Pixel Weekly - 8th December 2014 by Life Media Group

8th December 2014

ISSUE NO. 938D

INSIDE

ILFORD PHOTO JOINS CREATIVE BLIPFOTO PROJECT, KODAK TEAMS UP WITH ITV FOR CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN, PHILIPS ANNOUNCES NEW 4K DISPLAY AND MUCH MORE...

Manfrotto Launches Colourful Kits

Accessory manufacturer Manfrotto has launched various ranges of tripods in different colours, inviting customers to personalise their kit bags. Now, the BeFree Compact Lightweight Tripod (MKBFRA4BH) comes in blue, grey, green and red. The PIXI mini tripod for compact system cameras comes in white red, pink and black, while the Pocket series of support comes in pink, white, red, black, blue, grey and purple. The lightest tripod in the Manfrotto range, the Compact LIght, also comes in black, red, pink and white. For more information, visit www.manfrotto.co.uk

Impossible and Hänska Collaborate with Polaroid Bag Polaroid retailer and refurbisher Impossible has teamed up with Berlin-based handbag designer Nora Hänska to create what they describe as a ‘modern, stylish adaptable solution to travelling with your Polaroid camera’. The new Hänska X Impossible collaboration is aimed at the ‘everyday urban photographer’. This first bag has been designed to store a Polaroid 600-type camera or Impossible Instant Lab and up to four packs of Impossible film. All the materials Hänska uses are sourced from Germany and France. RRP: £100 PHOTO -

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IMAGING -

THE POLAROID FOR THE MODERN AGE IS HERE It was announced earlier this year, but the ‘Instagram Camera’ will soon be available for pre-orders

Polaroid Socialmatic Camera (Photo: Business Wire)

Light and square-shaped, the new Polaroid Socialmatic, which has been designed with social media brand Instagram, is a dead ringer for the Instagram app logo. The WiFi enabled instant print camera houses a 14MP front camera and 2MP self camera, a 4.5” touchscreen display and built in Bluetooth, GPS and QR Code for easy sharing and identification on social media sites. The 21st Century Polaroid uses zero ink paper (Zink) for instant 2”x3” prints. The Socialmatic is Polaroid’s latest attempt to make a comeback in the photographic industry. In September 2014, it launched the Polaroid Cube, a coin-sized HD cube-shaped video camera – aimed at the lower end

camera will retail at $299, or around £191, while a pack of 50 sheets will be another $20 (£12). Scott W. Hardy, President and CEO of Polaroid, said: “The integrated instant printer and the direct connection to social networks set new standards in the market and brings back the unique Polaroid feeling.”

of the action cam market. The company, which went bankrupt in 2011, was bought by two venture capital firms that have since been trying to revitalise the brand. Over the past few years the company has bought a variety of products to

“The Socialmatic is Polaroid’s latest attempt to make a comeback in the photographic industry”

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Top Selling Points • 14MP front camera, 2MP rear camera • 4.5” touchscreen • 4GB internal storage • Stereo speakers • GPS, WiFi and Bluetooth • LED flash • Instant filters • Remote printing capabilities • Micro SD for external storage

the market, including printers, tablets, TVs and cameras. Lady Gaga was even enlisted as creative director in 2010, leading to a line of co-branded products. The Polaroid Socialmatic won the Photokina Star 2014 at the imaging show in September this year. According to DP Review, the -

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The instant print camera is due to go on sale early 2015 -

RETAIL

BUSINESS

NEWS

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WELCOME To Pixel Magazine This week it feels as if the weather has suddenly realised it’s December. At Pixel HQ we’ve cranked up the heating and we’re well on our way to breaking the ozone layer. But still, it’s nice and toasty. Earlier this week we released our monthly issue, which (if you didn’t catch it) features a review of the Pixel Trade Awards and all the juicy news from November. We’re already hard at work preparing our January issue, with plenty of interesting features in the works. I recently came across an interesting survey by an e-learning site all about photography behaviours. In short, it found that a lot of camera and smartphone owners have no idea what to do when it comes to taking photos. This is interesting, as it shows how important that first interaction is between the retailer and the customer. What use is a premium camera with all the latest technologies if the customer

doesn’t know how to use it? As shops increasingly struggle in the age of the Internet, it’s that physical, hands-on experience with camera equipment that’s going to keep customers coming in and buying the products right for their needs. In other news, DxO has released an update and Kodak is teaming up with ITV for a festive campaign. But don’t let me spoil the issue for you…

ILFORD Photo Joins Creative BlipFoto Project 20 ILFORD Single Use sameras were sent out into the big wide world… Last year, 20 back to HQ. With ILFORD Single Blipfoto members Use cameras were living all over the sent off to Blipfoto world, across 170 (online photo journal) countries, the Stranger: Ice Cream Truck Driver, subscribers. Their cameras ended up Concord, CA (USA) Photographer: blipfoto.com/MyEveryday brief was simple: to travelling thousands take one portrait of a of miles. stranger, before passing the camera The first to return travelled on to another Blipfoto member. 67,860km in total. The resulting Members would carry on passing photos have been published on the camera around until the film blipfoto.com/wyas, along with the was used up, then it would be sent stories behind each portrait.

Kodak Moments Launches Christmas Campaign Kodak Alaris has teamed up with ITV to support its Text Santa campaign this Christmas

The image processing software has been updated with new features

The imaging company is calling for customers to upload a funny Christmas photo to Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, using the hashtag #TextSantaKodakMoment. Kodak Alaris will donate £1 to Text Santa overtime the hashtag is used. The charity fundraiser appeal raises money and awareness for six charities: Teenage Cancer Trust, Guide Dogs, WellChild, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Alzheimer’s Society and Together for Short Lives. The appeal has raised £15 million for charities since it started in 2011.

