Tech
ISE 2026: Maxhub unveils partnerships, products to enrich unified collaboration | Computer Weekly
Maxhub has unveiled a series of products focusing on sustainability and ecosystem integration to position its portfolio not as merely screens, but as true unified collaboration systems. In this way, it is seeking to raise the bar in an enterprise media sector where firms are increasingly looking to deploy systems that offer broadcast-quality production capabilities but without prohibitive costs and complexity.
In addition to new products spanning cameras, video bars, collaboration tools, consoles and digital signage, the provider of integrated commercial displays and unified communications announced further collaborations with Microsoft and NDI to create enhanced multimedia experiences in existing and potentially new audiovisual (AV) use cases through IP.
Maxhub is in the midst of a European expansion strategy that started when it established an office in the Netherlands in 2022 and a product warehouse at the beginning of 2023. In the same year, it defined its channel strategy, and a year later, it embarked on its first partnership with Microsoft on a global level. In 2024, the company introduced a collaboration meeting board to the European market, and in 2025, it launched devices compatible with Microsoft Teams Rooms (MTR).
Deployment options include traditional setups using Windows Collaboration Board AIO and Windows Bar AIO. Other configurations include an Express Instal based on an XBar V50 kit and Signature Room and Coordinated Meeting spaces. The latter are based on devices from the company’s Xcore Kit Pro+ range and an MTR Collaboration Board.
Explaining the company’s European setup to Computer Weekly at ISE 2026, Maxhub Europe director Kevin Wang noted that it was important for the company to improve its regional customer support and user experience.
“That’s why we … have four RMA [return material authorisation] centres in different countries – the UK, Slovakia, Italy and France. We now have local teams in around 12 countries. In those countries, we are able to provide local support from sales, pre-sales, as well as other services to the channels and end users. We also have dedicated service centres in the UK, Italy, France and Slovakia.”
The primary focus of the launch portfolio is the Videobar XBar Series, an all-in-one collaboration solution for Microsoft Teams Rooms. The new XBar W70 Kit is claimed to be the first and only Windows-based Teams Rooms video bar with a 200-megapixel quad-sight lens and a 16 MEMS microphone array. It combines four cameras and a Windows-powered system in a single device. It supports three-in-one installation options to make it suitable for meeting rooms of different sizes.
Assessing how the product will be deployed, Wang said a key aim was to simplify the complexity of older product solutions, hence the adoption and preference for an open platform ecosystem. “[Technologically], Videobar X series is a complicated solution. But for the end users, it’s quite easy to use”
Another part of the evolution of the company and its product line is a move away from traditional HDMI cable-based technology to more efficient infrastructures. Specifically, that is adopting technology that is compatible with the NDI Display standard and part of a local area network (LAN) to boost scalability and maintenance in enterprise environments.
At ISE, Maxhub also highlighted the Digital Signage CMB Series, the world’s first NDI-certified smart display. The CMB Series is purpose-built for business and optimised for MTRs, which, when activated, the display illuminates. Once a meeting concludes, it subsequently deactivates.
Wang outlined the clear benefits of avoiding the “mess” of traditional cabling. “When you step into a meeting room and try to share content on a big screen, probably the first step is to find an HDMI cable or an adapter for the HDMI cable. So it’s a mess at that time, because you just have minutes to join the meeting, and maybe one of your key customers is waiting in the lobby of the video conference. You cannot waste time. The [aim] is to try to solve this problem. We would like to cooperate with leading providers in our industry to build an open ecosystem to bring this kind of high-efficiency solution to end users. With NDI, you don’t need the cable, you just click to connect to the network.”
In addition to being more cost-effective, Wang said this new approach also lends itself to a more secure, managed collaborative environment. He remarked that the partnership with Microsoft made network offerings intrinsically more secure.
Also boosting management is the Pivot+, a web-based platform designed to make device and system management simpler, more efficient and “safer”. Pivot+ provides centralised control of Maxhub devices across up to eight organisational levels. It supports zero-touch deployment, AI-powered alerts and intelligent event detection to ensure optimal performance and minimise downtime.
The zero-touch deployment capabilities allow devices to be automatically grouped post-enrolment, with central management also allowing remote batch control. In addition to multi-device screen control, the system offers multiple ways to update firmware and anomaly incident features encompassing detection, alerts and resolution.
One of the key stated goals of Maxhub is “unlocking the full potential” of Microsoft Teams in any workspace. To this end, Maxhub is additionally partnering with Microsoft to launch The Co-Create 100 coalition to provide 100 fully equipped MTRs to selected users. The aim is to offer measurable productivity or operational improvements that enterprises expect from modern Teams-enabled meeting environments. The scheme will also see Maxhub collaborate with global companies to share success stories and demonstrate how MTR enhances efficiency and creates competitive advantages.
