Toumaz Share Discussion Threads

[the drewster] 14/9/2016 11:11

9:30 in central London will deter many.

[chillpill] 14/9/2016 08:43

Anyone spotted the difference with the announcement of the results?

This time institutions and retail clients have been invited to a presentation.

#googlecastuncovered

[rob_evans] 13/9/2016 13:50

From The Financial Times

Amazon to launch Echo voice-activated speakers in Europe

Amazon is doubling efforts to expand its personal devices business globally, with the launch of the Echo speaker and its voice-activated Alexa personal assistant in Europe this week.

The cylindrical speaker can perform tasks such as playing music, ordering takeaways or calling Ubers, based on vocal commands. The Echo will be launched for the UK, Ireland, Germany and Austria on Wednesday and be available in stores from October, according to industry sources. Amazon could not be reached for comment.

Amazon executives have said they believe the next big computing platform will be voice-powered. Launched in late 2014, Alexa has about 300 different “skills” powered by third parties, such as Google-owned thermostat maker Nest and music streamer Spotify.

In the US, Amazon sells three different Alexa-enabled devices: the Echo, the Echo Dot, a smaller version that plugs into external speakers, and the Amazon Tap, a portable speaker and microphone.

Although Amazon has not disclosed sales numbers, analysts at Consumer Intelligence Research Partners estimate it has sold about 3m Echo devices. Over the summer, the Echo and Dot devices have been frequently on back-order, suggesting Amazon is having trouble keeping up with demand.

In the UK, about 9 per cent of households have some sort of home automation solution, according to a Gartner consumer survey. “We’d expect that a product such as the Echo will help move the home automation market [in the UK] forward as it makes the usage more intuitive,” said Jessica Ekholm, Gartner’s research director of personal digital services and connected home products. “Why use an app to control your home when you can just speak softly to it?”

There has been significant growth of voice-activated speakers since the Echo, and Alibaba, LG and Google have all announced personal assistants. The European launch will be the first expansion of sales of Amazon’s device beyond the US.

For Amazon, the Echo represents a chance for the company to get inside its customers’ homes and involve itself more in their daily lives. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has said Alexa might eventually be the “fourth pillar” of the company’s business, alongside Prime, Amazon Web Services and the retail marketplace.

Before this week’s launch, hardcore Amazon fans in Europe had resorted to buying the Echo on the US website and then having it shipped across the Atlantic. The UK is Amazon’s third-largest market by sales, behind the US and Germany.
-End-

[rob_evans] 13/9/2016 08:30

Andover Audio and Frontier Silicon Announce Strategic Partnership

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Andover Audio, the advanced technology original equipment developer led by former Cambridge SoundWorks General Manager Rob Mainiero, and Frontier Silicon, a leading technology provider for the consumer audio sector, are announcing a new strategic partnership in conjunction with CEDIA 2016, the home technology expo.

“This partnership between Frontier Silicon and Andover Audio makes for a terrific fit. Frontier’s technical, manufacturing and sales philosophies match ours,” said Mainiero, CEO of Andover Audio. “The audio industry is rapidly evolving through forward thinking and creative companies. Frontier Silicon is one of those companies.”

Andover Audio components are designed specifically for end users in the automotive, casino gaming and tele-communications categories. The company holds two U.S. patents and is recognized worldwide as a leader in OEM design and high performance audio solutions.

The companies will begin immediate collaboration on projects designed to incorporate Andover Audio’s expert engineering and manufacturing with Frontier’s leading edge technologies into consumer and commercial markets. This partnership represents Andover Audio’s return into the consumer electronics market.

“We see the emergence of the Wi-Fi-enabled smart audio market as an exceptional opportunity, with growing numbers of consumer audio brands entering the market and active promotion from ecosystem players such as Google. We are delighted to be partnering with Andover Audio to introduce our new solution incorporating Google Cast into the U.S. market,” said Anthony Sethill, Frontier Silicon CEO.

“This technology and collaboration has the ingredients, talent and experience to bring game-changing technology to the market,” Mainiero said.
-End-

[monty panesar] 13/9/2016 07:56

Looks promising.

[the drewster] 12/9/2016 11:14

knew there would be a way

[the drewster] 12/9/2016 10:52

Anyone who received the Frontier Silicon email this morning titled "Meet Frontier Silicon at CEDIA 2016 - invitation" should pay attention to the listed Ecosystems:

Spotify Connect
Apple AirPlay
Google Cast
Amazon
Brand Interoperability

Can't post images on here though. DYOR!

[the drewster] 12/9/2016 10:03

Apple Air Play too ...

You are invited to visit the Frontier Silicon demonstration stand, where you can experience our latest Smart Audio platforms incorporating Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay, Advanced audio synchronisation, and many other features. Contact details to make an appointment are found at the end of this invitation.

Frontier is at the leading edge of connected audio development, partnering many of the major companies producing the technology and services driving this growing and vibrant market. Our technology can be found inside products from all leading consumer audio brands.

Join us to see the technologies and solutions that will enable a new generation of consumer audio devices in 2016/2017:

[life of crime] 09/9/2016 09:34

Interesting link that I found on the iii BB:



It paints a rosy picture for the future of smart audio, in particular smart speakers. Let's hope the article is right and that TMZ continue to make inroads into that space.

