06-30-2000

Samsung's New Cellphone/Digicam Korean technology is behind a unique digital camera phone, allowing mobile phone users to snap pictures at will. Samsung Electronics completed development of a flip-open mobile handset that comes with a 1.5-inch TFT-LCD and has digital camera functions built in. The unit can take 20 pictures at 350,000-pixel resolution in Regular Mode and 26 pictures in Conserve Mode. A macro (Text Mode) function allows the user to take clear photographs of written text. Standard accessories include a CD-ROM for picture editing and a data cable to connect the phone to a PC. The camera phone allows people to be ready to record any emergency (such as a traffic accident) or unexpected circumstance that they want to capture. The user does not even need to have film on hand. The product is expected to be well received by the younger generations, who are accustomed to using digital cameras, and by young parents of small children. A color graphic interface has been achieved with the use of a color TFT-LCD, setting the SCH-V200 apart from mobile handsets with a black-and-white LCD. With the high-capacity batteries, the SCH-V200 delivers 170 minutes of continuous talk time and 180 hours on standby. The battery will last for up to 200 minutes during picture taking. The unit measures 119mm x 47mm x 23.5mm and comes with a built-in phone directory, vibration alert and privacy protection function. The phone comes in either silver or khaki. The Camera Phone is the fifth multi-function hand-held phone developed by Samsung, after the Internet Phone, MP3 Phone, Watch Phone and TV Phone. The company continues to explore new ways to apply its advanced digital technology to maintain its industry-leading position and make life a little easier for consumers. The SCH-V200 will be available in Korea in June.

06-29-2000

More Sony Camera Reviews Jeff at DC Resource posted his Sony Mavica FD95 review. He had this to say about it: The Sony Mavica line is really one of the kind, and the MVC-FD95 stands out as the top of the line, at least until the CD1000 model ships. Though it's very large and bulky, it's designed extremely well and is very easy to use. The photo quality is generally good, though JPEG compression is obvious in some cases. Phil at DP Review has posted his Sony DSC-S70 review and concluded: If you don't need all the bells and whistles that Nikon and Olympus offer and you're not looking for burst shooting speed then the DSC-S70 is a good choice (and you'll save about $100). Indeed Sony appear to have now taken the resolution crown with the highest resolution of any 3 megapixel camera (at the time of writing this review).

06-29-2000

Sony Picture Park - Compact CD-R/RW Digital Picture Filing System Sony's new Picture Park digital picture filing system is a compact device that allows consumers to archive, organize, display and transfer digital images from numerous digital storage media to a universal and affordable 5-inch CD-R or CD-RW, without being tethered to a PC. The Picture Park unit, which is available in two models -the DPF-P7D and theDPF-P7 -- with and without an LCD screen, respectively, is a powerful and versatile solution for managing extensive digital photo files that can overwhelm a PC hard drive. Images captured on various forms of digital media, such as Memory Stick®, SmartMedia, CompactFlash and IBM® MicroDrive, can be organized into folders and transferred to a 5-inch CD-R or CD-RW disc. And, by connecting the Picture Park unit directly to any television with supplied cables, users can recreate a slideshow, complete with pre-recorded voice or text annotation. The Picture Park unit is about the size of a portable CD player, sits near the TV and is controlled with a supplied infrared remote control. Images can be played back in slide show mode, by folder view or in a 4- and 12- image split screen view. While displaying images, Picture Park unit's easy-to-use menu offers users several options including: Zoom in and out for picture viewing ease; Image delete, copy, titling, rotation, trim and editing; Recording, playback and volume adjustment of voice memo on the image; One-button full flash media copy or selected image copy to CD for archiving; Bi-directional copy option for moving images from CD to selected media; and Playback of MPEG movies recorded on Sony's digital still cameras. Images are transferred to or from a Memory Stick media in the Picture Park's Memory Stick media slot or to and from numerous other digital storage media equipped to work with its own PCMCIA adapters. Both models of the Picture Park Digital Picture Filing System comes packaged with standard A/V connection cables, A/C adapter, one CD-R disc, and a wireless remote. The Picture Park DPF-P7D and DPF-P7 will be available in August for about $1,000 and $700 respectively.

06-28-2000

ACDSee For Mac Now Available ACD Systems International, Inc. today announced that, following several weeks of consumer beta testing, the Macintosh original version of its award-winning digital imaging management software, ACDSee, is now available. ACDSee for Mac provides users with easy-to-use, high-speed viewing of images in high resolution and improved management of images, movies, and sound clip files. Now Mac users, including users in photography, graphic design, multimedia and other related fields, will significantly reduce time spent waiting for images, sounds and movie clips to appear, and diminish endless searching through collection archives. This version includes export features that allow users to save to 10 different file formats: giff, jpeg, tga, tiff, psp, photoshop, sgi, macpaint, quicktime, bmp. ACDSee for Mac supports over 40 popular image formats, plus provides fast viewing and playing of multimedia files using QuickTime technology including MPEGs and MP3s. ACDSee for Mac follows in the tradition of ACDSee, the leading software for digital image management for Windows platform, for both high-end graphics professionals and home users. ACDSee is bundled with many leading products around the world, including those from Packard Bell NEC, HP's Digital Camera, and HP Cartogra, and has a market penetration of over 15 million users worldwide. ACDSee for Mac is available for purchase at www.ACDSYSTEMS.com for $29.95. Registration of ACDSee for Mac includes tech support and future discounts offered on ACD products. ACDSee for Mac is also available as a download from ACD Systems' corporate Web site.

06-28-2000

Nikon Coolpix 990 Wins PC World '2000 World Class Award' For Best Digital Camera MELVILLE, N.Y., June 28 /PRNewswire/ -- PC Expo Booth #4372 - Nikon's Coolpix 990, 3.34 megapixel, 3X Zoom-Nikkor lens digital camera has won the PC World "2000 World Class Award" for Best Digital Camera. Awards were announced in the July 2000 issue of PC World and winners will be honored at an awards ceremony to be held on Wednesday, June 28, 2000, from 5-8 p.m. at the Manhattan Penthouse in New York City. "It's a great honor to have Nikon's Coolpix 990 awarded Best Digital Camera by such a well-respected publication," stated Bill Giordano, National Marketing Manager, Consumer Digital Products at Nikon. "This award is a testimony to Nikon's commitment to introducing exciting new products that set the standard for image quality." Throughout it's eighteen-year history, the World Class Award from PC World has honored the top hardware, software and Web products in the computer industry that show the best performance, value, consistency, and innovation. Nikon's Coolpix 950, 2.11 megapixel, 3X Zoom-Nikkor lens digital camera took home the PC World "World Class Award" for Best Digital Camera in 1999. For more information on the Coolpix 990, stop by Nikon's PC Expo booth #4372, or write to Nikon Inc., 1300 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, NY 11747, or phone 800-NIKON-UX. Visit the Nikon website.

06-27-2000

Microtech Ships New IBM Microdrives in Special Retail Bundles NORTH BRANFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 27, 2000-- Microtech International Inc. today announced the availability of the IBM Microdrive Deluxe Kit and the IBM Microdrive Roadwarrior Kit. These new, value bundles combine the IBM Microdrive, the world's smallest hard disk drive, with Microtech's USB and PC Card connectivity solutions and special software. The IBM Microdrive bundles are available with the highly successful 340MB and newly released 512MB and 1GB capacities. The Deluxe Kit consists of the USB CameraMate reader/writer for transferring data quickly and easily from the Microdrive to a USB equipped PC or Mac. The CameraMate is also equipped with a dedicated SmartMedia slot which can be used to copy data from any SmartMedia equipped digital camera or MP3 players to the higher capacity, faster performing, diminutive disk. Also included in the package is a Type II PC Card adapter for using the Microdrive as a file transfer and back-up device with most notebooks. Software from Ixla, Voyager Communications and PowerQuest complete the package. The Roadwarrior Kit is designed for maximum flexibility and small size. It consists of the IBM Microdrive, and the Microtech ZiO!, a sub miniature USB adapter for CompactFlash Type I and II, SmartMedia and Multimedia flash cards. A PC Card notebook adapter and software for Image manipulation and file back-up is also included in the package. For systems with a USB port in the rear, a 1-meter extension cable is included.

