Sixteen:Nine: The Digital Signage Blog

There is no formal mixer planned for Tuesday as much of the mob that attends was also recently in Las Vegas. If they are anything like me, they are still tired. I do know a few people are talking about meeting up for a drink anyway at the usual location.

There is one set for 2nd Tuesday of April, however that is also Kioskcom/NAB week, so a few folks (like me) will be missing, as we'll be down in Lost Wages again. 

Bill Yackey has spent at least a couple of years - maybe a lot longer but that's what it seems like - as the very hard-working editor of Digital Signage Today - cranking out a pile of material as well as doing a lot of great video work.

This is his last day on the job, as he is moving on to a marketing communications gig with a unified communications company in Louisville. If you are in marketing in this sector, in some way, you've dealt with Bill.

Very sharp and solid guy and I wish him all the best, and thank him for his support in helping me build up pressDOOH, and letting me know I was on to something.

I kinda sorta knew already, but probably few people know he's an accomplished musician, playing guitar and leading a band called Sixty-Four West.  Videos are online. He can sing, too.

Best wishes Bill, and maybe we'll see you back in this nutty business at some point. 

This looks like a PhotoShop job, but I get the idea.

Digital Signage Today, and others, are reporting that Samsung now has a 43-inch LCD panel that has a panoramic aspect ratio of 4:1 and doesfull HD-ready (1920x480 resolution) signals. It is meant for public standard platforms, malls and schools.

No price but assume crazy-expensive for now. Interesting, but odd, as Samsung has some nice thin-bezel monitors that make screenms tiled together look pretty nice.

And unless these people and this rail car are really short, that's not a 43" diagonal display.

Photo from technobahn, but saw same one elsewhere. 

If you went to DSE this year and it seems to be busier than the 2009 version, that's because it was.

The show last week, says a news release, attracted more than 3,400 attendees, up roughly 14 per cent from a year earlier. There were also 56 new exhibitors.

I thought it was a good show, and was terrific for my business interests and building my base of knowledge. I could have used a third day on the show floor, but that's just me. If I stop at a booth, there goes 45 minutes. With scores of booths, that math doesn't work so hot.

In the blur that was last week, I did not have a chance to report on the mixer. We had 210 on the RSVP list, and about 180 showed. We figured that was really good, and were fairly thankful not everyone showed - as we knew the place was going to feel tight at 200. Great crowd. Great conversations. We'll do it again.

The feedback we've solicited has all been positive, but about 90 per cent think we need name tags ... so people can more easily meet, and more easily dodge others they'd rather not get tied up with. Thanks to our sponsors who ponied up a share of the $15 (honest) drinks - that would get me a tray of Michelobs at Casino Royale - and brought in some of their clients and industry friends.

The Jets (DSA board)

Stuart Armstrong, President North America, EnQii

Charles Ansley, President & CEO, Symon

Jeff Porter, Executive Vice President, Scala

Lou Giacalone, President & Founder, CoolSign

Sean Andersen, Director Interactive Services, Six Flags

Chris Borek, Senior Manager Instore Digital Mktg., Target

Rocky Gunderson, Co-founder, Vice President, SeeSaw Networks

John Melillo, President, Diversified Media Group

Fred Squeo, General Manager, TracyLocke/N-GEN STUDIOS

Margot Myers, Director, Education & Training, Platt Retail Institute

The Sharks (DSF board)

Phil Cohen, President & CEO, Care Media Holdings

Rich Cooley, CEO & Founder, Visser Digital Media

Alan Brawn, Principal, Brawn Consulting, LLC

Laura Davis-Taylor, Vice President Global Retail Strategy, Creative Realities, Inc.

Jack Sullivan, Senior Vice President, Out-of-Home Media Director, StarCom World Wide

Jennifer Bolt, Executive Director, Media Services & Innovation, Tracy Locke Advertising

Bob Stowe, Director, Marketing Services, Wendy’s International

Carre Dawson, Director of Business Development, DS, Harris Corporation

Bil Trainor, President, Capital Networks Limited

Brian Dusho, President, BroadSign International 

Ken Goldberg, CEO, Real Digital Media

Pierre Richer, President & COO, NEC Display Solutions Americas 

Geez ... the Sharks have more women, and food! And Goldberg. But the Jets have roller coasters...

What to choose. What to choose.