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www.wifihifi.ca | January 2014
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CONTENTS | January 2014
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
New Beginnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
PUBLISHER / EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
John Thomson
cell: 416-726-3667
[email protected]
@john__thomson (that’s 2 underscores)
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Christine Persaud
[email protected]
@ChristineTechCA
EDITOR-AT-LARGE
Gordon Brockhouse
[email protected]
RETAIL EDITOR
Wally Hucker
[email protected]
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Peter Burian, Vawn Himmelsbach,
Ted Kritsonis, Frank Lenk
SHORT BITS
Highlighting some of the latest and coolest tech gear available now, and coming soon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
VIDEO
Next-Generation Displays: OLED & 4K Arrive
After several years of tantalizing dealers and consumers, OLED and Ultra-High-Definition flat panels
have finally arrived, and pricing is on the way down.
By Gordon Brockhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In the Black: OLED Finally Arrives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fade to Black: Panasonic Exits the Plasma Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Due Diligence: How THX Tests UHD Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14
17
18
20
AUDIO
The New Music: Is High Res Audio Ready for Prime Time?
Until now, high-resolution has been mainly a hobbyist pursuit. But there are signs the category
may be poised to break out of its niche.
By Gordon Brockhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Digital Music 101. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
MOBILE WORLD
What’s ‘Hot’ in Wireless Accessories
We look at the most important categories in wireless accessories to have on the radar for 2014,
what’s hot, and what to look for in each category.
By Christine Persaud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Canadian Wireless Trade Show: Accessories For the Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL CONTENT
James Campbell
[email protected]
FWD THINKING
Key members of the editorial team look back at key categories in 2013, including AV, wireless, gaming,
computing, and connected cars, and share their thoughts on what’s to come in the new year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42-48
Melsa Media Inc.
194 Robinson Street
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 1G3
CUSTOM
The Projector Market Shines Bright
Call it the Cinderella of the AV business; often ignored, and left in the basement; but the projector offers up some
compelling advantages.
By Frank Lenk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Website: www.wifihifi.ca
Twitter: twitter.com/wifihifimag
Facebook: facebook.com/wifihifimag
All advertising inquiries:
John Thomson
[email protected]
Copyright 2013. WiFi Hifi is a registered brand of Melsa Media Inc. and
is published ten times each year. All rights reserved. The contents of
this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the
written consent of the publisher. The views expressed by advertisers
are not necessarily those held by the publisher.
Publications Mail Agreement Number: PM42710013
Business Number: 81171 8709
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IMAGING
The Best Photo Gear of 2013
The author highlights some of his favourite photo gear of the year.
By Peter Burian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
CES 2014
Pre-Show Report: Fitness, Fashion, Startups, & Entertainment
The buzz, the hot spots, and details on Canadian Industry Night. Get the scoop here.
By Christine Persaud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
TALKING SHOP
Big box retail hoopla around the PS4 and Xbox One launches; 30-year celebration at McKay’s;
the revamped Toronto flagship Henry’s store, and more.
By Wally Hucker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
WHAT I WEAR
What you wear says a lot about you. In this ongoing series, we’ll get an inside look into the wardrobes
of some of the most fashionable folks in Canadian CE.
As told to John Thomson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
NEW BEGINNINGS
“What’s WiFi HiFi? Where’s my copy of Marketnews?” If that’s what you’re thinking, let me answer your question.
On October 28, the principal owners of Marketnews put the company into bankruptcy. The action came as a
complete surprise to the people who create the magazine and Website, and to the industry at large. Without
venturing into TMI territory, I’ll just say that this action wasn’t inevitable. Things could have played out differently.
Everyone we spoke with in the immediate aftermath expressed shock that the voice of the Canadian CE industry
was gone. But every industry needs a voice, and we’ve created a new one. You can think of WiFi HiFi as the new
voice of the Canadian CE industry. Not just a voice, but a celebration: a celebration of everything digital, of all the
innovation and creativity that goes into today’s CE products and services.
Every ending is a new beginning; every crisis is an opportunity. We saw WiFi HiFi as an opportunity to make some
creative changes to the voice of the Canadian CE industry. You’ll notice some of these changes right away, and
see others over the coming months.
First of all, the new magazine is smaller! Instead of a 1970s-style tabloid, we’re producing a magazine that will fit
in your briefcase alongside your 13” notebook.
We’ve completely overhauled the design. The new magazine has more white space and a more contemporary design.
The paper is thicker and whiter. Ads pop out of the page. Text is easier to read. The whole package looks and feels
great. We’ve made an investment in print. We believe strongly in the power of printed words and pictures. The
magazine you’re holding is a testament of that belief.
Articles are shorter and more tightly edited. In an era where people exchange information in 140-character
tweets, 7,000-word essays are an anachronism. WiFi HiFi will feature the deep, expert coverage our readers look
for, but it will get right to the point and stay there.
We’ll maintain our focus on our core topics; but we’ll also venture into some new areas. In 2014, we’ll look at
design, travel and style – with the business edge our readers expect. We’re also adding more individual profiles,
starting with this issue’s profile of Hugh Lawson of Staples. If we all dressed like Hugh, maybe there never would
be another recession!
Our digital offerings will be greater than ever. We’ll deliver dynamic versions of WiFi HiFi for tablets,
smartphones and notebooks. Our social media pages will become a place for a conversation, not just a way
to grab a quick headline.
You can now post all the comments you want on our site. There’s no need to log in, and no need to
register. Use our pages to start a conversation. Let the industry know you’re out there, and that you care
about the business!
Our cover dates will start to make sense. It’s mid-December, and we’ve delivered the January 2014 issue
of WiFi HiFi. No more of the old nonsense, with the October issue appearing in mid-November.
I’m pleased to report that one thing will not change: the editorial voices you’ve come to rely on. Our creative
team is intact. They’ve been working overtime to create the product you’re holding. They’ll be calling you to get
your take on the industry.
So let’s celebrate together. Please accept my invitation to celebrate our new venture, and the wonderful industry
we work in, at Canadian Night during CES 2014 in Las Vegas. Join us on Wednesday, January 8 at the 1•Oak
nightclub in the Mirage Hotel, and let us buy you a beer!
Happy Holidays, and thanks for reading.
John Thomson
[email protected]
January 2014
|5
SHORT BITS
The newest products from the business of digital.
PLAY with me: It’s here, and it’s smaller. Sonos’ PLAY:1 is uber-compact
and can play back tunes from a number of sources, all controlled through a
mobile app. For those who love to sing in the shower, the PLAY:1 is ruggedly
constructed such that it can withstand humidity from a scalding hot and
steamy shower. $219. During the holidays, it will come with a free BRIDGE,
which would normally sell for $59.
Book me: One of the latest Chromebook’s on the market is
HP’s Chromebook 11, which comes equipped with an 11” IPS
display (1,366 x 768), Samsung Exynos 5250 processor, 100GB
of Google Drive storage, 2GB RAM, Intel HD graphics, two USB
2.0 ports, and a VGA front-facing camera. Whew! It can connect
to 802.11a/b/g/n, and there’s the option for built-in 3G and
Bluetooth 4.0 as well. Battery life is of utmost importance to
notebook users these days, and the 11, which weighs 2.26 lbs.
and is 0.69” thin, can run for up to six hours on a charge.
Thin and ultra: The latest 4K TVs from LG are
the LA9650 55” ($4,699) and LA9700 65” ($6,999),
both of which incorporate the Tru-ULTRA HD Engine
that aids in better image clarity, deeper blacks, and
consistent brightness and contrast. With ultra-thin
bezels, both include a 4.1 channel surround sound
system with a forward-facing sliding speaker,
which extends when the TV is powered on, and
retracts when it’s shut off. A subwoofer is behind
the display. With these Smart TVs, viewers can also
access a variety of applications and content services
through the displays.
Ready, aim, fire: Amazon’s Kindle is on Fire. The latest Kindle
Fire HDX is available with 7” (323 ppi) and 8.9” (339 ppi) screens,
with a quad-core 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, which offers
three times the processing power over the previous generation.
There are 16GB, 32GB and 64GB versions, all of which come with
the Fire OS 3.0 (Mojito) software. $254 (7”) and $399 (8.9”).
Wheel it out: Rocelco is known for its line
Sound ‘n touch: Planning to give Sonos a run for its money, popular brand
Bose has brought its own line of wireless speakers to market. SoundTouch
products function on traditional Wi-Fi, and can stream tunes from Pandora
Internet radio at launch (other services coming in 2014), a computer music
library, iTunes, and other sources. Like the Sonos system, playback is controlled
through an intuitive mobile app. Bose is banking on the six preset buttons atop
each unit to help set it apart. Each can be programmed to turn on your favourite
Internet radio station, music playlist, or particular song. The SoundTouch units
come in three sizes, but Bose has plans to add SoundTouch capability to other
popular products in its line going forward, including the Wave radio.
Pricing ranges from $449 to $749.
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of AV mounts, and the STC Standard TV Cart
($399) is the latest. Able to accommodate
flat-panel TVs from 32 inches to 60 inches
(landscape or portrait) and up to 100 lbs., it fits
all VESA mounting patterns from 200x200mm
to 800x500mm. There’s adjustable screen tilt
capability (5 degrees up to 12 degrees down)
and telescopic height adjustment, (41.3 inches
to 59 inches from the top of the base). The AV
component shelf measures 20 x 12 inches.
A top mount Webcam shelf (10” w x 5”d)
is included, along with cable management,
and 2.5-inch braked casters.
SHORT BITS
Beam me up!: AC SmartBeam technology is a range-boosting feature that searches for
and locks onto wireless devices to supply an improved signal to each one. Using SmartBeam,
along with a high-power Wi-Fi amplifier, D-Link’s DIR-868L wireless AC1750 dual band gigabit
router ($169.99) can be used for high-demand activities, like streaming high-definition video
on multiple devices, and online gaming. It offers wireless speeds up to 450 Mbps (2.4 GHz)
and 1,300 Mbps (5 GHz). It has four Gigabit ports, and a USB 3.0 port with mydlink SharePort,
which allows users to monitor the network from anywhere via a free iOS or Android app.
It is backward-compatible with existing Wi-Fi devices.
Muv over: Plastic screen protectors are soooo 2012. Incoming is the latest wave of
tempered glass screen protectors that can be easily placed right over a device’s screen,
without the steady installation process that’s necessary with film, nor the risk of pesky
bubbles. Muvit’s latest in this category is available for the iPhone 5/5c/5s, and helps
add an uber level of protection to the precious smartphone. Just peel off the back, and
place it atop the phone. It won’t impact the look of the screen nor its touch-sensitivity;
and it’s anti-fingerprint. Because it’s shock-absorbing glass, it will not shatter should
there be impact, nor will it puncture. $30
Finding your path: Casio’s PAV5000-1 Pathfinder analog digital watch calculates direction,
altitude, barometric pressure and temperature, and is water-resistant up to 100 metres.
The second-hand will display barometric pressure tendency, altitude differential, and direction
in analog format. The Altitude Mode performs continuous measurements in five-second intervals
for the first three minutes. It lasts up to five months on a single charge, without further exposure
to light. US$450
Light as air: At just a pound, the
iPad Air is almost half-a-pound lighter
than its predecessor, and 20% thinner
with a 43% smaller bezel. With Apple’s
A7 chip and 64-bit desktop-class
architecture, it is reportedly twice
as fast as well. There’s a rear-facing
5MP iSight camera that can capture
1080p video, a front-facing camera for
FaceTime chats and snapping “selfies,”
and dual mics. The Air can operate
for up to 10 hours on a single charge.
$499 for the 16GB Wi-Fi edition, $629
for the 16GB Wi-Fi + cellular model.
Message received: Yamaha’s new R-N500 stereo receiver with network and USB connectivity is rated at
2x80 watts, has an Ethernet port at the rear, USB jack with iPod charging on the front, and a pair each of optical and
coaxial digital-audio inputs. With the ability to play WAV and FLAC files at resolution up to 192kHz/24 bits, it also
supports Apple’s AirPlay, is DLNA 1.5-compliant, and has built-in vTuner Internet radio capability, along with support
for the Pandora and Spotify online music streaming services (neither of which is available in Canada). Users can
control it from iOS and Android devices running Yamaha’s Network Player Controller app. MSRP $599.99
Rolling in the blue: Sphero 2.0 is about as fun as you can get on the tech gadget side. It’s a robotic
rolling ball toy that communicates via Bluetooth with apps on an iOS or Android device, which is then used
as a controller. Do things like roll Sphero about on the ground in various directions as it illuminates, or even
make it roll away from cartoon zombies in the augmented reality game The Rolling Dead. There are 25+
apps available from both Sphero’s maker, Orbotix, and third parties. Many are games, including multi-player
options. But if you want to throw in an educational component, there’s even an app for creating macros
for the device, helping to teach the basics of programming. Sphero is waterproof, and while it shouldn’t
be pelted across the room or dropped from the kitchen table, short falls and bumps (from, say a toddler
throwing it about) should be OK. Sphero can take some abuse, the makers tell us. The robotic ball is $130,
and the Nubby, a plastic cover to help further protect it from scuffs and scratches, is $15.
January 2014
|7
SHORT BITS
Defend & charge: The Otterbox Defender Series case with iON technology isn’t
for the fashion-conscious, but when it comes to rugged protection, this case is a great
option. Available for the iPhone 4/4S (reportedly, a version for the 5 will be coming soon,
though likely not in time for the holidays), it’s standard Defender series case with three
layers of protection. But it adds a built-in battery that doubles the life of your phone.
Plug the phone into the battery case, then charge the case via microUSB, and it’ll charge
up the phone, too. Press the bottom front and LEDs will illuminate to indicate how much
battery life is left in the case. Download the complimentary app to see not only how
much battery life is left in the case and your phone, but an estimated shutdown time,
and number of hours and minutes of usage left, based on your typical usage patterns.
The more you use the case, the more it intelligently learns your usage habits, and the
more accurate its projections are. At about $130, though, it won’t come cheap.
Kinecting to Xbox One: Available on November 22,
the Xbox One is Microsoft’s first new gaming console
system since the 360 launched in 2008. It will have
gamers salivating for its new design and features, which
include a new Kinect sensor, multimedia hub, faster
processor, and redesigned controllers. $499
Carting Fusion: Designed for displays from 55”
up to 100” and up to 300 lbs., Chief’s Extra-Large
Fusion Mobile Cart (XPAU) has a turn knob for
easily adjusting the screen height 48-65”; flexible
cable covers; and internal storage of AV components,
including hardware to vertically mount two RUs
of AV gear. It comes finished in black or silver.
Flower Power: Have a friend or family member that just can’t seem
to keep a plant alive at home? Or someone with an aspiring green
thumb? Parrot’s Flower Power combines the worlds of gardening,
or at least plant owning, and technology. It’s a device that you place
in the soil nearby a plant (or in the same pot) that communicates
with a partner iOS app to analyze the soil moisture, fertilizer, ambient
temperature, and light intensity to determine the proper maintenance
needs. It will even alert you if immediate action is required, like the need
to water the plant, or adjust its location due to high temperatures or
insufficient light. It’s essentially taking care of plants for dummies. $70
Thieving autos: Grand Theft Auto 5, available for both Xbox and
PlayStation, is the first piece of entertainment (not just video games) to
have sold more than US$1 billion in its first three days of availability. The
game brings players into a realistic world of crime and car theft, playing
three different characters throughout, and tackling various missions while
enjoying some of the games, er, other pleasures. Note the “R” rating of
the game, and take it seriously. Violence and crime aside, there are other
aspects of this game that are widely inappropriate for pre-teens. $60
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Shine like a Misfit: There are a few intriguing
things about the Misfit Shine physical activity
monitor. It’s fashionable (it can be worn in optional
leather or metal bands like a wrist watch, but also
like a necklace, or clipped to a shirt, shoe, or other
item) and measures the intensity and duration of
the wearer’s physical activity, providing metrics like
the number of steps taken, distance travelled, and
estimated calories burned. It can also be worn at
night to track sleep. An accompanying app stores a
visual summary of how the user is progressing each
day, and week-to-week. It’s water-resistant up to
50 meters, which means it can be worn and used to
measure progress while swimming as well as on dry
land. Even better: the Shine is powered by a standard,
user-replaceable coin cell battery, which lasts up to
four months. This means there’s no need to recharge
it, sync it via cables, or worry that it’ll run out of juice
halfway through the day. $120
SHORT BITS
Let me see that Tootsie roll: Both water and tear-resistant, the
Tootsie Folio for iPad and iPad mini (US$69.99 and $59.99, respectively)
from Griffin Technology uses patented Papernomad paper composite,
a wool blend lining, and natural hemp fibre closure strap. Magnets in the
strap keep the folio closed.
Scoooooore!: Sony Computer Entertainment Canada is appealing to the
obvious tie between video gaming and sports, as well as our Canadian pride,
with a special PlayStation 3 package that will include a limited edition
“Azurite” blue console bundled with the new EASPORTS NHL 14 video game.
The bundle includes the specially-finished PS3 with a 250 GB hard drive
and a matching Dual Shock 3 controller, along with the game,
and it will cost $249. All that’s missing is a 2-4 to make this
a true Canadian package.
Reviving the berry: The latest
smartphone to hit the market from
BlackBerry is the Z30, which is equipped
with some impressive features, like a 5”
Super AMOLED display, 1.7 GHz processor,
Paratek antenna, 2,880 mAh battery for
up to 25 hours of use on a single charge,
and the new BlackBerry 10.2 OS, which
adds the ability to view a BBM message
without having to open the application.
Let’s go Nexus: Google’s Nexus 5 smartphone comes with a 5” display, and
is powered by Android 4.4 “KitKat.” It boasts an impressive 8 MP camera with
optical image stabilization, and comes in black or white. Pricing is $349 for the
16 GB LTE version, or $399 for the 32 GB edition. It can be purchased through
the Google Play online marketplace, or via major wireless carriers.
Taking cool pics: Nikon is banking on
consumers still seeing value in the entry-level
digicam market with the launch of its new
Coolpix S31. Ideal for situations like families
on vacay, it boasts oversized buttons so even
the kids can use it, and a durable body that’s
not only shockproof (up to 1.2 metres) and
dustproof, but also waterproof up to 5 metres.
It has a 2.7-inch display, and comes in white,
pink, and blue. MSRP $119.95
Desktop tunes: The wireless version of KEF’s X300A powered
desktop speaker, the X300AW, has a built-in USB DAC with support
for 96kHz/24-bit streams. Each enclosure contains a UniQ driver,
with a 1” vented aluminum tweeter at the acoustic centre of a
5.25” magnesium-aluminum mid-bass driver. Each transducer has
its own Class AB amp: 20 watts for the tweeter and 50 watts for
the woofer. And, of course, there’s built-in Wi-Fi, along with Apple
AirPlay support, and DLNA capability. It comes in white
and gunmetal grey finishes, for US$1,000.
Bars of sound: Sony’s HT-ST7 offers HDMI switching and support for high-res surround codecs. The seven-channel
soundbar has a tweeter and mid/bass driver on either side, and five full-range drivers in the centre. Each channel has
its own 50-watt amp. Its wireless sub has a 100-watt amplifier powering a front-firing 7” woofer, supplemented by a
downward-firing 8x12” passive radiator.
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Just Right
The New ViewShare™ Advantage® from Da-Lite.
Featuring:
Sometimes a quick brainstorming session needs more than
a conference call. But reserving a formal video conferencing
room is too much. The ViewShare Advantage gets it just right.
•
Integrated HD video camera
•
Easy plug and play USB connectivity
•
Compatibility with any free peer-to-peer
video conferencing software
Not too much. Not too little. The ViewShare Advantage.
Visit ViewShareInfo.com for more information.
ViewShare is Patent Pending
©2013 Milestone AV Technologies LLC | DA-LITE.COM
SHORT BITS
Definitive inclinations: As the name implies, Definitive Technology’s
Incline active desktop speaker tilts backwards on the machined aluminum
base, matching the tilt of a typical desktop monitor or laptop screen. On the
front are a 3.5” mid/bass driver, 4” pressure-coupled passive radiator and
0.75” silk dome tweeter; and on the back is a 1.5” full-range driver. It has USB,
optical SPDIF and 3.5mm stereo analog inputs, and a subwoofer output. $489
The fourth installment: The PlayStation 4
is Sony’s first major game console launch since
2006, Selling for $399 ($100 cheaper than the rival
Xbox One), it takes on a more “social” feel, with
improved game sharing, cloud-based services and
communication amongst players, and an app that
allows gamers to incorporate their smartphones
or tablets as additional screens. 33 games will be
available before the end of 2013 (15 on disk format,
18 digital downloads) including popular titles
like Call of Duty: Ghosts, Need for Speed: Rivals,
NBA 2K14, Madden 25, and Just Dance 2014.
Getting PAYD: As the first debit-enabled mobile payment system using chip & PIN in Canada,
Moneris Solution’s PAYD PRO lets small business merchants accept debit and credit card payments through
smartphones, from anywhere. Also working with traditional magstripe or contactless technology, PAYD PRO is
actually an app versus an actual product, that communicates via Bluetooth with any iOS or Android smartphone.
Merchants can not only accept payments, but also track transactions, and send receipts via e-mail. The app uses
Moneris’ secure encryption. PAYD PRO will be available in February 2014.
Getting artsy: As part of Sigma’s Art line of lenses that emphasizes “artistic
Skin your Air: If you’ve picked up the new iPad
Air, or plan to, you’ll need something to protect it.
Logitech is one of many already out of the gate
with a number of cases for the tablet, including
the FabricSkin Keyboard Folio. Thin and light,
and available in a number of colours, it is made of
fabric with a water-repellant coating. A Bluetooth
keyboard (rechargeable via microUSB, with battery
life up to three months) is included within the
design, incorporating full-size keys, and even iOS
shortcuts. The SecureLock system keeps the corners
of the iPad fastened to the frame, and there’s an
easy release feature for easily removing the iPad
when needed. Hidden magnets are also included.
