The HETMA Approved program was created to provide a service to evaluate products through the lens of higher education technical managers. A diverse group pooled from our membership allows for different perspectives to shape the out come of any approval. The following is the findings of the Approved Committee and the evaluating members. 
 

Company: Epiphan Product:
Pearl Mini Over all score: Exceeds Standards
Approval Status: Approved - UCC

Results of this evaluation are good for the term that the product is in its current production state as outlined in the terms and conditions. Any major change in build, firmware, or software could result in a need for re-evaluation.

Please respond to this email with permission to post results on HETMA social media and contact information for marketing team for Approved Program media packet for posting on company websites, social media, and print media. Please indicate also if attending InfoComm and if this product will be featured.

 

Evaluator Demographic Information
 

Institution/University size:
Small(less than 5000): 1    
Medium(5000-10000): 2    
Large(greater than 10000): 2

Evaluator Certifications: CTS, CTS-I, Extron A/V Associate, Crestron Master Technology Architect, CompTIA N+, Dante, Extron DSP, Project Management or A/V-AVIXA, QSYS

 

Evaluation Results and Notes - Questions asked in the evaluation
 

1. Verification: How we tested the product or service.
The evaluators tested the Pearl Mini in a variety of situations and conditions. It was used a with a camera, and tested the production features and connected to a lecture capture instance in a studio setting. We also tested connected to a classroom control/switcher system for recording of class presentation.

2. Quality: Does the product or service meet quality standards? Does it have a warranty or replacement program?
The box has a high quality build and a large and responsive touchscreen, and the way it angles downward, make it the perfect solution for a table/desktop remote recorder. The unit feels well-built and seems like it would stand up to the wear and tear of a classroom or studio. We would love to see the warranty standard moved to the 3 year optional plan instead of the 1 year it comes with.

3. Performance: Does the product or service perform below, at, or exceed expectations?
Everything we were able to evaluate was smooth and responsive. We had no problems with local recordings or RTSP streams. We were surprised by some of the more advanced features. It was very easy to set up and connect to LMS, and it had additional production features that we were impressed with. One thing we would like to see is a mounting bracket or option for tabletops or lecterns that helps with cable management. Overall the Pearl Mini exceeded our expectations for performance and our evaluators were very happy with the unit.

4. Network and Security: If networked, how is it deployed? What network standards does it follow? How secure is it? Is there any physical security options?
There is a port for a Kensington style physical lock and It connects with Ethernet. It offers multiple 802.1x EAP options, including PEAP, EAP-TLS, and EAP-TTLS. Admin and web accounts all use HTTPS for security. The device has admin, operator, and viewer accounts to limit access to system functions. It also supports LDAP integration. All these features make the Pearl Mini an easy install and passes what most of our network teams would like to see from a device.

5. HETMA+: What about this product or service makes it a good fit for higher education and for technical managers?
The point of the Approved Program is to provide higher education technical managers with recommendations for products that can better the lives of students, faculty, and staff by providing a better learning and teaching environment. With that in mind, we evaluate products not just for the specification and performance review but for how it fits into our space and the impact it could have.The Pearl Mini exceeds the HEMTA expectations for performance and quality. The only things which we feel could be improved is the warranty to include the 3 year option included in purchase and a mounting option for table tops or lecterns. A few of our evaluators have already added this to their classroom build outs. Some comments:  

"Initially I intended to put the Pearl Mini through its paces in the same way that I did with the Pearl 2. However, just a couple days after receiving the boxes an issue with our currently install product brought every remote recorder on our campus offline with a number of high profile events that needed to be recorded. The Pearl Mini literally saved the day as we were able to install and easily move it from auditorium to auditorium as needed for the aforementioned high profile events. Not only that but it also appears to be a much better solution for our needs in terms of a remote recorder as it includes functionality that we don't currently have implemented but would like to.
As noted above the unit was used more as a remote recorder rather than an all around recording/streaming box as I initially planned but it performed at this task so well that it looks like we will be adjusting our equipment standards accordingly moving forward.  
It works flawlessly as a remote recorder for LMS and has a whole host of other features useful for classes and events at a competitive price point.  
It's simple to set up, integrates well with our LMS system, and advertises that it connects to others. It's portable, and has an easy to understand UI. We like it and didn't want to send it back. 
This seems like a great device with a very reasonable feature set. The company seems to have a good reputation, and their support is all North American based. The Mini is a great fit for mobile production with its large touchscreen and multiple inputs."

We are happy to give the Pearl Mini our HETMA Approval. We are confident in the product and with recommending it to our membership.

- HETMA Approved Program Chair