[adventurous] 09/9/2016 08:28

chillpill - Where did you get that information about the bank putting their foot down?

[chillpill] 09/9/2016 02:31

I disagree on AS and Sensium. He kept it going longer than maybe he should have with hindsight. The bank I believe put their foot down and insisted they stop putting money into a bottomless pit. The bank for once has probably done the shareholders a favour.

[life of crime] 08/9/2016 22:19

Chill, you are right that they should have put a collaboration together with a deep pocketed partner for Sensium, rather than practically give it away, which they ended up doing.

Having said that, the health side was not going to be profitable for years and was a real drag on the finances. As things stand the future looks very bright and if the CEO's prediction of a doubling of revenues in the next couple of years comes true then the share price should be far in excess of the current 3p level. TMZ's prospects are certainly better than those of IMG, although its share price is surprisingly resilient.

PS. Well done to our athletes, who have won Gold already on Day 1 of the Paralympics.

[sweenoid] 08/9/2016 12:49

IBC starting tomorrow is a good opportunity for the digital and connected audio world to make a mark
Here is a link to a conference session there



I am led to believe that AS was effectively sacked by the 'investors' who were running FS, he is an abrasive character, I guess they didn't like his style. Ian Pearson who was on the board representing IMG was a supporter but was outgunned. When TMZ effectively bought FS he was a natural to run the business. I agree with others who believe his heart was not entirely in running the healthcare business, FS is his 'baby' and it seems that at last the market is catching up with the capabilities that FS offers.

I have had a big rethink on Toumaz, dispelled my disappointment with Sensium and although having reservations on things such as salary, see a bright business case for our technology. It's for others to take the mantle from us and over the last 10 years that simply hasn't happened. We are now the lead runner with Googlecast and connected audio and expect this to remain the case. Any connection to Amazon would be massive-we shall see

In for a penny , in for a pound , bought yet more this morning
my average buy price is ticking down but still way above today's SP

S

[adventurous] 08/9/2016 09:26

AS is making FS profitable, he had to take the hit on Sensium to get where he wants the company to be.

[folderboy] 08/9/2016 09:16

Seems a perverse fall - time to add? Maybe wait as I find this fall very hard to understand.

[the drewster] 08/9/2016 09:02

SP when Anthony took the reins was 10p (FS bought with paper and fundraising at 10.25

Let's hope he is constantly reminded of this niggling little fact.

[nod] 07/9/2016 23:50

It was clear when Sethill took charge of TMZ that he had no interest in Sensium. He was using TMZ as a way to get back control of his baby. Within two months TMZ had acquired FS where founder Sethill had left or was ousted only months before.The new Toumaz corporate website was entirely Frontier Silicon, you would not have known there were two divisions. That continued for over two years with very little news on Sensium while we were informed of every presentation and coffee morning involving FS.Interview with Sethill in Electronic Weekly:"I founded Frontier with Imagination Technologies in 2002," Toumaz CEO Anthony Sethill told Electronics Weekly. "It was fabless and focussing on digital audio."Late in 2011, founder Sethill left Frontier Silicon. By May 2012, he was CEO of Toumaz. And two months later, smaller Toumaz had bought Frontier."Hossein [Yassaie] was on the board of Frontier and a non-exec of Toumaz," said Sethill by way of explanation – that is Sir Hossein Yassaie, CEO of Imagination Technologies.

[adventurous] 07/9/2016 16:50

buggy - technically speaking yes - but most saw it for what it was, and often referred to it as a reverse takeover at the time. Basically speaking, ref: wc - there is nothing odd in the way things panned out.

As for FS, I think I recall they were once in profit, then AS lost control and left, costs went up and they made a loss, before 'Toumaz' raised the funds to accommodate FS.

[chillpill] 07/9/2016 09:20

Wad,

Correct. Except for any future royalties the current business all came out of FS. BY would never have seen it to commercialisation but with hindsight they should have some a collaboration with a global Medtech company.

Rather than having two high growth platforms they are down to one with a cash cow growing at 15%pa making sure they are profitable.

It is cash burn that kills small companies and TMZ are through that.

[buggy] 07/9/2016 08:37

adventurous,

I would not quite say it is a reverse takeover. Toumaz bought Frontier as a bolt on and not the other way round.

Once AS became the CEO by replacing Chris Toumazou he bought Frontier Silicon,
( a company he founded), and focus seemed to shift from Sensium to Frontier.

We are where we are, As is now within his area of expertise by getting rid of Sensium, so lets see how well he runs with it. Currently most people are still in the red.

There are faint signs that the company may well be positioned to deliver at last.

[adventurous] 07/9/2016 08:13

It a reverse takeover, nothing odd about it!!

[wad collector] 06/9/2016 22:22

Would it be true to say that Toumaz now effectively IS Frontier Silicon?
And yet , four years ago Frontier Silicon was not part of Toumaz. It has sort of changed its wrapper . Funny how things change.....

[the drewster] 06/9/2016 11:07

I'd like to see more announcements before the results, and look forward to the most positive "outlook" section ever in the company's history when the RNS comes.

[a2584728] 06/9/2016 09:39

Could do with some national press coverage to get them out there

[chillpill] 06/9/2016 07:35

Rome wasn't built in a day. The foundation's with Google have taken 3 years to put in place. Over the coming weeks and months the hard work will become visible for all to see.