Beo's Future ?

Round and round we go...  wasn't it about 2 years ago that Apple was going to launch their TV and B&O was toast?  Haven't seen this Apple TV and B&O still appears to be in business.  I don't know why anybody in their right mind would enter the TV market right now - saturated market, huge capital costs, weak economy, razor thin margins, the weaker Japanese manufacturers are on the ropes...  If there's a company that can do it, perhaps it is Apple, but I'm not seeing it - they haven't exactly wowed since Mr Jobs passed on.  

Smart TVs seem like a dead-end to me... I don't want a TV that is obsolete in 2 years.  Buy a Smart DVD or Apple TV that can be easily upgraded when/if the "killer" TV apps arrive (and will undoubtedly require more smarts than your current smart TV - this is just the march of technology).  I can live without "all in one" if this means a 2 year upgrade cycle (assuming smart TVs start behaving like smart phones)... 

Was there a financial statement I missed that is sparking this doom and gloom?  They closed some stores and dropped the BS4, and we're putting them on death watch?  Maybe this is just creative destruction - cleaning out the deadwood so the tree can grow stronger - we just have to wait a bit to see the results.

B&O has their work cut out for them, like every other electronics company (yes, even Apple), but if the BeoPlay stuff is selling, I think this is a good thing.  Not much of anything is selling for anybody right now...

Stan

Stan, it takes 3 years minimum to develop a TV set. Normally, Apple should launch his iTV at the end of this year. Apple contact last summer an expert as Loewe to corporate together. Shame that it is not with B&O.

It's wonderful to see such a miserable bunch on this site these days. Makes for very humorous reading. And it is lovely to see that the crystal ball gazing crowd/profession is still alive and kicking!

I think you should watch this space. BNO have done well with the current economic climate in bringing out a range of product at the pace they have. I agree they need to smarten their BNOVisions, but that is happening.

There is a mighty speaker in the midst. Start saving.

They have been a bit quiet, because they have been busy working on new fun stuff. Expect to see the dismal BM5 sent to retirement and a new, better, more interesting and versatile kit come along.

HAVE SOME FAITH!

Dude1:

There is a mighty speaker in the midst. Start saving.

 

Dude1:

It's wonderful to see such a miserable bunch on this site these days. Makes for very humorous reading. And it is lovely to see that the crystal ball gazing crowd/profession is still alive and kicking!

With respect, a healthy debate, positive or negative, hardly makes for humorous reading. If we sat here saying "it's great, everything is great!" in every other thread, the discussion would rather false and boring. I'd say this forum is the most *positive* forum I've ever been on - most other forums are full of woe and negativity. Even Apple forums contain multiple pages of threads about their iPads being slightly too warm, or having screen ghosting and so on.

All people are doing here is giving an opinion on what's happening right *now*. Until we see this top end speaker (which my dealer mentioned over a year ago), we can't comment on it, until it arrives. And it hasn't arrived. All we can comment on is a lack of high-end audio systems, since they've cancelled the BC2, BS9000 and BS4.

You do understand the amount of money we push in to this brand? I recently spent £1000 on two BeoCom 5's, which simply do not work. I have a right to be somewhat negative about this. Do you just want me to lie, avoid the forum and pretend everything is superb? I think that's what some users expect - no negativity at all. Bury your head if something doesn't perform as expected.

I love the brand - we all do, that's why we registered on a B&O-only forum - but you can debate either way. That's called being a paying customer. Paying customers have a right to their opinion. Mostly these opinions are positive (for instance, I love my BeoSound 4, whereas other people have said on another forum that it won't be missed), but sometimes they can be balanced with a little worry, a little negativity. I'm totally confused how that winds up certain people on this board. There's a handful of users who just object to it. Again, as I've said before, maybe this "passion" is a little too passionate.

I am agree with you Moxxey because I

am passionate too. ;-)

Dude1:

It's wonderful to see such a miserable bunch on this site these days. Makes for very humorous reading. And it is lovely to see that the crystal ball gazing crowd/profession is still alive and kicking!

I think you should watch this space. BNO have done well with the current economic climate in bringing out a range of product at the pace they have. I agree they need to smarten their BNOVisions, but that is happening.

There is a mighty speaker in the midst. Start saving.

They have been a bit quiet, because they have been busy working on new fun stuff. Expect to see the dismal BM5 sent to retirement and a new, better, more interesting and versatile kit come along.

HAVE SOME FAITH!

