KEF introduced a wireless stereo music system based on its Uni-Q driver array and Music Integrity Engine that’s due to ship in January. In wireless mode, inter-speaker connection supports 48kHz/24-bit transmission; when connected with an optional wire, the system supports 96kHz/24-bit transmission, said the company. The LSX has built-in access to Spotify Connect and Tidal via using 2.4GHz/5GHz dual-band Wi-Fi, includes AirPlay 2 for Apple device users and Bluetooth 4.2 with Qualcomm’s aptX codec for other music sources, said the company. The $1,100 system, which includes optical and auxiliary inputs, can access music stored on a networked hard drive or PC via Digital Living Network Alliance, KEF said. It’s controllable by app from Android and iOS devices.
Analog Devices bowed a transceiver series that enables HD video over unshielded twisted pair cables and unshielded connectors, allowing OEMs to upgrade from standard-definition cameras to HD for automotive camera applications, it said Wednesday. The ADV7990 and ADV7991 transmitters and ADV7380 and ADV7381 receivers use ADI’s car camera bus technology, said to save weight, bulk and cost and to reduce cable-routing constraints when compared with other automotive link solutions.
Sonos is experimenting with color through a limited-time offer with Danish furniture and accessory brand Hay in the Alexa-enabled Sonos One line. In a blog post Wednesday, Sonos cited the relationship between sound and home design in announcing the $229 Hay Sonos One Limited Edition. The five smart speakers are priced $30 above the standard Sonos One that’s available in black or white. Colors are pale yellow, light gray, soft pink, forest green and vibrant red. Sonos didn't respond to questions.
SoundHound's music recognition feature is available for licensing via its Houndify voice artificial intelligence platform to brands and developers for use within their user interfaces or to access via voice queries, it said Wednesday. Partners that have deployed SoundHound’s music recognition include Hyundai, Motorola, HTC, Samsung, Korea Telecom, and Casio with its G-Shock watch. SoundHound said Houndify is the first independent AI platform that enables developers and business owners to deploy a conversational interface and retain control of their brands and users “while differentiating and innovating.”
ON Semiconductor announced Bluetooth SIG mesh networking support for its Bluetooth 5-certified RSL10 system-on-chip product line. It's targeted to smart home devices, among other applications, said the company.
The Apple iPhone X, which began shipping in November, had the highest trade-in value (TIV) of mobile devices in Q3 ($484.87) when Apple released its latest generation of smartphones, Hyla Mobile reported Monday. The iPhone 6s was the top-traded phone, with 29 percent of swapped devices, it said. Following the 6s were the iPhone 6 (28 percent of traded phones), iPhone 7 and 7 Plus (18 and 14 percent) and Samsung Galaxy S7 (11 percent), said Hyla. In trade-in value, the Samsung Galaxy Note9 came in second ($442.60) behind the iPhone X, followed by the iPhone 8 Plus ($382.06), the Galaxy S9+ ($345.41) and the iPhone 8 ($316.65), it said. Average TIV for an iPhone was $146.22 and $61.58 for an Android phone, said the report. Devices among the top four vendors that lost the most trade-in value were the LG V30, Google Pixel 2 XL and 2, all at 14 percent, and the Galaxy S7 Edge and S8 at 13 percent, it said. The average age of used smartphones returned was 2.92 years for iPhones and 2.66 years for all other smartphones, said Hyla. In the quarter, $628 million was returned to customers in trade or buyback programs, it said.
Localytics described methods for retailers to get customers to frequent their ecommerce sites or apps. In a Monday blog post, Justina Perro, senior content marketing manager, advised using mobile tools -- location-based, push and in-app messaging -- to target consumers on mobile devices, which are expected to account for more than half of all purchases this holiday season (see 1809120022 and 1809120020). The marketer encouraged cart abandonment push notifications to drive shoppers back to an ecommerce app to complete a purchase.
Retailers and carriers jumped on the iPhone XR release Friday, led by Sprint's "$0 per month" promotion for customers with an eligible trade-in phone and a Sprint Flex lease. The trade-in list includes seventh-generation and above iPhones, Samsung Galaxy 8 and above mobile devices, LG’s G7 ThinQ, and three Google Pixel models. At Best Buy, AT&T Wireless promoted a buy-one-save-$700-on-another deal for the XR with postpaid voice and data on both devices and at least one new line of activation. Best Buy's Verizon Wireless offer pushed the full X generation of iPhones, offering $750 in savings on an iPhone XR or X to customers who buy any of the X smartphones. Required are a new line of service that remains active for 24 months and an active first line account for six months. T-Mobile’s limited-time offer for any of the new trio of iPhone X models requires customers to agree to a payment plan and an eligible device trade-in to receive $10.83 per month back on their bill for up to 36 months. The XR, available in six colors, starts at $749, $250 less than the XS; has a 12-megapixel camera vs. the dual 12-megapixel cameras found on the XS and XS Max; and has a 6.1-inch LCD display vs. the 5.8-inch and 6.1-inch screens on the XS and XS Max.
Turner Classic Movies’ FilmStruck streaming video service said Friday it’s shutting down Nov. 29 and no longer enrolling subscribers. Current FilmStruck subscribers will receive an email with details about their accounts and the refund process, said the website. FilmStruck, owned by AT&T, said this month (see 1810100038) it plans to launch a streaming service in Q4 2019, after its June acquisition of Time Warner. An SEC filing with few details said the service would be "a new choice for entertainment with the WarnerMedia collection of films, television series, libraries, documentaries and animation." FilmStruck, which streams international cinema, indie movies and film classics, is available on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Chromecast devices, and via Android and iOS apps.
The number of daily active users of Google Home devices grew more than five times in the past year, said Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Alphabet's Thursday earnings call. Google Assistant continues to gain traction, on the company’s strength in machine learning and search, YouTube and Google Maps, he said. Assistant has expanded to 20 languages and 76 countries, said Pichai, and it can understand and speak more than one language at a time. He cited launches of the first Google Home smart displays in the quarter from JBL and Lenovo. Revenue of Google parent Alphabet grew 21 percent in Q3 ended Sept. 30 to $33.7 billion, and net income rose to $9.2 billion from $6.7 billion in the year-ago quarter, it said. Revenue fell short of Wedbush Securities’ projected $34.29 billion, but analyst Michael Pachter maintained an outperform rating on the stock in a Friday investor note, saying the revenue shortfall suggests increasing competition. Google shares dipped 1.8 percent Friday, closing at $1,083.75.