In the world of consumer display technologies, the battle between LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode), and to a far lesser extent, direct view micro RGB LED (Red, Green, Blue Light-Emitting Diode) has been ongoing, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.

For outdoor advertising applications OLEDs are not at all a via technology due to their relatively low APL (average picture level brightness … < 1000 nits), relatively high specular (mirror) reflection, and susceptibility to catastrophic and irreversible image retention when displaying relatively static images (i.e., ads).

This leaves only high bright LCDs and direct view micro RGB LED as viable outdoor street furniture Digital Out of Home (DOOH) technologies.

Manufacturing Resources International’s (MRI’s) decision to stick with LCD technology over direct view micro RGB LED is a practical one, driven by a combination of image quality, power consumption, cost-effectiveness, and reliability.

We stand by our commitment of using commercial-grade, high temperature, outdoor rated LCD cells in our products and there are several important factors that allow us to achieve the industry’s only 10+ year lifetime performance.

1. Image Contrast in Direct Sun:

By the very nature of the technology, direct view Micro RGB LEDs inherently exhibit excessive diffuse reflection (10 to 100 times greater than LCDs). This results in very poor image/color contrast when viewed in direct sun. The colors are muted and dull. Blacks are not black, but various shades of grey. At night, direct view Micro RGB LEDs look great. During the day … not so much.

About MRI
Manufacturing Resources International was born in 2004 as an evolution from Avionic Displays Corporation (ADC) and American Panel Company (APC). ADC carries on today as Elbit Display Systems and APC carries on as Mercury Systems, both leaders in their field of LCD based displays used in the world’s military airborne and ground-based systems, as well as commercial and business aviation. With the lessons learned from these “failure-not-an-option” harsh environments, MRI branched off into the world of Digital Out Of Home (DOOH) advertising with the BoldVu^® product line.

LED stadium/arena score boards, as well as building and roadside billboards using direct view RGB LED can somewhat mitigate the extremely high diffuse reflection problem by using physical micro louvers (like venetian blinds) between successive rows of LEDs. These displays are viewed from below at relatively far distances, with the observer looking up. LED pitches are relatively large (often 6mm or greater). This allows the individual rows of LED to be “shaded” from the sun by the physical micro louvers or “visors”. None of this is possible with street level micro RGB LEDs. Hence the unacceptably poor image quality of street level micro RGB LEDs in direct sun.

2. Image viewing angle:

While direct view RGB LEDs may have comparable viewing angles to BoldVu^® LCDs in low light environments, RGB direct view LED technology suffers severely with color saturation and image contrast in sunlight. Additionally, unlike roadside/building billboards and stadium score boards, street level RGB LEDs must be covered by IK10 rated, impact resistant glass. The glass is necessary to protect the RGB LEDs from vandalism. The addition of the glass in front of the RGB LED array unfortunately adds costs. Under direct sunlight, the cover glass then creates a thermal greenhouse making the LEDs excessively hot, resulting in the additional costs and power consumption to add a cooling scheme. The coverglass, due to the added reflection, further degrades an already low contrast/low color saturation direct view RGB LED daylight image.

Some outdoor LCD based displays offer poor off-angle viewing. Those that employ infrared (IR) and/or ultraviolet (UV) optical filters on the coverglass in front of the LCD to combat overheating from solar exposure can look like red or blue mirrors, totally obscuring the displayed image when viewed off-angle. Other LCD products may also use excessive optical collimation films in their backlight to achieve higher on-axis image luminance while sacrificing luminance and image contrast when viewed off-axis.

Not so with BoldVu^® all weather, direct outdoor LCD based products. Our international, multi-patented cooling system, CoolVu^® , provides the coolest LCD temperatures in the industry, even when exposed to extreme ambient temperatures and direct solar exposure, without the use of image degrading “solutions” such as IR and/or UV reflection technologies or excessive on-axis backlight optical collimation. Combined with our color matched high efficiency mini-LEDs, direct dynamic block dimming backlight, and MRI custom backlight optical stack, BoldVu^® has the widest viewing angle, highest image contrast and color saturation of any competing products, at absolutely the lowest power … including direct view RGB LEDs.

3. Image Resolution:

Street level displays need high resolution as they can be viewed from a distance as close as an arm’s length away. Today’s BoldVu^®
LCD products provide pixel pitches ranging from 0.63 mm for the FHD 55” to 0.37 mm to 0.56 mm for the 65” to 98” UHD units.

Realistically, today’s highest resolution direct view RGB LEDs range from 1.2 to 2.5 mm pitch. This means that for street level displays, direct view LEDs cannot achieve FHD or UHD resolutions. The image will look very pixelated or grainy.

4. Temporal Flicker:

Some display technologies are prone to temporal flicker where the human eye perceives a video image as “breaking up”, “jumping”, “flickering” or looking “incomplete”. This can be distracting or even nauseating.

Temporal video display flicker is generally caused when the retina of the eye physically moves during the rendering of a video image frame. This can happen as the retina of the eye “jiggles” while walking down a sidewalk, riding in a moving car, eating popcorn, chewing on ice, etc., while looking at a video image.

