<April 4, 2012> In financial results filed with the SEC at the end of last week, Nortek, Inc. said fiscal year 2011 (year ending December 31, 2011) saw a substantial sales increase of 12.7% from $1.899 billion in 2010 to $2.141 billion last year. However, the company reported that losses also increased from 2010’s $13.4 million to last year’s $55.9 million. Still, the company feels there’s cause for optimism as fourth quarter results improved substantially over the fourth quarter of 2010. [Read more…] about Nortek’s Losses Increased in 2011, But Company Says Q4 Results are Encouraging
Ex-D&M President Weissburg Heads to Gibson Guitar
<March 6, 2012> Gibson Guitar announced yesterday that it has hired ex-D&M President Bob Weissburg as global executive vice president – a new position at Gibson. Although Weissburg’s focus will likely be their consumer electronics and pro divisions, Gibson says he will be in charge of all divisions at the company – including musical instruments. [Read more…] about Ex-D&M President Weissburg Heads to Gibson Guitar
More Than 50% of All Americans View Online Video
<December 28, 2011> Earlier this month, eMarketer released a report showing that online video viewing has reached a key milestone with more than 50% of the entire U.S. population watching video on the Internet. And the market research company forecasts that the trend will only continue to rise over the next three years. [Read more…] about More Than 50% of All Americans View Online Video
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
Of Two Big Tech Stories in 2012, This One Will Likely Be the Biggest…and Scariest
<December 28, 2011> We now can predict with a reasonable level of certainty two huge technology stories coming up in 2012. They may in fact turn out to be the biggest stories of the entire year. One is the impending public offering of Facebook, a story that will likely mean the minting of yet another Forbes billionaire, Mark Zuckerberg. But the story that many feel will be the biggest of the big is the impending launch of Apple’s long-rumored iTV. [Read more…] about Of Two Big Tech Stories in 2012, This One Will Likely Be the Biggest…and Scariest
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
At Long Last CEDIA Releases Findings from New Research on CI Market
<December 15, 2011> At the September CEDIA Expo in Indianapolis, the trade association’s CEO, Utz 
Baldwin, held a press event in which he announced that the organization was in the final stages of completing a detailed research report on the custom installation market served by its members. Baldwin, who is no longer with the organization, promised a fourth quarter release – and they just made it as they announced today selected data from the report which, interestingly, will not be available for sale in 2011. [Read more…] about At Long Last CEDIA Releases Findings from New Research on CI Market
CEDIA’s First, and Perhaps Only, CEO Leaves the Trade Group
<December 7, 2011> Last Monday, CEDIA, the predominant trade association for the custom integration market, announced that its Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer Utz Baldwin “have agreed on Mr. Baldwin’s departure from CEDIA…” The prepared statement from the group gave no reason for the change but assured members that the Board of Directors “will continue to provide strategic leadership for the organization…”
See more on this surprising development… [Read more…] about CEDIA’s First, and Perhaps Only, CEO Leaves the Trade Group
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
