<January 18, 2012> When my kids were younger, they used to really love those Magic Eye puzzles. You know, the puzzles that look busy with lots of bright designs and graphics, but a hidden image is buried within them if you put your nose on the page, defocus your eyes, and really concentrate? This could be a pretty good analog of this year’s recently completed CES. How so, you ask? [Read more…] about CES Wrap-Up #1 – The Big News at CES Was That There was No Big News
Strategy
D&M Makes it Official – Brian Poggi is Appointed President, Americas
SpecialALERT
<January 6, 2012> As first reported in Stratecon’s BEACON yesterday [see story here], D&M Holdings, Inc. officially announced today that it has appointed Brian Poggi as President, Sales and Marketing – Americas effective immediately.
[Read more…] about D&M Makes it Official – Brian Poggi is Appointed President, Americas
Sources Say D&M Holdings is Set to Announce New President
<January 4, 2012> Sources are telling the Beacon that D&M Holdings is close to announcing a new President of Sales & Marketing for the Americas, a position that has been vacant ever since the company parted ways with former President Bob Weissburg in August 2011. According to these sources, D&M will announce shortly, perhaps as soon as next week’s CES, that it has selected Brian Poggi to be Weissburg’s replacement. [Read more…] about Sources Say D&M Holdings is Set to Announce New President
Once Again, It’s Show Time – Our CES Survey Results Reveal Reader’s Real Intentions
<January 4, 2012> Next week, the International Consumer Electronics Show kicks off in Las Vegas, NV starting January 10 and running through the 13th at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Over the last few years, many ALERT and BEACON readers have indicated to me that they no longer attended the event as they feel the show is no longer targeted at the specialty side of the business – and instead were using the CEDIA Expo as their main show. [Read more…] about Once Again, It’s Show Time – Our CES Survey Results Reveal Reader’s Real Intentions
More Details Emerge on Unique Gibson Guitar & Onkyo Partnership
<January 4, 2012> Only hours after the initial announcement this morning that Gibson Guitar Corporation and Onkyo Corporation will partner with mutual investments and the creation of a joint venture (JV) for product acquisition and marketing – new details of the deal are emerging. Also, the Japanese stock market has reacted to the deal driving up the value of Onkyo stock. [Read more…] about More Details Emerge on Unique Gibson Guitar & Onkyo Partnership
Gibson Guitar Buys Stake in Onkyo Corporation & Takes Control of Onkyo USA
<January 4, 2012> In a surprise move, Gibson Guitar Corporation announced that it has invested in Osaka, Japan-based Onkyo Corporation as part of what it called a “strategic partnership” pursued as part of a “continued diversification into the music and audio lifestyle arena.” The company also announced that it has taken a majority interest in Onkyo’s American subsidiary, Onkyo USA Corp. [Read more…] about Gibson Guitar Buys Stake in Onkyo Corporation & Takes Control of Onkyo USA
CEDIA Membership Meeting was Remarkable for What Was Said… and for What Wasn’t
<December 28, 2011> The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) held its annual Membership Meeting through a webinar on Tuesday with a total of 76 attendees including CEDIA members, press, and others. The meeting, conducted by CEDIA Board of Directors Chairman Randy Stearns, was remarkable both in terms of what was presented…and what wasn’t. [Read more…] about CEDIA Membership Meeting was Remarkable for What Was Said… and for What Wasn’t
Sony Decides to Stop Sleeping With the Enemy; Breaks Off Samsung Partnership
<December 28, 2011> Multiple reports from The New York Times, Reuters, the Nikkei and others say that Sony Corp. has decided to pull out of its joint venture with Samsung called S-LCD Corp. Launched in 2004, the JV manufactured LCD TVs in South Korea for both partners and was Sony’s attempt to catch up with the rest of the industry after its disastrous decision to stay with analog sets as everyone else turned to flat panels. [Read more…] about Sony Decides to Stop Sleeping With the Enemy; Breaks Off Samsung Partnership
Toshiba to Close Three Chip Plants as Demand Slacks for TVs & PCs
<November 30, 2011> Toshiba Corporation said today in Tokyo that it will close three of its six factories in Japan producing so-called discrete or single-function chips which are widely used in the electronics business. A very competitive part of the chip business, Toshiba has struggled to maintain profits in this division as competitors such as Samsung put downward pressure on the pricing – and profits – for these chips. [Read more…] about Toshiba to Close Three Chip Plants as Demand Slacks for TVs & PCs
Pioneer, Pummeled by Problems, Reveals Revised Recovery Plans
<November 30, 2011> On Tuesday, Pioneer Corporation released its revised medium-term business plan designed to rebuild their sales and profits after a tough year of environmental and economic challenges including earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan and Thailand, as well as a global economic slowdown. The company also revised its forecast for the results of the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2012 showing a slightly better outcome than the last revised guidance offered. [Read more…] about Pioneer, Pummeled by Problems, Reveals Revised Recovery Plans