Texas Instruments Launches Three New Class-D Amplifiers to Solve Smart-Home Audio Design Challenges
Texas Instruments (TI) introduced three new digital-input Class-D audio amplifiers that enable engineers to deliver high-resolution audio in more smart-home and voice-enabled applications. By combining first-of-its-kind integration, real-time protection and new modulation schemes, TI's new audio devices allow designers to reduce board space and overall bill of material (BOM) cost, while providing premium sound and integrated protection for applications such as smart speakers and soundbars.
Yandex and Fraunhofer IIS Team Up To Bring Russian-Speaking Smart Speaker To Market
Yandex, a Russian technology company that builds intelligent products and services powered by machine learning, has incorporated Fraunhofer’s upHear Voice Quality Enhancement technology into its first smart speaker, enabling the device to accurately hear voice commands issued from anywhere in a room. This is the first smart speaker powered by Alice, the first virtual assistant designed to serve the needs of Russian users, which was initially offered in Yandex’s iOS and Android apps.
USB-IF Publishes HID Standard for Braille Displays
The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), the support organization for the advancement and adoption of USB technology, announced a USB HID (Human Interface Device) standard for braille displays, representing a collaborative step toward greater technological accessibility for people who are blind or have low vision. The announcement of the new standard was the result of a collaboration effort between Apple and Microsoft, and will improve accessibility for blind or low-vision users across different operating systems and hardware.
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Nureva Updates HDL300 Audio Conferencing Systems and Introduces Intelligent Sound Targeting
Nureva just announced intelligent sound targeting, a new patent-pending feature of its Microphone Mist technology platform that powers its HDL300 and Dual HDL300 audio conferencing systems. The new technology allows managing undesired sound sources in audio conferencing sessions. Nureva also announced a firmware update that includes new customizable audio settings, new auxiliary audio modes for interoperability with third-party systems, and refinements to audio performance.
Alango and Seeed Collaborate on Voice Interface Far-Field Technology
Alango announced its collaboration with Seeed Technology providing far-field voice enhancement on the Seeed ReSpeaker Core v2.0. Seeed's ReSpeaker Core v2.0 is designed as a multifunctional development board for voice interface applications. The platform is based on the Rockchip RK3229, a quad-core ARM Cortex A7, running up to 1.5GHz, with 1GB RAM. The board features a six-microphone array with Alango's Voice Enhancement Package "VEP" and is able to be customized upon request.
EBU and Fraunhofer IIS Conducted Live MPEG-H Audio Production Trial at Eurovision Song Contest 2018
The European Broadcasting Union EBU and Fraunhofer IIS have successfully conducted the first trial for live production of immersive and interactive sound using the MPEG-H TV Audio System at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Lisbon, Portugal. For the trial, the Fraunhofer sound engineers installed a height dimension to the impressive microphone setup in the Altice Arena, enabling them to produce an immersive and personalized audio mix live. Broadcasters and sound experts present at the venue could experience the enveloping and interactive MPEG-H sound.
Global Smart Home Market to Hit $155 Billion by 2023
The global smart home market ended on an upbeat note in 2017 reaching $84 billion, up 16% from $72 billion in 2016 according to a report just released by Strategy Analytics. According to the report, “2018 Global Smart Home Market Forecast”, worldwide consumer spending on smart home devices, systems and services will total nearly $96 billion in 2018 and grow at 10% CAGR over the forecast period (2018 to 2023) to $155 billion. Adoption of smart speakers from Amazon and Google is boosting the market.
Audinate Announces Dante AVIO Networking Adapters Are Now Shipping
Following the unveiling at NAMM 2018, and ISE 2018, earlier in 2018, Audinate now confirmed that its line of Dante AVIO adapters are now shipping and already available from several key online retailers, including Full Compass, Dale Pro Audio and Thomann, in addition to key regional distributors around the globe. Dante AVIO adapters are a family of cost-effective endpoints that enable audio professionals to easily connect legacy analog and digital audio equipment to Dante networks.
European Union Project ORPHEUS Shows Object-Based Media Innovations
On 15th May 2018, the EU-funded ORPHEUS consortium presented their results at a workshop in Munich, Germany. The event served to summarize how the ORPHEUS project has created a full set of tools and applications for object-based media innovations, including demonstrations of a future-proof radio service, perfecting the complete workflow for object-based audio and IP-based delivery, and demonstrating object-based broadcasting innovations including foreground/ background control, language selection, immersive sound, and enhanced program services.
Martin Audio Announces TH Series Three-way Loudspeakers for High Performance Applications
Martin Audio has announced the TH Series, comprising two very high performance, all-horn, three-way systems in both a horizontally and vertically formatted package. The new loudspeaker series was designed to complement the styling of Martin Audio's best-selling CDD and BlacklineX Series and are ideal for nightclub and large scale installs. THH is configured in a horizontal format while THV is its vertical counterpart and the driver complement in both systems has been engineered for exemplary performance in all bands.