by Kyle Glass | Oct 15, 2024 | Future Ready Solutions, Kordz, News
Connectivity experts share the realities of Wi-Fi 7 and the new demands it presents for cabling and prewire practices in a recent AV Trade Talk podcast episode.
September 29, 2024 – Systems integration is at the precipice of faster, more reliable, higher capacity Wi-Fi connectivity enabled by the up-and-coming Wi-Fi 7 communications standard. Wi-Fi 7, also known as 802.11be, promises significant improvements over previous Wi-Fi standards, including increased data rates, lower latency, and enhanced network efficiency. Although this newest generation of Wi-Fi has yet to make a significant impact on the systems integration market, it behooves professional integrators to prepare for the ‘next big thing’ in Wi-Fi connectivity. Part of the preparation, according to the panelists of the provocative podcast available here, is the implementation of better, higher-quality Ethernet cabling.
Global connectivity expert and Kordz managing director, James Chen, along with esteemed special guests Nathan Holmes of Why Reboot and Eddie Shapiro of SmartTouchUSA agree that Cat 6A cabling is the answer to this new infrastructural requirement and encourage integrators who may be using Cat 5E and Cat 6 to consider Cat 6A cabling for future projects.
During the informative podcast episode, Mastering Connectivity: Why Cat 6 Won’t Cut It with Wi-Fi 7, the panelists outline the steps to determine if and when to prewire homes and buildings with Cat 6A cabling, the best installation practices to follow, and where to find robust certified and tested cabling that can support a seamless transition to Wi-Fi 7.
Wi-Fi 7 offers many performance advantages, but only if a home or building’s cabling backbone is up to the task. For additional insights and recommendations about how to ready a building for Wi-Fi 7, listen to the entire podcast here. Systems integrators can also get the scoop directly from the Kordz team and its U.S. Distribution Partner, Future Ready Solutions by visiting www.futurereadysolutions.com.
For access to other informative podcasts and articles by Kordz, and more information about the company, its professional-grade connectivity products, and free integrator resources, please visit https://www.kordz.com/articles/.
About Kordz
Kordz is the connectivity brand for integrators, by integrators. A multi-award-winning global industry leader in professional-grade connectivity products, Kordz’ team of seasoned former integrators is on a mission to ‘Kordzify’ and optimise technology for professionals by designing, engineering, and manufacturing products that deliver ease and profitability through a seamless installation experience with high-performance results that today’s tech-savvy end-users expect. With a wide range of robust, fast, and effective solutions backed by expert technical support, Kordz helps integrators around the world meet the evolving cabling requirements of a diverse range of residential and commercial environments. For more information about Kordz, please visit kordz.com and follow the company @kordzglobal on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Media Contact
For interviews, reviews, and more information please contact Katye (McGregor) Bennett of KMB Communications at (425) 328-8640 or [email protected]
© 2024 Kordz International. All Rights Reserved.
Please note, re-publishing of press release content in relation to this article is permitted, however the re-publishing of the original article content is prohibited. Please author your own post or article, citing the name of the Kordz article, and link it to the page on kordz.com.
by Kyle Glass | Oct 15, 2024 | Kordz, News
Systems integrators can learn how to best reduce, reuse and recycle materials in Kordz’ latest article on enviro-friendly design, manufacturing, and installation practices.
October 5, 2024 – Recent product innovations like its award-winning and patent-pending 100% recyclable BeltPak packaging highlight Kordz’s commitment to environmentally conscious design and manufacturing practices. In an effort to raise awareness and promote the adoption of the three core principles of sustainability—reduce, reuse, recycle—Kordz provides practical guidance to systems integrators in a recently published online article, accessible here.
The second installment of the series Kordz and the Call to Greener Connectivity: Reducing the Environmental Impact of Connectivity Products suggests strategies systems integrators can implement incrementally to reduce the environmental footprint across their business and operations now. These include making conscientious product choices, partnering with environmentally conscious manufacturers, improving inventory management, minimizing waste, and properly recycling and reusing materials.
