Posted on 13 August 2022 by Stewart Wolpin

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Happy 100th Birthday, Consumer Technology Business

Posted on 4 December 2020 by Stewart Wolpin

Celebrating the 100th birthday of the consumer technology industry with the story behind how and why our business came to be and of those responsible for creating it, in five parts:

Part 1: The Wireless Age

Part 2: A National Priority

Part 3: A Pittsburgh Radio Sensation

Part 4: The Birth of a Business

Part 5: “When The Public Is Ready For Mass Demand”

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How the Consumer Technology Industry Was Born

Posted on 1 December 2020 by Stewart Wolpin

What we now call the consumer technology industry was born November 30, 1920, when the first consumer electronics product, the two-piece RA-DA, the first commercially produced radio designed for the mass market, rolled off the Westinghouse assembly line in East Pittsburgh. After a two-year period of hectic technological, business and legislative/regulatory developments following the end of World War I, the Westinghouse RA-DA and the entire radio industry emerged, becoming the dominant consumer technology product for three decades. On the centennial of our industry, let’s take a look at the events of 1919-1920 that cleared the way for the future.

Part 1: The Day Radio Died

Part 2: How the Consumer Technology Industry Was Almost Never Born

Part 3: How President Wilson Shaped the Airways

Part 4: Happy 100th Birthday To The Consumer Technology Industry

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OTC Hearing Aids: A Retailers Guide, Part 2

Posted on 6 December 2023 by Stewart Wolpin

OTC hearing aids are not exactly sexy products. The customer base is anything other than trendy youth, and the sales incentive is more reluctant need than desire fulfillment. But just how potentially lucrative is the OTC hearing aid market?

Read the rest of this report here at TWICE.com.

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SmartThings, Eve Energy Collaborate For Appliance Power Management

Posted on 5 December 2023 by Stewart Wolpin

SmartThings, Samsung’s smart home platform, has announced a collaboration with Eve Systems for Android phone users to monitor major and small appliance power consumption and potentially save money on their utility bills and reduce their carbon footprint.

Read the rest of this news here at TWICE.com.

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OTC Hearing Aids: A Retailers Guide, Part 1

Posted on 4 December 2023 by Stewart Wolpin

What, exactly, are “over-the-counter” hearing aids? What’s with all the FDA regulations? What are the types of products available? What is the retailer’s opportunity?

Read the rest of this report here at TWICE.com.

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Cross-Industry Insights: 8 Lessons CPG CIOs Can Learn from Other Industries

Posted on 21 November 2023 by Stewart Wolpin

Companies and industries traditionally find it easier to maintain a “this is the way we’ve always done it” attitude until forced to painfully pivot to new methods and new models.

But in the wake of the pandemic and its aftershocks, consumer goods companies see that “business as usual” is no longer a sustainable model. As a result, CPG CIOs must look beyond the confines of the industry to discover tech and data strategies and innovations that have propelled other sectors forward.

Read the rest of this report here at Consumer Goods Technology.

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Smartphones 2024: Can Independent Retailers Get In The Business?

Posted on 20 November 2023 by Stewart Wolpin
Man using mobile phone with online transaction application, Concept financial technology (FinTech)

Psst! Hey, you, consumer technology retailer. Wanna sell smartphones?

Yes, smartphones are still the best-selling consumer electronics devices, but the business isn’t exactly booming anymore. U.S. unit smartphone shipments have steadily declined from 140 million units in 2022 to a projected 124 million this year according to Statistica, which projects a further erosion to 106 million units in 2027. “Carriers have cautioned on seeing growth for the next several quarters,” warns Hanish Bhatia, Counterpoint’s associate director of devices and ecosystem.

Read the rest of this story here at TWICE.com.

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CTA To Start Centennial Celebration At CES 2024

Posted on 17 November 2023 by Stewart Wolpin

As is its wont, the U.S. Congress determined it would levy a new 10% tax on the production of an exceptionally popular new tech device. And, unsurprisingly, the companies producing said new tech devices were unhappy with the prospect of the government laying a hefty levy on an already expensive product, potentially stifling sales as a result.

So, on Saturday night, April 19, 1924, six Chicago radio manufacturers got together at dinner and decided to form the Radio Manufacturers’ Association – RMA. Within three weeks, RMA lobbying killed the fed’s radio tax, and one of the country’s largest and most effective trade organizations – now known as the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) – was born.

Read the rest of this report here at TWICE.com.

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Reviewed: Elehear Alpha Pro – Affordable Multi-Function Hearing Aids

Posted on 10 November 2023 by Stewart Wolpin

The new Elehear Alpha Pro OTC ($999, now heavily discounted to $499) hearing aids capably amplify and clear up otherwise muddy sounds, especially voices, for those with mild to moderate hearing loss. With its Bluetooth music streaming and hands-free calling capabilities, the Alpha Pros provide a cheaper (if slightly less precise) alternative to the similarly styled and featured Sennheiser All Day Clear, my current pick for the best hearing-first multi-function OTC hearing aid.

Read the rest of this review here at Techlicious.com.

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Review: Sennheiser All-Day Clear – High-Quality Sound with a Catch

Posted on 6 November 2023 by Stewart Wolpin

Sennheiser’s All-Day Clear over-the-counter (OTC) self-fitting hearing aids ($1,399), developed with Swiss hearing aid maker Sonova, present a conundrum. They have the potential to be the best OTC hearing aids that can also serve as Bluetooth headphones, producing excellent sound quality untuned out of the box. However, the All-Day Clear can’t reach their full potential without you paying to visit a Hearing Care Professional (HCP) to tune them for you.

Read the rest of this review here at Techlicious.com.

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SmartTechCheck Podcast: AI @ Adobe MAX event, smart grids, and Elon Musk

Posted on 13 October 2023 by Stewart Wolpin

I join fellow tech journos John Quain, Rob Pegoraro, and host Mark Vena to take on Elon Musk’s feud with writers on Twitter/X, the AI-related announcements at Adobe MAX, and smart grids.

Watch this podcast here on YouTube.

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Report: Consumers Willing To Pay More For Higher Quality Ear/Headphones

Posted on 12 October 2023 by Stewart Wolpin

Here’s good news for consumer tech retailers: your customers actually want to spend more money on true wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds and headphones.

According to a survey conducted by Qualcomm of 7,000 consumers in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, China, India, Japan, and South Korea, this past summer, Price sank to the second highest purchase consideration for TWS gear. The survey found that consumers are more willing to pay more for “all-day” comfort, premium sound including spatial audio, and longer battery life than last year.

Read the rest of this report here at TWICE.com.

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