This will be the first time in eight years that I have not attended CEDIA. There are several reasons I am not attending this year, but one thing is for certain, I’m bummed I’m not going to be able to check out several introductions planned for the show. A great friend of mine is going, and the list below is a combination of what he has on his checklist and what I’d like to see. His firm is a Control4 dealer, so he will obviously be spending time at their booth as well as Triad’s, but here’s what else I wish I were there to see in person.
Screen Innovation Shades
SI is introducing window shades at the show this year. These products are targeted squarely at the CEDIA channel and are not being sold through traditional shading channels. With a small silhouette and an inductive charging system that doesn’t require battery replacement or removal of any hardware for charging, it could be a great solution for a lot of customers.
Just Add Power
I have been intrigued by the scalable matrix model for a good chunk of the year. As a Crestron dealer, we use the DM line extensively, but sometimes it can be overkill when you only have three to four TVs, but have 10 inputs. I would like to understand the scalability of the system, any limitations, how well it extracts multi-channel audio, and any features it may have that we do not get from the DM line.
Leon Speakers
I want to learn more about the Leon Tonecase Fit — a custom cover for Sonos Playbars. We have been installing Playbars in secondary rooms for a few months now and would love to have a more aesthetically pleasing solution. While there, I would also check out the full Leon line from this always-crafty company.
Somfy
I have been hearing a lot of buzz about Somfy MyLink and how well it integrates. While we use Crestron shading solutions almost exclusively, I need to be educated and informed. And who knows, I just might see something I would have loved.
Eero
They have been making a bit of a splash lately and a lot of clients have been asking about Eero and some of their competitors. Now that a Pro version is being released, with a dashboard and remote support tools, it would be great to check them out and get some hands-on experience. I’ll have to rely on Mark to do that for me while he is there and report back what he finds!
Epson LS100 Ultra-Short Throw Projector
Ultra-Short-Throw Projection
Word has it that this is the year of ultra-short throw. With a client base that is heavily apartment based (NYC), ultra-short throw would be a great solution for many of the multi-purpose rooms we do for clients. Often a traditional projector doesn’t really fit the bill, especially with lower ceilings, high traffic between the projector and screen and gaming considerations. I can’t wait to see what is introduced in the UST arena this year. Guess I’ll have to wait for the show recaps to find out.
Those would be my big must-sees this year. What about you? What are you going to make sure you don’t miss (or wish you could see, for those of you not going.)
