Toshiba Digital Products Division announced today that it has formed a strategic alliance with GrandCare Systems – a well-known company specializing in digital aging-in-place products, sensors, and solutions. According to Toshiba, GrandCare’s telehealth and communications capabilities will now be delivered via “secure, high-performance Toshiba devices.”
Tech Trends
Forget Wearables! Japan Invents UnWearables – A Bra That Only Pops Open for True Love
One of the hot topics at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this month was “wearables” – technology that you wear somewhere on your body. Whether Google Glass on your head, or a FitBit wrist band, the magic happens when you put it on.
Now out of Japan, we learn of a new technology where the magic happens…when you take it off! Developed by a lingerie company that apparently employs hot-blooded engineers to create cool technology – the True Love Tester is a bra with a latch that will only open if the lady is truly in love.
Is this the Next Big Thing?…You’ve got to see this!… [Read more…] about Forget Wearables! Japan Invents UnWearables – A Bra That Only Pops Open for True Love
Sharp Ends Production of Solar Panels at Tennessee Factory – 300 to Lose Their Jobs
Sharp Corporation announced that it has decided to end production of solar panels at its factory in Memphis, Tennessee, the Nikkei reported today. As a result, 300 jobs will be eliminated at the facility.
See more on this unexpected announcement from Sharp… [Read more…] about Sharp Ends Production of Solar Panels at Tennessee Factory – 300 to Lose Their Jobs
Yamaha Updates the ‘Executive Micro-System’ Adding Streaming & Hi-Res Audio
Popular as task-specific sub-room systems especially useful in offices, dens,and home offices…the executive micro-system has been used and appreciated by millions for many years now. In fact, here at Stratecon, we listen to one in our office frequently. We used to listen to it every day, but as more and more of our listening became associated with digital music via Apps like Spotify or Pandora, or any of a host of Internet radio stations…our more traditional desktop system just didn’t have the right stuff.
Now, Yamaha seeks to change that, by introducing the MCR-N560 executive system that is today-tech savvy… [Read more…] about Yamaha Updates the ‘Executive Micro-System’ Adding Streaming & Hi-Res Audio
JVC Kenwood Launches 1st Initiative in New, More Commercial Business Strategy
Just one day after we reported that JVC Kenwood was turning away from the Consumer Electronics business and choosing to instead pursue more commercial enterprises – the company announces its first major partnership in this new operating model. The company has partnered with Europe’s Airbus Defence and Space in a major new initiative to develop a public safety wireless broadband technology for the North American and European markets.
Learn more about the major new partnership for the company… [Read more…] about JVC Kenwood Launches 1st Initiative in New, More Commercial Business Strategy
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)
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
At CES: Samsung Shifts Emphasis from Smart TVs to Smart Home
Samsung’s press day conference was the most unusual we’ve seen with everything from a product that caused an audible gasp of amazement from the crowd…to one of their celebrity presenters running from the stage in mid-presentation. But we believe we detected a subtle but significant shift with their TV business being less prominent and more in balance with the company’s other products such as their appliance, computer, and mobile businesses.
See more on our initial impressions of Samsung below… [Read more…] about At CES: Samsung Shifts Emphasis from Smart TVs to Smart Home
CES Opens to Press and Already…A Couple of Surprises
Press Day at CES is – to put it mildly – a bit of a grind. A seemingly never-ending series of scheduled press presentations that are scheduled one hour apart so the press can run from one supposedly 45-minute (of course they all run long) event to the next. The hallways often look more like a mosh pit as reporters, bloggers, and editors push, shove, and elbow their way to the next presentation hoping to get a seat close enough that the presenters don’t look like ants.
It’s easy to become jaded, as one sits through slickly produced, Hollywood-style presentation after another. Rarely, do we get surprised.
