WiFi HiFi is saddened to announce the passing of Steve Makris, a veteran journalist and TV personality from Alberta and long-time WiFi HiFi contributor. Steve died at home with his wife following complications from heart surgery.
While Steve had long been “retired,” anyone who knew him knew that he took that word lightly. He could never fully disconnect from the world of tech: it was a personal passion as much as it was a job. He attended every CES event until he could no longer manage the grueling walks required for the show. He was also an avid traveler, jetsetting to press events from one end of the world to another and traveling with his wife Vicky to explore the beauty of nature and various cultures. If you wanted to know how to game the travel loyalty program system, Steve was your man. “One year, while [my wife] Cathy and I flew to Istanbul directly from Toronto,” John Thomson, WiFi HiFi Publisher recalls of one of their IFA trips, “Steve managed to create a flight path that had him connecting at least five times, knowing that that was the number of segments he’d need to guarantee that he’d be sitting in the front of the plane for the next 12 months!”
John and Cathy enjoyed Steve and Vicky’s company on several IFA press trips, while I spent time with him on my first-ever press trip to Tokyo, Japan back in 2008.
“For many years, Steve and I would find ourselves every April, at the same media junket hosted by the German trade show company IFA,” John recalls. “These exotic press events were held in Hong Kong, Malta, Turkey, Italy and Portugal and they openly encouraged us to bring our wives. While Steve and I sat in boardrooms during the day, Cathy and Vicky became terrific friends, enjoying the many activities the event organizers presented.
“Steve and I would spend our winters anxiously waiting to hear if we made the IFA invite list for their annual event,” he continues, “not only because we knew we’d be taken somewhere magical, but that the week also gave us that rare opportunity to spend time together in person.”
“Over the past number of years,” John adds, “Steve was always ready to jump on a plane and cover a show or a new product announcement for us. Sometimes, the product had almost nothing to do with what we cover. But since the launch involved a trip to Spain, or a few days in L.A., Steve always managed to convince us that he should be there!”
A self-professed “technologist,” Steve started his journey as an on-air personality for Global TV Canada in Edmonton where he covered the latest and greatest in technology. Upon retirement, he started his own website, techuntangled.ca, where he aimed to help the average consumer better understand technology. He did this in his reviews, gift guides, and news items for WiFi HiFi as well, for which he has been a member of the team since the website started in 2013. Steve prided himself on heavily detailed reviews of everything from the latest computers and computer chips to earbuds and smartphones. But Steve loved trying out fun and quirky gadgets, too, including everything from electric toothbrushes and portable grilles to even a funky cordless and high-tech electric fan. Whatever hot tech item Steve could get his hands on, he was eager to test it out. And he made sure to put everything through its paces.
Steve had a particular affinity for photography. In fact, he once told me how he set up camp for hours upon hours to try and get the absolute perfect shot. He was especially excited to capture the solar eclipse of 2024. To put this in perspective, here’s an excerpt from an e-mail I received from Steve earlier this year, talking about his plans for reviewing the Samsung Galaxy S25 smartphone.
“[I want to] reshoot the skyline from the bottom of the CN tower. Sounds boring? It’s a six-hour exposure in Samsung’s Hyperlapse mode, for shooting star trails. But the last time I was there about a year ago with a real camera for star trails, it got cloudy, so I missed the shot. Instead, the camera recorded more than 100 airplanes streaking across to and from the dozen big and small airports in the area. It’s quite impressive, and on a clear night, I would also capture trailing stars. Streaking planes and stars!”
He didn’t stop there. He then shared a series of images he previously shot with an Olympus camera. “Note that on the upper left of the tower, there are a few circular star trails seen through some cloud openings. I set the camera up just outside the window of a nearby restaurant by a railway museum and spent a leisurely evening dining keeping an eye on it. The Acropolis Star Trail also shot just over a year ago shot with a Samsung.”
