The IT Nerd

Hisense is bringing more choice to Canadian consumers by adding new Amazon Fire TV products to its innovative TV line-up.

Now available exclusively at Amazon.ca, the Hisense U68HF is the company’s first smart television with Amazon’s Fire TV built in. The 50- and 58-inch TV models offer Fire TV’s content-forward experience alongside the always-available intelligence of Alexa, delivering a truly immersive and powerful smart TV to Hisense Canada TV customers. Creating even more robust audio and visual experiences and making it accessible to the masses, the U68HF features Hisense’s proprietary 4K ULED technology, Quantum Dot colour, Dolby Vision HDR, HDR10/HDR10+, a 60Hz variable refresh rate, 240 motion rate and 600 nit peak brightness.

With Fire TV built in, the Hisense U68HF offers consumers a world of entertainment from apps like Prime Video, Netflix and Disney+. Subscription may be required. Plus, stream for free with CBC Gem and more. Customers also benefit from Fire TV’s expansive features including: 

• Alexa Voice Remote, allowing users to use their voice to search and launch more than 100 apps, change channels, search for titles, play music or control other devices in their smart home.
• Integration with smart home devices, including doorbells, cameras and more, and the ability to view video feeds from compatible doorbells and smart home cameras with features like Live View Picture-in-Picture.
• Game Mode Plus, which decreases input lag, reduces response time and frame-rate issues on next-generation game consoles via HDMI connectivity, 60Hz Variable Refresh Rate and Auto Low Latency Mode.

Available exclusively on amazon.ca, the 50″ U68HF is available for $649.99 with a larger 58″ model available for $799.99.

It is one of the most watched sporting events in the world, and as the quarter-finals continue onto semi-finals and then to the final game, you will want to make sure your viewing experience is as good as the action on the pitch. 

The FIFA World Cup of Soccer regularly draws more than three billion viewers worldwide. The quadrennial tournament is the sport’s pinnacle event and deserves no less than the best from its fans. And Hisense Canada, official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, has some tips on shopping for the best TV for watching sports.

Hisense recommends looking for the following:

• Laser — If you have the budget, the new generation of laser TVs are the way to go. Hisense’s Trichroma laser engine in the L9G series reaches up to 3,000 lumens of peak brightness, earning it the title of King of the Ultra Short-Throw Projectors. Laser TVs offer massive screens, with true-to-life images that exceed the standard 4K colour range. The image produced by the laser light is precise without unwanted light dispersion, meaning the image on the screen looks more natural.
• QLED — Quantum dots are semiconductor nanocrystals that produce pure red, green and blue light. In a Hisense QLED TV, that means a display that is brighter, with sharper contrasts between the more than one billion colours it projects. The picture is pure and close to real. A TV with quantum dot technology is almost 20 times brighter than your standard computer monitor. The Hisense U78H series comes equipped with a Sports Mode feature that is automatically activated enhancing details and smoothness that will provide soccer lovers with an exquisite FIFA World Cup™ watching experience.
• Clarity — Most TVs nowadays boast 4K resolution, but the more important feature you should be looking for is HDR — short for High-Dynamic Range, it means the TV has a massive range of colours, which appear brighter and in greater contrast, and provides more detail to the image on the screen — think seeing the blades of grass on the field swaying gently in the wind.
• Smoothness — Soccer moves fast, and if your refresh or motion rate is low the images on the screen will blur. Look for a refresh rate of 120Hz for a crisp, clear view of the wide receiver streaking up the sideline. Also look to see if it has an MEMC chip (Motion Estimation / Motion Compensation). MEMC is used to interpolate extra images on your TV, which is a fancy way of saying it works with the refresh or motion rate to smooth out the picture and reduce the risk of blurred action on the screen. The HDR10+ feature runs a scene-by-scene adjustment sequence for brightness, colour saturation and contrast to produce an image that is far more realistic. 
• Dolby Vision & Atmos — Working with HDR10+, they turn your TV into an entertainment powerhouse. Developed in the cinema, they provide amazing realism that you will see, hear and feel. Support multiple speakers with Atmos, transmitting sound to every corner of the room and creating a 3D theatre audio experience.
• Sound — What you hear from the stadium is a huge part of the viewing experience in soccer. Surround yourself with the sounds of the game with a compact sound bar — big sound without taking up a lot of space, and without having to run wires all across your room. And added subwoofer will ensure you hear and feel the crunch of every hit. Absent a sound bar, or separate home theatre system, look for a TV with Dolby Atmos or dbx-tv® for a superior audio experience right from the television.

