pixel magazine - 23rd october 2012

www.pixellive.co.uk 1

huge amount of business was conducted or arranged in proportion with attendance.

The awards were very well attended and enjoyed by all, once again hosted by former Wasps rugby player Peter Scrivener and raising money for Sparks with a charity auction and a round of ‘heads or tails’. Results of the awards themselves cab be seen on page 7.Comments and suggestions are flooding in and full reports on both the show and the awards will be available soon.

Pixel will be putting resources into more focused and dynamic events for next year, to include the fun and networking elements that visitors have told us they enjoyed about this year’s show. As the old saying goes: watch this space.

Thank You for Joining us at r.i.s

Disappearing Dixons

www.pixel.co.ukThe magazine ThaT undersTands The world of imaging, pasT, presenT and fuTure

2012’s Retail Imaging Show brought the trade together at Mercedes Benz World.

Parent company close down Dixons’ online presence, years after store closures.

The trade assembled at Mercedes Benz World in Weybridge on Friday 12th October

for the Retail Imaging Show, followed by the annual Pixel Trade Awards.

The show was an extremely fun and beneficial day for all who attended, exhibitors and visitors alike. The seminars, which began at 8.30am, were some of the best attended and most enthusiastically received that the show has ever had. The added attraction of Mercedez Benz artefacts and the opportunity to drive one of their prestigious cars out on the track certainly proved popular, and many of our visitors had the opportunity to do this throughout the day.

Initial responses from exhibitors indicate that a

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newsSPECIaL REPoRT: Tablet adoption to Rocket in 2013New research shows that a substantial percentage of consumers who do not yet own a tablet plan to buy one next year, which could create a huge surge in hardware and app purchasing.

Part of Infotrends’ focus on connectivity trends in technology retail, these new findings hilight positive consumer attitudes to tablets and demonstrate massive potential growth in this section of the market.See page 10 for the full report.

®

The observant began to suspect that attention

was being diverted away from the dixons.co.uk website when buttons offering discounts at Currys started appearing on product pages.

Recent campaigns by parent group Dixons Retail - formerly known as DSGi - have only promoted sales through PC World and Currys, so it came as little surprise that Dixons has now closed its virtual doors.

The Dixons brand, which the company once stressed it was keen to maintain the strength of when it replaced all the Dixons high street stores with the Curry’s brand six years ago, will live on only in a small handful of airport shops and - perhaps confusingly - the name of the parent company.

“We don’t see a place for Dixons.co.uk where we have our Currys.co.uk and PC World UK,” Dixons

Chief Exec Katie Bickerstaff said in an interview with the Times.. “I’m confident it’s the right thing to do.”

No redundancies are being made, and it’s believed that existing Dixons.co.uk stock will be sold on through the remaining brands, and both Currys and PC World will probably be reducing the cost of in-store products to bring them in line with the prices offered by their

own online retail sites.Mark Webb, Dixons.co.uk’s Head of Media Relations

clarified in a statement: “Currys and PC World sites grew by 48% in the last quarter while Dixons.co.uk shrank.” It wasn’t clear how much of this change was due to the company’s moves to divert traffic through the two continuing brands. “The teams that have been involved in Dixons.co.uk are turning their focus even more to multi-channel.”www.dixonsretail.com

Foto konjinenberg’s International RebrandThere is a new name on the photo and video market in Europe: Photospecial-ist is the new European brand name for Foto Konijnenberg, an established European company, renowned for the sale of photo and video equipment in The Netherlands and Belgium in both physical stores and online.

Photospecialist plans to open online and physical shops in more countries in Europe, with the logistics, sales and marketing remaining centralised in The Netherlands.

In The Netherlands and Belgium the name Foto Konijnenberg will continue.www,photospecialist.com

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16 www.pixellive.co.uk

BEST IMAGING INNOVATIONSony SLT, Translucent Mirror Technology

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Fashion photographer Mel Karch explores the Icelandic landscape with the new LUMIX G5Changing her environment from the glamour of Paris to the grit of Iceland, Mel Karch enjoys true creative freedom with the new LUMIX G5 and a selection of her favourite lenses. Follow Mel’s journey and change your photography at www.panasonic.co.uk/lumixg5

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The InsIderSaying what you’re thinking and asking the difficult questions. each week the Insider reports from the front line of our industry.

News

FOCUs

Top brands poised to capitalise on shopping through social networks.

Is F-Commerce the Future?

Given the ever increasing focus on social commerce, more and more businesses

are considering whether or not social media is an appropriate channel for their business.

“Facebook is still at an early stage of adoption as a sales channel,” says Richard McCrossan, Strategic Business Director, Genesys.

“According to Gartner, global revenues associated with social media will grow by more than 43% this year to a huge $16.9 billion.

According to a study by Ecwid, UK consumers spent over £50bn on e-commerce purchases in 2011. Although only 4% of consumers in Great Britain have purchased goods through Facebook, the study showed that 40% would purchase products from Facebook if offered a similar experience to an online store. But companies aren’t yet sure how to best make the most of this consumer interest.

