Industry

Excitement Builds for CES 2022 as Confirmed Exhibitors Surpass 2,100

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ARLINGTON, VA (12.20.2021) – The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has announced that CES® 2022 , the world’s most influential technology event, is adding an additional layer of health protocols and will offer complimentary COVID-19 rapid testing kits. This additional measure builds upon the previously announced requirement that all in-person attendees must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

Upon arriving at designated badge pick up locations, CES attendees will be provided with Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Self Test kits. Each BinaxNOW Self Test kit contains two tests, which can be used twice while attending the show. The test is easy to use, requires only a shallow nasal swab, takes 15 minutes and can be done from the convenience of your hotel room. CES strongly encourages all participants to test for COVID-19 before they leave home and within 24 hours before entering a show venue. 

“CES is a global event, and we continue to see strong momentum with new exhibitors signing up every day,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CTA. “In August, we announced that every CES attendee must be fully vaccinated. CES will also provide complimentary COVID-19 rapid tests, onsite at badge pickup locations, as an additional step to protect the health and safety of all our attendees, exhibitors and staff.”

CES 2022 returns to Las Vegas Jan. 5-8, 2022, convening over 2100 exhibitors, global media, top retailers and industry leaders. Confirmed exhibitors include brands like Abbott, Amazon, AMD, Autograph, Damon, Goodyear, Hisense, Hyundai, IBM, Intel, LG Electronics, Meta, Microsoft, Oracle, Panasonic, Procter & Gamble, Qualcomm, Revival Health, Samsung Electronics, Sierra Space, Sony, Waymo and more. A full exhibitor directory and floorplans can be accessed at CES.tech.

Below are the updated health protocols planned for CES 2022:

Testing – All CES attendees MUST be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. We also request that attendees test for COVID-19 within the 24 hours period prior to entering a CES venue.

CES will provide complimentary PCR testing for non-US based attendees who require testing prior to their return flight home.

Vaccination Requirement –CES attendees MUST show proof of COVID-19 vaccination to attend CES. Detailed information on the proof of COVID-19 vaccination process can be found here.Attendees must be fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or World Health Organization (WHO). A list of approved vaccines can be found here. U.S. based attendees are encouraged to use the CLEAR complimentary mobile app and Health Pass feature to expedite vaccine validation. Non-U.S. based attendees, as well as U.S. based attendees who may be unable to use CLEAR, will need to provide their proof of vaccination at designated locations on-site. Mask Requirement –Masks are required for large indoor events in the State of Nevada. CES attendees will be required to wear masks as follows:In exhibit booths and indoor exhibit facilities.In conference and keynote rooms.CES shuttle buses and any CES transportation services.Safety ambassadors will be walking the exhibit floor to offer masks to those who may need one.

Additional health protocols include:Venues – Enhanced ventilation systems and cleaning protocols in CES venues.Conference programming and meeting rooms – Set to enable social distancing.Show floor design and flow – Wider aisles and one-way traffic flows in certain areas. Food and beverage – Sanitizing stations and guidance on attendee best practices.Detailed information for all CES 2022 health protocols can be found here. Those unable to travel to Las Vegas will be able to access CES digitally.

Race Sport Lighting Patented GEN4 LED Kit is Back and Shipping

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RINGWOOD, IL (12.20.2021) – Race Sport Lighting has announced the patented and innovative GEN4® LED High Performance LED Kits are in stock and shipping to resellers. The 1st Generation of GEN4® kits were launched in 4th quarter 2019, after US Patent No. 10,801,714 was issued in October of 2019. North American dealers were raving over the new technology and the GEN4® was an instant success with resellers looking to sell the best of the best when it comes to forward lighting systems. The line took a hit when COVID struck North America in early 2020 and shut down its assembly lines. Race Sport Lighting moved the tooling to their main factory and made some improvements to its new generation and was awarded Patent No. 11,054,127 by the USPTO in October 2020.

Race Sport Lighting President Steve Jergensen (R) holds a new GEN 4 LED High Performance System, with Ignacio Ayala Inside Sales & Product Specialist, outside the company’s World HQ in Ringwood IL.