The article also outlines significant steps Kordz is taking to lessen its own environmental footprint. In its own bid to reduce, reuse, and recycle, Kordz has focused first on shortening the global supply chain through its purchasing and distribution strategies and second on innovation, using more sustainable materials and reducing waste and consumption through smarter design, manufacturing, and engineering methods. This results in reduced material consumption, more enviro-friendly packaging, and less energy and water usage.
“Everything we each do, from the types and number of products we carry, to how they are packaged, shipped, and disposed of has an environmental footprint and makes a difference. Change starts with creating an environmentally conscious culture. Ultimately at Kordz, we’re about professional grade, installation-friendly product reliability and when it comes to the environment, our number one commitment is to create products that work so they don’t end up prematurely in landfill,” says Kordz Managing Director, James Chen.
In this article, Kordz notes the increasing competitive advantage of making such a shift. Chen explains, “Applying the golden rule of environmental sustainability—reduce, reuse, and recycle—is something you can proudly stand behind when customers and colleagues enquire about your sustainability efforts. By choosing better products and educating your customers on the importance of quality over quantity, not only will your installations perform better, reducing issues and callbacks to the site, they will last longer and that reduces waste and the demands on our natural resources. It could even give you a competitive edge bidding for projects with increasingly green selection criteria.”
Kordz acknowledges that there is still more that it can do, alongside the AV industry, to reduce the environmental impact of AV products and materials. The Kordz team actively welcomes feedback and suggestions from integrators as they continue to evolve to meet the planet’s changing needs and the growing customer demand for greener connectivity and technology solutions.
To learn more about “greener connectivity” and Kordz’ sustainability initiatives, go to https://www.kordz.com/articles/understanding-the-environmental-footprint-of-a-connectivity-product/. To subscribe to other informative Kordz’ articles and for more information about the company, its comprehensive range of professional grade connectivity products, and free integrator resources, please visit https://www.kordz.com/articles/.
About Kordz
Kordz is the connectivity brand for integrators, by integrators. A multi-award-winning global industry leader in professional-grade connectivity products, Kordz’ team of seasoned former integrators is on a mission to ‘Kordzify’ and optimise technology for professionals by designing, engineering, and manufacturing products that deliver ease and profitability through a seamless installation experience with high-performance results that today’s tech-savvy end-users expect. With a wide range of robust, fast, and effective solutions backed by expert technical support, Kordz helps integrators around the world meet the evolving cabling requirements of a diverse range of residential and commercial environments. For more information about Kordz, please visit kordz.com and follow the company @kordzglobal on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Media Contact
For interviews, reviews, and more information please contact Katye (McGregor) Bennett of KMB Communications at (425) 328-8640 or [email protected]
© 2024 Kordz International. All Rights Reserved.
Please note, re-publishing of press release content in relation to this article is permitted, however the re-publishing of the original article content is prohibited. Please author your own post or article, citing the name of the Kordz article, and link it to the page on kordz.com.
by Kyle Glass | Oct 15, 2024 | News, SONOS
Sonos reinvents its premium soundbar with revolutionary transducer technology, introduces Sub 4 with a refreshed design
Sonos app updates deliver significant progress in performance and the return of legacy features, with more to come
Santa Barbara, Calif., Oct.15, 2024 – Sonos (Nasdaq: SONO) announced today the introduction of Sonos Arc Ultra, a new premium soundbar that also debuts the brand’s revolutionary transducer technology called Sound Motion™. A significant breakthrough in audio engineering, Sound Motion™ drastically reduces the size of the transducer while supercharging the bass, opening a new chapter in sound innovation where bigger, better sound can be delivered from smaller products. Arc Ultra delivers up to double the bass of its predecessor, with an unprecedented 9.1.4 spatial audio experience in a sleek, sophisticated design.
Sonos is also introducing Sonos Sub 4, the next generation of our iconic subwoofer with a refreshed design and internals that elevate your favorite movies, hit shows and more with rumbling bass.
