On CE - For Dealers, Distributors and OEMs of Consumer Electronics throughout EMEA

Pioneer is the next company to join the IMAX Enhanced initiative as it announces a pair of network AVRs-- the VSX-LX504 and VSX-LX304-- and a home theatre package compatible with the quality and performance standard.

The VSX-LX504 and VSX-LX304 are 9-channel Dolby Atmos models with DTS:X decoding optimised for IMAX Enhanced software. The design enables 7.2.2 or 5.2.4 immersive audio setups, and the AVRs feature x7 HDMI inputs and x2 HDMI outputs with HDCP 2.2, 4K/60Hz, Dolby Vision, HLG and WCG (wide colour gamut) support. Power output clocks at 215W per channel and 185W per channel (into 6 Ohms) for the VSX-LX504 and VSX-LX304 respectively.

Virtual Assistants (VAs) are set to become the next-generation go-to interface, Futuresource reports-- with 41.8% of all home audio shipments of Q4 2018 featuring integrated VAs, an increase of 50% over Q4 2017.

In addition, Q4 2018 smart speaker shipments are up by 79% Y-o-Y.

“But it’s no longer all about the smart speaker,” the analyst says. “For TVs, VAs are being rolled out by leading brands such as LG, Sony, Panasonic and Samsung. Most involve a microphone in the remote control, similar to those used in media streamers, assuring a continued lifespan for the trusty set until manufacturers include microphones in the sets themselves. This can be costly and will require solutions for technical issues around noise and echo cancellation, due to microphones being located adjacent to TV speakers."

Valve might have had a long collaboration with HTC on the topic of virtual reality, but now the company is ready to present an own headset-- the Index, a device set for a May 2019 launch.

So far Valve offers no information on the Index, outside of a single teaser image and the aforementioned release date. However the image offered by Valve does match a previous leak posted by UploadVR on November 2018. The report suggests the headset offers a 135-degree field of view with "Vive Pro resolution," and what look like SteamVR tracking photodiodes under the plastic. It also has two wide-angle cameras taking care of inside-out tracking, allowing players to move around a round without need for base stations or external tracking cameras.

Sony appears to be retreating from the smartphone arena-- according to Nikkei Asian Review, the Japanese company plans slash as many as 2000 employees from its smartphone workforce by 2020.

The workforce reduction is part of an effort to reduce business costs, one including procurement reform. Some of the Japanese employees affected will be transferred to other divisions, but employees in Europe and China will be receive voluntary retirement offers. In addition, Nikkei says Sony will focus smartphone efforts on Europe and E. Asia, limiting sales in S.E. Asia and other areas.