful platform yet can scale with features needed to support the most demanding large scale enterprise networks. This capability combined with the cost savings and simplicity offered by Samsung SSP-enabled D-series displays present a strong value proposition to our end customer.”

The relationship between Samsung and 11Giraffes enables 11Giraffes and its resellers to offer the Samsung SSP-enabled displays through existing distribution channels. Samsung will also recommend the 11Giraffes digital signage platform through its sales channels.

About 11Giraffes

Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, 11Giraffes provides affordable, innovative and easy-to-use digital signage and in-store audio solutions to companies worldwide. The company’s software and hardware products are distributed through a large network of value added resellers who place its products in a wide range of industries including retail, hospitality, QSR/restaurant, assisted living, automotive, financial institutions, medical and dental offices, country clubs, and c-stores. 11Giraffes is committed to creating products that extend brands, deliver messages, and speak to customers.
www.11giraffes.com

About Samsung Smart Signage

The Samsung Smart Signage Platform, available on selected Samsung commercial displays, is an integrated system-on-chip technology that eliminates the need for an external media player. It provides organizations with a streamlined, cost-effective solution to easily deliver dynamic content and messaging to their audience. Featuring a dual-core CPU, full codec video processor, and 4GB or 8GB of storage depending on the model, the Smart Signage Platform supports JavaScript, HTML5 and CSS3, enabling the development of dynamic, customized signage solutions. To find out more, visit samsung.com/smartsignage.

DAVACO restaurant and hospitality brands, announced today that the company continues to offer a total solutions approach to program management and execution that is designed to foster longstanding client partnerships. DAVACO, which specializes in high-volume rollouts, remodels and resets, says the company provides a single point-of-contact and a dedicated client team to provide ongoing support for a variety of initiatives—concurrently, and over the life of a brand.

Dallas, TX --(PR.com)-- DAVACO, Inc. (www.davacoinc.com), the North American leader of high-volume programs retail, restaurant and hospitality brands, announced today that the company continues to offer a total solutions approach to program management and execution that is designed to foster longstanding client partnerships. DAVACO, which specializes in high-volume rollouts, remodels and resets, says the company provides a single point-of-contact and a dedicated client team to provide ongoing support for a variety of initiatives—concurrently, and over the life of a brand.

"DAVACO’s total solutions takes a holistic approach to program management and execution. We take the time to fully understand the intricacies of each program—and how it relates to both short-term and long-term business objectives," said Rick Davis, Founder/CEO, DAVACO. "Then, we look for ways to add value to the program. Whether it’s decreased costs, increased efficiency or higher quality assurance, DAVACO can engineer a better, smarter way to execute a program."

According to company executives, the "total solutions" approach has contributed to the high-number of longstanding clients— many of which have been partnering with DAVACO for 10+ years. "We deliver consistency and quality that our clients can rely on," said Davis. "We are always looking for ways to innovate and diversify our business, but we will never stray from the founding principles that helped us to forge so many mutually beneficial partnerships over nearly 25 years."

DAVACO was founded in 1990 and currently operates headquarters in Dallas, Texas and Canadian operations in Woodbridge, Ontario. The company works with a wide range of retail, restaurant and hospitality brands to execute corporate initiatives— from fixture, graphic and digital installations to merchandising, surveys, and facilities maintenance programs—across a fleet of stores, restaurants and hotels. "It is a privilege to work with the top brands in North America," said Davis. "We are honored that they entrust us with their brand initiatives."

About DAVACO, Inc.

DAVACO is the leading total solutions provider of high-volume remodel, reset and rollout programs for retail, restaurant and hospitality brands throughout North America, including: ▪ Program and project management ▪ Fixture, equipment and graphic installations ▪ Digital signage and technology upgrades ▪ Hard and soft-line merchandising ▪ Site, marketing and pre-construction surveys ▪ Logistics and consolidation ▪ Design coordination ▪ Facilities maintenance programs ▪ ADA, safety and quality audits & remediation ▪ Sustainability ▪ Fixture and graphic manufacturing partnerships ▪ Special initiatives. Founded in 1990, DAVACO is based in Dallas, Texas and operates offices in Toronto, Ontario. DAVACO employs over 1,000 W-2 and T-4 employees across North America. www.davacoinc.com ▪ www.davacoinc.ca

Taipei, Taiwan - IBASE Technology Inc., a world-leading manufacturer of industrial motherboards and embedded systems, has launched the IB980 PICMG 1.3 full-size CPU card that utilizes the Intel Q87 chipset to support the 4th Generation Intel® Core™ processors. The IB980 platform is aimed to meet the high-performance requirements of demanding applications such as medical imaging, industrial automation, network security, gaming and digital signage.
 
Built right into the Intel® 4th Generation Core™ processors manufactured on industry-leading 22nm process technology with 3D Tri-Gate transistors, the integrated Intel HD Graphics provides lower latencies to provide superior gaming and enhanced visual experiences, without the cost of a separate graphics card. The IB980 also features two DDR3-1600 long DIMM slots for a maximum of 16GB of system memory and versatile I/O configurations including four serial ports (jumperless selection on COM1 for RS232/422/485), four SATA III, four USB 3.0 and up to five USB 2.0 ports.
 
"Like in all IBASE new boards and systems, IB980 supports our iSMART green technology to provide intelligent power-saving and environmental performance through power on/off scheduling and power resume functions." said Wilson Lin, Senior Product Manager at IBASE. The IB980 CPU card also features dual Gigabit Ethernet, digital I/O, iAMT 9.0 and Intel Trusted Platform Module 1.2 (TPM) for secure data encryption and restore features.
 
IB980 FEATURES:

•     4th Generation Intel® Core™ i7/i5/i3/ Pentium® QC/DC Processor, up to 3.8 GHz
•     2x DDR3-1600 -DIMM, Max. 16GB (Non-ECC)
•     Intel® Processor integrated graphics device, supports CRT, DVI-D
•     24-bit dual channel LVDS
•     iSMART 3.0 - auto-scheduler, power resume, low temperature guardian
•     2x Intel® PCI-E Gigabit LAN
•     4x USB 3.0, 5x USB 2.0, 4x COM, 4x SATA III, LPT
•     1x Mini PCI-E slot (mSATA)
•     Watchdog timer, RAID 1,0,5,10, Digital I/O, iAMT(9.0), TPM(1.2)

About IBASE Technology

Founded in 2000, IBASE Technology (TASDAQ: 8050) is an ISO 9001, ISO 13485 and ISO 14001 certified company that specializes in the design and manufacturing of industrial PC products. IBASE provides OEM/ODM services tailoring products to customers' requirements. Current product offerings from IBASE include single board computers, Mini-ITX boards, Disk-Size SBC, COM Express CPU modules, embedded systems, panel computers and network appliance for various applications in the automation, digital signage, gaming, entertainment, medical, military and networking markets. IBASE is committed to delivering innovative, practical and dependable solutions for an ever-evolving industrial computing landscape. For more information, please visit www.ibase.com.tw.
 
IBASE is an Associate member of the Intel® Internet of Things Solutions Alliance. From modular components to market-ready systems, Intel and the 250+ global member companies of the Intel® Internet of Things Solutions Alliance provide scalable, interoperable solutions that accelerate deployment of intelligent devices and end-to-end analytics. Close collaboration with Intel and each other enables Alliance members to innovate with the latest technologies, helping developers deliver first-in-market solutions. Learn more at: intel.com/IoTSolutionsAlliance.

Reflect, the premier turnkey digital media solutions provider for out-of-home customer experiences, today announced that they are a Diamond Sponsor of VMSD’s (Visual Merchandising and Store Design) annual design conference, IRDC (International Retail Design Conference), next week in Miami, Florida.

IRDC is the primary educational and networking event for the store design and visual merchandising community, drawing 300 plus attendees from the United States and abroad. The three day conference will be filled with design dialogue centered on best practices, evolving trends, and smart strategies for maximizing resources. Reflect will join top retailers and design firms in Miami to identify retail design trends, provide thought leadership, and share expertise on incorporating digital brand media into retail store design.

Matt Schmitt, President and Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer of Reflect, will team up with JGA’s Chairman, Ken Nisch, to deliver a powerful case study presentation, “Retail Design with Digital in Mind,” over breakfast Thursday, September 4.  The presentation will showcase the approach of designing environments with digital in mind.

Original, enticing, full-motion content is changing the way consumers engage and interact with brands. Customer facing digital screens are a captivating medium for storytelling and lifestyle branding. Through relevant, real-time and localized content, digital media can greatly enhance brand image. Reflect believes a brand's story is ultimately shaped by customer experience, and the right digital media strategy can significantly impact that experience, generating sales lift and deepening brand connection. By controlling digital experiences from the moment customers walk through the door, retailers can tell engaging brand stories, increase sales, create a connected omnichannel experience, and gain a competitive edge in today's marketplace.  

“The biggest challenge with merging design and technology is understanding the objective. As we continue to see the trend of retail designers being asked to include digital in store designs, the importance of going through a thoughtful process to define business objectives, whether that’s customer experience, brand storytelling, or sales lift, has never been greater.” said Matt Schmitt, President and Chief Innovation & Strategy Officer, Reflect.

About Reflect

Reflect provides solutions for brands to create engaging digital media experiences. End to end, Reflect supplies everything brands need including the market-leading ReflectView™ software platform, strategic consulting, content and application development, hardware procurement and solution design, project management, installation, and ongoing monitoring and field services. With a proven record of providing digital solutions to thousands of locations seamlessly, Reflect is trusted by the most reputable brands in the world.  For more information, please visit www.reflectsystems.com.

About JGA

JGA has evolved to become one of the nation’s leading retail design, brand strategy and architectural firms. Since 1971, JGA has built its reputation by helping retailers realize their visual marketing potential and attain leadership within their niche. JGA believes that bringing a creative idea into reality and achieving success requires the integration of strategic clarity, competitive and market awareness, conceptual innovation and a strong business sense. Blending the elements of store design including space planning, brand identity, graphics and merchandising heightens the shopping experience.  For more information, please visit www.jga.com.