BoldVu^® LCD based products do not exhibit temporal flicker. This is by design. First, by the inherent nature of the “Active Matrix” LCD technology, every pixel of the video image is held “constant” for the entire duration of each video frame. Second, each logical block of the mini-LED backlight behind the BoldVu^® LCD is also held constant and directly driven for the duration of a video frame. Third, the “refresh” or update of each logical block is synchronized with the “refresh” or update of each video frame on the LCD. The result is no beating frequencies of light between the LCD and the backlight, and the backlight and LCD image are being held constant for the duration of each video frame.

Not all LCD displays operate this way. Often LCD refresh and backlight refresh are not synchronized. As mini-LED block counts rise, block scanning, as opposed to the BoldVu^® direct drive of each backlight block, is becoming a more “economical” way to implement the backlight. Either of these approaches, separately or combined, can introduce temporal flicker in LCDs. Not so with BoldVu^®.

All direct view micro RGB LED displays are extremely prone to temporal flicker. These displays are “passive matrix” or scanned over time. This means that individual LEDs forming the image may be turned “on” for as little as 1/64, or less, of a “full” image frame. This has many adverse effects on the display:

a. Results in temporal flicker. As the technology matures, the image refresh rate continues to rise (3840 Hz or higher) in an effort to mitigate the flicker.
b. The strobing of the RGB LEDs significantly increases the peak current to each LED chip, degrading longevity.
c. The increased peak currents required to strobe the LEDs at ever increasing refresh rates increase the IR power losses, making the mini RGB LEDs run hotter and consume more power …and degrade reliability.

By comparison BoldVu^® is designed to direct drive each mini-LED backlight block to minimize LED currents, reduce LED stress, reduce IR power losses, maximize LED efficiency, and prolong product life. Hence BoldVu^®’s industry leading low power consumption, cool operation, and exceptional 10+ year maintenance of full display luminance!

5. Power/Cost:

The tighter the direct view RGB LED pitch, the lower the luminance (even less daylight image quality), and the higher the power consumption and cost. Both power and costs go up roughly as the square of the difference in LED pitch (i.e., dropping the LED pitch from 2.5 to 1.2mm will increase both power and cost by approximately (2.5/1.2)^2 = 4.34 x). Power for the direct view RGB LED displays will range from 2X to 4X times as much as a BoldVu^® LCD.

6. Reliability:

Outdoor LCDs have gained an underserved reputation of being unreliable and short lived. This is true for any displays (LCDs or micro RGB LEDs) that are not properly sealed, cooled, monitored, and managed.

BoldVu^® by MRI has proven this does not have to be the case. With more than 3 decades of experience and knowledge, 17 generations of product evolution, and nearly 30,000 BoldVu^® digital display faces deployed globally in every imaginable environmental and weather extreme, BoldVu^® is the time tested, proven, long lived outdoor display product solution.

BoldVu^® Gen 17 is the only globally available outdoor display product that comes with a performance guarantee. When properly maintained by MRI through a service level agreement (SLA), BoldVu^® is guaranteed to maintain day 1 visual performance (i.e., brightness, color saturation, image contrast, viewing angle, etc.) when operating 24/7/365 for the term of the SLA up to 10 years.

Direct view RGB mini-LED displays are still relatively immature as a technology and industry. RGB LEDs are prone to individual red, green or blue failed, stuck on or stuck off pixels. Stuck off is not too offensive, until they become clustered or excessive, as they are black. Stuck on is another story, particularly at night, as they are stuck typically at full brightness.

RGB LED displays are formed by many small blocks or tiles abutted next to each other. Each tile must be calibrated to match adjacent tiles in color, luminance, and grey scale. Poor calibration and/or replacement of individual tiles due to failures over time result in a “patchwork quilt” look to the overall image.

When new, as discussed above, the diffuse reflection of RGB direct view LEDs is poor, degrading black levels, image contrast and color saturation when viewed in daylight. As the direct view RGB display ages the diffuse reflection, and therefore image quality, becomes progressively worse. Solar exposure, excess temperatures, oxidation, electrostatic attraction of airborne dust and/or dust deposits left behind from evaporating rainwater degrade the “black” materials surrounding each RGB LED turning them ever lighter shades of grey.

RGB direct view LED displays, as the name implies, are made up of millions of individual red, green, and blue LEDs. Each color has a different rate of degradation. When new, RGB LED may look very good, with a pleasing white balance. However, as they age the blue LEDs in particular diminish more rapidly than the red and green, resulting in a shift of the entire display color spectrum towards yellow.

Beginning with BoldVu^® Gen 17, no more:
a. LCD cell breach (i.e., black circles or bubbles in your display image)
b. Gravity mura (i.e., brown to yellow discoloration across the bottom of your display image)
c. LCD solar clearing (i.e., blackening of areas of the LCD when exposed to the sun)
d. Browning/Yellowing of the display image from excessive heating of the LCD and/or backlight components
e. Dust or moisture ingress I.e., all BoldVu® products are IP66 sealed with 24/7 internal air pressure sensing and reporting via internet communications)
f. Black images when viewer through polarized sunglasses (excludes BoldVu® 98” products)
g. Photoconductivity (i.e., areas of the displayed image turning milky white/dark grey when exposed to direct sun)
h. Image retention or sticking, so long as static content is not displayed for prolonged periods of time and the BoldVu® LCD Rejuvenation pattern is invoked daily during “off” hours

In conclusion, BoldVu^® by MRI’s choice of LCD technology over LED/OLED is a strategic decision based upon a combination of factors that prioritize image fidelity, preservation of image fidelity over 10+ years of operation, cost-effectiveness, power efficiency, reliability, and technological maturity.