This was Steve. Deeply passionate about everything he did, whether it involved work, travels, or his family and large group of friends, including many within the local Greek community, which was a major part of his life.” Steve’s love for consumer tech was only surpassed by his love for his family,” adds Thomson.
Of course, anyone who knows Steve knows his signature look: beige fishing jacket with pockets galore to carry all his tech goodies accompanied by a selfie stick in hand to record his musings as he chatted with company reps or explored events. Steve was unabashedly, unapologetically himself. And even well into his 70s, he still deeply loved this business.
“While I was fully aware that Steve was having medical challenges with his heart, never did I think that these could ever be life threatening,” adds John. “Steve was too energetic, and his positive disposition made it unfathomable that such a health challenge could take him away from us. It’s a sad reminder to never delay returning a call when a friend reaches out as I did with Steve’s last call to me. Now, it’s too late.”
Steve’s wife Vicky tells us that he was always worried about having a prolonged and lengthy illness, and he didn’t want that to be the end. Given this, she takes comfort that he went quickly.
At the news of his passing, many PR professionals expressed to me that Steve was their favourite journalist of anyone with whom they have ever worked. He always made time for everyone. He listened intently to pitches and provided his input. He went out of his way to provide great content. But most important, he was always a joy to be around.
I recall the fun times we had singing karaoke in Japan, neither of us really wanting to do it but not having much choice. We traveled through the confusing Tokyo subway station, visited the Akihabara Electric Town, and ate food we still talked about more than 15 years later. It’s a trip I’ll always remember and one that, early on in my career, I was thankful to have a familiar face there with me.
While we lived in different provinces, I would see Steve annually at CES when he still attended the show. Once he stopped going, Steve often expressed to me how much he missed it and wished he was there joining in on the craziness of it all. One of my fondest memories with him at CES is when, after catching a nasty bout of pinkeye from my son right before the show, he graciously helped administer the antibiotic drops while we secured a spot in line for a big, can’t-miss, press conference. He didn’t even think twice about offering to help.
What people will remember most about Steve is his effervescent personality. He lit up any room he was in.
“Steve was just a class-act,” says Corey Herscu, who has worked as both a journalist and publicist. “As a publicist, he took my pitches and always made time to hear me out. A sweet soul in and out.”
“Steve was a pleasure to work with and a wonderful all-around person,” adds Julie Rolph, a former tech PR professional.
“Steve was one of my favourite people,” adds Jessica Savage of North Strategic. “Kind, warm, always looking out for the ones he loved. He was the best.”
Former tech publicist Jenifer Drogell recalls her time with Steve fondly. “He was my favourite journalist I ever worked with during my PR career…he was delightful, smart, passionate about technology and witty but above all, fun. Often with a mischievous glint in his eye. He was a remarkable photographer, a true photojournalist. His photo of The Joshua Tree will live with me forever. They don’t often make them like you. But when they do, the world is a much better place.”
I had the good fortune of meeting Steve early in my career,” recalls tech journalist Ted Kritsonis, “and while we were both journalists covering the same industry, we became friends who shared the same Greek heritage and passion for photography. I will always remember Steve for the good times and laughs, but also for his mentorship and wealth of knowledge.
“Steve started in the media industry as a photojournalist in Edmonton back in the 1970s, and that experience illustrated how he sought to tell a story with both his words and photos,” Ted adds. “He came up with ideas no one else considered. His contribution to tech industry coverage in Canada shall never be forgotten.”
“We are forever grateful to Steve for his contributions to WiFi HiFi,” concludes John. “Steve never lost his enthusiasm or curiosity for the tech world, and Steve’s optimism was always a perfect remedy to shake you out of your own funk and self-doubt. Steve’s passing is an incredible loss to our community, and we extend our deepest condolences to Vicky, John, and Chris.”
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Those who wish to send condolences can reach out to John or I and we will be happy to pass them on to Steve’s wife Vicky. Rest in peace, our friend.
