New Planar CoolSign 4.0 Offers Full Enterprise Scalability and
Easy-to-Use Data Management
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 26, 2008--Planar Systems, Inc.
(NASDAQ: PLNR), a worldwide leader in specialty display solutions,
today debuted the next generation of its industry-proven,
enterprise-class Planar CoolSign software at the Digital Signage Expo
(DSE) in Las Vegas. In addition to the new CoolSign 4.0, Planar
announced new content offerings in alignment with the company's
ongoing strategy to provide value-added specialty solutions that
enable organizations to easily integrate digital signage into their
marketing and communication programs.
Ideal for a variety of corporate, retail, hospitality and banking
applications, Planar CoolSign has been successfully deployed worldwide
to allow customers to display, distribute and control networked
digital media from one central location. The new CoolSign 4.0 offers
even more impressive enterprise scalability, thanks to a distributed
architecture utilizing CoolSign Transfer Servers. This enables
organizations to make a smooth transition from running only a few
players to running thousands - without any impact to content delivery.
As announced earlier this month, CoolSign is also the first
digital signage software platform to integrate with Google
Calendar(TM) and Google Docs(TM) applications. This ground-breaking
integration allows even the most casual, non-technical user to update
key signage content including calendars, agendas and schedules. For
further real-time relevancy, CoolSign 4.0 can be programmed to play
back specific content based on changes in a database, file or program,
and to play other dynamic content such as RSS feeds.
"Digital signage gives organizations an immediate and powerful way
to influence, educate and entertain their audiences," said Brad
Gleeson, vice president of business development and CoolSign general
manager at Planar. "The new CoolSign 4.0 makes this platform of
communication even more impactful, by combining unprecedented
scalability and powerful dynamic content capabilities, in a rich and
intuitive interface."
Additional CoolSign 4.0 features:
-- Premium image quality on any display - including plasma, LCD
and LED
-- CoolSign frame synchronization to precisely show video content
across multiple displays
-- Support for additional advanced output capabilities:
-- Flash9 interactivity
-- Multi-region configurations
-- Dynamic content and live data feeds
-- Role-based security that integrates with Microsoft Active
Directory
-- Simple web interface for access to data tables and triggers
In addition to CoolSign 4.0, Planar announced availability of new
content templates to assist customers who do not have dedicated
in-house resources or are new to digital signage projects. Planar's
templates provide customers with easily-updated multiple digital
signage ads featuring different images and text, in order to fill
constantly-rotating schedules. With broad experience developing gaming
and retail content for current CoolSign customers, Planar is uniquely
positioned to help organizations repurpose their existing digital
assets or create new, dynamic and interactive media that comes to life
on-screen.
Demonstrating its capabilities as a leading provider of both
hardware and software for digital signage, Planar is also showcasing
its m-Series family of commercial-grade LCDs. Available in a wide
range of sizes, including the recently-announced 70-inch m70L, the
m-Series displays incorporate key features such as built-in power
management and automation, broad video source compatibility,
resistance to image quality degradation and automatic ambient
backlight control that are particularly suited to 24-hour operation of
digital signs.
The Planar iS40 integrated digital sign will also be on display at
the DSE new product pavilion. First unveiled as a prototype at last
year's DSE, the iS40 is a true "plug and play" system that combines a
40-inch LCD, CoolSign software, Windows XP Embedded processing,
optional WiFi features, and all the necessary networking components
for setting up signs throughout multiple locations. For more
information, please visit Planar's booth (#612) at the 2008 Digital
Signage Expo or www.planardigitalsignage.com.
About Planar
Planar Systems, Inc (NASDAQ:PLNR) is a global leader of specialty
display technology providing hardware and software solutions for the
world's most demanding environments. Hospitals, space and military
programs, utility and transportation hubs, shopping centers, banks,
government agencies, businesses, and home theater enthusiasts all
depend on Planar to provide superior performance when image experience
is of the highest importance. Founded in 1983, Planar is headquartered
in Oregon, USA, with offices, manufacturing partners, and customers
worldwide. For more information, visit www.planar.com.
CONTACT: Media Contacts:
Planar Systems, Inc.
Miho Hasuo, 503-748-6742
miho.hasuo@planar.com
or
GolinHarris
Elaine Ordiz, 213-438-8710
eordiz@golinharris.com
or
Investor Contact:
Planar Systems, Inc.
Ryan Gray, 503-748-8911
ryan.gray@planar.com
SOURCE: Planar Systems, Inc.