While a consumer OLED TV may wow at home, it is not a technology ready for 24/7/365 use in exposed outdoor environments. Also, while the various display technology manufactures may expound upon the “wow” factor of the large area micro RGB LED direct view displays, they downplay the costs, power consumption, reliability, or even viewability in a brightly lit room … and certainly do not see them as a viable outdoor all-weather display.

BoldVu^® by MRI displays are purpose built from the outset using only commercial grade, high temperature LCD cells in an IP66 sealed (no dust or moisture intrusion) chassis achieving superior direct-sun viewable sharpness, high-contrast color, and power efficiency that is maintained throughout the lifetime of the product.

Not only is BoldVu^® the highest image quality, longest lived, most reliable, lowest power, quietest, maintenance free (no air filters), all weather, direct outdoor street level display product available today, it is also by far, the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO). This lowest TCO is based upon the sum of the acquisition cost, installation cost, maintenance cost, longevity (no need for replacement for 10+ years), and cost of power over the installed life of the display.

In short, BoldVu^® is THE ideal street level DOOH solution!

When investing in outdoor digital signage, most companies focus on upfront costs: hardware, installation, and maintenance. But two of the most overlooked expenses in the industry are: 1) the cost of installing primary AC power; and 2) The ongoing power consumption. Electricity costs can add up quickly, especially in large-scale deployments.

Engineered for low power consumption

BoldVu^® by MRI, prides itself in being designed for the industry’s lowest power consumption. Apples-to-apples, for the same digital image size and brightness, BoldVu^® typically consumes up to 50% less electrical energy than our competitors.

How is this possible? Every BoldVu^® component and subassembly is designed from the ground up to minimize power consumption and heat buildup within the unit. Every BoldVu^® unit:

1. Uses the highest optical transmission LCDs available in the industry.

2. Uses the highest optical efficiency diffuser stack behind the LCD in the industry to maximize image brightness at the lowest possible power consumption.

3. Uses custom formulated mini-LEDs in the BoldVu^® LCD backlight to deliver not only the industry’s highest image color saturation (typically > 96% DCI-P3), but also extremely high efficiency (typically > 150 Lm/watt).

4. Uses only direct, dynamically block dimmed backlight architecture (DynamicVu^®) to provide an additional 15-20% power savings while enhancing image contrast (i.e., blacker blacks).

5. Uses only AR (anti-reflective), laminated vandal/weather resistant cover glass (ToughVu^®). ToughVu^® is IK-10 rated against impact damage, has a visible transmission of >95% for low loss of image brightness, while also providing significant attenuation of IR (infrared) and UV (ultraviolet) rays from the sun which otherwise could add significant heat to the display and/or degrade/destroy the LCD polarizers, color filters and optical films (i.e., the “browning” of the image often seen in competitive products).

6. Uses the multi-patented CoolVu^® thermal management system, which:

a. Is maintenance free (i.e., no air-filters)

b. Is IP66 sealed against water, moisture and dust intrusion (i.e., clean, dry and cool for life, with no internal condensation)

c. Utilizes very efficient centrifugal speed-controlled fans (typically 30% more power efficient than more common tube-axial fans).

d. Typically manages the LCD, backlight LEDs, power supplies, and other active electrical components to maintain component and subsystem temperatures with as little as a 10°C rise above local ambient temperatures (5-10x less temperature rise than most competitive products).

e. Has the cooling the fans only run when necessary (for even lower power consumption).

f. Has the cooling fans always run at the lowest speed required for given ambient temperature and solar conditions (for even lower power consumption and noise levels).

g. Has one of the lowest noise signatures in the industry, typically < 60 dbA SPL during the day (about the level of gentle rain or conversational voices) and < 40 dBA SPL at night (about the level of a quiet library)

h. Is industry unique in that it efficiently removes the thermal load from the sun, backlight and power supplies BEFORE this combined thermal load can heat up the BoldVu^® chassis and associated electronics and optics. Therefore, CoolVu^® itself has the industry’s lowest thermal burden to manage and the result is that very little BoldVu^® power consumption is required to cool the product.

Why does this matter?

NYC

Simple, the cost of installation of site power for each digital sign.

Pulling “new” or higher voltage/amperage power to EACH unit installation site typically costs at least $20,000 USD and can exceed $100,000 USD depending upon geographical location, unions, local electrical codes, length of the power run, etc. This expense may exceed the cost of the digital sign itself!

With its low power consumption, BoldVu^® is often capable of being installed and operated from the existing power infrastructure where competitive products often can’t. This eliminates the need to pull new power and therefore completely eliminates the cost associated with “new” power.