About VMSD

VMSD is the leading resource for retail designers and store display professionals, serving the retail industry since 1869 (then called Display World). VMSD showcases the latest store designs and visual presentations, presents merchandising strategies and new products, and reports on industry news and events. For more information, please visit www.vmsd.com.

Automated, dynamic content now freely provided to digital signage subscribers

PITTSBURGH, PA--(Marketwired) - Industry Weapon, experts in simplifying and advancing the applications of digital signage, now provide a complementary Content Program to subscribers who lack the time to create new content for their digital screens on a day-to-day basis. The program pushes fresh media, relevant to their industry, to the signage each day.

"The reason why most digital signage deployments fail is because the content doesn't change enough. Once the signs become boring, the entire infrastructure is a lost cause. We provide our clients with a program that keeps their signage new and exciting without them having to do anything." -David Wible, CEO, Industry Weapon

The Content Program begins on a simple dashboard platform, where users type their messages into templates designed for their specific industries. Afterward, the dashboard automates the input into aesthetically pleasing slides, complete with the users' branding and colors. These slides change appearance three times a day on an eight-day schedule, totaling in 192 different slides.

Most viewers will be primarily interested in what Industry Weapon deems "focus content." Focus content is made up of information like important announcements, company spotlights, performance metrics, and executive messaging. This content is programed to utilize the majority of the screen.

After focus content is "anchor content:" media displayed for the purpose of engaging broader audiences. Industry Weapon's anchor content consists of several elements, including: date, time, weather, social media, news feeds, and fun facts. Users choose up to eight categories per vertical.

As an added bonus, the digital media company incorporates high-quality video content onto their subscribers' signage. Slides are accompanied with a partial screen video or a motion graphic. The program changes the videos three times per day, and alternates the color and animation of the motion graphic each day for eight days.

Industry Weapon's content program guarantees diversified content so that viewers never feel that they are seeing the same messages twice. The program keeps audiences engaged with eight categories updating three times each day on an eight-day schedule.

Industry Weapon (www.industryweapon.com), a digital media company, specializes in simplifying and advancing the applications of digital signage. The SaaS solution enables subscribers to design, schedule, and publish multimedia content and integrated data sources to screens, kiosks, tablets and mobile devices. Industry Weapon's solution is suited for all industries and includes 24/7 free training and support along with design and creative services.

(CARROLLTON, Texas) — On Aug. 21-24, FASTSIGNS International, Inc. held its fourth annual Outside Sales Summit in Frisco, Texas with 213 attendees from FASTSIGNS centers across the U.S. and Canada. Twenty-seven Outside Sales Professionals were honored as the first group to earn FASTSIGNS Sales Professional Certification, and 32 Outside Sales Professionals from different FASTSIGNS locations were recognized for personal sales achievements exceeding half a million dollars in annual sales, including eight who achieved more than $1 million in sales.

“Our FASTSIGNS Outside Sales Professionals are committed to helping their customers build their brand, generate more revenue and create a positive and motivating experience for their customer’s customer,” said Catherine Monson, CEO of FASTSIGNS International, Inc. “We invest time and resources to educate our franchise owners and their sales teams to be ‘More Than’ a sign company and provide customers brand building products and services as part of a comprehensive solution.”

Themed “Your Roadmap to Success”, the 2014 Outside Sales Summit attendees participated in a variety of educational sessions and listened to keynote speakers including John Boyens, co-founder and president of the Boyens Group®, Inc.; Tim Wackel, founder and president of the Wackel Group; and former NBA athlete and motivational speaker Walter Bond.

In addition, over 100 attendees participated in a group ice bucket challenge and many donated to the ALS charity while attending the conference. Watch the video here.

The Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco Convention Center hosted the event that included a vendor show with 80 exhibitors showcasing the latest products and technology in the industry including desktop UV printers, magnetic receptive graphics, 3D printing solutions, digital signage and more.  
 
Special thanks to the sponsors of the 2014 FASTSIGNS Outside Sales Summit: platinum sponsor N. Glantz & Son; gold sponsors Esko, Grimco, Mimaki USA, Roland and Vivacity-Display, LLC; and silver sponsors 3M Commercial Solutions, AVAD, Big Impression Graphics, EFI, Gemini Incorporated, GSG and Tex Visions.

About FASTSIGNS

FASTSIGNS International, Inc. is the worldwide franchisor for the more than 560 FASTSIGNS® centers located in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Brazil, Mexico, the Caribbean, Saudi Arabia and Australia (where centers operate as SIGNWAVE®).  

FASTSIGNS is a sign, graphics and visual communications company that provides comprehensive visual marketing solutions to customers of all sizes—across all industries—to help them meet their business objectives and increase their visibility. To learn more, visit www.fastsigns.com or call 800-FASTSIGNS for a location near you.

Sheehan Brothers Vending, a pioneer in automated food-service merchandising, has announced its selection of Mvix digital signage systems for its new, innovative service called Micromarkets (aka Contemporary Cafes).

Sterling, VA (PRWEB) - Sheehan Brothers Vending, a pioneer in automated food-service merchandising has announced its selection of Mvix digital signage systems for its new, innovative service called Micromarkets (aka Contemporary Cafes). As a part of this service, Sheehan will equip these on-site markets with state-of-the art, cloud-based digital menu boards provided by Mvix.

Founded in 1956, Sheehan Brothers Vending is a family-owned, full line vending service that operates vending machines, commissaries, and cafes in businesses, schools, hospitals, government offices, recreation facilities, factory floors, and executive board rooms. With the inception of its new service called Micromarkets, Sheehan Brothers Vending is establishing small, convenience store like open markets where customers can make purchases using a self-checkout kiosk at offices and work-sites. These custom-designed, unattended, 24/7 micro convenience stores carry several hundred fresh-food items for office employees and the workforce.

“We decided to add the media boards and your software into our markets because we wanted to promote our specials we run in the market each week to our customers. Instead of printing out signs for each market every week that no one would really look at we decided we wanted to go digital. It falls right in line with what the contemporary cafes are all about. It gave our cafes a more contemporary look and saved us time and money printing out and posting signage,” said Patrick Sheehan, Need Title here at Sheehan Vending.

As a part of this new service, Mvix’s digital signage systems equipped with large display screens are being installed in these contemporary cafes to display menu information, fun facts, weather and other trivia. “We are delighted to be a part of this new venture,” said A. Jay, Director of Business Relations at Mvix. “Sheehan Brothers Vending is a reputed name and an established institution in the vending industry. We are humbled to hear this news.”

“We compared Mvix with some other digital signage solutions and really no one else had what we were looking for that could beat the price,” remarked Patrick. The digital signage systems were evaluated at the corporate warehouse for multiple weeks before this decision was made. “We are very satisfied with the overall solution and found it to be very user-friendly. The technical support has been remarkable and quick. The system has been really great so far and has exceeded all our expectations,” commented Patrick.

Mvix, based in Sterling, Virginia, was founded in 2005 and has become one of the industry leaders in the field of cloud-based digital signage and menu board solutions. With over 10000 clients in over 29 countries, Mvix has established itself as a dominant player in the affordable digital signage market. “Our digital signage systems are designed with stability, easy-of-use and affordability in mind and Sheehan’s project is an exemplar use of our platform,” stated A. Jay. “The affordable cost structure and intuitive, hassle-free content management system is the core of Mvix platform and our clients appreciate that.”

To learn about Mvix digital signage solutions: http://mvixdigitalsignage.com/

To learn more about Sheehan Vending’s Micro-Market concept, http://www.sheehanvending.com/micromarket

LOS GATOS, CA – BrightSign, LLC, the global market leader in digital signage media players, today announced that it has been named to the 2014 Inc. 500/5000. BrightSign ranks number 1,185, placing the company in the top 25 percent of this year’s list.
 
“Inclusion in this year’s Inc. 500/5000 validates our company’s tremendous effort over the past several years to not simply assume a leadership role within the digital signage industry, but to cement our spot among the most successful private companies in the US,” said Jeff Hastings, CEO of BrightSign. “We are honored to be included in this year’s list, and we aspire to remain on the list for years to come.”
 
The Inc. 500/5000 ranks companies by overall revenue growth over a three-year period. BrightSign’s favorable ranking was supported by strong sales of its digital signage media players. The company’s products have driven a paradigm shift in the industry as digital signage installations migrate beyond simple PC-based signage in favor of BrightSign’s fanless, solid-state architecture. BrightSign’s media players are inexpensive, consume very little energy and have a small footprint that enables them to be placed virtually anywhere. Most recently, the company introduced a trio of 4K players that enable true 4K output for digital signage installations that take advantage of Ultra High Definition content.
 
Since 1982, Inc. Magazine has published its annual list of the fastest-growing, privately held companies in the United States. For more that three decades, Inc. Magazine has evaluated and honored emerging companies, many of which have gone on to reshape their respective industries. In 2007, Inc. expanded its list to include the top 5,000 private US-based companies.
 
The Inc. 500/5000 stands as one of the industry’s most distinguished editorial awards, celebrating the innovation and leadership that drives companies to succeed in a fiercely competitive entrepreneurial landscape. This prestigious list of the nation's most successful private companies has become the hallmark of entrepreneurial success and the place where future household names first make their mark.
 
For more information about BrightSign and its portfolio of digital signage solutions, visit www.brightsign.biz.
 
About BrightSign
 
BrightSign, LLC is the global market leader in digital signage players, as named by IHS in its most recent 2013 Global Market for Digital Signage study which reported market share of all media players, STBs and PC-based signage solutions combined. Based in Los Gatos, California, the company develops products, software and networking solutions for digital signage. BrightSign solid-state digital sign controllers set new standards for both stand-alone and networked digital signage applications with their superior video quality, reliability, affordability, ease-of-use and interactivity. Online information about BrightSign units is available at www.brightsign.biz. For US sales inquiries, please contact sales@brightsign.biz or call +1-408-852-9263. For European sales inquiries, please email Pierre Gillet: pgillet@brightsign.biz or call +44-1223-911842. Follow BrightSign at http://twitter.com/brightsign and http://www.facebook.com/BrightSignLLC.
 
