A little over a millennia ago, in 979 AD, Harald Gormsson ordered numerous public works, helping him consolidate economic and military control of Scandinavia. From the reconstruction of the Jelling runic stones to building the oldest known bridge in southern Scandinavia, this ancient ruler overcame significant challenges, coalescing what was then a deeply fragmented society. King Gormsson, known as Bluetooth, "won the whole of Denmark and Norway" by uniting the warring Scandinavian tribes.

In the late 1990s, the king’s achievement in uniting disparate elements would be celebrated by a new wireless technology being developed to unite different communication protocols (such as those for PCs and cellular phones) into a single, universal standard. The name "Bluetooth" was suggested as a temporary codename by Jim Kardach of Intel, who was reading a historical novel about Vikings at the time. The idea resonated and the name stuck. It even inspired the Bluetooth logo, a bind rune combining the Elder Futhark runes for Harald's initials, H (ᚼ) and B (ᛒ).

While Gormsson provided the symbolic namesake for Bluetooth, the technological core enabling its robust wireless communication owes a significant debt to an unexpected innovator: Hollywood film star Hedy Lamarr. Roughly 80 years ago, during World War II, Lamarr co-invented a communication system that introduced a groundbreaking concept critical to modern wireless technologies.

Lamarr’s innovative idea was a radio guidance system for Allied torpedoes that utilized spread spectrum and frequency hopping technology. The core concept was to rapidly switch radio frequencies during transmission, making it extremely difficult for enemies to jam the signal or predict the next frequency. Bluetooth employs Adaptive Frequency Hopping (AFH), a spread spectrum technique of frequency hopping based on Lamarr’s creation.

Ubiquitous and Advanced

A quarter century after its introduction, we find 4.7 billion Bluetooth integrated circuit chips being shipped annually. A market report from May indicates that shipments of Bluetooth devices could exceed 5.3 billion units in 2025 and approach 8 billion by 2029.

Bluetooth is the most ubiquitous and pervasive wireless connection technology in the world. So why isn’t Bluetooth the hottest topic in commercial AV?

It may be because many AV professionals are not fully aware of the significant advancements in Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Auracast, Periodic Advertising with Responses (PAwR), and Direction Finding. They associate "Bluetooth" with older consumer experiences, not the robust, scalable, and precise capabilities now emerging.

AV training and curriculum rarely offer any Bluetooth instruction, contributing to the knowledge gap. It’s time for us to take a much closer look at BT in AV.

Bluetooth uses 79 channels (40 channels for BLE) in a pseudo-random hopping sequence, making it exceptionally difficult for unintended parties to intercept or jam the signal. Plus, advanced Bluetooth devices can classify channels as "used" or "unused" based on interference, dynamically adjusting the hopping pattern to avoid noise and improve overall performance. Add in encrypted payloads and we see that Bluetooth is a very secure system.

BLE allows for a host of new, interesting, and AV-centric applications. It’s specifically designed for ultra-low power consumption while maintaining a surprising communication range (more than 300 feet in free space). It’s designed to stay in a "sleep" mode most of the time and only "wake up" to transmit small bursts of data when needed. This allows devices to operate for months or even years on small coin-cell batteries. While they share the "Bluetooth" name and operate in the same 2.4 GHz ISM radio frequency band, BLE and Classic Bluetooth are different protocols, with modern devices typically being dual mode.

Some of the new BLE capabilities are astonishing. Imagine if your Bluetooth device didn't just know that another device was nearby, but also exactly where it was. That's essentially what Bluetooth's Angle of Departure (AoD) and Angle of Arrival (AoA) features are all about. These new capabilities allow devices to figure out the relative location and travel direction of other Bluetooth LE radios. Think of it as giving Bluetooth devices a sense of spatial awareness, allowing it to become a powerful tool for asset tracking or indoor wayfinding.

Real World Applications

PAwR is a game-changer for applications requiring high-volume, ultra-low power communication with numerous devices. A prime example of its use is Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL) for retail applications.

