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  The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has always been a valuable window for global B2B businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators to stay ahead of the curve and identify market opportunities brought by the latest technology innovations and how they shape the economy and consumer behavior. This year’s CES heralded a new wave of products and innovation as demand for new technology remains sky-high amidst ongoing disruptions from the pandemic. The organizers of CES, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), expect US consumer technology revenues might hit a record $505 billion this year. Retailers are embracing e-commerce like never before, as online shopping habits formed during lockdowns over the past two years haven’t gone away. And that’s a huge opportunity for retailers in the field. Global sourcing: Your key to riding the CES wave January is the optimal time for retailers and brands to plan for the coming year. To fully capitalize on CES trends, retailers must prepare in...

  A timeless wonder,  Star Wars  has captivated Americans across generations with  The Mandalorian  being only the latest masterpiece from the series. So it’s only fitting that this new generation of  Star Wars  be incorporated into the new age of gaming, which is exactly what Seagate Technology has done with the release of the new product line of  Star Wars   Mandalorian  Beskar Ingot Drives. Created in collaboration with Lucasfilm, the new line of PC gaming storage devices brings to life the  Star Wars  ‘precious metals’ aesthetic. The special edition  Star Wars Mandalorian  galaxy designs will be available in Seagate’s FireCuda lineup of products including the M.2 NVMe, 2.5-inch SATA, and external HDD formats. Each drive is designed to look like an ingot of Beskar, a unique alloy used in the show to make the finest Mandalorian Armor. The drives also include the prominent Imperial stamp to give it the most...

Just a decade ago, the term “social media influencer” was practically unheard of. Now, many of these internet sensations can be credited with driving billions of sales to companies across almost every category imaginable — including consumer tech. As a brand, staying in the loop on what influencers are talking about is important because their viewership may look a lot like your target audience. As a retailer, these  YouTube  creators will help you stay on top of new products, how they work, and which ones will be in demand. Let’s take a closer look at a few YouTube creators in the consumer electronics space. Subscribe to these channels, and you’ll be sure to stay in the loop. Read More click here:  Dealerscope Magazine Here you can see Useful Links: Dealerscope Magazine Consumer Tech Consumer Electronics

Pioneer Music Company   (PMC) today announced the expansion of its distribution facilities in Elk Grove Village, IL. The century-and-a-half-old company serves the distribution needs of various audio, video, surveillance, networking, and remote management products. This latest facility in the Chicago metro area builds on PMC’s history of success with an additional 20,000 square feet of warehouse space and a training facility capable of accommodating over 50 attendees. “The role of the distributor is changing faster than ever before, and we’ve invested in that change,” says PMC Vice President and sixth-generation owner, Alec Haight. “The last five years we strategically expanded our footprint in the Central Midwest. After refining operations and introducing more automation and value-add services to our business, we are beyond excited to scale our vision into the Northern Midwest market, starting with welcoming the local Chicago dealers to our family.” Haight says the expansion is a r...

  Credit: iStock IFA Berlin and Tech Up For Women recently hosted a webinar exploring strategies for advancing innovation as part of the International Tech Up Talks series. Moderator Faye Holland of Cofinitive welcomed Samsung Electronics America’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Marketing & Communications, Michelle Crossan-Matos, and Google’s Managing Director of Apps, Imma Calvo to discuss the topic. The conversation touched on how the pandemic has accelerated the pace at which brands are bringing new ideas to market, and how consumer confidence has been rebounding in the US. Crossan-Matos and Calvo shared insightful messages about ways companies can implement meaningful change. “Innovation doesn’t just happen — it’s designed by humans for humans. And diversity is a critical ingredient. The innovation process is a multidimensional one and we must learn to approach it empathetically and surrounded by colleagues of diverse backgrounds with varied points of view so we can all...

