The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) announced this week that at its upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2018 in Las Vegas, there will be a new area of focus on Smart City technologies. The group plans both a dedicated display space featuring the technologies of Smart Cities, as well as a full schedule of related conference programming.
Tech Trends
Sony CEO Predicts 20-Yr High Op. Profit; Says Co. Needs More Innovation
Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai is feeling pretty good these days. After an incredibly tough turnaround period where many questioned his plan, Hirai said this week that the company expects to book an operating profit of ¥500 billion ($4.5 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 2018, its highest operating profit in 20-years according to a report by the Nikkei. But the CEO admits that, as good as this news is, the company is still short of a full turnaround.
What’s needed for a complete turnaround of Sony’s business? Innovation…
See more on what Sony’s CEO says the company needs to do… [Read more…] about Sony CEO Predicts 20-Yr High Op. Profit; Says Co. Needs More Innovation
Voice-Enabled Device Usage Will Grow Nearly 130% This Year
Momentum continues to build for voice-enabled devices like Amazon Echo and Google Home products, according to new data and forecast from eMarketer. Usage rates also appear to be increasing for the broader category of virtual assistants, such as Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa, Google’s Now and Microsoft’s Cortana.
See more on this all-new data on voice-enabled and virtual assistant market… [Read more…] about Voice-Enabled Device Usage Will Grow Nearly 130% This Year
Crestron Wants to Solve Real World Problems for Real World People
During the Sapphire Marketing NYC Road Show in Manhattan this week, we had the opportunity to spend time with Jeff Singer, Crestron’s Executive Director of Product Marketing, who shared with us the latest updates on the company’s major residential technology initiatives. He also helped us gain a better understanding of the company’s philosophy of product development and design, saying “We’re just trying to figure out how to solve real world problems for real world people.”
See more on Crestron’s initiatives… [Read more…] about Crestron Wants to Solve Real World Problems for Real World People
THX Joins Streaming Video Alliance
THX announced this week that it has joined the Streaming Video Alliance, an organzation that addresses ongoing video streaming issues through the development of best practices. THX says it is “uniquely qualified to make significant contributions to the Alliance.”
See more on THX and the Streaming Video Alliance… [Read more…] about THX Joins Streaming Video Alliance
Emerging Trend: UHD over IP Video Distribution
When it comes to sophisticated AV system installations, integrators have been forced to choose from a panoply of incompatible, proprietary matrix systems from a group of control manufacturers. These systems are complex and require specific programming protocols unique to them.
Then, at this year’s ISE, everything changed…
See how UHD over IP is rapidly emerging as the new standard in CI video distribution… [Read more…] about Emerging Trend: UHD over IP Video Distribution
Samsung Receives Order for 70M OLED Panels from Apple
In reports out of Taiwan, sources say that Apple, Inc. has ordered 70 million bendable OLED panels from Samsung Electronics. An order of this size can only be for the upcoming iPhone 8, expected to be launched in late 2017. The order also suggests that Apple is expecting the iPhone 8 to be a big success.
See more on what sources in Asia are saying about the iPhone 8… [Read more…] about Samsung Receives Order for 70M OLED Panels from Apple
Top Smartphones in 2016? Apple Takes 4 of Top 5
Although many analysts criticize slowing innovation at industry powerhouse Apple, Inc., final results for global smartphone shipments shows Apple with four of the top five models. Not bad for a technology slacker!
See the results for 2016 global smartphone shipments, dominated by Apple models… [Read more…] about Top Smartphones in 2016? Apple Takes 4 of Top 5
Access Networks CEO: Network Security is an ‘Existential Challenge’ for Industry
Network systems provider Access Networks announced this week that it has hired Roy Beiser, a former Intel executive, as its first ever Director of IT. But even more than that, Beiser, who is said to be highly credentialed in network technologies and cyber security issues, will assist in helping Access Networks to establish “the highest IT and cyber security standards for the company’s base of integration professionals and their clients.”
See what Access Networks plans to do to raise the security bar for itself, and the industry… [Read more…] about Access Networks CEO: Network Security is an ‘Existential Challenge’ for Industry
At Long Last, New Nest Products are Coming
Four New Models Would Double the Nest Line
Bloomberg News is reporting that, after a long wait, Google Alphabet’s Nest division is finally preparing to launch multiple new models. Nest, which is seeking to become a dominant player in the connected home space, has laid relatively dormant in the wake of the tumultuous exit of founder Tony Fadell. Now, Bloomberg tells us, things will begin to heat up with new models to expand the product segments in which the company participates.
