DLNA starts the year with 2 new certification programs for consumer software and protected streaming certification.

Consumers can now upgrade their non-certified products using DLNA software through their personal networks-- making it easy to move content between products,regardless of manufacturer.

Meanwhile protected streaming certification leverages DTCP-IP for commercial movie sharing across consumers' networks. The EIC recognises this program as an international standard.

Currently 5 certification labs worldwide test DLNA certified products.

Go Alliance Unveils Software and Protected Streaming Certification Programs

Audiovox signs a non-binding term sheet to purchase home-speaker maker Klipsch.

The agreement is still subject to a number of contingencies, and the companies don't reveal any actual financial details-- and there's no estimated closing date for the deal.

While Audiovox announced the sale at CES, Klipsch still has a number of new offerings following the show.

Go Audiovox Signs Non-Binding Term Sheet

CEDIA names Randy Stearns, Engineered Environments owner, as its new chairman.

He replaces the late Randy Vaughan, who passed away on December 23, 2010.

Stearns served on the CEDIA Board of Directors since 2005, and has been an active CEDIA member since 1993. His involvement with the organisation includes Industry Outreach Council Chair, EXPO Chair, Treasurer, Best Practices Action Team, Instructor, Subject Matter Expert, and Finance Committee. Most recently he was Vice Chairman for the Board of Directors.

His company is a perennial CE Pro 100 member and is a multiple CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Award winner.

Stearns assumes the role and responsiblities of chairman immediately.

Go CEDIA Leadership Selects Randy Stearns as Chairman

UEI quietly retires its Nevo high-end remote line-- "reassessing" its product offering by stopping production.

The Nevo line was pretty much absent from UEI's booth. Nevo sales will only continue until existing inventory is exhausted.

According to a CEPro report, the Nevo sales force will be eliminated come April 1. It also mentions integrators are not to expect UEI coming back to the channel in the near future.

Alongside the Nevo closure, UEI now offers its universal remote API to other OEMs.

Nevo is the second casuality in universal remotes, following Philips' Pronto closure last year.

Both Philips and UEI deny the iPod and its ilk's effect their respective remote control businesses-- but Apple's devices do offer a relatively inexpensive and simple universal control solution. For customers, "just enough" appears to be exactly enough.

Go Nevo

Go UEI Universal Remote Control API for OEMs

Go UEI Pulls Plug on Nevo

Go Philips Turns Off its Remote Business