Strategy in TECH...
This is CEDIA Expo week, and many in the custom integration industry have travelled to Denver for the last CEDIA Expo to be held with the big blue bear. Next year, CEDIA Expo moves to Las Vegas, NV, and in 2028 to Orlando, FL. But this year, all signs point to a noticeably scaled-back event in Denver, with more exhibitors pulling off the floor and cutting back on events and attendance.
Kaleidescape, the industry’s leading provider of high-fidelity movies and high-performance movie streaming devices, is celebrating its 25th Anniversary. Since 2001, the company has excelled in providing movie lovers with the best-looking and sounding movies. It’s a remarkable milestone when you consider that over that time, the company flirted with its survivability as the industry initially strongly resisted the idea of allowing homes across America to copy digital copies of movies to home servers.
But the company eventually found a legally safe path forward, overcoming the controversies and becoming the leading provider of high-fidelity movies at home.
WiiM, maker of a line of digital audio and streaming products that make a premium high-fidelity audio experience accessible to all, announced today that it is dramatically expanding its salesforce network in the U.S. It is doing this via the addition of at least six new independent manufacturer representative firms across the country.
Sonance, a long-time leading manufacturer of custom integration gear valued by integrators all around the world, has announced its plans for the Integrated Systems Europe Show 2026 (ISE) taking place now in Barcelona, Spain. Key to the announcement is that the company will display in two different “stands” (the European name for a “booth”), one optimized for the professional/commercial channel and another optimized for the residential/marine channel.
The company also announced the launch an all-new, high-performance Ultra Thin-Line VX Speaker.
Crestron Electronics, a leading industry manufacturer of commercial and enterprise-grade connectivity gear, as well as sophisticated but simple control and automation solutions for the smart home, has launched another Crestron Experience Center (CEC) in Mechelen, Belgium. Not only does this stunning facility showcase the depth and breadth of Crestron technology, but it also demonstrates the company’s commitment to EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Asia) markets as well as to the greater global community.
Cleverly Home, a custom home builder in Japan, has come up with a way to generate additional revenue from its model homes, while also opening up a new way for prospective homeowners to experience its designs. A reporter for the Nikkei in Japan was quite taken by the concept as the homebuilder will allow the model homes to be rented out as private lodgings on dates when no homebuyer showings are scheduled.
Ferrari NV (NYSE: RACE), manufacturer of the leading luxury sports car embraced by many wealthy car enthusiasts, had its scariest ride ever on Wall Street last week, when its stock value had the single largest daily drop in the company’s history. In just one day, the value of RACE shares closed down by 15%. Does this mean trouble for the Luxury market?
Another CEDIA Expo has come and gone, and the version this year, Expo 2025, had its share of disappointments, minor advances, AND pleasant surprises from several companies. In this post, I will share a brief synopsis of the items I saw that caught my attention. Many of these will be the subject of a more extensive article later, but this gives you an overview of some of the items I found interesting.
The 8K Association (8KA) is pulling out all of the stops to brightly project awareness of the growing 8K resolution ecosystem to all corners of the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado, during CEDIA Expo 2025 running from September 4-6, 2025. To do this, the association will employ a multi-faceted presentation and communication strategy that promotes the entire ecosystem from content creation and production to distribution, integration and viewing in the home.
At the International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Las Vegas, NV, earlier this year, show organizers employed expert builders/craftsmen/tradesmen/and installers who conceived, designed, created, and built a new $15.5 million modern custom home designed to set the standard for luxury living in 2025 and beyond. According to organizers, “The New American Home 2025 is a statement of what’s to come in the world of residential architecture. Join us as we redefine the standard of luxury living.” Savant and the Savant Power system were a major part of adding the luxury experience to this home.