Many of the world’s biggest brands – Coca-Cola, Warner Bros and Starbucks to name a few – are already using f-commerce: using Facebook as a platform for sales transactions. These brands are offering friends, fans and followers a privileged and personal point of purchase on the world’s largest social network. But while some companies are investing in trying to acquire new customers through social media, many are missing the opportunity to use that information to retain loyal customers and give them a good experience via social media that they will recommend to their friends.

When a business uses its Facebook page to advertise a new product or service, it should

not only look to build sales, but should look at consumer reaction through comments and make appropriate responses.

The power of f-commerce lies in the ability to drive targeted deals and promotions to consumers who are most likely to purchase. Customer service agents can know straight away whether a product is relevant to a customer based on their previous history. A lot of the time, the marketing department doesn’t have access to this information, and so can’t deliver the level of relevance required.

However, for many companies, social media efforts are still evolving, and processes are often fragmented. The result is that companies are missing valuable opportunities to target the right consumer at the right time, with an offer which is particularly relevant to them.

By creating a Facebook page and ‘store’ in which a ‘like’ can provide value to consumers, businesses ensure a more engaged customer who is not only likely to purchase more, but also to recommend their experience to their friends.

So is F-commerce the future?The Ecwid study shows that f-commerce has

the potential to grow massively. If it is to have any chance of succeeding, businesses need to adopt a new strategy: one that integrates social media operations with customer service in order to use existing information which is on file for each customer. This integration can mean great promise to organisations that seize this opportunity.”www.genesyslab.com

Camera Awesome brings Awesome Pics to iPad

Camera Awesome has launched the only free iPad app to combine professional-grade capture and editing functions with simple sharing to the top social sites.

Camera Awesome for iPad supports iOS 6 and takes full advantage of the device’s high-resolution display and features by offering a clearer user interface with large previews, better framing and easier editing.

“This isn’t a bigger version of what we’ve built for the iPhone. We wanted to come up with something that makes the iPad feel like a new piece of photography equipment, rather than a giant camera,” said Don McAskill, CEO of SmugMug. “Testers have been comparing it to something from Minority Report and loving it.”

iPad users now have access to Camera Awesome’s ifeatures, including any extra filters they purchased through the iPhone app. The iPad app makes it possible to take pictures the size of a printed photo - giving users a better, bigger idea of what the image will look like as a screensaver for their computer or framed as a piece of art for their home.www.awesomize.com

HTC Profits Struggle

HTC is continuing to face harsh competition from Apple and Samsung, and has just posted third quarter results showing a 79% drop in profits.

The Taiwanese company’s net profit was $3.9billion ($133 million; £83 million) during this quarter, down from $18.68 billion for the same time the previous year.

Samsung has posted record profits for the same period, largely attributable to the success of Galaxy smartphones, and Apple is likely to see a further boost to its sales figures due to the release of the iPhone 5.

Experts speculate that it is unlikely that HTC will be able to catch up to its rivals, particularly in the short term. This could be due to HTC’s policy of reducing the number of models it has on the market at any given time, whereas its competitors are actively releasing new models

HTC’s shares fell 7% after the results, compounding a 44% fall in their stock prices since the beginning of the year.www.htc.com

Hope is not a strategy…I visited the Retail Imaging Show (brought

to you once again by your beloved Pixel Magazine) last Friday and must say that I found it to be an excellent event.

From the very start, and I arrived particuarly early in the hopes of catching a few seminars and perhaps getting my name on the list for a driving experience. I was treated to some truly insightful presentations with a number of like-minded and still optimistic trade types, which was reassuring to see. Industry analytics, retailing concepts and new technologies were comprehensively covered before I was sent along my merry way to explore the exhibition floor and see some new products.

Not once during the time I spent at the event, did I witness any apathy or resistance to suggestion or even complaining about the state of the world. Just positive dealers, enjoying a cosy, bespoke, niche show, the fun elements (20 min AMG drive on the skid pan anyone?) and the more serious, such as the private get togethers that were taking place adjacent to the

show floor. But numbers seemed a little thin on the ground so I took a closer look around… where were the hundreds of people that make this industry tick? Where were all of the dealers that I see bemoaning the state of the trade and berating Pixel, the manufacturers and suppliers?

Perhaps the people at the show were the dealers who are prepared to make the effort and go the extra mile to make sure that they get the best deals, see the new products first and engage with their industry? And perhaps those that I didn’t see are those who seem to spend their time complaining that there’s no way to get customers through the door, see a rep or make margins. Perhaps they have now turned a huge corner and are now suddenly very busy and don’t need an event such as this… And perhaps not, so I repeat – Hope is not a strategy.

I must of course say thank you to Pixel Magazine for a great day that I’m glad I didn’t miss, and thanks to all of the exhibitors and speakers for supporting us… me… the dealers. An invite to the awards dinner next time would be nice!

4 www.pixellive.co.ukwww.tetenaluk.com 0116 289 3644

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market we aim to supply the accessories as quickly and as smoothly as we can, which allows retailers to make the most of new opportunities without some of the risks and inconvenience that investing in new lines can sometimes present.

What products do you notice are more popular with imaging retailers now than five or ten years ago? What’s tailed off?