06-26-2000

ez prints Launches Brilliant WOW! Photo Prints Up To 20x30" ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 26, 2000-- ez prints today announced the launch of its exclusive Brilliant Wow! photo print product line. A digital imaging industry first, the incredible clarity and outstanding value of Brilliant Wow!'s large format prints will revolutionize the way precious memories are displayed and enjoyed. It is a new form with wide appeal -- from consumers such as parents and grandparents to professionals such as event photographers and photo-artists. Brilliant Wow! photo prints offer an awe inspiring way to relive precious memories or create stunning art-like experiences. Available in virtually "life-like" sizes, 16x20, 18x24 and 20x30, Brilliant Wow! photo prints can be ordered "ready to display" with foam core mounting and/or lamination. Unlike 4x6 prints often tucked away in wallets or shoeboxes -- Brilliant Wow! photo prints create a new opportunity for proudly showcasing favorite images. Brilliant Wow!'s 3000 DPI advanced laser technology delivers unbelievable quality from digital images and represents the latest combination of technology and traditional photoprocessing. Regardless of file size, Brilliant Wow! offers consistent clarity for images taken at a high resolution and demonstrates results with intense color and definition. Brilliant Wow! supports all file types from leading digital cameras, scanners and image-oriented software, as well as CD-ROM and Zip Disk files.

06-26-2000

Hitachi Introduces Industry's Highest-Density Flash Cards SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 26, 2000-- Hitachi Semiconductor (America) Inc. established new industry capacity records for Flash cards by introducing today a 448-MByte CompactFlash(TM) (CF(TM)) Type-II card, the HB288448E5, and a 1-GByte Type-II Flash PC-ATA card, the HB2881000A5. Key applications include the network servers that power the Internet and corporate intranets, and the high-resolution digital cameras used by professional photographers and amateur enthusiasts. Convenient and rugged, the new CF and PC-ATA Flash cards are also ideal nonvolatile storage solutions for many types of consumer electronic products and industrial equipment. In MP3 players, for example, the compact 448-MByte CF card provides up to seven hours of CD-quality recording and playback, while the larger 1-GByte PC- ATA card stores and plays up to 16 hours of content. In remote monitoring systems for factories, environmental research and other applications, the cards deliver expanded storage capacity for increased utility. The Hitachi HB288448E5 Type-II 448-Mbyte CompactFlash(TM) card is $895 in 1,000 quantity, and the Hitachi HB2881000A5 Type-II 1-Gbyte PC-ATA card is $2,000 in 1,000 quantity. These high-capacity Flash cards will be available in 3Q2000. At that time, new lower-capacity Hitachi CompactFlash cards, the HB288320E5 (320-MByte) and HB288256E5 (256-MByte) Type-II CF cards, will also become available.

06-26-2000

Epson Teams Up With IBM in First Public Bluetooth Printing Demonstration LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 26, 2000--Epson America will be the first printer vendor to demonstrate printing capabilities using Bluetooth wireless communication technology at PC Expo in New York beginning June 27. Epson officials, in conjunction with IBM, will demonstrate this new wireless technology using an Epson color printer and an IBM Think Pad T20 notebook computer in the IBM Booth No. 3122. Bluetooth is a low-cost 2.4 GHz radio frequency technology that allows for short-range communications between a wide variety of digital devices such as laptop computers, cell phones, handheld computers, printers and others. Bluetooth-enabled devices, which automatically detect the presence of other enabled devices, can communicate with each other within a 10-meter range without the need for cables. It is estimated that by 2005 several hundred million devices will be Bluetooth-enabled. Epson officials said Bluetooth printing promises to be a business application that will enhance convenience in both the office and the home with advantages over infrared connectivity. Unlike devices using infrared technology, devices using Bluetooth technology do not require a clear line of sight to communicate, but rather just have to be within the designated range. Epson plans to offer Bluetooth capability to its customers by the end of the year using technology that will be compatible with a full line of Epson printers. With this technology, customers will be able to print not only from their computers but also directly from telephones and handheld computing devices in the future.

06-26-2000

Agfa Ephoto Cl30 Clik! Summertime Offer Includes Three 40MB Clik! Disks WILMINGTON, MA - June 26, 2000 - Agfa Corporation's Consumer Digital Imaging Group (USA-CDI), a leading provider of award-winning digital cameras and desktop scanners, today introduced a summer promotion for its popular ePhoto CL30 Clik! digital camera. For a limited time, each camera will come equipped with three 40MB Clik! discs, giving vacationers and professionals the ability to capture more than 1000 images - triple the picture-taking capacity of the original package. Agfa's ePhoto CL30 Clik! digital camera uses a built-in Iomega Clik! drive with a removable disk to capture and store digital images. A single 40MB Clik! disk, which Agfa includes with every standard offer, can store between 60 and 360 images, depending on the resolution setting. The added capacity benefits consumers as well as professional photographers who capture images for Websites, business reports, news coverage, or any business application that requires a high-volume of megapixel-quality photography. With portable, light-weight Clik! disks, expanding capacity is fast and easy.

06-25-2000

New DigiCam Mailing List Started The Macintosh Guy of Portland operates the DigiCam email list. The DigiCam List is a forum for discussion of digital cameras of all kinds including still and video cameras. Conversations centered aroundpurchase advice, support, use, and general discussion of all types of digital cameras is welcome. Click here to join the DigiCam list You can easily switch back and forth between normal list and digest modes as desired. Just go to the web page at the link above, everything is explained in detail.

06-22-2000

Unity Digital Announces FireWire Family Of Digital Film Card Readers LAKE FOREST, CA - Unity Digital announced today the introduction of the industry's first FireWire Image Card Readers for CompactFlash and SmartMedia memory cards. Each model is compatible with all Mac and PC systems that support the FireWire (IEEE 1394) interface. The suggested list price of each model is $149.00. The IEEE 1394 multimedia connection enables simple, low-cost, high-bandwidth data interfacing between computers and digital camera memory cards. The FireWire Image Card Readers transfer digital photos three to eight times faster than USB or Parallel Port transfer rates. The SmartMedia version of the FireWire Image Card Reader boasts a transfer rate of 2,920 KB/second and is compatible with both 3.3 volt and 5 volt SmartMedia memory cards in capacities up to 128MB. The CompactFlash version offers a transfer rate of 2,470 KB/second and supports both CompactFlash Type I and Type II cards including the IBM MicroDrive . Both models work with all Apple Macintosh i-Mac-DV, G3, G4 and PowerBook computers with a IEEE 1394 port and running the Mac OS 8.6 or later. In addition, all IBM Compatible PCs with a IEEE 1394 port and running Windows 98 SE or Windows 2000 are also supported. Each unit is Plug-n-Play compatible and receives its power through the FireWire port so no external power is needed to operate them. Both models also feature "hot swapping" capability that allows the user to replace cards at will without powering down the computer first. Software drivers for all compatible systems and a complete users manual is included with each Image Card Reader. Besides digital photos, each device can also be used with a variety of other digital appliances that use CompactFlash or SmartMedia cards as their primary storage medium. These include, but are not limited to Handheld Personal Computers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), MP3 Players, Voice Recorders and other mobile electronics.

06-22-2000

Win an Epson 1270 or 1200 Photo Printer from Red River Paper Win a Free Epson 1270 or an Epson 1200 with a set of Lyson Fotonic Inks from Red River Paper!   Entry is simple - just become a Red River Inkjetter, receive a FREE INKJET PAPER CATALOG and you are automatically entered into the contest. Red River's 56lb Polar Gloss paper is outstanding when used in today's new photo printers. Available in standard cut sheet sizes and in 4-inch wide "snap shot" rolls. It's also available in 13" and 17" width rolls too. Premium Matte paper is available in 32, 37 or 47lb weights. Or try Red River's new Backlit Film which is front coated to eliminate the need for reverse printing. Now in stock - Lysonic's Fotonic ink jet cartridges with archival inks and a color gamut that's very close to Epson brand inks. Fotonic provides a 25-30 year life span on Red River Papers. And just a reminder that Red River Paper also sells Epson printers and has both the new Stylus Photo 870 and 1270 printers in stock as well as most of the other high-end Epsons.

