Pixel Magazine - 9th April 2014 by Life Media Group

ISSUE NO. 914

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INSIDE

Team Changes at Pixel, Frazer Allen’s Big 60, Panasonic’s new wearable camera, the new HTC one, your lighting solutions sorted and much more...

News

Consumer Confidence on the Up According to the latest GfK figures, March saw consumer confidence boost by two points. In fact, all five of the measures used to calculate the Index Score saw an increase, making March an altogether more positive month for retailers. Of course, longer term figures reveal more about the state of the climate than small monthly changes, but according to Nick Moon, Managing Director of Social Research at GfK, the current long-term trend also looks very positive. He said: “Over the last year the overall index has risen by a massive 22 points – the biggest single-year rise since Nov 08-Oct 09, and there hasn’t been a bigger one-year rise since July 77- June 78.”

The Big Interview Mariame Cisse from JK Imaging reveals why UK will miss out on some of the new Kodak models. Photo -

9th April 2014

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Wall of Silence from closed US Calumet

Calumet Photographic rocked the industry earlier this month when it closed all of its US stores without warning

After serving satisfied customers for nearly three quarters of a century, the Chicagofounded photography shop closed its doors for the last time on March 1st, leaving nothing but the following notice on its Facebook page: “It has been a joy to share our passion for photography with you all of these years. We’ll miss each other and we’ll miss all of our customers. Thank you for everything.” Since this statement was released, both the company’s Facebook and Twitter pages have been taken down, and Calumet was not willing to give Pixel any more information. We caught up with Chris Cheesman, News Editor at Amateur Photographer magazine, to find out video

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cameras sales fell 28.4% in value terms in 2013, according to market research firm GfK.” There certainly seems to be a feeling of unease amongst retailers over the US closures. Matt Barker, founder of MPB Photographics, said: “I was surprised more than anything. There seemed to be a lot of positive energy coming from them. It’s not a good thing for the industry as a whole”. Peter, the Manager of Park Camera’s new London shop, is just as surprised. He said: “The news is sad. Photographic retail seems to be dwindling away. It seems all the big supermarkets and online stores are taking the industry away from specialist retailers”. www.calumetphoto.co.uk

what this could mean for the UK industry. He said: “The collapse of Calumet in the US will have come as a shock to an industry still reeling from the loss of 19 Jacobs stores in 2012 and 187 Jessops shops. “Assurances by European bosses over the nine Calumet stores in the UK will likely be welcomed by both staff and a trade that appears to have been spared the disappearance of yet another established name. “It will be interesting to see if the yet-to-be announced results of Jessops’ first year of trading under entrepreneur Peter Jones offer a ray of sunshine. These will be a key to determining how well high-street stores are fairing as the camera market continues to suffer. UK -

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RETAIL

Team Changes at Pixel

After seven and a half years on the editorial team, predominantly as Editor of Pixel magazine, Laura Knight has left Life Media Group to work in the medical field It is with this news that Life Media Group, the publishers of Pixel, are pleased to announce the new editorial team working on the 25 year old trade newspaper. Following a handover period, Laura finished her last day Friday 21st March, and has passed duties over to Zoe Thomas, who has now joined Life Media Group to take on the role as Editor of Pixel Magazine. Along with the appointment of Zoe, Pixel also has another member on the editorial team in the shape of Damien Demolder. Damien joins Pixel in the role of Editorial Development Consultant with immediate effect. Laura explained: ‘As excited as I am to be moving on to a new

chapter in my life, parting is indeed a sweet sorrow. Pixel has been a very rewarding challenge, and I’ve really enjoyed working with everyone in the imaging trade’. She continue: ‘I leave the magazines I have worked on in incredibly capable hands and I’m looking forward to continuing to read the industry news – as it lands on my doorstep’. Zoe Thomas told us: ‘I’m delighted to join the Pixel team as Editor - especially as the magazine is approaching such a pivotal time in its development with a number of exciting changes on the horizon. Laura’s done a fantastic job over the years and I hope to maintain those high standards while bringing

a fresh new voice to the magazine. I’m a qualified journalist with a background in digital content, so I’ll be using these skills to publish up-to-date news and interesting features both on our site and in our fortnightly magazine. If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call or drop me an email on zoe@pixel.co.uk - I look forward to working with you all’. Damien Demolder added: ‘I’m delighted to be working with Lee, Simon and the team at Pixel to develop the magazine and its unique role. My task will be to work with Zoe to strengthen Pixel’s function as a central hub for critical issues and useful information in this industry, and

Merger Talks Extended Dixons and Carphone Warehouse merger talks extended

need more time to evaluate the situation and the Takeover Panel has extended the date to 19 May 2014. The companies have made it clear that discussions are still ongoing and there can be no certainty that a firm offer will be made.