Wang explained some of the benefits of this: “[Even] nowadays, many people don’t know the latest technology in our industry. With this Co-Create 100 programme, we would like to promote our product or tell a lot of people that they can have the opportunity to get some devices or upgrade their facilities. So with that opportunity, they will know how to improve their internal communications and collaboration efficiency.”
The launches at ISE included a touch console for Surface Hub and XBoard, the Maxhub Universal Console. Maxhub’s European business development manager, Mikkel Frederiksen, said: “The Universal Console delivers three things: connect, control and convenience.”
Maxhub also unveiled the XBoard 92 device, which is said to be the first 21:9 collaboration board to achieve MTR certification.
Tech
This Premium Sennheiser Soundbar Is $1,000 Off
Looking for an all-in-one soundbar that sounds as big as it looks? Sennheiser’s Ambeo Max uses its oversized body to produce beefy, enveloping sound, and right now you can grab it for just $2,000 at Best Buy, a sizable $1,000 markdown from the usual list price. It’s one of our favorite standalone premium soundbars, particularly if you don’t want to deal with an exterior subwoofer but still want bigger bass than you’re likely to find on smaller options.
While it might be a bit larger than your average soundbar, Sennheiser uses the space well, packing a ton of functionality and drivers into the less-than-compact body. There are both full-range and 1-inch tweeters combined in every conceivable direction, and the result is an impressive reproduction of true spatial audio, something few other standalone bars can claim. As a result, it also has an impressive low-end, with bass that doesn’t rival dedicated subwoofers, but comes really close for how much simpler the setup process will be.
The larger footprint also allows for a huge number of inputs, more than you’re likely to find on those tiny soundbars that slide under your screen. In addition to an HDMI 2.1 output with eARC, you’ll get three HDMI inputs with 4K pass-through at 60Hz, USB, Ethernet, and optical audio. There are even RCA ports in case you want to hook this up to your turntable. There’s also a dedicated subwoofer output, in case you decide you want to add one to your setup down the road, giving you a ton of options should you decide to put the Ambeo Max at the center of your home audio setup.
Ready to make the move to a bigger, better soundbar? Swing on over to Best Buy to grab this hefty discount on the Sennheiser Ambeo Max, or check out our guide to the best premium soundbars for some of our other favorite picks. If you’re just out looking for a great deal in general, the Amazon Big Spring Sale is underway, and we’ve got a dedicated post with all the best discounts on everything from smartwatches to water bottles.
Tech
ICE Agents Frustrate Airport Workers as Shutdown Drags On
On Thursday, hours-long security lines snaked through New York City’s LaGuardia Airport. The wait was far from the longest in the country—George Bush International Airport in Houston reported three and a half hour lines. Over a month into a partial government shutdown that has left some Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees working without pay, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents are calling in sick or leaving work en masse, leading to travel chaos around the US. The Trump administration’s solution? Send Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in.
ICE agents were deployed to at least 14 airports on Monday, ostensibly in an effort to speed up security lines—and five days into ICE’s incursion, airport employees are infuriated. The ICE agents, Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) who work for the TSA tell WIRED, don’t have the proper certification and training to perform many of tasks that might truly speed up security lines. The TSA employees say they’re frustrated by the situation—and worried about what it might mean for their future.
ICE agents have been spotted walking in packs, patrolling security lines and baggage areas. They have been seen giving directions to lost passengers, photographed distributing mini water bottles to those waiting in line, and, more often than not, standing around and appearing to do very little. “ICE are here and they’re doing literally nothing to help,” passengers in a security line overheard one airline worker complain on Wednesday at John F. Kennedy airport in New York.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that some passengers stuck in line spotted ICE agents being trained to check passenger IDs and boarding passes. In a hearing in front of the US House Committee on Homeland Security on Wednesday, TSA acting head Ha Nguyen McNeill said that “the travel document checker function is one of the nonspecialized screen functions of the TSA,” and said ICE agents are being trained to conduct checks.
TSOs say ICE’s presence is frustrating to those working without pay—especially because ICE agents are being paid. “If you want to bring a tactical force into an environment where it’s required to have customer service and a mindset where you know what you’re doing, how to identify something that might be suspicious—they don’t have that training,” says Hydrick Thomas, a security officer and the president of AFGE Local 2222, which covers New York and New Jersey airports.
