Harman and Blackfire Announce Android Software Development Kit

Harman and Blackfire Announce Android Software Development Kit

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Harman Android SDK focuses on supporting developer innovation.

Click here to see Press Release about Blackfire Research by Harman Kardon

HARMAN ANDROID SDK focuses on supporting developer innovation

Blackfire Launches on the New HTC One M9

Blackfire Launches on the New HTC One M9

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Blackfire Research Wireless media technology is now integrated into the HTC One M9 smartphones.

Click here to see Press Release by PRWEB

BLACKFIRE RESEARCH™ wireless media technology is now integrated into the HTC One M9 smartphones, HTC’s flagship Smartphone that was launched at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on March 1. This integration is in HTC Connect™ and so will also be available on other HTC Smartphones that support HTC Connect, including previous HTC One products.

“HTC has built its reputation on challenging expectations in the mobile industry,” said Cher Wang, Chairwoman, HTC. “The HTC One M9 accomplishes this once again with stunning elegance and design, combined with smart features that help bring your world to life, connecting you in a deeper way to the things you consider most important. So much more than just a phone, the HTC One M9 is an extension of who you are.”

Smartphones are fast becoming the central hub for home entertainment, and HTC Connect™ makes it easy to enjoy your multimedia experience beyond your phone. A three-finger swipe on the screen connects the phone to BLACKFIRE powered products from leading brands such as the HARMAN KARDON™ Omni series of speakers. Once connected, the audio and music from the HTC smartphone is routed to these products, much like Bluetooth. However, unlike Bluetooth, BLACKFIRE enables much longer range, better resolution and multi room play.

BLACKFIRE powered products can be used in various multi room or in-room configurations, can be grouped into various zones, selected for playback at will, shared by multiple phones and any online music/media service applications on the smartphone can play to them. This allows HTC One users maximum flexibility in enjoying their music and makes the HTC One a very powerful media platform.

The user can enjoy music from the HTC One to a HARMAN KARDON OMNI 20 Speaker in the kitchen and simultaneously send it to a HARMAN KARDON Adapt plugged into their stereo system – all playing simultaneously, in high quality, over the home Wi-Fi.

“Integrating BLACKFIRE native to the HTC One M9 smartphone makes it an awesome smartphone that at last allows you to enjoy music, the way you would expect – easily, flexibly, wirelessly and in high quality!” said Ravi Rajapakse, CEO of BLACKFIRE

The BLACKFIRE powered HARMAN KARDON Omni 10, Omni 20 and Adapt plug in, support 24-bit/96kHz Studio Quality HD audio streaming. BLACKFIRE performance advantages include accurate synchronization for true stereo or multi-channel configurations, high resolution loss less transport, full Wi-Fi range, flexible use cases and operation on many different platforms.

BLACKFIRE RESEARCH, the only wireless technology that uses standard Wi-Fi for high-performance playback of music and video, on multiple devices – such as speakers, sound bars, headsets, AVR systems, TVs, set top boxes or plug-and-play audio and video accessories – simultaneously.

The new HTC One will be available in the U.S. on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon early Spring. It will also be available through HTC.com, Amazon, Best Buy, Best Buy Mobile specialty stores, Costco Wholesale and Target.

About BLACKFIRE RESEARCH

Blackfire Research is based in San Francisco and provides patented software for high-performance communications using Internet Protocol to multiple devices simultaneously over standard Wi-Fi. Blackfire software will be key infrastructure for the rapidly growing Internet of Things (IoT) space.

About HTC

HTC Corporation aims to bring brilliance to life. As a global innovator in smart mobile devices and technology, HTC has produced award-winning products and industry firsts since its inception in 1997, including the critically acclaimed HTC One and HTC Desire lines of smartphones. The pursuit of brilliance is at the heart of everything we do, inspiring best-in-class design and game-changing mobile experiences for consumers around the world. http://www.htc.com

About Harman

HARMAN (http://www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and enterprise automation solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® , Mark Levinson ® and Revel®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 17,600 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $5.9 billion during the last 12 months ended December 31, 2014.

The First Wireless HD Multi-Room System

The First Wireless HD Multi-Room System

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New Harman Kardon Omni Wireless HD Audio System Delivers Whole Home Sound with Ease and Elegance.

