Connected World Magazine

The Thanksgiving leftovers will barely be cold before consumers head out for holiday shopping. Research shows consumer electronic devices will be high on buyers’ lists when they hit the stores this year for Black Friday.

Gadgets are hot with consumers. According to Parks Associates, 60% of consumer-electronics holiday shoppers plan to purchase at least one device on Black Friday. But that’s not all—the research also shows many households began their holiday shopping before t ...read more

As more consumers “cut the cord” with traditional TV providers, Internet-enabled content is becoming a growing option. Research supports the growth of connected TV, and Parks Associates says there will be nearly 70 million smart TV households by 2017.

There is a growing awareness among advertisers that OTT content is gaining ground, says Parks. As connected TV becomes even more common, advertisers will need to adjust their strategies to take into account the many consumers w ...read more

Our televisions are no longer just flat screens to peer into others’ lives. Rather, the TV experience is becoming more connected and interactive with the help of M2M and IoT (Internet of things). Now we can do things like shop for products and services directly from our TV using our remote control and even monitor children’s television habits from afar.

Research shows consumers are beginning to use TV-content apps on smartphones and tablets to make watching television more i ...read more

Connected-home technology is growing quickly, but will it reach the majority of homes? More consumers are interested in implementing systems to manage their lighting, security, entertainment, and environmental controls. And vendors are coming up with no shortage of options, all of which may mean a revolution in smart home solutions.

According to research from Parks Associates, homes are putting data to use. The analyst firm forecasts that by the end of 2013, 60% of all U.S. ...read more

Right now, smartphones have the highest penetration rate of app platforms, reaching 60% of U.S. broadband households, according to research from Parks Associates, www.parksassociates.com. But TVs are hot on their heels.

Parks says 80% of consumers with smart TVs regularly use apps, and app developers view the smart TV platform as an area of significant opportunity. In 2013, smart TV penetration will reach nearly 25% of U.S. households. But consumers tend to use apps for TV d ...read more

Consumers are used to always-on connectivity and expect the same service from home devices. A recent Parks Associates study found 44% of U.S. broadband households are highly interested in smart troubleshooting features for connected appliances. These consumers see connectivity as a way to protect the investment they’ve made in their products.

arks Associates points out that consumers today expect to be able to connect with friends and family no matter what network they are o ...read more

To use Isis, consumers with an Isis-compatible mobile device would download the Isis Mobile Wallet app from Google Play, and then load an eligible American Express, Capital One, or Chase credit card into the app. Alternately, consumers can use the Isis Cash card that comes in every Wallet. When paying at a location that accepts Isis, the consumer would tap-to-pay, simply tapping the phone to transmit the

Research firm Parks Associates, www.parksassociates.com, reports almost ...read more

Connectivity is becoming a part of so many home devices and systems that someday soon we may no longer refer to “connected home” technology but instead simply say technology for the home. The connected aspect will be implied, thanks in part to M2M (machine-to-machine) technology.

Connected-home technology includes a wide variety of systems, such as entertainment, security, lighting, heating and cooling, and energy management. The growing availability of broadband connections ...read more