View - Wifi Hifi

Transcription

View - Wifi Hifi

Hi-res audio
on the go!
www.wifihifi.ca | May 2016
PM42710013
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CONTENTS |
04
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
06
SHORT BITS
May 2016
The newest products from the business of digital.
14
06
PORTABLE AUDIO | High-Res à Go-Go
A hands-on look at seven personal audio products that go way beyond standard smartphone
sound; including two new models that support the MQA format.
By Gordon Brockhouse
22
MOBILE WORLD | Home Security: Smart Cameras vs. Traditional Monitoring
More and more people are using tech to protect their homes and belongings, and opting for
DIY smart cameras to do so. What are the advantages and disadvantages of self-monitoring?
And what does this mean for the traditional alarm business?
By Christine Persaud
32
14
WEB ADVERTISING | The Crisis in Web Advertising: What’s Causing It & How to Resolve It
A growing number of consumers are adopting ad blocking software to rid their screens of
annoying ads and help pages load faster. This is causing a crisis of sorts in the business, and calls
for a strategic approach that appeals equally to both consumers and advertisers.
By Frank Lenk
40
TALKING SHOP
The resurrection of the Montreal Audio Show; Cantrex Nationwide’s fourth annual PrimeTime!
Member Conference; industry stats from the IFA Global Conference; the loss of an industry legend;
and distribution appointments fill the column this month.
22
46
VIDEO | OLED vs. UHD LED
The video business is full of acronyms, most notable being UHD and OLED TV.
How are the two display technologies different? How do they compare? And what
are the advantages with OLED?
By David Susilo
48
DESIGNER WEARABLES
Designer brands mean business when it comes to tech, as was evidenced at the Baselworld
jewelry trade show in Sweden. And they’re making a major play with smartwatches that range
from the affordable to the astronomical.
32
50
WHO WENT WHERE?
New hires, promotions, and more in the Canadian consumer technology industry this month.
ON THE COVER: The opportunities for enjoying hi-res audio on the go have never been greater.
Pictured on the cover is the just-released Pioneer XDP-100R, one of the first players to support MQA files,
paired with Pioneer’s brand new SE-MHR5 headphones. Cover Photo: John Thomson
48
May 2016
3
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
WHAT’S BETTER –
A HUNDRED FRIENDS
OR THREE GOOD ONES?
MOST PEOPLE ASPIRE TO EMULATE A BUSINESS LEADER from
a similar industry, hoping that parts of that person’s playbook can be
duplicated within their own organization. Icons, such as Bill Gates,
Richard Branson, and Warren Buffett, are regularly cited as ideal role
models. Tear a page from those guys and you’re surely heading in
the right direction.
The person that I keep tabs on is Winnipeg-born, London-based Tyler Brule. He started a magazine
called Wallpaper and sold it to Time-Warner after publishing a single issue for over a million dollars.
During his non-compete period, Brule started a design firm called Wink Media that has been
responsible for rebranding Swiss Airlines. He created, from concept to finish, Toronto’s Porter
Airlines. And more recently, he handled branding for the Union Pearson Express rail service, which
shuttles passengers from Toronto to the airport. He also owns a magazine called Monocle that has
offices in eight countries, and has morphed from its publishing roots to include highly-curated
travel boutiques, newsstands, and cafés.
What makes Brule such an interesting character for me is that he doesn’t chase trends, he creates
them. He also never discounts, nor does he place much value on an online audience compared
to the one he attracts in print. He stays firm to the concept that things of value come with a
premium. Monocle sells about 80,000 newsstand copies around the world each month at $12 a
mag. Compare that to what you paid for the magazine in your hand and you can see why he’s my
role model. Monocle also has no daily Website presence. Brule finds it unthinkable, not to mention
disrespectful to his paying customers, to offer content readily accessible online for free. Instead,
Monocle provides an online radio station by way of podcasts. In any interview that I have read with
Brule, he maintains a common mandate: quality content that reaches a specific audience. Brule
only wants to reach an audience who would fly on Turkish Airlines, or purchase Rimowa luggage
or a Rolex watch. And he knows that these advertisers stick with him because they become a
cluster, and value their brand being associated with important content. For Brule, chasing a huge
audience just to say he reaches a huge audience is akin to throwing something at a barn and
hoping it will stick.
I was thinking a lot about Brule and his company while reading Frank Lenk’s story on the state
of digital advertising. First, what’s a magazine that is dependent on ad revenue doing including
a feature story on online advertising being in a state of chaos? That’s a good question. A smart
publisher would not let a writer near such a topic. But it’s a topic that needs to be discussed. As
Brule has known for years, we have become a society that values quantity over quality, mass over
target, and sound bytes over detail. And nowhere is that more prevalent than in the world of
digital marketing. The story (page 32) will be required reading for any person in your organization
who controls ad spend. Brule conceptualizes what should really be a line we all question, while our
story adds the hard numbers that should have everyone re-thinking brand strategy.
Perhaps another way of putting this is to think of a dinner party versus a house party. The dinner
party will invariably have better wine, better food, and far more memorable conversation. The house
party, while fun, will have superficial greetings and more cleaning: quality over quantity. Brule is a
solid role model for this magazine. Now, if I could just figure out how to get you to pay $12!
Enjoy the issue,
John Thomson
jthomson@wifihifi.ca
4
www.wifihifi.ca
PUBLISHER / EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
John Thomson
Cell: 416-726-3667
@wifihifimag
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Christine Persaud
cpersaud@wifihifi.ca
@ChristineTechCA
EDITOR-AT-LARGE
Gordon Brockhouse
gbrockhouse@wifihifi.ca
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
David Topping
CONTRIBUTORS
Vawn Himmelsbach, Ted Kritsonis, Frank Lenk,
Steve Makris, David Susilo
DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL CONTENT
James Campbell
jcampbell@wifihifi.ca
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTS
Cathy Thomson
cthomson@wifihifi.ca
Melsa Media Inc.
194 Robinson Street
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 1G3
Advertising Inquiries:
John Thomson
LET’S STAY IN TOUCH!
Website: www.wifihifi.ca / www.wifihifi.com
Twitter: twitter.com/wifihifimag
Facebook: facebook.com/wifihifimag
Instagram: instagram.com/wifihifi
Copyright 2016. 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
SHORT BITS
The newest products from the business of digital.
Total Control: The compact TKP-5500 in-wall touchscreen
from Universal Remote Control (Staub Electronics) works with all
URC TC Advanced Network Controllers (MRX-8/10/20). The high
resolution, 5-inch colour touchscreen can be mounted in portrait or
landscape orientation, in a standard single-gang wall box. It provides
full utilization of all Total Control features, including IP cameras,
third-party devices (two-way), Z-Wave control, SNP-2, timers, events,
rooms menu (including the ability to switch which room it controls),
and room linking for URC DMS products. Using the multi-view
function, up to four connected cameras can be seen on one screen.
MSRP US$600 Universalremote.com
Pack Your Drone: Lowepro’s (Daymen Photo Marketing) DroneGuard Backpack 450 AW
can hold a quadcopter, like the DJI Phantom and all of the necessary accessories for a day
of flying. It has a FormShell exterior and modular interiors, with adjustable lined and padded
dividers. The CradleFit pocket is designed to suspend and safeguard
a 10” tablet, and a molded, FormShell top pocket accommodates
sunglasses, headphones and other essentials. The bag’s straps
feature SlipLock attachment loops to expand capacity by
adding pouches and cases for water bottles, memory cards
and more. A Lowepro ActivZone harness provides breathable
and supportive suspension targeted at shoulder blades,
lumbar spine and waist, making it comfortable to wear
for long treks. A built-in All-Weather
AW Cover protects the pack from
the elements. MSRP $300 Lowepro.ca
New Onkyo Receivers: Onkyo’s TX-NR757
7.2-channel network AV receiver boasts
THX Select2 Plus theatre reference sound,
180W of high-current power, and patented
VLSC high-frequency pulse-noise removal
technology. Processing for lossless and Hi-Res
Audio is handled by an AKM 384 kHz/32-bit
D/A converter. There’s multi-zone support,
including multiple speaker connections
for Zone 2 (2A/2B). HDCP 2.2-compliant
HDMI inputs support 60Hz UltraHD and
Full HD video with 4:4:4 colour space and
High Dynamic Range (HDR). Designed with
custom integration in mind, there’s RS232,
12v trigger, IR input and more on board. It is
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X ready, has Onyko’s
AccuReflex calibration, and supports 4K UHD
video and 4K upscaling, AirPlay, Wi-Fi with
Google Cast, Tidal music streaming, and
FireConnect multi-room audio technology
via firmware update. MSRP $1,050 Onkyo.ca
Control With Authority:
Audio Authority’s new mobile app
allows users to control the SonaFlex
SF-16M Matrix Amplifier. The app affords
quick source selection and volume
control over a Wi-Fi network. Users
can also adjust bass and treble, turn
on loudness, and mute each zone. It is
currently available in beta for Android
phones and tablets; an iOS version is
coming soon. Audioauthority.com
Recycle and Recharge: Following the launch
of its EcoAdvanced AA battery last year, Energizer
has developed AA and AAA rechargeable batteries
that are also made from 4% recycled battery
materials. Called Recharge, the batteries are
created from used batteries in high-efficiency
vehicles, through a proprietary process that refines
the material. They can be recharged hundreds
of times. Energizer.ca
Share the Music: What do you do with two people and only one music source?
The Logiix (Atlantia) Blue Piston tuneFREQS Share headphones come with a
built-in aux splitter for sharing. The earbuds boast noise isolation technology,
and include an inline microphone and controls (compatible with Apple and most
Android devices), a gold-plated auxiliary jack, and three sizes of comfort tips.
Using the splitter built-into the cord, you can listen to tunes on your own, or plug
in a second pair of headphones so your friend can listen, too. In fact, you should
be able to connect up to five of them to a single device. Black, white, pink,
turquoise, or purple, $30 ea. Logiix.net
6
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SHORT BITS
Music to Your Mouth: Etobicoke, ON-based Dubgear has
cleverly put two key summer staples together, music and drinks,
in its new Dubstein. The Bluetooth stereo speaker doubles as
a BPA-free beverage holder that can hold any 375mL beverage
(a standard beer bottle or can). Or, use the hot/cold insert and
pour in your favourite drink. Playback controls are conveniently
located at the top of the handle, in perfect reach of your thumb.
It’s splash-proof (IPX4-rated), offers 360-degree stereo sound
and dual bass boost, and can run for up to 15 hours per charge.
Plus, it has a mic for taking calls so you can invite friends over to
come have a beer with you. Bottoms up! $130 Dubgear.com
Spin Your Tunes for Under $300:
Niagara Falls, ON-based Fluance’s RT81
turntable features an AT95E Audio Technica
needle, stylus, and a balanced aluminum
S-Type tonearm that ensures the needle
is rested deep in the record’s groove. It is
constructed using Fluance’s proprietary
audiophile-grade MDF wood cabinet,
which incorporates isolation feet and
a die-cast aluminum platter. This, says the
company, results in a significant reduction
in reverberation. It’s built with a solid cabinet
to further eliminate vibrations. Additional
premium components include a high-quality
Texas Instruments preamp and gold-plated
RCA line outputs. May; $265 Fluance.com
Music in a Box: The new Klipsch Music Crate
(Gentec International) includes a Pro-Ject turntable using
an Ortofon cartridge and a pair of Reference R-15PM powered
monitor speakers, as well as all the necessary cables to connect
the turntable and speakers. In addition to the turntable, the
speakers can connect to a TV, computer or wireless device
through phono pre-amp, Bluetooth wireless technology,
digital optical, analog RCA and USB audio inputs. The speakers
incorporate custom-designed, individual, ultra-low noise
amplifiers that eliminate the need for an AV receiver; and
a pre-amp sub output. Control playback using the IR remote.
MSRP $1,100 Bestsound.ca
A Super-Smart Bike: Having
far exceeded its $50,000 goal on
Kickstarter with close to $1 million
in pledges at the time of this writing,
the SpeedX Leopard bike includes
the company’s own SpeedForce
cycling computer for recording and
displaying real-time data. It has a
built-in 2.4” screen that displays
cadence, HBR, speed, distance,
weather, slope, and more; along with
lighting that automatically turns
on when it’s dark, and auto-adjusts
the level; and a dock for an action
camera. Even with all of this hightech integrated gear, there are no
visible wires showing. It’s lightweight,
too, at just 7.9kgs, and built using
military-grade carbon fibre material.
Starts at US$1,200. Speedx.com
Easy Hotel Streaming, Private Listening: The Hotel and Dorm Connect feature of
Roku’s newest Streaming Stick makes it easy to connect to wireless networks outside of the
home that require sign-in through a Web browser. Connect it to the password-protected network,
sign in with login credentials using the browser on your mobile device, and start streaming.
Plus, there’s private listening capability through the Roku Mobile App on an iOS or Android
mobile device and with a pair of headphones.
Cast video from Netflix and YouTube mobile apps,
or control playback of personal videos, photos, and
music on the TV through the Play On Roku feature
of the app. Use the app as a remote, enabling voice
search and an on-screen keyboard; or use the included
remote. The latest OS 7.1 adds new search and discovery
categories within Roku Feed. MSRP $60 Roku.com
Cycle on the Edge: The Nyne Edge
portable Bluetooth speaker (Xcel Source)
is designed specifically for cyclists.
It comes in a double injection rubber
housing that is IPX5-rated for water
protection. Clamp it onto your bicycle
handlebar, and connect your device
via Bluetooth or NFC. It offers up to 15
hours of battery life: more than enough
to last for your entire ride. Nyne.com
May 2016
7
SHORT BITS
Keeping a Vigilant Eye Out: Need to keep a watchful
eye on the store when you’re not there? D-Link’s pro-grade
DCS-4802E Vigilance Full HD Outdoor Mini Dome IP
surveillance Network Camera captures footage in HD
resolution. Integrated infrared LED illumination allows for
viewing up to 60 feet in complete darkness, and it has an
IP66 weatherproof housing. Three-axis control allows precise
positioning, with 75-degree tilt, and 360-degree pan and
rotation. Power Over Ethernet (802.3af PoE) capability makes
for easy single-cable installation. US$185 Dlink.ca
Single-Serving, Stay Fresh Wine:
The Shrinking Pro iPad: Apple’s second-generation
iPad Pro has gone small with a 9.7” screen, weighing
under a pound, and at 6.1mm thin. It has a new pro Retina
display, 64-bit A9X chip, four-speaker audio system,
12MP iSight camera for shooting Live Photos and 4K video,
5MP FaceTime HD camera, and faster wireless. Like its
larger sister, the tablet supports Apple Pencil and a new
Smart Keyboard cover. The tablet connects wirelessly
via 802.11ac Wi-Fi with MIMO technology, and LTE.
An Apple SIM is embedded directly into the device.
Silver, space gray, gold, and rose gold metallic;
starts at US$600 for the 32GB with Wi-Fi model and
US$730 for the 32GB Wi-Fi + Cellular model. Apple.ca
An Elite AVR: Pioneer’s VSX-LX301 7.2-channel
Elite AV receiver has Dolby Atmos processing,
is DTS:X-ready, and supports 4K video pass-through
and upscaling, along with HDR and BT.2020 colour.
MCACC automatic room calibration adds Reflex
Optimizer, which Pioneer says aligns the phase
of upward-firing narrow-directivity Atmos-enabled
speakers with broad-directivity direct-firing
speakers, for a more comfortable listening
experience. Connect via Bluetooth, dual-band
Wi-Fi, and Ethernet, with support for Google Cast
and Apple AirPlay. Stream DSD 64 and 128 files
and PCM files to 192kHz/24 bits over a home
network. Support for TIDAL lossless music
streaming and Blackfire Connect wireless
multi-room sound technology will be enabled
by firmware updates. The latter enables wireless
streaming to Blackfire-compatible speakers and
components. There’s also a phono input and
zone 2 pre-out. US$700 Pioneerelectronics.com
8
www.wifihifi.ca
Chances are, an open bottle of wine doesn’t
last long at dinner. But sometimes you just feel
like having a single glass after a rough day.
Or maybe you want red while your spouse is
craving a nice Pinot Grigio. Despite reservations
from wine purists, the Kuvee has received
US$6 million in VC support. Slide canisters into
the bottom of the decanter-like dispenser,
click them into place, then pour your favourite
vino. The bladder and valve keep oxygen out
so the wine remains “fresh” for up to a month
after the first pour. If you want to switch it up,
pull out the canister and pop in another. There
are 48 wines in the selection, which you can
re-order directly from the Wi-Fi-connected
Kuvee bottle’s touch screen. US$200 for the
Kuvee and a four-wine starter pack; canisters
range from US$15-$50 ea. Kuvee.com
A Tablet for Sharing: Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A 7 is designed
for family use. Create up to eight unique user profiles so that each
member can access his own music, games, apps, and photos. Work
on two apps at once, checking e-mails while you watch a movie,
for example, or chatting with friends in one window while working
in another. Enable Kids Mode with up to six kids’ profiles, which
blocks unsuitable apps, sets time limits, and provides access to fun
and educational content. It’s ultra-thin and light with a 7” screen,
non-slip back, 5MP camera, and 4,000mAh battery for up to 11 hours
of continuous use per charge. Running on Android 5.1 “Lollipop,”
there’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and a 13GHz quad-core processor.
