The Sept. 3-7 IFA 2021 was canceled due to the pandemic, even as industry-watchers see light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel. Also Wednesday, NAB coincidentally opened registration for the in-person Oct 9-13 NAB Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center. CTA declined comment on IFA 2021's cancellation, but has said it’s committed to returning CES 2022 to the LVCC in early January. “New global health uncertainties” forced IFA 2021's cancellation, said organizers Messe Berlin and gfu. IFA 2020 was one of the few world events to welcome show attendees to a physical exhibition hall, albeit in downsized numbers, while the show’s content was streamed.
The Conference Board will update the methodology of its monthly consumer confidence survey to an online canvass, effective with May 25's release of preliminary May results, said the think tank Tuesday. Questions dating to 1967, including gauging consumer intentions on buying new TV sets, will remain unchanged, but the monthly sample of 5,000 U.S. respondents previously was canvassed by mail, it said.
Samsung Display sees a future in connectivity devices based on foldable, rollable, slidable and stretchable displays, said CEO Choi Joo-sun in a prerecorded keynote streamed Tuesday during the virtual Display Week 2021. “Many people have been looking forward to the mobility revolution,” dominated by blurrier lines of product-category demarcation, he said. This requires new materials and backplanes, said Choi. In larger screens, “minimizing dead space is key,” he said. He unveiled demonstration samples including a three-way-foldable display that “can be either a smartphone or tablet,” he said. He showed a large-screen tablet that unfolds to become a widescreen portable desktop monitor. Samsung Display is developing “under-panel camera” technology, said Choi. It’s for high-quality front-facing cameras that won’t interfere with a “wide and clear front screen,” he said. “It is by no means an easy technology.”
QA Cafe announced a test to improve interoperability of IoT and smart home products so they “operate as intended before they are deployed.” Its new PassPort IoT test emulates a home network, enabling "repeatable, reliable testing with clear pass/fail results" for IPv4, IPv6, and Wi-Fi devices, said the company. Smart home products that use Zigbee, Z-Wave or Bluetooth can be tested with PassPort through a smart hub, and all devices under test can connect to the cloud services they need while still being tested through PassPort, it said. Issues with interoperability and security have slowed consumer IoT adoption, said the company Tuesday.
Semiconductor supply constraints will “persist longer than anticipated, intensifying and likely extending the current cyclical upturn into next year,” reported Fitch Ratings Thursday: Industry previously expected this to “dissipate” in 2021's second half. Recent setbacks, including Texas storms in February and Taiwan’s prolonged drought, “exacerbated” supply constraints, said Fitch.
Energous is getting interest from device manufacturers in the consumer, IoT and other sectors after March release of its WattUp PowerHub developer kit, said Chief Financial Officer Brian Sereda on Wednesday Q1 call. The wireless charging company and partners continue to navigate COVID-19 challenges and chip shortages. Energous’ first partner product enabled with over-the-air wireless power will be launched later this year, he said. The company’s recent PowerHub certification, first of its kind in the EU, opens up the promise of RF wireless power transmission at distances beyond 1 meter and “well beyond 15 feet,” said Chief Operating Officer Cesar Johnston. “Technically, we can go up to 5.5 watts,” he said, “and there's no distance limitation” vs. the past 1-meter ceiling. The company continues to push power and transmission levels within regulatory limits and “well within safety limits,” he said. An FCC NPRM under Part 18 is under consideration to allow higher power and distance for wireless power transmission regulations, Johnston said. Revenue was $145,065 vs. $61,475 in the year-ago quarter.
OnMicro started volume production on a new line of multi-protocol Bluetooth SoCs, said the chipmaker Thursday. Applications include smartwatches, voice remote controllers, Bluetooth mesh smart home devices and PC peripherals such as wireless keyboards and mice, it said.
Amazon beefed up video capabilities of its Echo Show smart displays, including adding Zoom support combined with Alexa control. Users can join Zoom calls by saying, “Alexa join my Zoom meeting,” it said Wednesday, announcing preorders for the devices due to ship next month. The second-gen Echo Show 8 (starting at $129) has a 13-megapixel wide-angle camera vs. the first-edition 1-megapixel version, adaptive color and offers digital pan and zoom. Friends can share photos to the display. The revamped Echo Show 5 ($85) has double the pixels on its HD camera; a kids’ version starts at $95 and includes a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+. The smart displays have mic and camera controls and the ability to view and delete voice recordings. All new-generation devices come with built-in shutters to cover the camera.
Cree Lighting is selling its Connected Max smart home LED bulbs at Lowe’s, said the company Tuesday, including new full-spectrum tunable-white smart bulbs ($12.99) in A19, ST19 candelabra and globe designs, and a 75-watt equivalent 6-inch downlight, which also has color-changing capability ($19.99). The company’s Connected Max app was updated to add SmartThings compatibility and routines such as “dusk to dawn,” which automates lights to turn on at night and off during the day, and "vacation mode," which turns lights on and off in a random pattern to make the home appear occupied. Cree Lighting retained much of its lighting-related IP after Cree Inc. sold off the lighting division to Ideal in May 2019, a spokesperson told us. A company goal is to deliver easy-to-use products, which spurred development of bulbs controllable via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi without the need for a hub, she said. Cree’s “follow the sun” feature has guided setup for consumers who want the color temperature of their lights to gradually shift over the course of a day to mimic natural sunlight, she said.
Bang & Olufsen launched the WiSA Certified Beolab 28 stereo speakers Monday. Power rating is given as 1,250 watts; frequency range is 27 Hz-23,000 Hz, said the company. The speakers include Airplay 2, Chromecast, Bluetooth and Spotify Connect, and have integrated access to music services through Bang & Olufsen Radio. Prices start at $14,750 per pair. WiSA reports Q1 Wednesday.