multi-room
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Google-powered smart displays will support multi-room audio
Google is shifting its focus from a smorgasbord of new hardware to a slew of Assistant- and software- based features. To begin with, it's rolling out multi-room audio support to all smart displays. Like audio-only Assistant speakers, you can add the screen-equipped devices to speaker groups and play music wherever you are in your home. Also, smart displays and smart speakers alike are receiving a previously hinted-at "Downtime" feature to block access during key hours. A "Filters" option, meanwhile, manages permissions for kids.
Yamaha's latest turntable streams multi-room audio via WiFi
You can pair a turntable with a multi-room audio setup (Sonos even offers a bundle), but that usually means wiring your record player into that setup at some point. Yamaha thinks it can do better. Its newly launched MusicCast Vinyl 500 turntable uses WiFi to stream records wirelessly to MusicCast speakers in your home. If you don't insist on that distinctive vinyl sound, the machine will natively stream digital services like Spotify, Pandora and Tidal.
HTC hints at multi-room VR using Steam
You may know that VR in large rooms is becoming a reality, but what about venturing between rooms? It might happen sooner than you think, albeit with a few caveats. HTC has shown off an experience that used a SteamVR beta, a Vive Pro and 16 base stations to allow VR between multiple rooms. A tester successfully wandered between rooms finding tracked objects as he wandered through a complex but connected space. Don't expect to play VR games that span your entire home, though, as there are some limitations.
Apple's HomePod won't have multi-room or stereo audio at launch
Apple just announced that its HomePod smart speaker is set to ship February 9th of this year. What didn't make the large print is that it won't support multi-room audio or stereo pairing on that date. These are pretty big features of all other internet-connected speakers these days, which really shows how down to the wire Apple is on getting HomePod into your living room, especially after the recent delay.
Sony's new multi-room audio gear includes better speaker options
CES isn't the first time Sony's debuted speakers capable of multi-room audio. In fact, I spent some time with the company's SRS-X77 earlier this year. The wave of products that included that speaker offered a range of sizes, but didn't cover all the bases that Sonos does. With its announcements here in Las Vegas, Sony has a well-rounded stable of tech, with two speakers, a soundbar and a wireless sub. And those expanded options give it a better chance at taking a shot at the current top dog.
Philips goes after Sonos with its izzy multi-room audio line
Companies have finally caught on to Sonos' style of multi-room audio and are trotting out similar products of their own. Philips is jumping on the bandwagon as well, and at CES this year, the company is debuting its izzy line. Made up of four speaker options, the izzy series aims to blanket your house with audio and it has a key feature that differentiates it from the competition. Most multi-room setups require an app to handle the configuration, but that's not the case here. Philips' izzy doesn't need a router or any extra software as the speakers create their own network and can be paired in a group of up to five with the push of a button.
Engadget giveaway: win an Omni S6 speaker from Polk Audio!
The days of bulky, wired hi-fi systems are numbered when you consider the freedom that whole-home sound systems provide. Polk Audio recently added the S6 to its Omni line of connected speakers, which utilize DTS Play-Fi technology to link one or more units to your home network. With the Omni mobile app, you can control individual speaker volumes, play different tunes in different rooms and even stream music from services like Spotify, Pandora, Songza and more. This week, we're giving away three of these flagship speakers to a trio of lucky readers. It will give you a head start towards filling your home with sound, especially since you can add additional Polk Omni or even third-party Play-Fi-enabled speakers to the network. Although, with a dedicated four-channel, 100-watt digital amplifier to power the Omni S6's output, this single speaker's sound could go a long way. Just head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning! Winners: Congratulations to Erik S. of Hatfield, PA, Alan J. of Clifton, NJ and James E. of Hamtramck, MI!
Libratone jumps into multi-room audio with its latest speakers
Libratone isn't content with churning out more cloth-covered wireless speakers -- it wants to muscle in on Sonos' home turf. The upscale gear maker has launched both an updated Zipp speaker and a smaller Zipp Mini (shown above) that include multi-room audio. You can link as many as six of the zipper-clad speakers over WiFi, much like some of their peers. The key, as you might have guessed, is that everything is portable. If you're jonesing to move your entire setup to a new room, you can do it without feeling like you're moving house.