06-22-2000

Olympus Introduces Affordable P-400 Dye-Sub Printer for 8 x 10" Prints MELVILLE, NY, June 22/PRNewswire/ -- Olympus America Inc., the world leader in film and digital photography, today unveiled the P-400, a professional-quality, high-speed dye-sublimation printer that dramatically reduces the cost of photo-realistic printing for professional and amateur photographers, and digital imaging professionals in a host of other applications. The P-400 prints an A4-size (8.25"x 11.7") photograph in only 90 seconds, a significant increase in speed when compared to the several minutes typically required to output an inkjet print. True, continuous-tone dye-sublimation technology provides professional photo prints with accurate color reproduction for ultimate output quality. Prints from the P-400 look and feel like traditional photographs showing fine detail and superb color. In addition to its range of data input options -- printing can be done either from a card or directly from a PC, using SmartMedia, PC card, USB or Parallel Port -- the P-400 offers considerable flexibility when it comes to output. Users can choose between a full-size image, a single-sheet photo album, a postcard or an index sheet with up to 260 pictures. Olympus will bring the P-400 to market for a suggested list price of $999 -- a fraction of the cost of competitive dye-sublimation printers. (The cost per A4-size print, including paper and ink, is a competitive $1.90.) P-400 Specifications: True, continuous-tone dye-sublimation technology provides professional photo prints with accurate color reproduction for ultimate output quality 7.7 Megapixel 16.7 million colors (8 bit/color) 8.25" x 11.7" print size / 8" x 10" photo size 90-second printing speed Clear laminate layer protects you prints Printing via Parallel Port, USB, SmartMedia, PC card, CompactFlash*, MemoryStick*, or directly from a PC Printing modes: full size (8.25" x 11.7"; from 1 up to 16 images per page); card (2 or 4 postcards per page); photo-album (1- 6 images per page with background image); index (45 - 260 images per page) Full-color, black & white and sepia filters Trimming, frame, background and stamp functions LCD Panel for checking and selecting images Print selection of up to 50 copies at a time 1 color cartridge supports 50 sheets of paper Footprint: 30" high x 17" wide x 17" deep Cost per print: $1.90 Suggested list price: $999

06-22-2000

Casio Announces Two New Cameras DOVER, NJ., June 22, 2000 - Casio, Inc., in conjunction with its parent company, CASIO Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, announced the release of two new digital cameras featuring a 2.11 Megapixel CCD and a swivel lens mechanism for easy shooting from just about any angle. The QV-2300UXPlus, 12X zoom (3X optical zoom) digital camera is scheduled to go on sale in July at a street price of $799.99, while the QV-2800UX, with 32X zoom (8X optical zoom) is scheduled to hit the market in September at the street price of $699.99. Both the QV-2300UXPlus and the QV-2800UX are easy to operate with powerful features for serious digital imaging, including a convenient swivel lens mechanism for comfortable shooting from just about any angle. With the innovative Scene Mode, just select a pre-recorded image and the camera setup changes automatically to the settings required to shoot a similar type image. The QV-2300UXPlus comes with 3X optical zoom (F2.8 to 4.5 f = 6.2 to 18.6mm [41-123mm in 35mm format]; 9 elements in 7 groups; filter size: 43mm) and 4X digital zoom for a combined zoom factor of 12X and the IBM 340MB Microdrive which allows up to 400 images in high resolution and 2054 in economy. The QV-2800UX is equipped with an 8X zoom (F3.2 to 3.5 f = 6 to 48mm [40-320mm in 35mm format]; 11 elements in 9 groups; filter size: 43mm). It is also capable of 4X digital zoom, for a combined maximum zoom factor of 32X. The QV-2800UX has super macro for taking close-up images and interval shooting for visual documentation of events. It comes with a wired remote control and has an external flash connection terminal. Both cameras feature: Swivel lens mechanism (270°) 12X zoom (3X optical) with the QV-2300UXPlus or 32X zoom (8X optical) with the QV-2800UX Scene Mode: Simply select from among 28 different pre-recorded scenes (beach, sky, twilight, flowing water, etc.) and the camera automatically changes its shutter speed, aperture, focus and other settings accordingly. You can even save up to three of your own setups with sample images for instant recall. Easy Computer Connectability; Simply install the Photo Loader application that comes bundled with the camera on a USB-compatible computer and connect to the camera's built-in USB port. When you do, Photo Loader starts automatically and transfers images from the camera to your computer. You can view images on your computer using Web browser software. Powerful Imaging Tools : Powerful imaging tools include Macro Mode for shots as close as 1 cm, a Bulb setting for shutter speeds as slow as 60 seconds backed up by a CASIO original noise reduction system, aperture priority AE, shutter speed priority AE, manual exposure adjustment, and much more. Macro Mode: The Macro Mode lets you move in up to 1 cm from your subject for intimate close-ups. Versatile Digital Recording and Playback Features: Movie recording and playback that even lets you record action that took place in front of the lens before the shutter button is pressed. Panorama recording and playback makes it possible to "stitch" images together and create breathtaking panoramas. Manual Settings for Full Control Over the Camera Setup: Manual settings include a choice of three light metering modes (multi-pattern, center weighted, spot), white balance, flash intensity, focus, exposure compensation, image quality, and more. Includes shutter priority, aperture priority and full manual set-up. Shortcut Keys and Shortcut Key Customization: Three shortcut keys below the monitor screen can be used to cycle through available settings without going through the menu screens. You can even change the functions assigned to the shortcut keys to keep the settings you want at your fingertips. Microdrive Compatible: Either a CompactFlash (CF) card or IBM Microdrive can be used as the camera's storage medium. A 340MB IBM Microdrive can store approximately 400 high-resolution 1600 x 1200-pixel images. External Flash Terminal (QV-2800UX) Computer Image Catalog Produced by an HTML File Generator Mode Memory: You can customize the camera so the power saving settings and other camera setup parameters you want are retained even when you turn off the camera. 1.8-inch Monitor Screen: A high-definition Hyper Amorphous Silicon TFT (HAST) LCD monitor screen provides you with clear views of your subjects and camera menu screens. 4-Mode Flash: Select the flash mode that suits your subject and lighting conditions: Auto, High Intensity, Off, Red Eye Reduction. DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) and DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) Compliant

06-22-2000

PhotoShop Plugin for Lens Corrections Dave Dyer writes to tell me that he just finished a PhotoShop filter that fixes barrel distortion, keystone distortion, and incorrect rotation of digital images. You can go to the LensDoc web page and download a demo copy and check it out for yourself. Dave also invites you all to visit his Guide to Free Online Photo Albums - a good resource for anyone with a digital camera that wants to know more about these online services.

06-21-2000

PC PhotoReview Coverage of PhotoExpo West The folks over at PC PhotoReview have posted a rundown of the digital imaging products seen at the PhotoExpo West in Los Angeles last week.

06-21-2000

Kaidan Partners with MGI to Develop a Turnkey Immersive Imaging Solution DALLAS, Texas - RealComm00 - June 21, 2000 - Kaidan Incorporated announced today a joint development effort with MGI Software to deliver a turnkey solution for creating immersive images for the Internet. The complete hardware and software solution, code named "Mirage", will enable any user to create high-resolution 360-degree panoramas, and immersive environments, without extensive digital photography experience or the need to piecemeal hardware and software components from various sources. The solution, which will be marketed to real estate, travel and tourism and other Internet sites that deploy panoramic and immersive content, enables any user to capture, process and create a panoramic image in a matter of minutes. "Even if you have all the technical know-how, the big hurdle for a real estate office or tour company is not only the time it takes to shoot a room or hotel lobby, but the backend work required to process and prepare an image for Internet posting," said Jim Anders, President of Kaidan. "With this solution anyone who can take a picture can create a panorama of a room ready for posting in a matter of minutes." "Mirage", which is currently in beta testing, integrates MGI's core panoramic imaging tool, Photovista, with Kaidan's unique KiWi family of panoramic tripod heads. The turnkey solution, supplied as a kit, includes all the necessary camera equipment and accessories, and is completely integrated with MGI's software for an end-to-end solution. For more information, please contact Kaidan Incorporated at (215) 364-1778 or Fax (215) 322-4186. Contact: Ria DiMartino, Sales and Marketing Director - ria@kaidan.com

06-21-2000

And Two More Reviews From DC Resource Seems as if everyone is posting reviews this week -- which is good news for the information hungry consumers. Jeff over at DC Resource has just completed these new camera reviews: Canon PowerShot S100 Digital ELPH Fuji FinePix 1400

06-21-2000

Phil Posts Kodak DCS620x Review I missed this one earlier. The DP Review has posted a Kodak Pro DCS620x review of the new high ISO camera for the prosumer. We also have one coming in for review shortly. Phil had this to say about it: "The DCS620x hits the spot Kodak were aiming for. They listened to their users and produced the goods, now the most sensitive Professional digital camera on the market it will almost definitely be seen around the edges of sports arenas and stadiums worldwide. Unfortunately the big news corps are the only people who will be able to afford it, and at a time when more and more traditional film camera manufacturers are announcing ever cheaper digital SLR's and digital camera technology moving at the pace it is Kodak will face an increasingly difficult time convincing their traditional customers that their cameras are worth the extra money."

