-- Top News Stories -- Bibble Now Decodes D30 Raw Files $100 Rebate on Casio QV-3000EX Plus Enroute Drops Quickstitch Software Line Epson Stylus Photo 790 2880x720dpi Fuji 40i - Free Yamaha speakers Fujifilm Adds 1GB MicroDrive to Accessories Kodak PalmPix for Palm m100 Lexar USB SmartMedia Reader Microtech's FireWire CameraMate Nikon Coolpix 950 $150 Rebate Nikon Launches NikonNet.com Olympus C-3040 and C-2040 Zoom Olympus E-10 review posted OPSiS iRemote for Digita Cameras Ulead PhotoExplorer 7.0 Special Report: PhotoPlus Expo East 2000 Qimage Pro v10.0 Released Qpict for Mac OS X Released Sharp Announces 4-Megapixel CCD SmartDisk's new Flash Readers Toshiba PDR-M70 Firmware Upgrade UMAX Debuts Under $200 Megapixel

11-30-2000

Qimage Pro and ICC Color Profiles Qimage Pro v10.2 for Windows has gotten some major improvements regarding color management that allow you to REALLY start managing color! This version works hand-in-hand with the new digicam ICC profiles that are being developed. Qimage Pro v10.2 allows you to "tag" digital cameras to specific ICC profiles. Mike Chaney is currently working on developing ICC profiles for all the cameras that have Qimage plugins (the CP990 ICC profile is already available). Click on the CP990 ICC Profile on the Qimage Pro Plugin page to get an idea of what these custom ICC profiles can do for your digicam.

11-29-2000

Fujifilm Offers $50 Yamaha Speaker Rebate With Purchase Of Finepix 40i Digital Camera ELMSFORD, NY, November 29, 2000 - Today, Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. announced a special holiday rebate that gives U.S. buyers of its Fujifilm FinePix 40i digital camera a $50 rebate on the purchase of Yamaha's YST-MS201 multimedia speaker system. The FinePix 40i is the first high-resolution digital camera with MP3 audio capabilities, in addition to digital video. As a camera, the FinePix 40i features Fujifilm's exclusive Super CCD sensor technology for increased resolution, a more favorable signal-to-noise ratio and a wider dynamic range, all elements that contribute to crisp, clear and colorful digital images. As an MP3 audio player, the FinePix 40i plays back near CD-quality music. All MP3 controls operate via a tethered remote into which the user can plug in the FinePix 40i's provided ear buds, his or her own headphones or multimedia speakers like the Yamaha YST- MS201. In addition, the remote can be used to capture and then view images on the FinePix 40i's LCD panel. Priced at $699, the FinePix 40i is available in traditional silver or "cosmic blue". Designed to take advantage of multimedia software, like MP3 audio files, the YST-MS201 system features 30 watts of total output power and Yamaha's exclusive Active Servo Technology for deep, powerful bass. The stylish YST-MS201 system, which includes two slant-baffle satellite speakers and a wood subwoofer, is available in Platinum White and Calypso Black at a suggested list price of $50.00. The rebate offer runs from December 1 through December 23, 2000, at both traditional and World Wide Web retailers, such as Best Buy, CompUSA, Fry's, Gateway Country and Egghead.com. In order to be eligible for the rebate, consumers must purchase the FinePix 40i and YST-MS201 system during the stated offer period. Purchasers must then send a photocopy of the original sales receipt(s), UPC codes for both products, completed U.S. Fujifilm product registration card and rebate coupon -- which can be picked up at participating retailers or at www.fujifilm.com -- to the following address: Fujifilm/Yamaha Rebate Offer, Department #26601, P.O. Box 52900, Phoenix, AZ 85072. Eligible consumers will receive the $50 rebate by mail.

11-28-2000

DP Review Posts Full Nikon D1 Review Phil over at the DP Review emailed to let me know that he had just posted his full Nikon D1 review, all 20-some pages of it, whew!   Phil's conclusion: "The D1 is everything the professional photographer could need and a whole lot more, build quality is second to none, image quality is excellent... the D1 was the first digital SLR to shoot JPEG, extremely important to many professional photographers. Without doubt the D1 was the camera which changed the face of the digital SLR market, since then we've seen products and announcements from other manufacturers but still nothing to compete with the D1. The D1 is, at the time of writing this review, the digital tool for professional photographers, absolutely no doubt about it."

