If you were watching Good Morning America (GMA) this morning, as you munched on your Wheaties you likely saw investigative journalist Brian Ross in a story reporting on an ABC News investigation into the sales practices of security supplier Vivint. The investigation was launched when ABC News learned of military families who claimed the company was lying to them and engaging in unfair sales practices.
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The Revolving Door for Managers at Kaleidescape… Spins Again
Imagine, if you will, working at a company serving a channel in which yours is the only significant participant with no major competitors – you own the segment. Not only that, but dealers love your product, the press sings holy hosannas over the quality and performance of your line, a major [legal] black cloud is behind you, and the future appears to be bright. Must be an idyllic existence…right?
At Kaleidescape, Inc., the industry’s most prominent brand of media servers, it appears to be an idyllic existence only if you are one of the two founders – Michael Malcolm and Cheena Srinivasan. For other top managers, the pressure must be constant, as there appears to be a spinning revolving door – or so it would seem as we learn again this week of more top managers exiting the company.
See more on this newest round of managers exiting Kaleidescape… [Read more…] about The Revolving Door for Managers at Kaleidescape… Spins Again
Apple to Set Up Its First R&D Facility Outside of US
Announcement Met with Mixture of Pride…and Concern
Apple, Inc. has announced that it will open its first research and development facility outside of the United States and it has chosen Japan as the location for the center. The announcement was reported by the Nikkei and has been met with a combination of national pride…and corporate concerns.
See more on Apple’s new plans for their R&D facility in Japan… [Read more…] about Apple to Set Up Its First R&D Facility Outside of US
Thiel Says It Will Introduce New TT1 Speaker System at CES
Thiel Audio announced this week that it will introduce a new loudspeaker system – the TT1 – at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January. Calling it an “ultimate performance three-way loudspeaker,” the announcement is the first major launch since the current management team was put in place earlier this year.
But, the TTI was not a total surprise… [Read more…] about Thiel Says It Will Introduce New TT1 Speaker System at CES
Here Are Affluents’ Holiday Shopping Plans
If you are like many of our readers, you are either a custom integrator or specialty AV retailer who serve the Affluent ($75,000 per year income and up) market. Two new pieces of market research provide colorful illumination of the holiday shopping plans of Affluents for this coming holiday season.
And the results of this research may give you pause… [Read more…] about Here Are Affluents’ Holiday Shopping Plans
ProSource Adds Origin Acoustics to Its Mix
ProSource, a retail buying group that describes themselves as the biggest integration, audio, and video buying group in the country, said this week that it has added Origin Acoustics – an all-new company – to its product line-up. According to ProSource, Origin has chosen them as its “exclusive buying group.”
See why ProSource hails this relationship… [Read more…] about ProSource Adds Origin Acoustics to Its Mix
Economy Falling into Recession, Moody’s Cuts Japan’s Credit Rating
Saying that there is “rising uncertainty” with regards to the country’s debt situation, Moody’s has cut Japan’s credit rating. Yet another indicator of fundamental problems in one of the world’s most powerful economies, Japan’s problems go well beyond its dramatically changing TECH industry.
See more on this surprising downgrade and what it means… [Read more…] about Economy Falling into Recession, Moody’s Cuts Japan’s Credit Rating
One Week Later, DOW Electronics Expands CI Assortment with Select Lutron Products
About a week ago, we told you that DOW Electronics announced it was expanding its custom integration-oriented (CI) offerings by adding Logitech’s Harmony remote control line. Now, just one week later, the Southeast-region distributor announces new a partnership with CI cornerstone line Lutron on its wireless Caséta line.
See more on yet another CI-line acquisition by DOW… [Read more…] about One Week Later, DOW Electronics Expands CI Assortment with Select Lutron Products
Holiday Wishes
ICE Cable Selects EMI to Represent Brand in Michigan
Specialty cable manufacturer ICE Cable Systems announced this week that it has selected veteran Michigan sales representative company Electrical Materials, Inc. (EMI) to represent its line in Michigan, the Great Lakes State. EMI, a unique mixture of electrical component distribution and custom integration AV sales representative company, is well known throughout the region.