Black or white; MSRP $200 Samsung.ca
Illuminate Me: Don’t you hate when you’re close to getting that
absolutely perfect selfie but the lighting is off? LuMee iPhone cases
(Atlantia) come with two columns of LED lights on the front to help
ensure optimal lighting for a social media-worthy self-portrait. Even
Kim Kardashian is a fan, so you know they work! But if you happen
to loathe the selfie culture, keep in mind that the lights also come
in handy as a built-in flashlight, to assist in fixing your makeup, or
ensuring there’s no spinach in your teeth. $75 for the iPhone 6/6S
version (black, rose gold, hot pink, white); or $80 for the 6/6S Plus
(black, rose gold, white). Lumee.com
Wells Fargo
Commercial Distribution Finance
Let us show you
how inventory
financing can
help keep your
growing business
in the game
You knew us as GE Capital, Commercial Distribution Finance (CDF). To our customers who made this journey with us,
we would like to thank you for your unwavering commitment and support. And, for those of you who might be considering
inventory financing with us for the very first time, we think you’ll find the new Wells Fargo Commercial Distribution Finance
is positioned to help you achieve your goals even better than before.
As one of the world’s most valuable and recognized financial services companies, Wells Fargo has been helping businesses —
big and small — gain greater strength and stability for more than 160 years. Couple that history with CDF’s more than 35
years of electronics and appliances expertise, and you’ll soon discover a winning combination of solutions and services
designed to help keep your customers coming back — this season and the next.
Welcome to the new Wells Fargo Commercial Distribution Finance.
Give our consumer electronics team a call today at 1-888-609-5550 (Option 3)
wellsfargo.com/cdf
© 2016 Wells Fargo Commercial Distribution Finance. All rights reserved. Products and services require credit approval. Wells Fargo Commercial Distribution Finance is the trade name for
certain inventory financing (floor planning) services of Wells Fargo & Company and its subsidiaries, including Wells Fargo Capital Finance Corporation Canada. Wells Fargo Capital Finance
Corporation Canada (also doing business in Quebec as Société de financement Wells Fargo Capital Canada) is an affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company, a company that is not regulated in
Canada as a financial institution, a bank holding company or an insurance holding company.
16CDN088
SHORT BITS
Boost Your Music: The Arcam MusicBOOST headphone
amp, DAC and battery pack combo (Erikson Consumer)
was designed exclusively for iPhone 6. It includes a built-in
high-quality Texas Instruments DAC and headphone amplifier
from TI/Burr Brown, and can extract a digital audio signal from
the iPhone’s Lightning port. The player enhances sound quality
for both music stored on your phone or while listening to
streaming services such as Spotify or Tidal. The player supports
FLAC and WAV files from third-party software, such as VOX.
It fits over the phone as a sleeve. $249 Arcam.co.uk
We’re Watching You: Swann’s Navigator HD dash cam comes
with G-sensor accident detection that senses sudden acceleration and
collisions, and helps safeguard drivers from fraudulent insurance claims
by triggering a recording of the events. The wide-angle 140° lens records
1,080p video, photos and audio in real-time, and can capture license
plates. The camera auto-records when the engine is turned on and
when motion is detected. The GPS locator tracks exact movements and
places, with detailed time and location data stamped on the footage.
Using the Navigator GPS software on a computer or tablet, users can also
easily check driving routes and speed information on the map. It suction
mounts to the vehicle’s windshield, and connects via USB to transfer
footage to a computer, and recharge. US$150 Swann.com
Drive a Wedge of Sound: The James
Loudspeaker W-Series indoor/outdoor
loudspeakers are designed for specialized
boundary applications, such as a 90-degree
corner where walls and ceiling converge,
making them ideal for immersive audio
technologies like Atmos and DTS:X. There
are two models: the 52QW (single 5.25”
woofer/quad tweeter) and the 53QW
(dual 5.25” woofers/quad tweeter). Each
features proprietary high-excursion woofers
matched to James’ signature ultra-highperformance quad-array aluminum dome
tweeter. A corner bracket suspends the
speaker securely via setscrews. Satin black,
gloss white, or custom colours. 52QW
MSRP is US$1,000 ea.; 53QW $1,300 ea.
Jamesloudspeaker.com
Bon Voyage: At just 7.6mm thin and weighing less than
Sound in the Wall: The Atlantic
Technology IW-105LCR speaker is
designed to be installed in the wall
adjacent to flat screen TVs or video
projection screens, and the grille painted
to match the wall colour for an unobtrusive
presentation. It uses 6.5” mineral-damped
polymer woofers, a 1” dome tweeter, and
3,500Hz crossover network. A three-step
tweeter level switch allows users to tailor
the high frequency sound for optimal
room acoustics, and computer-designed
wave-guides optimize treble distribution.
The step-up IW-110LCR uses an MTM
(midrange-tweeter-midrange) driver
configuration with two woofers bracketing
the tweeter. Both feature magnetic
mounting grilles, and include built-in
mounting clamps. MSRPs US$350 and
US$500. Atlantictechnology.com
10
www.wifihifi.ca
180 grams, the Amazon Kindle Voyage e-reader features a
300 pixel-per-inch, high contrast and high brightness display,
with an adaptive front light that automatically adjusts brightness
based on surrounding light. With PagePress, turn a page by lightly
pressing your thumb on the bezel. Like other Kindle e-readers,
battery life is measured in weeks; and the ereader can hold
thousands of books. Also included are features like Whispersync,
which saves and synchronizes your last page read, bookmarks,
and annotations across all of your devices and Kindle apps,
so you can pick up where you left off; and Word Wise, which
provides short and simple definitions for difficult words.
Starts at $300 Kindle.amazon.com
Grip Your Phone and Ride: Joby’s GripTight Bike
Mount Pro (Daymen Canada) secures any smartphone to a
bicycle’s handlebars with a lockable hold on the device, with
or without a case. Enjoy riding apps like Strava or Garmin,
or use the device for GPS navigation or fitness data. Get it
packaged with visibility lights that can be placed anywhere,
like around the handlebars, on the seat post, or mounted
to the Bike Mount itself. $75, or $125 with the Light
Pack. Additional Light Packs are $50 ea. Joby.com
Because
Not All UHD TVs
are the same.
1 Billion Colours, 1 Brilliant Display
The LG SUPER UHD TV provides a superior 4K viewing experience by incorporating several advanced
technologies: Colour Prime Plus, TruMotion 240Hz, Ultra Luminance Plus, new IPS panels, and over a Billion
Rich Colours. The result? Truly premium Ultra HD.
LGSUPERUHD.ca
SHORT BITS
Track Your Stride: The Boogio shoe inserts have
embedded sensors that can track force, balance, gait,
and 3D movement of your feet and body. They then
provide real-time feedback for your centre of balance,
foot strike zone, ground contact speed, and gait
symmetry. The idea is to help determine not just how
you move, but also how you perform. It uses Bluetooth
Smart technology, and nine-axis motion tracking.
There’s enough battery life to last a full day, and they
recharge via microUSB. Each insert weighs under 4 oz.
It’s an open platform, with configuration software for
Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux. US$300 for a developer
kit, or $950 for a four-pack, with shipping estimated at
about 8-12 weeks from order date. Boogio.com
Clean Your Vinyl: With the Pro-Ject Audio Systems
(Gentec International) VC-S Vinyl Cleaning system, you can
clean your vinyl in as few as two rotations. Each pass takes
less than two seconds, with no residual humidity. The antistatic cleaning formula repels dust from the surface, while a
new clamp design seals the centre of the record, protecting
it from cleaning fluid and avoiding damage to the label.
Used fluid is stored in the 2.5L reserve tank for easy disposal.
It comes with a vacuum arm, adhesive strip replacements,
clamp, goat hairbrush and a sample of Wash It vinyl cleaning
solution. An optional dust cover and replacement parts are
available. $700 Project-audio.ca
Classy Classé: The Sigma 2200i integrated
amplifier from Classé combines the amplifier
circuitry of the company’s Sigma AMP2 power
amplifier with a digital preamp section. The
preamp section is directly connected to the
Class D power amplifier section (rated at
200wpc into 8Ω and 400wpc into 4Ω) and
the signal stays in the digital domain all the
way to the amplifier output filter; there are no
unnecessary D-to-A and A-to-D conversion
steps. It has USB Type A and B, Ethernet, coaxial
and optical inputs, plus XLR and unbalanced
analog inputs. Four HDMI inputs accommodate
video sources like Blu-ray players and set-top
boxes. Using touchscreen control, you can
adjust tone, nine-band parametric EQ for each
channel, and bass management. There are
Android and iOS apps for IP control. Convert
to rack-mount configuration by removing
and inverting the side panels. May; US$5,500
Classeaudio.com
12
www.wifihifi.ca
Get Hyper in VR: Add 3D surround sound
to the virtual reality experience with Hyper’s
(Sanho Corp.) Bobovr Z4 VR headset. Based
on Google Cardboard, it will work with any
iPhone, Android, or Windows smartphone
and the Google Cardboard app, or any app
that displays two-screen stereoscopic content.
See an immersive 120º field-of-view at 35mm
focal distance, and hear the action through
the built-in 3D surround sound headphones.
The semi-transparent front cover supports
augmented reality applications, and IPD
(inter pupillary distance) adjustment. There’s
also volume adjustment, play/pause, and the
ability to answer phone calls directly from the
headset. MSRP US$60 Hypershop.com
Mow Your Lawn From Your Apple Watch: OK, so while
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The new Automower Connect app works with the 320, 330x, and
450x Automowers, allowing owners to monitor the status of the
device, send commands, read and modify settings, receive alarm
notifications, and track the device’s position in the event of theft.
And that’s pretty much the next best thing. Husqvarna.com
FUN APP: MSQRD
Using the front camera, this app will capture your mug, then
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There’s one, for example, that makes your eyes glow and shoot
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bear headwear. Capture the images, or take a video of you
rocking out with your funny digital mask. There’s even a cool
face swap option for making your toddler look terrifying and
you like an oversized manbaby. Seriously, you can enjoy hours
of fun with this app, and the kids will love it, too. It’s available
for iOS and Android devices for free. Msqrd.me
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HIGH-RES
À GO-GO
Going beyond standard
smartphone sound
BY GORDON BROCKHOUSE
But not many serious photographers would be satisfied with a
smartphone as their sole imaging device. In a similar sense, many
music lovers will aspire to something better than smartphone
sound, once they’ve been exposed to it. There are lots of options.
For several years, there has been a solid niche
market for premium digital audio players (DAPs)
that deliver better sound than Apple and the
mainstream Android vendors. We’ve reviewed
a few, including Neil Young’s Pono, and Sony’s
NW-ZX1 and ZX2 Digital Walkman players.
An alternative is a portable headphone amp/
DAC. There are many such products designed for
use with laptops, and we’re now seeing models
intended for use with mobile devices. Among the
14
www.wifihifi.ca
portable amp/DACs we’ve reviewed in the past
year are Sony’s PHA-3 and Peachtree Audio’s Shift.
Some phone vendors are noticing the interest
in premium audio, and developing their own
solutions. For its new flagship G5 smartphone,
LG offers an accessory DAC/headphone amplifier
developed by Bang & Olufsen. The module fits
into the bottom of the G5, forming a single unit.
The G5 is now available in this country, but LG
Canada has not announced plans for the audio
THE STORY
For music-lovers who aspire to something
better than smartphone sound, there are
lots of options, not just portable audio
players, but portable DAC/headphone
amps as well.
Among the first products to support
the new MQA format are Pioneer’s and
Onkyo’s new portable music players,
both reviewed here.
You don’t have to be a golden-ear
audiophile to hear the difference
between standard smartphone sound
and serious audio. The differences are
immediately obvious.
Products like headphone amplifiers and
high-quality music players are a good
introduction to serious high fidelity.
Photo: John Thomson
For a whole generation of listeners, smartphones are the default
music source. These digital jacks-of-all-trades offer pretty decent
performance when played through a good set of headphones.
PORTABLE AUDIO
module. However, HTC has just introduced a
smartphone that it says is “built for audiophiles.”
Can a premium portable music player, a serious
portable DAC/headphone amp, or an audiooriented smartphone transform on-the-go
music? You betcha. Here are seven new products
that deliver on that promise.
HTC 10
In the marketing materials for its latest-and-greatest smartphone, this Chinese manufacturer
trumpets the HTC 10’s audio capabilities. Among
the features HTC cites are a 24-bit DAC, support
for high-res audio formats, a high-performance
headphone amplifier and a Personal Audio Profile
function that tailors sound for the listener.
The last feature is less high-tech than it sounds.
The phone asks you to answer a few vague questions about your age, listening environment,
number of hours you listen to music per day, and
preferred genres, then creates an equalization
curve based on your responses.
Of course, the HTC 10 is a phone first and foremost; and a very nice phone it is, with a silver
anodized body, comfortable chamfered edges
and gorgeous 5.2” 2,560x1,440-pixel touchscreen.
For this feature, my interests in the HTC 10 are
purely audio-related, so that’s where I’ll focus.
Based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the version of
the HTC 10 sold in Canada (Bell is the only carrier
offering it) has 32GB of built-in flash storage, plus
a microSD slot on the left side for adding more
storage. It supports a variety of lossy audio formats, plus lossless WAV and FLAC, and purports to
support M4A files as well. The company does not
specify maximum sampling rate and bit depth, but
I was able to play 24/96 FLAC files without issue.
Based on my experience, the HTC 10 delivers
significantly better sound than the average smart-
HTC 10: “For listeners who want to carry a single goodsounding do-everything mobile device, the HTC 10
Android smartphone deserves careful consideration.”
16
www.wifihifi.ca
phone. Listening through my NAD HP50 headphones on TIDAL to “O.G. (Original Gentleman)”
from Suspicious Activity by The Bad Plus, sound
quality was noticeably superior to my iPhone 6
Plus. Through the HTC phone, this high-energy
jazz trio was more impactful and dynamic, less
muddy and congested. Transients were sharper
and the background was blacker, so that details
stood out better.
But it was no match for Pioneer’s new Androidbased music player, reviewed below. Not only
did the Pioneer device sound more impactful,
it was smoother and more pleasant. The HTC
sounded a little harsh by comparison, and
details were mushier. Micro-dynamics, critical
for conveying subtleties of musical expression,
were noticeably better on the Pioneer player.
That’s entirely to be expected, as the Pioneer
XDP-100R is a dedicated audio device (no
phone, no camera), while the HTC is a digital
jack-of-all-trades.
In addition to streaming from TIDAL, I loaded
several albums from the music library on my Mac
Mini onto the HTC 10 using the free Android
File Transfer application for Mac OS X. All of the
albums were CD resolution or better: most in
ALAC format and a few in FLAC format.
That’s where things got interesting. M4A is
one of the file types supported by the HTC 10,
and it’s the extension used on Apple Lossless
files. All my ALAC albums showed up in the Play
Music app. When I tried to play any of them, the
play function would start and the app indicated
that the song was playing. But there was no
sound at all through the headphones, not even
crickets. Just silence. Clearly, Apple Lossless M4A
files don’t play on the HTC 10.
But FLAC files do. A 96/24 FLAC download of
Keith Jarrett’s Köln Concert (ECM) sounded rich
and dynamic through my NAD HP50 cans, with
good heft in the lower register and nice sparkle in higher octaves. The sound on this iconic
album was even better through the vastly more
expensive HiFiMAN Edition X headphone, which
the HTC 10 was able to drive to satisfying levels.
So is the HTC 10 truly “built for audiophiles,”
as the company claims? As noted, it delivers
significantly better sound than most smartphones, though it falls short of good dedicated
music players. Also, as detailed elsewhere in
this feature, you can get audiophile sound by
adding one of AudioQuest’s new DragonFly
DAC/amplifiers to an Android and iOS device.
Through the DragonFly Black 1.5 and NAD
HP50, the Köln Concert sounded noticeably bet-
ter than it did straight out of the HTC 10, with
faster transients, blacker background, better
dynamics and greater spaciousness.
For listeners who want to carry just a single
good-sounding do-everything portable device,
the HTC 10 deserves careful consideration. But
Apple users in particular should be cautious.
Make sure that the phone will play all your music
before signing that contract.