MSRP $149.99
12 |
www.wifihifi.ca
expression,” the new 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM zoom lens offers a wide to
mid-telephoto zoom range. Features include a constant aperture of f/4, optical
stabilizer (OS), Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM), FLD, SLD, and glass-molded aspheric
lenses, a zoom ring in front, Sigma’s Super Multi-Layer Coating, minimum focusing
distance of 45 cm and maximum magnification ratio of 1:4.6, a nine-blade
rounded diaphragm, and an ergonomic design. There’s an optional USB Dock
with proprietary Optimization Pro software that allows photographers to update
lens firmware and adjust parameters like focus. At MSRP $999.95, it is available for
Canon and Sigma, with Nikon and Sony versions to be available in 2014.
Sing your heart out: Karaoke, anyone? The Singing Machine
home portable speaker connects to wireless devices like tablets and
smartphones via Bluetooth and to a TV via HDMI. Then, connect
wirelessly to the cloud-based Singing Machine Play platform, and
stream more than 8,000 licensed karaoke videos. It comes with a
wireless microphone that doubles as a remote for selecting the
desired tune. You can even create avatars for all of the aspiring
singers in the home.
NEXT-GENERATION DISPLAYS: OLED AND 4K ARRIVE
BY GORDON BROCKHOUSE
FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AT CES, the big TV vendors have tantalized attendees with new display
technologies: OLED, 4K and others. Finally, in 2013, they delivered. And in 2014, the initial trickle of nextgeneration TVs will turn into a flood. Not only that: prices are moving rapidly to mainstream levels.
This year’s highlight was of course the launch of OLED. On October 29, LG Electronics of Canada, Inc. officially
introduced its 55EA9800, a gorgeous curved 55” OLED high-definition television (see “In the Black”). Canadian
shipments began in November.
All the other new next-generation televisions are Ultra High Definition (UHD) models with 4K (3,840x2,160-pixel)
panels. That’s four times as many pixels as a 1080p screen.
Industry watchers are predicting very strong growth for UHD, but this is on a very small base. Chris Matto,
Director of Brand and Corporate Communications for Sharp Electronics of Canada Ltd., cites a DisplaySearch
study that projects sales of 720,000 units in North America in 2014, 1.5 million in 2015 and 2.5 million in 2016.
That’s impressive growth, but the numbers pale in comparison to the total, when you consider that about three
million flat-panel TVs are sold annually in Canada alone.
Citing other forecasts, Barry Murray, Director of Marketing for the AV Group of Panasonic Canada Inc., says
that by 2017, 4K will “be better than 50 per cent of global-large screen shipments,” which he defines as TVs 55”
and larger. “It will happen more quickly in North America,” Murray predicts.
There are a few big questions around UHD. The first is content: currently, sources of 4K content are few and
far between. The second is significance: at normal viewing distances, what difference do those extra pixels make?
14 |
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The Story
OLED and 4K television are now a reality in
Canada. LG has just launched OLED, and all
the major TV vendors have 4K offerings.
Native 4K content is available from only
a few sources, which makes a 4K TV’s ability
to upconvert HD material very important.
China is the world’s biggest market for 4K
television, and this is driving prices down
very quickly.
To really benefit from a 4K television, you
need a big screen, and you need to sit
very close.
like nothing you’ve ever experienced
Robert Turnbull from Lightning Ridge, Australia,
experiencing the ocean for the first time.
On the other side of the planet, 62-year-old Australian Robert Turnbull had never seen the ocean – until we
took him there. His reaction was pure astonishment. This is what it is like to experience the Sony 4K TV for the
very first time. With 4 times more detail than Full HD, it’s like nothing you’ve ever experienced.
Be our next story
Is there something astonishing that you have never experienced? Tell us about it and you could be chosen
to live your experience and star in our next commercial! For more information visit sony4k.ca.
Entries close January 31, 2014. ®Sony is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation. Screen image is simulated. A.E. & O.E.
NEXT-GEN DISPLAYS
“ We weren’t the first to market with
4K. We waited until we had THX
certification, and I’m glad.”
Chris Matto
Director of Brand and Corporate
Communications, Sharp Canada
Electronics of Canada Ltd.
And then there’s the perennial issue with flatpanel TV: price erosion. It’s already happening. At this
stage that may be a good thing, since it’s moving UHD
out of luxury class into something that videophiles of
moderate means can aspire to.
Right at the outset, it’s worth noting that OLED
and UHD (4K) refer to two very different things. OLED
(Organic Light Emitting Diode) is a display technology
that’s fundamentally different from the LCD and
plasma displays currently on the market. UHD and
4K (the two terms mean the same thing) refers
simply to resolution, which on consumer displays
is 3,840x2,160.
OLED and 4K aren’t mutually exclusive. Last
year at CES, Panasonic showed a prototype 4K OLED
television. It’s a safe bet that we’ll see commercialized
4K OLED from at least one supplier in 2014.
WHAT’S OUT THERE
Sony was the first manufacturer to deliver 4K
television in Canada, having launched an 84-incher
in late 2012. At $25,000, the big, beautiful set is
definitely in the luxury class. Featuring a detachable
speaker system and supplied with a dual-pedestal
base, the flagship XBR84X950A remains in the line.
Sony introduced more affordable 55” and 65” 4K
TVs in the spring, and then followed up with a major
price drop in October. The 55” XBR55X900A went from
$5,500 to $4,500, and the 65” XBR65X900A went from
$7,700 to $6,000. Predictably, this has led to “big spike”
in Sony’s 4K shipments, says Karol Warminiec, Central
Region Training Manager for Sony of Canada Ltd.
Also in October, Sony Canada introduced two
even more affordable third-generation models: the
55” XBR55X850A at $4,200 and 65” XBR65X850A at
$5,700. The X900 55- and 65-inchers remain in the
line, with the X900 models carrying a $300 premium.
Those sets have a premium sound system, with
16 |
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side-mounted Magnetic Fluid speakers, and employ
passive rather than active-shutter 3D technology.
“For people looking at a big screen, an HD
set doesn’t give the resolution you’re looking for,”
Warminiec says. “You’re limited to two million pixels.
You can notice the difference in looking at 70-inch HD
and 4K displays side-by-side.”
LG was first to market with UHD in the U.S., and
second in Canada. Like Sony, it entered the market
with an 84” flagship. Priced at $20,000, the 84LM9600
arrived last spring. In late summer, LG Canada started
shipping a 55-incher, the 55LA9650, and a 65-incher,
the 65LA9700 ($7,000).
Until the end of December, LG Canada is giving
a free 4K upconverting player, USB drive with 4K
content, two-year extended warranty and free
delivery and installation with every UHD set. The
dealer can fulfill delivery and installation, and bill LG,
or LG can look after this.
“Definitely, it’s early adopters who are jumping
into UHD, but also people who want the very best,”
says Kevin Andrews, Senior Brand Marketing Manager
at LG Canada. “UHD satisfies the need for a large
screen with high resolution. Those sizes benefit from a
large screen where 1080p begins to look a little soft.
“There is definitely a market for 55-inch UHD,”
Andrews continues. “The reality is that you have to
fit the TV in your living space, and 55 inches meets
reality for a lot of people.”
Andrews says LG will offer UHD at more screen
sizes in 2014, including models larger than this year’s
84” flagship. “We’re going to flex our muscles next
year. We’ll have more UHD SKUs. We’re seeing an
appetite for UHD resolution in larger screens.”
Samsung Electronics Canada Inc. started
shipping UHD in the summer. At $40,000, the
stunning easel-mounted UN85S9AF is the most
“ The panel is important, but the
processor is just as important.
Our CEVO 4K processor is what
makes us different.”
Lindsay Takashima
Vice President Marketing, CE Division,
Toshiba of Canada Ltd.
expensive TV on the Canadian market. It’s also the
biggest UD TV available, besting LG’s, Sony’s and
Toshiba’s flagships by an inch. Closer to earth are the
55” UN65F9000AFXZC (currently being discounted to
$4,000) and 65” UN65F9000AFXZC ($6,200).
“The product is limited to retailers with assisted
sales floors,” says Dave Vitale, Product and Marketing
Manager for Samsung Canada. “We feel in the early
stages, it is very important that the technology is
demonstrated to the consumer to ensure that the
experience is a positive and memorable one.
“Based on early growth rates, UHD has shown
much quicker penetration than HD or Full HD did,”
Vitale continues. “We believe UHD will remain a
premium over FHD for the foreseeable future.
However UHD will give FHD owners a reason to
consider upgrading.”
Like other vendors, Sharp highlights the importance of the
processor on 4K TVs. The LC-70UD1’s Revelation 4K processor
analyzes the picture for contrast and colour, removes noise
and artifacts, and then upconverts the HD signal.
A key feature of Samsung’s UHD offerings is
upgradable processors. Users will be able to upgrade
the smart TV platform and other features in future
years by purchasing an Evolution Kit.
The last two months have seen a steady stream of
new advanced televisions. On October 30, Toshiba of
Canada Ltd. had a launch event for its new ultra-highdef TVs at Toronto’s Great Metropolitan Sound. There
are three models, all of which were on display at the
event: the 58” 58L9300UC at $4,800, the 65” 65L9300UC
at $6,500 and the 84” 84L9300UC at $20,000.
All three models come with keyboard and mouse,
and are equipped with WiDi, allowing them to receive
wireless HD video signals from WiDi-equipped PCs.
For 2013, Toshiba has two notebook PCs that output
4K video.
Toshiba outsources its panels; but the company
remains a silicon powerhouse, and designs and
NEXT-GEN DISPLAYS
“ Those companies who can dominate
the Chinese market will be able to
leverage economies of scale and
have a significant advantage in
other markets.”
John Henderson
Vice President Sales and Marketing,
Hisense Canada Co., Ltd.
manufacturers its own processors. Given the current
paucity of 4K content, the way a UHD television
handles upconversion to 4K is vitally important, notes
Lindsay Takashima, Vice President Marketing for the
CE Division of Toshiba of Canada Ltd. “The panel is
important, but the processor is just as important. Our
CEVO 4K processor is what makes us different.”
IN THE BLACK: OLED
FINALLY ARRIVES
FOR VIDEOPHILES, ONE OF THE BIG HIGHLIGHTS
OF 2013 WAS THE LAUNCH OF BIG-SCREEN OLED
TELEVISION, WHICH IN CANADA OCCURRED
ON OCTOBER 29 AT THE THOMSON HOTEL IN
TORONTO’S ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. THAT’S
WHEN LG ELECTRONICS CANADA, INC. OFFICIALLY
UNVEILED ITS 55EA9800 TELEVISION.
The TV elicited oohs and ahs from the crowd, and
they’re weren’t misplaced. It’s super-thin (4.5mm
at the thinnest point) and light (17kg), and clad
in a jet-black carbon-fibre finish that matches the
anthracite blacks on the screen.
Thinness and super-deep blacks are two big
benefits of OLED technology. OLED displays are
self-emitting; unlike LCD televisions, they require no
backlight. One layer consists of an organic (carbonbased) electroluminescent film that emits light
when excited by an electrical charge. The other
is a TFT (thin-film transistor) layer that controls
each sub-pixel.
On an OLED display, when no current is applied
to a pixel, it emits no light at all. This provides
a powerful sense of drama and depth. Viewing
angle is not an issue; there’s no light falloff for
Sharp Canada began shipping a 70” Ultra
HD television in October. Retailing for $8,000, the
LC-70UD1U is currently offered in over 40 storefronts,
including nationals, regionals and independents.
The LC-U70D1U is also featured on the Future Shop
Website, Matto says. The 70” screen size provides 16%
more viewing area than competitors’ 65”offerings,
Matto notes, without the hefty premium it takes to
move to an 84” model.
Like other vendors, Sharp highlights the
importance of the processor. The LC-70UD1’s
Revelation 4K processor analyzes the picture for
contrast and colour, removes noise and artifacts,
and then upconverts the signal.
The LC-70D1U is the first television in North
America to receive THX 4K certification (see “Due
Diligence”). THX’s 4K evaluation includes HD-to-4K
upscaling. “We weren’t the first to market with 4K,”
viewers seated off to the side (or standing up, or
sprawling on the floor). Response time is virtually
instantaneous, so motion blurring is never an issue.
All these attributes were apparent in LG’s demo.
The 55EA9800 is the first THX-certified curved
OLED TV. LG is technically correct in saying that
its OLED set has infinite contrast ratio, because it
outputs no light in dark areas. That doesn’t mean
that it’s brighter than LED-LCD offerings. This is
something purchasers need to consider, notes Eric
Gemmer, Senior Video Engineer for THX Ltd.
“OLED has a different look than LCD, more like
plasma,” Gemmer says. “People need to look at the
image in a light-controlled showroom, not on a bigbox floor, and then start to see the difference. OLED
may have brightness limitations. Consider this if you
plan to put it in a bright space.”
For 2013, the 55EA9800 is being sold exclusively
in Canada through Future Shop and Best Buy. “We’re
trying to keep up with demand,” says Kevin Andrews,
Senior Brand Marketing Manager for LG Canada. “We
have limited supply and we’re trying to meet orders.
We’ll expand our lineup in the New Year.”
Clearly there’s pent-up demand. Despite a price
tag of $11,000, the 55EA9800 was shown as sold out
on the Future Shop and Best Buy Websites at the
end of the third week of November.
Hisense is launching a 58” Ultra High-Definition TV, the
58T8800UW, with a Canadian retail price of under $3,000.
Matto acknowledges. “We waited until we had THX
certification, and I’m glad.” Adds Eric Gemmer, Senior
Video Engineer for THX Ltd.: “The UD1 came to us in
April. It performed well in all measurements.”
Matto says Sharp will introduce more UHD
televisions in 2014, including a Quattron model
that will be shown at CES (the LC-70UD1 uses a
LG’s OLED TV is a WRGB design, containing
white sub-pixels in addition to the standard red,
green and blue. This expands colour range and
increases light output compared to RGB systems.
Samsung Electronics of Canada Inc. has also
shown a 55” curved OLED publicly in Canada, but the
product is not yet shipping. “The launch date for OLED
in Canada has not been finalized,” says Product and
Marketing Manager Dave Vitale. In late November,
Future Shop and Best Buy were taking pre-orders
for the KN55S9SA at $10,000 on their Websites, and
showing a delivery date of December 31.
OLED TVs emit no light at all in black areas of the picture; so not
surprisingly, blacks on LG’s new 55” curved OLED are totally dark.
The 55EA9800 is being launched in Canada exclusively through
Best Buy and Future Shop through the end of 2013.
January 2014
| 17
NEXT-GEN DISPLAYS
conventional three-colour panel). “Seventy inches
will be our only screen size in 4K for the foreseeable
future,” Matto adds.
Panasonic Canada has just begun shipping it
first UHD television. What sets the 65” TC-65WT600
($6,500) apart is its connectivity. One of the set’s
four HDMI ports is based on the new HDMI 2.0 spec,
though it’s not officially HDMI 2.0-certified. The
TC-65WT600 also has a DisplayPort 1.2 input. These
two interfaces can accept 4K (3,840x2,160-pixel) input
at up to 60 frames per second. It’s worth noting the
HDMI interfaces on competing UHD TVs can also
accept 4K input, but at lower frame rates.
in this category, we expect to be a dominant UHD
player in 2014, offering multiple platforms in a variety
of sizes,” he states. “I see dramatic price moves in
UHD in 2014 driven by the huge disparity in volume
being sold in China versus North America. Chinese
consumers are forecasted by DisplaySearch to
account for 67 per cent of world demand for UHD
TVs. Those companies who can dominate the Chinese
market will be able to leverage economies of scale
and have a significant advantage in other markets. Companies who are able to pay down the capital
investment costs faster will able to offer price points
that other companies will find difficult to match.”
THE CONTENT QUESTION
Like his counterparts at other suppliers, Henderson
believes retail expertise is vital for UHD. “Today, it
is absolutely critical for this product to be sold to
consumers by a highly skilled sales floor,” he states. “It is
important to not only demo true 4K performance, but
LG’s 65LA9700 65” Ultra High Definition TV employs an IPS panel
with wide viewing angle, and features a slim-bezel design with
speakers that drop down from behind the screen when the TV
is powered on.
There are no current video sources with HDMI
2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2 outputs. Nvidia and other
vendors will be making Display Port 1.2-equipped PC
video boards, Murray says. And we’ll likely see HDMI
2.0-equipped video source components in 2014.
“We got into the 4K game late so we could futureproof the product,” Murray comments. “In 2014, we’ll
have multiple models and screen sizes.”
The newest entrant is a less familiar brand. In
November, Hisense Canada was expecting to ship
a 58” Ultra-High-Definition TV through 2001 Audio
Video, Centre Hi-Fi and Visions Electronics. The price is
sure to turn some heads. Comments John Henderson,
Vice President Sales and Marketing for Hisense
Canada Co., Ltd.: “Given our strength in the domestic
Chinese market, which happens to be not only be the
largest TV market in the world, but also the largest
UHD market, we will be able to leverage the volume
and offer Canadians a retail price point of sub-$3,000.”
Henderson says UHD is central to Hisense’s
strategy for 2014. And he expects prices to move
down very rapidly. “Leveraging our global strength
18 |
www.wifihifi.ca
also the picture quality when upconverted from 1080p.”
To that end, vendors are providing dealers with
demo tools. LG, Panasonic, Sharp and Samsung are
all providing USB drives containing native 4K content,
so that dealers can demo the true capabilities of
their UHD offerings. Hisense, Sony and Toshiba go
even further. Sony is providing an HDMI-connected
video server containing nature footage, as well as
movie and videogame trailers. For demo purposes,
Toshiba will be providing dealers carrying its UHD
televisions with loaner P-series notebooks that
feature 4K-capable HDMI outputs. The PCs contain
4K content, with split screen-video showing 4K and
1080p material. Hisense is also supplying dealers with
computer hardware and software for demo purposes.
Even though there’s not very much 4K content
available, Henderson believes that 4K capability will
be important for purchasers of large-screen TVs. “I see
UHD quickly becoming the standard in Canada,” he
says. “Despite a lack of UHD signal, an upconverted
FADE TO BLACK:
PANASONIC EXITS THE PLASMA BUSINESS
For the past couple of years, speculation has been floating that Panasonic planned to stop making
plasma TVs. “Say it ain’t so,” cried videophiles and dealers. Ever since Pioneer discontinued its
acclaimed Kuro televisions, Panasonic’s plasmas have been the preferred TVs for many video purists
and a mainstay for independents.
On October 31, Panasonic confirmed that it would stop manufacturing plasma displays in
December. “We have a limited quantity of product to sell,” says Barry Murray, Director of Marketing for
the AV Group of Panasonic Canada Inc. Murray says Panasonic Canada has exhausted its supply of the
upmarket (and well reviewed) ST60 series, and is “close to being sold out” on the premium VT60 series.
“We have secured more inventory of the ZT60 series,” he adds, referring to Panasonic’s flagship
plasmas for 2013, which incorporate a new red phosphor that expands the colour gamut, gapless
design that eliminates internal reflections, and new firing process that deepens blacks.
“Consumers are now motivated to buy,” Murray
states. “They want to be sure to get them before
they’re gone. They remember what happened with
Kuro, and don’t want to miss out.”
Panasonic’s flagship ZT60-series televisions will be its last
plasmas. Panasonic Canada has secured additional inventory, and
expects it to be snapped up by video purists who appreciate the
ZT60’s superb blacks and excellent colour.
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NEXT-GEN DISPLAYS
Toshiba’s 65L9300UC 65” UHD television comes with a keyboard
and mouse, making it easier to navigate to sites with 4K content.
And it has WiDi connectivity, for receiving wireless video and
audio from WiDi-equipped PCs.
1080p signal to 4K is substantial enough to ensure
consumers are happy with the product. I believe
we will see a similar trend to the late ’90s, when
consumers were buying HD-ready TVs when we had
very few sources in Canada. Consumers will want to
future-proof their purchase and be able to enjoy a
superior upconverted picture today.”
Other vendors agree about the importance of
upconversion; witness the importance they place on
processing. But they’re also hopeful that 4K content
will emerge quickly. We’re already seeing the start of
the process.
“An ecosystem is developing,” Murray says.
“There’s no question that within the life cycle of a 4K
TV, there will be 4K content. This is very reminiscent
DUE DILIGENCE:
HOW THX TESTS
UHD DISPLAYS
Announced at CES 2013, the THX 4K Certification
program subjects TVs to a battery of 600 tests.
“Licensees call when they’re preparing a prototype
they want to submit,” explains Eric Gemmer, Senior
Video Engineer at THX Ltd. “We schedule a time
to test the prototype. It’s usually hand-built using
new components. We work with their engineers
modifying the set’s software, because that’s what
controls picture parameters.”
The tests cover areas like white point,
colour gamut, grey scale and video processing,
which are measured with an instrument called
a spectroradiometer. Its function is similar to
the colourimeters used for ISF (Imaging Science
20 |
www.wifihifi.ca
of the launch of HD. Actually, there is a lot more 4K
content at this stage of the launch, compared to HD.”
As examples, Murray points to experiments at
streaming 4K by Netflix, Inc., and to a section with 4K
content on YouTube. Netflix’s Emmy Award-winning
series House of Cards is being shot in 4K. Will the
service offer it in 4K? That would certainly give the
technology a shot in the arm (but your Internet plan
had better have a high bit cap!).
In the U.S., Sony offers a 4K streaming service that
connects to a 4K video player that works only with
Sony TVs. About 70 movies and TV shows are available
on the service. “We’re still looking at how we can
deliver something like this in Canada,” Warminiec says.
