Midwich Tech Xpo 2023: A technology roundup from Cinos #TechXpo23

Hosted over two days at the prestigious Ascot Racecourse, #TechXpo23 featured over 60 of Midwich’s leading technology vendors, giving businesses such as Cinos a perfect opportunity to reconnect with key partners, forge fresh relationships and see the latest technology in action.

As well as providing our technology roundup below we would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Account Manager, Anton Vidal, Events Manager, Rachel Curson, and the wider Midwich team for orchestrating a truly exceptional event. Their efforts certainly did not go unnoticed and were topped off with some first-class corporate hospitality featuring a mesmerising drone show that left a lasting impression.

In the world of AV, display solutions usually take centre stage, and this was certainly the case as we entered the racecourse. The breathtaking quality of Samsung’s The Wall All-in-One immediately caught our eye, so we headed over to the stand and spoke with Drew Rogers, Head of Interactive Displays to learn more.

After admiring the truly perfect picture quality delivered by The Wall All-in-One, Drew explained that Samsung have significantly simplified the often complex buying process associated with purchasing large LED displays. The Wall All-in-One is offered in two dimensions (110″ and 146″) and two resolutions (FullHD or UltraHD), negating the need for customers to concern themselves with factors such as pixel pitch or size configuration. Furthermore, with an installation time of no more than two hours, The Wall All-in-One represents a best in class LED solution that combines visual innovation with simplicity.

In addition to viewing the Samsung Flip, a Cinos favourite, we also got a taste of Samsung’s recent advancements in the education sector. Released in March 2023, the new WAC Series is an interactive E-board built for the classroom and available in 65″ and 75″ sizes. We’d like to thank Drew for demonstrating some of the notable features including screen recording, multi-screen display, and wireless content sharing from up to nine devices simultaneously.

As we moved down the concourse, LG were our next stop. Their solutions for business piqued our interest, notably the content promoting their All-in-One series. Featuring impressive 136″ and 163″ large screen displays with integrated controllers and built-in speakers, the All-in-One Series removes the requirement for controller connections or module setups, guaranteeing a fast and simple installation whilst delivering that high impact statement desired in larger meeting spaces.

With a frequent demand from our customers for digital signage solutions, we’d also like to thank the LG team for running over their ConnectedCare and SuperSign CMS solutions, demonstrating how organisations can effortlessly monitor and control their signage network, as well as create and disseminate content with ease.

Continuing with display technology, we caught a demonstration of the new TE12 and TE14 solutions on the iiyama stand. With displays ranging from 55” to 86” this new series has been designed to enhance collaboration in education and corporate settings. Both displays feature a new 4K interface and PureTouch IR technology, with up to 40 touchpoints on the TE12 and 50 on the TE14. We were shown how the iiyama Share app facilitates simultaneous sharing from up to nine devices, with support for AirPlay, Chromecast, and Miracast. With a number of advanced features as you move up the range, it was clear to see that the TE Series proves an excellent choice for efficient collaboration in education and corporate environments.

Sony wraps up our display highlights. As well as featuring their new range of BRAVIA 4K professional displays, their brightest ultra-compact professional projector, the VPL-PHZ61 was also on show. This impressive laser projector not only delivers exceptional picture performance but also offers up to 7,000lm centre brightness, making it an excellent choice for modern integrated AV environments and with an all new anti-dust system, the maintenance requirements are minimal.

With ongoing customer requirements for Microsoft Teams Rooms and Zoom Rooms solutions, it’s essential to stay informed about the latest advancements. Both Jabra and Neat had some exciting developments so we caught up with their teams to learn more.

Neat’s Michael Waterworth was demonstrating the Neat Board 50, a solution tailored to the ‘flexible future of work’. Its distinctive versatility was clearly exemplified by its adaptable mounting options, allowing you to position the display at the optimal height for your workspace. As well as being able to wall mount the Neat Board 50, customers have the option to purchase the Adaptive Stand, a mobile solution which provides the flexibility to relocate the board to any space you require.