The GEN4® patented lighting system features a 360° ratchet-style adjustable base for perfect aiming adjustments for installers to make sure their consumers are set up right for the road. The product also includes an anti-glare optical beam deflector on the tower body designed to keep the light output perfectly aimed down the road, and out of the eyes of oncoming drivers on-road. The patented design also features the “Medusa Style” rotatable heat-sink rope for heat dissipation in tight lens/cover locations with ZERO clearance. All this while boasting 2,700lx/bulb (5,400lx/kit) of high-performance light out of the lens.

“We are excited to be shipping the GEN4® LED High Performance system to the marketplace with a few upgraded adjustments that will increase the performances even more. We are thankful to the USPTO for awarding a second patent and recognizing a lot of hard work put into this kit. Resellers who sell and install the best of the best in each category are going to go crazy for the GEN4® LED kit to serve them well in the forward lighting category.” – Steve Jergensen, President of Race Sport Lighting

Installing a correctly designed forward lighting system is key to providing each customer the best possible product for their vehicle. Too many resellers are settling for low price over-the-counter China concepts that fail to give customers the best forward lighting in their vehicles. The GEN4® LED kit is one-of-a-kind, US engineered, patented, and tested to provide the absolute best performance on each and every vehicle. The Race Sport Lighting LED Headlight line up continues to evolve and provide the marketplace with not only a great quality product, but solutions that work and are proven.

Visit racesportinc.com for more.

Every College Football Bowl Game to Air on SiriusXM

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NEW YORK, NY (12.17.2021) – SiriusXM is giving subscribers nationwide access to an extensive schedule of live games this college football postseason, with all Division I FBS bowl games – including the College Football Playoff Semifinals and National Championship – the FCS Football Championship game, and other postseason All-Star games. Subscribers can tune in to these games on the SiriusXM radios in their cars and on the SXM App.

The schedule begins this Friday, December 17. A complete schedule of games and their SiriusXM channel assignments can be found at SiriusXM.com/BowlGames

On New Year’s Eve, subscribers can tune in for both College Football Playoff Semifinal games – the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic featuring #4 Cincinnati vs. #1 Alabama (3:30 pm ET), followed by #3 Georgia vs. #2 Michigan in the Capital One Orange Bowl (7:30 pm ET). Two weeks later, on January 10, listeners will get live play-by-play as the winners of those two games face off in the College Football Playoff National Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN (Jan. 10 at 8:00 pm ET). All three CFP games air on ESPN Radio, SiriusXM channel 80.

In addition to the College Football Playoff games, listeners will also get access to seven other bowl games that feature matchups between Top 25-ranked teams. These include: #14 Oregon vs. #16 Oklahoma in the Valero Alamo Bowl (Dec. 29); #12 Pittsburgh vs. #10 Michigan State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (Dec. 30); #17 Wake Forest vs. #25 Texas A&M in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (Dec. 31); #9 Oklahoma State vs. #5 Notre Dame in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl (Jan. 1); #15 Iowa vs. #22 Kentucky in the VRBO Citrus Bowl (Jan. 1); #11 Utah vs. #6 Ohio State in the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Capital One Venture X (Jan. 1); and #7 Baylor vs. #8 Ole Miss in the Allstate Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1).

SiriusXM will carry Westwood One’s broadcast of the FCS Football Championship on January 8 (12:00 pm ET). The FCS Football Championship game will feature the winners of this weekend’s semifinal games – South Dakota State vs. #8 Montana State and #3 James Madison vs. #2 North Dakota State.

SiriusXM will also air other postseason All-Star football games of interest, including the All-American Bowl (Jan. 8 at 1:00 pm ET), which will be played by the best high school players from around the country, and the Reese’s Senior Bowl (Feb. 5 at 2:30 pm ET), which showcases the nation’s best senior collegiate football stars and top NFL Draft prospects.