In February Pixel reported that Dixons and Carphone Warehouse were in merger talks. Each party was required to announce their verdict on 24 March 2014 as to whether or not the merger would go ahead. Since this agreement, both companies have agreed that they

as an essential brand that binds and encompasses our community. Pixel has a wonderful history, but now we need to focus on the needs and challenges of today’s complex market. We are already mapping out our plans, and I’d be very happy to receive comments and suggestions from everyone in the trade on the subject of what they would like the magazine to be.’ Damien@damiendemolder.com

Wilkinsons Celebrate Double Victory It took the limelight at our very own Pixel Trade Awards last November after winning ‘Multiple Retailer of The Year’, but now independent business Wilkinson Cameras has laid claim to two more prestigious awards. We caught up with MD David Parkinson to find out more Just six months after opening, the company’s new flagship store in Lord Street, Liverpool has won not one, but two mystery shopper awards by separate organisations. The fledgling store, which is being run by a brand new sales team, has been awarded ‘Excellent Independent Retailer’ by Liverpool’s BID Mystery Shop Awards, as well as Electrical Retail News’ ‘Take a Town’ mystery shopper event. In both of these Wilkinson scored top marks on a number of categories, including branch appearance, products and pricing, plus staff and service. David said: “We’re over the

moon because it’s a new store. Everything we were trying to achieve was recognised.. “I think it’s a fantastic recognition for us as a business and for the staff – particularly the new team at Liverpool because it’s a whole new team, none of them had worked for us before so it’s great to see that they’ve hit the ground running. It’s an extremely big pat on the back from others from within the industry.” For the BID Award, Wilkinsons was up against 140 other stores in the Business Improvement District in Liverpool, but topped them all by scoring an impressive 94/100 overall. Customers gave glowing

reports on all categories, with one saying: ‘I nearly bought the camera there and then as it was sold to me well.” David was full of praise for the city centre initiative. He said: “BID in Liverpool seems to be particularly proactive. It keeps momentum going in the city and the quality of service up.” The second award came from Electrical Retail News’ ‘Take a Town’ mystery shopper event. Wilkinson scooped ‘Winning Independent’ for once again scoring top marks in store presentation and sales skills. The victory, David said, was down to the store’s high standard of staff

Adam Brown who works at the flagship store in Liverpool

training and monitoring, which includes the operation of display guides and training modules. “Everything to the last detail is controlled and we expect the staff to maintain those standards. It obviously seems to be paying off”.

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PHOTO

News Compact & Lightweight Panasonic has announced a new 15mm interchangeable wide-angle lens especially for the LUMIX G range, offering a Micro Four Thirds standard fitting. The H-X015 Leica DG Summilex 15mm F/1.7 comes with Nano Surface Coating to minimize ghost and flare. Photo specialist retailers have an opportunity to stock accessories alongside the lens, including a lens cap and soft bag. USP: Takes fashionably defocused reportage style pictures with bokeh What’s new? Fast aperture of f/1.7 RRP: £499.99 Available: June Extras: The lens can be sold as a kit with the recently released Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 at £999.99.

Love Mini Flash from Kenro The Nissin i40 ‘love mini’ compact flash gun will now be available in the UK from official distributors Kenro. The pocket size i40 is light and compact at just 203g, with a built-in video light, tilting head for a greater range of angles, and an auto adjust zoom ranging from 24mm-105mm. The flash is available now in Nikon and Canon fit but new style Four Thirds, Sony and Fujifilm will be coming soon. It requires 4x AA batteries. The suggested retail price is £204 inc VAT. To find out more, call head office on 01793 615836.

Nikon’s First Mirrorless for Enthusiasts Will the new I V3 catch the eye of enthusiasts?

When the mirrorless camera was first released by Epson in 2004, it was heralded as the saviour of the industry’s struggling second tier of manufacturers – i.e. anyone who wasn’t Nikon or Canon, who between them accounted for over half the market. Nikon upped its game a few years later by releasing a series of mirrorless cameras aimed at the beginner market, the latest addition of which is the Nikon 1 V3. Nikon hope the V3’s stateof-the-art autofocus system and

Marchwood’s Hands-on Approach

Marchwood UK is one of the fastest growing and most rapidly transforming optical and accessory specialists in the UK. Here Deborah Newcomb-Lancashire reveals why a hands-on, personal approach is this business’ key to success Marchwood Optics is a family-run business launched as a sports optics reseller at the start of the Millennium. Today, it has grown into one of Britain’s leading optical and accessory specialists and, thanks to a personal approach and a genuine passion for optics, the business looks set to continue expanding. So what sets Marchwood apart from other suppliers? It seems to be a combination of factors that make this business so exciting. Deborah said: “We’re doing so well due to a wide range of products unique to us.”

