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About Joao Martins
Since 2013, Joao Martins leads audioXpress as editor-in-chief of the US-based magazine and website, the leading audio electronics, audio product development and design publication, working also as international editor for Voice Coil, the leading periodical for the loudspeaker industry. Covering Audio and Video technology for more than 30 years - Broadcast, Film, Computer Graphics, and Music - as founder and editor of several leading publications in Portuguese and Spanish languages, (he's also fluent in French!), he benefits from a broad and rich perspective of those sectors and its multiple verticals. Marketing and Communication Specialist working at the intersection of media and technology for over three decades, Joao Martins started as a musician and studied visual arts and cinema before founding its own (short-lived) advertising agency. After a career in marketing and sales in film, television, radio and pro audio systems, transitioned full time to magazine publishing, founding new

All items written by Joao Martins
AMS Launches Smallest Proximity Sensor To Enable Integration of New Functionality In Space-Constrained Wireless Earbuds
February 17, 2021 by Joao Martins

AMS Launches Smallest Proximity Sensor To Enable Integration of New Functionality In Space-Constrained Wireless Earbuds

AMS launched the TMD2636, a fully integrated proximity sensor which occupies 30% less space than currently available solutions, and delivers transformational added value to manufacturers of True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds. The new TMD2636 fully integrated proximity sensor module is supplied in an ultra-low-profile package. This means that an earbud can now accommodate multiple proximity sensors to increase reliability or add new features and still save power when the earbud is not in use.
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Sennheiser Repositions Its Business Units to Grow Independently
February 16, 2021 by Joao Martins

Sennheiser Repositions Its Business Units to Grow Independently

Sennheiser announced a new strategic direction for the company. Sennheiser plans to focus on its Professional business in the future and aims to secure a partnership to strengthen its market position in Consumer Electronics. According to Andreas and Daniel Sennheiser, co-CEOs, with this decision to build greater independence for its business units, Sennheiser will be better prepared to continue on its course. The search for a potential investor in the consumer division is now open.
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Yamaha Family of Communication Products Adapts to Hybrid Workplaces
February 16, 2021 by Joao Martins

Yamaha Family of Communication Products Adapts to Hybrid Workplaces

Following the introduction of the Yamaha YVC-200 Portable USB + Bluetooth Speakerphone in 2018, Yamaha Unified Communications gradually increased its range of professional-quality portable conference solutions, including new YVC Speakerphone models, the CS-700 Video Soundbar and further conference room speaker and microphone solutions. Since 2020, Yamaha refocused this powerful range of communication products to respond to the more diverse needs of work from home and remote collaboration.
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Picovoice Announces Voice Interfaces on the Edge With German Language Support and Plans to Go Multilingual
February 11, 2021 by Joao Martins

Picovoice Announces Voice Interfaces on the Edge With German Language Support and Plans to Go Multilingual

Picovoice, a young company developing voice AI on the edge with on-device speech recognition and natural language understanding software, announced a new SDK for German language. The company allows developers to create and fully test voice experiences directly on its recently launched Picovoice Console platform, before exporting models that can run on-device with minimal latency. Picovoice also announced plans to release SDKs for French, Spanish, and Japanese.
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UK Loudspeaker Manufacturer PMC Celebrates 30 Years of Loudspeaker Passion
February 10, 2021 by Joao Martins

UK Loudspeaker Manufacturer PMC Celebrates 30 Years of Loudspeaker Passion

UK-based PMC is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, marking three decades of ‘Best of British’ loudspeaker design and manufacture for both the international professional music production and audiophile markets. From a modest start as two men in a garage to 30 years of the biggest movie soundtracks and albums in the world, the Professional Monitor Company Limited, had a remarkable trajectory grounded on a common devotion for transmission line designs and a fundamental belief in fidelity.
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Bang & Olufsen Breaks the Mold on Home Speakers with Future-Proofed Beosound Level
February 9, 2021 by Joao Martins

Bang & Olufsen Breaks the Mold on Home Speakers with Future-Proofed Beosound Level

Bang & Olufsen introduced Beosound Level, a portable wireless home speaker that expands the notion of what is possible with today's technology. Described by the Danish luxury audio brand as an home speaker made to move, the Beosound Level is unique in every aspect. First, it doesn't look like a speaker - but B&O has done that before. Second, its portable and able to adjust its sound to compensate for any position or room. Third, it's a connected speaker supporting all the latest technologies, but its connectivity module can be replaced in the future.
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Nuance Announces Acquisition of Conversational AI Startup Saykara
February 9, 2021 by Joao Martins

Nuance Announces Acquisition of Conversational AI Startup Saykara

For the past 20 years, Nuance Communications, the voice recognition pioneer that was once Dragon Systems and ScanSoft, has been building deep domain expertise across verticals such as healthcare or retail. Now focusing on conversational AI and building AI‑powered solutions that amplify human intelligence, Nuance has announced the acquisition of Saykara, a like-minded startup focused on developing a mobile AI assistant to automate clinical documentation for physicians.
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Audeze Announces Euclid Closed-Back Planar Magnetic In-Ear
February 5, 2021 by Joao Martins

Audeze Announces Euclid Closed-Back Planar Magnetic In-Ear

At first glance, one would be forgiven to think, "Did Audeze just dropped their first true wireless earbuds - and they're planar magnetic?" Well, not exactly - not yet, at least. The new Euclid are not mass produced TWS earbuds with batteries inside, but actually the highest-quality in-ears (IEM's if you will) handcrafted in California, and their are proudly the company's first closed-back planar magnetic in-ear design.
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Solid State Logic Redefines Control Surfaces with UF8 USB-C Controller
February 5, 2021 by Joao Martins

Solid State Logic Redefines Control Surfaces with UF8 USB-C Controller

Solid State Logic introduced a new compact DAW control surface that redefines the category by relying on a combination of serial communication via USB and its own 360° control software and MIDI USB driver, making it relatively protocol independent. The new SSL UF8 takes lessons learned from many years building control extensions within studio mixing consoles like the SSL Origin, or dedicated studio DAW controllers like the SSL Nucleus. The expandable and modular UF8 is an interesting evolution.
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Technical, Scientific, and Engineering Awards: A Recognition to the Audio Industry
February 4, 2021 by Joao Martins

Technical, Scientific, and Engineering Awards: A Recognition to the Audio Industry

I would like to thank the Academy! It's award season and following the CES and TEC Awards, It's time to highlight all the well-deserved scientific, technical and engineering Emmy's, Grammy's and Oscars awarded to the audio industry. This article was originally published for The Audio Voice newsletter #313, distributed February 4, 2021.
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