September housing starts, the government’s measure of new residential construction activity, showed an overall decline to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,127,000 units. This rate is down 4.7% from the revised August rate of 1,183,000 units. This is the third monthly decline in a row indicating a softening in the construction of new homes – and the lowest level of construction since September 2016.
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Samsung Surprises LG with Viral Video OLED Slam
12-Hour ‘Image Retention’ Test to Make OLED Look Bad
Korean media is reporting that a nasty fight has erupted in South Korea, where Samsung has uploaded a video that compares its QLED screen versus an LG OLED screen. The slickly produced comparison video allegedly shows “image retention” (commonly called burn-in over here) on the OLED screen after gamers play on both screens for twelve hours straight. LG, understandably, cries foul…
See this ugly fight that has erupted on the eve of the big TV sales season… [Read more…] about Samsung Surprises LG with Viral Video OLED Slam
New Research: Are Smart Speakers a Trojan Horse?
Majority Say They Use Smart Speaker to Shop
New research conducted by NPR and Edison Research has revealed what is likely the key motivation for Amazon and Google to aggressively attack the mass market by offering attractive smart speaker products at ever-decreasing prices – they are a Trojan horse. The data also shows the remarkably rapid adoption of the technology in just a couple of short years.
See more on this important research on smart speakers… [Read more…] about New Research: Are Smart Speakers a Trojan Horse?
Family Sets Steve Zaboji Funeral Arrangements
As we were first to report on Sunday, October 8th, well-known industry manufacturer sales representative Steve Zaboji was tragically killed in a plane crash the previous day (Saturday). We can now report that the Zaboji family has set the arrangements for his funeral.
Continue reading for more details on the funeral of Steve Zaboji… [Read more…] about Family Sets Steve Zaboji Funeral Arrangements
Where Are Consumers Putting Smart Speakers in Their Homes?
ProSource Adds a Lucky 13 New Members
ProSource, one of the larger retail buying groups in the U.S. announced today that it has added 13 new members to their organization. As a multi-tiered group, these new additions were in two different groups – 12 dealers were added as custom integrator members, while one was added as an Associate PRO level member.
See more on this news from ProSource… [Read more…] about ProSource Adds a Lucky 13 New Members
Confirmed: B&W Closes Classé HQ; Staff Dismissed
We have now confirmed that at the end of the day last Friday, October 6th, the Classé headquarters facility was in fact closed by Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) for the last time and all remaining employees were dismissed. This move is a sad and sobering end to a once proud brand celebrated by many audiophiles as one of the finest performing lines of high-end electronics available.
See more of what we know about the closing of Classé… [Read more…] about Confirmed: B&W Closes Classé HQ; Staff Dismissed
Iconic Industry Rep Steve Zaboji Killed in Plane Crash
Industry Stunned as Zaboji Died Pursuing His Love of Flight
UPDATED: Yamaha Responds to News
One of the most iconic manufacturer sales representatives in the consumer electronics industry in the Mid-Atlantic territory, Steven B. Zaboji, was killed Saturday just before 2:00pm, when the Piper Pawnee aircraft he was piloting crashed shortly after releasing a glider it had towed into the sky. According to the Virginia State Police, the crash occurred near the Front Royal Airport, the airport it had taken off from, in Warren County, Virginia.
See more on this shocking death of Steve Zaboji… [Read more…] about Iconic Industry Rep Steve Zaboji Killed in Plane Crash
A First: The Technology & Business Summit Hits the Big Apple
For the first time ever since the creation of the Technology & Business Summit in California some seven years ago, it comes to the Big Apple…and the big show made a big impression. Held over two days – Tuesday in Long Island; Thursday in Northern New Jersey – organizer Mark Cichowski tells us it was a huge success.
See more on the Technology & Business Summit in the Big Apple… [Read more…] about A First: The Technology & Business Summit Hits the Big Apple
Shares in Japan Display Jump 24% on OLED News
Japan Display Inc., a unique public/private partnership that was once Japan’s largest supplier of LCD panels but has been struggling of late, saw the price of shares of its stock jump as much as 24% Wednesday on news that it had developed a new lower cost manufacturing process for OLED panels. The company, which had been struggling with slackening global demand for LCD panels, will seek outside investment to pursue the opportunity provided by this new OLED manufacturing process.