Sony Joins 4K Revolution

New Sony Alpha 7S

The recently announced Sony Alpha 7S is a 12MP full-frame mirrorless with super high definition 4K video. In the next issue of Pixel we will be looking at 4K in more depth, so watch this space. USP: As powerful as a DSLR but 25% smaller. What’s New? Unlike its predecessors the a7 and a7R, the 7S offers the XA VC system as well as the AVCHD standard. It also

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fast continuous shooting modes will catch enthusiasts’ eyes. What’s new? The I V3 is bigger than its predecessors with a substantial grip, traditional range-finder style, additional shutter release, tilting touch screen (with 1.04 million

dots), control dials and a new sensor (with hybrid autofocus for enhanced contrast). Extras: The V3 lacks the inbuilt EVF featured on the V2 but Nikon will be offering this separately. Another accessory available is the GR-N1010 grip, which offers a more substantial grip. In the UK the camera will be sold separately, but there will be a kit option with a power zoom version of the 1030mm F3.5-5.6 lens. Price: Camera alone at £799, or the kit at £1,049.

comes with a new 24.3 MP full frame sensor. RRP? £1,299 Accessories: Sony has designed a set of E-mount lenses specifically for this model, but customers can also buy an adapter to use Sony’s existing range of A-mount lenses, which include the SSMM II telephoto lens and the wide-angle ZEISS prime lens.

Their recent leap into optical accessories means customers can now buy high quality extras, such as the high quality Eyelead cleaning products used by Leica and Crumpler gear for urban explorers – at low prices with excellent margins.

Secondly, Marchwood has managed to retain its roots as a family business by remaining as hands-on and personal with customers as possible. According to Deborah: “We’re always on the road visiting customers and providing training on the products we supply.” The company is also a dab hand with social media, and keeps its fans and followers updated through Facebook and Twitter in order to, as Deborah put it: “Let people know we’re still here!” Find out more about Marchwood at www.marchwooduk.co.uk

It’s a Wide World for Compact Owners

New 12mm lens from Samyang Last week Samyang announced the upcoming release of a new wide angle lens for compact cameras, enabling owners to capture bigger landscapes in greater detail. What’s new? The brand new Samyang 12mm F2.0 NCS CS offers a number of special features that make it stand out from its predecessors. First of all there’s a

low dispersion lens (ED) to lower any unnecessary light dispersion and limit colour aberration. Then there’s a Nano Coating System on the lens to improve contrast, used here for the first time in Samyan history. Recommended extras: The lens takes 67mm filters, so a Hoya filter would be a good choice. See more on www.pixel.co.uk

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PHOTO

News Nikon Sees growth “Despite challenging times and pressure on the consumer electronics industry, Nikon continues to perform well. We’ve just had data through for February and are pleased to see that according to data from GFK, Nikon has maintained a strong position, with 11 Nikon models featuring in the top 20 D-SLRs. Growth in the compact system segment has been slower than expected across the whole industry however, data indicates a positive start to the year with visible signs of growth in this sector. The Nikon 1 J and S series continue to sell well, with the Nikon 1 J2 being the biggest selling compact system camera in February 2014 according to the monthly GFK digital camera reports.”

Canon Reaches 250 Million Milestone Canon recently announced it had reached ‘a camera manufacturing milestone’ after surpassing the production of 250 million units. This includes the combined production of compact digital cameras and interchangeablelens digital cameras. The manufacturers also added that they had: “Consistently maintained the No.1 share worldwide in terms of volume for 11 consecutive years from 2003 – 2013.” Guido Jacobs, Consumer Imaging Group Country Sales Director of Canon UK & Ireland made the following statement to Pixel: “We’re very proud that that Canon remains number one worldwide in the interchangeable-lens digital camera market for the 11th year running. As the market leader in DSLR and compact camera markets in the UK we are finding that users at all levels of photography are confident that Canon will provide a fantastic photographic experience. So far this year, we have already announced strong additions to our product line-up, such as the PowerShot G1X MKII and EOS 1200D, and are excited to get these into photographers hands and hear their feedback.”

