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Backing Beats – Apple Launches Retaliatory Attack on Monster

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BREAKING NEWS

Monster’s Noel Lee Talks to Us About Latest Lawsuit Developments

Monster logoAs many regular readers know, Strata-gee has been closely following the litigation between Monster, LLC and Beats Electronics, LLC. Although the matter is really just getting started, it appears to be getting really ugly, really quickly. Now we have learned that Apple, Inc. has taken several actions that, according to Monster CEO Noel Lee (who is known as the Head Monster), are pure retaliation over this lawsuit – even though Monster did not sue Apple.

See more on Apple’s actions against Monster that it says are retaliatory… [Read more…] about Backing Beats – Apple Launches Retaliatory Attack on Monster

The Trail Goes Cold & Sticky at Tivoli Audio; Company Sold to Kings of Yogurt

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Tivoli logoWe learn this month that Tivoli Audio LLC’s epic saga continues, as the previous private equity company owner Summit Associates hires another private equity company Levy Capital Partners to sell it to a third private equity company Serruya Private Equity. (Notice a theme here?) Serruya says it has acquired Tivoli Audio to “serve as its flagship consumer electronics brand.” Or, in other words, as its only consumer electronics brand in a sea of yogurt flavored packaged goods brands.

See more on this new twisty turn in Tivoli’s journey… [Read more…] about The Trail Goes Cold & Sticky at Tivoli Audio; Company Sold to Kings of Yogurt

Quirky HiFiMan Launches HE1000 High-End Headphones

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HiFiMan HE1000 topHiFiMan, an independent manufacturer of high-end headphones, portable music players, and associated accessories, announced on Wednesday a new top-of-the-line, full-sized headphone – the HE1000. Featuring the company’s preferred planar magnetic technology and a breakthrough diaphragm design, these headphones are for serious music listening, or as the company puts it, “intended for reference use in home or studio.”

Learn more about this remarkable high-end model, with a nano-tech breakthrough… [Read more…] about Quirky HiFiMan Launches HE1000 High-End Headphones

TV Maker Funai Says 2015 is the Year of 4K…Cheap 4K, That Is

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Funai logoOsaka, Japan-based Funai Electric announced earlier this month that it will release a line of inexpensive 4K televisions in the North American market this fall, in time for the region’s major selling season. The company expects this year to be the year when 4K UHD TVs hit it big and they want to be ready to grab market share with their lineup.

Is it time to drive 4K pricing down to attract the masses? Funai says yes… [Read more…] about TV Maker Funai Says 2015 is the Year of 4K…Cheap 4K, That Is

Soundcast Acquired by Private Equity Company

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Soundcast logoSoundcast, a marketer of primarily wireless outdoor speaker products, announced on Tuesday that it has been acquired by Hancock Park Associates, a private equity company out of Los Angeles, with offices in Houston and Denver. The announcement says that the new owners have also appointed The OAC Group “to manage and run Soundcast.”

It was a surprising development for a company that’s had a bumpy ride through its history… [Read more…] about Soundcast Acquired by Private Equity Company

Hitachi Jumps into Wireless Speakers Biz

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Hitachi logoHitachi America, Ltd. announced on Tuesday that it has entered the wireless speaker business with three self-contained wireless speaker systems using Qualcomm’s AllPlay technology. According to Hitachi, their new hardware/software “smart media” platform makes it simple for consumers to stream any local or cloud-based media from any type of device via Wi-Fi.

Learn more about Hitachi’s new wireless music system… [Read more…] about Hitachi Jumps into Wireless Speakers Biz

Bad Omen? Beats Wins Round 1 of Monster vs. Beats

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Judge Agrees with Beats, Transfers Case to Home Turf in LA

Beats by Dr. Dre LogoWe first told you about Monster, LLC and CEO “Head Monster” Noel Lee filing a lawsuit against Beats, LLC alleging fraudulent practices back in January, in a post that was titled in part “Risky Business.” Perhaps now Monster is getting a taste of the riskiness of taking matters to court as they have lost their first battle, on the first issue – where the case would be heard.

Learn more about why the judge found against Monster, and for Beats, on this first issue… [Read more…] about Bad Omen? Beats Wins Round 1 of Monster vs. Beats

Savant Offers App for Apple Watch

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Savant logoSavant, a leading home control & automation company, announced today that it is making an app available for the Apple smart watch – called, logically enough, the Savant App on Apple Watch. Since Savant is one of the only home automation companies to base their control systems on the Apple operating system, it only makes sense that they would be one of the first in the tech business to offer an Apple Watch app.

See more on Savant’s Apple Watch App… [Read more…] about Savant Offers App for Apple Watch

Sources Say Toshiba May Write-Down Profits in Past 3-Years of Financials

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Toshiba LogoLast month, Toshiba Corp. warned the financial markets in Japan that they were launching an internal investigation into “possible problems” with its accounting. The stock exchange’s reaction to the announcement was swift, with the company’s stock price having its biggest one-day drop in value in more than a year. Now unnamed sources are telling the media that the company will have to restate its profits…for a three-year period.

See how hard Toshiba’s profits will be hit… [Read more…] about Sources Say Toshiba May Write-Down Profits in Past 3-Years of Financials

ELAC Returns to N. America w/New Speakers Designed by Andrew Jones

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Company Opens New S. California Design Center

ELAC Americas logoGerman speaker manufacturer ELAC announced today that it has returned to the North American market with a new line of speakers, a new U.S. design center and – perhaps most significantly – a new Vice President of Engineering, the highly respected Andrew Jones. The company plans to launch their new ELAC Debut™ speaker line at the upcoming T.H.E. Show Newport in Irvine, CA at the end of this month.

See more on this surprising, multi-faceted announcement… [Read more…] about ELAC Returns to N. America w/New Speakers Designed by Andrew Jones