Short Course's books Nikon 950/990/995, Olympus C-2100, 3030Z, E-10, Canon G1, D30, Pro90, S100/S300 & more.

08-31-2001

Light & Motion Announces New Wetmate Lens System for its Tetra Housing Our friend David Breitigam who runs the WetPixel.com web site for digital divers reports: Light & Motion is proud to announce a new line of underwater digital photography systems, built around their highly successful Tetra Digital Photo Housing. The Tetra housing supports most of the Olympus 2000, 3000 and 4000 series Digital Cameras including the recently released Olympus 4040. Drop the Olympus 4040 into the Tetra housing, don your scuba gear and get ready to reproduce beautiful color images at a whopping 4.1 MEGAPIXELS. The Tetra underwater housing can be purchased as a solo housing or as part of a complete photo system called a Travel Package. Tetra Travel Packages are complete systems that include the Tetra housing, one or two strobes, one or two strobe arms and flash connectors and a variety of lens options that are packed neatly in the included carrying case. Light & Motion is also proud to announce the revolutionary Wetmate Lens System. The Wetmate lens system, built specifically for the Tetra Digital Photo Housing, allows the user to change lenses underwater. You'll never have the right subject and the wrong lens again. The Wetmate Ultra Wide lens delivers an astounding 100 degrees of coverage with full zoom through, while the Wetmate macro lens handles close focus duties. Lenses are offered separately, together or as part of a complete Tetra Wetmate Travel Package. Tetra housings and Travel Packages provide user-friendly access to all camera functions allowing the underwater photographer to focus on the task at hand; capturing beautiful images. *Tetra housings accommodate most of Olympus' 2000, 3000 and 4000 series digital cameras. For more information or a dealer near you, contact Light & Motion at 300 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940, ph 831-645-1525, fax 831-375-2517, website www.uwimaging.com.

08-30-2001

Canon Debuts Chic and Stylish Elura 20MC DV Camcorder LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 29, 2001-- With its latest digital video camera, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ), continues to push the limits of electronic miniaturization, mastering this art by meeting a variety of still, motion and multimedia image capture needs. The Canon Elura 20MC rates high for functionality and durability, is easy to carry and use, and is elegant for those who wish to make the latest electronics fashion statement. The Canon Elura 20MC is recognized for its full set of features housed in a tiny and light package. It boasts multiple shooting modes and connectivity options that make it highly versatile to complement DV-ready computers, televisions and VCRs for video editing, printing and sharing images in the family room, classroom, boardroom and over the Internet. The size of a cell phone, the Canon Elura 20MC measures approximately two inches wide by four inches high. It weighs slightly more than one pound with a battery and tape. It records video and digital photos to the universal MiniDV digital videocassette. To manage, retrieve and download digital photos more efficiently, the Elura 20MC accepts the MultiMediaCard (MMC), an industry standard storage media, or a Secure Digital (SD) Card. Key features of the Canon Elura 20MC include: Three shooting modes. Firewire(TM) computer connectivity. 10x optical/40x digital zoom, image stabilization. A high-resolution rotating view screen and viewfinder. Digital stereo sound. Advanced technology components include a progressive scan CCD image sensor, RGB primary color filter and a three-element stereo microphone. Extended Recording Mode to deliver four hours of video recording on one 80-minute MiniDV videotape. The Canon Elura 10, a comparable new model without the MultiMediaCard or Secure Digital Card, includes the performance features found in the Canon Elura 20MC. The suggested retail price for the Canon Elura 20MC is $1,499, and it will be available at authorized Canon retailers in October 2001. The Canon Elura 10 will be available at about the same time for $1,299.

08-29-2001

Digital Outback Celebrates First Birthday Our good friends at Digital Outback Photo are celebrating their first year online and recently passed the 250,000 visitor mark. Stop on by and see how folks are using their digital cameras to capture the beauty of the great outdoors. You'll find all sorts of tutorials on taking better pictures and printing better pictures. These folks know the Nikon D1, D1X, Kodak DCS 720 and other "pro" digitals.  If for nothing else, stop by to peruse the many online portfolios of nature photographs available.

08-29-2001

Thumber and PixelZap Updated Max Lyons emailed to let me know that he has updated two of his digital camera programs for Windows users, Thumber and PixelZap... New features in Thumber include JavaScript-enabled web page creation, color-coding for comments, focal-length conversion for several new cameras (including the Minolta DiMage 7 and the Sony F707), and several bug fixes. To cost register Thumber is $18. New features in PixelZap include the ability to use a dark-frame image to correct hot pixels, file time-stamp transfer, and the ability to correct dead pixels (this can be used to correct black pixels that remain in long exposure images after after in-camera noise reduction in cameras like the new Sony F707). The cost to register PixeZap is $15. Check out these fine alternatives to the more expensive commercial software programs, in many cases they're more powerful and designed for today's digicam users. Max is always happy to hear your feedback and to improve his programs.

08-28-2001

SanDisk Expands Into European Market; Now Sells In Approximately 10,000 Retail Stores In 30 Countries BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 27, 2001 - SanDisk Corporation (Nasdaq:SNDK) reported today that it has significantly expanded its retail presence in Europe and opened a large logistics distribution center in Europe to speed product deliveries to its retail distribution network. SanDisk officials made their comments at the Internationals Funk Ausstellung (IFA) trade show in Berlin where SanDisk is demonstrating products for the first time at the major consumer electronics event. (hall 3, second floor, booth 03-B). The number of retail outlets in Europe that carry SanDisk-branded flash memory cards and accessory products has increased from 6,000 in January 2000 to approximately 10,000 today. During the same time frame, the number of European countries where SanDisk products are sold has grown from 18 to 30 and includes additions such as Russia, Greece, Turkey, Ireland, Portugal, Poland, Croatia and the Ukraine. The SanDisk EMEA retail head office, located in the Netherlands, is further supported by retail sales offices located in England, Germany and France to help with expansion into new countries and new retail stores. One of the new products going into Europe for the first time this summer is the SanDisk Secure Digital memory card, a new stamp-sized, removable flash card targeted mainly for use in mobile phones, Internet music players and small-size digital cameras. More than 70 new products with slots for SD cards, including handheld computers such as Palm's 500 series, video and digital still cameras from brands such as JVC and Panasonic, mobile phones, audio players and notebook computers, have recently been introduced.

08-28-2001

New Kodak Professional 5260 Wide-Format Inkjet Printer Achieves Unmatched Combination Of Speed and Image Quality ROCHESTER, N.Y., August 28 - Kodak Professional is setting a whole new standard for combined print speed and image quality with its introduction of a new wide-format inkjet printer for high-production and professional service provider environments. The Kodak Professional 5260 Inkjet Printer debuts today at a company-sponsored event in Singapore - kicking off a worldwide introductory tour that leads to product availability in the fourth quarter of the year. The 5260 printer is the first in a new line of high-speed, wide-format inkjet printers from Kodak Professional that employs piezo inkjet print head technology, six colors and DYNAMIC CONTONE printing - the ability to deliver five distinct drop sizes over an extended range (8pl to 67pl) on an individual pixel-by-pixel basis. The result is a unique combination of image quality and productivity unmatched by any wide-format inkjet printer available today - quality output at up to 500 square feet per hour at 300 dpi with an "apparent resolution" three to four times higher. The 5260 printer is just the latest addition to Kodak Professional's extensive family of wide-format inkjet printers, inks, media and related components that deliver world-class, wide-format output solutions. The new printer and future members of the new line specifically address the demand for blazing speed and exceptional image quality in the high-production and professional service provider segments. The 5260 printer supports both dye and pigment based inks for added flexibility, and accommodates a wide range of media - including paper, film, vinyl and canvas - for indoor and outdoor applications. The printer accepts up to 62-inch-wide media, and standard roll lengths are managed easily by a precise automated feed and take-up system. The 5260 printer employs DYNAMIC CONTONE printing-a process that regulates and varies ink drop sizes - to help achieve its speed and image quality. In the DYNAMIC CONTONE mode, the 5260 printer uses five drop sizes to output up to 500 square feet per hour with amazing image quality. It also can produce high-quality 600x600 and 1200x600 dpi images using up to three drop sizes. The Kodak Professional 5260 Inkjet Printer has a suggested U.S. list price of $29,995. It will be available in the Far East in October, Europe in November, the United States and Canada in December, and the rest of the world early in 2002..

08-28-2001

LetsGoDigital & DP Review Covers the IFA 2001 Show If you want to know what's going on at the IFA 2001 show in Berlin just check into the LetsGoDigital.nl IFA 2001 News pages. So far they have reports on new cameras from Sanyo, Fuji and Grundig. Be aware that there will be European models of cameras and other things that may never make it to retail in N. America. Phil from DP Review also has lots of news and pictures from the show floor on his IFA 2001 Show Report beginning on this page.

08-27-2001

Fujifilm FinePix A201 Review Posted New camera review postamania continues, this time it's Fuji's entry-level FinePix A201, an inexpensive 2-megapixel model with surprisingly good image quality in a small, compact and lightweight body.

08-26-2001

Retinex Imaging Processing Technology - Help and Hope for Digicam Users Reader Ray Mickevicius sent me an email and told me to check out a Science Daily Magazine news story about a new imaging technology co-developed by the rocket scientists at NASA's Langley Research Center and Science and Technology Corp. (STC), both in Hampton, VA. TruView Imaging Company, an affiliate of STC, has licensed the technology from NASA and plans to market it in the form of a software product for home, professional and industrial use by the end of the year. To quote the article: "What distinguishes this technology from existing image-enhancement technologies is that it makes corrections automatically, yet allows the end-user to manipulate the image as desired. As a result, the average photographer is more likely to use the technology and use it successfully. It won't correct every image, but was impressive enough to win a NASA Space Act Award as one of the space agency's top inventions of the year for 1999. "STC thinks consumers will find this technology so easy and gratifying to use that people who would never consider doing anything more than snapping a picture will let Retinex finish the job," said Zia-ur Rahman of STC. From Steve: This could be one of the most significant software advances in digital imaging since the creation of PhotoShop. Maybe even more significant if it is incorporated into a reasonably priced piece of software with an easy to use interface. Check out these image samples - most impressive. This page is loaded (actually over-loaded) with images so it takes a little time to load, be patient, it's worth it. I have a request in for more information from TruView and will let everyone know what I come up with in a future news item. 08/27/01 update: I received an email from Zia-ur Rahman, Vice President, Research & Development, TruView Imaging Company, that said: "We are targeting mid-October/early November as a release date for our product. The initial product is a Windows-based, stand-alone, image-enhancement package which will include several commonly used image enhancement functions in addition to the Retinex. The target price is to be below $100 but has not been finalized yet. We are also starting to work on a Mac-based version but do not yet have a release date for that."

