Savant, a leading home control & automation company, announced today that it is making an app available for the Apple smart watch – called, logically enough, the Savant App on Apple Watch. Since Savant is one of the only home automation companies to base their control systems on the Apple operating system, it only makes sense that they would be one of the first in the tech business to offer an Apple Watch app.
News
Dramatic Changes in Features New Home Buyers Want (Like Tech)
Outdoor Kitchens & Media Rooms are Out, Walk-in Closets & Programmable Thermostats are In
The National Association of Home Builders has completed a comprehensive survey of home builders to learn what features home buyers are asking for in homes being built today. The survey, which the association conducts every year, showed a huge shift in priorities this year and reflects a fundamental shift in consumer preferences – a shift that will also impact the custom integration industry.
See what features are desired & shunned and what it means for us in tech… [Read more…] about Dramatic Changes in Features New Home Buyers Want (Like Tech)
Report: Job Cuts at Sharp are Much Deeper & More Painful than Expected
BREAKING NEWS
“The bigger they are, the harder they fall.” This old saying will likely resonate with many Sharp Corp. employees who are about to learn that the company is planning major job cuts – far greater than originally rumored – as it tries to turn around its struggling operations and cut its losses. The company’s management – whether voluntarily or forced by their banks – seem to be finally ready to take the drastic steps necessary to make a meaningful change at the company.
See how many employees are about to lose their jobs and other measures being taken… [Read more…] about Report: Job Cuts at Sharp are Much Deeper & More Painful than Expected
ELAC Returns to N. America w/New Speakers Designed by Andrew Jones
Company Opens New S. California Design Center
German speaker manufacturer ELAC announced today that it has returned to the North American market with a new line of speakers, a new U.S. design center and – perhaps most significantly – a new Vice President of Engineering, the highly respected Andrew Jones. The company plans to launch their new ELAC Debut™ speaker line at the upcoming T.H.E. Show Newport in Irvine, CA at the end of this month.
See more on this surprising, multi-faceted announcement… [Read more…] about ELAC Returns to N. America w/New Speakers Designed by Andrew Jones
Onkyo Sets New Global Strategy Focused On Portables & Headphones
Osaka, Japan-based Onkyo Corporation says it has set a new global growth strategy that will focus on launching portable music players and headphones, thanks largely to resources it received in its acquisition of Pioneer’s home AV division. In an interview appearing in Japanese media, Onkyo President Munenori Otsuki said the world is entering “the age of portable music players.”
See more on this surprising shift of direction from a significant audio industry player… [Read more…] about Onkyo Sets New Global Strategy Focused On Portables & Headphones
Kaleidescape Hires Reps
We’ve been hearing for weeks about an effort by media server marker Kaleidescape to quietly hire sales representative companies around the country. Not quiet anymore, Kaleidescape officially announced today that it has augmented its direct sales force with a group of eight independent sales representative companies.
See more on this widely anticipated development… [Read more…] about Kaleidescape Hires Reps
Nortek’s AVC Segment in Q1: Less Loss, But Sales are Still Sliding
Nortek Inc. released their fiscal first quarter results this week and they were mixed at best. The company showed a sales increase to $572.7 million, up 4.5% over the $547.8 million booked in the first quarter of 2014. However, the company saw its net losses increase from $8.6 million last year to $13.9 million in the quarter this year. And when it comes to Nortek’s AV businesses, sales in the quarter declined another 9.5%, although the loss attributable to this segment did show some improvement to less of a loss.
See more on our analysis of the Nortek results… [Read more…] about Nortek’s AVC Segment in Q1: Less Loss, But Sales are Still Sliding
CEDIA is Shopping for a CEO; But is This Déjà Vu?
The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) announced on Monday that it is looking for a CEO to run the trade group. The organization has retained Korn/Ferry, one of the largest and most renowned executive search firms in the country, to conduct a comprehensive search for a new – and judging from the posted profile – heavyweight CEO.
But something seemed a little strange to us about this news out of CEDIA… [Read more…] about CEDIA is Shopping for a CEO; But is This Déjà Vu?
Samsung Removes Its Brand Name From Smartphones Sold in Japan
Samsung Electronics has taken the unusual step of selling smartphones in Japan that do not bear the Samsung brand name. We’ve never heard of this before, but if you want a Samsung smartphone in Japan, you have to purchase a “Galaxy” smartphone.
Why has Samsung removed their brand name from smartphones sold in Japan? See more… [Read more…] about Samsung Removes Its Brand Name From Smartphones Sold in Japan
JVC Kenwood Restructuring Produces Profits, But Sales Slide Continues
JVC Kenwood Corp. released a summary of results for their fiscal year 2015, the year that ended March 31, 2015, and we continue to see positive profit results from their rather dramatic company-wide restructuring that had them abandoning many consumer categories and refocusing on more commercial enterprises. But we also see a continued and persistent slide in sales that shows no sign of slowing down.
