Strategy in TECH...
Today Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) launched the all-new Px7 S2 wireless noise-canceling headphones, designed to replace the previous PX7 that the company says was an “award-winning” product. A premium grade set of headphones, B&W says the new Px7 S2 will “deliver the most detailed, natural and immersive sound available – the True Sound of the artist’s intent.”
Yamaha Corporation of America announced this week that it has updated its well-regarded RX-V line of A/V receivers adding several new and popular features such as new wireless capability, a new surround capability, and new streaming services. Included in this update are the 7.2-channel RX-V777BT, RX-V677, RX-V577…as well as the 5.1-channel RX-V477. The company notes that these models embody a rare combination of sound quality, convenience, and accessibility.
Yamaha Corp. announced on Tuesday a clock radio – something new from them – to help you wake up and smell the coffee…oh and enjoy great music while you’re drinking it! Part of their growing desktop audio solutions, this is a modern take on the traditional clock radio…including premium sound, Bluetooth streaming, and even app control.
Government data makes a strong case for a sustainable recovery under way – but most people in the consumer electronics industry tell me that this recovery is, at best, mediocre and, at worst, not happening. And as challenging as most are finding the economy, start-up companies tell me the headwinds are more like those of a Category 1 hurricane as they try to launch new products and services – hoping to get traction – in a very hostile start-up environment.
But one new start-up that has caught our attention – Wren Sound Systems – seems to be gaining ground with its new wireless speaker system…a product we find unique and interesting.
The Consumer Electronics Association today released their updated forecasts in a report called The U.S. Consumer Electronics Sales and Forecasts – a semiannual report put out every January and July. The new forecasts show the CEA has scaled back their 2013 forecast substantially from the one released earlier this year, but still expect a small increase of just under .2% to $202.6 billion from last year’s $202.3 billion.
One of the more interesting developments we saw at CE Week was the launch of a new series of products from Nortek, Inc. in the Core Brands, LLC booth called Korus. Korus is a line of wireless speakers designed to work with content streamed from you favorite smartphone/tablet/PC. Another line of wireless speakers is not particularly newsworthy. But Korus has a couple of tricks up its sleeve that IS unique…
AudioSource, Inc., a maker of an eclectic mix of unique solutions-oriented products, announced today a new item that is a combination Bluetooth speaker/hands-free speakerphone it calls Sound pOp. Spelled with a curious capital “O”, the sound pOp ties in with the growing popularity of devices that facilitate users streaming their favorite music from their smartphone.
For those of you who were at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) earlier this month: Did you see the new tablet introduced by Panasonic? Featured during the Panasonic press conference as an example of Panasonic’s innovation, the company showed a new tablet computer launching it into the tablet computer fray which is dominated by the Apple iPad…with a rapidly growing Samsung with its Galaxy Note and Tab lines nipping at its heels.
NuVo Technologies, a darling of the custom integration industry, has launched a new wireless system that it intends to market for self-installation by consumers – bypassing integrators and installers altogether. The new system is being shown at CES 2013 and the company claims its so easy to set up that “just about anyone can.”
Onkyo announced on Tuesday that they have jumped into streaming big time by upgrading their iOS and Android apps to add high-quality streaming capability via a wireless network to Onkyo network receivers. The company has also announced a Bluetooth USB adapter that allows any Bluetooth enabled device to stream to the consumer’s Onkyo network receiver.
