CE Pro April 2023 - 21

Ring Founder Siminoff
Hands CEO Reins to
Ex-Discord COO
RING FOUNDER Jamie Siminoff, whose company was acquired
by Amazon for $1 billion almost exactly five years ago,
has decided to forgo his CEO title and shift to the role of Chief
Inventor, he posted in a blog on the Ring website March 1.
In making that announcement, Siminoff added that Elizabeth
(Liz) Hamren will be joining the company as its new
CEO. Hamren comes to Amazon Ring having most recently
served as COO at Discord.
" Liz has a long history in consumer devices and subscription
services, building and launching some of the most
innovative and beloved consumer products from Oculus to
Xbox and more, " Siminoff notes. " When she and I met eight
years ago, Ring was so small
and I hadn't shared our mission
with anyone except our
team, mostly because no one
would listen. Even then, Liz
understood what I was feeling
about the space: Our work
wasn't about trying to make
a faster chip or shinier plastic,
it was about changing
the way neighbors
think about security
for the better. I've felt
a kinship with her ever
since, and I am honored
and excited to
have her join the team
on this mission. "
Since its founding
Liz Hamren
takes over
for Jamie
Siminoff,
whose new
title will
be Chief
Inventor.
just over a decade ago,
Ring has become a mainstream disruptor in the doorbell space,
launching a video doorbell that spurred what's become an important
category in the smart home and smart security space.
The company's breadth of products has since expanded
to include indoor and outdoor surveillance cameras, lighting,
alarms and more. It has gained major traction in the custom
integration industry over the past several years, as its Works
With Ring partnerships continue to expand as well as its
presence at events such as CEDIA Expo.
Siminoff notes that the Ring team has been preparing for
the transition since last June.
" Liz will lead Ring, Blink, Amazon Key, and Amazon Sidewalk,
starting on March 22. I will focus on inventing even
more great products with Liz - and maybe have a little more
free time too, " he says.
cepro.com
URC Total Control Now
Supports Ethereal's
Big Dog Power
URC AND ETHEREAL have announced the launch of an
integration with URC's popular Total Control platform and
Ethereal's Big Dog Power brand. Residential and commercial
integration customers can now enjoy myriad benefits of having
these technologies work seamlessly together across power
monitoring and protection services with connected devices.
The Big Dog Power Smart Power Distribution Unit and
other models in the new brand from Ethereal were introduced
last year to commercial integrators at InfoComm
2022 and to residential dealers at CEDIA Expo 2023.
As Ethereal, which recently underwent a rebranding
from Metra AV, comments, the Big Dog Power Smart PDU
combines all the features integrators need into one device
to deliver surge protection, remote control, smart home
integration, rack
temperature management,
and more.
Twelve individually
controllable outlets
have power metering,
self-healing, and
automatic reboot
capabilities for
smarter and easier
remote management
of connected devices.
URC's Total Control can integrate
Big Dog Power, which
debuted last year for Ethereal.
When surges occur, two removable surge protection modules
can be replaced without sacrificing the entire PDU,
making this solution unique and cost-effective.
" The PR-R13PI Smart Outlet is unlike any other PDU on
the market. It's included surge mileage meter that shows
the percentage of remaining protection makes it possible
for integrators to know exactly how much surge protection
they have remaining, giving them the power to be proactive, "
says Ethereal's product manager, Adam Rogers.
Integrating across Ethereal's Big Dog Power product
line, URC products can now automate environments with
greater power efficiency and security, Ethereal notes.
In practice, the end user can use URC's Total Control
to switch on, switch off or reboot devices such as media
players, streaming boxes or routers, the company adds.
" This next generation of power distribution, efficiency
and resiliency integration with Big Dog Power ensures that
our dealers can easily install more secure smart systems
with premium security and excellent power monitoring and
adjustment quality, " says Lars Granoe, URC's VP product
development.
April 2023 CE Pro | 21
http://www.cepro.com
CE Pro April 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CE Pro April 2023
