HDMI 2.1 Specification Sees Strong Adoption Numbers and New Announcements at CES 2019
Since the HDMI 2.1 Specification was released in November 2017, manufacturers of several products including semiconductors, TVs, AVRs, soundbars, and game consoles have made announcements on upcoming releases supporting the specification. During CES 2019, the HDMI Licensing Administrator (HDMI LA) organization reported an increasing number of new product announcements covering a broad range of categories, and forecasted annual shipments with HDMI interface to reach almost 1 Billion devices in 2019.
Audeze Expands Head Gestures Technology for Mobius Gaming Headphones
Audeze announced the release of “Team Carbon,” an Amazon-exclusive color addition to its Audeze Mobius lineup, already one of the most acclaimed gaming headphones of 2018, so far available in Copper and Blue. For CES 2019, apart from the new color, Audeze will be introducing new customizable Head Gesture Keybinds, a very interesting implementation that makes use of the integrated WAVES Nx head tracking technology. With customizable head gestures, users will be able to significantly expand gaming abilities, including opening up new possibilities for users with disabilities.
POW Audio Introduces Ultra-Compact Speaker with Patented WaveBloom Technology
POW Audio, a new brand specializing in portable audio, is trying to reimagine Bluetooth speaker construction and capabilities through its transformational, ultra-portable designs. At CES 2019, the company will be previewing Mo, the first release in its larger family of products. This new ultra-compact speaker uses the company’s patented WaveBloom technology, which expands to create an air-filled wave chamber resulting in demonstrably better resonance and increased volume.
Vesper Microphones Powers Innovative Line of Voice-Activated Trash Cans
Vesper announced that its piezoelectric MEMS microphones will be embedded in the voice-activated sensor trash can from luxury housewares designer simplehuman. The brand will introduce the next-generation of its voice-activated Sensor Can range at CES 2019, providing an excellent example of an implementation that needs to be low-cost, low-power, and robust in any environmental conditions. It needs to support simple voice controls in any circumstance, in exactly the type of product that users appreciate not having to touch.
ESS Technology Introduces Suite of High-Quality USB-C Audio CODECs Featuring Sabre DACs
ESS Technology announced a series of USB Low-Power Audiophile CODECs that feature QUAD DAC Technology. Intended for use in headsets and audio adaptors that demand high-quality sound, the new line of CODECs can support end-to-end high-resolution audio quality. An ideal platform for USB-C audio products, the new CODECs include the flagship ES9281PRO model, which also offers an integrated hardware MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) renderer.
CEVA Announces New CEVA-BX All-Purpose Hybrid DSP / Controller Architecture
CEVA announced its new all-purpose, hybrid DSP / Controller architecture to address new algorithms of digital signal processing in voice, video, communication, sensing and digital signal control applications. Offering general purpose DSP capabilities required for motor control and electrification, the new CEVA-BX architecture extends CEVA's market reach into the burgeoning automotive and industrial markets currently underserved by legacy DSPs or MPU/MCUs with low performance DSP co-processing.
Universal Electronics and Microsoft Collaborate on a Turnkey Digital Assistant Platform for Smart Home Hub
Universal Electronics (UEI), a company specializing in universal control and sensing technologies for the smart home, announced a collaboration with Microsoft to launch a new digital assistant platform for the home built on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform using AI and IoT services. The UEI’s Nevo Butler turnkey smart home hub with nevo.ai built-in digital assistant will be launched at CES 2019 and will be available as a white-label solution for other manufacturers.
Dirac Research Appoints Armin Prommersberger as Company’s Chief Technology Officer
Swedish sound pioneer Dirac Research announced the appointment of Armin Prommersberger to serve as the company’s Chief Technology Officer. Armin joins Dirac from Harman International, a Samsung division, where he has held several senior management positions, most recently as Senior Vice President of Research & Development for its Professional Solutions Division. Prior to this, he served as SVP of Technology of the Harman Lifestyle Audio division and VP & General Manager of Harman’s Automotive Audio business in Europe.
ESS Introduces the World’s First Low-Power Sabre DAC with Hardware MQA Hi-Res Rendering
ESS Technology announced the ES9068Q Low-Power Audiophile CODEC, its newest in a line of SABRE DACs designed for small desktop and portable applications with demanding audio specifications. As previously announced in May 2018, this is the first product to offer an integrated hardware MQA (Master Quality Authentication) renderer that makes MQA playback easy and cost efficient. This is also the first product in the series with CODEC capabilities; it features microphone support as well as stereo PDM inputs.
Creative Launches Super X-Fi AIR Series Headphones at CES 2019
Creative Technology announced the worldwide launch of the Super X-Fi headphone holography technology at CES 2019, hailed as "an industry game-changer that will change the way one listens to headphones forever." According to Creative, Super X-Fi recreates the soundstage of a multi-speaker surround system in a pair of headphones, and personalizes it by scanning the user's head and ears, so that the custom-fit audio experience becomes natural like never before. The technology was previewed in prototype at CES 2018 and will now be launched in two SXFI AIR headphone models, one wireless and one USB-powered.