For more information, please visit hisense-canada.com.

With a remarkably bright picture, vibrant colours and impressive contrast, the Hisense U88H Series Quantum Dot Google TV delivers an immersive viewing experience.

Launched earlier this year at CES 2022 in Las Vegas, the premium 4K ULED TV, which features a Mini LED upgrade paired with Hisense’s Quantum Dot technology, is now available in Canada. The U88H Series is available in 55-inch, 65-inch and 75-inch models.

With a 120Hz refresh rate, a peak brightness of up to 1,500 nits and picture upgrades like IMAX Enhanced, Ultra Motion Sports Mode, Filmmaker Mode, Dolby Vision IQ, state-of-the-art picture quality with Dolby IQ and HDR10+, the U88H Series takes picture quality to a new level. With growing interest in free, live over-the-air broadcast, especially local news, sports and network content, the newly integrated NEXTGEN TV (ATSC 3.0) offers extensive options to watch content in 4K HDR and Dolby audio. 

Some features of the U88H Series include:

• Quantum Dot — Boasting a palette of more than a billion colours, Hisense Quantum Dot ULED TVs display true lifelike colours with beautiful gradation that elevates the overall picture quality with authentic colour, brilliant contrast, clear motion and distinct details.
• Mini LED — Much smaller than conventional LEDs, they allow for significantly more LEDs on each panel producing incredible detail and contrast with deeper black and brighter white levels
• 1,500 nits Peak Brightness — A higher number of nits means TVs with HDR can reach a higher contrast ratio. This allows the U88H to better differentiate between bright and dark scenes without losing detail. 
• Ultra Motion Sports Mode — The native 120Hz refresh rate and sports mode removes “noise” using a dynamic algorithm tailored to moving object, resulting in a truly vibrant, crystal-clear image. It also enhances crowd surround sound effects, meaning lifelike crowd sound while the commentator stays clear and focused.
• Google TV™ — Equipped with Google, the U88H brings together movies, shows and more from across your apps and subscriptions and organizes them just for you. Discover new things to watch with recommendations based on what you watch and what interests you. The voice control remote makes it easier to find movies and shows, answer questions, control smart home devices, and more.

The  U88H Series televisions are available in stores and online at  Visions Electronics stores across Canada and online at Best Buy, Amazon, The Brick, Tanguay, and other authorized retailers. 

For more information, please visit hisense-canada.com. 

When the action on the field is fast, but you are at home on your couch, you want to be watching it on a TV that keeps pace with what is happening in the game. 

And when that game is one of the Top 10 most watched sporting events in the world, you don’t want to miss a snap. Quick facts: in 2021, nine of the top 10 most watched TV programs in the United States were NFL games (President Joe Biden’s inauguration was the only non-NFL event to crack the Top 10, coming in at No. 7). The NFL’s championship game is consistently the most watched program in the U.S. year after year, and it is annually among the most watched programs in Canada — typically only bumped from the top spot by Olympics, a Canadian NHL team in the Stanley Cup final, the Toronto Raptors winning the NBA championship and, once, by the Academy Awards. 

“When the game is that big, you don’t want to be a second behind what is going on,” says Lindsay Takashima, Vice-President of Sales, Consumer Electronics, for Hisense Canada. “It’s easy to think bigger is better when it comes to watching sports on TV, but you should be giving it more thought than that. Professional athletes move quick. You don’t want your big screen lagging or blurring. You want crisp, clear and bright colours with contrast that makes it look like they are playing right in your living room.” 

When shopping for the best TV for watching sports, Puneet recommends looking for the following: 

