The Wireless Speaker and Audio Association (WiSA) announced on Tuesday that it has signed up several new members and a couple caught our eye – Gibson Guitar Corp. (now Gibson Brands) and Onkyo Corporation. Also joining the organization are loudspeaker manufacturer Dali and Australian distributor Amber Technology who markets a line of speakers called Accent Digital.
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Top Advertiser Trends in Q1 2013
As marketers, we are always watching who’s doing what in advertising. Below is a list of the top advertisers in the first quarter of 2013. There are many familiar names here…familiar largely because, as aggressive marketers, they are regularly investing in marketing and therefore regularly appearing on this list.
Did TECH make the list of top advertisers? See here… [Read more…] about Top Advertiser Trends in Q1 2013
Increasing Skepticism by Market of Tech Industry Advances
Several years ago, while driving home from my job at a leading industry electronics manufacturer, I was – as usual – listening to my favorite New York Metro-area network news radio station. Since the commute took an hour or more (depending on New Jersey traffic), I got to listen to a lot of news. Sometimes, I was only half listening, as traffic concerns – or boredom – draws my attention away from the news.
But I snapped to rapt attention that day when I heard one of the show’s co-anchors promote an upcoming segment (“after the break”) on the latest technology news. Little did I realize that I was about to have my sensibilities shocked – not by the news – but by the anchors’ reaction to their own story.
What occurred that day is a cautionary tale for our industry – one that is being repeated again… [Read more…] about Increasing Skepticism by Market of Tech Industry Advances
ESPN Will Stop All 3D Productions
In a move that technology blogger Gizmodo says marks the official death of 3D, it has learned that sports network ESPN will cease all 3D productions by the end of this year. ESPN 3D, which started in 2010 on largely a test basis, never really got off the ground – and as Gizmodo wryly noted, “won’t be broadcast in any dimension soon.”
See more on what Gizmodo calls this “huge news”… [Read more…] about ESPN Will Stop All 3D Productions
Sharp Adds Smarts to Its Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Sharp Corp. announced today that it will release a new updated model of its Cocorobo home cleaning robot with a very important added feature: smarts. Sharp has added the ability for this new model to adjust the amount of suction on an as-needed basis – dramatically improving battery performance for longer operation on a single charge.
See more about this smarter robot – a category that some think is “the next big thing” in electronics… [Read more…] about Sharp Adds Smarts to Its Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Gibson Guitar Announces Name Change
Gibson Guitar announced on Tuesday that – in a bid to better reflect its growing family of products outside of the guitar category – it will be changing its corporate name from Gibson Guitar Corp. to Gibson Brands. While the move looks logical, there will likely be many who will bemoan the fact that the new name loses its ability to honor the company’s stringed-instrument heritage and still-important namesake product.
See more on why the company says this is the right move… [Read more…] about Gibson Guitar Announces Name Change
Core Brands Completes Downsizing of National Sales Force
BREAKING NEWS
Strata-gee.com heard this week from multiple sources that Core Brands had completed the analysis phase of its sales force consolidation, and was now executing the termination of the losing reps – and the reassigning of brands to the winning reps. Core Brands, a division of Nortek, Inc., had announced the downsizing process in a conference call with their entire sale representative network on April 19th – laying out a process for which the desired result was to create a smaller network of fewer authorized sales representative companies presenting most, if not all, of the company’s ten brands.
But there is some question as to how successful the process was, given continuing multi-rep territories… [Read more…] about Core Brands Completes Downsizing of National Sales Force
Let’s Collaborate! 3M Launches 60-Point Multi-Touch Display
3M Touch Systems, Inc. announced today a new 46-inch 3M Multi-Touch Display C4667PW – a high-performance multi-touch display with the ability to track up to 60 simultaneous touch points. Designed with multi-user environments in mind, 3M says the C4667PW is optimal for collaborative environments where two or more people need to work both independently and as a group.
See more on this remarkable product which just might have huge market potential… [Read more…] about Let’s Collaborate! 3M Launches 60-Point Multi-Touch Display
Unusual Japan Story: 4 Panasonic Directors Given ¥1.9 Billion to Leave
In a move common in the U.S., but unusual in Japan, the Japan Times reported today that Panasonic Corp. paid ¥1.855 ($18.7 million) to four directors to leave the company in Fiscal 2012. The company broke the news of what is known in the U.S. as a golden parachute in materials circulated along with invitations sent to the shareholders meeting coming up later in the month.
See more on this generous payout from a struggling company… [Read more…] about Unusual Japan Story: 4 Panasonic Directors Given ¥1.9 Billion to Leave
AudioSource Thinks Your Sound Needs a Little pOp
AudioSource, Inc., a maker of an eclectic mix of unique solutions-oriented products, announced today a new item that is a combination Bluetooth speaker/hands-free speakerphone it calls Sound pOp. Spelled with a curious capital “O”, the sound pOp ties in with the growing popularity of devices that facilitate users streaming their favorite music from their smartphone.