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Extreme Accessories Panasonic annouces new HX-A500 wearable camcorder

Panasonic’s new wearable HXA500 camcorder weighs just 31g compared to the 136g Go Pro all in one unit. It also offers retailers a great opportunity to sell a big range of added extras alongside the camera itself. This latest model in the HX range is being pitched as an ultra lightweight compact camera for extreme sports lovers complete with ultra HD shooting and ‘new levels of portability’. This mode includes a 1.5” LCD monitor, which the previous model (A100) lacked.

To heighten its versatility, Panasonic also plans to release a selection of add-ons to sell separately, including a clip mount to attach the device to a helmet or a bag; a ‘multi-case’ to combine the main unit, camera and cable into a single body; an easily detachable armband; a head mount; a multi belt and multi case; plus a wind jammer attachment to reduce noise at high speed. Available from: May 2014 RRP: £379.99

Nifty Car Cam from Braun Kenro Launches the Braun B-Box T-3 Video Camera Kenro, the official UK and Ireland distributor for Braun Photo Technik is launching the Braun B-Box T3, a video camera turned safety feature specifically for car interiors. The idea of the car cam, or ‘dash cam’ as they have been dubbed, is to support insurance

claims and provide extra protection from thieves, bad drivers and damage. Of course, the Braun B-Box is not all about practicality; it can also record scenic footage on road trips and film bumpy off-road trips in full HD. Specs include a 120-degree wide-angle lens, G-Sensor support to track acceleration,

a 2.0” LCD display and up to 32gb MicroSD Memory. Managing Director of Kenro, Paul Kench commented: “The B-Box should be a serious consideration for drivers as not only is it a fantastic safety net it’s a great tool for capturing memorable views. Braun cameras are always of good quality and long lasting so it’s a brand consumers can trust.” The RRP is £71.28. To find out more about this product, call Kenro on 01793 615836.

Frazer Allen’s Big 60

This April, industry veteran Frazer Allen will not only be celebrating his 60th birthday, but also his 44th year in the photo and optics sector. Here he tells Pixel about the ups and downs of a dramatically changing industry, and why he remains hopeful for the future The photo and optics industry today is not the same one Frazer entered in April 1970 as a fresh-faced teenager. He describes these as the ‘happy days’ and looks back fondly at the films he was selling then. “A big personal change for me was in 1980 when I decided to leave my beloved Belfast and move to Yorkshire to join Paterson Products.” In 1995, Frazer joined Yashica and Contax as Sales Manager for the UK. Just 10 years later they closed but Frazer rose from the ashes to take over KYU and establish Alpha Digital Services. Unfortunately, due to changes out of ADS’ control, they too

were forced to close down. Despite adversity, the Belfastborn entrepreneur has refused to back down and is now running Alpha Optical Distribution, which has just entered its first trading year and showing signs of recovery. Frazer is now focusing on the DSLR for enthusiast and serious amateurs alongside accessories such as tripods, sensor cleaning and bags. He said: “The

opportunities are there, you just have to make the effort and keep ahead. As a very dear friend of mine said to me: ‘Frazer – yesterday is the past, you can’t change it. Tomorrow is the future and it’s what you make of it.’ How true those words are and will remain in my memory forever. With those words and his support the last year has got better and better.”

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SPECIAL REPORT ADVERTORIAL

LEDs: Will The Imaging Industry See The Light? Clean, creative, long lasting and cost effective – why LEDs make for a smart investment

