PowerShades PoE 2.0 is out, and as the name implies, it includes PoE (dubbed TruePoE) automated window shades. This new version of PowerShades’ PoE shades arrives with new features and benefits, including indoor shade size up to 19’, quieter motors and 13x more processing power. Benefits of the new PoE 2.0 shades include: Up to […]

Today, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced that AWS Elemental Link UHD now supports AWS Elemental MediaConnect. Combining Link UHD with MediaConnect is a way to create “live video workflows in the cloud, saving time and resources compared to traditional on-premises, satellite or fiber infrastructure.” Customers have more flexibility in processing live video and can add […]

LG Electronics and Amazon have co-developed the first integration of Amazon’s Alexa AI with LG hotel TVs using the webOS smart TV platform. Beginning later this year, hoteliers will be able to upgrade new and existing LG hotel TVs running webOS 6.0 or 5.0 to offer guests access to a custom Alexa solution through LG’s far field microphone array accessory. […]

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. […]

By Kate Couch How will smart devices be used in the corporate world in years and months to come? Last year, the corporate office took a large turn as many of us had to begin working remotely from home. This created an entirely new world for audiovisual — Zoom. Zoom, as most companies are aware, […]

Welcome to my 21st annual Kayye’s Krystal Ball! I love writing this annual predictions article — it’s both humbling and rewarding. It requires me to stop and research anything new, evaluate the potential impact it will have and then articulate it in a way that matters to readers. If you’re a regular reader of my […]

By Jack Wetherill Futuresource Consulting Smart speakers continue to capture the hearts and wallets of consumers, driving demand for wireless speakers and establishing a wider acceptance of voice assistants. By the end of 2019, 21 million smart speakers were in use in Western European homes, on track to exceed 32 million by the end of […]

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 […]

Signagelive is now available on Amazon Fire TV devices and displays. For the first time, digital signage customers can experience enterprise digital signage features and functionality on Amazon Fire TV devices and not be restricted to using basic, entry-level digital signage software that falls short of their requirements. Amazon Fire TV Stick as a great […]

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 […]

December 24th, 2018 Orange County, CA Just in time for Christmas, AV innovator and inventor, Mark Coxon, AKA @AVPhenom, has introduced a disruptive new electronic gift-giving service. “I saw two trends converging in the marketplace”, says Phenom.  “First, young people are consuming a large amount of YouTube content and Twitch content. Secondly, there has been an […]

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 […]

I’ve spoken about the things that keep an AV professional up at night — in part the growing rise of one-box, easily configurable solutions sharply reducing the need for highly skilled integration in simple spaces. That trend continues with both industry stalwarts like Crestron and smaller upstarts like Owl Labs selling single-device collaborative solutions. That’s […]

Amazon is putting Harman’s in-car entertainment and network business on notice with the launch of its new AWS Connected Vehicle Solution. According to Amazon, Amazon Web Services (AWS) enables automotive manufacturers and suppliers to build serverless IoT applications that gather, process, analyze and act on connected vehicle data without having to manage any infrastructure (the […]

Origin Acoustics is adding a wall-mount for the Amazon Echo Dot to its Valet system — the Dot Wall Mount. It will debut at CEDIA Expo. This is a simple way to integrate the Dot for music distribution and automation. In this offering is a clever mounting system that hides the Dot behind a speaker […]

“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 […]

Smart homes and smart buildings aren’t for the ultra-rich… anymore. We’ve come to a time in our existence where our technological advancements have allowed for desire, need and know how of a more connected lifestyle, between home and work. After all, it’s no longer about a work-life balance, it’s really all about the work-life blend […]

Is anyone really surprised that Amazon bought Ring Labs? It doesn’t seem like that big of a shock, or shocking at all for that matter. Since they released their original Echo product, initially to Prime members only, and then later to the masses in mid 2015, the smart assistant, Alexa enabled, speaker and personal assistant […]

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 […]

It’s funny how ideas work. Two years ago, I started a draft of this blog about curve jumping. I wrote an opening paragraph and then stopped. It sat in the catacombs of the site, waiting to be dug up again or lost forever. If you’re not familiar with the term curve jumping you should be. […]

At least five MAJOR ProAV manufacturers have relented to Amazon’s push into the ProAV market. In case you haven’t heard, Amazon quietly launched a business-to-business initiative earlier this year called — appropriately — Amazon Business. Its charter is to become a multi-billion-dollar supplier of anything a business needs to operate. And, Viewsonic was one of […]

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 […]

There’s no doubt that Amazon’s Sarah Zenz will be one of the best keynote speakers CEDIA has ever heard. She’s one of the smartest people at AMAZON, she’s an amazing speaker and she was a kick-ass product manager. But, in a doubly-irony, she’s been asked, by the ALL-MALE CEDIA board to address the attendees who […]

Churches have needs for audio, video and lighting (AVL) technology far more often than most manufacturers or systems integrators know. From changing sermon series with new scenic stage designs every few weeks to the addition or renovation of multi-site venues to production tech upgrades, churches utilize AVL tech week in and week out. It is […]

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 […]

Crestron announced today an expanded partnership with Amazon that brings the power of Alexa to the meeting space. The integration allows employees to start a meeting – from dialing in to the voice or video call to pulling up presentation materials on-screen – with one command. Meeting attendees can also ask Alexa to adjust the […]

Amazon isn’t aiming its Echo at the high-end residential or commercial AV markets, but we’re obviously seeing it added everywhere. In 2017, nearly every major control system vendors added an interface to the Amazon Echo to allow it to control their systems and some AV integrators are adding Echo into small rooms to enable voice-activated […]

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 […]

Short answer is — NO. Long answer is — YES. But, Amazon’s Alexa is certainly the most over-hyped thing in the market right now — thanks to the recent CEDIA show and the fact that other publications seem to have very little to talk about. What is Alexa? Alexa is the voice service that powers […]