Should the planned installation site not currently have power or the power is inadequate, BoldVu^® will always require smaller minimum wire gauge and a lower amperage circuit breaker at the city or the venue’s power panel which means pulling such new or upgraded power for BoldVu^® will always cost less than the competition.

There are several instances where BoldVu^® products have been selected for projects as “the value leader” in that they could be operated at full performance without any changes to the existing site power, where none of the competitive products could. In one particular case involving 100 sites, selecting BoldVu^® saved the customer $2.5M USD in installation costs by being able to utilize existing power.

How Smart Power Management Lowers the Cost of Digital Signage

All BoldVu^® products come standard capable of operating from single phase 90-250Vac, 50-60 Hz, AC input power. For 65” and larger image size products, single phase 90-277Vac, 50-60 Hz, input power is an available option.

All BoldVu^® products come standard with a complete built-in AC load center, inclusive of a liquid tight AC junction or pull box, AC surge arrestor, AC line filter and appropriate circuit breaker.
Power connection to BoldVu^® is simply connecting 3 wires, AC hot, AC return and earth/safety ground inside the provided liquid tight AC junction or pull box. If operating BoldVu^® from 208Vac or 240Vac no neutral wire is required.

One of BoldVu^®’s many patented features is AC AmpVu^®. AC AmpVu^® is industry unique in that the maximum allowed input current to a BoldVu^® product is software programable over any authorized internet connection. This allows any BoldVu^® product to power up, with a lower brightness level, and provide revenue generating content from whatever site power that may be preexisting, without overloading and tripping the site circuit breakers for any given digital sign. A good number of BoldVu^® products have been installed across north America where this feature has proven invaluable. There are many deployments for a given city or venue, for the same project and the same set of deployed BoldVu^® products, where on a unit-by-unit location, power ranged from as low as 120Vac at 10 amps, to 208Vac or 240Vac at 20-30 amps. Those units connected to the lesser available power operate at a lower brightness level, but still present quality ads and generate immediate and ongoing recurring revenue. As cashflow and ROI permit, selected sites are, or may be, upgraded to increased available AC power so they may operate at full brightness. As power is upgraded, the BoldVu^® products automatically adjust themselves to provide full performance for 10+ years.

All BoldVu^® products incorporate patented AmpVu^®, VoltVu^®, and WattVu^® technology that provides real time power monitoring and dynamic load shedding (momentary reduction of display brightness) to prevent system interruption and the need to dispatch service technicians to reset AC circuit breakers due to nuisance trips resulting by brown outs, unsteady city power voltage, or inadequate city power wattage.

WattVu^® also provides real time monitoring and reporting of KWHR power consumption for:

a) the moment,

b) the last complete hour,

c) the current month to date,

d) all previous complete months,

e) the current year to date, and

f) all previous complete years. WattVu^® also predicts KWHR consumption to the completion of the current month and current year.

When voltage drops or spikes, our displays don’t just shut down—they adapt in real time. By dynamically adjusting LED brightness, AmpVu^® ensures the displays stay operational while using only the power available. This prevents:

❌ Sudden blackouts that disrupt advertising revenue
❌ Long-term damage caused by unstable power supply
❌ Downtime that could impact advertiser relationships

Instant Alerts & Remote Troubleshooting

Through the SmartVu^® Portal, operators receive instant alerts if a display experiences abnormal power conditions. Instead of waiting for manual inspections or customer complaints, teams can:

🔹 Diagnose issues remotely before dispatching a technician
🔹 Monitor performance trends to predict and prevent failures
🔹 Ensure ad delivery compliance by minimizing downtime

Why This Matters for OOH & DOOH Operators

For media owners, advertisers, and network operators, uptime and performance reliability are non-negotiable. A display that’s not running or a display that is underperforming means lost revenue, broken advertiser trust, and higher long-term costs.

Unlike off-the-shelf solutions, BoldVu^®’s purpose-built hardware and software ecosystem is designed for the demands of OOH (Out-of-Home) and DOOH (Digital Out-of-Home) media. With over 27,000 deployments worldwide, our technology ensures that displays not only last longer but cost less to operate.

The Bottom Line: Why Invest in Smart Power Management?

💡 Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) – Reduce energy waste and extend hardware lifespan
⚡ Fewer Service Interruptions – Avoid costly emergency repairs and technician dispatches
📈 Better Advertiser Trust – Ensure campaigns run as scheduled with 99.99% uptime

Don’t let power inefficiencies eat into your profits. Whether you’re a global OOH leader or a boutique media operator, energy management is key to maximizing ROI.

Interested in optimizing your digital signage network? Let’s talk about how AmpVu^® & VoltVu^® can help you cut costs and improve performance. Contact us today.

For an In-Depth Read Into This Subject Click Here.

When investing in digital signage, companies often focus on hardware, installation, and maintenance. But one of the biggest overlooked costs is power, both the cost of installation and ongoing energy consumption.