Many of our imaging retailer customers these days stock a much broader range of products than the traditional camera specialist’s stock of camera accessories like bags and tripods. Consumers use various technologies to obtain and store their images and retailers need to consider how their customers might use their

Once again at the Pixel Trade Awards, Hama scooped the award for Accessory Manufacturer/Distributor of the year. We spoke to Managing Director Nick Grey to discover how one company can remain relevant throughout the changes in the industry over this time.

other devices, like phones and tablets etc for imaging purposes.

There are also the other functions of these products which need to be accommodated like music and movies which then open the door for more accessory sales.

What technologies, accessories or products can you see becoming relevant within the next few years?Technology will continue to evolve at a rapid pace and where we see 4k x 2k as the next big opportunity in TV screens with 8k x 4k following. This will then lead to changes in resolution across other screens we use and so on. Everything will move towards wireless and domestic appliances will become more and

Congratulations, yet again! How many times is that now?

This will be our 8th year in a row, which is brilliant news for us and a great boost for all the team.

Everyone works so hard throughout the year and something like this is a great testament to their dedication. We also owe a huge thank you to all the people who voted for us and have done so over the last few years, their support has been fantastic!

And what’s the winning formula that keeps our readers voting for you every year?I believe it’s a combination of a number of factors. We have a large selection of products covering a wide range of markets allowing our dealers to make a great margin. Alongside customised POS and an accredited service from in-house we also have a great team of reps on the road who have built strong relationships with all of our customers encouraging both trust and loyalty.

The imaging industry has changed an incredible amount since you won your first award in this category. How have you changed your product offering to remain relevant?Our product offering is constantly evolving with new products being added to the already extensive Hama range every week.

As new technologies are brought to the

THE BIG INTERVIEW

The Winning Formula

“Many of our imaging retail customers these days stock a much broader range of products and accessories

than the traditional camera specialist’s stock of camera accessories like bags and

tripods.”

Nick Grey,Managing DirectorHama UK


more automated. The mobile phone will be used for many more functions including the majority of financial transactions.

Your customer service is also popular. What’s the secret to cultivating a good relationship with the different sizes of retailer in this trade?The way we operate is becoming rarer these days, our sales teams are out on the road visiting all of our retailers to make sure they have a clear insight to how they do things and to make sure we provide the best solutions for them.

We also strive to make sure any issues are dealt with internally as quickly and efficiently as possible., which is important in business and I believe our customers value that, just as I would value it from any company I dealt with.

Any other news to share with our readers?2012 has been a fantastic year for Hama as our hard work has been recognised by a number of significant awards. As well as the Pixel Trade Award, we have also won the Celestron Cosmos Award for Best Market Penetration Into New Markets 2011-2012 - as reported by Pixel - which evaluates the extensive work of all Celestron distributors around the world.

Earlier this year we were also presented with the Award for Best Growth by Zound Industries who manufacture Marshall, Urbanears and Coloud headphones. The last year has also seen us enter into new distribution partnerships with a number of high profile brands such as Golla so therefore we’ve set the bar high for ourselves and it’s onwards and upwards from here!

www.hama.co.uk

How do Hama’s outfits in Germany and the rest of Europe compare with the UK? In what ways do the UK team have to be specialised? Each country has it’s own specific requirements and every Hama subsidiary works to meet the demands of its own markets.

This means that we have the benefit of a wider range of experience and resource which puts us ahead of the competition. In Germany, for example, they are very good at adding accessories at the point of sale and our products are positioned in store to facilitate this. It’s no secret that areas of imaging retail have been having a tough time in the UK. How are the other trades that Hama distributes to faring?Hama’s products cover a variety of different markets and retailers. There are some product groups that are seeing a great level of growth like headphones and e-readers.

We are seeing our retailers adapting well and making the most of the opportunities we offer them. The market is different now, but there’s still a huge pie we are totally focussed on our share.

How do you use your international and cross channel experience to improve the service you supply to imaging retailers in the UK?At Hama UK, we are very lucky belonging to such a large group as there is a wealth of experience to draw from. We can share ideas with other subsidiaries and discuss experiences with them then apply this when dealing with our own customers and markets. Hama Germany do a great job of coordinating everyone’s efforts and the diversity of the group has formed a really valuable resource.

Distributor of the Year Digital Distribution

Innovative Product of the Year

Canon EOS 5D Mark 3

Rep of the Year Chris Castle – Tetenal

Retail Sales Person of the Year

Aimee Seymour – Jessops (Burton On Trent)

Outstanding Contribution

to the Industry Roy Sealey – Swains

International PLC

Your at-a-glance guide to the winners of this year’s prestigious Pixel Trade Awards, as chosen by you, the Pixel reader. Photographs from the night will be avalable soon!

The Winners Take it All!Accessory Manufacturer

of the YearHama

Processing Manufacturer of the Year Fujifilm

Hardware Manufacturer

of the Year Nikon

Independent Retailer of the Year SRS Microsystems

Multiple Retailer of the Year Wilkinson cameras

Mass Retailer of the Year

Jessops

Online Retailer of the Year Cameraworld

Independent Minilab

of the Year Pheonix Photographic – Kodak

Express

Multiple Minilab of the Year Kodak Express

Consumer Magazine of the Year

N Photo Magazine

Continued from page 5

© Kodak, 2012. KODAK and KODAK EXPRESS are trademarks of Kodak.

