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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.

All items written by Joao Martins
PreSonus Releases Extremely Affordable StudioLive 16.0.2 USB Digital Mixer
July 14, 2017 by Joao Martins

PreSonus Releases Extremely Affordable StudioLive 16.0.2 USB Digital Mixer

Sometimes, manufacturers reap the rewards of being ahead in technology, but sometimes they need to step back. With digital interfaces that's been the case. After being a pioneer in Firewire-based audio solutions, PreSonus transitioned to AoIP on the more advanced professional audio systems. Unfortunately, with Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C still not yet fully adopted, PreSonus had to go back to USB 2.0 to fulfil the needs of price-sensitive applications, where the brand is rooted.
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From Smart Speakers to the Smart Home
July 6, 2017 by Joao Martins

From Smart Speakers to the Smart Home

We are witnessing a pivotal moment for the audio industry with the prominence of far-field voice recognition and connected speakers now top of the mind for consumers. In the aftermath of Apple's recent HomePod speaker announcement, the home audio experience, by itself, was confirmed as the key selling argument, with its potential as an interface for interaction with consumer electronic devices and services, paving the way for the Smart Home.
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InfoComm 2017 Report
June 22, 2017 by Joao Martins

InfoComm 2017 Report

InfoComm, is North America's largest audio-visual trade show, and the 2017 edition attracted more than 40,000 visitors for the first time in its history. That's 13% more than the last time it was held in Orlando, in 2015, and 14% more than InfoComm 2016 in Las Vegas, NV. As the InfoComm International Association confirmed immediately following its InfoComm 2017 event, the show was another record-breaking moment for this thriving sector, which now combines much more than AV commercial integration.
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All Apple WWDC 2017 Audio Announcements
June 8, 2017 by Joao Martins

All Apple WWDC 2017 Audio Announcements

The audio industry was once again shaken to its foundations by Apple's announcements at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2017. The product updates and sneak peeks made at this Apple Special Event, on June 5, 2017, were extremely rich in surprising technology revelations, even though its implications might not become clear until a few weeks or months later. After all, the WWDC conference - a developer's conference - is traditionally where Apple builds the foundations for what will be its underlying short-term/long-term strategies, serving mainly to motivate developers and strategic partners.
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Apple Updates All Hardware and Software at WWDC17 and Announces HomePod Speaker
June 6, 2017 by Joao Martins

Apple Updates All Hardware and Software at WWDC17 and Announces HomePod Speaker

Apple's opening keynote for its Worldwide Developers Conference 2017 (WWDC17) at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, was a swirl of long expected announcements, wrapped in surprising underlying technology revelations. Among the many announcements was the preview of Apple's new home music speaker with built-in-far-field voice recognition powered by Apple Siri, the HomePod. As expected, the design is a powerful combination of electroacoustic mastery, digital processing and smart connectivity.
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Intel Unveils New Intel Core X-Series Processors and Announces Thunderbolt 3 Everywhere
May 30, 2017 by Joao Martins

Intel Unveils New Intel Core X-Series Processors and Announces Thunderbolt 3 Everywhere

During the annual Computex 2017 event, Intel unveiled its new Intel Core X-series processor family with 4 to 18 cores, which now includes the new Intel Core i9 Extreme Edition processor, the first consumer desktop CPU with 18 cores and 36 threads. On what is possibly the most interesting front for computing, outside of pure processing power, Intel announced plans to integrate Thunderbolt 3 into all future Intel CPUs and to release the Thunderbolt protocol specification to the industry.
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Weiss and PSI Audio Reveal LiveBox Crosstalk Cancellation Based Speaker at High End Munich 2017
May 19, 2017 by Joao Martins

Weiss and PSI Audio Reveal LiveBox Crosstalk Cancellation Based Speaker at High End Munich 2017

This is a dream project that’s been on the works for some time, and is now close to becoming a commercial reality. Combining all the possibilities of modern digital processing technology and electroacoustic design, Swiss companies Weiss and PSI Audio are promoting a fully working demonstration of the LiveBox fully-integrated Crosstalk Cancellation speaker, which allows both convincing stereo and binaural experiences from a single source, designed to be like “a piece of furniture.”
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Expanse Affordable Electrostatic Speakers Campaign on Indiegogo
May 17, 2017 by Joao Martins

Expanse Affordable Electrostatic Speakers Campaign on Indiegogo

Another week, another speaker design is promoted on crowdfunding platforms. While some ideas are better than others, there's nothing like taking an existing technology and giving it an updated use for modern needs. That's what IC One Two (IC12), a company from Australia, is realizing with their new Expanse Speakers range. A modern take on the best acoustic properties of electrostatic transducers in two affordable systems for desktop and home-theater use.
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Amazon Announces Echo Show ...and It's Not a Speaker!
May 12, 2017 by Joao Martins

Amazon Announces Echo Show ...and It's Not a Speaker!

Amazon announced its latest member of the Alexa voice service hardware family, following the original Echo Dot ($49.99) and Amazon Echo (now $149.99) devices that kick-started the whole Voice Personal Assistant (VPA) trend, motivating every single consumer electronics and mobile devices brand to respond with similar concepts. The only problem is that the new Amazon Echo Show ($229.99) is not so much a speaker but a complete Alexa "videophone" and home automation interface with a camera.
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Driven by Function: Vanatoo Transparent Zero Wireless Powered Speakers
May 5, 2017 by Joao Martins

Driven by Function: Vanatoo Transparent Zero Wireless Powered Speakers

Recently introduced at AXPONA 2017, the new Vanatoo Transparent Zero active speakers ($299.00 /pair) have caused quite a stir at the Chicago show. Not only for the extremely affordable price but for its "convincing punch, far out of its weight class," as audioXpress author Stuart Yaniger noted. Assuming a daring approach to their designs, the Vanatoo Transparent Zero active speakers feature built-in analog and digital inputs, Bluetooth wireless with aptX and USB, providing a convincing all-in-one solution.
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