The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) maintains a semi-annually updated forecast for all major categories of consumer electronics and has announced the results of their latest update for July saying the industry will hit another new high watermark in industry-wide sales. In a minor revision of their initial January 2014 forecast, the CEA now says total industry shipments in dollars will total $211.3 billion.
Industry Trends
Put a Little Bounce in Your Sales with Spring Deck
Imagine this – your sales team heads out to meet with prospective clients for your integration business somewhere in your service area. In a meeting, the client likes what they hear, but wants to see just exactly what the salesperson is referring to.
Like magic – presto changeo – your salesperson whips out an iPad and instantly pulls up a sharp, colorful image of the key components being proposed. What’s that you say, Mr. Prospect? You’d like to know how many HDMI inputs this unit has? Another click and a pdf of a manufacturer’s product cut-sheet opens up to detailed specifications – ah, there’s the answer.
Oh wait! – your salesperson exclaims – let me show you this short video made by the manufacturer that demonstrates a key feature that would be perfect for you. A colorful video plays instantly and smoothly, without any “buffering” hesitation.
Is this a pipe dream? No…its Spring Deck – an all-new central resource for your sales team.. [Read more…] about Put a Little Bounce in Your Sales with Spring Deck
Needing Cash, Sharp Will Sell Land Under Major Factory
Sharp Corp. is said to be in the process of selling the land under one of its major factories in Osaka, Japan, in a bid to raise cash. The transaction, reported by the Nikkei, is said to be happening as early as the current fiscal year.
But that’s not all the company is selling… [Read more…] about Needing Cash, Sharp Will Sell Land Under Major Factory
Dazed and Confused About Hi-Res Audio? Here’s Help…
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(PHOTO: Len Schneider)
Quick: What’s the most misused term in audio next to “subwoofer”?
You, yeah, you in the back there – did you say “hi-res”?
No more calls, folks, we have a winner!
[Read more…] about Dazed and Confused About Hi-Res Audio? Here’s Help…
Thiel’s New CEO Says Company ‘Struck a Chord’ Compelling Him to Join
In a telephone interview today, new Thiel Audio CEO John Wittman told us that the company “struck a chord with me personally,” virtually compelling him to take over as CEO after the owners’ invited him to look at the company last winter. Over the course of an interview that went on for more than a hour, Wittman candidly shared his thoughts and perspectives in an enthusiastic and – to the degree he felt appropriate – open manner.
See what Wittman had to say about where Thiel is at…and where it’s going… [Read more…] about Thiel’s New CEO Says Company ‘Struck a Chord’ Compelling Him to Join
Good News: Sharp is Forecast to Lose 2 Billion Yen in Fiscal 1st Quarter
Report Says Sharp Plans to Withdraw from Consumer Electronics & Solar Businesses in Europe
In a new report out of Japan, the Nikkei is forecasting that Sharp Corp. will book a net loss of around ¥2 billion ($19.6 million) for their fiscal first quarter (April – June) this year. The report further says that the company plans to exit both the consumer electronics and solar panel businesses in Europe in order to refocus their efforts on other markets.
Why is a ¥2 billion loss good news? See more below… [Read more…] about Good News: Sharp is Forecast to Lose 2 Billion Yen in Fiscal 1st Quarter
A Deeper Dive into the World of Dolby Atmos; Is This Audio’s 3D?
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Is Dolby’s new Atmos format the next frontier in surround sound processing? Or will it merit a repeat of Paul Klipsch’s famous line: “Ho, hum, another breakthrough”?
You’d certainly think the former after prowling the aisles at the just-concluded CE Week in NYC. Both Onkyo and Pioneer showed prototype Atmos-enabled A/V receivers (complete with demonstrations under what must be called “challenging” conditions) while Yamaha, Denon, Marantz, and Integra all indicate they’ll be ready with an array of products in late Q3 or early Q4 this year. But will Paul Klipsch be proven prophetic once again, even if posthumously? That remains to be seen.
The Thinking Behind Atmos…
[Read more…] about A Deeper Dive into the World of Dolby Atmos; Is This Audio’s 3D?
Atmos Attacks at CE Week 2014
One of the big themes at CE Week 2014 was the unofficial official rollout of Dolby’s latest surround sound technology – Atmos. Both Onkyo and Pioneer intro’d, displayed, and demo’d Atmos systems. However, since both companies showed prototypes, what we heard was only an approximation of what the final production units should sound like.
We participated in demos of, and closely listened to, BOTH the Onkyo and the Pioneer Atmos systems.
What did we think of our first Atmos demos? See more below… [Read more…] about Atmos Attacks at CE Week 2014
CE Week 2014 – As Others Talk Atmos, Denon Talks Heos
At times during CE Week 2014 we felt as though we were caught in some kind of a clash of the unknown Greek gods – Atmos vs. Heos. In one corner – Pioneer and Onkyo announced, displayed, and demonstrated the all-new 7+ channel Dolby Atmos surround sound systems…with a fair amount of fanfare. In the other corner, calmly confident Denon executives showed HEOS, the company’s new wireless multi-room Sonos-killing (they hope) system. Who would win the day???
See more on Denon’s HEOS system… [Read more…] about CE Week 2014 – As Others Talk Atmos, Denon Talks Heos
CE Week: An Odd, Undefined Show Actually Surprises This Year
Heading to the train station at 6:15am Wednesday morning, I exited my air-conditioned home and was immediately slapped across the face with so much humidity my glasses instantly fogged up – momentarily blinding me. And although it was still somewhat cool this early in the morning, the sun rays made it clear we’d be headed into the mid- to upper 80s in just a few short hours. Here we go again, I told myself. Welcome to another hot, humid, sweaty June in New York. Must be time for CE Week.
I didn’t know it at the time, but CE Week was actually going to surprise me this year…
[Read more…] about CE Week: An Odd, Undefined Show Actually Surprises This Year
