As a virtualisation professional I was excited to learn that Telefónica and NEC are working together to use virtualisation as part of their communication and home entertainment platform. The platform will form part of Telefónica Set-Top Box solution – called, the virtualized customer-premises equipment (vCPE). The solution is due to start its trial early this year in Brazil.
The connected car solution provider QNX has developed another connected concept car, which according one of the developers Alex James, takes the concept of a connected car to the next level. Last year they modified a Bentley Continental but this year they are keeping the car identity under wrap until the show on January 7.
For 2014, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has awarded Sony four “Best of Innovations Honoree” Awards. The honorees were picked from 28 consumer product categories, which now include 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, Wearable Technologies and In-Vehicle Experience. From these Sony was able to walk away with awards in Digital Imaging, Headphones, Home Audio/Video Components and Tablets, EReaders & Mobile Computing. To make it five their HT-ST7 Sound Bar received an Innovations Design and Engineering Award in the Home Theater Speakers category.
The 2014 International CES Best of Innovations Design and Engineering Award Honorees list is out. The Honorees are picked from 28 consumer products, such as home Audio/Video, Headphones and Tech For a Better world. This year the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) added three new categories: 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, and In-Vehicle Experience and Wearable Technologies. The winners will receive their award at next year’s 2014 CES, which runs from January 7-10 in Las Vegas. Some of this year’s winners are: FormLabs, Tobii Technology, Sony Eletronics, Bruton, Novasentis, Plantronics, Kirk H&J Corporation, HARMAN International, Able Planet, Instabeat, Reebok & MC10, Bang & Olufsen, Pioneer Electronics and Philips Consumer Lifestyle.
AT&T is forging ahead to become the go to connectivity provider for the new generation of smart solutions. The company today opened another AT&T Foundry innovation center, this time in Atlanta. According to AT&T this one is a launching pad for innovations in their Digital Life services, connected car and home entertainment platforms.
Eutelsat Communications said it has successfully completed the first phase of development of a 'smart LNB (Low Noise Block)' for a Direct-to-Home antenna that opens the door for broadcasters to operate their own ecosystem of linear television and connected TV services directly by satellite. The 'smart LNB' is now entering into the industrialisation phase in advance of commercial availability in 2014.
Zonoff has announced the public availability of their Open Device Software Development Kit for their Zonoff Connected Home Platform. The Software Development Kit (SDK) is to allow retailers, service providers, device manufacturers and developers to have simple way to integrate with the Zonoff platform.
The SDK is currently available for qualified partners who are currently (or will soon be) manufacturing connected devices. The Zonoff Open Device Software Development Kit provides integration with over 1,000 connected devices, with more in development.
There are many things that make driving a car enjoyable and high on the list is its entertainment system and all its features. Also in the past, one of the first things we would do when we purchase a car is to change/upgrade the entertainment system. But, the new models coming off the assembly lines are very different from what they were in the past. Today’s cars are smarter and more connected in many ways.
Entropic has strengthen its position in the cable and satellite markets with the acquisition of Mobius Semiconductor, a producer of low power and high performance analog mixed-signal semiconductor solutions. Entropic with the addition of Mobius's high speed ADCs, DACs, ADPLLs, SERDES and proprietary Intellectual Property, has boost its product portfolio.
In partnership with AT&T, GM (General Motors) is on a mission to develop a new range of connected cars, that will feature 4G LTE technology, the first of which are schedule for 2014. The new range of connected cars and trucks will ship with the latest 4G LTE mobile broadband allowing access to the internet from vehicle at any time. The solution is to offer better connected services such as video streaming, faster application download, real-time updates, in-vehicle Wi-Fi hot spots and other infotainment options.