• Laser — If you have the budget, the new generation of laser TVs are the way to go. Hisense’s Trichroma laser engine in the L9G reaches up to 3,000 lumens of peak brightness, earning it the title of King of the Ultra Short-Throw Projectors. Laser TVs offer massive screens, with true-to-life images that exceed the standard 4K colour range. The image produced by the laser light is precise without unwanted light dispersion, meaning the image on the screen looks more natural. 
• QLED — Quantum dots are semiconductor nanocrystals that produce pure red, green and blue light. In a Hisense QLED TV, that means a display that is brighter, with sharper contrasts between the more than one billion colours it projects. The picture is pure and close to real. A TV with quantum dot technology is almost 20 times brighter than your standard computer monitor. Hisense’s quantum dot TVs come equipped with Dolby Vision® and Dolby Atmos® for enhanced colour and more immersive sound. 
• Sound — What you hear from the stadium is a huge part of the viewing experience in football. The cadence from the quarterback, the crunch of a hit even the roar of the crowd — all provide the backdrop to the action. Surround yourself with the sounds of the game with a compact sound bar — big sound without taking up a lot of space, and without having to run wires all across your room. And added subwoofer will ensure you hear and feel the crunch of every hit. Absent a sound bar, or separate home theatre system, look for a TV with Dolby Atmos or dbx-tv® for a superior audio experience right from the television.
• Clarity — Most TVs nowadays boast 4K resolution, but the more important feature you should be looking for is HDR — short for High-Dynamic Range, it means the TV has a massive range of colours, which appear brighter and in greater contrast, and provides more detail to the image on the screen — think seeing the blades of grass on the field swaying gently in the wind. 
• Smoothness — Football moves fast, and if your refresh or motion rate is low the images on the screen will blur. Look for a refresh rate of 120Hz for a crisp, clear view of the wide receiver streaking up the sideline. Also look to see if it has an MEMC chip (Motion Estimation / Motion Compensation). MEMC is used to interpolate extra images on your TV, which is a fancy way of saying it works with the refresh or motion rate to smooth out the picture and reduce the risk of blurred action on the screen. The HDR10+ feature runs a scene-by-scene adjustment sequence for brightness, colour saturation and contrast to produce an image that is far more realistic.  

“There is a lot to look for if your primary use of the TV is going to be watching sports,” says Lindsay. “Get the most of your purchase by doing some research and getting the features that are best suited to what you want to watch.”

For more information, please visit hisense-canada.com. 

I tuned into the Hisense press conference from CES at noon today and walked away with a lot of news to share. So let’s get started:

• The big news is that Hisense is rolling out mini-LED backlighting in its U9H- and U8H-series ULED TVs that were announced today. This is seriously going to disrupt the TV market in North America. More detail on those TV’s are a follows:
  • U9H: This model has a 120Hz, 10-bit, quantum dot 4K UHD panel which will produce more than 2,000 nits of brightness. That means that your HDR game will be top shelf. It also brings Dolby Vision and Dolby Vision IQ, FreeSync, and variable refresh rate to the table.
  • U8H: This is a small step down from the U9H with 120Hz quantum dot TVs sporting mini-LED backlighting and 1,500 nits peak brightness. New for this year is a 75″ version.
  • U7H: No mini-LED here. But it’s functionally the same as the U8H.
  • U6H: This is functionally the same as the U7H. But with a 60Hz panel.
• Hisense also dropped a few drool worthy Laser TVs as well. Here’s what you need to know:
  • The L5G is a 4K projector that has eARC capabilities, so you can plug in a soundbar for some even more impressive audio quality. It only needs to be about 11.4-inches from the wall to provide a 100-inch screen.
  • The L9G TriChroma Laser TV rolls up with Dolby Vision included, which is pretty mind blowing as this is a laser TV. It also uses the Hisense’s TriChroma laser engine and it can reach up to 3000 lumens peak brightness. Which means that you’ll be able to use this TV in a room that has daylight in it, and still see the screen without any issues.
  • The PX1-PRO TriChroma Laser Cinema is the newest 4K ultra-short throw projector with Hisense’s own TriChroma Laser Engine. It can also provide a razor-sharp picture from 90 to 130 inches. It also has 4K resolution with native 60Hz refresh rate. There’s also Dolby Vision, HDR10 and Filmmaker Mode. Dolby Atmos Playback is available and WISA Ready.

• All the above TV’s come with the Android TV OS built in. Up until now Hisense also made Roku OS TVs as well. But given that on the Hisense Canada website only lists one Roku model, and there was zero mention of Roku in this press conference which differs from previous Hisense press conferences that I have attended, I am guessing that Roku has been kicked to the curb. But I guess that I will find out soon.

There were some other lower end models that Hisense sort of glossed over. But when these TVs start to hit stores later this year, you can bet that you’ll hear a lot about them.

Hisense Canada is giving away a chance to upgrade your home, just in time for Euro 2020. 