Security officers say they’re concerned for their coworkers, who, thanks to last fall’s government shutdown, haven’t received a steady paycheck for half of the fiscal year. Agents are worried about paying for rent, mortgages, gas, and childcare. Food banks have stood up drives in several airports, including those in Houston, North Carolina, and San Diego. In Knoxville, Tennessee, airport authorities are accepting donations for employees at a Delta Airlines counter. Eleven percent of airport checkpoint employees called out on Tuesday, compared to four percent pre-shutdown, a federal official testified to Congress on Wednesday morning. Some airports, including those in Houston, Atlanta, New Orleans, and New York’s John F. Kennedy, have seen daily callout rates higher than 35 percent. More than 480 TSA screeners have quit since the shutdown began in February, the agency says.
Long term, security officers say they’re concerned that the federal government plans to replace them with other federal agents, including ICE agents, or private sector employees. One mentioned Project 2025, a blueprint for the second Trump administration published by the conservative Heritage Foundation, which advocates for privatizing TSA altogether.
“A part of the American dream that I was sold was that working for the government was honorable and stable,” Carlos Rodriguez, a security officer and a AFGE TSA Council 100 vice president representing airports Northeastern airports from New Jersey to Vermont. “But this is not honorable or stable at this moment.”
Tech
Skip the TSA Line: Where to Find Travel by Bus, Train, and Boat
Every year, without fail, the US experiences at least one major disruption in air travel due to severe weather, government shutdowns, software outages, or power outages—you name it.
Right now, a partial government shutdown has meant that thousands of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers have not been paid for several weeks, causing many to call out of work or quit. That has meant long security lines—more than three-hour waits—ensuing chaos at airports around the country. It’s unclear how long this mess will last, so it’s worth thinking about other options.
Flights are also expensive and hard on the environment. If you can take a bus, train, or ferry to your destination, why shouldn’t you? These travel search apps help you find routes and prices so you can compare them and make the best decision.
Wanderu
Best for Buses and Trains in the US and Canada
In the US and Canada, Wanderu is my go-to search aggregator for travel by bus or train (it works in Europe and the UK, too). Wanderu is your classic travel aggregator, looking up the schedules and prices across several bus and train operators, including Amtrak, BestBus, Flixbus, Greyhound, OurBus, Peter Pan, RedCoach, Vamoose, and others.
You see price comparisons at a glance, as well as options for upgraded class fares, departure and arrival times, and the location of each bus and train station, since sometimes you can save a lot of time by choosing one point over another. Filters help you narrow down your results based on your preferences, and you can book right from the app.
Omio
Compares Trains, Buses, Flights With Excellent Summaries
If you aren’t sure whether you want to travel by land or air, head to Omio. Type in your departure point, destination, and the date you want to travel, and Omio finds routes by plane, bus, and train. A concise summary at the top of the search results tells you the lowest fare and how long it will take for each mode of transportation, so you can make an informed decision quickly. Omio also shows whether the fare will be higher or lower if you travel on a different day of the same week, in case your dates are flexible.
Rome2Rio
Includes Comparison for Driving
Rome2Rio compares prices and times for travel by bus, train, flight, and driving yourself, based on estimated fuel costs. It works reasonably well for trips in the US and Canada. Rome2Rio touts itself as being for worldwide travel, though Europe and the UK seem to be its sweet spot. Elsewhere, take the approach of “trust, but verify,” and this app will take you places.
Virail
Compares Buses, Trains, and Flights
Virail is similar to Omio, comparing travel options by train, bus, and flight, with a neat summary of prices at the top of the search results, although it lacks the total travel time. For that, you have to scroll through the results. To book a ticket, Virail sends you to other websites, and you might have to do additional legwork to reserve your seat. It works reasonably well in the US and Canada (in testing, it got a little tripped up in Mexico), and does well for travel in Europe and the UK.
Vivanoda
Includes Flight and Carpool
Vivanoda (website only, no app) is similar to Omio, comparing all your options for getting between two points—and it includes flights, ferries, and carpool/rideshare options when applicable. The site operates out of the European Union and seems to work slightly better for travel in Europe and the UK than in the US and Canada, where it has some holes. (It didn’t find a direct flight between San Francisco and Vancouver, for example, even though there is more than one daily.)
Seat 61
Best Old-School Site for Trains and Bus Info Worldwide
Seat61, also known as The Man in Seat 61 (website only), has an old-school look and some of the best, most reliable information about traveling by bus and rail all around the world. Mark Smith, who runs the site, tells you exactly where in the world he knows about the train and bus routes: The site lists all the countries it covers on the left side, everywhere from Albania to Zimbabwe. He shares timetables, prices, and even includes photos, though his site is not a search aggregator, and you do have to go elsewhere to book. That said, it’s an excellent resource.
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