To find out how your store could benefit from the Kodak Express winning formula call Oliver on 0116 281 5742.

Kodak Triple Award Win

Thanks to a great team and great products Kodak celebrated a triple win at the Pixel Trade Awards on October 12th 2012.

Retail Systems Solutions

We’ve worked hard over the past couple of years on key strategies to drive footfall to our shops, and this is now paying off. Kodak Express is a vibrant and expanding network that can now offer a complete solution for retailers and their customers Oliver Biddles Kodak Express Business Manager

The transition from analogue to digital has been made a lot easier by being part of Kodak Express, a team with the knowledge and expertise to drive business in the right direction. I have never worked with a more passionate and dedicated team

Dave Rasch Phoenix Photographic Owner

It is critical to demonstrate to retailers that they’ll get a solid return on their investment. Whatever the size of business, Kodak’s modular range of retail solutions allows me to put together a package to help them maximise their potential. Chris Castle Kodak Equipment Sales, Tetenal Ltd

WinnerMultiple Minilab of the Year For a second year running Kodak Express won the coveted industry award ‘Multiple Minilab of the Year’

WinnerIndependent Minilab of the Year As voted by his customers, Kodak Express Phoenix Photographic won the prestigious ‘Independent Minilab of the Year’

WinnerRep of the Year For outstanding success in selling Kodak Retail Systems, Tetenal’s Chris Castle picked up ‘Rep of the Year’

KEX_Advertorial_PIXEL_A4.indd 1 23/10/2012 11:10


THE BUSINESS

NewsImaging Warehouse Winter Sale/Demo DayThe Imaging Warehouse Winter Sale and Demonstration Day will take place at their premises on Saturday 1st December 2012, 10am to 5pm. Admission and parking are free. The third year of this event offers visitors a huge selection of offers and demonstrations, by Imaging Warehouse’s brands and guest brands, plus seasonal minced pies and mulled wine on arrival.

Brands that will be present include: Permajet - Inkjet papers and inks; Epson- inkjet Printers; BIilligham - camera bags; Eizo - colour correct monitors; Nova Darkroom - darkroom hardware and consumables; Peli - hardcase protection for camera equipment and Adobe - editing and creative software solutions, among others.www. permajet.com

UK retail sales values were up 1.5% on a like-for-like basis from September 2011,

when they were up 0.3% on the preceding year. On a total basis, sales were up 3.4%, against a 2.5% rise in September 2011.

David McCorquodale, Head of Retail, KPMG, said: “After a turbulent year on the UK high street, September’s sales figures bring much needed relief for retailers. The news that like-for-like sales rebounded to achieve the highest increase seen in 2012 may give many renewed heart as they enter the most important trading period of the year.

“With the rent paid for the last quarter before Christmas and most seasonal orders now made, the bets for the final quarter have been placed. Retailers will now be hoping that the consumer finds some confidence for 2013 to drive sales for the next three months. If that doesn’t happen there’s a real risk that the retailers will be forced to discount their seasonal margins away.”

Stephen Robertson, Director General, British Retail Consortium, said: “August saw online

sales growth fall to a record low as hearts and minds were captured by sporting triumphs rather than shopping.

Tablets continued to drive the category, with back-to-school demand boosting computing. However, retailers commented that September was a bit quieter than recent months, waiting for new products’ availability. Vision suffered from the counter-effect of the pre-Olympics TV purchases. Home appliances stood out, among them laundry, cooking and small electricals, like mixers, and vacuum cleaners.

September was a good month for department stores with a relatively slow start but a strong finish. “One day promotions” and mid-season sales generated good footfall. There was growth across all categories, not least fashion and accessories, without an increase in promotions. Premium lines were boosted by affluent middle-eastern customers staying after Eid.

www.brc.org.ukwww.kpmg.com

September sales saw a boost. Could we be in for a bumper Christmas?

Retail Revival: Will it Last?

Sony’s incentive scheme gives retail staff an opportunity to win an Alfa by selling Sony Alpha cameras. Phase two commences soon!

The Search for Alpha Sales

alpha = alfa is a Sony online based sales incentive programme set up to incentivise

employees of Jessops and independent photography specialist retailers, to help retailers sell more Sony cameras and lenses.

Every time an employee participating in the programme sells one of the selected Sony products, they earn themselves points and entry into weekly prize draws. The individual outlets participating are also given a sales target at the start of the programme, and the employees of all the stores that hit their targets and who have completed tailored training modules, were entered into a prize draw to win an Alfa Mito.

To be in with a chance of winning weekly prizes and the grand prize of an Alfa Mito, staff had to complete product training modules throughout the nine week programme. Modules included ‘Why Should I Choose alpha?’, ‘NEX-5N’ and ‘Sony Easy Choice Lenses’.

Two Alfa Mitos were up for grabs, one for Jessops staff and one for the staff of independent photography outlets who were participating via the ‘Sony Photo Zone’.