BoldVu^®: Engineered for Energy Efficiency

BoldVu^® displays by MRI are designed to consume up to 50% less power than competitors while maintaining industry-leading brightness and durability. This is achieved through:

• High-Efficiency LCDs & Backlights – Optimized optical transmission and mini-LED technology for reduced power draw.
• Dynamic Backlight Dimming – Enhancing contrast while cutting energy use by an additional 15-20%.
• Advanced Thermal Management (CoolVu^®) – Eliminates the need for air filters and minimizes heat buildup, reducing cooling power demands.

Why Power Efficiency Matters

The cost to install new power infrastructure for a digital sign can range from $20,000 to over $100,000 per location. BoldVu^®‘s low power consumption often allows installation using existing power infrastructure, significantly cutting upfront costs.

For sites requiring new power, BoldVu^® demands smaller wiring and lower amperage than competitors, reducing installation expenses. One project using BoldVu^® across 100 sites saved $2.5 million in installation costs by eliminating the need for upgraded power.

Smart Power Management: Lower Costs, Higher Reliability

BoldVu^® features AmpVu^®, VoltVu^®, and WattVu^® technologies for real-time power monitoring and dynamic load adjustment. These ensure:

• Continuous operation during voltage fluctuations
• Prevention of costly circuit breaker trips
• Remote diagnostics and performance monitoring

Operators receive instant alerts for abnormal conditions, allowing for remote troubleshooting and proactive maintenance—minimizing downtime and protecting ad revenue.

The Bottom Line: Maximize ROI with BoldVu^®

Investing in energy-efficient signage reduces the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) while improving network reliability. With 99.99% uptime, BoldVu^® displays deliver uninterrupted ad campaigns, ensuring higher revenue and advertiser trust.

Want to cut costs and optimize your signage network? Let’s talk about how BoldVu^® can help you maximize efficiency and performance. Contact us today.

For an In-Depth Read Into This Subject Click Here.

Vandalism is a constant challenge within the public street furniture and Digital out of Home (DooH) industries, and we are not an exclusion.

After 21+ years and 27,000+ deployments, we have seen a lot, from vehicles being driven straight into our units, tire irons being used to bash in our displays, spray paint graffiti, acid etching, displays being beaten with chains, pommeled by rocks, shot by bullets, cover glass carved by diamond rings, knives, etc.

As a result, BoldVu^® by MRI has developed several lines of defense and intelligent reporting to minimize vandalism damage and provide timely automated reporting of potential vandalism events, as well as cost effective means of dealing with the inevitable.

ShockVu™
As a 1st line of defense, all BoldVu^® products contain MEM sensor(s) that detect mechanical shock and provide a ShockVu™ alert. Recently we have offered to turn the display black, or “play dead”, for a configurable amount of time (typically 5 minutes), following a ShockVu™ alert. Based upon customer feedback, this seems to reduce the frequency/severity of damage to the BoldVu^® units. Vandals think they have broken the display and move on before inflicting sufficient damage to warrant a field technician visit. Additionally, an alert is sent via our SmartVu^® portal to the MRI and customer Network Operational Centers (NOCs).

IK10 Certified ToughVu^®
Next, our ToughVu^® LCD cover glass, is 2 or more sheets of AR (anti-reflective) glass laminated together to form a 12.9mm (0.5”) or thicker laminated stack (like a car windshield … only stronger/tougher). ToughVu^® is IK10 certified and in addition to surviving the steel ball drop test without damage, it will survive unscathed with shots fired from 3 meters (10 feet) from small caliber guns, as well as pellets and BBs. The outermost surface of the ToughVu^® glass is titanium oxide coated, which enhances the clean-ability of the glass and is resistant to aggressive solvents like MEK or acetone which can be safely used to clean off spray paint graffiti (just be careful not to get such solvents on adjacent paint finishes).

If the ToughVu^® glass becomes broken, it won’t shard since it consists of at least 2 sheets of laminated glass, and typically the weather integrity of the LCD and associated electronics is maintained, reducing the cost of repair simply to the field replacement of the broken ToughVu^® glass.

It should be noted that since 2008, after fielding thousands of displays, BoldVu^® by MRI stopped using cover glass bonded directly to the LCD. This was based upon a multitude of reasons:

1. The need to substantially reduce the touch temperatures on the surface of the cover glass. Simply put, it is not possible to meet UL, CE, CSA and other safety agency touch temperature requirements with an optically bonded cover glass on a large format outdoor LCD exposed to direct sunlight.

2. The need to substantially reduce LCD temperatures and stress on the edge seal of the LCD.

Competitive displays, using cover glass optically bonded to the LCD often experience a browning or yellowing of the image after being exposed to prolonged sunlight. This is clear evidence that the LCD is experiencing operational temperatures well above its capability. This is NEVER exhibited on current generation BoldVu® products.

Competitive displays, using cover glass optically bonded to the LCD, often experience LCD cell breach or “black circles/bubbles” in the image or a vertical streaking/“crying look”. This is what the industry calls LCD “cell breach”. It is permanent and irreparable without compete replacement of the LCD cell.

What has happened is the LCD edge seal has cracked or delaminated, resulting in LCD fluid leaking out of the cell and being replaced by air. Every “black” circle or vertical streak /“tear” is air inside the LCD cell. Optically bonding the cover glass to the LCD cell puts tremendous mechanical stress on the LCD edge seal, which when combined with excessive LCD temperatures, can significantly contribute to LCD cell breach. This is RARELY exhibited on current generation BoldVu^® products.

