Dolby Labs set up a special demonstration room to give the industry press and, eventually, show attendees an opportunity to experience Dolby Atmos surround sound. The demo room was probably about as close to ideal as you can get on a noisy trade show floor. And the demo included new, special effects laden sound-fests.
CEDIA
CEDIA Expo Opens with Many Stories – But Few Big Ones
As we made our way to the Colorado Convention Center Wednesday morning, it was a gray, rainy, then drizzly morning. It’s a weird experience walking into a huge hall with very few people around – most there to either set up booths or to take educational classes. It was as quiet as a library and depending on where you were in the hall…it could be eerily lonely.
But it’s CEDIA’s 2014 Expo…so it’s time for Press Day, the day before the show officially opens. On this day, the press tries to pick up on the major stories of the show…and get a feel for the atmosphere of the event.
But pre-show buzz was pretty light…see what we discovered… [Read more…] about CEDIA Expo Opens with Many Stories – But Few Big Ones
CEDIA Says Their EXPO is the Industry’s Launch Pad for New Technology
The Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) said today that their annual tradeshow – the EXPO, taking place next month in Denver – will have over 150 exhibitors launching new products or introducing their businesses to the industry for the first time. Saying these companies “choose CEDIA EXPO as their launch point,” the trade group says that new product launches have already been announced in wireless audio, motion sensors, lighting solutions, TV & control mounts, and keyless entry.
See more on the custom integration industry’s big event just around the corner… [Read more…] about CEDIA Says Their EXPO is the Industry’s Launch Pad for New Technology
Toshiba Leaps Into the Aging-in-Place Market via Partnership with GrandCare Systems
Toshiba Digital Products Division announced today that it has formed a strategic alliance with GrandCare Systems – a well-known company specializing in digital aging-in-place products, sensors, and solutions. According to Toshiba, GrandCare’s telehealth and communications capabilities will now be delivered via “secure, high-performance Toshiba devices.”
See more on this interesting diversification by Toshiba… [Read more…] about Toshiba Leaps Into the Aging-in-Place Market via Partnership with GrandCare Systems
New Marketing VP for Core Brands Zeros in on a Key Problem
Core Brands continues to rejigger its team as we mentioned in our Breaking News SYNCH earlier this week. And one major step in this process took place in September 2013 when Core Brands surprised many by announcing the appointment of Joe Roberts as its new head of marketing, replacing Paul Starkey. Two weeks later, Roberts headed to his first CEDIA ready to jump in feet first and reassure dealers of the company’s direction…and learn all about any concerns that they felt the company needed to address.
Boy…did he get an earful… [Read more…] about New Marketing VP for Core Brands Zeros in on a Key Problem
Not Just Another Pretty Face – CEDIA’s New Website Means Business

Senior Director of PR & Marketing
On Monday, CEDIA launched an all-new website that represents a dramatic leap forward from their previous offering and provides a much more accessible way for members and other “customers” (more on this later) to learn, communicate, and manage their relationship with the trade group. A complete overhaul, CEDIA’s Senior Director of Public Relations & Marketing Jamie Riley told us in a phone interview that this website has been under intensive development for two years.
See CEDIA’s new website – a major overhaul for members…AND for the association… [Read more…] about Not Just Another Pretty Face – CEDIA’s New Website Means Business
CEDIA EXPO 2013 Overview and Attendance

CEDIA’s Expo in 2013 returned to Denver, CO, a favorite location for many attendees and exhibitors – a point to which we can attest as so many said so in Strata-gee’s CEDIA Survey over the last few years. So was Denver the panacea needed to get everyone back into a positive state of mind? Was the show everything everyone hoped it would be?
See our thoughts below on EXPO 2013… [Read more…] about CEDIA EXPO 2013 Overview and Attendance
GoldenEar Launches New Larger SoundBar and ‘SuperCenters’
GoldenEar, the now 3-year old brainchild of speaker savant Sandy Gross, continues an aggressive product launch schedule announcing both a new larger soundbar and a line of center channel speakers with the rather shopping mall-sounding name of SuperCenters. Like all GoldenEar products, these new models are reserved strictly for GoldenEars’ limited distribution to predominantly specialty dealers and installers.
See more on these interesting new GoldenEar speakers… [Read more…] about GoldenEar Launches New Larger SoundBar and ‘SuperCenters’
What DOW Electronics Really Gets in Acquiring Shifting Sands Stereo Distributing
In yet further indication of industry consolidation, Tampa, FL-based Dow Electronics announced this week that it would acquire Shifting Sands Stereo Distributing, Inc. of Dania, FL. Shifting Sands (SSSD) is a well-known custom electronics-oriented distributor that was also one of the founding members of the Digital Delivery Group – a national distributor group.
See more on this dramatic development impacting the entire Southeast… [Read more…] about What DOW Electronics Really Gets in Acquiring Shifting Sands Stereo Distributing
EXCLUSIVE: CEDIA Gives Strata-gee.com A Deeper Look at Its Latest Benchmarking Survey
STRATA-GEE.COM EXCLUSIVE
Last month, we reported that CEDIA released its 2013 Benchmarking Survey with certain select data highlighted. Now CEDIA has offered Strata-gee.com an exclusive look at the full report (the summary version provided to all CEDIA members) with the opportunity for us to highlight any results we found particularly enlightening. And in the process of reviewing their results – we discovered a much more comprehensive read on the “typical” CEDIA member than we had originally expected.





