The HDBaseT Alliance, an organization formed to promote the HDBaseT technology and grow its market, announced today that Sony Corporation will join the group as a Contributor member. One of their biggest “gets” yet, Sony is said to be introducing new energy-efficient HD projectors with the HDBaseT functionality.
News
Core Brands Director of CI Leaves to Join SurgeX
Power protection manufacturer SurgeX announced today that Jimmy Paschke, former Core Brands Director of CI, has joined the company as its new Southern Regional Sales Manager. The appointment is effective immediately.
See more on this interesting move by Paschke… [Read more…] about Core Brands Director of CI Leaves to Join SurgeX
Harman Acquires Headphone Maker Yurbuds
Harman International Industries, Inc. announced today that is has acquired St. Louis-based Yurbuds, LLC., a manufacturer of headphones. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition seems surprising, given the fact that Harman already owns brands such as JBL and AKG that already offer headphones.
Why would a company that already offers headphones, acquire a headphone company? See more… [Read more…] about Harman Acquires Headphone Maker Yurbuds
Velodyne Authorizes Powerhouse Alliance as National Distribution Partner for Subwoofers
Just one day after we reported on layoffs at Velodyne’s audio division, we received word from the company that it is authorizing the Powerhouse Alliance, a national group of distributors, for its line of subwoofers. The agreement will make Velodyne subwoofers available to Powerhouse Alliances’ nationwide network of retailers and installers.
See more on this new announcement from Velodyne… [Read more…] about Velodyne Authorizes Powerhouse Alliance as National Distribution Partner for Subwoofers
Layoffs Hit Velodyne’s Audio Division as Company Bets All on LIDAR
BREAKING NEWS
Multiple sources are reporting that Velodyne Acoustics, Inc. – a once high-flying specialty subwoofer manufacturer – has had a significant layoff in its audio division last week as the company seeks to redeploy its resources full-scale behind its LIDAR business. The company, which is driven by its enigmatic founder, David Hall, is betting its future (betting the farm, some would say) on its LIDAR technology which is used in self-driving vehicles (such as Google’s).
See more on this dramatic shift in business by a former audio high-flyer… [Read more…] about Layoffs Hit Velodyne’s Audio Division as Company Bets All on LIDAR
Screen Research Names Grace Motif as Exclusive U.S. Distributor
Screen Research, a line of high-performance projection screens owned by the Adeo Group of Italy, announced that it has selected specialty products distributor Grace Motif, Inc. as its exclusive distributor for the U.S. custom installation market, effective this month. Grace Motif has been the Screen Research distributor for the commercial market since the beginning of this year, so this announcement represents a significant expansion of the relationship.
See more on this new, expanded partnership… [Read more…] about Screen Research Names Grace Motif as Exclusive U.S. Distributor
New Group Called ‘The Tech Tour’ to Hold 6 Regional Tradeshows in U.S.
A new group of industry veterans have formed for the purpose of launching six regional trade shows covering the entire U.S. – three shows taking place in the fourth quarter of 2014 and another three shows in the first quarter of 2015. The group says that this event – called The Tech Tour – came about as the result of manufacturers, representatives, and media representatives working together to provide dealers and installers a new easy-to-attend regional tradeshow and educational event.
Learn more about The Tech Tour below… [Read more…] about New Group Called ‘The Tech Tour’ to Hold 6 Regional Tradeshows in U.S.
NAD Launches New Masters Series Models Targeted Squarely at ‘Audiophile 2.0’
*See update note below…*
On Wednesday, Lenbrook America, the exclusive distributor of NAD in the U.S., held a press presentation in a suite at the upscale Andaz 5th Avenue Hotel in Manhattan. It was a cool but gray and curiously humid day…still able to create enhanced perspiration for those rushing to the event from assorted train/subway/bus stops. But those members of the press who chose to attend were well rewarded for their efforts, as NAD launched a significant update to their Masters Series line – an update designed to further target a new customer that the company calls “Audiophile 2.0.”
See more on this update, including more specifics on what NAD calls a new emerging market… [Read more…] about NAD Launches New Masters Series Models Targeted Squarely at ‘Audiophile 2.0’
Screen Innovations Says Bigger is Better, Announces Larger Black Diamond Screens
Screen Innovations announced this week that it is launching new, larger sizes in its popular Black Diamond series of projection screens. The new larger screen size – in each of two aspect ratios – will now include: 120-inches (16:9)…and 150-inches (2.35:1).
See more on this announcement… [Read more…] about Screen Innovations Says Bigger is Better, Announces Larger Black Diamond Screens
Hands-On Battle in Clash of Remote Control Titans; URC Claims Victory
But UEI Says ‘It is Not Over’
For the last couple of years, there has been a running court battle between two of the titans of the remote control category: Universal Electronics, Inc. (UEI) and Universal Remote Control, Inc. (URC). Today, one of them, URC, announced victory in the first of two pending patent infringement lawsuits that was originally filed in 2012.
URC claimed a complete victory – but Strata-gee.com has received a statement from UEI who says, in effect, not so fast – this dispute is far from over.