FiiO X5 Second Generation
Distributed in Canada by Nexus International,
FiiO has a broad range of portable music devices,
including five digital audio players. The updated
X5 player, priced in Canada at $550, is the secondfrom-the-top model from this Chinese brand.
Sporting a 2.4” 400x360-pixel screen and
scroll-wheel controller, the new X5 looks like a
kissing cousin of the iPod Classic. But with its
machined aluminum body, the X5 is a more substantial piece of kit than the now-defunct Classic.
And beneath the exterior, there are some even
bigger differences.
First, unlike all of Apple’s portable music devices,
the X5 supports high-res audio: WAV, AIFF, FLAC
and ALAC to 192kHz/24 bits, as well as DSD64
and DSD128. Second, the X5 has no built-in
storage. Instead, there are two microSD slots on
the bottom. Pony up for two 128GB cards, and
you can carry a quarter of a terabyte of music
around with you.
On the top are two 3.5mm headphone outputs: one on the right for headphones, one on
the left for line-out (both analog and digital).
On the front are four buttons for menu navigation and track-forward and backward, plus the
scroll wheel with an enter button in the middle.
Operation will be instantly familiar to anyone
who has ever used a non-touchscreen iPod.
Under the hood, there are all sorts of refinements aimed at maximizing sound quality.
These include a hefty ±7V power supply, Texas
Instruments’ top DSD-capable DAC, and dual
oscillators for multiples of 44.1 and 48kHz sampling rates. As I discovered during my time with
the new X5, all these features pay sonic dividends.
Playing a 16/44.1 ALAC file of “Lulù” from New
York Days by the Enrico Rava Quartet (ECM, CD
rip) through my NAD HP50 headphones, the new
FiiO sounded more relaxed and refined, and also
purer, than my iPhone 6 Plus playing the same
track. The sound was more tactile, more convincing in its portrayal of real musicians playing
real instruments. Compared to the new X5, the
iPhone 6 Plus was grainier-sounding.
PORTABLE AUDIO
FiiO X5 (Second
Generation): “This is a
killer little player for
the price, combining
effortless delivery
of sound with an
attractive tactile
quality that heightens
your engagement
with the music.”
Smartphone users can upgrade their sound
through the addition of an external DAC/amp
like one of the new AudioQuest DragonFlies, and
that changes the equation. But I still preferred
the new X5 to the DragonFly 1.5/iPhone 6 Plus
combination. It provided a blacker background,
with more effortless delivery.
The new X5 had no problem driving my
HiFiMAN Edition X ’phones to satisfying levels,
and the Rava cut sounded delicious through this
combination. Comparing the sound with the
iPhone 6S fitted with the new DragonFly Red, I
thought the X5 had a little more body and solidity; but the iPhone/DragonFly Red had a bit more
drive and energy, and was better at delivering
delicate details. It was basically a saw-off.
However, the new X5 can play high-res files,
which the iPhone can’t (at least not without a
third-party app line Onkyo HF Player). Through
the Edition X ’phones, a DSD download Vivaldi’s
L’Estro Armonico with Rachel Podger and Brecon
Baroque (Channel Classics) was drop-dead gorgeous. On the Op. 3 No. 2 Concerto, the period
violins sounded beautifully resiny but never strident, and the highs seemed to go on forever.
The lute-like theorbo in the continuo section
had delicious body. The sense of space and air
around the instruments was spell-binding.
Out of curiosity, I listened to the same piece
from the MacBook Pro and Chord Mojo. That
combination had greater clarity and energy,
making it easier to appreciate the interplay
between sections of the orchestra; but in no
sense did it completely outclass the X5.
In short, this is a killer little player for the price,
combining effortless delivery of sound with an
attractive tactile quality that heightens your
engagement with the music.
Pioneer XDP-100R / Onkyo DP-X1
There’s a reason I’m covering these two new
players into a single review: they’re basically
twins, which isn’t surprising given that Pioneer
Home Entertainment is now owned by Onkyo.
The XDP-100R and DP-X1 both feature machined
unibody construction, vibrant 1,280x720-pixel
4.7” touchscreens, 32GB of internal storage, Wi-Fi
and Bluetooth connectivity, and a built-in battery
rated for 16 hours of high-resolution playback.
They support high-res PCM to 384kHz/24 bits, as
well as DSD 64, 128 and 256.
Not only that: they’re among the first audio
products to hit retail that support MQA, an
encode/decode process developed by Meridian
Audio, and later spun off into a separate company.
Both players ooze class and quality. On the left
side is a knurled volume control that practically
defines silkiness; on the right are dual microSD
slots for adding storage, plus transport controls
and power button. Both have a familiar 3.5mm
stereo headphone jack; but the Onkyo player
also has a 2.5mm balanced headphone output.
Priced in Canada at $900, the Onkyo DP-X1
employs dual ESS Sabre ES90182KM DAC chips
and dual ESS Sabre 9601K stereo op-amps;
the Pioneer XDP-100R, which is $100 cheaper,
has a single DAC and stereo amplifier. The
Onkyo’s dual-DAC/dual-amplifier design is what
enables the balanced output, which delivers
higher power (2x150mW into 32Ω, compared
to 2x75mW via the single-ended output), and
lower noise and distortion, compared to a single-ended connection.
Unfortunately, I did not have a suitable balanced cable for any of the headphones I had at
my disposal while conducting this review, so was
unable to assess the Onkyo player’s distinguishing feature. But I have used balanced outputs on
a Pono music player and Sony PHA-3 portable
DAC/headphone amp. In both cases, the balanced connection resulted in sharper transients,
superior dynamics, a blacker background and
more effortless delivery. I have little doubt that
the same would apply here as well.
Instead of using the Android’s default Play
Music app, you use the supplied Music app that’s
pre-loaded on both devices. In addition to providing a whole whack of DSP features (including
an 11-band parametric equalization and switchable digital filters), the Pioneer and Onkyo Music
apps support one of the players’ signature features: MQA compatibility.
MQA processing is said to vastly reduce ringing
artifacts of digital encoding, which blur transients
and mess up timing cues. MQA is also very efficient, allowing the delivery of high-resolution
audio with file sizes similar to CD-resolution audio.
If you play an MQA file on non-MQA hardware,
the DAC will treat it as a regular CD-resolution
file. To get the full benefit though, you need
MQA-compatible hardware.
This was my first opportunity to hear MQA at
leisure. On both players, the Music app shows
an MQA logo at the bottom when you’re playing an MQA file, along with the sampling rate of
the original file. Next to the MQA logo is a little
coloured dot that lights up green to confirm that
the sound is identical to the source material; or
blue to confirm that the file has been approved
in the studio by the artist or producer, or has
been verified by the copyright holder.
The review sample provided by Pioneer had
a few MQA-encoded tracks, including a 48kHz
recording “Folk Song” from Carta de Amor by
the jazz trio Magico (saxophonist Jan Garbarek,
guitarist Egberto Gismonti and bassist Charlie
Haden). As it happens, I have a CD rip in Apple
Lossless format of that very album, which made
for a revealing comparison. Through the NAD
HP50 headphones, the CD rip sounded very
satisfying, with excellent detail in all three instruments. But the MQA rendition was superior.
Instrumental sounds had less edge and more
body, and the overall presentation was smoother
and easier, yet more dynamic and engaging.
The differences were even greater through my
HiFiMAN Edition X headphones.
Also on the Pioneer player was a 96kHz MQAencoded version of Lady GaGa singing “Lush
Life” from Cheek to Cheek, her duet album with
Tony Bennett. The MQA version was unmistakably smoother and more inviting than a 44.1kHz
FLAC stream from TIDAL.
MQA supplied several additional tracks, which I
loaded onto both players. Listening on the Onkyo
Pioneer’s XDP-100R / Onkyo DP-X1: “The sound is smooth
and inviting, yet dynamic and detailed. And they’re
the first portables to support MQA, which has the
potential to push high-res into the mainstream.”
May 2016
17
PORTABLE AUDIO
player through the Edition X ’phones, an MQAencoded 88.2kHz version of Willie Nelson and
Judy Collins singing “When I Go,” from Collins’
album Strangers Again had less digital glare and
vagueness than the same track streamed from
TIDAL at CD resolution. Again, the MQA version
was smoother and easier to listen to. With all
three tracks, the differences weren’t night-andday, but they were definitely there to be heard.
Of course, most of the time, owners of these
new players will be playing non-MQA content.
The improvement they deliver over standard
smartphone sound is massive. Played from the
Pioneer XDP-100R, Cécile McLorin Salvant’s
rollicking rendition of “John Henry” from
WomanChild (Mack Avenue Records, ALAC rip
from CD) had way more energy and drive than
my iPhone 6 Plus; and there was more space and
air around the musicians. Bass was snappier and
more impactful. The iPhone sounded mushy and
congested by comparison.
However, playing the same track on the
iPhone 6 Plus with an AudioQuest DragonFly
Red DAC/amplifier attached narrowed the gap
considerably. The Pioneer and Onkyo players
sounded more a bit smoother and more refined
than the iPhone/DragonFly Red combination.
Through the Chord Mojo and iPhone, “John
Henry” had more drive and energy, without sacrificing any refinement. But of course, the Mojo
costs as much as the Pioneer player (and $100
less than the Onkyo), and it’s just an amp/DAC.
I do have some quibbles about the DP-X1 and
XDP-100R. For many people, music will be the
sole application for this device, but you have to
wade through all the usual Google apps to play
tunes. (The first thing you should do is move the
proprietary Music app to the home screen.) Of
course, there is an important benefit to having a
general-purpose device, especially a connected
one. You can add apps, like TIDAL and Spotify, for
music streaming.
The bottom line though is that both players
deliver fantastic sound: smooth and inviting, yet
dynamic and detailed. Moreover, they’re the first
portables to support MQA, which has the potential to push high-res into the mainstream if it gets
support from the recording industry. That alone
is reason to keep them on your radar.
Chord Mojo
Chord Electronics’ diminutive Mojo headphone
amp/DAC has been generating huge buzz since
its introduction last fall. After spending a few
weeks with the device, I can fully understand
18
www.wifihifi.ca
why. Priced in Canada at $800, this Englishdesigned and built device is cute as a button but
built like a tank; and it sounds fabulous.
According to Bluebird Music, Chord’s North
American distributor, the Mojo (short for
“Mobile Joy”) has essentially the same digital
platform as Chord’s Hugo DAC/amp, which
sells in Canada for $2,900. Instead of using
an off-the-shelf DAC chip, Chord uses a Field
Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) running an
in-house-developed digital-to-analog engine.
At its core is a custom digital filter intended to
deliver very accurate portrayal of transients, not
just with high-resolution files, but CD-resolution
content as well. The Mojo supports PCM audio
all the way to 768kHz sampling rate, as well as
DSD64, 128 and 256.
The digital engine is mated to a headphone
amplifier rated at 2x35mW into 600Ω or 2x720mW
into 8Ω. Power comes from a lithium polymer battery rated for eight to 10 hours per charge.
All this is housed in an impeccably machined
aluminum body. On one side are two 3.5mm
headphone outputs for shared listening. (The
Mojo can also be set for line-level output for
use as a standalone DAC.) On the other side are
optical and coaxial inputs, plus two micro USB
connectors: one for charging, the other for connection to a smart device or computer. Input is
set automatically, with priority going to USB.
On the front top are three glass balls: two for
volume up and down, the other for power on/off.
The balls illuminate different colours to indicate
the resolution of the incoming signal. (You had
to know that a product called the Mojo would
have three balls!)
You can use the Mojo with PCs and Macs, and
with Android and iOS devices. To connect an
Android device, you need an Android On the Go
cable; for iOS, you need Apple’s Lightning-to-USB
adapter cable.
I loved the Mojo from the first note I played
through it, whether the source device was a laptop
or smartphone; and that feeling only intensified
with use. I used the Mojo with an iPhone 6 Plus
and a MacBook Pro running Audirvana Plus 2.5.
On the MacBook Pro, the Chick Corea Trio playing “Blue Monk” on their 2013 live album Trilogy
(Concord Records, 24/96 download) had irresistible energy and clarity. Dynamics were incredible.
Brian Blade’s rim shots and snare work had startling impact; Christian McBride’s bass combined
depth, impact and snap; and Corea’s piano just
sparkled. The Mojo’s dead-quiet background
and wonderful portrayal of space made it easy to
appreciate the interplay among these supremely
talented musicians.
Compared to the Pioneer XDP-100R, Solitaires,
a recording of French music for solo piano performed by Kathryn Stott (BIS, 24/96 download),
had better clarity and heft played from a Mac
PowerBook through the Mojo. Micro dynamics
were slightly better, so that Stott’s subtleties
of touch and expression came through more
clearly. But is wasn’t a shutout: the Pioneer player
sounded a little warmer and rounder.
Chord Mojo: “I loved this little DAC/headphone
amp from the first note I played through it,
whether the source was a laptop or smartphone.
That feeling only intensified with use.”
STREAMING, STORING, SHARING
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PORTABLE AUDIO
Listening through the NAD HP50 headphone
from an iPhone 6 Plus, the Mojo displayed the
same control and energy. The big bass drum that
punctuates Patricia Barber’s “Regular Pleasures”
on Verse (Koch Records, ALAC rip from CD) had
tremendous depth and impact, and the drum kit
had fabulous energy and clarity. The same cut
played straight from the iPhone 6S was flat and
lifeless by comparison.
Admittedly, using a Mojo with a smartphone
isn’t ideal for on-the-go listening; in that regard
one of AudioQuest’s new DragonFlies is simpler.
But when you get to your destination, whether
it’s a café or the cottage, the Mojo will take
the sound from your laptop or smartphone to
another level altogether.
AudioQuest DragonFly Black 1.5 / Red
AudioQuest invented the micro-DAC category
back in 2012 when it introduced the original
DragonFly. Though doubtlessly complex in execution, the product was simple in concept: plug
the little component, which is about the size of a
thumb drive, into a USB port on your PC or Mac,
plug your headphones into the DragonFly, and
enjoy significantly improved sound.
AudioQuest refreshed the product in 2014 to
v1.2, improving the power supply, shortening the
signal path between the DAC and headphone
amp, and dropping the price by a hundred Yankee
greenbacks. The company has just introduced two
new DragonFlies, the Black v1.5, a refresh of the
original, and the Red v1.0, a brand-new product. In
Canada, they retail for $129 and $249, respectively.
The new versions have an improved USB controller (now USB 2.0-compliant) with lower power
consumption and better signal-to-noise. They
employ 32-bit DACs with a new minimum-phase
filter, which AudioQuest says improves detail
and dynamics compared to the 24-bit DAC
used on v1.2. They’re also software-upgradable
through a free desktop application (could that
mean MQA support down the road?)
AudioQuest DragonFly Red: “Whether you listen from
a laptop, smartphone or tablet, the DragonFly Black
1.5 can take sound to a new level; and the DragonFly
Red can take you higher still.”
20
www.wifihifi.ca
Most important, they work with mobile
devices, as well as PCs and Macs. To use them
with an iOS device, you need Apple’s Lightningto-USB Camera Adapter ($49). To use them with
an Android device, you need an Android On the
Go (OTG) adapter cable.
Like their predecessors, the Black 1.5 and
Red have a DragonFly logo that changes colour
depending on the sampling rate of the file being
played. Both models max out at 96kHz/24 bits,
but you can play higher-res files and have your
player app down-sample the output.
The DragonFly Black 1.5 uses the same headphone amplifier and host-controlled analog
volume control as v1.2. Its 1.2V amp is sufficient
for preamp inputs and efficient headphones. The
Red has a higher-output 2.1V amplifier, enabling
it to drive a wider range of headphones than
either Black model, and providing better performance with any headphone. The Red also has a
higher-performance 32-bit DAC than the Black
v1.5, with integrated bit-perfect 64-step digital
volume control.
The improvements with each iteration are
clearly audible. Playing a 24/96 download of
Scarlatti keyboard sonatas by pianist Yevgeny
Sudbin from a MacBook Pro running Audirvana
Plus 2.5 through NAD Viso HP50 headphones, the
DragonFly 1.2 provided a significant improvement
over the Mac’s built-in output: it was smoother
and less clangy. Sudbin’s arpeggiated chords
were better delineated, thanks to a quieter background. The new Black v1.5 delivered a comparable
improvement over v1.2, with faster, more immediate sound, and an even blacker background. The
sound was thrilling on the high-tempo sonatas,
and exquisite on the more tender works.
The DragonFly Red took the sound from my
MacBook Pro to another level, improving dynamics even further, making Subdin’s expressive
touches even more palpable. Spatial portrayal
was likewise improved.
The DragonFly Red had no problem powering
my HiFiMAN Edition X headphone, combining
thrilling dynamics and musical nuance with a real
sense of three-dimensional space. “And They All
Came Marching Out of the Woods” from Gefion
by a jazz trio led by Jakob Bro (ECM, 24/96 download) was utterly engaging. The Red assumed
complete control over the Edition X as it played
Thomas Morgan’s driving bass lines, while conveying all the delicacy of Jon Christensen’s
shimmering work on the cymbals.
