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ISSUE NO. 903
NX300 - WINNER BEST ADVANCED CSC
NX300 - WINNER BEST ADVANCED CSC
Photo - imaging - video - audio - tv - Print - mobile - stats - PeoPle - retail - business - news
News A Galaxy of Opportunity A closer look at the impressive imaging capabilities of Samsung’s Galaxy S4 Zoom Smartphone with Samsung UK’s Senior Product Manager, Digital Imaging, Jon Penney, on page 8.
The Big Interview In a world of connected cameras and imaging phones, we’re privileged enough not to be surprised by innovation anymore! New technologies remain an exciting and promising opportunity for our industry, though, and Lytro bring something entirely new to the imaging table. We get up close and focused with Lytro on page 15.
Footfall’s Not All Helen Dickinson, British Retail Consortium Director General, reacts to the news that August’s shopping footfall was down slightly, year on year: “A slight fall in shopper numbers is disappointing after several months of positive results, but there are a few factors at play. All in all, these figures need to be taken in tandem with the recent rosier economic news, including a good run of sales growth and many of us starting to feel more positive about the economy.” Diane Wehrle, Retail Insights Director at Springboard, said: “Shopping centres fared less well than high streets and retail parks in August. Despite the challenges they face, high streets recorded an increase in footfall of 1.1 per cent over the quarter.”
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CSC ShOckEr!
30th September 2013
Nikon reveals the world’s first waterproof and shockproof interchangeable lens camera— the Nikon 1 AW1 CSC The waterproof, dust proof and shockproof Nikon 1 AW1 has been launched together with two water/shock/freeze-proof lenses (the 1 NIKKOR AW 11–27.5mm f/3.5–5.6 zoom lens and 1 NIKKOR AW 10mm f/2.8 wide-angle lens) for these extreem conditions, however under more normal conditions, the Nikon 1 AW1 will also be compatible with existing lenses in the 1 range. The Nikon 1 advanced hybrid AF system promises spot-on stills and smooth movies, whilst the 14.2-megapixel CX-format CMOS sensor offers an ISO range up to 6400. Full HD movies are possible underwater, in freezing temperatures,
and full-resolution photos can be captured whilst filming. Thuan Bui, Product Manager for Nikon 1 products at Nikon UK said: “The new mode combines the style, portability and high performance synonymous with the Nikon 1 range with the added benefit of all-weather protection. Photographers can concentrate on taking photos and movies, rather than worrying about the safety of their camera.” Sales will start in October: the Nikon 1 AW1 with 11-27.5mm f/3.5–5.6 for RRP £749.99; Nikon 1 AW1 with 11-27.5mm f/3.5–5.6 and 10mm f/2.8 for RRP £949.99 and the 1 NIKKOR AW 10mm f/2.8 for £299.99.
A New Page for Ilford Ilford identifies a path through current difficulties... Ilford look set to emerge from a restructure which has necessitated a reduction of the workforce by around 40%, as the Management Team, comprised of Paul Willems, Chief Executive Officer and Jean-Marc Metrailler, Chief Financial Officer, has acquired the Ilford Imaging and Ilford Property companies. Part of the land owned by Ilford Property is being sold and the proceeds will be invested into the Imaging business. In addition, JetGraph Co., Ltd (a distribution partner in the Japanese and Chinese markets) will enter into the share capital of the company. Paul Willems said: “The last few weeks have been extremely challenging and I would like to thank the dedicated staff that have continued to push the business forward under very difficult circumstances. I am very grateful for the continued support of our customers that have stood by us. “Finally, we have had a number of key suppliers that have continued to work with us through this
period at their own risk and again I appreciate their support. It is a true testimony to the quality of products and the importance of our brand.” Willems continued: “Moving forward, I am delighted that we have found such a promising solution for the future of the brand. JetGraph’s knowledge and experience in the imaging business will be invaluable and their contribution will ensure that we can implement our strategic growth plan to the benefit of all those involved.”
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The wait is over. A new 16M Live MOS sensor and a TruePic VII image processor takes the performance of Zuiko lenses to new heights. An innovative Dual FAST AF system applies ultimate auto focusing technology to both Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds lenses. A state-of-the-art, interactive large EVF gives you the power to see exactly how your image will appear before you press the shutter release. Introducing the OM-D E-M1. A mirrorless camera beyond a DSLR.
Find out more at your local dealer or visit: olympus.co.uk/e-m1
Register now for your opportunity to enhance your E-M1 FREE HLD-7 battery grip and MMF-3 Adapter when you pre-register* *While stocks last. Available on redemption. Terms and conditions apply. Visit olympus.co.uk/buy-OMD for full details. MMF-3 Adapter only available to existing MyOlympus registered E-System users.
