“The Road to 4K” Panel at January CES – The only sessions devoted solely to UHD TV content will take place Jan. 6 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It will take a closer look at the growing number of delivery platforms and focus on a wide range of issues that impact UHD distribution. The panel – co-sponsored by the Digital Entertainment Group (DEG) – will bring together some of the most active participants in the production and distribution of UHD programming today.
Russound Adds Spotify Service – The multi-room audio manufacturer will add Sptify to its audio streaming products, including the XStream X5, DMS-3.1 and the upcoming MCA-88X. Spotify will also be made available to existing customers thru firmware updates and new releases to the MyRussound App, to be available in coming weeks. Russound now offers the top three streaming service in the U.S.: Pandora, SiriusXM and Spotify. They also offer TuneIn and vTuner Internet webcaster services. The latter two services work internationally, but the first three are only for the streaming business in the U.S.
Walmart Lowest in CE Prices According to Report – Amazon and Best Buy have fallen behind the new leader in CE sales, although Best Buy remains the No. 1 electronics merchant. The developer ShopSavvy found that Walmart was the less expensive option for over 50% of analyzed products during Nov. 1 to Dec. 5. They relaimed their lowest-price mantle in at least seven categories overall. In TVs, Walmart’s prices were lower on 11 models also handled by Amazon, by a 23.4% average, and it beat out 12 of Best Buy’s models by an average of 15%. Walmart has recommitted to low-price leadership, has invested heavily in its e- and mobile commerce, and now has a Savings Catcher app which compares customers’ purchases to the prices of competitors and pays its shoppers the difference in gift card credit.
LG to Enter Wireless Multiroom Market – At the January CES LG will unveil their Music Flow technology in three tabletop AC-only Wi-Fi speakers, a portable Bluetooth or Wi-Fi speaker, and three Wi-Fi soundbars. The wireless multiroom system works with either iOS or Android apps and selects songs from music libraries stored on smartphones, tablets, computers, and NAS drives. The muic is then distributed to Music Flow devices via a mesh network over a home’s Wi-Fi network. The speakers and soundbars also stream music from Spotify, Rhapsody, Tunein and others to be announced. The new LG 3D Blu-ray player and SoundPlate with Blu-ray player stream their music to Music Flow speakers from CD or USB drives. Music on a smartphone automatically starts playing on a Music Flow Wi-Fi speaker when the phone comes within one foot. HomeChat lets users control the devices via the Line free-text messaging app on a smartphone or tablet.