The two new DragonFlies effected an even
greater transformation on the sound from my
iPhone 6 Plus. Through the NAD HP50, the 2014
recording of Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez
by guitarist Milos Karadaglic and the London
Philharmonic conducted by Yannick NézetSéguin (Deutsche Grammophon, ALAC rip from
CD) sounded smoother, more detailed, more
refined and more spacious when played through
the DragonFly Black 1.5. Instruments were better delineated. Transients were faster. The sound
from the iPhone 6 Plus’ headphone output
sounded boxy and congested by comparison.
And once again, the DragonFly Red took sound
quality up a further few notches, with better
dynamics and more effortless delivery.
Listening to the same work through the
HiFiMAN Edition X and DragonFly Red, any ideas
of smartphone sound being necessarily compromised went out the window. Every gesture in
Karadaglic’s incredible solo cadenza in the second movement was ideally illuminated, and the
dramatic re-entry of the full orchestra was thrilling, with all the attendant dynamic contrasts
convincingly portrayed.
As you’d expect given the three-fold-plus
price difference, the Chord Mojo was even better, with purer, more immediate sound; better
articulation and control; richer harmonics; and
even more effortless delivery.
But that should only underscore what a
supreme bargain these new DragonFly DAC/
headphone amps are. Whether you listen from
a laptop, smartphone or tablet, the DragonFly
Black 1.5 can take sound to a new level; and the
DragonFly Red can take you higher still.
OPTIONS APLENTY
As the foregoing reviews indicate, there are lots
of ways to improve on smartphone sound. Their
benefits are the opposite of subtle: you definitely don’t have to be a golden-ear audiophile
to appreciate them.
These products represent an opportunity
to introduce a new generation to high-fidelity
audio, notes Jay Rein, President of Bluebird
Music Ltd. “Regular people are not aware of
high-res audio,” he observes. “They go into a
store for headphones, and get introduced to
high-res. With high-end two-channel, there
were no regular people for years, so dealers
were going into home theatre and custom
installation. Now, regular people are back, and
it’s coming from headphones. The portable market is rejuvenating the entire high-end market.
Some of those people are coming back to buy
two-channel systems.”
INNOVATIVE BRANDS IN PERSONAL HEALTH,
WELLNESS AND ELECTRONICS
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HOME SECURITY:
Smart Cameras vs. Traditional Monitoring
One’s home is his sanctuary, they say. And nowadays, that sanctuary
consists of more than just a calm and inviting space. It’s often
full of high-tech, and expensive, gear; not just in your primary
residence, but maybe also a second home. (Raise your hand if you
have a TV and wireless sound system up at the cottage.) It’s just
the type of pricey gear that you’d want to protect.
Most commonly, the way we do that is with
security cameras and/or alarm systems.
I have several WirePath cameras (Staub Electronics) covering the exterior perimeter of my
home as well as an alarm system. Before leaving
the house, I diligently enter a four-digit code into
a touch panel on the wall by the front door, and
a signature “beep” confirms the house is armed.
22
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Sure, I can set motion alerts and view camera
feeds remotely from my smartphone. But there’s
still something about that triple-beep, and visible sticker on the window advertising that “this
house is protected by...” that affords tremendous
peace-of-mind.
Smart security cameras aren’t necessarily replacing traditional alarm systems. In a recent poll of
more than 4,000 SwannOne customers, almost
half (45%) of respondents expressed interest in
having their home professionally monitored as
well as having smart cameras. Some customers,
says Alex Talevski, Chief Technology Officer at
Swann Communications, use a DIY system all year
‘round, but adopt flexible monitoring services to
arm the home only on the weekends, or while
they’re away on vacation.
The growth in the Internet of Things (IoT) and
the smart home is attracting more customers to
the idea of home monitoring and security in general. And Talevski says security is often considered
the backbone of the connected home, “because
it is the most tangible element, and the element
that consumers are most likely to pay for.”
Homeowners are starting to feel more comfortable trusting connected cameras, or, as Reza
Photo courtesy of Canary Connect, Inc.
BY CHRISTINE PERSAUD
MOBILE WORLD
Motion sensitivity can be an
issue with smart cameras.
The Canary camera rectifies
that through intelligent
algorithms that can distinguish
between a roaming family pet
and a sneaky human.
That said, customers do have concerns. How
do smart security companies address these worries? And how are traditional alarm companies
responding to the changing market?
BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS
Kazemi, co-founder of Piper and Product Strategist
at iControl Networks, calls them, “tiny robots” in
your home. They enjoy having a view into their
residence, adds Brian Stark, General Manager,
Smanos, a smart security company distributed
by Dream Team Canada. “[They like] feeling that
they have control over it.”
In some ways, the smart camera and traditional
alarm system serve very different purposes. Stark
believes that, while about 25% of U.S. homes are
professionally monitored, smart security cameras are helping open the market up to that
other 75% who don’t have any monitoring at all.
But we can’t ignore the consistent “no monthly
fee” claims that come alongside many of these
cameras. It’s clear the hope is that at least some consumers will rely solely on their own smart DIY setups
to secure their homes and precious belongings.
The main advantages with a DIY smart camera
are the elimination of a monthly recurring fee; no
need for installation services; being able to tap
into a video feed remotely; and avoiding having
to lock into a long-term contract or go through
a credit check.
“People are waking up to the fact that everyone carries a phone in their pocket and it is
always connected to the Internet,” says Kazemi.
“And therefore, you can always be connected to
your house.”
DIY cameras serve other functions beyond
security. They’re ideal for checking in on non-emergencies, like pets, a parcel at the front door, or the
impact of weather conditions. Customers, says
Talevski, can automate appliances, be alerted of
unexpected movement, and create customized,
behaviour-driven rules. Kazemi recalls a customer
who approached him at a recent trade event to
show him the live feed from his second home in
Maui. He positioned his Piper camera to point
to the water so he could watch the waves crash
against the shore any time he wanted.
Further attracting customers to smart cameras
is their ability to work alongside a host of other
smart home devices, as part of a larger smart
home ecosystem. Through platforms like IFTTT,
users can set triggers so that when a camera
detects motions, for example, the lights go on; or
if your garage door opens, it sends you an alert.
“We have extra sensors,” notes Kazemi, “so you
can understand that it’s warm or humid, or the
light is high or low. It gives you a telepresence
and awareness of your home.”
Smart cameras are particularly attractive to
renters, says Stark, and those who may be unsure
if they’re staying in a home for a long period of
time, and thus reluctant to sign a long-term contract. Naturally, they also appeal to those with
budget constraints.
THE STORY
While smart security cameras don’t
necessarily replace traditional
home alarm systems, they can offer
a level of monitoring to suit some
customers who don’t want the recurring
monthly monitoring fees.
Smart cameras are for more than just
security: you can check in on pets,
or even control other automated devices
in the home.
Traditional alarm companies are making
moves to innovate and adapt to the
changing market.
An ideal solution integrates the best
of both worlds, to ensure maximum
protection of your valuable belongings.
May 2016
23
MOBILE WORLD
And they’re attractive, period. The latest smart
cameras are statement pieces. The Canary camera (Microcel Canada) can sit on a table or shelf
and blend in with a room’s decor. And devices
like Smanos’ UFO are great conversation pieces,
boosting that cool factor. Stark says consumers
also appreciate the quality of images you can get
from one of these cameras, which has improved
dramatically from even two or three years ago.
But there are drawbacks as well. Concerns
relating to security and privacy for one, since
most cameras connect to a home’s Wi-Fi network.
What if someone taps into your cloud-based system, and finds a back-door, so to speak, into your
home? Also, a third-party company can respond
far more quickly than you could to trouble, and
alert the authorities on your behalf, if necessary.
As with any piece of technology, there’s also the
issue of reliability: if your ADT alarm system malfunctions, it’s on them. If the $200 smart alarm
and camera you bought at your local Home
Depot goes on the fritz, or your Wi-Fi is down,
that’s your problem.
Coming in Q2, the Smanos K1 SmartHome DIY Kit
works with a host of other connected gear from both
Smanos and other brands to provide a full smart
ecosystem in the home, a strategy we’re increasingly
seeing in the DIY security market.
With smart cameras, you’re also limited by
bandwidth, and the strength of your Wi-Fi connection. If your smartphone runs out of juice, or
you’re somewhere without a wireless connection, you have no backup method to check in on
things. With a traditional alarm system, as noted,
you farm out the task of home monitoring to a
third-party instead of handling it yourself.
There can also be a reduction in home insurance costs – most, if not all, insurance companies
provide anywhere from 5% to 10% discounts
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SUPER-SMART CAMERAS
Mount the Smanos UFO panoramic camera on the
ceiling and get a 360-degree view of an entire room,
without any blind spots, through its HD fisheye lens;
or place it on the wall for a 180-degree view.
when you prove you have an eligible home
monitoring security system. Traditional alarm
systems are also ideal for customers who are not
equipped to set up a camera or self-monitor, says
Talevski, like the elderly and businesses.
Because the control is solely in your hands with
DIY security cameras, smartphone alerts and a
real-time view is, in most cases, the extent of their
security capabilities. Though some DIY devices,
like the Piper nv and Canary cameras, include
added security-related features, like a piercing
siren. The Piper nv also has two-way audio so
you can talk to intruders remotely and let them
know you’ve alerted the authorities. And you can
contact 9-1-1 directly from the Canary app. Myfox
offers a Home Alarm IntelliTAG in addition to its
camera that you can affix to a door or window
and it will emit a 110dB alarm when it detects a
potential threat, using algorithms to distinguish
between a ball hitting the window or you fumbling with the lock versus a thief with a crowbar.
Traditional alarm systems aren’t foolproof
either. The false alarm rates can be as high as
90-95%, many sources report, which is costly
for the homeowner and the city. In some cases,
customers don’t bother to activate their alarms
every time they leave the home because of false
alarm fears, which defeats the purpose of having
one in the first place.
Keep in mind some smart security camera companies are gravitating toward subscription-based
services and upgrades, removing that advantage
of no recurring costs. With the Nest Cam, for
example, you can sign on for Nest Aware, which
starts at $10/mo. and affords 24/7 continuous
recording and personalized alerts through special algorithms. With Canary, you get 12 hours of
video recording, up to three downloads, and five
bookmarks for free, or you can buy one of three
subscription plans (starting at $5/mo.) that add
increased storage, more bookmarks, and unlimited video downloads.
Every smart camera operates on the same basic
premise: connect it to your network, download
a mobile app, set it up, and tap into the feed at
any time, from virtually anywhere. Many include
features like motion alerts. But the latest models
go well beyond that.
Kazemi believes the wide field-of-view provided through the Piper nv camera’s 180-degree
fisheye, pan/tilt lens sets it apart, along with
smart home automation control integration. In
April, the company added an IFTTT channel so
users could program other devices in the home
to work alongside the camera.
Other smart cameras, like the Nest Cam (Staub
Electronics) and the Wink Hub, can also communicate with additional smart home gear. A Nest
Cam, for example, can trigger Philips Hue lights
to flash red if there’s a problem, which is great for
kids or the hearing impaired.
You can program a Canary wireless indoor
HD IP camera to recognize the typical movement and shape of your pet so it can distinguish
between the family dog or cat roaming about
and an actual burglar.
Subscription-based features
are creeping into the DIY
camera market; with Nest
Aware, for example, you can
pay a monthly fee for
24/7 continuous recording
and personal alerts from
a Nest Cam.
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While the security
capabilities of most smart
cameras are limited to
smartphone alerts and
motion detection, the latest
models go beyond; Piper’s
nv, for example, adds a
blaring 105dB siren to help
deter potential thieves.
To address Big Brother-like concerns, Myfox
cameras have a motorized shutter that will pop
open when you leave the house, then close for
privacy once someone gets home. Or, you can
manually close it from the smartphone app.
A standout with Swann cameras is a feature
that affords quick access to clips of specific incidents instead of you having to filter through
hours of video footage to find a specific moment.
In terms of privacy, Panasonic’s DIY Home
Surveillance Camera Kit operates on the DECT
platform, thus making it more difficult for hackers to access since it isn’t Web-based.
Many smart cameras come with an entire ecosystem of products that work alongside them,
like the aforementioned Kit from Panasonic,
which includes a water leak and window/door
sensor, as well as a smart plug. D-Link has a similar ecosystem of products with its Connected
Home line, as does Belkin’s WeMo devices.
Smanos is releasing its new K1 Smart Home DIY
Kit this quarter, which can connect with up to 50
devices, including gear from the company, like
its panoramic UFO camera, as well as door/window sensors, an indoor siren, security keypad,
pet-friendly motion sensor, and water sensor.
Many cameras work with third-party devices
through platforms like Z-Wave, IFTTT, or Alljoyn.
While some of these features are nice-tohaves, they could be the determining factor in a
purchase decision. Those with multiple pets may
see tremendous value in Canary’s camera, while
customers uncomfortable with the idea of their
significant others peeking in on them going
about their daily doings at home might appreciate MyFox’s motorized shutter option.
TRADITIONAL COMPANIES RINGING
THE SMART ALARM
Not surprisingly, traditional alarm companies,
like ADT, aren’t sitting back and watching the DIY
market take over. They’re innovating and offering
solutions to combine the benefits of smart cameras with third-party monitoring and support.
ADT’s Pulse system addresses the consumer’s
desire to control other smart home gear, including lighting, thermostat, and video surveillance,
from a smartphone, through IFTTT integration.
The alarm can be armed or disarmed remotely,
and a live feed can be tapped into from the
smartphone app. The value is getting both the
smart experience as well as the deterrent of an
alarm, and third-party monitoring. Users will be
notified of a breach, but they can also ensure
that ADT informs and dispatches emergency ser-
Panasonic addresses concerns
relating to privacy, security,
and reliability with its DIY
Home Surveillance Camera Kit,
which connects via the DECT
platform, the same as its home
phones, instead of Wi-Fi.
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vices when needed, whether it’s in response to a
burglary, fire, or high levels of carbon monoxide.
“With the Internet of Things offering more
options than ever before,” noted the company in
a press release from the 2015 International CES,
“it’s unfortunate that some people are mistaking
the convenience of ‘looking in’ for the true safety
of professionally-monitored security.”
There are other benefits, like cellular and
power backups of the system, which includes
a wireless hub and in-home control panel, and
multiple layers of security.
The video quality of DIY cameras has been
steadily improving: the Swann 4K Ultra HD Security
System comes with four cameras, each of which
records in full 4K resolution, including detailed
night view from up to 100 feet away.
But the system and app have not been without customer complaints, including a recent
set of comments in the Google Play app store
claiming connectivity issues after downloading
the latest software update. Interestingly, the app
has almost as many one-star reviews there as it
does five-stars.
Whether this is an indication of ADT’s inexperience in smart automation, software, and mobile
apps, or simply growing pains as they develop the
system, remains to be seen. But a recent Argus
Insights report found that incumbent home
security companies in the U.S. like ADT, as well as
Comcast and AT&T, were “failing to delight consumers with their apps,” versus the newer smart
home brands, like Vivint and Honeywell, which
appear to be “cultivating a more synchronized
hardware and software ecosystem.”
“Once consumers have installed and connected
their device,” reminds John Feland, CEO and
founder of Argus Insights, “the app becomes the
primary touch point for their new smart home.”
An ideal solution would be a more symbiotic,
hybrid system that marries expertise on both
sides, and ADT is working on just that. Its new
Canopy monitoring service works with smart
devices, like Nest and Samsung SmartThings
gear. This year, the company teamed up with
MOBILE WORLD
LG to launch LG Smart Security in the U.S., video
storage and home automation technology combined with ADT’s professional monitoring. LG
handles the technology end with a plug-andplay device that can also be used as a smart
home hub, while ADT handles the monitoring.
Customers can sign on month-to-month, thus
avoiding the deterrent of a lengthy contract.
“LG aligns with our long-term vision as ADT
continues to innovate the smart security space
and bring professionally-monitored security to the IoT category,” commented Naren
Gursahaney, CEO of ADT.
fortable that...we’re working to make sure we’re
doing all of those things possible from a security
standpoint to protect their information.”
BOTTOM LINE
Ultra-compact, the Flir Micro PT Dome IP Cameras
measure just 2.2” high and 5.1” deep, record in full
HD, boast a weatherproof housing, and allow users to
access live or recorded video from a mobile device, and
receive push notifications for motion or the alarm.
WORKING OUT THE KINKS
There’s still plenty of work to be done to improve
the smart camera experience for customers.
The apps, as evidenced by the aforementioned
Argus Insights report, remain a major consumer
pain point. Argus noted frequent consumer complaints relating to slow video streaming, long
load times, and even videos blacking out.
