NEWS
Wearable tech and 4K set to impress this year But despite the fast-growing interest in fresh smart devices, some analysts dismiss the sector as a ‘novelty’
by Matthew Jarvis
2014 WILL be the year of wearable tech, say analysts. CCS Insight predicted in its annual Hotline report that while smartwatches will fail to generate significant demand before 2015, the wearable device category as a whole will begin to generate “a lot of innovation, interest and hype” throughout 2014 – ahead of a spike in growth when prices drop. The analyst added that it
expects innovation and interest in the sector to be renewed by Google’s launch of an Android operating system optimised for sub- two-inch devices this year. However, other analysts
have suggested that it will take more than lower prices to drive consumer sales of wearable tech – devices will have to present genuine utility in modern life.
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CCS Insight expects mobile devices such as tablets to drive the adoption of 4K displays.
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Juniper Research forecasts that technology will expand in the streets of major cities, with ‘smart cities’ hosting an infrastructure of various interconnected devices and systems.
Patrick Hubbard SolarWinds’ Patrick
Hubbard and Lawrence Garvin told PCR in a statement: “At this point, wearable tech is just a novelty gadget, and until legitimate use-cases are developed for the technology beyond just ‘having fun’, it will continue to be so.” For some of those who do begin to upgrade their
“Legitimate use- cases beyond just ‘having fun’ need to developed for
wearable tech.” SolarWinds
Lawrence Garvin
IDC Financial Insights sees the demand for mobile and
everyday item to tech- equipped replacements such as smartwatches and smartglasses, it might become unimaginable to live without the digital world. Daniel Weisbeck, COO and CMO of Netbiscuits, stated: “2014 will see a further explosion of new devices, with many users now owning multiple devices,
alternative payment services staying muted in 2014, with providers attempting find a new system that resonates for both sellers and consumers.
SolarWinds predicts a struggle ahead for retailers who sell to businesses, as it reckons personally-owned Bring Your Own Device products and subscription- based services will cause retail opportunities to dry up.
often engaging with different devices at the same time.” With the increasing
presence of connected devices, Netbiscuits also predicts a rise in ‘nomophobia’ – the fear of being without a mobile phone – “driven by new device categories such as smart watches and wearable gadgets”.
Wacom eyes more UK stores for 2014
Graphic tablet vendor’s first UK Experience Centre opens doors in response to high customer demand by Laura Barnes
UK AREA MANAGER Jeremy Curtis has told PCR that Wacom would love to open more retail outlets featuring its graphic tablets following the opening of its first UK Experience Centre. “We’re really excited about the prospects of this venture,” said Curtis. “I’d love to open more
stores. Hopefully this is the start of something bigger.” The first store, which launched in November, is located in High Wycombe and is a one-stop centre for everything Wacom. “The store was opened
in response to people asking where they can get Wacom,
www.pcr-online.biz The High Wycombe
Experience Centre offers more than a usual retail store, says Jeremy Curtis (right)
where they can actually see it, try it out and get the right advice,” explained Curtis. The Experience Store
offers a broader assortment than a retail store, says Wacom. Curtis added that
staff knowledge makes a big difference for customers: “Specially trained staff understand the graphic market needs and other areas where products might be used,” he said.
The centre has a full
range of Wacom products on display, including the recently launched Cintiq Companion, which Curtis likens to a “super iPad”, but stresses that unlike the
iPad, the device is aimed at professional users. Wacom also caters
to amateurs and has released a new range of accessible entry-level graphic tablet products.
PCR January 2014 | 21
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