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Is Pioneer Another Name for Innovator?

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Pioneer is Embracing the Smartphone LifestyleYears ago, the step-up component audio world was dominated by the big three: Yamaha, Onkyo, and Denon. Having joined Onkyo in 1985, I got to participate in what some people called the “meat of the market.” These brands hit the optimal “sweet spot” of volume and profitability and literally could be the difference between life-and-death for dealers.

And we knew it. Those were heady times, and often we let our egos run wild – turning our noses up at mass market brands such as Sony, Kenwood, and Pioneer. Well, I’m older and wiser now – the big three aren’t what they used to be – and I recognize smart and savvy moves when I see them…and Pioneer is impressing me. [Read more…] about Is Pioneer Another Name for Innovator?

Monster Announces New Monster, New Partnerships, and Mini-Fashion Show

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New Monster Global VP of Marketing and Web, Tracy Benson
Tracy Benson
Monster’s New Global VP of Marketing and Web

At the CEA LineShow last week, Monster put on a press conference that, as usual, was quite a show. And the first surprise was that the event was kicked off by a new Monster – recently appointed Global VP of Marketing and Web Tracy Benson. Benson, a former Senior Director at Best Buy, wasted no time launching into the presentation by reminding reporters that Monster Beats “proved them wrong” when many said consumers would not pay more for a better, more richer listening experience. [Read more…] about Monster Announces New Monster, New Partnerships, and Mini-Fashion Show

Four Weeks Later, The OAC Group and Russound Call Off Agreement

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Russound LogoOnly weeks after reporting of the triumphant return of Oscar Ciornei to Russound, a company for which he was once COO earlier in his career, news comes to us that the parties have agreed to part company. A swift and surprising development – the company says the reason for the mutually agreed-upon separation was an emerging conflict with an existing client. However, we have received reports that suggest other issues may have also been a factor.

Only one month on the job, what went wrong?… [Read more…] about Four Weeks Later, The OAC Group and Russound Call Off Agreement

Third Time’s the Charm? Colorado vNet – Now 3vNet – Certainly Hopes So

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BREAKING NEWS

3vNet LogoColorado vNet, the high-tech control and home automation company that has had an up-and-down roller-coaster existence – dying twice, only to be reborn twice – and eventually given-up on and sold off…hopes that the old adage, “third time’s the charm” is true. CEO Mike Anderson announced today that he is re-launching the company with a new brand – now 3vNet – and a new attitude, telling us that this is not a makeover, but in fact a whole new company with new facilities, new engineering, and a new higher level of tech support the likes of which dealers haven’t seen in years.

See what the all-new  3vNet has in store to excite dealers & drive market share…

[Read more…] about Third Time’s the Charm? Colorado vNet – Now 3vNet – Certainly Hopes So

Rare Steve Jobs Fail – Apple Reportedly Will Shut Down Ping Social Network

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Graphic of Ping ServiceThe Huffington Post and the Wall Street Journal’s AllThingsD blog are reporting that unnamed sources at Apple have indicated that the company plans to pull the plug on its Ping social networking service, perhaps as early as this fall. Ping, a sort of Facebook for music was incorporated into their iTunes software back in 2010 and launched by famed company chairman Steve Jobs to great fanfare.

Why is Ping failing, even after a full marketing push by the industry kingpin?… [Read more…] about Rare Steve Jobs Fail – Apple Reportedly Will Shut Down Ping Social Network

EHX 2.0? EH Publishing Gambles on a New Trade Event at a Connecticut Casino

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ceExchange LogoEH Publishing announced today that it is launching a new trade event next year that they call CE Exchange. The CE Exchange event will be held over a three-day period from May 6-to-May 8, 2013 at the MGM Grand Hotel in the Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. Targeted primarily to appeal to custom integrators in the northeast, the promoter says this is a new kind of event – not a typical trade show…but not a conference either.

So just what is CE Exchange?… [Read more…] about EHX 2.0? EH Publishing Gambles on a New Trade Event at a Connecticut Casino

Latest Brand Preference Survey Spells Trouble for Key Tech Brands

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Logo for Strategy AnalyticsIn a new study by market researcher Strategy Analytics, more than six thousand consumers were surveyed about which technology brands they preferred – and the results highlight what is likely a radical market repositioning for certain tech brands that have lost market share in a challenging industry environment.

See if these results surprise you as much as some of them did me… [Read more…] about Latest Brand Preference Survey Spells Trouble for Key Tech Brands

New Corning Glass is So Thin, It’s Flexible; Will Drive New CE Products by 2013

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New Corning Flexible Willow GlassCorning Inc., the American glass manufacturer deeply involved in providing glass for flat-panel TV and mobile device manufacturing, said this week that they have developed a glass so thin, it’s flexible. And this new glass, they call it Willow Glass, is so flexible it can help create a whole new class of consumer electronics devices with glass shaped into curved surfaces.

When will new CE products appear? Soon… [Read more…] about New Corning Glass is So Thin, It’s Flexible; Will Drive New CE Products by 2013

Sony Slaps Senior Execs – Makes Them Give Back Pay

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Sony's Stringer and Harai at CES 2012
Sony's Former CEO Howard Stringer Introduces New CEO Kazuo Harai at CES 2012

In a public move that will probably make more sense in Japan than it will here, Sony Corp. said on Tuesday that seven top executives will return their fiscal 2011 performance-linked bonuses. The executives affected by this decision include their former CEO Howard Stringer and current CEO Kazuo Harai.

Why this announcement now?…. [Read more…] about Sony Slaps Senior Execs – Makes Them Give Back Pay

JVC Kenwood to Sell System Streaming Soothing Sounds of Forests

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JVC Kenwood SpeakersJVC Kenwood Corp. said that next spring it will begin selling a system designed to deliver the soothing sounds of the forest streamed over the Internet in real time. The company will be involved in all aspects of the system from setting up source equipment to collect the sounds of various forests, to coordinating the delivery of the forest content across the Internet, to delivering unique speaker systems in the homes of end users with technology to receive and play the environmental sounds.

How does it work?…

[Read more…] about JVC Kenwood to Sell System Streaming Soothing Sounds of Forests