Hardware setup and connectivity can also be
a challenge for some. “It’s not like taking home
a tablet with a screen and a keyboard, and you
enter your Wi-Fi password, and that’s it,” says
Kazemi. “With some of these IoT devices, you’re
dealing with relatively inexpensive pieces of
hardware that have to be very secure, and they
don’t have a screen or keyboard, so sometimes it
can be tricky to set up. We’ve gone through our
own growing pains with that as well.”
Smanos’ Stark agrees, providing the example
of devices that are designed to use the 2.4GHz
Traditional alarm
companies are responding
to the changing market;
ADT’s Pulse system
can control third-party
automation gear and
includes a smartphone app
for remote login, combined
with trusted third-party
monitoring services.
30
www.wifihifi.ca
channel, yet customers attempt to connect them
through the 5GHz. “Sometimes,” he admits,
“there’s a bit of confusion.” But, he adds, there
has also been improvement through things like
pre-pairing of devices right out of the box for a
better plug-and-play experience.
Router upgrades are also key. Smart home
devices, most notably security cameras, won’t
function to the best of their ability without
proper Wi-Fi networks to support them.
“A customer will be browsing the Internet
and insist ‘See, my Wi-Fi works!’” says Kazemi.
“But browsing the Internet is completely different from streaming video and uploading a fair
amount of bandwidth. Those differences...are
not as inherent to the end user....There’s a lot of
education needed on both sides.”
Then there’s also the issue of interoperability.
With the security camera being only one part of
a full smart home experience, it not only needs
to function well on its own, but work with other
devices as well. Platforms like IFTTT, Works With
Nest, Apple’s HomeKit, Z-Wave, Zigbee, and
others, are trying to resolve that. But the sheer
number of these platforms competing to become
the standard may only be adding to the confusion.
And finally, manufacturers need to ramp up
security to ensure that cameras serve as windows into a home, only to those who own said
residence. Encryption, authentication, and
authorization are essential, as is consumer education on securing home networks.
Because Piper is part of smart home and security software company iControl Networks, the
company has frequent, independent third-party
security audits run on its system by independent
security firms. “We want to know where we can
do better,” says Kazemi, “and where there are
holes. We want to make sure users feel com-
Smart home security cameras count security
as just one of their many features. They can
serve as the hub into your home while you’re
away, to check on the dog, view the delivery
man or babysitter, or see what’s going on following a trigger from another device, like your
connected carbon monoxide detector or water
leak sensor.
Security is just the beginning. And while
these smart cameras don’t quite spell the end
to traditional home alarm systems, they are
getting increasingly smarter and more sophisticated. Commercial-grade video resolution, notes
Swann’s Talevski, is becoming more affordable
for everyday consumers. What will deter a thief
more: a blaring siren signalling that police are
on their way, or the knowledge that a crisp, 4K
image of their face could very well be captured
on a camera, and stored in the cloud for easy
identification? The best answer is both.
In attempt to unify the home security market,
ADT teamed up with LG in the U.S. this year to
launch LG Smart Security, part of the new ADT
Canopy service, which consists of an LG plug-andplay smart home hub and camera that works with
month-to-month ADT monitoring services.
“I think it’s like when you buy an iPad,” says
Kazemi. “You can buy the Wi-Fi one, or you can
buy the one that also has 3G. It’s your choice with
how much you need, and how much can I take it
upon myself to do the security.”
The bottom line is that if your home isn’t monitored at all, smart cameras are a great place to start.
And as the market matures, and devices become
more feature-rich, you’ll find these cameras useful
for reasons well beyond security. Just ask that guy
with the beach house in Maui, who’s probably
lying back right now watching the waves crash
along the shore...from wherever he is.
The Crisis in
Web Advertising:
What’s Causing It
& How to Resolve It
BY FRANK LENK
Most content sites on the Web depend on
advertising for their revenues. But the machinery
that drives that advertising is running into some
serious issues.
The most obvious symptom is a painful rise in
the use of ad blocking technology. It’s been estimated that anywhere from 20% up to more than
30% of Web surfers today are using ad blocking
software, to avoid viewing any ads at all.
The problem has become too big to be ignored.
There are lots of obvious measures that can be
taken. The problem is finding the right tools, not
to mention the collective will, to break the current
status quo.
THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST
Like the Internet itself, today’s vast online advertising
ecosystem grew up without much central control
or planning. Now, it’s reaching the limits of its original
conception, and thereby creating a crisis that could
affect the entire Internet.
32
www.wifihifi.ca
There’s a well-known graphic called the LUMAscape, regularly updated by Luma Partners LLC. (see
www.lumapartners.com/resource-center). It depicts
the structure of the display advertising business:
a dense clutter of corporate logos, appropriately
resembling the circuitry of a microprocessor.
On the far left are Marketers, who commission
ads to be created by Agencies. These are Optimized
and Verified by separate groups of companies.
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WEB ADVERTISING
Next, Demand Side Platforms (DSPs) front-end the
ads to Ad Exchanges, which allow Ad Networks to
buy the ads based on Real Time Bidding (RTB).
At the far right sits the consumer, thoroughly
profiled by Analytics companies using various
tracking mechanisms. When he clicks to open a
Web page, his personal data is provided to the
Ad Networks, which then buy exactly the ads that
match his individual profile. All within the few
milliseconds it takes for the Web page to load.
The result is that the consumer sees ads aimed
at himself alone, at that specific instant in time.
The Marketer buys not a placement, but a specific
number of views by a specific type of consumer.
According to Pete Kluge, Group Product Marketing Manager with Adobe Systems Inc., by 2019,
about half of display ads on the Internet will be
‘programmatic:’ purchased and placed entirely by
automated software. This will be a US$56 billion
market globally, and about $30 billion in North
America alone, a three-fold increase from today.
“In five years, 75% of all digital advertising transactions will be automated through exchanges,”
says Kluge. Video will be the primary “ad unit”
by 2020, and by 2018, mobile ad spending will
exceed that of the desktop.
Many of the key players are huge, even by corporate standards. Adobe itself works at the Agency
and DSP levels, offering a front-end to both the
creative and purchasing processes. Google operates both an Exchange (via DoubleClick) and an
Ad Network. Microsoft has its own Ad Exchange.
Social networks like Facebook operate much like
their own Ad Networks.
It’s a marvel of human ingenuity and commercial
enterprise. But what if the target of all this infernal
machinery, the consumer, said “No, thanks”? Much
to the surprise of the sprawling online ad industry,
that’s exactly what’s happening.
Till Faida is co-founder & CEO of Adblock Plus (ABP),
a popular ad-blocking open source add-in for
every major Web browser, and browser for Android
and iOS 8 and above mobile devices.
34
www.wifihifi.ca
It has been estimated that up to 30% of Web surfers use ad blocking software from companies like Adblock Plus (ABP)
to avoid having to view any online ads at all.
MENTAL BLOCK
Ad blocking was tolerable as long as only a few
hard-core users were doing it. But the popularity
of ad blockers has grown to alarming proportions. Randall Rothenberg, President and CEO of
the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), reports
that some Websites are now losing up to 40%
of their ad revenues because of ad blocking. He
cites IAB research that found “at least 34 per cent
of U.S. adults use ad blockers.”
Sonia Carreno, President, IAB Canada, says the
company is releasing its own survey in May, showing that ad blocking among adults 18 and over is
at 17%, somewhat more popular in the West and
in Quebec.
According to a report from PageFair Limited
and Adobe, the number of people using ad blocking software globally in 2015 grew 41% compared
to the previous year. In Q2 2015, the major ad
blocking browser extensions were used by as
many as 198 million Web surfers. Not surprisingly,
Websites catering to young, tech-savvy audiences
suffered the most blocking.
The report estimates that blocking is used by
about 6% of the ‘global Internet population,’ but
costs as much as 14% of the global ad spend.
PageFair estimated the total loss of revenue in
the U.S. at $10.7 billion in 2015, and forecast a
loss of $20.3 billion in 2016. Globally, it estimated the cost at $21.8 billion in 2015, rising to
an astounding $41.4 billion by 2016.
Yahoo Canada sees the mobile world as not
only the hottest market for ads, but also the most
resistant to blocking. Claude Galipeau, Country
Manager, reports that 85% of mobile users’ time
is spent in apps, rather than in generic Web
browsers that might have blocking capability.
Ad blocking is thus used by only a fraction of a
percent of the audience, at present.
PageFair confirms that only 1.6% of ad block
traffic on its network in Q2 2015 was from mobile
devices. However, it found that 16% of mobile
Firefox users were blocking ads. With more
software options becoming available, PageFair
predicted that mobile blocking would grow rapidly.
Ad blocking is based on a simple idea: tell the
browser to ignore certain data sources, based
on rules compiled into continually-updated
public blacklists.
The first, and still the most popular ad blocking product, is Adblock Plus (ABP), created in
2006, and now published by Eyeo GmbH, in
Cologne, Germany. It’s an open-source add-in
available for every major Web browser, including Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft’s Internet
Explorer and Edge, Opera, and a few others. The
Adblock Browser is available for Android and iOS
8 and above.
Eyeo claims over 300 million downloads. But
ABP is just one in a growing list of products.
Adblock (an unrelated add-in claiming 40 million users) and uBlock Origin are essentially
splinter developments of the same original
project as ABP. Disconnect includes an optional
VPN privacy service. Ghostery and Privacy
Badger are more focused on protecting users
from being tracked.
THE STORY
Programmatic ad delivery has created
a vastly complex ecosystem, but also
problems with privacy and security.
A rise in ad blocking indicates consumer
dissatisfaction with Web ads.
Ad blocking companies try to compromise,
but are rebuffed.
The ad industry needs to take strong
action to restore trust.
WEB ADVERTISING
Cooper Quintin, Staff Technologist at the
Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) believes
a compromise could be to have consumers
publish their own profiles, and volunteer the
information they are comfortable making
public, rather than allowing more intrusive
tracking to deduce this information.
There are many others, all free for downloading. Singly or in combination, they can screen
out virtually all Web advertising, leaving just the
content the user came to see. And, incidentally,
leaving the site’s publisher with zero ad revenue
from that user.
THE CONCERNS
The ad industry likes to say that it’s “serving consumers:” helping them find products that will
make their lives better. If so, why would so many
take the trouble of blocking ads?
Probably the biggest motivator is a simple
desire to make pages load faster, and to make content less cluttered and more readable. Advertisers
have used every tool of the technology to hammer home their messages. But the Internet is an
interactive medium, with smart devices at both
ends. Alienated consumers can use the technology to fight back.
Auto-playing video, gaudy Flash animations,
high-resolution images, all loaded from multiple
sources, can bring a Web browser to its knees.
Blocking ads can boost page-display speeds
many-fold, and transform an ugly mess of a page
into something tasteful and easy to peruse.
Consumers are also becoming increasingly
concerned about their privacy. Those concerns
could swell dramatically if more people realize
just how vast the tracking regime has become.
At the FFWD conference in Toronto, in January,
Kluge extolled the ongoing evolution of “identity-
Randall Rothenberg, President & CEO,
Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), referred
to ad blocking in a recent Advertising Age
article as “robbery,” and an “extortionist
scheme that exploits consumer disaffection
and risks distorting the economics of
democratic capitalism.”
based platforms,” which will present “high-value
targets” with ads created uniquely for them. Kluge
showed an ad for a Hawaiian holiday: built on the
fly, tailored to the individual viewer’s personal
travel history, and capable of allowing them to
actually book the advertised holiday.
That kind of outcome is obviously desirable
for both consumer and advertiser. But even in
an audience of marketers at FFWD, one person
in the Q&A session observed that the underlying
collection and correlation of personal data was
“creepy.” Programmatic advertising has evolved
rapidly, with few rules regarding what data can
be collected, how it can be used, or how it should
be safeguarded against misuse.
But security is the most serious worry. Programmatic advertising turns Web pages into a collage
of material from dozens of data providers. For
example, the IAB Website (iab.com) loads material from at least a dozen addresses other than its
own. Many sites are far more complex and call on
much more obscure addresses.
“Complexity is the worst enemy of security,”
writes security expert Bruce Schneier in his latest newsletter. Getting security ‘right’ means
plugging every possible leak. And a Web page
assembled instantaneously from numerous
weakly-vetted sources inevitably exposes a disturbingly large ‘attack surface.’
In fact, advertising networks are now being
exploited by criminals so regularly that the term
‘malvertising’ has come into common usage.
This mock ad,
shown at the FFWD
conference in Toronto
this past January by
Adobe’s Pete Kluge,
floored even a group
of marketers at just
how targeted the
built-on-the-fly pitch
was for a hypothetical
Web surfer based
on his personal
travel history.
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Just during the write-up of this article, it was discovered that the most popular Websites in the
Netherlands had been serving up malware, courtesy of a major ad platform.
Toxic ads don’t actually contain malware, they
pull it from a distant address, perhaps only under
specific circumstances that are unlikely to come
up when (and if) the ad is vetted. Extensive use of
scripts helps mask such behaviour, and enables
targeting of weaknesses in users’ systems.
BLOCKING THE BLOCKERS
Users have found ad blockers to be an easy solution
to all of these problems. This is starting to choke
off the revenue streams that support content sites.
An increasingly popular response by content
publishers is to ‘block the blockers:’ refuse to
serve up content to visitors who refuse to load the
ads. For example, this August, IAB Sweden organized about 90% of Swedish Web publishers to
withhold content from visitors who won’t disable
their blocker.
There are serious drawbacks to this approach.
For starters, it stokes the fires of resentment that
produced ad blocking in the first place. It can
also erode a site’s audience: there are few sites
so essential that annoyed visitors can’t simply
go elsewhere.
Detecting blockers is also technically challenging. “Fighting ad blocking is extremely difficult,
notes Sean Blanchfield, co-founder and CEO of
PageFair, in his afterword to the company’s 2015
report. “The ad block community is large, sophisticated and resourceful. Companies who try to play
‘cat and mouse’ against blocked ads quickly lose.”
This is to say nothing of the possible legal repercussions of serving up malvertising, after explicitly
telling Web visitors to turn off the blocking software that might have protected them.
Meanwhile, the ad industry has been wasting time on adversarial rhetoric, with its fiercest
invective, ironically, aimed at an attempt by the
most popular ad blocker to create a compromise solution.
A few years ago, Eyeo added a whitelist of
‘Acceptable Ads’ sources to Adblock Plus. The
WEB ADVERTISING
Companies can sign Eyeo’s Acceptable Ads manifesto to
help rid the Internet of “obnoxious” ads and promote
acceptable ones. Those include ads that are not
annoying; do not disrupt or distort the page content;
are transparent; are effective without shouting;
and are appropriate to the site on which they appear.
idea was to allow content publishers to continue
earning ad revenue, while still screening users
from the worst excesses of Web advertising.
This move drew fire from all sides. Some users
saw it as a sell-out (even though the whitelist is
completely optional). The ad industry went ballistic, using terms like “extortion” to describe the
ABP policy of charging the largest ad providers
for being on the whitelist (in addition to requiring them to meet the Acceptable Ads criteria).
“Ad blocking is robbery, plain and simple,”
wrote IAB’s Rothenberg in Advertising Age. He
calls blocking “an extortionist scheme that
exploits consumer disaffection and risks distorting the economics of democratic capitalism.” He
adds: “We can (and should) contemplate suing
unethical ad-blocking profiteers out of business.” (He neglects to detail the legal grounds
that would support litigation against someone
for not looking at what you want them to.)
And yet, looking at the LUMAscape chart, it’s
hard to see how Eyeo is different from the many
other big players who’ve inserted themselves
into the programmatic value chain.
Not surprisingly, the IAB has introduced its own
LEAN Ads (Light, Encrypted, Ad Choice Supported
and Non-invasive) program. It’s a worthwhile
move, but essentially voluntary, with no way to
preclude worst-case abuses. ABP’s whitelist, on
the other hand, puts real control in the hands of
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the consumer. Eyeo’s product, ultimately, is trust.
At this point, it’s a seller’s market.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is trying
to do something similar for online tracking. Its
Privacy Badger add-in for Firefox and Chrome
looks for signs that the user is being tracked, and
blocks access from those addresses. Advertisers
or content providers can agree to some basic
principles and get on a whitelist, ensuring that
Privacy Badger won’t interfere with their access
to consumers.
“We’re kind of trying to break up the logjam,”
says Cooper Quintin, Staff Technologist with the
EFF. He reports that there are now over 600,000
people using Privacy Badger. A number of major
Internet companies have signed the EFF’s Do
Not Track pledge, including analytics provider
Mixpanel; blogging site Medium; Adzerk, publisher of ad-server software; and privacy-minded
search engine DuckDuckGo.