“For decades, Sonos has revolutionized home theater and music experiences with products that look as great as they sound. Driven by our hunger for innovation, we created Sound Motion™ to break the boundaries of what’s possible by a single speaker, bringing this industry-first transducer technology to home theater where demand for extraordinary sound is equal to designs that fit modern living spaces,” said Patrick Spence, CEO of Sonos. “Arc Ultra is a reimagination of our best-selling soundbar, leveraging this incredible innovation to deliver an unprecedented sound experience from a sleeker design.”
Sonos also continues rapid improvement of its new app. With a software update alongside the launch of Arc Ultra and Sub 4, the new app’s performance is expected to surpass the performance of the previous app across important metrics, including those essential to new purchasers — system identification, the set up of new devices, and the ability to group Sonos devices together. For current Sonos customers, the update will reintroduce 90 percent of the new app’s missing features, with further additions on the way as Sonos maintains its ongoing cadence of updates. You can find details on our support page.
“We’ve worked tirelessly to resolve the most critical app issues and most requested legacy features. We have reached a level of quality that gives us the confidence to launch our extraordinary new products,” said Patrick Spence, CEO of Sonos. “As we laid out in our commitments we will continue to improve the software regularly, and are determined to make the Sonos experience better than it’s ever been.”
Arc Ultra: Breakthrough Sound for Your Home Theater
Built with first-of-its-kind technology and deep industry collaborations, Arc Ultra provides boosted bass, a spine-tingling spatial audio experience with Dolby Atmos®, and advanced Speech Enhancement for even more levels of control — all in a sleek package that blends into your space and complements large TVs.
- Theater Sound in Your Living Room: Arc Ultra delivers a massive sound stage that precisely places every detail of sound in your room to envelop you in content. The all-new architecture features 14 Sonos-engineered drivers, including a Sound Motion™ woofer and a cluster of tweeters with waveguides on both ends to deliver a 9.1.4 spatial audio experience. Tune with Trueplay™ to pinpoint the best sound for your space, now available for both iOS and Android.
- Never Miss a Word or Whisper: With a new center channel architecture, Arc Ultra maximizes vocal clarity so it’s easier to follow dialogue. An all-new advanced Speech Enhancement feature lets you choose your preferred level of dialogue clarity in the Sonos app.
- Cinematic Collaborations: Arc Ultra is the product of deepened Sonos Soundboard relationships. We worked with veteran movie producers and creators like Chris Jenkins and Onnalee Blank to fine-tune Arc Ultra for Dolby Atmos content playback and assemble a studio-worthy experience that rivals professional sound systems.
- Design Worthy of Your Home: Arc Ultra is thoughtfully crafted with a distinctive curved profile, matte finish, and a slimmer appearance that looks elegant when mounted and doesn’t obstruct TV bezels when placed on a credenza. Its wrap-around grille extends around the back of the speaker so sound can travel in every direction to completely surround you.
- Seamless Setup and Control: Unlock theater-quality sound in a matter of minutes with a simple HDMI eARC connection and effortlessly control with your TV remote, the Sonos app, Sonos Voice Control, or Amazon Alexa. Touch controls are cleverly housed in a dedicated ledge behind the soundbar to prevent visual distraction. With Bluetooth line-in, Arc Ultra also gives you more ways to stream – whether binging a podcast or setting a playlist before guests arrive.
- Committed to Sustainability: Arc Ultra was designed responsibly with improved serviceability by using more screws and fewer adhesives, halogen-free PCB materials, less silicon material, and a reduced idle power consumption by as much as 20% as a standalone player compared to Arc. Its packaging is 100% recyclable and also 18% smaller in volume, making it more efficient to ship.
Sub 4: Our Most Immersive Subwoofer, Revamped
Sub 4 is the next generation subwoofer producing bass you can feel, transforming your home theater experience to draw you closer to the content you love.