Twenty of the bowl game broadcasts – including the College Football Playoff Semifinals and College Football Playoff National Championship – are produced and provided by ESPN Radio or an affiliate. Other broadcast providers are LEARFIELD, First Team Radio, Touchdown Radio and Westwood One.

During the postseason, and throughout the year, SiriusXM offers fans the most in-depth radio coverage of the college game with six channels dedicated to collegiate sports. These include ESPNU Radio on SiriusXM (channel 84), SiriusXM ACC Radio (channel 371), SiriusXM Big Ten Radio (channel 372), SiriusXM Pac-12 Radio (channel 373), SiriusXM SEC Radio (channel 374) and SiriusXM Big 12 Radio (channel 375).

SiriusXM’s college sports channels feature an unparalleled roster of expert hosts that includes National Champions and former players and coaches. Chris Doering, Dusty Dvoracek, Ben Hartsock, Anthony Herron, Jacob Hester, Torry Holt, Brock Huard, Roddy Jones, Danny Kanell, Ryan Leaf, E.J. Manuel, Aaron Murray, Rick Neuheisel, Geoff Schwartz, Fozzy Whittaker are among the analysts joining hosts Mark Packer, Chris Childers, Jason Horowitz, Guy Haberman, Holly Rowe, Chris Spatola, Peter Burns, Ari Temkin and others throughout the year.

College football bowl games and SiriusXM’s college sports programming are available to subscribers nationwide in their cars, as well as on their phones and connected devices at home with the SXM App.

Visit siriusxm.com for more.

Tulsa Technology College Students in the House at Car Toys Tulsa

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TULSA, OK (12.16.2021) – Car Toys Tulsa hosted students the week of December 6th.

Car Toys Tulsa Owner Charles Stewart related “Our store signed up to work with Tulsa Technical College this year. Most of the students were area high school students but some were in the adult program. When they got out of their classes they came to our store and shadowed our installation techs and got a feel for sales and products across the 12volt industry. Generally 3 students in the morning and 3 in the afternoon.”

Students from Tulsa Technology College in the well designed Car Toys Tulsa showroom.

Over the course of the shadowing program a total of 24 students participated during the week in the Car Toys Tulsa store.

“We had met with and talked with the school in Broken Bow and were not able to get started last year because of Covid. Several of the students last week were well into automotive repair and ASE certification. In fact we have staff members in our store that attended the Tulsa Technology College’ Stewart added.

Students getting a firsthand look at an installation on progress.

As it turned out some of the students had never been into a true 12volt specialty retail store before.

“When the students first came into our store they were surprised to see our displays and working display board. In our showroom we also accent lighting and a super overall showroom layout. Adding to that we had recently repainted the outside of our building that really stands out in the shopping center parking lot” Steward concluded.

The Car Toys Tulsa building recently got a fresh coat of paint and detailing.

“I think it’s a great concept. Charles is giving these young guys an opportunity to choose Car Audio as a career path. We need new and energetic guys coming into our industry and this is a great first step for many of them to learn a professional skill. Hats off to Charles and his team” Gary Biggs, Momentum Sales, related.

There is a plan in the works to participate with the Tulsa Technology College for the Spring 2022 semester.

Visit cartoystulsa.com for more.

North Carolina Area Off-Road Vehicle Casting Call from Metra Electronics

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HOLLY HILL, FL (12.16.2021) – Does your store have off-road vehicles with Heise LED or Metra Electronics lights installed? Are you looking for professional photo and video content for your shop’s own marketing materials?

Metra is organizing a professional photoshoot in North Carolina in January of 2022. The company is looking for trucks, Jeeps, snowmobiles, UTVs, or ATVs that have Metra or Heise lights installed. Dealers will receive high-resolution photos and videos to use for their own marketing or social media. These images will be used for Metra’s catalogs, social media, and marketing materials.

Dealers/vehicle owners would need to commit to driving their vehicle to the photoshoot location for a late afternoon/evening shoot. Interested? Send photos of your vehicle with your contact information to photo@metra-autosound.com for consideration.

Visit metraonline.com for more.