3. Replacement of vandalized cover glass on optically bonded displays is extremely expensive. Not only will the LCD be destroyed and need replacing, but weather integrity is typically lost allowing rain, moisture, dust, etc. to enter the entire display assembly often leading to the entire unit needing to be replaced. Again, BoldVu^® abandoned the use of optically bonded cover glass more than a decade ago.

ClipVu™

Beginning in 2025, specifically to reduce the cost of replacement of vandalized cover glass, all BoldVu^® products now come standard with ClipVu™. Rather than bonding the glass to the BoldVu^® door frames, ClipVu™ retains the ToughVu^® glass with mechanical clips secured from the inside of the ToughVu^® door(s). When the ToughVu^® glass becomes broken, field replacement onsite is readily facilitated by replacement of the entire “clipped” ToughVu^® door assembly by the removal/replacement from the inside of 4 door frame retaining nuts.

Once back at any local facility, the broken glass in the ToughVu^® door assembly is efficiently refurbished by removal/replacement of the ClipVu^® retaining features from the inside of the door frame, along with the removal/replacement of the broken glass. This refurbished ToughVu^® door assembly is then ready in market for the inevitable next broken cover glass event.

SealVu^®
BoldVu^® monitors internal air pressure relative to exterior barometric pressure 24/7. This SealVu^® feature alerts via SmartVu^® anytime the IP66 integrity of the BoldVu^® product is breached, whether by vandalized/broken cover glass, doors being pried open, holes being drilled into the product, etc. If the BoldVu^® has been severely vandalized, the customer and MRI will know immediately!

LockVu^®
All BoldVu^® access doors are equipped with 3 electronic sensors to ensure every door closed and securely latched. Whether struct by a vehicle, pried open or inadvertently left ajar, LockVu^®, combined with SealVu^® will immediately alert customers via SmartVu^® that the BoldVu^® product may have been compromised.

AAMA 2605 Certified Powder Coat Exterior Finish
Additionally, the exterior finishes of the BoldVu^® product have a powder coat paint finish. Not only is powder coat paint (think outdoor playground equipment) durable and resistant to vandalism, the process applied to BoldVu^® is AAMA 2605 certified for south Florida 10+ year durability in the outdoor environment. At an extra cost, BoldVu^® can also be provided with brushed stainless steel exterior cladding.

No ferrous materials used by BoldVu^®
Should surfaces of the BoldVu^® product become chipped, scratched, nicked, etc., they can typically be touched up with color matched aerosol or brush applied paint. BoldVu^® uses only stainless steel for structural components and aluminum for all weather integrity or thermal management components. BoldVu^® will not rust or corrode.

Summary
Ultimately, as frustrating as vandalism is, it is an inevitable part of owning and operating physical public assets. Few measures can be taken to prevent it.

However, based upon extensive experience gained over 21+ years, 27,000+ globally deployed displays, and 17 generations of product evolution incorporating real world lessons learned, BoldVu^®, more than any competitive product, has demonstrated time and again its resistance to vandalism.

Combine this resistance with immediate autonomous notification via SmartVu^® of a potential vandalism incident, ability to remotely analyze the nature and extent of the vandalism, and the ability to efficiently dispatch field service technicians equipped to restore the vandalized BoldVu^® to full operation, without removing and shipping it to a service facility, translates to a greatly reduced Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), much higher rate cards and 99%+ BoldVu^® up time.

For the past 2 decades and counting, BoldVu^® is the proven, 10+ year, 24/7 outdoor LCD solution available to the DooH industry.

For an In-Depth Read Into This Subject Click Here.

Vandalism is a known risk in the public street furniture and Digital Out-of-Home (DooH) industries—but BoldVu^® by MRI has made it our mission to stay several steps ahead. With over 21 years of experience and 27,000+ deployments worldwide, we’ve seen it all: from vehicles ramming displays and glass smashed with tire irons, to acid etching, graffiti, and even gunshots.

That’s why every BoldVu^® display is engineered with built-in anti-vandalism technologies and smart reporting to reduce damage, cut down time, and keep costs low.

ShockVu™ – Real-Time Impact Detection

Each BoldVu^® display features internal MEMS sensors that detect physical shock and trigger an instant ShockVu™ alert. As a deterrent, the display can even “play dead” for a few minutes—giving vandals the illusion that they’ve succeeded, so they move on. Alerts are sent immediately via SmartVu^®, notifying MRI and the customer’s NOC for quick follow-up.

ToughVu^® – Bullet-Resistant, IK10 Certified Glass

This is no ordinary screen protection. ToughVu^® glass is a laminated stack of anti-reflective sheets at least 12.9mm thick, making it IK10 certified and resistant to blunt force, acid etching, and even small-caliber gunfire. Its titanium oxide outer coating resists aggressive solvents like MEK and acetone, so graffiti clean-up is a breeze. And even if it breaks, the laminated design prevents shattering while keeping the internal display protected and sealed.