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It Could Be You! Nominations for the Pixel Trade Awards open soon. What can you do to be in with a chance of winning? As you know, the countdown to the Pixel Trade Awards has begun! In case you missed the memo, here’s a recap: the Pixel Trade Awards are to take place this year on Frinday 15th November at the Park Plaza Riverbank, London. New awards categories are opening up this year, So without further ado, it’s time to get people voting for you and your business. We’re providing a promotional toolkit for hopefuls to use to let those who could vote for them know about the awards and to prompt them to cast their vote. The kit includes MPU’s, web banners, buttons & badges for your websites, social media, mailshots and email signatures and whatever else you can think of! It’s available to download for free at www. pixeltradeawards.co.uk In addition to seventeen NEW sub
categories, the Pixel Trade Awards will as always feature its prestigious reader-voted awards, the categories for which are: • Hardware Accessory Manufacturer of the Year • Processing Manufacturer of the Year • Hardware Manufacturer of the Year • Independent Retailer of the Year • Multiple Retailer of the Year • Mass Retailer of the Year • Online Retailer of the Year • Independent Print/Lab of the Year • Print of the Franchise Year • Multiple Processing Retailer of the Year • Consumer Magazine of the Year • Consumer Imaging Website of the Year • Consumer Marketing Campaign of the Year • Overall Innovation in Imaging
Xcited? You should be! The wait is over! Fujifilm’s fourth interchangeable lens camera is the Fujifilm X-A1 This latest addition to Fuji’s X line-up will broaden the appeal of the range to an even wider audience; it’s positioned as a step-up compact system camera for users looking to buy into their first interchangeable lens system camera. The X-A1 has a similar feel to the X-M1, but this time features a 16MP APS-C CMOS sensor and EXR Processor II offering high quality image capture. For the first time, the retro aesthetic of the X series is expanded upon with a variety of colours. It also boasts a layout designed for one-handed operation, with all the operation buttons and dials positioned on the right side of the camera’s rear panel. For ultimate flexibility, the X-A1 features a
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• Distributor of the Year • Rep of the Year • Retail Sales Person of the Year Along with the sub categories, the Outstanding Contribution to the Industry award will, of course, be making its appearance. Media toolkits, tickets to the event itself and anything else you may need to enjoy Pixel’s 2013 Trade Awards are available from Simon Skinner simon@lifemediagroup.co.uk 01323 433700.
News
tiltable high-definition LCD monitor, which combined with the ergonomic lay out and built-in flash, opens up a huge range of shooting situations.The X-A1 also offers built in Wi-Fi and Full HD video recording. Compatible with all Fujifilm X mount lenses, the X-A1 is particularly suited to the two FUJINON XC lenses that have been recently announced. Compact and lightweight, the XC lenses cover a wide range of focal lengths. The X-A1 / XC16-50mm kit will be on sale from October 2013, UK SRP will be £529.99. The Fujinon XC16-50mm lens is already on sale its UK, SRP £399.99, and the FUJINON XC50-230mm lens will be on sale from November 2013. Its UK SRP will be £429.99.
Photo Snowbox 6x4”
Pre-Order Now
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Nikon has officially been named a CoolBrand. The CoolBrands list, now in its twelfth year, was drawn from thousands of brands. The panel of 37 influencers then scored each brand on factors such as style, innovation, originality, authenticity, desirability and uniqueness, before 3,000 members of the British public gave their ratings. Stephen Cheliotis, Chairman of the CoolBrands Expert Council, said: “Having a loved and desired brand can provide a much-needed edge in the battle for discretionary spend. The brand qualities we examine in the survey can be key influences on consumer purchasing, so this is not just a thumbs up for Nikon’s reputation, but an indication of its future success.”
Christmas Merchandiser Unit Only £399.00 Instant Gifts Just add Print
Size 178cm (H) 62cm (W) 38cm (D)
Nikon = Cool. It’s Official!
Photo Key Ring Bauble
Stock & FSDU will be available from mid October
Displaying all our best selling Christmas gifts Photo Snowdome plus 2 New additions for 2013. Top Up stock available to purchase separately
new for 2013
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News Harman: Student Pride Harman’s 2013 UK student photographic competition is themed “Pride and Prejudice”. The competition is open to students of any age who are undertaking a full or part-time course at a UK based school, college, or university. Category 1 is for photographs from conventional ILFORD or Kentmere film and printed by the student on the brands’ traditional black and white darkroom papers. Category 2 is for inkjet prints from digital capture printed on Harman inkjet paper. Prizes include Harman credit.
BREAKING ILFORD NEWS As Pixel went to press, we received news that had secured a technology partnership with Lintec Sign Systems Inc. Lintec, experts in the wide format printing and commercial sign and display market, recognised the potential synergies between the two companies and an agreement has now been reached that will result in the latest coating technologies offered by Ilford being applied to a range of bases manufactured by Lintec and available on a global basis under the Lintec brand. The technology partnership will see Lintec Sign Systems Inc., taking advantage of these latest innovative coatings and offering its customer base products that will open up new opportunities. Mr Kojima, Chief Executive Officer, Lintec Sign Systems Inc. concluded: “The team at Ilford has demonstrated that their leading edge coating capabilities will enhance our existing product range as well as allow us to develop new products to meet the demands and needs of our customers.”
4K for Everyone Sony’unveils first 4K consumer camcorder. Sony are opening up 4K content production with a new 4K handycam. The FDR-AX1E camcorder records 4K and HD movies in the XAVC S format,which allows longer recording times, storing almost two hours of 4K video on a 64GB XQD memory card - the new and ideal XQD N series were released along with this model - making 4K recording easier and more convenient. Switching to Full HD recording can store almost 3 hours of footage on a single card. For further compatibility with existing consumer devices, AVCHD format is planned to be updated by the middle of 2014 The 1/2.3-type Exmor R CMOS sensor captures true 4K resolution images, containing four times the picture detail of Full HD, and has the output speed required by the 4K 50 fps data stream. The powerful image processor
is identical to those found in professional 4K camcorders. With pro-style ergonomics that are also designed to be easily mastered by consumers, the new handycam is ideal for imaging enthusiasts who are taking their movie production seriously. The FDR-AX1E can be connected to a 4K television - like Sony’s Bravias - with an HDMI cable for instant 4K playback.