08-26-2001

Kodak DX3900 Zoom Review Posted I just posted our full review of the Kodak DX3900 Zoom. It's another member of Kodak’s new line of EasyShare compatible digital cameras. It has 3.1 megapixel resolution with image resolution of 2160 x 1440, 2X (35-70mm 35mm equivalent) zoom, burst capture, macro mode, metering options and some manual settings.

08-25-2001

Minolta DiMAGE S304 First Look Posted Here's our First Look at a pre-production Minolta DiMAGE S304. This camera has a nice feel to it as it is housed in an aluminum body with a large fingergrip. Three-megapixel resolution with a 4x optical zoom and a variety of exposure modes, flex-point focusing and fast image processing times will make this one a good seller.

08-24-2001

Nikon D1 Series Raincovers Thanks to a news item on Rob Galbraith's site we have discovered a very useful item for anyone that has to take their expensive Nikon D1, D1X or D1H cameras out into the wet world. ickiewarez.com has a line of custom made raincovers for the Nikon professional digital cameras and they're reasonably priced too. To quote the Scott Iskowitz: "It all began with a quest for the perfect rain cover, followed by countless, disappointing hours searching the Internet and trade magazines. Frustrated, I set out to design my own. It took months of creating and recreating covers to fit a variety of professional lenses. The result is a high-quality, handcrafted product that can stand up to the elements. The best part may be that pros also won’t get soaked by the cost."

08-24-2001

Japanese Digicam Makers Agree To Advertise Only The Number of 'Effective Pixels' Excerpt from "The resolution trio" by Arthur H. Bleich (8/21/01) Camera resolution is a huge part of the decision-making process when you're buying this equipment. Now, prepare to change how you measure that resolution. Starting next month, the Japan Camera Industry Association (JCIA) is being a little more honest with what cameras can do. JCIA members, including most of the leading digital-camera manufacturers, will advertise only the number of "effective" pixels that their digicams capture. Some 10 to 20 percent of the total number of pixels on a CCD perform color calibration and image processing functions and will, therefore, be excluded from the final count. Although the lower numbers may make the average digital camera appear slightly less powerful on the store shelf, ultimately, you'll get a more accurate gauge of what you get for your money. But none of this megapixel discussion adds up to much unless you have a solid grasp of the realities of image resolution. Yes, it's true that higher-resolution digicams have the pixel power to produce bigger, better-looking images. But once you purchase such a camera, understanding the concepts of image resolution and printer resolution become equally important; in the end, they determine the quality of your prints. To read Art's entire article on resolution click HERE.

08-24-2001

Ritz Camera buys Wolf Camera for $84.7 Million The Wolf Camera Inc. sale to Ritz Camera Centers Inc. is a done deal. Wolf Camera is selling its assets to Ritz Camera in a deal worth $84.7 million, the Atlanta Business Chronicle reported. The new company will be based in Ritz's home territory in Beltsville, Md., USA. The pending sale must still get the approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Ritz Camera, owned by David Ritz, operates more than 900 stores nationwide, including eight stores in Wolf's headquarters in the Atlanta, Ga., area. "I really evaluated all our options, and this is really the best option," said Wolf Camera founder and CEO Chuck Wolf. "I really just had to think what's best for the company." Wolf Camera filed for bankruptcy June 21, listing assets of $176 million and liabilities of $219 million, according to the filing. Wolf paid Eastman Kodak Co. $64.5 million for the Fox Photo chain in 1998, a purchase that Wolf himself said was the cause of the company's financial troubles. Company officials say the Wolf Camera brand will not be dissolved in many markets, including Atlanta, the report said. Instead, Ritz Camera's eight Atlanta stores will be converted to the Wolf name. "I think it's common business sense [to keep the name]," Wolf said. "Of course it's the Wolf name, but David and I will be working together on this." Chuck Wolf is slated to stay aboard the company as vice chairman, heading up the chain's retail efforts, the report said. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Wolf's 4,000 store workers nationwide would be unaffected by the change in ownership. The outlook for Wolf Camera managers at the chain's Alpharetta headquarters wasn't so bright, however, the report said. Management of the combined company would be moved to Ritz's headquarters in Beltsville, leaving as many as 250 Wolf Camera workers out of jobs.

08-23-2001

Minolta DiMAGE 5 First Look Posted I just posted our Minolta DiMAGE 5 First Look review. Same great features as the DiMAGE 7 but with a 3-megapixel image sensor and a lower $999 MSRP.

08-23-2001

Nikon Introduces New Coolpix 885 Read our Nikon 885 review MELVILLE, NY, August 23, 2001 - Nikon (www.nikonusa.com), the world leader in photography, today introduced the Coolpix 885, the newest digital camera in the Coolpix line to include a Transfer button on the camera for directly uploading digital photos quickly and easily to the desktop or the Internet. The Coolpix 885's One-Touch Upload to the Web™ feature takes the guesswork out of digital photography for creating personalized photo albums online, adding special effects and e-mailing photos to friends and family. Featuring a 3-megapixel CCD and 3x Optical Zoom-Nikkor lens, the 885 offers users a digital camera that is as technologically advanced as it is fun and easy to use. The Coolpix 885 can be used with Nikon Telephoto, Wide-angle and Fisheye Converter Lenses and features a movie mode for capturing 40 seconds of 15 fps video. "Nikon designed the Coolpix 885 for people who want high quality images and ease-of-use in a compact digital camera," said Deborah Sauer, general manager, marketing, Nikon Consumer Digital Products and Compact Cameras. "The Coolpix 885 offers the best of both worlds - it is the perfect camera for the novice digital camera user who wants easy-to- use features and the power of a Nikon in a compact package, and the more advanced digital photographer who demands high quality optics, White Balance Bracketing and Noise Reduction in a small and lightweight design." The Coolpix 885 features a 3.21 million effective pixels CCD and a new 3x Optical Zoom- Nikkor lens (8-24mm/38-114mm equivalent) to provide images with defined color, contrast and clarity. The new camera weighs only 7.9 ounces without battery and CompactFlash card. Sharing digital photos, emailing friends and family, printing digital photos and creating online photo albums has never been easier. After pictures are taken, users connect the camera to a computer (with the included USB cable), press the "Transfer" button on the back of the camera, and photos can be automatically moved to the desktop or uploaded to NikonNet (www.nikonnet.com) through NikonView software. NikonView is included with the camera and can be easily installed on any compatible computer. Once photos are uploaded to NikonNet, the user can save the images, share them via e-mail or create online photo albums. The Coolpix 885 comes with versatile features to ensure great photos from beginners to advanced photographers with an Automatic mode as well as 12 different Scene modes. Selected Scene modes in the camera include: Portrait; Party/Indoor; Night Portrait; Beach/Snow; Landscape; Night Landscape; Sunset; Fireworks; Close Up; Copy; Backlight and the new Museum mode which cancels the flash. To make sure the best shot was taken, users simply press the Quick Review button on the camera to display the image in ¼ of the LCD screen, so that users can still see and shoot the action taking place on the other side of the lens. For the more advanced photographer, the camera comes with an automatic Noise Reduction mode for clean images taken at slower shutter speeds and versatile white balance settings and White Balance Bracketing. Additional advanced features on the Coolpix 885 include a Five-Area Multi Autofocus and a five-mode advanced built-in speedlight. The Coolpix 885 is compatible with Nikon Telephoto, Wideangle and Fisheye Converter Lenses as well as the Slide Copy Adapter (with optional Step Down Ring Lens Adapter UR-E4). The Coolpix 885 digital camera includes NikonView 4 software, which gives users ultimate control of how they save, view, store and use their digital images. For added image creativity, the camera features an easy-to-use suite of software from ArcSoft®. PhotoImpression 2000, is a fun manipulation package that allows users to edit, retouch or apply special effects to photos. ArcSoft VideoImpression lets users edit and share their QuickTime, MPG and AVI movies. PhotoPrinter Pro 2000 makes it possible to create prints easily, in varying sizes on one sheet of printer paper. The Coolpix 885 also offers ArcSoft Panorama Maker 2000, which lets users easily stitch together a number of images to automatically create beautiful panoramic photographs ready to print or e-mail. To organize and catalog all the pictures, the Coolpix 885 comes with Canto Cumulus 5.0 Trial and iView Media Pro - trial version (Macintosh only). Complete with a 16MB Lexar Media CompactFlash card and a 2CR5 lithium battery for use right out of the box, as well as a lens cap, wrist strap, USB and video cables, the Nikon 885 will be available September 2001 for an MSRP of $599.95.

08-23-2001

Fujifilm Introduces Three Affordable Point-And-Shoot Digital Cameras ELMSFORD, NY, August 23, 2001 - Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. today reaches out to first- time digital photographers with the unveiling of the FinePix A101, FinePix A201 and the FinePix 2600 Zoom digital cameras - its largest entry-level category introduction to date. True to the Fujifilm FinePix brand, these pocket-size, go-anywhere cameras are stylish and easy-to-use while offering the color, sharpness and overall picture-quality typically associated with more expensive models. The introduction of the new FinePix A101 and A201 models also signifies the birth of a new series of Fujifilm FinePix digital cameras, the A-Series. Designed specifically for picture-takers looking to take their first steps into the world of digital photography, the A-Series offers simple, streamlined functions, sure to make a beginner's digital experience fun and pleasant. In addition, the new FinePix 2600 Zoom expands Fujifilm's existing mid-range line up by offering the same streamlined operation as the A-series with additional picture-taking features and the same outstanding color. With these new camera introductions, Fujifilm continues to lead the growing digital camera market with ever-improving image quality, broader functionality and distinctive styling. The company offers products for all digital imaging categories, including entry-level, mid-range, high-end consumer, advanced amateur and professional. FinePix A101, A201 and 2600 Zoom Technological leaps in digital imaging have enabled Fujifilm to reduce manufacturing costs, thereby offering in these new cameras, the exceptional image quality for which Fujifilm is renowned, along with familiar point-and-shoot convenience at a more affordable price. Featuring Fujifilm's Advanced Color Technology and high-resolution megapixel CCDs, Fujifilm's FinePix A-Series cameras and the FinePix 2600 Zoom produce beautiful images with rich, true-to-life color. User-friendly controls and Fujifilm's Internet-ready FinePixViewer software make capturing and downloading photos a snap with the cameras' convenient USB computer connectivity. The ultra-compact and lightweight bodies of the FinePix A-Series are the end result of a 30% reduction in power consumption when compared to previous FinePix entry-level models and all include such fun features as PC-cam and video recording capabilities. The three models feature conventional CCD sensors and varying zoom capabilities: FinePix A101, 1.3-megapixel CCD and 2x digital zoom FinePix A201, 2-megapixel CCD and 2.5x digital zoom FinePix 2600 Zoom, 2-megapixel CCD with 3x optical and 2.5x digital zoom All three models also offer advanced image capture abilities for e-mail photo-sharing and exceptional print-quality results. The FinePix A101 will be available late August 2001 at $179. The FinePix A201 and FinePix 2600 Zoom, priced at $249 and $299, respectively, will be available in September 2001.