cost of buying and installing LEDs are being hailed as a revolution LEDs? in green living, but initial set-up costs There’s no doubt about it. We can put people off. Here Pixel looks estimate that a medium sized at the facts and talks to the experts shop could make a £240 saving to find out more about this potentially on electricity every month, starting game-changing technology. from the moment we install their Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are a LEDs. This means that within 10 and world away from the incandescent a half months, the lights will have lamps we traditionally use to light up paid for themselves just through bill our homes and work spaces. Firstly, reductions. they last 25x longer and burn 75% less energy than their incandescent Where can LEDs be used? counterparts, making them the Anywhere! The beauty of most energy and cost efficient LED lighting is in its lighting solution available. versatility. They can While a normal be installed effectively lamp tends to need in any space – from changing at least Mathew Rutherford, Manging Director and Thomas Wynn, Operations Director huge warehouses once a year, an LED and factories, to shops, can power on for 20 offices, bars, houses and We’re hoping to grow years or more. This is partly industry on all levels – from the outdoor areas too. We offer LEDs our online community, we down to its cool technology. boardroom, to the warehouse in an array of styles, including tiles, want to create While an incandescent lamp right down to the shop floor. In track lighting and LED tape – but if a buzz wastes around 90% of its energy warehouses LED lighting reduces a client needs something bespoke around on heat, an LED loses just 10% the need for lamp changes, which we can always track down the right what while the rest is cleverly utilised as in turn cuts down on maintenance type of LED for the job, even if it’s we’re light. As well as conserving energy costs and man-hours. LED light not listed in our catalogue. In the offering and cutting bills, LEDs also allow can also be targeted more effectively, past we’ve installed LEDs in houses, – we want for more creativity. They emit a improving the quality of light in swimming pools, gardens and people to softer, more modern type of light large spaces and making it easier museums, as well as commercial know not only that can be applied effectively to a to identify products and navigate spaces such as Odeon cinema, how cost effective LED lighting wide variety of spaces inside and aisles. In retail spaces LEDs can is, but how it can transform retail out, for a stylish work wonders stylistically. spaces and pull in more customers. and immediate The colour rendering Come and talk to us, we’ll do a transformation of index (cri) of an LED is LED light can be targeted more free analysis, we’ll come and visit homes, gardens, customisable, which effectively, improving the quality of light means we can pick a you, we’ll do a perspective look warehouses and around your building and work retail spaces. colour temperature to in large spaces and making it easier to out what works for you and what So why should suit the shop’s identify products and navigate aisles doesn’t and we won’t charge you for the imaging atmosphere (i.e. our time. industry be warm atmosphere interested? To or a cool modern feel). Why should people switch to find out more, we We can also design the Costa Coffee, BMW, Wetherspoon, LED now? arranged to meet lighting experts lights to showcase any product by Virgin Active and Newcastle FC. No When LEDs first came out they Mathew Rutherford and Thomas illuminating it to bring out the true job is too big or too small for us and were ridiculously expensive – now Wynn, who together run Infinity colour of the material, rather than we always welcome a challenge. it’s gone down a fifth in price, Lighting Solutions. tainting it with the colour of the light. dropped its own value every year How could LEDs benefit the since it came out. It’s at a point LEDs are more expensive than What makes Infinity Lighting imaging industry? now where it’s not going to get any incandescent lighting. Do your Solutions unique? LEDs could make life easier for cheaper because it’s an economical clients see enough saving in the We offer our services throughout the people working in the imaging engineering price so it’s built to a short term to warrant the initial whole process – initial consultation, spec for the components that are in lighting design, supply and it and those components wouldn’t installation. As far as I know, we’re really get any cheaper than they are the only company offering this in now. It’s now a happy medium if the the UK. It’s all in-house so when technology’s right and the price is you get a quote from us, all parts of Inside each lamp there are two electrical components called diodes, which right so it’s definitely the right time to the process are combined – usually contain electrons. When these diodes are connected with an electrical current, go for it. people will have someone to supply the electrons inside them begin to release photons – which we see as light. the lights and someone else to fit These diodes emit light in a targeted direction, instead of scattering it in all There could be a bright future them so in the long run it’s always directions as a traditional incandescent lamp will do. This ultimately saves for LED. To find out more and going to cost the client more and energy and also reduces the need for reflectors and diffusers that can trap and to get a quote yourself, visit waste light. For clients this means stunning effects and an immediate reduction take more time to organise. We in their energy bills. www.infinitylightingsolutions. streamline this process to make it co.uk or call 0800 058 2618. cheaper and easier.

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SPECIAL REPORT PRINT

Study Highlights Opportunity for Print App Developers

More people than ever are using their smartphones to capture ‘print worthy’ photographs, a recent US study has found

More people than the principal author of the ever are using their report, this figure reflects a smartphones to capture changing demographic of ‘print worthy’ photographs, smartphone photographers. a recent US study has Traditionally, camera found. phones have been used by The study, conducted the younger generations Hans Hartman on 1,641 North American – namely teenagers and smartphone users, young adults more used to revealed that out of those who uploading their photos straight from had experience of ordering photo their phones onto social media sites products (such as albums, photo such as Facebook and Instagram. books and prints), 79% had included Hans said: “Traditional photo smartphone photographs in their product buyers, such as parents, are orders. now using smartphones to capture According to Hans Hartman, ‘print-worthy’ moments that would

have been missed without smartphones.” The portability of smartphones means users can easily snap a photo whenever the moment arises, wherever they happen to be. Now apps such as Metroprint and sites like Cewe can be used to transfer these images from phones into photo albums, books, or other products. This study found that a quarter of those who ordered smartphone photo prints had never ordered a photo output product before,

