European Custom Installer

Gira announces the addition of more functionality to the System 3000 blind controller at Light + Building 2019-- a lighting feature through modules offering both blind and lighting control from one easy-to-fit unit.

The company says the feature is not a simple extension, but a consistent integration of the control functions for lighting and blinds. Thus the lighting and blind controller inserts not only fit all system top units, but the top units automatically detect whether they are placed on a light or blind insert, and adjust functionality accordingly. The result is a transparent system with few components but many functions..

CEDIA announces Mitchell Klein is the recipient of the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award. Klein will be honoured at the CEDIA Expo Opening Keynote hosted at the Colorado Convention Centre on 11 September 2019.

The CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award recognises individuals showing outstanding, creative, innovative and visionary leadership in the growth and advancement of the residential technology industry. Klein is a 30+ year industry veteran with a career in educating the industry, building, creating and implementing strategic businesses and programs, and leading companies to help bring smart home and custom installation into the mainstream.

Klein is known to have kicked off many key CEDIA initiatives in almost every area, including operational, educational, financial, legislative and marketing. Examples include initiating and implementing the first CEDIA strategic plan, the creation of an operating budget and reserve fund, introducing the CEDIA certification program and Management Conference, along with various policy and promotional projects. He continues his volunteerism on the Professional Development Action Committee today.

The European smart home market sees shipments reach 21.3 million units in Q1 2019, IDC reports-- a 23.9% Y-o-Y increase, with W. Europe responsible for 88.3% of the region share, even as CEE sees the biggest increase (32.2% Y-o-Y).

The market is forecast to reach 107.8m in 2019, growing 21% from 2018. It is set to reach 183.9m in 2023, with video entertainment and smart speakers as the 2 main categories.

Smart speakers are up by 58.1% Y-o-Y to 3.35m units shipped, making 15.8% of the market and the 2nd largest product category. It is also the best quarter yet for the category, according to IDC. Google Home devices are responsible for 45.1% of smart speakers shipped, beating the 41.8% of Amazon Echo devices. However the analyst still expects Alexa to remain the top voice assistant in Europe in 2019, even if the Google AI Platform should beat it by 2022.

Glasgow-based headphone maker RHA announces means to allow customers to use wireless headphones with just about any audio source with a 3.5mm or double 3.5mm jack-- the Wireless Flight Adapter.

While primarily aimed at use with in-flight entertainment systems (thus the name), the Wireless Flight Adapter is ideal to connect wireless headphones with devices such as the Nintendo Switch or a vintage piece of audio hardware. The pocket-size device promises up to continuous 16 hours of use on a single charge, and can stream audio simultaneously to two pairs of headphones.

C Seed claims to break outdoor TV records with the launch of a 301-inch (7.6m diagonally) TV with "exceptional" 4500 nits brightness, 4500:1 contrast ratio and 48-bit colour depth for "crystal clear" images.

Built out of carbon fibre and titanium, the monster TV promises to be "super stiff yet super light." As a successor to the previous 201-inch outdoor TV from C Seed, the 301-inch model consists of 7 interlocking LED panels. Such construction allows the TV to fold away into a hidden underground storage casing when not in use. To activate the TV customers press a button on the remote, and it unfolds out of the underground case.