Imagine a large supermarket where thousands of digital price tags need to be updated frequently and reliably, yet consume minimal power to ensure long battery life. Before PAwR, there was no standard for secure, connectionless communication for such scenarios. PAwR enables encrypted bi-directional communication between a central hub and thousands of ESL devices while remaining synchronized and consuming very little power. This significantly enhances the efficiency and security of managing vast networks of IoT devices in retail and other similar environments.

Auracast is a groundbreaking new feature of BLE Audio that introduces a one-to-many audio broadcast capability. An Auracast transmitter broadcasts one or more audio streams, along with advertising information (metadata) that describes the available streams. An Auracast receiver such as hearing aids, earbuds, or headphones picks up the digital stream and converts it into audio, while an optional Auracast Assistant device (often a smartphone or smartwatch) helps users discover, select, and manage the broadcasts. And yes, the audio stream can be encrypted for security.

Unlike older assisted listening systems, Auracast delivers flexible, high-quality, and universal one-to-many audio broadcasts to an unlimited number of compatible Bluetooth audio receivers simultaneously. Compared to the coverage limitations, interference susceptibility, and reliance on specific hardware inherent in older ring-type systems like hearing loops, Auracast and Bluetooth LE Audio offer improved audio quality, lower latency, and better power efficiency.

ABI Research estimates that more than 60 million venues worldwide could potentially benefit from Auracast, and the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) anticipates mass adoption to accelerate as major smartphone platforms fully support it at the operating system level, support that is rolling out now and is only expected to grow.

[Viewpoint: Make Room for 'Digital Electricity']

Bringing together its historical ingenuity with its modern marvels, Bluetooth, once a silent workhorse, is poised to redefine the commercial AV landscape. Its evolution from simple device pairing to sophisticated capabilities like Auracast's unlimited broadcast audio, precise Direction Finding for spatial awareness, and PAwR's efficient large-scale communication, transforms it into an indispensable and secure tool. The time has come for AV professionals to look beyond outdated perceptions and embrace Bluetooth's powerful, ubiquitous, and quietly revolutionary role in shaping the future of integrated systems.

After a few faithful years with my iPhone SE Gen 3, I finally had to upgrade to a new phone. The battery performance had dropped off a cliff, and a growing list of other small issues was becoming harder to ignore. Of course, this meant I also had to give up the beloved home button, since Apple doesn’t make a phone with one anymore. I still can’t stand using a device without it, but that’s life in the modern tech world.

[Viewpoint: If You Build It, Will They Come?]

What’s interesting isn’t the effort or cost of getting the new phone itself, it's everything else that came along for the ride. The new phone uses USB-C instead of Lightning, so all my cables, spare cables, and emergency cables had to be replaced. It also needs a higher-power charger, meaning all my home chargers, travel chargers, and docking stations needed an upgrade, too.

Then there were the accessories: wireless microphones, Bluetooth headsets and speakers, portable batteries, cases, even the overly restrictive Apple Watch needed significant adjustments. (Side note: That was the last straw for the Apple Watch. I’m now using a $29 knock-off from Amazon that looks and works almost identically—and doesn’t make me jump through hoops to move it to another phone.) Then, all the album covers in the music app got reassigned to other artists. All the music had to be deleted from the phone and reloaded.

Unintended Consequences

On the surface, buying a new phone seems simple, but the long tail of upgrades—the cascade of problematic changes needed just to make the one new device functional—is expensive, time-consuming, and sometimes downright exhausting.

In the AV and collaboration world, it’s no different. It’s easy to say you’re swapping out an old videoconferencing device for a newer model, but is the new device compatible with the room’s displays? Does it work with the microphones already installed? Will you need backward-compatible adapters to bridge analog, older digital, or IP-based connections? Will you need to replace cabling in the walls or ceiling?

And if your meeting space uses a control system for AV gear, collaboration tools, or even room scheduling, will the control system need to be reprogrammed? Is it even compatible with the new gear, or will it throw a digital tantrum at the first handshake attempt?

