CEPro - January 2009

EHX fall Wrap-Up

The Outside is In

The Outdoor Living Spotlight at EHX Fall aimed

to expand integrators’ installation services.

by Tom LeBlanc

Outdoor jobs were given an insider’s perspective at the Long Beach Convention Center at EHX Fall 2008.

Indeed, it was a good time to be talking about outdoor technology, according to Michael Vetrovec, co-owner of IDOD Designs, which designed the Outdoor Living Spotlight zone at EHX Fall. It was clear to him that integrators are looking to expand their service offerings beyond the boundaries of clients’ houses, earning more dollars per installation. It was, therefore, a good time for EHX to unleash its first show floor space dedicated to demonstrating weatherproof products in a pseudo-outdoor environment.

Vetrovec says the reaction from attending integrators was very positive.

IDOD is a manufacturer of products that support other manufacturers’ outdoor audio and video products. Essentially, it aims to place high-performing outdoor products in a setting that looks natural outside and is protected from the elements.

In the Outdoor Living Spotlight, IDOD’s solutions framed outdoor products from Polk Audio, Lux (outdoor TV), Universal

Remote Control, Da-Lite and others.

Since outdoor integration is new to many dealers, IDOD also used the Spotlight to demonstrate the outdoor layout designs that it makes available for its dealers’ residential clients. Meanwhile, Curt Hayes, president of Deerfield Beach, Fla.-based Audio Design Inc., showed examples of his installation designs to EHX attendees.

The following are some examples of the products displayed in the Outdoor Living Spotlight.

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1 | BIRDHOUSE PROJECTOR One of IDOD’s most intriguing Outdoor Living Spotlight products was also one of its biggest disappointments. This birdhouse projector housing conceals and protects a projector. The lens protrudes through the opening normally reserved for birds. Unfortunately, the projector that IDOD planned to use didn’t ship. So, it had to go with an ill-fitting model.

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2 | SCREENED FROM ELEMENTS The IDOD crew explains how a retractable projection screen, like this Da-Lite model, can be easily accessed despite its being concealed in the company’s trellis-looking screen display. IDOD co-founder John Tragoutsis shows that the screen can be cleaned — something that integrators need to consider when doing a front-projection system outdoors.

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3 | GRANITE HIDES SPEAKER There’s a Polk Audio speaker under that plant stand. The granite top offers a unique outdoor look that’s completely weatherproof, says IDOD co-founder Scott Barca. He adds, “You can also put your drinks on there.”