by Bob Archer | Mar 27, 2026 | Blog, KMB Communications
Perspective matters. And when a publication returns with a clearer point of view, it usually means the market is ready for a smarter conversation.
Sometimes the return of a publication tells you just as much about the market as the publication itself. That feels especially true with Connected Design.
In the latest episode of AV Trade Talk, KMB Communications’ Katye McGregor Bennett and Bob Archer sit down with Rob Stott to talk about the debut of the new Connected Design magazine, the trends shaping the industry, and the bigger role media still plays in helping this business communicate with clarity.
Rob has had a front-row seat to the evolution of the custom integration world for years. He has watched the category move through the post-housing-crash rebuild, the rise of the modern smart home conversation, the disruption of the pandemic era, and now this next phase, where technology, design, architecture, and construction are no longer separate lanes pretending not to notice each other.
That is a big reason this conversation works. It is not nostalgia. It is perspective. Rob is relaunching Connected Design at a moment when the market is maturing and the audience needs something sharper, more relevant, and more in step with how projects actually come together today.
And let us be honest: those project conversations do not begin and end with product specs anymore. The old boundaries between design and technology did not just blur. They packed up and left. The people shaping homes and spaces today need better communication across disciplines, and they need media platforms that understand that shift.
That is part of what makes the new Connected Design so interesting. In this episode, Rob shares what inspired the relaunch, what he sees happening across the industry, and where he believes the publication can add real value. It is a fun and friendly conversation, but it is also a thoughtful one. There is substance here. There is strategy here. And there is a clear understanding that the market has changed, even if not everyone has adjusted their language or their expectations yet.
Another important thread in the episode is one Rob has helped keep in the conversation for years: The need for manufacturers to support media outlets and publishers. That point can make some people squirm, but it should not. Strong trade media helps an industry think more clearly, share ideas more effectively, and create better dialogue around real issues. If brands want thoughtful coverage, stronger storytelling, and healthier communication across the channel, they cannot keep treating the media as an afterthought and expect great results.
At KMB, that message lands. We work every day at the intersection of content, communication, visibility, and relationship-building. We know good stories do not travel on hope alone. They need strategy, consistency, and the right platforms. That is why this episode is not just a podcast announcement. It is a timely conversation about how the industry tells its story, who helps shape that narrative, and why that work still matters.
So yes, this episode is about the new Connected Design magazine. But it is also about where this industry is headed next. It is about the continuing convergence of design and technology. It is about market maturity. And it is about the voices helping move the conversation forward.
Give the episode a listen and spend a little time with Rob’s perspective. If you work anywhere near the overlap of AV, design, media, manufacturing, or integration, there is a good chance you will come away with a few smart reminders and at least one fresh thought about where the conversation needs to go from here.
Listen to the latest AV Trade Talk episode featuring Rob Stott to hear more about the return of Connected Design, the trends shaping the market, and why media relationships still matter.
by Bob Archer | Mar 26, 2026 | Blog, Josh.ai, KMB Communications
Back in the 1980s Aimee Mann and her band ‘Til Tuesday had a big hit song, “Voices Carry.” Based on the home technology company Josh.ai’s new AI-powered remote control, “Voices Carry” is taking on a whole-new meaning.
During the company’s annual Josh Keynote 2026 event, which was streamed on YouTube, the company introduced its latest solutions that were headlined by the Josh Edge AI-powered remote control. The remote offers a combination of hard buttons and advanced voice control to allow users to simply press a button to activate an action or verbalize a command.
The keynote took place in a 12,000-square-foot home in Newport Beach, Calif., that was completely outfitted with Josh.ai technologies. The company pointed out the installation was performed by Jason Bernhardt of Custom Connections, and the high-profile integrator Kyle Steele of Global Wave Integration, joined the keynote as a guest.
Josh.ai Edge Remote Puts the Power of AI into Homeowners’ Hands
While the remote, along with the voice control capabilities are what homeowners will interact with daily, the role of the company’s AI X OS should not be overlooked.