11-28-2000

Microtech Introduces New FireWire and Memory Stick CameraMate Readers Microtech International Inc.. North Branford, Conn., USA, is introducing the FireWire CameraMate, a high-speed reader/writer that can transfer high-resolution images without the need for tethering the camera to a workstation. According to Microtech, the FireWire CameraMate is an IEEE-1394 based digital film reader/writer compatible with all CompactFlash Type I and II cards. It supports a data transfer rate of up to 5MB per second and carries a $129 suggested retail price. Microtech is also introducing a dual-slot CompactFlash/Memory Stick reader to its USB CameraMate products. The reader/writer allows simultaneous read/write functions to Sony Memory Stick and CompactFlash Type I and II cards, Microtech said. The USB CameraMate Memory Stick supports drag-and-drop image transfer at up to 1.2MB per second and is compatible with Macintosh OS 8.6 and above and Windows 98/2000/ME. The Memory Stick offers owners of multiple electronic devices the ability to use one reader for all applications. It is expected to ship by the end of the fourth quarter and will carry a suggested retail price of $89.

11-27-2000

What Price Digital Photos? The advent of low prices is threatening to give digital cameras a bad image. That's the concern of some analysts and manufacturers as consumers flock to buy sub-$200 digital cameras. Plummeting prices have brought the once $1,000-plus category down to a range affordable for many holiday shoppers. But the cameras that many consumers would want to own, analysts say, still cost much more--in the range of $350 to $999. Consumers buying the lowest-cost cameras may feel more like Santa left a lump of coal in their stockings than a digital delight. Retailers worry disappointment could lead to high returns--as much as 50 percent--after the holidays. "Prices have been falling fairly rapidly, but not rapidly enough where that feature-rich camera is going to be in the golden, $199 price point," said IDC analyst Chris Chute. "That won't happen until next year." Read the whole story.

11-24-2000

Another Milestone Has Been Passed I just noticed that sometime this afternoon our visitor counter sailed passed the 10-million mark. Seems like just yesterday it was 2 then 3 million and it's been like a blur ever since! Thank  Y O U  for making us one of the most popular digicam web sites on the Internet. I'll do my best to make sure that there's always something new and interesting to keep you coming back. The digital camera industry is growing at a phenomenal rate and so is our readership. Happy Holidays to all, here's hoping you find the digicam of your dreams under the tree or in your stocking!

11-24-2000

Epson Stylus Photo 790 - 2880x720dpi The new Epson Stylus Photo 790 has just been announced, at least in Hong Kong. This new photo printer features 2880x720dpi resolution using 4 picolitre Ultra Micro Dots, 6-color inks, Variable-Sized Droplet Technology and superior driver functions. The Photo 790 leverages Epson's industry renowned Epson PerfectPicture Imaging System resulting in vast increase in output quality, and significant improvements in detail and colour reproduction. To compliment the Photo 790's printing quality, Epson is introducing a revolutionary software technology called Epson Natural Image Color to further ramp up image reproduction quality, enhance colours and increase the level of details. Epson Natural Image Color extends the visible color range that cannot be completely presented by colour monitors or digital cameras, hence delicately enriches the colour tones and quality of images. In particular, Epson's Natural Image Color technology enables and differentiates the different tones of greens and blues evident in images taken of the sea, sky, water, forests and general greenery resulting in the truest reproduction of nature on paper. Another technology breakthrough that is sure to please photo-printing fans is the 4-side zero margin printing function. This enables users who want to print their favourite images as "real" photographs on paper media without any margins, hence totally eliminates the hassle and need of having to trim the borders. (Zero margin printing function only applies to specific paper sizes, be sure to check the specifications for the Photo 790 printer sold in your area.) The Photo 790 represents the fastest ink jet photo printer in its class. For A4 black text in economy mode, the printer outputs at 7.8ppm, and at 7.5ppm for A4 color text in economy mode. For photo printing on A4 photo paper, the printer churns out top quality output at 209 seconds in photo mode, a notable 80 percent increase over other branded ink jets in the same class. In addition, the new Epson's Edge Smoothing function, which is included on the printer driver to calibrate web images and PDF documents. The driver works by interpolating the low resolution of digital images and pinpointing jagged and rough edges on text and images resulting in a significant increase in image sharpness and clarity. The new Epson PhotoQuicker software (bundled) supports different zero margin layouts and printing up to eight photos on a single A4 page without margin, and a new index printing function supports printing 20, 40 or 80 image thumbnails on the same A4 page.

