Strategy in TECH...
Last Friday, Snap One held a Virtual Partner Summit in which they unveiled a whole roster of new products to dealers participating in the online event. It was an impressive launch in key product areas for the company including OvrC, audio, new controllers, new soundbar and wireless sub, new architectural speakers, a major new operating system upgrade called OS 3.3.0, and more.
On Monday we learned of the launch of a new brand of wireless streaming music systems called AVA. Targeted towards the higher-end of the market, AVA features a more European design aesthetic, is targeted for distribution through the custom integration channel, and comes from a triumvirate of co-founders of respectable pedigree.
But does this pedigree guarantee their success?
Allterco Robotics, a global high-tech manufacturer of simple yet sophisticated Internet of Things (IoT) devices, offers a line of home automation tools and solutions they sell under the Shelly brand name. While there are a lot of “black box” type solutions on the market today, don’t be fooled – Shelly devices contain world-class technology, expansive capabilities, and broad compatibility with major control brands.
If you try to go to the website of Exogal, a high-end digital electronics manufacturer, you’ll end up at a YouTube video titled, “If you’re watching this, we’re dead.” The video consists of Exogal CEO Jeff Haagenstad looking directly into the camera and explaining to viewers that the company has died..and why that happened. It’s a cautionary tale for all manufacturers who are universally buffeted by supply chain issues – especially the worldwide, multi-industry chip shortage.
Sound United, LLC, one of the audio industry’s leading providers of high-quality branded electronics and loudspeaker products, announced late Wednesday that it is being acquired by Masimo Corporation, a global provider of medical products, in a deal valued at $1.025 billion. The two companies have entered into a definitive agreement in a transaction that is expected to close later in 2022.
Last week, I updated the story of the Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) factory fire that destroyed one of the world’s largest fabs producing semiconductors, particularly LSIs (large-scale integrated circuits) for digital-to-analog converters (DACs) and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) widely used in audio for consumer, pro, and commercial applications. [See post: AKM Fire Update: Co. Makes Progress, Interim Solution Shows Promise] At the time I was working on that report, I reached out to AKM for comment on what I was learning from my sources, but did not receive a reply by the time the story was posted.
This morning, AKM responded to my request…
Sonos Inc. released the results for their fiscal 2022 first quarter on Wednesday and the results were mostly mixed. While a quarterly revenue record was set, net earnings dropped. CEO Patrick Spence called it “an excellent quarter, with record-setting revenue” but the tone of the company’s management seemed slightly more muted on a conference call with financial analysts as compared to previous such events. Perhaps this was because their financial performance was slightly more muted as compared to past quarters.
In an internal email circulated to company employees on Monday, Joel Sietsema, Sound United’s Brand President of Marantz and Classé, announced a “change to the leadership structure of the Marantz and Classé organization.” That change is a big one – Dave Nauber, leader of the Classé brand for nearly 20-years, will be leaving the company at the end of March, “to pursue new opportunities.”
Amazon is widely credited with having created the entire smart speaker category with their Alexa voice-controlled Echo smart speaker and other products. The company has sold millions of them since their introduction in 2015, especially at often insane sale prices during the holiday selling season. But Bloomberg Businessweek has come into possession of leaked internal Amazon documents that paint a portrait of a category that appears to be in serious trouble, principally because it fails – often miserably – to retain consumer interest.
And, the documents show, not only do consumers lose their interest…they lose it quickly.
Kaleidescape announced on Wednesday that they have appointed Craig Sholder as chief revenue officer (CRO). The appointment is effective immediately.