As a proud sponsor of the quadrennial European Football Championship, Hisense is looking to help fans of footie put together the ultimate fan experience in time for the tournament with a chance to win a big screen TV or a full-size refrigerator.  

• National Online Contest — Enter at hisense-canada.com for a chance to win a 65-inch QLED TV. Contest closes June 6^th. 
• National Retail Contest — To be staged until June 6^th, everybody who buys a Hisense product will have a ballot entered in a draw to win the grand prize of a 65-inch QLED TV or a full-size fridge.

For more information, please visit hisense-canada.com. Join the conversation and connect with Hisense on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @HisenseCA, using the hashtag #LifeReimagined. Watch product reviews and support on YouTube. 

Hisense, provider of high-performance televisions and appliances, unveils its 2021 Laser TVs, Soundbars, TVs and new premium ULED Series lineup. Featuring new technologies like ULED XD Dual-Cell™ and 8K; upgrades like Quantum Dot and ultra-high speed HDMI 2.1; screen sizes that span 32 to 120-inches; and multiple content platforms and smart home capabilities, Hisense’s new lineup delivers even more premium options to viewers. 

U9DG Series: 4K ULED XD TV with Dual-Cell Technology

Hisense’s new U9DG Series brings the brand’s breakthrough Dual-Cell™ Technology into living rooms this year. Experience movies and TV shows like never before thanks to the impressive contrast of the U9DG Series’ pure whites and deep blacks. Unique to Hisense, Dual-Cell works by layering a luminance control panel behind the 4K panel to manage grayscale and colour more precisely. This television, which features over 2 million dimming zones, reaches an impressive static contrast ratio of 150,000:1, making it one of the most advanced LED TV technologies in the industry. Dark scenes are as distinct as bright ones, with even more detail and richer shades of colour.

Featuring Quantum Dot technology, Dolby Vision IQ, ultra-high speed HDMI, HDR10+/HDR10/HLG, IMAX enhanced, Filmmaker Mode™, Dolby Atmos® from the TV’s built-in speakers, eARC and WiSA Ready, the U9DG transforms entertainment experiences through ultra-vivid picture quality and immersive moving audio that flows all around a listener. Dolby Vision IQ takes the benefits of Dolby Vision® beyond HDR by leveraging the full intelligence of the TV to deliver a perfect picture in the room at every moment – all without ever needing to pick up a remote. Built-in microphones and smart features, such as far-field voice control and integrated Google Assistant, make the TV a smart home hub. Available in a 75-inch screen and with a beautifully thin bezel design, the U9DG brings a truly unique watch experience to the home and is a must-have for those looking for the latest in TV technology.

U800GR Series: 8K Roku TV™ with ULED Premium Technology 

With 33 million pixels and four times more depth and clarity than a 4K TV, Hisense introduces another new premium option to the ULED Series with the U800GR. Hisense’s latest Roku TV offers heightened precision, textures and fine details for a remarkably realistic viewing experience in 8K. The U800GR Series features ULED Premium Technology, Quantum Dot technology, up to 1,000 nits peak brightness, >7,000:1 contrast, 120Hz refresh rate and up to 180 local dimming zones to deliver dazzling picture quality on its 75” screen. With the 8K AI Upscaler, users can enjoy a more defined, detailed picture even for non-8K content. The Upscaler analyzes the picture frame-by-frame and automatically adjusts pixels to optimize shadows and brightness, producing a more realistic image regardless of the content resolution. 

Hisense Roku TVs offer a customizable home screen, thousands of free and paid streaming channels and advanced features like fast and easy search across top channels. The Roku home screen puts a customer’s favourite entertainment in one place so it’s easier than ever to watch what they love, including live TV, news, sports, hit movies, popular shows and more. The U800GR also features Apple Airplay, and alongside the voice remote, customers can use Alexa-enabled devices and/or Google Assistant to control the TV. 

U88G Series: A Best in Class TV with Premium Upgrades 

The Q9G Series has been critically acclaimed for its bright picture quality and stunning HDR viewing experience. This year, Hisense is bringing major enhancements with the introduction of the U88G Series, making it thechoice for a best-in-class TV and the perfect choice for people looking for picture quality that brings the theater home. 

