CEDIA EXPO 2017 - Wrap Up
Each year, home tech pros gather for the Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association's (CEDIA) national trade show and EXPO. Electronics manufacturers typically release their latest products and features at this well-attended industry event.
HHS System Designer, David Rosenberg attended the CEDIA EXPO in September in San Diego. Here's a list of his favorite new products and features he spotted on the show floor.
1. Josh AI -Josh Micro
Voice Control is a growing trend and was prevalent all over the show floor at CEDIA EXPO this year with everyone from Sonos to Onkyo incorporating voice control into their products. One voice control product stood out from the rest. Josh AI Micro provides voice control in a single room so you do not have to specify which room you are in when making the command. Josh AI also allows a homeowner to use more natural sounding commands than its competitors and compound commands that don't require pre-programming. Unlike Amazon Echo or similar products, Josh AI offers voice control in a "closed" environment, so your commands are not reported to Amazon or Google.
2. Savant Mult-Stat Touch Thermostat
Savant unveiled a new WIFI enabled touchscreen thermostat. It allows for convenient access to Savant scenes from an on-wall thermostat. Instead of having a separate in-wall controller in a master bedroom, for example, it allows for in-wall control where you would typically have a thermostat on the wall anyway. The user-interface on the Multi-Stat is the same attractive glass touch screen as the Pro Remote. The Multi-Stat is scheduled to start shipping by the end of 2017.
3. Savant Smart Light LED Lighting Bulb
Savant's Smart Light LED Bulbs provide a homeowner with a traditionally wired lighting system the opportunity to incorporate lighting control without retrofitting wire into their walls. The Savant LED bulbs can be inserted into traditional lighting fixtures and controlled via the Savant Lighting App. The bulbs are color tunable and provide the homeowner with millions of color choices to control the ambiance in their home. The smart LED bulbs are available for indoor and outdoor use. They use a fraction of a traditional bulb's energy.
4. Samsung - The Frame TV
Samsung's new Frame TV is a high-performance 4k UHD TV with HDR that turns into a beautiful piece of framed digital art when not in use. Homeowners can choose from several frame colors and materials. The TV hangs flush against the wall just like a framed piece of art. The source of art shown on the display can range from personal photos to Samsung's included gallery of professionally curated art with 100 free art pieces, to a third-party subscriber-based service allowing the homeowner to truly customize their display to their unique tastes.
5. Sony - Ultra-Short Throw Projector
Sony's new Ultra-Short Throw 4K HDR Home Theater projector provides projection up to 120" diagonal picture with a projector located only 10 inches from the wall. This is an Ultra-Short Throw projector designed for the home, but not relegated to the home theater. The projector can be used in a variety of applications including brighter rooms and is perhaps best paired with a retractable screen that can essentially disappear from view when not in use. It would be a great application for a master bedroom or living room or any room where the homeowner doesn't want to mount a permanent TV display.
