Strata-gee.com

Strategy in TECH...

Sonance James Small Aperture Series
You are here: Home / Archives for Tech Trends

Tech Trends

One Year Later – Rosewater Rewarded with Test Program by Major Utility

by Leave a Comment

RoseWater-Energy-Logo

We first met the Rosewater Energy Group at the 2012 CEDIA Expo – a coming out party for the new company that makes a residential energy storage hub with batteries to store your energy from either the power company or renewable sources (i.e. solar or wind) and a capacity large enough to power your whole home with processed and purified 115 volt sine-wave power. Founded by well-known industry personality Joe Piccirilli, Rosewater is on the leading edge of a new concept in energy delivery, storage, and usage.

Now, one year later, how has Rosewater’s business developed? See below… [Read more…] about One Year Later – Rosewater Rewarded with Test Program by Major Utility

Panasonic Pulls the Plug on Plasma

by 2 Comments

BREAKING NEWS

Photo of display of Panasonic flat-panel TVs
PHOTO: Bloomberg

Multiple news outlets including Reuters, Bloomberg, and the Nikkei reported today that sources at Panasonic are saying the company will exit the plasma TV business by the end of this fiscal year, which ends in March 2014. The news, while not totally surprising, means that there will be no plants anywhere in Japan producing plasma sets, and is likely the beginning of the end for the technology as LCD continues to take a greater share of even larger screen sizes.

See more on this surprising news out of Osaka, Japan… [Read more…] about Panasonic Pulls the Plug on Plasma

TiO – Turn it On – It Just Might Turn YOU On

by Leave a Comment

TiO logoPerhaps it is a touch poetic that TiO, the new division launched by Automated Control Technology Partners, and the company that emerged from the ruins of Colorado vNet (then 3vNet) – should launch their exciting new home automation system the year that CEDIA returns to Colorado. We’ve seen the system, and even though we have yet to have the opportunity to operate it (it was a non-powered display) we saw enough to strongly advise that you get to know it…and quickly.

In fact, if you are at CEDIA, we would recommend you set your sights on the Tio booth #3628… [Read more…] about TiO – Turn it On – It Just Might Turn YOU On

Homebuilders Report the Next Great Home Add-On is Solar Panels Built-In – To the Roof & the Mortgage

by Leave a Comment

Photo of home with solar panelsGranite countertops – at one time considered an amenity – are now considered a standard option for most folks building new homes. Now, Bloomberg is reporting that the next granite countertops – is solar panels.

How hot are solar panels? According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, demand for systems that generate electricity at home will jump 56 percent nationwide this year. In fact, two communities in California have passed legislation mandating solar panels in all new construction.

See more on this rapidly growing green energy trend… [Read more…] about Homebuilders Report the Next Great Home Add-On is Solar Panels Built-In – To the Roof & the Mortgage

Savant Launches Wi-Fi Universal Remote Control That Configures Itself

by Leave a Comment

Savant logoSavant Systems, LLC said today that it has launched a new Wi-Fi-based universal remote control designed with today’s media room in mind. The sleek designed remote is said to fit well in your hand and is designed to be intuitive to operate…even in a multiple sub-system set-up. Even better, when connected to a Savant control ecosystem, the remote fully configures itself – eliminating the need for complex programming routines.

See more on this exciting new universal remote from Savant… [Read more…] about Savant Launches Wi-Fi Universal Remote Control That Configures Itself

ICE Cable Has Innovation in the Box

by Leave a Comment

Photo of Big Mouth Payout bulk wire boxWe often think innovation has to be some major technological breakthrough – some amazing new mobile device…or smartwatch…or IP-enabled network controller configurator extender…or such. That’s cool…but we’re firm believers in all forms of innovation – including mini-innovations. And there are opportunities for innovation everywhere. ICE Cable, for example, says it has innovation – in the box!

See more on ICE’s innovation in the box, below… [Read more…] about ICE Cable Has Innovation in the Box

URC Wants You to Add a Little ESP To Your Installations

by Leave a Comment

URClogoURC, the former remote control king that has morphed into a home automation company, announced on Tuesday the MRX-4SEN Sensor Extender and six new sensors that tie into their well-regarded Total Control System. A clever system add-on, the sensors allow a range of system inputs that can trigger actions or Macros.

Learn more about this clever new product from URC… [Read more…] about URC Wants You to Add a Little ESP To Your Installations

Joe Knows (High Performance) Video

by Leave a Comment

Photo of Joe Kane Seminar PosterOne of the highlights of Audio Associates Dealer Expo in New Jersey last week was a key seminar on video screens given by none other than Joe Kane, one of this industry’s best known and most respected video technology experts. Kane’s presentation was supposed to cover how to select the best screen for the installation – but the enigmatic Kane couldn’t help himself and covered – rapid-fire – several topical industry subjects for an engaging presentation that went well past its scheduled 60-minute time slot.

See more on the at-times irreverent Kane’s presentation of a variety of video subjects… [Read more…] about Joe Knows (High Performance) Video

Soundcast Casts a New Expanded Role for Itself

by Leave a Comment

Photo of SoundCast's Mike Weaver
Soundcast President Mike Weaver wants you to use Melody to “Go Places.”

Earlier this week during the Audio Associates Dealer Expo held in New Jersey, we had an opportunity to meet with Mike Weaver, President of San Diego-based Soundcast Systems, Inc. Soundcast, a manufacturer of wireless outdoor speakers has been around for quite some time and although it seems to have achieved some recognition for good quality products, the company has been a little sleepy and unremarkable…until recently, that is.

With new money from the founders, a new team of executives, and recently launched new products – Soundcast has definitely cast a new expanded role for itself in the industry…

See more on the dynamic new growth trajectory the company is on, below… [Read more…] about Soundcast Casts a New Expanded Role for Itself

Wow! Technology Breakthrough Could Help Smartphones Run 10 Times Longer Before Recharge

by Leave a Comment

Shin-Etsu logoA chemical company in Japan announced today it may have had a breakthrough discovery in the design and construction of lithium-ion rechargeable batteries that could increase their capacity by as much as a factor of 10 times. Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. says there is still much more testing to be done, but could potentially begin selling the new technology batteries within the next three to four years.

See more on this surprising announcement out of Japan… [Read more…] about Wow! Technology Breakthrough Could Help Smartphones Run 10 Times Longer Before Recharge