11-21-2000

Toshiba PDR-M70 Firmware Upgrade Toshiba has posted a PDR-M70 firmware upgrade that adds or improves: Improved Support for Windows 2000 and ME. Better USB connectivity. Improved Autofocus Manual Focus Longer Exposure Modes (15 seconds, 30 seconds, 60 seconds) Last Mode Memory for Strobe (Flash),

11-21-2000

Bibble Now Decodes Canon D30 Raw Files Many Nikon D1 users are already familiar with the Bibble program and they'll soon be joined by Canon D30 users tired of the slow TWAIN interface. Eric Hyman wrote Bibble because he was frustrated that Nikon had not included a way to decode the D1's NEF raw files but rather was charging $500 for it. He has improved and refined the program over many months and it is now about as well used as the Kodak DCS Host software in the digital pro-SLR world. There are Bibble versions available for Windows and Macintosh users and it includes a PhotoShop 5.5 plugin too. The latest Bibble 2.3x program now has the ability to browse, load/save and batch process Canon D30 .crw files. It's still in beta but it's working very well as long as you remember to copy those .thm files over with the .crw files. If the corresponding .thm file is missing Bibble will crash if you try to load it. Once loaded you can make all kinds of adjustments to the raw file (white balance, gamma, adjust levels, sharpness, and exposure compensation) before passing it to the main program. Once in the main program you can again adjust most all of these parameters, the one-click white balance is an absolute life saver. You can download Bibble and try it before you buy it but believe me, once you see what it can do you will buy it. The $99 fee is less than I've paid for many of my Photoshop filters that don't do a tenth of what Bibble does. I can't wait to see the future improvements of this fine program.

11-21-2000

Full Olympus E-10 Review Posted I just posted the complete Olympus E-10 review. I will be updating it again later after we get a FL-40 flash to include those results. And there's still some more sample photos to come, mostly "people" shots that I just haven't had time for yet. The E-10 is an excellent camera with fast autofocus and fast image processing and I'm sure it will be a good choice for those not wanting to spend $5K and up on the other "pro" cameras right now.

11-21-2000

Olympus Upgrades the C-2020 and C-3030 Zoom Cameras The word is that Olympus will be releasing a new Camedia C-2040 and a C-3040 Zoom within the next two months. Both new models will feature extra-fast F1.8 zooms and other improvements. The C-3040 Zoom is built around the 3.34-megapixel C-3030 Zoom and features a new lens. The 3x optical zoom is constructed with 7 groups and 10 elements with a maximum aperture of F1.8 - F2.6 which should make it a stellar low-light performer. Other new additions and improvements to the C-3040 Zoom are: iESP metering, One-Touch white-balance, rotate portrait mode pictures for viewing, a new Spot-AF function, shutter speeds up to 4 seconds in shutter-priority mode, adjustable image contrast and a few other things. The Camedia C-2040 Zoom is an updated 2.1-megapixel C-2020 Zoom and now has the newer iESP multi-metering, One-Touch white-balance, image contrast setting, image rotation, extended shutter speeds and Spot-AF-function, TTL flash connector for the FL-40, can use two CR-V3 lithium or four AA type batteries and the new F1.8 3x optical zoom lens. The Olympus Camedia C-2040 Zoom should be available in December with the C-3040 following in January. This is only valid for Europe, so far Olympus America has made no decision whether or not to sell these cameras.

11-20-2000

ShortCourses Posts FREE Pocket Guides Dennis Curtin wrote to tell me that he had just posted pocket guides to fifteen digital cameras on his site this past weekend. The guides have step-by-step commands for each camera’s features and cover the Nikon 950, 990, the Olympus C-2100 Ultra Zoom, C-3030, C-3000, C-2500L, C-2020, C-2000, and the Canon EOS D30, G1, S100, S20, S10, A5, and A50. If you have time during this busy Thanksgiving week, check these FREE guides out, you'll find them at the ShortCourses web site

11-20-2000

Digital Outback Completes D30 Review The folks over at Digital Outback Photo have posted their completed Canon EOS D30 review. If you're interested in this digital SLR then be sure to get as much information (and opinions) as possible before making the purchase.