08-23-2001

SCM Microsystems Offers Support to Sony Digital Cameras With its Microtech Brand Memory Stick Compatible Products Guilford, CT - August 22, 2001 - SCM Microsystems, Inc. announced today that it now offers a Memory Stick PC Card adapter for users of Sony digital cameras. By offering this new adapter, SCM allows consumers of the number one consumer brand of digital cameras to experience the quickest and easiest solution for transferring images from a Sony digital camera to a notebook computer. The MS adapter enables consumers to read and write to and from a Memory Stick using the standard PCMCIA slot already built into laptop PCs. Users simply insert the Memory Stick into the adapter to download images, without the hassle of connecting cables and without using precious camera battery life. Measuring 85.6mm x 54mm x 5mm, the PC Card adapter is easily stored in a camera bag or pocket. Consumers of Sony digital cameras can also benefit from the Microtech SmartFloppy portable USB floppy drive. The SmartFloppy is offered to accompany Sony's signature Mavica® line of digital cameras, which has dominated the digital camera market since 1997. SCM has brought the SmartFloppy to market as a solution for transferring digital images from the Mavica® floppy disk to a notebook computer with a USB port. The Microtech SmartFloppy allows consumers to use an external floppy drive for fast and easy transfer of digital images from the Mavica® to a computer. Although the Mavica® continues to be the top player in the industry, the Cyber-shot® line of digital cameras is quickly gaining popularity among consumers due to its small size, good quality and affordability. SCM recognized the growing popularity of the Cyber-Shot® line and extended its award- winning ZiO! family of pocket-sized digital media readers to accommodate the hot new line of cameras. The newest addition, ZiO! MS is now available. SCM also offers consumers a dual-slot digital film reader for Memory Stick and CompactFlash media, the Microtech Memory Stick CameraMate. With this reader, users of the Sony Cyber-shot or other MemoryStick compatible devices can transfer data from a Memory Stick to a higher capacity CompactFlash card or an IBM Microdrive. Consumers who have multiple digital devices accepting various types of media can also benefit from the Microtech Memory Stick CameraMate by using only one card reader for all their CompactFlash, IBM Microdrive and Memory Stick digital media. Microtech digital connectivity solutions include an extensive line of readers, media and connectivity products for a wide range of digital device applications. The Microtech family includes the ZiO! Universal USB reader, USB CameraMate, and USB XpressSCSI and FireSCSI bridge solutions as well as CompactFlash, SmartMedia and Multimedia Card and Memory Stick accessories. For more information, visit the Microtech product Website at www.microtechint.com.

08-22-2001

Minolta Maxxum 7 SLR Review Posted Gregg, our resident film guru, has just posted his latest review of popular film SLR cameras. This month it's the Minolta Maxxum 7, a truly state of the art 35mm SLR. This camera is loaded with features including an advanced multi-point AF system, automatic "Eye Start" and a large monochrome LCD on the back with as much information as a the manual. If you're still into film then be sure to check this one out.

08-22-2001

Sony Unveils World's Smallest, Lightest Dye-Sublimation Digital Photo Printer SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 21, 2001 - Combining the art of miniaturization with the practical benefit of outstanding printing technology, Sony Electronics has introduced the diminutive DPP-MP1 digital photo printer. With this new device, beautiful, borderless, full-color photos can be made anywhere in less than two minutes. Weighing in at less than one pound, including battery and paper tray, the miniature dye- sublimation printer can be used with either the supplied AC adapter or an optional battery pack. The printer and battery pack will be available in November for about $280 and $70, respectively. "Not only can this printer provide long lasting memories of social gatherings, it can also be a helpful tool for professionals in real estate, insurance and law enforcement who need to print their pictures right on the spot," said Mark Viken, senior vice president of Sony's Information Technology Products Division. The new DPP-MP1 printer can be driven by a personal computer via USB or directly from Memory Stick media. It uses durable business card-size paper, made popular by a variety of current devices. Paper is available in packs of 24 and is sold with a print cartridge for about $20. The printer is supplied with paper tray, AC adapter, USB cable and test printing pack.

08-21-2001

Reviews Posted for New Sony DSC-F707 and DSC-P5 Cameras We have been using pre-production models of the new Sony DSC-F707 and DSC-P5 for a while now and have posted our Sony F707 First Look and our Sony P5 review online. The weather has been "off and on" here lately so I haven't gotten all of the sample photos that I want yet but there's a good starter set posted. All photos will be re-shot when we review the final production model cameras later. Other sites' Sony Reviews: Imaging-Resource's F707 review    P5 review DC Resource's F707 review DP Review's F707 review    P5 review

08-21-2001

Sony Introduces Five-Megapixel Cyber-Shot DSC-F707 Camera August 21, 2001 -- Now all digital photographers can achieve professional results with the introduction of Sony's Cyber-shot® DSC-F707 digital still camera, featuring new technologies that make previously difficult pictures a whole lot easier to shoot. Priced at about $1,000, the five-megapixel (MP) camera is the first of its kind to be aimed at, and priced for, the broad consumer market. This new Cyber-shot model offers numerous options for both manual and automatic controls, so photographers can do as much, or as little, as they want to achieve extraordinary images. Built-in photo quality comes with a 5.24 MP CCD (5.02 MP effective), Carl ZeissTM optics, and an advanced automatic flash system. Other controls have been added to enhance focus, exposure and composition. "We're establishing a new benchmark with this camera for all photography - not just in the digital realm," said Takashi Kondo, senior vice president of Sony Electronics' Digital Imaging Product Division. "Not only does it take better pictures, it also offers new tools to challenge the creativity of even the most experienced photographer." Among its features are: Resolution - Sony's new 5.24 MP CCD image sensor (5.02 MP effective) provides the Cyber-shot DSC-F707 camera with a maximum image size of 2560 x 1920. At this resolution, photographers can capture images with the detail required for vibrant, lifelike photographs. Zoom - To catch high-resolution images from afar, the camera has a pivoting Carl ZeissTM Vario Sonnar 5X optical zoom lens with F2.0 aperture, giving it extraordinary light gathering capability. Two LCDs - Photographers can compose shots with either the 1.8-inch LCD screen or a new eye-level electronic viewfinder they can hold up directly to their eye. Focus High-speed AutoFocus and Manual Focus Ring with LCD Magnifier Hologram AF - Ideal for photographing a smooth beach on a moonless night, Hologram AF is a Sony-exclusive laser focusing system designed to achieve accurate focus on subjects with little contrast in dark conditions. It projects a visible Class 1 laser hologram pattern directly onto the subject so the camera can detect the contrast between the edge of the laser pattern and the subject itself. Exposure Multi-Pattern Metering - To get accurate exposure in uneven lighting, like a scene with the sun in one corner and a shaded hammock in the other, a multi-pattern metering option is included for the first time in a Sony digital still camera. By dividing the scene into a matrix of separate cells, each which can be metered independently, it accurately calculates exposure when highlights and shadows exist outside the center of the frame. Pre-flash Metering - To get the best shots with the flash, the camera incorporates Sony's new pre-flash metering system. Unlike other flash metering systems, pre-flash metering actually measures the light from the flash as it passes through the lens to calculate correct exposure. At the time of exposure, the flash fires twice - once to illuminate the subject and calculate correct exposure, then a second time to record the image with the best exposure possible. Spot Metering and Center-Weighted Averaging - Also available when needed. Special Features NightShot® - Sony's DSC-F707 makes it easy to take pictures in low- and no-light situations. With the flip of a switch, the infrared NightShot mode is activated, which defeats the flash and an infrared picture is captured with no visible light at all. NightShot makes it possible to take pictures or MPEG movies of sleeping children and nocturnal wildlife in a way that is impossible with all other digital still cameras. NightFraming® - In order to compose pictures in a dimly lit restaurant or other settings with challenging light, NightFraming, another Sony exclusive feature, integrates NightShot technology, Hologram AF and TTL pre-flash metering. This seamless system enables the photographer to properly frame the subject, attain accurate focus and achieve correct flash exposure for consistently excellent flash shots. Noise Reduction Clear Color NR - The DSC-F707 model introduces this new noise reduction tool for the first time. Clear Color NR reduces noise in the color signal, which is useful when the subject includes areas of similar color, such as blue sky backgrounds. Slow Shutter NR - In order to capture strikingly natural night scenes with available light, Slow Shutter NR overcomes the problem of CCD noise in long time exposures. The camera first captures the image. It then closes the iris while it captures a black frame - just the noise pattern of the CCD. The camera then subtracts the noise pattern from the image and leaves it virtually noise-free. Sony's new Cyber-shot DSC-F707 camera captures the moment in a variety of formats, including: JPEG, TIFF, voice memo, e-mail and text. It also has MPEG-HQ and MPEG-EX video modes, Clip Motion animated GIF modes and in-camera editing functions. The camera ships with a 16MB Memory Stick® media card, an InfoLithium M battery, an AC adapter/in-camera charger, an A/V output cable, a USB cable, a shoulder strap and a lens cap.