A Cinematic Dream Canon’s EOS-1D C recognised for cinematic potential Canon’s groundbreaking EOS-1D C, designed principally for motion picture capture, has been independently tested in accordance with European Broadcasting Union standards for HD content acquisition. Results indicated that the EOS-1D C provides exceptional HD resolution from a 4K source with very low aliasing and ‘good’ colour performance and motion portrayal. “The EOS-1D C has received a tremendous response since it launched, and we’re delighted the test results were so positive,” said Kieran Magee, Director of Professional Marketing at Canon Europe Ltd. “We’ve created a truly unique product that offers exceptional creative scope for videographers. The feedback we’ve received from the professional video community has been excellent, so it’s great that the product has been awarded the industry accreditation it deserves.” An innovative model that pushes DSLR video into new and exciting territories, the EOS-1D C delivers outstanding video quality, advanced low light performance and film-like dynamic
range. It’s based on the same compact and lightweight design as Canon’s EOS-1D X, only with a specification that is designed for video-supporting in-camera 4K video recording with 4:2:2 colour sampling, offering greater creative freedom for video professionals. Advanced creative flexibility is provided with support for a range of resolutions and variable frame rates, with 4K video recorded using 8-bit Motion JPEG compression at 23.98P or 25P, and Full HD video capture available at frame rates up to 1080/60p. As part of the wider EOS System, the EOS1D C is compatible with Canon’s unrivalled selection of over 75 EF Lenses – providing videographers with an incredible range of creative options.
In the Connected Spotlight
Rotolight used IBC to debut the next generation of award winning ANOVA V2 floodlights The 6 new Anova models feature ‘best in class’ colour rendering, are 350% brighter, offer flicker free output and DMX or WiFi control via the Rotolight ‘Magic Eye HD’ App. The Anova V2 LED EcoFlood product range includes the electronically colour adjustable BiColour and the Anova Solo
LED EcoFlood fixed colour LED flood lights available in 5600K or 3200K, all with a choice of Ultrawide or Standard beam angles. Rotolight have recently been used on James Bond Skyfall and prime time TV shows, and Rotolight were recently awarded the prestigious ‘Cinegear 2013 Technical Award’ for the latest
upgrade of the Rotolight Magic Eye app which provides a simple ‘DMX Console’ user interface and advanced feature set enabling wireless control of brightness, colour temperature and systems settings.
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Photo By Numbers
50% of people sharing digital images via laptop, 1 in 3 still printing photos
Social networking websites 50% of people and mobile apps dominate across the UK are online photo activity, followed using their laptops to share by cloud services such as digital images with their Flickr and Dropbox, and online family and friends, according printing services such as to a new consumer research Snapfish and Shutterfly. study from Futuresource Overall, 71% of the total Consulting. sample is using a fixed lens Arun Gill, Market Analyst camera to capture photos at Futuresource, explained Only 2% of consumers marginally more than the 67% that the research revealed see connectivity as the of total respondents that use that consumers are relying more on multiple screens and most important feature smartphones to do this. Smartphone owners are media types to share photos for their next camera capturing photos more with family and friends. As frequently, on a daily or weekly well as half of all respondents basis, with almost 60% of all respondents using laptop PCs, 42% are using mobile capturing photos at least once a week on phones and 38% are using cameras. smartphones. Only 34% capture photos at least Compared with research conducted in 2012, once a week on a fixed lens camera. Instead respondents are now more likely to use their they are more often used on special occasions. mobile phone screen to share photos, as However, looking to the future, only 2% of well as apps such as Instagram, Facebook consumers see 3G/4G connectivity and built in and Twitter. Although down from 2012, hard mobile apps as the most important feature they copy remains a popular way to share photos, would like on their next digital camera. including prints (32%) and photobooks. The main area for manufacturers to focus on, Consumers in Russia and Germany are according to the survey responses, is the need to more active when it comes to sharing digital extend battery life, closely followed by improved photos compared with respondents from the resolution or more megapixels. USA and UK.
Zeiss Support Binocular Society The German-American Binocular History Society has made it their goal to trace and document the history of binoculars
Binocular collectors around the world meet regularly to talk about their experiences in lectures, workshops and exhibitions and to increase their knowledge. This has resulted in a close connection between a collectors’ association and the traditional Zeiss brand. Zeiss is once again the main sponsor at the seventh meeting of the Binocular History Society, taking
place from 4 to 6th October in the Louwman Museum in The Hague. “Supporting such an organisation and being present is a matter of pride for Zeiss. Binoculars are our common passion – their history, the technology and the valuable early models must be preserved for future generations,” emphasizes Richard Schmidt, Managing Director of Carl Zeiss Sports Optics GmbH.
Beamr this Up! Service helps with large file streaming Beamr Video’s service, launched at IBC, enables content providers to distribute high quality video with faster downloads and smoother streaming on bandwidth constrained connections. Beamr Video is device agnostic, making high quality video accessible from any consumer device such as smartphones or tablets. “4K resolutions represent the next step in
high-definition video, but providing content has posed technical challenges. Beamr Video has figured out how to reduce the massive footprint of video files, so they can be distributed efficiently and cost effectively,” said Sharon Carmel, CEO of Beamr.
News The Grimsey Review It’s out! You can now read Bill Grimsey’s high street review, as extensively discussed in Pixel, on the website vanishinghighstreet.com/ the-grimsey-review. “This review has its origins in the publication of the Government commissioned review of the high street carried out by Mary Portas in 2011.” On his blog, Bill goes on to emphasise the importance of the high street to the UK economy. “When we talk about the high street we’re referring to an industry that comprises some 95,000 companies, employing £326bn of gross assets, borrowing £65bn and with a total net worth of £135bn. It was clear to me that Portas had failed to highlight to Government the dramatic structural changes impacting the retail industry. In his interview with Pixel, Grimsey invited retailers to get in touch, either directly or via Pixel. You can email the editor - laura@ lifemediagroup.co.uk - with your thoughts.