“The issue is how to maintain it.”
“ UHD satisfies the need for a large
screen with high resolution.
Those sizes benefit from a large
screen where 1080p begins to look
a little soft.”
Kevin Andrews
Senior Brand Marketing Manager,
LG Electronics Canada, Inc.
Foundation) calibration, but does not rely on
colour filters, so that THX can examine the entire
colour spectrum. To attain certification, the set
must fully adhere to Rec. 709, the International
Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) standard for
HDTV display.
When testing UHD televisions, measurements
are taken closer to the TV than with HD sets. For
“ A lot of work goes on in movies to
create a look and colour. We want
to bring that experience to the
consumer. We want to emulate the
look of a post-production display.”
Eric Gemmer
Senior Video Engineer, THX Ltd.
There are differences between the launch of
HD and UHD however. In the 1990s, we knew that
broadcasters and cable companies would get into the
act, and we knew that a high-def successor for DVD
was in the cards. As things stand, there’s no sign that
broadcasters and cable companies have plans to offer
4K content, and there’s no sign of a 4K successor to
Blu-ray (though there is a growing catalog of Blu-ray
titles mastered in 4K).
Like its other 4K TVs, Sony’s new XBR55X850 55” 4K television
feature Triluminos LED backlighting, which enables it to
produce deeper reds, blues and greens.
But the world has changed. Broadcasters
and plastic carriers aren’t as central to TV as they
once were; streaming services, the Internet and
PC connectivity are becoming more important.
That’s where we can look for 4K content. 䡲
standard HD, THX recommends a viewing
distance equal to three times the height of the
screen. That translates roughly to 1.5 times
the diagonal screen size. For a 70” HDTV, the
optimum viewing distance is approximately nine
feet. “But for UHD, you really need to sit closer or
have a bigger screen,” Genner says. When testing
4K TVs, THX measures at half that distance. For a
70” UHD set, that works out to less than five feet.
The other requirement for THX Display
Certification is a dedicated THX picture mode.
“A lot of work goes on in movies to create a look
and colour,” Gemmer explains. “We want to
bring that experience to the consumer. We want
to emulate the look of a post-production display.
Coming from post-production, we first try to
emulate that in a dark room. Because people
also view in bright rooms, we have made
a few changes to the requirements, including
a bright room mode.”
Experience
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LG’s SoundPlate™ brings powerful crisp three-dimensional sound to your
home, all in a slim sleek compact style. The SoundPlate™ can be easily installed
and connect to TV’s of different sizes, providing 4.1 channel surround
sound with built-in dual subwoofers transforming your home into a cinema
theatre experience. Designed at a slim 35 mm in height, you can place the
SoundPlate™ beneath your TV to save space while providing the ultimate
home theatre audio experience. With LG, It’s All Possible.
Wireless Audio
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Find LG CANADA on:
THE NEW MUSIC: IS HIGH-RES
AUDIO READY FOR PRIME TIME?
BY GORDON BROCKHOUSE
IT’S RISKY TO EXTRAPOLATE LARGE TRENDS FROM SMALL SAMPLES. Even so, a show of hands at a
seminar during the Toronto Audio Video Entertainment Show (TAVES) said a lot about consumer interest in
computer audio. It was the afternoon of Saturday, November 2, and about 25 audiophiles had jammed an exhibit
room at the King Edward Hotel to take in the seminar, presented by George Klissarov, President of Toronto-based
exaSound Audio Design.
exaSound makes two- and eight-channel DACs for playing music stored on computers. During his
presentation, Klissarov asked how many attendees owned DACs. (For a summary of Klissarov’s seminar, search
“exaSound” at WiFiHiFi.ca.) As best as I could see, two people put up their hands; and I was one of them. But the
whole room had come to learn about the subject.
Many people are observing a growing interest in high-resolution computer audio. “If you had asked me
six months ago, I would have said it’s a hobbyist thing,” comments Sergei Shinder, Owner of Yana Imaginative
Audio Video Solutions Inc. in Vancouver. “Now it’s the hottest topic among people looking for two-channel
improvements. We’re definitely seeing a lot more people getting into two-channel.”
Major CE vendors and trade associations are seeing a similar trend, and reacting accordingly. On September 3,
the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) announced plans to expand promotion of high-resolution audio
at CES 2014. The research that led to this decision is pretty interesting. In a July 2011 study by CEA, 39% of
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Available for Windows and Mac OS X, JRiver Media Center
provides bit-perfect playback of a variety of digital music
formats, including FLAC, ALAC and DSD. It also offers options
for room correction and bass management.
The Story
Large online music stores like Apple and
Amazon use lossy formats to deliver digital
music; but a growing number of online
merchants offer lossless music at CD
resolution and higher.
Until now, high-resolution audio has been
mainly a hobbyist pursuit. With Sony Music
planning to offer its catalog in DSD format,
high-resolution audio could break out
of its niche.
Mainstream CE manufacturers are beginning
to offer DACs, music servers and other highperformance digital components at attractive
price points.
Playback of high-resolution audio from a PC or
Mac requires special software. Some guidance
is required to help customers select the right
front end for their digital music system.
DIGITAL AUDIO
“ What amazes me is the desire we’re
starting to see for pure audio and
high-resolution files. There’s room
for this market to grow.”
Michael Neujahr
National Manager, Event Marketing
and Training, Sony of Canada Ltd.
consumers with a moderate interest in audio
professed willingness to pay a premium for highquality audio devices. More than 60% would pay a
premium for higher-quality content. Nine out of 10
consumers said sound quality is the most important
aspect of a quality audio experience.
At a press event in New York’s Lincoln Centre
the following day, Sony announced a series of digital
audio products that can play compressed audio files,
high-resolution PCM files, and DSD files (see “Digital
Music 101” for explanations of these terms). Sony
of Canada Ltd. used TAVES for the official Canadian
launch of these products. Shipments are slated to
begin in Canada in early 2014.
INTO THE MAINSTREAM
Computer audio has been with us for a well over
a decade. What’s newer is the computer’s role in
many listeners’ sound systems. Instead of acting as a
waystation for music on its way to an iPod or other
portable device, the computer has become a primary
music source for sit-down listening. And instead of
ripping CDs in lossy compressed formats intended
for portable listening, digital audiophiles are using
lossless formats to preserve all the information their
CDs contain (then perhaps using a lossy format when
transferring music to a portable device).
Many digital audiophiles are moving a step
further, purchasing high-resolution music from
online stores like HDtracks. While HDtracks is officially
available only to customers in the U.S., there’s an easy
workaround for listeners in other countries, including
Canada. Just choose any U.S. state and five-digit zip
code when you register, then pay using PayPal. While
HDtracks is the largest online music store offering
high-resolution downloads, there are many others,
including Channel Classics, eClassical.com, Linn
Records and Qobuz.
A day after Sony’s Lincoln Center event, Sony
Music announced an agreement with Acoustic
Sounds that will allow the Kansas-based online
music store to offer DSD downloads of select Sony
titles through its download service Super HiRez. The
service, which went live in the U.S. in late August, is
already offering music in DSD, FLAC and ALAC format
from its in-house label APO Records, as well as music
licensed by its reissue label Analogue Productions
from Universal Music.
Yamaha’s new R-N500 stereo receiver is fully networked, with
rear-panel Ethernet jack, AirPlay capability, DLNA compatibility,
vTuner Internet radio, front USB port with iPod charging, and
four SPDIF inputs. The receiver supports a wide range of digital
formats, including FLAC to 192kHz/24 bits.
The Canadian launch of Super HiRez has been
held up because of a delay in reaching an agreement
with the Canadian copyright collective that
distributes royalties. Moreover, Acoustic Sounds has
not reached an agreement with Sony Music Canada
for offering high-resolution by its artists to Canadian
customers. Super HiRez expects to be up and running
in Canada by the end of 2013.
“ If you had asked me six months ago, I would have said high-resolution
audio is a hobbyist thing. Now it’s the hottest topic among people looking
for two-channel improvements.”
Sergei Shinder
Yana Imaginative Audio Video Solutions Inc., Vancouver, BC
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“ If you have a nice amplifier and
speakers, I have to assume that
high-resolution audio is on your
radar. It’s still fairly geekish;
but we’re seeing things taking
off quite a bit.”
Paul Belanger
Product Manager, D&M Group
Michael Neujahr, National Manager, Event
Marketing and Training for Sony of Canada Ltd.,
says it’s too early to label high-resolution audio as a
mainstream phenomenon. Most people are happy
with streaming services and the compressed files they
download from iTunes. “For a large group of people,
good enough is good enough,” Neujahr observes. But
he also believes the ground is shifting quickly. “What
amazes me is the desire we’re starting to see for pure
audio and high-resolution files. There’s room for this
market to grow.”
Paul Belanger, Product Manager for the D&M
Group, thinks the Sony Music announcement could
be a hockey-stick moment in digital audio. “If you
have a nice amplifier and speakers, I have to assume
that high-resolution audio is on your radar,” he says.
“It’s still fairly geekish; but we’re seeing things taking
off quite a bit.”
Belanger believes awareness of high-resolution
audio is still low with mainstream buyers, as well as
mainstream retailers. “I think there are a few dealers
who have a good idea of what’s going on. But the
mainstream isn’t aware of how good this can sound,
and all the buzz there is around it.” That could change
quickly though. “Now that Sony is making its back
catalog available in DSD, we’ll see bigger adoption,”
Belanger predicts. “Once we can legally download
Thriller in DSD, this thing will explode.”
The growing interest in high-resolution audio
will be reflected in the lineups of D&M’s Denon and
Marantz brands. Currently a few Marantz CD/SACD
players, including the recently announced SA-14S1
from the Reference series, have built-in USB DACs.
Priced at $2,500, the SA-14S1 has a built-in DAC
that supports DSD playback, which at this point
is not a common capability. DSD playback is also
supported by the Reference Series NA-11S1 Network
Audio Player and DAC, which can stream music from
DIGITAL AUDIO
networked PCs. Priced at $3,800, the NA-11S1 also
features AirPlay support and vTuner Internet radio.
Comments Belanger: “You’re going to see more
products from both brands in the New Year, at entrylevel price points.”
A HOT TOPIC
At Yana Imaginative Audio Video, Shinder has seen an
upsurge of interest in high-resolution audio over the
last 12 months; and he expects momentum to grow.
Yana offers a wide range of digital components from
DIGITAL MUSIC 101
AS SEVERAL INTERVIEWEES IN OUR MAIN STORY
OBSERVE, THERE’S A LOT OF CONFUSION AROUND
DIGITAL AUDIO FORMATS. SO HERE’S A QUICK
PRIMER ON HIGH-RESOLUTION AUDIO (HRA),
AND HOW TO GET IT.
By “high-resolution audio,” I mean uncompressed
or lossless tracks with better-than-CD quality. For
CD digital audio, the level of the audio signal is
measured 44,100 per second, and each of these
samples is quantified as a 16-bit binary number.
Or to express it more concisely, CD audio has a
sampling frequency of 44.1kHz and word length of
16 bits (44.1/16). High-resolution files often have
higher sampling frequency (48kHz and higher) and
bit depth (24 bits on many tracks, and occasionally
32 bits). At minimum, high-resolution files are
44.1kHz/24 bits or 48kHz/16 bits. The highest
resolution offered on commercial download sites
is 192kHz/24 bits, essentially studio-quality.
SQUEEZE PLAY
CD-resolution and higher-resolution files can be
stored and transmitted in uncompressed form.
But to reduce download times, providers of highresolution music all offer music in a lossless format,
typically FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec), and
sometimes ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) as
well. FLAC and ALAC compression can reduce file
sizes by as much as 50%. No information is lost in
the process. The files are fully reconstituted during
playback, much like a ZIP archive.
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“ When dealers do events on lossless
audio, there’s almost the same level
of excitement that there was when
home theatre first peaked.”
Paul Bawcutt
National Accounts Manager
and Product Specialist,
Yamaha Canada Music Ltd.
This is not the case with the lossy formats used
on the big commercial sites. Apple’s iTunes store
sells music in AAC format; Amazon sells music
downloads in MP3 format; Spotify streams in
Ogg format. Typically, music in one of these lossy
formats will start as a CD-resolution file, which is
then processed to remove some audio data, such
as quiet sounds that are masked by louder sounds
of similar frequency, so as to allow smaller file sizes
and faster transmission.
The effects depend on the degree of
compression. At lower bitrates (128 kilobits per
second and lower), the effects are very audible.
Echo-y artifacts and a harsh metallic edge are
common. At higher bitrates (256kbps and above),
the effects aren’t nearly as obvious, but they are
audible to attentive listeners on better equipment.
Harsh artifacts are largely absent, and the notes
are all “there,” but the sense of space and time
around the notes is less palpable than with an
uncompressed file. Once discarded, this information
can never be retrieved.
For serious digital audiophiles, the baseline
is CD-quality. Many listeners start by ripping their
CD collections, attracted by the convenience of
having their music library accessible through a
single interface. The first decision will be what
format to rip to. As noted, lossy format involves
some compromise in audio quality. The alternatives
are uncompressed audio (WAV or AIFF) or a lossless
format (FLAC or ALAC).
FLAC is an open standard, but not supported by
iTunes, the most popular music player on the planet
because of its central place in the iPod/iPhone/iPad
brands like Audiolab and Simaudio. Currently, one
of the most popular products is Teac’s UD-501 DAC
($949), which supports practically every digital audio
format under the sun, including DSD. “It’s truly a Swiss
Army knife,” Shinder says. “It sounds great, it has great
build quality and it’s a good headphone amplifier.
“The most exciting thing that’s happening now
is the availability of DSD files,” he adds. “I get a ton of
requests for DSD, more than for 96/24 PCM. And those
new Sony products are truly exciting. It doesn’t get
more mainstream than this.”
ecosystem. Apple supports its own ALAC format
(which is now open-source) in iTunes, but not FLAC.
Users either have to play FLAC downloads with
FLAC-friendly software; or if they insist on using
iTunes, convert them to ALAC first.
For that purpose, there are inexpensive FLACto-ALAC conversion utilities available. On the Mac,
I use a $4 utility called FLACTunes. After launching
FLACTunes, you drag your downloaded FLAC files
into the FLACTunes window. The utility converts
them to ALAC files, which it then loads into your
iTunes library, with meta-data (album, artist, track
information) and album art intact.
Third-party media player software with support for highresolution formats makes it much easier to play high-resolution
files. Audirvana Plus for the Mac can be used as a standalone
player, or integrated with iTunes.
PLAYBACK
An alternative is to use a FLAC-compatible software
player rather than iTunes. Options include JRiver
Media Centre (PC and Mac), Foobar 2000 (PC),
DIGITAL AUDIO
The new Sony products include four digital
DACs, all with support for 2.8 and 5.6MHz DSD and
192kHz/24-bit PCM. Arriving in Canada in January
at $2,000 retail, the Wi-Fi-equipped HPA-Z1ES
Hi-Res Music Player imports music from networked
and USB-connected devices, and stores it on a
built-in 1TB drive. It can upconvert compressed
and uncompressed audio in realtime to DSD before
playback. Also arriving in January is the HAP-S1 HDD
Audio Player ($1,000). It has a built-in 2x40-watt
amp, Wi-Fi and 500GB hard drive. The UDA-1 USB
DAC Amplifier ($700) has a 2x20-watt amplifier and
headphone amp. The PHA-2 High-Res Portable DAC/
Amplifier arrives in March, at $600 retail. It has an USB
input for connection to a PC or Mac, and a dedicated
digital input for connecting an iPod, iPhone or iPad.
Its lithium-ion battery can play a digital source for 6.5
hours per charge.
Audirvana (Mac) or Pure Music (Mac). If you’re
playing high-resolution files (above 44.1/16),
you’ll likely want to use one of these players. You
can play high-res files in iTunes, but when you
do this, iTunes downsamples them to 44.1/16,
which kind of defeats the purpose. You can change
output resolution, say to 96/24, with the Audio
MIDI Setup utility in Mac OS X or the QuickTime
Preferences menu in Windows. But then iTunes will
output everything at that resolution, upsampling
CD-resolution files. A player like JRiver, Foobar 2000,
Audirvana or Pure Music will automatically output
music at native resolution of the file being played,
which is preferable.
Some media players (e.g. Audirvana and Pure
Music) have an iTunes mode. You use iTunes to
choose music, but the third-party player manages
output, setting resolution to match the capabilities
of the playback hardware. Another attraction of
these players is that they let you use the Apple
Remote app to control playback from an iOS device
(there are iTunes control apps for Android as well).
With Apple Remote, you can navigate the iTunes
library on your Mac or PC from an iPhone or iPad.
Note that there are also mobile apps that let users
control players like JRiver and Foobar 2000 from a
smart device.
So far, we’ve been talking about the familiar
multi-bit flavour of digital audio: PCM, (Pulse-Code
Modulation), which can range from CD-resolution
(44.1kHz/16 bits) to studio-quality (192kHz/24 bits)
and beyond. But there’s another flavour of digital
audio: Direct Stream Digital (DSD). As noted in the
main story, Sony Music has announced plans to
make its back catalog available in DSD through
third-party online merchants.
DSD is a single-bit coding scheme with
very high sampling frequency: 2.8MHz. Fans of
the format praise DSD for its analog-like sound
quality, notably its ability to convey subtle spatial
information. Some observers maintain that DSD
sounds even better than 192/24 PCM; others say
it’s basically a tie.
A few small specialized labels (Channel Classics,
Blue Coast Records, 2L Music) offer music in DSD
format. With the Sony Music announcement, there
are now legit sources of mainstream music in DSD.
Whatever the source, you need DSD-capable
software to play DSD files. JRiver, Foorbar 2000,
Audirvana and Pure Music all fill the bill. You’ll also
have to configure driver software on your computer
to support DSD playback.
THE RIGHT PRODUCT
Paul Bawcutt, National Accounts Manager and
Product Specialist at Yamaha Canada Music Ltd., says
Listeners using JRiver Media Centre for music
playback can control the software remotely
with JRiver’s Gizmo app for Android (shown
here) or WebRemote for iOS.
THE HARDWARE
So far, we’ve been talking mainly about application
software. Typically, this is sold directly by the
software developer or through an app store. But
retailers have to know this stuff to sell the hardware.
Sony’s forthcoming HAP-Z1ES high-resolution media player will
automatically import music files stored on local computers, and
store them on its built-in 1TB hard drive. It can play single-bit
DSD music files, as well as multi-bit PCM files to 192kHz/24 bits
in WAV, AIFF, FLAC and ALAC formats. During playback, source are
converted to double-rate 5.6MHz DSD and processed through an
analog FIR filter.
You can of course play high-res audio direct
from the computer’s audio output jacks, but then
you’re relying on the computer’s audio circuitry.
Not only does an external DAC (digital-to-analog
converter) employ better components and design
than a computer’s internal sound processor, it gets
audio processing away from the electrically noisy
interior of the computer.
Some DACs connect to the computer’s digitalaudio output, usually optical; but a growing
number employ a USB connection. You’ll have to
use the Control Panel on a Windows PC or System
Preferences on a Mac to direct audio to the DAC.
You will also have to install and configure device
drivers to play high-res PCM files from a Windows
PC; current Macs can do this by default. The DAC
connects to your amplifier by line-level stereo
outputs, usually RCA jacks.
There’s another option for getting sound from
your computer: a media streamer that receives
audio over a home network. The streamer, which
contains DACs and other audio circuitry, catalogs
music on networked devices, and lets you “pull” the
songs you want without the use of media player
software, rather than having software running on
the computer “push” them to the DAC. There are
also dedicated servers that pull music from network
computers and store them on a built-in hard drive,
so you can play them without a computer.
One final note: the foregoing is exactly what
I said it is: a primer. There’s a lot more that digital
audiophiles can delve into, which can be forbidding
or fun, depending on their inclinations.
January 2014
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DIGITAL AUDIO
“ People are either going old
school and getting a turntable,
or they’re getting into digital
streaming. We’re selling very
few CD players now.”
Al Beischer
Advance Electronics, Winnipeg, MB
high-resolution audio can bring new customers into
the audio market, but adds that they’re looking for
different kinds of products and new sources of music.
“The customers buying traditional audio products are
interested in preserving an existing music collection,”
he explains. “But there is a gigantic market of people
who want to purchase new music. They just need the
right product.”
Not surprisingly, Bawcutt points to a new Yamaha
receiver as an example of “the right product.” Priced
at $599, the R-N500 stereo receiver arrived in Canada
in November. It’s fully networked, with rear-panel
Ethernet jack, AirPlay capability, DLNA compatibility,
vTuner Internet radio, front USB port with iPod
charging, and four SPDIF inputs (but no USB DAC).
The receiver supports a wide range of digital formats,
including FLAC to 192kHz/24 bits (but not ALAC).
“This is an entry point for the modern music
lover,” Bawcutt says. “It opens up the world for highresolution audio. It will be interesting to see what
happens when customers can get lossless music
without taking a hit in convenience. Dealers say it’s
impressive to see the range of customers who are
interested in this. When dealers do events on lossless
audio, there’s almost the same level of excitement
that there was when home theatre first peaked.”
Advance Electronics in Winnipeg, MB has held
several events on digital audio: one with NAD,
another with Simaudio, and a third on Simaudio’s
digital source components and Dynaudio’s Xeo
wireless speakers. “They’ve been pretty well attended,”
says Hi-Fi Audio Manager Al Beischer. “We had a really
good turnout for the event we did with Dynaudio
and Simaudio. People are either going old school
and getting a turntable, or they’re getting into digital
streaming. We’re selling very few CD players now.”