Working with Retail Active, a mystery shopper was also deployed to assess the performance of staff and whether their product knowledge was helping them sell more cameras. Exceptional staff were rewarded with Sony gift vouchers.

The winners of the two Alfa Mitos were drawn from the Jessops and Photo Specialist stores that reached their target sales figures. The Jessops Photo Zone winner was Patricia

Hubbard from Jessops in Sheffield and the Sony Photo Zone winner was Darren Kearney from Park Cameras in Burgess Hill, West Sussex.

The two ‘Photo Zone’ portals also hosted weekly prize draws, which staff that had completed all the relevant training modules were entered into. These weekly winners won Sony products and high street vouchers.

alpha = alfa has been one of the most successful sales incentive programmes Sony UK has run to date. Not only was there a clear increase in the sales figures of Sony products over the programme period, but it was also the most participated in sales incentive activity the brand has hosted in the UK.

Phase two of the programme will launch on the 24th October and will run until 15th January. The format of the second phase will mirror phase one.www.sony.co.uk

Sony Announces New Marketing TeamSony has appointed a new European consumer marketing team, to be led by Gildas Pelliet, Head of Marketing Europe, who assumed the position in July 2012. Bringing together expertise from across the business to form one team, he will be supported by platform and product marketing heads:·Dimitris Kourepis, Senior Vice President Global Web Marketing and UX at Sony Corporation of America· Philippe Citroen, Head of Consumer Marketing, Sony Europe and Managing Director of France· Taro Kimura, Head of Marketing Project Planning, European Marketing, · John Anderson, Head of Home Entertainment/Sound, Product Marketing, · Masato Nakano, Head of VAIO, Tablet and Reader, Product Marketing, plus VAIO, Tablet and Reader, Business Development · Tatsuya Akashi, Head of Digital Imaging, Product Marketing,· Tomohito Fukuta, Head of Media, Energy, Peripherals, Product Marketing, · Mark Gurney, Head of Customer Insight, · Laurence Auboin, Head of Marketing communication and Consumer Marketing.Using anintegrated, insight driven campaign approach they will be supported by in-country marketing heads who will lead local execution.

In the UK, Matt Coombe continues to head up brand and consumer marketing. Sony Europe will continue to collaborate with industry leading agency partners as it seeks to deliver against its revitalisation plan.

Sony Europe’s new European marketing team is effective as of October 2012.www.sony-europe.com


Key Brands Target MobileSpending on mobile advertising increases year-on-year.

In recent years, a variety of devices have been introduced that enable users to

stay connected without being tethered to their desktop.

Some of these connected devices offer functionalities that rival those of personal computers, and offer the added benefit of being wireless and portable. Tablets in particular have been gaining traction with the share of users more than doubling between 2011 and 2012.

InfoTrends’ Smartphones, Tablets, and Connected TVs: Changing the Digital Imaging Landscape report analysed findings from a survey of more than 1,300 consumers about their use of smartphones, tablets, and connected TVs for a variety of business and recreational tasks.

In this survey, InfoTrends asked those who currently did not own a tablet whether and when they expected to purchase one.

Nearly 36% of non-owners expected to purchase their first tablet in less than a year. Those under the age of 35 were particularly likely to purchase a tablet in less than a year,

as were respondents who classified themselves as Early Technology Adopters and Hobbyist/Advanced Hobbyist photographers. “Tablet vendors should prepare for the influx of mainstream consumers,” says Alan Bullock, Associate Director of InfoTrends’ Connected Imaging Trends Service.

“Although the adoption of tablets is high among affluent Early Adopters, the Mainstream Adopters who are beginning to enter the market will have different needs and expectations than their tech-savvy counterparts.” He adds that ease-of-use and

convenience will be paramount, and competitive prices will likely play a key role in the decision-making process.www.infotrends.com

THE NEW WORLD OF IMAGING

36% of remaining non-owners plan to buy a tablet next year.

Tablet Adoption to Rocket

Despite the difficult UK economy, advertising on the internet and mobile

phones increased, like-for-like, by 12.6% to a high of £2.59 billion in the first half of 2012, according to the Internet Advertising Bureau. Display advertising across the internet and mobile grew by 10.6%, representing a 23% share of digital ad spend in the first half of 2012.

Digital video advertising increased 43% to £69.8 million from £49 million, accounting for 12% of online and mobile display in the first six months of 2012. Display, video, SMS and MMS advertising on mobiles increased like-for-like by 91% to £49.9 million.

The consumer goods (FMCG) sector joins the finance sector as the biggest spender on digital

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News

Sony has Debt Rating Downgraded Moody’s Investor Service has lowered Sony’s debt rating to the second-lowest grade, citing low profitability of products such as televisions and mobile phones. The corporation may be downgraded further if performance doesn’t improve.

Standard & Poor’s has also recently cut Sony’s credit rating. In real terms, these changes mean that Sony will have to pay more money out to investors when borrowing through bond issues.

Sony has recently funded many investments, including spending $1.8 billion on aquiring a range of assets including its huge stake in Olympus, which the company sold through the sale of existing assets.

Sony will make an announcement of its three month results up to the end of September on November 1st.www.sony.com

New Partnership for Transcend and JPTranscend and JP Distribution will be working together, as partners, to further enhance Transcend’s position as a leading manufacturer of memory cards and storage devices.

