GLMT at ACCM Chicago

Next month we’ll be exhibiting at the ACCM Show, a conference to help businesses exceed their customers’ multichannel expectations and increase their profits. We’ll be showcasing some specific products that will help drive response rates, usability, and buyer interest for catalog and direct mail producers. The show runs from May 8 – 10 at the McCormick Place in Chicago. Contact us to receive a brochure (while they last) or visit the conference web site here for more information. Hope to see you there!

Interactive Communication

The recent issue of Communication Arts announced that they are accepting submissions for their 12th annual Interactive Design Competition. Participants may enter work done for CD-ROM, Web, kiosk, or handheld devices. In previous competitions, winners have included such giants as Harley Davidson, Nike, Windows, Virgin, and Borders. It’s great to keep an eye on these competitions and see what some big-time advertisers are doing to differentiate themselves. We all use this technology to communicate our ideas, so it’s smart to question how we’re doing it, and how we can do it better. Can you think of a recent CD-ROM that really struck you? A Web site that you like to check on daily? Think about the reasons behind those feelings, and use those to inspire how you develop your own interactive communications. Check out our recent list of pride and joy here, and let us know how we can work together to make your communications stronger.

Holographic Media

While many people are focusing on the debate between HD and Blu-Ray as the next entertainment media format, Holographic Media is also making plans to emerge on the market this year. The initial marketing efforts for the 300GB disc seem to be focusing on its strengths as an ideal archiving media. Maxell Europe has announced its release of the media for September 2006, stating it will have the ability to store millions of pages, and hours and hours of High-Definition video footage. In essence, this development shows us that digital media continues to grow based on technological advancements, and we’ll be sure to keep you posted on where it goes next.

GLMT at NAMM

We just returned from the NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA where we witnessed some of our DVD work being utilized by Fender Guitars. This international conference lasted 4 days and was packed to the hilt with manufacturers presenting their new products. Many utilized DVD as their method of advertising. With so many companies at the show, these video screens were hard to miss, and really kept your attention. It’s great to see this type of effort and know that you helped make it happen. The best part is that more and more people can utilize this technology at trade shows as the cost for broadcasting your DVD is becoming more affordable. Interested in setting something like this up for your next show? Let us know. We’ll give you all the info you’ll need to make it happen for your company.

Full Service Duplication

Due to recent demand in local duplication services, GLMT is stepping up with increased capacity for any duplication work. VHS, CD-R, DVD-R; we are a full-service provider of duplication services. While many companies run a “9 to 5“ shift, our duplication department runs all shifts, ensuring that you’ll get your project done right and before your deadline. Whether you need 1 copy or 1 million, our duplication department delivers.

Using the best equipment available, we also cut and shell our own VHS tape, which means you don’t pay for extra stock footage on each tape you have duplicated. This reduces your shipping costs as well. If you need CD-R or DVD-R, we have a wide range of media options available, including silver or white top, both of which we can print your info on. We also offer a full range of stock and custom VHS, CD-R, and DVD-R packaging options to house your finished product.

GLMT WAVES and New Web Site

We look forward to continuing to bring you the latest news from GLMT and the digital media industry with our new monthly announcement, called GLMT Waves. Sign up to receive this monthly newsletter at our site: www.glmt.com.

Speaking of, we’ve redesigned and restructured www.glmt.com. Take some time to explore, and discover many more features since our previous site, including online quote submission, an expanded portfolio section, more info about the benefits of our products and services, and expanded technical information on how we do what we do.

Canadian Brass Teams With GLMT for Holiday CD

We’ve recently completed our yearly tradition of producing a holiday CD, which is then distributed freely to our customers. For this year’s music, world-renowned brass quintet, Canadian Brass, has provided a selection of popular holiday recordings.

Canadian Brass, now in its 35th season, has performed with symphonies throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Japan. The quintet consists of new members Justin Emerich, trumpet, and Bernhard Scully, horn, alongside original members Stuart Laughton, trumpet, Gene Watts, trombone, and Chuck Daellenbach on tuba. The group is well known for recording classical repertoire; having a special affinity for Baroque music, which requires the brilliance and musical structure that has become the Canadian Brass’ trademark. More information on the quintet can be found at their Web site: www.canbrass.com

Developed as a CD-ROM, the disc not only contains a selection of holiday themed recordings, but also a holiday screensaver, and a link to receive a special offer from Great Lakes Media Technology, which can be viewed by playing the disc in any computer.

The CD is sent out to each of our customers as a gift of thanks for doing business with us throughout the year. Limited copies are also available by requesting one through our Web site at www.glmt.com

What Are Your DVD Cases Made Of?

As prices for plastic cases are increasing due to the rise in oil costs, some replicators are looking for alternate packaging vendors. What they’re finding is that many cases manufactured offshore are being offered at extremely low prices. Is it a good solution? Research shows that the material that’s being found in some of the plastic is certainly not worth the cost savings.

Recently, concerns are rising and much testing is being done on offshore manufactured DVD cases. The results are surprising. Tests reveal impurities in reground plastic used to make DVD cases, resulting in the cases sometimes giving off an unpleasant odor (from recycled food containers and discarded batteries), to further potential toxic risks; impurities that certainly should not be included in DVD cases. While awareness efforts are spreading, it is the responsibility of the supplier to be aware of such issues, and purchase only from reliable, tested sources. Since our company began, Great Lakes Media Technology has purchased only ‘Grade A’ manufactured packaging, and uses only virgin, non-recycled polycarbonate for our media manufacturing. While we continue to focus on offering our customers a competitive price, our focus is to also ensure that we provide the highest quality material. Don’t be misled by ultra low-cost, potentially dangerous, packaging. Contact us to learn more about the quality packaging options we offer.

Piracy Concerns Covered

On October 6 2005, three California men were indicted in the largest piracy bust in the history of disc media. In their possession, law enforcement officials found over 2,000 stampers (the molds used to replicate discs) of CDs and DVDs. The Recording Industry Association of America says these devices are worth as much as $25,000 each. Often, criminals in these scenarios are associated with unlicensed replicators who use stampers of software it knows can be profitable. Such criminals then produce and distribute the media in large quantities throughout the world for profit. This is yet another risk of working with an unlicensed replicator. Could this happen to your master?

Without any guidelines or policies, anything could happen with the master you provide an unlicensed manufacturer. As a Philips and DVD 6C licensed, and ISO9000 compliant replicator, GLMT follows guidelines to ensure that all masters we receive are kept confidential. Our secure vault system and master release form policy ensures that any master entrusted to us will be handled appropriately during the time it is in our possession. Contact us for more information on the steps we take to keep piracy obsolete at GLMT.

DBS: The Non-Plastic Package Alternative

An environmentally friendly, 100% recyclable, totally biodegradable package that offers superior protection for your discs is now available.

The Disc Box Slider, or DBS, is a lightweight, compact package that holds the disc within a unique sliding paperboard drawer surrounded by an outer paperboard case. The DBS can hold up to two discs and a booklet, and offers enhanced protection due to the elimination of any plastic components, which can crack or break. It also offers 50% more printable space than jewel case packaging, allowing more opportunity for design concepts to bring attention to your disc. Having won the World Star Award for Best Package Design, the DBS is already hugely popular in Europe, and is making strides in the U.S. market today. Contact us to learn more about how this package can work for your next project.