Strategy in TECH...
In a revealing presentation with the press yesterday in Japan, embattled Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai told the media that the company is finally ready to consider alternatives for its TV, A/V, and smartphone businesses, including exiting them. This is a stunning turnaround in strategy, not just for the inventor of the Trinitron picture tube, but for Hirai himself who had previously identified their TV and smartphone businesses as a core categories when he first took over as CEO in 2012.
D&M Holdings fired back at Sonos this week, filing papers with the United States District Court asking the judge to dismiss the lawsuit launched against them by Sonos last October alleging patent infringement. Saying that Sonos’ complaints, both the original and a later-amended one, “fail to meet the pleading requirements” established by the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as the U.S. District Court.
Likely not the response that Sonos was hoping for, D&M has bounced the case back to the judge for an immediate ruling.
New market data confirms what you probably already suspected, South Korea is the #1 supplier of TV products to the world. Home to both Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, S. Korean media is calling itself the ‘Country of TV.’
Planar Systems, Inc. announced today that it will show a new transparent OLED technology this month at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2015 this month. Calling themselves “a pioneer in this next wave of transparent display” Planar will show what looks to be an impressive 55″ prototype display with stunning OLED image on a transparent screen.
“Sharp has fallen on hard times again,” declared an at times shocking report in the Nikkei this week. The statement comes in the wake of the company announcing on Tuesday that, rather than their forecast of a profit for the current fiscal year, the company will in fact book a net loss. And this disappointing news will almost certainly drive the call for a much more drastic restructuring than has been accomplished in the past – with the company reportedly considering pulling out of the television business in North America altogether.
Sadly, we learned at the end of last week that long-time, well-respected industry veteran Tom Ishii has passed away. Mr. Ishii was a long time Executive Vice President of Onkyo USA Corp. and we are told he passed away after a short illness.
Toshiba Corp. announced late yesterday that it has decided to exit the TV business in all export markets, including North America. The move shocked some, but those who follow the trends in the TV business were not surprised at all as Japanese manufacturers have struggled to maintain viability in a low profitability category with declining demand.
We have learned today that Kaleidescape has appointed well-known industry veteran Mark Weisenberg as Kaleidescape’s new Vice President of Sales. Weisenberg replaces former VP of Sales Buzz Goddard, who left the company this past December.
Two rather significant news stories emerged today – one about Apple’s amazing Q1 fiscal results and the other about Sony’s troubled mobile division – and we couldn’t help but notice an incredible irony. In a way, it’s almost a tale of two CE industries.
Nortek, Inc. announced today that it has acquired Anthro Corporation through its Ergotron division. Anthro makes and designs a range of technology furniture. Nortek said that it financed the purchase using cash on hand and its existing asset-based lending facility.
