HARMAN Professional introduced two new fascinating AV control automation solutions from its AMX fold. One is the new AMX Varia family of professional-grade, persona-defined touch panels, designed to adapt to the unique needs of corporate, education, government, hospitality, entertainment, and other user environments, while the other is the AMX Jetpack- a new 3×1 switching, transport, and control solution that’s highly affordable for K12 classrooms and meeting spaces.
The Varia Family panels, available in four screen sizes, from a diminutive 5.5-inch to a vast 15.6-inch, streamline meeting spaces, boardrooms, classrooms, auditoriums and more. A dynamic architecture platform supports the diverse needs of any user to define the entire panel experience. Features include:
- Persona Apps – Depending on the selected persona, Varia can transform into a full-screen, frameless Web Kiosk for accessing web apps such as a wayfinding app, hoteling app, or custom control app; a dedicated Zoom Rooms Controller; an AMX Book Room Scheduling Panel; or an AMX G5 Control Panel
Unmatched Mounting Flexibility – Varia panels include a versatile mount that provides wall, glass, and VESA-mounting capabilities. Optional tabletop mounting accessories are also available offering users the ability to meet any mounting need
Any-Color Side LEDs – The side LEDs on Varia panels can be programmatically configured to any of over 16 million colors, opening a world of opportunities and applications - Communication and Intelligence Technologies – Integrated speakers, microphones, and a front-facing HD camera enable telephony and video conferencing apps to be utilized effectively with Varia. Built-in NFC, proximity sensing and ambient light sensing empower advanced environment integration making Varia panels some of the most versatile interfaces ever designed
Varia touch panels are offered in two styles: Varia and Varia SL. Varia is available in three screen sizes: 8″, 10.1″, and 15.6″ and offers unparalleled mounting flexibility. Panels can be mounted to a wall, glass, VESA-mount, or to a tabletop via an optional accessory. Varia SL is optimized for in-wall installations, utilizing standard single-gang electrical boxes and is available in two sizes: 5.5″ and 8.” Two Varia “No-Comm” models exclude the camera, NFC, and microphone to meet the security requirements of facilities that do not allow these capabilities.
“Designed with grace and engineered for performance, Varia touch panels combine modern standards, unparalleled flexibility, and enterprise-grade security with extreme simplicity and affordability,” said Jamie Trader, vice-president of video and control, HARMAN Professional Solutions. “As our customers and our industry continue to adopt standard web technologies, AMX is creating professional-grade products that enable that evolution. Whether you need a flexible UX for custom integrations or a professional-grade appliance to access your own web-based control dashboard, Varia delivers a beautifully robust user experience.”
AMX Jetpack:
The AMX Jetpack features simple to operate room controls, multiple 4K60 video inputs, and enables voice lift for clear communication with everyone in the space.
Jetpack combines 4K60 4:2:0 HDMI and USB-C video switching and distance transport, room control, wallplate accessibility, and audio amplification in a kit that requires zero programming and provides the security and reliability that AMX is well known to provide. The kit is fully loaded to support a wide range of classroom and meeting space applications and can be controlled through panel buttons, IR, RS-232, TCP/IP, a REST API, a Web GUI, and the Jetpack Management PC tool.
The feature-rich Jetpack is characterized by:
- Highly Cost-Effective and Affordable: AMX Jetpack was purpose-built for K12 classrooms and small-to-medium meeting spaces requiring an affordable and cost-effective solution that combines HDMI and USB-C video switching and distance transport, room control, and audio amplification for voice lift – all in a convenient kit.
USB-C and HDMI 4K60 Video Support: To ensure beautifully crisp video resolution, AMX Jetpack supports up to 4K60 4:2:0 HDCP2.2 and can transmit uncompressed video and audio up to 40m/131ft at 4K or 70m/230ft at 1080P over a single shielded Cat 6/6A/7 cable.
USB Pass-through for Smart Boards: USB pass-through is included to simplify smart board connections in K12 classrooms and meeting spaces. Built-in USB-C and USB-B Host 2×1 USB Hub - Simplified Installation and Campuswide Management: Features like onboard Web GUI configuration; CEC, RS232, Relay control, IR Receiver with IR learning and one power supply to power the whole kit simplify the install. Included Jetpack Management Tool software makes it easy to discover and manage all your AMX Jetpack kits on the same network.
“We are really excited to finally be able to bring Jetpack to the market,” said Jeff Burch, HARMAN Professional Solutions, director of video and control. “There has been an incredible need in K12 and small meeting spaces for a kit that is both truly cost effective and that bundles all the features that these spaces can typically benefit from and will actually use,” he explained. “We designed Jetpack to present all kinds of possibilities for spaces and users and we built it to be really versatile to serve a wide range of needs.”