DS18’s Highly Requested Hooligan 12″ Is Back and Better Than Ever

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL (12.15.2021) – The DS18 Hooligan X12 has already been proven to provide top end performance and bass now for multiple years on the streets and in the lanes, hooligans have been a choice of music lovers and competitors alike.

Now the Traditional Hooligan has been revamped to its newest revision, the Hooligan X12 High Excursion subwoofer. This model features long throw pole, larger spider, and high excursion surround to lower the FS of the speaker making it louder at subsonic frequencies. This massive sub will be great for high powered music or SPL. A FS of 26 will ensure deep lows down to 20hz and great punchy bass u p around 40hz depending on your box tuning. This subwoofer is rated at 4000w RMS and 6000w max so your vehicle will require electrical upgrades and large wire.

This sub will be friendly to 4th orders, 6th orders, ported boxes, and large sealed boxes and can be used in most applications that has room for the box. With a 59mm one way XMAX, this sub is sure to pump out extreme decibels with the proper power and box setup. We recommend a tuning of 25-35hz for ported boxes depending on your goals.

Click here to visit the Hooligan X12’s product page

If enthusiasts are looking for extreme bass and massive power look no further than the Hooligan High Excursion line! This Hooligan variant will be sure to start you on your way to high volume hairtricks and massive lows!

Features:

  • High powered 4″ Black Aluminum voice coil handling 4000w RMS and 6000w max power for heavy hitting competition bass.
  • DS18 has added a large high excursion surround to help with the high pole to pole flex this subwoofer has giving it has a 59mm one way xmax! Available in DVC 1, 2, and 4 ohm configurations.
  • DS18 has also added a larger spider that helps lower the FS (Resonant Frequency) so this sub plays lower much louder than previous versions.
  • 4 inch black aluminum voice coil handling a massive 4000w RMS and 6000w peak will be sure to get this subwoofer moving with hurricane wind forces.
  • The DS18 Tooled Black basket is one of the slickest and best looking baskets on the market. Not only extremely strong but looks great so you can use plexiglass or mount inverted on your box to see the show quality frame and motor topped off by a carbon fiber dustcap.
  • Huge 500oz magnet will help the voice coil receive and handle the massive power this sub requires with high efficiency and durability.

Visit DS18.com for more.

Lucas Lighting Shipping New MX Factory Fitment Bulb Series

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ITASCA, IL (12.14.2021) – “We are pleased to announce that our highly anticipated MX Series of forward lighting replacement bulbs are now in stock and shipping”, says Steve Rogers, National Sales Manager for Lucas Lighting.  “This is a series that our dealers have been requesting.  The MX bulbs are designed with federal requirements in mind (not yet certified).  These guidelines revolve around the specifics of size aft of the mounting collar and not causing undesirable glare artifacts.  While we have always engineered our products to avoid glare, these are the first that will meet the strict size restrictions.”

Steve Rogers, Lucas Lighting National Sales Manager, in the company’s Itasca, IL warehouse with a shipment of the new MX Series.

Consistent with all other Lucas Lighting product offerings, special attention has been paid to inventory efficiency.  Examples include the MX-9005/6 and the MX-H11, that allow one model to work in what traditionally requires several.  The line offers fifteen models that cover what would otherwise require more than 20 types.  “Dealers want to service the most customers with the least amount of inventory necessary, and we can help.  We have a very strong reputation for a wider, even beam pattern with a large center sweet spot.  The MX series is consistent with this design philosophy,” added Rogers.

MX bulbs are a fanless design with several advantages.  These will not require the traditional bulb adaptors needed for vehicles such as BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes Benz, etc. and will fit just as an OE halogen bulb while offering three times the light output.  Another feature of note is the advanced CANBUS support that will alleviate the need for decoders most often needed in European vehicles to avoid bulb error messages.  A Mercedes GL series installation can be seen on the website at www.lucas-lighting.com. 