06-20-2000

QBeo to Demo New PhotoGenetics 2.0 at PC Expo in New York NORTH BEND, Wash. (June 20, 2000) - QBeoTM (formerly Q-Research), an innovator of digital imaging technology, today announced it will reveal the newest version of its award-winning PhotoGenetics(tm) software at PC Expo in New York June 27. PhotoGenetics 2.0, enhancement software for still digital images, is even more intuitive than the previous version and makes it faster and easier for consumers to enhance pictures. "While the current version of PhotoGenetics is easy to use, 2.0 reflects amazing improvements in the software's intuitiveness and usability," said Del Clark, president of QBeo. "If it took you a minute to enhance an image to your liking with the previous version of PhotoGenetics, it could now take you less than 30 seconds." Key features of PhotoGenetics 2.0 include immediate application of enhancements, real-time previewing and automatic color shift correction. This means that people will not only be able to enhance photos more quickly, but also see what an enhancement would look like before applying it. In addition, the new version makes it easier to name, manage and edit enhancement files (called genotypes). It also simplifies printing by quickly and efficiently sizing and printing photos to make the best use of photo paper. QBeo's technology lets people quickly enhance and manipulate images or video, simply by comparing and rating the original display against a series of variations. QBeo's patent-pending ImageOpTM technology creates the new images by altering a dozen characteristics such as hue, gradient, color balance, contrast, gamma, color temperature, color shift and saturation. With the click of a mouse, the desired enhancements may be applied to the image. QBeo also recently released VisualGenetics(tm), an exciting new suite of imaging tools for the Internet that includes enhancement and editing tools as well as fun, artistic effects. PhotoGenetics 2.0 will be available for Windows and Macintosh for $29.95 as a download from www.qbeo.com, or $39.95 for a CD.

06-20-2000

PowerShot.de Posts More Canon D30 Info The German PowerShot.de Canon web site has posted a lot of info on the upcoming EOS D30 digital camera. The picture above shows the S20's CCD imager next to the EOS D30's CMOS imager. Thanks to reader Robert Schultz for the following translations: Canon states that since the CMOS sensor has an amplifier builtin for every pixel, they can control the noise better and can read-out data at 3fps. In Germany preorders are being taken for 6000DM which translates (minus VAT tax) to $2470 USD. I have heard that Canon in Germany has received a production model. Production plan is for 8000 units per month. Canon USA confirms that the MSRP for the EOS D30 is $3,500 USD.

06-20-2000

IBM Announces 512MB & 1GB Microdrives SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 20, 2000--IBM is tripling the capacity -- but not the size -- of the world's smallest hard disk drive, paving the way for a new generation of "go-anywhere" pervasive- computing devices and applications. Packing one gigabyte (GB) of data storage capacity on to a disk the size of an American quarter, IBM's newest 1GB Microdrive can hold up to 1,000 high-resolution photographs, a thousand 200-page novels or nearly 18 hours of high-quality digital audio music. Limited quantities of the 1 GB Microdrive will begin shipping in July to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and distributors. Retail shipment is scheduled for September. Customers that have designed or plan to design devices compatible with the new Microdrive include Acer, Casio Computer Co., Ltd., the IBM Personal Systems Group, Eastman Kodak Company, Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Hewlett-Packard, i2Go, Minolta Co., Ltd., Nikon Corporation, Psion, RICOH Co., Ltd., and Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. Prices to be offered to consumers who purchase from IBM's Shop IBM Website by this Fall: 512 MB Microdrive ($399) and 1GB Microdrive ($499). Technical advances over the first-generation Microdrive: Sustained data rate is improved, so the drive draws less power from the host device, thus extending battery life. Improved non-operating shock rating by 50 percent (from 1,000 G to 1,500 G). This is a measure of how rugged the drive is when turned off or not in use.

06-19-2000

PhotoAccess Announces Availability of PhotoChip - The World's Fastest Digital Camera Engine MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 19, 2000-- PhotoAccess.com Corporation, a leading provider of digital imaging solutions for the Internet, today announced the availability of its PhotoChip(tm), the world's fastest digital image processing chip for use in digital cameras. The PhotoChip, the Company's first generation digital imaging processor, features an "instant-on" environment and throughput rates of up to 24 megapixels per second - significantly faster than any other application specific integrated circuit or DSP available (digital cameras today typically process images at 3 to 4 megapixels per second). With significantly increased processing speed, the PhotoChip can deliver color data at rates up to 36 bits per second, providing superior color images. Moreover, the proprietary PhotoChip eliminates the typical lag time encountered with digital cameras when previewing images on an LCD panel immediately after a photo is taken. The high-quality PhotoChip can enable digital cameras to capture a rapid succession of digital images with minimal lag time. The PhotoChip is being coupled with an advanced system design for an Internet- enabled eCamera being developed by PhotoAccess.com. The proprietary eCamera will allow digital photo consumers to connect directly to the Internet to upload, e-mail and process digital images without having to connect to a PC or Mac computer. Availability of the eCamera is anticipated before the end of 2000. PhotoAccess.com is seeking corporate partners with interest in the PhotoChip or eCamera system design. To find out more, please direct all inquiries to PhotoChip@photoaccess.com. The highly scaleable and programmable PhotoChip is designed to perform signal processing in pipelined silicon, allowing each stage of image processing to occur simultaneously, and thereby attaining unprecedented processing speed. Additional features of the PhotoChip include: Support for multiple storage media and display types; Capable of operating 8, 10 or 12 bit data; Self-contained sequencer to drive any CMOS or charge coupling device (CCD) sensors as large as 9 million pixels; No need for separate chip/timing generator to drive sensors; Capable of mapping any CCD to LCD just by reprogramming the PhotoChip; Incorporates Photo Response Non-uniformity Correction (PRNU) as well as Gamma, Linearity and Color Matrix corrections; and Capable of raw data, .bmp, and .jpg outputs. Thanks to Danny Brenner from Digital Photography World for pointing me to this news item.

06-18-2000

Epson PhotoPC 3000Z First Look Posted I just posted the Epson PhotoPC 3000Z First Look report complete with a starter set of sample pictures that I managed to get before the weather got nasty today. More pictures will be added over the next couple of days as time and weather permits.

06-18-2000

Full Sony Mavica FD95 Review Posted Inbetween all of my other duties and a few hours sleep I managed to finish the Sony Mavica MVC-FD95 review. The new MSAC-FD2M floppy adapter for the Memory Sticks finally arrived so I got a good chance to try the FD95 with some mega-storage. This is a very capable camera but I think that most people interested in buying it will now wait on the release of the new MVC-CD1000 with its CD-Recorder drive and improved image quality.

06-16-2000

Updated NikonView DX for the D1 Now Available - Adds More FireWire Support Please note that this update is not a full version installer. You need to have the Nikon Software Package (NikonView DX 1.0.2 or earlier) you are updating already installed on your system, or the Updater will quit! The Nikon ViewDX Updates support the Nikon D1 Digital Camera Only! This updates adds support for 1394 controllers other then Adaptec 8945 and 8920. The following OHCI compliant 1394 Controllers have been fully tested with this update: OrangeMicro OrangeLink Firewire OrangeMicro OrangeLink Firewire + USB Ratoc Systems PCMCIA 1394 Sony Vaio On Board 1394 Windows 98 Second Edition or Windows 2000 is required to install this update. To download the update go to NikonView DX update page on the NikonTech USA web site.