The upcoming OS is expected to roll out this spring, and it will connect every product in the Josh.ai ecosystem. Josh.ai boasts the platform offers greater customization capabilities, improved user friendliness and new design elements that include:
- Favorites-First Home Screen: Users can pin their most important devices as priorities with each household member capable of receiving their own unique layout.
- Bottom Navigation Bar: A redesigned navigation bar makes it more efficient than ever to control and customize a Josh.ai smart home.
- Active Media Hub: This feature provides instant access to currently playing music and video control from anywhere within the app.
- New Voice Experience: A refreshed microphone interface delivers faster, more contextual AI interactions for nearfield commands.
- Device Categorization: Devices are automatically organized by category within each area to clean up room-level views while simplifying navigation.
- AI-Guided Scene Creation:ai actively recommends and generates scenes based on a home’s layout, connected devices, and a user’s living patterns.
Everyone Invited to Smart Home Party
To accommodate the growing technology integration industry, Josh.ai’s Nimble DevSuite answers the need for dealers integrating products and solutions from across the custom installation industry.
This is important because with Josh.ai’s efforts to broaden the scope of its integrated technologies to allow dealers to use a wider variety of components, the level of system customization will grow.
Looking at the list of new partners that are helping to foster these capabilities, it’s clear that with the diversity of manufacturers, that dealers can now more easily leverage the allure of AI home control and automation:
- Aprilaire S86 Thermostat
- Blaze by Sonance amplifiers
- Deako Lighting
- DMX and DALI: lighting protocols
- ICE Realtime PoE doorstation
- Jandy Pool and spa
- Konnected garage doors
- Level smart door locks
- Origin Acoustics amplifiers
- Somfy PoE shade products
- Theory amplifiers
- Pentair pool and spa
- Shelly Bluetooth sensors
Perhaps most significantly, Josh.ai emphasizes the compatibility with Somfy PoE motors signifies a milestone through the collaboration of Chowmainsoft as an independent developer.
More importantly, through these announcements, it means the smart home now approaches the public perception of what an automated home should be, and Josh.ai is helping to make that happen.
KMB Communications’ website features client news, client news, blogs, and podcasts. Go to kmbcomm.com to learn more about the full-service public relations firm.
by Bob Archer | Mar 24, 2026 | Apex Technologies, D-Tools, KMB Communications, Meridian Audio, News, OneVision Resources, RoseWater Energy
You could call it March Madness and putting any more basketball references aside, the month of March served as a period of catch up between trade events for the technology integration industry.
More specifically for KMB Comm and its clients, the industry was busy preparing for upcoming tradeshows and simply moving forward with the calendar telling the world that winter is over and spring has sprung.
Wrapping up March 2026, the new KMB Comm-icles will look back at several items that were announced by top manufacturers, including Nice, Keder Screens, D-Tools, and HYPERSUB.
In addition, the KMB Comm-icles will recap the manufacturer representative, LK & Associates new ShowKase Experience Center as the industry continues its outreach to other professionals within the home market.
KMB Comm-icles March 2026 Rundown
This look back will work chronologically starting with HYPERSUB’s F-15 Series Subwoofer System that posted on the KMB Comm website back on March 6:
HYPERSUB Launches F-15 Series Subwoofer: HYPERSUB is a new home audio company from Nyal Mellor of the calif.-based technology integration firm Acoustic Frontiers.
The F-15 system utilizes four enclosures that each house 15-inch drivers with power coming from the brand’s external 422D DSP Amplifier. The system is rated to deliver a frequency response of 25Hz to 200Hz and maximum SPL levels of 118dB.
HYPERSUB adds integrators can use the system to meet CEDIA/CTA RP22 guidelines.
LK & Associates Introduces ShowKase Experience Center: The manufacturer’s rep firm, which covers Florida and Puerto Rico, recently opened its ShowKase Experience Center in the Design Center of the Americas (DCOTA) in Dania Beach, Fla.
The rep firm says the experience center was developed to help technology integration professionals, as well as architects, builders, and interior designers to collaborate and experience Luxury electronics.
