audioXpress.com - The Most Popular Stories of 2019
Want to know which of the topics and stories published online in 2019 were the most popular? We looked at the most-read articles of 2019 in audioXpress.com (which also includes selected articles from Voice Coil magazine), and we created this Top 10 list of news stories and online articles. Here are the results!
Sensory Unveils TrulyNatural Voice Assistant SDK Specific for Smart Appliances
Sensory announced the release of a specialized model of TrulyNatural, the company's large vocabulary speech recognition and natural language understanding platform, that has been designed for voice at the edge. This domain specific assistant technology will help manufacturers create a new wave of smart kitchen appliances that don't relay voice requests to the cloud. Collaborating with Midea Microwave and Cleaner Appliances (MCA) business unit, Sensory will preview a microwave oven with a natural language user interface at CES 2020.
Skywalker Sound and Cinnafilm Work Together to Create Online Audio Processing Workflow
Cinnafilm is a company focused on offering image processing services for media companies and previously also offered audio processing based on its RadiantGrid platform, acquired in 2017 from Wohler Technologies. Now the company is working in collaboration with Skywalker Sound, a division of Lucasfilm and one of the largest, full-service audio post-production companies, to introduce new audio toolsets in 2020, as part of its PixelStrings pay-as-you-go Platform as a Service (PaaS).
Knowles Acquires Microphone Design Assets from ams AG
Knowles Corporation, a market leader in advanced micro-acoustic, audio processing, and precision device solutions, announced it has acquired the MEMS microphone ASIC design business from Austrian company ams AG. The transaction includes intellectual property, rights to source ASIC wafers from multiple foundry partners, and the transfer of the ASIC design team, which will continue to be based in Switzerland.
Virtual Assistants to Exceed 2.5 Billion Shipments in 2023
The market for virtual assistants (VAs) continues to illustrate strong positive momentum, according to a new report from Futuresource Consulting. Shipments of products supporting virtual assistants rose 25% year-on-year to 1.1 billion units in 2019, with the market on course to exceed 2.5 billion shipments by 2023. Apple leads the market in terms of products sold with support for its Siri voice assistant.
Peter Thomas Is Honored By The Institute of Professional Sound
PMC’s founder and CEO Peter Thomas, whose inventions have helped push the boundaries of modern loudspeaker design, has been awarded a Fellowship by the Institute of Professional Sound (IPS) and awarded a coveted IPS trophy in recognition of his contribution to the professional audio industry. The Institute recognizes Peter Thomas transformative work, and significant impact on the audio industry through pushing the boundaries of monitor design to achieve more accuracy, particularly at higher volumes.
Lavoce Italiana Expands Presence in The Americas
Lavoce Italiana announced the appointment of Tom James as the company's new Business Development Manager for The Americas. The appointment follows a period of significant expansion, including the release of multiple high-quality drivers to the company's already comprehensive transducer catalog. Tom’s practical experience includes over 30 years in positions conducting loudspeaker development, enabling Lavoce to reinforce its contacts with strategic OEM and distribution partners in the region.
WiSA Announces Launch of Immersive Wireless Home Audio System Tuned by THX
WiSA LLC, the Wireless Speaker Audio Association, founded by Summit Wireless Technologies, announced an updated edition of the successful Tuned by THX Monaco 5.1 Immersive Wireless Home Audio System from Platin — now bundled with the Axiim LINK Wireless Audio Transmitter. The new Monaco 5.1 Plus Axiim LINK System gives users even greater options to not only connect the Monaco 5.1 System to any WiSA Ready 2019 LG OLED or NanoCell TV, but also to Xbox One systems (all models), Windows 10 PCs and Macs as well.
Lenbrook International and OraStream Announce BluOS Integration Agreement
Lenbrook International, owner of high fidelity audio brands NAD Electronics, PSB Speakers, and Bluesound, announced a North American collaboration with OraStream, the high-resolution audio streaming platform. The agreement will allow OraStream’s customers – all high-quality music content providers – unique access to a fast-growing ecosystem of high-resolution music streaming users through “BluOS enabled” products from brands like NAD Electronics, Bluesound, and DALI Loudspeakers.
Biamp Receives U.S. Patent for Beamtracking Technology Used in Parlé Microphones
Biamp announced that it has been awarded a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its Beamtracking technology used in its Parlé family of ceiling, tabletop, and pendant microphones. The patented technology, combined with Biamp's advanced signal processing algorithms, allows the microphones to track and mix voices intelligently from around a meeting room, enabling improved communications.