The Next Step for Students Canon has launched The Canon Student Network - a programme designed to help aspiring photographers studying photography or equivalents to take their next step with imaging. Opportunities will include “Shoot the Show” at London Fashion Week, plus events for sports, wildlife, portrait and wedding photographers. Bringing further value is the access offered to education, tips, tricks and business advice from noted professional photographers and the opportunity to network with companies and agencies to help establish contacts. A competition will give a talented student the chance to have their photo used as the main image within a major Canon campaign including print, outdoor and online advertising as well as in store, First years need only to be enrolled in an eligibe course at one of the 11 roll out universities and sign up to the Project 1709 – Canon’s beta online imaging management system. Second years will be required to own a current Canon DSLR and lens. A course for students in their third year will be rolled out in the next academic year and we’re told there will be no extra requirement for students in order to join.
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The Power of POS
Back in February we told you the story of the former Jessops store in Bicester that was taken over by Rob Peckham and Paul Crockett to open iMagex! This is the final instalment of our three part catch up on how the guys are getting on since opting to join the KODAK Alaris Express network. They will be telling us what has really worked for them in store to drive sales and footfall. This week we’re focusing on Kodak Alaris Point of Sale - iMagex have installed 3 x G4XL KODAK Picture Kiosks offering Next Day and One Hour services, plus a G4Xe for Instant Prints. Powerful point of sale signage is helping maximize the store’s performance. What has been going on since we last caught up with you? The business as a whole has been growing month-on-month by a significant amount, and the new Bicester Town Centre with two hours’ free parking has been a great help. We’ve also received great support with our technical issues from Tetenal, who have been very efficient in supplying consumables and excellent point of sale ideas from KODAK Alaris. We’ve noticed that customers really love using the big and bold touch screen kiosks, this in itself gets the customers excited and
they gravitate towards them. It isn’t all about the looks though, there isn’t another kiosk with this screen size or clarity, which all our users notice and comment on, it certainly fits our company profile of offering the best image quality perfectly. The largest volume print buyers are female family members of all ages (mums, aunts, grannies) with their family & holiday photos, although an increasing number of local professionals are trying our large format/canvas printing services. To maximise the stores profitability point of sale has become a key feature across the KODAK Picture Kiosks. KODAK Picture Kiosk point of sale helps to deliver: • A prominent visible brand identity by using brand colours and logos • An emotional connection and loyalty to KODAK Picture Kiosks through engaging visuals. • Our most compelling features & benefits
that resonate with our core customers • Ease and convenience to print photos • Print from mobile via the KODAK Kiosk Connect App • Print from Facebook • Sell up opportunities (Photobooks, Calendars, Enlargements) • A walkthrough guide to new features along the customer journey • Seasonal promotional offers to maximize sales opportunities To find out more information on the great benefits Kodak Picture Kiosks can deliver to your business visit our website at www.kodak.co.uk or call us on +44 (0)1442 261122
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“The Urban Toy Shop” Dixons Retail think they’ve cracked the formula for the high street store of the future. Dixons Retail is calling its new Bluewater store the “store of the future”. Designed based on research and customer feedback, the new Currys & PC World hopes to address the changing needs of customers. Sebastian James, Chief Executive Dixons Retail, said he was “thrilled” with the new store format. “In it we have distilled everything we know about making these exciting and desirable products spring into life. Our job is to make buying technology not just fun, but also easy, and I think this takes us another giant leap forwards in achieving that goal for our customers.” The first of this new design and format, the Bluewater store aims to attract new audiences, with a particular emphasis on female and younger customers. Customer research showed that more needed to be done to attract these customer groups and the Bluewater store has been designed with this in mind: a more attractive store design, and a greater emphasis on having fun with technology and an interactive in-store experience. Concepts at the Bluewater store include: • Stay & Play areas: newly designed ‘playtables’ with areas for customers to sit and hang their shopping bags, whilst experiencing products or receiving expert advice. •Stylish design: the entire store, from colour
palates to the fixtures and fittings, aims to provide a modern, clean and welcoming feel, offering a more aspirational experience to fit the fashion-focused premium shopping location. • Fully flexible space: from playtables on wheels that are powered from a grid in the floor, to entirely moveable wall fixtures, the store can easily flex to meet demand and seasonal changes in product ranges and store design. • Knowhow/Showhow: a dedicated area will host one-on-one and group tutorials as well as services including set-up, Delivery & Installation. • Fully aligned: all store elements designed with a multi-channel strategy in mind. In store tablets and touch screens at point of sale, provide customers with information at their fingertips, helping them to make informed choices and decisions.
A Win for Pixel at Digital Distribution’s Golf Day! Heythrop Park Resort was the venue for Digital Distributions fourth annual golf event in July Digital Distributions guests - made up of customers and suppliers, with the occasional member of the press for good measure - demonstrated their golfing prowess on another beautiful summer day. This year’s winner was Simon Pilsworth from Harpers Photographic who also collected the Longest Drive trophy. The team award went to Pixel’s own Lee Mansfield’s team, pictured right, which also boasted the strengths of sports broadcaster Jim Knight, Matt Paine from Digital Distribution and Fuji’s Jon Difford who also picked up the ‘Nearest the Pin’ Prize. “Heythrop Park is a great venue for us... spectacular holes, yet not too punishing for the less confident golfers. Also the bar seems quite popular with our guests! I would like to thanks all those who attended, Samsung and Fujifilm for providing the gifts and Heythrop Park for looking after us all on the day and evening.” We didn’t have room for all the images from the day. See more atfacebook.com/DDLTD.GB
News
“Positive Start” to the year at Photo-Me Photo-Me have released their interim statement, and reported a “positive start to the year.” The group reported the year has started well, helped by the recent launch of its ‘Revolution’ laundry machines in France. Photo-Me’s turnover is slightly lower year to date principally due to lower revenues in its Sales and Servicing division and the sharp decline of 18% in the yen against sterling against the same period last year. Despite the lower turnover, profits for the Group are once again ahead by over 10%. The European business benefited from an increase in photobooth numbers of 7.5% year-on-year and the progressive rollout of its higher margin Starck photobooths.