06-15-2000

Sony Unveils Their Smallest Digital Handycam Yet - DCR-PC5 (Click to see a larger picture) NEW YORK -- Sony is taking quality digital video to new extremes in portability with today's introduction of its smallest Mini DV Digital Handycam camcorder. The new DCR-PC5 Handycam camcorder is a palm-sized 2 1/8" (W) x 4" (H) x 3 7/8" (D), and weighs less than one pound (15 ounces). This new camcorder offers digital still image capability, using Sony's Memory Stick digital media, Carl Zeiss optics and a 2.5" SwivelScreen LCD Monitor with Touchscreen controls. This tiny package also features a 10X-optical/120X-digital zoom and along with a 1/4-inch, 680K pixel CCD imager. The built-in Memory Mode also records digital still images onto removable Memory Stick digital media. The DCR-PC5 Features: 2.5" SwivelScreen(TM) LCD - Touchscreen technology transforms the LCD screen into a convenient control pad. Users simply touch the appropriate button on the LCD screen to search, edit, or operate any number of special effects while recording or playing back their video on the same screen; Super SteadyShot(R) picture stabilization - Using motion sensors to compensate for camera shake, this Worry-Free feature enhances video and eliminates high frequency vibration without compromising picture quality, meaning no more blurred images during those shaky camera situations; AccuPower(TM) battery system - All Sony Handycam camcorders conveniently indicate the remaining minutes of battery life on the LCD or viewfinder display. This allows users to keep an accurate and constant reading on remaining battery power. Stereo sound with audio dub capability - The camcorder records in either 12- or 16-bit PCM digital stereo audio. The 16-bit offers high quality stereo sound, while the 12-bit Audio Dub mode records digital audio in two stereo tracks, allowing users to add background music or voice-over to the video during editing. The i.LINK (IEEE-1394) digital video interface maximizes the connectivity of the DCR-PC5 Handycam camcorder, allowing for the transfer of information between two digital camcorders or a camcorder and a computer with virtually no generational loss. With bi-directional digital communication between the DCR-PC5 and an i.LINK DV interface-equipped PC, such as VAIO Digital Studio desktop and notebook PCs, consumers can transfer digital videos to and from their PCs and then edit them to remove unwanted footage, enhance the transitions between scenes, or simply preserve the best of their home movies digitally. The DCR-PC5 camcorder includes a 4MB Memory Stick media, which can store up to 60 JPEG compressed digital still images. The DCR-PC5 will be available from Sony Electronics in June for about $1,499.

06-15-2000

Olympus Announces New C-2100UZ With 10x Stabilized Lens Click for a larger picture Well, just when you figured we had heard about all of the new cameras for a while, along comes Olympus and announces their new Camedia C-2100 UltraZoom with a 10x (38-380mm) stabilized zoom lens and a 2.1-megapixel imager. Basically it is the C-2500 with a slightly smaller CCD and a finished image size of 1600 x 1200 in JPEG or TIFF. Availability in Japan in August -- we'll find out later what the U.S. debut date is and let you know. The price converted from Yen is about $1300 so it comes in about the same as the new Sony MVC-CD1000. Some C-2100 sample pictures from PC Watch from a pre-production camera. Thanks to our friends at Imaging-Resource for the C-2100's specs in English: Same CCD as 2020, 2.1 megapixel. 1600x1200. 16MB SDRAM buffer. 1.2 secs shot to shot 3fps burst. QuickTime movie 15fps. TTL connector cord like 3030, with cable. 10x Optical, image-stabilized zoom, 38-380 mm equivalent. 7-70mm actual. 2 aspherical glass elements. f/2.8 to f/3.8, 7-bladed aperture. Manual focus, 240 steps (like 3030). Centerweighted, digital ESP metering, spot metering with 8 area selection. 1.8" wide view high res LCD (same as 3030) SLR design, but electronic viewfinder. Gives AF and MF indicator in VF. Manual, Shutter, Aperture, programmed, special program mode - portrait, sports, landscape, night scene. +/- 2EV comp in 1/3 steps. Aperture & shutter in 1/3 steps. Same auto bracketing as 3030. White balance IESP, same as in 3030. Same ISO 100, 200, 400, auto. Olympus Japan also announced a new 2.1-megapixel Camedia C-990 Zoom camera and the new P-400 printer which is possibly the first consumer-priced, A4 size dye sub. More word on all of this when the Olympus America get us the full information.

06-14-2000

Sony Mavica MVC-CD1000 First Look Posted It's been a crazy couple of days but I've managed to get the Mavica MVC-CD1000 First Look report done and posted -- including some amazing sample pictures. This is the best Mavica they've ever built, the image quality is way beyond even the brand new FD95 model thanks to much less compression -- and an uncompressed TIFF mode too. And that 156MB CD-R drive is way cool, no more dragging a box of floppies around with you -- all you need is one disk!

06-14-2000

CreoScitex Announces New Leaf "C-Most" 6-Megapixel CMOS Sensor CreoScitex Corporation Ltd. is completing development of the innovative Leaf C-MOST, active pixel CMOS sensor. The company released details of its patent pending technological breakthrough, a 6.6 Mega Pixel CMOS sensor in a unique, ultra-thin package. This is the first full-size, 35mm CMOS sensor to be commercially developed. The Leaf C-MOST 6.6 Mega Pixel sensor is another technological breakthrough for Scitex Input Systems Division. In 1986 this Scitex division pioneered the first flatbed, CCD color scanner, and in 1992 it presented the Leaf DCB, the first film quality, digital camera back for professional studio photography. The company embarked on the sensor project in order to develop future products to complement its CCD based Leaf line of camera backs for professional digital photography. The project yielded the new Leaf C-MOST sensor which presents key advantages over existing CCD and CMOS sensor technologies. With its unique, ultra thin packaging the Leaf C-MOST sensor can be positioned in the focal plane of a standard 35mm camera, allowing full-size, high resolution images to be captured using standard 35mm lenses. The Leaf C-MOST sensor provides exceptional image quality when compared to other CMOS sensors due to the unique active pixel design, and its high sensitivity and low noise levels are comparable to CCD technology currently available. Scitex collaborated with three innovators on the research and development activities. FillFactory of Leuven, Belgium for the design of the CMOS sensor; Tower Semiconductor Ltd., of Migdal Haemek, Israel for the wafer fabrication process and ShellCase Ltd., of Jerusalem, Israel for the development and production of the custom packaging.

06-14-2000

A-Digital-Eye Posts JVC GC-QX3U Review The folks over at A-Digital-Eye have posted a full review of the new JVC GC-QX3U camera. Lots of good info over there so go check it out.

06-14-2000

FlashPoint Acquires Opholio To Establish Next Generation of Internet Photography SAN JOSE, CALIF., JUNE 14, 2000 - FlashPoint Technology, Inc., creator of Digita, the industry-standard operating system (OS) for digital cameras, today announced the acquisition of Internet photosharing innovator Opholio, Inc. Digita and Opholio's photosharing services combine to give FlashPoint the industry's only end- to-end platform solution for enabling seamless transmission of images to the Internet. FlashPoint is a leading player in the rapidly growing digital camera market and is driving the industry's evolution toward "PC-free" and wireless imaging technologies. Digita is the only independent digital camera operating system available and FlashPoint, through its acquisition of Opholio, strengthen s not only its Internet strategy, but also its OEM strategy through Opholio's outsourced, private labeled photosharing service. Opholio (www.opholio.com) provides innovative photosharing technologies and services to existing Internet sites. This customized photosharing service enables the site's users to create personalized, professional-quality online photo albums by combining photo and story sharing features with ease of use, sophisticated design and flexibility in style, layout and access.

06-13-2000

Imaging-Resource Posts Sony Mavica MVC-CD1000 Review The folks over at Imaging-Resource have scooped the world with their very complete Sony Mavica MVC-CD1000 review. Apparently Dave has had his CD1000 a lot longer than me, I got mine this morning. I will be posting my First Look review and sample pictures later today or tomorrow.

06-13-2000

DC Resource Posts Fuji FinePix 4700 Review Jeff over at DC Resource has posted his Fujifilm FinePix 4700 review. and had this to say about it: "The FinePix 4700 is a good looking, small, and fun-to-use camera, as long as you're doing casual shooting. People who want to tweak aperture and shutter settings will have to look elsewhere. But most consumers don't care about those things, and the 4700 fits the bill very well."