I could easily spend four pages listing more questions that come up when you tug on the string of what seems like a simple upgrade. This is why many organizations choose to skip piecemeal updates and instead do a full forklift replacement. In many cases, it’s actually easier: What once took seven components might now be handled by two or three, delivering better audio, crisper video, and more reliability, often for less money.

Technology marketing loves to pretend every upgrade is like getting a shiny new toy. In reality, it’s often more like Clark Griswold trying to untangle the Christmas lights. One yank leads to a hopeless mess you didn’t see coming.

It may surprise you about me, but that’s one reason I recommend against upgrades. Sure, wholesale system changes can be a smart step, but only if there’s a clear feature or benefit you’re aiming to achieve. But interim, partial upgrades, especially software updates, are a definite "no thanks" from me most of the time.

A Hasty Retreat

When I look back at my four-decade-plus career, I can rarely think of a time when a firmware upgrade helped me do anything, but I can distinctly remember all the updates that killed functions I needed, destroyed compatibility, or worked so poorly that they needed to be stopped and reverted.

That leads to one of my key rules about technology changes at enterprises (and in life, too): No changes without a definite, documented rollback strategy. I can’t begin to tell you how many times the decision to “stop this BS and roll back and we’ll regroup and strategize tomorrow” kept organizations that were counting on technology I was responsible for in business.

Another key principle in engineering design and operations is realizing that the primary system, backup system, and emergency system must, by necessity, be three separate things. I could sadly tell you about the dozens of times that I inspected facilities that used devices with dual power supplies—which were both plugged into the same power strip.

It is important for everyone to understand that while upgrade has a very positive connotation, it has that long tail of complications that can easily turn the positive into a nightmare. Technical managers need to really think through how changes will impact everything, both as part of the commissioning/testing and for the operations team or users left with the change.

[On Your Business: Put Me In, Coach]

As for me, while I'm still fumbling with my new, oversized phone—trying to use it one-handed, dropping it half the time, and wondering why nobody at Apple considered that a palm-sized phone with a button might actually be the best form factor for normal humans—I’ll point out that I scoffed at the idea to trade in my iPhone SE as part of the upgrade. That device can be my backup if I have to roll back, simply by popping the SIM card from the new one back into the old one. Wait, what? The new iPhone doesn’t use a physical SIM card? The long, problematic tail strikes again.

We live in an on-demand culture. Everything, from streaming services to delivery apps, has trained modern individuals to expect precisely what they want, where and when they want it. These on-demand attitudes have profoundly affected AV design.

Modern workers and customers are no longer willing to "make do" with the technology or content provided in a space. They anticipate being able to bring their own technology and content into any environment and have them function as seamlessly as they do at home.

[Vanco Unveils New 4K Wireless Extender and Multiview Matrix]

In terms of audio, this expectation translates to offering wireless connectivity. Whether in conference rooms, classrooms, or event spaces, users want the ability to share presentations with audio, demos, video clips, and even background music from their devices effortlessly. Given that many personal devices come with a single USB-C or Lightning output, which may or may not support audio, a wireless solution becomes essential. Moreover, users are reluctant to physically tether their devices to a system just to facilitate audio during a presentation.

Now that wireless BYOD connectivity is a baseline expectation, integrators have two paths to consider for every project: Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. While there is a plethora of branded wireless audio connectivity solutions available, most rely on one of these two foundational technologies, each with its own set of pros and cons. Let’s break them down.

Bluetooth

Pros: Bluetooth is nearly ubiquitous; most end users are familiar with it, often using it daily. This familiarity means that users can comfortably pair their devices with systems via Bluetooth without assistance. It’s also pervasive and standardized in the consumer device industry—practically all new phones, tablets, computers, and displays have Bluetooth built in, and it’s added to more devices every day.

With Bluetooth, you can feel comfortable that your components as well as end user devices will all be compatible. Transitioning devices from space to space is simple, and switching among sources is nearly seamless. It’s also a relatively low-cost technology, a big reason for its ubiquity.

