Two stories out of Japan caught our attention and, to our thinking, combine to show that Japan’s tech industry is still not yet out of the woods. The first story, by the Japan Times, says that troubled Toshiba’s half-year fiscal results show that their profits have now tripled. The second story, also from the Japan Times, announced that Japan Display will be laying off thousands of employees – almost a third of their workforce.
Pivot Point
CT Lab Launches CEMBLY- New Mag & Website
New Concept Mag Blends Technologists, Architects, Interior Designers & Builders
CT Lab, which is associated with NAPCO Media, publisher of Dealerscope and Technology Integrator, announced today that it is launching a new magazine and website call CEMBLY. CEMBLY, which the company describes as “an ambitious project,” is largely a business-to-business magazine that will target home technology professionals, interior designers, architects, builders, and building designers. The idea is to blend technology, with design, with dramatic home installations.
See more on CEMBLY… [Read more…] about CT Lab Launches CEMBLY- New Mag & Website
GoPro’s Stock Crashes as It Recalls Karma Drones
GoPro Inc., the individual sport camera maker who has recently diversified into the drone category, has lately seen their fortunes rise and fall…but mostly fall in the wake of their announcement that it would recall about 2,500 of their recently launched Karma drone. The news sent their stock price into a steep dive of more than 4% of its value.
See more on GoPro’s drone troubles… [Read more…] about GoPro’s Stock Crashes as It Recalls Karma Drones
OLED Universe is Expanding, Chinese Makers Plan Multiple Factories
In news coming out of Asia, multiple Chinese panel makers are planning to build large production factories making OLED panels – mostly for the smartphone market. Motivated in part, by Apple’s commitment to the technology, companies like BOE Technologies – China’s largest panel manufacturer – has announced plans to launch an OLED factory capable of producing 10 million smartphone panels per month.
But BOE is not alone, others are hopping on the OLED bus… [Read more…] about OLED Universe is Expanding, Chinese Makers Plan Multiple Factories
Savant Reorganizes Its Sales Force
BREAKING NEWS
Within a span of just minutes today, we began hearing from multiple sources around the country that something was afoot at Savant Systems, LLC. Word quickly spread that the company was terminating salespeople around the country, a move that was occurring in the wake of founder Robert Madonna’s return to the company to replace former CEO William Lynch.
What’s going on at Savant? Strata-gee digs deeper… [Read more…] about Savant Reorganizes Its Sales Force
Samsung Will Destroy All 4.3 Million Galaxy Note 7s
Company Makes Painful But Pragmatic Decision
Samsung Electronics is in the process of recalling their recently launched Galaxy Note 7 smartphone that came with the unusual feature of self-immolation included at no additional charge. The company’s initial production run was 2.5 million units. Then, trouble ensued and the company ceased production of that version. This was followed by the production of another 1.8 million “fixed” versions. Now…they are all recalled and the model has been cancelled.
What is Samsung going to do with 4.3 million defective smartphones? Destroy them… [Read more…] about Samsung Will Destroy All 4.3 Million Galaxy Note 7s
Onkyo Internally Announces Major Sales Structure Reorganization
BREAKING NEWS
Four Major Brands to be Consolidated into Two Divisions
In a national conference call with sales reps yesterday, Onkyo announced a major restructuring of their sales organization. This overhaul involves consolidating their four major brands – Onkyo, Integra, Pioneer, and Pioneer Elite – into two newly-created divisions.
See more on this breaking news from Onkyo… [Read more…] about Onkyo Internally Announces Major Sales Structure Reorganization
With New ‘Skill’ Logitech Offers Voice Control of Your Entire System
Company Develops Alexa Voice ‘Skill’ Enabling Spoken Control of AV Entertainment System
Logitech announced this week that it has developed an Amazon Alexa skill that will allow users to control their entire AV home entertainment system with simple spoken commands. Voice control has become a hot topic in the industry since CEDIA 2016, when one of the keynote speakers was Charlie Kindel, an Amazon executive working on their voice-enabled products like the Echo and Dot.
See more on Logitech’s move into voice control… [Read more…] about With New ‘Skill’ Logitech Offers Voice Control of Your Entire System
Leviton & Samsung SmartThings Partner on Automation Package
Leviton announced today that it has formed a strategic partnership with Samsung’s SmartThings division to offer a simple home automation starter package that will be made broadly available through distributors and the “professional dealer” market. Designed to be an affordable, whole-house, home automation solution – the package pairs products from SmartThings with Leviton Z-Wave enabled devices at discounted pricing.
See more on this new Leviton-SmartThings smart home market partnership… [Read more…] about Leviton & Samsung SmartThings Partner on Automation Package
Savant CEO Changes in Unexpected – and Unexplained – Shakeup
Late yesterday afternoon, a strange press release came our way. This release was strange for a couple of reasons – first, for what it was announcing – Savant’s founder Robert Madonna was returning to the CEO role, replacing “outgoing” CEO William Lynch. Second, it was strange because it gave no reason for this dramatic change of CEOs; and, third, it was strange because of where it came from – a PR firm that the company hasn’t been using for a couple of years.