The CEO at Bang and Olufsen should read this thread because the comments in this thread are from people who actually purchase the more expensive B&O products.  Many such as myself have been into the brand for a long time.  We all understand the worldwide economic situation and probably are more forgiving due to these problems.  Customer communication is important and doesn't require a new flashy catalog.  All B&O has to do is send an email maybe indicating there are exciting things coming.  I received an email from Mercedes Benz a few days ago teasing the outline of a new S Class model.  I am not looking for a new car but I possibly might in a year.

I realize the Beoplay products are for the 25 to 35 year old iPhone crowd but unfortunately these people don't have a lot of money to acquire an A9 after barely having the money to buy a Macbook Pro.  Unemployment among this educated group is still very high but slowly improving.

My last large purchase, about 3 years ago was a pair of Beolab 9s and a Beosound 5.....love the Beolabs but hate the Beosound 5.  In fact my Beosound 5 has been unplugged for about 6 months.  Maybe B&O will have a special deal for the lost Beosound 5 owners.

I don't think we are miserable.  However many of us are concerned.  I believe that once a B&O owner drifts away from the brand, they probably don't come back.

 

 

I do not understand why everyone think Apple will have a TV and B&O is dead.  I doubt Apple would be successful with a TV.  Apple comes out with a New model of their products every year, who is going to buy a new TV every year or everyother year, not me. 

B&O will be fine, they just need to some some decent Audio.  Personally, I think they need a digital, turntable, tuner w/ AM&FM and CD.  Vinyl is still big is the US, just ask Neil Young.

Ask not what Apple can do for you – ask what you can do for Apple :

pay year after year

God bless Apple

AMEN

olvisab:

Ask not what Apple can do for you – ask what you can do for Apple :

pay year after year

God bless Apple

AMEN

 

wesheltonj:

I do not understand why everyone think Apple will have a TV and B&O is dead.  I doubt Apple would be successful with a TV.  Apple comes out with a New model of their products every year, who is going to buy a new TV every year or everyother year, not me. 

B&O will be fine, they just need to some some decent Audio.  Personally, I think they need a digital, turntable, tuner w/ AM&FM and CD.  Vinyl is still big is the US, just ask Neil Young.

OK, that's good to know. Where did you buy the crystal ball? I'd like one... 

olvisab:

God bless Apple

AMEN

Someone already ate a bite of the apple. So there goes Eden!

 

olvisab:

Ask not what Apple can do for you – ask what you can do for Apple :

pay year after year

God bless Apple

AMEN

Congratulation, you just made the top 10. I won't say of what though.... 

Well lets look at that crystal ball?  New iPhone every year, 4 iPads, too many to count iPods.  Apple makes money selling new iDevices.  Last year it was Apple is going to buy Loewe TV, a product not sold in the USA and from my understanding has about the same price point as B&O.  Tell me who is going to upgrade that sum every year or every other year, not me.  Next, iTunes.  Apple makes it money selling content, they have no TV content.  I have there set top box.  There is more content with on my Samsung Blu-ray player, then my Apple TV, if it was not for Mirroring my iPad, I would not have an Apple box.  Apple continues to say that Apple TV is a hobby product.  Another thing, the cable companies here in the USA charge money rental for the set-top box to get programming, I doubt that the cable industry in the USA is going to give up that monthly revenue for a built-in set-top box from Apple.

wesheltonj:

Well lets look at that crystal ball?  New iPhone every year, 4 iPads, too many to count iPods.  Apple makes money selling new iDevices.  Last year it was Apple is going to buy Loewe TV, a product not sold in the USA and from my understanding has about the same price point as B&O.  Tell me who is going to upgrade that sum every year or every other year, not me.  Next, iTunes.  Apple makes it money selling content, they have no TV content.  I have there set top box.  There is more content with on my Samsung Blu-ray player, then my Apple TV, if it was not for Mirroring my iPad, I would not have an Apple box.  Apple continues to say that Apple TV is a hobby product.  Another thing, the cable companies here in the USA charge money rental for the set-top box to get programming, I doubt that the cable industry in the USA is going to give up that monthly revenue for a built-in set-top box from Apple.

You're not exactly helping yourself...

 

Why wouldn't they make money selling new stuff? What should they be selling? Perhaps old stuff? 

It's business, you need something new to sell. You don't have to buy it though. I'm still on the original iPad, works just as well as the new one.

Should the iTunes content be free then? How would that work out? Nothing is free.

What I do agree with you though is that the Apple TV might be a bit of a "hobby product". I've argued this before, and still believe any future Apple TV is going to be a few inch cube at the most. There's plenty of panel makers, one of which is making a profit?  

Bayerische, Flappo, Elephant, Puncher, Apple's preachers.

Is there an exorcist here ?

I had one, but I missed a payment and got reposessed 

I think the title of this thread is "Beo's Future".  Why do so many discussions turn into an Apple discussion?  There are plenty of Apple discussion forums where you can rant for days. 

