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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
First Alert Launches Onelink Safe & Sound Alexa-Enabled Smoke and CO Alarm and Home Speaker
July 4, 2018 by Joao Martins

First Alert Launches Onelink Safe & Sound Alexa-Enabled Smoke and CO Alarm and Home Speaker

A connected smoke alarm that's also a speaker, strategically placed in the ceiling to cover any room with quality sound. The idea might sound bizarre at first, but indeed it reflects the way manufacturers are reimagining different categories in the era of "smart devices." Following a successful presentation at CES 2018, First Alert launched its Onelink Safe & Sound Connected Smoke Alarm with Amazon Alexa, allowing users to ask questions or and even listen to music.
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Plantronics Completes Acquisition of Polycom to Create Total Communications Solutions Strategy
July 4, 2018 by Joao Martins

Plantronics Completes Acquisition of Polycom to Create Total Communications Solutions Strategy

The last of the surviving "videoconference companies" received a life buoy from Plantronics in March 2018, with the announcement of a proposed acquisition. Three months passed since the intention was revealed, Plantronics closed its $2 billion acquisition of Polycom. The strategic plan is to create "THE communications experience company that connects people to what is important at work, at home, on the road, in the car, or anywhere you have a connection."
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Martin Audio London Announces Management Buyout from Loud Audio
July 2, 2018 by Joao Martins

Martin Audio London Announces Management Buyout from Loud Audio

The parent company of leading audio brands Mackie and EAW, LOUD Audio, confirmed it has concluded the sale of the renowned Martin Audio brand to LDC, a private equity firm from the United Kingdom. In what was a long-expected move, following the acquisition of all Loud brands by the Transom Capital Group in October 2017, and the recent sale of Ampeg to Yamaha, now Martin Loud gets back to an independent position for the second time in its history.
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AumeoAudio Launches Heari Tailored Audio-Neckband Headphones on Kickstarter
June 27, 2018 by Joao Martins

AumeoAudio Launches Heari Tailored Audio-Neckband Headphones on Kickstarter

Hong Kong-based firms MF Jebsen Electronics and AumeoAudio, the company that pioneered personalized audio on Kickstarter, have teamed up to launch Heari. The new concept was built on the success of Aumeo’s Headphone Personalizer. Heari is now campaigning on Kickstarter with two headphone models Powered by AumeoAudio, featured patented technology that measures each person’s hearing sensitivities to offer tailored sound, not only for music but also for awareness enhancing.
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Avantone Pro Brings 'Back' Nearfield Studio Monitoring Mainstay
June 22, 2018 by Joao Martins

Avantone Pro Brings 'Back' Nearfield Studio Monitoring Mainstay

While many in the audio industry work to establish the ideal target frequency response for audio reproduction on studio monitors, speakers and headphones, others are providing "familiar" listening references that, with all their imperfections, are already familiar to working professionals. That's exactly what affordable high-quality audio products producer Avantone Pro now announced with the introduction of the CLA-10 Nearfield Monitors - which many will instantly recognize.
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Wireless Speaker and Audio (WiSA) Association Continues to Expand
June 18, 2018 by Joao Martins

Wireless Speaker and Audio (WiSA) Association Continues to Expand

Infineon is the latest company to join the Wireless Speaker and Audio (WiSA) Association, the industry group dedicated to bringing high resolution, wireless, multi-channel audio products to the home theater market, assuring interoperability between wireless speakers and components. Infineon joins a strong and extensive list of members, including also GoldenEar, Electrocompaniet, Almando and Primare, as WiSA continues to expand with major audio industry suppliers, manufacturers and speaker brands.
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Dirac Research Enters the Gaming Headset Market
June 15, 2018 by Joao Martins

Dirac Research Enters the Gaming Headset Market

Sweden’s Dirac Research has developed a breakthrough 3D audio solution for gaming headsets that creates for an intensely immersive and lifelike aural experience. Now the company confirmed that the Dirac audio surround sound technology has already been licensed by a leading Chinese consumer technology manufacturer – with more to come. The Chinese manufacturer has licensed Dirac’s technology for a gaming headset that will debut in the second half of 2018.
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Fraunhofer’s xHE-AAC Audio Codec Software Extends Native AAC Support In Android P For Better Quality At Low Bitrates
June 11, 2018 by Joao Martins

Fraunhofer’s xHE-AAC Audio Codec Software Extends Native AAC Support In Android P For Better Quality At Low Bitrates

With the release of the Android P beta 3 preview, Fraunhofer IIS announces a new version of the popular FDK library which has been a part of Android since 2012. The FDK2 version will bring several new technologies to Android OEMs, service providers and developers, including xHE-AAC for video and music delivery down to 12kbit/s for stereo sound and MPEG-D DRC dynamic range control for better listening in noisy environments. An important update for a very fragmented platform.
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Remembering AISE 2018 - The Last One Before CES!
June 9, 2018 by Joao Martins

Remembering AISE 2018 - The Last One Before CES!

With InfoComm 2018 already behind us, it's time to look forward, when the very first edition of the Association of Loudspeaker Manufacturing & Acoustics International (ALMA International) Symposium & Expo (AISE 2019), will take place June 9 & 10, 2019, at the Double Tree by Hilton Universal, concurrent with InfoComm 2019, which will be held June 8-14, 2019, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Precisely because of that, we thought it would be fit to properly remember AISE 2018, the last edition which was held this year for the last time in Las Vegas, just before CES.
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Show Report: Notes from the AES Milan Convention
May 31, 2018 by Joao Martins

Show Report: Notes from the AES Milan Convention

The Audio Engineering Society (AES) Milan 144th International Convention, May 23–26, 2018, was a small but well-attended event, extremely enjoyable for all those that participated. As always, a mix of audio industry professionals, students, educators, and top brands and audio service providers from around the world met "for the purpose of advancing the art and science of audio engineering."
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