The Americans have need of the telephone, but we do not. We have plenty of messenger boys.
Sir William Preece, chief engineer of the British Post Office, 1876
Posts
Thought for the Week – June 2, 2014
It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.
Walt Disney
The Hottest New Trend in Mobile Phones? Get Ready for This: RETRO
Yogi Berra once said, “It’s like Deja-Vu, all over again!” A report out of Japan tells of a hot new trend in Europe. Apparently, the latest trend in mobile phones…is consumers going retro. Seem counter-intuitive? It’s even a bit of a fashion statement…the story originates out of Paris, France!
See why retro phones are selling like crazy in Europe…you won’t believe how much they cost!… [Read more…] about The Hottest New Trend in Mobile Phones? Get Ready for This: RETRO
Screen Innovations Says Bigger is Better, Announces Larger Black Diamond Screens
Screen Innovations announced this week that it is launching new, larger sizes in its popular Black Diamond series of projection screens. The new larger screen size – in each of two aspect ratios – will now include: 120-inches (16:9)…and 150-inches (2.35:1).
See more on this announcement… [Read more…] about Screen Innovations Says Bigger is Better, Announces Larger Black Diamond Screens
Hands-On Battle in Clash of Remote Control Titans; URC Claims Victory
But UEI Says ‘It is Not Over’
For the last couple of years, there has been a running court battle between two of the titans of the remote control category: Universal Electronics, Inc. (UEI) and Universal Remote Control, Inc. (URC). Today, one of them, URC, announced victory in the first of two pending patent infringement lawsuits that was originally filed in 2012.
URC claimed a complete victory – but Strata-gee.com has received a statement from UEI who says, in effect, not so fast – this dispute is far from over.
See what URC claims the court said…and why UEI cautions not to jump to conclusions… [Read more…] about Hands-On Battle in Clash of Remote Control Titans; URC Claims Victory
Thought for the Week – May 27, 2014
Somebody has to do something, and it’s just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us.
Jerry Garcia, of the Grateful Dead
Apple to Show Software for the Connected Home at Upcoming Software Expo
Not Just iOS…Apple Goes IoT
The Financial Times reported this morning that Apple, Inc. will announce a new software solution for the connected home market at the Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco next week. The move follows a lot of activity in the connected home channel recently including: Control4 going public, Google acquiring Nest, Philips launching Hue (app controlled lighting), Belkin launching WeMo, Harman acquiring AMX…and now Apple seeking to bring it all together in the home.
Is Apple on the right track? Or are they diving down a dark rabbit hole?… [Read more…] about Apple to Show Software for the Connected Home at Upcoming Software Expo
CEA Launches a Working Group to Set Standards for Home Automation Device Interoperability
‘Home Automation is Experiencing Dramatic Growth’ Group Says
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) announced today that it has launched a new “Working Group” to develop new technical standards for the industry in order to facilitate greater device interoperability in home automation systems. The announcement was made today at the Technology & Standards Forum the group is holding now in Seattle.
What does this mean & how can you get involved?…See more below… [Read more…] about CEA Launches a Working Group to Set Standards for Home Automation Device Interoperability
Five Former Foxconn Employees Indicted in Kickback Scandal
Foxconn Technology Group, a division of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. and a key supplier to major brands like Apple, Inc. and HP (formerly Hewlett Packard), had five former employees indicted by Taiwanese prosecutors on Wednesday in a major kickback scheme involving illicit payments from suppliers. The announcement of the scandal is sure to cause significant embarrassment for the company.
See more on this dramatic announcement from the Taipei District Prosecutors Office… [Read more…] about Five Former Foxconn Employees Indicted in Kickback Scandal
Harman Takes Control; Acquires AMX
The release came across the wire at 8:00AM this morning and caught the industry totally off-guard – Harman International Industries, Inc. announced that it has signed an agreement with privately-held The Duchossois Group, Inc. to acquire its AMX, LLC subsidiary for $386 million. The move was not an immediately obvious one for Harman, which has been largely focused on building its automotive electronics division into a worldwide powerhouse.