Cons: Historically, Bluetooth’s range has been unimpressive. Older generations have topped out at about 33 feet (10m) for indoor applications, and even the latest generations have a range of only 131 feet (40m) indoors. If you’re aiming to allow end users to “un-tether” the source and receiver, it’s not acceptable to have the audio drop out whenever the user walks into the next room.

[How BYOD Is Impacting Today's Conference Room Connectivity]

Bluetooth signals are also typically quite compressed. This can affect audio quality—and, if there is accompanying video, cause latency issues as well. Newer codecs such as aptX or Apple’s AAC have improved on this problem, but it’s still no match for wired or even alternative wireless technologies. If audio quality, distance, or video sync are critical considerations for your application, you may want to instead consider Wi-Fi.

Wi-Fi

Pros: The range for a wireless audio distribution system is as good the wireless network itself. All the regular Wi-Fi rules apply: As long as you can create and maintain a stable network (using extenders, repeaters, etc.), you can extend the range as long as you want. With proper network management, that means you can create an incredibly flexible wireless audio transmission system that works anywhere in an office, sports bar, event center, or school.

Wi-Fi also supports much higher bandwidth transmission than Bluetooth, although in real-time audio applications on mixed-criticality commercial networks, this bandwidth may need to be reserved. As a result, Wi-Fi transmission can achieve higher audio quality and is less prone to latency than Bluetooth.

Cons: The trade-off for quality is cost and ease of implementation. Wi-Fi solutions generally require more programming in the initial setup and more support thereafter. They also often require specialized or proprietary components and software.

In addition, many manufacturers have implemented their own proprietary Wi-Fi-based audio systems, which are often not designed with compatibility in mind. Choosing one of these solutions can make it extremely difficult to integrate components from multiple manufacturers, essentially locking you in to a single-vendor solution.

What's Your Priority?

When it comes to wireless audio, the integrator must prioritize, balancing ease-of-use and interoperability against signal quality and range. There are excellent solutions available in both categories, but no silver bullets yet.

[It's Complicated: How Integrators Balance Classroom Technology and Usability]

Integrators must critically analyze the prevailing factors—including the environment, user preferences, and technical demands—to tailor a solution that meets the contemporary expectations of an on-demand culture. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, the innovative advancements in both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technologies enable us to create spaces where limitations are fewer, and the user experience is richer and more seamless.

Audinate, the company behind Dante, offers a number of Dante AVIO adapters that make it easy to connect gear (such as legacy analog equipment) into your Dante network. The plug-and-play Dante AVIO Bluetooth is all about wireless convenience—it allows you to connect your smartphone or laptop to your Dante network. Just connect the adapter to your Ethernet switch, press a button, and pair it like you would a wireless speaker.

Dante AVIO Bluetooth provides access to content in situations where cables can be problematic. From a live audioconference to your favorite playlist, you can share stereo 24-bit, 48 kHz audio with minimal latency. You can even password protect the adapter through Dante Doman Manager to avoid unauthorized use. The compact, rugged connector is a quick and easy solution for last-minute network additions on location. 

SCN Stocking Stuffers is a seasonal series highlighting affordable tools for professionals on your “nice” list.

AV Technology's content director, Cindy Davis, has chosen five home technology articles from her siblings' publications, Tom's Guide and TechRadar, that she thinks you'll want to read.

You might be aware that AV Technology and Systems Contractor News brands are owned by the parent company Future plc based in the UK. But few are aware that Future holds nearly 200 brands in various categories such as women's lifestyle, music, technology, wealth and finance, and sports, to name a few.

I thought I'd check in with our siblings at Tom's Guide and TechRadar to share some home technology articles that might interest you.

The horrible alteration in the headline is a nod to my colleague, SCN's content director, Mark Pescatore.

