Dave Hanchette rejoins On-Q

Dave Hanchette, the guy who put the dash back into the company formerly known as just "OnQ" is back at the home technology vendor after a couple years' hiatus.

He joined On-Q/Legrand in 2003 as VP biz dev, and left the company in 2006 to join EH Publishing for about year.

He joined Russound in March of this year as VP of marketing, rumored to be on the CEO track?

However, Hanchette left Russound a couple of weeks ago and has re-upped with his old employer, including long-time friend Doug Fikse, CEO.

Charlie Porritt -- an avid scrapbooker and eight year Russound veteran -- is Russound's new CEO.

When I get more details, I'll post them at CEPro.com

Which is scarier?

I'm not sure why the editors at CEPro.com think it's SO hilarious to mock me (I mean, come on, Jason Knott makes a much better target!)

In this Halloween article, they wonder: "How scary is the thought of what would happen if our own Julie Jacobson was Sarah Palin?"

I responded: "I only WISH I were as hot as Sarah Palin. She also has more impressive international credentials than I do—she can see both Russia and Canada from her house. I can only see Canada."

Personally, I think the picture of me on the cover of CEPro Illustrated (right) is much scarier.

Whither dealer trips?

GE Security dealers, say goodbye to your annual junket -- a longtime tradition that has taken GE faithfuls to Portugal, Mexico and beyond.

From GE's message to dealers:

Considering the economic climate, it is imperative that we allocate available funding to increase our market focus, drive brand recognition and industry awareness. As a result, for 2009 we will be cancelling our planned national conferences.

Is this the end of luxurious dealer trips?

Will Runco really send its top customers to Hawaii in 2009? Vote in the poll (left).

GPS and natural selection

"The only drawback of this astounding technology [GPS] is that it enables virtually any knucklehead to blunder into the deepest wilderness with little or no chance of getting lost. So much for natural selection."
-- Carl Hiaasen, Basket Case

Easiest recurring revenue ever: Just add stickers

Most respectable universal remotes have LCD screens that can display the icons of your favorite TV stations.

These solutions, however, can be pricey. Worse, it can take a pro several minutes to reprogram the icons, and it may be difficult to justify the up-charge to the customer.

What a drag.Enter the Philips SRU4105, which was available yesterday on Woot! for a mere $5.

Instead of an electronic display for channel icons, the unit has space to place stickers next to channel-selection buttons.

Jon Sienkiewicz, VP of marketing for Universal Remote Control (which makes LCD remotes, but not stick-on-icon remotes), suggests, "There’s an ongoing revenue stream from replacement sticker sales—I like it!"

Genius!

Even HDMI isn't recession proof

Silicon Image (NASDAQ:SIMG), developer of HDMI technology, had some mixed results this quarter.

Revenue for the third quarter of 2008 was $77.8 million, down from $86.3 million for the third quarter of 2007. But net income of $6.1 million was up $2 million for this quarter compared to the same period last year.

The next quarter will be worse. Silicon Image predicts revenues of $68 - $69 million.

[MORE]

Overheard This Week: 'I am Truly Blessed'

Kershaw in fine form.

"I am TRULY BLESSED and Deeply Touched by the amazing level of support shown by all of you, as well as that from our dealer base, and from all of our Industry Friends."
-- Jim Kershaw, industry rep and friend, on his recuperation from successful cancer surgery

"Really good news! I knew the Tequila would work."
-- Michael Benedetto of Salamander Designs, on Jim's speedy recovery.

"Don't make stupid mistakes."
-- Rich Green of integration company Rich Green Ink, on CEDIA Crosspoint blog, "Your Business is in Jeopardy" (CEDIA members only)

"There has been, to say the least, confusion."
-- HDMI's Jeff Park on HDMI-CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) protocol, during CEA's Industry Forum

"Most dire situation we've seen"
-- CEA economist Sean DuBravac on the prospects for CE sales this holiday, during CEA's Industry Forum

"I need to change my stickers to CNBC, BLOOMBERG, and CSPAN now and I can’t find the extras."
-- Integrator Kevin Mikelonis, commenting on CEPro.com about a $5 Philips remote on Woot with sticker-labels for favorite channels

"why do cable boxes suck so much!??!?!"
-- Posting by motech on RemoteCentral.com

"I play by the rules and I have to help those that don’t, come on now that’s B.S. in any country."
-- burtont62 responding to CE Pro Community post, "Obama or Mcain?"

"Nobody is as smart as everybody. ... All amateurs are better than any given pro."
-- Wired magazine co-founder Kevin Kelly, urging vendors to let the community contribute to product development, during CEA's Industry Forum

"We will continue to deliver more of our content digitally, using our assets across multiple distribution platforms and adding more a la carte offerings."
-- Playboy CEO Christie Hefner, on abandoning the DVD format

Big Shakeup at Russound

Some in the industry were surprised when Charlie Porritt was named CEO of Russound, replacing Joe Brouillet. Joe, who served as Russound's interim CEO for one year, was expected to stick around for a little while longer.

Porritt joined Russound in 2000, and most recently served as VP sales.