Everyone’s Talking about LifePrint Smartphone-controlled photo printer ‘LifePrint’ has attracted a huge amount of attention in recent weeks since it appeared on crowd funding site Kickstarter.com Smartphone-controlled photo printer ‘LifePrint’ has attracted a huge amount of attention in recent weeks since it appeared on crowd funding site Kickstarter. com. The portable device enables smartphone photographers to send images to their printer at home via an iOS or Android app, from wherever they happen to be in the world. Here we talk to California-based creator and Vice President Robert Macauley to see what opportunities could be in store for UK retailers. How is LifePrint different to other photo printers such as the Polaroid printer, which failed to make an impression a few years back? “It is very, very different. The first thing to mention is that the Polaroid printer was only Bluetooth (with a range of 30ft) and was only Quarter Ad.pdfnot 15/5/13 compatible withPage Android, iPhone. Additionally, Bluetooth only allows for

a range of 30 feet, whereas LifePrint can print to and from anywhere in the world. Not only will you be able to share on social media, but you’ll be able to print and share photos from your social media and camera roll from anywhere to anyone in the world. The Polaroid printer didn’t even come close to that kind of functionality.” Printers like these are usually cheap to buy but expensive to run, so people lose interest in them quickly. How do you intend to get around this? 09:30:40 “Currently film is priced between 50 cents to 65 cents per photo,

much less expensive than photo booths, Impossible Labs film, and other “No Ink” solutions. To help drive down costs further to support our customers, we are working on a variety of creative business models that will allow for the film to be purchased in bulk or through a subscription model. This hasn’t been finalised yet, but suffice it to say we are working to get the price of the film down to even lower than it is today.” Will LifePrint be available in the UK at any point? If so, which retailers will you target and what will the RRP be? “Yes, most definitely. It is too early to say exactly which stores will be carrying it, but we are targeting Dixons, John Lewis, Argos, and other major retailers. RRP will be about £149 for the printer (€179).” You can find out more and fund LifePrint at kickstarter.com

suggesting that smartphone technology may make it easier than ever for digital images to be printed. What photo print apps need to do, said Hans, is harness the advantage of both mobile apps and websites by incorporating an easy cloud system that users can store images on and access from any device. This would allow customers to start their purchase on one device and complete it on another – offering simple, on-the-go product ordering.

Distribution agreement between Entatech and OKI Entatech UK Ltd will now distribute OKI Systems products, which include ‘fast, high-quality and costeffective’ printing solutions for businesses. Jon Atherton, Entatech Director, commented: “OKI is a renowned name within printing – the name is synonymous with quality and innovation and is a perfect fit for our enterprise customers.” Simon Tetlow, OKI Head of Channel, added: “Entatech do not have any other print vendors on board and this provides a perfect opportunity to help broaden our reseller channel which is one of our key objectives for FY14. All the channel team are looking forward to this new and exciting venture which will launch on April 1st 2014.” OKI’s range includes A3 colour printers, laser printers, multifunctional printers and managed print services. To find out more, visit: Entaonline.com.

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SPECIAL REPORT

MOBILE DEVICES

News Android Leads European Market The Android operating system continues to dominate the European market, taking 68.9% in total, while Apple holds 19% and Windows just 9.7%. In the UK specifically, Android reigns supreme with 54% of the market, although it has dropped by 4.3% in the last year. Apple on the other hand grew by 3.1% to take 32.1% of the market, while Windows shot up from 6.7% in February 2010, to 10.1% in February 2014. Unsurprisingly, smartphones continue to dominate the mobile phone market and in the past quarter, 86% of devices sold were smartphones.

Budget Smartphone Moto G takes UK Market by Storm Motorola’s new Moto G smartphone has gone down a treat in the UK market, taking an impressive 6% of the market share since it launched six weeks ago. A study by Kantar Worldpanel found that the phone is particularly popular with the 16-24 demographic and that 83% of the owners are male, earning under £20,000 a year. Dominic Sunnebo, Kantar Worldpanel ComTech strategic insight director, said: “With virtually no existing customers to sell to in Britain, the Moto G has stolen significant numbers of low- to mid-end customers from Samsung and Nokia Lumia.” The results highlight how quickly a good quality, low priced phone can disrupt the market. RRP is ££135 for the 8gb version, and £160 for the 16gb. Retailers can sell a variety of accessories alongside the handset, including shells, grip shells, flip shells and screen protectors.