Some of the brands that visitors will see at LK & Associates ShowKase include RoseWater Energy, Apex Power, Meridian, and Protopixel.
F-24 DUO Infrasonic Subwoofer from HYPERSUB Features 24-inch Woofers: The next item in the March 2026 KMB Comm-icles is another product release from HYPERSUB.
The F-24 DUO employs dual-opposed 24-inch woofers driven by the HYPERSUB 224D/C rack-mounted amplifier that produces 2 x 2,400 watts RMS (root mean square) of power. The amp also offers 10-band parametric equalization (EQ) per channel, and a choice of connection options.
HYPERSUB recommends using the F-24 DUO in tandem with either its F-15 or F-21 subwoofer systems to provide CEDIA/CTA RP22 compliant low-frequency sound in large spaces.
Inaugural D-Tools User Conference Draws Global Integration Community to Atlanta:
Bringing together approximately 150 electronics industry professionals collaborating under the theme of, “Share What Works. Build What’s Next,” the D-Tools User Conference featured peer networking, and best practice concepts using the company’s System Integrator and D-Tools Cloud solutions.
A couple of event highlights included a keynote and town hall led by outgoing CEO Randy Sterns and new CEO G. Paul Hess. Guest presenters included Jason Sayen of I AM SAYEN, Ron Callis of One Firefly, and Joseph Kolchinsky of OneVision Resources.
Nice GC Touch Headlines Company’s Next-Gen Products at ISC West 2026: The KMB Comm-incles continues with news that Nice will conduct live demonstrations of its GC Touch, 2GIG EDGE and its 245S and E+ sensors at ISC West 2026.
The annual trade event takes place this year on March 23-27 and the company will be exhibiting at booth #23059.
The GC Touchpanel incorporates a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen, as well as built-in Wi-Fi and cellular network connectivity. Nice points out the 2GIG EDGE is a thinner solution that utilizes on-the-edge processing technologies, and it offers touchless disarm capabilities.
Nice HySecurity Division Shows Full Spectrum of Industrial Commercial & Residential Perimeter Protection at ISC West 2026: The Nice booth will be busy at ISC West 2026 with the GC Touch, 2GIG panel, and the company’s latest sensors.
The company’s HySecurity Division will also be active during the event showing live demonstrations of its StrongArm M30 and SlideDriver II. Exhibiting in booth #23059 on March 23-27, Nice and its HySecurity Division will also feature its SwingSmart 535 and SlideSmart 535 systems, and the residential Juno gate operator.
Nice states the StrongArm M30 delivers 90-degrees of arm opening, and Nice backs the product with a five-year warranty. The SlideDriver II is designed for commercial and maximum-security locations, and the company emphasizes the product incorporates ASTM F2656-07 M30/M50-rated gates.
Keder Screens Names Momentum Group Sales, Bell & McCoy, and AMI Sales as Reps: Concluding the KMB Comm-icles for March 2026 is the announcement from Keder Screens that it has added three new manufacturer’s reps.
Keder Screens has added Momentum Sales Group, Bell & McCoy, and AMI Sales, and the Dallas-based manufacturer points out the additions help extend its sales reach and it gives technology integration companies increased access to its line of products.
“Keder Screens was created to solve the outdoor challenges integrators are tired of taking hits for,” comments Kim Parker, Head of Business Development and Partner/Owner of Keder Screens in the press release.
“Momentum Group Sales, Bell & McCoy, and AMI Sales are highly respected organizations that understand the CI channel and the realities of outdoor installations. Their teams will help ensure dealers have the support they need to specify outdoor screens with confidence.”
KMB Communications’ website features client news, blogs, and podcasts. Go to kmbcomm.com to learn more about the full-service public relations firm.
by Bob Archer | Mar 20, 2026 | Blog, KMB Communications
To say it’s been a turbulent week of news may be an understatement. However, the team at KMB Comm has stayed focused by keeping pace with the latest scuttlebutt in the residential and consumer electronics industries.
