Residential Systems Editor-in-Chief Jeremy Glowacki, probably one of the smartest, classiest guys in the industry, revealed on his blog earlier this week that he has been elected to CEDIA’s “Fellows” Program. A honor only bestowed upon a handful of industry executives every year, Glowacki displayed honest surprise at his selection. And, in noting that the honor apparently comes with lifetime CEDIA membership – turned wistful in an emotional blog post about the current state of the industry in So Many Departures in So Little Time. [Read more…] about Residential Systems Editor Glowacki Named to CEDIA Fellows Program; Blogs Wistfully about Industry Turmoil
Industry Trends
Monster Announces New Monster, New Partnerships, and Mini-Fashion Show
At the CEA LineShow last week, Monster put on a press conference that, as usual, was quite a show. And the first surprise was that the event was kicked off by a new Monster – recently appointed Global VP of Marketing and Web Tracy Benson. Benson, a former Senior Director at Best Buy, wasted no time launching into the presentation by reminding reporters that Monster Beats “proved them wrong” when many said consumers would not pay more for a better, more richer listening experience. [Read more…] about Monster Announces New Monster, New Partnerships, and Mini-Fashion Show
Four Weeks Later, The OAC Group and Russound Call Off Agreement
Only weeks after reporting of the triumphant return of Oscar Ciornei to Russound, a company for which he was once COO earlier in his career, news comes to us that the parties have agreed to part company. A swift and surprising development – the company says the reason for the mutually agreed-upon separation was an emerging conflict with an existing client. However, we have received reports that suggest other issues may have also been a factor.
Only one month on the job, what went wrong?… [Read more…] about Four Weeks Later, The OAC Group and Russound Call Off Agreement
CEA Line Show Overview
The 2012 CEA Line Show wrapped up today and as usual, it was a combination of mind-numbing “me-too” posers, mixed in with a handful of some real, creative, innovators. The problem is, it took a lot of patience to wade through all of the literally hundreds of booths, and thousands of people to dig through muck…and find the gems.
See our show overview… [Read more…] about CEA Line Show Overview
Third Time’s the Charm? Colorado vNet – Now 3vNet – Certainly Hopes So
BREAKING NEWS
Colorado vNet, the high-tech control and home automation company that has had an up-and-down roller-coaster existence – dying twice, only to be reborn twice – and eventually given-up on and sold off…hopes that the old adage, “third time’s the charm” is true. CEO Mike Anderson announced today that he is re-launching the company with a new brand – now 3vNet – and a new attitude, telling us that this is not a makeover, but in fact a whole new company with new facilities, new engineering, and a new higher level of tech support the likes of which dealers haven’t seen in years.
See what the all-new 3vNet has in store to excite dealers & drive market share…
[Read more…] about Third Time’s the Charm? Colorado vNet – Now 3vNet – Certainly Hopes So
Rare Steve Jobs Fail – Apple Reportedly Will Shut Down Ping Social Network
The Huffington Post and the Wall Street Journal’s AllThingsD blog are reporting that unnamed sources at Apple have indicated that the company plans to pull the plug on its Ping social networking service, perhaps as early as this fall. Ping, a sort of Facebook for music was incorporated into their iTunes software back in 2010 and launched by famed company chairman Steve Jobs to great fanfare.
Why is Ping failing, even after a full marketing push by the industry kingpin?… [Read more…] about Rare Steve Jobs Fail – Apple Reportedly Will Shut Down Ping Social Network
EHX 2.0? EH Publishing Gambles on a New Trade Event at a Connecticut Casino
EH Publishing announced today that it is launching a new trade event next year that they call CE Exchange. The CE Exchange event will be held over a three-day period from May 6-to-May 8, 2013 at the MGM Grand Hotel in the Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. Targeted primarily to appeal to custom integrators in the northeast, the promoter says this is a new kind of event – not a typical trade show…but not a conference either.
So just what is CE Exchange?… [Read more…] about EHX 2.0? EH Publishing Gambles on a New Trade Event at a Connecticut Casino
Jeff Kussard Leaves Capitol Sales
BREAKING NEWS
We have learned that Jeff Kussard, a top executive involved in strategic business development at Capitol Sales, Corp., reached a mutual agreement with the company resulting in his exit from the business on June 1, 2012. Kussard, a well-known and well-respected industry luminary, shared his new plans with us in a telephone interview.
See Kussard’s plans for his next move… [Read more…] about Jeff Kussard Leaves Capitol Sales
New Corning Glass is So Thin, It’s Flexible; Will Drive New CE Products by 2013
Corning Inc., the American glass manufacturer deeply involved in providing glass for flat-panel TV and mobile device manufacturing, said this week that they have developed a glass so thin, it’s flexible. And this new glass, they call it Willow Glass, is so flexible it can help create a whole new class of consumer electronics devices with glass shaped into curved surfaces.
When will new CE products appear? Soon… [Read more…] about New Corning Glass is So Thin, It’s Flexible; Will Drive New CE Products by 2013
Sony Slaps Senior Execs – Makes Them Give Back Pay
In a public move that will probably make more sense in Japan than it will here, Sony Corp. said on Tuesday that seven top executives will return their fiscal 2011 performance-linked bonuses. The executives affected by this decision include their former CEO Howard Stringer and current CEO Kazuo Harai.