In addition to 4K Quantum Dot technology, the U88G now features Dolby Vision IQ, ultra-high speed HDMI 2.1, high contrast ratio, up to 360 FALD zones and 1,500 nits peak brightness. Consumers can enjoy a truly cinematic experience with IMAX enhanced, Filmmaker Mode™, Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+/HDR10. Audio is enhanced with Dolby Atmos, eARC and comes WiSA Ready for a true wireless home theater setup. Including a newly designed anti-glare, anti-reflection screen and floating glass display, the U88G brings elegant design upgrades that elevate the viewing experience. 

In-bezel microphones and far-field voice offer the full array of smart home controls beyond what’s on the screen, making it a true hub for the home. With integrated Google Assistant, the U88G series can control lights and thermostats, add items to grocery lists, or pull up and play favourite shows – all without needing a voice remote. Android TV™ platform brings more than 400,000 movies and shows, plus video streaming from Netflix®, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube™, and others, making it easy to find your favourite content. The U88G will be available in 55 and 65-inch sizes. 

U78G Series: Next-Level Gaming 

Gamers will be thrilled with the new U78G series. Available in 55, 65 and 75-inch screen sizes, players can have an immersive experience with newer consoles that support higher quality images and refresh rates. Hisense designed the U78G to bring a knockout experience with upgrades like Game Mode Pro and ultra-high speed HDMI 2.1. 

The new Game Mode Pro recognizes gaming sequences and automatically optimizes display settings for a top-notch experience. The automatic low-latency mode (ALLM) and variable refresh rate (VRR) deliver smooth, fluid game play by minimizing input lag, screen jitter, and frame tearing. The feature brings players instant response times, minimal motion blur and halo effects and immersive surround sound.

The U78G Series brings new upgrades in picture quality including 120Hz refresh rate, 6,000:1 contrast ratio, and 1,000 nits peak brightness. Like the U88G, movies and TV shows are brought to life with IMAX enhanced, Filmmaker Mode™, Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+/HDR10 while also including premium audio enhancements such as Dolby Atmos, eARC and comes WiSA Ready. 

The new U78G Series also features Android TV so users can stream thousands of movies and shows from a variety of platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and YouTube. With built-in Google Assistant™ and the addition of far-field voice control, users can adjust the lights, turn up the volume, order a pizza and do far more right from the TV, using just their voice. 

U68G Series: Bigger Screens, Multiple Platforms and Premium Upgrades 

In 2020, Hisense’s ULED TVs exceeded expectations for customers, leaving viewers impressed with the picture quality and overall performance. This year, Hisense is bringing that experience to even more people through the expansion of its ULED Series lineup to include more options with the U68G. 

Offering Android TV with the U68G, this series has an array of screen sizes and price ranges for every room and every budget. Featuring ULED technology, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, HDR10, 60Hz refresh rate, high contrast ratio, up to 60 FALD zones and 600 nits peak brightness, users can enjoy stellar audio and picture quality at an even better price. The U68G comes in 50, 55, 65, and 75-inch options and upgrades like Filmmaker Mode™, HDR10+, built-in Google Assistant and Chromecast. 

A68G Series: Smart TVs for Every Budget 

Hisense is offering a wide array of screen size options to the new A68G 4K Smart TV Series. Screen sizes span from 43 to 85-inches, making Hisense an option for every room and budget. With an even bigger focus on personalization and content, Hisense is offering viewers many choices and price points alongside richer colours and even more detail. 

L5 4K Ultra Short Throw Laser Cinema: A True-To-Life Picture and Big Screen Experience

Hisense brings an even bigger cinema experience home with the new 120” L5F Laser Cinema. Featuring true-to-life images that exceed the standard 4K colour range, built-in speakers with dbx-tv® cinematic sound, robust Android TV™ platform and a perfectly-paired 120” ALR projector screen. 

The Laser Engine is a breakthrough in TV product development, redefining the way that TVs can present images, and leading the next generation of display technology. The L5’s blue laser light source produces razor-sharp, precise images with stunning detail. Fast-moving images appear smooth and accurate, making it the ideal source for watching sports, enjoying fast-action movies and gaming. 

Hisense Soundbars: Big Sound with a Sleek Design 

In addition to Smart TVs, Hisense has unveiled a new line of soundbars to enhance the TV watching experience. Easy to place and connect, the soundbars are an all-in-one solution equipped with powerful, room-filling sound. Their compact and sleek design doesn’t compromise space, making them the perfect addition to any bedroom, living room, or family room. Users can choose from three new models: the HS214 (108 watts), HS218 (200 watts), and the HS512 (380 watts), which come equipped with Bluetooth, custom Sound Modes for various content and a wireless subwoofer (HS218 and HS512 only). 