Advance entered the category a couple of years
ago with PS Audio’s PerfectWave DAC, which is
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available with an optional wireless bridge for network
music streaming. More recently, Advance has added
NAD’s M50 Music Server/DAC, a few small DACs and
streamers from Pro-ject, and Simaudio’s Moon 180
and 380 media streamer/DACs. Modestly priced
DACs with good performance, such as Audioquest’s
Dragonfly, are expanding the market, Beischer notes.
“Now that you can buy a nice DAC for a few hundred
dollars, there are signs of this becoming mainstream.
“Lots of people get into this initially to organize
their CDs,” he adds. “They like the ability to pick the
music they like and control it with a handheld device.”
But once customers jump in, they begin to appreciate
the audio benefits, especially if they try downloading
high-resolution files. “We have lots of customers buying
The new SA-14S1 Reference SACD player from Marantz has a
built-in asynchronous USB DAC that supports DSD playback,
as well as PCM audio to 192kHz/24 bits. High-resolution PCM
playback is also available for devices connected to the optical
and coaxial inputs. A front-panel USB port allows connection
of i-devices and USB drives.
from HDtracks,” Beischer states. “What really surprises
them about high-resolution audio is the openness.
Old jazz is really good for demonstrating this.”
One of Beischer’s favourite demo albums is Bags
Meets Wes with Milt Jackson and Wes Montgomery.
For listeners who want something more
contemporary, he also finds Peter Gabriel’s music
effective. “We’ve downloaded an entire library
onto one of our computers. We can move content
to four or five different streamers, control it with
an iPad, and play it on different speakers.”
Teac’s UD-501 DAC supports a wide range of digital formats,
including 2.8MHz and 5.6MHz DSD, and PCM to 384kHz/32 bits
through its USB input, and 192/24 PCM audio through
its optical and coaxial SPDIF inputs. The UD-501 has balanced
XLR and unbalanced RCA audio outputs, plus a built-in
headphone amplifier.
them about their music library and what their
listening habits are. Are they ripping CDs?
Downloading high-resolution music?”
That helps direct customers to the major decision:
the right source components for their digital music
system. For some customers, a PC or Mac, connected
to the amplifier through a USB DAC, may be the best
solution. Others may prefer a dedicated music server
that can store music on a built-in hard drive. The
ability to stream music from networked PCs, portable
devices and Internet sources will be important to
some customers. “It’s easy to sell the audio gear,”
Shinder says. “The complicated thing is the front end.”
Customers don’t find it a problem downloading
high-resolution music from online music stores, even
though they all use proprietary download software,
and the interfaces vary considerably. “Once you
get used to the way it works, it’s not that big
a deal,” Shinder states. “It’s just that the files are
so much bigger.”
Shinder believes we’re entering something of
a golden age for recorded music. “It’s an exciting
time,” he says. “You can download music with higher
resolution than CDs from m any labels and music
stores. It’s a great time to be a consumer.” 䡲
GOLDEN AGE
Some education is necessary for customers moving
into high-res audio, Beischer acknowledges,
particularly the need for special software to provide
bit-perfect playback of high-resolution files.
Shinder agrees. “I’m still doing a lot of education,”
he says. “We don’t want to go over the end users’
heads or scare them with techno-babble. We ask
Apple’s Remote app lets listeners
select music stored in an iTunes
library on a PC or Mac from an
iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.
MRX 710 / 510 / 310
A / V
GENERATION 2 HAS ARRIVED!
R E C E I V E R S
No Trade Offs: High-End Performance AND Ease of Integration
Seven channels of power on MRX 710 and 510, five channels on MRX 310. Advanced
load monitoring keeps a constant eye on output. ARC 1M an enhanced version of our
award-winning room correction system now connects via Ethernet, includes a higher
level of digital signal processing and offers an option to print ‘before and after’ roommeasurement graphs. We’ve doubled the HDMI connections, increased HDMI switching
speed and included 4K upscaling and pass-through. Remote control apps for Apple
and Android! IP and Serial control drivers for full integration with automation. Easier to
read on-screen menus and improved status displays. Bi-amp your front L/R channels on
MRX 710 and 510. Optical and coax as well as analog inputs now send 2-channel
music to Zone 2. And that’s just for starters …
INCLUDES
anthemAV.com
MRX 310 coming soon.
WHAT’S ‘HOT’ IN
WIRELESS ACCESSORIES
BY CHRISTINE PERSAUD
MOBILE PHONES AREN’T JUST MOBILE ANYMORE. And they aren’t just something we throw in the purse
or pocket if there’s room. They’re just as essential for every trip as the wallet and keys.
And so we outfit them with stylish and snazzy cases. We buy portable chargers because their batteries
die quicker. We get speakers to enhance their audio and share it with others. And pick up accessories to aid in
presentations, shopping, fitness, sports, photography, navigation; the list goes on.
This leads to ample opportunities for retailers to boost sales, especially during the busy holiday shopping
season. Manufacturers and distributors themselves have realized the opportunities, with new faces like Daymen
Canada, Everik International, and Automobility Distribution now offering wireless accessories; while companies
like Erikson Consumer, Logitech, and Targus are ramping up their concentration in the category.
One industry member, who recently started working in wireless after spending most of his career on the
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AV side of the business, recently joked in a conversation
that he made the jump to work in an industry where he
“wouldn’t make any money, but [would] have tons of
fun.” Boy, was he wrong about at least one part of that
statement. The pleasant surprise was when he learned
of the high margins wireless accessories enjoy, and the
opportunities for growth they present.
SIFTING THROUGH
While we tend to focus on how the growing selection
of products can overwhelm the customer, we
often forget just how overwhelming this can be
for the retailer as well; especially smaller wireless
carrier stores and independents that only have
JAMES HARDEN
HOUSTON ROCKETS
MOBILE WORLD
FlashFog Security
so much floor space, and can’t afford to take too
many risks in terms of what they bring on.
That said, while it’s easy to stick with the formula
of carrying the latest selection of handsets, a few
cases, chargers, and an audio product or two, the
direction the industry is headed suggests that
expanding one’s offerings is a logical next step.
Headphones are a hot category, and they apply just
as much to wireless as they do to the audio industry.
Portable Bluetooth, and lipstick and credit card-styled
portable chargers, are burgeoning categories as well
that are worth taking a look at if you haven’t started
offering them in store
As more and more products, and product
categories, come to market, retailers are feeling
the mounting pressure, not only in terms of what
products to carry, but from which partners. “There’s
just so much out there, and everyone is great at
explaining why theirs is the best,” one retailer told me
in a recent conversation.
Another retailer provided an example of an issue
he faced. An accessory line his stores carried wasn’t
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selling because the price point was too high. The
company recently introduced lower-cost options.
Continuing the relationship with this new line could
be a risk given the history. But so could opting for
another brand altogether. How does one choose?
Retailers struggle with decisions like this every
day, especially when you consider that specificationwise, many products are virtually identical, and the
sales pitches are all equally as good.
The situation is just as trying for manufacturers
and distributors, which have the tough task of
convincing retailers that their lines are worth a look.
In one story, a retailer has carried one brand over
another for the past few years simply based on an
engineering test conducted a few years ago that
found one outperformed the other. It leaves the
alternative brand left to continually try and convince
that retailer that improvements have been made, and
it’s time for a second try.
When it comes to the large group of new brands
entering the market, it becomes even more difficult
to get one’s foot in the door. One player described the
obstacles he faced in just getting a meeting with one
of the larger national or regional carriers. It’s like Fort
Knox out there.
So what’s the answer? Sadly, there’s no magic
formula. Knowing what a customer will actually pick up
is an art form, not a science. And deciding what to offer
in store is based on factors far beyond just the product
itself, including margin, pricing, and relationships.
It’s about instinct, marketing, good salespeople,
and, of course, great products. It’s about knowing
your customers, whether they’re the retailers or the
end consumers, and being invested in the purchase
after it has been made, not just before.
As you prepare for the busy holiday season
up ahead, here’s some advice to help sift through
the madness.
CASING THE MARKET
Protective cases are arguably the most competitive
area of the industry, because it’s the one accessory no
phone should ever be without.
While it’s important not to offer too much choice,
it could be just as dangerous not to offer enough.
Expand offerings in this category, even if it requires
that you find new and creative ways to display
product in order to make room for a wider selection.
If you’ve made every effort to maximize physical
space, consider investing in a touch screen-based
ordering system that lets customers buy online, but
through your store, for later shipping or pickup. It
sounds contrary to what we expect with the typical
bricks and mortar shopping experience, but it’s worth
considering if you want to provide as much value to
customers as possible, and keep them coming back.
No matter your selection, it’s important to have
at least two options in the ruggedized cases market,
which is a rapidly-growing segment.
iShieldz Screen Protectors
CHARGE ME UP!
Lipstick and credit card slim-style portable back-up
chargers, as well as battery cases, are, and will
continue to be, an important part of the accessories
equation. But don’t be fooled by low prices, included
cables, and cool designs without looking into the
technology behind the products.
Unlike a protective case, chargers are connected
directly to one’s very expensive smartphone, so
it’s important to know that what you offer your
customers is tested for quality, certified if it’s for an
Apple device, and uses reliable battery technology.
Faulty charging devices can malfunction or, worse,
damage a connected device. In fact, that’s exactly
what drove Apple to launch its take-back program
The New Night Collection for iPhone® 5c protects your new
phone from bumps and scratches while illuminating your
style with it’s fluorescent messaging of dreams, peace and
love. Don’t fade into the dark, light up the room with style.
Puro is distributed by DayMen Canada
55 Valleywood Drive • Markham, Ontario • L3R 5L9
Phone: 905.944.9400 • email: [email protected]
For more information visit daymen.ca
iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
MOBILE WORLD
When you are researching your lineup for
Bluetooth, consider options that can be daisy-chained
together. Not only can this enhance the experience
for the customer who can get “surround” sound, but it
also offers opportunity for additional sales.
While most models do, ensure it has an auxiliary
port so that a wired connection is always there as a
backup option.
Battery life is important, too. Customers may justify
paying more for a wireless portable speaker if they
know it will last longer on a single charge than others.
APP-CESSORIZING
Caseco LYNX Slider Case
to swap out third-party cables with its branded ones
earlier this year.
This isn’t to imply that products from new
entrants aren’t reliable. But do your research, and
don’t make choices based on just price, neat colours,
and a good sales pitch.
LISTEN & LEARN
There’s a new wave of tiny, portable speakers for
personal listening and speakerphone calling, which
can be especially useful for the college and workfrom-home crowds. But don’t buy into the trend
toward “good enough” sound; make sure the younger
generation, especially, still appreciates sound quality.
This means actually listening to the portable speakers
you want to carry, and ensuring your sales staff will feel
confident demo’ing them in store, or that the customer
won’t bring them back because they sound awful.
Some connect via headphone jack, but the
most popular types today are Bluetooth. Near Field
Communications (NFC) technology is a neat option
for tap-and-play, but it might be too soon to jump
on that trend. And since Apple has opted for its own
proprietary AirDrop and iBeacon technologies, the
future of NFC for audio playback from mobile devices
is up in the air.
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Apps can be a thorn in a retailers’ side, since they
don’t supply a direct source of revenue. But they do
complement devices as an added plus. And, in some
cases, can be tied directly to a product to convince
a customer to buy.
There’s a new trend called “app-cessories,”
which include a physical product that comes
with the download of a free, companion app. The
Otterbox Defender Series case with iON Technology
highlighted in the Short Bits section of this issue is
a perfect example.
Another example is the Ipinlaser Laser Pointer
(US$50), a tiny screw-like device that pops into an
iPhone’s headphone jack, then twists to activate,
and turns the smartphone into a laser pointer. It can
also connect to a computer via Bluetooth (using the
companion app), and be used as a wireless presenter,
controlling slides. An Android version is scheduled for
launch in January 2014.
With all of the attention on both smart watches
and fitness these days, the $100 Scosche Rhythm
Wearable Heart Rate Monitor is another example
of an app-cessory. It works with a partner app to
monitor the wearer’s heart rate, and progress toward
preset activity goals, like reaching a certain heart
rate during a cardio workout. Data can be stored, as
well as shared with others. It works with both iPhone
and Android, and lasts up to six hours using its
rechargeable battery.
Canada. For small retailers, integrating an option like
the Square Mobile POS could help in snagging sales
at remote venues. It’s a small magstripe reader that
connects to an iPhone, and can be used as a portable
point-of-sale (POS) system. The device itself sells for
$10, which is refunded to the user once he creates
and uses an account. Square collects a 2.75% fee for
each transaction.
If you’re looking to become even more involved in
high-tech sales tools, consider an option like iQMetrix’s
RQ Mobile pocket POS system, which allows retailers to
do things like check inventory, sales information, and
conduct transactions, using mobile devices. The XQ
Virtual Shelf is a way for retailers to expand store shelf
space by providing access to SKUs online. Customers
can browse the options, and have the product dropshipped to the store, or direct to his home.
Smartphones are high-value items, so it’s also
worth investing in ways to protect the precious
inventory. A neat system called FlashFog Security
connects to most traditional alarm setups, then emits
a blinding puff of smoke (theatrical fog) and a rapid
burst of flashing lights once it senses a break-in. Even
if a potential thief wanted to grab for the desired
merchandise before bolting out the door, it would be
next to impossible to do so, as one can barely see the
hands in front of his face, much less a smartphone
a few steps away. And the terrible smell adds to the
sensory overload.
USEFUL TOOLS FOR RETAILERS
In addition to looking at accessories that one can sell
in his store, it’s also important to consider investing
in software and services that can help facilitate more
sales, and improve the overall sales process.
Mobile payments are on the rise, especially in
bem Wireless Outlet Speaker
MOBILE WORLD
Scosche Rhythm Wearable Heart Rate Monitor
It might seem like a drastic measure, but FlashFog
security has already been quite popular among the
jewelry community. And given that smartphones are
often valued these days at close to a grand, it makes
sense to tap into this market segment as well. A
standard setup costs about $2,500, installed.
THINK OUTSIDE THE BIG BOX
From a supplier perspective, consider the
opportunities in looking at other retail channels.
Smartphones are essential tools, and applicable to
every aspect of our daily lives. And accessories like an
extra cable, car charger, or battery, are just as fitting as
grab-and-go impulse buys as a pack of gum, batteries,
or razor blades.
Don’t limit your reach to CE, wireless, and
discount stores. Look at truck stops, airports,
convenience stores, home and sporting goods stores,
and even grocery stores, as potential places to reach
your target customers.
Curve Distribution, a Canadian wireless
accessories distributor based in Alberta, for example,
recently picked up the Travelocity line of licensed
wireless accessories, like international travel adapters
and neck pillows ranging in price from $9.99-$24.99,
that will sell through roadside stops and other similar
places. They’re perfect impulse buys.
As wireless accessories become more widely
available elsewhere, competition will grow to include
virtually any store that has a pegboard. Which will
mean those specializing in wireless will need to work
even harder for the customers’ dollars. 䡲
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MOBILE WORLD
CANADIAN WIRELESS TRADE SHOW:
ACCESSORIES FOR THE HOLIDAYS
IN ADDITION TO SHOWCASING EVERYTHING
FROM BROADBAND AND INFRASTRUCTURE
COMPANIES, TO RETAIL PRODUCTS AND
SERVICES, THE THIRD-ANNUAL CANADIAN
WIRELESS TRADE SHOW (CWTS) ALSO HOSTED
EXHIBITS FEATURING A NUMBER OF COOL
WIRELESS ACCESSORIES, FROM AV GEAR, TO
PROTECTIVE CASES, AND PORTABLE CHARGERS.
Taking place on September 25 and 26, 2013
at the Toronto Congress Centre, the show was a vast
improvement over last year’s event, with a stellar
speaker lineup, a good mix of products, and a
high-class feel.
Jay Gawri, Director, said in a post-show interview
that more than 2,000 people visited the two-day
event, up slightly from 2012. In total, there were 125
exhibitors over 65,000 square feet of space, with 70%
returning exhibitors, and 30% new. Attendees ran the
gamut, from small independent retailers, to wireless
carriers, and even larger chains, including Canadian
Tire. This year saw a few attendees from across the
border as well.
There were three Best In Show products awarded:
the blue piston Bluetooth speaker and Scosche
Rhythm wearable heart monitor from Atlantia, and
the Targus iNotebook.
While the focus of the show is B2B, Gawri stresses
that nowadays, this extends far beyond just the
traditional wireless store, into areas like trucking,
government, oil and gas, schools, and the car industry.
“Wireless is not just the mom and pop shop or the
Rogers, Bell, Telus,” says Gawri.
Gawri says the show team is looking to add
more themed product areas to the show next year,
including one for emerging technologies. This would
allow the exhibitors to have their own areas, and
narrow the focus.
With all of the key players in Canada signing on
with the CWTS, is there even a need to visit CTIA in
Las Vegas? CWTS is well on its way to becoming a
Canadian staple on the trade show circuit.
The fourth edition of the show will take place
October 29 and 30, 2014, and will return, once again,
to the Toronto Congress Centre.
Here’s a sampling of some of the most interesting
gear in key categories of wireless accessories from this
year’s Canadian Wireless Trade Show:
PROTECTIVE CASES:
Muvit Slim: The front flap of this wallet-style case,
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Reveal: Focusing on the environmental aspect,
this line of smartphone and tablet cases, covers,
and clutches are all made from natural or recyclable
materials, like wood, cork, bamboo, and pop bottles.
The company snagged a coveted spot on Oprah’s
Picks list, likely owing to company initiatives like
planting trees for each case sold. Pricing from
$30-$90.
Caseco: This fully-Canadian brand offers a variety
Griffin Duck Dynasty: As we’ve seen by the
overwhelming reception of the popular TV show,
there’s a passionate group of fans that will gladly
outfit their phones with imagery from the scruffy
Robertson family. Distributed by Wireless Xplosion,
this line of licensed cases can be an interesting way
for a retailer to stand out, and become a destination
spot during the holidays. $24.99 each.
Puro Night Cover
MiPow Power Tube
distributed by Hitfar Concepts Ltd., covers the phone’s
face, but flips down to reveal the screen, rather than
to the left as you’d see with a traditional wallet-style
case. It connects via magnet, and is made from
high-quality leather “style” material, with a microfiber
lining that cleans the screen while covered, and helps
prevent scratches. There are cutouts for the camera,
side buttons, and speaker.
of cases for many devices, in both bright and standard
colour options. The LYNX Slider case, in particular,
consists of a main case, plus a bottom piece that pops
in, both of which protect the device from scratches
and drops, and keeps all ports and features accessible
while the phone is inside.
Puro Night Cover: These cases, available for the
iPhone 5c, are pure fun, adding a bright touch of
glow-in-the-dark colour to your ensemble. Available
in bright blue, green, pink, and yellow, models
come with the word love, dream, or peace in large
type on each. $29.99; distributed by Daymen Photo
Marketing.
iShieldz Screen Protectors: The newlyrebranded packaging of these screen protectors is
hard to miss, with bright colours and big lettering.
Distributed by Gentec International, there are new
materials used in the HD ($24.99), impact-resistant
Take your
sound
anywhere
Your bike,
bike your office,
office your car
car, your
playground. The blue piston Wireless
Bluetooth Speaker is as portable as you are.
AVAILABLE IN
7 COLOURS
Where’s your Piston?
DISTRIBUTED BY
ATLANTIA.CA
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VANCOUVER — E DMONTON — T ORONTO — M ONTRÉAL
MOBILE WORLD
KO ($29.99), and the medical-grade RX ($39.99). For
instance, the RX is made of anti-microbial materials,
and uses patented Silver Seal technology that the
company says protects against 99.9% of microbes
that can be found on the surface of your device. As
you may have guessed by its name, the RX is targeted
toward those who work in the medical community,
where devices like tablets are becoming more and
more commonplace, and protecting against germs is
of the utmost importance.
Magicstick has a 2,800 mAh battery and 1 amp output
that can boost battery by 1-1.5 times. It takes about
five hours to charge up via USB, then nicely slips into a
purse, backpack, or briefcase.
PORTABLE AUDIO:
JBL Micro: Distributed by Erikson Consumer, the
pocket-sized JBL Micro Wireless Bluetooth speaker
($59.99) has a loop-design for attaching it to a
backpack, purse strap, or other item. It offers up to
five hours of continuous play, and comes with a cable
for wired connection. Several can be daisy-chained
together for an immersive sound experience.
PORTABLE CHARGERS:
Mio Lifesaver: Joining the long line of lipstickstyled portable backup chargers, the Mio Lifesaver
($29.99) offers a quick charge via 2.1 amps of power.
According to Rick Suddaby, President of Everik
International, which owns the brand, a smartphone
can be charged in 70 minutes. The company also has
a credit card-styled model, the Lifesaver 2 ($49-$59),
which offers 2.4 amps of power, allowing for charging
a smartphone in about 45-50 minutes. Both devices
use Samsung cells, and come with a charging cable.
Powerocks Magicstick
There’s a version specific to Apple devices, with an
Apple-approved Lightning connector on one end and
USB on the other; and a generic microUSB version.
Both cable and plug tuck back into the device for
storage. Pricing is $35 and $49.
MiPow Power Tube: Available in 2,600 and 4,000
mAh battery options that provide one and-a-half or
two-to-three times the charge, respectively, these
portable chargers are distributed by Cesium Telecom.
Energizer iSurge Charging Station,
SmartSurge: Meant for home or hotel use,
Energizer’s iSurge ($59.99) has a 30-pin connector
for docking an iPhone 4S or earlier iPod directly into
the unit for charging, plus three AC outlets, and a
side-mounted USB input, and itself plugs into one
standard AC outlet. The SmartSurge ($49.99) has a
removable microUSB charge cable, a pair of 2.1 amp
USB ports on the side, a trio of AC outlets, and a slot
at the top for placing a charging device. Both are
surge-protected (hence the names), have a night
light, can rotate 180-degrees, and are distributed
by Automobility Distribution.
