New Mag Care app, powered by Domotz, is being deployed by Best Buy’s Magnolia to help customers monitor their own networks and receive remote tech-support from in-store specialists.
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
Who Will Own the Home Cybersecurity Market – Security Dealers, Home-Automation Pros, Comcast?
If traditional home-automation integrators don’t get into the network-security business, it will be grabbed by companies like ADT, Comcast/Xfinity, Best Buy/Magnolia and a host of other competitors eager to own the smart home.
CEDIA Founding Member: Let’s Get Back to Luxury Roots, Stop Messing with DIY
Richard Stoerger, one of the original CEDIA guys, says home-technology association should promote luxury products and services, stop muddling the core mission with me-too smart-home products, services and messaging.
LG’s Clever Tech for Commissioning Smart Lights Melds ZigBee with VLC Light Waves
Introduced at Lightfair 2017 LG Electronics’ new ZigBee Connector plugs into an Android mobile device, discovers smart lights via visible light communication (VLC), and enables on-the-fly programming via LG’s Sensor Connect app.
Who Should be the Next CEDIA CEO?
As we say goodbye to Vin Bruno, grateful for his work on behalf of home-technology integrators, let’s ponder who might be a great CEDIA CEO.
Besides Obvious Financial Metrics, What Other KPIs Do A/V Integrators Track?
Dealers in the ProSource buying group share other metrics and key performance indicators beyond standard financials, such as “bad customers,” Yelp scores, callbacks and employee satisfaction.
ISC West 2017: Few ‘CEDIA’ Smart-Home Brands Chasing Security Dealers
At ISC 2017, Core Brands touted Proficient Audio and Gefen; URC and RTI (Pro Control) showed security-friendly home-automation; Luxul and other CEDIA-oriented companies also chased high-volume security dealers.
IP/Cellular Dual Path Alarm Communicators Dominate ISC 2017
As POTS lines disappear, security dealers are upgrading alarm panels with dual-path communicators that provide both IP (Wi-Fi or hardwired) and cellular connections to the central station.
Universal Electronics (UEI) Grows Home Automation Biz, Acquires Smart Thermostat Maker RCS
A pioneer in smart thermostats and energy management, RCS Technology is being acquired by Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI), the remote-controls giant that is quickly growing its home-automation portfolio.
Ring CEO Responds to ADT Lawsuit Regarding Zonoff: ADT ‘Terrified’
Ring CEO Jamie Siminoff claims ADT feels threatened by Ring’s Wi-Fi doorbells after Ring hired the entire team of Zonoff home-automation platform developers.
ADT Sues Ring, Former Zonoff CEO for Theft of Home-Automation Tech; Ring CEO Calls Bull
ADT claims former Zonoff CEO Mike Harris misappropriated home-automation assets, transferring them to smart-doorbell maker Ring when the IoT technology actually belonged to ADT. Ring CEO Jamie Siminoff says claims are “ridiculous.”
Sonos Drops Reps, Promises ‘Tangible Enhancements’ to Dealer Programs
Sonos is eliminating independent reps for the CEDIA channel, but will offer new benefits like free shipping to dealer-direct customers.
