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Author
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Topic: JNIOR - Insider Connections
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Bruce Cloutier
Expert Film Handler
![](http://www.film-tech.com/ubbmembers/9615a.jpg)
Posts: 161
From: Gibsonia, PA, USA
Registered: Aug 2016
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posted 09-07-2016 04:25 PM
A lot of you have various versions of JNIORs in widely varying applications. Some have good experiences and some probably not so good. What if you had a direct connection to the designers? Well, here's your opportunity. You don't get this most anywhere else. I'm doing this exclusively here in the Film-Tech forums for now.
I am the CTO at INTEG and am responsible for the JNIOR and all engineering up to the applications level. That means, for the Series 4 at least, that I designed the circuits, prototyped every version (by hand) and wrote every byte of OS (JANOS) code.
The Series 3 (older Model 31X) is a slightly different story as there I did not have access to the core operating system code. There was a lot of reverse engineering and work-around effort to get that product to work as well as it does. I can explain should any of you have an interest.
As for applications like cinema.jar or cinema.jnior, well that is Kevin's domain. He's right around the corner. As for support, well you know that is Rick and he's just down the hall. Now I cannot deal with pricing or really do any sales but that, I am sure, you don't need here in the forum.
So, I am just introducing myself. Feel free to express your opinions. I'll try to help; I'll try to answer your questions; And, I'll be happy to take my licks. You know, I am hoping to learn from you folks.
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Bruce Cloutier
Expert Film Handler
![](http://www.film-tech.com/ubbmembers/9615a.jpg)
Posts: 161
From: Gibsonia, PA, USA
Registered: Aug 2016
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posted 09-08-2016 08:50 PM
Hey Buck, John, Kenneth, and those lurking in the background...
Thanks for the welcome. I'll admit that I am not sure what will come of my participation here but I'll give a whirl. One of the concerns that I've had with all of the products that I have developed over the years (and I've been at it since the 70's) is that I have never had good and close contact with the end users. Feedback is very gratifying even in the negative. I guess that I am hoping to complete the loop and see where it takes things.
I've suggested that we should invest in or some how make an arrangement with some local theaters just so we can get our hands dirty on the Ground Level as you put it. But we haven't moved in that direction and the product really is generic and finds its way into wide spectrum of applications.
To John's comments, we do very frequently discuss different physical form factors for the JNIOR. I can take the exact circuits, not affect any code, and just lay it into another package or rack mount. It hasn't happened for a couple of reasons. First of all, we have no way to know if one package would sell better over another. We couldn't phase out the existing package. So we would have to build and inventory product in 2 or maybe 3 different forms.
That brings me to something else in John's post. Oh, and I think, John, you mean "inexpensive" and not "cheap". I think there is a difference. But we don't manufacture in the volumes necessary to reach the lower price points that we experience (or are spoiled by) with a lot of consumer electronics. If we could build 100,000+ JNIORs a month (and if I sent jobs overseas) we could get the cost down and you can save $100 or maybe more. We run at production rates far from that and need to rely on local contract manufacturers who also need to make a profit to stay in business. We hear you though. I understand.
I am not sure that the JNIOR competes with the Christie ACT. Obviously certain applications can be achieved with either. The ACT has more than twice the I/O points whereas the JNIOR has a lot more flexibility to be user programmed and perform stand alone applications. Many of you don't see the programming aspect of JNIOR as you utilize the cinema.jar (or older cinema.jnior) programs which create the macro environments for you. Those of you with a little knowledge of Java can do a hell of a lot more with the thing.
I could create a JNIOR-based ACT drop-in replacement. I'm not sure that Christie would actually mind. I don't think they want to be controller manufacturers. We are not seeing the demand for it from us I don't think. That's Rick's area and I don't think he feels that we would move many. You can change that. I can't. What I can do is make the gadget and make it synergistic with JNIOR. Guess we need the encouragement.
I'd love to see some photos of all of those creative ways of hanging JNIORs and the resulting wiring mess. If you have wired something else in a way that you are proud of, let's see the comparison. Maybe you can give us some ideas. So how do we share photos around here? Hmm... how do I get a photo under my name here on the left?
:Bruce
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Leslie Hartmier
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 100
From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Registered: Jul 2012
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posted 12-21-2016 03:19 PM
I suspect that the issue is not location, as honestly, I've not found a place more suited to cinema, etc as Film-Tech.
We're like movie releases here - much like the way it seems that similar movies come out suspiciously around the same time, we grind on specific things in waves. Just because you don't see us moaning about JNIOR today, doesn't mean someone's not going to have a weird experience with one. Eventually, it all filters through here, if it has to do with the technical aspects of cinema.
So, stick around. Eventually we'll challenge you.
My thoughts on it, anyway.
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