Logiix Blue Piston: Distributed by Atlantia,
this ball of yarn-looking speaker ($49.99) is
made of military-grade brushed aluminum,
offers built-in noise reduction, eight-hour
battery life, and can be used as a speakerphone.
It comes in a variety of bright colours.
bem Wireless Outlet Speaker: Ranking high
on the “cool” meter, this speaker, handled by
ReSource Group, connects to a standard AC wall
outlet, and includes its own built-in power adapter.
It communicates with devices over Bluetooth, or
through a wired connection via an auxiliary input, and
can even charge them using the USB port. It provides
instant music without the need for any cables
whatsoever, nor charging up the speaker first. $99.99
Mophie Juice Pack Helium: Available for the
iPhone 5, this 1,500 mAh battery case both protects the
phone, and boosts its battery by 80%, 100%, or 120%,
depending on the version. All are available through
distributor Atlantia, with pricing to match the battery
power offered, so $80, $100, and $120, respectively.
Powerocks Magicstick: Distributed by Hitfar
Energizer iSurge Charging Station, SmartSurge
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Concepts, Powerocks offers portable chargers in
slim, cube, and lipstick styles. The lipstick-shaped
Logiix Blue Piston
FWD
THINKING
THE GOLDEN YEARS
BY GORDON BROCKHOUSE
PROFESSIONALLY SPEAKING, 2013 WAS
A BITTERSWEET YEAR FOR ME. Bitter, because
Marketnews came to an end. I got my start in
technology journalism 35 years ago when I began
writing for Audio Marketnews, as it was then called.
The magazine was without an editor at the time.
Green as a brand-new Christmas tree, I soon became
part-time associate editor, and a few months later fulltime editor. Credentials were less important then than
they are now, so I was able to learn on the job, with
my mistakes glaringly displayed to readers far more
knowledgeable than I. These early embarrassments
led to a rewarding career, and instilled in me an
appropriate degree of humility and caution, which are
good things.
I’ve retained a lifelong interest in audio and a
lifelong love of music. And this is a great time to
be an audiophile and music-lover. The explosion of
high-resolution digital audio is what made 2013 so
rewarding professionally and personally. I’m having
more fun with audio now than I’ve had since the
1970s. I’ve put together a nice hi-fi system for the
third-floor man cave in my home near High Park in
Toronto. Getting all my music onto an Apple Mac
Mini, trying out different software players (I ending
up settling on Audirvana Plus), and optimizing the
room and speaker placement have satisfied my love
of tinkering every bit as deeply as building a Hafler
preamp and power amp, and then beefing up the
amp’s power supply with extra filter capacitors.
EVERYTHING’S A NICHE
And it’s a great time to discover new music. We
rightfully mourn the passing of the record-store
experience, which in Toronto was as good as it gets.
There were three huge multi-floor record stores on
Yonge Street – Sam the Record Man, A&A Records,
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and Music World – with all kinds of treasures in those
endless bins. I spent a lot of time and a lot of money
there, and discovered a lot of great music.
But the opportunities for discovering new
music are even better now. There are all kinds of
genre-bending recordings being made. A couple of
recent highlights for me are high-res recordings on
Manfred Eicher’s ECM label. Restored, Returned by the
Tord Gustavsen Ensemble features settings of W.H.
Auden’s poetry, sung by Kristin Asbjørnsen, who has
a deliciously raspy soprano. Night Sessions by The
Dowland Project consists of hauntingly jazzed-up
versions of medieval and renaissance music and
poetry, featuring tenor John Potter. The sound of both
albums is glorious.
These are admittedly specialized releases,
catering to specialized tastes. Definitely not
mainstream. But here’s the thing: everything’s a niche
now. Whatever your musical interests, there’s a label
and a site out there that caters to it.
BEYOND THE MAINSTREAM
There are also opportunities in the bricks-and-mortar
world. Sam’s and A&A are gone. But in the Toronto
area, there are some very good record stores. L’Atelier
Grigorian, which has branches in the upscale Yorkville
area of Toronto and in downtown Oakville, succeeds
because it specializes. If classical and jazz are your
tastes, you’ll find lots of ways to spend money there.
That’s because the selection is curated; it’s not a massmarket operation. The proprietor clearly loves music,
and so does the staff.
The same applies to video. Blockbuster and
Rogers Video have closed their doors, and good
riddance. But in Toronto, Queen Video and The Film
Buff remain, because they offer far more than the
latest blockbusters. Both companies have two busy
locations, with staff (and plenty of customers) who
clearly love movies.
We see the same thing happening in CE hardware.
As the flat-panel party fizzles out, many mainstream
retailers are finding it difficult to adapt. At the height
of the boom, practically everyone wanted a flat-screen
TV. That market has been saturated; and whatever the
next big thing is, it’s not immediately obvious.
But there are a lot of next small things. For one
thing, audio is back. It’s not a big mass market like
flat-screen TV. Even in its heyday, high-fidelity audio
was a minority pursuit: witness all those loudspeakers
that ended up being placed behind houseplants or
on top of the fireplace. However, audio is a very nice
niche, and there are a lot of retailers finding success in
catering to it.
LOVE WHAT YOU DO
I think that’s because they’re passionate about it.
They select their product offerings with care, and they
know their stuff.
During CEDIA, Martin Hill of Yamaha Music
Canada Ltd. told me retailers should be looking at
audio more closely. He didn’t just mean adding a
few SKUs. He also meant staffing differently. Audio
salespeople are a different breed from TV salespeople,
he noted, a little artsier and even flakier. I think this is
an astute observation.
And I think it can be more generally applied. In
2014, lots of people will buy TVs, and lots of people
will buy smartphone and tablets. That’s where the
dollar volume will come from. But the profit will
come from the niches, and there are lots of them:
not just two-channel audio, but headphones, highperformance car audio, computer audio, imaging,
home automation, custom home theatre. In an
industry as fertile as consumer technology, there is no
end to the opportunities.
The lesson here, as always: do (and sell)
something that you care about, and do it well. Choose
products you’d use yourself, or recommend for friends
and family. Find the people you need to help you
succeed, and look after them. Of course, you need to
be disciplined about this: there have to be enough
customers who want to drink your brand of Kool-Aid.
Ultimately, this will be more rewarding than going
after the mass market, and not just financially. 䡲
2000
2002
TX-DS5989
TX-NR900
1997
2004
1996
TX-DS939
HTS SYSTEM-2
TX-NR1000
1994
2006 HT-S990THX
2009 TX-NR5007
2010 TX-NR5008
2011 TX-NR5009
2013
2011 HT-S9400THX
TX-SV919THX
FWD
THINKING
TOP TRENDS IN
COMPUTING & GAMING
BY FRANK LENK
FOR THE PAST DECADE OR SO, DIGITAL
TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN IN A PERIOD OF
RELATIVE STABILITY. BUT SEVERAL TRENDS
SUGGEST THAT WE MAY BE HEADING FOR A
NEW PERIOD OF RAPID EVOLUTION.
PERSONAL COMPUTING
One obvious change has been the decline in demand
for PCs. But this is just part of a more fundamental
shift: the decline of Microsoft as the dominating force
in digital technology.
Windows 8 has neither gained Microsoft a strong
position in the tablet market, nor revitalized the PC
market. Instead, Microsoft’s over-zealous emphasis on
the incompatible Metro environment implied a break
with the vast legacy ecosystem that’s been Windows’
greatest strength. It created a strong motivation
for users and OEMs to consider alternatives, more
seriously than they have in decades.
In the short term, the obvious winner is Google’s
Android. It’s already the number-two OS globally.
A forecast published by Gartner in late 2012
predicted that the installed base of Android devices
would equal that of Windows by 2016. That trend
is probably accelerating.
INPUT ALTERNATIVES
On the technical side, progress in personal computing
has been stymied by the limits of the human-machine
interface. Touch is a partial solution, but there’s a new
wave of input devices that may truly unleash the
power of today’s multi-core systems.
The Leap Motion Controller, from Leap Motion
Inc., is a tiny box that tracks hand movements in
the space above the keyboard, and gives users
the ability to literally reach out and move virtual
objects around. It could spawn entirely new kinds
of interactive 3D applications.
From Adobe comes Project Mighty, a cloudconnected drawing stylus that enables more-natural
44 |
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drawing techniques. And Project Napoleon, a ruler
that users can place on a touch screen to quickly draw
straight lines. Both are due in 2014 for the iPad.
The Rift, from Oculus VR, could at last bring
stereoscopic virtual reality to the average consumer.
The Rift helmet uses inexpensive palm-sized LCDs to
completely fill the user’s field of vision. Head-tracking
completes the illusion. Look for it in 2014.
And Valve Software is trying to bring the
precision of mouse-and-keyboard control to living
room games, as part of its Steam Box initiative (see
below). Its new controller substitutes circular touchpads for the thumbsticks of traditional gamepad
controllers. It could bring deeper entertainment
experiences to the comfort of the couch.
SMARTER TV
The living room has been similarly held back not just
by technology, but by squabbling over divergent user
interfaces and artificial access limitations. The obvious
solution would be a new generation of standardized
set-top boxes, but no one vendor has the clout
to do it. Even Apple has let slip that it’s sold a mere
13 million Apple TV units.
But there’s no reason Android software couldn’t
break the logjam, running (as iOS cannot) on a variety
of OEM hardware. It would be instantly familiar to
consumers, and hordes of app vendors could open up
the TV the way they have mobile devices.
The recent re-branding of Google TV as Android
TV is a step in the right direction. More products are
on the way. For example, the MadCatz M.O.J.O. is
aimed at gaming, but offers a wide-open Android
implementation. A few existing apps could make it
the most capable ‘media box’ so far.
GAMING HARDWARE
Gaming is another part of the landscape that’s ripe for
change. The two new game consoles being launched
this holiday season are clearly reaching some kind of
technical limit.
Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s PlayStation 4 are
basically PCs running proprietary operating systems.
Though intensely incompatible, they’re nearly identical
as far as hardware architecture. Yet they lag significantly
behind the performance of mainstream desktop PCs.
Meanwhile, Valve Software has just passed
65 million users on its PC-based Steam online
games-retailing system. This effectively makes it a
‘third console’ market, rivaling either the Xbox 360
or PlayStation 3. And vastly exceeding the as-yet
nonexistent user base of the two new consoles.
Valve is now bringing its users to the living room,
challenging the proprietary console model. Its ‘Steam
Box’ is a reference design for compact, inexpensive
gaming PCs that can run SteamOS, a customized
version of GNU/Linux. A range of models is expected
to roll out from established OEMs, starting next year.
Steam Box may sound like a long shot, but Valve
has the deep pockets to tackle the living room the way
Google tackled mobile: not as a single product, but as
an initiative, to be evolved over months and years.
GAMING SOFTWARE
A separate trend adds further validation to Valve’s
move: the meteoric rise of independent (‘indie’)
game developers.
The best known is Mojang, which has now sold
over 12 million copies of Minecraft for the PC and Mac,
plus millions more on Xbox 360, iOS and Android. But
other indie hits are proliferating, with names like Super
Meat Boy, Terraria and Kerbal Space Program.
Sony and Microsoft are vying to outdo one
another in catering to the indies, but the personal
computing world is intrinsically more hospitable.
And Steam is being joined by a growing community
of indie-friendly Internet vendors, including GOG.com,
Green Man Gaming, Desura, and the Humble Store.
CROWD FUNDING
One final trend has helped build the indie gaming
boom, but also extends into every corner of the digital
world: the economic tsunami known as ‘crowd funding.’
A mounting tide of clever hardware and software
products is originating on sites like Kickstarter.com
and Indiegogo.com. Directly tapping the finances of
the customer base, these startup businesses spring
into profitable existence without obligation to
venture capitalists or existing corporations.
Chances are, these are the businesses that will
create tomorrow’s digital markets: the disruptive,
risk-taking Apples, Microsofts and Googles of
the 21st Century. 䡲
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FWD
THINKING
THE HEAT IS ON
IN WIRELESS
BY CHRISTINE PERSAUD
2013 HAS BEEN A TUMULTUOUS YEAR
FOR THE WIRELESS INDUSTRY IN CANADA.
Mobile platforms and hardware makers have
attempted to crack through the walls that Android
and Samsung have built around them as top
providers. Mobilicity and Public Mobile have
essentially thrown in the towel, while the Big Three
launched a massive campaign in hopes of preventing
Verizon from setting up shop across the border. And
as accessories continue to become a bigger part of
the equation, more players have been fighting for
a piece of that lucrative market.
In all cases, the underlying theme has been
competition: a lack thereof and, in some instances,
too much.
HARDWARE
There’s a perceived duopoly of brands, as Samsung
and Apple consistently top smartphone sales. But
perhaps a worse problem is the rapid rate at which
new hardware is hitting the market, and the sheer
number of devices overwhelming customers from
all OEMs.
In order for competition to thrive, there needs
to be fewer models from more companies, versus a
steady, rapid stream of products, each ever-so-slightly
different from the last. We also need more devices
to be sold outright, for activation on a carrier of the
customer’s choosing. We’ve already begun to see
glimpses of that strategy with phones like the Nexus
5, which comes fully unlocked, and the Moto g, which
sells for $200 outright. It’s a strategy that would
benefit consumers in the long run, requiring that
carriers do far more to earn your business.
CARRIERS
Meanwhile, the oligopoly continues on the wireless
carrier side, as Canadians continue to pay notoriously
high rates for things like data and roaming.
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Threatened by rumours that Verizon was eyeing an
acquisition of Mobilicity, the Big Three (Bell, Rogers, and
Telus) began a massive media campaign to convince
Canadians that allowing Verizon to buy spectrum that
was not accessible to them was unfair. Consumers
weren’t buying it, but in the end, neither was Verizon,
confirming that it had no interest in Canada.
A glimmer of hope emerged when Telus’
attempt to buy Mobilicity was denied by the Federal
Government; though the carrier was later successful
in acquiring Public Mobile and its less-desirable
G-band spectrum for talk and text.
The release of the list of bidders for the critical
2014 700 MHz spectrum auction was that last bit of
hope Canadians held onto for a key new player. But
there was no carrier knight in shining armour. It’s clear
we’re still miles away from the change we really need
on the services side.
The CRTC’s Wireless Code hopes to change
that, with requirements like clearer contracts, better
communication from carriers, and the elimination
of the three-year contract. But the Code likely won’t
result in the degree of change Canadians seek. Already,
it’s evident that the new two-year plans mean higher
outright prices for devices, which the carriers justify by
the subsidization period being reduced by 12 months.
Where we may finally see change in 2014 is in U.S.
roaming rates and overage charges. And with things
like Rogers’ new loyalty program, perhaps carriers are
finally taking steps to show appreciation for long-time
customers. We hope.
ACCESSORIES
Through 2013, we’ve seen the number of accessories,
and the number of players offering them, grow
exponentially. A few clear winners will likely emerge
before the end of 2014. But what’s most important
is that retailers offer a wide selection of options
and categories, and dedicate more resources to
accessories than ever before. If retailers focus on just
the hardware and service parts of the equation, they’ll
miss out on serious opportunities for profitability.
The goal for any retailer should be to ensure that
no customer ever buys a new phone without an
accessory to go with it.
In addition to blossoming categories like
headphones, portable chargers, and mini speakers,
2014 will see areas like mobile health, fitness,
and fashion rise to the top, fueled by emerging
technologies like smart watches.
BLACKBERRY
Perhaps the most emotional story in wireless for
Canadians this year has been the one of BlackBerry.
Once a dominant force in the smartphone market, the
company has gone through major executive changes,
staff layoffs, and crippling product and timing issues.
Earlier this year, it looked as though the company was
ready to sign on the dotted line for a $4.7 billion sale to
Fairfax. But in a surprise move, BlackBerry ousted CEO
Thornsten Heins, and confirmed plans to work toward
a resurrection of its once top smartphone brand.
Can BlackBerry succeed? While I’m rooting for
the company, as much for sentimental reasons as for
promoting healthy industry competition, I’m skeptical
of its ability to pull this off. Time will tell.
PARTING WORDS
Whether we like it or not, smartphones are the hub
of the industry. For many, especially the younger
generations, being able to watch TV, listen to music,
or take photos on a smartphone is good enough.
The truth is that as great as they are, smartphones
are cannibalizing other industries.
There needs to be a greater realization that
while the smartphone is central to our lives, it
serves a complementary role, it’s not a technology
replacement. It’s up to the industry to convince
customers of the value in quality sound, photography,
video, computing, and even automation, but also to
provide that quality through great products. This will
require a drastic shift in thinking away from the oneupping, juvenile, “mine is better than yours” attitude
many companies have been employing, toward a real,
impassioned, informed sales pitch.
Competition is healthy. Competition is needed.
But we can’t lose sight of the importance of the end
goal. And that’s honest-to-goodness, beautifullydesigned, and intuitive products not just that people
will buy, but that are worth buying. 䡲
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FWD
THINKING
THE NEXT-GEN IN GAMING,
CONNECTED CARS
BY TED KRITSONIS
THE END OF A CALENDAR YEAR MARKS
THE END OF A FEEDING FRENZY IN CONSUMER
TECHNOLOGY, BUT KICKS OFF A NEW ONE AS
WE ANTICIPATE CES IN LAS VEGAS. THE TONE
HAS ALREADY BEEN SET FOR 2014. BUT SOME
CATEGORIES WILL EVOLVE FURTHER IN WAYS
THAT ARE HARD TO PREDICT.
GAMING
The next-generation of console gaming is now fully
complete, unless rumours of a new Nintendo console
to replace the underpowered Wii U turn out to be
true. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One launched a
mere week apart in November, marking the first time
that the top two game consoles came to market in
the same month.
The games themselves show improvement
in graphics and performance, except the true
capabilities of the hardware won’t be felt until at least
a year or two later, when game developers have more
time to better understand the hardware. Gaming
is naturally the focus, but the consoles’ success will
partly depend on what they can do beyond just the
games. Sony will eventually have to open up its PS4 to
offer more media server capabilities, which the Xbox
One already did out of the box.
Microsoft has made it clear that it wants to own
the living room. This means that the Xbox One will
take on more than just the PS4 and Wii U. You can
lump in streaming boxes and perhaps even cable
and satellite boxes to that list. By the end of 2014, it
will become more than apparent how much traction
the company has gained in that space. And with the
Kinect camera and sensor bundled with the console,
it almost forces users to adopt Microsoft’s vision of
voice-activation and gesturing from the couch.
BANDWIDTH WOES
A little-known factor of these two launches is the
bandwidth they may require at home. A typical game
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can be as much as 45GB. They use discs, but there
are also options to download full games, and the
long-term plan is to offer downloadable or streaming
games from the previous consoles as well. This is
gigabytes of data that eats into what are still woefully
constrained home Internet plans. It’s not hard to do
the math when it comes to downloading a 20GB
game on a monthly plan that only offers 80GB.
Typically, data plan roadblocks have been more
of a focus on the mobile side, and over-the-top
(OTT) video services like Netflix. Carriers will have to
offer more for less if they are to continue to reliably
accommodate the needs of customers, and for
customers to affordably be able to satisfy those needs.
THE CONNECTED CAR
Much of the spotlight in this category centres on
smartphones and tablets. But as ubiquitous as the
devices are, their role in the car continues to be
marred by fragmentation, thanks to competing
industry standards and lack of app support. GM and
Ford made headlines at the last International CES
when both confirmed they would open up their
dashboards to third-party developers. The move
won’t be felt until 2014, when dedicated apps for their
respective platforms are released to demonstrate
what could be possible with a more open ecosystem.
Aftermarket manufacturers have struggled to
get it right, too. The bitter irony for installers and
consumers, alike, is that Android’s openness isn’t
reflected in its integration into a vehicle. Even iOS
has been a challenge, especially since Apple replaced
the old 30-pin connector with the new Lightning
connector, negating the analog video out that made
integration so much easier.
Outside of the home, Canadians spend a great
deal of time in their cars. Texting and driving has
become an epidemic, yet there are few solutions that
adequately address the problem. Improvements in
voice recognition would certainly help, but that is
only part of the solution, since messaging takes many
forms with different operating systems and apps.
Whatever solutions emerge have to manage to bridge
these gaps.
Next year could prove to be a tipping point if
OEMs are successful in attracting developers to do
what they couldn’t themselves. Would high-profile
partnerships drive things further? Could Apple Maps
be integrated into GM vehicles, for instance? How
about Wi-Fi Direct or AirPlay for music playback? And
can everyone agree on standardizing Android wired
connectivity to head units?
LAST WORDS
The car may be something of a last bastion, but
connectivity is slowly becoming more seamless and
pervasive than many consumers likely realize. There
are health and fitness gadgets that are getting better
every year, now that some of them interface with
various third-party apps for deeper empirical data.
There are connected home gadgets that put
control in consumers’ hands, be it a smart thermostat,
light switch, motion sensor, security camera or baby
monitor. Heck, even blinds, fireplaces and kitchen
appliances can be part of the home network. Put
together, these make the home an almost futuristic
fortress of solitude that can all be controlled
entirely from one device: the smartphone. Or more
specifically, an iOS or Android device.
Health, home and automotive will be categories
to watch in 2014 because they are natural extensions
of mobile device usage. As users become savvier
with their phones and tablets, they will grow more
comfortable in using products and services in any
of those three segments as part of a daily routine. It
usually starts with a car charger, fitness bracelet and
baby monitor, but it will expand much further and
much faster because of the bevy of product hitting
the market.
Naturally, there are security concerns, since
connected devices could theoretically be hacked.