11-17-2000

Divio's Single Chip Dual Mode Video/Still Solution Drives CJ-100 Pocket Photo Camera SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov. 17, 2000 -- Divio Inc. today announced that its NW820 single-chip dual-mode camera solution powers CM Tech's CJ-100 Pocket Photo. Divio's NW820 solution allows the slim line, go everywhere CJ-100 to function as a single-shot digital still camera (DSC) that fits easily into a pocket or as a full-motion, real-time Web and Internet ready motion video camera when tethered to a PC for streaming or for video conferencing applications. The camera also can be used to send still images or motion video to a TV set. The CJ-100 is on display at Fall COMDEX in booth #S667. This unprecedented flexibility makes the CJ-100 equally powerful as a business tool for Web conferences or an on-the-go, personal camera capable of snapping crystal-clear, VGA resolution digital photos. Whether worn around the neck for quick and easy access, tucked into a pocket between shots or tethered to the PC as a Web cam or security tool, the Divio-driven Pocket Photo brings a personal touch to online business meetings and keeps friends and families in touch anywhere in the world. "Divio's NW820 single-chip implementation enabled us to integrate several innovations in one device, including a revolutionary design, significantly reduced time to market, and combined high-quality still and video for every day consumers," said H.P.Kong, president of CM Tech. "The CJ-100 combined with the Divio NW820 brings new and exciting desktop video and digital imaging to the masses, in one easy-to-use, go anywhere design." "The CJ-100 Pocket Photo demonstrates how perfectly suited our single-chip NW820 is in a dual mode application," said Isaac van Kempen, vice president of marketing at Divio Inc. "Not only does our single-chip design enable sleek designs, the NW820 features real-time compression to provide a perfect solution for consumers and business who want to produce high-quality video or capture crisp, still images." The CJ-100 Pocket Photo makes full use of the NW820's power and flexibility, offering desktop video at 30 frames per second (fps) at CIF and VGA resolutions over a standard USB connection. When detached from the cradle, the pocket-size d device captures 120 Web-ready normal-quality or 50 high-quality 640 x 480 pixel images. Its highly integrated silicon is miserly with power, allowing up to 1,000 exposures using only two AA batteries. The CJ-100 joins a group of NW820-powered killer business and consumer apps that use real-time video and still photography to enrich video messaging, Web-based video, white board collaboration, surveillance, video conferencing, computer telephony, Microsoft NetMeeting sessions and casual chatting over USB. The Divio NW820 debuted in February and now leads the industry in a performance and quality as a single-chip solution for integrated and detachable digital video and digital still cameras (DSC).

11-17-2000

Wireless Remote Control for Digita OS Digital Cameras San Jose, CA (November 17, 2000) - FlashPoint Technology, Inc., the creator of the Digita Photivity end to end digital imaging platform, and OPSiS, a developer of software and peripherals for the digital camera market, today announced the release of the OPSiS iRemote+ system that allows cameras running the Digita operating system (OS) to be controlled by a wireless remote control. The iRemote+ is a control module that attaches to the serial port of Digita OS cameras. It allows users to control, with a provided key fob infrared remote or a standard RC5 TV remote control, the camera's shutter release, exposure, zoom and other camera settings from a distance of up to 30 meters (approximately 100 feet). OPSiS has also created an in-camera slide show application. IrShow runs in a Digita OS camera and allows users to control the presentation of images on a TV, either using the on-camera controls or the iRemote+ remote control. The IrShow application allows the camera to be used as a presentation tool. iRemote+ features a versatile, simple communication protocol, allowing for up to 255 different commands, using FlashPoint's DigitaScript programming language. OPSiS plans to make a developers' kit available that will provide programming information, sample scripts, and a control library that developers using FlashPoint's Digita Application Software Development Kit (SDK) or DigitaScripts can use to incorporate iRemote+ into their applications. The iRemote+ system is available from PhotoSolve, a master distributor of OPSiS products, and on the OPSiS Web site. The system is compatible with the Minolta D'Image, Hewlett-Packard C500, and the Kodak DC260, DC265 and DC290 digital cameras. Recommended pricing is $100.00 US.