- Pulse-Pounding Sound: Feel every beat, roar or rumble in your chest with dual custom woofers that generate deep, dynamic low frequencies to enhance your entertainment. No buzz or rattle either — both Sub 4 woofers face inward to create a force-canceling effect that neutralizes distortion.
- Rebuilt, Inside and Out: Sonos’ most advanced subwoofer to date, Sub 4 includes increased processing power and memory, as well as new WiFi radios for better connectivity so you never miss a beat.
- Same Iconic Design: Sub 4 sports an elegant sculptural shape maintaining much of its predecessor’s aesthetic, with an updated matte finish in Black and White and a profile that’s easy to stand upright, lay on its side, or tuck under the couch. Sub 4 also comes in a more sustainable form through dematerialization efforts and a nearly 50% reduction in idle power consumption.
- Breathtaking Home Theater: Add more drama to your movies and shows when you pair Sub 4 with Arc Ultra, Arc or Beam for deeper lows. Pair two subwoofers together for maximum bass that supercharges every scene and song — Sub 4 is compatible with previous generations of Sub.
Arc Ultra and Sub 4 will be available beginning on October 29, 2024 for $999 and $799 USD. For more information, visit sonos.com, and follow along on @sonos.
******************************
About Sonos
Sonos (Nasdaq: SONO) is the world’s leading sound experience company. As the inventor of multi-room wireless home audio, Sonos innovation helps the world listen better by giving people access to the content they love and allowing them to control it however and wherever they choose. Known for delivering an unparalleled sound experience, thoughtful design aesthetic, simplicity of use, and an open platform, Sonos makes the breadth of audio content available to anyone. Sonos is headquartered in Santa Barbara, California. Learn more at www.sonos.com.
Media Contact
[email protected]
Investor Contact
[email protected]
by Kyle Glass | Oct 12, 2024 | D-Tools, News
CONCORD, Calif.: D-Tools, the leading provider of core business management software catering to the needs of the systems integration market for over 25 years today announced the latest update to its award-winning end-to-end business management software. System Integrator (SI) v22 introduces numerous productivity features designed to improve workflow efficiency, reduce manual tasks, and enhance an integrator’s overall workflow.
New capabilities in SI v22 include:
- International Pricing localized for Canada, UK, Australia/New Zealand. This update ensures that pricing is automatically adjusted for these regions, reducing the risk of errors and making your proposals more competitive and relevant in international markets.
- Customer Portal Enhancements, including multiple signatures & countersign and expanded notifications. This ensures all relevant parties can sign off, streamlining the approval process and reducing delays. The ability to counter-sign enhances trust and legal compliance, providing a robust framework for documentation.
- Gantt Chart Enhancements that include a new Successors Column to better manage task dependencies, and the ability to add lag times to tasks for more realistic scheduling and resource planning.
- Reports Improvements such as custom cover pages and more detailed scopes of work in proposals.
- Automated Resource Assignment that enables users to automatically assign resources to projects, tasks, and service orders.
- Change Order Improvements allow users to gain greater control over project costs with the ability to lock or unlock individual model/unit costs within change orders.
- QuickBooks Improvements that include the ability to export purchase order receipts directly to QuickBooks Online as bills.
- Mobile Install Enhancements allow users to view previous versions of documents and have the option to delete or replace them with current versions, ensuring that everyone has access to the most up-to-date information.
- SI Homepage Customization for setting a custom URL for quicker access to key resources.
Available now, System Integrator (SI) v22 streamlines project workflows for improved operational efficiencies and healthier bottom-line results. The software ensures accurate, up-to-date integrator-level pricing via the D-Tools Product Library, reducing data entry time. SI helps avoid the risk of human error and inefficiency of duplicate entry through integrations with QuickBooks and other accounting solutions.
Moreover, System Integrator enables integrators to generate reports on internal business analytics, helping to refine business models and operations to focus on growing revenues and profits.
