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Voice Control: Time to Jump In…or Wait?

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In Wake of CEDIA, Industry Debates How Hot Voice Control Is

Scene showing Alexa voice controlOne of the keynote presentations at CEDIA 2016, was from Amazon – the monster online retailer. Amazon executive Charlie Kindel introduced the custom integration attendees to the Amazon Echo, Tap, and Dot…essentially Internet appliances that all feature their Alexa voice control technology. Then, late in the presentation, Kindel announced the company has developed a way for Alexa to interface with home systems – and even forged integration partnerships with Lutron, Crestron, Control4 and others.

And just like that, CEDIA 2016 became the voice control show… [Read more…] about Voice Control: Time to Jump In…or Wait?

Readers Pick Our Top Ten Stories of 2016

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Grahic of Top TenAs the end of the year rapidly approaches, it’s a great time to look back on 2016 to remember the big stories of the year. Some of these stories were ultimately eclipsed by subsequent ones – and some of them will continue to resonate through 2017 and beyond.

See which stories our readers picked as the Top Ten of 2016…

[Read more…] about Readers Pick Our Top Ten Stories of 2016

Twist – Simple Smart Home Light Bulb & Speaker

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Photo of TwistProducts designed to address the simple smart home market continue to be introduced at a dizzying pace – most of which will end up in the dust bin of not-so-useful, not-so-innovative app-controllable nonsense in the future. But every once in a while we stumble across items that catch our eye, and Twist is one of those.

What is Twist? If you can screw in a lightbulb, you can have a smarter home lighting and wireless audio solution.

See more on Twist, a smarter smart home solution… [Read more…] about Twist – Simple Smart Home Light Bulb & Speaker

After Years of Cutbacks, Sony Says It’s Time to Drive Sales

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Sony Marketing Discusses Growth Plans with Japanese Media

Sony logo on screen at CES press presentationSony told the Nikkei this week that – to paraphrase – after years of painful dieting, the company has reached its fighting weight and is ready to go to battle to grow its sales worldwide. The company has spent the last few years spinning off divisions, cutting back on employment levels, and reducing overhead – all for the express purpose of improving profits. That goal achieved, the company will now focus on sales.

But the plan that Sony’s chief marketer outlined has some concerned… [Read more…] about After Years of Cutbacks, Sony Says It’s Time to Drive Sales

Cyber Monday was Big, But is It Losing Its Mojo?

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Photo of shoppersOh I know…you’ve been reading all of the press about how Cyber Monday was the biggest online shopping day ever this year. So how can we be suggesting it’s losing momentum? Well, according to new data analyzed by eMarketer, that appears to be exactly the case.

So which days are gaining ground on Cyber Monday?

Read on to find out what day or days are gaining on Cyber Monday… [Read more…] about Cyber Monday was Big, But is It Losing Its Mojo?

GoPro Cuts 15% Of Workforce; Closes Division

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Photo of KarmaJust a couple of weeks after we reported on GoPro’s recall of thousands of defective Karma drones and other business problems, now comes word that the company is in the process of cutting more than 200 jobs, or about 15% of its total workforce, amid a sales decline. The company has also decided to shut down its Entertainment division and rededicate itself to its core wearable camera business.

But analysts remain unconvinced the company has the right plan for growth… [Read more…] about GoPro Cuts 15% Of Workforce; Closes Division

Leon Dresses Up SONOS with Gorgeous Woodwork

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Leon logoAnn Arbor, MI-based Leon Speakers, known for their high-end A/V solutions that juxtapose the drama of art with the pinnacle of sound, announced this week that they have launched a line of wood trim encasements that bring the warmth of richly detailed woodgrain to the normal gray and black boxes of popular SONOS brand speakers. Known as Tonecase Hardwood Cabinets, Leon manages to bring a new form of richness to SONOS- a visual one.

See more on the new Leon Speakers Tonecase for SONOS… [Read more…] about Leon Dresses Up SONOS with Gorgeous Woodwork

CTA Predicts Record Black Friday Week

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Nearly 50% of the Entire U.S. Population Will Buy Tech Then

CTA logoIn a very bullish release from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the organization predicts that nearly half of all consumers in America (47%) will buy a technology product during Black Friday week, based on a newly completed survey. That result means 116 million Americans will buy tech – ten percent more than last year.

See more on this CTA survey, including what consumers will buy… [Read more…] about CTA Predicts Record Black Friday Week

A Tale of Two Japans – Toshiba & Japan Display

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Photo of busy intersection in JapanTwo 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.

See more on these two dramatically different stories of a still-troubled Japan… [Read more…] about A Tale of Two Japans – Toshiba & Japan Display