Author Archives: Stewart Wolpin

About Stewart Wolpin

I have been writing about consumer electronics for four decades, including news, reviews, analysis and history for a wide variety of consumer, niche and trade outlets. For the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), I annually update the industry's history and write the official biographies of the CTA Hall of Fame inductees. Aside from writing about consumer technology for a variety of consumer, tech and trade publications, I write a blog and do market research for Digital Technology Consulting. In the non-tech world, I have written "Bums No More: The Championship Season of the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers" and "The Rules of Neighborhood Poker According to Hoyle." Check out my work at www.stewartwolpin.com.

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in ear/headphones, OTC Hearing Aids, TWICE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in smart home, TWICE | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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.

Posted in ear/headphones, OTC Hearing Aids, TWICE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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, … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumer Goods Technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Smartphones 2024: Can Independent Retailers Get In The Business?

Posted on 20 November 2023 by Stewart Wolpin

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Apple, cell/smartphones, TWICE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in CES, Tech History, TWICE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in ear/headphones, OTC Hearing Aids, Techlicious | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in ear/headphones, OTC Hearing Aids, Techlicious | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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.

Posted in Internet/Social Media, SmartTechCheck Podcast | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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, … Continue reading →

Posted in Apple, cell/smartphones, ear/headphones, OTC Hearing Aids, TWICE | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment