The flow of news resulting from the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) comes fast and furious. Keeping up with the never-ending news cycle of North America’s largest trade event is next to impossible. Boiling down some of the most relevant happenings to affect the custom installation market, here are some of the news highlights to spring from the trade event:
TIDAL Adoption Continues to Grow
TIDAL, a lossless music streaming service with HD music videos and curated editorial, announced during the 2015 CES show that McIntosh and Wadia are the latest manufacturers to incorporate its service into their respective product lines. Both brands are part of the Fine Sounds Group portfolio of luxury audio brands.
According to the European-based streaming service provider, a new software update will be issued to allow existing McIntosh users to upgrade their MB100 Media Bridge products to access TIDAL. Moreover, future MB100s and all Wadia m330 media servers will ship with access to the service already built-in to the products.†
These updates will enable those with TIDAL subscriptions direct access and control of the service’s 25-million track CD-quality music library direct from the apps that control their players.†
Harman Kardon Omni Speakers to Incorporate MixRadio
MixRadio has announced its launch as a fully integrated streaming service on the new Harman Kardon Omni speakers.
Integrating MixRadio into the Harmon Kardon music app will allow people to access 35 million tracks, mixed for their particular musical tastes and this content will be available throughout listeners’ homes via the wireless capabilities of Harman’s product line.
Support for Meridian’s MQA Platform Gaining Momentum
Just prior to the Christmas holiday, the British A/V manufacturer Meridian Audio introduced its Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) audio technology platform.†
Just as quickly as the platform was launched, the technology is gathering support from the manufacturing community. At the 2015 CES show, it was announced that 7Digital, Imagination Technologies and its Caskeid whole-house audio line, as well as Onkyo, Arcam and TIDAL have also entered into discussions with Meridian regarding the implementation of the format.
Misc., 4K and High-Res Audio Stats from the CEA
According to Consumer Electronics Association’s (CEA) 4K Ultra HD Update study, just over one-third of consumers planning to buy a television will seek to increase screen size (38 percent) or improve picture quality (31 percent) when purchasing their new TVs. When considering the top features that will drive their next television purchase, 27 percent ranked 4K as the second-most important feature, followed by picture quality (24 percent). For more than half of consumers (54 percent), price ranked as the most important aspect to consider when purchasing a TV.
The study also states that 33 percent may purchase a 4K Ultra-High Definition TV within the next three years, while almost half of consumers (44 percent) indicate they are likely to purchase a “smart” or Internet-enabled TV, a function commonly available with 4K UHD televisions.
In addition, the CEA will release the findings from its High-Resolution Audio (HRA) Study, which explores consumers’ perceptions of audio quality. According to the study, 40 percent of consumers are familiar with HRA, confirming that awareness of the benefits of this transformative audio technology is growing.
The most popular locations in which consumers want the best possible music sound quality is topped by the home, followed by the car, on the go and the gym. Among consumers interested in high-res audio, the study identified two groups of consumers who make up 83 percent of audio technology spending: Audiophiles, who tend to be men, younger, and more ethnically diverse, and emotional music lovers, who tend to be women with an average age of 38.
Denon HEOS Line of Products to Offer Google Cast
Denon Electronics, a manufacturer of home and personal audio products, announces that its HEOS wireless multiroom sound systems will soon be Google Cast Ready.
According to the global A/V manufacturer, this option adds convenience to its HEOS user experience now and in the future. With Google Cast in place, HEOS users will be able to stream Google Cast Ready content directly to their HEOS devices.
“Google and Denon both strive to provide consumers with the best that technology has to offer, leading innovation where consumers want it to go. By working closely with Google we are now giving HEOS users a great option of delivering sound where and when they want it,” says Brendon Stead, Denon’s vice president of product development. “HEOS gives users the opportunity to play music however they choose and being Google Cast Ready means our users have an incredible option at their fingertips.”