Click here to see Press Release by Harman Kardon

The first wireless HD multi-room system that streams music from room to room at the touch of a button

STAMFORD, Conn., PRNewswire — HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated, announces a breakthrough in high-quality streaming anywhere in your house with two new Harman Kardon Omni loudspeakers and the Harman Kardon Adapt wireless adapter to upgrade your existing home stereo system. The flexible design, relying on a standard Wi-Fi network, and exceptional performance means wireless home audio has never been easier to set up or manage, or sounded so good.

The Harman Kardon Omni system comprises three new products: Omni 10 and Omni 20 wireless HD loudspeakers and the Adapt plug-in to upgrade your existing home stereo system, all powered by Blackfire Research™ wireless media technology. The Harman Kardon app as well as Bluetooth capability let you access and stream any music from your phone, favorite streaming services or your favorite apps seamlessly. And to make the system reflective of your personal lifestyle and needs, custom applications can be added to extend the system functionality, thanks to an open programming interface being introduced to leverage third-party app development.

“The Harman Kardon Wireless high definition audio system represents the ultimate in scalability, upgradeability, and personalization for home audio entertainment,” said Michael Mauser, president, Lifestyle Division, HARMAN. “And you shouldn’t have to sacrifice great sound or beautiful, forward-looking design in order to get it. Our Omni loudspeaker systems and Adapt wireless adapter make this happen, without compromises in sound quality or aesthetics.”

The sound quality you’ll get from the Harman Kardon Adapt and Harman Kardon Omni loudspeakers is unparalleled. Unlike other wireless streaming systems, the Harman Kardon Omni 10 and Omni 20 support 24-bit/96kHz Studio Quality HD audio streaming. So, along with the convenience of wireless audio streaming, you’ll enjoy a superior audio experience, with higher resolution than from a CD.

Use Harman Kardon Omni 10 and Omni 20 loudspeakers as standalone speakers in every room of your house. You can combine two of them as a wireless stereo system, or even five to create a full multi-channel speaker system. Place the Omni speakers in any room, wherever you want music, or group them together for an immersive same-room wireless sound experience. Because Omni loudspeakers are wireless, you can easily position them to fine-tune the sound in your room, leaving no corner uncovered.

The Harman Kardon Adapt is a first-of-its-kind truly HD, wireless adapter for your existing home stereo system. Making full use of Harman’s expertise in audio technology, Adapt connects the gap between your existing Hi-Fi gear and the wireless network, to deliver pure, crisp sound at the touch of a button. Simply set up multiple speakers or adapters and enjoy wireless room-filling sound in any room you choose. Harman Kardon Adapt lets you play different music in each room for private listening, or stream the same song throughout the house in party mode.

Control and configure your HD audio system wirelessly via the app and a standard Wi-Fi-connection, with no network-cable connection required. The future-proof design is supported through automatic software upgrades and improvements that are automatically delivered through the Wi-Fi connection to the control app. One Touch Follow Me Audio lets you walk from one room to another, as your favorite music follows you at the touch of a button. And the Link Button Speaker Control lets you start a party and jump right in: when multiple songs are playing wirelessly, one button press cycles through them all so you can pick your favorite. One long press of the button starts party mode, with every speaker playing back the same music. This is room-to-room control made easy.

To deliver true customization and personalization, the Harman Kardon Wireless HD Audio System will also be HARMAN’s first product line to be enhanced by applications created by the new Harman Developer Community (developer.harman.com). Starting this fall, community members will have access to the necessary software tools, resources and support to build, test and launch applications.   These assets allow developers to explore ways to enhance the Harman Kardon multi-room audio, potentially via new listening modes and tuning options, or other streaming services.

Pricing & Availability

For additional information on Harman Kardon Adapt (MSRP $129.95), OMNI 10 (MSRP $199.95) and OMNI 20 (MSRP $299.95) Multi-Room Smart Wireless HD Speaker, or to purchase, visit www.harmankardon.com/wireless

About HARMAN

HARMAN (NYSE: HAR) designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and integrated control solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson ®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a global workforce of approximately 16,000 people and reported sales of $5.3 billion for the 12 months ended June 30, 2014.

About Blackfire Research

Blackfire Research provides technology and solutions for high performance media applications over Wi-Fi and is based in San Francisco, California, USA.

© 2014 HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated. All rights reserved. Harman Kardon is a trademark of HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated, registered in the United States and/or other countries. Features, specifications and appearance are subject to change without notice. BLACKFIRE RESEARCH™ is a Registered Trademark (No. 3,898,359) of BLACKFIRE RESEARCH CORP. All rights reserved.  The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc.and any use of such marks by HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated is under license. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.