2017 was a big year for mergers and acquisitions in consumer technology, including security, smart home, IoT, cybersecurity, high-performance audio and the home-technology installation channel.
Julie Jacobson
Julie Jacobson is founding editor of CE Pro, the leading media brand for the home-technology channel. She has covered the smart-home industry since 1994, long before there was much of an Internet, let alone an Internet of things. Currently she studies, speaks, writes and rabble-rouses in the areas of home automation, security, networked A/V, wellness-related technology, biophilic design, and the business of home technology. Julie majored in Economics at the University of Michigan, spent a year abroad at Cambridge University, and earned an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a recipient of the annual CTA TechHome Leadership Award, and a CEDIA Fellows honoree. A washed-up Ultimate Frisbee player, Julie currently resides in San Antonio, Texas and sometimes St. Paul, Minn. Follow on Twitter: @juliejacobson
Julie Jacobson's Latest Posts
Vin Bruno Leads Vcom’s Alltec Pro, a Distributor, Retailer, Manufacturer of A/V and Home Automation
Vin Bruno, former Crestron exec and CEDIA CEO, is named president of Alltec Pro, a new Vcom division that sells commercial A/V and home automation gear to both consumers and pros.
Home Builders, Lighting Control Industry Beg: No More AFCI Mandates!
More arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCI) in homes have been proposed for NEC 2020, but the NAHB argues it won’t improve safety, and home-tech integrators bemoan dimming issues and nuisance trips.
7 Smart Home Trends at CES 2018
In studying pre-CES IoT activity, we discerned a few new trends in smart-home technology (‘the fog’) and market forces (wellness) driving home-automation. But some things never change (standards).
IoT at CES 2018: You See Gadgets, We See Serious Smart Home Trends
An alarm clock that wakes you up to the smell of coffee, a standalone device that plays back lights and sounds for security and other IoT “gadgets” illustrate major smart-home themes including audio analytics, wellness, and AI.
Portal.io Gets Exclusive Distribution Rights for Origin Acoustics’ Show-Stopping Valet Amp
Origin Acoustics’ crowd-pleasing, CEDIA-winning Valet Amp, powered by Amazon Echo Dot, can only be purchased by direct dealers through Origin … or now any qualified dealer through Portal.io.
CES 2018 IoT Finds: Auto Door Closer, Virtual Roommate, Lighting as a Service
Under the category of IoT things you might have missed at CES 2018: Lifedoor closes the door when the smoke detector rings. Mitipi plays back music and lighting when you’re away. And more …
Pros & Cons of Curated Smart-Home Ecosystems vs. Open IoT Platforms
Open smart-home ecosystems with extreme integration capabilities might look good on paper, but curated IoT solutions can improve user experience.
10 Reasons Why Silicon Labs’ Acquisition of Sigma is Awesome for Z-Wave
IoT chip-maker Silicon Labs (SLAB) to acquire Z-Wave technology owner Sigma Designs (SIGM), giving a big boost to the home-automation standard.
Yes You Can Turn Off Sonos Wi-Fi: No More Broadcast Storms!
Users hate that Sonos unleashes a Wi-Fi broadcast storm even if you’re not using a wireless SonosNet connection. Now Domotz running on a Luxul router lets you kill the RF.
20 Smart Home Technologies Way Ahead of Their Time
Home Automation and home entertainment products that coulda shoulda woulda had a longer life span, if only …. Remember Kenwood Sovereign Entre? Frox? Premise Systems? WebTV? Philips Streamium?
Neeo Founder Raphael Oberholzer Responds to Mixed ‘Reviews’ of Remote Control
Neeo’s Oberholzer takes issue with CE Pro’s coverage of software glitches reported by Kickstarter backers who waited 2.5 years for the much-ballyhooed remote control and home-automation system.
