Eleven Engineering SKAA-Enabled USB-C Transmitters Are Now iPhone Compatible

When it comes to robust, reliable, one-to-many, wireless audio transmission without compromise, there's a company from Canada that, for more than a decade, offers a complete solution that remains a sort of secret weapon in the audio and consumer electronics industries. That company is Eleven Engineering, Inc., and the technology is known as SKAA, which is now about to become far more easy to use. The reason is Apple's iPhone migration to USB-C connectors, making it possible to just plug-in a SKAA transmitter.

Following the announcement of the availability of a fully integrated audio module for its MEMS drivers, USound announced a collaboration with partners to develop and deliver a reference design for a cutting-edge over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid. The reference design will integrate USound’s Kore 4.0 audio module, ASE’s Micro SiP (System-in-Package), and OBO Pro2’s hearing aid design, delivering an advanced hearing aid alternative for the emerging OTC market.

As it was announced during Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference back in June 2020, among all the spectacular updates to all the company's operating systems (iOS 14, iPadOS 14, watchOS 7, and tvOS 14), Apple discussed a new firmware update that would add spatial audio support for the company's AirPods Pro. Well, a few days ago, Apple did release the promised firmware update and suddenly, the spatial audio support in the AirPods Pro was a reality. And what an update! As everyone realized soon enough, the results are simply spectacular and very noticeable while watching movies with good soundtracks.

CEVA and VisiSonics, a developer of patented 3D spatial audio technologies, announced that the companies have collaborated closely together to develop a comprehensive 3D spatial audio solution for embedded devices, including true wireless audio (TWS) earbuds, headphones and other hearables. The collaboration combines VisiSonics' RealSpace 3D audio software optimized for CEVA’s low power audio and sensor hub DSPs together with CEVA’s MotionEngine head tracking algorithms running on its BNO080 9-axis System in Package (SiP).

In another product announcement that didn't go as planned, following a lot of rumors and leaks coming from China, Apple was forced to unveil its latest addition to the AirPods family. As widely anticipated, the AirPods Pro have a new improved design, combining a slightly similar shape to the original loose-fit design, but slightly twisted to support a silicon in-ear tip, in order to make Active Noise Cancellation effective. The all-new lightweight design is now available.

Microchip Technology has unveiled a new System on Module (SOM) featuring the SAMA5D2 MPU. The ATSAMA5D27-SOM1 contains the recently released ATSAMA5D27C-D1G-CU System in Package (SiP). The SOM simplifies IoT design by integrating the power management, non-volatile boot memory, Ethernet PHY and high-speed DDR2 memory onto a small, single-sided Printed Circuit Board (PCB).

Silicon Labs has introduced the industry’s smallest Bluetooth low energy system-in-package (SiP) module with a built-in chip antenna, offering a complete, cost-effective connectivity solution with no compromises in performance. Available in a tiny 6.5 mm x 6.5 mm package, the BGM12x Blue Gecko SiP module enables developers to miniaturize IoT designs by minimizing the PCB footprint including the antenna clearance area to 51 mm2.