Denon explains that with Google Cast built into its HEOS products, users can stream their favorite music, radio stations and podcasts to their HEOS speakers from Google Cast apps, Android phone and tablets, iPhones, iPads, Mac computers, and Windows laptops or Chromebooks.
Eric Bodley Launches Distribution Service to Support Dealers
Custom electronics industry veteran Eric Bodley is introducing his Future Ready Solutions company. This new endeavor is designed to provide installers with a connectivity products distribution service that is chartered with the mission to help the custom electronics industry. The distributor’s first news of 2015 is the addition of Kordz commercial-grade HDMI cables to its line of commercial and residential solutions.
Founded in 2003, Kordz is a cable manufacturer that specializes in high- performance HDMI solutions. With research and development facilities in Australia, Canada, and Taiwan, the manufacturer’s engineering team is focused on developing robust connectivity solutions to maximize installation efficiency and uptime reliability with strict adherence to international cable standards.
“Future Ready Solutions is assembling the best and brightest in the world of connectivity and we’re excited to be a key HDMI partner in their vision,” states David Meyer, founding director for Kordz. “In my capacity as part of the Consumer Electronics Association’s working group on ultra-high definition technology, the discussion about preparing for the future of technology often depends on great cable engineering, and we’re proud to be working with Eric Bodley to deliver electronic systems integrators and consumers the standards of tomorrow.”
Hollywood Studios, CE Mfrs & Technicolor Form UHD Alliance
Several leading Hollywood studios, consumer electronics brands, content distributors, post-production, and technology companies announced the launch of the UHD (Ultra High Definition) Alliance.
According to a press statement, this newly formed coalition of companies have united to set the bar for next generation video entertainment by establishing new standards to support innovation in video technologies including 4K and higher resolutions, high dynamic range, wider color gamut, and immersive 3D audio.
The UHD Alliance says it formed with the consumer in mind, to provide the public with information on Ultra-HD content and devices to deliver best-in-class home entertainment. The Alliance is also focused on helping consumers benefit from a seamless, integrated and high-quality Ultra-HD ecosystem from end-to-end. Premium Ultra-HD content and devices will be clearly identified so consumers can easily recognize them in-store.
“As the UHD ecosystem continues to evolve, we are strengthening our commitment to high-quality UHD content and devices,” explains Hyunsuk Kim, President, visual display business at Samsung Electronics. “The Alliance will encourage the development of high-quality UHD content while distinguishing TVs that provide the most premium UHD viewing experience.”
The Alliance includes DIRECTV, Dolby, LG Electronics Inc., Netflix, Panasonic Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Sharp Corporation, Sony Visual Product Inc., Technicolor, The Walt Disney Studios, Twentieth Century Fox, and Warner Bros. Entertainment.
Nintendo wins Patent Lawsuit
The video gaming company Nintendo has won a patent case in a federal court in Seattle. Judge Robert S. Lasnik found that Nintendo’s Wii system does not infringe two patents asserted against Nintendo by UltimatePointer, LLC.
According to the video gaming manufacturer, Judge Lasnik also found a number of UltimatePointer’s claims invalid, and decided, as a result of these decisions, that no trial is needed.
Lasnik’s decisions follow earlier decisions for Nintendo by Chief Judge Leonard Davis of the Eastern District of Texas, which occurred before the case was transferred to Seattle. Judge Davis similarly held that Nintendo did not infringe certain asserted claims and that others were invalid.
“We are very pleased with these decisions, which confirmed Nintendo’s position from the beginning – we do not, nor have we ever, infringed these patents,” says Richard Medway, Nintendo of America’s vice president and deputy general counsel. “The result in this case, once again, demonstrates that Nintendo will continue to vigorously defend its innovations against patent lawsuits, even if it must do so in multiple courts and commit significant resources to defend itself. Nintendo continues to support reform efforts to reduce the unnecessary and inefficient burden patent cases like this one place on technology companies in the United States.”
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This article was originally published by our content partner CEPro.