Quick, what’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word robot? It’s likely anything from a walking, talking C-3PO-like bipod to a wheeled cylinder-like R2D2 to an unstable computer like HAL 9000. The truth is, just about anything mechanized that can pull off human actions can be considered a robot. It doesn’t need to look like a human, either. Because robots don’t necessarily have to walk and talk or even think much, they can be deployed in many different ways, both consumer-facing and behind the scenes. The retail space is no exception. Social distancing and sanitization requirements over the past 14 months led to a surge in online ordering and a dearth of shoppers heading to the malls, which accelerated the use of certain types of robots in warehouses and brick-and-mortar stores. Some of those trends are here to stay, others not so much. Here’s a rundown of significant technologies and trends in the retail robots space. What’s In Store “The general trend is that we’re...

The latest addition to the House of Marley Positive Vibration line is the Positive Vibration XL ANC over-ear wireless headphones. This time around, the headphones feature even more comfort and battery life than their predecessor, Positive Vibration XL. As always, House of Marley stayed true to its mission with an eco-conscious design with materials such as FSC certified wood and recyclable aluminum ear cups. The secure, over-ear design with memory foam cushions ensure a comfortable fit for the longest listening sessions imaginable. Positive Vibration XL ANC provides 26 hours of battery life with Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) on and 35 hours with ANC off – that’s three times the amount of battery life of the original. As far as sound goes, Positive Vibration XL ANC delivers with 40mm high-definition drivers producing House of Marley’s signature, powerful sound while hybrid active noise cancellation works to tune out surrounding sounds through dual sets of integrated microphones. The h...

 Certain television setups are less than forgiving when it comes to adding audio. Height restrictions imposed by a fireplace, for example, can often mean sacrificing performance for size. That’s why Next Level Acoustics released a soundbar that delivers high-quality audio in a design less than 3″ high (2.95″ to be exact). The Fusion S3 is now shipping and comes in a variety of sizes: Fusion S3 – 55 (48.8″ wide), Fusion S3 – 65 (56.9″ wide), and Fusion S3 – 75 (65.9″ wide). The high gloss black soundbars use superior quality 2.5″ drivers, and a textured front surface to minimize high-frequency reflections. Users can also tailor the Fusion S3 to their exact liking. Custom configurations include LCR, Stereo, and Center Channel versions, custom widths, IR grille notch badges, colors, and finishes. Pricing for the Fusion S3 ranges from $1199 to $1699 depending on size. Certain models are also available for Quick Ship. Retail Source Scope Dealers Consumer Tech Consumer Electronics Securi...

 With smartphones and the hoteling of offices on the upswing, PC sales were once thought to be on the downswing. It would be a world of tablets and mobile phones in the future. But the pandemic changed all that. PC sales have been soaring while chip shortages are pushing up prices and causing concern throughout the industry. In Europe, where rolling lockdowns afflicted country after country, in 2020, there was a 43 percent sales increase year over year of notebook PCs, according to new data from GfK. And while enterprise IT departments all but shut down spending during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, working-from-home consumers created a surge in demand, spurring the charge for new computers. “There was an overwhelming demand for electronics in general,” acknowledged Josh Wanderman, GfK´s vice president of global market insights, “but in particular for laptops and notebooks.” And that helped create a shortage of processors. “For the electronics world, COVID was a one-two...

 Since Samsung’s The Frame launched in 2017, it has been one of the most highly sought-after televisions for its ability to transform a standard “black box” into a work of art. It has racked up tons of awards and led Samsung to follow up with a newer model, which earned one of our very own Dealerscope IMPACT Awards. One of the biggest challenges integrators and consumers have faced with this product though is deciding how to incorporate high-end audio to The Frame without it losing its organic appeal. The solution, then, was to create something designed specifically for this product. And that’s exactly what Next Level Acoustics did. The audio company known for its American-made custom-install speakers introduced Fusion soundbars and Elite Series enclosures to give Samsung’s The Frame TV the audio it deserves. The Fusion Frame Slim was crafted by master engineers at Next Level Acoustics to complement the ultra-low depth of the 2021 version of The Frame. Despite its small makeup of 1...