Sonos Playbar appears at the FCC (update: WiFi explained)
Sonos is the de facto choice for multi-room audio, but even some of its biggest proponents will grumble about the lack of built-in WiFi -- going wireless in any way has meant tacking a Bridge on to the cost of an already expensive system. An FCC filing for an upcoming device, the Playbar, hints that common sense might have the upper hand. While there's few details of the audio system itself, there's explicit mentions of dual-band 802.11n WiFi inside. Just what that WiFi does is another matter. Sonos prefers using its proprietary network to cut back on lag and interference, so the Playbar's additional wireless may extend functionality rather than simplify our lives. With approval out of the way, there's a better chance we'll know the full story in the near future. Update: We've done some digging, and the WiFi may be more innocuous: Sonos' proprietary network is actually WiFi that's just invisible most of the time. Android users have access to settings that expose Sonos' WiFi network and make it usable. As such, the Playbar may be more conventional than first thought, although its exact role in the home is still a mystery.
Dish Hopper multi-room DVR in action (video)
The show floor opened, so we headed to the Dish booth to check out the Hopper multi-room DVR in action. Like the images from the press event, the UI looks a lot like the VIP 922 but with a few new screens to keep up with what the tuners are doing and for access to Primetime Anytime. We also learned along the way that outside of standard primetime hours, the DVR is limited to recording three shows at once.
Samsung N Service unveiled at CES: Time Warner Cable, DirecTV, Comcast and Verizon onboard
Well, what have we here? Looks as if Samsung's cooking up quite the content partnership here at CES 2012, with Verizon, DirecTV, Time Warner Cable and Comcast (at least) onboard. From a content creation standpoint, NBC Universal is evidently signed on to crack open its coffers and let the material pour fourth, and we're guessing we'll hear of quite a few more once the announcement gets official. As of now, the so-called N Service looks to be one that'll enable select pay-TV subscribers to stream content onto Samsung devices -- hopefully whilst far, far away from home. At least for FiOS TV users, those who take advantage of N Service will be able to "access live streaming FiOS TV channels, as well as Flex View commercial movies and TV shows from one's Samsung Smart TV or Blu-ray player." It'll obviously work with multi-room households, too. Have a peek at the detail shots below, and keep it locked right here as we learn more.
Sonos controller goes live for iPad (update: Spotify too)
It's been a long three months, but the Sonos app for iPad is finally here, joining your iPhone in a quest to easily serve up music to every one of your fancy mesh-networked rooms. It's a free 7MB download, so if you've obtained the requisite technology, what have you got to lose? And hey, once you get used to the extra real estate, the company has a nice resting place for your iPhone, too. PR after the break, iTunes link immediately below. Update: Europeans are also getting treated to Spotify access today with the release of the Sonos 3.3 software update. The Sonos Controller for the iPhone / iPod touch still hasn't been updated but it has to come soon -- those Spotify tracks won't change themselves.
Cincinnati Bell rolls out multi-room DVR that can pause live TV
Yep, believe it or not when a cable company deploys a multi-room DVR in 2010 that can pause live TV at every TV in the house, it is news. Sure you might've been doing this with TiVo or Windows Media Center for the last five years or so, but the poor sap with the free cell phone equivalent of a DVR from their cable company is just happy to not have their recordings tied to one TV. We give Motorola a hard time about this but honestly it is just catering to businesses that just do enough to keep their customers from revolting and not a thing more. Of course the real sad news is that the headline says Cincinnati Bell instead of a provider that actually has a decent size footprint. No doubt this'll be enough to warrant a comment to the FCC by the NCTA about how cable providers around the country are innovating. Just awesome.
Sonos Controller for iPad: multi-room music dictation, supersized
Got yourself a smattering of Sonos ZonePlayers in need of some direction? Still trying to figure out exactly why you ripped someone's arm off to buy that last local iPad? At long last, the turmoil in your life can be settled... but you'll have to wait till late August for complete peace. You know -- 'cause the gratis Sonos controller for iPad ain't hitting the App Store before then. Head on past the break for a video of how it'll all go down, or just scroll on down if you've got the world's greatest imagination.
DirecTV takes Whole Home DVR service nationwide
DirecTV has officially launched its multi-room viewing solution, now branded Whole Home DVR service, for customers looking to manage and view their recordings from more than one set-top box in the same house. ZatzNotFunny links to the a product page that breaks down what's available while also taking shots at its cable competition and even DISH's SlingLoaded boxes. The setup still seems a bit complex to us, but since it doesn't require any new hardware and only a $3 service charge it might be just the right thing for your home. Check the video on the page or embedded after the break.