BrightSign and the BrightSign logo are registered trademarks of BrightSign, LLC in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Specifications subject to change without notice.

Merged entity to operate as Creative Realities; company now offers global retailers and brands the most innovative marketing technology solutions and services in the industry

NEW YORK and MINNEAPOLIS, /PRNewswire/ -- Creative Realities, LLC ("Creative Realities") and Wireless Ronin Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: RNIN) ("Wireless Ronin") announced the successful completion of their merger, resulting in one of the largest and most innovative marketing technology solutions companies in the world.

Under the terms of the agreement and as previously announced, Creative Realities merged into a subsidiary of Wireless Ronin, with the sole equity holder of Creative Realities (an affiliate of Pegasus Capital Advisors), receiving approximately 59.2% of the outstanding shares of Wireless Ronin common stock, calculated on a modified fully-diluted basis, including the shares of common stock issued in connection with Wireless Ronin's merger with Broadcast International, Inc. that closed on August 1, 2014. In the transaction, Creative Realities' sole equity holder also received warrants to acquire an additional 1.5% of Wireless Ronin's common stock.  The combined companies are now operating under the Creative Realities brand name and will trade on the OTCQB under the ticker symbol RNIN.

Paul Price, previously Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") of Creative Realities has been named CEO of the combined company and will also serve as a director.  Scott Koller, previously CEO of Wireless Ronin has been named President of the combined company, and John Walpuck, previously Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") of Wireless Ronin has been named Chief Operating Officer and CFO of the combined company.  The combined company will be headquartered in New York, NY with operational facilities in Fairfield, NJ, Minneapolis, MN, Salt Lake City, UT, and Windsor, Ontario.

Commenting on the merger, Paul Price stated, "We are very excited to have completed this merger and look forward to providing our customers, whether retailers, venue operators or brands, with the latest technologies to create better shopping experiences.  Collectively, with Wireless Ronin's cloud-based content management platform, Broadcast International's award-winning Managed Media Services platform and Creative Realities' full service approach, we now offer customers a one-stop, single source solution.  We truly believe that through the combination of our resources which include the latest innovations in software, display, sensor and mobile technologies, we are better positioned to deliver the most effective marketing technology programs to help improve the in-store engagement of customers, increase customer loyalty and drive increased sales."

Since its inception, Creative Realities has partnered with some of the world's most recognized retailers, venues and brands.  Creative Realities provides a host of marketing technology solutions across multiple verticals, including beauty, fashion, consumer packaged goods, digital place-based media networks, electronics, eyewear, financial services, health and wellness, and hospitality.  Through the combination of the three companies, Creative Realities counts among its customers Adidas, Adspace, Aramark, Calvin Klein, Caterpillar, Chrysler, KFC, Macy's, Nestle, Rite Aid, Sunglass Hut, and many more.

Price continued, "We see significant growth opportunities for our company both near- and long-term, and with both existing and new global customers.  Companies no longer need to work with multiple vendors as we can provide them with a full-service offering that begins in the planning and design stage and runs all the way through in-store implementation.  Furthermore, we have the tools and wherewithal to help retailers and brands effectively manage their programs upon roll-out, while quickly adapting to consumer preferences and any changes in their strategies.  The seniority of our management team and their collective experiences across marketing categories and technologies represent a truly unique combination of talents to help retailers and brands leverage marketing technology."

In conjunction with the closing of the merger, the combined company is providing limited guidance for the financial performance of the combined company. The combined company expects combined 2014 revenue to be in a range of $23-26 million, and Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA), a non-GAAP measure, to be approximately breakeven for the full calendar year 2014.  The company does not, however, intend to provide ongoing guidance on the company's future financial performance.

Additionally, the company disclosed today that the Board of Directors will comprise five members.  In this regard, Alec Machiels, Partner with Pegasus Capital Advisors will serve as chairman of the board and he will be joined by Paul Price, David Bell, Kent Lillemoe and Don Harris. Below are summary biographies of these persons.

Alec Machiels is a Partner at Pegasus. Mr. Machiels is a member of the firm's Executive and Investment Committees. He has over 15 years of private equity investing and investment banking experience. Previously, Mr. Machiels was a Financial Analyst in the Financial Services Group at Goldman Sachs International in London and in the Private Equity Group at Goldman Sachs and Co. in New York. Investments in which he has been highly involved in include Pure Biofuels, Molycorp Minerals, Traxys, Slipstream Communications, Coffeyville Resources, and Merisant Company. He also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Federation of Arts where he chaired the endowment committee. Mr. Machiels is a graduate of Harvard Business School, KU Leuven Law School in Belgium and Konstanz University in Germany.

Paul Price is Chief Executive Officer of Creative Realities. Leading its innovative combination of experience planning, design, deployment and support services, he has rapidly evolved Creative Realities from a digital signage company into an integrated creative technology firm, focused on bridging the virtual and physical worlds.  Paul's marketing career spans 25 years, consulting to leading marketers such as ExxonMobil, Coca-Cola, Macy's and Pfizer. He has led multiple marketing services companies across direct marketing, digital, brand identity and advertising disciplines, as well as cross-functional combinations for large global clients at Omnicom.  Paul's success is marked by a collaborative management style that encourages innovative, consumer-centric approaches to the marketing challenge of the 21st century, particularly the impact of new marketing technology. His extensive career as a marketing and brand advisor spans almost every category, from retail to packaged goods, technology to services and healthcare.  Paul has garnered numerous industry honors and awards — most recently, he was chosen as a 2011 Global Innovator by The Internationalist and named in the 2009 Advertising Age A-List. His thought leadership in marketing technology has led to a number of speaking engagements in the US and worldwide.  

David Bell brings over 40 years of advertising and marketing industry experience to the board, including serving as CEO of three of the largest companies in the industry–Bozell Worldwide, True North Communications and The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. Since 2007, Mr. Bell has led Slipstream Communications, which is an international company providing strategic branding, digital marketing, and public relations services and served as a Senior Advisor to Google Inc. from 2006 to 2009. He is currently a Senior Advisor to AOL and has been an Operating Advisor at Pegasus Capital Advisors since 2004. Mr. Bell currently holds positions on early-stage company boards including Double Verify, Your Tango, Resonate Networks, Appinions, and Dstillery. He has also served on the boards of multiple publicly-traded companies, including President and CEO of The Interpublic Group of Companies Inc. from 2003 to 2005 and Director of Primedia Inc. from 2001 to 2010.

Kent Lillemoe, an independent financial consultant, brings over 30 years of finance and financial management expertise with both public and private companies such as MinuteClinic, Envoy Medical Corporation, Fargo Electronics, Avanti Optics Corporation, and CyberOptics Corporation. Mr. Lillemoe served as Chief Financial Officer of MinuteClinic, resulting in a sale of the company to CVS/Caremark. Mr. Lillemoe also served as a member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Audit Committee of Fargo Electronics until its sale in 2006. Additionally, Mr. Lillemoe has served on the Board of Directors of Wireless Ronin since 2011.

Donald A. Harris has been an Independent Director of Broadcast International, Inc. since June of 2012. He is currently President of 1162 Management, the General Partner of 5 Star Partnership, a private equity firm, a position he's held since June 2006. Mr. Harris was President and Chief Executive Officer of UbiquiTel Inc., a telecommunications company organized by Mr. Harris and other investors since its inception in September 1999.  He also served as UbiquiTel's Chairman since May 2000. Mr. Harris served as the President of Comcast Cellular Communications Inc. from March 1992 to March 1997.

In connection with the merger, the combined company sold $5.19 million of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock to institutional and accredited investors, including an additional investment from an affiliate of Pegasus Capital Advisors.  The preferred stock entitles its holders to a 6% dividend, payable semi-annually in cash or in kind, and may be converted into common stock at the option of a holder at an initial conversion price of $0.40 per share.  Subject to certain conditions, the company may call and redeem the preferred shares after three years.  During such time as a majority of the preferred stock sold remains outstanding, holders will have the right to elect a member to the Board of Directors.  Purchasers of the preferred stock also received five-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 6.49 million shares of common stock at a per-share price of $0.50.  The securities offered were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

About Creative Realities

Creative Realities (www.cri.com) helps retailers and brands use the latest technologies to improve the shopping experience.  Founded 16 years ago, the firm's evolving client base has led to recognized leadership in marketing technology, consulting, design, and deployment.  The firm has worked with brands such as Footlocker, Bank of America, Calvin Klein, Macy's, Sunglass Hut, Under Armour and 7-Eleven, among other Global Fortune 500 companies, to design, build and manage marketing technology-based experiences that drive business results.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains certain forward-looking statements of expected future developments, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect managements' present expectations and estimates regarding the expected benefits of the merger, management plans relating to the merger, operating efficiencies expected to result from the merger, increased revenue opportunities, potential new markets, cost savings and the ability of the combined company to effectively compete in a highly competitive market. Nevertheless, and despite the fact that management's expectations and estimates are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable and data management believes to be reliable actual results from the potential transaction are subject to future risks and uncertainties, any of which could materially affect actual performance. Risks and uncertainties that could affect such performance include, but are not limited to, the following: the adequacy of funds for future operations; estimates of future expenses, revenue and profitability; the pace at which the combined company completes installations and recognizes revenue; trends affecting financial condition and results of operations; ability to convert proposals into customer orders; the ability of customers to pay for products and services; the revenue recognition impact of changing customer requirements; customer cancellations; the availability and terms of additional capital; ability to develop new products; dependence on key suppliers, manufacturers and strategic partners; industry trends and the competitive environment; the impact of the combined company's financial condition upon customer and prospective customer relationships, the impact of losing one or more senior executives or failing to attract additional key personnel; and operating costs, customer loss and business disruption may be greater than expected following the merger. These and other risk factors are discussed in Wireless Ronin's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. 