Fully vaccinated Americans have been given the okay to visit the European Union this summer by the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The news comes five months ahead of IFA Berlin, the world’s leading event for consumer electronics and appliances, which runs from September 3-7 in Berlin. IFA will be held as a full-scale, in-person event for the first time since 2019, and these easing travel restrictions will allow for greater participation. “The Americans, as far as I can see, use European Medicines Agency-approved vaccines,” von der Leyen said, according to the Times report. “This will enable free movement and the travel to the European Union.” The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 28% of Americans are now fully vaccinated, and that number is continuing to grow. “What the world is basically saying is, they’re looking at the US, they’re looking at the success of our vaccination program, they’re looking at the reduction of disease, and ...

 Wholesale electronics distributor, Petra Industries, has partnered with Owlet Baby Care to expand the availability of its award-winning smart baby monitor. This new partnership brings Owlet products to QVC, Home Shopping Network, and many other retailers. “We’re always excited to partner with vendors who offer unique solutions to age-old concerns,” says Tate Morgan, President of Petra. “Owlet brings a sense of safety and security to parents who are eager to look out for their children, and we’re thrilled to bring their products onboard.” Owlet’s ecosystem of products brings technology and vital data to modern parenting. Its flagship product, the Owlet Smart Sock baby monitor tracks a baby’s heart rate and oxygen levels to ensure safe sleep – a growing concern among parents of babies and newborns. Since the company’s launch in 2012, over 1.5 million people have turned to Owlet in their parenting journey. In return, Owlet has eased many of their deepest concerns and actually helped ...

In partnership with IFA Berlin, Tech Up For Women kicked off its first International TECH UP TALKS Webinar Series around the hot topic of Artificial Intelligence. Host, Faye Holland, Founder, and Director of Cognitive, welcomed Khadija Mustafa, Sr. Director, Head of Global Partnerships for Autonomous Systems, AI & Research Division of Microsoft, who spoke about how AI is changing the workforce and why diversity in this industry is so important. “AI fundamentally impacts the way we live our lives,” says Mustafa, adding that we are using some form of AI every day, whether we realize it or not. Its most basic use cases are within voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Netflix suggestions, but AI also extends into countless other areas of life like music and art, and even, she says, to make the “perfect Cheeto.” “AI is becoming pervasive,” Mustafa admits, “and it is only going to keep growing.” This notion has given rise to the concept of singularity and fear that jobs will suddenly be...

External communications are one of the most important elements in business operations today. However, many businesses were not prepared to face a global pandemic, and communications can become more complicated in unprecedented times. This has left many companies to wonder the most appropriate ways to engage prospects and customers while maintaining legal compliance. An important factor in effective communication is customer empowerment, meaning the customer feels their individual voice is heard, trust is built, and relationships are enriched. It is even more crucial for telemarketers to be knowledgeable about the laws that govern them, which includes the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). When engaging in outbound communications, it’s important to understand the pandemic’s effect on TCPA guidelines. While the TCPA remains intact, there are several restrictions that have been implemented because of the pandemic. A telemarketer’s biggest challenge is often ensuring effective commu...

Homes are getting smarter every day. Throughout the pandemic, consumer adoption of “smart” devices – those with connectivity and remote monitoring and management features – has risen steadily. By the end of 2020, 40 percent of U.S. broadband households had  at least one  smart device. The right push could accelerate the category’s steady growth of the past few years into a period of rapid adoption and proliferation. Smart consumer electronics are already powerful and capable; the push they need is increased convenience. Convenience is a powerful motivator. Once consumers have found an easier way of doing something, they won’t willingly go back to doing it the hard way. The litany of recent announcements from the makers of leading AI assistants are compelling not only because they’re cool, but also because they dramatically increase the convenience of smart devices. For example, the Ring Doorbell’s ...