Strata-gee editor Ted Green was a guest panelist on this week’s ResiWeek webcast (recorded on Halloween), a production of AVNation.tv. Hosted by Matt Scott, the panel, which also included Jason Griffing of Harrison Home Systems and Jason Knott of CEPro, covered a range of topics in custom integration.
Shows & Events
Access Networks Offers Access to Live Monitoring
In our wrap-up of the top stories from CEDIA 2016, #3 was “Managed Services are Growing.” One such service was OneVision Resources, which will partner with integrators to offer remote system monitoring and customer support. At CEDIA 2016, residential networking provider Access Networks also announced that they will be launching a new Live Monitoring solution.
These services look similar, but there is one very big difference… [Read more…] about Access Networks Offers Access to Live Monitoring
Millson Custom Solutions Goes From Crawl to Jog in Just One Year
Millson Custom Solutions Celebrates Its First Birthday
Most new start-up companies like Millson Custom Solutions (MCS) choose to develop a new product concept and spend their first year setting up distribution, making sure internal systems operate smoothly as sales begin to happen, and in general scale slowly before they take that next step in expansion. It’s sort of a crawl before you walk – walk before you run strategy.
But not MCS – no sooner did they get their remarkable CinemaFrame launched, then the company rolled out a second product, their RSMS Roller Shade Mounting System and then a third product, the FutureFrame.
How did they pull that off?… [Read more…] about Millson Custom Solutions Goes From Crawl to Jog in Just One Year
CEDIA 2016 – Hot Stuff We Saw
CEDIA 2016, like every trade show, for us is like trying to get a sip of water from a fire hose. There is just so much going on. And since all stories interest us – we have to go into a kind of marketing triage, quickly sorting those stories that we feel are the most compelling.
So, in this post, we want to share with you some of the more interesting things – and people – we saw and chatted with on the show floor.
See some of the notable people and products we saw at CEDIA 2016… [Read more…] about CEDIA 2016 – Hot Stuff We Saw
Houzz Smart Home Study Results Offer Some Surprises
Security & Thermostats are Top Smart Home Priorities
Being the marketers that we are, when we heard that Houzz was going to present the results of their first ever Smart Home Trends Study at CEDIA 2016, well we put that on our schedule. At the appointed hour, we listened closely as Liza Hausman, Houzz’s Vice President of Industry Marketing and Dave Pedigo from CEDIA patiently went through and explained the results – and while the results were unremarkable, they were interesting nonetheless. And, there were a couple of surprises.
See details on what the results from the Houzz study were… [Read more…] about Houzz Smart Home Study Results Offer Some Surprises
SpeakerCraft’s Remarkable AIM LCR5 FIVE Series 2 Speakers Now Ready
We first reported on the new SpeakerCraft Dolby Atmos enabled AIM speakers at the 2015 CEDIA show (then called the Expo). A clever way to extend their line and tap into the enthusiasm many have to advanced surround sound systems like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Auro3D – SpeakerCraft designed a high-performance alternative to standard in-ceiling height speakers.
Prototypes last year, but company says it’s ready to ship shortly. Check it out… [Read more…] about SpeakerCraft’s Remarkable AIM LCR5 FIVE Series 2 Speakers Now Ready
Bluesound’s Gender Bending Soundbar
Pulse – A High-Performance Soundbar
Historically, the consumer electronics industry is broken down into basically two types (genders) of products. A product is either designed for the masses with affordability and popular technologies – think wireless Bluetooth streaming speakers for less than $50; Or, serious, high-performance specialty AV products – think a component home theater system with Dolby Atmos/DTS:X/Auro3D built-in for more than $20,000. Like East not meeting West – never the twain shall meet. Until now…
Meet Bluesound’s Pulse Soundbar – a true industry gender-bender… [Read more…] about Bluesound’s Gender Bending Soundbar
New Size & Scope Survey Results Released at CEDIA 2016
As is their normal practice, CEDIA released selected results from their 2016 Size and Scope of the Residential Electronic Systems Market survey in their booth during CEDIA 2016. The presentation this year, like last year, was made by Dave Pedigo. However, unlike last year, this year Pedigo has been put in charge of market research, a post that has been open since Erica Shonkweiler left some time ago.
Last year, we reported on the some of the surprising results from the survey. Some of those results were so surprising, they were unbelievable – and even Pedigo agreed with us that some didn’t appear proper. This year? Some of the results, if accurate, could be troubling.
See the results CEDIA shared with members at CEDIA 2016… [Read more…] about New Size & Scope Survey Results Released at CEDIA 2016
Crestron Pursues Deeper & More Innovative Integrations with Partners
Crestron Embraces Sonos, Amazon, & Others
At CEDIA 2016, one of the top themes we identified was companies seeking more and better integrations with other companies’ technologies. In most cases, this expressed itself with companies seeking to have their product lines properly interface with the major control companies. But at CEDIA this year, Crestron took that concept to new heights and in a new direction with their enthusiastic embrace of newcomers to the CI channel…Sonos and Amazon Alexa.
See more on Crestron’s innovative integration solutions… [Read more…] about Crestron Pursues Deeper & More Innovative Integrations with Partners
Russound Formally Launches 70V Line at CEDIA 2016
To Help Integrators ‘Expand Your Marketplace’
Although previewed to the media last month, dealers and the media finally had the opportunity to physically see and touch the all-new Russound 70-volt light commercial line in the flesh at last week’s CEDIA 2016. The line, which the company intends to continue to develop and expand, launched with three models in the line, including a music streamer/amplifier, a volume control wallpad, and an outdoor speaker.