On to the cool articles for your Friday reading:

Best Smartwatch 2022: Top Picks for Every Budget

From Tom’s Guide, by Kate Kozuch 

Here are the best smartwatches available for iPhone and Android users

The best smartwatches do more than let you know if you're getting a call or text message on your wrist. They're everything in one: a fitness tracker for counting your steps, a digital wallet and in some cases, it can act as a phone, even if your smartphone is nowhere nearby.

Read the full article here.

The Best TV in 2022: Our Top Picks from LG, Samsung, Sony, TCL, Vizio and More

From Tom’s Guide, by Nick Pino  

We’ve found the best TVs for you, with the best budget options along with 4K and 8K TVs

The best TVs are always changing, but we're always updating our guide to keep up with the latest and greatest models. 

We want you to get the whole package when buying something new: great picture quality, rich sound, and all of the smart features available today, and it would be nice to save a buck or two while you're at it.

Here you'll find the results of our tests in a definitive list of the best TVs of 2022. Read the full article here.

The Best Bluetooth Speakers in 2022 — Tested and Rated

From Tom’s Guide, by Lee Dunkley 

These are the best Bluetooth speakers to suit your needs and budget based on our in-depth testing

Whether you’re on a budget or looking to splurge on something a bit more powerful, we’ve compiled a list of the best Bluetooth speakers to suit your needs and pocket. It's important to remember that certain added features will increase the cost, like built-in digital assistance (e.g., Alexa, Google Assistant), or AirPlay support, for example, but you can still find a durable design with strong specs for less with the help of this guide.

Read the full article here.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Review

From TechRadar, by Lance Ulanoff, contributions from Tom Bedford 

A versatile, fun, and productivity-friendly phone/tablet hybrid

Is it possible that we've reached the age of refinement in the foldable phone story? With the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, Samsung apparently hasn’t tried to reinvent the genre or radically alter the foldable’s display and design. Instead, this latest Galaxy Z device brings a number of small-but-welcome design enhancements over the Z Fold 3, plus a new processor and upgraded camera array. 

Read the full review here.

Best VPN Routers of 2022: Top Routers for Virtual Private Networks

From TechRadar, by Matt Hanson 

The best VPN routers to make use of your virtual private network connection

There are many reasons why you'd want your router to handle your VPN connection. While it is possible to use software VPNs on individual devices, buy setting up the VPN with your router, you're ensuring that all of your network data goes through the VPN when it is enabled.

This means every device on your network can take advantage of the security and privacy benefits of the VPN you sign up with.

So, read on for our list of the best VPN routers, and at the end we have some expert advice on how to sign up for the best router VPN for your needs. 

Read the full article here.

MAXHUB continues to reimagine its place in the hybrid world with its latest Bluetooth speakerphone. The all-new BM35 enables high-quality audio in a compact but powerful and portable device that serves as a conferencing tool for exceptional audio in any meeting space.

Thanks to its 360-degree omnidirectional audio algorithms, the BM35 is designed to ensure every voice is heard as its pick-up range can capture participants up to six meters away. Eight microphones enable clear, efficient meeting experiences.

Here's how the BM35 works. 

[SCN Hybrid World: Seeing Is Believing with Conference Cameras] 

Effective collaboration and enhanced productivity in any meeting space

Optimized to keep human voices crisp, the BM35 enables smooth conferencing that feels as natural as a face-to-face discussion. Hybrid teams can connect via True Wireless Stereo to enhance the range and reach more than 20 people simultaneously.

With AI noise and acoustic echo cancellation incorporated, the BM35 limits background noise and unnecessary distractions. Intelligently absorbing and filtering out intrusive sound, the speakerphone enhances meeting productivity with superior, high-fidelity (hi-fi) sound quality.

Supports natural, in-depth discussions with AGC

The BM35’s automatic gain control (AGC) feature helps keep participant’s volume consistent, even when individuals move around while speaking. The device’s intuitive algorithms dynamically adjust the voice volume, ensuring a consistent output at the other end. 

Equipped with full-duplex audio, this powerful speakerphone distributes sound from opposite sides through separate channels. As a result, meeting participants on either end can communicate simultaneously, giving depth to conversations for meetings that flow organically.

