If you listened closely last week, you may have heard the rumble as the distribution landscape shifted once more.

Another giant of IT will focus on the Pro AV market. Avnet Technology Solution is a $10 billion distributor but unlike its cousins (Ingram Micro, Tech Data) Avnet ATS has always avoided the PC itself. Instead Avnet specializes in vertical markets and higher-valued IT networks and infrastructure.

Graeme Watt is President of Avnet Technology Solutions, EMEA and comes from their acquisition of Bell Micro, a storage distributor you may recognize as they frequented the broadcast industry (and often exhibited at IBC). Prior to Bell Micro, Watt was President EMEA at Tech Data EMEA.

Now Advantech, the embedded platform and integration services company, has signed an agreement with Avnet Technology Solutions. The partnership is formed specifically for the ProAV market in Europe.

Chief releases its 2013-2014 online FastFlip digital catalog-- one featuring a streamlined layout with easy-to-navigate products and accessories, the result of their installer and dealer feedback.

The catalog includes the latest information on the Chief mount, rack, interactive technology and accessory ranges.

New products for 2013 include Fusion ceiling-mounted menu boards, bolt-down video walls and Kontour monitor array mounts.

The catalog is searchable, making it easier to find what you need, and is accessible from any device with an internet connection or downloadable as a standard PDF.

Go Chief FastFlip Digital Catalogue

E Ink releases Carta, the next generation of electronic ink display technology that the company claims has the whitest and highest contrast ratio display in the industry.

Through the use of improved black and white pigments, Carta displays will deliver the best quality contrast ratio E Ink says it has ever delivered to the market. Carta has been specifically tuned for reading applications and offers the same benefits as earlier ink generations, including extremely low power consumption.

Planar Systems says the Planar Simplicity Series line of large format LCD displays is its most affordable digital signage display option yet.

The series combine a slim, professional design with content playback capabilities and a full range of commercial features. They also offer built-in media playing, eliminating the need for a separate media player, as well as USB playback with scheduling, LAN and mobile device content distribution, built-in speakers and a Kensington security slot. The displays are ideal for use in retail stores, restaurants, medical offices, corporate meeting areas, museums and hospitality settings.

Elo Touch Solutions (Elo) expands their portfolio to help retailers accelerate their omnichannel initiatives. These platforms enable mobile point of service, point of sale, virtual wardrobe, in-store kiosks, wayfinding directories and other applications that improve the shopper experience while arming the retail associate with the same online resources available to the consumer at the point of decision.

Elo’s omnichannel platforms include the recently launched Elo Tablet, all-in-one touch computers, interactive digital signage, open-frame touch displays and touch monitors.

Visix has combined its interactive designs with its scheduling products to launch the new RoomBoard – a touchscreen wayfinding solution that shows room availability, allows scheduling at the screen and integrates with MeetingMinder conference room signs.

The RoomBoard is custom-built with the client’s logo, colors and map. Maps are interactive and room availability is instantly recognizable with available rooms in green and busy rooms in red.

Point-to-point directions and event schedules can be included, or content blocks can play back standard playlists.

Go RoomBoard

Watch Video of RoomBoard at InfoComm

Best New Digital Signage Software Product: Hypersign Snips

Hypersign Snips allows you to instantly post photos to the Hypersign digital signage software (that runs on ANY media player’s OS platform or player) from anywhere in the world directly into a digital signage playlist.

Go Hypersign Snips

Watch Video of Hypersign Snips at InfoComm

It’s China's largest trade show and conference dedicated to digital signage & the DOOH industry: the upcoming Shanghai Digital Signage & Touch Technology Show will be held Sept. 4-6th in the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center.

The exhibition area is around 20000 sq m, gathering more than 300 well-known suppliers. Products on the show floor include: the all-in-one kiosk, large size display terminals, multi-function terminals, LCD and outdoor displays, glass-free 3D displays, 3D virtual dressing rooms, different splicing, special-shaped screens and spliced screens, large-screen multi-touch displays, transparent screens, multimedia information publishing systems, multimedia displays, and more.

Dynamax Technologies releases their Android-based digital signage solution.

Based on a 1.6GHz dual core ARM A9 processor with a quad core MALI GPU, this digitalsignage.NET Android solution comes with both wi-fi and LAN connectivity.  

Providing the same functionality as PC media playback devices, the cost of the Android product is considerably lower-- making it a plug-and-play solution that features easy-to- sell, easy-to-install and easy-to- use.

The hardware solution will soon be available for purchase and the new version of digitalsignage.NET will also be sold separately through selected partners