But that has always been a risk of having greater
connectivity. Securing these connected products further
will require an underlying effort from OEMs in these
categories. But on the surface, we’ll be most interested
in just how interesting and convenient they can be. That
bodes well for the companies that have embraced these
categories. The course of 2014 will reveal whether or not
their customers feel the same way. 䡲
(YHU\RQH·VVHHQ+'
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Photo: Epson America Inc.
Photo: Viewsonic Corp.
Photo: Epson America Inc.
Photo: BenQ Corp.
THE PROJECTOR MARKET
SHINES BRIGHT
BY FRANK LENK
SAMANTHA’S FAMILY IS MADE UP OF HUGE MOVIE FANS, ESPECIALLY 3D MOVIES. But they have a
basement space with a narrow stairway that limits the size of flat panel TV they can easily install. The solution:
a home theatre projector.
“We’re looking at getting the best image quality we can get,” Samantha says. “Picture quality was a big
factor.” A projector will allow for an image over 100 inches, and there’s no problem getting a rolled-up screen
down the stairs of the Barrie, ON home, she adds. They saw projectors demonstrated at a couple of locations,
and were hooked.
Jim, meanwhile, is an electronics engineer in Toronto, ON. After becoming disillusioned with flat panels,
he ended up with a ViewSonic projector and motorized 100-inch screen, which comes down in front of the
Samsung plasma TV on movie nights. He’s become a zealous projector convert. “Everything is a little bit sharper
now, even DVDs,” he reports. “It really feels like being in a movie theatre.”
It’s clear that the AV projector is the Cinderella of video entertainment. It’s been ignored and misunderstood,
and kept in the basement. If there was ever a category that was being under-exploited, this is it.
There’s no question, projectors do require an adjustment in thinking. They need some setup, a darker room,
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The Story
An oft-ignored segment of the video
market, projectors can double the screen
size of today’s biggest flat panels, at
a fraction of the price.
The market is divided into the low and
high end (as well as residential and
commercial applications), but we’re seeing
overlap as some custom installers find
value in the improving quality of more
affordable options.
Projectors offer numerous advantages
in addition to large screen sizes, like the
ability to put away the screen when not
in use, as well as true 4K and 3D picture
reproduction.
HOME THEATRE
Digital Projection Inc. (DPI) is a specialty brand serving the high
end of the projector market; but it has an “entry-level” M-Vision
line. Starting price? $10K.
and time to warm up. When people move around the
room, they’re likely to make a shadow on the screen.
On the other hand, projectors can double the
screen size of today’s biggest flat panels, at a fraction
of the price. They’ve got contrast and colour to rival
(or exceed) the best plasma displays. And they’re as
close as the average couch potato can get to the true
cinema experience.
LOW END
The low end of the residential home theatre projector
market consists essentially of models under $3,000
or $4,000, geared toward traditional or online retail,
with the most active price range between $1,000
and $1,500. However, the lower-end manufacturers
do have products outside these price brackets,
and these are seeing increasing use by installers. A
$4,000 projector can fit rather nicely into a $10,000 or
$15,000 custom job.
The lower-end market was virtually created
by Epson a few years ago, and Epson remains the
“500-lb. gorilla” in this space. Jason Palmer, Home
Entertainment Marketing Manager with Epson
America Inc., doesn’t bother with false modesty. “We
have about 35% market share, about six times the
closest competitor,” he says.
Epson’s breakthrough was a patented 3-LCD
design. “It’s a fantastic technology,” says Palmer. “It’s a
great part of why we’ve been so well-received.”
Palmer explains that the 3-LCD approach projects
“all the colours, all the time,” which intensifies “colour
brightness,” thus improving image quality. Most
competing projectors display colours intermittently,
and will therefore hit their nominal output level with
whites, but will be significantly dimmer for colours.
To rival Epson’s 3-colour output would need a
3-chip DLP projector, but Palmer underlines that
these are significantly more expensive. Competitors
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at the lower end of the market tend to use 1-chip
DLP configurations, with a spinning colour wheel to
intermittently shine each colour.
Epson concentrates in the $1,000 to $4,000 price
range, though Palmer notes that the company does
have some very high-output ‘pro’ models at around
the $6,000 mark. “Our bread and butter is under
$4,000,” he says.
Other players include BenQ and ViewSonic.
Bob Wudeck, Associate Vice President, Strategy and
Business Development, with BenQ Corp., feels that
the company is closing in on Epson, having tripled
its business over the last three years, and claims
of being first-to-market this year with a 1080p 3D
projector for under $1,000 (the W1070). ViewSonic is
estimated to be running considerably behind BenQ,
but is increasing its efforts in home theatre projectors,
playing off the strong reputation of its desktop
monitor line.
“Over the next two years,” says Jeff Hsieh, Senior
Manager of Product Marketing, ViewSonic Corp., “we’ll
build up our pro AV presence.” The company has a
lot of engineering expertise in Taiwan, he says, and
intends to establish more of a dialog with installers, “to
talk about what’s new, what’s good and what’s bad.”
Several other companies are also in the mix. LG
and Mitsubishi seem to dabble in the very low end,
whereas Panasonic and NEC turn up at the high end
of the retail spectrum (up to about $5,000).
Sony is a bit of a special case. It offers affordable
home theatre projectors with prices ranging from
about $2,000 to $4,000, says Dave Schultz, Marketing
Manager, Projectors, Sony of Canada Ltd. But it’s also
one of the few manufactures that has its own unique
projector technology: SXRD (silicon crystal reflective
display), based on the more generic LCOS (liquid
crystal on silicon) approach.
Sony also offers much more expensive projectors
through its professional division, and these are likely
seeing a fair bit of interest in the installer community.
AIMING HIGHER
The high end of the projector business includes
European specialists like SIM2 Multimedia spa, based in
Italy, and Digital Projection Inc. (DPI), based in the U.K.
Both are well-represented by Canadian distributors.
This September, Sound Developments signed a
deal with DPI to become a North American distributor
for the company’s ‘entry level’ M-Vision line. Barry Wosk,
President, emphasizes that existing factory-direct
relationships will remain in place: “We’re an additional
layer of product availability with select SKUs. We’re not
full-line, and we’re not replacing anyone.”
“You don’t need a distributor for a $60,000
product,” Wosk points out. “We want to generate new
business where existing channels aren’t going.”
The Watershed Group in Brantford, ON, has a foot
in both low- and high-end camps, distributing both
Epson and DPI projectors.
What can consumers expect, as they move up
that price range? Advantages range from higher
contrast ratio, to better lens quality, extra features
like an ultra-wide anamorphic lens, better colour
calibration, THX certification, better video processing,
more detail, smoother motion, and less judder.
“But,” admits Mike Gatopoulos, Sales Manager at
Watershed, there’s a rule of diminishing returns. “The
Ferrari isn’t for everybody.”
ViewSonic is one company that has adopted LED lighting
technology, which helps to lengthen the life span of a projector,
in a big way. Its Pro9000 home theatre projo is particularly
interesting in that it boasts a lamp-free design, using laser
LED hybrid technology.
Down at the ‘entry level’ (about $6,500), SIM2,
distributed by Evolution Home Entertainment Corp.,
offers the Crystal Cube. Packaged in an elegant
smoked crystal-glass case, with no protruding lens or
vents, it delivers a very bright 2,300 ANSI lumens.
At about $30,000, SIM2 has what Saxe
Brickenden, Evolution’s Director of Marketing, calls
“the world’s brightest LED projector,” with solid-state
illumination that promises about 30,000 hours of
operation. At around $65,000, SIM2 gets into full
3-colour DLP designs. And at the nosebleed price of
$150,000, there’s the Cinema Quattro: a 3-chip design,
with 4K resolution and a Xenon lamp that blasts out
up to 10,000 ANSI lumens. It weighs in at 114 kg and
needs a special cooling system.
HOME THEATRE
Brickenden sees the “bread and butter” for
Evolution being around the $30,000 mark.
That’s the magic price point for Watershed, as
well, says Gatopoulos.
You might expect to see a sharp dividing line
between these ultra-high-end projectors and the
retail-oriented low-end product, both just in price
and in adoption by custom installers. However, it
turns out there’s a growing middle ground where
the realms overlap.
While Epson is best known as a retail brand, for
example, its projectors are seeing increasing use by
custom installers. “You can’t beat the quality for the
price,” says Gatopoulos.
Projectors also offer the choice of fixed mounting
or mobility. “A projector can live in the closet,”
points out Wudeck. “You can have a very big-screen
experience, then put the whole thing away.”
Of course, no one claims that projectors are ideal
for everyone, or every installation. For example, Mike
Widerman, Co-owner and Lead Installer at Toronto
Home Theater, does both flat panel and projector
installations, making decisions on a case-by-case basis.
WHERE DO WE STAND?
The real question is, high end or low end, what’s the
potential for projectors going forward? “It’s kind of
a niche market right now,” says Palmer. “I believe the
pie could be larger. It doesn’t compare in size to flat
panels. But it could, if we get the word out.”
Hsieh reports that home theatre projectors
are up about 3% this year compared to 2012,
while other parts of the TV market are actually
shrinking. Ironically, flat panels have paved the way
for projectors, first staking out the space for larger
screens in the home, then creating an insatiable
appetite for ever-larger ones.
“It used to be that 50 inches was enough,” says
Hsieh. “Now it’s 80 inches. And if they want 80 inches,
they probably really want 100 or 150.”
“Flat panels open the conversation,” agrees
Gatopoulos. “Consumers are a lot more receptive.”
Apart from slowly increasing their acceptance,
projectors are gradually escaping from their original
physical niche.
“That dedicated theatre room is happening less
and less,” agrees Wosk. More and more projectors
are going into ‘man caves’ and other spaces “used for
something other than just watching movies.”
In those spaces, projectors have the additional
advantage of fitting in without dominating the
room. “A flat panel is always going to be the centre
of attention,” says Palmer. “A front projector can be
concealed much more effectively.”
Brickenden puts it more strongly. “As flat panels
get bigger and bigger, they become a décor liability,”
he says. “When it’s turned off, it’s a big, ugly rectangle.
The solution is a drop-down screen.”
At its “entry” level, SIM2 offers the $6,500 Crystal Cube, which
comes packaged in an attractive smoked crystal glass case,
and delivers 2,300 ANSI lumens.
“Projection isn’t really practical for a living room
environment where there’s a lot of ambient light,” he
says. But in a basement, the better cost per inch of
image makes the projector a very attractive option.
“As flat panels get bigger, they get more into the
sweet spot of the projector,” Brickenden suggests.
Obviously, the high-end projector business would be
in less danger from this encroachment.
Hsieh similarly foresees newer, larger flat panels
competing with projectors. Not immediately, but
within the next few years. So far, these huge displays
are no more than trade-show attention getters, out
of reach of most consumers. But they’ll inevitably
come down in price. At that point, the future of the
projector may hit a limit.
NEW TECHNOLOGY
Much of the recent evolution in projectors has
centred on remedying some of their obvious
disadvantages. For example, allowing them to deliver
a good image even in the presence of ambient light.
The most obvious way of combating room light
is to increase the projector’s own light output. This
has the additional benefit of increasing maximum
image size. Wosk adds that newer screens are actually
capable of rejecting ambient light to a greater extent.
Combine these two improvements, and ambient light
is much less of an issue.
Palmer adds that a lot of flat panels don’t handle
ambient light all that well, either. So in some cases the
newer projectors may actually do a better job.
Wudeck sees higher light output as one of the
key transitions that’s been driving acceptance of
projectors. He notes that three years ago, 2,000lumen output was available only in the five-figure
price range. Today, it’s available on BenQ’s entry-level
$999 model.
“The front projector in general has gotten
significantly brighter, significantly higher quality,”
says Palmer. “It can get to huge image sizes, with no
degradation in the image. You can comfortably go to
150 inches for $1,000 ($1,500 with the screen).”
Short-throw designs are also becoming more
common, reducing the distance from projector to
screen, for a given image size. Wudeck reports that
BenQ has done extremely well with its W1080ST
short-throw projector, which sells for $1,000. “You can
put the projector six feet away and get a 100-inch
image,” he says.
Another problem with projectors is the need for
long HDMI cables. Wireless connectivity can address
that issue. BenQ has just launched a wireless shortthrow model. Wudeck sees this feature allowing users
to take the projector anywhere on their property. “It
can go anywhere I can run Christmas lights.”
Wireless streaming will be a particular boon at
the lower end of the market, adds Hsieh, for users
who don’t have their projector permanently mounted.
Most of our contacts maintain that projectors are
a better way to experience 3D than flat panels.
After seeing 3D on flat panels, Wudeck recalls being
less than enthusiastic. “I was very much of a skeptic,”
he says. But he came around quickly, after seeing a 3D
demo with a projector. “3D makes more sense with a
projector. It’s the same experience as in the theatre:
you only see the picture.”
Concern about lamp replacement has declined,
says Gatopoulos. He reports that current Epson lamps
cost about $300 and are rated for about 5,000 hours.
That’s equivalent to 2,500 movies, he points out. “I
don’t know if I’ve ever watched 2,500 movies in my life.”
LED lighting promises much longer life spans,
but currently can’t achieve the same light output.
ViewSonic seems to be ahead of the pack in adopting
LED technology. It currently offers two LEDilluminated projectors, plus one model that’s a hybrid
LED plus laser design.
January 2014
| 53
HOME THEATRE
Hsieh admits that the LED models currently offer
much lower output, topping out in the range of 1,000
lumens. Higher-output designs should be appearing
soon, he says, but for now, LED projectors will be
limited to darker rooms and smaller screen sizes than
comparable models using an incandescent lamp.
Early demand for LED technology is being driven
to some extent by commercial and educational users
who want a more environmentally-friendly option,
says Hsieh. There’s also a market in developing
countries, based on LED’s lower power consumption,
and reduced worry over lamp maintenance.
An additional advantage of LED, says Wosk, is that
it offers virtually instant startup, without the warmup
of a conventional lamp. Also, because LEDs run cooler,
the projector can run quieter, with far less fan noise.
Finally, they promise much greater longevity, in the
range of 20,000 to 30,000 hours.
Sony is ahead of the competition on 4K projectors, having
released the $17K VPLVW500ES this fall, and the flagship
VPLVW1100ES ($29K) this month, both based on its own
SXRD technology.
The biggest leap in projector technology is the
onset of 4K resolution. On a 65-inch flat panel, at
realistic viewing distances, the difference between HD
and 4K tends to vanish. But with projection displays of
100 inches or more, all those extra pixels can start to
make a visible difference.
Right now, Sony is way out in front when it comes
to 4K projection. In fact, Schultz reports that the
company has been delivering 4K projection systems
since 2005, for movie theatres. Sony previewed its first
4K home theatre projectors at CEDIA 2011, and has
shipped two models this year.
These initial 4K models aren’t cheap, but they’re
also not as stratospheric as they might be. The
flagship VPLVW1100ES goes for $28,999, while the
mid-range VPLVW500ES runs a mere $16,999. The
latter shipped this fall, while the former was due to be
available in early December.
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The ‘ES’ stands for ‘Elevated Standard.’ Schultz
mentions that Sony also has a new series of high-end
audio products that will bear this branding.
How good is 4K display? “4K is better than
looking through a window,” says Schultz. He sees the
technology delivering image sizes up to 250 inches.
In fact, the Sony VPLVW1100ES can do a 10-foot-wide
image, which works out to about 180 inches.
Schultz emphasizes that Sony’s 4K technology
has already been deployed to over 15,000 cinemas
in North America. He also points out that Sony will
have an edge with existing HD content, since the
up-scaling algorithms used in the new 4K projectors
are derived from the company’s extensive experience
in cinema cameras and movie theatres.
Other manufacturers are taking more of a
wait-and-see approach to 4K. SIM2 has its Cinema
Quattro up at the esoteric high end, but is mostly
concentrating on HD throughout the rest of its line.
DPI is similarly continuing with HD.
Not surprisingly, there’s no obvious 4K activity
at the lower end. However, Palmer does state that 4K
is definitely “on the roadmap,” if not a high priority in
the near term. He says that Epson is also working on
“solid- state light sources,” and that some news in that
area may be forthcoming “not terribly long from now.”
SCREENING AUDIO
Even with the do-it-yourselfer, there are good
opportunities for expanding the sale of a projector.
They’ll need a screen, for starters, as well as mounting
hardware and long cables.
Having a screen solution ready to hand is
important. For example, Hsieh reports that ViewSonic
has been running a promotion with Elite Screens on
its Website. This helps round out the projector line.
“People can easily find a package from a single site.”
The Watershed Group has actually developed its
own line of screens, under the Cirrus brand. “We saw a
hole in the market,” says Gatopoulos. Watershed also
carries DNP (Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd.) screens,
ranging from $3,000 to $10,000. Gatopolous notes
that these are printed screens, rather than sprayed.
Screen quality is important. About 90% of
Watershed’s sales are gray screens. These sacrifice a
bit of brightness in exchange for improved contrast.
Gatopoulos also points out that a screen can outlast
several projectors, so it’s a smart investment. “The
thing that consumers don’t consider is that you’re not
watching the projector; you’re watching the screen.”
Similarly, having suitable audio products on
tap is a major advantage. Wosk notes that Sound
Developments (which also distributes the quick-ship
Cima line of Stewart Filmscreen screens) sells audio
products that are complementary with its projectors.
“My personal suggestion is that you balance what
you spend on both sound and picture,” says Wosk.
Otherwise you can end up with what he calls the
drive-in movie effect: a huge image with tinny sound.
One interesting option that Widerman likes is
the use of an acoustically perforated screen, as in
movie theatres. This allows speakers to be hidden
behind the screen.
Bottom line, most installers can probably benefit
considerably from increased emphasis on projectors.
“If you are a retailer or installer, about 15 to 20 per cent
of your sales should be projectors,” advises Wudeck.
FUTURE PROJECTIONS
Projectors are a desirable business for several reasons.
For starters, they offer very attractive margins:
typically about eight points, according to Gatopoulos;
not to mention the opportunities for attachments,
from screens, to cables, and services, adds Wudeck.
They can help give the independent retailer
that much-needed edge; and help create a closer
relationship with the customer. “A projector installation
will usually require at least some basic automation,”
says Brickenden. “It’s not just ‘hang and bang.’”
“If the customer just wants a really big image on
the wall,” says Epson’s Palmer, “seven out of 10 times,
he’s going to pick a flat panel. That’s fine; we don’t
have to win every battle. But three out of 10 people
might realize they want to go to 150-inch.”
With customers that have the space, it’s worth
noting, says Wudeck, that they can get a 60-inch
plasma for $3,000, or a 100-inch projector setup for
$1,500, installed.
“Most people don’t understand projectors,” says
Widerman, who often conducts demos in his own
home. “Their only exposure to them is in the worst
possible environment: sports bars. The signal is usually
bad and the image is washed out. I frequently turn
people around when they see what a projector can do.”
And seeing is believing. “A flat panel offers one
type of viewing experience,” says Wudeck. “A projector
offers another kind. It’s an event.” 䡲
Mega Group has achieved 50 Best Managed Company
designation for the last Àfteen consecutive years.
We are currently a Platinum Club member.
We are proud that Canada’s Best Managed organisation
has recognized us for excellence in overall business performance.
Our Member-Owned Group
Provides Central Billing Services to
Independent Retailers
Our History
)ounded in 5 and for close to Àfty years Mega Group
has provided a complete range of services to hundreds of
independent businesses across Canada.
Our Locations
Our Canadian ofÀces are conveniently situated
in Saskatoon, Toronto and Montreal.
Our Strengths
Mega Group owns, operates and maintains its own central
billing system for its retail members and product vendors.
Our Customer Service
Our experienced and bilingual personnel are trained to
provide the highest quality customer service experience.
Our Mission
We are committed to providing the support and services
that make independent retailers stronger.
Our Customers
Our partners consist of Marketing and Franchising Groups
across the country. They include; Audio Video Unlimited,
End of The Roll, Foto Source Canada, Millenium Micro,
Power Audio Group, and the Stereo Plus Group.
Contact Information
Retailers
[email protected] or
[email protected]
Suppliers
[email protected] or
[email protected]
THE BEST PHOTO GEAR
OF 2013
BY PETER K. BURIAN
Olympus EM-1
and autofocus modules will continue to increase
speed, reliability and image quality particularly
at high ISO levels.
THE YEAR 2013 WAS A VERY GOOD ONE
FOR PHOTO ENTHUSIASTS WHO APPRECIATE
QUALITY EQUIPMENT, WITH USEFUL BENEFITS
LIKE MORE ADVANCED AUTOFOCUS, GREATER
DRIVE SPEED, SUPERIOR HIGH-ISO QUALITY,
AND BUILT-IN WI-FI AND SOMETIMES NFC.
AN INCREASING NUMBER OF CAMERAS
ARE OMITTING THE LOW-PASS (ANTIALIASING) FILTER FOR SUPERIOR PER-PIXEL
RESOLUTION. ANY MOIRÉ, IN IMAGES OF
CERTAIN TYPES OF FABRICS, FOR EXAMPLE,
CAN BE REMOVED WITH SOFTWARE.
DIGITAL SLRs: The most noteworthy DSLR of 2013
is the retro-styled full-frame Nikon Df, which sports
classic 35mm SLR styling with analog controls, many
mechanical aspects and a large all-glass pentaprism.
In keeping with its traditionalist bent, the Df omits
movie mode and built-in flash.
Billed as the smallest DSLR ever made, the 18MP
Canon EOS Rebel SL1 with a 3” touch-screen LCD plus
some analogue controls, offers advanced functions
and 10 scene modes, a nine-point AF sensor and a
very large AF coverage area, contrast-detect and
phase-detect AF, 4fps drive mode, and creative filters.