“Dealers now have a product line that they know will fit in all situations, regardless of vehicle type.  We expect that these will be very popular for the notoriously tight-fitting motorsports applications as well.  Our torture testing for vibration, temperature, run-time, etc. yielded incredible results, with reliability predicted at well over 10,000 hours of use.  Now everyone has the opportunity to experience better lighting.” says Rogers

Lucas Lighting products are available through direct dealers nationwide, as well as our distribution partners serving all 50 states.  Every model of this exciting new series, retailing at $159.95 per pair, has arrived in stock at the Lucas Lighting warehouse in Itasca, IL.

Oracle Lighting Launches Multifunction LED Spotlight for Jeeps, Trucks, & Off-Road Vehicles

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METAIRIE, LA (12.14.2021) – Oracle Lighting has launched the 7-inch Multifunction 60-Watt LED Spotlight for Jeeps, trucks, and off-road vehicles (p/n 2915-023). The round post mount is now available with an MSRP of $199.95.

“Whether you are conquering the off-road or just enjoy exploring at night, having adequate lighting is important to spot obstacles in your path,” explained Justin Hartenstein, Oracle Lighting director of development. “This new auxiliary light from Oracle Lighting is designed to offer superior illumination for any Jeep, truck, or off-road vehicle.”

Incorporating both TIR (Total Internal Reflection) and LED Reflector Facing Technology, this design creates a high-quality light output with a precision beam pattern. By combining both optic technologies, this light provides an average 30 degree beam pattern and projects up to 500 yards away.

“The integrated LED marker lights feature both white and amber LEDs which can be used for parking lights, DRL, and/or turn signals,” Hartenstein continued. “This multifunctional automotive spotlight is the perfect solution to your lighting needs. With an Ingress Protection Rating of IP68 and a heavy-duty blacked-out housing, this seven-inch spotlight is rugged enough to last through all of your adventures with an LED lifespan of 80,000+ hours.”

Additional features and specifications include:

  • 4x 10w LEDs + 4x 5w LEDs
  • Draw: 4 Amps @ 12VDC
  • Raw/Effective Lumens: 6000lm / 4800lm
  • Peak Intensity: 141000cd
  • Input Voltage: 9V – 36V DC
  • Warranty Period: 1 Year
  • ETM Thermal Management Technology
  • Compliant with ECE R112/R7/R10
  • Heavy duty U mounting racket
  • Stainless Steel 304 mounting hardware
  • Under/Over voltage protection
  • Reverse polarity protection

Louisiana-based Oracle Lighting has been designing innovative lighting products and technologies for the automotive/12Volt, powersports, motorcycle, and marine markets since 1999. Oracle’s philosophy is this: in today’s world of fly-by-night vendors, we think it is important to partner with businesses that you can trust to be there for you today, tomorrow, and for years to come.

For more information on Oracle Lighting and its full product line, visit www.oraclelights.com, call (800) 407-5776, or email info@oraclelights.com.

Metra Celebrates the Life of Founder Michael M. Somma

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HOLLY HILL, FL (12.13.2021) – It is with great sadness and tremendous respect that Metra Electronics Corporation® announces the passing of its founder and innovator, Mr. Michael M. Somma. Metra’s president, Bill Jones, offered the following words as a tribute to honor the life of Mr. Somma:

“As Metra is celebrating its 75th year in business, his passing is even more bittersweet. But, we at Metra choose to celebrate his life rather than posting a simple obituary. His life was much more than that. His life was Metra, and thus, if you will indulge me, I’d like to offer you a kind remembrance of a man that meant so much to me and all of us, but especially the industry he helped to father and promote. Michael Somma was a man of simple means born to a hard-working Italian immigrant family living in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, New York. He was brought up with six sisters and his father worked at Steeplechase Park from 1913 until its closing in the 1960s. His mother tended to the upbringing of seven children and kept a loving household. Michael Somma was a true pioneer and a genius of the 6volt and 12volt car radio industry. He will be missed by his family, his friends, and the industry as a whole. Somma was 94 years of age at his passing. He saw the tremendous changes in our business since Metra’s founding in 1946 on Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn, New York.