The HS214 includes Pure Surround so users can hear every detail outside the screen, from the loudest explosions to the quietest sound effects. The HS218 comes with four speakers and professional master-level sound effect tuning, the TV viewing experience comes to life. Users can enjoy a truly immersive experience with the HS512, thanks to Dolby Atmos, which allows individual sounds to come from all directions to fill the room with astonishing clarity, richness, detail and depth. Hisense soundbars also feature EzPlay which allows users to control the soundbars with their Hisense remote. EzPlay will be available for all current and new soundbars through a software update and will be compatible with the U78G, U88G and U9DG Series TVs. 

Availability

• U9DG Series will be available Fall 2021 
• U800GR Series will be available Fall 2021 
• U88G Series will be available May 2021 
• U78G Series will be available Summer 2021 
• U68G Series is available now 
• A68G Series is available now 
• L5 Laser Cinema is available now 
• Hisense Soundbars are available Spring 2021 

To learn more about all of Hisense’s premium offerings, visit hisense-canada.com

Among the top 15-selling television brands in Canada, none had faster growing sales in 2020 than Hisense.

According to The NPD Group’s Canadian Consumer Technology Retail Tracking Service, Hisense was the fastest growing TV brand in unit sales over the course of 2020.  

“It is exciting to see Canadian consumers looking to a brand that offers both quality and value,” says Meaghan Wilkinson, Senior Director of Sales and Marketing for Hisense Canada. “Hisense is one of the top TV brands in the world, but we are relatively new to the incredibly competitive Canadian market. As more Canadians see what a Hisense TV adds to their viewing experience, I think we will continue see steady growth.” 

Hisense offers a full range of TV options, to fit every budget, need or room size: 

• Laser TV — The Hisense Laser TV is redefining the big screen. This next-generation projection TV boasts 4K HDR on screens up to 120 inches. And unlike a traditional projector that mounts on the ceiling or at the back of the room, this one sits right under the screen. It features everything needed for the ultimate home theatre experience — more than a billion colours brilliantly displayed in UHD and HDR, smooth motion with no lag and a great view no matter where in the room you are sitting. Equipped with androidTV, you can stream more than 500,000 shows, movies and popular apps to your massive screen. 
• QLED — The Quantum Dot technology in Hisense QLED TVs produces pure red, green and blue lights for a picture that is brighter, crisper and sharper. It is the perfect television for watching a movie, following along with your favourite sport or playing video games. HDR 10+ runs a scene-by-scene adjustment to create an image that is far more realistic. Access all of your favourites with androidTV and built-in Google Chromecast. 
• UHD TV — The 4K Ultra HD TVs from Hisense have a resolution four times greater than a regular HD TV, with refined clarity for the finest details. A wide colour gamut ensures a vibrant picture — the rich red of roses, grasslands in stunning greens, the brilliant dep blue of the ocean. Dolby Vision™ gives the UHD TV better brightness, colour and contrast. They also come equipped with androidTV and built-in Google Chromecast, providing access to thousands of your favourite TV and movie titles.
• Full HD — The entry-level category for Hisense still packs a big punch. It HD TVs are smart and sophisticated. The Master Pro video engine elevates the picture quality for richer colours, vivid contrast and clear motion. They also come equipped with either Hisense’s proprietary VIDAA U (which was designed in Canada) or Roku operating systems to allow you to access all of your favourite content.

For more information, please visit hisense-canada.com. 

Year in and out, home electronics are among the most popular gifts given during the holiday season.

That is especially true in the digital information age. From personal speakers to smart watches to video game systems to new televisions, chances are there is some form of electronics device on most wish lists.

It also helps that electronics are relatively easy to shop for…. If you know what you want to buy. To help ease the process — for both yourself and the intended recipient of the gift — Hisense Canada is offering some advice.