In 2013, very high 24MP resolution became
available in even more DSLRs, including the Nikon
D5300, an enthusiast-level camera with Wi-Fi and
GPS. The low-pass filter was omitted for impressive
resolution of fine detail. The rugged water-resistant
semi-pro Nikon D7100 with Wi-Fi (but not GPS)
and larger 3.2” LCD is even more impressive in many
respects, including 51-point AF (the D5300 has
39-point) with 15 cross-type points and 6fps drive
speed (versus 4).
The 24MP Pentax K-3 also omits the low-pass
filter, but is equipped with a mechanism that can
provide moiré reduction when required. It’s even
more desirable than the K-5 II series.
In 2014, we expect to see even more full-frame
DSLRs. No revolutionary features are likely, but the
ongoing development of superior sensors, processors
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COMPACT SYSTEM CAMERAS: A high-end CSC is
every bit as desirable as a DSLR, just more compact.
Some models provide even faster framing rates, ideal
for action photography. In 2013, we saw the first two
full-frame CSCs with a massive 24x36mm sensor for
oversized pixels, a feature previously available with
only a few DSLRs. This is likely to become a trend
in 2014 with other manufactures following suit,
although other models will continue to compete in
size reduction instead.
Olympus expanded the OMD series with the
splash- and freeze-resistant 16MP pro-grade EM-1,
with a much larger electronic viewfinder (EVF) than
the EM-5, better processor, built-in Wi-Fi and a new
HDR mode. The E-M1 benefits from a Dual Fast AF
system that includes 81-point contrast-detect AF for
use with Micro Four Thirds lenses, as well as 37-point
on-chip phase-detect AF that kicks in when Four
Thirds lenses are used with an optional adapter. The
E-M1 retains the five-axis image stabilizer, 9fps drive
speed (6.5fps with continuous AF), and it also omits
the low-pass filter.
The Samsung Galaxy NX merges smartphone and
camera features, combining a huge 4.8” touchscreen,
Android 4.2, LTE/Bluetooth 4.0/NFC, with a 20.3MP
sensor and both types of AF technology.
Sony’s first full-frame CSC, the weatherproof
36.4 MP α7R, is without a low-pass filter, and has
a 2.36-million-dot EVF, tilting 3” LCD, new hybrid
Intelligent AF, 4fps drive mode, and Wi-Fi with NFC.
More affordable, the 24.3 MP Sony α7 provides a 5fps
drive, retains the low-pass filter and employs only
contrast-detect AF.
Fujifilm’s handsome X-E2 sports retro-style
controls, an electronic viewfinder and improved
X-Trans II sensor, and Wi-Fi; and omits a low-pass filter.
The first submersible and freeze-proof CSC on the
market, the full-featured 14.2MP Nikon AW1, can be
used at depths down to 15m with two new AW lenses
(no viewfinder), and gains a GPS, altimeter, depth
gauge and electronic compass.
Surprisingly compact with its flat-top style,
iON Air Pro 2
tilting EVF and tilting touch-screen LCD, the 16MP
Panasonic Lumix GX7 is the first in the series with
in-camera image stabilizer. With DSLR-style features
and controls, it also has Wi-Fi with NFC, a Silent drive
mode, superior LightSpeed AF system, 5fps drive,
a curves function for dynamic-range control, and a
cloning tool in playback mode.
PROSUMER-GRADE COMPACT CAMERAS: One
of the few categories of integral-lens cameras where
sales remain robust is high-grade compact models,
which appeal to serious photographers who cannot
always carry a full system.
All recent prosumer-grade cameras offer DSLRstyle features; and some are equipped with a large
APS-C size sensor; models with a prime lens usually
fit nicely into a jacket pocket. This type includes the
16.2MP Nikon Coolpix A with a 28mm equivalent f/2.8
lens, 3” LCD and no low-pass filter; and the tiny 16MP
Ricoh GR, with a 28mm f/2.8 lens and 3” LCD. The lack
of zoom capability is an obvious downside, but both
cameras have lots to offer street shooters who need
fast operation and pristine high-ISO performance.
Canon’s G-series cameras dominate this category.
The latest model is the rugged 12.1MP PowerShot G16,
which boasts a fast 28-140mm f/1.8-2.8 equivalent lens,
a small optical viewfinder and tilting 3” LCD.
Panasonic’s 12.1MP Lumix DMC-LF1 is fitted with
a high-grade Leica DC 28-200 mm f/2-5.9 equivalent
lens, fixed 3” LCD and electronic viewfinder. Olympus
offers an even longer 28-300mm f/2.8 equivalent zoom
lens with its 12MP Olympus Stylus 1 with OMD-like
styling, tilting 3” touchscreen and an EVF. Customers
who want more wide-angle options should love
the Sony DSC-RX10 with its Zeiss 24-200mm f/2.8
equivalent zoom, flip-out 3” LCD and an EVF. However,
this is a large camera, similar in size to a DSLR.
Action sports enthusiasts often prefer a pointof-view camera such as the fully waterproof iON Air
Pro 2 that will be available in early 2014 (from Gentec
International). It’s equipped with a 180° lens, ships
with a Wi-Fi accessory and six mounting accessories,
can shoot 14MP images and 1080p video clips.
Visit www.wifihifi.ca to see the author’s picks for
the top high-grade lenses, along with his summary
of that category for 2013. 䡲
YOU CAN’T
ALWAYS
PREDICT THE
FUTURE.
BUT THESE FOUR
Tuesday, January 7
through Friday, January 10, 2014
Las Vegas, Nevada • CESweb.org • #CES2014
DAYS CAN GIVE YOUR
EDUCATED GUESS A Ph.D.
Over four days, those who shape the future gather in Las Vegas. Here, brands, markets and economies converge in
what’s far more than a tradeshow. And in 2014, there’s more opportunity than ever to connect with those who matter.
All that’s missing now is you. Register today at CESweb.org.
CES REPORT
GEARING UP FOR CES:
FITNESS, FASHION,
STARTUPS, &
ENTERTAINMENT
BY CHRISTINE PERSAUD
THE 2014 INTERNATIONAL CES IS FAST
APPROACHING, WITH SEVERAL NEW EXHIBIT
ZONES PLANNED, AN INTRIGUING (THOUGH
MUCH SMALLER) KEYNOTE LINEUP, AND PLENTY
OF EXCITEMENT SURROUNDING THE BIGGEST
TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASE IN NORTH AMERICA.
Every year, CES serves as an important indicator of
what’s to come in technology. Held shortly after we ring
in the New Year, it’s the place where major brands unveil
their latest innovations, startups aim to get on the radar
of major buyers, investors, and media outlets, and key
players outline their strategies for the next 12 months.
You can’t help but marvel at the technology showcased
at CES each year. Nowhere else will you see so many
gadgets, gizmos, massive screens running lifelike
content of all kinds, and forward-looking innovations.
Next year’s event, which returns to its usual home in
Las Vegas, NV, will run from January 7-10, 2014, and will
host more than 3,200 exhibitors showcasing products
and services across 15 categories.
In addition to the traditional tech categories of
audio, video, computing, wireless, networking, and
“cool gear” of all kinds, the 2014 event will have a
particular focus on burgeoning categories like fashion,
fitness, and startups, fueled by innovations in areas like
wearable technology and 3D printing, the growth and
diversification of smartphones, and interesting new
ways of enjoying and accessing content. In all, there will
be 20 market-specific TechZones.
The digital fitness exhibits will grow by 30%, says
the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), which owns
CES, with a specific TechZone in the South Hall of the Las
Vegas Convention Center that’s arranged in partnership
with Living in Digital Times (LIDT). It will feature
technologies for sports and fitness enthusiasts from
more than 75 companies spread out over 11,500 square
feet of space. But fitness gear won’t be limited to just
that area; we’re likely to see smart watches and other
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similar devices from the likes of Samsung, Scosche, and
others, all throughout the show.
And there’s good reason. The CEA’s semi-annual
report predicts that the market for fitness technology
will grow by close to 25% next year. CES will also serve
as home to a full-day FitnessTech conference that will
highlight key trends impacting the sports, fitness, and
outdoor markets.
Just as strong as the tie between fitness and
technology is the tie between technology and fashion.
And CES recognizes this with a new “lifestyle” focused
TechZone, also held in conjunction with LIDT, that will
show fashionable, wearable technology of all kinds,
from jackets to handbags.
But fashion will likely be a talking point throughout
the show; from slick soundbars to complement the
latest wave of flat-panel TVs, to slim and gorgeous flat
panel TVs, funky headphones, and cool smartphone
accessories to suit every user’s personal style and tastes.
Other notable new TechZones held in partnership
with LIDT include MommyTech (CEA calls the “mommy”
audience the “fastest, largest and most vocal group
of technology adoptees,”) the Silvers Summit with
technology for boomers (those born between 1946
and 1964 are reaching their peak earning and spending
years), TransformingEDU, an exhibit showcasing the link
between technology and education, and the Digital
Health Summit, among others.
The core areas of consumer electronics, however,
will remain front and centre at the show, as the majors
like Samsung, LG, and Sony, draw attendees in with the
latest Ultra HD 4K TVs, curved TV technology, soundbars,
hifi desktop audio, and headphones.
The CEA forecasts that Ultra HD unit shipments will
increase eightfold to 450,000 in 2014. But what’s really
needed to drive this technology forward is the content
to match. Indeed, content will be a focal point at CES,
with television host of Extra, journalist, and author
Maria Menounos serving as the Entertainment Matters
Ambassador, looking to help bridge the entertainment
and technology industries. Hopefully 4K content will
become more abundantly available in 2014 in order to
justify the purchase of these stunning new displays.
Panasonic’s exit from plasma will leave many
anxious to see what that company’s booth will look like.
And Microsoft’s supposed “return” to the show, with no
booth space but more booked meeting rooms, could be
a talking point. What will majors have this time to entice
show-goers to stop and take a look? And which up-andcomer(s) will get the most attention?
It’s going to be another exciting year for consumer
technology, with a greater focus on lifestyle, and the
practical uses of technology, not just its cool factor.
Consumers are more and more asking not just what can
technology do, but what can technology do for me. CES
will be the beginning of a discussion that finds out what
companies, categories, and brands will have the right
answers to that question.
HOT SPOTS
Whether you’re looking for a spot for some R&R, a
good java in the a.m., a scrumptious dinner, or a place
to unwind and have a good time during the evening
hours, here are a few of our favourite spots in ‘Vegas:
BURGR: Looking for a relatively affordable spot to
grab a great burger? Check out famous chef Gordon
Ramsay’s BURGR in Planet Hollywood on the Strip.
The meat is packed with flavour, the parmesan fries are
divine, and the presentation, right down to the menu
placement on the tables, gives the feel of fine burger
dining. Burgers are $12-$15 each, but well worth the
dough with flavourful toppings like figgy-onion jam,
celery and carrot slaw, and truffle aioli. Here’s a tip: the
staff often encounters Ramsay fans, and they are happy
to give you a menu or pen to take home as a souvenir.
RAO’s: In classy Caesar’s Palace, RAO’s serves classic
and authentic Italian dishes, with ambience that
brings you right into old-time New York City. This isn’t
by accident: the restaurant is a replica of the famous
Big Apple location. It’s a nice spot to go with a big
group, order family-style, and share good laughs and
great grub with a few bottles of red. It’s on the pricier
side, but if you’re looking for a spot to have one nice
dinner out during the show, this is a great option.
JAPONAIS: One of my long-time personal favourites,
this restaurant, located right as you walk into the
trendy Mirage Hotel, serves up an amazing menu of
French and Japanese cuisine. This includes hot dishes,
fresh sushi (no soy sauce needed here), and mouthwatering desserts and cocktails. Service is stellar. It’s
a great place to ask the server to recommend a few
tasting dishes. Must try: the Hot Rock. It’s not only
melt-in-your-mouth good, but it’s also tons of fun to
sear the meat yourself.
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL LOVE: When it comes to Las
Vegas shows, you can never go wrong with the
Canadian-originated Cirque du Soleil. LOVE brings
together amazing acrobatics, a visual spectacle,
and top tunes from the Beatles. Enjoy a drink at the
REVOLUTION bar in the Mirage beforehand, then sit
back and enjoy the show. That’s if you can refrain
from bopping along with the catchy tunes, which
is a tough feat. Even if you manage to contain your
musical inclinations, don’t be surprised to see groups
of 50+ ladies acting like teenagers at a Justin Bieber
concert. Tickets start at $80.
FASHION SHOW MALL, STARBUCKS: If you like
to use the morning hour to unwind and walk the 45
minutes or so to the Las Vegas Convention Center
from the main drag on the strip, a stop at the outside
Starbucks in the Fashion Show mall is a great way to
get you energized for the rest of the walk there, and
ready for another grueling day on the show floor. Are
you more of a Tim Horton’s fan? Try the Starbucks
Blonde roast: it’s the closest you’ll get to a Timmy’s.
CHIN CHIN: Need to refuel with a big meal after a
long day, or particularly crazy evening? Chin Chin
in the New York New York hotel offers affordable
Chinese cuisine, including a full all-you-can-eat
breakfast buffet with an interesting Asian twist, and
favourites to suit particular cravings, like a sushi bar,
and dim sum. There’s even a gluten-free menu for
those who have an allergy, or have made a choice,
to eat sans gluten. No worries if you have a late start
to the morning: the breakfast buffet, which is $15/
person, runs until noon on weekdays and 1 p.m. on
the weekends.
SEAHORSE LOUNGE AT CAESAR’S PALACE: While
the drinks are a bit on the pricier side, you’re bound to
see a Canuck or two hanging around at this lounge,
which gives you a full view of the casino floor from
comfortable seating. If anything, it makes a great central
meeting spot for having a quick after-show drink, or a
nightcap. And just saying “meet me at the Seahorse”
has a nice ring to it.
BE A PART OF WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS
The night the Canadian Industry gets together in Vegas is ON
and we look forward to seeing you!
Join us Wednesday, January 8, 2014
1•Oak Nightclub
Mirage Hotel
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Tell us you’re coming at www.wifihifi.ca
Thank you to all of our sponsors who have made this event possible:
CANTREX • CESIUM • DENON • ERIKSON • HAIER • HITFAR
HISENSE • KENWOOD / JVC • LENBROOK • LG • MEGA GROUP
NPD • ONKYO • PANASONIC • PARADIGM • PIONEER
POWERGROUP • SENNHEISER • SHARP • SONY • YAMAHA
TALKING SHOP
BY WALLY HUCKER
BEST BUY & FUTURE SHOP HOLD EVENTS
TO LAUNCH PS4; XBOX ONE
Best Buy and Future Shop stores launched Sony’s new
PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One on November
15 and 22, respectively, with the typical hoopla that
surrounds major console and game title launches,
including early and late openings and special events at
stores, prizes, and character and celebrity appearances.
Of particular note, especially to gamers in their
30s and 40s, was a low-key event midday on launch
day of the PS4 at the Future Shop flagship store at
Yonge and Dundas Square in downtown Toronto, ON.
Comedic actor Chris Kattan was on hand to pose for
photos and sign autographs. Kattan is best known
for his time as a cast member on Saturday Night Live
in the late ‘90s/early ‘00s, as well as one-half of the
Night at the Roxbury club-going, Haddaway-singing,
head-bopping duo from the popular late ‘90s flick
(the other half was Will Ferrell, and the characters
originated from a recurring skit the two did while on
SNL.) But Kattan is also an avid gamer. He graciously
FORT MCMURRAY GETS NEW
HMV CANADA STORE
Entertainment retailer hmv
Canada opened its 112th store
in Alberta’s oil patch, in Fort
McMurray. “This is a market
we have been targeting for a
number of years,” says Harvey
Berkley, CFO of hmv Canada.
“The hmv location in Grande
Nick Williams,
President & CEO,
Prairie (in northern Alberta) has
hmv Canada
proven immensely successful,”
Berkley adds, “and we feel that this newest addition
in Fort McMurray will help strengthen the brand
within the province.”
Nick Williams, President & CEO, tells WiFi HiFi that
there is “a strong demand for CDs and DVDs present
in this unique market…With a renewed strength and
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posed for photos with every one of the hundred or
more fans who asked for a snapshot with him.
Curiously, none of the other media types
asked Kattan what games he played. “None of your
business,” he responded to WiFi HiFi’s query after the
session. One may assume that was a joke from the
comedian, for he quickly added “Call of Duty.”
This FPS (first person shooter) series features military
campaigns in single player and online team and
free-for-all modes.
(L-r): Elliott Chun, Communications Manager, Future
Shop; Nancy Phung, Senior Promotions Manager, Best
Buy; Chris Kattan; and Danielle Jang, Communications
Manager, Best Buy Canada. Photo: Wally Hucker
excitement for our business, evident in our results, we
look forward to serving our new guests and engaging
with the community.”
This chain, based in Toronto, ON, had an excellent
holiday selling season last year, Williams told me in
February. “We were up 1.4 per cent when most people
forecast a slight decline.” January was also kind to
hmv with sales increasing 10%. Holiday sales last year
exceeded the $65 million predicted by the company
and hmv Canada netted $270 million for that year.
Six temporary pop-up hmv stores will emerge
in Canada for the holidays. Last year’s seasonal spree
saw sales of music and video bolstered by high
margin musical and cinematic memorabilia in the
company’s gift and collectibles category. The growth
of 49% in 2012 was largely due to the pop-ups. T-shirt
sales climbed 29%, while seasonal merchandise
jumped 33%.
MCKAYS ELECTRONIC EXPERTS
30TH ANNIVERSARY
Terry Burns and Chris Forbes, partners in McKays
Electronics Experts, which operates four stores
on Vancouver Island in BC, held 30 days of deals,
culminating in a black-tie event at their Victoria location
on October 30th to celebrate three decades in business.
Throughout the month preceding, they had driven
interest in their anniversary with special Facebook
promos available to those who “liked” their page.
For the big evening of Halloween minus one,
they gave away a 2013 Hyundai Accent automobile.
“It wasn’t just a year lease,” notes Forbes. “The winner
actually got the car outright.” That promotion was
co-sponsored by Samsung, for which Burns and
Forbes ran “a very aggressive promotion.”
Purchasers of Samsung products received ballots
to enter the draw for the car. For a $500 purchase,
three ballots were given. A $1,000 purchase netted
eight ballots, and 20 were issued to customers
spending $2,000 or more.
McKays also sent invitations to 100 local
businesses to attend the soirée, which noted that
McKays and its owners were islanders, which, says
Burns, accounts in large part for their success and
longevity. Every invitation offered $50 of “Mad Money”
to the person attending in the form of a coupon
applicable at any McKays’ store at any time on any
purchase over $500.
“Our vendors,” says Burns, “were very supportive
of our celebrations.” On a more somber note, he and
Forbes inform WiFi HiFi that Doug McKay, the last
of the three brothers who founded the business as
Madman McKay’s, passed away in September.
Terry Burns and Chris Forbes, partners in McKays
Electronics Exports, flank Staub Electronics’ President
Scott Trotter and Sales Rep Jeff Litke, at the retailer’s
30th anniversary celebration. Staub presented the pair
with a glass plaque to commemorate the occasion.
AWESOME
You’re invited to
at CES 2014!
Join us for a night of classic rock. Space is limited, so book early.
For tickets, email Edit Cantor at [email protected].
OFFICIAL SPEAKERS
AND HEADPHONES
OFFICIAL HEADPHONES
Visit
Visi
it us att CES
CE S Booth #20869
BestSound.ca
905.513.7733 • [email protected] • www.gentec-intl.com
TALKING SHOP
HENRY’S REVAMPS TORONTO FLAGSHIP
Henry’s reintroduced its flagship store in downtown
Toronto to the public on Saturday, October 5th after
a major makeover. More than 200 early birds lined
Church St. south to the corner of Richmond St. E. and
around the corner. Some arrived as early as 3 a.m.
The first 100 in line were rewarded with gift
certificates, worth $10 to $750, and totaling $3,085.
Coupons for an instant discount of $10 were
distributed to the rest of the people who had queued
up for the 10 a.m. opening.
(L-r) Michael Finch, President & CEO, Nikon Canada; Ian
Landy, President & COO, Henry’s; and Shane Asa, Vice
President, Digitec Trading, are all smiles at the show.
Photo: Wally Hucker
Inside, the camera sales area has been relocated
to the centre of the store. Creating such a “camera bar”
was deemed a genius move by at least one vendor
in attendance. “The first place people go in a camera
store,” observes Jordan Seigel, Product Manager of
the Imaging Division at Gentec International, “is the
camera department.” Accessory displays, like the
expanded selection of bags and packs, have been
moved to the periphery, but can still be ogled from
the central camera bar.
Gentec’s President Joel Seigel was also on hand
to answer customers’ questions, as was Marc Gautier,
Brand Manager for the Manfrotto Products Group.
Sales Rep Ron Anderson spent his day demonstrating
Sigma’s $25,000 APD 200-500 f/2.8 lens. It was
dubbed “the Bigma” by envious shutterbugs.
Shawn Duffy from Sony of Canada kept busy
showing off QX10 and QX100 detachable smartphone
cameras transmitting via Bluetooth. Nikon Canada
debuted its 1 AW1 waterproof and shockproof
interchangeable-lens camera, while Canon offered
its EOS 70D DSLR.
62 |
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Among the many other suppliers participating
were: Datavideo Technologies; DayMen Canada; Fujifilm
Canada; Hasselblad; Olympus Canada; Panasonic
Canada; Ricoh Imaging Canada Inc., distributors of
Pentax; Savage; SBW Sales and Distribution.
The sales floor was packed at times, as the crowds
were drawn not only by door crashers on cameras,
tripods, bags, and more, but other bargains as well.
From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. there were hourly draws for
prizes from Henry’s and some of the vendors present.
