European Custom Installer

CES 2019 sees LG continue its collaboration with Meridian Audio with the launch of 3 soundbars, all offering Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support-- the SL10YG, SL9YG and SL8YG, featuring the promise to go "far beyond far-tuning or adopting new feature-sets."

The soundbars carry a pair of Meridian audio-enhancing technologies, namely Bass & Space (improves the soundstage for "rich, uncompromising sound and strong bass") and Image Elevation (boosts the sense of immersion for the listener) to deliver powerful surround sound. Meanwhile Upmix technology upmixes 2-channel audio to distinct channels without generating distortion while maintaining tonal balance.

According to Futuresource Consulting, global smart home device shipments reach "nearly" 110 million units, bringing revenues worth around $17 billion and "strong" growth in both volume and value.

“Smart home devices have clearly captured the attention of consumers. There’s no doubt the market is making its presence felt, finishing 2018 on fine form,” the analyst says. “The way smart devices help with daily tasks, improve security and generate savings in energy bills are all reasons that this is the fastest growing area of consumer electronics, on track to finish the year at 39% volume growth and 28% value growth.”

Security and monitoring devices-- smart cameras, video doorbells, smart locks and smart detectors-- account for 60% of total 2018 device shipments, making the largest smart home category. The category also boasts the highest ASPs, leading to 2018 revenues worth $10bn. According to Futuresource, penetration rates will remain strong in the near future, and 7% of homes worldwide will have at least one smart security device by 2022.

Crestrron announces the Performance UI-- a user experience designed exclusively for the TSR-310 handheld touchscreen remote complete with native integration with the Pyng OS 2 operating system.

Minimal programming requirements reduce deployment time, and Crestron installers can download the latest Pyng OS 2 update to check how the TSR-10 UI instantly updates to Performance UI. Furthermore, Performance UI provides integrated media, lighting, shades and climate control, along with quick actions.

The CEDIA board of directors approves the 2019 executive committee and votes for Rob Sutherland as EMEA appointed director for the 2019-2020 term. David Humphries, principal of Atlantic Integrated, serves as chairperson.

"With CEDIA's 30th year underway, the board will continue to focus on driving forward the organisation's strategy that will boost industry connections with the design and build trade, enhance educational experiences, elevate professionalism, and build workforce development processes that will grow our pipeline of qualified talent," Humphries says. "The global reach of CEDIA is the key to parlaying existing successes into ongoing progress."

Japanese company Yukai Engineering has a charming means to both monitor the house and help family members leave messages to each other at CES 2019-- the Bocco Emo communication robot.

The Bocco Emo looks like a snowman, and is an update of a 2015 robot from Yukai Engineering simply dubbed the Bocco. According to the company, the "Emo" in the name stands for the ability to "express empathy." How so? Apparently the robot can tell between positive and negative messages, and expresses each accordingly. The robot nods and makes happy chirping sounds with a positive message, while a negative message has it light up red, put its head down and make sad whining noises. To do so it can tell between different words, as well as interpret messages based on emoji.