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Voice Control: Time to Jump In…or Wait?

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In Wake of CEDIA, Industry Debates How Hot Voice Control Is

Scene showing Alexa voice controlOne 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.

And just like that, CEDIA 2016 became the voice control show… [Read more…] about Voice Control: Time to Jump In…or Wait?

Readers Pick Our Top Ten Stories of 2016

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Grahic of Top TenAs the end of the year rapidly approaches, it’s a great time to look back on 2016 to remember the big stories of the year. Some of these stories were ultimately eclipsed by subsequent ones – and some of them will continue to resonate through 2017 and beyond.

See which stories our readers picked as the Top Ten of 2016…

[Read more…] about Readers Pick Our Top Ten Stories of 2016

Twist – Simple Smart Home Light Bulb & Speaker

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Photo of TwistProducts designed to address the simple smart home market continue to be introduced at a dizzying pace – most of which will end up in the dust bin of not-so-useful, not-so-innovative app-controllable nonsense in the future. But every once in a while we stumble across items that catch our eye, and Twist is one of those.

What is Twist? If you can screw in a lightbulb, you can have a smarter home lighting and wireless audio solution.

See more on Twist, a smarter smart home solution… [Read more…] about Twist – Simple Smart Home Light Bulb & Speaker

Cyber Monday was Big, But is It Losing Its Mojo?

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Photo of shoppersOh I know…you’ve been reading all of the press about how Cyber Monday was the biggest online shopping day ever this year. So how can we be suggesting it’s losing momentum? Well, according to new data analyzed by eMarketer, that appears to be exactly the case.

So which days are gaining ground on Cyber Monday?

Read on to find out what day or days are gaining on Cyber Monday… [Read more…] about Cyber Monday was Big, But is It Losing Its Mojo?

A Tale of Two Japans – Toshiba & Japan Display

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Photo of busy intersection in JapanTwo stories out of Japan caught our attention and, to our thinking, combine to show that Japan’s tech industry is still not yet out of the woods. The first story, by the Japan Times, says that troubled Toshiba’s half-year fiscal results show that their profits have now tripled. The second story, also from the Japan Times, announced that Japan Display will be laying off thousands of employees – almost a third of their workforce.

See more on these two dramatically different stories of a still-troubled Japan… [Read more…] about A Tale of Two Japans – Toshiba & Japan Display

Startup TRXio Joins HTSA to Drive Growth

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TRXio logoStartup software provider TRXio announced this week that it has joined Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA) and fully participated in the organization’s Fall Conference last month in Chicago. The move is seen as another step on the road to greater awareness and acceptance of the company’s prime offering – inventory tracking software.

See more on TRXio and this new association with HTSA… [Read more…] about Startup TRXio Joins HTSA to Drive Growth

CT Lab Launches CEMBLY- New Mag & Website

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New Concept Mag Blends Technologists, Architects, Interior Designers & Builders

CT Lab logoCT Lab, which is associated with NAPCO Media, publisher of Dealerscope and Technology Integrator, announced today that it is launching a new magazine and website call CEMBLY. CEMBLY, which the company describes as “an ambitious project,” is largely a business-to-business magazine that will target home technology professionals, interior designers, architects, builders, and building designers. The idea is to blend technology, with design, with dramatic home installations.

See more on CEMBLY… [Read more…] about CT Lab Launches CEMBLY- New Mag & Website

Strata-gee Editor is Guest Panelist on ResiWeek

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Photo of Ted Green on ResiWeekStrata-gee editor Ted Green was a guest panelist on this week’s ResiWeek webcast (recorded on Halloween), a production of AVNation.tv. Hosted by Matt Scott, the panel, which also included Jason Griffing of Harrison Home Systems and Jason Knott of CEPro, covered a range of topics in custom integration.

See more on this ResiWeek panel and grab a link to the show… [Read more…] about Strata-gee Editor is Guest Panelist on ResiWeek

With New ‘Skill’ Logitech Offers Voice Control of Your Entire System

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Company Develops Alexa Voice ‘Skill’ Enabling Spoken Control of AV Entertainment System

Logitech logoLogitech announced this week that it has developed an Amazon Alexa skill that will allow users to control their entire AV home entertainment system with simple spoken commands. Voice control has become a hot topic in the industry since CEDIA 2016, when one of the keynote speakers was Charlie Kindel, an Amazon executive working on their voice-enabled products like the Echo and Dot.

See more on Logitech’s move into voice control… [Read more…] about With New ‘Skill’ Logitech Offers Voice Control of Your Entire System

Leviton & Samsung SmartThings Partner on Automation Package

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Leviton logoLeviton announced today that it has formed a strategic partnership with Samsung’s SmartThings division to offer a simple home automation starter package that will be made broadly available through distributors and the “professional dealer” market. Designed to be an affordable, whole-house, home automation solution – the package pairs products from SmartThings with Leviton Z-Wave enabled devices at discounted pricing.

See more on this new Leviton-SmartThings smart home market partnership… [Read more…] about Leviton & Samsung SmartThings Partner on Automation Package