We learned this week that the Chairman and Founder of Crestron, Mr. George Feldstein, passed away after a long illness. The news hit many in the custom integration industry particularly hard, as Mr. Feldstein is widely credited with helping not just build a company…but with also fueling the growth of the entire industry.
Crestron
With Pyng, Crestron Zings the Integration Community
At the CEDIA Expo earlier this month, Crestron surprised many in the integration community by offering a new, friendly, easy-to-program and easy-to-use, app-driven home automation system they call Pyng. In fact, at a presentation to the press during CEDIA Expo earlier this month, Crestron staff referred to Pyng as “the app for your home.”
But does Pyng’s ease of programming & use cut the integrator out of the picture? See more… [Read more…] about With Pyng, Crestron Zings the Integration Community
Commercial & Residential Integrators Converge in Manhattan for Sapphire Marketing NYC RoadShow
Sapphire Marketing, a well-known manufacturer’s sales representative company focusing on the commercial and residential integration channels in the Northeast, held their sixth dealer “RoadShow” in mid-town Manhattan on Thursday and Friday of last week. We had the good fortune of being invited to attend the event courtesy of our friend Dawn Allcot of Crestron’s PR department…and we’re glad we went.
See more on this event, including some impressive presentations by major integration brands… [Read more…] about Commercial & Residential Integrators Converge in Manhattan for Sapphire Marketing NYC RoadShow
Strata-gee’s Editor Appears in Latest Edition of AV Week Webcast
Not having learned their lesson last time, AV Nation once again invited me to participate in the latest edition of their AV Week webcast to discuss the hot A/V topics of the day. Also appearing in this week’s episode of AV Week was Sam Malik of ASK Proxima and Kevin Iselli of Crestron Electronics. And, of course, AV Week is hosted by the incomparable Tim Albright, founder of AV Nation.
What topics did the guests on AV Week ponder? See more below… [Read more…] about Strata-gee’s Editor Appears in Latest Edition of AV Week Webcast
Strata-gee.com’s Ted Green Featured in Consumer Website Article on Home Automation
MyMove.com, a website and blog dedicated to any and all issues surrounding a homeowner’s moving, this week posted an article on home automation that featured three industry experts – Delia Hansen, Marketing Solutions Manager at Crestron; Michael Braithwaite, Chief Strategy Officer for ClearOne, manufacturer of the NetStream DigiLinx home control system; and Strata-gee.com’s very own Ted Green. Written by Dawn Allcot – principal of Allcot Media, the post was titled Whole-Home Automation: Convenience, Savings and Sustainability.
How did this story approach home automation…and what did Ted tell them? See more below… [Read more…] about Strata-gee.com’s Ted Green Featured in Consumer Website Article on Home Automation
EXPO Attendance Declines Again
Then Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) today released attendance data from last week’s Expo in Indianapolis, IN and it was a mix of good news and bad news. Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. Total attendance at the event came in at 16,900, down 4 percent from last year’s attendance of 17,600. This figure is also the lowest recorded attendance since 2001, coming in 1.8 percent under that year’s attendance level of 17,200.
But is there a silver lining?… [Read more…] about EXPO Attendance Declines Again
Third Time’s the Charm? Colorado vNet – Now 3vNet – Certainly Hopes So
BREAKING NEWS
Colorado vNet, the high-tech control and home automation company that has had an up-and-down roller-coaster existence – dying twice, only to be reborn twice – and eventually given-up on and sold off…hopes that the old adage, “third time’s the charm” is true. CEO Mike Anderson announced today that he is re-launching the company with a new brand – now 3vNet – and a new attitude, telling us that this is not a makeover, but in fact a whole new company with new facilities, new engineering, and a new higher level of tech support the likes of which dealers haven’t seen in years.
See what the all-new 3vNet has in store to excite dealers & drive market share…
[Read more…] about Third Time’s the Charm? Colorado vNet – Now 3vNet – Certainly Hopes So
Electronics Manufacturer ATI to Acquire B&K Components from Bank
SpecialALERT
B&K Components, Ltd., a small privately owned company founded in 1981 in Buffalo, NY, had carved out a niche for itself as a provider of a fairly wide range of stereo, home theater, and multizone audio components. But apparently B&K Components has also become the latest victim of a continuing industry contraction as sources tell the ALERT that, barring any unforseen last-minute glitches, Amplifier Technologies, Inc. (ATI) will acquire B&K soon…perhaps as early as by the end of this week. [Read more…] about Electronics Manufacturer ATI to Acquire B&K Components from Bank