With sales direct to consumers at only 2% of Cisco’s $40 billion business, Cisco wants to add yet another box or two to the home network. Cisco will introduce at CES a line of home entertainment products, including its own wireless digital stereo.

The appeal of the residential market is obvious. HP has updated its MediaSmart Server, a home network appliance for data distribution and backup, and something similar is may be coming from Apple.

Cisco, rich with $27 billion in cash in a recession, has no interest in selling TVs but it assumes that eventually all TVs will connect directly to home networks.

Ultimately, the company says it expects to make the most money by offering home video conferencing. For Big Business, Cisco sells Telepresence rooms to corporations for $40,000 to $300,000 each. Cisco is on record this year saying it will bring a cheaper version to consumers in the very near future.

At CES, Cisco also will show a social networking platform that hooks up entertainment and media artists with fans.

Go Cisco Goes Home, Your Home

Go ECI, for Home Networking Market

In 2008, consumers bought 1.88 million vinyl albums in USA, more than in any other year since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking LP sales in 1991. And Nielson may be under-reporting because many online and independent retail shops aren't counted.

Nirvana, Van Morrison, Cream, Guns 'N Roses and Metallica have all recently put out new releases or re-released classic albums on new vinyl. LPs have made such a comeback that Amazon recently introduced a vinyl-only store and increased its selection to 150,000 titles across 20 genres.

Why the vinyl rebound? Sure, some audiophiles insist vinyl records offer better sound quality but we treated them like Luddites. But are they right?

Apparently, yes…they are right. Many buyers insist the new vinyl (heavier than old LPs) demonstrates sound superiority over CDs. But vinyl record sales have skyrocketed not just because of a “warm sound.” New buyers are discovering the value of owning albums, with their cover art and large liner notes. Call it a fad or a new generation of audiophiles but it’s not Gen X or Baby Boomers buying—it’s 13- to 24-year-olds rediscovering the value of record collections.

And it's not just the vinyl that's selling—you need a turntable and cartridges to play them. Angelis Labor will be unveiling at CES its Gabriel Turntable for $27,000 and $64,000.

Go Angelis Labor

OK, as a retailer or installer you’ve seen many soundbars now, all with the iPod sticking up like a candle on a birthday cake.

But Orbitsound’s T12 spatial stereo TV soundbar with iPod dock (and subwoofer) comes with a unique selling point that’s both demonstrable and effective at retail.

Other soundbars digitally re-create spatial stereo while the T12 produces spatial sound using its airSOUND™ single point stereo reproduction. 

airSOUND does not produce stereo in way normal “left-right”audio works. Instead it focuses on the original principles of stereo that separates left and right information from the main signal and reproduces this “space” in a form that mixes in the air. (See the maker’s explanation below.) You can stand (or sit) anywhere within the stereo sound field. For positioning you only need to make sure the sides of the soundbar are not obstructed.

T12 can provide your customers both a big screen sound upgrade for flat screen TV or instant iPod station in the home.

Pause is crafted from sustainable New Zealand Rimu with aluminium detailing. Optional accessories include minimalist side lamps and aluminium storage trays, yet perhaps the best feature is how the shelves can seamlessly accommodate an iPod universal dock and BOSE speaker system.

These electronic accessories allow one to awaken to favourite tunes in the most personal of spaces. The concealed iPod universal dock also provides a convenient means for recharging your iPod.

Go iPod Bed