Strategy in TECH...
ELAC, a leader in affordable high-performance audio solutions, has launched a new portable Bluetooth speaker it calls the NAVA100. The company says that NAVA100 embodies 100 years of exceptional sound innovation in a form factor responsive to how music lovers want to listen to music today, while they are on the go.
Shocking news emerged at the end of last week as we learned that Southern California multi-location retailer Howard’s Appliance suddenly closed all stores. Local media is struggling to get details on the situation, but here is what we know so far: Howard’s Appliances, a large and formerly successful independent TV, Appliance, and Mattress retailer in Southern California, just days after Black Friday, suddenly announced to employees it would be closing in two days. No reason was provided, and all employees were laid off as of December 6.
There was no formal announcement circulated to customers, and some have taken to social media to complain that they had deposits on various appliances and were waiting for delivery…delivery that is apparently not coming.
Years ago, way before Samsung smartphones were a thing and when mobile phones were pretty much just phones that went with you and not full-scale data/entertainment centers, my wife loved her Motorola Star TAC flip-phone. It offered the power of mobile connectivity in a convenient, small form factor for maximum portability. However, mobile technology moved on, and smartphones emerged, offering so much more capability…but at the expense of portability.
New types of flip-phones (really more of a foldable design than a flip-phone) have recently emerged, thanks in large part to advances in display technology. And now Samsung has introduced a new tri-fold smartphone that looks to 1-up the competition. But will consumers pay thousands of dollars to buy it?
Origin Acoustics announced this week that it has added well-known integration industry executive Jeff Brewer to its management team as Executive Vice President of Sales. Brewer will report to Marc Fisher, Origin’s President of Sales.
The internet’s leading streaming guide, JustWatch, has named the top ten most rewatched movies over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Based on the analysis of data compiled over the last three years, analysts have identified those movies that families return to again and again when they gather for the holiday.
Calling 2025 a “transitional” year, new Sonos, Inc. (Nasdaq: SONO) CEO Tom Conrad suggested the company turned a corner in the fourth quarter, as part of reporting its financial results for fiscal 2025, the year that ended on September 27, 2025. However, I couldn’t help but notice company executives were carefully choosing their words in describing the company’s performance – referring to just certain key Q4 numbers and “adjusted” results. This always makes me want to take a deeper look, and when I looked at fiscal 2025’s total performance, it was disappointing, with revenues continuing to decline and losses progressively increasing…again.
Even in the fourth quarter, which the executives did want to talk about, the company lost $37.9 million.
At the end of last week, Masimo Corporation (Nasdaq: MASI) received some good news in its years-long court battle with Apple Inc. over its alleged infringement of Masimo patents misappropriated for use in Apple Watch models. It has been virtually a nuclear war between the two combatants, taking place in Federal, California, and Delaware courts; at the US International Trade Commission; in the Federal Appeals Court; at the Patent Trial & Appeal Board; and with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Now, a California jury has found in Masimo’s favor in one of those cases and ordered Apple to pay it $634 million in damages. But is this the end of the matter?
Ft Lauderdale, FL-based Just Video Walls, a specialist supplier of custom MicroLED video walls, had a massive showing at CEDIA Expo 2025, situated in two large booths on the main floor. The company, which has had a huge growth spurt over the last couple of years, has added many new employees, introduced new product models, brought on new accessory & control options, and had its largest presence ever at Expo 2025.
Goldman Sachs, a leading American-based global investment bank, earlier this month recognized Hagan Kappler, CEO and Co-Founder of Daisy, as one of the Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs of 2025. This recognition was announced at the Goldman Sachs Builders + Innovators Summit 2025 held in Healdsburg, California.
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.