Rui Pereira, General Manager of Transcend Information said: “I believe that this partnership will strengthen both Transcend and JP Distribution but more importantly JP Distribution’s customers, who will have access to a full range of flash products offered by Transcend.”

Paul Roper, Sales and Marketing Director at at JP Distribution commented: “We are excited that we have the opportunity to work with a brand that has its sights set to the future and is focused on providing high quality products with great sales opportunities to the photographic market. www.jpdistribution.co.uk

display advertising – both accounting for almost 16% of display ad spend in the first half of 2012. FMCG’s share has almost doubled in the last three years as marketers realise digital’s power in delivering brand awareness, particularly as part of ad campaigns involving other media such as TV and print.

Anna Bartz, Senior Manager at PwC, said: “For the first time since we started measuring Digital Adspend, consumer goods (FMCG) advertisers have joined the long-time leader, Financial Services at the top of the spending charts. Interestingly, spend by FMCG advertisers increased across all digital channels, reflecting advertisers’ recognition of online and mobile as brand building platforms.”

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digital redefined


Name: Olympus Improved LS-100RRP: TBCRelease Date: TBC

The new LS-100 provides a state-of-the-art tool enabling convenience of studio-grade, multi-track audio recording just about anywhere.

Now offering a firmware upgrade the LS-100 has further enhanced its offering to include improved stability, enhanced speed of the record monitor and allows you to turn off the LCD screen and save battery when using the metronome, tuner or when connected to a PC.

This extreme audio quality has been amplified with eight-track recording and overdubbing capabilities to turn sounds and individual tracks into complete compositions – all within the palm of the hand.

Besides its integrated stereo mics, the LS-100 also features dual XLR/Phone combo jacks to facilitate the direct connection with professional external microphones or other musical equipment.www.olympus.com

Your Essential Guide to the Latest Launches

Name: Reflecta iPad ScannerRRP: TBCRelease Date: Immediate

Reflecta has provided iPad users with a new, revolutionary way of scanning important documents and images directly onto their iPad in the form of their new Reflecta iPad-Scan.

The latest innovation from Reflecta means iPad users no longer need to undertake traditional scanning methods to achieve high-quality copies onto their iPad. One of the key benefits of the Reflecta iPad-Scan is just how easy it is to use. Simply place the iPad on top of the Reflecta iPad-Scan and insert the document into the feeding slot; the Reflecta iPad Scan will do the rest. The original document will then be shown in real time on the iPad display.

Another key benefit to the Reflecta Ipad-Scan is the speed of which it is able to scan at. Scan time is as little as one minute for six pages of A4 size whilst boasting an image quality of 300 dpi. The scans are then automatically saved as JPG files onto your iPad. Users are then free to edit, forward or print the scans using compatible printing equipment. In addition, the Reflecta iPad-Scan also serves as useful docking station for the iPad, iPad2 and even for the new iPad (v3).www.reflecta.com

Name: NEC Spectraview RRP: VariableRelease Date: Immediate

The NEC SpectraView 232 and NEC SpectraView 271 are 23- and 27-inch Professional Colour Displays, ideal for all creative professionals.

The new additions maintain benchmark standards in all fields of colour editing and visualisation, delivering uncompromising contour sharpness, colour reproduction and luminance. True colours are delivered through a wide colour gamut of 75% coverage AdobeRGB with the SpectraView 232, and unparalleled coverage of the Adobe RGB colour space in the case of the SpectraView 271 thanks to 98% coverage.

Both displays boast an IPS panel, a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution (1920 x 1080 for the SpectraView 232) and internal 14-bit programmable 3D lookup tables (LUTs) for 42-bit colour control and gamma correction, irrespective of colour and input. The SpectraView 271 with its 10-bit p-IPS panel is able to display 1.07 billion colours out of a palette of 4.3 trillion when using the 10-bit DisplayPort input and provides the widest viewing angles available with minimal off-angle colour shift. The SpectraView 232 has an IPS 16:9 TFT display for consistent colour viewing. The SpectraView 232 is also NEC’s first colour critical display based on LED backlighting technology.

Utilising a full complement of connectivity options including DisplayPort and two DVI inputs (DisplayPort, HDMI and one DVI for the SV232), these displays deliver enhanced productivity and multi-platform working options through picture-in-picture support and an integrated USB hub for connecting peripherals and other video inputs.

Further features such as digital uniformity control and backlight ageing correction, for long-term brightness and colour stability, make these displays ideal for advanced graphics applications, digital photography, video editing, print production and other environments where colour accuracy is critical.

Both displays are not only picture perfect, but suitable for long and intensive working days with 150mm height adjustment and portrait rotation capability, and IPS viewing angle stability.www.nec-display-solutions.com

Name: Logitech Broadcaster WebcamRRP: TBCRelease Date: Immediate

A new wireless webcam that makes it easy for video professionals, bloggers and hobbyists alike to create more dynamic and professional-looking videos.