For Jabra, the PanaCast 50 Video Bar System took centre stage. Completing their portfolio for small to medium sized rooms this Android-based UC solution offers both native Microsoft Teams and Zoom Rooms collaboration experiences. It features eight beamforming microphones for crystal clear conversations and four speakers in vibration-free, stereo setup for high-definition audio. Furthermore, it delivers on all the capabilities of the Jabra PanaCast 50, including the Panoramic-4K 180-degree field of view, Virtual Director, Intelligent Zoom and Dynamic Composition.

Finally, we would like to thank Crestron for guiding us through the latest enhancements in their Flex Series, and to Yealink whose MVC Range has been upgraded with some exciting new features including the Mult-Stream People Feed which provides individual video feeds of up to four in-room active speakers while showcasing the panoramic view of the room.

For Tour de AV 23 sponsors Biamp, the Tech Xpo followed their acquisition of Evoko, a Swedish company known for advanced scheduling systems. On stand, Ben Wilmot, Applications Engineering Manager discussed how the acquisition marks a significant step in Biamp’s expansion strategy before demonstrating the latest products on show.

Ben introduced us to Modena MAX Connect, Biamp’s new BYOM solution which attracted a lot of interest from the Ascot crowd. In his demonstration, Ben illustrated how users can effortlessly join meetings from any device, collaborate on their preferred UC platform, and use messaging apps as needed. Powerful functionality is delivered through the new MAX app, including a virtual whiteboard and the ability to share up to six devices simultaneously on the meeting room display.

In addition to Biamp’s array of amplifiers, DSPs and the sleek Parlé X-Series beam tracking microphones, Ben introduced us to Biamp Launch, a one-button solution that streamlines audio configurations for spaces of all sizes. Using advanced signal processing, Launch drastically reduces commissioning time, detecting, testing, and optimising systems in under three minutes—a feature highly valued by our audio engineers.

Earlier in the year, Sennheiser entered the video bar market and at the Tech Xpo their new TeamConnect Bar garnered significant interest. Dubbed as the most feature-rich all-in-one conferencing device in its class, the TeamConnect Bar delivers Sennheiser’s trusted audio quality with powerful full-range stereo speakers for clear speech and exceptional clarity. It incorporates integrated beamforming technology enabling effortless transitions between presenters and facilitating unrestricted movement within any space. From an integration perspective it was great to see that compatibility is assured with Microsoft Teams and Zoom, and that it extends to various media control systems like Crestron, Extron, and Q-SYS.

Across the concourse Sound Technology were exhibiting the latest developments in the JBL speaker range. As a set of solutions Cinos regularly install we were keen to find out more. In addition to the stylish JBL COL 600/800 column speakers which can be used for a whole host of audio applications the JBL-LCT 81C/TM full-range ceiling speaker was on display. With a depth of only 103mm, the speaker fits into locations where deeper loudspeakers can’t, making it a great option for voice reinforcement and light-to-medium music in retail, airport lounges, courtrooms, and reception/waiting areas.

Shure concludes our audio solutions overview. After participating in a competition to win the new MV88+ Video Kit, we delved into the features of the Microflex® Complete Wireless Digital Conference System with the team. This intelligent solution offers rapid installation without the constraints of cables and can accommodate up to 125 wireless units without additional software or licences. It harnesses industry-leading wireless technology and is Dante-enabled, rendering it particularly suitable for conference spaces and temporary meeting setups, such as those found in hotels.

Whilst it is impossible to mention everything we saw; we would like to extend our gratitude to Sunny Kataria at NETGEAR for running through their wireless access points and AV over IP solutions and to the team at Kramer for their overview of the latest developments in their control and collaboration products. It was also great to once again to see the BrightSign and Nexmosphere partnership on show, combining Nexmosphere’s flair for engagement with the power of BrightSign’s XC5 digital signage player to create interactive and immersive retail experiences.

Midwich’s Tech Xpo has become a staple event in the AV calendar, and it is easy to understand why. This year was once again a resounding success, testament to the hard work of the Midwich team.

If you are looking at projects involving any of the solutions mentioned in our roundup please do not hesitate to get in touch, our experts would be delighted to help.