Strategy in TECH...
HTSA, the Home Technology Specialists of America buying group, announced today that Jon Robbins, its current Executive Director, is leaving the organization. Robbins has held this role since he first assumed it in December of 2015.
In a communication with dealers this week, Nice North America, the global holding company for many important custom integration brands, announced it has pulled out of the CEDIA Expo 2026. The company says this is a “strategic” move as it seeks to focus its marketing investments on “initiatives that deliver greater value…”
In an announcement that shocked dealers, Dynaudio announced today that it intends to exit the North American market and shift its priorities to other global markets offering “the strongest strategic opportunities.” With this decision, the company will be permanently closing its U.S. subsidiary sometime in the “fall of 2026.”
Crestron Electronics, a global leader in smart home and home automation, announced this week that Configure Pro, originally announced a few months ago, is now available. This is great news for Crestron integrators, as the all-new system configuration platform is a substantial upgrade over the previous Crestron Home Setup application and offers greater approachability, easier and faster operation for more efficient and consistent installations, and so much more.
This week, ADI Global Distribution, currently part of Resideo Technologies but soon to be split off as an independent company, has sent an email message to Control4 dealers reassuring them that nothing is going to change when the company goes independent from Resideo. The email to dealers, which has been viewed by Strata-gee, reassured dealers that ADI’s commitment to Contro4 is stronger than ever.
But, is it?
Kaleidescape, a leading provider of high-resolution movie players and high fidelity movie content for the custom integration channel, announced today the launch of the all-new Strato K flagship movie player. The Strato K supports 8K movies as well as a new, higher fidelity format they call 4K Cinematic™.
Multiple sources are reporting that last week, Resideo Technologies’ company ADI unexpectedly executed layoffs of what they believe to be large numbers of employees, potentially in the hundreds. Many, if not most, of these layoffs are said to be centered on ADI’s Control4 unit legacy employees.
In a surprising new survey of 141 of the Fortune Global 500 Chief Executive Officers, the leaders of some of the largest companies in the world, we learn that they are losing confidence in the U.S. economy. The survey, conducted by The Conference Board, a nonpartisan think tank, and The Business Council, an association of CEOs, showed a significant decline in CEO confidence in the second quarter of 2026 as compared to the first quarter.
How CEOs feel about the economy is important. When CEOs lose confidence, they tend to pull back on hiring and investment, further weighing down the economy, according to AXIOS reporter Emily Peck.
Sony Group recently announced it is forming a co-development partnership with chip manufacturing giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to create what it calls the next generation of AI image sensors. In announcing the partnership, the company revealed that, with these next-level AI sensors, it is targeting the advanced robotics and automotive segments.
Word came out this week that Samsung Electronics and its union members have reached a deal that staves off a threatened strike that could have had a global impact. Samsung is the world’s largest manufacturer of memory chips, and as the chip manufacturing employees’ contract was up for renewal, negotiations were challenging. However, with 90 minutes left before the strike deadline, the parties reached an agreement that includes a bonus that will average $340,000 per employee in the chip manufacturing division.