As they say, it is the thought that counts. So here are some things to think about when checking off your list:

• Beat the Rush — Shop early, especially in this COVID-economy. Shopping early gives you a better chance of finding exactly what you want, will increase the odds that the inventory exists and will make it more likely that it is in your possession before your gift-giving deadline.
• Gift the Receipt — Do more than just hold on to the receipt; it’s a wise idea to include it as part of the gift. With most electronics, the recipient will need it to register and validate their warranty. And you absolutely want them to register and validate the warranty.
• Research the Retailer — Doubling down on the bit about the warranty, you want to make sure there actually is one for them to register and validate. Even if you are on the website of a trusted retailer, some of them offer a “Marketplace” where third-party vendors can peddle their wares. And quite often, a deal seen here that is too good to be true, is exactly that. They may be selling a model that is discontinued, refurbished or from another country. And in each of these cases, the manufacturer’s warranty is no longer valid. When you find the item you want to buy, note the product number and cross reference that on the manufacturer’s website.
• Get the Right Fit — OK, so it’s not like buying a T-Shirt and knowing what will physically fit. But you want a device to fit into the recipient’s lifestyle. For example, if you are looking to get someone a TV to fit into their smart home system, it would be helpful to know what kind of system they are operating. For example, a television equipped with AndroidTV streaming is best suited with Google Home; or you know their current TV stand will fit the footprint of the TV you’re looking at – unless you’re going to gift that, too!
• Know Your Audience — Or, at least, the person you are giving it to. If they are a die-hard video gamer, make sure the TV has the speed to keep up with their action. If they aren’t overly tech savvy, keep it simple — will that smart watch help their lives, or frustrate them to no end? If they have a small apartment, or are a student in a communal living space, make sure the gift will physically fit in their living space.

For more information, please visit hisense-canada.com.

Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping days in North America, but this year is going to look a bit different.

The world is still in the grip of a pandemic, meaning people are more likely to be glued to their computer screens than they will be stampeding through a big box store to get the hottest deal. There is also a good chance people will be starting before Black Friday arrives, both to ensure what they want is delivered in time and to increase the odds that it is in stock. 

But while staying home and shopping online will keep people safe from COVID-19, it does open shoppers to more risks if they don’t know the ins and outs of adding items to a digital cart instead of a push one. 

Among the hot items in any Black Friday sale is home electronics; to help people safely navigate the online shopping experience on the day after American Thanksgiving, Hisense Canada offers the following advice: 

• Keep it Familiar — There is an uncountable number of websites out there in cyberspace wanting to sell you things. Many are legit. May more are not. A known retail brand is responsible with your personal information. A scammer would not be. Look for misspellings and be wary of domains that aren’t .com or .ca. 
• Be Secure — Check the URL and ensure the address begins with “HTTPS” with an icon of a padlock, probably to the left of the URL. The “S” at the end and the lock indicate it is a secure site that will protect your data – like your credit card number. If it is just an “HTTP” site, keep on scrolling. And while we are on security, make sure your antivirus protection is up to date, and do you shopping from home on you own secure wifi network. Never use your credit card when on a public wifi provider.
• Double Check the Seller — You may be on the website of an internationally renowned retail brand, but that doesn’t mean the item you are looking to buy is being sold by them. Several of the big retailers have a marketplace where third-party vendors can sell items among the inventory of the host store’s. Be wary and double check that you are buying something from the store you think are buying it from — most manufacturer websites will let you know where their products can be purchased. Most grey market material is not subject to warranty coverage. 
• Ask Questions — Online marketplaces, such as Amazon, give shoppers the opportunity to engage one-on-one with brands, manufacturers and other consumers. Do your research ahead of time and make sure you take advantage of the “Ask a Question” feature to ensure you are armed with all the information you need to make the most informed purchase to meet your needs — before shopping day. 
• Cross Reference with the Retailer — One of the challenges with these third-party vendors is that they often sell older models, US stock or something that is refurbished. And in each case, it is unlikely the manufacturer’s warranty is still valid. This is certainly a case where a deal that looks too good to be true likely is. To protect yourself against this, open the manufacturer’s website in a separate browser window and punch in the product number. This will tell you immediately if you are looking at a current Canadian model, and if it is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. 
• Read Online Reviews — As you are buying online, you can’t actually see what the picture is like as you could in a bricks-and-mortar store, and there are no sales staff around to answer your questions. Pay close attention to what others say about picture quality and the spectrum of colours. Complaints about a lack of customer support can be an indication that the consumer purchased an older or refurbished model from a third party, rather than an actual customer service issue. 
• Be Prepared — In the week leading up to Black Friday, have look through digital or paper flyers to get an idea of what you may want to buy, and do your research ahead of time. Then when the deals open, you will be ready to jump in before inventories are depleted. 

For more information, please visit hisense-canada.com.