Turnkey digital signage offering provides a platform to engage customers through customized messages and promotions that increase sales and improve loyalty

RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ – Samsung Electronics America, Inc. introduced Samsung Smart Signage TV (SSTV), an all-in-one digital signage solution designed for small, single-location business owners. Providing everything a small storefront owner needs to get up and running with digital signage, Samsung SSTV combines the functionality of a TV with built-in content management software for creating personalized promotional content to increase sales and improve customer loyalty and retention.

“Samsung understands the unique challenges small business owners face when it comes to selecting and implementing technology, and we built this product to address the market need for a cost-effective, easy-to-manage, professional-grade solution that is better suited for these environments than the consumer solutions that many small business owners are using,” said Tod Pike, senior vice president at Samsung’s Enterprise Business Division. “With Samsung Smart Signage TV, we’re giving small business owners the power to enhance their customer communications, enabling them to create more personalized content to drive conversations that extend long after a customer leaves the store to keep them coming back.”

Available in 40- and 48-inch models, Samsung SSTV provides a complete platform for displaying digital content about new promotions and daily specials, sharing educational information about products and services, and broadcasting live TV for on-premise entertainment. Business owners can wirelessly connect to the TV from their laptop, tablet or mobile device to instantly publish and update content, or load new content using a USB drive. SSTV is ideal for use in small, single-location storefronts or service providers such as pizzerias, grocers, salons, drycleaners, dental clinics and more.

Key features include:

•     Professional-grade LED-lit LCD display designed for up to 16/7 usage to align with standard business hours
•     Included wall-mount, stand and quick start guide to get signage up and running in hours
•     MagicInfo Express, a built-in content management software that shop owners can use to easily update customers with information on discounts, store hours, special events and other promotional information
•     MagicInfo Mobile, which allows businesses to make quick updates or upload photos to promotional materials directly from their Android or iOS mobile device using an app
•     More than 200 free templates to create personalized signage designs or split-screen TV content
•     Support for displays mounted in portrait or landscape mode
•     Commercial grade 3-year warranty, with dedicated service and support

“We see opportunity for Samsung’s new Smart Signage TV among customers who have traditionally purchased consumer solutions for their business needs,” said Ben Davis, display market analyst at Futuresource Consulting. “It will be interesting to see the response especially in the small business market as this has been an area underserved, but discussed for a long time. An out-of-the-box solution is very interesting and one that small businesses could easily leverage to differentiate from their competitors and grow.”

This offering further builds out Samsung’s suite of digital signage solutions, which includes the Samsung Smart Signage Platform (SSP) for larger organizations. Compatible with Samsung’s latest lineup of commercial displays, SSP features a system-on-a-chip that provides support for advanced signage applications, including touch and video wall configurations, all without the need for an external media player or PC.

Samsung SSTV will be available at an MSRP of $749 for the 40-inch model and $999 for the 48-inch model through major club and electronics retailers, as well as select reseller partners.

About Samsung Electronics America Enterprise Business Division

As a global leader in Information Technology, Samsung’s Enterprise Business Division (EBD) is committed to introducing new business experiences across a diverse spectrum of industries from retail to healthcare, hospitality to sales. We believe technology brings business and customers together — to better share, collaborate and discover new opportunities. With a market-oriented approach to innovation, EBD is a division of Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), a U.S. subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Company, Ltd. (SEC). For more information, please visit samsung.com/business, call 1-866-SAM-4BIZ or follow Samsung EBD via Twitter: @SamsungBizUSA.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of TVs, smartphones, tablets, PCs, cameras, home appliances, printers, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 286,000 people across 80 countries with annual sales of US$216.7 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.

Digital signage provides communication solution for schools

PITTSBURGH, PA--(Marketwired) - Industry Weapon, experts in simplifying and advancing the applications of digital signage, offers a communication solution for K-12 campuses, mitigating areas where campuses lack fast, effective message broadcasting.

With Industry Weapon's solution, schools create campaigns to communicate dynamic content to a larger audience than any previous form of messaging. From announcements to fun facts, students and faculty alike are more inclined to watch and retain information from the digital signs. Campuses can integrate directory and wayfinding applications for new students and visitors that need directions around the campus. Closed circuit television content can be transmitted onto the screens as well to broadcast live sports and school events.

"Our solution greatly remedies communication issues by allowing administrators to transmit content quickly and efficiently across the entire district. From safety announcements that alert the district in emergency situations, to content approval processes that allow students to create messages under supervision, we've designed numerous applications with K-12 purposes in mind."
- David Wible, CEO, Industry Weapon

K-12 institutions do not have their own Clery Act, which requires all colleges and universities to disclose information about crimes committed on or near campuses, Industry Weapon goes a step further for K-12 clients by providing the Alert Integration. This integration connects with software such as E2Campus, Simplex Grinnell, and Blackboard for immediate emergency messaging notifications. In the event of a safety breach, inclimate weather, fire, etc., the digital signage displays an emergency warning until the emergency has passed.

The digital media company also responds to the importance of test scores. For test-takers, digital signage enhances the standardized testing process by regularly providing them with simple preparation tips, broadcasting reminders of important test dates and times, and showcasing practice questions to familiarize students with the content. By creating campaigns that run during test days, students who are not being tested are informed of when to stay quiet in the hallways.

"Our digital signage, provided by Industry Weapon, has changed the face of communication across our campus. Students know best how to capture the attention of their peers, so having them create the messages insures the message will be watched. Whether the message is about an upcoming dance, fund raiser, or sporting event we are certain to get the word out because of our signage."
- Mark Clark, English/Social Studies Teacher, Rialto Unified School District

Industry Weapon wants to aid in employing effective learning by providing a solution any district can implement. Situational content is able to be displayed on appropriate signs so gymnasium messaging does not have to be the same as cafeteria messaging. K-12 institutions require a special level of communication that can reach children and adults. Visual learning provided by digital signage is the answer.

About Industry Weapon

Industry Weapon (www.industryweapon.com), a digital media company, specializes in simplifying and advancing the applications of digital signage. The SaaS solution enables subscribers to design, schedule and publish multimedia content and integrated data sources to screens, kiosks, tablets and mobile devices. Industry Weapon's solution is suited for all industries and includes 24/7 free training and support along with design and creative services.

Axiomtek, one of the world's leading designers and manufacturers of innovative, high performance and reliable PC-based industrial computer products, is pleased to introduce OPS882-HM, its new Intelligent Pluggable Systems Specification (IPSS) compliant digital signage player with 4K support. The high-performing OPS882-HM adopts the 4th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 processor with the Mobile Intel® HM86 Express chipset. To enhance audio and video quality, the OPS882-HM supports Audio Video Bridging (AVB) which audio and video data can be transported in real time at the highest quality with a high-speed Ethernet connection. The OPS882-HM also supports Near-field Communication (NFC) to extend the reach of digital signage beyond its physical location and make it mobile and more actionable. Additionally, it features Intel® Retail Client Manager (Intel® RCM), a software solution that provides easy-to-use digital signage content management system with analytics. The OPS882-HM is excellent for various display applications in shopping mall, corporate, education, bank, transportation, retail store, restaurant, performing art center.

“Building upon the Intelligent Pluggable Systems Specification (IPSS), Axiomtek’s new OPS882-HM can provide digital signage vendors a comprehensive solution that reduces the development effort and enhances time to market and sales. We also include NFC and AVB functions to our OPS882-HM to extend its capability. The ultra-slim form factor with rugged design allows OPS882-HM to fit into a wide variety of digital signage applications,” said Robert Wang, Director of Sales & Marketing of the Digital Signage Business Unit at Axiomtek.

The OPS882-HM supports two DDR3L SO-DIMM sockets with memory up to 16 GB. In addition, it features one easy-to-access 2.5” SATA HDD as storage device. Two PCI Express Mini Card slots are available for graphics-enhanced video card, wireless LAN card for 802.11 b/g/n and 3G/GPRS, and tuner/AV capture card. This smart pluggable module is connected to OPS-compliant display via a standardized JAE TX-25 plug connector, and includes DisplayPort, UART, audio, USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 signals. The OPS882-HM also features one 10/100/1000Mbps LAN port, one RS-232 port, one HDMI interface, and three USB 3.0 ports on front panel. Moreover, the feature of TPM 1.2 increases security and reliability and helps reduce deployment costs.

Axiomtek’s IPSS/OPS compliant OPS882-HM will be available in September, 2014. For more product information or pricing, please visit global website www.axiomtek.com or contact our sales representative at .
Advanced Features:

•    Intel® Intelligent Pluggable Systems Specification (IPSS) compliance
•    Open Pluggable Specification (OPS) compliance
•    Supports 4th Gen Intel® Core™ i5 processor (Haswell)
•    Intel® HM86 chipset
•    Two DD3L-1600 SO-DIMM slots support max. up to 16 GB
•    Supports 3 USB 3.0 ports and 2 PCI Express Mini Cards
•    HDMI for 2nd display
•    Supports 4K resolution
•    Supports TPM 1.2 function
•    Supports AVB (Audio Video Bridging) feature
•    NFC (tag) feature (optional)

About Axiomtek Co., Ltd.

Axiomtek Co., Ltd. is one of the world's leading designers/manufacturers of PC-based industrial computer products. From its roots as a turnkey systems integrator specializing in data acquisition and control systems, Axiomtek has mirrored the PC evolution in various industries by shifting its focus toward the design and manufacture of PC-based industrial automation solutions.

