Solgaard HomeBase Wireless Charging Plus Audio Amplifier and Speaker Launched on Kickstarter
Sustainable consumer goods startup, Solgaard, until now focused mostly on (great) luggage and bags, now unveiled a new ecosystem of products, the HomeBase, Solar Boombox, and Solar Juicepack. Now being promoted on Kickstarter and raising nearly $75,000 in crowdfunding revenue within just twelve hours (fully funded in four hours), the new concept is a well-designed Qi wireless and USB-C charging base, complemented with a solar power bank and a portable speaker, all using upcycled ocean plastic materials.
Microsoft Licenses xHE-AAC Audio Codec Software from Fraunhofer IIS
Fraunhofer IIS announced the licensing of its xHE-AAC and MPEG-D DRC software implementation to Microsoft Corp. Consumer devices powered by the latest Android, and Apple operating systems all support the most efficient AAC codec with mandatory MPEG-D DRC loudness and dynamic range control metadata – delivering a seamless streaming experience on any device in any environment. A rapidly growing number of platforms and playback devices already support xHE-AAC decoding natively, and now Microsoft can join the improved experience.
OBO Pro.2 Launches New Line of Full-Range Liquid Silicone Rubber Micro Speakers
OBO Pro.2’s new full-range liquid silicone rubber (LSR) micro speakers are designed for next generation earphones, wearables, and other electronic devices. These speakers feature a highly precise, customizable, and durable LSR speaker surround. OBO Pro.2’s LSR know-how and complete micro speaker value chain allow for a precision product at a competitive price.
Loudspeaker Industry Sourcebook 2020. Now Available Online!
In the best annual tradition of the Loudspeaker Industry Sourcebook, the 2020 edition contains updated company listings and so much more. In this edition, readers will find several must-read articles from some of the finest industry leaders, interviews with audio professionals on trending industry topics, and our annual industry reports about the state of the industry. Now online!
UWB Alliance and FiRa Consortium Start Working Together to Accelerate the Development and Adoption of UWB Technology
To better support and strengthen the adoption of Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology, the two existing supporting organizations, UWB Alliance and the FiRa Consortium have established a joint liaison agreement to align their ideas and get their act together. This liaison will provide the two organizations with guiding principles to ultimately achieve the common goal of creating a UWB-enabled ecosystem and supporting use of UWB technology, which could be an important enabler in critical health and safety, personal networks or smart home applications.
Dirac and Klipsch Collaborate to Enhance the Next Generation of Headphone Audio Performance
Swedish sound pioneer Dirac and Klipsch, the famous consumer audio brand and a VOXX International company, are partnering to integrate Dirac’s sound optimization software and latest digital audio solutions into Klipsch’s upcoming generation of earphones. The partnership highlights the growing market trend for headphone manufacturers to increasingly leverage premium digital audio software to level-up their hardware performance.
Eastman Introduces Tritan Renew Sustainable Material Using 50% Recycled Plastic
Global specialty plastics provider Eastman introduced Tritan Renew, a new-generation Tritan copolyester that offers sustainability without compromise, providing the same durability, performance and safety of the original Tritan formula but now with up to 50% recycled content derived from waste plastic. Eastman also confirms that it is actively working with electronics brands to develop earbuds, headphones, audio cases, and peripherals made from sustainable materials, including Tritan Renew.
Shure Launches New Tech Portal for All Its Technical Product Information
Shure continues to focus on improving its customers’ experience and is now introducing the new Shure Tech Portal, an interactive technical resource library developed for systems integrators, dealers, audio engineers, service providers, consultants, and other professional and technically-minded users. The Portal provides fast and direct access to complete product and technical information, document downloads, and resources to support the specification, design, deployment and operation of Shure products across all markets and applications.
TDK Announces T3902 Lowest-Power PDM MEMS Microphone
TDK Corporation introduced the InvenSense T3902, which the company touts as the world’s lowest power Pulse Density Modulation (PDM) microphone for consumer devices. The new T3902 offers a high SNR of 64.5 dB, and high Acoustic Overload Point (AOP) of 120 dB in a very small package, optimized for mobile devices, wearables, headsets, TV remotes and more, supporting far-field communications, enabling clear audio capture in loud conditions, and ideal for voice recognition.
New Earphone True Wireless Design With ANC Explores a Different Approach to End Ear Discomfort
Korean technology startup NeoPon is bringing to market a new earphone that promises to eliminate the discomfort experienced from wearing earbuds for prolonged periods. This is the company's second design with a bendable earphone, which is now being promoted on Kickstarter. The design is intended to prevent all the unintended consequences of current inside-the-ear or loose fit designs, by not applying pressure on ear canals and featuring an adjustable structure that stays in place. The NeoPon 2 earphones also feature active noise cancelling and a flexible hook with adjustable microphone.