08-21-2001

New Sony DSC-P5 and DSC-P3 Models Allow Consumers to Capture Great Photos Anywhere August 21, 2001 -- The best camera is the one that is actually on-hand when a photo opportunity arises, and Sony has unveiled two super slender Cyber-shot® digital still cameras that fit the bill. Created to expand the company's successful P-series, the new DSC-P5 and DSC-P3 models are not only Sony's smallest cameras to date - they also pack a powerful picture-taking punch. "We have maximized miniaturization and the available technologies in these two models to refine the idea behind our P-series cameras," said Takashi Kondo, senior vice president of Sony Electronics' Digital Imaging Product Division. "We listened to consumers who encouraged us to make cameras that are more slender, yet maintain the comfortable shape and size that make Sony's pocket-size cameras so easy to handle." Though small in size, these cameras bring new features to the P series, such as an AF Illuminator for focusing in the dark, in addition to two-shot burst mode, for capturing fast action. Both models reflect operating improvements that include simplified menus. Pocket-sized Pedigree The ruggedly elegant design and silver case of the Cyber-shot DSC-P5 model resembles that of its popular predecessor, the DSC-P1, but reveals a slimmer profile - thanks to a two-step barrel lens that retracts into the body of the camera; along with the development of a tiny new C-series InfoLithium® battery, with more than an hour of continuous shooting capacity, depending on use. At a more attractive price than its predecessor, the DSC-P5 model at about $600 will still feature a powerful 3X optical, 6X digital zoom lens and a 3.34 megapixel (MP) CCD (3.2 MP effective) when it becomes available in October. It will also feature a more precise 14-bit A/D converter and MPEG EXTM movie mode. Digital Necessities The Cyber-shot DSC-P3 camera invokes the same style as the DSC-P5 model, but is faster and lighter due to its fixed lens with a 3X digital zoom. Its 3.34 megapixel CCD (2.8 MP effective) and high-speed focus produce stunning snapshots, especially for a digital still camera that will be offered for about $500 when it is on store shelves in October. Both cameras have: AF Illuminator -- To insure accurate focus, even in dark conditions, an AF illuminator light briefly illuminates subjects to allow positive focus lock. Two-Shot Burst Mode -- A two-frame burst mode captures two full-resolution images at up to two frames per second to capture fast-moving subjects. ClipMotion -- An exclusive Sony GIF animation feature, ClipMotion allows users to take up to 10 pictures that the camera automatically combines to make a single ClipMotion animation file. The ClipMotion file is smaller in memory size than a standard MPEG movie. Versatile File Formats -- Files can be saved in several ways: JPEG, TIFF (Tagged Image Fill Format) for higher quality images, GIF for text mode and two different MPEG options for motion video and sound - MPEG HQ (High Quality) and MPEG EX (Extended). MPEG EX captures 160x112 or 320x240 video continuously, up to the capacity of the Memory Stick® media in use. Supplied Accessories -- These include 8MB Memory Stick media, InfoLithium C-series battery, AC adapter/charger, AV cable, USB cable and application software/USB driver CD-ROM. Two Cameras on Land Use One Casing at Sea To protect either of the cameras from water and other elements, such as sand, snow, ice and rain, users may purchase on optional a Marine Pack (MPK-P5) accessory. This underwater housing makes the cameras waterproof up to nearly 133 feet (40 meters). When it comes out in October for about $250, it will be supplied with a neck strap and an anti-fogging lens solution.

08-21-2001

Minolta's 2.3-Megapixel DiMAGE E201 Ramsey, New Jersey (August 20, 2001) - Minolta Corporation expands its digital camera line-up into the popular-price segment with the introduction of the new Minolta DiMAGE E201, a superb quality entry-level model based on the highly-regarded DiMAGE 2300. While retaining the ease-of-use and stylish design of its predecessor, the DiMAGE E201 includes a new movie recording feature, a responsive new microprocessor, and simplified computer connectivity. "We're pleased to offer a high quality, high resolution DiMAGE digital camera at a very affordable price," said Jon Sienkiewicz, vice president of digital imaging products for Minolta Corporation's Consumer Products Group. "The DiMAGE E201 offers great styling, fast operation, and excellent imaging quality - everything a consumer would expect from a Minolta camera." Simply press the shutter button, and the Minolta DiMAGE E201 will deliver impressive, crisp, detailed images. The camera boasts a 2.3 million-pixel CCD*, and quality optics with aspheric elements. A new responsive processor powers the DiMAGE E201. The carefree operation comes from the camera's automatic control over focus, exposure, white balance, and flash. Although some people may be intimidated by digital technology, the camera-like controls will be familiar to all users. With all of its sophisticated automation, the DiMAGE E201 still allows users control over exposure, white balance, image quality, and image size. It is a fun and flexible camera bursting with features such as movie recording and a 2x digital zoom. *Total number of pixels Effortless image capture is complemented by simple in-camera viewing and editing. Transferring images to a personal computer is easy using the provided USB cable, with the camera acting as a mass-storage device. Simply install the bundled Adobe PhotoDeluxe® software to retouch and manipulate images to create impressive presentations limited only by imagination: web pages, personalized calendars, postcards, etc. "With high-quality images, effortless operation, and simple PC connection, the DiMAGE E201 is an ideal compact digital camera for entry-level users, and those who care about quality and value," Sienkiewicz added. "And its affordable price makes it as easy to own as it is to use." The DiMAGE E201 will be available to consumers in September 2001 with an estimated street price of $299.

08-17-2001

Sony Europe Announces New Generation of Digital Camcorders The folks over at LetsGoDigital.nl have posted a Sony Europe press release with information about the next generation of Sony digital camcorders. As expected, they're smaller and loaded with all sorts of networking features, especially the DCR-IP7 which includes BlueTooth for wireless connectivity. No word from Sony America on these new camcorders so they may only be available in Europe. Follow the link above for pictures and more information about them. 08-19-01 addition: LetsGoDigital has now posted information about two more new Sony digital camcorders - see their news page for the DCR-PC120 and DCR-PC115 camcorders.

08-17-2001

SimpleTech Announces Availability of Type II CompactFlash Cards in Capacities Up to 1GB and 640MB CF Type I SANTA ANA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SimpleTech, Inc. (Nasdaq:STEC), a technology solutions provider offering products based on DRAM, SRAM and flash memory technologies, today announced first-to-market availability of Type I CompactFlash(TM) cards in capacities up to 640MB and Type II cards in industry-leading capacities of 850MB and 1GB. The cards are designed to meet the expanding needs of commercial and industrial embedded applications professionals looking for the highest possible storage capacity in the most popular standard Types I and II CompactFlash cards. "This is a prime example of the technical synergy inherent in our recently announced alliance with Hitachi Semiconductor (America)," said SimpleTech's Chief Technical Officer Mark Moshayedi. "We can take Hitachi's leading edge flash memory silicon, double its density with SimpleTech's patented IC Tower(TM) stacking technology, and offer the world's highest capacity CompactFlash cards." According to Mark D'Arcangelo, Hitachi Semiconductor America's system memory product marketing manager, "These new product offerings from SimpleTech are just the beginning of many future 'industry-first' solutions that will result from our partnership. The combination of both organizations' strengths will continue to yield superior product for the marketplace." The high capacity cards are available in limited quantities through September, with production quantities expected to be available in October.

08-17-2001

Pictographics Announces New Enhanced Version of iCorrect™ Professional Color Correction Photoshop® Plug-in Software August 17, 2001 - - Burnsville, MN - - Pictographics International Corporation, a leading provider of digital color technology, announces that it will soon be releasing the new enhanced Version 3.0 of its widely acclaimed iCorrect™ Professional color correction plug-in for Adobe Photoshop® and other popular photo editing software. The new capabilities, which will be released on September 10, 2001, add to an already impressive array of features that have been highly praised by professional imagers, digital photography enthusiasts, and independent experts alike. Since its release last April, iCorrect Professional has been described by reviewers as having "remarkable capabilities" packaged in a "simple interface" which, with just "a couple of clicks", can "improve an already good image" or "transform a 'so-so' image into an excellent one." "iCorrect puts the power of breakthrough digital color technology in the hands of the user to quickly and easily solve a major problem of digital photography – accurate color capture" according to Wayne Huelskoetter, Pictographics President. Without having to deal with sliders or curves that can be both challenging and time-consuming, iCorrect makes it possible for users to perform global corrections that instantly adjust the colors within the defined color space so they can easily 'Make the Color Right'™. The new enhancements that will be released in September include the addition of 48-bit technology (16 bits per channel), an intelligent auto-white and auto-black range adjustment, user- definable preferences, more precise controls for brightness and contrast, and an improved user interface. "These new features will add to both the extent and ease with which images can be transformed into what the user wants to see," says Huelskoetter. Version 3.0 also expands iCorrect's compatibility with other applications. The software operates as a plug-in with Adobe® Photoshop, Photoshop Elements and PhotoDeluxe and other popular photo editing software including, Jasc® PaintShop™ Pro 7, and Deneba Software Canvas™ 8. The leading edge technology that lies behind the remarkable color transformations iCorrect can produce includes such features as: Sophisticated mathematical algorithms that make quick global corrections to tonal ranges, colorcast, and other reference colors including skin tones, foliage green, and sky blue. User-defined reference colors so the exact intensity and hue desired can easily be assigned to objects like a company logo, fashion article, product label, or portrait background. Easy brightness and contrast adjustments Simple user interface that saves time by eliminating the potentially frustrating "trial and error" color editing tools common to other color editing software Both Macintosh and Windows versions are available including Win 2000. "We know this new extension of our CandelaColor® Digital Color Technology will delight the digital imaging professionals and enthusiasts who use iCorrect Professional" says Huelskoetter. "For that reason all registered owners of iCorrect Professional Version 2.0 will receive a FREE upgrade to the new product after its release on September 10." The current version of iCorrect Professional is available for $139 at www.picto.com.

