Online retail behemoth Amazon.com, Inc. has always been pretty secretive about their internal projects and initiatives. Especially so about their Lab126 hardware design division, the group responsible for the popular Kindle e-book reader…and the not-so-popular Fire phone. But a report by Reuters at the end of last month blew the tent cover back enough to get a glimpse of just what this secret lab is working on now – and home automation appears to be in their sights.
Apple
Monster’s ‘Head Monster’ Talks Beats & Women at CE Week 2014
When the history of Monster Products is written some day in the future, there will be many legitimate highlights for their historian to ponder. First and foremost among these will be the fact that CEO Noel Lee (known as the Head Monster) virtually single-handedly created an industry when in the late 70s he popularized step-up, higher quality speaker cables that independent specialty retailers pushed like crazy over zip cord because it was much more profitable for them (and for Lee). And even though Monster Cable was more expensive for consumers, a clever Monster-created retail display demonstrated to them that they could indeed hear the difference with their own ears.
But we’re pretty certain one scene will not make Monster’s corporate history highlight reel – the company’s failure to continue to capitalize on its partnership with Beats by Dr. Dre. That partnership dissolved some two-plus years ago…with Beats going on to be purchased by Apple recently for $3.2 billion. Monster’s share of that eye-popping windfall: $0.
So why, in the wake of that loss, is Noel Lee talking about Beats to anyone who will listen??… [Read more…] about Monster’s ‘Head Monster’ Talks Beats & Women at CE Week 2014
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
Alpine to be First to Market with Apple’s CarPlay Console System
Alpine Electronics will be the first of ultimately several companies to offer a in-car infotainment system based on Apple’s CarPlay system according to a report late last week by the Nikkei. Alpine’s system, which will likely be replicated by others, allows drivers to listen to music, view maps, as well as access other iPhone capabilities.
See more on this new Alpine/CarPlay system that is coming soon… [Read more…] about Alpine to be First to Market with Apple’s CarPlay Console System
Social Media’s Buzzing about Savant Systems’ New CEO
Savant Systems, LLC announced on Tuesday that it has hired William J. Lynch as its new CEO. Who is Lynch, you ask? He is the ex-Barnes & Noble CEO who left there in the middle of last year. The Savant announcement surprised many as, on paper, Lynch looks like an unlikely candidate for the role.
Since the announcement, social media has buzzed about this appointment. See more… [Read more…] about Social Media’s Buzzing about Savant Systems’ New CEO
Apple Launches New iPhones, Stock Gets Squashed Like a Bug
Is Apple the Victim of Unreasonable Expectations? Or Is the Reaction to Incrementalism Justified?
Apple, Inc. announced on Tuesday the long-awaited update of its key iPhone 5 smartphone, only to see its stock pummeled – losing more than 2% of its value on Tuesday and another 5.44% on Wednesday as investors appeared under-whelmed by the announcement. But is this reaction fair? Has Apple lost its innovation mojo? Or is Apple the victim of unreasonable expectations?
See more on the new iPhone 5C and 5S smartphones from the market leader… [Read more…] about Apple Launches New iPhones, Stock Gets Squashed Like a Bug
Somewhere…Steve Jobs is Smiling
Today, we learned that Microsoft Corp. is acquiring Nokia Corp.’s mobile phone and services business in a deal valued at $7.2 billion. This news seemed to be a real surprise to many who have viewed Microsoft’s mobile efforts (i.e. Windows Phone) as weak at best. This news follows Google’s move in 2011 to acquire Motorola’s mobile hardware business. What’s this all about? Well at least in part, it shows that Steve Jobs was right all along…
See why – somewhere – Steve Jobs is smiling right now… [Read more…] about Somewhere…Steve Jobs is Smiling
To Skeptical Crowd, Apple’s Tim Cook Promises ‘Game Changers’ are Coming
Wall Street analysts are getting increasingly concerned about the ability of Apple, Inc. to sustain its historic run of innovation. Some are suggesting the company’s best days may in fact be behind it. Exacerbating the growing drumbeat of discontent…it has been eight months – since October 2012 – when Apple last announced new products. And even they were more iterative than innovative. Clearly feeling the pressure, over the last couple of months Apple CEO Tim Cook has told anyone who was willing to listen to hang on, great things are coming.
Are ‘game changers’ really coming? Or is the innovation just a figment of Cook’s imagination?… [Read more…] about To Skeptical Crowd, Apple’s Tim Cook Promises ‘Game Changers’ are Coming
Onkyo Launches Two New A/V Receivers To Top Off Their Mid-Range Lineup
Onkyo USA Corp. today announced two hefty new additions to its A/V receiver line, the TX-NR929 and TX-NR828 Network A/V Receivers. Calling them the crown of its mid-range home theater lineup, these new models fit in between their high-end series (TX-NR1010/3010/5010) and their more mid-range series (TX -NR414/515/616/717/818). These new models augment the recently announced TX-NR727.
See more on these new multi-channel, THX-certified A/V receivers… [Read more…] about Onkyo Launches Two New A/V Receivers To Top Off Their Mid-Range Lineup
Huge Loss & Management Dismissals Induce Sharp Pain at Sharp Corp.
Sharp Corp. announced this week the worst net loss in its long corporate history for the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2013. Booking a net loss of ¥545.35 billion ($5.4 billion), the company has aggressively moved to shake up the company management replacing both the President and Chairman in a rare (for a Japanese company) public rebuke of company leaders. And in what may be a signal to the market, the new President has no ties to the company’s TV business…and he’s talking tough.