FINDING THE WAY
What kind of ads would be allowed in an ad
blocking world? The Eyeo Acceptable Ad criteria
(acceptableads.org) include: placement of ads
above, below or beside site content, so as not to
disrupt the flow; clear distinction of ads from site
content; and reasonable ad size, appropriate to
the position on the page.
Disallowed: animations, auto-play sound or
video, pop-ups, pop-unders, pre-roll video ads,
and “rich media” such as Flash or Shockwave.
Text-only ads are preferred. Oddly, however,
there’s no mention of respecting privacy, or supporting the Do Not Track browser setting. Also,
Pete Kluge, Group Product
Marketing Manager, Adobe Systems
Inc., believes that in five years, threequarters of all digital advertising
transactions will be automated
through exchanges, with video as the
primary ad unit, and mobile spending
exceeding that of desktop.
there’s no mention of limiting scripts, or of better
screening against malware.
PageFair, based in Dublin, Ireland, is embracing the Acceptable Ads manifesto, and showing
how the ad business can learn to live with ad
blocking. The company offers two services to
Web publishers: analytics, to measure the degree
of ad blocking on their sites, and PageFair Ads, a
platform that displays “non-intrusive ad formats”
complying with the ABP Acceptable Ads standard.
PageFair says its ads are clearly labeled and
non-intrusive, and include an easy opt-out button. “The opt-out button is our promise that we
will only show the kind of ads they wouldn’t want
to block in the first place,” explains PageFair COO
Neil O’Connor. “Our goal,” adds the company’s
Website, “is to re-establish a fair deal between
Website visitors and publishers.”
“Over the next year to year-and-a-half, we’re
going to get a plurality of ad blockers,” predicts
Quintin. But he feels there is a way to let consumers get “relevant advertising,” while still preserving
their privacy. It will require a readjustment on all
sides. “It’s not going to look like the system we
have now.”
For example, Quintin suggests a bold alternative
to intrusive tracking: simply allow consumers to
publish their own online profile. Let them volunteer
the information they’re comfortable making public,
and which will attract the kind of advertising that
they’d like to see. How could this not be preferable
to gathering the same data surreptitiously?
Surprisingly, Rothenberg also suggests that
data gathering should be limited. But not in order
to safeguard user privacy so much as to speed
WEB ADVERTISING
up ad feeds, which are “impeding the delivery of
content.” He adds that advertisers and agencies
should “abandon the most upsetting forms of
digital disruption,” such as auto-play video, as
well as flashing or blinking ads.
CONCLUSION
There seems to be little justification for predictions that online content will vanish without ad
revenue, or become ruinously expensive. But
what is already happening is the evolution of a
new social contract between consumers and the
suppliers of online goods and services.
Publishers are exploring different revenue
models, including ones in which advertisers
don’t mediate the value exchange. For example, Wired.com is allowing users to choose
between paying $1 per week for ad-free access,
or whitelisting the site with the promise that it
won’t hit them with anything too obnoxious.
Of course, classic display advertising isn’t
dead yet. But it does need some readjustment.
“Ad blocking is endemic only because online
advertising has become so invasive that hundreds of millions of people are willing to take
Rather than focus on blocking ads, Privacy Badger,
created by the Electronic Frontier Foundation,
is focused on protecting users from being tracked by
advertisers that aren’t on an approved “whitelist.”
matters into their own hands,” says Blanchfield
in the PageFair 2015 report. “We must treat
these users with respect, not force feed them
the popovers, interstitials, and video ads that
they are trying to get rid of.”
In the same report, Campbell Foster, Director
of Product Marketing at Adobe, points out that
there’s a “delicate balance” between content
publishers, who have a right to profit from
their product; advertisers, who have a right to
communicate with consumers; and consumers
themselves, “who have a right to choose what
they read, listen to, learn and feel.”
“We have let the fine equilibrium of content,
commerce, and technology get out of balance
in the open Web,” reads a blog post by Scott
Cunningham, Senior Vice President of Technology
and Ad Operations with the IAB. “We need to bring
that back into alignment, starting right now.”
The online advertising industry is finally realizing that it’s hit a limit. Like a living organism,
the Internet is rejecting the mounting volume of
invasive sales pitches.
Internet surfers aren’t couch potatoes, they’re
active participants. As in real life, if you’re obnoxious or tedious, they may just walk away, or stick
their fingers in their ears. On the other hand, the
Internet can be highly receptive to a solid product, backed by real information. And it offers
powerful ways of forging and maintaining customer relationships.
The ad industry will undoubtedly continue to
have an important role in all of this, but it delays
decisive action at a cost. Even if all the issues that
have led to the rise in ad blocking can be quickly
addressed, a lot of consumers will have already
come to see an ad-free experience as the default.
Winning them back won’t be easy.
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TALKING SHOP
RENAISSANCE À MONTRÉAL: AUDIO SHOW COMES BACK FROM THE DEAD
For an event that wasn’t supposed to happen,
the Montreal Audio Fest was a huge success.
On Tuesday, March 8, Chester GRP Exhibitions
(Canada) Ltd., announced that it had “decided to
defer” the 2016 edition of the annual Salon Son et
Image (SSI) consumer show, which it purchased
in October 2013. Chester Group cited poor industry support, and promised to “arrange refunds”
for ticket-holders.
Ten days later, a hastily improvised version of
the show opened at L’Hôtel Bonaventure, with
more than three times the exhibitors that Chester
Group had booked. Right from the somewhat
chaotic opening on Friday, March 18, the show
was filled with enthusiastic attendees.
The revival was the work of the former show
organizers, Michel Plante and Sarah Tremblay.
The couple now work for two Montreal-area
audio distributors, Plante for Plurison/Audio Plus
Services, and Tremblay for Audio Group. Both
companies had booked exhibit space for SSI.
According to Tremblay, Chester Group had
only signed up “17 or 18” exhibitors when it
pulled the plug. She was shocked by the short
notice, not just because it left exhibitors who
had allocated resources to the show in the lurch,
but because Chester Group would have been
on the hook for hotel costs. “To my knowledge,
you owe the complete contract at that point,”
Tremblay explains. “If they had held the show,
they would at least get money from exhibitors
and from the door.”
When she got the announcement that Chester
sent to exhibitors and the industry at large,
Tremblay tried to contact Plante, who was away in
Germany. The next day, Plante told Tremblay that
Plurison was going to exhibit at the Bonaventure
anyway. He noted that after SSI changed venues
a few years ago, some people would still go to the
old location out of habit. “People are still going
to be showing up,” he predicted. “We will still
be there with a couple of rooms.” Tremblay said
Audio Group would exhibit as well.
She talked with hotel management, who
agreed to rent rooms directly to exhibitors. “I
didn’t want to take over the Chester contract,”
Tremblay elaborates. “Exhibitors dealt with the
hotel, and only paid for the space. That’s why the
prices were so low.”
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Tremblay says a second-floor room for which
Chester Group would have charged $2,500 was
now available for only $800. The reason, of course,
was that exhibitors were not paying for marketing
support or niceties like an official show guide.
Plante and Tremblay sent e-mails to dealers,
manufacturers and distributors to see if they also
wanted to be part of the event, which they now
called Montréal Salon Audio/Audio Fest. They
encouraged participating companies to promote the show through their Websites and social
media. And they recruited François Charron,
a Quebec media personality who specializes
in technology, to promote the event through
his Facebook page, Website and radio spots.
Charron had worked with SSI in the past, but
Chester had not booked him for the 2016 show.
By the time Montreal Salon Audio opened,
there were 65 exhibitors. One of these was
Pickering, ON-based Kevro International, North
The Montreal Audio Fest was the first consumer
showing of Monitor Audio’s new flagship Platinum II
series. “We were thrilled with how the room
sounded,” says Sheldon Ginn, Vice President Sales
and Marketing for Kevro International.
American distributor for Monitor Audio loudspeakers and Cyrus electronics. Kevro had been
planning to exhibit at SSI. “We were in all along,”
says Sheldon Ginn, Vice President, Sales and
Marketing for Kevro. “We wanted to be there
with our new product. It was the first consumer
show in North America for the new [Monitor
Audio] Platinum series. The bonus was that the
cost was 25 per cent of what it was originally
going to be.”
WiFi HiFi Publisher John Thomson and I made
the trek to Montreal to take in the revived show,
and were there when the doors opened at 11
a.m. on Friday morning. The opening was a bit
chaotic, as the hotel was in the midst of renovations. Tremblay says she had to battle with hotel
management to get construction workers to
stop using noisy equipment. “Friday was a mess,”
she says, “but after that, it was okay.”
Right from the beginning, the show was busy,
and people kept coming all weekend long. “On
Friday and Saturday, we were rocking,” Ginn
says. “Attendance on Sunday was what you’d
expect: it was steady. We were thrilled with the
attendance and we were thrilled with the sound
of the room. It was large-scale and lifelike.”
Subjectively, the show looked twice as busy as
it was last year. But because of a decision that
she and Plante made right at the beginning,
Tremblay couldn’t give an exact attendance figure. Unlike previous years, there was no charge
for admission, “so there was no clicking at the
door,” she explains.
Tremblay attributes the big crowds to the
no-charge policy. “We didn’t want to give people a reason not to come,” she elaborates. “They
could come for only an hour, but because it was
free, it was worthwhile.”
How were the new organizers able to attract 65
exhibitors, when Chester Group couldn’t even sign
up 20? “It’s a question of trust and relationships,”
Tremblay opines. “In Quebec, they didn’t build
those relationships. They hired someone from
outside the industry, and there was a disconnect.”
When Tremblay and Plante decided to revive
the show, they said they wanted to create an
industry committee to manage the event. “Michel
and I thought that the show should not belong to
one individual,” Tremblay explains. That process is
now underway, with the formation of a non-profit
organization that will carry on the Montreal Audio
Fest in future years. —Gordon Brockhouse
In the next issue of WiFi HiFi, we’ll have a story
outlining Chester Group’s response to these
events. Stay tuned.
TALKING SHOP
CANTREX NATIONWIDE HOLDS FOURTH ANNUAL PRIMETIME! MEMBER
CONFERENCE & BUYING SHOW
Cantrex Nationwide’s fourth annual PrimeTime!
Member Conference and Buying Show was a
success, with more than 250 Canadian member
retailers and vendors attending to join their more
than 3,000 U.S. counterparts.
Held from March 13-15 at the Orange County
Convention Center in Orlando, the theme of this
year’s event was “re-imagine,” as independent
retailers were asked to reimagine the future of
retail for their business, given the shifts occurring
in the landscape as a result of the growth in technology and changes in consumer behaviour.
“Independent retailers can no longer sit back
and react to change, they must always be proactively one step ahead - their future depends on
it!” says Jeannine Ghaleb, President and COO of
Cantrex Nationwide.
Canadian attendees kicked off the three-day
event at Cantrex Nationwide’s Member meeting. Highlights included an update from Ghaleb,
an inspiring keynote address from retail futurist
Doug Stephens, who gave attendees a glimpse
into what’s on the horizon for the future of retail,
and an industry panel discussion tackling the
“Future of Retail.” Several industry leaders shared
their insights on the importance of embracing
the new digital reality, remaining relevant in the
eyes of the consumer, and enhancing the retail
shopping experience.
To celebrate the event’s kick-off, members,
vendors, and colleagues took over an entire
level of the Pointe Orlando mall complex for a
huge block party that included live entertainment, dancing, food and drinks. Attendees
had the chance to both wind down, and network with others in similar fields of business.
An event was also held at the Margaritaville
Restaurant at Universal CityWalk after the first
day of the show.
Training sessions focused on the latest business
solutions and trends related to management,
leadership, marketing, merchandising, finance
and customer service. This year, Nationwide
rebranded the components in its educational
offering to fall under one umbrella, called the
Nationwide Learning Academy. These include
the online Learning Centre, which is available
24/7 to Cantrex Nationwide members, 40-plus
live training sessions given by industry experts at
PrimeTime!, and various learning occasions organized as needed.
A key attraction for attendees remained the
vendor exhibition covering 198,000 square
feet of space, featuring products and services.
Canadian independent retailers took advantage of show-exclusive Cash Back Now rebates
and special deals, collectively placing millions of
dollars in purchases in appliances, bedding, furniture, photography and consumer electronics.
“Cantrex Nationwide’s main focus has always
been to assist independent retailers in succeeding,”
says the firm in a prepared announcement. “With
strong vendor partnerships, a relentless passion
for retailing, a variety of first-class programs and
services, as well as hosting exclusive events like
PrimeTime!, Cantrex is more committed than ever
to grow the independent channel during this significant period of change in the retail industry.”
Nationwide Marketing Group’s management team: (L-r) Tom Hickman, Executive Vice President, Electronics;
Bill Bazemore, Vice President, Furniture; Jeff Knock, CCO; Dave Bilas, President & CEO; Jeannine Ghaleb, President
& COO, Cantrex Nationwide; Frank Sandtner, Executive Vice President, Member Services; and Patrick Maloney,
Senior Vice President, Appliances.
LG and SONY are the first manufacturers
to receive the 2016 Netflix Recommended
TV designation, based on the company’s
evaluation program to help consumers
identify TVs that deliver a superior smart
TV experience. Netflix introduced new
criteria and established faster performance
thresholds for this year. All TVs that made
the grade have an Instant On feature
that wakes the display up and allows apps
to be ready to use right away. With TV
Resume, if Netflix was the last app used,
the service will automatically boot up when
the TV is turned on again. webOS on LG
TVs and the Android interface on Sony TVs
allow for easy navigation and switching
among apps and inputs, says Netflix. Other
criteria, of which TVs must meet at least
five out of seven in order to qualify, include
having the latest version of Netflix with
the newest features; a single button
press to access Netflix; and easy Netflix
icon access. TCL is reportedly working to
get certification for its 2016 Roku TVs.
Ottawa-based BLEEKER STEREO & TV will
be closing its doors around June 1, after 56
years in business. The company was founded
in 1961 as a repair shop by Hans Bleeker.
It started selling TVs and stereos in 1966,
and added appliances in 1974. Rob Bleeker,
the son of the founder and Vice President
of the business, told the Ottawa Citizen
that shrinking margins, commoditization
and competition from mass merchants and
online stores were factors in the decision.
“We decided as a family to close it up on
our own terms and honourably,” he told
the local paper. “All the bills are paid and
nobody gets screwed over.”
May 2016
41
TALKING SHOP
CES 2015 EARNS TOP SPOT ON TSNN’S TOP 250 TRADE SHOW LIST
AIR CANADA plans to offer satellite
connectivity on international flights,
allowing customers to send and receive
e-mails, surf the Internet, and stream
content at broadband speeds while they
are en route to their destination. Under
the agreement, Air Canada will begin
installing Gogo 2Ku satellite technology on
its wide-body fleet commencing this fall
with its Boeing 777 aircraft. At present, Air
Canada is the only Canadian carrier to offer
customers in-flight Wi-Fi across its entire
narrow-body fleet of aircraft on flights
within North America, says the airline.
The 2015 International CES, produced by the
Consumer Technology Association (CTA) edged
out all other trade shows to be named the number-one event on the 2015 Trade Show News
Network (TSNN) Top 250 list.
The list grades the top 250 trade shows held in
each respective year in the U.S., ranking them by
square footage. CES, which has been in business
for the past half century, counted 2.23 million new
square feet of space for its 2015 event, which took
place in early January in Las Vegas, and welcomed
a total of 176,676 attendees.
CES 2017 will mark the show’s 50th anniversary.
Earlier this year, CES 2016 welcomed more than
170,000 industry professionals and 3,887 exhibiting companies across more than 2.47 million net
square feet.
Many other technology industry trade shows
made the top 100 on the list, including NAB Show,
the event for electronic media (11); InfoComm
International, the AV information communications systems conference (32); E3 (Electronic
Entertainment Expo) for the gaming community
(44); ISC West - International Security Conference
West (66); CTIA Super Mobility for the mobile
industry (71); and CEDIA Expo for the residential
custom electronics industry (94).
Other interesting facts: 54 of the top 250 trade
shows were held in Vegas, cementing the city’s
status as a top venue for industry gatherings of all
kinds. Second on the list was Orlando with 24, followed by Chicago and New York City, each with 21.
The busiest month for trade shows is March with
31, followed by November with 29. December, not
surprisingly with the holiday and end-of-year rush,
is the slowest month for trade shows with just nine
being held during those 31 days each year.
CES 2017 will return to Las Vegas from Thursday,
January 5 through to Sunday, January 8, and is
expected to span 2.4 million net square feet of
exhibit space, with more than 3,800 exhibiting
companies showcasing innovations across 20
product categories.
The 2015 International CES was ranked the numberone trade show on the 2015 Trade Show News Network
(TSNN) Top 250 List.