[3 Features to Know about MAXHUB's New UC 180-Degree Panoramic Camera]

Exceptional coverage everywhere for the hybrid world

Portable and adaptable to any size meeting space, this premium device from MAXHUB provides exceptional coverage in multiple environments. Equipped with a 4400MAh built-in battery that can last up to 30 hours, it eliminates awkward wiring and empowers teams with unconstrained collaboration time.

“The powerhouse BM35 Bluetooth speakerphone is MAXHUB’s latest contribution to the unified communications solutions market. It captures every utterance in perfect detail while providing an exceptional listening experience for distortion-free in-depth conversations,” said general manager Darren Lin. “Providing a highly immersive soundscape, the BM35 has been purpose-built for modern, hybrid meetings.”

The ultimate achievement for any technology or manufacturing process today is to improve performance and efficiency while reducing environmental impact. At Controlled Thermal Resources, a pioneering Southern California company that produces lithium battery products in a near-zero-emissions facility, sustainability is central to everything they do.

When the company recently opened a new office and decided to upgrade its meeting room video conferencing equipment, the drive to improve efficiency, quality and sustainability led them to Konftel. The Swedish technology company manufactures high-performance, easy-to-use cameras and conference phones for video conferencing, and has also made sustainability core to its company mission – as a Climate Neutral Certified organization.

According to Controlled Thermal Resources’ Real Estate Manager Paul Magana, the company required an affordable, platform-agnostic video conferencing solution that would allow them to collaborate with Zoom, Teams, WebEx and any other service a client or partner might utilize.

[ Konftel Interactive Room Type Guide Streamlines Sales Process ]

“Over the last two to three years, virtual collaboration and video conferences have become part of our daily work process, and the consumer-grade equipment we were using simply wasn’t up to the task,” Magana explained. “Being able to clearly see and hear remote partners is vital to our ongoing success, and between the finicky setup process, frequent issues with connections and screen sharing, and sub-par audio and video quality, we knew we could do better.”

After research and conversations with colleagues, Magana and the company’s decision makers chose the robust Konftel 800 conference phone and easy-to-use Cam50 1080P video camera with pan, tilt and 12x zoom capability. The first conference room to be upgraded now has two of each, providing full-room coverage at a fraction of the cost of competitor’s solutions.

“We looked at various solutions, and Konftel’s wireless products that can run on Power over Ethernet provided significant benefits for our space while being one of the most affordable options,” Magana continued. “What’s more, the fact that Konftel is one of the industry’s strongest proponents of developing carbon-neutral processes and products made it a perfect fit that exceeded all of our expectations.”

Magana said that some other solutions they considered would have required tearing up concrete floors to lay new wiring, with some even using proprietary cables. The Konftel 800 conference phone, on the other hand, is powered by PoE (power over ethernet) and uses Bluetooth to provide simple, fast connection no matter who is running the meeting.

In addition to the cameras and conference phones, Controlled Thermal Resources’ new conference room includes an 85-inch wall-mounted digital display with an Apple Mac Mini mounted behind it. Through this combination of technologies, users are able to easily and quickly launch meetings without all the fuss of the former setup. Previously, meeting hosts had to connect their laptop to the room’s equipment and ensure everything was running smoothly before each meeting, which reduced efficiency and often required IT support. 

[ Konftel Comes to Marymount Cuernavaca and a High-Quality Hybrid Learning Experience Serves Students Well ]

“The new system we designed is easier and more reliable, and the quality has been fantastic,” Magana said. “The first time we had a meeting with 20 executives from all different locations, there were no glitches, no drop-outs, every word and image was crystal clear, and attendees shared their screens with no issues. The vast difference between the old solution and Konftel’s professional-grade equipment has been a game-changer for our daily meetings.”

Controlled Thermal Resources was founded in 2013 and is growing rapidly, with their innovative sustainable processes attracting interest from companies around the world that rely on professional-quality virtual collaboration tools. 