Somma started out by opening a television sales and service shop with his brother-in-law, Sal Izzo, after serving proudly and with honor in the United States Navy in World War II. He was a graduate of Brooklyn Technical School, where he learned electrical and mechanical engineering skills. Somma built and sold his first television while attending school, which became his first official TV sale. It must have worked well! After the war, where he served as a radioman, he knew where his passion and interests would be best utilized, and thus, Metra Radio and TV was founded.

In the 1940s, Metra Radio and TV initially focused on selling television sets and home radios more so than car radios, as the demand for TVs was much greater and more lucrative at the time. Nevertheless, they went on to sell and install numerous car radios because cars at this time did not come equipped with a radio and the option from the factory was, as it is now, an expensive addition. Installing a car radio was a time-consuming and complex undertaking. These trials and tribulations gave Somma the idea of standardizing the design and creation of kits instead of tackling each installation one at a time.

Several innovations at the time pushed Metra’s focus more towards automotive. From the beginning, Metra was a Blaupunkt car radio dealer. Blaupunkt made great car radios and was the first to introduce FM to their units. Although not many FM stations existed at the time, the ones that did, offered a clearer and static-free broadcast. Although AM technology was still the rule and FM the exception up until the 1970s, Somma’s forward-thinking saw the potential on the broader bandwidth of FM and its ability to attain Hi-Fidelity sound, as it was called at that time.

Somma’s other innovation was the manufacturing of car radio installation kits, which greatly facilitated an easier installation of car radios. At the beginning of car radio installations, it could take two men several hours to install the earlier and primitive units. Somma used his considerable mechanical skills to fashion Metra’s earliest kits out of metal and find whatever way he could fasten the radio to the car. As a perfectionist, the installations were always top-notch.

One of the events that genuinely catapulted Metra to its glory was the change in New York regulations by the Taxi and Limousine Commission, allowing taxi cabs to legally have radios in their cabs. Prior to this, many states and municipalities outlawed radio use as they felt it would be a distraction to the driver. This change led Metra to pre-fabricate kits as their radio and installation business took off!

Soon, the car radio side of the business became more lucrative than selling TVs, and thus was born the new division, Metra Electronics. As more installations kept coming in, the need for a bigger facility became apparent. The solution was to move to a larger headquarters on McDonald Avenue in Brooklyn. This was the time of the “two Metras,” and the original store remained open and focused strictly on television repair and sales, run by Sal Izzo. Izzo was cautious of betting on just car audio and felt better suited to TV repairs and sales.

As the 1950s rolled on, more and more installations meant fabricating more radio kits. This is where Somma’s talents came into play, thinking of the bigger picture outside of Brooklyn. He reasoned early on that there were 48 other states going through the same hassle to fabricate brackets and trim panels for radio installations. Metra’s complete car radio installation kit for dealers was born. This is not to say that Metra was the only company thinking the same thoughts. Still, Somma’s boldness led him to eliminate the installation bays and fill them with machinery and equipment to manufacture the myriad of kits required to fit the many different types of cars on the road. He hired engineers and designers, set up a shipping department, and hired a sales and marketing staff to take Metra nationwide. Although it wasn’t always easy, his persistence paid off and Metra Electronics became a great success!

As time went by, Metra went full circle and introduced a line of car radios called MetraVox in the early 1960s that included 4-track players, AM and FM radio, and eventually became a public company in 1969. It was a highly successful line until the field became very crowded and technology-laden. MetraVox’s radios, which were manufactured in Italy and Japan, were discontinued as Somma determined that the true profit center was in the installation kit business.

In closing, let’s not forget the true pioneer who was way ahead of his time. Michael M. Somma ranks up there with Armstrong, Lear, Shalam, and the rest,” says Jones. “May he rest in peace and I hope he is smiling down upon us watching his creation thriving after 75 great years,” he concluded. Metra’s complete line of 12volt brands can be seen at MetraOnline.com. Additional information about the history of Metra Electronics is available at http://www.metraonline.com/news-post/408.