Update:
I've been exchanging e-mail with Michael Heiss and he has asked me, for a number of legal and ethical reasons, not to post his notes verbatim here on the forum. I fully understand his position and will, of course, respect his wishes. Instead, in order to bring you up to speed, let me quote the CEDIA catalog course description for Michael's presentation: (remember, the primary audience was custom Home Theater installers)
Quote:
NEW TECHNOLOGIES UPDATE
The combination of shorter life cycles for consumer electronics technologies combined with the constant introduction of new distribution, display and networking products makes it more important than ever for the custom installer to keep up-to-date on what's new today and what's just over the horizon for tomorrow. This virtual tour of the latest trends and products will give you the information you need to manage the technologies you sell, the products you carry and the way in which they will all connect to one another. Let your clients know more about topics such as flat panel technologies, display resolutions, audio codecs, DRM and content protection, high definition DVD, the endgame of the digital television transition, HDMI and the myriad of connectivity options that link everything together. All new for 2006, the annual New Technologies Update helps you stay current on the latest news with info that lets you leap over the competition.
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I don't know if the above description gives you a feel for the presentation (I'm of the opinion that you have to be there to get maximum benefit) but at least it should clarify the talk a bit. Let me reiterate that I always find Michael's presentations informative, enjoyable and right on the mark. For example, last year (2005) he was talking about the promise of HDMI versus the reality of connecting various components as presently constructed. While I didn't have too much personal experience with HDMI at the time I came to realize that Michael was spot on when he correctly predicted that HDMI connections involve a lot more than simply connecting "Point A" to "Point B." There are so many different interpretations (and implementations) of the evolving HDMI standard that there were bond to be issues and he was one of the first to point out that the emperor wasn't wearing any clothes.
This year at CEDIA there was a lot of emphasis on providing HDMI "compliant" and "compatible" equipment so that at least some of the gremlins go away. It's not your father's connectivity any more and Michael knew this before many.
If you have a question about new technology trends, and if Michael discussed it, I will be glad to share this discussion to the best of my ability. Sorry to be a bit vague on this, but it's a huge topic that does or will effect everyone in the HT industry - manufacturers, sellers, installers and users alike.