Axiomtek was established in 1990. The company has 475 employees in headquarters and over 110 employees in subsidiaries including USA, China, Japan, and Europe. The company has appointed more than 60 distributor partners around the globe. Axiomtek offers IPC (Industrial PCs), ECP (Embedded Computing Platforms), PPC (Panel PCs), Medical Panel Computers, HMI (Human Machine Interface), DAC (Data Acquisition & Control Cards Solutions), and NA (Network Security Appliances) product lines with more than 400 items.

Learn about delivering actionable consumer insights via location-based analytics, how some previously online-only retailers are experimenting with brick-and-mortar locations, and part three of a series on emotions in retailing, along with other informative and thought-provoking articles in Platt Retail Institute's 2Q 2014 Journal of Retail Analytics, now available to download.   
           
CHICAGO -- The 2Q 2014 edition of PRI's Journal of Retail Analytics includes the following articles:

•     Customer Location-Based Analytics Deliver Actionable Consumer Insights
•     From Roadkill to Nirvana
•     Jsyke Bank Delivers Live News Using Digital Signage Technology
•     PRI Research Article Summary: Deployment and Test of the Digital Life Experience at an AT&T Retail Store
•     Solutions as a Service: A Fresh Approach for the Retail Industry
•     Testing the Service Recovery Paradox: Myth or Reality?
•     The New Kids on the Block: E-tailers and Consumer Product Brands Try Their Hands at Brick and Mortar
•     Understanding and Leveraging Emotions in Retailing, Part III: How Retailers Create Emotional Experiences in Stores and Online

"This issue of the Journal includes several informative articles from major universities, and also examines how new technologies are bringing about changes in the retail industry," said Steven Keith Platt, PRI Director and Research Fellow.
 
The Journal also includes the quarterly Retail Economic Outlook, in which PRI advances that retail sales will revive in a resilient economy capable of recovery and growth.   
 
Download the 2Q 2014 Journal of Retail Analytics to read these stories and more.  
 
Platt Retail Institute (PRI) is an international consulting and research firm that focuses on the use of technology to impact the customer experience. In an omni-channel environment, PRI works with its clients to develop marketing strategies that build brands by integrating various customer-facing technologies. PRI clients include retailers, media companies, financial institutions, hardware and software companies, educational institutions, and other businesses. In addition to its global consulting expertise, PRI also publishes the quarterly Journal of Retail Analytics, the North American Digital Signage Index, and other pioneering industry research.

Hergiswil, Switzerland -- SpinetiX, Swiss manufacturer of digital signage products, today announced that it has joined the Crestron Integrated Partner Program simplifying the technical integration of the best-of-breed digital signage and control solutions available on the market.
Crestron's Integrated Partner Program enables the smooth integration of partner products into the Crestron system environments. The integration with SpinetiX has just started and the result will be the development of modules to enhance the control and monitoring of SpinetiX HMP players by Crestron solutions.

"Many Crestron Dealers worldwide already successfully use HMP players with Crestron solutions to enhance their projects with professional digital signage," said Francesco Ziliani, CEO of SpinetiX. "We are pleased to officially join the Crestron Integrated Partner Program: this will simplify the job of integration for many more Crestron Dealers and offer additional features and control options".

SpinetiX creates the HMP, our sustainably-designed, extremely reliable, full HD media player offering rich connectivity through RS232, USB and RJ45 while keeping a compact footprint. Uniquely, our players support video walls of an unlimited shape and size, as well as live video streaming and support for interactive devices. We also make Elementi, our digital signage software which lets you create high impact projects and deliver visually rich experiences to virtually any combination of screens.

Combining Elementi with our HMP players provides for a versatile and compelling solution for any digital signage application. SpinetiX also offers all the necessary tools, documentation and support to simplify their integration business and extend the value of their services when digital signage is needed. High quality, interactive content is easy to program through open technologies such as JavaScript, jQuery and jSignage™.

SpinetiX HMP players are sold with professional reliability and warranty and can be purchased by local SpinetiX distributors’ worldwide (spinetix.com/where-to-buy). SpinetiX Elementi software is available for download as a 30-day trial version (spinetix.com/download).

About SpinetiX

SpinetiX is an award-winning Swiss manufacturer of digital signage products that was founded in 2006 by a team of entrepreneurs committed to engineering excellence. The company now works closely with a structured "ecosystem" of international partners that deploy digital signage networks worldwide. SpinetiX is the manufacturer of the HMP Hyper Media Players with built-in Fusion Software, which turns any digital display into an autonomous and networked device, and Elementi software, a full-featured digital signage software and content management system. More information is available at spinetix.com.

City of Industry, CA --(PR.com)-- Axiomtek, one of the world's leading designers and manufacturers of innovative, high-performance and reliable PC-based industrial computers is pleased to introduce P6171, a 17” industrial LCD display with only 28mm in thickness. The P6171 offers a resistive touchscreen with 350nits high brightness and has LED backlighting for power saving. It is equipped with a choice of USB or RS-232 touch control interface, and multiple video inputs of DVI-D, HDMI and DisplayPort, which offers customers a variety of connection options. The P6171 has an industrial-grade IP65/NEMA 4 compliant front bezel which resists water spillage and is specifically designed for POI/POS, self-service Kiosk, HMI and all kinds of heavy-duty industrial field equipment.

This exceptional monitor is equipped with a 17" SXGA TFT LCD with resolutions up to 1280 x 1024 pixels and up to 16.7 million colors. The monitor offers quick response time of 5 ms, wide viewing angle (H/V) of 170/160∘, and high contrast ratio of 1000:1. The highly reliable P6171’s LED-backlit panel has a MTBF of 30,000 hrs. With the DisplayPort and HDMI video inputs, the monitor can be connected to audio and video source simultaneously with one single cable. The video signal path supports six to sixteen bits per color channel, and the audio path supports up to eight channels of 24-bit 192 kHz uncompressed PCM audio, or can encapsulate compressed audio formats in the audio stream.

“The P6171 is feature-rich and designed with user’s convenience and optimum usage in mind. Among its numerous useful features, its High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a digital replacement for existing analog video standards. This great monitor supports screw-type (locked) AC-in power as well as 24V DC-in and offers flexible mounting options including panel mount, wall mount, rack mount, and VESA mount. It offers plug and play easy setup and maintenance, on-screen control and quick customization of the display per user’s preference. It is an excellent choice for POS, POI, human machine interface, or media-display applications.” said Debbie Tu, product manager of Product Marketing Division at Axiomtek.

The P6171 will be available in September, 2014. For more product information and specifications, please visit our website at www.axiomtek.com or call us at 1-800-GO-AXIOM or email us at .

Main Features:

• 17-inch high brightness SXGA TFT LCD (350 nits)
• Multiple video inputs including DVI-D, DisplayPort, and HDMI
• Resistive touchscreen with USB or serial interface
• Offers screw-type (locked) AC adapter-in or 24V DC-in (optional)
• Front bezel NEMA 4/12 (IP65)-compliant
• Super-slim panel with options for panel mount/wall mount/rack mount/VESA arm

About Axiomtek Co., Ltd.

Axiomtek Co., Ltd. is one of the world's leading designers/manufacturers of PC-based industrial computer products. From its roots as a turnkey systems integrator specializing in data acquisition and control systems, Axiomtek has mirrored the PC evolution in various industries by shifting its focus toward the design and manufacture of PC-based industrial automation solutions.

Axiomtek was established in 1990. The company has 475 employees in headquarters and over 110 employees in subsidiaries including USA, China, Japan, and Europe. The company has appointed more than 60 distributor partners around the globe. Axiomtek offers IPC (Industrial PCs), ECP (Embedded Computing Platforms), PPC (Panel PCs), Medical Panel Computers, HMI (Human Machine Interface), DAC (Data Acquisition & Control Cards Solutions), and NA (Network Security Appliances) product lines with more than 400 items.

Proven high-performance cable available at incredibly competitive pricing

Clinton, NJ – Kramer Electronics is pleased to announce the introduction of BC-HDKat6a cable, its newest category cable designed for use in the Pro AV industry. Building on the success of Kramer’s extremely popular, high-performance BC-DGKat623 category cable, the new BC-HDKat6a cable has been built to the same exacting standards and offers virtually identical performance in tests with 4K signals.

Kramer’s BC-DGKat623 cable works flawlessly with Kramer’s unique DGKat twisted pair technology.  Similarly, the new BC-HDKat6a cable has been engineered to deliver the same level of high performance when used with HDBaseT signals. HDBaseT has become a very popular method for the long distance transmission of today’s digital AV signals, and now there is a competitively priced cable from Kramer designed specifically for this use.

Kramer Electronics category cable recently outperformed competitive cables from several high-profile industry manufacturers in the Redband Radio and AVNation independent InfoComm 2014 Cable Challenge. In testing 4K signals sent via HDBaseT transmitters and receivers, Kramer’s cable achieved the best performance registering measurements of 0.362, 0.482 and 0.362 errors per billion in three successive tests utilizing a Quantum Data 980 test generator. Utilizing the same set up, competitor’s cables measured from 0.845 to 14.468 errors per billion. Additionally, the BC-HDKat6a was tested and accredited in an Alliance Recognized Testing facility, met the requirements set by HDBaseT Alliance and therefore work perfectly with HDBaseT devices.

With the introduction of the BC-HDKat6a cable, Kramer now offers the industry two outstanding cables for carrying digital video including HDBaseT signals, both with incredible performance. Kramer cables ensure reliable installations that benefit both dealer/integrators and end-users.

Pro AV professionals can rely on Kramer cables for the very best performance in any Pro AV installation.

Kramer’s BC-HDKat6a cable is available in bulk spools of 1000ft (305m). Complete product information for all of Kramer’s products can be found at www.kramerus.com.

About Kramer Electronics

Founded in 1981, with its world headquarters in Israel, Kramer Electronics Ltd. is a leading manufacturer of high-quality analog and digital audio, video and computer signal management products for the ProAV, Presentation, Production, Broadcast, Home Theater, Houses of Worship, Digital Signage and Security markets.
 
