1. No re-badged/co-badged Samsung (see a trend emerging?)

2. Either produce a blockbuster cell phone concept or get the hell out. The future of B&O TeleCom will be in a mobile experience. The Serene is a poor entry into the market and the Serenata is just awful.

3. Revamp current line-up to reflect current technology: Blu-Ray in BC2 & BV7, Stereo pair in BV9 (I understand it will mean sacrificing the acoustic lens, but sacrifices must be made!), lose the "rolled frame" on the BeoVision 9 and pre-lose it on the upcoming BV4. There's much more, but those are a major start.

4. Don't listen to people who want to lower the price. The prices are not the issue. The fact that the prices don't make sense with the CONCEPT is the problem. No one questions $5,200US for the BeoSound 9000 and the damn thing is over a decade old. The BeoVision 9, however, is nothing BUT questions! We simply need the products to be beyond reproach in design and capabilities. At least here in the states, where I understand it is a bit ahead, the BeoVision 7 is very close to the BeoSound 9000 in terms of first and lasting impressions. The price is rarely an issue and it sells briskly.

5. Rep Ops! Products are brought to market as though they're snuck past anyone with any sense! BeoMedia without enough horsepower to play short video clips!? At almost $3000!? Developing the BeoVision 5 into the BeoVision 9 by taking steps backward!? Producing products with a Samsung logo on them!? BeoLab 9s made from leftover BeoLab 1 parts!? A BeoSound 3 without a mini AUX jack for iPod playback!? SERIOUSLY!?

6. With Torben gone, stop focusing on the number of launches and think more about what we're launching and where it's taking the concept. Without even discussing the BeoSound 5, we have 4 entirely different ways of dealing with digital music! Get it together!

7. Develop something like the following products: iPod dock, wireless system (like a BS1) that can tap into wireless link network, a few more link products like BL3500 or BL2000, BeoLabs dynamic enough visually and technically to naturally kill off older generation of speakers, noise-cancelling headphones (givin' the people what they want!), EarSet 2s that rarely fail, seperate the BeoSystem 3 into 3 smaller products: Picture Engine (side by side demo in showroom please!), Stage Manager, Amplifier (does not yet exist) to run non-B&O (gasp) speakers.

8. Develop retail experience. Give customers the Louis Vuitton experience with a well dressed and competent staff and more dynamic displays (thanks soundproof). Convergence is the cornerstone of modern AV so let's converge a little bit!

Thanks for reading the bulleted rant.

Good luck B&O. 

My response to B&O would be simply, "Surprise me! You always used to."

Simon.

Looking at the B&O financial figures, I would say the TBS plan failed because costs got blown out of the water. There is also the fact that the UK did not bite in terms of sales either which is probably a case of Mr Neogeorgeiancopyclone wanting 10 channels of HD on sky and the fact that his disposable income vanished with a pseudo inflation rate of 2.5% (probably more like 25%) :-

Here's my shot:-

1. Drop the number of TV models for sale from the dozen or so they have now to just 2. (My dealer has always gone on that for the last 30 years only one TV model ever sells well at any one time). A 32 incher and a 40/46 incher. If people need something bigger – get a beamer. A 100incher isn’t going to sell in numbers so why spend a fortune in R&D?

1. Drop the audio only models to 1 only i.e. Beosound 1 – consolidation.

1. Drop all MP3 players – questionable product placement in this niche

1. Drop all Mobile phones – questionable product placement in this niche

1. Drop all DECT phones to 1 model i.e. Beocom 2 – questionable product placement in this niche. BC2 is an icon even if it is a difficult phone to use.

1. Drop the BL4/6/8k loudspeaker range – time to move on. Get over it!

1. Develop the BeoSystem 3 further as a modular concept inside the two TVs. This will help focus on more rapidly developing trends in technology and keep the TV’s “in fashion”. TVs would essentially be re-badged X-brand with a decent “engine” in there. B&O have absolutely no chance in the visual market unless they re-badge. Use as a beamer engine too.

N.B Re-badge means the mechanics and operating system of a TV, DVD, BR or whatever. It does not mean the mechanical or electronic software interface.

1. Introduce one very high end A/V master. (BeoCentre 5 sounds almost right) but must include a high-end CD drive for quality non-PC ripping. Let it have the B&O “touch” and operating interface. Multi-media player. Let it do all the work.

Accompanying this master would be a series of re-badged boxes: a DVD box, a BR or HD DVD box (or universal player). A Hard drive box. (thinking BS5000-7000 type boxes here). Each could to be developed rapidly as market trends change. CD Audio to exquisitely copy to the Hard-drive as required. All communicate with the A/V master only. Customers can add/choose what combination they want.

1. Introduce an entry-level A/V controller (i.e. a Beoport of sorts without the direct touch interface but TV Beo4/5 operation as a basic master).

1. Plough oodles of cash into loudspeaker development and marketing. All loudspeakers digital/digital inputs etc… Amplifiers as required A/B/D etc. Develop a better speaker than the BL5.  Develop an ICE Amp not for sale to 3^rd parties. Keep that amp way ahead of the competition. Put something between the BL4 and the BL3.

1. Develop a new wired distribution system based on modbus technology or similar. One wire transmits everything. Signals, controls, data, power. Keep away from wifi!

1. Cars, yachts, hotels – pay for themselves out of new model range only. Easy to limit functionality.

1. Stop expanding the B1 shops. Let the customer travel. Give the dealers more market area and allow them better turnover. This will increase the quality of staff as their margins will allow for better class of salesmen. Kevin from Curry’s need not apply.

Basically, B&O should reduce there overall product portfolio, focus on a few key products  - especially loudspeakers and try and keep up with development. An A/V master should be the new control interface and tactile experience but unfortunately there will be only one until the core business is re-aligned. This will reduce costs significantly enabling pricing to level-off and even dip.

Cost reduction is the key. Get rid of surplus departments, low margin products, focus revenue into more R&D on acoustic transducers, HID technology. Focus on modularisation of separates so internals can be changed easily within a B&O operating core.

10%

Yes - B&O should stop developing their own digital media software like Beoport and Beomedia. 

What they should do though is to build a UPnP client into their TV's. Then users could stream music and video from what-ever-server they have (Media Player etc) Look at PS3 and make a very nice user interface. This would give the user added value for money.

B&O should go into home automation. This will be the future and put B&O ahead of other competitors. And most important. Make it open for 3rd part vendors to produce products that can be controlled.

Agree, streamlining of current product range is needed and a return to core B&O products, hifi speaker etc.

I see no sense in chasing mobile markets when all B&O can do is churn out products like the (awful) serenata and below market mp3 players so maybe a return to what it does best?

B&O is not apple, apple customers have a very shortlife expectancy from thier products and when bought are already discussing possible changes or improvements in the next model whereas  B&O customers do not and look forward to further integration or future devolpments which will enhance what they already have.

I think the distincition between the two brands has to be very clear, apple is here today gone tomorrow and B&O is here today, here tomorrow. 

I believe first generation ipods are struglling to sell for £10 pounds... I paid near £400 for my 40gb when it was first launched.  Some old Apple gear is still desirable, isight etc but not in the way that B&O is and if B&O are to adopt apples approach than we have a very different brand with a very different approach to its consumers and its products.