Perhaps a bigger surprise is that industry veteran Dave Hanchette has left Russound. He joined the company in March of this year as VP of marketing.

When I spoke with Dave on the phone, he said that his commute from North Carolina to Russound headquarters in Newmarket, N.H., was "taking a toll" on his family.

Dave is going to take some time off to work on his car collection before getting back to business.

Slowest News Days on CEPro.com

There's always a lot going on in the CE industry, but you might not know it from some of the goofy stuff we've posted on CEPro.com.

Circuit City Firedog Employees Defy Cargo Pants Rule
10 Signs of Recession at CEDIA 2008
Worst Booth Babes at CEDIA 2008
The CE Pro Complaints Choir
‘Useful Phrases’ from the Geek Squad Handbook
Geeks and Massages Don’t Mix: Best Buy Sells off Eq-Life
Acronym Faux Pas: FART, LUST, IBS & AIDs
Turning 4 Remotes into Soup: Don’t Try this at Home
Off With My Head?!
What the Bleep?!
High Definition Doesn’t Scare Porn Stars
Future Trunk-Slammer Misses First Question on ‘Millionaire’
No New PVC! Central Vac Industry Joins Wireless Efforts
Stillwater True Crime: Swindlers Overstate Value of Stereo
CEDIA CEO: Bush over Jacobson!?
Jacobs and His Amazing Fish Counter
Audio Technica Discriminates Against Men
Woot’s $5 Universal Remote Includes Channel Icons
Want to Add Security? Try the Bedside Shotgun Rack
Fake TV Claims to Deter Burglars

Lists & Awards

INSTALLATION/RETAIL COMPANIES

• SDM: SDM 100 (security dealers) - May 2009
  
• CEPro: CE Pro 100 (top custom integrators 2008) - May 2009
• CE Pro: CE Pro 100 (top custom integrators 2008) - May 2008
• CE Pro: CE Pro 100 (top custom integrators 2007)- May 2007
• CE Pro: Top 30 Structured Wiring Installers 2008 - Oct. 2008
• CE Pro: Top 30 Structured Wiring Installers 2007 - Oct. 2007
• CE Pro Showroom: Top 30 Hybrid Retailers - June 2008
  
• SDM: SDM 100 (security dealers) - May 2008
• VAR Business: VAR Business 500 (IT companies)
  
• TWICE: Top CE Retailers (for purchase)
• Retailing Today: Top 150 Retailers 2008 (pdf; free registration)
  

PRODUCTS

• CE Pro: Ultimate Guide to Home Automation (April 2009)
  
• CE Pro: CE Pro High Impact Products 2008 (CHIPs) - Dec. 2008
  
• CE Pro: CE Pro High Impact Products 2007 (CHIPs) - Dec. 2007
• CE Pro: CE Pro High Impact Products 2006 (CHIPs) - Dec. 2006
• Electronic House: Products of the Year 2008 - Sept. 2008

CEA MARK OF EXCELLENCE AWARDS

• 2008 Winners | 2008 Finalists
• 2007 Winners | 2007 Finalists
• 2006 Winners | 2006 Finalists
• Earlier

CEDIA ELECTRONIC LIFESTYLES AWARDS

• 2009 Finalists
  
• 2008 Winners | 2008 Finalists
• 2007 Winners
• 2006 Winners
• Earlier

CES INNOVATIONS AWARDS

• 2009
  
• 2008
• 2007
• 2006
• Earlier
  

Me, My PC and Matthew

by Susan Jacobson

Calling my local computer guru is a little bit like calling my stockbroker to see how my Enron stock is doing. There’s never a “slight glitch.” Invariably, it’s something so profound that I’ll feel fortunate to see “Welcome to Windows XP” ever again.

And so it was this morning when I called my messenger of doom to report a start-up screen that looked like a short story from the Baltics written in the original.

“What does it say at the very top of your screen?” he asked.

“The only word with a vowel in it is ‘BIOS’.”

“Ooooh boy,” he replied. It looks like your [I have absolutely no clue, but it did not sound good] has bombed out.” We probably can come take a look at it sometime next week, but—ooooh boy—you’ll be lucky if we can retrieve anything from your hard drive.”

I was mourning my loss to my daughter Julie when she told me she had just finished an article about in-home computer services. “Why don’t you give one of them a call?” she suggested. “I’d be interested to know what you think.”

So I phoned Decision One, and after the obligatory pressing of ones and twos to navigate my way through the recorded instructions, I got Matthew. After describing my problem I braced for his second opinion confirming my doomsayer’s prognosis.

Thus, it took a minute to adjust when I heard a cheerful, hopeful Matthew propose, “Okay, let’s try this.” Well, we did try this, and then we tried that, and then we tried this again—meanwhile filling the waiting periods with short Q and A sessions in which he happily answered some of those little questions that begin with, “While I have you on the phone….”

After ten minutes that I didn’t want to end, my computer problem is solved, I have a case number allowing free consultation should this problem recur, and I have answers to computer questions unrelated to the purpose of my phonecall. It’s the best $29 I ever spent.

I have another problem, though. I think I love Matthew.