08-17-2001

Canon Introduces Canoscan FS2720U, High-Speed Film Scanner For 35mm and Advanced Photo System Films LAKE SUCCESS, NEW YORK, August 17, 2001 - Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon, Inc. (NYSE: CAJ), is once again providing consumers with greater ease of use with the introduction of a new, high-speed desktop film scanner for use with 35mm and Advanced Photo System films. The new scanner, which incorporates a USB interface for easy connection to a PC, helps "bridge the gap" between analog and digital imaging by providing a means of downloading conventional photographs into a computer for the purposes of creating prints via computer output devices, email and the creation of personal Web sites. The new CanoScan FS2720U will be available at authorized Canon dealers nationwide in September at a suggested list price of $599. The CanoScan FS2720U offers several advanced features including a maximum scanning speed of 13 / 10 seconds per frame (35mm / APS) , 2,720 dots-per-inch (dpi) optical resolution, 12-bit RGB input and output, and the ability to accept slides or negatives, color or black-and-white in either the 35mm or APS formats. A comprehensive software package included with the CanoScan FS2720U make downloading images fast and simple. Software packaged with the scanner includes Adobe Photoshop 5.0 LE, CanoCraft FSU and CanoCraft FSU Copy for Windows 98/Me/2000, and Plug-in Module FSU for G3 and G4 Power Macintosh computers with built-in USB ports. "The age of computers and digital technology has narrowed the chasm between analog and digital imaging," said Yukiaki Hashimoto, vice president and general manager, Photographic Products Group. Canon U.S.A., Inc. "Canon's heritage and reputation as an innovator in imaging technology crosses both areas and provides consumers with the tools they need to easily and creatively make the transition from analog to digital. The new CanoScan FS2720U is an excellent example of how Canon is synergistically approaching the marketplace and how consumers can benefit from this approach." The CanoScan FS2720U's combination of high scanning resolution and natural color reproduction meet the strictest demands of photography enthusiasts and SOHO (small office/home office) users- two of the major categories of film scanner customers. Content creators for print, Web and multimedia will be more than satisfied by the FS2720U's top scanning speed, which is faster than other manufacturers' models of comparable quality. The CanoScan FS2720U provides 36-bit scanning capability which supports recognition of more than 68 billion different colors, as well as a broad dynamic range of 3.2 density units. The result is extremely accurate color rendition compared to the original film while retaining subtle details in the highlight and shadow areas of the scanned image. The CanoScan FS2720U is fully compatible with most personal computers supporting Windows 98, Me or 2000, or Mac OS 8.6 through 9.1. A comprehensive software bundle includes Adobe Photoshop 5.0 LE for Windows and Mac, CanoCraft FSU and CanoCraft FSU Copy for Windows 98/Me/2000, and Plug-in Module FSU for G3 and G4 Power Macintosh computers with built-in USB ports. Windows users can create quality images for immediate use with CanoCraft FSU. With popular TWAIN-compliant image editors like Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop LE, CanoCraft FSU allows the user to access the scanner directly from that application and perform basic image-editing functions such as setting color balance, tone curve, highlights, shadows and contrast. CanoCraft FSU can also be run as an independent application with basic image-editing and printing capability. The Canon Plug-in Module FSU brings Macintosh users quick and easy control over basic scanning parameters and color adjustments. Among the tools included are focus and exposure control, zoom in/out, and gradation settings such as tone balance, gamma curve, and threshold. The Canon Plug-in Module FS works on Mac OS 8.6 through 9.1.

08-16-2001

Canon Introduces The 4-Megapixel Powershot G2: An Ultra-High-Performance Compact Digital Camera Click here for our Canon G2 First Look report. LAKE SUCCESS, NEW YORK, August 17, 2001 - Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon, Inc. (NYSE: CAJ), continues to strengthen its position in the highly competitive consumer digital camera market with the introduction of its most advanced product to date: the new Canon PowerShot G2, the company's first 4-megapixel model. The Canon PowerShot G2 Kit will be available through authorized Canon dealers in September at a suggested list price of $999. The Canon PowerShot G2 joins a family of Canon PowerShot-series cameras including the high-end Pro90 IS, the mid-range S300 and S110 Digital ELPHs, and the entry-level PowerShot A20 and A10. Collectively, the Canon PowerShot digital camera line-up offers consumers the widest range of features in the industry. From 1.3-megapixel to 4- megapixel models, Canon provides digital imaging solutions to fit nearly every need and price point. "The new Canon PowerShot G2 is a great example of our commitment to achieving the highest standards in imaging products while providing our customers with features and functions they need and expect from Canon," said Yukiaki Hashimoto, vice president and general manager, Photographic Products Group, Canon U.S.A., Inc. "The Canon G2 gives users greater creative control and allows them the opportunity to truly express themselves with photography." The design of the Canon PowerShot G2 is based on the popular PowerShot G1, with an elegant champagne metallic coverplate and an enlarged handgrip for better ergonomics. The Canon G2 has many features in common with its predecessor, including a superbly sharp high-speed 7-21mm f/2.0-2.5 zoom lens (equivalent to 34-102mm in the 35mm format), a Vari-Angle LCD viewfinder, a conventional camera body design, a high-speed plug-and-play USB interface, compatibility with Canon EX-series Speedlite flash units, and compatibility with Type I and II CompactFlash memory cards, including IBM's series of Microdrives. Virtually every other feature of the Canon PowerShot G2 has been improved relative to the G1. The list of new or improved functions includes: higher resolution, better image quality, faster signal processing, lower power consumption, more focusing points, improved manual focusing, faster continuous shooting, more shooting modes and metering patterns, additional playback options and accessory compatibility, and direct print capabilities with the Canon CP-10 printer. These are amazing accomplishments considering that the new camera enters the market at the same price as its predecessor did last October. Equipped with a 1/1.8-inch, 4.0 megapixel CCD sensor, the Canon PowerShot G2 allows users to produce full-color, high-resolution images up to 2272 x 1704 pixels. The camera also offers three additional resolution settings of 1600 x 1200, 1024 x 768 and 640 x 480. The added resolution helps users to produce sharper enlargements with finer detail than is possible with 3.3 megapixel cameras. Like the Canon PowerShot S300/S110 and A10/20, the Canon PowerShot G2 uses RGB primary color filters on the CCD chip for maximum color reproduction accuracy. This feature, together with proprietary noise reduction and digital signal processing, works behind the scenes to deliver top-notch image quality that's unique to Canon. For maximum flexibility, the Canon PowerShot G2 provides users with a selection of 13 image quality settings including 3 JPEG compression modes (Superfine, Fine and Normal) at any resolution. It also features Canon's exclusive RAW mode for maximum control over image attributes such as white balance, contrast, sharpness, saturation and bit depth without image-degrading artifacts. By combining the G2's RAW file capabilities with its optional ISO 50 sensitivity setting, users can achieve higher image quality than any competitive model on the market today. Because of improvements in the camera's image processing circuitry, the Canon PowerShot G2 completes most camera operations at least twice as fast as the G1. The faster processing speed makes the G2 feel quicker and more intuitive. At the same time, power consumption has been cut nearly in half, allowing the G2 to run as long as 5 hours in playback mode on a single battery charge. The Canon PowerShot G2 incorporates a three-point autofocus system to ensure perfectly focused images even when shooting off-center subjects. In Creative Zone exposure modes, the user can manually select any of the three focusing points by pushing a button on the back of the camera and using a selector switch. The active focusing point is indicated by a white box on the LCD monitor. When the shutter button is pressed halfway, the box turns green or yellow to indicate autofocus completion status. The Canon G2's manual focus function has been made easier to use by displaying a numerically indexed distance scale on the LCD monitor. Additionally, the portion of the image covered by the active focusing point is digitally enlarged during manual focusing to ensure maximum focusing precision. This feature works with all 3 focusing points, and combines the advantages of an enlarged view without losing the overall composition of the scene. In addition to the normal continuous shooting mode which allows digital capture at 1.5 frames per second for up to 9 frames in Large/Fine mode, the Canon G2 also offers a High- Speed Continuous mode. When High-Speed Continuous mode is selected, pictures can be shot continuously at an even faster pace of 2.5 frames per second for up to 5 frames in Large/Fine mode. This is made possible by changing the method in which image data is temporarily stored in the buffer. The Canon PowerShot G2 provides a wide range of 13 exposure modes divided into 2 basic categories: the Image Zone and the Creative Zone. Exposure modes are selected on the top of the camera using a rotary dial. Image Zone modes are fully automatic, and intended to optimize camera settings according to the scene. Selections include Full Auto, Pan Focus, Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Color Effect, Stitch Assist, and Movie. The Color Effect mode is new, and allows users to choose between Vivid, Neutral, Sepia or Black and White. The Movie mode has been improved to provide not just one but two resolution modes with sound: QVGA (320x240), and Q2VGA (160x120). The maximum recording duration is 30 seconds in QVGA and two full minutes with Q2VGA. Creative Zone modes offer more control. They include Program AE, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority and Manual. Program AE has been improved with the addition of Program Shift, which allows the user to bias the exposure towards higher shutter speeds or smaller apertures than the standard setting. Manual mode has also been improved with the addition of a numerical metering display. Like the G1, the G2's Creative Zone offers user-selectable settings for exposure compensation, flash exposure compensation, auto exposure bracketing, white balance, and other parameters. A new "Fluorescent H" white balance setting allows better color matching for daylight-type fluorescent light sources. The Canon PowerShot G2 offers users three different types of Metering: Center-Weighted Average, Spot, and Evaluative. With center-weighted average metering, the camera measures light over the entire image and places proper exposure emphasis on the center of the frame. Spot metering measures a specific portion of the frame, and can be locked to the center or linked to the active focusing point. Evaluative Metering, however, takes the entire scene and divides it into several sections. For each section, the camera evaluates a number of complex lighting factors based on each individual section such as the position of the subject, the brightness, the background, and backlighting. The result is a properly exposed image throughout the entire scene. The Canon PowerShot G2 is capable of displaying a histogram of the photo image on the LCD monitor in a manner similar to the EOS D30 professional model. The histogram is a graph with the horizontal axis representing "brightness" and the vertical axis depicting the cumulative number of pixels that have that brightness. The histogram allows users to check the overall exposure of each photo. Additionally, if any portion of the photo is grossly overexposed, warning signals are displayed. The Canon PowerShot G2 offers a Direct Print mode that enables users to print hard-copy images with or without cropping using the Canon CP-10 dye sublimation printer. The Canon CP-10 makes printing from digital files simple and fun by allowing users to control all print settings directly from the camera's LCD monitor. Printer data is then transferred to the Canon CP-10 directly through a dedicated interface cable. The new, ultra-compact printer produces beautiful, 300 x 300 dpi credit card-sized color prints in as little as 56 seconds. The Canon CP-10 can also be used to print eight miniature copies of the same image on one sticker sheet, adding a new dimension of fun for everyone. Each sticker measures approximately 0.9 x 0.7-inches. The Canon PowerShot G2 comes with Adobe PhotoShop 5.0 LE and Apple QuickTime 5.0, ZoomBrowser EX 2.8 (for PC) and ImageBrowser 1.8 (for Mac); PhotoRecord 1.2.4 (Windows only); PhotoStitch 3.1.3 (Windows) and PhotoStitch 3.1.2 (Mac) and RAW Image Converter 1.1. RemoteCapture 2.0 enables a USB-connected Canon G2 camera to be controlled by a compatible personal computer. Many camera settings such as focal length, resolution, compression, flash mode, etc., can be adjusted from compatible personal computers and the images can be recorded directly to the PC. In addition to all of these software applications, the G2 is supplied with plug-in modules and TWAIN drivers as well as a WIA driver for Windows Me and a USB Mounter for Mac OS 9.0 and 91. The WIA driver and USB mounter allow a compatible PC to mount the camera as a hard drive on the desktop and display thumbnails to facilitate simplified image data transfers. The Canon PowerShot G2 provides even greater creative flexibility with optional lens converters and adapters. The WC-DC58 Wide Angle Converter shortens the focal length of the camera's lens by approximately 0.8x, resulting in an effective focal length of 27mm. The TC-DC58 Tele Converter extends the camera's longest focal length from 102mm to 153mm. The Close-Up Lens 250D enables the G2 to fill the frame with subjects as small as 1.2 x 1.5 inches. The Conversion Lens Adapter LA-DC58 allows the Tele Converter, Wide Angle Converter and Close-up Lens to be mounted onto the G2 body. As a standalone, the conversion adapter accepts any 58mm filter. Last but not least, the Canon PowerShot G2 is compatible with all Canon EX-series Speedlite flash units including the 220EX, 420EX, 550EX and Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX. The use of optional Speedlites provides tremendous creative control over lighting quality. The new Canon PowerShot G2 kit includes: 32MB CompactFlash Card, BP-511 Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery, CA-560 Compact Power Adapter with AC Cable, USB Interface Cable, AV Cable, Wireless Remote Controller, Neck Strap and Bundled software. Other sites' Canon G2 reviews: Imaging-Resource DP Review DC Resource Page