Click for Calumet Calumet is keeping up with retail trends by rolling out a new website which has been designed to offer ‘a unique and allinclusive online photo-shopping experience.’ The website revamp – which coincides with the company’s 75th anniversary – is the result of months of planning to develop a state-of-the-art site which will interact seamlessly between Calumet’s 31 worldwide stores and its professional call centres. The new-look website will offer full product listings which will be easier to find with an improved search function, product reviews and comparisons, wish lists and online promotions which Calumet say will be “significant”.
Panasonic Promotion: National Trust Memberships To support the launch of the new DMCFZ72 and the existing DMC-FZ200 Lumix cameras, Panasonic will be rewarding every customer who purchases one of these two models with a complimentary membership to the National Trust. This promotion, available nationally through all major retailers and independents, is a high value reward which will appeal to many people who have chosen these models because love to take stunning photographs in wonderful locations. Customers will be able to choose between a single, joint or family National Trust membership that will give them unlimited access to a whole year of amazing days out at over 300 special places across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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A Galaxy of Opportunity
Whilst smartphones are playing an increasing role in our lives, their camera capabilities have typically failed to impress. However, the recent introduction of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom, with its 10x optical zoom with Image Stabiliser looks a much more capable performer. We spoke to Jon Penney, Senior Product Manager, Digital Imaging at Samsung Electronics UK to find out more. How does the Galaxy S4 Zoom differ from most smartphones? Whilst smartphones are playing an increasingly active role in our lives, their camera capabilities have sometimes left a lot to be desired, with their small sensors and digital zoom capability. The Galaxy S4 Zoom combines a larger 16 megapixel backside illuminated CMOS sensor with a 10x optical zoom lens with optical image stabiliser, letting you get closer to the action and capture the moments that matter in amazing detail. The combination of larger sensor, speedy processor and Xenon flash also help to achieve great results in low light. Can you tell us more about the lens? Sure. It’s a first for a smartphone, and we’ve used our optical expertise to produce a 10x optical zoom, giving an effective angle of view from 24mm to 240mm. This can help capture stunning vistas thanks to the wide angle capability or help you really get in close to the action using the 10x zoom range. The built-in image stabiliser can help minimise the effects of camera shake to give great shots every time, whilst the regular zoom controls of a compact camera have been replace by the Zoom Ring, which give fast access to the camera and precise control. How does the Zoom Ring work? The Zoom Ring is a simple and intuitive way to access the Galaxy S4 Zoom’s key features. When you are in the middle of an important phone call and you see something you absolutely have to share, a quick twist of the Zoom Ring will activate the In-Call Photo Share feature, letting you capture and send
an image directly via MMS to whoever you are talking to. For easy camera navigation, the Zoom Ring can be used to activate the Quick Launch
“This is a new device that combines the heritage of the Galaxy S4 with advanced photographic capabilities.” and Shortcut features, giving you instant access to multiple camera modes including Auto, Gallery and Smart Mode with just a
simple twist. You can customise the Quick Launch menu so that you can quickly access your favourite Smart Mode, ensuring you never miss that moment. The Optical zoom control replaces traditional dials and buttons with smooth, easy-to-operate digital controls making it even easier to take professional and accurate shots. What about the SmartPhone features of the S4 Zoom? This is a new device that combines the stylish heritage of the Galaxy S4 smartphone with advanced photographic capabilities. It’s part of the Galaxy S4 family, and its heritage is evident throughout, from its sleek and stylish design to the powerful, yet intuitive user interface. Running on Android Jelly Bean 4.2, the Galaxy S4 zoom boasts many of the same features as the recently launched Galaxy S4, including Touchwiz, which lets you fully customise various aspects of your device including the lock screen and notification bar, for a truly personal mobile experience. The 4.3” qHD sAMOLED display is beautifully crisp and clear and provides the perfect partner to help you frame and review your images. Besides the usual on-screen shutter button, you can also use the shutter button located on the body, to enjoy a true photographic experience. The standard model supports both 3G and Wi-Fi connected, so you’re always connected, whilst we’ve just started shipping a 4G variant, which will take advantage of the new high-speed fourth generation networks that the major operators have just recently unveiled.