ClipVu™ – Easy, Field-Friendly Glass Replacement

Debuting in 2025, ClipVu™ makes replacing broken glass cheaper and faster. Instead of bonding the glass to the display frame, it’s secured with internal clips, allowing techs to swap out the door assembly on-site with just four retaining nuts. Broken assemblies can then be refurbished at a local facility and redeployed—cutting downtime and costs.

SealVu^® – Continuous Environmental Monitoring

SealVu^® monitors internal air pressure against outdoor barometric conditions 24/7. If the display is compromised, whether from shattered glass, drilled holes, or pried doors—SmartVu^® alerts go out immediately so issues can be addressed before further damage occurs.

LockVu^® – Door Status Verification

All BoldVu^® access doors are equipped with LockVu^®, a triple-sensor system that ensures each door is fully closed and latched. Whether it’s left ajar or forced open, you’ll get notified instantly through SmartVu^®, minimizing exposure to weather or tampering.

Non-Bonded Glass – Lower Heat, Lower Cost

We stopped optically bonding glass to LCDs in 2008—and for good reason. Bonded displays run hotter, are more prone to LCD damage (like browning or black streaks), and are extremely expensive to repair. Our non-bonded approach keeps internal temps lower, prevents LCD seal breach, and makes vandalism repairs far more cost-effective.

Durable Exterior Finishes – Rust-Free, Long-Lasting

BoldVu^® displays feature AAMA 2605-certified powder coating—the gold standard for long-term outdoor durability. Optional brushed stainless-steel cladding is available, and all internal components are made from stainless steel and aluminum—no rust, ever. Any cosmetic chips or dings can be touched up with color-matched paint on the spot.

Built to Endure, Designed to Recover

Vandalism can’t always be prevented—but BoldVu^® is built to withstand, alert, and recover. Our systems detect abuse instantly, stay online longer, and are easier to service in the field. With 99% uptime, lower TCO, and 17 generations of real-world evolution, BoldVu^® continues to set the standard for 24/7 digital signage durability.

For an In-Depth Read Into This Subject Click Here.

When investing in outdoor digital signage, most companies focus on upfront costs: hardware, installation, and maintenance. But two of the most overlooked expenses in the industry are: 1) the cost of installing primary AC power; and 2) The ongoing power consumption. Electricity costs can add up quickly, especially in large-scale deployments.

Engineered for low power consumption

BoldVu^® by MRI, prides itself in being designed for the industry’s lowest power consumption. Apples-to-apples, for the same digital image size and brightness, BoldVu^® typically consumes up to 50% less electrical energy than our competitors.

How is this possible? Every BoldVu^® component and subassembly is designed from the ground up to minimize power consumption and heat buildup within the unit. Every BoldVu^® unit:

1. Uses the highest optical transmission LCDs available in the industry.

2. Uses the highest optical efficiency diffuser stack behind the LCD in the industry to maximize image brightness at the lowest possible power consumption.

3. Uses custom formulated mini-LEDs in the BoldVu^® LCD backlight to deliver not only the industry’s highest image color saturation (typically > 96% DCI-P3), but also extremely high efficiency (typically > 150 Lm/watt).

4. Uses only direct, dynamically block dimmed backlight architecture (DynamicVu^®) to provide an additional 15-20% power savings while enhancing image contrast (i.e., blacker blacks).

5. Uses only AR (anti-reflective), laminated vandal/weather resistant cover glass (ToughVu^®). ToughVu^® is IK-10 rated against impact damage, has a visible transmission of >95% for low loss of image brightness, while also providing significant attenuation of IR (infrared) and UV (ultraviolet) rays from the sun which otherwise could add significant heat to the display and/or degrade/destroy the LCD polarizers, color filters and optical films (i.e., the “browning” of the image often seen in competitive products).

6. Uses the multi-patented CoolVu^® thermal management system, which:

a. Is maintenance free (i.e., no air-filters)

b. Is IP66 sealed against water, moisture and dust intrusion (i.e., clean, dry and cool for life, with no internal condensation)

c. Utilizes very efficient centrifugal speed-controlled fans (typically 30% more power efficient than more common tube-axial fans).

d. Typically manages the LCD, backlight LEDs, power supplies, and other active electrical components to maintain component and subsystem temperatures with as little as a 10°C rise above local ambient temperatures (5-10x less temperature rise than most competitive products).

e. Has the cooling the fans only run when necessary (for even lower power consumption).

f. Has the cooling fans always run at the lowest speed required for given ambient temperature and solar conditions (for even lower power consumption and noise levels).

g. Has one of the lowest noise signatures in the industry, typically < 60 dbA SPL during the day (about the level of gentle rain or conversational voices) and < 40 dBA SPL at night (about the level of a quiet library)

h. Is industry unique in that it efficiently removes the thermal load from the sun, backlight and power supplies BEFORE this combined thermal load can heat up the BoldVu^® chassis and associated electronics and optics. Therefore, CoolVu^® itself has the industry’s lowest thermal burden to manage and the result is that very little BoldVu^® power consumption is required to cool the product.

Why does this matter?

NYC

Simple, the cost of installation of site power for each digital sign.