06-13-2000

Sony Introduces New Mavica® MVC-CD1000, World's First CD-R Based Digital Still Camera NEW YORK, June 13, 2000 - Sony Electronics today announced the first ever CD Recordable (CD-R) based digital still camera, the Mavica® MVC-CD1000. The new Mavica camera uses a high-capacity 156MB 3 ½-inch CD-R in an easy-to-use camera for Americans who use the 260 million CD or CD-R drives with their PCs, and even those who don't. Each CD-R for Sony's new CD-R Mavica camera can hold up to 160 1600x1200 (2.1-megapixel) images at a price that encourages archiving and sharing. That's the equivalent of more than four rolls of 36-exposure film. And at around $4 a disc and no processing required, the camera provides instant gratification at a fraction of the cost. Above and beyond the innovative use of CD-R technology, the Mavica MVC-CD1000 offers advanced picture quality, including 2.1 mega-pixel resolution and the ability to shoot in TIFF and high quality MPEG (MPEG HQ) modes. Sony's implementation of the CD-R format enables faster image processing, dramatically decreasing image recording time. Images captured with the MVC-CD1000 can be recorded in several modes, including JPEG compression or TIFF in UXGA, SXGA, XGA or VGA image sizes. The MVC-CD1000's powerful combination of high resolution and 10x optical zoom - equivalent to a 35mm camera 400mm lens - enables the MVC-CD1000 to fill the frame with subjects from a greater distance and capture them with greater clarity. Working with the powerful zoom, Sony has also added a feature rarely seen in the digital camera marketplace: a through-the-lens viewfinder using a bright, crisp color LCD to ensure that what you see is what you shoot. The Mavica MVC-CD1000 also includes: Manual adjustments - shutter priority, aperture priority functions and a manual focus ring; Super SteadyShot® optical image stabilization - removes unwanted user camera shake for a clearer image, a feature found on many camcorders, but only on Sony's digital still cameras; MPEG HQ Mode - allows for MPEG full frame playback on a standard TV - rather than ¼ frame playback that had been previously available - and an increased frame rate of 16 frames per second that results in smoother movement; Built-in intelligent flash and added external flash terminal (for use with the HVL-F1000 optional flash) - range of over 30 feet allows the camera to capture images at longer distances under adverse lighting and the MVC-CD1000 communicates mode and exposure intelligence directly with the flash. The optional Sony HVL-F1000 flash is available now for about $120; Rechargeable InfoLithium battery with AccuPower meter - with battery life approximately 100 minutes or 1,100 images in still image standard mode with the LCD on; 3:2 picture size ratio option -- creating a digital image that is the same size ratio as a standard 4x6 film print; 12bit A/D Conversion -- allows a wider dynamic range from highlight to shadow; Precision digital zoom - with newly developed interpolation technology users can capture a smoother and more natural image; and In-camera zoom/trim and image re-sizing capability. The Mavica MVC-CD1000 ships with five one-time writeable CD-Rs and will be available in August for about $1,300. Check out our Mavica CD-1000 First Look report and the first of our sample pictures. This is a great camera!

06-13-2000

Minolta Dimâge RD 3000 First Look Posted Don't accuse me of sleeping ... I've been incredibly busy lately and there's more coming. Just posted is the Minolta Dimâge RD 3000 Pro SLR first look report. This is a prosumer digicam that uses two 1.5-megapixel CCD imagers to create a finished 2.7-megapixel image. Interchangeable lenses and CompactFlash Type II storage along with Programmed, Shutter and Aperture priority modes as well as full manual control too. It's not for everyone as it has a $4000 price tag but if you need a camera with pro features it's worth checking out. The sample pictures gallery will be delayed for a while (thankfully) due to much needed rain finally coming to our Sahara desert-like Florida environment.

06-13-2000

Motorola Plans 'Bluetooth' Products By BRUCE MEYERSON, AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) - Marking the official arrival of the next technology buzzword, Motorola Corp. planned to announce Monday the first "Bluetooth" products for short-range wireless connections between computers and other devices. IBM and Toshiba are expected to begin selling the new Bluetooth attachments - similar to a wireless modem - with their computers by late summer, Motorola said in a statement. Pricing information wasn't disclosed. The announcement comes at the start of this week's Bluetooth Congress in Monte Carlo. Bluetooth works by letting electronic devices communicate over a short-wave radio frequency from up to 10 yards away from each other, even in different rooms. The name Bluetooth is borrowed from a Danish king who unified his kingdoms in Denmark and Norway. Using the technology, a person might send a digital photo from a camera, to a computer to a printer, all without cords. Others might use it to check e-mail with a mobile phone that's linked to a computer packed in the trunk of a car. Motorola also planned to unveil a Bluetooth car kit to integrate car phones and various electronic vehicle systems, such as the audio system, an Internet-based navigation system, or even the door locks. The car kit, which consists of a central transmitter and a cordless handset, is now available to automakers, and Motorola says its expects to announce contracts with some of them later this year. Later this year, Motorola plans to introduce a clip-on Bluetooth accessory for its wireless phones. Other leading wireless players, including Nokia and Ericsson, also are developing phones and other devices with Bluetooth capabilities.

06-13-2000

Sony UP-DP10 Personal Photo Lab Review Posted I just posted the Sony UP-DP10 Personal Photo Lab review -- this is a really nice dye sub printer that cranks out prints that easily rival their wet-processed counterparts. This is the first 4x6" dye sub printer I have used that produces borderless prints -- and in your choice of finish; glossy, matte or textured.

06-12-2000

Luratech Offers Free Compression Software As part of an ongoing campaign to educate and drive the adoption of wavelet-based image compression and the emerging JPEG2000 standard, LuraTech Inc., Palo Alto, Calif., USA, released free software called LuraWave SmartCompress Lite. LuraWave is based upon wavelet compression technology similar to the emerging JPEG2000 image standard. LuraWave SmartCompress Lite is free for non-commercial use and may be upgraded to a Professional version with added password protection and area of interest compression features for $19. LuraWave SmartCompress software gives everyone the ability to use LuraTech's wavelet technology in order to compress digital images at extremely high rates in the LuraWave format.

06-11-2000

UMAX Redefines Ease-of-use With 42-Bit Astra 3400 Scanner for SOHO and Home Users FREMONT, Calif., June 12, 2000 - UMAX Technologies, Inc. today announced the Astra 3400 scanner, an intelligent imaging solution for consumers, Web designers and the rapidly growing small office/home office (SOHO) market. The Astra 3400, with its fast, push-button scanning, combines unparalleled ease of use with a sleek design. It is compatible with both Windows PC and Macintosh computers. The Astra 3400 scans images at 600 x 1200 dpi (dots per inch) in crisp 42-bit color using an internal 14-bit analog-to-digital (A/D) converter. Its exclusive Intelligent Image Process Engine (IIPE) automatically detects whether a document or photograph would best be rendered in color, grayscale, or black and white. Unlike most scanners, the Astra 3400 does not require the user to define media type, color type or size. IIPE technology also determines the optimal resolution, auto-crops the image area, and even rotates the output to the correct orientation if the source image is askew on the scanner bed. The Astra 3400 also features fast, single-touch operation, with buttons that provide scan, copy, or custom e-mail or OCR (optical character recognition) output. A separate power button turns off the scanner's lamp between uses, saving power. Together with the IIPE's intelligent processing, the push buttons provide a true, single-touch solution for any required scanner output. To ensure instant productivity out of the box, the Astra 3400 software package includes Adobe PhotoDeluxe Home Edition image editing software, Caere OmniPage LE OCR (optical character recognition) for 99% accurate translation of text images into editable text, NewSoft Presto! PageManager for managing images and documents, and NewSoft PageType for scanning and filling out pre-printed forms. The UMAX Copy Utility provides advanced document copying functionality while VistaShuttle software transfers images directly into e-cards, screen savers or other projects. The Astra 3400 is designed for plug-and-play use on systems running Windows 98/2000 or MAC OS 8.0 or above and connects to the host machine via the USB interface. It is a single-pass, flatbed, color CCD scanner with a cold cathode lamp for long life and dust-free optics. It features 600 x 1200 dpi (9600 dpi maximum interpolated) resolution with true 42-bit color capability that outputs over 4 trillion colors. The Astra 3400 is available for a suggested retail price of $99.

