Harman acquires Roon

The question is why. It could very well be they feel it’s cheaper to buy Roon than develop their own in house music software, but what they think music software should do may be very different from the Roon user base.

Would be a shame if Harman acquired Roon for some small part of the tech stack and then abandons the rest of it.

Harman International is owned by Samsung. It markets its products under various brands. These include Arcam, Harman Kardon, Mark Levinson, Lexicon, Revel, Infinity and JBL. 

I could foresee them selling audio integrated amps with Roon-specific proprietary streaming software, or Roon enabled active/wireless speakers. They also market car audio systems. It's possible in any of these configurations they and could offer Roon that would bypass the need to use IOS/Android devices.

I would imagine they'll add movies so people can have an audio/video whole house solution, i.e., choose device/TV, then choose what movie or song/album you want there. Group them, something different in each room, different users/guest have their own choices, whatever someone wants. Makes total sense.

They will almost certainly be seeking a functional streaming app (at minimum) from the components of Roon as the HK/Arcam MusicLife app is dreadful (I could not get it to work and keep working at all).

Companies that make good hardware frequently stumble when they try to develop software.  It makes sense if the company has enough resources to swallow up a software company for the obvious synergy.  I am not a Roon user but there is no denying that their innovation has really helped the file management end of digital.  It looks as though Harman has had a light touch with their other companies and hopefully will give the creative side of Roon free rein