THE SCAFFEO GROUP LAUNCHES SALES TRAINING & MARKETING SERVICES
You may recognize the name Tony Scaffeo from
the more than 20 years he spent as vice president at Calgary-based independent retailer
Soundsaround. And now, he’s working as Chief
Entertainment Officer of sales training and
marketing company The $caffeo Group (www.
thescaffeogroup.com), serving automotive dealerships, homebuilders, and regional store chains
in consumer electronics, furniture, and appliances.
“We’ve lost the art of people coming to the
store,” Scaffeo tells WiFi HiFi. “People are clicking
online, and everyone got used to that. I want to
bring back a certain portion of in-store selling,
but do it with a social media twist because everyone does shop online and using their phones.”
Based in Calgary, The $caffeo Group offers a
three-day course, complete with a manual, and
certification. Programs are first taught to management, who can then educate their sales force
on the concepts. Methodologies include streetfighting, which Scaffeo describes as teaching the
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salesmen on the show floor how to interact with
their social media network or friends and get
store-related messages to them. If a store has a
TV on sale, for example, and there are 10 salesmen there with 100 friends each, that retailer has
an opportunity to get 1,000 messages out there.
“It can help get consumers pulling on the door
again instead of clicking online,” he says.
The $caffeo Group also offers footprint marketing, including web spots like highly-produced
Website commercials that consist of both audio
and visual components.
Scaffeo, who has been working in the automotive industry since 2013, currently counts
among his clients the McManus Group, an auto
dealership chain in Western Canada, several GM
dealerships, and high-end Calgary-based homebuilder The Factor Corp. The company works with
stores across Canada, as well as some in the U.S.
Working with Scaffeo is John Earle, who industry
folks may recall was his assistant at Soundsaround
Tony Scaffeo, Chief Entertainment Officer, The $caffeo
Group: “We’ve lost the art of people coming to the store.
I want to bring back a certain portion of in-store selling,
but do it with a social media twist...”
for many years. Earle handles the technical back
end, including Website designs, programs, and
training manuals. Scaffeo is looking to bring on
two more facilitators, and will soon be able to conduct business in French.
“Everyone talks about social media,” says Scaffeo,
“but no one takes it to the streets. I want to get
people back into the stores.”
TALKING SHOP
OBITUARY: Andy Grove, Intel Corporation
The computer industry
lost one of its greatest
pioneers with the passing of Andy Grove, who
was the third employee
of Intel Corporation, and
later served at various
times as the company’s director of engineering,
president, CEO, chairman and senior adviser.
Born András István Gróf, in Budapest, Hungary,
Grove arrived penniless to the U.S. at the age of
20, but managed to earn bachelor’s and PhD
degrees in chemical engineering. In the early
1960s, he worked at Fairchild Semiconductor as a
researcher, where he became knowledgeable in
the technology of integrated circuits, which were
soon to drive an incredible digital revolution.
In 1968, Fairchild alumni Robert Noyce and
Gordon Moore founded Intel. Grove became the
company’s third employee, on Day One. Grove’s
guiding hand helped shape the company through
the turbulent and extraordinary years ahead. His
influence remains strong today, as Intel continues
to be one of the most forward-looking high-tech
companies, never resting on its laurels, maintaining its relevance by unceasing innovation.
During the 1980s, Grove was instrumental in
moving Intel out of DRAM memory chips and
into microprocessors. He helped convince IBM
to base its new personal computer (PC) line on
Intel CPUs, which at the time were by no means
the obvious choice.
Over the years, Grove was renowned for his
acumen both in microelectronic technology and
the even less-well understood science of management. Grove was noted for warning against
corporate complacency, and for his willingness
to accept open debate and even strong criticism
from anyone in the company. Grove’s book, High
Output Management (1983) is still considered a
valuable text.
All these facts sum up Grove’s career, but do
little to sum up the man himself. However, I was
fortunate enough to meet Andy Grove just once,
on a press junket to Intel’s Silicon Valley head
office. He struck me as not only one of the sharpest minds I’d ever encountered, but also as one
of the nicest people I’d met in the upper echelons of the computer industry.
Where most top people in computing have
tended to adopt a grim, imperious demeanor,
Grove had what I would call, for lack of a better
BUY ONLINE VIA FACIAL RECOGNITION, FINGERPRINT SCANS
it’s easy for a clever thief to skim a card number
or pose as someone else online, it’s no so easy to
replicate a fingerprint, and certainly not a face.
The program will begin with corporate cards
issued to BMO employees in Canada and the
U.S. When using the MasterCard Identity Check
mobile app, customers will be prompted to
scan their fingerprints or snap selfies to validate their identities. Once verified, they
will then return to the merchant site to
complete the purchase. The purchases
can be made via computer or mobile
device, but the verification will always
be done on the phone. It works with
both Android and iOS devices, and with
any online merchant that is set up with
MasterCard’s SecureCode.
Once this testing phase is complete,
the next phase will be to make the techForget PINs and passwords: MasterCard is testing
a biometric credit card program that would
nology available to customers more
allow shoppers to verify and complete online
broadly. Phase two is expected to begin
transactions via facial recognition.
this summer.
BMO Financial Group (BMO) and MasterCard
have begun the first phase of their biometric
corporate credit card program in Canada and
the U.S., which will allow customers to confirm
online transactions using facial recognition and
fingerprint biometrics. This can, of course, afford
increased security for payments that don’t
include face-to-face interactions. Naturally, while
term, ‘Old World’ charm. I once asked Bill Gates
what seemed like a fairly intelligent question. He
snapped an answer at me derisively. My memory of Grove is very different. While addressing a
conference room full of journalists in Santa Clara,
Grove spotted me furiously taking notes on my
then state-of-the-art Windows CE handheld. He
walked over and laughed: “Here’s a guy who’s up
to date with the technology.”
A meaningless casual remark – but one that
you’d wait for a long time, with most poker-faced
execs. A quick search of Andy Grove photos confirms that this wasn’t an isolated case. Grove was
clearly a guy who didn’t mind being caught smiling. Or even grinning from ear to ear.
The MITS Altair 8800 (based on the Intel 8080
processor) was created in 1975. That puts the
microcomputer revolution solidly into its fifth
decade. So it’s hardly surprising that we’re losing some of its early leaders. Let’s hope the next
generation of technology executives, entrepreneurs and innovators are even half as able, and
as amiable, as Andy Grove. —Frank Lenk
The CANADIAN INTERNET REGISTRATION
AUTHORITY (CIRA) Internet Factbook
suggests that 62% of Canadian online
shoppers prefer to buy from Canadian
companies, citing benefit to the Canadian
economy (44%), the cost of delivery (19%),
the Canadian dollar and exchange rate
(17%), and customs charges (16%) as the
key factors. Forty-seven per cent say they
often research products online before
buying them in a store, but only 19% report
doing the reverse. Shoppers are most often
seeking out pricing information, reports 76%
of respondents. Electronics are purchased
by 32% of Canadian Internet users, behind
more popular categories like clothing (42%),
travel (40%), books (34%), and show and
game tickets (33%). The most popular device
from which to make an online purchase
remains laptop and desktop computers, but
mobile devices, particularly among younger
shoppers, are on the rise. More than onefifth (22%) of youths have made purchases
from their mobile phones. And 20% of adults
aged 18-55 are shopping from tablets.
May 2016
43
TALKING SHOP
IFA’S GLOBAL PRESS CONFERENCE SHEDS LIGHT ON KEY TECH CATEGORIES
IFA’s Global Press Conference, which took place
in early April in Hong Kong, offered valuable
insight into several categories of the CE business.
Here are some of the most interesting tidbits.
Television: The future for television is bright,
according to Juergen Boyny, Global Director,
Consumer Electronics for market research firm GfK
and Paul Gray, Principal Analyst, HIS Technology.
According to Gray, there will be an install base
of 290 million 4K TVs by the end of 2019 and
1.4 million 8K TVs shipped by 2019. What may
stall the adoption of 8K is the requirement of a
screen size of 80” plus in order to realize the full
resolution potential. Such size requirements will
limit the market in the mid-term. However, Gray
reflects that eight is a lucky number in China
where most UHD panels are sold, which may lead
to a stronger than expected adoption rate.
Boyny suggests that TV is moving away from
being a passive device to an active device similar to a laptop or mobile phone. GfK data shows
that 47% of all TV viewers have access to a TV
with smart features and, similar to smartphones,
apps will completely change how consumers approach what they do with a TV. Apps for
assisted living, health, shopping, travel and even
education will establish the TV in ways that have
only been realized until now via a smartphone.
Online Video: GfK predicts that 80% of all consumer Internet traffic will be video by 2019.
Snapchat video views now equal Facebook at
eight-billion daily. The average mobile viewing
session on YouTube is over 40 minutes, and
more than half of all YouTube views are from
a mobile device. There are 1.3 billion YouTube
users worldwide, uploading 300 hours of video
every minute. In 2015, there were one-billion
mobile YouTube video views per day.
Small Appliances: The small appliance that has
shown the highest growth year-over-year in 10
European countries is the callus remover, selling
78 million units in the first quarter 2015 for a 78%
growth rate. And did you know that indoor air
quality is actually 10-30 times worse than outdoor air, driving a 45% YOY global growth in air
purifiers? In total, 50 small appliances are sold
every second of every day somewhere in the
world. That compares to 44 smartphones every
second and seven LED TVs. Based on these numbers, 1.4 billion smartphones will be sold in 2016.
Smartphones and Accessories: Speaking of
smartphones, despite Apple being the top camera brand on Flickr, of the 1.4 billion smartphones
forecast to ship in 2016, 314 million of them will
be from Samsung. In the last six months, 33% of
North American shoppers have reported making
a mobile payment compared to Western Europe
(24%), China (84%), and Latin America (39%). In
terms of accessories, 334 million headphones will
be sold globally in 2016, while Bluetooth docking systems will see a 13% YOY growth in the
Americas to 42 million units. Globally, 44 smartphones are sold every second of every day. Where
you live determines what you pay for a phone. In
the developed Asia Pacific region, the average selling price of an unsubsidized phone is $578, while
in emerging Asia in places like Vietnam, it’s $257.
Wearables: Where do some big opportunities in
wearables lie? In 1960, 5% of the U.S. GDP was
spent on health care, and by 2010, it was 17%.
Naturally, that trajectory is unsustainable, leading companies like Philips to see an enormous
business opportunity on clinically-validated,
FDA-approved wearables. Philips isn’t even
going after the youth fitness market, but rather
the chronically ill. That’s where the money is.
Smart Home: When it comes to the smart home,
the Chinese may be more receptive than those of
us in North America: 75% of Chinese consumers
think smart home tech will have a positive impact
on their lives compared to 51% of U.S. consumers.
Drones: Drones are a growth category still in its
infancy. An estimated 4.3 million drones shipped
globally in 2015 generating $1.7 billion in revenue. Drone sales are up 147% YOY. Businesses are
recognizing drones as tools to reduce costs and
increase efficiency. European airline Easyjet now
uses drones to carry out safety inspections of its
aircraft, while Amazon continues to inch closer to
drone package delivery becoming a reality. In the
U.K., 45% of all drone sales in 2015 occurred in the
month of December, highlighting the gift potential of the devices. For the drone market to flourish,
there are still challenges that need to be overcome,
such as extending battery life, adjusting weight
restrictions, adding night vision, and improving
“sense and avoidance” technology. As these refinements occur, drone adoption will continue to rise.
Juergen Boyny, Global Director, Consumer Electronics, GfK, sees the future of TVs as moving away from being
passive devices to active devices, more akin to laptops and smartphones.
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Overall, GfK says 2015 was the year when the
average attention span of a goldfish (nine seconds)
became greater than the attention span of most
humans who can only stay focused for eight seconds, down from 12 seconds a decade ago. Did you
reach the end of this article? — John Thomson
TALKING SHOP
WHO’S DOING WHAT?
Erikson Consumer, a division of JAM
Industries, has been named the new
distributor for TEAC Consumer Audio and
TASCAM Professional Audio Products in
Canada. JAM Industries has 18 distribution
centres across North America servicing
musical instruments, consumer electronics,
professional audio and lighting.
Snapchat has forked over US$100 million to purchase Toronto-based
Bitstrips, which makes personalized emojis called bitmojis. Bitstrips,
founded in 2007, initially allowed users to create personal avatars to add
to funny or sarcastic comic strips. These morphed into bitmojjis, which
still use those personalized avatars, but now inject them into personalized
emojis that are part of a customized Bitmoji keyboard. They’re used, as
standard emojis are, to emphasize a feeling or statement, like “ha ha ha,”
or “I miss you.” The purchase price includes a mix of cash and stock.
Revolabs, a provider of
audio systems for unified
communications (UC),
enterprise collaboration, and
professional audio applications,
has appointed Stampede as its
newest distribution partner for
Canada. Stampede will represent
Revolabs’ wireless and wired audio solutions, including wireless
microphone systems and conference phones. Revolabs has customers
in a wide range of markets, including corporate enterprise, education,
financial services, healthcare, and government.
Metra Home Theater Group, a provider
of home theatre products and accessories
has assigned Montreal-based Sobel
Imports as its Canadian distributor.
Pioneer Electronics of Canada will act
as Metra’s exclusive sales and marketing
team. Metra Home Theater Group includes
the brands Ethereal and Helios and offers a wide-range of installation
and cable solutions in addition to home surveillance solutions under
its Velox brand.
Logitech has paid US$50 million for wireless
audio wearables device maker Jaybird. Salt Lake City,
UT-based Jaybird namely makes headphones for
sports enthusiasts. The acquisition includes
approximately US$50 million in cash, with
an additional earn-out of up to US$45 million
based on achievement of growth targets over
the next two years.
Harman International Industries, Inc.
(Erikson Consumer) and Under Armour have
confirmed a strategic partnership to bring connected
health and fitness technology to consumers. The first
products are a pair of wireless sport headphones:
the UA Headphones Wireless Heart Rate ($345)
and UA Headphones Wireless ($250). The flagship
model, UA Headphones Wireless Heart Rate,
engineered by JBL, provides heart rate data
that’s measured directly from the ear at the touch of a button,
without the need for a band, watch or phone. A code in the box will
give customers one-year of premium MapMyFitness service.
Plurison has been appointed the
exclusive Canadian distributor for
ClearAudio products, including turntables,
tonearms, cartridges, and accessories. All
warranty and non-warranty products will be
serviced through Plurison’s Repentigny, QC
office. All existing ClearAudio dealers can
contact Plante at mplante@plurison.com to
get their account activated with Plurison.
Staub Electronics has signed
on to distribute three new
lines, and will no longer be
distributing several 12V brands,
three of which Edmonton-based
B&B Electronics has taken on.
Staub has been appointed a Canadian distributor for
Russound whole-home distributed audio systems
and components for residential and light commercial
markets; Flir Surveillance cameras and video
recording systems for use in commercial, critical
infrastructure, and home security applications; and
Yale Real Living Z-Wave-compatible locks, which
enable homeowners to lock/unlock doors remotely,
set schedules, and personalize access to their homes.
Meanwhile, as the company shifts focus toward
growing its residential/commercial AV categories
and remote start business, Staub will no longer
be distributing Scosche, Accele, Boyo, JVC/Kenwood,
Mobileye, and Parrot 12V products. B&B Electronics has assumed distribution
of Scosche, Accele, and Boyo products in Canada. That includes product
returns, RMA service, and return for credit requests. For further inquiries,
contact your territory manager or Staub client services team at
1-888-470-2211. Those who wish to set up an account with B&B can
contact orders@b-b-electronics.com, call 1-800-279-0636, ext. 1, or contact
Jason Haberman, Global Sales Manager at jhaberman@b-b-electronics.com
for territory or sales inquiries.
May 2016
45
OLED
UHD LED
VS.
BY DAVID SUSILO
Particularly over the last couple of years,
consumers have been hearing about this
“new” display technology called OLED.
Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) is
considered to be the future of flat panel
display. But is it really?
HOW IT WORKS
A typical OLED is composed of a layer of organic
materials situated between two electrodes, the
anode and cathode, all deposited on a layer of
substrate. The organic molecules are electrically
THE STORY
OLED as a display application is actually
a Canadian invention.
OLED offers the best/most accurate
picture quality, as per professional
industry standards.
Lightweight and low on energy
consumption, OLED surpasses any
Energy Star ratings to date.
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conductive. These materials have conductivity
levels ranging from insulators to conductors,
and are therefore considered organic semiconductors (the “Organic” part of “OLED.”) Many
modern OLEDs incorporate a simple bilayer
structure, consisting of a conductive layer and
an emissive layer.
Of course, these OLEDs need to be applied on
something. For a large, high resolution display like
a TV, amorphous-silicon/microcrystalline-silicon
backplanes are used. For a small-sized display,
such as a smartphone screen, Low Temperature
Polycrystalline Silicon Thin-Film Transistor
(LTPS TFT) is used. A plastic material called PET
(Polyethylene Terephthalate) seals and protects
the OLED material from dust and moisture.
