Emotiva Audio Corporation is one of those ideas whose core elements initially seemed incongruous – high-end products…sold on the Internet? When we learned of their launch 12-years ago, we predicted doom and damnation. After all, high-end audio, we posited, was as much about the experience -the audition – as it is about the product. Founder Dan Laufman proved us wrong. This week, Laufman caught our attention again when we recently received information about an impressive roster of new models to be launched at CES.
News
Dysfunctional CEDIA Board Cited in Resignation Letter
We reported to you last month that, in an unexpected development best described as surprising, two members of CEDIA’s Board of Directors – Bob Brown and Richard Millson – abruptly resigned their positions within 24-hours of each other. We learned of this through our industry sources, not from CEDIA – which has yet to make any official statement about this unusual event. While we were able to confirm the incident had happened, since none of the parties would speak to us about it, we were unable to report on the reasons behind why this double resignation occurred in the first place. Now…we have more information.
See the surprising news we have learned over the last few weeks… [Read more…] about Dysfunctional CEDIA Board Cited in Resignation Letter
Toshiba Hit with Record Fine; Shareholders Sue
Despite its best efforts to turn the corner after its forced disclosure earlier this year of one of the largest accounting scandals ever to jolt the Japanese financial community, Toshiba Corp. just keeps getting hit with more and more bad news. This bad news includes Japan’s financial regulators assessing the largest fine ever in the history of the country for financial mismanagement – ¥7.37 billion or about $60 million.
And now, the very first wave of shareholder lawsuits against former Toshiba executives are filed…and they are big.
See more on Toshiba’s continuing waves of woes… [Read more…] about Toshiba Hit with Record Fine; Shareholders Sue
Jon Robbins Returns to Run HTSA
BREAKING NEWS
Hana to Stay On in Supportive Role
Jon Robbins, former President & CEO of now defunct Hi Fi House (Broomall, PA) and one of the first members of the Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA), will become Managing Director of the organization later this month, taking control of an organization he helped build, Strata-gee.com has learned. Current HTSA managing director Bob Hana will stay on with the organization, with his activities focused more on marketing and operations, Robbins told us.
See more on this significant shift of control for HTSA… [Read more…] about Jon Robbins Returns to Run HTSA
SnapAV Names Adam Levy as President
Levy Recently Rejoined Organization After a 1-Year Hiatus
Adam Levy, one of the original founding executives of SnapAV in 2006 who left the organization about a year ago “to try some other things,” has rejoined the organization and been appointed President. Levy will be in charge of store operations with day-to-day operational responsibility focused on serving their dealers.
See more about this significant addition to SnapAV’s management team… [Read more…] about SnapAV Names Adam Levy as President
OLED Adoption Tipping Point: Apple iPhone
Several reports have emerged saying that Apple, Inc. has told suppliers that it is committed to upgrading the displays on its popular iPhone from the current LCD-based touchscreen to an OLED display, starting in 2018. This decision has industry-wide ramifications and has suppliers scrambling to increase the capacity of their OLED factories. There are also competitive ramifications from this decision that is bound to rattle competitors.
Seen more on the dramatic implications of Apple’s decision… [Read more…] about OLED Adoption Tipping Point: Apple iPhone
Samsung Shifts Product Strategy – Targets Drone & IoT Biz
Korean media is reporting that Samsung Electronics has re-prioritized its product development plans – now setting its sights on the Internet-Of-Things (IoT) and drone product categories as its targeted growth categories. The company had also been considering pursuing 3D printing, but has put that initiative on the back-burner as it is believed to have a longer horizon to achieve profitability.
See more on Samsung’s thinking behind these new priorities… [Read more…] about Samsung Shifts Product Strategy – Targets Drone & IoT Biz
Control4 to Sell Denon Products Directly to Dealers
Control4 Corporation announced today that it will begin offering Denon products to Control4 dealers through a web portal at which products from both brands can be purchased. The move is a first for both brands, as far as we’re aware, and represents a potential expansion of Denon’s distribution channel.
See more on this new Denon/Control4 relationship… [Read more…] about Control4 to Sell Denon Products Directly to Dealers
TiO 3.0 Updated Software Suite Adds Expanded Capabilities
Turn It On (TiO), a division of Anuva Automation that makes wireless multi-room home automation and entertainment systems, announced today that it has released a major software suite update called TiO 3.0. The main reason for this update is to incorporate the major system capabilities expansion announced last month at CEDIA Expo 2015.
See more on what’s been updated in TiO 3.0… [Read more…] about TiO 3.0 Updated Software Suite Adds Expanded Capabilities
DTS Partners with ProSource for National Play-Fi Marketing
ProSource, a national dealer buying group, announced this week that it has cut a deal with DTS Inc., to partner in marketing and promoting its Play-Fi wireless music system products. DTS, which announced an expanded roster of Play-Fi participating manufacturers at CEDIA Expo, has been a bit behind other wireless makers before now, but is seen as picking up the pace of its expansion.
