Harman International Industries, Inc. announced today that is has acquired St. Louis-based Yurbuds, LLC., a manufacturer of headphones. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition seems surprising, given the fact that Harman already owns brands such as JBL and AKG that already offer headphones.
Manufacturers
Velodyne Authorizes Powerhouse Alliance as National Distribution Partner for Subwoofers
Just one day after we reported on layoffs at Velodyne’s audio division, we received word from the company that it is authorizing the Powerhouse Alliance, a national group of distributors, for its line of subwoofers. The agreement will make Velodyne subwoofers available to Powerhouse Alliances’ nationwide network of retailers and installers.
See more on this new announcement from Velodyne… [Read more…] about Velodyne Authorizes Powerhouse Alliance as National Distribution Partner for Subwoofers
Screen Research Names Grace Motif as Exclusive U.S. Distributor
Screen Research, a line of high-performance projection screens owned by the Adeo Group of Italy, announced that it has selected specialty products distributor Grace Motif, Inc. as its exclusive distributor for the U.S. custom installation market, effective this month. Grace Motif has been the Screen Research distributor for the commercial market since the beginning of this year, so this announcement represents a significant expansion of the relationship.
See more on this new, expanded partnership… [Read more…] about Screen Research Names Grace Motif as Exclusive U.S. Distributor
NAD Launches New Masters Series Models Targeted Squarely at ‘Audiophile 2.0’
*See update note below…*
On Wednesday, Lenbrook America, the exclusive distributor of NAD in the U.S., held a press presentation in a suite at the upscale Andaz 5th Avenue Hotel in Manhattan. It was a cool but gray and curiously humid day…still able to create enhanced perspiration for those rushing to the event from assorted train/subway/bus stops. But those members of the press who chose to attend were well rewarded for their efforts, as NAD launched a significant update to their Masters Series line – an update designed to further target a new customer that the company calls “Audiophile 2.0.”
See more on this update, including more specifics on what NAD calls a new emerging market… [Read more…] about NAD Launches New Masters Series Models Targeted Squarely at ‘Audiophile 2.0’
Screen Innovations Says Bigger is Better, Announces Larger Black Diamond Screens
Screen Innovations announced this week that it is launching new, larger sizes in its popular Black Diamond series of projection screens. The new larger screen size – in each of two aspect ratios – will now include: 120-inches (16:9)…and 150-inches (2.35:1).
See more on this announcement… [Read more…] about Screen Innovations Says Bigger is Better, Announces Larger Black Diamond Screens
Apple to Show Software for the Connected Home at Upcoming Software Expo
Not Just iOS…Apple Goes IoT
The Financial Times reported this morning that Apple, Inc. will announce a new software solution for the connected home market at the Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco next week. The move follows a lot of activity in the connected home channel recently including: Control4 going public, Google acquiring Nest, Philips launching Hue (app controlled lighting), Belkin launching WeMo, Harman acquiring AMX…and now Apple seeking to bring it all together in the home.
Is Apple on the right track? Or are they diving down a dark rabbit hole?… [Read more…] about Apple to Show Software for the Connected Home at Upcoming Software Expo
Five Former Foxconn Employees Indicted in Kickback Scandal
Foxconn Technology Group, a division of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. and a key supplier to major brands like Apple, Inc. and HP (formerly Hewlett Packard), had five former employees indicted by Taiwanese prosecutors on Wednesday in a major kickback scheme involving illicit payments from suppliers. The announcement of the scandal is sure to cause significant embarrassment for the company.
See more on this dramatic announcement from the Taipei District Prosecutors Office… [Read more…] about Five Former Foxconn Employees Indicted in Kickback Scandal
Harman Takes Control; Acquires AMX
The release came across the wire at 8:00AM this morning and caught the industry totally off-guard – Harman International Industries, Inc. announced that it has signed an agreement with privately-held The Duchossois Group, Inc. to acquire its AMX, LLC subsidiary for $386 million. The move was not an immediately obvious one for Harman, which has been largely focused on building its automotive electronics division into a worldwide powerhouse.
But Harman did say it had a reason for taking this dramatic step… [Read more…] about Harman Takes Control; Acquires AMX
Thanks Boys, We’ll Take It From Here; LG Says It’s Solved OLED Production Issue
Just days after two major promoters of OLED, Samsung Electronics and Sony Corp., announced a pullback of their support due to serious production difficulties causing low panel yields and low profitability – word comes out of South Korea that LG Electronics has solved the puzzle on how to profitably produce OLED panels. And while their competitors are shifting their efforts back to 4k Ultra HD LCD TVs, LG is ready to ramp up a major commitment to OLED.
This could be good news indeed for fans of OLED technology…How did LG do it?… [Read more…] about Thanks Boys, We’ll Take It From Here; LG Says It’s Solved OLED Production Issue
Pioneer Pulls Out of AV
BREAKING NEWS
In yet another sign of dramatic changes afoot that will literally change the face of the TECH industry for years to come – news comes out of Japan that Pioneer Corp. is planning to exit the AV business by selling off its entire AV division. This news follows a similar decision made by JVC Kenwood earlier this year to pull out of consumer electronics to focus on more commercial business.
Pioneer is said to be in active negotiations with Funai Electric, a large OEM manufacturer who recently took over Philips video business, as well as other potential suitors.
