Welcome to my 22nd annual Kayye’s Krystal Ball! I can’t believe I have written this article 22 times. I am beyond humbled by how many of you read this; last year, it was viewed by over 90,000 #AVtweeps. #LOVE ❣️ The bottom line is I love writing this article. It keeps me curious and humble. […]

Logitech announced Logitech Solutions for Zoom Rooms with Alexa for Business, giving users contactless collaboration. As businesses continue to prepare for hybrid work environments, Logitech Solutions for Zoom Rooms and Alexa for Business, a service from Amazon Web Services (AWS) that enables organizations and employees to use Alexa to get more work done, provide companies […]

Like many of you, we’ve decided to keep THE rAVe Agency’s physical offices closed at least through the end of the summer, but I think it’s unlikely that we will actually gather our team together, physically, fall. In fact, nearly every business will face the significant hurdle of dealing with people who are creeped out […]

Savant is enabling users to personalize each Pro Remote by room or by user. In addition to touchscreen personalization, the Pro Remote’s native voice button can also be configured for Siri voice activation. With the latest release from Savant, users can now select from all available Savant Scenes, Services and Favorite Channels and add the […]

Today Denon announced its first stereo network receiver with wireless music streaming and 4K HDMI capabilities, the DRA-800H. Featuring a newly designed L/R symmetric stereo power amplifier design, the Hi-Fi stereo receiver delivers superb audio fidelity from a variety of sources — including wireless music, CD and phono — while a full-featured HDMI section with […]

Marantz today announced the NR1510 and NR1710 slimline 4K Ultra HD AV receivers. Housed within the compact chassis, they include Dolby Atmos, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization Technology, DTS:X and DTS Virtual:Xto create startlingly lifelike cinematic experiences.The NR1710’s Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization Technology gives users a 3D listening experience without the need for dedicated height or […]

This week Denon announced two new X-Series AV receivers. The Denon AVR-X2600H (95 watts per channel) and AVR-X1600H (80 watts per channel) support the latest surround sound formats including Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization Technology, which adds virtualized height and surround effects on traditional stereo or surround content as well as Dolby Atmos content while using […]

BenQ has enhanced its Premium RP Series of interactive flat panels (IFPs) with voice control powered by AWS. Directly integrating AWS with BenQ’s Saffi voice-assistant technology, the RP Series IFPs use a voice-enabled remote that simplifies instruction tasks and introduces more flexibility in the classroom. The voice capability is available as an Amazon skill and […]

Joan officially announces its collaboration with Amazon Alexa for Business and Cisco Webex for the kick-off of the Enterprise Connect expo in Orlando, Fla. on Monday March 18, 2019. This collaboration brings together Joan and two of the most used communication smart devices in the world to offer high-end integrated solutions for the workplace. Companies […]

In years past, building a smart home has been expensive and complex, to say the least. Now however, with the rapid increase of technologies that allow devices to communicate and interact with others well, in the form of the silly/well known by you, acronym, IoT (Internet of Things), this cost has been drastically reduced and […]

Optoma today launched a series of projectors: the UHL55, LH150, LV130 and ML1050ST. The Optoma UHL55 is integrated with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility, an integrated Android OS and 4K UHD HDR media player. In addition to its voice innovation, the UHL55 also features auto focus and auto keystone correction and includes NuForce stereo […]

“Alexa, turn on the church audiovisual system.” Clever voice-activated connectivity? Maybe. But practical? Not really. “Alexa, show me the upcoming maintenance on all of my audiovisual components, listing them in descending order by date.” Clever? Maybe. But practical? Absolutely. In the house of worship market, convenience isn’t a key driver for upgrades or new purchases. […]

Maybe I’m a skeptic. I don’t think I am but, maybe. Having lived in technology for nearly 30 years, it’s not often a new tech product debuts that I get excited about. The iPhone was a giant WOW. Wireless networking was an “its about time” kind of moment as I was one of those power-travelers […]

Voice control has become a new standard for our daily lives. We see it in media consoles, smart devices, automobiles, office environments and more. Some manufacturers partner on one platform while others embrace a larger audience on a completely different one. Most provide a similar concept of assistance, but others excel in the experience — […]