Ask Engadget HD: Best way to feed HD to two TVs?
Multiroom video setups are hardly an easy task, but what if you just want to pipe the A/V in whole from one spot to another? That's the conundrum facing our friend Ed, we'll let him break down the situation first. "I have a question that I think has several answers, but I would like to know the best solution. I have a DirecTV HD-DVR - HR20-700 hooked up to my TV via HDMI and optical audio to my receiver. I have my receiver's sound also hooked up to outside speakers by the pool so I can listen to XM or any other program from DirecTV or radio. I would like to add the video outside as well. I already have an RG6 coax cable outside, and I have an open CAT-5 connection near the back door, but not outside where the TV would go. Both cable runs are approximately 100' or less. My question is, what is the best way to get the video from the HR20 outside? " There's a bevy of splitters, extenders, slingers and media box solutions that could help our friend out, but it's hard to say what would be best for this situation. We're still waiting for the SlingMonitor to make a retail experience and give us the WiFi TV wherever we've always wanted, but how would you do it? Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Niveus goes consumer-level with tantalizing Zone HTPC
Each year at CEDIA, we've been downright floored with Niveus' lineup. Unfortunately, it's out of reach for the vast majority of "mainstreet" dwellers. At long (long!) last, the company has decided to expand its reach and offer a product for the blue collars in America, and on paper, the Zone looks like a real champ in the flagging HTPC arena. Measuring in at 6.5- x 6.5- x 1.97-inches, this 3.2 pound box packs an awful lot of media playing oomph into a ridiculously small enclosure. Specs wise, we're looking at a 2GHz Core 2 Duo T5750 CPU, 2GB of RAM, gigabit Ethernet, a 160GB SATA drive, slot-loading Blu-ray optical drive, front-mounted IR receiver, bundled media remote, Intel's GMA X4500 HD graphics, HDMI 1.3 / eSATA ports and support for 7.1-channel surround sound. Over on the software front, you'll see Windows Vista Home Premium along with Niveus' own suite of apps (Movie Library, Studio, Media Server Companion and Weather). Unlike any other Niveus system, consumers can purchase the Zone for $1,499 directly from the outfit's website, and there's also a unique Zone Community down in the read link; check out a promotional vid after the break if you wish.
Macrovision shows new Passport tru2way guide and multi-room features
At the Cable Show this week Macrovision is showing off its new tru2way Passport software, which we have to say is pretty cool looking. Of course it isn't the coolest looking software we've seen, but it is the best looking tru2way option so far and at least it is widescreen. But maybe in what might be bigger news to Comcast fans customers around the country -- or anyone who uses the Passport of iGuide software really -- is the that like the Passport tru2way software, the new Passport and iGuide software will also support multi-room viewing. So you'll finally be able to have your content follow you around the house and automatically pick up where you left off. Unfortunately like other solutions based on the Motorola boxes it's limited to two tuners throughout the house -- because a DVR can only act as a server and not as a client -- and we'd bet our old friends at the cable company will continue to only offer DVRs with puney 160GB hard drives, which really makes it hard for most families to get by with a single DVR.
Sony's iPod-lovin' AIR-SA20PK S-AIRPLAY music system reviewed
We'll just cut to the chase: if you've been cautiously eying Sony's S-AIRPLAY system in hopes of it solving your multi-zone audio desires, you'll be sorely disappointed at how it performs in real world use. The AIR-SA20PK showcased just decent audio quality, odd design choices, unintuitive controls and a wireless range that was less-than-stellar. 'Course, the unit was being held to some pretty high standards, but given the $400 sticker, we can understand that. In the end, critics determined that the unit wasn't an outright failure, but for four bills, they'd prefer it to be much easier to use and sound quite a bit better. Good thing you didn't pull the trigger already, huh?
Sony's NHS-A30C / NHS-70C AV racks and HomeShare hands-on
At CEDIA, home install is king. Thus, it shouldn't come as any shock to see Sony introducing a few products not exactly aimed at the consumer crowd. Enter the NHS-A30C / NHS-70C home automation racks and the HomeShare multi-room entertainment solution, both of which were generating a bit of buzz while we were bobbing and weaving in an attempt to snag a few shots. The HomeShare system seemed particularly amazing, with the wall-mounted touch panels being among the most attractive at the show. Check out the full walk-through below. %Gallery-31211%
