This week the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) released what it called key findings from its 2012 and 2013 annual Benchmarking Survey of members. The findings were of 2012 final results and dealer expectations for 2013 and according to the trade association, suggest that the industry has stabilized and is even back to showing moderate growth.
Associations
Uh-Oh, Consumer Adoption of Tablets Slows in Q2 CEA Says
In new data released today by the Consumer Electronics Association, consumer adoption of one of the hottest technologies in tech today – tablet computers – actually (and unusually) slowed in the second quarter of 2013. This unexpected downturn comes after several consecutive quarters of growth for a product category that the CEA itself identifies as one of the two major drivers (along with smartphones) for the entire electronics industry.
What does this unexpected downturn mean?… [Read more…] about Uh-Oh, Consumer Adoption of Tablets Slows in Q2 CEA Says
One Month After CE Week, CEA Cuts 2013 Forecast
The Consumer Electronics Association today released their updated forecasts in a report called The U.S. Consumer Electronics Sales and Forecasts – a semiannual report put out every January and July. The new forecasts show the CEA has scaled back their 2013 forecast substantially from the one released earlier this year, but still expect a small increase of just under .2% to $202.6 billion from last year’s $202.3 billion.
See more on this newly updated report… [Read more…] about One Month After CE Week, CEA Cuts 2013 Forecast
Sharp Says: This is Our Sharpest Set Yet
The next phase of the TV wars has begun in earnest now in the wake of Sharp’s (and Toshiba’s) CE Week Day 1 roll-out of 4K Ultra HD television. In a presentation full of bluster and gusto, Sharp threw down the gauntlet with its 70-inch, top of the line Aquos UHDTV selling for a cool $8,000.
Learn more about this flagship set below – and see what Sharp’s VP told us about which retailers will participate in the rapidly approaching roll-out for this new technology.
Is Sharp’s 4K sharp enough?… [Read more…] about Sharp Says: This is Our Sharpest Set Yet
Praying at CEA’s Church of Data Dominion
CE Week kicked off last week with a Research Summit where the Consumer Electronics Association’s (CEA) market research experts presented the latest market data, along with their assessment of its meaning – and their prognostications for the future. In past years, this was a presentation that was included as part of the Line Show – now it has been split off as a separate day-long event including not only raw data, but various discussion panels as well.
And the data did not disappoint… [Read more…] about Praying at CEA’s Church of Data Dominion
After Just Six Months, DDG Loses Latest Executive Director
*BREAKING NEWS*
Strata-gee.com has learned that the Digital Delivery Group once again finds itself without an executive director – only six months after naming Daniel Kippycash as Executive Director at the end of December 2012. The group remains embroiled in turmoil as it was in the midst of a major change of direction and a membership recruitment drive to replace several members who had departed the group for newcomer Catalyst AV. After having been briefed on the group’s progress in late March, we recently contacted the organization for a new update and learned of the executive director’s departure.
See more on this surprising turn of events… [Read more…] about After Just Six Months, DDG Loses Latest Executive Director
CE Week: Hot City, But Will It Be a Hot Show?
When it’s 90+ degrees where you are…it’s hot. And when, where you are, is New York City – land of concrete, steel, and glass – it’s even hotter. This week the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) kicked off it’s newest event, CE Week, in New York City. And the summer weather has definitely turned hot – so hot the National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory, not for the NY Metro area, just for New York City.
But will CE Week be an equally hot show with hot technologies?… [Read more…] about CE Week: Hot City, But Will It Be a Hot Show?
Gibson and Onkyo Go Wireless
The Wireless Speaker and Audio Association (WiSA) announced on Tuesday that it has signed up several new members and a couple caught our eye – Gibson Guitar Corp. (now Gibson Brands) and Onkyo Corporation. Also joining the organization are loudspeaker manufacturer Dali and Australian distributor Amber Technology who markets a line of speakers called Accent Digital.
Who is the WiSA and why would Onkyo and Gibson join? See more below… [Read more…] about Gibson and Onkyo Go Wireless
ProSource Holds E-Commerce Training for Members in Chicago
Perhaps another sign of the times, ProSource – the retail buying group that represents the combination of both Home Entertainment Source (HES) and PRO Group – held a meeting earlier this month centered on the topic of e-commerce. These meetings, held June 3-4 in Chicago, were to share trends and best practices in e-commerce for their members.
See more on this news from ProSource… [Read more…] about ProSource Holds E-Commerce Training for Members in Chicago
MSR Acoustics Launches New Acoustic Tuning Products at T.H.E. Show
MSR Acoustics announced this week that it will launch a new series of acoustic treatment products at The Home Entertainment (T.H.E.) Show taking place starting tomorrow through Sunday in Newport Beach, CA. These new products are a sly way of adding real resonance deadening panels to your listening room, but hiding their real function behind attractive art pieces to eliminate any resistance to typically ugly sound treatment products.