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Phone or Camera? The new HTC One (M8): duo camera technology The second model in the HTC One smartphone range has been hailed as a revolution in design and technology. It has a sleek, metal exterior and streamline design that offers more curves than its predecessor, plus all the functions, add-ons and apps a diehard gadget lover could hope for. But the biggest selling point of this product is not the 5” display screen, the extreme power saving mode, or the gesture controlled shortcuts… it’s the camera. The phone’s much-discussed Duo Camera has been pitched as a ‘leap forward in smartphone imaging’. It features a second camera sensor on the back solely to capture

dimensional information, which enables the user to alter the focus of the image after it’s been taken to add artsy blurring to their images. The camera also features HTC’s own UltraPixel module, a dual flash, full 1080p HD video recording, and a 5-MP wide-angle front facing camera. Other new image editing options have also been developed, including the ‘Seasons’ animations, a range of filters and a ‘Dimension Plus™’

Blackberry Still Losing Money Blackberry has posted a $5.9bn (£3.54bn) loss in its fiscal 2014 results

This is a significant increase on the £377m loss posted in 2013, which has been put down to charges. While Blackberry continues to haemorrhage money, CEO John Chen remains positive. He said: “I am very pleased with our progress and execution in fiscal Q4 against the strategy we laid out three months ago. We have significantly streamlined

operations, allowing us to reach our expense reduction target one quarter ahead of schedule. BlackBerry is on sounder financial footing today with a path to returning to growth and profitability.” In Q4 around 3.4 million smartphones were sold to customers, with 2.3 million being Blackberry 7 devices.

feature that gives viewers a new perspective of their photo when they tilt the screen. A range of accessories offer further sale opportunities, including a polycarbonate case, a screen protector, car holder, car charger, desktop holder and mini portable desk stand. RRP: £530 www.htc.com/uk

Sweet Spot for iPhone Lensbaby is best known amongst DSLR photographers for its array of special-effect lenses. Now the brand is branching into mobile photography with a playful lens designed to be attached to smartphones. The brand has launched a Kickstarter project to gather funds for the final stage of its Sweet Spot lens for the iPhone 4s, 5, 5s or 5c, and has so far raised $19,839 or its $20,000 target. In true Lensbaby style, the lens enables the user to focus at the centre of the frame, while blurring towards the edges for an artistic effect. To find out more, visit kickstarter.com.

Watch Out HTC One Apple awarded patent for refocusing technology The new HTC One (M8) has been commended for its new duo camera allowing users to focus their images after taking them – but does Apple have something bigger and better on the cards? According to recent reports, Apple is developing a ‘plenoptic’ (light-field) camera enabling photographers to refocus their images once they’ve been taken. According to the patent published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, this will be a

digital camera with an adapter that captures the intensity, angle and position of light, before breaking it up using microlenses. Once the photo is taken, software can then be used to change the depth of field according to the user’s preference. This is not the first time such

technology has been used – California-based company Lyto released a similar camera back in 2011. The difference in Apple’s design is that it features a removable microlens which can be taken off to enable both high resolution (without refocusing abilities) and low resolution (with refocusing abilities). Just when this technology will be released is currently unknown – but it does strongly suggest that refocusable images are the new hot trend for smartphones.

AV & COMPUTING

Affordable Home Cinema from Sony

Sony has launched the HW40ES, a home cinema projector with all the high-end features, without the high-end price tag

The new projector is for discerning cinephiles who like the look of the £2799 HW55ES but would prefer something a little less pricey. Sony’s latest projector is fully HD and 3D compatible, with a 3D IR emitter built into the main unit, the same SXRD panel found in its higher end predecessors, and an uprated optical engine with 1,700 lumens brightness. This means owners should be able to watch films and play games even with the curtains open and the lights on. It also boasts Sony’s Contrast

Enhancer, Motionflow and Reality Creation technologies, which boost image clarity, smooth out fastmoving scenes and sharpen pictures beyond the normal quality of a Bluray disc. To save on costs, Sony has opted for a manual control rather than

the electric one found on the HW55ES. There is also an opportunity for retailers to sell a variety of accessories alongside the projector, including the TDG-PJ1 3D active shutter glasses, TMEPJ2 external 3D sync transmitter, PSS-H10 ceiling bracket and the LMP-H202 replacement lamp. The official UK price has yet to be confirmed, but the European pricing is set at €2,199 (roughly £1,800). It should be available from April.

Virtual Reality will ‘Go Beyond’ Smartphones and Tablets Will virtual reality headsets steal the show? Tim Sweeny, the CEO of Epic Games (the team behind blockbusters Infinity Blade and Gears of War), has great expectation for the budding virtual reality (VR) market. In an interview with video game website Polygon, Tim revealed why he believes VR will be bigger and better than the hugely valuable smartphones and tablet market, which has taken the electronics goods market by storm over the last few years.

