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Sonos vs. D&M Holdings: Both Sides Ratchet Up the Pressure

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Judge Makes Two Key Decisions

D&M LogoIn revisting the long-running saga of Sonos, Inc. vs. D&M Holdings, Inc. et. al., we find that after a series of skirmishes over scheduling issues – such as deadlines for filings and responses, and new claims and counterclaims filed – there appears to be a concerted effort by both parties to ratchet up the pressure. So far, it appears to our non-legally educated eyes that Sonos has a slight edge in this game, winning the scheduling skirmish and winning the right to expand the number of patents at issue.

But D&M has had some success as well. See where this case is at now… [Read more…] about Sonos vs. D&M Holdings: Both Sides Ratchet Up the Pressure

Sorry Siri: Research Shows Consumers Aren’t Using Voice-Controlled Assistants

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eMarketer logoThere is a lot of buzz surrounding Amazon’s Echo product, a tabletop computer featuring a voice-controlled digital assistant named Alexa. Alexa will play your favorite music, get your morning news update, find out today’s weather for you, and more. All you have to do is ask Alexa.

But before Alexa, we had Siri and other voice-controlled assistants, mostly associated with our favorite smartphone. But are consumers enamored with using voice-controlled assistants? A new study from marketing company 451 Research suggests that we don’t.

See more on smartphone users embrace of voice-controlled assistants… [Read more…] about Sorry Siri: Research Shows Consumers Aren’t Using Voice-Controlled Assistants

LCD Panel Prices in a Free Fall – Down 40% This Year

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Photo of 4K Ultra HDTVLiquid crystal display panel prices are dropping dramatically, hitting new low levels never before seen, as ramped-up production by Chinese manufacturers collides with depressed consumer demand for televisions and personal computers.The situation does not seem to be righting itself, even considering the fact that an earthquake recently damaged LCD panel production in Taiwan.

See more on the impact of a glut of LCD panels… [Read more…] about LCD Panel Prices in a Free Fall – Down 40% This Year

Atlantic Technology Launches Passive Soundbar & Speakers

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Atlantic Technology logoAtlantic Technology announced this week that it is launching a new line of home theater and music speakers, including a unique product they call a “front-stage” speaker which resembles a traditional soundbar, but is passive. All models are based on the same drivers, so that whether used separately or together, the sound is fully timber-matched for consistent imaging and sound quality.

See more on these new models from Atlantic Technology… [Read more…] about Atlantic Technology Launches Passive Soundbar & Speakers

Moody’s Downgrades Gibson Brands Credit to Junk

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Gibson Brands CEO Responds to Moody’s Downgrade

Photo of Gibson busThe music industry is positively buzzing about the announcement late last week by Moody’s Investors Service that, for the second time in three months, it has downgraded the credit rating of Nashville, Tennessee-based Gibson Brands. Gibson (formerly Gibson Guitars) is a tightly held private company that launched an aggressive diversification strategy a few years ago, focusing on acquiring several consumer electronics brands such as Onkyo Corp. and Teac, Corp. and recently Philips.

Now Moody’s suggests the debt used to acquire these brands is dragging the company down… [Read more…] about Moody’s Downgrades Gibson Brands Credit to Junk

After Big Setback, Sharp-Foxconn Deal Expected Soon

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Newly Discovered Liabilities Nearly Derail Deal

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Terry Gou

In what most Japanese media are calling a due diligence blunder, a potential deal for Hon Hai Precision Industry, better known as Foxconn, to buy Sharp Corp. was nearly scuttled when over $3 billion in potential additional liabilities suddenly came to light. The development caused Foxconn to pull back and, ultimately, launch an even deeper and more detailed analysis of the opportunity.

With talks back on track, a deal is now expected by March 31st… [Read more…] about After Big Setback, Sharp-Foxconn Deal Expected Soon

Thiel Audio Makes Retroactive CEO Announcement & More

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Third CEO Since Acquisition Three Years Ago

New Thiel logo black backgroundOn Monday of this week, Thiel Audio Products, Inc. unexpectedly announced that it has hired a new CEO for the organization. This announcement appears to refer to the CEO we previously told you about back in October 2015, although the release announces his appointment retroactively, effective January 15, 2016.

See more about who Thiel’s new CEO is, and their statement about what’s next… [Read more…] about Thiel Audio Makes Retroactive CEO Announcement & More

Yet Another High-End Brand Turns to Internet Sales, But This Time’s Different

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This Time Brand Takes Local Dealers With Them

Cary Audio logoRaleigh, NC-based Cary Audio announced this week that they will allow their high-end specialty electronics line to be sold online. At first blush, this looks like yet another specialty brand disrupting their bricks-and-mortar dealer base in favor of powerful online dealers – much like our recent story on McIntosh Labs doing just that. But this time, Cary took a completely different approach – one that takes their local dealers along with them.

See how Cary built an entirely different program in going online… [Read more…] about Yet Another High-End Brand Turns to Internet Sales, But This Time’s Different

In Eye of Storm, McIntosh Hit with Management Shake-Up

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BREAKING NEWS

McIntosh LogoWe have learned through multiple sources that McIntosh Labs, the high-end American brand that was thrust into the limelight recently when it came to light that the company was authorizing internet sales of its specialty brand, has experienced a bit of a management shake-up. Specifically, two top executives have resigned their positions at the company in just the last few days.

See what we’ve uncovered about this change at McIntosh… [Read more…] about In Eye of Storm, McIntosh Hit with Management Shake-Up

Federal Government Hits B&H Photo Video with Discrimination Lawsuit

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B&H logoLast week the U.S. Department of Labor filed a lawsuit against B&H Photo Video, accusing the major New York retailer of discriminatory practices. This lawsuit is said to be the second time in nine years the owners of B&H have run afoul of the government.

See the surprising and disturbing contents of the case against B&H… [Read more…] about Federal Government Hits B&H Photo Video with Discrimination Lawsuit