Strategy in TECH...
The long-awaited closing of Masimo Corp.’s (NASDAQ: MASI) sale of Sound United (formerly Masimo Consumer) to Harman International, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, has been formally completed. Both parties of the transaction put out their own separate announcements, with Masimo’s version quite short and perfunctory, while Harman’s gave little more than an inkling of what is to become of Sound United.
Another CEDIA Expo has come and gone, and the version this year, Expo 2025, had its share of disappointments, minor advances, AND pleasant surprises from several companies. In this post, I will share a brief synopsis of the items I saw that caught my attention. Many of these will be the subject of a more extensive article later, but this gives you an overview of some of the items I found interesting.
CEDIA Expo 2025 wrapped last week, and show-owner Emerald Exposition’s Group Vice President Jason McGraw gave the event a solid thumbs up. In an email to Strata-gee, McGraw told me that, “All reports we’ve received from exhibitors have been positive and we’ve had a very successful rebooking for next year’s show.” But my survey of exhibitors and attendees – and my own observations – uncovered some dark and disturbing undercurrents that – absent any corrective action – portend a troubling future for the event.
Just two-and-a-half short weeks prior to the launch of CEDIA EXPO 2025, I reported that LG Electronics had decided to exit the show floor of the event, but was reviewing “alternative exposition options.” I noted that the major global electronics brand did have a meeting room reserved (MR#210), which could be repurposed as a smaller display area, but otherwise had no large exhibit space on the floor as they have had in past years.
Now the company has updated its plans to include a display on the floor…just not in an LG booth.
Crestron Electronics, a leading smart home and automation brand in residential and commercial custom integration, is introducing several exciting new products at CEDIA Expo 2025, such as new Cameo keypads, Horizon keypads, and the very cool-looking Cevo Mini Remote. But by far, my favorite launch is the Crestron Home Configure Pro system configuration tool.
I wrote last week about the sudden announcement from Masimo Corporation (Nasdaq: MASI) that director Bill Jellison had resigned his position on the board, a position he had held for less than a year. What was remarkable about the Masimo announcement was not so much because of what it said – rather, even more mysterious was what it didn’t say – with no clue offered as to why or under what circumstances this resignation occurred.
Now we know more…and it is big! Former director William “Bill” Jellison is one of two new directors at Medtronic plc (NYSE: MDT), one of Masimo’s biggest competitors in the pulse oximetry segment.
AVPro Global Holdings, LLC – parent company of AVPro Edge, AudioControl Pro, RTI, Murideo, Bullet Train, and ThenAudio – has been officially recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The magazine has officially placed AVPro Global on its annual list of fast-growing companies known as – the Inc. 5000.
The 8K Association (8KA) is pulling out all of the stops to brightly project awareness of the growing 8K resolution ecosystem to all corners of the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado, during CEDIA Expo 2025 running from September 4-6, 2025. To do this, the association will employ a multi-faceted presentation and communication strategy that promotes the entire ecosystem from content creation and production to distribution, integration and viewing in the home.
On Monday, in an 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Masimo Corporation (Nasdaq: MASI) informed regulators that William Jellison, a member of the Masimo Board of Directors, has resigned his position as of that same day. No reason was offered as to why Jellison chose to leave his relatively new role with the company, presenting us all with a bit of a mystery.
CEDIA, the trade group with the new tagline The Association for Smart Home Professionals, has announced that it has selected Chip Wade, a TV personality from certain Home and Garden Television (HGTV) shows, as the keynote presenter for CEDIA Expo 2025, taking place in two weeks in Denver, CO, from September 3-6. Wade’s presentation is titled Beyond the Blueprint: Where Innovation Meets Intention.
