Strategy in TECH...
Alphabet, Inc. (Google) seems to find itself caught up in an unusual paradox. On the one hand, it is outwardly and aggressively marketing Bard, its own generative AI chatbot – while on the other hand, it is inwardly…but quietly…warning its own employees about the dangers of AI chatbots. This is according to a report by Reuters based on independent information from four different sources, each in a position to know.
The day after the Strata-gee story titled, Audio Research Corp is Sold; Or Is It? ran last month, I received an unexpected call from Valerio Cora, CEO of Acora Acoustics, the winning bidder and the likely new owner of Audio Research Corp (Audio Research or ARC). Cora was concerned that Strata-gee’s coverage of Audio Research’s issues had raised some questions – even going so far as to suggest that he felt my coverage was scaring people. He wanted to set the record straight on what is going on with Audio Research.
A former high-level Samsung Electronics executive was indicted on Monday for industrial espionage as it is alleged that he stole trade secrets in the form of blueprints and designs for an advanced Samsung chipmaking factory in order to create an identical one in China. South Korean prosecutors say the executive’s actions jeopardized national economic security, according to a report by the Reuters News Agency.
Nationwide Marketing Group announced this week that it is opening up registration for its upcoming PrimeTime event, scheduled to take place in Nashville, TN from August 13-16. While this is the 61st edition of PrimeTime, and it is the fourth time the event has taken place in Nashville, aka Music City, it is the first time the event will take center stage at the Music City Convention Center in the very heart of a vibrant and active downtown Nashville.
These are turbulent times at Masimo Corp. [NASDAQ: MASI] as the company continues its pitched battles against Apple Inc. for patent infringement and against activist investment group Politan Capital Management which seeks two Board seats for new oversight at the company. Mailings to MASI investors began in early May and continue to increase in frequency – and intensity – in the days leading up to the company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders on June 26, 2023.
What’s it all about? Largely, it is about Masimo’s $1 billion acquisition of Sound United (now Masimo Consumer) which caused the company’s market value to drop over $5 billion the day after the acquisition was announced. It appeared to be a clear repudiation of the management strategy by Masimo investors.
So much has transpired over the last two weeks in the matter of Audio Research Corp’s status as it operates under Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors, a form of receivership. Several more documents have emerged that serve to shed more light on just precisely what is going on.
Last week, in a national online Teams conference with dealers, Parasound CEO David Sheriff presented his plans for the company’s future. Tightly scripted, the CEO spoke with a firm resolve in a no-nonsense manner. It was clear that the initiatives he announced that day were not topics for more discussion or debate, but rather what is going to happen. And he made it clear that some dealers viewing the online presentation that day will likely not agree with these plans, and that’s fine.
“Let’s talk about parting ways,” Sheriff said, looking directly into the camera without blinking.
What if I told you that the new Savant Smart Network is a truly unique, game-changing networking solution that can deliver more than you dreamt possible? It can deliver a continuously optimized network experience for a happier client. It can deliver new profit opportunities for your integration business. It can deliver the ability for your techs – even lower-level techs – to quickly and easily troubleshoot and resolve sophisticated wired/wireless network issues.
Emerald Expo, owner of CEDIA Expo, announced today that registration for CEDIA Expo 2023 is now open. The industry’s largest show for custom integration professionals, the event takes place this year September 6-9, 2023 and returns to the popular Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO.
Last week, I was invited to attend the inaugural OASYS Spring Conference at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Nashville, TN, aka Music City. Formerly known as HTSN (Home Technology Specialists of Nationwide), the group has been rebranded and infused with new energy as Oasys Residential Technology Group. This spring gathering was its inaugural event launching a new brand, a new operating process, and – I have to say – a new attitude.
It was an eye-opening experience that helped me realize just how serious Nationwide is at cementing Oasys as the bedrock foundation of its buying group dominance.
