This Friday, Sonos CEO Patrick Spence will testify before a Congressional committee (the House antitrust subcommittee) that is investigating the issue of competition in digital markets. Or, I should say, they are investigating whether the tech giants – Google, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, etc. – are engaging in anti-competitive activities in violation of the law. The Sonos CEO is likely to complain that Google is in fact anti-competitive. Spence’s appearance takes place literally just days after it has filed a major patent infringement lawsuit against Google – alleging that the tech giant stole its proprietary technology…making them a victim.
Atlantic Integrated Appoints New York Sales Manager
New York Metro manufacturer sales representative firm Atlantic Integrated has announced the appointment of Anthony Polzella as its New York Sales Manager.
See more on this appointment…
[Read more…] about Atlantic Integrated Appoints New York Sales ManagerBose to Shutter 119 Bose Stores in N. America, Europe, Japan & Australia
Bose Corp. announced earlier today that it will close a total of 119 Bose retail stores as a response to changing retail purchasing trends. The locations to be closed represents their entire retail footprint in North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia.
See more on this dramatic announcement from Bose…
[Read more…] about Bose to Shutter 119 Bose Stores in N. America, Europe, Japan & AustraliaForbes Notes Enthusiastic CES 2020 Crowd Amazed by a ‘Smart’ Potato
Is This the Next Big Thing?
Who says the mainstream media has abandoned CES? No less than the venerable Forbes.com ran a feature story that noted an enthusiastic crowd gathered around a booth offering a dynamic presentation on an amazing new technology…a ‘smart’ potato. No, this is NOT a spoof by The Onion – it is real. Yes, the booth and young man promoting the smart potato was a stunt…but the article from Forbes about it is real.
Why Forbes featured a ‘smart potato’…
[Read more…] about Forbes Notes Enthusiastic CES 2020 Crowd Amazed by a ‘Smart’ PotatoSelect Stories From CES 2020
CES 2020, the big show, is about over (ending the day this was posted) and as usual there are a slew of announcements. It can be a little overwhelming with so much happening in Las Vegas, but there are some stories that flat out are just more important or interesting than others.
See my list of more interesting stories from CES…
[Read more…] about Select Stories From CES 2020CES 2020 – Just What Exactly is CES Anymore?
For many, many years the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) – an exposition hosted by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) – was a huge part of the technology industry. In many ways, it was virtually the embodiment of tech – you HAD to go there to discover the latest products that were being shown to buyers so they could get their orders placed in time for the prime selling season starting in the fall of that year.
CES 2020 – what has become of CES, our beloved technology show?…
[Read more…] about CES 2020 – Just What Exactly is CES Anymore?Sonos Sues Google in Boldest Patent Action Yet
“When you strike at a king, you must kill him”…Ralph Waldo Emerson
Sonos announced on Tuesday that it has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against tech powerhouse Google – by far their biggest…and potentially riskiest…action yet. And perhaps keeping Emerson’s quote in mind, Sonos took a double punch at the king, filing a lawsuit against Google in the District Court for the Central District of California…AND at the same time, filing a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission. This is the first time, Sonos has started a war on two fronts, suggesting to me that they are deadly serious in this effort.
See more on the Sonos action versus Google…
[Read more…] about Sonos Sues Google in Boldest Patent Action YetWishing You the Happiest of Happy New Years in 2020!
‘The New Year is a New Opportunity for Renewal’
A new day, a new year, a new DECADE – think of the possibilities! The last decade began in 2010 on the tail end of a major recession that affected all industries, but especially the housing industry – which was hit harder than most. This meant that, for those of us in the custom integration space, our opportunities were limited at that time, as housing is a significant driver of demand for the types of products custom integrators sell and install. However, the resulting long, slow economic recovery – which is still continuing – set new records and many would argue we enter the 2020s poised for even greater success.
Our wish for you in the New Year…
[Read more…] about Wishing You the Happiest of Happy New Years in 2020!Reader’s Choice: The Top 10 Strata-gee Stories of 2019
As we hurtle headlong into the a new decade – the 2020s – it’s a good time to pause and take stock of some of the major events of our industry’s recent history by ranking the Top 10 Strata-gee stories of 2019 based on total page views. This ranking shows just what stories drew the most attention of Strata-gee’s eminently intelligent and inquisitive readers.
See which 2019 Strata-gee stories were tops with readers…
[Read more…] about Reader’s Choice: The Top 10 Strata-gee Stories of 2019Have the Happiest of Holidays!
Yesterday, I attended a memorial service even though I had no personal relationship with the person who had recently passed. In fact, I had never had the pleasure of even meeting this person. Yet I chose to pay my respects because I’ve known the family for years and am especially friendly with certain specific family members to whom I wanted to demonstrate the depth of my care and support. Out of respect for their privacy during this difficult time, I’ll not name them here – but I’d like to share some lessons I took away from such a poignant event.
Some would say a death at this time of year – during the holidays – is an especially tragic event…and there certainly was a lot of sadness shown there. Sadness is an unavoidable element of an event such as a memorial service. But there was also a lot of stories, laughter and most importantly…love.