Every year or so Himedia launches a device that could be easily named a game-changer in the TV box market. And innovating every year is not easy, especially with a market that is so competitive, with hundreds of manufacturers competing fr that #1 spot.

But it looks like Himedia pulls it off - constantly. With a little help from their technology partners, like HiSilicon, Tencent and now Harman-Kardon Himedia launched in a special event in Shenzhen, China the next generation home entertainment device unamed "Himedia AV Robot".

Basically the AV Robot is aiming to become more than just a TV Box - the Himedia device can become the control center for all home entertainment needs, combining video, audio, IoT and internet services and being ready to integrate in the new owner's home in many different and interesting ways (I'm thinking of IFTTT).

Like the Google Home and Amazon Echo devices, HIMEDIA AV Robot recognizes user's voice and provides services in accordance with voice command. But unlike them Himedia AV Robot provides it's services both via the TV screen and the high quality speakers. In a sense, Himedia AV Robot is more video-centric, using the TV screen while other AI devices are just audio centric.

At the launch event, HIMEDIA’s President Mr. Chen Wu emphasized: "At the time of artificial intelligence, the internet companies should integrate service with hardware closely to make better user experience. The HIMEDIA AV Robot is a new home entertainment center with perfectly integrated artificial intelligence .

With the help from it's quality hardware, HIMEDIA AV Robot with AI technology can now provide a full range of services for the home users : media renderer, home assistant, as well as home IoT services.
The device provides a wide range of media services, with 4K UHD playback, VoD, and music streaming within AI system - users can simply search movies, change channels, control volume by voice - simply asking HIMEDIA AV Robot.
As a home assistant the AV Robot stands out with it's video calling, home monitoring, weather reporting and many other internet-based services - all of which can be displayed on the big TV screen.
IoT? AV Robot has it covered also - webcam, control the doors or window, turning on or off the lights in the house or controlling the thermostat - all can be done with voice commands.

Himedia AV Robot (V3C) full specs

• CPU: HiSilicon Hi3798, Quad Core, 64-bit
• GPU: ARM Mali-450 (penta-core)
• RAM: 2GB DDR4
• ROM: 8GB
• OS: Android 7.0 (Google CTS Certified)
• HDMI: 2.0
• LAN: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and 10/100M Ethernet
• USB: 1 X USB 3.0
• Other: 2.0 megapixel HD camera, Bluetooth 4.2 + EDR, SPDIF

Himedia AV Robot Harman Kardon speakers

We can't talk about the latest Himedia device without mentioning it's speakers. Coming from Harman/Kardon's Acoustics team, AV Robot benefits from one customized 70mm Full frequency woofer speaker unit, two soft-ball tweeter units, and two aluminum alloy passive radiators, which ensures HIMEDIA AV Robot with terrific speaker volume and outstanding woofer effect.

To ensure that the voices will be easily recognized even 5 meters away from the device AV Robot has a dual microphones array design from Conexant, combined with the professional hardware DSP audio processing system. This ensures a high standard of anti-interference and excellent sensitivity.

Excited about Himedia's new device? Have any questions about it? Let us know and we will update the article accordingly.

When will it be available outside China? The device will making it's overseas debut early next year, using Amazon Alexa.
We are keeping an eye on the device and will update this article as soon as new information arrives our way.