Kramer’s product line includes audio, video and computer signal processing equipment including: distribution amplifiers (DAs), switchers, matrix switchers, scalers, presentation scaler/switchers, digital and analog decoders and encoders, fiber and twisted pair range extenders, table mounted cable management products, cables, cable accessories and more.
 
Kramer also offers broadcast quality routers, distribution amplifiers, multi-viewers and controllers through its Sierra Video product line, digital signage products and high-end rental and staging scaler/switchers.

Aside for its headquarters in Israel, Kramer has corporate sales and distribution offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Italy, India, China, Thailand, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia. For more information please visit us at: www.kramerelectronics.com

Leading provider of high-volume brand initiatives offers turnkey digital solutions
 
Dallas, TX – DAVACO, Inc. (www.davacoinc.com), the North American leader of high-volume programs for retail, restaurant and hospitality brands, announced today that the company has recently joined the Digital Screenmedia Association (DSA). With over 700 members, the DSA brings together users/deployers of digital screenmedia in all vertical markets, including vendors, integrators, network operators, agencies, mobility providers and others who are engaged in digital signage, interactive kiosks, mobile applications and self-service.
 
“On behalf of the DSA, we welcome DAVACO as the most recent company to join our distinguished list of members,” said Paul Flanigan, Executive Director, Digital Screenmedia Association. “DAVACO brings a unique level of expertise, breadth of services and economy of scale to the industry, and we look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with their digital team and connect their services with our partner members.”
 
DAVACO, which specializes in the management and execution of high-volume digital signage and menu board programs, offers total solutions to help meet the needs of global retail and restaurant brands, including: Project development and management; Survey, scope and budgeting; Hardware and equipment recommendations; Logistics and consolidation; Construction and installation; Connectivity and content verification; Efficient/sustainable disposal of old assets and other waste; Close-out; Ongoing maintenance and service calls.
 
“We are pleased to join the DSA, and are eager to support their mission to advance the growth and excellence of the global digital screenmedia community,” said Rick Davis, Founder/CEO, DAVACO.  “As the leading provider of digital signage installation programs with 20,000+ display screens already installed throughout North America, DAVACO remains committed to the future of this industry and the continued success of our retail and restaurant partners as they execute digital programs across their entire chain.”
 
About DSA

The purpose of the Digital Screenmedia Association (DSA) is to advance the growth and excellence of the global digital signage, interactive kiosk and mobile community through advocacy, education and networking. DSA welcomes user/deployers of digital screenmedia in all vertical markets – retail, financial services, hospitality and travel, entertainment, human resources, health care, government and others. We also welcome manufacturers, resellers and distributors of hardware and software as well as network operators, integrators, advertising agencies, consultants, analysts, publishers, tradeshow organizers and service companies. www.DigitalScreenmedia.org.
 
About DAVACO, Inc.

DAVACO is the leading total solutions provider of high-volume remodel, reset and rollout programs for retail, restaurant and hospitality brands throughout North America, including: ▪ Program and project management ▪ Fixture, equipment and graphic installations ▪ Digital signage and technology upgrades ▪ Hard and soft-line merchandising ▪ Site, marketing and pre-construction surveys ▪ Logistics and consolidation ▪ Design coordination ▪ Facilities maintenance programs ▪ ADA, safety and quality audits & remediation ▪ Sustainability ▪ Fixture and graphic manufacturing partnerships ▪ Special initiatives.  Founded in 1990, DAVACO is based in Dallas, Texas and operates offices in Toronto, Ontario. DAVACO employs over 1,000 W-2 and T-4 employees across North America.    www.davacoinc.com ▪    www.davacoinc.ca   

Clients partner with leading retail, restaurant and hospitality provider for multi-site programs

Dallas, TX – DAVACO, Inc. (www.davacoinc.com), the North American leader of high-volume programs for retail, restaurant and hospitality brands, announced today that the company continues to offer customized services and specialized expertise to a growing base of clients from a variety of industry categories. Founded in 1990 as a retail installation company, DAVACO has spent nearly 25 years developing solutions to high-volume programs that respond to the individual needs of a diverse spectrum of global brands in retail, restaurant and hospitality.

"Over the years, we've been able to maximize our vast and versatile management and execution team by applying industry knowledge, best practices, trade skills and 'hands-on' strategic solutions to accommodate a wide range of industry segments, while assuring quality, speed and service," said Rick Davis, Founder/CEO, DAVACO. "And, because we have a strong presence across North America, we are able to provide international services as our U.S. clients are crossing borders to Canada, as well as deliver specialized services for international brands as they enter the U.S. market. No other company offers a continuum of services on the scale that DAVACO provides."

DAVACO, which employs over 1,000 W-2 and T-4 employees across North America, focuses on developing professional teams with proficient and relevant experience for each program they handle. The company’s client list features some of the biggest brands in the business, representing a variety of retail, restaurant and hospitality segments, including: specialty, big box, health/beauty, fashion, department stores, drug/clinics, fitness, casual dining, quick service restaurants, convenience, entertainment/theater, hotels/motels, to name a few. The company specializes in the management and execution of high-volume remodel, reset and rollout programs for these global/national brands.

"We appreciate the trust and confidence our clients have in our abilities to really make a difference to their business," said Davis. "The opportunity to become an extension of our clients and to work as an ambassador of their brand is the best compliment we can receive."

More information about DAVACO and the company’s services is available at www.davacoinc.com.

About DAVACO, Inc.

DAVACO is the leading total solutions provider of high-volume remodel, reset and rollout programs for retail, restaurant and hospitality brands throughout North America, including: ▪ Program and project management ▪ Fixture, equipment and graphic installations ▪ Digital signage and technology upgrades ▪ Hard and soft-line merchandising ▪ Site, marketing and pre-construction surveys ▪ Logistics and consolidation ▪ Design coordination ▪ Facilities maintenance programs ▪ ADA, safety and quality audits & remediation ▪ Sustainability ▪ Fixture and graphic manufacturing partnerships ▪ Special initiatives. Founded in 1990, DAVACO is based in Dallas, Texas and operates offices in Toronto, Ontario. DAVACO employs over 1,000 W-2 and T-4 employees across North America. www.davacoinc.com ▪ www.davacoinc.ca

New technologies and solutions provide channel partners with IT industry's most comprehensive proAV/digital signage portfolio

SANTA ANA, CA, (Marketwired via COMTEX) -- Ingram Micro Inc. today welcomed ten new vendor lines to its growing U.S. ProAV/Digital Signage portfolio. The company also said that it has been named the exclusive provider of innovative media solutions from PROconnect and Sherlock Systems.

The new vendor lines expand Ingram Micro's already robust portfolio of high-end Pro-AV/Digital Signage offerings and are immediately available in the U.S. Newly available vendors include Epiphan Systems, Jelco, Konftel, Mediplay, NanoTech Entertainment, PROconnect, RelampIt, Vidyo, VS Networks and ZTE.

Separately, Ingram Micro is pleased to be named the first and only technology provider to offer PROconnect's new five-head media player from Sherlock Systems. This innovative and unique solution features the VisionTek multi-port 4K graphics card and can feed up to five independent surround sound audio channels and supports high-performance applications such as video walls and multi-monitor display walls in public venues and business environments. The exclusive media solution is available immediately to Ingram Micro channel partners in the U.S.

"We are always looking to enhance and expand our unified ProAV and digital signage portfolio to ensure we have the fullest breadth of solutions that feature the most in-demand and emerging technologies for our partners," says Kevin Prewett, senior director, ProAV/Digital Signage, Ingram Micro U.S. "These ten new vendors each bring their own industry specializations to the table and will give our partners a competitive edge that will help them expand their ProAV and digital signage practices and drive more business with their existing customers and new prospects."

Ingram Micro's dedicated ProAV/Digital Signage business unit offers channel partners, AV professionals and vendors access to specialized support resources, business enablement tools and field-deployable personnel including market development specialists, sales experts and technical engineers.

For more information, contact the dedicated Ingram Micro ProAV/Digital Signage sales team at 800.456.8000 x 77607, www.ingrammicro.com/proavinfo or , or your Ingram Micro sales representative.

About Ingram Micro Inc.

Ingram Micro helps businesses realize the promise of technology. It delivers a full spectrum of global technology and supply chain services to businesses around the world. Deep expertise in technology solutions, mobility, cloud, and supply chain solutions enables its business partners to operate efficiently and successfully in the markets they serve. Unrivaled agility, deep market insights and the trust and dependability that come from decades of proven relationships, set Ingram Micro apart and ahead. Discover how Ingram Micro can help you realize the promise of technology. More at www.ingrammicro.com.

Reality Interactive has been named a recipient of the Marcum Tech Top 40 for 2014 awards. This annual program celebrates Connecticut’s fastest growing technology companies. Reality Interactive has been recognized in the New Media, Internet, and Telcom Technologies category.

For seven years the Marcum Tech Top 40 has recognized technology leaders in the State of Connecticut.

The October 2 awards program will include an exhibition featuring the Marcum Tech Top 40 companies. One company from each of the six industry verticals will be named overall winner for demonstrating the greatest percentage growth in revenue across all the technology verticals.

About The Connecticut Technology Council

The Connecticut Technology Council is a statewide association of technology oriented companies and institutions, providing leadership in areas of policy advocacy, community building and assistance for growing companies. Speaking for 2,500 companies that employ some 200,000 residents, the Connecticut Technology Council seeks to provide a strong and urgent voice in support of the creation of a culture of innovation. This includes working to position Connecticut as a leader in idea creation, workforce preparation, entrepreneurial aptitude, early stage risk capital availability and providing on-going support and mentoring to high potential firms. For more information, visit www.ct.org.