Because , for these preachers , outside Apple there is no salvation.

Apple is actually the future of everything.

I need to buy a new car, maybe, I should wait that Apple makes my choice simpler.

Yawn...and I go away again

 

Cheerio!

I luv my Beosound 5

Can't think of ever going back to CDs again.

Beautiful!

Normal 0 false false false EN-AU X-NONE X-NONE

B&O has always stood out as outstanding sound and vision.

Subaru - who used to have rigorous engineering and a no compromise attitude to going roaring down a pine forest track at 150kmh sideways, is a similar company in a way.

Now, similarly, Subaru is producing "me too" / soccer mom wagons that look like they have all come from the same factory as do cheap cars. Very sad....

B&O have been given a scare - I think many tv manufacturers use the new digital platform of sound and image as a great leveler, where as in the analogue days it wasn't quite the case. There are many car makers, but the quality ones still stand out and command a premium.

B&O need to be outstanding. Again.

Maybe produce a few things for the i-crowd ( as a potential hook for later on ), but it needs to re-focus and make itself a no compromise quality company again.

I dont think completely open is the way to go - as apple demonstrated, maintaining control of all aspects of quality - OS & hardware, made it a solid platform. Ironically, I know many Windows based IT people who need bullet proof laptops, so they buy mac laptops.....

 

Nuff said.

 

olvisab:

Because , for these preachers , outside Apple there is no salvation.

Apple is actually the future of everything.

I need to buy a new car, maybe, I should wait that Apple makes my choice simpler.

As I recall the apple preachers didn't start the bashing.

You are being a silly. 

....sooooo..... back to what we think re the future of B&O.....

olvisab:

Bayerische, Flappo, Elephant, Puncher, Apple's preachers.

Is there an exorcist here ?

I beg your pardon!!!!

Puncher:

olvisab:

Bayerische, Flappo, Elephant, Puncher, Apple's preachers.

Is there an exorcist here ?

 

I beg your pardon!!!!

I knew it! You are secretly an Applefanboy.

These guys have the crystal ball, remember? 

Puncher:

I beg your pardon!!!!

Ban boring signatures!

I almost spat my dinner out with laughter when I saw that...

I don't think it is very wise to predict the future of a company this way.

But I do think they make a few to bold and honestly stupid solutions.

I mean the A3, now obsolete but still sold, for older iPads than current model.

Playmaker, the white odd box that only let's you connect your probably expensive units via RCA and not powerlink - resulting in that you connect your already expensive speakers to a box just to use it for AirPlay from your phones..

And what about the disrespect to the customers?

I mean the Beolit 12, good sound but how crappy is the wifi? It is seriously a big problem. It takes so long to connect to a wifi, it drops out and B&O doesn't even comment on it. According to a friend close to the engineering team they simply have chosen a bad wifi-design meaning software patches are not going to fix it. I hope otherwise nonetheless.

And when I'm already speaking, I also want to mention the V1/BV11 which tue says is great for gaming. Well.. Perhaps if your motor skills is so bad that you can't really tell about the extreme lag. I find it annoying even while trying to use the remote of my Apple TV! I have noticed that B&O disables color management when you use their on screen menues. Perhaps because they then appear more rapidly? In any case I find the lag unacceptable in such a quality screen.

The BS5/encore should just be taken off the market. What is that today? I have an iPad that does the same - way better! I can even take it with me to the kitchen. I mean, they even have the stupid playmaker for it!

And what about all the speakers? Going everywhere in bad design.

I can only hope that they are working on something but I really hate to fund it to them by purchasing crappy things in the mean time.

The playmaker for example could very well be built into the new V1 and BV11 since the technology for it is in them. It is just software. I really don't think they understand what they are doing right now.

At this time I think B&O is a bit to quick to release new things. Just because something has a funky design doesn't really mean it works well.

A lot of us is still using old equipment, I don't think anyone will be using a playmaker or A3 in ten years ;).

Regarding Apple, I think Loewe might be a good partner for them. I don't find B&O's spirit to be more than just trying to make share holders happy by slimming their organization and pushing more products to the marketplace, just to bring cash flow.

And as you know this is very much the opposite of Apple.

Aplle, Apple, appel.. what's that ?

Do they manufacture amps, speakers, tv ?

I don't know this audio/video brand, sorry.

