Wall Street analysts are getting increasingly concerned about the ability of Apple, Inc. to sustain its historic run of innovation. Some are suggesting the company’s best days may in fact be behind it. Exacerbating the growing drumbeat of discontent…it has been eight months – since October 2012 – when Apple last announced new products. And even they were more iterative than innovative. Clearly feeling the pressure, over the last couple of months Apple CEO Tim Cook has told anyone who was willing to listen to hang on, great things are coming.
Pivot Point
Existing-Home Sales Hit Highest Level in Almost 3-1/2 Years
In a new report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) that further reinforces the rebound in the housing market, sales of existing homes for the month of April rose to their highest level in the almost 3½ years since November 2009. And while there were minor quibbles of forecast misses, overall the report contained clear evidence of positive trends including solid pricing increases – as well as an increasing pace of sales.
The NAR has some concern about tight inventory, but see more on this good economic news… [Read more…] about Existing-Home Sales Hit Highest Level in Almost 3-1/2 Years
In Wake of Fiscal Year Loss, Pioneer Seeks Business Alliances…and Capital
Pioneer Corp. is seeking to form a business and capital alliance with Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Inc. according to a story today in The Japan Times. The company will also try to enhance its ties with Mitsubishi Electric Corp. “in a bid to survive” in its main car electronics business with a stronger financial footing.
The announcement was made the same day that the company announced their Fiscal 2013 results in which sales came in at ¥451.8 billion ($4.4 billion), up 3.5% over ¥436.8 billion. But more importantly, the company announced a big loss of ¥19.6 billion ($191.6 million)…much worse than the profit of ¥3.7 billion last year.
See more on why Pioneer needs these new alliances… [Read more…] about In Wake of Fiscal Year Loss, Pioneer Seeks Business Alliances…and Capital
Huge Loss & Management Dismissals Induce Sharp Pain at Sharp Corp.
Sharp Corp. announced this week the worst net loss in its long corporate history for the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2013. Booking a net loss of ¥545.35 billion ($5.4 billion), the company has aggressively moved to shake up the company management replacing both the President and Chairman in a rare (for a Japanese company) public rebuke of company leaders. And in what may be a signal to the market, the new President has no ties to the company’s TV business…and he’s talking tough.
See more on this worse-than-expected result… [Read more…] about Huge Loss & Management Dismissals Induce Sharp Pain at Sharp Corp.
Banks Throw Sharp a $1.5 Billion Lifeline
Two key banks in Japan announced yesterday that they will extend Sharp Corp. an additional line of credit of ¥150 billion ($1.5 billion) over and above all of their other financing. Mizuho Corporate Bank and Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ originally had considered a ¥100 billion line, but ultimately decided to up the ante with each bank kicking in ¥75 billion – a real lifeline to the struggling electronics manufacturer.
See more on this surprise announcement out of Japan… [Read more…] about Banks Throw Sharp a $1.5 Billion Lifeline
Kathy Gornik: Why I Sold Thiel…
*Strata-gee.com EXCLUSIVE*
Much has been written on the changes at Lexington, KY-based Thiel Audio Products Company (Thiel) in the wake of its purchase by a group of Tennessee investors that we first reported last November. Shortly after their acquisition, strata-gee.com was invited to speak with Bill Thomas – one of those Tennessee investors and now the new CEO of Thiel Audio. And a couple of months after that, we had the opportunity to speak with new Thiel interim COO and Board member Bob Brown.
But many Thiel-related reps and dealers kept asking us about co-founder and former President Kathy Gornik. Some of this curiosity was related to rumors that Gornik had been forcibly removed from the respected high-end loudspeaker company that she helped found. And some of the interest centered around an unanswered question, not covered by any of the press (including Strata-gee.com) as to why Gornik decided to sell the company.
Now, Gornik has granted Strata-gee.com an exclusive interview…to tell her side of the story… [Read more…] about Kathy Gornik: Why I Sold Thiel…
Though Fiscal 2013 Results are Better Than Expected, Yamaha Replaces President
Last week, Yamaha Corporation released its financial results for Fiscal Year 2013 (the period ending March 31, 2013) giving the stock market and financial analysts a pleasant surprise as final numbers handily beat both their February 6th revised forecast and last year’s results. Thanks to a strong fourth quarter, Yamaha hit sales for the year of ¥366.9 billion ($3.7 billion) or 2.9% more than last year’s ¥356.6 billion. Yamaha also reported increased operating income, ordinary income, and net income.
And yet, surprisingly, the company also announced it would replace its President and Representative Director at the upcoming directors meeting to be held on June 26, 2013. Why?
See more on Yamaha’s performance and the surprising reason they’ll replace their President… [Read more…] about Though Fiscal 2013 Results are Better Than Expected, Yamaha Replaces President
ACTP Launches TiO Home Automation – They Want You to Turn it On
Last month we told you about the [probably final] closing of 3vNet…the third or fourth time it – or more accurately, its predecessor company Colorado vNet – has gone through that process. At the same time CEO Mike Anderson announced that closing, he also announced the launch of a new company called Automated Control Technology Partners – a company that he said would ultimately have a stable of brands under its control.
With this week’s announcement of the launch of Turn it On (TiO) – we have the first of these brands… [Read more…] about ACTP Launches TiO Home Automation – They Want You to Turn it On
NAD – Pulling High Performance Digital Away From the MP3 Muck
Saying they want to move their traditional audiophile customers into the exciting new world of digital music – while at the same time offering higher sound quality solutions to attract the “digital native” computer music lover – NAD Electronics today in a press preview in New York launched three new digital audio products it calls “The New Digital Generation.” Staking out the high ground, NAD hopes to be able to offer affordable access to better quality digital music…while at the same time, offering an upgrade path to the ultimate digital system performance.
See more on this remarkable digital evolution by an upper mid-fi company… [Read more…] about NAD – Pulling High Performance Digital Away From the MP3 Muck
AudioXperts Goes Global
AudioXperts, a new luxury audio brand with a wide range of distinctly unique consumer solutions, announced today a major expansion in its global reach through a series of partnerships with international distributors in key markets around the world. These distributors will open new markets for the brand in a strategy that will offer their unique products to a whole new global audience – and at the same time, help scale the company’s business for greater efficiency.
