Integrators like to think that consumers spurn custom solutions because they’re cheapskates, but often they simply want the convenience of online shopping, the joy of everything-on-demand, and the ability to avoid pesky conversation.
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
Does Houzz Work for You? Dealers Share Experiences, CEDIA Launches Program
Houzz exhibited for the first time at CEDIA 2016, and dealers are weighing in on their experiences. Does it work?
Control4 Files Patent Application for Secure Remote Access to Home Automation Systems
Control4 (Nasdaq: CTRL) went to a cloud-based model for network configuration and remote access to home automation systems a couple of years ago; now it has filed a patent application for the technology.
URC Goes Down-Market with MX HomePro Smart Home Hub and Remote Control
CEDIA 2016: URC’s new MX HomePro is modeled after its HomeSet for the security market but made for the custom A/V channel. Retails for $600 with an option for Z-Wave.
5-Handicap Integrator Reveals the Best Golf Simulator at CEDIA 2016
Of the six golf simulators demo’d at CEDIA 2016, integrator Bill Maronet tried them all and picked his favorites.
Interview: Savant Founder Bob Madonna Returns as CEO
William Lynch, CEO of Savant for the last 2.5 years, will stay on as advisor while Madonna takes the helm of the home automation company, continuing the new retail strategy, while bolstering custom.
Apple Goes All in for Sonos: Sales & Demos at 468 Stores
Sonos speakers are now selling on Apple.com, and soon Apple stores will offer the products for demos and sales.
Comcast IP Control for X1 Cable Box Launches Next Month, Starting with Control4
Since announcing IP control for its X1 cable boxes last year, Comcast/Xfinity has yet to deliver, but CEDIA 2016 showed some progress with Control4 for home automation integration.
Sanus is Back in the Custom Channel with Black Series
CEDIA 2016: Popular in DIY circles, Milestone AV’s Sanus brand is going all-out custom with new Black Series of TV mounts, sold direct to dealer with no online sales.
TiVo vs. Dish: Which DVR Skips Commercials Better?
CEDIA 2016: TiVo SkipMode and Dish AutoHop let users “skip” TV commercials, but they do it completely differently. Which one is best?
What Dealers Say about CEDIA 2016: Bose Surprises, Sony Wows, Denver Wanted
Dealers universally embraced Sony, Bose and Riva surprised with strong home theater demos from little speakers, and Crestron gets mixed reviews on Sonos implementation at CEDIA 2016.
CEDIA 2016: Middle Atlantic Makes Racks, Mounts and Power Management Sexy Again
Yes, even the lowly A/V rack can be sexy if Legrand’s Middle Atlantic has anything to do with it. The new Universal DC Power Distribution system was especially awesome at CEDIA 2016.
