T&T Automation walks away from the 2009 CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Awards with no fewer then three accolades, including the prestigious 2009 Best Integrated Home Overall Winner. (Photo: Tony Harper and Carl Ambrus.)

The awards were given at the CEDIA US Expo in recognition of their work on residential properties in North America. T&T, with offices in both the UK and British Columbia, won the Level III Gold Technical Design Award ($216,000-$260,000), the Level X Gold Technical Design Award ($1,400,001+) and was named the 2009 Best Integrated Home Overall Winner for their residential custom installation projects in Canada.

T&T's Canadian division as the branch has only been established for a mere two years, and is already being recognised for their projects.

CEDIA Chairman, Robert Hallam added "It's great to see a CEDIA Region 1 member doing so well across the pond! We have always known that our members set the benchmark for quality, both nationally and internationally, and it is great to have their considerable achievements recognised in this way."

Go The Winning Project

Just appointed as the new German distributor, Mega Audio will be showing for the first time a range of Turbosound’s loudspeakers on its stand at Prolight+Sound.

At the show will be Turbosound’s TCS series sound contracting products, and its Flex Array system in both flown and ground-stacked configurations.

The new TCS series is a complete range of installation products ranging from a large-format double 18” subwoofer and two single 15” arrayable subs, through 12” and 15” active/passive two-way mid-highs to an ultra-compact 6.5” passive model. Turbosound has also developed a high power three-way switchable bi-amp / tri-amp loudspeaker to provide contractors with a full complement of solutions, rounded off with a quality ceiling speaker for background sound applications.

In the TCS series, Dendritic waveguides deliver improved “array-ability” and endless cluster possibilities together with Turbosound voicing. The well-proven Converging Elliptical waveguide also features in the range, with the smooth and even dispersion characteristics ideal for smaller clubs, cafés and restaurants.

The TCS series provides a vast array of useful options – including IP54 weather.

Go Mega Audio

Go Turbosound

One of Europe’s largest online retailers of electrical and technology products, Misco will provide its customers with technology updates and product news, thanks to the launch of a new monthly video podcast.

Misco will use the regular video podcast to leverage site traffic, provide a more compelling user experience, encourage “more informed” buying choices, and directly add value to its products through this modern communications channel.

As we’ve mentioned before in RAVE EUROPE, more and more businesses will need help jumping on the video meal ticket that’s been served up by YouTube and a web video generation. Integrators and clients both win as pro AV channels can help educate, create content, provide hardware and software when required, and consult on best video business practice.

This podcast was not produced by Misco in-house-- instead they turned to video integrator Flixmedia. The video podcast will broadcast via misco.co.uk, available free for download and subscription.

Flixmedia provides online content solutions for makers of consumer goods (including HP, Philips, Symantec, Dyson, Panasonic and Toshiba). It offers production of online product videos (QuikClips) and the distribution of the content to its Flixmedia Global Distribution Network.

Go Flixmedia
Go See the Misco Podcast

Audiolead in the Suresnes suburb of Paris adds Audica Professional, the UK manufacturer of the stylish MICROseries range of loudspeakers and electronics for the background music, AV and audio communications markets.

Audiolead is the French distributor for Community, Erjk, Novasonar, Panbeam and Tannoy, in addition to some lighting and visual effects products.

Audica Professional sales director, Derek West, says, "...Audiolead has a strong focus on architectural and advanced technology solutions and their understanding and penetration in this sector makes them an ideal partner for Audica Professional".

Go Audiolead
Go Audica Professional

Inside the ICP@CeBIT pavilion in Reseller Planet at CeBIT, we were surprised to see the stand of Al-Futtaim Electronics.

We recognized Al-Futtaim from their position in the Middle East market where they represent brands like Volvo, Alactel, Toys R Us, Toshiba, Panasonic and more.

A part of the nature of the Middle East market reflects the nature of their dominant trading partners: the factories of Asia. In Korea, they have chaebols and in Japan the zaibatsu. These are generally family owned trading companies that grew into conglomerates with diverse interests.

Al-Futtaim’s growth (more than 70 companies in the group) reminds us of Mitsui Trading and other Asian traders. Today Al-Futtaim has inside its conglomerate, an impressive group of electronics companies. Maybe you recognize the high street retailer, Plug-Ins. Or the pan-MEA product service company, Tech Serve. There’s Panatech, the exclusive Panasonic distie.

On the retail side, there’s IKEA, ACE HARDWARE and Toys R Us in the Al-Futtaim group.

So which company of the group has a stand at CeBIT?

Gouri Shankar represents the Global Trading Division of Al-Futtaim Electronics. GTD sells branded electronics from CE, IT, home appliances and telecom industries.

And when Shankar says “branded,” he really means “big brands.” In CE and home appliances, we’re talking Sharp, Sony, Sanyo, Samsung, LG, Nintendo, Apple and, of course, Panasonic. In mobile phone , the brands are Nokia, Motorola, LG, Samsung Sony Ericsson and even HTC. For IT, Al-Futtaim sells Intel, Seagate, Toshiba, HP, Acer, Hitachi and Western Digital.

Watch Our Interview with Stuart Tickle at CEDIA