Before getting into the weekly technology news roundup, it seems the commercial AV industry is a bit quiet. That may be due to upcoming tradeshows like the ISC West 2026 event, which hosts the residential and commercial security markets. With March closing out and April almost here, the commercial market may be gearing up for its signature event: the annual InfoComm show.
Home Audio Chugs Along
The first item of the week comes from the publication Stereonet. According to a story that posted to start the week, the French audio brand Cabasse has entered receivership after 75 years of business.
The brand known for its unique, spherical-shaped enclosures had at one point tried to grow through entry into the custom installation market, but it is now looking for investors to continue operations states Stereonet.
Staying in the home audio market, the next KMB Comm tech week in review item is a product review from Future Audiophile. The website recently published a review of the Buckeye Amps Hypex NCx252MP.
Broadening the scope of the home audio news this week is a post from Residential Systems. Fulfilling the public appetite for reliable, high performing, user-friendly turntables, the story says the new Denon DP-500BT is a semi-automatic turntable that includes Bluetooth wireless audio capabilities.
Residential Systems points out in its story the DP-500BT ships with a preinstalled moving magnet (MM) phono cartridge, and it carries a retail price of $899.
KMB Comm National Technology News
One last audio item before moving onto other news topics. Mix Magazine has posted a story on the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) latest industry report.
The story from March 17 says the record industry has reached a new revenue plateau of $11.5 billion in 2025. The numbers come from the organization’s 2025 Year-End Recorded Music Revenue Report and as part of its findings, the RIAA found that streaming revenues reached $9.5 billion with the United States as the largest subscriber market with more than 106 million subscription accounts.
Mix Magazine also notes that for the 19th year in a row, U.S. vinyl sales increased. In 2025 the story says sales grew more than 9% and for the first time in more than four decades vinyl sales reached over $1 billion.
Switching gears, to the topic of cybersecurity, Elizabeth Parks of Parks Associates made a post to the LinkedIn website called, “Critical Vulnerability in Security Monitoring Services: Frequency Jamming.”
The post from the electronics industry veteran promoted a webinar that Parks Associates and Telecom Design hosted that looked at the threat of radio frequency (RF) jammers and how these devices post a threat to security monitoring services.
Using its research, Parks Associates says that more than 20% of security system purchases were influenced by nearby robberies and other security incidents. The research company says in the post that consumers have high expectations for their security services, and the security industry risks losing consumer faith if it does not address the issues that RF jammers present.
Closing the KMB Comm technology week in review is story from Yahoo News on warnings from Apple to users to update their iOS products.
Yahoo News’ story says that Apple is asking people to update their phones because of cybersecurity threats from Russian intelligence, Chinese cybercriminals, and other hackers.
In the post, tools called DarkSword and Coruna have been identified as providing cybercriminals with the ability to take over peoples’ iPhones. Yahoo News states these tools called, exploit kits have been detailed by Google and cybersecurity companies iVerify and Lockout.
The story adds that while it doesn’t appear that Americans were targeted in any cyberattacks, DarkSword looks to be a tool that gathers surveillance and other information, including Wi-Fi passwords and more. Apple recommends updating to the latest version of its iOS (26.3.1) because older versions of the OS are vulnerable.
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by Bob Archer | Mar 19, 2026 | KMB Communications, News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Download Images here
Keder Screens expands CI channel reach with appointment of leading manufacturers’ rep firms
Momentum Group Sales, Bell & McCoy, and AMI Sales appointed as independent sales representatives to accelerate dealer support and market growth across key U.S. regions.
DALLAS, TX — March 19, 2026 — Keder Screens today announced the appointment of Momentum Group Sales, Bell & McCoy, and AMI Sales as independent manufacturers’ sales representative firms for the brand, effective immediately. The strategic partnerships expand Keder Screens’ reach within the residential custom installation (CI) channel while strengthening dealer access to the company’s wind-rated, zipperless outdoor screen platform engineered to eliminate common outdoor shading failures.
The new rep relationships are part of Keder Screens’ broader go-to-market strategy following its official CI channel launch earlier this year—focused on delivering a reliability-first outdoor screen platform built specifically for the realities integrators face on outdoor projects.
