CEDIA Notes

Denver — In addition to reviewing its recently announced new product introductions at CEDIA Expo, Monster announced a product development deal with Digeo, maker of the Moxi digital media recorder.

Through the partnership, the two companies seek to take advantage of the growing proliferation of IP-connected entertainment options.

According to Head Monster Noel Lee, the deal will help Digeo expand the reach and availability of the Moxi platform through a variety of development, licensing and distribution deals. It also brings Monster a step closer to its expanded business strategy of plug-and-play connected entertainment and home control devices.

Digeo CEO Mike Fidler said, "The time is right for Digeo to explore ways to couple our popular user interface design and software and services expertise with other high-end products for the home. Working with Monster, a leader in connecting devices in the home, is yet another way for us to deliver on our vision of providing a superior entertainment experience to a broader set of consumers."

Lee said the first jointly produced products are in development and should debut at International CES in January.

Denver — Active Thermal Management (ATM) debuted at CEDIA Expo its new Cool-Stack III, a one-unit high, hot air exhaust system for A/V stacks.

With four 120mm fans and a depth of 18 inches, the Cool-Stack III can pull up to 70 cubic feet per minute of hot air out of tightly packed racks while generating very low noise levels, according to an ATM spokesman who explained that heated air is normally exhausted through the perforated front panel, but exhaust fittings and tubing provided with the ATM unit can move the hot air safely away if the rack is located in a closet or cabinet.

The Cool-Stack III is temperature-controlled, switching from a constant, very low "idle" speed, suitable for removing stand-by heat generated by components such as cable boxes and satellite receivers, to full speed as rack temperature changes. Internal movable jumpers are set during installation to satisfy the requirements of a particular installation.

It is available now at a suggested retail of $450.

Denver — Gefen added to it signal-distribution line with two HDMI signal-boosting products.

The rack-mountable 1:4 HDMI CAT-5 distribution amplifier (DA) accepts one HDMI audio/video signal, splits it four times and enables four identical HDMI signals to be delivered long distances over CAT-5 cable. The method of extension uses four separate HDMI/CAT-5 receivers stationed at each remote location, connecting the display or projector to the DA, which is linked to the HDMI signal source. The CAT-5 cabling links local and remote locations with an instantaneous signal transfer that performs as if connected locally.

Full HDMI and HDCP compliance is passed through to each signal output, allowing for HD resolutions up to 1080p on all four displays with no degradation, Gefen said. The DA allows installers to curb some of the costs associated with long cable runs while retaining a high-quality signal, the company added.

Also new is Gefen's HDMI Super Booster Plus, which is said to combat DDC and HDMI signal degradation over long distances. It extends the HDMI signal up to 200 feet, a 50-foot improvement over previous Gefen products.

Unlike most boosters on the market, the Super Boooster Plus is not a sender/receiver system but a little box that sits between the end of the cable and the extended display. It passes DDC and HDMI signals through to the display after restoring any signal losses and comes with an external power supply.