The Purple Cat Post

  1. Discover the Owl Labs Meeting Owl Pro

    We are pleased to announce that we have become Owl Labs authorised resellers and are now able to supply the award-winning Meeting Owl Pro video conferencing system.

    Owl Labs Meeting Owl Pro

     

    The Owl Labs Meeting Owl Pro is an all-in-one video conferencing device combining camera, microphone and speaker, but it is not like your usual all-in-one systems.
    You may be familiar with the typical video conferencing systems which provide a wide-angle view from one side of the room and may be able to pan and zoom in on a specific person or area. The Meeting Owl Pro is different: it is able to capture a panoramic view of the whole room, while also automatically focussing and shifting between

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  2. The new SMART Board GX Series: budget friendly and basically brilliant

    SMART are well known for their award winning interactive boards and software.
    They provide comprehensive purpose-built solutions designed for education with high specification interactive displays for classrooms, a powerful software suite, online resources, educator training and personal development as well as excellent support.

    For customers who wish to move on from projector-based classroom solutions to interactive displays but have a more limited budget, SMART have now released the new GX Series of interactive boards.

    SMART Board GX Series interactive display
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  3. Fix for Denon and Marantz compatibility issue with 4K/120Hz and 8K pass-through

    In autumn 2020 it was reported that the latest Denon and Marantz AV receivers, as well as some Onkyo, Pioneer and Yamaha models, suffer from a compatbility issue caused by the chipset handling the HDMI 2.1 protocol. 
    This means that the affected models are not able to pass through 4K at 120Hz and 8K at 60Hz causing a blank screen when the video source outputs these resolutions.

    Now Sound United, the parent company of Denon and Marantz, have announced they will be offering a fix in the form of a FREE SPK618 HDMI adapter to all owners of the affected Denon and Marantz receivers.

    Which models are affected?

    Denon AV receivers: 

    • AVC-A110
    • AVR-X2700H
    • AVR-X2700HDAB
    • AVC-X3700H
    • AVC-X4700H
    • AVC-X6700H
    • AVR-S960H

     

    Marantz AV receivers:

    • NR1711
    • SR5015
    • SR5015DAB
    • SR6015
    • SR7015
    • SR8015
    • AV7706
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  4. New Sony Native 4K Home Cinema Projectors Announced

    Following last year's launch of the VPL-VW590ES and VPL-VW790ES, Sony have now announced two new 4K home cinema models. The new VPL-VW290ES is replacing the popular VPL-VW270ES and the new VPL-VW890ES replaces the VPL-VW870ES.

    Sony VPL-VW290ES and VPL-VW890ES projectors

    In line with the recently launched models, the two new models build up on their predecessors and now also feature the X1 processor, based on technology used in BRAVIA televisions and optimised for projection.
    The X1 processor combines technologies for high precision frame analysis with Dynamic HDR Enhancer and Super Resolution Reality Creation for a high-quality picture.

     

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  5. NEW LapCabby GO2+ 6-device charging case

    The LapCabby GO2 device charging case has been a popular store and charge solution thanks to its portable, light and compact design. 
    Now LapCabby have released the new and improved GO2+ 6-device portable AC charging case.

    LapCabby GO2 Plus case

    The LapCabby GO2+ case is designed to store and charge up to 6 devices including laptops, tablets, Chromebooks, mobile phones, POS devices, PDAs, VR headsets, scanners, e-readers and more (up to 15.6" screen size) in vertical compartments. 
    The soft padded internal dividers' position can be adjusted

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  6. SMART Tool Explorer Technology – Bridging the gap between physical and digital world

    In a previous post about the various SMART Board interactive flat panel series, we brushed on the addition of ToolSense technology on the 6000S series.

    ToolSense, which is now known as Tool Explorer technology enables users to use real world objects to annotate or interact with the digital content on screen in instinctive yet new ways, capturing and keeping the interest of pupils to ensure they remain engaged in lessons.

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  7. Wireless collaboration solutions

    Technology is an integral part of our daily lives, whether it's at home or at work, entertaining us, keeping us connected and informed, helping us to communicate and complete tasks. But technology can also be frustrating sometimes: devices not pairing or connecting to the wireless network, cables in a tangled mess, difficulties with sharing content and having to swap cables between colleagues etc. Nobody likes wasting half of a meeting or sales presentation trying to get the tech that is supposed to help us to simply work.

    Wireless collaboration systems are designed to simplify presentations and collaboration, getting you ready for your sales pitch or team meeting quickly and easily.

    What are wireless collaboration systems?

    Wireless collaboration systems enable one or multiple presenters to easily share information from their own devices to a display wirelessly, switching between presenters seamlessly or with some systems, screen sharing from multiple devices.

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  8. NEW Celexon Floor Rising CLR HomeCinema screen

    In home entertainment there is little more impressive than a large image that is sharp, vibrant and with high contrast.

    While OLED televisions lead the way in terms of dark blacks and vibrant colours, it is not always easy to achieve a truly large image, either because of the space available – not everyone has a lounge large enough for an 85" diagonal TV - or simply the cost. This is why projectors are a firm favourite for the big screen experience thanks to their compact size and lower cost per diagonal inch of image compared to televisions.

    In the past couple of years, the popularity of ultra-short throw projectors designed for home cinema has rocketed. With only a few centimetres of projection distance needed, they can be placed on a cabinet below the screen making installation much easier and more discreet.
    The downside is that ultra-short throw (UST) projectors need a perfectly flat and vertical surface to project on to so only fixed frame screens and some high q

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  9. What is the difference between the various Smart Board interactive flat panel series for education?

    Most people working in education will be familiar with interactive technology.
    Almost 30 years ago, interactive whiteboards started to replace traditional whiteboards and blackboards in schools and the most commonly found manufacturer of interactive whiteboards in the UK was SMART with their Smart Boards.
    Today, interactive whiteboards are gradually being replaced with interactive flat panels and SMART continue to be a very popular choice thanks to their range of touch screen displays.

    The current range of SMART Board interactive flat panels for education includes the MX series, the 6000 series and the new 6000S and 7000R series. But what is the difference between these four options?

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  10. How to protect employees and customers as the country opens to a new normal?

    The government have reviewed social distancing rules and reduced the 2m-rule to 1m allowing more schools, businesses and the hospitality industry to consider re-opening as soon as possible.
    As some schools have started to welcome more pupils and businesses see customers and staff back, the safety of everyone is a main concern.

    How do we limit the risks of spreading viruses and put adequate measures in place to protect employees, visitors and pupils?

    Along with self-isolating if you have symptoms and practicing good respiratory hygiene, to protect yourself and others the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommend:

    • regular hand cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or water and soap
    • maintaining at least 1m distance between yourself and others
    • avoiding crowded spaces

     

    Shops, corporate organisations and schools can help reduce the risks posed by the current Covid-19 pandemic by implementing several measures.

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