With both Controlled Thermal Resources and Konftel stating their commitments to sustainability and emissions reductions, supporting each other’s businesses is a no brainer. While the lithium company creates new ways to safely power the future.

We’ve all been a part of the dreaded unplanned speakerphone call. It’s hard to hear and it’s hard to be heard. For that office or small conference room where small groups tend to congregate for big calls, consider the EPOS EXPAND 30 Series of Bluetooth speakerphones. They work with Windows and Mac operating systems, so you can connect through your laptop, smartphone, or tablet.

Each EXPAND 30 is equipped with two echo and noise-cancelling microphones to capture sound from all sides, and its duplex technology allows simultaneous speech with your client on the other end of the call. The unit itself is compact, weighs less than a pound, and offers convenient cable winding, so you can take it to the job site, too.

The EXPAND 30 includes a USB-C cable with USB-A adapter and carry pouch. The EXPAND 30 + adds a BTD 800 USB dongle for PC-based UC systems, while the EXPAND 30T, certified for Microsoft Teams, also includes a dedicated button for one-touch connectivity. Bonus: When you’re not on a call, the EXPAND 30 doubles as a solid speaker for listening to music.

SCN Stocking Stuffers is a seasonal series highlighting affordable tools for professionals on your “nice” list.

The What: Symetrix has announced the xIO Bluetooth, a Dante-enabled Bluetooth endpoint available in a single-gang form factor. 

The What Else: IP control and PoE power simplify installation by allowing a single cable connection from the xIO Bluetooth to a PoE enabled network switch. The xIO Bluetooth may be configured to allow media-only connectivity, phone bridge connectivity, or both. All aspects of xIO Bluetooth control can be controlled using Symetrix remotes, SymVue panels, or third-party control systems.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Networked Audio 

The xIO Bluetooth is a fully integrated member of the Symetrix xIO family of Dante endpoints allowing full control and configuration of the device, including Dante routing, from within Symetrix Composer software. All aspects of the xIO Bluetooth are fully configurable including the Bluetooth friendly device name, Dante channel names, connect/reconnect functionality, and security.

The Bottom Line: Using a modern, full-featured Bluetooth 5.0 chipset allows the xIO Bluetooth to offer extended range, a stable connection, and high-quality audio. Available in both US and EU form factors, the xIO Bluetooth has a sleek design and is compatible with standard single-gang US wall boxes with Decora faceplates, as well as EU/UK standard wall boxes. 

The xIO Bluetooth will begin shipping in Q3.

The What: Timecode Systems has launched UltraSync BLUE, which uses the company's patented timecode sync and control protocol.

The What Else: UltraSync BLUE transmits timecode to a recording device over Bluetooth with sub-frame accuracy. The product uses Bluetooth pairing to connect to a device, enabling timecode to be transmitted wirelessly from UltraSync BLUE directly into the media file of a connected device.

The device itself measures just 55mm x 43mm x 17mm, weighs only 36g, and costs £125 ($179 or €149), making it small enough to fit neatly into a pocket during filming and affordable enough to be used on any type of production — from documentaries, news gathering, and reality shows to wedding videos and independent films.

By removing the restrictions of a wired connection, crews not only benefit from the convenience of being cable-free, but also from more versatility in how they can sync content. A feature of UltraSync BLUE is the ability to use a single unit to sync up to four recording devices shooting in close range over Bluetooth — a great option for small shoots and interviews, and also for content captured for vlogs and social media.

The Bottom Line: At launch, both the MAVIS professional camera app and Apogee MetaRecorder app (both for iPhone) are already fully compatible, allowing — for the first time — sound and video recorded on iPhone devices to be synchronised over the Timecode Systems network.

Timecode Systems is now taking orders for UltraSync BLUE and will be shipping in October 2018.

The What: Yamaha Unified Communications is now shipping the Yamaha YVC-200 portable USB + Bluetooth speakerphone for conferencing anytime, anywhere. Available in select worldwide regions, the portable conferencing device is designed to provide users with ample, clear sound no matter where they work by leveraging Yamaha's superior audio technology to boost productivity when meeting remotely.

