European Custom Installer

Crestron Europe and exclusive EMEA sales agency TIG relocate offices in the UK-- specifically, the Crestron support team and training rooms are moving to Weybridge, while the TIG sales office is found in Cobham, Surrey.

The Crestron office space at 400 Dashwood Lang Road, Weybridge offers increased training facilities for both commercial and residential AV professionals to prepare for control system design and programming challenges. The modular office spaces feature movable dividing walls to facilitate modern working culture, and are equipped with the latest Crestron solutions for room scheduling and unified collaboration.

The Weybridge office also houses the support team comprising service technicians and specialists. The support team is backed up by experts based in the Crestron head offices in Belgium and the US. The rooms feature AirMedia for wireless data transmission, Fliptops, scheduling panels and signs, and a Crestron AirBoard to further simplify training and meeting environments. Managing the office is the Crestron XiO Cloud.

Connected Distribution, the European distributor for US-based speaker maker Heritage Acoustics, announces the addition of the company's Signature Series in-ceiling loudspeakers to its portfolio.

The range includes 5 in-ceiling speakers, all recognisable by an iconic blue cone finish and the use of larger (up to 25mm) pivoting dome tweeters. A recessed woofer and baffle design permits unrestricted airflow to improve low frequency response and more carefully directed high frequency output. Installation promises to be fast and stable through dog-ear fixings allowing installers to work down to 6mm of ceiling thickness.

LG announces the availability of the HU85LA, a 2nd-gen short-throw 4K laser projector able to create a 90-image projection from just 5.5cm distance (or a 120-inch image from 18cm away).

First launched back at CES 2019, the HU85LA is a followup to the first LG short-throw 4K laser projector, the HU80KA. The update features a change in design, since instead of a tall, black tower the HU85LA looks like a rectangular gray box. It promises images reaching up to 2700 ANSI lumens of brightness, with a fixed UST lens offering a 0.19 throw ratio.

Back in May 2018 JBL took the stage at Google I/O to present the Link Bar, a soundbar featuring Android TV capabilities. Now, over a year later, the company announces the device is finally ready to ship to retailers.

While not a new device, the Link Bar remains an interesting proposition. After all, it is an Android TV-powered soundbar with built-in Google Assistant, allowing for voice control and compatibility wiht a range of smart home devices. A built-in Chromecast provides an array of media sources, while a Privacy Switch allows users to mute the microphone in case they do not want or need the virtual assistant.

Josh.ai joins forces with flush mount solution maker Wall-Smart to create mounting systems for new construction and retrofit applications to help customers blend the Josh Micro device into home environments.

Catering to the interior décor of the home, customers can mount the Josh Micro flush to the wall using the result of the partnership. Custom-built around the spherical structure of the Josh Micro, the mount features audio grilles allowing for maximal sound path while minimising visual impact when positioned in the wall.