As the year draws to a close, some smart home companies are ending with a bang. Check out the new features, partnerships, and products that are making home tech brands finish the year strong.
Sonos Embraces HiFi Streaming
As holiday playlists float out of speakers, the question of streaming versus vinyl reemerges, especially for those nostalgic for mid-century crooners and the warmth and depth they claim you can only get from a record. While some may like the memories conjured by removing a record from its sleeve and gently placing the needle, Sonos has recently made a push towards the ease and ever-increasing quality of streaming music.
Sonos speakers interconnect with all major streaming services, but now also support Amazon Music’s highest quality tracks in Ultra HD and Dolby Atmos. It has also hinted that it will support HiFi from Apple Music in the near future. Sonos owners can kick back and enjoy crystal clear, lossless streaming holiday music controlled with the easy touch of a button rather than requiring a steady hand to move that needle.
Crestron Announces Battery-Powered Shades
Crestron is expanding their shade portfolio with a battery-powered option. Shipping this month, the battery-powered shades add to their wired and wireless choices. This rounds out Crestron’s line, providing homeowners and installers with powering possibilities for any room. The battery-powered shades work especially well for retrofitting spaces where rewiring to accommodate wired shades wouldn’t be the best option.
In addition to the ease of battery power, these shades include all the features found in Crestron’s full line, including over 400 fabric choices to complement any decor and coordination with their home automation ecosystem allowing for scheduling and synchronization within the room or whole house. This new addition also includes an ultra-quiet motor and a 3 year battery life; Crestron is putting the focus on beauty and ease while making use and maintenance effortless.
Ketra Ready Fixtures
Ketra, a division of smart lighting industry leader Lutron, is stepping beyond lightbars and recessed lights to wrap up 2021. They’ve announced a line of luxury light fixtures called Ketra Ready that are compatible with their control systems. Known for their ability to deliver a massive array of lighting options focusing on hue and brightness as well as endless customization, these Ketra Ready light fixtures will seamlessly bring that versatility to a range of beautiful, high-end fixtures.
The designs span the globe and utilize a variety of materials. From traditional metalworking in Brooklyn to upcycling in Johannesburg, the light fixtures are sure to add elegance and distinction to any interior aesthetic. The Ketra Ready lamps, chandeliers, sconces, and more will make it easy to achieve perfect ambiance and perfect lighting in any room.
Sonance and Josh.ai Go Invisible
A partnership between Josh.ai and Sonance may appear to be focused on ultra high-end technology and functionality, given that both companies are top in their fields at delivering products that provide the ultimate in performance. The collaboration, however, is also prioritizing design. With an aim of making smart home devices disappear, but maintain a high level of functionality, Josh.ai’s responsive voice assistant can now utilize Sonance’s unobtrusive yet powerful in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, rather than through a dedicated wall panel. Additional features include extended capabilities to any connected Sonance speakers and customizing audio across multiple zones and inputs. Sonance and Josh.ai’s partnership will have smart home owners hearing, rather than seeing, the power of their products.
Responsive Living, the term coined by Acoustic Architects founders, Aaron Flint and Spencer Hauldren, is the concept of seamlessly enhancing the client’s unique lifestyle using smart home technology. Responsive Living allows you to interact with your space via touch input, voice command, and predictive automation, placing you in full control of your home.
If you would like to learn more about integrating new systems into your smart home system, feel free to connect with us. We will be happy to schedule a demo with you.
For more information, visit acousticarchitects.net.
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