PRESS RELEASE
JBL Everest ELITE 700 releases new OTA update with improved active noise cancelling performance
CES – Las Vegas – January 4, 2017 – HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated (NYSE:HAR), the premier connected technologies company for automotive, consumer and enterprise markets, today announced the release of a new, industry-first OTA (over-the-air) update for the JBL Everest™ ELITE 700. Owners of the JBL Everest ELITE 700 headphone can make significant improvements to the active noise cancelling performance, now over-the-air. Users will be notified of available updates through the My JBL Headphones app and once they are connected, will easily be able to select their upgrade.
The JBL Everest ELITE 700 is the company’s first SoC (System on a Chip) powered headphone that paves the way for HARMAN’s Smart Headphone platforms.Any software no matter the OS, chipset or resources available, can be securely updated and managed using our over-the-air technology.
With OTA capabilities, for the first time ever HARMAN is able to offer new technology upgrades to its loyal communities, starting with a new ANC algorithm developed from the ground up for the JBL Everest ELITE 700. This update will dramatically enhance the noise cancelling performance, upgrading the headphone from a feed-back to a Hybrid feed-back/feed-forward solution. This software driven technology update is unique in the industry.
The JBL Everest ELITE 700 also features an award-winning SDK (software development kit) that enables the headphone to engage with hackathons. The CES Award winning JBL Everest ELITE SDK is currently available on the HARMAN Developer Community website. As such, HARMAN is the first brand to connect multiple services and open APIs to headphones -- releasing software updates that enable new use cases with nine-axis motion sensor and headphone button control. This will change how the listening experiences can be customised beyond music. The SDK will enable consumers to enjoy legendary audio as well as stay connected to the world around them when interacting with other smart devices. Developers are encouraged to create new use cases and applications for the JBL Everest ELITE 700, as well as the JBL Everest ELITE 300.
“The JBL brand continues to push boundaries in the consumer technology and audio industries and the award-winning JBL Everest ELITE SDK is no different bringing forth industry-leading technology to developers to offer a truly innovative experience,” said Michael Mauser, President, Lifestyle Audio Division, HARMAN. “In addition to delivering JBL’s newest over-the-air updates to improve active noise cancellation performance, these headphones give users the ability to be both completely immersed in the virtual world and instantly connected to their surroundings.”
JBL Everest ELITE and Developers
JBL Everest ELITE headphones are an ideal consumer device for developers: they are powerful and are packed with the latest HARMAN JBL audio technology innovations including NXTGen Active Noise Cancelling Technology and TruNote™ Auto Sound Calibration. With Bluetooth 4.0 for wireless connectivity, Everest ELITE headphones deliver indispensable comfort, freedom and personalisation for work and play. The sky is the limit designing new Everest ELITE features and functionality using the SDK. Examples of what’s possible include:
- Nine-Axis Motion Tracking Sensor: Access the integrated Gyro + Accelerometer + Compass sensor to create motion based features.
- Custom Smart Button: Developers can now customise the function of the programmable button to manage 3rd party apps and services via a physical button tap. This new UI possibility allows for a customised experience without having to reach for a smartphone.
- NXTGen Active Noise Cancelling: Adjust noise cancelling and ambient awareness settings to optimise listening for productivity and social environments.
- Advanced EQ Controls: Using APIs, adjust the headphones’ frequency response to create your own listening profiles for context-specific use-cases.
- Internet of Things Capabilities: Connect your smart home devices and appliances to your headphones via IoT hubs: imagine hearing doorbells, alerts, timers and messages through Everest ELITE headphones.
JBL Everest ELITE and Virtual Reality
At TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2016, HARMAN demonstrated one of its immersive JBL Everest ELITE virtual reality hacks in collaboration with HTC VIVEä. The JBL Everest ELITE SDK interacts with the Steam VR API to read the Chaperone bounds for the HTC Vive and ties this into the JBL Ambient Aware feature of the headphone. The new experience allows the front camera and Chaperone bounds to display on the HTC Vive. Simultaneously, audio from the outside world fades through the JBL Ambient Aware feature allowing users to see and hear without taking off the headphones -- mirroring visual capability with an elevated audio experience and greatly improving awareness of the borders of the room-scale play area. When a user steps back into the play area, they experience the fully immersive environment with active noise cancelling. This application will be demonstrated at HARMAN’s 2017 CES Showcase.
“Total immersion is key to the virtual reality experience that Vive delivers,” said Daniel O’Brien, VP Virtual Reality, HTC VIVE. “HARMAN’s technology is an innovative solution to making the Chaperone system even more impactful due to the audio cues it provides, which creates a seamless VR experience in and outside of room-scale borders.”
Availability:
The OTA update for the JBL Everest ELITE 700 will be available January 2017. For more information, visit JBL.com/CES.
For more information about HARMAN’s Developer Community and to download the JBL Everest ELITE SDK, please visit www.developer.harman.com.
About VIVE
VIVE is a first-of-its-kind virtual reality platform developed by HTC and Valve for total immersion in virtual worlds. Designed from the ground up for room-scale VR and true-to-life interactions, VIVE delivers on the promise of VR with game-changing technology and best-in-class content. VIVE has been recognised with over 65 awards and wide critical acclaim since its unveiling in 2015. For more information, visit www.VIVE.com.
About HARMAN
HARMAN (harman.com) designs and engineers connected products and solutions for automakers, consumers, and enterprises worldwide, including connected car systems, audio and visual products, enterprise automation solutions; and connected services. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson® and Revel®, HARMAN is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform around the world. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and connected car systems. The Company’s software services power billions of mobile devices and systems that are connected, integrated and secure across all platforms, from work and home to car and mobile. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 30,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $7.0 billion during the 12 months ended September 30, 2016. The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.