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SAMSUNG
That will be perfect for tools like Photo Suggest, which instantly connects you to huge libraries of images taken by fellow photographers, to help you find and compose your best shots, anywhere in the world. You can simply launch the app and the S4 Zoom will establish your location and let you see a host of shots that other people have taken from nearby locations. You can use the results for inspiration, and make your way to precise spot they took their shot from to try and recreate it, or find your own angle by getting a shot that other have missed. It’s so easy to use and can provide inspiration at the touch of a button. How good is the camera? It’s really impressive. It uses a 16mp back illuminated CMOS sensor and can provide incredible detail and sensitivity. It’s much larger than the sensor found in typical smartphones and also benefits from the optical zoom and xenon flash, which provides a brighter, more natural light source for night shots and fill-in flash. It’s also packed with smart technology to help novices and more experienced photographers get the best results. The Galaxy S4 Zoom also features Samsung’s popular Smart Mode. You can simply choose from a series of pre-set modes and the camera will automatically adjust to ensure you capture the best photo possible. Use Drama Shot to merge continuous shots of moving objects into a single composed image, or Action Freeze to instantly capture high-speed action. If you are not sure which Smart Mode to select, the Smart Mode Suggest feature can assess the scene for you and provide a list of the best options based on light levels, focal length, or face detection, ensuring you always get the shot you want. Having captured your shots, the large 4.3” sAMOLED screen is a great place to review your images. It’s a touchscreen of course, so you can just swipe through your library to locate the shot you want and also use the Zoom Ring to enlarge an image on the screen to check focus, for example. You can also crop and edit your shots with the built-in apps or download one of the thousands of popular photography apps from the Google Play store. There’s 8GB of built-in storage, which can be used for storing captured still and videos. This is also shared by the S4 Zoom for the Android OS and apps, so you have approximately 5GB of free space to begin with. There’s also a microSD card slot that supports cards with capacities up to 64GB,
so if you add an extensive music collection to your S4 Zoom, for example, you can simply insert a memory card and save your photos directly onto it. Being a connected smartphone, you can also backup or save images to the cloud, using DropBox for example, giving complete flexibility over your storage. What are your final thoughts on the Galaxy S4 Zoom? I’ve used it for a while now and it’s a really
rewarding experience. The phone features are fantastic and the camera is really versatile. I love the Photo Suggest feature and with new apps being developed for Android all the time, I can only see the experience growing. The white version looks great but I particularly like the Cobalt Black colour, which is really striking and I’m sure will prove extremely popular. www.samsung.com/uk/
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SPECIAL REPORT
MOBILE DEVICES
News Old for New Rocketcases have updated their best-selling Retro Gamer case line for the new iPhones. Combining consumer demand for ‘retro’ styled products with necessary additional protection for the most popular smartphones (and let’s not forget that the iPhone is ‘the world’s most popular camera’), these are an ideal item for any store attracting electronics consumers. RRP around £13, there’s room for a decent margin even with a little discounting to make these impulse purchases even more popular on the run up to Christmas.
The Hudl is Here Tesco’s Hudl tablet has suprprised tech reviewers by being, in the words of Gizmodo, “not rubbish”. The entry-level tablet is expected to become a huge seller, particularly as Tesco Clubcard holders will be able to get the device for a substantial discount. The potential great news is that this could open up the market for more budget tablet options, by taking away a bit of the ‘must have top brands’ mentality as it takes its place in the market. Whether anybody will be able to better Tesco’s offering on price remains to be seen.
A Galactic Launch Customers can take advantage of a range of exclusive offers from film and music content, to tickets for live events using Samsung’s new My Galaxy. They will be able to learn about the latest accessories for any Samsung smartphone through the app’s m-commerce storefront, with access to over 300 products and real-time stock availability. My Galaxy will be pre-installed on devices sold in the UK later in 2013.
One Tablet Fits All 3 different size screens, same comprehensive specifications
Goclever is bringing its new Aries Series of Tablet PCs to the UK starting with the 7inch pocket rocket - the ARIES70. With varying display sizes to suit a number of different requirements or preferences, the Aries Tablet PC series from Goclever includes three models; the 7inch Aries70, the 7.85inch Aries785 and the 10.1inch Aries101. All of these models are powered by a Quad Core processor backed by 1GB RAM, and all run on the 4.4.2 version of Android. They also all boast IPS screen technology and 4 Core graphics to deliver a high level visual experience no matter how graphically intense the sources, and have 8GB on-board storage as standard.
The series also have a free multipurpose case which not only acts as a screen protector but can also be used as a stand, and come with a comprehensive selection of pre installed apps out of the box. The Aries70 is available now from RRP £159.99, covered by a 2-year UK warranty. The 7.85inch Aries785 and 10.1inch Aries101 will follow shortly. The 101 also features a battery which delivers enough power for 7 hours of intense, continuous use.
A New World Leader Sony’s new release claims ‘world’s leading camera in a smartphone’. Sony Mobile’s Xperia Z1 is a ‘groundbreaking camera experience.’ Xperia Z1 features Sony’s award-winning “G Lens” with a 27mm wide angle and bright F2.0 aperture, custom made large 1/2.3-type CMOS image sensor Exmor RS for mobile with 20.7MP and a BIONZ for mobile image processing engine. The combination of these technologies
Lap-Tablet
Toshiba is back in the spotlight Satellite W30t and W30Dt – powerful ultra-portable laptops with backlit keyboards for productivity at home, and a detachable touchscreen for tablet entertainment anywhere. Perfect for people who want the convenience of one device for different uses or locations – and, potentially, retailers who would like to offer a diverse set of options - the Satellite W30t and W30Dt deliver full
delivers the same level of quality and performance as a conventional compact digital camera in a slim, waterproof smartphone. High shutter speeds and 3x clear image zoom also prevents shots from being blurred while enabling them to be captured at distance. Xperia Z1 also includes a number of pre-loaded photo related apps for image editing and sharing.
More ‘best of both worlds’ technology from Toshiba
performance and offer the advantages of a touchscreen, backlit keyboard and large storage capacities in laptop mode. When the screen is detached, it transforms into a convenient multitouch tablet with a large 33.8cm (13.3”) display, giving users plenty of viewing space. The tablet also offers more built-in space than the average tablet – with a 500GB HDD, users can enjoy added storage for a library of their favourite media.
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News World’s First CFast SanDisk’s Extreme Pro CFastTM 2.0 memory card, designed for professional broadcast, cinematography and next-generation professional photography, is currently the world’s fastest memory card, with read and write speeds of up to 450MB/ s2 and 350MB/s2. With the new card, industry professionals are able to manage large files faster: a 100GB file takes only four minutes to transfer at 450MB/s3. “We are enabling a next generation card format to meet the needs of high-end professional cinematographers looking to embrace technologies such as high-quality 4K video,” said Dinesh Bahal Vice President, Product Marketing, SanDisk. SanDisk Extreme Pro CFast 2.0 memory cards are being channeled through photo specialist stores in 60GB and 120GB capacities.
