My assistant spotted it immediately. “There’s a strange letter in today’s mail,” she said with a slight hesitation in her voice one day last week as she handed me a small stack of mail that she had just picked up from our company post office box. That hesitation in her voice wasn’t so much concern as it was uncertainty as to whether she should bother to bring it to my attention. After all, it could simply be just another example of cleverly disguised junk mail.
Associations
Johnnie & Co. Launches Website Program for CEDIA Members
A new marketing group in the tech space called Johnnie & Co. has partnered with CEDIA to launch a new website development program for the organization’s members. For those dealers who do not have a website, or those who have an older site in need of a serious refresh, this new program offers CEDIA members an affordable path to a hand-built-for-them website.
See more on this new program for CEDIA members… [Read more…] about Johnnie & Co. Launches Website Program for CEDIA Members
THX Joins Streaming Video Alliance
THX announced this week that it has joined the Streaming Video Alliance, an organzation that addresses ongoing video streaming issues through the development of best practices. THX says it is “uniquely qualified to make significant contributions to the Alliance.”
See more on THX and the Streaming Video Alliance… [Read more…] about THX Joins Streaming Video Alliance
Access Networks CEO: Network Security is an ‘Existential Challenge’ for Industry
Network systems provider Access Networks announced this week that it has hired Roy Beiser, a former Intel executive, as its first ever Director of IT. But even more than that, Beiser, who is said to be highly credentialed in network technologies and cyber security issues, will assist in helping Access Networks to establish “the highest IT and cyber security standards for the company’s base of integration professionals and their clients.”
See what Access Networks plans to do to raise the security bar for itself, and the industry… [Read more…] about Access Networks CEO: Network Security is an ‘Existential Challenge’ for Industry
CEDIA Picks Middle Atlantic Products for Theater Project
Middle Atlantic Products announced today that CEDIA selected it as part of a group of industry products for a unique theater project at the Portland International Airport. A joint effort by Hollywood Theater, a nonprofit group in Portland, CEDIA, the integration industry’s leading trade association, and Portland’s PDX Art program (Portland International Airports designation is PDX), this unique art project opened in late February.
See more on Middle Atlantic’s collaboration to further art at the Portland Airport… [Read more…] about CEDIA Picks Middle Atlantic Products for Theater Project
Existing Home Sales Hit 10-Year High
In new data released on Wednesday by the National Association of Realtors, existing home sales launched into 2017 with a 3.3% overall gain to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.69 million units in January – their highest level in ten years. The organization says this result “signals resilience among consumers even in a rising interest rate environment.”
See what existing home sales means for the economy… [Read more…] about Existing Home Sales Hit 10-Year High
With Over 73K Attendees, ISE Grows Almost 12%
Integrated Systems Europe announced today that their ISE 2017 show drew 73,413 attendees making it the largest ever trade show servicing the international residential and commercial integration industries. The show, which is a 50/50 partnership between CEDIA and InfoComm, saw attendance swell 11.7% over the level in 2016.
See more on this successful international trade show… [Read more…] about With Over 73K Attendees, ISE Grows Almost 12%
Is CEDIA’s Show For Sale…Again?
Reuters is reporting that Emerald Expositions LLC, the major trade show exposition company that bought the CEDIA show last week, is considering putting itself up for sale. This report became public on Wednesday, January 25th…the day before CEDIA announced it has sold its trademark show to Emerald. All of which leads to the distinct possibility of the show changing hands again, in just a matter of weeks.
See more on this report and how CEDIA members are reacting to the sale… [Read more…] about Is CEDIA’s Show For Sale…Again?
CEDIA Sells Off Their Show to Emerald Expositions
BREAKING NEWS
The Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) announced today that it has sold off their annual show – previously called the Expo, now known simply as CEDIA2017 – to Emerald Expositions, a company that they say is the largest trade show operator in the United States. The news, likely to be a surprise to many in the industry, is effective immediately, although CEDIA will continue to have a prominent role in the 2017 edition, with Emerald taking full control in 2018.
See more on CEDIA’s surprise announcement… [Read more…] about CEDIA Sells Off Their Show to Emerald Expositions
Voice Control: Time to Jump In…or Wait?
In Wake of CEDIA, Industry Debates How Hot Voice Control Is
One 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.