To instantly broadcast live HD video to a global audience on Ustream, simply connect the Broadcaster to your Wi-Fi network and you can start broadcasting with the push of a button. You can also use the Broadcaster app on your Mac, iPad or iPhone to manage the broadcast and post announcements on Facebook and Twitter.www.logitech.com


Name: Specialist Titles from Focal PressRRP: As Priced BelowRelease Date: Immediate

Lensbaby: Bending Your Perspective, 2nd Edition, By Corey Hilz, £18.99,Written by Lensbaby Guru Corey Hilz, this completely up-to-date second edition of this bestselling book begins with an overview of each lens in the Lensbaby suite. Packed with tips on composition and techniques for capturing the best images, photographers will be immersed in the wonderful world of Lensbaby in no time.Digital Wildlife Photography By John and Barbara Gerlach, £18.99, From the bestselling husband and wife team of John and Barbara Gerlach, Digital Wildlife Photography includes all of the details photographers need to capture wildlife photos easily and consistently – choose the right lens and best lighting while following simple composition guidelines that are perfect for wildlife.Focus on Travel Photography: Focus on the Fundamentals, By Haje Jan Kamps, £12.99,A realistic and easy-to-follow approach to travel photography puts the fun back into photography from author Haje Jan Kamps! Focus on Travel Photography covers the basics of photography in brief before throwing itself into the real essence of travel photography: landscapes, people, and capturing the spirit of the destination.

Focus on Close-Up and Macro Photography: Focus on the Fundamentals, By Clive Branson, £12.99, Macro and close-up photography involves a unique skill set in terms of exposure, lighting, and of course, composition in particular. With this new book from author Clive Branson, photographers will go beyond a snapshot to create a fine art print that they’ll be proud of.See It: Photographic Composition Using Visual Intensity, By Ellen and Josh Anon, £18.99,With See It: Photographic Composition Using Visual Intensity, photographers’ imagery quality and workflow speed will vastly improve by using techniques to articulate why they prefer one image to another. Mother and son team, Ellen and Josh Anon, share their know-how so that a photographer’s overall photographic experience, both in terms of time investment and quality of output, will become far more satisfying.www.focalpress.com

THE LAUNCHPADLAUNCH PAD

Name: WLX-2004 Universal Wi-Fi adapter for Smart TVRRP: £39.99Release Date: Immediate

The new WLX-2004 Universal Wi-Fi Adapter for Smart TV allows users to bring their Wi-Fi network to their HDTV. As the availability of streaming services and TV apps is growing, the WLX-2004 helps users to get their TVs connected to their home network without having to rearrange their home theater systems or re-wire their homes. The WLX-2004 connects to the Ethernet port of the Smart TV and allows the users to access their Wireless-N home network. The adapter is fully Plug and Play and requires no software installation or configuration. It is powered by a USB cable and can be easily mounted to the back of the Smart TV with the included Velcro sticker. Transfer rates up to 150 Mbps supply sufficient bandwidth for a satisfying wireless experience.

Unlike wireless adapters from TV manufacturers, the Sitecom WLX-2004 Universal Wi-Fi Adapter for Smart TV works with all brands of Smart TVs. Moreover, the adapter is capable of working with any other device with a Ethernet and USB port available, such as gaming consoles, Blu-ray player, media player and home entertainment systems and allows for versatile usage.

The WLX-2004 Universal Wi-Fi Adapter for Smart TV supports the latest WPA2 security protocol to integrate the connected device into a secure home network. The OPS (One Push Set-up) button allows the user to create a secure wireless connection with the router at the push of a button.

Sitecom’s new WLX-2004 Universal Wi-Fi Adapter for Smart TV is now available and comes with the extensive 10-year Sitecom warranty.www.sitecom.com

Name: Manfrotto KLYPRRP: £24.95Release Date: Immediate

Manfrotto has launched KLYP: a revolutionary and stylish solution designed to transform the iPhone 4 and 4s into a complete and professional camera.

The new product consists of a special iPhone case equipped with two adaptor clips ready to host two of the most iconic products in the Manfrotto range for social recorders: POCKET tripods and LED lights.

KLYP can help people improve the quality of the photos by optimizing light and sharpness of images. KLYP will be available in-store from the 1st October in leading retailers including John Lewis, selected

Selfridges, Calumet, Dixons Travel, Warehouse Express, Amazon and leading independent retailers and will come in five distinctive kits, each offering different lights and/or tripods for different applications.

The two removable “clips” can be attached to any of four different points around the case to allow both landscape and portrait images. This allows the Manfrotto LED light to be added in the optimum position to fill in shadows when shooting stills or video in low light conditions.

The KLYP case has been developed by Manfrotto with a unique rail system, which enables the case to remain sleek and have no protrusions to detract from its appearance whilst still allowing full access to all iPhone functions.www.manfrotto.co.uk/klyp


INSIDE TRACK

PMA’s Big Photo Show1000Memories Aquires Ancestry.com

San Francisco-based online photo service 1000memories is now part of

Ancestry.com.“Our companies are tackling the same

problem—helping our users to preserve and share their family history—in different ways,” the company says. “Ancestry is helping people preserve family records lost in the world. ”

TechCrunch reports the 260,000 users will see no change in service: the current website will continue as is.

