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Amazon’s Latest Secret Project Could Change Our World

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Can Amazon Scoop the Industry a Second Time?

photo of a home helperAmazon has a super secret project that just might change the world…again. I have long said that the brilliance of Amazon’s Alexa-based Echo and Dot devices comes from their realization that voice control belonged in the home. While Apple (Siri) and Google (OK Google) digital voice assistants in the past were viewed predominantly as a hands-free voice assist for when you’re driving – Amazon took a different route…right into the American living room. Brilliant, and now Google and Apple are playing “catch up.”

Now we learn that there’s a new project in Amazon’s secretive Lab126 that could once again change our world.

See what we’ve learned about Amazon’s secret project… [Read more…] about Amazon’s Latest Secret Project Could Change Our World

Surprise Look at Nest Numbers: Smaller & Poorer

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Look Quickly, You Likely Won’t Ever See These Numbers Again

nest logoFor the first time, because of a change in Google’s accounting, we get a look at the real financial numbers of Nest and analysts are truly surprised. It turns out, according to a report by Recode, that Nest is both smaller than many thought, and is losing a lot of money on an operating basis – so much so that it appears that any hope of profitability is far off in the future…if at all.

See what we’ve learned about Nest’s true operating financial results… [Read more…] about Surprise Look at Nest Numbers: Smaller & Poorer

A Gibson Pile-On: Now Hit With a $50 Million Lawsuit

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Tronical logo

Gibson Brands CEO Henry Juszkiewicz has been very busy lately as he scrambles to arrange a $550 million bailout package in a desperate attempt to avoid bankruptcy for the storied brand. But he’s about to get a little busier as one of Gibson Guitar’s vendors, Tronical of Hamburg, Germany, sues the company for $50 million it says it is owed.

So now Tronical gets in line behind Gibson bondholders seeking payment… [Read more…] about A Gibson Pile-On: Now Hit With a $50 Million Lawsuit

TCL Multimedia Obtains Global Rights to Onkyo Brand

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TCL Multimedia logoIn an announcement out of Hong Kong and reported on by Bloomberg News and others, TCL Multimedia, the large Chinese manufacturer of mostly inexpensive televisions, has announced it has obtained the rights to the Onkyo brand name which it intends to use to create Smart AV products. The company says it has the rights to the Onkyo brand globally, in all markets except Japan.

See more on what we know about this TCL Multimedia and Onkyo partnership… [Read more…] about TCL Multimedia Obtains Global Rights to Onkyo Brand

Ex-B&W President Finds New Home at JL Audio

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Doug Henderson

It was only a matter of months ago that Strata-gee broke the news that EVA Automation founder Gideon Yu, the new owner of Bowers and Wilkins (B&W), had dismissed Doug Henderson, President of the B&W Group North America. It was a move that was to send shock waves around the industry and presaged a round of additional staff departures (and additions) as Yu worked to restructure the company.

Now we can report that Henderson is the new Senior Vice President of Home Audio at JL Audio, the scrappy upstart that launched first in the 12-volt business, but has since expanded into the marine, powersports, and home audio segments as well.

See more on this new role for Henderson… [Read more…] about Ex-B&W President Finds New Home at JL Audio

Options Narrowing as Gibson & KKR Talks Fail

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Photo of Gibson CES promoWe learned last week that talks between Gibson Brands and deal making king KKR Credit Advisors fell apart in a dispute over “the appropriate consideration for the various parties involved,” according to a statement from Gibson Brands. As yet another bail-out opportunity slips by them, Gibson Brands sees their options narrowing, with an August deadline on a required financial restructuring of more than $500 million of debt rapidly approaching.

See more on this dire situation at Gibson Brands… [Read more…] about Options Narrowing as Gibson & KKR Talks Fail

Newly Flush Sony’s Smart Employee Pay Strategy

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Kaz Hirai and Gary ShapiroBig Raises and Record Bonuses for Sony Employees in 2018

Sony Corp. is said to be planning to raise their employees pay rates by a very substantial 5 percent – and to pay record bonuses, according to a report by the Japan Times. This move is seen as a smart strategy by the company, newly flush with record profits after their successful turnaround by outgoing CEO Kaz Hirai, as it battles to secure top talent in a highly competitive hiring environment.

See more on how Sony is pressing their advantage to attract top talent… [Read more…] about Newly Flush Sony’s Smart Employee Pay Strategy

Far From Legally Dead, Monster Slugs Back at Beats

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Beats Gets More Awarded; But Monster Wins a Key Ruling Too

Photo of Noel LeeWhen we last visited this legal clash of the titans, a jury had just found that Monster must pay Beats nearly $8 million to reimburse them for the legal expenses in fighting the lawsuit that Monster had brought against them in 2015. Now, we have learned that the judge in that case has increased the judgment with an additional “directed” verdict. And in the matter of a separate case, Beats vs. Monster filed late last year, Monster has filed a countersuit and won a key ruling.

This Beats and Monster slugfest goes on… [Read more…] about Far From Legally Dead, Monster Slugs Back at Beats

Gibson Sells One Division & Cuts Staff in Another

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Famous musicians using Gibson guitarsThe news and events surrounding troubled guitar and consumer electronics company Gibson Brands, Inc. seem to be moving at a rapid pace with almost daily revelations as the company struggles to survive ahead of a massive debt due-date just a few short months away. We learned over the last few days that Gibson has sold their recently shuttered Cakewalk Inc. division and laid off staff in their famous Custom Shop operation.

See more about the continued dramatic developments surrounding Gibson… [Read more…] about Gibson Sells One Division & Cuts Staff in Another

CEO Says Gibson Will Dump Brands

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Financials Show Sales & Profits Continue to Slide

Photo of Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz
Henry Juszkiewicz, CEO

Gibson Brands CEO Henry Juszkiewicz continues to profess confidence that the company will be able to successfully refinance their over $500 million debt before a mid-year maturation comes due. Telling the Nashville Post that the company is going through a little “spring cleaning,” Juszkiewicz says the company already dropped their Cakewalk music software group, and other brands in their portfolio are next to go. But a financial report to bondholders shows continued deterioration of both sales and profits, suggesting that simply pruning a few brands from the portfolio may not be enough to attract new investors or lenders.

See more on the dire situation at Gibson Brands… [Read more…] about CEO Says Gibson Will Dump Brands