SI v22 has several key differentiators from other solutions. No other end-to-end business management software for the integration industry has access to a Product Library as vast as D-Tools’, with 1.6 million products from 340 suppliers and 1,200 brands. SI integrates with Visio and AutoCAD for complete system documentation, and SI’s data-driven quoting and estimation capabilities enable integrators to close more deals and grow top-line revenues with professional, accurate proposals. The software’s mobile field technician management tools are delivering jobs on-time and on-budget with mobile field technician management tools, growing recurring revenue base through service contracts.
SI v22 streamlines the entire project workflow for integrators, from initial client contract through ongoing service, leading to improved operating efficiency and increased profitability.
Integrators can find out more about SI v22 by registering for our What’s New in SI webinar on Tuesday, October 15 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. The one-hour educational webcast will include a Q&A session.
About D-Tools, Inc.
D-Tools, Inc. is a worldwide leader in accessible, highly accurate business software that caters to the unique and diverse needs of systems design and installation firms. The company’s on-premises software, System Integrator™ (SI), and cloud-based platform, D-Tools Cloud, are robust solutions that help manage all aspects of an integrator’s business, including sales, comprehensive system design, project documentation, procurement, and installation and service management. Today, 7,000 companies in over 90 countries use D-Tools’ award-winning software to streamline business processes, leading to improved operating efficiency and increased profitability.
Find product updates and related information by following D-Tools on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Media Contacts
Tim Bigoness, D-Tools, (925) 270-4102, [email protected]
Katye (McGregor) Bennett, KMB Communications, (425) 328-8640, [email protected]
All products, product names, trademarks and registrations mentioned are the property of their respective owners, all rights reserved.
by Kyle Glass | Sep 25, 2024 | Daisy, News
Raising $20M in first year, Daisy has quickly become the first national smart home services company
Costa Mesa, Calif., September 9, 2024 – Daisy, the first national home technology installation and services company, today is announcing its $7 million Series B, bringing its total investment to date to over $20 million in its first year. The round was led by technology and software investors Goldcrest and Bungalow, who also led the company’s Series A and seed rounds. Additional Series A investors also participating in this round include consumer-oriented investors Bullish and Burst Capital.
Daisy is the first national company to offer recurring, consistent, and reliable home technology services and support, including audio/video (AV), security systems, smart lighting, automated shades, home networking, control systems, and more. This latest raise allows Daisy to continue to build out its support team and branches, as well as its innovative branch support center.
Since announcing its intention to become the first smart home servicing company in January, Daisy now operates coast-to-coast with 9 locations across 5 states. In addition to acquiring integrators in Connecticut, Northern California, South Florida, and Colorado, Daisy has onboarded franchise locations in Southern California, Florida’s Gulf Coast, Virginia, and the Mountain West.
“Our goal is to be the brand that curates home technology for our clients throughout their lives,” shared Hagan Kappler, co-founder and CEO. “This Series B will ensure we can continue the momentum achieved since our first acquisition 6 months ago in building a trusted national brand. Goldcrest and Bungalow are great partners that share our passion and vision for this critically needed service offering.”
Committed to sustainable growth, the debt-free company has long-term investment partners and a clear path to industry leadership with a current $35 million revenue run rate, putting it on track to become the industry leader by revenue and footprint over the next 12 months.
“It’s rare and exciting to see a company like Daisy not only delivering on their commitments to customers and investors but exceeding them so early in their journey,” said Adam Ross, Goldcrest co-founder and partner.
“We’re thrilled to continue our support of the Daisy team on their journey to build out a beloved national brand through M&A and franchising,” shared Dave Ambrose, co-founder and partner of Bungalow and Daisy board member. “Daisy has become a win-win-win for integrators joining the platform, homeowners utilizing the product and technicians delighting their customers.”
About Daisy
Daisy is a nationwide leader in smart home and small business technology installation and services, designing custom smart living spaces and providing ongoing technology support for audio/video (AV), security systems, smart lighting, automated shades, home networking, control systems, and more. Daisy is currently onboarding top integrators across the country, offering unparalleled training and support. To learn more or become a future business partner, franchisee, technician, or customer, please visit www.daisyco.com.