These included digicams from Olympus, Panasonic,
Sony, and Pentax; a Fuji Instax Mini 8 camera and film
kit plus five packs of instant film; a Lowepro Flipside
Sport 20L AW and Joby Sling camera strap; and a
Nikon Coolshot laser range finder were the prizes.
As a bonus, prize winners also received a 500px
Awesome Account Gift Card valued at $75.
Other celebrations included three free seminars
on night photography, courtesy of Henry’s School
of Imaging and Manfrotto, just in time for the
evening’s Nuit Blanche festivities. Attendees were
eligible for a draw for a Manfrotto 190XPROB tripod
with an 804RC head.
Randy Weinzweig of SBW Sales and Distribution
presented a free (and popular) sensor cleaning
service, using his company’s LENSPEN products. Rick
Germain, Henry’s Used Buyer, was another busy man,
as he offered enhanced trade-in values from noon to
5 p.m. on Canon and Nikon DSLRs.
A photo walkabout enticed some shoppers to
leave by 3 p.m. The Scott Kelby Annual Photo Walk
started at Henry’s Church and Queen store, and wound
its way to St. James Park and the St. Lawrence Market.
A team from Gentec International was on hand for Henry’s
re-opening celebrations, including: Ron Anderson, Sales
Rep (left); Joel Seigel, President & CEO; and Jordan Seigel,
Product Manager, Imaging Division. Photo: Wally Hucker
This One Time…
SINCE OUR FIRST THIS ONE TIME…
FEATURETTE FALLS DUE AT THE HEIGHT
OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON, WE FELT IT ONLY
RIGHT TO TRY TO PRESENT A TALE WITH
AN APPROPRIATE MOTIF.
Sam Schwartz is owner
of Ebony Tristar Agency,
which represents a
wide range of consumer
electronics products. “This
story,” he commences,
“goes back to about 1976,
when I was working as a
salesman at Montreal Stereo.
“It was in December, and there was a
shopper looking at a very nice stereo system by
Pioneer, with a receiver and speakers. He asked
the price, and was really disheartened when I
told him that it was $2,000.”
Sighing, the shopper, revealed that he
wanted to give the system as a gift to his
daughter. “So I did a routine,” Schwartz recalls,
“and said I would see what I could do. I went in
the backroom, but made sure the man could
look through the doorway and see me.”
Schwartz started talking and then arguing
with another staff member, unseen around
the corner. This staff member was unseen
because there was nobody there. Raising his
voice, Schwartz argued on behalf of giving the
shopper a discount.
Finally, he emerged, to tell the shopper,
“Here’s an early Christmas gift for you. You can
have it for $1,200.”
“No, no,” the man corrected Schwartz, “a
Hanukkah gift.”
Schwartz delivered the system to the
customer’s home and set it up in his daughter’s
room. The man then covered it with a large,
gift-wrapped box, and tied with a ribbon. “I was
there when she happened to come home and
found the gift,” says Schwartz.
“This was one of the few times I gave a
discount. Words could not convey the feeling
and the look of joy on the daughter’s face.”
Happy Holidays to all of you from all of us
at WiFi HiFi Magazine.
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TALKING SHOP
APPLE HIRES ANOTHER RAG TRADE
RETAIL MAVEN
SAMSUNG TO OPEN
90 EXPERIENCE SHOPS
Apple has hired Burberry’s CEO Angela Ahrendts.
This coming spring, she will become a Senior Vice
President, guiding Apple’s retail operations and
planning the company’s expansion.
Ahrendts returns home to the U.S. from the U.K.,
where she reversed the downtrending company after
its posh patrons had abandoned it, feeling the brand
had become too commonplace for them. Burberry is
now much more than its well-known signature, but
stodgy, trench coats.
Since Apple’s profit plummeted 22% in the June
quarter, and its gross margins also dropped from 42%
last year to under 37%, she might be just what the
doctor ordered. Burberry reported in mid-October
that its sales for the first half of the year climbed by
14% to £1 billion, or approximately US$1.6 billion.
Ahrendts also has a gift for incorporating
technology into retailing and turning retail space into
a chic extension of the online world.
Not only will Samsung be opening up 90 new
Samsung Experience store-within-store concepts
within Best Buy and Future Shop locations across
Canada, but the company also has plans to open two
new standalone stores: one in Edmonton, AB in the
West Edmonton Mall, and another in Richmond, BC.
The first Brand Experience store for Canada
opened in Burnaby, BC last July, and Samsung says it
has been receiving positive feedback from customers,
who appreciate being able to interact with all of the
products in one place, and speak with experts.
The Edmonton location will measure 2,200 square
feet, and the Richmond store about 1,900. Both will
STEREO PLUS ADDS TOTEM SPEAKERS,
DEBUTS UNIVERSITY
of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC, and the Stereo Plus &
Design stores in St-Hubert, QC and in Orleans and
Stittsville, ON. “There will be 12 more very soon,”
adds Lefebvre.
In other news, in mid-October, Stereo Plus
launched its Group Stereo Plus University at its
corporate headquarters in Trois-Rivieres, midway
between Montreal and Quebec City. Its motto is
Savoir. Savoir-Faire. Savoir-Être. Roughly translated,
this means To Know, Know-How, Know How to Be.
Under the tutelage of main instructor-coach Denis
Bélanger, eight classes had been held as of the third
week of November.
The goal, Lefebvre informs WiFi HiFi, “is to always
keep our people and business growing, always by
Totem loudspeakers have been added to the product
mix at Group Stereo Plus. The relationship officially
commenced on December 1st.
“Totem,” says Daniel Lefebvre, Vice President,
Business Development & Marketing Strategies at
Stereo Plus, “is a reference in the world of sound. Our
cultures are a good match: high quality, innovation,
and excellence. The introduction is in the first phase.”
So far, Totem, a Canadian company, is being sold
at Stereo Plus stores in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu and
Joliette, La Boutique Électronique which is a Zone
Electronics bannered store in the Montreal suburb
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showcase everything from smartphones, to tablets,
laptops, connected cameras and accessories from the
Korean manufacturer, and how they all communicate
with one another.
President James Politeski says Samsung Canada
wants to ensure customers “learn to leverage their
mobile devices across our ecosystem of consumer
electronics products.”
Meanwhile, the first three of the 625 square-foot
Experience shops have already opened in Heartland
Town Centre, Deerfoot Meadow and Edmonton
North. All retail locations are scheduled to open
by spring 2014.
A customer receives a smartphone demo at the
Heartland Town Centre Samsung store.
serving and informing the customer, and never
standing still.
“Everybody,” he reflects, “knows a little about
electronics. Everybody knows a little about knowhow. Sales people may know a little more, or they may
not. Very few get professional training.
“Group Stereo Plus University provides training to
its team so they become as qualified as they should
be to practice their profession.”
Classes are custom tailored for owners, managers
and sales teams. Students are evaluated and coached
in facets of the business like technical knowledge,
culture building, managerial and relationship skills,
and self-knowledge. “It is not based on pep talks,”
Lefebvre emphasizes.
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TALKING SHOP
GIBBYS ELECTRONIC SUPERSTORE
GETS NEW MANAGER
John McKay is the new Store
Manager at Gibbys Electronic
Supermarket in St. Catharines,
ON. McKay has joined the
long-time independent upon
leaving Best Buy Canada after
seven years. He had been
store manager of the St.
Catharines BB store.
McKay’s entire quarter century in consumer
electronics has been on the retail side, as well as
being entirely in St. Catharines. He joined Majestic
Audio Warehouse in town in 1987, and put in seven
Answer 8
A KEY MEMBER OF THE CANADIAN TECHNOLOGY
RETAIL INDUSTRY GIVES US 8 QUICK ANSWERS
ABOUT HIS TIME IN THE INDUSTRY
years there. Then he worked almost 10 years at
Electronic Supermarket before joining Best Buy.
Electronic Supermarket, once a flagship
Audiotronic store, merged with Duane Gibson’s
Gibby’s Audio Video several years ago. Gibson and
Hebert are equal partners in the enterprise.
Gibbys’ operation will change slowly, at first,
McKay tells WiFi HiFi. Warranty programs will be
broadened to include most items sold at the store.
“The commercial end of the business will receive
more emphasis in the store,” he says. “Custom
integration will be more associated with retail
sales, and there will be cross-training on product
knowledge.”
He intends to handle more upmarket product.
And while many of the display areas are already top
notch in décor and design, he feels other areas of the
store will be updated.
Both 12V sales and installation departments will
be retained. Tablets may be introduced to the product
mix, starting with Samsung models.
Duane Gibson’s father Merv passed away in July,
after a long battle with cancer. Merv and his brother
Bev established Pelham Electronics in 1966, in St.
Catharines, ON, as a part-time business, repairing,
selling, and installing TVs and antennas and towers.
Eventually the business was renamed Gibby’s, after a
short stint as Video World.
The present store on Geneva St. is the third home
for the business, to which it moved 20 years ago.
Gibbys Electronic Supermarket became a member of
Power Audio Video Group last year.
so they finally offered me a job. I was very interested
in the industry so I accepted the job. I had worked
there for about a year and-a-half when that store
decided to close its doors. Of course, I secured the
location, lines, and some credit, and at the age of 19,
I was an electronic store business owner. I am in my
25th year in business.
He turned into one of my best customers for about
10 years or so while he lived in town. He bought a
new house and three new vehicles and we did stereos
in all of them. He was not only a good customer but
a friend to us as well.
If you were not in this industry, what would
you be doing?
I was enrolled at Lethbridge College in Law
Enforcement, so I would probably have been
a police officer.
Name: Cory Crawford
Company: P.A. Soundworks Inc.
Location: Prince Albert, SK
Years in the industry: 26
What are your hobbies?
Boating, snowmobiling, and spending time with
family and friends.
How did you get started in this industry?
I got a job at an electronic store at the age of 18,
because I was one of its best customers, and I was
always there. I would help with installs and help sell,
66 |
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Tell us an interesting story relating to your
retail career?
About 10 years ago, I had a man come in the store
wearing torn pants, ragged shirt, eating beef jerky
and driving an old Chrysler New Yorker that was very
dirty and in rough shape. He wanted the factory
stereo in his car fixed right away. He was from out of
town and had to get home. We got his car in and got
him on his way. About a month later, he came back in,
dressed to the nines, driving a new Chev Camaro. He
said that he was living in town now, and had been at
our competitor looking for some stereo equipment.
“He started to bash you and said you guys didn’t
know what you were doing and didn’t recommend
you,” he said. “I came straight here. I remember you
guys took great care of me, fixed up my old car and
got me going with tunes for the road. I knew they
were full of it, so I am here to buy some gear.”
Do you find trade shows worthwhile?
Why or why not?
I find trade shows out of town are good. They are
a lot of work, but if you bring the right gear, they
usually work out. It is all about the work you put into
it. Work hard and it pays off. We get a good chance
to meet a lot of new customers, see some old ones,
and have a lot of fun.
What would you deem the most influential
product introduction of your time?
The cell phone followed by the CD player and iPod.
Which was the best year of your life in the
industry and why?
It would have to be this year, because I see it as a
real milestone and one of my goals to have owned
and operated my own business for 25 years in a very
competitive industry, and be only 45 years old.
Where do you see the industry going?
I see the industry changing all the time. It is for sure
going more electronic and online. Customers are
always on the Web searching and shopping. We strive
very hard to be competitive, and we always do well
because of our excellent customer service.
TALKING SHOP
SEARS CANADA DIVESTS EASTERN
REAL ESTATE
Shares of Sears Canada shot up 6.6% to $17.05 on
the TSX (Toronto Stock Exchange) with the news of a
$315 million deal. The retailer is selling its 50% stake
in eight retail properties. It is currently half owner of
four regional shopping centres, two strip malls, and
two open format retail centres. The buyer is Montez
Income Properties Corporation.
The properties are in Quebec, Ontario, and
Newfoundland and Labrador. The Westcliff Group of
Companies of companies will retain its 50% interest in
RETAIL NEWS IN BRIEF
SEARS CANADA is testing a new home delivery
model in Prince Edward Island, with Canada Post
delivering almost any Sears Canada order for
$9.95, if the weight of any one item is less than 65
pounds. Six of eight PEI agencies have been closed
during the test, although operators have been
compensated. Should Sears’ customers wish to
collect their purchases at one of the two agents, two
Hometown franchise dealers or the full-line store in
Charlottetown, the fee is $3.95. Formerly couriered
home delivery cost customers about $12.95 to
$13.95. PEI was chosen as a test market due to its long
involvement with Sears Canada’s direct sales.
FOTO SOURCE is now “the official photo division of
Mega Group.” The two member-owned cooperatives
formalized a four-year old association whereby they
worked together to provide central billing for those
of Mega’s CE retailers who have been retailing photo
goods and services. Foto Source can offer its more
than 100 members with 135 storefronts new benefits
with this deal, says its President Don Spring. “This will
allow our members to take advantage of extended
payment terms through Mega Group’s financing.
We will also benefit from more robust marketing,
and tie-in with Mega’s strong flyer program.” Further
economies of scale will result from Foto Source’s
participation, notes Chris Hetherington, General
68 |
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and remain the exclusive manager of the properties.
“Sears stores that are currently situated on these
properties will remain in operation;” said a company
statement, which continued, “there will be no impact
on customers or associates in these stores as a result
of this transaction.”
This announcement comes two weeks after Sears
Canada revealed it was selling its leaseholds at its
Toronto Eaton Centre and four other full-line stores for
$400 million. “As we have previously stated,” says Sears
Canada’s President & CEO Doug Campbell, “unlocking
the value of assets is a lever we use as a way to help
create total value.” Post-tax, this deal should earn
Manager of Strategic Development at Mega, joining
Audio Video Unlimited, Stereo Plus, BrandSource, and
other member retailers who use the flyer program.
Including Foto Source stores, Mega Group has almost
1,000 storefronts nationwide.
Additional merchants have been added to the
MASTERPASS digital wallet service, bringing the
total for Canada, which was one of the first countries
to launch, to 12. These are: Grocery Gateway, Porter
Airlines, Beyond the Rack, Newegg, eLuxe, TeamBuy,
WagJag, DealFind, TasteAway, Buytopia, NCIX
Computer and Web.Com. In all, more than 20,000
retailers are live in MasterPass in the U.S., Canada, the
U.K., and Australia.
DAVE NICHOL, famed for pitching
his President’s Choice foodstuffs
on TV, died in October. His famous
Decadent Chocolate Chip Cookie is
soon to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
Nichol was 73, and had been ill for
several years. His death was due to
complications from diabetes. He revolutionized house
brands with his President’s Choice products, changing
the perception that the cheaper price meant inferior
quality, and making them recognized as premium
quality at less than premium prices. There are now over
2,000 President’s Choice products, from comestibles to
cell phone packages and banking services, available
through the Loblaw family of stores.
Sears Canada about $280 million.
“The joint venture assets we are selling to
Montez,” Campbell added, impact neither our store
operations nor our ability to serve customers. As such,
our primary focus in creating long-term value remains
on the basics of the business and continuing to
become more relevant with Canadians coast to coast.”
Sears Canada was expected to pay a special
dividend of between $4 and $5 before year-end
thanks to selling back leases. Some analysts believe
this deal with Montez could boost such a dividend
as high as $6.
MICROSOFT opened a new standalone Store at
the West Edmonton Mall in late October; and one
at the Metropolis at Metrotown in Vancouver, BC on
November 7. Country music artist Dierks Bentley
helped kick off the grand opening in Edmonton,
while American Idol and Grammy Award winner Kelly
Clarkson performed in Vancouver. Another store
is scheduled to open in the Square One Shopping
Centre in Mississauga, ON soon.
FUTURE SHOP added guitars from Gibson Guitar
Corp. to its three Musical Instruments store-withinstore concepts in South Edmonton, West Vancouver,
and Victoria. Acoustic and electric Gibson and
Epiphone guitars will be sold in these stores as well
as online at both Future Shop and Best Buy Canada’s
e-commerce sites.
ROGERS’ ALERTS service can give customers who
sign up personalized, location-based offers from
retailers like Sears, Pizza Hut, and Future Shop.
Through geofences that participating retailers set
up, offers can automatically be sent to customers as
soon as they arrive within the specified area. Along
with the trio above, A&W, Second Cup and Rogers
Wireless have also signed on. Powered by technology
from location-based marketing and loyalty provider
Placecast, Rogers Alerts will deliver the company’s
ShopAlerts platforms.
TALKING SHOP
“You Tell Us…”
MONTHLY ANSWERS TO TOPICAL QUESTIONS FROM MOVERS & SHAKERS
What is your number-one tip for traveling?
Jeannine Ghaleb
COO, Cantrex Nationwide,
St-Laurent, QC
“Always make the best use of your time on the
plane. This time is interruption-free and can be
very productive. I like to listen to my music,
tune out the distractions around me, and then
go through my e-mails, catch up on reading,
paperwork or projects. It’s great! ”
Cory Crawford
P.A. Owner, P.A. Soundworks,
Prince Albert, SK
“Get a multi-voltage electrical kit with adaptors
for around the world. You’ll want to run that
curling iron or hairdryer or charge your iPhone
while traveling. And make sure you take a
portable device with your favourite music,
because you may not find that resort quite
as interesting as you expect, and of course you
may have to wait in an airport and have to
entertain yourself.”
Rick Ho
Owner, London Audio,
London, ON
“Set your culinary expectations accordingly.
Your attitude towards food can make or break
your vacation. I’m a real street meat kind of guy.
I eat every kind of local food, and love fresh fish
and beans and rice, but some people shouldn’t
go to Cuba or Peru or other countries where
these are the staples. If you are on holiday and
need to play it safe, or you want the widest
variety of food to always be available, my three
suggestions are: cruise, cruise, and cruise.”
Michael Hogan
Systems Manager, Vistek Ltd.,
Toronto, ON
“Don’t leave your packing until the night before.”
Chris Hetherington
Bob Lapointe
President, Tailbase Inc.,
Laval, QC
General Manager,
Strategic Development,
Mega Group Inc.,
Mississauga, ON
“Travel light. Take only half of what you think
Wynne Powell
President & CEO, London
Drugs, TLD Computers,
London Air, and Sonora
Resorts, Richmond, BC
“When you leave your starting point, put yourself on
the time zone you will be landing at, right away.”
you’ll need. It’s better to take less changes of
clothing than you need and have it cleaned on
site. When I travel for three days, I take only two
pair of pants and one pair of shoes, and all
my toiletries are in small formats. Travel with
carry-on luggage only, it goes without saying.
Also leave your dry cleaned clothing in its plastic
bag, which is amazing to help avoid wrinkling
clothing like a suit jacket which must be folded
to go into a suitcase.”
“Get a good knapsack. They are flexible, they
carry a ton of stuff, including your laptop and
any documentation that you need to have
easy access to, plus they are hands-free when
trudging around airports.”
Have an idea for
a future You Tell Us… question?
Contact [email protected].
January 2014
| 69
WHAT I WEAR: Hugh Lawson
As told to John Thomson
Hugh Lawson is the Director of Business Development for Staples Promotional Products division. He has 20 years of experience
helping clients drive brand engagement by designing custom merchandise, incentive campaigns and promotional programs.
“How I dress is my personal brand,” says Lawson. “I love getting dressed for work. We get one chance to make
that first impression and a well-cut suit, polished shoes, and attention to the details can go a long way in
creating a memorable starting point in business. If you pay attention to how you look, chances are you
also pay attention to other parts of your life.”
HERE’S HOW LAWSON PUTS TOGETHER HIS EFFORTLESS STYLE:
SHIRT AND BLAZER:
“I’m a big guy, and off the rack
clothes at my size are designed
to ensure you look like a tent.
Instead, I get my shirts and
jackets made in Toronto by Elliot
Falovitch, Owner of P Elliot Custom
Clothier (icustomshirts.com;
[email protected]).
I’m a big believer in getting
what you pay for.”
WATCH:
Vintage Breitling 1975 Bull’s Head
Chronograph. “There’s a pre-1979
Breitling company and post 1981
company that’s now part of a
conglomerate. The Breitling family
made watches up until 1979 when
the company crashed after the
“Quartz Crisis.” The founder Willy
Breitling sold it in 1979 before
passing away a month later. The
heads and inventory were put in
storage for over 20 years. A jeweler
in Chicago bought the watches
from the estate and released
them. Only a handful exists. I have
had this one since 2007, and had
to fly to LA to pick it up. I have
six watches: three Breitling’s, a
Panerai, a Maurice Lacroix, and a
Citizen sports watch for travel.”
POCKET SQUARE:
Harry Rosen. “It adds a nice touch
of colour.”
JEANS:
Moores. “They have a great fit
and cut.”
SHOES:
Calvin Klein. Lawson finds the line
of footwear offers a nice balance of
comfort and style.
WHAT’S WITH THE CAR?:
“It’s a hobby of mine. RC Racing:
Formula One class. This car is a
1/5th scale to the big boys. It has a
two stroke 26 cc gas engine and if
you play your cards right, it will go
over 100 Kph.” Lawson travels all
over the world racing his car. This
summer, he finished in the top 10 in
his class, of 120 racers in Italy. Take
a look at his race from a mounted
GoPro camera during practice at
http://youtu.be/O4dzfOGDT2E.
SOCKS:
Thomas Pink (www.thomaspink.
com), inspired by the 18th Century
London tailor who invented
the hunting coat. “Socks are the
easiest way to jazz up your look
at little cost; and they can say a
lot about a personality.” Available
in Canada at Holt Renfrew.
Connect with Lawson via LinkedIn:
ca.linkedin.com/pub/hugh-lawson/a/22/954
70 |
www.wifihifi.ca
EYE WEAR:
Morel, a French company that has
been making eye wear for more
than 130 years. “These are three
years old. If you buy timeless
stuff, it rarely goes out of style.”
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