About Marcum LLP

Marcum LLP is one of the largest independent public accounting and advisory services firms in the United States. Ranked #15 nationally, Marcum LLP offers the resources of 1,300 professionals, including over 160 partners, in 23 offices throughout the U.S., Grand Cayman and China. Headquartered in New York City, the Firm’s presence runs deep, with full-service offices strategically located in major business markets. Marcum is a member of the Marcum Group, an organization providing a comprehensive range of professional services spanning accounting and advisory, technology solutions, wealth management, and executive and professional recruiting.

The Metroplex Technology Business Council (MTBC), the largest technology trade organization in Texas, has named Reflect a finalist in the Emerging Company for Innovation category as part of the 14th Annual Tech Titans Awards. Tech Titans are recognized as outstanding technology companies and individuals in the North Texas area who have made significant contributions to their industries during the past year.

The Tech Titans Award winners will be revealed at the Tech Titans Award Gala at the Hotel InterContinental in Dallas, Texas, on Friday, August 22. More information about the event is available at www.techtitans.org.

“Tech Titans is the premier recognition of innovative technology companies and individuals who contribute to the vibrancy and success of North Texas,” said Bill Sproull, president and CEO of the MTBC. “These pioneers are impacting tomorrow's technology today with their innovation, leadership and advocacy. We look forward to showcasing their groundbreaking advancements that are being made right here in North Texas.”

Besides the MTBC and Title Sponsor Ericsson, other supporters of the Tech Titans Awards event include Alcatel-Lucent, CyrusOne, Digital Realty, Fujitsu Network Communications, Huawei, Deloitte, Imagine Communications, Consolidated Communications, Korn Ferry, Cisco, and the Dallas Business Journal. Travis Wolff and Comerica Bank Life Science are sponsors for Fast Tech.

“I couldn’t be more pleased to receive recognition for the innovative digital media solutions that Reflect brings to market.  We are trusted by the most reputable brands in the world and this is an exciting time to be at the forefront of the digital marketing movement,” said Bill Warren, CEO and Chairman of the Board, Reflect.

About Reflect

Reflect provides solutions for brands to create engaging digital media experiences. End to end, Reflect supplies everything brands need including the market-leading ReflectView™ software platform, strategic consulting, content and application development, hardware procurement and solution design, project management, installation, and ongoing monitoring and field services. With a proven record of providing digital solutions to thousands of locations seamlessly, Reflect is trusted by the most reputable brands in the world.  For more information, please visit www.reflectsystems.com.

About the Tech Titans Awards

The Tech Titans Awards were launched in 2001 by the Metroplex Technology Business Council, North Texas’ most comprehensive organization supporting technology. The prestigious annual contest recognizes outstanding technology companies and individuals in the North Texas area who have made contributions during the past year locally, as well as to the technology industry overall. The Tech Titans committee is a group of dedicated volunteers who organize the awards ceremony each year, and judges for the contest are drawn from a variety of disciplines in technology, leaders in the DFW area and past winners. For more information, visit www.techtitans.org.

About The MTBC

The MTBC strengthens the North Texas’ technology community and its reputation by acting as the innovation hub for entrepreneurs, universities and corporations. The MTBC continues to prove that 'Technology lives here' by:

•     Growing future tech leaders with its talent and workforce development initiative
•     Advocating technology's advancement in governmental arenas
•     Connecting people and inspiring innovative ideas through its programs and special interest groups

The MTBC is the largest technology trade association in Texas, representing a quarter million employees through its 300 member companies. More information about MTBC and its annual Tech Titans awards gala can be found online by visiting www.metroplextbc.org.

Frank Mayer and Associates, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Greg Weuste as an Account Executive with Frank Mayer and Associates, Inc.

Greg has extensive experience developing and executing in-store marketing campaigns for high profile national consumer electronics and lifestyle brands. He will use his knowledge of the point-of-purchase retail industry to work with Fortune 500 retail and brand marketing clients, out of the West Coast office.

Competition recognizes best content in out-of-home environments through the use of digital signage, self-service/interactive kiosks, and mobile technology.

Louisville, KY (PRWEB) - The Digital Screenmedia Association (DSA) is now accepting entries for the fourth annual DSA Crown Awards that recognizes outstanding and best-in-class content across digital signage, self-service and interactive kiosks, and mobile technology.

Companies may enter in one or more of the following categories:

Point of Sale (shoppers - such as retail, restaurant menu boards, etc.)
Point of Transit (people on the go - such as airports, digital billboards, etc.)
Point of Wait (dwell time - such waiting for a table, waiting in line, waiting room, etc.)

The cost to enter is $195 per entry for DSA members and $230 for non-members. All entries will require a video submission of the content and a photo of the content being displayed in the venue. The content must have been aired between November 1, 2013 and September 1, 2014 to be eligible.

Entrants must describe the venue, objectives, targeted demographics and results and select one of two budget categories — less than $10,000 or $10,000 or more.

“The single most important part of any digital experience is the content. Our annual awards ceremony will recognize the best content we have seen deployed in the past year,” said Paul Flanigan, Executive Director of the DSA. “The ceremony takes place during the DSA’s Party at the Hard Rock, and is a terrific opportunity to recognize outstanding content during a fantastic evening after the first day of Customer Engagement World.”

The deadline to enter is September 15, 2014, and winners of the 2014 DSA Crown Awards will be announced during the DSA Party at the Hard Rock at the Hard Rock Cafe on November 5, 2014 in Times Square in New York City.

About the Digital Screenmedia Association (DSA)

With 700 members, the DSA is an independent, non-profit association, whose mission is to advance the growth and excellence of the global digital signage, interactive kiosk, and mobile community through advocacy, education and networking. Members include users of digital screenmedia in all vertical markets; including retail, hospitality, and healthcare; as well as manufacturers, resellers, and distributors of hardware and software, network operators, integrators, advertising agencies, consultants, analysts, publishers, trade show organizers, and service companies.

August 2014…ONELAN is delighted to have been shortlisted as a finalist in the AV Awards 2014 in the Digital Signage Project of the Year category for two projects: with Vanti for the Library of Birmingham and with Allen Creative for the Tesco Café Digital Menu Solution.

The new Library of Birmingham wanted to combine its 400,000 publicly available books and assets with both access to and interaction with new technology - allowing the public access to as many of the Library's resources as possible. In partnership with the REP Theatre, the Library also wanted to position itself as a leading events hub in the West Midlands region.

This project demonstrates how effectively ONELAN’s digital signage has been used to transform the library and enable interaction with resources by thousands of individuals with different requirements.

Tesco's objective was to modernise its outdated instore dining areas, and to create the experience of a premium café.  It wanted the look and feel to be more contemporary incorporating theatre style cooking and providing better facilities for families. Digital signage from ONELAN is a critical element in achieving this new premium café experience.

About ONELAN

ONELAN develops network appliances for standalone and end-to-end Digital Signage network solutions. The Net-Top-Box is a multimedia, multi-zoned solution capable of Touch Interactivity. With a browser based user interface, the system is fully multi-lingual and capable of displaying both stored media and live media e.g RSS feeds, webpages and broadcast TV or locally streamed video. Further members of the product family cater for Enterprise network management and integration with external data sources.

ONELAN’s NTBs are now installed in a wide variety of organizations such as retail, schools, hospitals, and government buildings, as well as some well-known corporates such as Vodafone, Virgin Holidays and TalkTalk.

ONELAN Ltd is based in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
Visit www.onelandigitalsignage.com for further details.

On July 30th 2014, Prendi premiered a showcase of custom Projection Mapping content, for Indooroopilly Shopping Centre’s Spring Summer Fashion Launch. Using a combination of live action footage, 3D and 2D animation, lighting and effects, the spectacle added an extra dimension to the models and designer labels strutting their stuff on the catwalk. In this video, we have the first two minutes of the main event.

Working closely with Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, we first recorded the models in a studio in front of a green screen. Then, using photos and videos of native Australian trees and plants, we created the animated backgrounds and foliage that seamlessly integrated them onto the walls, pillars and the pipes of the great organ in the City Hall. We also tapped in to the powerful illusions that projection mapping can produce – by recreating the internal architecture of City Hall in 3D software, we could then animate particular elements. Once it is projected on to the real walls, the lighting and shadows make it look as if it is moving about like a mechanical facade.

A huge congratulations to Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, Vogue Australia, and all of the other partners that participated, for without their hard work and support the event wouldn’t have been possible. If you would like to make an impact at your next live event, or want to know more about the power of projection mapping, then start the conversation with Prendi.
 

VIA Collage – a shared workspace for team collaboration in real time - Receives Best in Show Award from Government Video Magazine and Sound & Video Contractor Magazine

Clinton, NJ – Kramer Electronics is pleased to announce the new Kramer VIA Collage wireless collaboration product won Best in Show Awards from both Government Video Magazine and Sound & Video Contractor Magazine at InfoComm 2014. The Best in Show Awards, presented during the InfoComm show, honored outstanding products exhibited at the show.

The award-winning VIA Collage is a wireless collaboration device that allows people to “Meet Smarter.”  The VIA Collage solves BYOD challenges and allows for the effective integration of PC, Mac, iOS and Android devices, allowing users to wirelessly collaborate in any meeting. With the VIA Collage, files can be shared quickly and easily between participants or with all participants at once. The VIA Collage also allows for full 1080p/60 HD video streaming and the main unit even has an HDMI input to allow the integration of an external video source. Up to 6 presenters’ screens can be dynamically displayed on a single display device and up to 12 can be shown simultaneously when two display devices are used.

The VIA Collage also supports third party applications such as Skype®, Go To Meeting®, Lync®, WebEx® and more. VIA Collage also has built in 1024 bit Encryption for information sent between the Collage and the meeting participants as well as a dynamic room code to prevent unauthorized participation in the meeting. The digital canvas created by the VIA Collage allows meeting participants to all work on the same document in real time and save the results to their device.  

"VIA Collage works seamlessly in an almost spooky way. Everyone in the room can help create and edit a common document through their individual devices, then share it with others and save it to take with you. The system automatically recognizes attendees and makes connection―and collaboration―easy," explained Government Video Magazine.

