European Custom Installer

Pixelgen Design announces PXLGLASS-- a hybrid copper/fibre cabling solution designed to deliver uncompressed 18Gbps signals across distances reaching up to 50m.

Described by the company as the first fibre-based long reach 4K interconnect solution with THX certification, PXLGLASS delivers 100% uncompressed 4K signals and the full HDMI feature set. To do so it uses a unique copper/fibre hybrid cable implementation, with optical fibres carrying high-speed TMDS signals while copper-based wires carry critical low-speed communication signals such as HDCP 2.2 and CEC 2.0.

The Munich High End Show 2018 sees Monitor Audio showcase the Studio loudspeaker-- a speaker incorporating technology from the flagship Platinum PL500 II within a compact grille-less design.

The Studio carries two metallic silver RDT II speaker cones inside a design complete with a honeycomb tweeter cover and bespoke solid metal logo. Dual 4-inch drivers surrounded by a rigid die-cast aluminium sub-baffle produce bass and mid-range detail, while the RDT II cones tackle distortion from inside a bespoke cast polymer chassis.

The TV market is set to return to growth in 2018, Futuresource Consulting reports-- the recovery of several markets and the transition to 4K UHD models will bring global sales of $85 billion, a 5% increase over 2017.

"We believe 4K UHD TV sets will ship over 100 million units this year, equivalent to two-thirds of the entire large screen market," the analyst says. "Consumers increasingly want larger screens, and this is playing nicely into the 4K UHD proposition."

The two biggest markets, China and the US, saw falls in 2017 but the outlook for 2018 is positive. Futuresource says the two markets are ahead in terms of 4K UHD and large screen adoptions, with over 75% of sets sold in both US and China in 2018 being over 40-inch. That said other regions are catching up, with W. Europe matching the 44% Chinese household ownership of 4K UHD TVs by 2022.

Crestron starts shipping the Horizon keypad line-- available in configurable single-gang models combining up to four across, making an advanced custom control solution as part of a complete Crestron smart home.

First seen back at ISE 2018, the keypads are highly configurable and offer designer aesthetics, improved button feel, programmable multi-colour backlighting, interchangeable custom top and bottom trim pieces and Cresnet wired communications. The backlighting illuminates the laser-engraved text on the buttons, and can glow up to two or three times brighter than inactive buttons.

In a bid to direct homeowners, architects and designer to smart home solutions Control4 launches #C4Yourself, a global initiative held in in 25 markets around the world.

Held on 31 May 2018 in partnership with Control4 dealers, the imitative sees the company open new experiential dealer showrooms in the UK, US, Canada, China and Australia. Customers in cities around the world can find a Certified Showroom location using the online Control4 Dealer Locator, before registering to attend a local #C4Yourself Day event.