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Emerald Announces Big Jump in CEDIA 2017 Attendance

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Photo from CEDIA 2017
Show floor, CEDIA 2017

Find Out Who’s on Emerald’s CEDIA Show Advisory Board

Emerald Expositions, the new owner of the CEDIA tradeshow, announced this week that the CEDIA 2017 show had a significant jump in attendance. According to the exposition company, attendance jumped almost 7% from 18,750 last year to “more than 20,000 home tech professionals” this year. This announcement, normally released on the last day of the show, was held for 11-days by Emerald, Strata-gee was told, so they could perform deep data analysis.

Unfortunately, they chose to share very, very little of that data in this announcement. But more is promised.

See what Emerald has released so far about CEDIA 2017… [Read more…] about Emerald Announces Big Jump in CEDIA 2017 Attendance

Control4 Launches Ingenious Networking Certification Program

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Control4 Pakedge PCNA logo3rd Party Testing & Techs Can Earn Their Own Pakedge Gear

Control4 announced today a smart new training program that it hopes will create an army of Pakedge Certified Network Administrators (PCNA) throughout the custom integration industry. The company noted, correctly we think, that “Practical, hands-on training for networking has been lacking throughout the…custom install industry,” Control4 has designed an exceedingly clever learning program with a strong participation motivator – techs can earn Pakedge gear for their own systems.

See more on this smart training program from Control4/Pakedge… [Read more…] about Control4 Launches Ingenious Networking Certification Program

What We’ve Discovered About CEDIA’s Sale of the Show

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Did Emerald ‘Overpay’ for the Iconic Tradeshow?

Emerald Expositions logoIt was only just a matter of months ago, in January 2017, that we learned that CEDIA had sold off their trademark show to Emerald Expositions, the biggest B-to-B tradeshow promoter in North America. This news came completely out of the blue, with no forewarning to members of the Association.

When the sale was announced by the Association, the very last line of their notice was: “The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.” This lack of disclosure makes it virtually impossible for any loyal supportive CEDIA member to evaluate this major decision – selling off the single largest revenue generator for the Association – by the group management.

Now, we have a major piece of the puzzle, the purchase price… [Read more…] about What We’ve Discovered About CEDIA’s Sale of the Show

Strata-gee Interviews Emerald Expositions Executive

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Photo of Brianna MorrisWhat the Future Holds for the CEDIA Show

“Do I need to ‘prepare’ for anything?” Emerald Expositions Marketing Manager Brianna Morris asked us in a firm tone as we met to set up a date for an interview. “Prepare?,” we asked. “Yes…we’re read your stuff,” she said in a deeper tone.

I could tell right then, it was going to be an interesting interview.

See our interview with Emerald’s CEDIA show marketing manager… [Read more…] about Strata-gee Interviews Emerald Expositions Executive

Getting Out the Vote for New CEDIA Directors

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cedia logoCEDIA has opened voting to fill the three open seats on the board due to term expiration. The organization has selected seven potential candidates, all of whom are integrators with two international candidates. CEDIA says the Boards Governance committee, after an “in-depth process” has determined that these seven candidates “met the competencies required” to be placed on the ballot.

See more on this election process… [Read more…] about Getting Out the Vote for New CEDIA Directors

AudioControl Expands Maestro Series with New M5 Pre-Pro

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AudioControl 40-year logoAudioControl, the scrappy specialty manufacturer for both home and mobile electronics, announced today that it is launching the M5 Preamp-Processor as part of its popular Maestro home theater processor line. The M5 appears to be a worthy contender for one of the best values in a high-end, if not audiophile, preamp-processor with all the right stuff at a reasonable price.

See more details on the impressive Maestro M5… [Read more…] about AudioControl Expands Maestro Series with New M5 Pre-Pro

Josh.ai Launches New Hardware Solution – Josh Micro

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Photo of Josh MicroJosh.ai, the high-end voice control solution that created quite a buzz at last year’s CEDIA show, announced today that it is launching its first hardware product, Josh Micro. Josh Micro includes a home control processor, far-field microphone array, and a superior user interface in a small package that “fits in the palm of your hand.” It also disconnects Josh.ai from the need to talk into your smartphone…or to a nearby Amazon Echo.

See more on Josh Micro… [Read more…] about Josh.ai Launches New Hardware Solution – Josh Micro

Savant Throws Some Shade on Competitors

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Savant ShadesSavant Systems announced today that it is launching a line of shades and brackets, entering a new category for the home automation company. This new line is known simply as Savant Shades and the company says they are “innovative” and “design-forward” shades with a unique “fascia-free” design that eliminates the unsightly window box that exists to conceal wires, screws or fasteners on traditional and competitive shading systems.

See more on this new line from Savant… [Read more…] about Savant Throws Some Shade on Competitors

Is Gibson Brands Headed for a Default?

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Moody’s Hits Gibson Brands with Another Credit Downgrade

Logo for Gibson BrandsMoody’s Investors Service, one of the largest credit rating services in the world, has downgraded the credit rating for Gibson Brands, the Nashville-based parent of Gibson Guitar, Onkyo, Teac, KRK, Philips, Stanton and more. Moody’s has set their rating on Gibson Brands debt to Caa3, down one step from Caa2.

The move caused Wall Street investment analyst The Street to raise the specter of the possibility of Gibson Brands defaulting on their debt.

See why Moody’s says the Gibson Brands situation is unsustainable… [Read more…] about Is Gibson Brands Headed for a Default?

Thiel Audio’s New CEO, Elyse McKenna, Talks to Strata-Gee

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New CEO Outlines a New Future for the 40-Year Old Brand

Photo of Elyse McKenna, Thiel Audio CEOYou practically need a scorecard to keep track of the revolving group of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) that have come and gone from Nashville-based Thiel Audio. The specialty speaker company has had five CEOs in four years – leading to an unending series of disjointed actions from a disconnected group of high-powered executives, each with their own vision of where to take the company.

Now it is new Thiel CEO Elyse McKenna’s turn…and she has a plan… [Read more…] about Thiel Audio’s New CEO, Elyse McKenna, Talks to Strata-Gee