Klipsch today announces that its wireless speakers and amplifiers will support the Amazon Alexa Connected Speaker APIs (Application Protocol Interfaces), allowing users to control their speakers and multi-room audio systems from any Alexa-enabled device, such as the Amazon Echo or Dot. The company has incorporated the latest technologies into its speakers so listeners can access, enjoy, and control their music […]

Somfy Systems has introduced voice control of motorized window coverings. Now that the myLink is Alexa-enabled you can control your connected products with voice commands. Raise or lower your shades, exterior screens, or rolling shutters, open or close your blinds or draperies and extend or retract your awnings anytime with simple, natural phrases. Somfy’s new Amazon Alexa skill allows for voice […]

Today at AWS re:Invent 2017, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced Alexa for Business. Alexa for Business lets you use Amazon Alexa to voice-enable your workplace by providing the tools you need to manage Amazon Alexa devices, skills, and users at scale, and an API to build custom, context-aware voice skills for your organization. Zoom has collaborated with AWS to enable […]

Origin Acoustics has announced its foray into the world of voice controlled audio systems. The Valet amplifier integrates seamlessly with the Amazon Echo Dot to create a simple, interactive four-zone system. Featuring eight 75-watt channels, the Valet amp can be connected to a broad range of speakers and provide the power necessary to drive them to substantial volume levels. Each of the four […]

CEDIA has announced that Amazon will present a sponsored Keynote on Thurs., Sept. 7 at CEDIA 2017. Sarah Zenz, General Manager of Amazon’s Smart Home Services business, will share how Amazon is helping customers take advantage of Smart Home experiences and supporting the business of CEDIA home technology professionals. Here’s our take on her and the keynote. The keynote will […]

Savant has announced today the release of the Savant smart home skill for Amazon Alexa. Savant was one of the first to use voice control as part of the connected home by introducing the Savant Pro Remote, enabling homeowners to activate a Savant Scene, choose a favorite channel or select a source within their entertainment system. Now they’ve […]

URC has finally released their Amazon Alexa Smart Home Skill integration for URC Total Control (in the U.S. market). This integration enables a range of control possibilities with Alexa-enabled devices such as the Amazon Echo, Echo Dot and Amazon Fire TV. The skill is designed to fully integrate Alexa-enabled devices with Total Control, allowing homeowners […]

Control4 Corporation today announces the Smart Home Skill for Amazon Alexa is now available in the UK. When coupled with a subscription to Control4’s remote access software 4Sight, this new skill gives UK homeowners the ability to control thousands of devices on the Control4 system through simple and intuitive voice commands. Control4 works with more […]

Amazon’s hottest selling items for 2016 were the Echo and its little brother Dot. These devices, along with their competitors from Google and Apple, are revolutionizing the way we interact with our homes and are quickly moving into the workplace. These voice command and control devices allow the participant to use their voices with simple […]

After years of a terrible world economy and very little innovation, 2016 was a boon for new technology — especially in the world of AV. And, some of it crossed both high-end residential as well as commercial. Let’s take a look at a little of what was 2016 and then I’ll tell you want to […]

“Alexa! Alexxxaaaaaaa!!!” My four-year-old daughter is trying to wake up our Amazon Echo. Alexa gets better at understanding her every day, but she still only wakes up for her about half the time. Once Alexa is awake, however, she has an uncanny ability to figure out what my daughter is asking for. (Alexa wakes up […]

Legrand today launched ELIOT, an IoT program that advances connectivity and intelligence in the Built Environment and enhances value in the use of connected products. Legrand is joined by partners Amazon Alexa, Samsung and Cisco in launching ELIOT, which offers a purpose-built cloud, gateways for installed legacy offerings, an array of natively-connected new products, and […]

Control4 last week announced integration with Amazon Alexa, the voice service Alexa-enabled devices, including Echo Dot, Amazon Tap and Amazon Fire TV. The new Control4 Smart Home Skill provides homeowners with the convenience of whole-home automation through simple and intuitive voice commands that can activate smart home scenes and control individual devices. Control4 personalizes a […]

Crestron has partnered with Amazon Alexa to provide next-generation voice control of Crestron home systems. Crestron Technology Professionals can now leverage Alexa Voice Service to build voice controlled scenes and settings that are fully customized to their clients’ lifestyles. Integration is not limited to basic functions such as lighting and temperature; homeowners can choose from […]