Having received two Best in Show Awards, as well as receiving a great deal of positive feedback from show attendees, Kramer is excited about the introduction of the VIA Collage and the “Infinite Ways to Collaborate” the VIA Collage presents for users.

For more information about the VIA Collage, please visit www.kramerus.com.

LEUVEN, Belgium - mifitto, a young German company is aiming to improve the shoe shopping experience with its innovative 3D foot scanner. It is easier to find perfectly fitting shoes if feet are measured accurately. The concept, combined with an interactive touchscreen from Elo Touch Solutions (Elo), has already convinced the renowned Fraunhofer Society, a retail lab and leading German sporting goods stores.
 
With the 3D foot scanner, retail shops have a technology available that supports sales with benefits that are obvious to customers: the system searches for shoes that fit the feet – and not vice versa. First the feet are measured then mifitto searches for suitable suggestions.
 
The first mifitto systems, equipped with touch displays from Elo Touch Solutions, were installed in stores and in a retail lab in 2014. "When selecting the displays we chose high-quality, stable touchscreens with a reliable performance," says mifitto Director Thomas Harmes. Having tried models from other manufacturers with less than satisfactory performance, mifitto selected the Elo 3201L touchscreen. The 3201L model is available with projected capacitive (PCAP) or IntelliTouch® Plus surface acoustic wave touch technologies. Like other models in Elo’s Interactive Digital Signage family (available in sizes up to 70 inch), the rugged full HD professional-grade display is equipped with an LCD screen with LED backlights and has a brightness of 350cd/m² which is ideal for indoor use.
 
mifitto spent 18 months developing the shoe and foot scanner. In addition to cooperation from experts in the footwear sector, the renowned Fraunhofer Society was also so convinced by the concept that they took an interest in the company. Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits (Fraunhofer IIS) were involved in the development of mifitto scanner. Thus mifitto had a research partner on board known for an invention that changed the world: Fraunhofer IIS researchers previously invented the MP3 format.

Since spring 2014 the scanner has been in use in four installations in Germany. In Nuremberg, the mifitto system has been a part of the retail lab "JOSEPHS® – The Service Factory" from the start. Since May this year, retailers and customers can experience new product and service concepts in the lab. In three-month test cycles based on a specific theme, a wide variety of products and services are presented to customers for testing and evaluation. The first theme using the 3D scanner and touch display launched under the slogan "Creative with hand and foot."
 
Equally creative when it comes to using the mifitto system is the sports shoe expert Teamsport Philipp. The company, with seven branches and an online shop, is one of the largest sports dealers in Germany for football equipment and shoes. Stores are the most important outlets of the company with about 70% of sales. Since April 2014, the Teamsport Philipp has used the mifitto scanner together with the 32-inch Elo touchscreen. "Until the end of the World Cup, the scanner was in use for football boots" said Christian Lenz of Teamsport Philipp. Football players in particular have special habits when buying boots. Some lace up their boots very tightly while others can play better in loose-fitting boots. That and the different sizes depending on the manufacturer are good reasons for using the system at the point of sale. After measuring the feet, product suggestions are shown on the touchscreen. In future, the mifitto system will be used for other product groups, such as running shoes. "The entire system is very easy to handle. It’s an integrated, seamless system" concluded Lenz.
 
The mifitto scanner has been received with great interest in the shoe and sports sectors with more shops likely to take up the system in the near future. It has also turned into a substantial product and image database. At mifitto in Duisburg, 10,000 shoes per day were scanned and photographed, building a large collection of information about all kinds of shoes. This database can contribute to a reduction in e-commerce return rates and helps in-store customers, either individually or together with the shop assistant, find the perfect shoes more quickly and more easily. The visualisation and interactivity of the touchscreen plays a decisive role in the process.
 
About Elo Touch Solutions

Elo is the original inventor of the touchscreen over 40 years ago. Today, Elo Touch Solutions is a global leader in commercial touchscreens with over 20 million installations in more than 80 countries. The Elo product portfolio encompasses the broadest selection of OEM touchscreen components, touchmonitors, all-in-one touchcomputers, mobile tablets and interactive digital signage for the demanding requirements of diverse markets including airports, bank branches, gaming casinos, industrial automation control, self-service kiosks, healthcare facilities, hotels, museums, office buildings, restaurants, retail stores and transportation. The Elo touch experience has consistently stood for quality, reliability and innovation with professional touchscreens that are built to last. Elo intellectual property is protected by a number of patent, trademark and design registrations globally. For more information on Elo products and services, please call +32 (0) 16 704 500, visit us on the web at www.elotouch.com or direct email enquiries to .
 
Elo (logo), Elo Touch Solutions and IntelliTouch are trademarks of Elo Touch Solutions, Inc. and its affiliates.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

CHICAGO -- Platt Retail Institute's new Research Article, "Deployment and Test of the Digital Life Experience at an AT&T Retail Store," is now available.
 
The Research Article describes a test conducted by AT&T in its Arlington Heights, Illinois, retail store. The test was designed to determine if having a more robust user experience in an interactive environment would lead to increased customer adoption and sales of the Digital Life service, an AT&T technology that encompasses a variety of home security and home automation options. The research is sponsored by LightHaus Logic.
 
According to Steven Keith Platt, PRI Director and Research Fellow, "The research concludes that it is very valuable to be able to give customers a realistic experience that allows them to feel what it would be like to use the AT&T Digital Life service in their own homes."    
 
The Research Article is available for complimentary download with registration.
 
Platt Retail Institute (PRI) is an international consulting and research firm that focuses on the use of technology to impact the customer experience. In an omni-channel environment, PRI works with its clients to develop marketing strategies that build brands by integrating various customer-facing technologies. PRI clients include retailers, media companies, financial institutions, hardware and software companies, educational institutions, and other businesses. In addition to its global consulting expertise, PRI also publishes the quarterly Journal of Retail Analytics and pioneering industry research.

Los Angeles, CA, – Levine Leichtman Capital Partners (“LLCP”), a Los Angeles-based private equity firm, announced today that it has partnered with management to complete the acquisition of FASTSIGNS International, Inc. FASTSIGNS is the market leading franchisor in the custom sign and graphics industry with nearly 550 franchised locations across 44 U.S. states and eight international countries with additional franchises recently sold and soon to open in the UAE and Northern Africa. FASTSIGNS is a sign, graphics and visual communications company that helps customers of all sizes – across all industries – meet their business objectives and increase their business visibility. Some of the products and services that FASTSIGNS uses to provide comprehensive solutions include vehicle, floor and window graphics, point of purchase signs, digital signs, labels and decals, architectural and interior décor signs, printing, promotional products and wearables, mobile marketing and other related marketing services. FASTSIGNS was founded in 1985 and is headquartered outside of Dallas, TX.

FASTSIGNS is the fourth investment from Levine Leichtman Capital Partners V, L.P. Lauren Leichtman, Co-Founder and CEO of LLCP, said, “We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Catherine Monson whom has driven strong performance and solidified FASTSIGNS’ position as the market leader since joining as CEO in 2009. The Company’s growth prospects and strong cash flow characteristics resemble those of past successful LLCP franchise investments, and we look forward to our partnership with the Company to generate another great outcome.”

Catherine Monson, FASTSIGNS Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Having a partner that understands franchising and the importance of providing valuable support to franchisees was critical to us in selecting our next financial partner. The deep experience LLCP has investing in franchise businesses inspired great confidence among my management team that they are the right partner to support our continued growth.” FASTSIGNS was advised by North Point Advisors.

About Levine Leichtman Capital Partners

Levine Leichtman Capital Partners is a Los Angeles, California-based investment firm that manages approximately $7.0 billion of institutional investment capital through private equity partnerships, various debt and leveraged loan funds. LLCP is currently making new investments through Levine Leichtman Capital Partners V, L.P., Levine Leichtman Capital Partners SBIC Fund, L.P., and Levine Leichtman Capital Partners Private Capital Solutions, L.P. Prior investments by Levine Leichtman Capital Partners include Santa Cruz Nutritionals, CiCi’s Pizza, Hackney Ladish, Jon Douglas Real Estate Group, and Luminator Technology Group. For further information please see www.llcp.com.

EINDHOVEN, the Netherlands - Net Display Systems (NDS), developer of PADS digital signage software, has teamed up with IAdea, maker of cutting-edge commercial-grade digital signage players and integrated displays.

For digital signage solutions that require displays to be OS independent and browser-based NDS offers the PADS4 HTML5 Basic Viewer. With the PADS4 HTML5 Basic Viewer AV integrators can deploy signage projects with a low-end solution, but can also create a hybrid digital signage solution within one network.

The NDS PADS HTML5 Viewer has been successfully tested and certified by IAdea and is compatible with the entire catalog of IAdea Signboard players.

This partnership offers various cost effective digital signage solutions highly suitable for industries such as Corporate, Hospitality and Retail.

“Combine the NDS PADS HTML 5 Viewer with the Android based IAdea Signboard and you will have a low cost, yet smart digital signage solution for effective display communication”, claims Willie-Jan Bons, CEO at NDS. ”Think of dynamic door signs linked to your room reservation system, displaying scheduled meetings or use the displays for in-shelf communication and dynamically change your messages based on weather, time or even point of sales data”, he continues.
The NDS/IAdea solution can also be used as a Shelf Edge Interactive Catalog that provides detailed information about products and services.

“We are excited that NDS now offers comprehensive vertical solutions based on IAdea’s digital signage devices,” says Rex Chen, Executive VP of IAdea. “IAdea focuses on collaborating closely with software partners to bring success across our entire ecosystem. Just recently we announced a project win that deployed more than 15,000 displays with technologies developed by IAdea and its partners.”

IAdea makes a full line of digital signage media players and signboards that support the SMIL open standard and are optimized for HTML5 dynamic content. At the core is IAdea’s “hardened” version of Android built with enhanced reliability and performance to address digital signage-specific needs.