06-09-2000

SmartDisk's FlashPath Now Supports Growing Linux User Community NAPLES, Fla.-- SmartDisk Corporation announced that support for the Linux operating system (OS) has been integrated into its FlashPath(TM) for SmartMedia(TM) floppy disk adapter for digital appliances. This extends FlashPath's OS support to the growing base of consumer and professional users who are incorporating the open source interface into their networks and desktops both at home and at the office. The software is certified by Linuxcare, Inc., a leader in comprehensive consulting and professional services for the Linux community. The first release of Linux software for FlashPath is certified with Red Hat 6.2. For other versions of Linux, the kernel (the essential center of the Linux operating system) must be revision 2.2.n. FlashPath's data transfer speed is also greater than the transfer speeds of the serial port readers currently available to Linux users. Its portable size and lack of cables and connectors also make FlashPath the ideal flash memory reader for those consumers who use Linux both at home and at the office. FlashPath adapters are available for three of the leading flash memory types: Toshiba's SmartMedia(TM), Sony's Memory Stick(TM), and SanDisk's MultiMediaCard. FlashPath for Sony's Memory Stick(TM) is distributed on a worldwide basis by Sony Corporation under its own brand name called Memory Stick/Floppy Disk Adapter. FlashPath for SmartMedia Linux drivers are now available from SmartDisk's Web site at www.smartdisk.com. Additionally, Linux driver support for FlashPath for Sony's Memory Stick and SanDisk's MultiMediaCard is planned for later this year.

06-09-2000

Hitachi To Launch DVD Camcorder in August TOKYO, June 8 (Reuters) - Japanese electronics maker Hitachi Ltd said on Thursday it would launch on August 25 the world's first video equipment to use new digital versatile disk (DVD-RAM) technology as a recording medium. It would launch a DVD video camera and a desktop video deck, it said. Both will use 8-ccm DVD-RAM disks. The DVD camcorder can record video images for one hour with high video image quality and for two hours at normal quality, it said. Hitachi plans to produce 20,000 of the cameras and 1,000 decks each month for marketing worldwide, a Hitachi spokesman said. The company has yet to decide details of overseas sales, he said. The domestic sales price will be 248,000 yen ($2,347) for the camcorder and 250,000 yen for the video deck.

06-09-2000

Megapixel.net June 2000 Issue Online My good friends up in Canada have just posted their June 2000 Issue with reviews of the Fujifilm FinePix 4700, Toshiba PDR-M70, Olympus C-3000Z and the Sony MVC-FD95. These reviews and lots of other interesting info can be found in their online 'zine. Pick the French or English version and get a reading!

06-08-2000

QBEO and Ferrania Imaging Technologies Collaborate to Offer Customers Deal on Consumer Imaging Software NORTH BEND, Wash. (June 8, 2000) - Q-Research (QBEO), an innovator of digital imaging technology, today announced an agreement with Ferrania Imaging Technologies to offer consumers, through Ferrania's retail distribution partners, a substantial discount on its consumer imaging software. Consumers who purchase specially marked Imation-branded or store-branded film, or single-use cameras, will receive a special in-pack coupon directing them to a Web site where they may download PhotoGenetics LE for only $7.50 (regularly $19.95). "We are confident that our technology adds value to the consumer imaging experience, and we are excited that Ferrania has recognized this," said Mark Hayrynen, director of business development for Q-Research. "Nearly everyone has been disappointed with the way their photos have turned out at some time or another-far from the vibrant scenes they remembered. PhotoGenetics changes all this. Now, instead of having to throw away those lackluster pictures, they can scan them into a computer and enhance them dramatically in just seconds. That's what our technology is all about-recapturing people's memories." The ImageOp(tm) technology powering PhotoGenetics is invisible to consumers, yet lets them enhance images based on their preferences. An intuitive interface allows people to simply compare and rate the original image against variations produced by the technology. With a single mouse click, they may apply the selected enhancements to an image, continuing until they are happy with the image and opt to save it. ImageOp works by simultaneously altering a dozen image characteristics such as hue, gradient, color balance, contrast, gamma, color temperature, color shift and saturation. Yet, unlike traditional image-editing programs, consumers do not need to know anything about these characteristics or how they interact.

06-08-2000

Light & Motion's New Tetra U/W Housing for Olympus Digicams Thanks to our friends over at Wet Pixel we have been informed about a new underwater housing for the Olympus C-2020, C-3000 and C-3030 family of digicams.   The Light & Motions' Tetra housing will now allow divers to take their 2- and 3-megapixel Olympus dgital cameras "down under" in complete safety. Check out the WetPixel site for more news about other U/W housings including the elusive Olympus PT-005 and a new Ikelite cases for the Nikon 990 and Sony DSC-S70 digicams. late 06/08/00 update: Light & Motion upgraded the Tetra web pages today with full product specs and lots of detailed closeups of the 365-T6 cast aluminum housing.   Availability is Fall 2000, price as yet unknown but probably as much if not more than the Olympus C-3030 camera.   This is not unusual, Ikelite's U/W housings are also around $1000.  These are top of the line housings and custom made for the cameras that go in them.

06-07-2000

Panorama Factory v2.0 Released The Panorama Factory V2.0 has been completed and released. This version is chock full of new features and improvements to existing features. The most exciting new developments in V2.0 are: A New Project Wizard that helps you create new stitching projects with just a few mouse clicks. The ability to create immersive VR panoramas. A library of digital camera models. A printable user's guide in PDF format. For a more complete listing of changes in V2.0, visit: http://www.panoramafactory.com/whatsnew.html Please know that V2.0 is now shareware (V1.6 continues to be freeware). I have put so much into The Panorama Factory that I now need to try to offset my time and expenses. V2.0 provides for a 30 day evaluation period. At the end of this time you should decide whether you want to keep The Panorama Factory. If you want to keep it, you should register and pay the modest registration fee. To download V2.0 of The Panorama Factory visit http://www.panoramafactory.com/download.html for the familiar download form.

06-06-2000

PC World Rates Nikon Coolpix 990 as the Best Digital Camera of 2000 According to the July 2000 issue of PC World, the Nikon Coolpix 990 is the "Best Digital Camera of 2000."   To quote PC World: "Last year, Nikon's Coolpix 950 took the World Class Award among digital cameras. This year, the Nikon Coolpix 990 edges out its predecessor.  At $1000, it's not cheap, but this easy-to-use 3-megapixel camera captures some of the sharpest, most vibrant pictures we've seen.  Although it's chunkier than the 950, it has USB for fast transfers." In case you missed it, here's my Nikon 990 review

