European Custom Installer

Deutsche Telekom (DT) pushes further into home automation through a partnership with Home Connect, the platform created by BSH Home Appliances to connect appliances over the internet.

Through the partnership Home Connect now pairs with DT's own Magenta SmartHome and the Qivicon platform. It allows customers to remotely control and monitor appliances, for instance checking the remaining cycle times of a connected washing machine or simply control lighting. The system also allows for macros, so one can have a favourite playlist start as soon as an appliance in the basement finishes a cycle.

CEDIA makes it easier for members to obtain an ECS Home Technology Integrator card as it extends availability to CEDIA Network and Designer qualifications as a recognised related discipline.

Previously installers could only apply for an ECS card if they had a current Technical Certification.

“An ECS card is essential for anyone working in our industry for many reasons” CEDIA says. “It not only confirms that the cardholder meets the required level of health and safety awareness, but it also displays their industry qualification.  The card is also a valid identification for gaining access to a construction site or customers’ property. By expanding the card to cover the Networking and Designer certifications, we are hoping to facilitate site access to more industry professionals and further raise the public profile of CEDIA certifications.”

British hi-fi maker Cambridge Audio celebrates its 50th anniversary with the release of the Edge series-- a flagship hi-fi range created following a "listen first, measure second" philosophy.

The Edge series is named after Cambridge Audio co-founder professor Gordon Edge, the inventor of the P40 integrated amplifier. It consists of 3 units, namely the Edge A integrated amplifier; Edge NQ preamplifier and network player and Edge W power amplifier. The result of 3 years of development, the series is built out of components chosen through blind listening tests, not specs or measurements.

Cambridge says it kept signal paths as short as possible-- for instance, the Edge W amplifier has just 14 components, with a DC coupled topology replacing capacitors in order to reduce distortion. The amp also features Class XA amplification with the crossover point shifted out of audible range, leading to more efficient performance than Class A. Meanwhile an opposing symmetry twin toroidal transformer design cancels stray electromagnetic interference. Power output clocks at 100W RMS into 8 Ohms for both Edge A and Edge W.

Vivitek announces an addition to the Qumi LED pocket projector series-- the Q38, a projector weighing just 750g able to project 1080p resolution images up to 130-inch in size.

The Q38 offers 600 lumens brightness as well as 10000:1 contrast ratio via LED light source promising 30000 hours of use. An internal battery provides up to 2 hours of use on a single charge. Audio is included through integrated dual 2W speakers, and customers can pair the projector to a compatible sound system via Bluetooth. Wireless connectivity also allows users to connect the projector to the internet and project HD digital content.

Tivoli Audio announces a new colour collection for the popular PAL BT and PAL+ BT portable DAB radios just in time for the Spring, with Anise Flower, Lucite Green and Deep Oceal Teal options.

The colours have been chosen after careful consideration of global interior, fashion and product design trends-- or so the company claims, at any rate. This is not the first time Tivoli has presented special colours for its radios, since in the past it has partnered with brands such as Coach, Capallini, Anthropologie, Peter Max and Fiat to create limited edition products.