All items in category Industry News
Pandora Launches New Voice-Enabled Smart Assistant
by audioXpress Staff

Pandora Launches New Voice-Enabled Smart Assistant

Pandora introduced Voice Mode, a new, native smart assistant powered by Houndify Voice AI platform that allows listeners to control Pandora’s mobile app and enjoy new music discovery using simple voice commands, providing an intuitive, hands-free experience tailored for the unique tastes of each user. Pandora will roll out access to Voice Mode to select listeners on iOS and Android, with general availability for all mobile users coming soon.
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Optek Selects Cadence Tensilica HiFi 3 DSP for Bluetooth 5 Dual-Mode Audio/Voice SoC
by audioXpress Staff

Optek Selects Cadence Tensilica HiFi 3 DSP for Bluetooth 5 Dual-Mode Audio/Voice SoC

Cadence Design Systems announced that Optek has selected the Cadence Tensilica HiFi 3 DSP for its latest OTK528X Bluetooth 5 dual-mode audio/voice system on chip (SoC). Optek’s customers can now take advantage of the HiFi DSP ecosystem for optimized audio, voice and artificial intelligence (AI) speech-based recognition processing software utilized in applications including hearables, wireless speakers, soundbars, on/in ear headphones, multi-channel AVRs, musical instruments, and voice user interface (VUI) devices.
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Skyworks Powers Wireless Audio Connectivity Applications on Sonos New Amp
by audioXpress Staff

Skyworks Powers Wireless Audio Connectivity Applications on Sonos New Amp

Skyworks Solutions announced that its wireless engines are delivering connectivity in Sonos’ new versatile digital amplifier, the Amp. Specifically, Sonos is leveraging several of Skyworks’ front-end solutions to facilitate robust Wi-Fi communications allowing users to effortlessly transmit high-quality sound throughout the home with their mobile phones. With the surge in connected devices across the Internet of Things (IoT), wireless capability has become the critical link for many applications.
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Dirac Research Equips New Tritton Gaming Headset With Breakthrough 3D Audio Immersion
by audioXpress Staff

Dirac Research Equips New Tritton Gaming Headset With Breakthrough 3D Audio Immersion

Dirac Research announced that gaming headset brand Tritton is equipping its all-new Kunai Pro with Dirac 3D Audio – a pioneering digital audio solution that enables an unparalleled level of 360-degree immersion and externalization over headphones. The Dirac-enabled Tritton Kunai Pro debuted at CES 2019 and marks the first gaming headset to feature Dirac 3D Audio, and the Swedish company’s official debut into the gaming market.
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Bose Introduces QuietComfort Road Noise Control Car Sound Management Solution
by audioXpress Staff

Bose Introduces QuietComfort Road Noise Control Car Sound Management Solution

Bose announced a new offering from its portfolio of Active Sound Management solutions for cars: Bose QuietComfort Road Noise Control (RNC). Now available to global vehicle manufacturers, it joins Bose Engine Harmonic Cancellation (EHC) and Bose Engine Harmonic Enhancement (EHE) to form a comprehensive and effective set of technologies for managing sound inside cars, trucks, and SUVs. Today helping to turn traveling by car a more comfortable experience, and anticipating the sound management needs of tomorrow's fully electric vehicles.
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Smart Speakers Featuring Displays a Growing Trend According to Strategy Analytics
by audioXpress Staff

Smart Speakers Featuring Displays a Growing Trend According to Strategy Analytics

According to a new report from Strategy Analytics, worldwide sales of smart displays, a sub segment of the wider smart speaker market, will grow 111% in 2019 to reach 16.9 million units. The report forecasts that more than 12 million homes will own a smart display by the end of this year, rising to nearly 100 million homes by 2023. The report also predicts that 46% of unit sales of smart displays in 2019 will have built-in support for Google Assistant while a further 40% will support Amazon’s Alexa platform. Chinese platforms including Baidu’s DuerOS will account for the majority of the remaining 14% of the market.
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Mackie In Celebration Mode for NAMM 2019
by audioXpress Staff

Mackie In Celebration Mode for NAMM 2019

Mackie is celebrating 30 years since they made their mark on the pro audio industry and a history full of breakthrough products which have gone on to create and define a number of new categories like the LM-1602 analog mixer that was originally shown at the NAMM show in 1989, and other classics like the CR-1604 mixer, the HR824 studio monitors, the SRM450 active speakers or the MCU control surface. At NAMM 2019, Mackie will be signaling its 30th Anniversary with special give-aways and a daily serving of cake on demo room 201D.
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Smart Home Devices to Exceed 100 Million Shipments in 2018
by audioXpress Staff

Smart Home Devices to Exceed 100 Million Shipments in 2018

The Consumer Electronics (CE) Team at Futuresource Consulting recently published the latest findings from its World Wide Smart Home industry report, which forecasts nearly 110 million smart home devices will be shipped worldwide in 2018. This equates to a retail value of almost $17 billion and demonstrates strong growth in both volume and value. Security and monitoring, followed by climate control and smart speakers are the dominating categories.
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Consumer Technology Association Forecasts US Tech Revenue to Reach Record $398 Billion in 2019
by audioXpress Staff

Consumer Technology Association Forecasts US Tech Revenue to Reach Record $398 Billion in 2019

Artificial intelligence (AI) and fast connectivity – critical ingredients for the next era of category leaders such as smartphones, smart home devices and smart speakers – will drive the U.S. consumer technology industry to a record-breaking $398 billion in retail revenues ($301 billion wholesale) in 2019 and 3.9 percent year-over-year (YOY) growth, which includes streaming services revenue, according to the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). A record growth anticipating the introduction of 5G smartphones and 8K TVs in 2019.
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Qobuz US Opens Public Beta for 192 kHz Hi-Res Streaming
by Luke McCready

Qobuz US Opens Public Beta for 192 kHz Hi-Res Streaming

It’s been a year since Qobuz announced at CES 2018 its impending entry into the US marketplace, with the ambition of becoming a heavy player in the hi-res music streaming market. Qobuz has the US audiophile set squarely in its sights, and it intends to deliver higher quality streams and a more complete experience than its competitors. At CES 2019, Qobuz confirmed it is now available for registration to US users as an open beta, and published the finalized pricing.
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