08-16-2001

SmartDisk Introduces MVP (Music, Videos, Pictures) CD Creating Software SmartDisk, Naples, Fla., introduced SmartDisk MVP, a multimedia CD creation software for music, video and pictures. The program enables consumers to organize, manage and combine a multitude of digital files including music, video, photos and data into personalized presentations viewable on PCs and TVs. It is available in retail stores throughout the United States and Europe on Aug. 30. Users can keep a visual inventory of their digital files and combine them into personalized, interactive slide shows and music compilations. The program also lets consumers print digital pictures individually or as entire albums, and FotoCanvas photo editor allows users to enhance their images. The suggested price is US$89.95.

08-15-2001

Canon Introduces New XL1S Digital Camcorder Canon U.S.A. Inc., Lake Success, N.Y., unveiled their new 3 CCD XL1S digital video (DV) camcorder, it contains 27 more features than the Canon XL1. Canon said the XL1S model has improved picture quality and is the only DV camcorder that can be customized to the needs of the videographer and to specific shooting applications, by changing lenses, viewfinders and shoulder mounts. The new Canon XL1S kit, which includes a 16x IS II zoom lens and color viewfinder, will be available this month for a suggested $4,699. Follow the link above to visit the CanonDV.com web site for full XL1S specifications.

08-14-2001

Kodak Adds Three More Cameras to the EasyShare System Kodak has added three new digital cameras to their EasyShare system, the $449 Kodak DX3900 (pictured above) is a 3.1-megapixel camera with image resolution of 2160 x 1440 and features a 2x optical zoom (35-70mm 35mm equivalent), settable ISO sensitivity of 100, 200 or 400, white balance options, burst capture, metering options, 8MB CF card and some manual settings. It will be sold both with and without the EasyShare docking station that allows for one-touch automatic downloads to the computer or the Internet. Next up is the $399 Kodak DX3700, also a 3.1-megapixel camera but it lacks an optical zoom and the other manual features of the DX3900. 8MB of internal memory plus a MultiMediaCard / Secure Digital card slot for additional memory. This is a hi-res point-n-shoot camera. On the low end is the $199 Kodak DX3215, a 1.3-megapixel camera with a 2x optical zoom (30-60mm 35mm equivalent), 1280 x 960 image resolution, 8MB of internal memory plus a MultiMediaCard / Secure Digital card slot for additional memory. Like the other cameras it can be purchased with or without the Kodak EasyShare docking port. Read the entire press release here. New Inkjet Papers Also announced are two new Kodak inkjet photo paper products. Kodak Ultima Picture Paper for Borderless Inkjet Prints, a high gloss paper, provides borderless prints that have the look and feel of professional photographs. Micro-perforated for easy separation, the new paper enables users to create true, 4 x 6-inch pictures. Users simply print and tear along the perforation for crisp, edge-to-edge prints every time. This new paper has a suggested retail price of $9.99 for 20 sheets. Kodak Picture Paper for Inkjet Prints adds a new, affordable, matte-surfaced paper to its product lineup. Coated on both sides for versatility, Kodak Picture Paper is ideal for printing two-sided album pages - or any other kind of photo - on medium weight stock. Also available in soft gloss, Kodak Picture Paper for Inkjet Prints has a suggested retail price of $9.99 for 25 sheets.

08-13-2001

Olympus Has "Unofficial" Firmware Update for E-10 To Battle Dead or Bad Pixels According to a news article at digitalkamera.de Olympus has an unofficial firmware update with version number 42-0130 for the semi-professional digital camera Olympus E-10 should do for "dead" and "hot" pixels. To get this, though, you have to send the camera back to Olympus. The firmware update with version number 42-0130 introduces a technique called "pixel mapping" by Olympus which detects and "computes out" defective pixels. On cameras provided with the appropriate firmware update, a special menu entry activates the pixel mapping function. All E-10s shipped from August onwards should – according to Olympus – already be provided with the new firmware version. If in doubt, the firmware can be checked by reading out and displaying the so-called meta data contained in the EXIF header of the individual pictures with a suitable program (e.g. ACDSee 3.1, Thumber, Irfanview). Cameras not yet provided with the new firmware version can be sent in to Olympus where the update will be carried out on payment of a "small contribution". This information has been confirmed by Olympus America. To further explain the problem and causes of "hot, stuck or bad" pixels please click here for Olympus document on Automatic Pixel Mapping (MS Word doc). Olympus America will retrofit E-10 cameras with the new APM-enabled firmware for $19.95 which is really just the shipping and handling costs. The camera must be sent in and only Olympus U.S. warrantied (FCC approved) cameras will be serviced.

08-13-2001

Microsoft, Kodak Agree on Windows XP List Link WASHINGTON (AP) - Microsoft Corp. (MSFT - news) has agreed to change its new Windows XP (news - web sites) operating system to make it easier for users to access the Eastman Kodak digital camera software and services they have installed on their computers. The change also would make it easier to launch any other third-party photo editing software on a computer. Windows XP is set for release in October. Rochester, N.Y.-based Kodak complained that an early version failed to automatically direct Kodak camera owners to a list where they could easily access Kodak's photo printing services when they plug their digital camera into their computers. Under an agreement to be announced Monday, Microsoft will change the presentation of options on a digital camera connection from a drop-down menu to a list of third-party digital photo applications. Windows XP also will clearly identify its own Scanner and Camera Wizard as Microsoft digital photography functions, along with listing Kodak or any other third-party photo programs installed on a computer. Any of the software could be designated the "default" so it would launch automatically when a digital camera is plugged into the computer. "We think Microsoft made significant positive changes in the operation system," Kodak spokesman Anthony Sanzio said Sunday. "They're opening up a dialogue box to let consumers see what software is available to them and that's a positive step by Microsoft. We welcome those changes." But he said Kodak has "other concerns about Windows XP and we hope to resolve those with Microsoft." He declined to discuss other changes Kodak wants, saying the company prefers to keep its discussions with Microsoft private. Kodak plans to announce Tuesday the development of three new digital cameras compatible with Windows XP. "We worked with Kodak to make these changes and we think these changes are good," said Jim Cullinan, Microsoft's lead product manager for Windows. "We thought it was good feedback so we made the change." He said Microsoft wants to enhance consumer choices that can be exercised under the new operating system. "We want XP to allow other third parties to have an opportunity to build a business," he said. Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat and member of the Judiciary Committee (news - web sites), wrote to Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer last month and asked him to delay Windows XP's release until the company changes the operating system to make it easier for rivals to offer competing software. "Hopefully this is the first in a series of steps so there's fair competition," Schumer said Sunday. Schumer is critical of Microsoft's decision to bundle several new features with Windows XP that can replace software made by rivals, including programs for digital photography, instant messaging and streaming media. "All we are asking for is that other competitive products be given an equal place on the platform so consumers can make the choice," Schumer said. The Senate Judiciary Committee plans to open hearings in fall into whether Microsoft is improperly thwarting competition. Microsoft has said it is just adding features to meet customer demand.

08-12-2001

Aunt Abigail Makes Your Digital Photos a Real Pleasure to See Toronto, Ontario, August 9, 2001 -- Everybody’s buying digital cameras these days, and before long digital pictures will be more common than film photos. But how do you show your new pictures to your friends? You don’t want to drag them into your office and crowd them around your computer screen; you want to relax on a comfy couch with a real photo album, just like with old-fashioned film photos. Aunt Abigail’s Photo Album is here to give you the best of both worlds. Aunt Abigail's Photo Album is a new computer program that lets you arrange your digital photographs into nicely composed pages complete with captions and ready to print. An early Beta version has been available for a few months already and here’s what users are saying: "I downloaded your wonderful photo album program last week and have used it to produce about 7 great album pages from my digital photos. I LOVE this thing! I had been using Microsoft Home Publishing 2000 a lot but this is just so easy and practical." Another user wrote: "I have looked for a program like this for a LONG time. VERY intuitive, almost no learning curve. I love the flexibility. Other programs I have tried have been so rigid that I have spent hours trying to find work-arounds. This is a great program!!!" And those comments were for the Beta version! The full commercial release has just come out, and it’s even better. Download the complete program and use it free for 60 days. By then you'll agree it's a terrific value at only $29.99, especially since you'll never have to take your photos in to be developed again! Aunt Abigail Software is a new company based in Toronto, Canada. Their objective is to bring multimedia to the mass market by releasing practical, accessible programs that anyone can use and enjoy. Photo Album is their first product. For more information visit www.AuntAbigail.com or contact Michael Moriarity at (905) 522-9320 (phone) or e-mail michael@AuntAbigail.com.

08-09-2001

Nikon Challenges America for the Summer's Funniest Photo to Win A Party With 'Samantha Jones' of 'Sex and the City' MELVILLE, N.Y., Aug. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Nikon is calling all photo lovers to submit their ultimate funny summer photos for the Coolpix 775, Zoom in on the Fun: "Search for Summer's Ultimate Funny Photo" Contest. One grand prize photo contest winner will spend two nights in New York City and win a private party with Emmy and Golden Globe nominated actress, Kim Cattrall, of "Sex and the City." The contest will be promoted for the next month on Nikon's Coolpix 775 Summer Fun Tour to bring consumers closer to easy digital photography. The Coolpix 775 is the first digital camera to feature a One-Touch Upload to the Web(TM) button allowing users to upload digital images directly to their desktop or the Web. To enter, participants submit their photo to www.nikonusa.com/coolpix775. The photo contest will run for four consecutive weeks, officially beginning today, and ending on September 10, 2001. Photos will be judged on overall quality, creativity and most importantly, "funny" content. The grand prize is an all-expenses paid trip to New York City for the winner and ten friends, and includes a private party for the group, hosted by Nikon, with Kim Cattrall, and a Coolpix 775 digital camera. Four (4) first runners up will each win a Coolpix 775 camera. A complete list of rules for the contest can be accessed at www.nikonusa.com/coolpix775.