Meanwhile, White-label photo product provider EZ Prints is the latest acquisition at CafePress, which says the privately held company will “significantly strengthen CafePress’ ability to offer its unique products and services.”

CafePress offers the largest selection of personalised products on the web, the company says, including a marketplace for user-generated merchandise.

“Along with technology, we believe this transaction will enhance revenue and add scale to our business, and the combined organisation will amass significant brand power,” CafePress says. www.cafepress.com

Snapbox for EasySmartphone Prints

Jondo-USA says it is making it easy and affordable for consumers to create

and order framed prints from smartphone photos.

The SnapBox products will be available in December for pick-up at 12,000 retail locations, including CVS, Rite Aid and Bartell Drugs.

The SnapBox framed prints start at less than $10 for a 5×7 print on stretched gallery-wrapped canvas, and range to $25 for 10×13.

The company sites its twenty-five year background in fine art reproductions for galleries and publishers, saying it “is now available to smartphone users who want the same high quality for their own photo artwork in their homes and offices.

The SnapBox print is a true photo giclée museum-quality wrapped print.” The finished product has a perfect gloss finish that protects against moisture, UV rays, and fading.www.pmanewsline.com

New event promises new opportunities for the photo sector

“The Big Photo Show is all about passionately promoting the growth of photography, videography and photo printing,” said Allen Showalter, president of PMA. “I could not be more excited about this event, and the opportunities it will bring to exhibitors, attendees and our membership.”

Companies interested in exhibiting or in sponsorship opportunities at The Big Photo Show can contact Jeff Frazine at [email protected] for more information.www.pmai.org

PMA announces The Big Photo Show, a not-to-be-missed event that will bring

suppliers, retailers, labs and service providers together with consumers who are passionate about photography and videography.

The inaugural event will be held from 10:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. on May 4-5, 2013, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, California.

Exhibitors will have the opportunity to present and demonstrate their products and services to the most valuable customers in the imaging industry – those whose purchases are driven by an unbridled enthusiasm for photography and videography.

Attendees will get the chance to try new products, discover tips and tricks from professional photographers, improve their skills, experience the latest photo and video innovations, learn about new imaging services, find communities of like-minded enthusiasts, and even bring their own images to be framed or restored onsite.

Editor: Laura Knight01323 [email protected]

Production Design: Laura Knight [email protected]

SubscriptionsAlex Weeks01323 [email protected]

Editorial AssistantHarriet Weston01323 [email protected]

Managing Director/Publisher: Lee Mansfield01323 [email protected]

Commercial Director: Simon Skinner01323 [email protected]

CREDITS & CoNTACTS SalesLeanne McConnell01323 [email protected]

Accounts:Clare FermorAmelia Wellings01323 [email protected]@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Published by LMG SE LTD (Life Media Group)Park View House19 The Avenue, Eastbourne, East SussexBN21 3YD01323 411 601

Printed byGemini PressShoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex 01273 464884

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

Copyright Life Media Group LTD 2012 ©

Mike Kahn, Director of Alpha Camera Systems for Sony Electronics, has been

appointed the first ever Special Advisor to the PMA Executive Committee. In this role, Kahn will take part in bi-monthly calls and face-to-face meetings with the PMA Executive Committee, to represent photo and imaging manufacturers.

“Appointing Mike to this role is another way PMA is fulfilling its new mission statement, which is to ‘promote the growth of the imaging industry,” said PMA President Allen Showalter. “PMA is actively seeking new avenues to provide the support and opportunities needed to help the imaging industry thrive and grow now, and in the future. The voices of photo and imaging manufacturers are critically important to achieving this goal — and PMA is listening to them. We are excited to be working with Mike to make a direct connection between the PMA board and photo manufacturers.”

Kahn is Vice President of the Photoimaging Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMDA), and is on the Board of Directors for CEA’s Digital Imaging Group. He is a 22-year veteran of the consumer electronics industry, and has been with Sony for 16 years. In his current role as Director of the Alpha Camera Systems division at Sony, Kahn is responsible for all aspects of the business unit, including sales, marketing, and product development for the US. marketplace.

“I am thrilled to join the PMA Board and supply a needed point of view from the photo and imaging manufactures. I am looking forward to helping the PMA board expand imaging sales across all channels,” Kahn said.

Sony Exec Joins PMA BoardMike Kahn appointed Special Advisor to the PMA.

For further details contact us:Tel: 01280 827492email: [email protected]/digitalcameras

The GE X600 is packed with powerful features to ensure great results

• GE 26x Wide Aspherical ED Lens (Optical Zoom 26-676mm)

• 14.4 Advanced CMOS sensor for High Speed Shooting - Capture all the action

• Multi Exposure - For sequential shots

• 1080p Full HD Movie - For amazing detail

• High Dynamic Range Plus - Combines 3 exposures for the perfect shot

• Object Tracking - Maintain accurate focus whilst following a subject

• Li-ion Battery - Power and convenience

• Electronic Viewfinder - Assists in the framing and composition of your photo

Our Best Yet!

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GE x600 Trade Ad Pixel.pdf 1 03/10/2012 13:16

pixel magazine - 23rd october 2012

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