Unlike LCD which is transmissive in nature
(using LEDs as a backlight shining through a layer
of film), OLED is emmisive, just like plasma, where
every sub-pixel is its own light source. This method
can result in better colour rendition, the widest
viewing angle, and the blackest blacks possible.
But it’s a hyper complex manufacturing process.
And that’s the reason we hadn’t seen large-sized
OLEDs for consumers until a couple of years ago.
ADVANTAGES OF OLED
display technologies without various complex
and fragile technological add-ons like Quantum
Dot, colour filters, special glass and coatings,
which you’ll most likely only find on the higher-priced models. In optical physics, the more
layers of filtration, the less accurate a colour rendition would be.
Black Level
With transmissive display technology (which, as
noted, requires backlighting), the only way to
achieve true black is by turning off the backlighting
of the LCD panel. It is an acceptable solution, but
even at the very best, current LED TVs can only dim
up to 640 zones. For entry-level models, this goes
down to merely a single zone. Whereas in OLED,
the display can shut off each pixel individually. In
the case of 4K TVs, that’s four-million zones!
Price
For the time being, OLED isn’t more expensive than
LCDs of equivalent quality. But in the future, just
like with any technology, OLED will likely become
more affordable as the manufacturing process
becomes more scalable. On the other hand, to
achieve a similar quality to OLED, the price for an
LCD will likely remain the same because of those
aforementioned required add-ons.
Colour Accuracy
Due to the nature of emissive displays where each
sub pixel can be controlled individually, there’s
the potential for greater accuracy with an OLED
display. This cannot be achieved by transmissive
Image Retention and Burn In
Playing back videos with a 2.35:1 image ratio on
my first generation OLED more than 90% of the
time, and clocking more than 1,000 hours, I have
Photo courtesy of LG Korea
A BRIEF HISTORY
The basis of OLED technology itself has actually
been around since the 1960s when Martin Pope
and some of his co-workers at New York University
developed the method of ohmic dark-injecting
electrode contacts to organic crystals.
The display application, however, was first seen
in Canada in 1965. W. Helfrich and W. G. Schneider
of the National Research Council in Ottawa
produced double injection recombination electroluminescence for the first time in an anthracene
single crystal. They used hole and electron injecting electrodes, the forerunner of modern OLED TV.
lem. Except for outdoor applications, why would
anyone need such a high brightness level? While
OLED is not as bright as LCD, it can yield brightness far higher than recommended anyway, thus
making this disadvantage a moot point.
Longevity
With LCD, you usually get between 60,000 to
100,000 rated hours of life. (Though I question
those figures since I have yet to witness an LCD
panel that lasted longer than 20,000 hours.) On
the other hand, OLED “only” has a lifespan of
40,000 to 70,000 hours. Once again, it’s a moot
argument: if you watch your TV for eight hours a
day, every day, for almost 14 years, you will only
hit the 40,000 hour mark.
CONCLUSION
yet to see any image retention (i.e. temporary
burn-in) caused by the black bars. On the other
hand, I frequently see burned-in images on LCD
panels at places like airports. Unless you deliberately want to create image retention, with either
technology, it’s difficult to do.
Refresh Rate
Refresh rate is directly correlated to a display’s
response time. OLEDs have a much faster
response time than LCD. Using response time
compensation technologies, the fastest modern
LCDs can demonstrate as low as 1ms response
times for their fastest colour transition, and are
capable of refresh frequencies as high as 144Hz.
According to LG, the response times for its 2014
model OLEDs are up to 1,000 times faster than
LCD, putting conservative estimates at under 10μs
(0.01 ms). (LG only claims the 2016 model OLEDs
to be “faster” without stating the actual number.)
This, in theory, could accommodate refresh frequencies approaching 100kHz (100,000Hz).
Due to their extremely fast response time, OLED
displays can be easily designed to be strobed. This
creates an effect similar to CRT flicker in order
to avoid the sample-and-hold behaviour (read:
lower refresh rate) used on both LCDs and some
older (pre 2014) OLED displays that results in the
perception of motion blur.
Viewing Angle
Unlike LCDs, OLEDs have a true 178-degree viewing angle. This means as long as you can see
the picture displayed on an OLED, you’ll experience the same colour rendition as someone
sitting in the sweet spot. With LCD, even in the
best-case scenario, you can only get a maximum 90-degree viewing angle (and as low as
30 degrees) while maintaining colour rendition
without any colour shift.
With so many advantages, it’s clear OLED is a winning technology. Yes, it will cost around $10,000
for a 65” Premium UHD model coming from
companies like LG and Panasonic in both flat and
curved variants. But it will also cost about the
same for a comparable LCD TV with a full-array
backlight system with 256 or higher backlight
zones. An OLED will be about 25% of the weight
of LCD, consumes about half the electricity, offers
up to 600% wider viewing angle, and has the best
black level possible - it can’t get much better than
0.005 nits where 0 is the absolute black.
This is not to say that LCD does not have its
place. In secondary viewing rooms, like the bedroom or powder room, or in a bright room where
picture quality could be washed out by light, LCD
will do just fine. And it’s a great option if one’s
budget for a new TV is restricted.
LCD and OLED TV technologies will co-exist for
a very long time. But if you have the money to
spend, and appreciation for the best picture quality available, OLED is in a league of its own.
THE “DISADVANTAGES” OF OLED
Brightness
LG’s highly-anticipated 65” 4K OLED TVs are fully
compliant with the new Premium UHD display
standard set by the UHD Alliance, and designed with
an attractive, transparent glass panel.
This is where LCD shines (literally). Since there’s
no need for each individual sub pixel to light
itself, LCD backlights can be boosted to any level
the manufacturers desire. However, considering
the recommended brightness level set by THX
(35 fL, foot-Lambert), even a 30-year-old tube TV
can achieve that brightness without any prob-
Coming later this year, Panasonic’s 65” TX-65CZ950,
its first OLED TV, is not Ultra HD Premium-certified,
but it is HDR-capable and THX-certified.
May 2016
47
Designer
Wearables
THE WEARABLES MARKET IS HOT. IDC reports that
27.4 million wearable devices shipped in the fourth quarter
of 2015 alone, and 78.1 million shipped last year, up 171.6%
from 2014. Gartner predicts that in 2016, 274.6 million
wearable electronic devices will be sold worldwide, including
everything from head-mounted displays and body-worn
cameras to the standard smartwatch and activity tracker.
Many of these will be worn for specific health and fitness
reasons; others predominantly for smart notifications. And
some, in large part, for fashion appeal.
It’s a space that’s growing quickly, with tech companies like
Polar, Misfit, Fitbit, and Huawei developing stylish wrist-worn
devices that aim to replace the standard wristwatch.
But looking at the number of smartwatches that were
introduced at watch and jewelry trade show Baselworld
in Switzerland this March, designers and traditional
watchmakers are taking a serious look at the category.
And they’re not quite ready to give up that valuable wrist
space to the tech brands.
Here’s a sample of what’s to come in designer wearables
this year.
Frederique Constant Horological
This beautiful piece of smart jewelry just screams
class and sophistication. For about US$1,585, you
can snag the Swiss-made stainless steel smartwatch
with a convex sapphire face, leather strap, and
diamond cut hands. Powered by a coin cell battery
and MotionX, it works with both Android and iOS
devices, and offers the standard activity and sleep
tracking functions – the hands on the small dial can
signify percentage toward activity or sleep goals,
depending on which mode you’re in.
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Fossil Q Tailor and Q Nate
Dubbed “smarter” analog watches, these two work with both Android and
iOS devices, and offer alerts for incoming calls, and notifications from contacts
through a turn of the small dial hands. They also track steps, calories,
and sleep, and offer automatic time zone updates; a second time zone
is in the sub-eye on the analog dial. Push the
smart button to perform instant actions,
like playing music or snapping a selfie.
They offer a classic look and feel,
arguably best suited to the man or
woman who prefers a pair of jeans
and runners or boots over fashionable
4” heels and a designer dress. If the
price is right once they officially launch
this fall, each could serve as an ideal
secondary watch, too.
Tissot Smart-Touch
Constructed with a titanium case, ceramic bezel,
sapphire crystal screen, and quartz movement, what
truly sets this high-end designer smartwatch apart is
that it is solar-powered, gaining its charge from the sun.
Deemed a “watch first,” it’s smart functions are fairly
limited: it can sync with a smartphone for the time,
weather updates, settings, and to “share experiences”
with friends, though there’s little information about
what that actually means. There are accessories
that work with it, like a tag that lets you keep track
of humidity, temperature, and other environmental
factors. Set for availability in late 2016, it will cost
about 710 Euros, which translates to about $1,050.
Movado’s 25 New SKUs
Guess Connect
Developed in partnership with HP, Movado is
launching 25 new smartwatches under its diverse
umbrella of watch brands, including Coach, Hugo
Boss, Lacoste, Juicy Couture, Tommy Hilfiger, and
Scuderia Ferrari. This will include styles for both
men and women, all of which offer smart notifications, a world clock, and activity tracking. They
will be compatible with both iOS and Android
devices, and will launch in the U.S., Canada, and
Europe with pricing starting at US$195. Naturally,
the look of each watch will vary depending on
the brand, and likely reflect each one’s distinctive
style. Concept photos have not yet been released,
so we’ll have to wait and see how they might
stack up in the design department.
Available last fall and developed in partnership with
Martian, this watch employs a stunning design that
represents a great middle-of-the-road between a
super-flashy smartwatch like the Michael Kors Access,
and a more basic but still fashionable one, like the
Fossil Q Tailor. There are versions for both men and
women, each of which reserves a tiny rectangular screen
below the watch face for inconspicuous scrolling data and
alerts from a connected smartphone. That’s a step above
some of the others that only show that you received a message,
but don’t actually display its contents. My favourite is the version with a blue-band and rose
gold accents: it’s chic enough to wear for a night out on the town, but won’t look out of place
on your arm while you’re dressed down for a night in as well. And you can’t go wrong with rose
gold. If you picked up one of the latest smartphones or protective cases in that trendy tech
shade, the watch will match it beautifully. It sells for about $480 in Canada.
Montblanc e-strap
Michael Kors Access
Not surprisingly, the Michael Kors Access is aimed
at customers looking for “glamorous style” and
“luxury fashion.” It’s the ideal watch design for
the woman who really loves “bling,” and the man
who wants to make a bold statement. It runs
on both Android and iOS devices, and includes
exclusive Michael Kors display faces that change
with a swipe. It comes with interchangeable leather
and silicone wristbands. Via AndroidWear, users
can access social media updates, text messages,
and e-mail alerts, receive app notifications and
smart help from Google, and enjoy built-in fitness
tracking. It will retail this fall starting at US$395.
Launched last year, Montblanc’s e-strap concept
is a clever one: rather than replace your traditional
watch face, a smart display is integrated into the
underside of the strap. It tracks and displays activity,
and receives smart notifications from a connected
Android or iOS device. The e-strap is available
for three watches under Montblanc’s TimeWalker
collection, each of which touts “sporty elegance and masculinity” as their design principles.
They incorporate features like Montblanc’s signature skeleton horns, narrow bezel, large dial with
Arabic numerals, and lancet-shaped hands. For the on-the-go manly man, this is a great option.
Kenneth Cole Connect
Available in various designs for both men and women, and announced
in 2015, this simple and sporty watch can display standard smartphone
alerts, and be used to control music and snap selfies. It operates on
a coin-cell battery, and is water-resistant. The “Don’t Leave Me” alert
advises if a Bluetooth connection is broken, so you don’t accidentally
leave your phone behind. Starting at just US$135, the styling reflects the
watch’s affordable price point. These are casual, daily-use watches more
than they are designer wristwear for a night out. Each one would make
a great gift for a teenager, or the person who appreciates a well-known
brand name but prefers less flashy styling.
Samsung Gear S2 by de GRISOGONO
While it’s branded by the uber-high-end watchmaker, the de GRISOGONO smartwatch is actually a high-fashion
version of the Samsung Gear S2, co-created by the two companies. Along with affording access to the Gear S2
library of apps and features, the stunning smartwatch is designed and sculpted in rose gold and jewels, with over
100 black and white diamonds, and a bracelet studded with de GRISOGONO’s signature galuchat. To access the
smart apps, including notifications, activity logs, and even heart rate data, turn the diamond-set gold bezel around
the dial to adjust the 1.2” Super AMOLED (360 x 360) screen – yes, it’s a digital screen. The watch runs for about
2-3 days of use per charge. Topping off the feature set is Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC connectivity. It’ll be available
some time this summer. There’s no word yet on pricing. But coming from a company that offered a luxury watch
at over half a million dollars, you should probably start saving up now.
May 2016
49
WHO WENT WHERE? |
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has
promoted three team members to vice presidents
in various areas: Kara Dickerson (top) is now Vice
President, Strategic Partnerships and Conferences;
Ellen Savage (centre) is Vice President, Membership
Programs; and Tyler Suiters (bottom) holds the
new title of Vice President, Communications.
All three previously held senior director titles in
their respective departments.
In her new position, Dickerson will oversee keynotes
and conference programs for CES and CES Asia, as well
as programming for all of CTA’s standalone conferences
and events. As a 15-year veteran of CTA, she joined
the association as a manager in the membership
department before being named senior director,
conferences and strategic relationships in 2009.
Savage joined CTA in 2006 as a senior manager of
member programs, and was promoted to director
in 2011, and then senior director of the department
in 2013. In her new capacity, she will continue
to supervise all of CTA’s membership programs as
well as the association’s membership recruitment
and retention efforts.
Directing CTA’s strategic communications efforts
related to public policy, thought leadership and
product category promotions, Suiters arrived at
CTA in 2013 with extensive experience in broadcast
journalism and strategic communications, most
recently serving as vice president, international
affairs with Edelman Worldwide. He originally joined
CTA as senior director, communications.
Montreal-based The Rep Firm Canada Ltd.
has appointed Pierre-Yves Jeanson as Sales
Representative. Based in Sherbrooke, QC, Jeanson
has worked with Future Shop since 2001, and joined
the Geek Squad team in 2009. He will be assigned
a portion of the province for consumer, CI and
lite-commercial business, and will take care of
all 12V accounts for the province of Quebec.
pyjeanson@therepfirm.ca
TOA Canada Corporation has appointed
Warren Strem to Regional Sales Manager for the
West Coast. In this position, Strem will be working with
Barry Taylor, Regional Sales Manager, BC, AB, SK, MB,
in anticipation of Taylor’s pending retirement. Strem
will be responsible for British Columbia and Alberta,
while Taylor will cover British Columbia and Alberta,
along with Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Strem, who
has extensive experience in the AV and pro sound
industries, is based out of Edmonton.
50
www.wifihifi.ca
Sarasota, Florida-based Clare Controls has appointed
Brad Middleton as Director of Business Development
for Canada. Middleton will work closely with the
integration, distribution, and builder channels to grow
Clare Controls’ value proposition. Middleton joins Clare
from Evolution Home Entertainment Corp., where he
was senior brand manager, responsible for driving
sales and growth of Savant products. With 25 years
of industry experience, Middleton also previously
worked with Great Metropolitan Sound and Majestic.
brad.middleton@clarecontrols.com
Pat Button has been appointed Vice President, Sales
& Distribution for WIND Mobile. In this position, he will
be responsible for the in-store experience within the
wireless provider’s 320 retail stores, including all handset/
accessory distribution and sales. Prior to this position,
Button was managing director, Canada, for HYLA Mobile.
He has 25 years of industry experience, having previously
worked in management roles at companies like Bell
Canada, BlackBerry, Sony, and Samsung.
pbutton@windmobile.ca
Wells Fargo Commercial Distribution Finance
(CDF), formerly GE Capital CDF, has appointed
Yannick Cloutier as National Relationship Manager
for Electronics, Appliances and Furniture in Canada.
In this role, he will be responsible for CDF’s Vendor and
Buying Groups Relationship in Canada. Cloutier has
more than 18 years of experience in the industry,
most recently in a sales roles at CDF. Prior to CDF,
he worked for W3 Solutions, as well as Best Buy
and Future Shop. CDF provides inventory financing
solutions, service and intelligence.
yannick.cloutier@wellsfargo.com
Trends Electronics has appointed The Rep Firm, led
by Frederic Bourgeois, as a representative for its
12V mobile audio and video product lines in the
province of Quebec. The Rep Firm already handles
Trends’ custom home and commercial products there.
fbourgeois@therepfirm.ca
Sears Canada Inc. has confirmed the pending departure of its Executive
Vice President and CFO, E.J. Bird, who will be leaving the company
effective June 30, 2016 to “pursue other opportunities.” Bird assumed the
role of CFO in March 2013. A search by the company is currently underway
for a new CFO. Senior Vice President, Finance, Billy Wong, will work
closely with Bird during this period of transition to help pave the way for
a seamless changeover when a permanent CFO is named.
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