Nanolumens is expanding its lineup at InfoComm 2025 with the new Aurora Processing platform and a one-of-a-kind SeeThru MicroLED system. I sat down with Kurt DeYoung, Nanolumens’ chief revenue officer, to give you a sneak peek at what’s coming — and what you’ll see when you visit them in booth 3081. Watch it now!

If you’re in higher ed and haven’t heard of Computer Comforts, let me fix that.

The company has been building custom lecterns, classroom desks and media furniture for nearly four decades — and now they’ve launched something game-changing: the EVOLVE line. Think of it as the Swiss Army Knife of lecterns — modular, scalable and built from the ground up with higher ed in mind.

In this episode of Rants & rAVes, I got a first look at the EVOLVE line with Frank Kolavo, who walked me through a real-time demo of this all-in-one classroom solution. EVOLVE was designed as a modular building block system — allowing the customer to “custom configure” to their needs. It’s got everything a tech manager or AV integrator could ask for — and then some

If you’re designing active learning spaces or upgrading instructor stations, this is a must-watch.

In this episode of Rants & rAVes, I got a hands-on look at the new Datavideo VoiceTRX100, an AI-based video switcher designed specifically for podcasting. No technical director required. It uses voice tracking to automatically cut between speakers in 4K, making your show look polished and professional with zero effort.

Joining me are Craig Moffat, managing director at Datavideo, and Rob Read, director of business development. We ran the demo live, using a real podcast setup, and let me tell you — it works exactly as advertised.

If you’re headed to NAB Show 2025, stop by Booth 1223 in the North Hall to see this same setup in action.

In this Steph Takeover episode of Rants & rAVes, I sat down with Brandy Alvarado-Miranda, founder/director of WAVIT, to talk about a scholarship that really means something. The Mary Cook Empowerment Award: Designing the Future honors the legacy of a true trailblazer in our industry. Mary wasn’t just a force in AV — she was a mentor, an advocate and someone who made space for women to grow and lead. This scholarship, backed by WAVIT, AVIXA and founding sponsor NV5, gives early-career women in AV system design a chance to experience InfoComm, gain mentorship and build real momentum in their careers. Brandy and I dug into Mary’s impact, what this award represents and how to apply, which you can do here.

In this Rants & rAVes episode, I caught up with Keith Vidger, engineering manager for professional video and audio at Panasonic Connect, to get a full preview of what the company has in store for NAB Show 2025.

Panasonic is going big this year, with five dedicated product stations inside its booth. The focus? A strong mix of production, broadcast and ProAV applications — so there’s something for everyone.

If you’re heading to the show, make sure to stop by Panasonic’s booth in the North Hall at N1311. And don’t miss the video to get a look at what the company is showcasing.

In this episode, I sat down with AVIXA CEO Dave Labuskes for a candid conversation about the current state of the ProAV market. We covered a lot of ground — tariffs, market growth, the experience economy and where AV, unified communications and digital signage are headed in 2025 and beyond.

Dave always brings sharp insight and perspective, and this chat is no exception. Whether you’re an integrator, manufacturer or end user, there’s real value in this one. Consider it a pulse check — and a little free advice — from one of the best minds in the industry.

Of course, we also talked about InfoComm 2025, which returns to Orlando June 11-13, with education kicking off on June 8. You can register for free at infocommshow.org using code “rAVe.”

And if you’re interested in the class I mentioned in the recording, you can register for it here.

LG just became the first display company to embed the full BrightSign operating system into its digital signage displays — and I think this is a big deal.

The company’s new UH5N Series (available in 43-, 55- and 65-inch models) now ships with both LG webOS and the full BrightSign OS built in. This isn’t just a CMS add-on — it’s the actual BrightSign platform natively running inside the display.

I sat down with Dan Baker, senior technical business development manager at LG, to talk through what this integration means. It opens up new options for integrators building signage ecosystems and gives customers flexibility they haven’t had before — without the need for an external player.

Check out the video we shot at ISE 2025, where you can see this BrightSign-powered display in action:

And don’t miss the full Rants & rAVes episode while you’re at it.

In this Steph takeover episode, I spoke with Michelle Montazeri, board member of the Digital Signage Federation (DSF), about what the org has been up to in Q1 — and spoiler alert: It’s a lot. From community outreach and industry events to a peek at what’s coming the rest of the year, Michelle breaks down how DSF is building momentum and how you can get involved. Spoiler alert: You can start here.

NETGEAR’s director of marketing, John Henkel, joins me to share what the company is bringing to NAB Show 2025 in booth SL8913. Along with launching Engage 2.0, NETGEAR will demo its switching and routing solutions for SMPTE ST 2110 and ProAV, plus a new Wi-Fi 7 access point. John also reveals a new NETGEAR partner that’s making big moves in the AI space — watch now!

It’s a Steph Takeover on this episode of Rants & rAVes! I sat down with Eric Krapf, general manager and program chair of Enterprise Connect, to get the inside scoop on what’s coming up at this year’s show. We talked about the biggest trends shaping enterprise communications, the must-see sessions and what makes Enterprise Connect 2025 stand out. If you’re in IT, AV or just love staying ahead of the curve in workplace technology, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. Watch now! And register for Enterprise Connect here with code RAVE25 for $200 off a conference pass and free show-floor access!