In an announcement considered a surprise by most in the industry – Core Brands announced that it has named Joe Roberts as VP of products and marketing. Roberts will replace Paul Starkey, the former President of Core Brands’ Elan division and, most recently, Senior VP of Marketing for the company.
News
Homebuilders Report the Next Great Home Add-On is Solar Panels Built-In – To the Roof & the Mortgage
Granite countertops – at one time considered an amenity – are now considered a standard option for most folks building new homes. Now, Bloomberg is reporting that the next granite countertops – is solar panels.
How hot are solar panels? According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, demand for systems that generate electricity at home will jump 56 percent nationwide this year. In fact, two communities in California have passed legislation mandating solar panels in all new construction.
See more on this rapidly growing green energy trend… [Read more…] about Homebuilders Report the Next Great Home Add-On is Solar Panels Built-In – To the Roof & the Mortgage
Apple Launches New iPhones, Stock Gets Squashed Like a Bug
Is Apple the Victim of Unreasonable Expectations? Or Is the Reaction to Incrementalism Justified?

Apple, Inc. announced on Tuesday the long-awaited update of its key iPhone 5 smartphone, only to see its stock pummeled – losing more than 2% of its value on Tuesday and another 5.44% on Wednesday as investors appeared under-whelmed by the announcement. But is this reaction fair? Has Apple lost its innovation mojo? Or is Apple the victim of unreasonable expectations?
See more on the new iPhone 5C and 5S smartphones from the market leader… [Read more…] about Apple Launches New iPhones, Stock Gets Squashed Like a Bug
What Do You Get When You Cross a Salamander with a Leon? A Powerful Furniture ‘Accessory’…
One of the hottest trends in the automobile industry over the last few years is the emergence of a whole new category of vehicle called the “crossover.” A crossover combines the capacious body design of a modified SUV (sport utility vehicle) with the enhanced handling and drivability of a car-based chassis. The result is something that doesn’t exist in either of those independent categories.
Now, Salamander Designs, Ltd. and Leon Speakers have partnered to create their own version of a crossover for our industry as Salamander launches a new line of accessory custom speakers from Leon, perfectly designed to integrate with their cabinets.
See more on this new “crossover” product from Salamander in partnership with Leon… [Read more…] about What Do You Get When You Cross a Salamander with a Leon? A Powerful Furniture ‘Accessory’…
Did You Get Your Strata-gee SYNCH?
We told you last week that the ALERT was being discontinued – and it has. This morning, we distributed the first version of our new Strata-gee SYNCH newsletter. You were emailed a copy. Did you receive it?
As we mentioned in our post last week, the Strata-gee SYNCH is coming from a new email address:
info@strata-gee.com
If you did not receive your Strata-gee SYNCH today, the first place to check is your junk mail folder. Your system may not have recognized the new email address and assumed this was junk mail from an unapproved sender.
See more on how to ensure the reliable receipt of the next Strata-gee SYNCH… [Read more…] about Did You Get Your Strata-gee SYNCH?
Savant Launches Wi-Fi Universal Remote Control That Configures Itself
Savant Systems, LLC said today that it has launched a new Wi-Fi-based universal remote control designed with today’s media room in mind. The sleek designed remote is said to fit well in your hand and is designed to be intuitive to operate…even in a multiple sub-system set-up. Even better, when connected to a Savant control ecosystem, the remote fully configures itself – eliminating the need for complex programming routines.
See more on this exciting new universal remote from Savant… [Read more…] about Savant Launches Wi-Fi Universal Remote Control That Configures Itself
Google Sends Street View Cars Into Devastated Fukushima District in Japan
Jiji Press in Japan is reporting that Google has sent its Street View vehicles into at least eight municipalities in the devastated Fukushima District in Northern Japan. The area was devastated in March 2011 as the result of an earthquake and tsunami that fatally damaged The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant’s reactor causing the greatest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in Russia.
See video below of the remaining devastation in Fukushima District even two years later… [Read more…] about Google Sends Street View Cars Into Devastated Fukushima District in Japan
EXCLUSIVE: CEDIA Gives Strata-gee.com A Deeper Look at Its Latest Benchmarking Survey
STRATA-GEE.COM EXCLUSIVE
Last month, we reported that CEDIA released its 2013 Benchmarking Survey with certain select data highlighted. Now CEDIA has offered Strata-gee.com an exclusive look at the full report (the summary version provided to all CEDIA members) with the opportunity for us to highlight any results we found particularly enlightening. And in the process of reviewing their results – we discovered a much more comprehensive read on the “typical” CEDIA member than we had originally expected.
See more on some of the more interesting results from CEDIA’s 2013 Benchmarking Survey… [Read more…] about EXCLUSIVE: CEDIA Gives Strata-gee.com A Deeper Look at Its Latest Benchmarking Survey
ICE Cable Has Innovation in the Box
We often think innovation has to be some major technological breakthrough – some amazing new mobile device…or smartwatch…or IP-enabled network controller configurator extender…or such. That’s cool…but we’re firm believers in all forms of innovation – including mini-innovations. And there are opportunities for innovation everywhere. ICE Cable, for example, says it has innovation – in the box!
See more on ICE’s innovation in the box, below… [Read more…] about ICE Cable Has Innovation in the Box
Stratecon’s ALERT Newsletter to Be Discontinued
There are some major – and exciting – changes taking place here at The Stratecon Group headquarters…and on its Strata-gee.com website.
While we can’t tell you everything going on at this point – the big news that we can tell you is that the ALERT newsletter is being discontinued.
Why would we discontinue our ALERT newsletter, which many of you – our loyal subscribers – have been receiving for years? Read more below…




