On CE - For Dealers, Distributors and OEMs of Consumer Electronics throughout EMEA

The Roku streaming device lineup gets a refresh-- one complete with no less than 5 new players, ranging from low-cost options for first-time customers to a 4K-capable Streaming Stick.

Aimed at first-time streamers or as addition to another room, the 2nd generation Roku Express and Roku Express+ promise a 5x power boost compared to the previous version. The Express+ is also ideal for use with older TVs, since it includes composite AV connectivity.

On the streaming dongle side side, Roku offers two options. The first is an updated Streaming Stick, now featuring a quad-core processor, 802.11ac dual-band MIMO wireless connectivity and a voice remote complete with TV power and volume to control compatible TVs as well as the stick. Owners of 4K TVs get the Streaming Stick+, with a more powerful processor able to handle 4K HDR 60fps streaming.

9to5Google reports Google has a "Made for Google" program in the works-- an accessory certification scheme presumably similar to Apple's MFi (Made for iPhone/iPad/iPod) scheme.

The unnamed sources speaking to the news site don't have any further details on the program, but the aforementioned MFi program provides accessory makers with “hardware components, tools, documentation, and technical support,” and allows the promotion of accessory with Apple certification logos.

According to David B. Hofmann, mm1 Managing Partner and IoT Expert, voice assistants and smart home were this year’s IFA focus topics.

Voice Assistants: "The most prominent trend of this year’s IFA is the integration of voice assistants, such as Amazon‘s Alexa, featuring a growing number of speakers and household devices. Whereas other providers such as Google, Microsoft and Samsung position themselves claiming their share of the market, Amazon presented a dedicated booth in IFA’s start-up area eager to further develop its dominance in this Segment. "

According to IDC, W. European PCD (Personal Computing Device, covering both traditional PCs and tablets) shipments will total 79.2 million units in 2017, a -2.6% decrease.

The analyst combines desktop PC, notebook and workstation shipments with slate and detachable tablets. Some products, such as convertibles, ultraslims and detachables, are to expand until at least 2021, making 43.3% of the overall PCD market by then, compared with 21.9% at end 2016. This is the result of users across both consumer and enterprise segments going for thinner and lighter devices, instead of traditional solutions.

As a result, the traditional PC market will still decline over the next 5 years, wheras the tablet market will show "some" resilience and stabilise over the forecast period.

The commercial PCD segment is to perform well, with a "slight" decrease by end 2017 before a return to positive growth by 2018 (1.2%). Growth should reach 6.4% in 2020, with SMBs as main driver. On the other hand the consumer segment should decline further until 2021, even if "not significantly." The longer lifespan of devices affects the consumer market, although some new form factors will be adopted, such as convertibles.