08-08-2001

Minds@Work Offers $50 Rebate on 3GB Digital Wallet If you're getting ready to take an extended vacation with your digicam how would you like 3 gigabytes of storage for less than $300?   Minds@Work just started a $50 mailin rebate on the 3GB Digital Wallet and you get a free carrying case too. The Digital Wallet can hang on your belt which is a lot handier than your laptop and you don't have to worry about it being stolen from the hotel room or car. See our Digital Wallet review for all the details.

08-07-2001

Lexar Media Ships 512MB Pro Series 12x CompactFlash Memory Card Fremont, California, August 7, 2001- Lexar Media, Inc., a leading designer, developer and marketer of high-performance digital film and connectivity products for the digital photography market, today announced the availability of its new high-speed, high-capacity 512MB 12x USB-enabled Type I CompactFlash digital film. Designed to meet the needs of the most demanding photographer, this is Lexar Media's fastest and highest capacity memory card. Lexar Media 512MB 12x memory cards can be purchased through camera dealers, distributors and the Company's Web site, www.digitalfilm.com. "The demand for high-speed, high-capacity digital film continues to rise as digital photographers invest in the latest professional digital cameras and camera backs that generate file sizes up to 48 megabytes per image," said Eric Stang, president and CEO of Lexar Media. "The 512MB 12x is perfect for today's professional digital photographers, as it is capable of a sustained write speed of 1.8MB/sec. which greatly reduces file write time and camera recycle time." Lexar Media Pro Series memory cards are designed for sports, fashion and action photographers that demand excellent performance from their cameras and the fastest write speeds. These same photographers trust flash memory-based digital film over disk drive storage because it provides the reliability and performance of a solid-state architecture. Lexar Media Pro Series CompactFlash cards are ideally-suited for digital cameras including the Canon EOS D30, FujiFilm S1 Pro, Kodak Professional Series, Nikon D1, Nikon D1H, Nikon D1X, Olympus E-10 and other models. All Lexar Media Pro Series CompactFlash cards come with a lifetime warranty and feature USB functionality built directly into the card to enable quick and easy photographic image transfer to a PC or Macintosh via USB port.

08-07-2001

Epson Makes a Bold Price Move on its Award-Winning EPSON Stylus Photo 780 Ink Jet Printer LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 6, 2001 - Epson America Inc. announced today that it has reduced the price of the EPSON Stylus Photo 780 ink jet printer. With a new estimated street price of $99, this incredibly affordable printer gives customers the ability to print true BorderFree photos without "dots" in popular frame-ready sizes, in addition to everyday documents. It is also equipped with Epson's latest technology breakthrough, PRINT Image Matching. The EPSON Stylus Photo 780, which was originally available for $149 is now selling for $50 less than its introductory price, making it the lowest-priced six-color photo printer available today. The EPSON Stylus Photo 780 is one of the first printers to offer support for PRINT Image Matching-enabled digital cameras, which ensures digital cameras and printers work together to automatically produce optimized prints. PRINT Image Matching is supported by leading manufacturers such as Casio, Epson, Konica, Kyocera, Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, PENTAX, Ricoh, Sanyo, Sony and Toshiba. Many of these manufacturers are currently introducing cameras that support the technology. EPSON Stylus Photo 780 customers will be able to obtain updated software that supports PRINT Image Matching directly from Epson's technical support line later this month. "The EPSON Stylus Photo 780 offers our customers incredible six-color photo prints, PRINT Image Matching technology and convenient borderless printing at an even more affordable price," said Fabia Ochoa, product manager, photo imaging, Epson. "By offering this level of performance at such a low price, Epson is making photo printing accessible to anyone who wants to produce amazing prints at home without compromising quality."

08-07-2001

Toshiba Expands Growing Line-Up of Secure Digital Memory Cards With the Introduction of a 128MB Card IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- To meet the growing consumer demand for greater storage capacity for data, video and audio files, Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (TAEC) today announced the introduction of a 128 megabyte (MB) Secure Digital (SD) Memory Card. The new SD Memory Card complements Toshiba Corp.'s (Toshiba) comprehensive line of solid state storage solutions which also include the CompactFlash and SmartMedia form factors, bringing original equipment manufacturer (OEM) customers a range of solutions to meet their removable storage requirements. Designated the SD-M1280, the 128MB SD Memory Card includes two of Toshiba's 512 megabit (Mb) NAND flash memory devices, manufactured using Toshiba's 0.16-micron process technology. Designed for use in wireless and portable communications devices including personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular phones, handheld PCs, digital still and video cameras, MP3 players, car navigation systems, and electronic books, the 128MB SD Memory Card stores up to four hours of music or 40 minutes of video. "As the cost-per-bit of NAND flash memory continues to decline, it is becoming the most cost-effective choice for a variety of applications, driving a shift in the market demand from NOR to NAND," said Jackie Traeumer, senior business development manager, Flash Products, at TAEC. "With the introduction of the 128MB SD Memory Card, we are continuing to push the envelope in developing higher density solutions to meet the needs of a broader range of applications requiring greater amounts of secure file storage." Toshiba's 128MB SD Memory Cards leverage the company's advanced security technology to provide key enhancements over traditional flash cards such as cryptographic security, improved protection of copyrighted data, high data transfer rate for fast copy/download, and high storage capacity. According to Gartner Dataquest, the ability to store and transfer digital information has become increasingly important over the past couple of years, due to the emergence of digital consumer products in general and of portable electronic equipment in particular. "In 2000, the removable flash card market was worth approximately $1.3 billion," said Benjamin Thompson, senior analyst, Gartner Dataquest. "Gartner Dataquest views the potential annual revenue for Secure Digital Card sales to be as high as $800 million to $1 billion by 2004, due to the substantial requirement for content protection of recordable and prerecorded media (CPRM and CPPM) in the consumer electronics marketplace." Samples of Toshiba's SD-M1280 are available now, and priced at $149 each in OEM quantities. Toshiba plans to introduce a 256MB SD Memory Card in the fourth quarter of 2001.

08-07-2001

Qimage Pro 2001 v2.6 Released To quote the author: "This latest version of Qimage Pro incorporates the list of enhancements and fixes listed below. Considering the amount of confusion we've seen lately regarding how to use some of the latest monitor calibration hardware (colorimeters) and how to utilize them properly in a workflow, the added help section under "Contents", "Listing of major functions", "Color Management" in Qimage Pro is worth the download by itself. That section now has details on how to properly use profiles created by profiler software, how profiles are connected via the Windows operating system, what the monitor bootup "autoloaders" really do and how these relate to the profiles that profiling software programs generate, the steps for activating these profiles in Qimage Pro, etc. We're hoping that the information in this section will help people get the most out of the latest color management tools and technology." Read about all of the latest Qimage Pro 2001 v2.6 additions, changes or modifications.  IMHO Qimage is the most feature-rich Windows printing program available today and the price is very reasonable.

08-06-2001

Minox Announces Their First Digital Camera The folks at LetsGoDigital.nl have posted news about a new digital camera from the German company Minox, best known for their micro-sized "spy" film cameras of the 50's and 60's. Minox's first digicam is the model DC 1311 which appears to be an OEM'd Pentax EI-100. Follow the link above to see a picture of it and check out the specs for yourself.

08-06-2001

Panasonic Announces New Dual-Use NV-EX21 MiniDV Camcorder TOKYO (Reuters) - Trying to pick between a digital still camera and a digital video camera?   For $1,657, you can have both, says Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd, best known for its Panasonic brand of consumer electronics. On Monday, the company unveiled the Panasonic NV-EX21, the world's first DV format digital camcorder with a detachable network-ready digital still camera. The product will go on sale on September 1, with the company aiming for monthly output of 5,000 cameras and a North American launch by the spring. Analysts say Matsushita, the world's biggest consumer electronics firm, is looking to capture market share in the high-growth area of digital video cameras. The company said half of the 12 million video cameras sold around the world last year were digital -- a relatively small ratio considering the Japanese market is more than 90 percent dominated by the digital format. Matsushita, which holds about 30 percent of the Japanese market for digital video cameras, trails market leader Sony Corp (news - web sites) in sales of both digital videos and still cameras. Its latest product is an attempt to ease Sony's grip. With the touch of a button, the NV-EX21 transforms from video camera to a digital camera sized to fit in your pocket. It can capture still pictures and offers MPEG-4 video -- the industry standard in compressing moving pictures into a download-friendly format. All that information can be stored onto an SD Memory Card, a challenger to Sony's Memory Stick. The NV-EX21 is also wired with Bluetooth technology, which allows users to transfer through the camera still images wirelessly to a personal computer, up to 10 meters away. The new camera features an extra large capacity CCD, 1.08-megapixel recording capability, and built-in Leica Dicomar lens with a 10x optical and 25x/100x digital zoom.

08-03-2001

Canon Introduces Optura100 MC Digital Camcorder with 1.3-Megapixel Stills LAKE SUCCESS, NEW YORK, August 2, 2001 - By incorporating a state-of-the-art megapixel CDD image sensor with over one million pixels into a digital camcorder, Canon U.S.A., Inc., has introduced a single camera that performs like two cameras in one - a digital camcorder that records high-resolution video and a digital camera capable of high- resolution digital photos. The Canon Optura100 MC has a 1.3M megapixel CCD image sensor to capture outstanding digital video and digital photos at 1280 X 960 resolution, which is four times better than conventional 640 X 480 digital photo resolution found in other digital camcorders. It looks, feels and performs differently than any other preceding Canon Optura model. The change to a vertical design creates a fresh new look styled for single-hand operation, a popular feature with consumers that provides maximum versatility and performance. Among the key features: A 10x zoom lens plus 200x digital zoom with Optical Image Stabilization that, unlike most competitive models, operates in both video and photo modes; Built-in Auto Pop-up Flash to illuminate subjects for digital photos; Extended Recording Mode to deliver four hours of video recording on one 80-minute MiniDV videotape. The Canon Optura100 MC is the latest addition to the company's extensive line of presentation products (digital camcorders, digital cameras, projectors, presentation cameras and Internet/Intranet tools) that maximize presentation quality, creativity and efficiency in education, business and at home. Canon's imaging technologies have become mainstream peripherals for PC owners, with digital camcorders helping Apple computer users create videos to achieve business success and movie-making family fun. Canon also is a global strategic partner of Microsoft, supporting software applications inside the new Windows XP operating system that makes it easier than ever to edit video and enhance, share and print digital photos. "The Canon Optura100 MC eliminates the dilemma faced by consumers who must choose between the purchase of a digital camera and a digital camcorder," said Yukiaki Hashimoto, vice president and general manager, Photographic Products Group, Canon U.S.A., Inc. "Now, with this latest Canon digital camcorder, they have the best of both while incorporating new technologies that support the demands of the new digital lifestyle." The Canon Optura100 MC will be available at authorized Canon dealers in September 2001 at a suggested list price of $1,899. Read the entire press release here.

