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CSR’s Automotive Infotainment team is gearing up to showcase its ground-breaking new connectivity products at the Telematics Detroit 2013 Conference & Exhibition over two days in June, the 5th and 6th. Held in Novi, Michigan in the heartland of the US automotive industry, this major industry event brings together the global telematics ecosystem to master the “connected car” user experience and build brand affinity. Here are some of the event highlights: over 100 expert speakers (from the likes of GM, BMW, Toyota, Honda, Mercedes-Benz) will deliver their visions for the connected car and the evolving automotive apps ecosystem that is set to revolutionise consumer interaction with the vehicle; a quintet of conference tracks including sessions on connectivity business models, end-to-end telematics platforms, V2X technologies, big data, and open app development.

CSR exhibits on booth 65.

This year’s Bluetooth World event – the highly successful reboot of the Bluetooth SIG’s venerable All Hands Meeting – evidenced the return to “booming” market growth for all things Bluetooth fueled by the much-anticipated arrival of a slew of both Bluetooth Smart enabled “Appcessories” and Bluetooth Smart Ready devices. CSR and other Bluetooth Smart providers, developers, and brands showcased an impressive array of Bluetooth Smart and classic Bluetooth technology. A number of medical device manufacturers displayed a bevy of health and fitness devices, including heart-rate monitors, glucose meters, and blood-pressure monitors, to name a few.

Not surprisingly, Internet of Things (IoT) permeated the agenda of the event’s conference proceedings and was the central theme of both the opening keynote and the closing speech  Several panel sessions were devoted entirely to IoT with attendees animatedly asking panelists and speakers the kind of questions only those developing products and platforms for IoT would field. Consequently, the atmosphere in the main auditorium was absolutely electric given that IoT is expected to be one of the major drivers of the market growth – some indeed predict “hockey-stick” growth – of Bluetooth 4.0.

But the real star of Bluetooth World 2013 – this year held in Shanghai, China – was undoubtedly Bluetooth Smart itself, the “low energy” iteration of Bluetooth wireless connectivity standard. CSR staff were there to show and tell a buzzing crowd about an exciting array of CSR µEnergy® based Bluetooth Smart devices: the biggest draw for many of the 640 plus attendees was the demonstration of a µEnergy based “airmouse” smart remote control with embedded voice recognition. Also on show on the busy CSR booth was the new Dexin Bluetooth Smart mini keyboard and mouse for the Surface by Microsoft, a Windows 8 tablet. CSR also put the µEnergy based MadCatz GameSmart gaming mouse through its paces, and CSR’s Patrick Cullen wowed visiting audio engineers with a demo of CSR aptX Low Latency enabled Bluetooth Stereo gaming speakers.

As CSR’s David James observed: “…the combination of competitors, prospects, technologists and potential development partners all with burning questions about the latest ways to use Bluetooth Smart is a reminder that we are collectively building something more than the next new widget: we are changing the way the world connects and improving our lives with wireless connectivity.” CSR will be back at Bluetooth World in 2014.

Cambridge-based BlueCreation has introduced a certified dual-mode Bluetooth® 4.0 audio module together with a development kit for rapid prototyping for products for the fast-growing wireless audio accessory markets. In addition, BlueCreation offers a customization service to OEMs to help bring “classic” Bluetooth and Bluetooth Smart Ready products to market in a matter of weeks.

Based on the CSR8670 audio platform and measuring just 11.8mm x 18mm, the BC127 (pictured) sports a complete set of profiles (HFP 1.6, etc), codecs (SBC, MP3, AAC and aptX®) and connectivity to iOS® and Android® apps using a simple control and configuration interface. BlueCreation says that the BC127 offers the capability to stream high-quality audio over a distance of 20m; the module supports user-defined sampling rates and differential analogue output with an integrated DAC offering 96dB SNR and -87dB stereo separation.

There are smartphones, and then there are Samsung flagship smartphones. The South Korean electronics and IT powerhouse that is Samsung Electronics recently announced that shipments of its latest Android 4.0 powered flagship model have surpassed 10 million units in just two months. According to Samsung, sales of this globally popular model could eventually top 40 million, which would make it the all-time best-selling smartphone for the company. (Just to put these figures in perspective, if this smartphone was an album, it would surely be on track to out-sell 21, English chanteuse Adele‘s record-breaking collection of Grammy Award winning songs, and a sure bet to out-sell global sales of Fleetwood Mac‘s evergreen Rumours).

Much is said about the vital statistics of this particular flagship model: a generous 4.8-inch screen with 720p HD resolution, with an 8-megapixel camera and 1.9-megapixel front camera to boot. And its lightweight and svelte, weighing in at 4.7 ounces and measuring 8.6 millimeters thin. But this model also packs a special treat for the ears that many beady-eyed gadget reviewers have overlooked in their haste to post their glowing critiques. That sonic treat is CSR’s aptX® *

Already installed in a fast-growing ecosystem of top-notch Bluetooth headphones, hot speaker docks, and Bluetooth adapters for in-car and home-based audio sytems, aptX® audio coding technology super-charges the fidelity of stereo audio when streamed over a Bluetooth wireless connection. So next time you use aptX® enabled Bluetooth headphones to enjoy the plaintive voice of Stevie Nicks streaming from your new Android powered Samsung smartphone, listen up to the positive difference aptX makes.

* CSR aptX audio coding technology replaces the standard audio codec Bluetooth employs for streaming stereo audio wirelessly from audio devices to headphones and speakers, delivering improved, high-fidelity sound comparable to the CD quality consumers have come to expect from their home entertainment systems.  As a result, aptX technology is becoming the de facto industry standard for premium quality Bluetooth stereo audio.