All funds raised for Text Santa will be distributed equally between the six charities within three months of the appeal. Paul Davey, Kodak Alaris spokesperson said: “Some of our most cherished moments happen around Christmas, so we believe Text Santa represents a worthy cause for people to share some of their fun Christmas photos as Kodak Moments.” Phillip Schofield will be launching ITV’s Text Santa with a 24 hour TV marathon on Monday 1st December.

DxO has announced the immediate availability of DxO OpticsPro v10.1, the latest version of its popular image processing software. The new version is now compatible with Lightroom and other third-party software. The update also now supports the Canon EOS 7D Mark II, PowerShot G7 X, the GoPro HERO4 Black Edition, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 and the Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The official press release said: “Based on a rigorous scientific calibration of photographic

photographers to adapt the processing to their own tastes so as to bring out the best in their photos in just a few clicks.” DXO OpticsPro v10.1 will be available in two editions: ESSENTIAL and ELITE for Max and PC An offer will run on both versions until Christmas Day, offering the ESSENTIAL edition

at £79 instead of £99, and the ELITE edition at £119 instead of £159.

Zoe, Editor, zoe@pixel.co.uk

DxO OpticsPro v10.1 Now Supports 6 New Cameras equipment in DxO’s laboratories, DxO OpticsPro 10 offers the most powerful tools for automatically processing RAW and JPEG images: revolutionary PRIME denoising technology, DxO Smart Lighting intelligent exposure optimisation, and DxO ClearView elimination of haze. “Its many controls allow

Improvements include: • Extended compatibility with XMP standard • Improved display of visual presets • Improved tools for DxO FilmPack and DxO ViewPoint plugins • New DxO Optics Modules available To find out more about the new version of the software, visit www.dxo.com

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NEWS

Rise of Smartphones Encourages More People To Improve Photography Skills

The ease and convenience of smartphone cameras has caused more people than ever to want to improve their photography skills, according to research undertaken by online learning company Lynda.com

A recent survey looking into the nation’s photo habits found that 64% of Brits now use smartphones or tablets to take photos and 92% want to make the resulting photos look better. Of the respondents, 71% said they take more photos than necessary in the hope that one will be good enough. Only a third said they experimented by changing the settings on their cameras. Three quarters of those surveyed

said they didn’t have the skills to use post production tools, but of those who did, the majority used Adobe Photoshop. Alex Zivoder, Vice President and Managing Director - lynda. com EMEA, said: “This research highlights that quality is a high priority for many Brits, with the majority keen to create good photos. As devices get increasingly sophisticated, many consumers

are missing an opportunity by not making the most of their investment – mainly because they don’t have the confidence to use more than just a few of the basic camera functions.” This research was undertaken by an e-learning site to highlight the need for training - but this training can happen in-store too with the right counter staff. When amateur customers come in looking for a

camera, it is the staff’s job to help them select the right product for their needs, and to make sure they understand how to make the most of it. For independent retailers, it’s that one-to-one expertise that draws the customers in and fosters a sense of loyalty that not only benefits the retailer, but also helps the customer get the best out of their purchase too.

New Big-Screen Solutions From Philips Philips has announced a new 40” addition to its 4K Ultra HD display line-up The new BDM4065UC display has UltraClear 4K UHD resolution with 3840 x 2160 pixels and true 8-bit and FRC colour depth. Thomas Schade, Vice President EMEA at MMD said: “This new UltraClear UHD display is an exciting addition to the 4K line-up and sizes up the viewing experience at 4K level. “With the clarity and brilliance of 4K UHD and 40 inches of screen real estate to play with,

CREDITS & CONTACTS

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users will really notice the sense of space and precision detail in everything they do – from complex financial applications and scientific imaging to gaming or streaming movies.” The ultra-narrow bezel design

Managing Director/Publisher: Lee Mansfield 01323 819007 lee@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Editor: Zoe Thomas 01323 819011 zoe@pixel.co.uk

Commercial Director: Simon Skinner 01323 819017 simon@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Editorial Design: Harriet Weston 01323 819010 harriet@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Operations Director: Clare Fermor 01323 819016 clare@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Design Assistant: Amy Watson 01323 819010 amy@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Editorial Consultant: Damien Demolder 01376 339240 damien@damiendemolder.com

Accounts: Amelia Wellings 01323 819016 amelia@lifemediagroup.co.uk

makes it possible to place two 40” displays side by side without the distraction of physical bezels, offering an unobstructed panoramic view. The DisplayPort 1.2 digital PC-to-Display link supports data

Subscriptions: Linda Grace 01323 819015 linda@lifemediagroup.co.uk

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transfer speeds of up to 10.8 Gbps, for faster imaging and higher refresh rates. Other top selling points include what Philips describe as ‘superfast USB 3.0’, and HDMI 1.4, for streaming high quality digital video and audio signals from a PC or other AV source. RRP: £549 Available: Now

All material in this publication is strictly copyright and all rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The views expressed in Pixel Magazine do not necessarily represent the view of Life Media Group LTD. Every care is taken in compiling the contents but the publishers of Pixel Magazine assume no reponsibilty for any damage, loss or injury arising from the participation in any offers, competitions or advertisment contained within Pixel Magazine. All prices featured in Pixel Magazine are correct at the time of going to press.

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