06-06-2000

Kodak Announces New DC4800 and DC5000 Cameras Photo courtesy of Imaging-Resource The 3.1-megapixel KODAK DC4800 with manual and automatic settings for creative control.  3X-optical zoom (28 - 84 mm) and 2X digital zoom lens. Image color modes such as saturated, neutral, black- and-white, or sepia help expand the creativity in your pictures. ISO settings of 100, 200, and 400. Here's some Kodak DC4800 sample pictures from the PC Watch site in Japan. CCD Resolution: 3.3 megapixels Image Resolution: 3.1 (2160 x 1440), 2.2 (1800 x 1200), 1.6 (1536 x 1024), .8 (1080 x 720) MP Image Quality Modes: 3.1 MP (uncompressed) 3.1 MP 3.1 MP (highly compressed) 2.2 MP 1.6 MP 0.8 MP Custom resolution (either of 2M, 1M, or 0.5M, highly compressed) Image Storage: CompactFlash Card Viewfinder: 1.8" LCD, Optical real image viewfinder with AF frame Field of View: 90% Diopter Adjustment: -1 +/-2 diopter Finder Eyepiece: Exit pupil: 5 mm diameter Eye point: 12 mm (from top of eyepiece frame) Semi-Field-Angle: 10.5 degree (diagonal) Lens: 3X optical zoom capability, 28-84 mm f2.8-4.5 (35 mm film equiv.), 2X digital zoom, power zoom with two driving speeds, mechanical shutter and apertures 43 mm lens with adapter (optional) Digital Enhancement: 2x digital zoom Auto Focusing: TTL Video-AF, single AF only (no continuous AF), Spot AF only, 0.5 m-Infinity (standard distance mode), 0.2 m-0.5 m (near distance mode) less than 1.5 sec. to focus lock Focus Distance: Regular: close and infinity Macro: close and infinity Exposure: Auto, or manual override (+/-2 EV in 0.5-EV increments), automatic white balance and exposure lock Exposure Control: Full Range: (16s @ f2.8 to 1/1000s @ f8) AE Range: (1/8s @ f2.8 to 1/1000s @ f8) Program AE Manual Aperture Priority AE (f2.8, f5.6, f8) Manual Shutter (1/2s-1/1000s) Long time exposure mode (0.7 - 16 sec.) Exposure Compensation: +/-2EV with 1/2 EV step, @AE mode only White Balance: Auto, Daylight (5500k), Tungsten (semi auto), FL (semi auto), Manual (one push hold and selectable color temperature, 2500-10,000 Kelvin) Shutter Speed: 16s – 1/1000s Aperture Range: Wide: f2.8, f5.6, f8 Tele (where applicable): f2.8, f5.6, f8 ISO Equivalent: 100, 200, and 400 (selectable) Self Timer: 10 seconds Tripod Mount: Standard Flash: Strobe flash (auto, fill, red-eye, off) to 10 feet (3.2 meters wide, 2 meters at tele) File Format: TIFF/JPEG/EXIF Video Out: NTSC/PAL (user-selectable) Special Effects: Three B/W modes, sepia mode, neutral mode, saturated mode, burst, video, NTSC/PAL Interface: USB, PC card Power: Lithium-ion rechargeable with AC adapter/charger included for in-camera charging Dimensions: WxDxH (mm) 120x65x69 Weight: Without batteries (ounces): 11.45 Without batteries (grams): 320 Warranty: One year Burst capture: Max # of pictures (at different resolutions) 4 pictures at highest, 16 at lowest Click to Click: Maximum 5 pictures with 2.0 sec interval (target: 5 pictures) Burst Frame Rate: Between 2 and 5 fps Preview Frame Rate: 15-30 fps Photo courtesy of Imaging-Resource The 2.1 megapixel KODAK DC5000 stands up to the elements with a weatherproof design with special seals keeps moisture out for carefree performance in any weather. Use in light rain or mist, dusty and dirty conditions, on the beach, near the pool or while boating. 2X optical (30 - 60 mm) and 3X digital zoom. CCD Resolution: 2.1 megapixel Image Resolution: 2.0 megapixel (High 1760 x 1168, Standard 896 x 592) Image Quality Settings: Best, Better, Good Image Storage: CompactFlash Card Viewfinder: Real-image optical viewfinder LCD: 1.8" for preview and review Lens: Auto focus 2X optical zoom and threads for optional lenses Digital Enhancement: 3x digital zoom Lens Focal Length: f6.5-f13 (30-60 mm) 35 mm equivalent Focus Distance: Regular (.5M-infinity) Macro (1/4-1/2 meter) Exposure: Auto, or manual override (+/-2 EV in 0.5-EV increments) Shutter Speed: 1/2 sec. - 1/755 sec. Aperture Range: Wide: f3.0 – f7.6 Tele: f3.8 – f9.6 ISO Equivalent: 100 Self-timer: 10 seconds Tripod Mount: Standard Flash: Strobe flash (auto, fill, red-eye, off) to 9.8 feet (3.0 meters) File Format: JPEG/EXIF Video Out: NTSC/PAL (user-selectable) Special Effects: Three B/W modes, sepia mode, borders, video, NTSC/PAL Interface: USB, serial, CompactFlash card Power: 4 AA batteries (included) with AC adapter/charger (optional) or rechargeable batteries (optional) Dimensions: WxDxH (mm) 140 x 89 x 83 Certifications: FCC, CE, Ctick, IEC 529 Class 4 Weight: Without batteries 1.0 lbs (459 grams) Warranty: One year

06-05-2000

May 2000 DPOTD Winners Congratulations to our May 2000 Digital Photo of the Day Winners for their excellent entries. Voting was quite close again this month but the top three pictures were chosen by popular vote of our readers - thank you. I received numerous emails telling me that they were having a difficult time picking only one photo as there were so many great pictures to chose from. Click on the link above to see the winning photos.

06-03-2000

Kodak Pro Offers Trade-in Program for 8600, 8400 PS and 8657 Thermal Printers ROCHESTER, N.Y., --Owners of Kodak Professional 8600, 8400 PS, 8657 thermal printers or Kodak Digital Science 8650 or 8650 PS color printers can upgrade their digital output and receive $1,000 to boot when they trade in their current models towards the purchase of a new Kodak Professional 8660 or 8670 PS thermal printer. The newer printers offer all of the latest capability in photographic quality digital printing. The Kodak Professional 8660 and 8670 PS thermal printers share many attributes. But each offers a unique feature set to address some key imaging applications and appeal to a range of professionals, such as graphic artists, advertising agencies, portrait studios, event photographers, service bureaus, industrial photographers, designers and scientists. Read the entire Kodak press release

06-02-2000

Sony DSC-S70 First Look & Sample Pictures Posted I just posted the Sony DSC-S70 First Look report after a couple of fun (and busy) days of using it. This camera is going to give the Nikon and Olympus 3-megapixel cameras a run for their money. The Carl Zeiss lens and 12-bit A/D processing yields sharp and colorful images and the camera is easy and fun to use. I have a good start to the sample pictures page and just added some long exposure shots I took earlier tonight. For you NWO freaks -- I managed to grab a shot of Hulk Hogan's new boat - boy does he like his boats big and gaudy!

06-02-2000

Fuji FinePix 40i - Digicam and MP3 Player Interesting new digicam for the "hip generation" from Fuji includes an MP3 music player for those times when you're bored taking photos. I will dig up all the specs on this camera but what I gleaned from the Fuji Japan site is that it has a top still resolution of 2400x1800 plus 320x240 movie mode, a F2.8 36mm (35mm equivalent) fixed focal length lens and USB connectivity. PC Watch has already posted some Fuji FinePix 40i sample pictures. Fuji FinePix 40i specs (thanks to Imaging-Resource) 2.4 megapixel SuperCCD gives images up to 2400 x 1800 pixels Fixed focal length lens equivalent to 36mm on a 35mm camera. Built-in automatic lens cover. Focuses to 50cm in Auto mode, or 6cm in Macro mode. SmartMedia storage. Uses SmartMedia ID media for copy- protected MP3 audio USB connectivity (MP3 files must be recorded to the device through the USB connection Headphone cable-type remote control with play/stop, cue forward/backward and volume up/down buttons and LCD info display Automatic or manual exposure and white balance Video capability with sound, up to 80 seconds in 320 x 240 pixel resolution, 10 frames per second. AVI format file with MotionJPEG codec. Uses two NiMH or NiCad AA batteries. Battery life of 150 minutes for MP3 audio only. Aluminum/Magnesium alloy body in silver, blue or pale pink Dimensions of 85.5 x 28.5 x 71.0 millimeters Weighs 210 grams including batteries and media UPDATE -- We have just confirmed with our contact at Fuji that this product will indeed be offered here in the US!!! The MSRP has not yet been announced nor has the size of the storage media but it looks as if it will come with a 64MB SmartMedia card good for 80 minutes of music or 6 minutes of video with sound. Product availablity is in September and will be offered in the metalic blue or silver, sorry girls, no pink. This thing is like the "Swiss Army Knife" of the digital world: MP3, 2.4 Megapixel still camera and Movies! The headphones, which come with the unit, have a remote on the cord for the MP3 and can be used for some of the basic functions of the camera!

06-01-2000

New Production Model Sony Mavica FD95 Sample Pictures Posted I received the production model Mavica FD95 this morning and got out and took some new sample pictures. I have updated the FD95 Samples Pictures page with some new (and vastly improved) pictures. I also received a Sony DSC-S70 camera this morning too - a First Look report and some sample photos will be posted by tomorrow. This is an excellent camera and will compete well against the Nikon 990 and Olympus C-3030.

May 2000 News

Steve's Main Menu

Public Discussion Forums

Looking for something on our web site?

Enter Keyword