“There might be an audience for 10 million users of the current tech, but as it improves with each generation, the audience is going to keep growing until eventually you’re going to reach a critical point where you can put on one of these devices and have an experience that is effectively indistinguishable from reality,” he said. Epic Games is currently working with Oculus kits to develop a VR headset. Other big companies are also on the ball. At its latest Games

Less Pricey Tablets from Samsung

Samsung releases the Galaxy Tab4

Following from the higherend Galaxy TabPro earlier this year, Samsung has released its next generation of Android tablets. The new Galaxy Tab4 comes in 7”, 8” and 10.1” sizes – all with standardised specs including a 1.2GHz quad-core processor instead of the dual-core chips that powered the former generation of Tabs. All three will also feature the same 1280x800 resolution WXGA display and a 3MP frontfacing camera as well as a 1.3MP rear-facing camera. Customers can choose from wi-fi only, wi-fi plus 3G and wi-fi plus LTE editions.

What’s new? The 7” model has slimmed down with a 9mm thick body (compared to the 9.9mm Tab3), it is also lighter at 274g rather than 300g. However, the 8” model is slightly thicker and heavier than its 8” Tab3 predecessor. All three devices in the new range have higher resolution screens. USP: While the specs haven’t improved greatly on the Tab3 range, Tab4’s biggest selling point will be its lower price, which will come out as cheaper than its iPad competitors. www.samsung.com/uk

Developers Conference, Sony revealed Project Morpheus – a VR headset designed for the PS4, and Facebook recently revealed its intentions to acquire the Oculus Rift VR firm for $2bn.

Midwich Welcomes New Audio Manager Specialist trade-only distributer Midwich has appointed experienced Audio Manager Andy Bott to head up their AV team. Andy brings a wealth of experience to the role, after twenty years working as the audio category manager for Hughes Electrical. Andy told Pixel he is settling very well into his new role after four busy weeks, and said: “I’m impressed with everything at Midwich! It’s a positive place to be. I’m hoping to bring focus to the AV department and drive business forward for both suppliers and customers.” We wish Andy the best of luck as Consumer AV Category Manager. Midwich currently has three parts to its consumer audio portfolio: Brown goods – DVD/ Home theatre, with brands Samsung, LG, Toshiba, Sharp, Panasonic and Sony. Custom install audio – generally selective distribution; Onkyo, Monitor Audio, TEAC, Yamaha and Pioneer Consumer accessories – headphones, docks, dab radio; Pure, Sony, Pioneer, JVC, Vibe and Onkyo. Contact RW Salt, the audio division of Midwich, on 0161 868 1240 for more info.

Ultra High Definition But No Ultra High Costs The new Samsung UD590 28” 4K monitor could bring down the average cost of super high resolution displays The new screen displays images at a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels – an impressive four times higher than current 1080p high definition monitors or TVs. The new model will be the first monitor to join the straight and curved TVs already in the 4K range. It is thought that by releasing 4K monitors for lower prices, Samsung – a big player in the market, could set an industry trend. What’s new? Samsung rises above its competitors (including

the Dell 28 Ultra HD P2815Q) with new features, including a picture-inpicture feature to show content from two sources, plus a ‘Game Mode’ button that reduces screen lag, alters contrast and improves colour. RRP: $699.99 (£420 although UK pricing has yet to be confirmed).

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This Camera Packs a Punch Olympus TOUGH TG-3 The latest model in the Olympus TOUGH compact camera range has been touted as the toughest and highest performing version yet – making it the perfect companion for hikers, climbers, explorers and adrenaline junkies. Main selling points: Freeze proof to -10 degrees Celsius, shockproof at 2.1m, crush-proof to 100kgf, glove-friendly controls, dual image stabilisation, 16mp, Wifi capabilities. Improvements: The camera’s predecessor TG-2 boasted an impressive Advanced Super Macro mode but Olympus has once again surpassed itself with a new Microscope mode for extreme closeups, plus a new focusing bracket mode. The T3’s body design is also sleeker and less chunky than the previous model, making for an altogether more attractive product. RRP: £349.99 Accessories: • LG-1 Macro Light Guide – illuminates macro subjects evenly

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• PT-056 underwater housing – withstands depths of up to 45m • CSCH-122 silicone jacket – extra protection against bumps and scratches • FCON-T01 fisheye converter – for wide-angle shots in all conditions • TCON-T01 tele-converter – captures far-off objects by extending the max focus length from 100mm to 170mm without changing the aperture. Available: June 2014