Bose Acquires McIntosh
Bose and McIntosh made a splash this week, with Bose announcing that it is acquiring brands McIntosh and Sonus faber, adding new luxury products to the Bose Corp. umbrella.
Both companies will continue to develop existing products, with Bose focusing on headphones, speakers, soundbars, and in-car audio, while McIntosh and Sonus faber will maintain their premium audio offerings, including amplifiers, loudspeakers, and turntables. However, the companies also say they plan to explore new joint opportunities in the automotive sector.
What further plans the combined companies have in terms of products and integrations remains to be seen, but it does signal that Bose desires to return to the higher-end audio market.
Apple's Smart Home Ambitions
There are all sorts of rumors about what Apple has planned for the smart home, but all indications are that Apple has its sights set on the category with new smart home displays and potentially cameras. Stop us if you've heard this before, but the company is also reportedly exploring making a TV (again).
A smart home display designed to be mounted to the wall is expected in March, according to well-sourced reports.
CE Pro Podcast #161: Richard Charschan, AcousticSmart, Author of ‘Home Theaterology: The Art of Creating the Perfect Home Theater’
Serving as the president of the Merrick, N.Y.-based custom home theater company AcousticSmart, Richard Charschan just released a new book, Home Theaterology: The Art of Creating the Perfect Home Theater.?
It’s a book that’s been years in the making, and though smart home technologies such as lighting, shades, and control are challenging the home theater’s market supremacy, Charschan believes there’s still no better time for integrators to refine their home theater offerings.
Recapping Total Tech Summit 2024
The 2024 Total Tech Summit, held at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, provided integrators with a vibrant mix of learning, networking, and charitable activities. The event featured split tracks for residential and commercial professionals, delivering insights tailored to each audience.
Panels explored topics like emerging technologies, franchising, and AI's role in AV, with highlights including insights from industry leaders on leveraging business opportunities and innovations. Networking was bolstered by personalized boardroom meetings with sponsors, while evening activities like the Cornhole Cup and a guitar-building charity project for the HeartStrings Foundation added camaraderie and community impact.
Take CE Pro’s State of the Industry Survey
Every January, CE Pro releases our annual State of the Industry report, based on survey responses provided by our community of custom integrator readers.
To crunch as many numbers as we’d like into this exclusive research, we’re calling on integrators to help by filling out the survey (hey, you might even win an Amazon gift card) – much appreciation in advance! Make sure your company is included our data.
CEDIA Wraps Up a Banner Year for Integrator Advocacy
CEDIA is wrapping up what has proven to be a very busy year in advocacy of the professional smart home industry (an industry that comprises roughly 20,000 integrators according to the association).
The organization has lobbied governments around the world for better recognition and educational and training opportunities, a move that many have lauded as being a step in the right direction for the industry.
New Amazon Smart Home Panel, TV
Amazon has expanded its smart home and entertainment portfolio with two key releases. The Echo Show 21 is a smart home panel that features a 21-inch display, making it the largest in the lineup. It includes improved audio, a wide-angle camera for video calls, and streaming capabilities for platforms like Prime Video.
Meanwhile, the new Fire TV Omni Mini-LED Series introduces advanced Mini-LED backlighting with over 1,300 dimming zones and a peak brightness of 1,400 nits, delivering enhanced contrast and color accuracy.