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Nationwide MG Appoints a New(ish) Executive Director for Azione Unlimited

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Azione Unlimited's new Executive Director Patrick McCarthy

Nationwide Marketing Group, owner of a stable of high-performance dealer buying groups like Oasys, Ellipsys, and Azione Unlimited, announced this week that it has appointed Patrick McCarthy as the new Executive Director of Azione Unlimited. As you most likely know, McCarthy has been a long-time member of the group’s management since 2019 and has served as the Interim Director since June in the wake of Richard Glikes departing the group back in February.

Patrick’s new appointment is effective immediately, which is a good thing as the group is about to launch its Fall Conference, taking place this year in San Diego, CA from October 21st – 23rd.

See more on the appointment of Patrick McCarthy at Azione Unlimited

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Integra DRX 3.4 Now Available at Adorama; Buyers Get 50% Off via Slickdeals

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Adorama page showing Integra DRX 3.4
This is the page you see when you browse directly to Adorama and find the Integra DRX 3.4 product page [Click to enlarge]

BREAKING NEWS

Strata-gee has learned that the popular Integra AVR model DRX 3.4 is now available at NY retail & online dealer Adorama. While Adorama was previously selling Onkyo- and Pioneer-branded models, the addition of this Integra unit appears to be an entirely new development. Not only that, but the consumer deal website Slickdeals has a special deal on the DRX 3.4, with a 50% discount, via a link to purchase at Adorama.

See what I’ve learned about Integra at Adorama

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2024 CI Expo Brings the Latest Tech to N. Cal Integrators for the 15th Time

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Photo from a past CI Expo

One of the longest-running custom integration technology events, the Northern California Technology Conference, known as the CI Expo, will hold its 15th annual dealer show this month at the Hilton Oakland Airport on May 30th. An early proponent of knowledge sharing and bringing the technology to you, this event is free for integrators. You can’t get a better deal than that!

See more on the 2024 CI Expo

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D-Day Arrives; Control4 Integrators Begin Turning Clients over to Snap One

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On Tuesday this week, a previously announced program being offered by Snap One – now Resideo – has begun. This program, called Control4 Connect, is a mandatory program that requires all integrators to connect all new client installations of Control4 products directly to Snap One’s central station for future software updates and data collection.

It is a new kind of transactional connection that establishes a direct relationship with the client for direct-to-user system updates and base-level client support supplied – not by the local integrator – but by Control4 support.

See more on this new industry scheme

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Fury on Facebook as Dealers Use Control4 Group to Push Back on New Snap One Programs

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The Control4 Programmers Facebook Group

Like many companies, Snap One brands are the subject of several discussion Groups on Facebook, some run by the company and others run by third parties. In the days following their recent announcement of existing program changes, new program mandates, and new optional programs, many dealers took to Control4-related groups on Facebook to protest the changes immediately, vociferously, and even (in a few cases) profanely. It was an outpouring of emotion that group admins and participating Snap One executives like G Paul Hess and others struggled to stay on top of.

Snap One executives told the dealers in the group of an upcoming webinar in which the company plans to explain everything regarding the program changes to their dealers.

See more on the fury on Facebook directed at Snap One

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Snap One Dealer Advisory Panel Addresses the Connect & Assist Program Controversy

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Snap One held a media Q&A session with the Partner Advisory Panel

Days after Snap One announced a major program initiative in an effort to change the integration industry business model, the company held a media presentation in which 5 members of the 23-member Control4 dealer advisory panel that helped the company design the program were made available to select members of the media for a short question and answer session. This was organized by Snap One specifically because I had asked to speak with the panel. How do I know that was the reason for this media opportunity? Because company executives told the media that I was the reason they chose to hold this event. This may, or may not, have endeared me to the other media.

See what members of the Snap One Advisory Panel said

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Crestron DM NVX to Hit a Million Units Thanks to Integrator Adoption

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Crestron DM NVX

Company Announces DM NVX Technology Awards Program

Crestron Electronics, a leading industry supplier of smart home and next-gen workplace technology, announced today in Barcelona, Spain at the ISE 2024 show that its popular DM NVX AV-over-IP solution is approaching one million units installed – a major milestone achieved in just a few short years. The company salutes the integrators and their projects incorporating the technology for propelling widespread adoption of DM NVX around the country and the world.

See more on this Crestron record-breaking solution

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Snap One Seeks to Change the Integration Industry Model with Subscription SaaS Plan

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Screenshot of Snap One execs briefing Ted Green of Strata-gee
Snap One CEO John Heyman and VP of New Ventures Graham Jaenicke tell me about the new Control4 SaaS program [Click to enlarge]

Seemingly Well Designed, But One Thing I Find Suspicious

Snap One announced today the launch of three new services, part of a Software-as-a-Service subscription program that gets the manufacturer in direct communication with end users of every Control4-based system sold and provides new levels of customer support. The program is said to include a revenue share for its dealers. These programs are called Control4 Connect, Control4 Assist, and Control4 Assist Premium and allow for direct-to-consumer support by the company.

See more on how Snap One is driving change in custom integration…

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Themes That Were Key in ’23 on Strata-gee

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Themes that were Key in 2023

Wow! It’s crazy that 2023 is now just about behind us, and what a dramatic and dynamic year it was! What were the key themes of the year? At the beginning of the year, I think most would say their greatest concern was the economy and their least concern was the tech industry. Yet the year turned out to be almost the exact opposite of that.

See more on the themes that were key in ’23 on Strata-gee

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Upscale Speaker Maker Fyne Audio Selects Harmonia Distribution for U.S.

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Fyne Audio loudspeakers are now distributed by Harmonia Distribution in the U.S.

Fyne Audio, a U.K. manufacturer of advanced high-end audio loudspeakers based in Scotland, has appointed Harmonia Distribution as its distributor for the United States market, effective immediately. Harmonia, formerly known as Upscale Distribution, said in an announcement that it is proud to have been selected by Fyne, a manufacturer that represents a blend of the best of “contemporary and traditional designs.”

See more on Fyne Audio and Harmonia Distribution

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