Together, Momentum Group Sales, Bell & McCoy, and AMI Sales bring deep experience supporting custom integration firms, builders, designers, and specification partners across major U.S. markets. Each organization will represent Keder Screens to help dealers specify outdoor screen solutions that perform under real-world conditions, including high wind, large openings, and daily use.
By partnering with experienced rep organizations, Keder Screens aims to make it easier for integrators to access the training, specification guidance, and product expertise they need to be successful with outdoor shading solutions.
“Keder Screens was created to solve the outdoor challenges integrators are tired of taking hits for,” says Kim Parker, Head of Business Development and Partner/Owner of Keder Screens. “Momentum Group Sales, Bell & McCoy, and AMI Sales are highly respected organizations that understand the CI channel and the realities of outdoor installations. Their teams will help ensure dealers have the support they need to specify outdoor screens with confidence.”
The three rep firms bring strong relationships across key regions of the United States:
Momentum Group Sales – Known for representing premium residential technology brands, Momentum Group Sales supports integrators throughout the Rocky Mountains and surrounding markets. The firm’s focus on education, system design support, and dealer success aligns closely with Keder Screens’ approach to enabling integrators in complex outdoor projects.
“Keder Screens is addressing a real challenge integrators face when specifying outdoor living projects,” said Trent Mulligan, President of Momentum Group Sales. “The engineering behind the platform and its focus on eliminating the common failure points we see in outdoor shading make it a compelling addition to the solutions our dealers rely on.”
Bell & McCoy – One of the largest and most established manufacturers’ rep firms in the residential technology industry, Bell & McCoy provides extensive coverage across the TOLA market (Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas). Their longstanding relationships with leading CI firms, builders, and design partners position Keder Screens for strong growth across these markets.
“Outdoor living is an important and growing category for our dealers, but it also comes with real-world challenges,” said James Copple, President of Bell & McCoy. “Keder Screens brings a reliability-focused engineering approach that gives integrators more confidence when specifying outdoor screen solutions for demanding environments.”
AMI Sales – With decades of experience representing residential technology manufacturers, AMI Sales serves integrators across the Florida market. The firm’s technical expertise and reputation for dealer support will help accelerate adoption of the Keder Screens platform among integrators seeking more reliable outdoor shading solutions.
“We’re excited to introduce Keder Screens to our dealer network,” said Bret Karuza, President of AMI Sales. “The company’s focus on solving long-standing mechanical issues in outdoor screens aligns perfectly with what our integrators are looking for when they want to deliver dependable outdoor living solutions.”
These partnerships reinforce Keder Screens’ positioning as a purpose-built outdoor screen platform designed to reduce common service issues associated with traditional zipper- and magnet-based systems. They will also help Keder Screens strengthen dealer education, specification confidence, and project success across the CI channel.
Built around the company’s exclusive and patented V-Track™ retention technology, Keder Screens products are engineered to deliver smooth, quiet operation while maintaining tension and stability in challenging outdoor conditions.
For dealer inquiries, product information, and CI channel resources, visit kederscreens.com.
About Keder Screens
High Performance Outdoor Shades Designed to Stay Down, Stay Quiet, Stay Tight.
Keder Screens is a Dallas-based manufacturer of custom outdoor screen systems featuring its patented V-Track™ retention technology. Operating as a DBA of International Shade Products Inc., the company partners with dealers nationwide to deliver high-performance outdoor shading solutions—and to raise the engineering standard across the category. Founded by Justin Collins, the company designs solutions engineered for real-world conditions—high wind, large openings, and daily use—to help residential custom installation professionals deliver luxury outdoor living with fewer failures, fewer service calls, and greater confidence from specification through long-term ownership. Learn more about Keder Screens by visiting kederscreens.com.
Media Contact
Katye McGregor Bennett
KMB Communications
katye@kmbcomm.com
406-446-1283
All products, product names, trademarks, and registrations mentioned are the property of their respective owners, all rights reserved.
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