A new group of industry veterans have formed for the purpose of launching six regional trade shows covering the entire U.S. – three shows taking place in the fourth quarter of 2014 and another three shows in the first quarter of 2015. The group says that this event – called The Tech Tour – came about as the result of manufacturers, representatives, and media representatives working together to provide dealers and installers a new easy-to-attend regional tradeshow and educational event.
Shows & Events
Apple to Show Software for the Connected Home at Upcoming Software Expo
Not Just iOS…Apple Goes IoT
The Financial Times reported this morning that Apple, Inc. will announce a new software solution for the connected home market at the Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco next week. The move follows a lot of activity in the connected home channel recently including: Control4 going public, Google acquiring Nest, Philips launching Hue (app controlled lighting), Belkin launching WeMo, Harman acquiring AMX…and now Apple seeking to bring it all together in the home.
Is Apple on the right track? Or are they diving down a dark rabbit hole?… [Read more…] about Apple to Show Software for the Connected Home at Upcoming Software Expo
Commercial & Residential Integrators Converge in Manhattan for Sapphire Marketing NYC RoadShow
Sapphire Marketing, a well-known manufacturer’s sales representative company focusing on the commercial and residential integration channels in the Northeast, held their sixth dealer “RoadShow” in mid-town Manhattan on Thursday and Friday of last week. We had the good fortune of being invited to attend the event courtesy of our friend Dawn Allcot of Crestron’s PR department…and we’re glad we went.
See more on this event, including some impressive presentations by major integration brands… [Read more…] about Commercial & Residential Integrators Converge in Manhattan for Sapphire Marketing NYC RoadShow
Reps Band Together to Reprise Pacific NW CE Expo in April
A group of fourteen consumer electronics sales representative companies have banded together to offer Pacific Northwest dealers a huge Consumer Electronics EXPO next month on two dates: April 8 in Seattle, WA; and April 10 in Portland, OR. The reps decided to reprise this Expo after staging an initial version last year in June…which they pointed to as being quite successful.
See more on these two big Expos in the Pacific Northwest… [Read more…] about Reps Band Together to Reprise Pacific NW CE Expo in April
Aim High Audio Announces Southeast Dealer Show & Florida Expansion
Aim High Audio Sales and Distribution announced that they will hold a major dealer event for custom integrators throughout the Southeast in Atlanta, GA called The 2nd Annual Big Show. This Big Show is scheduled to take place March 25 & 26 at the Atlanta Marriott Northwest in Atlanta and will present displays from the company’s significant line of brands, as well as special speakers and presentations.
The company also announced that it has expanded its coverage in Florida with two industry veterans joining the organization.
See more about the Big Show & Aim High Audio’s Florida expansion… [Read more…] about Aim High Audio Announces Southeast Dealer Show & Florida Expansion
Seeing Through to the Essence of ClearView
Sometimes making no impression is the way to make the biggest impression of all! Massachusetts-based ClearView® Audio (www.clearviewaudio.com/) launched an innovative transparent music system at CES 2014 and is enjoying a great response from dealers, domestic and international. Called Clio, this first product stands just over 9 inches tall, streams over Bluetooth, and has an MSRP of $349. [Read more…] about Seeing Through to the Essence of ClearView
CES 2014 – The Year of the…? (Insert Your Favorite Gadget Here)
When I was little, I came home from school one day, excited to tell my mother about all my new friends. One-by-one, I named each of them, calling each one “my best friend.” When I finished, I’ll never forget what she said. “If they’re ALL your best friend, then you don’t have a BEST friend.”
The Consumer Electronics industry over the last few years and continuing into this year – has fallen into a troubling state of highly fragmented technology trends. It is in this environment – the absence of any clearly defined, overall technology trend – Gary Shapiro and the CEA try to field their annual technology exposition known as the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
So what was the big tech innovation at CES?…Well, it’s complicated… [Read more…] about CES 2014 – The Year of the…? (Insert Your Favorite Gadget Here)
Gibson Brands Goes ‘Back to the Future’ to Celebrate 120 Years
Gibson Brands took advantage of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to make a bit of a show of their own to celebrate 120 years in business. The company, which serves up 23 different brands of musical instruments, professional audio products and, more recently, consumer electronics products, chose a unique way to mark the occasion by going “Back to the Future.”
See more on how Gibson chose to celebrate their 120-year anniversary… [Read more…] about Gibson Brands Goes ‘Back to the Future’ to Celebrate 120 Years
Amazing! Sony CEO Admits Company Failings – Says ‘Wow’ is Future
Sony’s CEO Kazuo Hirai gave a relatively compelling keynote presentation that was in stark contrast to their rather dry Mike Fasulo and unemotional press conference. Not only was Hirai dynamic and at times, emotional even – he competently and capably articulated a new and strong vision for the company based on the Japanese word “kando” and the English word “wow.”
See the surprising twist in the Sony CEO’s presentation…including a moment that NO other Sony CEO would ever dare to try…admitting past product failures… [Read more…] about Amazing! Sony CEO Admits Company Failings – Says ‘Wow’ is Future
HiFiMan Lauches Two New Digital Music Players at CES
HiFiMan is an independent manufacturer of a variety of largely high-performance audio products. We first met the company two years ago at CES, and were amused and impressed with company founder Dr. Fang Bian. Bian is an enthusiastic lover of high quality music and created some superior digital media players and headphones to better reproduce it. Serious, but sincere, Bian’s company has launched two new interesting digital music players – one offering “reference” level performance…and the other a more affordable option for the music lover on a budget.
