Mobile Audio, Streaming and Smart-Home Takes Centre Place at IFA 2016

More international trade visitors, more international media, visitors excited by the variety of innovation, positive mood across the board. That’s how the organisers of IFA Berlin, one of the largest trade shows for consumer electronics and home appliances, describe the 2016 edition, which took place at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds (ExpoCenter City). New audio products were front and centre at this year’s event.

Wearable technology is a key growth area in a heavily challenged consumer electronics market, reveals the latest round of research into the worldwide consumer electronics market. Futuresource Consulting’s latest review of the long term outlook for the global consumer electronics market highlights the challenges and opportunities that face the industry following a year that saw trade value fall by 1.3% to $676 billion. Other areas of growth include wireless speakers and headphones as well as connected automotive infotainment.

Much like CES in Las Vegas is one of those events in the industry calendar that no company involved in the Consumer Electronics segment can afford to miss, every year The International Funkausstellung (IFA) in Berlin is a unique event allowing a broader overview of the market and a clear international flavor, expanding every year. IFA 2016 will take place September 2 - 7 at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds (Expo Center City).

According to the latest industry report released by the Consumer Electronics Association, retail revenues for the consumer electronics industry are now projected to grow 2.4 percent in 2015 to reach $285 billion, led by 101 percent year-over-year growth in emerging product categories. Smartphones, tablets, TVs, laptops and notebooks add to record revenues.

During his review of the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2014, our colleague and audioXpress contributor Oliver A. Masciarotte wrote an amusing sentence: “Many engineers would debate the fact, but consumer electronics (CE) wags the tail of the pro audio dog.” I have often debated this... Exactly whose tail is moving which dog?

Leading international projector brand, Optoma, announced it has acquired NuForce Inc. the California-based maker of premium consumer audio products. NuForce develops products in the audio and AV tech space and the brand’s catalogue includes award-winning switching amps, audiophile-grade earphones, earphone amps, and digital-to-analog converters.