 

Michael, you made an interesting and relevant analysis. +1

Like crappy plastic fantastic ugly playmaker, cheap wifi beolit 12 chipset. The main problem is that BnO only focuses to increase incomes , everything have to be made cheap to increase margins. Earlier it was to create a WOW experience at all costs and all efforts into every product, today nobody cares about this. Quick and dirty = Quick and cheap

What about a new digital BeoSound system which is able to play hi-res audiofiles (no restrictions on file type), has DLNA, uPnP and Airplay in it, in combination with a (external) ripping device (we still need them to put them on a HDD).

Shortly: an update from the existing BS5-range with hard- and software updates and with a WOW factor. Notto forget that the new device should be NL compatible.

Even a new flat remote with bigger screen (ala 7000) to use with the (digital) setup and select music. A successor for the Beo6.

Not Apple related, but just B&O with a sleek design.

Also available with digital in-and outputs. More new speakers should have this digital input to enjoy the hi-res audiofiles.

Probably next year in the shops?

Just some thoughts . . . And I think B&O will have a lot of (new) customers. Even it wil be far more expensive but this is what the (existing and new) customers probably want. A complete new WOW factor. A new designpiece in our house with all the latest features.

I am looking forward to it!

olvisab:

Aplle, Apple, appel.. what's that ?

Do they manufacture amps, speakers, tv ?

I don't know this audio/video brand, sorry.

 

Oh just give it a rest. 

 

What even you can't deny is that Apple (how hard was that to spell?) is excellent at Media and integrating it seamlessly with technology. The software platform you get is prepared for pretty much anything.

 

Only you seem to think it's a audio/video brand.   

BeoBoy68:

Michael, you made an interesting and relevant analysis. +1

+2.

 

Gatex:

Like crappy plastic fantastic ugly playmaker, cheap wifi beolit 12 chipset. The main problem is that BnO only focuses to increase incomes , everything have to be made cheap to increase margins. Earlier it was to create a WOW experience at all costs and all efforts into every product, today nobody cares about this. Quick and dirty = Quick and cheap

This is usually the outcome of a company who suffers from cash-flow problems.

 

They aren't doing themselves a favor though... 

Beofan53:

What about a new digital BeoSound system which is able to play hi-res audiofiles (no restrictions on file type), has DLNA, uPnP and Airplay in it, in combination with a (external) ripping device (we still need them to put them on a HDD).

 

Shortly: an update from the existing BS5-range with hard- and software updates and with a WOW factor. Notto forget that the new device should be NL compatible.

 

Even a new flat remote with bigger screen (ala 7000) to use with the (digital) setup and select music. A successor for the Beo6.

 

Not Apple related, but just B&O with a sleek design.

 

Also available with digital in-and outputs. More new speakers should have this digital input to enjoy the hi-res audiofiles.

 

Probably next year in the shops?

 

Just some thoughts . . . And I think B&O will have a lot of (new) customers. Even it wil be far more expensive but this is what the (existing and new) customers probably want. A complete new WOW factor. A new designpiece in our house with all the latest features.

 

 

I am looking forward to it!

This would sound good! 

 

I would love something close to the BL7000 as a remote. The iPad works great with an app, but still it's nothing but an iPad. Having something like the stunning (for it's time) Beolink7000 would be a WOW factor. 

I'm prepared to pay for it. I'm not prepared to pay for an outdated 11" screen and a cubic foot of off the shelve computer though.

"Only you seem to think it's a audio/video brand. "

That's second degree humour. Maybe too complicated for you maybe.

B&o is an av famous brand, Apple has no lessons to give in this field.

This is not the first time for b&o  they have to adapt their offer to the demand.

And they will probably do.

Apple is not the standard, example to follow in av.

For the rest, you are right.

Apple is good for its software platform,

Stop boring people with Airplay, wired audio system are more efficient and popular than this lazzy system.

Apple - biggest company on the planet

B&O- has-been 's past their sell by date

Nuff said

 

olvisab:

"Only you seem to think it's a audio/video brand. "

That's second degree humour. Maybe too complicated for you maybe.

B&o is an av famous brand, Apple has no lessons to give in this field.

This is not the first time for b&o  they have to adapt their offer to the demand.

And they will probably do.

Apple is not the standard, example to follow in av.

For the rest, you are right.

Apple is good for its software platform,

Stop boring people with Airplay, wired audio system are more efficient and popular than this lazzy system.

You are strange, but I'm sure you've heard that before?

 

Who besides you think Apple is an AUDIO and VIDEO brand?!?! As in A/V? Come on! 

It's a media brand, I'll give you that, but not Audio / Video!!! They don't manufacture speakers/amps/receivers/actual TV's etc... 

Apple is as much AV as B&O are a computer manufacturer. 

YOU are strange because you spend you time to compare them.

There is no comparison possible, THAT'S ALL.

Again, it is a mess in your brain, A/V is A/V, computer is computer.