08-03-2001

Pixami Launches Next Generation Online Digital Imaging Products PLEASANTON, CA - August 3, 2001 - Pixami, the leading provider of digital imaging infrastructure technology to online photo sites, today announced a major product upgrade. Called Pixami 2.0, this significant addition to Pixami's product line reinforces their emphasis on promoting the advantages of online digital photography and creating new revenue streams for online photo sites. Highlights of Pixami 2.0 include a new Photo Calendar product, new Photo Album features such as Clip Art and 'Thought Balloons,' new Photo Enhancement features, a completely new User Interface and workflow, and a variety of architecture improvements. Pixami 2.0 also includes a complete set of new content, including Greeting Cards, FunFrames, Calendars, Collages and much more, in a variety of standard print sizes. In addition, Pixami 2.0 includes a complete Shopping Cart and back-end administration system, providing Pixami partners with the option for a totally turnkey solution. The features developed for Pixami 2.0 were based on input from Pixami's existing photo site partners, with a focus on revenue-generation, quick site integration, stickiness and ease-of-use. "Pixami's emphasis has always been on products that help photo sites grow their revenue and user populations," said Tom Moore, President and CEO. "Pixami recognized early on that while the ability to correct a photo online, adjust Red-Eye for example, is a critical feature for a photo site and will likely lead to a print order, high margin products such as Calendars, Photo Albums, Cards and Posters are ultimately what will make a photo site successful." "Pixami products showcase the value of online photofinishing, add significant stickiness, and keep user's coming back - all while generating significantly more revenue than a standard print," he added. "This was our major focus when designing Pixami 2.0." Pixami's full 2.0 product suite includes Photo Uploading, Photo Enhancement (Basic Editing, Special Effects, Photo Edges, and Templates), Frames, Print Projects, Photo Albums, and Calendars. Pixami has more products, features and technology specifically for online photo sites than any other company. Pixami's products are built on their industry-leading Bandwidth Independent Processing (BIP) technology. The major advantage of this technology is consistently fast image processing performance, unaffected by image size or connection speed. This is accomplished by a unique design that eliminates the need to ever pass high-resolution images over the Internet. Pixami's products are also designed to allow its partners to add their own HTML user interface and identity, providing for a seamless integration into the site. All Pixami products are ready for immediate integration on a photo site, for both Windows and Linux servers. Interested parties can contact Pixami for a link to their complete online demonstration.

08-02-2001

Kodak and APEX Digital Bring Digital Photography Into Living Room ROCHESTER, N.Y., and ONTARIO, Calif., August 2, 2001-Viewing digital photos just moved from the desktop computer to the television. APEX Digital today became the first company certified to manufacture DVD players that allow consumers to view pictures stored on Kodak Picture CDs. The new DVD player-the APEX Digital 5131-will be available in retail outlets in August with a suggested sale price of less than $200. The agreement between Eastman Kodak and APEX is part of Kodak's continuing effort to make it easier for consumers to view and share digital photographs. The APEX DVD player will utilize a chip from ESS Technology, Inc. Kodak and ESS announced an agreement last month to develop the chips that give DVD players the capability to read Kodak Picture CDs. "Kodak is pleased to be working with APEX and others to develop and market DVD players for consumers who are excited about digital imaging," said Dan Palumbo, president, Consumer Imaging, and senior vice-president of Kodak. "This agreement is part of our continuing work to make it easier for consumers to take advantage of and enjoy digital photography." "With Kodak's certification, APEX will be early to market with a DVD player that can read the Kodak Picture CD," said Ancle Hsu, chief operating officer of APEX Digital. "We feel adding this function will greatly broaden the appeal and demand for our DVD players while improving the consumer experience." Along with the capability to view images on the Kodak Picture CD, the APEX Digital 5131 DVD player also features enhanced picture viewing enabled by the ESS chip: Automatic picture scaling to maximize TV display size Image rotation Thumbnail/catalog display in one screen for quick browsing Slide-show features Pan and zoom Image special effects. Kodak and its technology partners also are working to add Internet capabilities to the DVD players so consumers eventually will be able to e-mail digital photos and use online photo printing services through their DVD players and TVs, including Kodak's Ofoto service. "This agreement between Kodak and APEX shows that ESS's technology provides manufacturers, such as APEX, with innovative features and new opportunities to expand and improve digital photography," said Robert Blair, president and chief executive officer of ESS Technology. "With the coming convergence of digital DVD-audio, high-performance video and Internet connectivity in DVD players, we foresee tremendous growth in the digital home entertainment market." APEX Digital sells DVD players through retail outlets such as Circuit City, K-Mart, WalMart, Sam's Club and U.S. Military base exchanges.

08-02-2001

Callisto Announces Update to PhotoParade Natick, Mass., August 2, 2001 -- Callisto Corporation today announced they have added support for MP3 music files to PhotoParade(R), their innovative software that provides consumers with an effortless way to turn their digital photos into entertaining slideshows and screen savers to share with friends and family. PhotoParade combines high-quality animation, graphics, music, narration and photo titling with a user’s digital photos. Customers are thrilled with the new MP3 feature. "I've been having a great time adding my favorite songs to the PhotoParades I'm making with the pictures from our summer vacation," said Kelly Martin, a digital photo enthusiast who has been using PhotoParade for several years. "It is a great addition to one of my favorite programs." Customers can choose from more than three dozen professionally-designed PhotoParade themes to show off photos from vacations, weddings, the birth of a baby, and other special occasions. Each unique theme has its own music, animation, and art. The wide variety of themes and the ability to add their own music lets users keep their PhotoParades fun and fresh. Owners of PhotoParade Maker 3.0 can download the MP3 update for free by signing into their accounts on the PhotoParade website. PhotoParade Maker can be also be purchased and downloaded from the PhotoParade website in three theme bundles: Standard Edition, which includes 4 multi-purpose themes for $19.99, Premium Edition, which includes nine themes for $29.99, and Super Edition, which comes with 40 themes including Wedding Album, New Baby, and a variety of holiday themes for $39.99. PhotoParade Maker and Player are available for both Windows and Macintosh.

08-01-2001

Sony Cuts Prices on 'Memory Stick' SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - Sony Corp. said on Wednesday that it cut prices on its proprietary flash memory format, which will bring its pricing closer in line with competing standards. Sony's chewing-gum shaped "Memory Stick" now runs from $24.95 for the 8-megabyte stick to $149.95 for the 128-megabyte stick. The larger stick had previously sold for as much as $240. The sticks can be swapped among other Sony products, including digital cameras, laptop computers and handheld devices and used as a way to share files. The Japanese electronics giant has promoted the Memory Stick as a way to win consumer loyalty for its wide-ranging products. The price cut announced on Wednesday comes after a sharp decline in flash memory prices and narrowed the gap between its offering and those of competitors. By comparison, a 128-megabyte card in the leading competing format, Compact Flash, which is more widely supported in similar electronic devices, retails online for between $79 to $175.95. Sony also cut prices for its Magic Gate Memory Sticks, which contain an embedded chip that protects digitally secured and copyrighted material. The high-end 128 megabyte Magic Gate stick will now sell for $169.95, the company said.

08-01-2001

Nikon Launches 775 Hour, 12-City Summer Fun Road Tour With New Coolpix 775 MELVILLE, NY, July 31, 2001 - Nikon (www.nikonusa.com), the world leader in photography, is touring America with 775 hours of summer fun to bring consumers closer to the Coolpix 775, the first digital camera to feature One-Touch Upload to the Web for transferring digital photos directly to the desktop or the Internet. The 12-city tour kicks off in New York City and continues its trek in an outfitted van for 775 hours where it will culminate at the end of August in San Francisco. Consumers can track the tour's highlights and view photos of visitors taken in each city by visiting the Coolpix 775 website. "The Coolpix 775 Summer Fun Road Tour will bring digital photography to thousands of consumers across the country," said Deborah Sauer, general manager marketing, Nikon Consumer Digital Products and Compact Cameras. "We want to dispel the myth that digital photography is complex - in fact, with the Coolpix 775 taking digital photos has never been easier. For the next 775 hours, Nikon will offer people the chance to learn about the easy-to-use features of the Coolpix 775 and see first-hand the simplicity of digital photography." The Coolpix Summer Fun Road Tour will travel to 12 major U.S. cities including Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Atlanta; New Orleans; Houston; Dallas; Phoenix; Los Angeles and San Francisco. The Nikon van and team will offer consumers the chance to use the Coolpix 775 camera while visiting key tourist sites such as Rockefeller Center and Times Square in New York; Faneuil Hall in Boston; the Navy Pier in Chicago; the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles and other cities and beaches where people will be taking fun summer photos. Consumers can track the tour's highlights and view the tour photos taken in each city by visiting the Coolpix 775 website at www.Nikonusa.com/Coolpix775. Along the tour route, the van team will be taking photos of visitors and posting select visitor photos in the Nikon Summer Fun tour album. People going to the site can also learn how to easily upload their photos and create personal photo albums as well as get information on the Coolpix 775, including demonstrations of the camera's special features, and a store locator with a search engine on where to buy the camera.

08-01-2001

Steve's Digicams and Tech Data Corporation Announce Content Partnership August 1, 2001-- Clearwater, Florida, -- Steve's Digicams Online, Inc. (www.steves-digicams.com) and Tech Data Corporation (www.techdata.com) today jointly announce their content partnership. "Under the terms of the agreement Tech Data will be able to offer a new service to computer and camera resellers who visit their site, independent reviews of the latest product offerings in the digital still camera industry," said Dannee Davis, Vice President of Steve's Digicams. For more information please feel free to contact Dannee by email (dannee@steves-digicams.com).