Pulling “new” or higher voltage/amperage power to EACH unit installation site typically costs at least $20,000 USD and can exceed $100,000 USD depending upon geographical location, unions, local electrical codes, length of the power run, etc. This expense may exceed the cost of the digital sign itself!

With its low power consumption, BoldVu^® is often capable of being installed and operated from the existing power infrastructure where competitive products often can’t. This eliminates the need to pull new power and therefore completely eliminates the cost associated with “new” power.

Should the planned installation site not currently have power or the power is inadequate, BoldVu^® will always require smaller minimum wire gauge and a lower amperage circuit breaker at the city or the venue’s power panel which means pulling such new or upgraded power for BoldVu^® will always cost less than the competition.

There are several instances where BoldVu^® products have been selected for projects as “the value leader” in that they could be operated at full performance without any changes to the existing site power, where none of the competitive products could. In one particular case involving 100 sites, selecting BoldVu^® saved the customer $2.5M USD in installation costs by being able to utilize existing power.

How Smart Power Management Lowers the Cost of Digital Signage

All BoldVu^® products come standard capable of operating from single phase 90-250Vac, 50-60 Hz, AC input power. For 65” and larger image size products, single phase 90-277Vac, 50-60 Hz, input power is an available option.

All BoldVu^® products come standard with a complete built-in AC load center, inclusive of a liquid tight AC junction or pull box, AC surge arrestor, AC line filter and appropriate circuit breaker.
Power connection to BoldVu^® is simply connecting 3 wires, AC hot, AC return and earth/safety ground inside the provided liquid tight AC junction or pull box. If operating BoldVu^® from 208Vac or 240Vac no neutral wire is required.

One of BoldVu^®’s many patented features is AC AmpVu^®. AC AmpVu^® is industry unique in that the maximum allowed input current to a BoldVu^® product is software programable over any authorized internet connection. This allows any BoldVu^® product to power up, with a lower brightness level, and provide revenue generating content from whatever site power that may be preexisting, without overloading and tripping the site circuit breakers for any given digital sign. A good number of BoldVu^® products have been installed across north America where this feature has proven invaluable. There are many deployments for a given city or venue, for the same project and the same set of deployed BoldVu^® products, where on a unit-by-unit location, power ranged from as low as 120Vac at 10 amps, to 208Vac or 240Vac at 20-30 amps. Those units connected to the lesser available power operate at a lower brightness level, but still present quality ads and generate immediate and ongoing recurring revenue. As cashflow and ROI permit, selected sites are, or may be, upgraded to increased available AC power so they may operate at full brightness. As power is upgraded, the BoldVu^® products automatically adjust themselves to provide full performance for 10+ years.

All BoldVu^® products incorporate patented AmpVu^®, VoltVu^®, and WattVu^® technology that provides real time power monitoring and dynamic load shedding (momentary reduction of display brightness) to prevent system interruption and the need to dispatch service technicians to reset AC circuit breakers due to nuisance trips resulting by brown outs, unsteady city power voltage, or inadequate city power wattage.

WattVu^® also provides real time monitoring and reporting of KWHR power consumption for:

a) the moment,

b) the last complete hour,

c) the current month to date,

d) all previous complete months,

e) the current year to date, and

f) all previous complete years. WattVu^® also predicts KWHR consumption to the completion of the current month and current year.

When voltage drops or spikes, our displays don’t just shut down—they adapt in real time. By dynamically adjusting LED brightness, AmpVu^® ensures the displays stay operational while using only the power available. This prevents:

❌ Sudden blackouts that disrupt advertising revenue
❌ Long-term damage caused by unstable power supply
❌ Downtime that could impact advertiser relationships

Instant Alerts & Remote Troubleshooting

Through the SmartVu^® Portal, operators receive instant alerts if a display experiences abnormal power conditions. Instead of waiting for manual inspections or customer complaints, teams can:

🔹 Diagnose issues remotely before dispatching a technician
🔹 Monitor performance trends to predict and prevent failures
🔹 Ensure ad delivery compliance by minimizing downtime

Why This Matters for OOH & DOOH Operators

For media owners, advertisers, and network operators, uptime and performance reliability are non-negotiable. A display that’s not running or a display that is underperforming means lost revenue, broken advertiser trust, and higher long-term costs.

Unlike off-the-shelf solutions, BoldVu^®’s purpose-built hardware and software ecosystem is designed for the demands of OOH (Out-of-Home) and DOOH (Digital Out-of-Home) media. With over 27,000 deployments worldwide, our technology ensures that displays not only last longer but cost less to operate.

The Bottom Line: Why Invest in Smart Power Management?

💡 Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) – Reduce energy waste and extend hardware lifespan
⚡ Fewer Service Interruptions – Avoid costly emergency repairs and technician dispatches
📈 Better Advertiser Trust – Ensure campaigns run as scheduled with 99.99% uptime

Don’t let power inefficiencies eat into your profits. Whether you’re a global OOH leader or a boutique media operator, energy management is key to maximizing ROI.

Interested in optimizing your digital signage network? Let’s talk about how AmpVu^® & VoltVu^® can help you cut costs and improve performance. Contact us today.