The What Else: The YVC-200 speakerphone is the ultimate portable device for on-the-go communication. The compact device fits in the palm of a user's hand and is integrated with Yamaha's leading sound processing technologies, including adaptive echo cancellation and Human Voice Activity Detection, which focuses on speech rather than background noise. The unit features an intelligent microphone and delivers full-duplex conversation without sound dropouts, even when multiple people are speaking at once. In addition, a powerful built-in speaker produces audio that sounds so natural, it feels as if every remote participant on the call is in the room. With the YVC-200, users can easily hear what's being said and be heard, enabling highly productive team collaboration anywhere.

To start a remote meeting, users connect the YVC-200 to their audio, video, or web conferencing client. Equipped with USB and Bluetooth, with fast pairing to NFC-enabled devices, the YVC-200 can connect to a PC, smartphone, or tablet. The built-in rechargeable battery provides up to 10 hours of operation.

It is software-agnostic and fully compatible with commonly used OSs and remote conferencing services, such as Skype for Business, Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex, Zoom, Slack, and more. In addition, interactive touch-sensor buttons for easy and intuitive operation provide manual control of software functions, such as microphone mute and speaker volume. Users can start a meeting anytime, anywhere, including ad-hoc meetings in the office or a customer's site, without missing inspired ideas or cues for making immediate decisions.

The Bottom Line: Available in a choice of white or black, the YVC-200 blends into any home or corporate office. Its small, lightweight, and space-saving design is perfect for portability and deployment at laptop or mobile terminals. A headset jack allows for private listening and the option to enjoy music through the unit between calls.

The What: Vanco International has introduced four new products from the Beale Street Audio, PulseAudio, and Vanco brands. The new products offer residential and commercial AV distributors and dealers with the latest in HDMI wireless extender and receiver technology, as well as compact subwoofer amplifiers and Bluetooth transmitter/receivers.

The What Else: Small and compact, the Beale Street Audio A220 amplifier fits almost anywhere and can drive even the most demanding subwoofers. The A220 is Class D, 220 watts, and features a stereo/mono line level audio input that can receive full-band audio from any audio amplifier, receiver or preamp, or an LFE input from an appropriately featured device. With an efficient digital design that runs cool under almost any load, the A220 also features a stereo speaker level input and pass-through, adjustable subwoofer crossover frequency, and adjustable phase settings. The A220 is a simple and efficient way for installers to add amplified in-wall or in-ceiling subwoofers to multiroom audio amplifiers that do not have zone-specific level outputs.

Designed for audio components that do not already feature Bluetooth functionality, the Pulse Audio PABT410 Bluetooth 4.1 Transmitter and Receiver can be used to send or accept Bluetooth signals with A2DP, AVRCP, and apt-X compatibility. The PABT410 includes both analog and digital connections with 3.5mm and SPDIF connections for inputs and outputs and automatically searches available devices for connectivity. The PABT140’s integrated fast-charging battery is well suited for mobile use as it does not need to be connected to a power supply. The device supports voice prompts and Dual-Stream (TX) and Dual Connection (RX) modes to maintain multiple connections simultaneously. With the PABT410, installers can now bring Bluetooth functionality to any audio product.

The Vanco HDWIRKIT/RX kit extends HDMI signals wirelessly up to 131 feet/40 meters and includes both a transmitter and receiver for point-to-point application. Able to transmit up to 1080p HD video and audio, the HDWIRKIT/RX can split wireless HDMI signals to up to four displays and multiple kits can be installed in one application without interference. The HDWIRKIT/RX does not require line-of-sight transmission and can send and receive signal through most obstacles, making it a convenient solution for installations where running cable is an issue.

The Bottom Line: The A220 and HDWIRKIT are available now. The HDWIR-RX and PABT410 will be available late July 2018. Interested distributors can contact Vanco International directly for pricing