From Lens to Living Room Sony has announced two home cinema projectors, the 4K VPL-VW500ES and a Full HD 3D home projector, the VPL-HW55ES. Both projectors are designed to bring the high quality images of a big screen cinema experience into the home, with wireless HDMI compatibility as optional accessories. This enables them to receive a video signal from Blu-ray players and game consoles. Tak Nakane, Product Manager at Sony Europe said: “These new releases reinforce Sony’s commitment to lead in imaging innovation from lens to living room. Innovations such as Sony’s 4K SXRD panels provide unrivalled picture quality at high resolution to make the 4K dream a more affordable reality.”
Expanding Capabilities for Pros Sonnet’s new Express SE II, will replace the highly successful Echo Express II expansion chassis. The new model adds enhanced capabilities and sells at a lower price, and also includes a coupon for a free upgrade to exchange to Thunderbolt 2 when it becomes available later in the year. The new two-slot Thunderbolt 2-to-PCIe expansion chassis enables the use of a wide variety of highperformance PCI Express cards, originally designed for use in desktop computers, with any Mac computer with a Thunderbolt port.
Feast your Eyes New top monitor tech reduces eye strain MMD, (license partner for Philips monitors) unveiled its new 61 cm Full HD monitor at IFA. The monitor boasts an incredibly fast 144 Hz refresh rate and ultra-short pixel response time of only one millisecond for lag-free, real-time imaging. Furthermore, it comes with a state-of-the-art TN panel which ensures an extremely short response time of only one millisecond for richly detailed, extra-clear and crisp images without ghosting effects. In addition, this advanced display redraws the screen up to 144 times
per second, 2.4 x faster than a normal display, to deliver supersmooth, brilliant pictures. The 144 Hz refresh rate not only minimises eye fatigue, but also offers other key benefits like reduced input lag and more frames per second. This new monitor is available immediately, RRP around £350.
The Latest Squeeze Booq’s new range is ideal for creatives on the move. Booq have a new line of bags which are ideal for creative enthusiasts and professionals. The Mamba Courier - £73.15 (11”) £81.28 (13”), £105.67 (15”). The Mamba courier is made from an innovative natural fibre, which is strong, lightweight and waterproof. This elegant laptop brief has a padded notebook compartment inside the zippered main section, as well as further iPad and accessory pockets. The Boa Courier - £99.97 (13”), £83.29 (10”), £108.30 (15”) Encased in a sleek, professional exterior the Boa courier truly is at
home in all environments and workday situations. The split-opening design includes numerous pockets for quick access to frequently used items. All Boa courier messenger bags are tagged with a Terralinq serial number - a measure Booq have taken to help deter theft and to help reunite photographers with lost property. Boa Squeeze - £113.95 Designed to hold a 13-15” Macbook and other essentials, a simple yet luxurious design marks this backpack as the perfect fit for today’s travelling creative professional, with room for everything they need.
CeBit Comes to the UK UK will be partner country for No.1 digital trade show next year.
The German Federal Association for Information Technology, Telecommunications and New Media (BITKOM) and CeBIT, the No. 1 tradeshow for the digital industries, have named the United Kingdom as their official Partner Country for 2014. “I am delighted to accept the offer from BITKOM and CeBIT for the UK to be Partner Country in 2014,” said Nick Baird, CEO of UK Trade & Investment. “Trade fairs remain at the heart of how businesses succeed globally, and every year UK Trade & Investment helps thousands of UK companies to take part in fairs worldwide. Many of the major sectoral fairs are in Germany, and CeBIT, the world’s largest ICT show, will be the launch pad for our international promotion of UK high
technology next year.” Despite a difficult economic climate, Britain’s IT and telecommunications sector has enjoyed moderate but steady growth in revenues over the past few years. EITO (European Information Technology Observatory) is predicting the sector to grow its revenues by 2 percent to around 128 billion euros in 2013 on the back of growing demand for tablet computers and smartphones and increased investment in software and mobile infrastructure. The United Kingdom is one of Germany’s top trading partners in the ICT hardware segment, ranking just behind France as the secondbiggest export market for German hardware over the whole of 2012 and again for the first quarter of 2013.
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AV & COMPUTING
Samsung Screens the Future Samsung spoke out at IFA about the brand’s vision for the European consumer electronics market. Samsung has led the European TV market for the past 9 years, achieved by pioneering LED and Plasma technology able to display the brightest colours, deepest blacks and sharpest pictures. Now, Samsung is driving a new era of TV innovation with bold approaches to Ultra High-Definition (UHD) and OLED technology designed to deliver the ultimate lean-back experience. Last year, Samsung sold two TVs every second around the world, and in Europe the company has a 41% market share. Set to lead the pack is the Samsung UHD F9000. With over eight million pixels and a resolution four times higher than Full HD, the UHD F9000’s LED panel produces crisp detail, optimal colour and contrast all complemented by a Quadmatic Picture Engine: no matter the source of the content – SD, HD or Full HD – the Quadmatic Picture Engine adapts the source image, eliminates visual noise, improves the sharpness of the image before finally up-scaling the picture to be displayed in stunning UHD. The Samsung Smart Hub, a simple and
Mira Image
Panasonic’s new projectors support Miracast connectivity Panasonic’s new projector additions feature Miracast capability for better connectivity with more devices. The new series features two models with wireless capability, PT-VW345N and PT-VX415N, and two non-wireless models, PT-VW340 and PT-VX410. With brightness of up to 4,200lm and WXGA resolution, the VW340 Series delivers high contrast ratio of 4,000:1 which has doubled compared to the previous models of VW330 series. On top of this new functionality, the two wireless models also feature iOS and Android applications which permit wireless projection from i devices that are not Miracast-certified.
News More Mobile Adobe
intuitive five-panel layout that turns the start screen of the TV into an entertainment and social hub, has evolved to meet another customer insight Samsung discovered; live TV is no longer at the centre of the television experience. S Recommendation suggests shows and films to watch dependent on the user’s tastes and watch history. Coupled with a Twin Tuner, built-in camera, video chat capability and one-button content sharing with mobile devices, the F9000 delivers a true state of the art viewing experience.
Delkin at the Movies
Delkin’s new card offers Smooth, Continuous 4K UltraHD For Cinema
Delkin’s CF 1050X is a specialised cinema memory card that’s designed to excel in high-end recording equipment, such as 4K cameras and digital backs. Capable of recording data at speeds up to 120 MB/s, the 1050X is our fastest card to date and is able to keep up with the most demanding digital cinematography requirements. “With 4K being adopted more each year, there is a growing need for memory cards that are fast enough to smoothly capture UltraHD video footage,” explains Marketing Manager Anna Lopez. “With Delkin’s CF 1050X Cinema cards, filmmakers know that of their footage will be captured without dropped frames.”
Adobe has announced the availability of Photoshop Elements 12 and Premiere Elements 12, new versions of the top selling consumer photo and video-editing software. “Our customers have a lot of photos and videos, and they also want the freedom and flexibility to view, edit and share on their mobile devices,” said Lea Hickman, Vice President, products, Creative Consumer Business, Adobe. “Photoshop Elements 12 and Premiere Elements 12 will provide customers with the best of both worlds, quickly, easily and at their discretion.” Adobe Revel is an app that is free for up to 50 photo or video uploads per month.
Back up in a Flash JumpDrive back-up packs!
Lexar, has released the JumpDrive V20 USB multipack, an ideal packaged solution for impulse purchase points. The JumpDrive V20 makes it easy for consumers to use USB drives for storage and solves the problem of identifying what’s in each one. Available in packs of two, three, or four, each drive comes with write-on labels and a pen, and features a protective, clear cover so users can slide in and swap out labels as needed to keep stored files organised. Each drive also sports an LED activity light that blinks during data transfer. The JumpDrive V20 USB multipacks are available now with MSRPs of £15.99 (twopack), £23.99 (three-pack), and £31.99 (fourpack), and include a two-year limited warranty.
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SPECIAL REPORT FOCUS
THE BIG INTERVIEW
Not familiar with Lytro yet? You will be. Pixel speaks to Lytro ‘Evangelist’ Topher Martini for the fstory behind imaging’s new cool kids on the block. is something that is going to capture the imagination of imaging enthusiasts and really help them to share their passion. In June we launched a mobile app. Through this, Lytro photographers can now wirelessly upload their pictures via their iPhone using our iOS app, making the whole experience even more connected and interactive. Thanks for negotiating the time differences to chat with us, Topher. First of all, not all of our readers will be familiar with Lytro - could you give us a potted history? Of course. Lytro has recently launched in the UK, and is set to forever change how everyone takes and experiences pictures. See, unlike conventional cameras, the Lytro camera captures fundamentally new data - the light field - providing new imaging and editing capabilities that have never before been possible. Light field technology provides two initial capabilities: the ability to refocus an image after the fact and the ability to shift the perspective in a scene. You can immediately see the potential for this technology and what it could offer for imaging enthusiasts. What are the latest developments in the business? When we launched the Lytro camera, we introduced the first major light field capability the ability to refocus a picture after it is taken. We now also have Perspective Shift. Perspective Shift allows you to interactively change your point of view in a living picture, after you’ve taken the picture. You can move the living picture in any direction: left, right, up, down and all around on a computer or mobile device. And, when you share living pictures with Perspective Shift with friends and family, they can play with the pictures too. They can refocus the picture, see it all-in-focus and play with Perspective Shift, without needing any special software, plug-ins or extensions. Given how social photography is now, this
CREDITS & CONTACTS
Managing Director/Publisher: Lee Mansfield 01323 411601 lee@lifemediagroup.co.uk Commercial Director: Simon Skinner 01323 433700 simon@lifemediagroup.co.uk Editor: Laura Knight 01323 437946 laura@lifemediagoup.co.uk
How do Lytro’s products reflect current imaging trends - how will they capitalise on current growth areas? We’ve noticed that people aren’t printing their photographs anymore, they are tending to share their favourite snaps online on various social media platforms. With Lytro technology,
“Unlike conventional cameras, the Lytro camera captures fundamentally new data - the light field providing new imaging capabilities which have never been possible before.” Production Design: Laura Knight/Harriet Weston 01323 411601 harriet@lifemediagroup.co.uk
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we give our users the ability to create online stories. This truly makes taking and viewing pictures an interactive experience. What is the intended consumer audience for Lytro? The Lytro camera is currently targeted at creative people with a passion for taking and sharing images - “Online Storytellers”. They’re a growing consumer group and we continue to see wider adoption across many demographics as the way people take pictures and what they do with them is changing. ... and how are the products designed to target that audience? The connectivity offered by our app and other platforms will really help spread the Lytro message. Sharing images via Lytro’s free mobile app allows Lytro camera owners and non camera owners to experience living pictures on their iPhone. When a photographer first shares a light field picture, like in the Lytro desktop, they have the option to share it directly to Facebook. Once the picture is online, users can then seamlessly share to Twitter and other social networking sites, get a link that they can email or SMS, or save an auto-playing animated GIF. What kind of marketing campaigns will you be engaging in? At the moment, Lytro are focussing their energies on launching the product into selected retail spaces throughout the UK and working with those retailers on launch opportunities, especially in the lead up to the festive season. We have had a very successful PR campaign so far and we expect to support this with marketing activity in the run up to Christmas. What opportunities can Lytro offer for imaging retailers on the high street? The product has been placed with John Lewis and Dixons Travel so far, with other retailers expected to list the product in the lead up to Christmas. As the Lytro message spread, we’re sure this will expand even further.
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