11-17-2000

Digital OutBack Looks at Nik Sharpener Pro Our friends over at Digital OutBack have been evaluating the PhotoShop plugin filters by Nik Multimedia and have posted reviews for the Nik Sharpener Pro and the Nik Color Efex packages. These aren't cheap plugins but if you have spent a good deal of money on a D30 or D1 and want to see the best possible output from its raw images then this is definitely the way to go. I have been using both the Nik Sharpener and the CameraBits Quantum Mechanic filters to improve my D30 images and would be lost without them.

11-16-2000

Casio Offers $100 Rebate On QV-3000EX Plus Through Dec 30 Casio Inc., Dover, N.J., USA, will offer a $100 rebate on its 3.34-megapixel QV-3000EXplus digital camera that is packaged with a 340MB Microdrive. The QV-3000EX Plus is now available at retail stores and through Casio's online store for $999. This rebate is just in time for holiday shoppers and will be available through Dec. 30, 2000.

11-15-2000

Lexar Announces Portable USB SmartMedia Reader FREMONT, Calif.--Lexar Media, Inc. announced the launch of its newest product, the Lexar Media USB SmartMedia Reader. The Lexar Media USB SmartMedia Reader quickly and easily transfers images to a computer from the digital film found in SmartMedia digital cameras. Users simply remove the digital film from the camera and insert it directly into the reader. The SmartMedia reader also enables users to drag and drop images, as well as store, display, or enhance them when used in conjunction with Lexar Media’s Shoot & Share image viewing and enhancement software. And because the SmartMedia reader is USB-enabled, users can enjoy the reader’s true plug-and-play capability. The SmartMedia reader easily fits into a small camera bag pocket to provide mobile connectivity with computers for both PC and Macintosh users. Capitalizing on the contoured and easy-to-use design of Lexar’s popular JumpShot cable, the SmartMedia reader is similarly sculpted. The Lexar Media USB SmartMedia Reader has a suggested retail price of $39.99. It will be available in the United States in January 2001. The USB SmartMedia reader will also be available at Lexar Media’s Web site.

11-15-2000

SmartDisk Introduces Vector Flash Memory Readers INTERNET WIRE -- SmartDisk Corporation today introduced at COMDEX Fall 2000 its fast and reliable Vector Flash Memory Readers for downloading digital content from SmartMedia and CompactFlash memory cards. With SmartDisk's USB-powered Vector Flash Memory Readers for the Windows and Mac operating systems, consumers can rapidly transfer digital images, music and data from digital cameras, MP3 players, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and the Internet. The readers enable users to copy or move digital files stored on SmartMedia or CompactFlash memory cards from one digital appliance to another, or to and from computers, external storage drives or the Internet up to 33 times faster than with traditional serial-port connections. Single-slot Vector readers for CompactFlash or SmartMedia will be available by the end of this year through SmartDisk's Web site as well as through distributors and resellers. The readers will be priced at $49.95 MSRP. SmartDisk's Dual Media Reader, which reads both CompactFlash and SmartMedia, has an MSRP of $69.95. It is currently available through the SmartDisk Web sites as well as through retailers and e-tailers.

11-15-2000

Imaging-Resource Posts Full D30 Review The folks over at the Imaging-Resource were the first on the Internet at the end of August with an in-depth look at Canon's new EOS D30 camera. Dave has just finished his comprehensive Canon D30 review complete with lots of sample pictures and even more good things to say about it like: "This new round of testing really cemented our first impression that the D30 is an exceptionally high-quality piece of picture-taking gear. The images are color-accurate, with both low noise and an unusually fine-grained noise pattern that gives its pictures what we described as a "buttery-smooth" character. The ability to use its RAW-formatted images with the standard software that ships with it is another great benefit: We found the color and contrast adjustments you can make with the ZoomBrowser software post-exposure covered a very useful range of variation. Overall, a true "category killer" product!"

11-14-2000

Kodak and FreeDrive Team on Internet Photofinishing ROCHESTER, N.Y. AND CHICAGO, November 14-Eastman Kodak Company and FreeDrive, Inc., a provider of secure virtual storage on the Internet, today announced an agreement to bring Kodak's Internet photofinishing service, Print@Kodak, to FreeDrive's 8 million customers. Print@Kodak will be available to FreeDrive customers who store pictures on FreeDrive's Photo Album service. With the addition of the Print@Kodak service to FreeDrive's Photo Album service, FreeDrive's customers will now be able to order high-quality photographic prints from their favorite digital pictures. Consumers will have the ability to order all of the Print@Kodak product offerings, including Kodak Picture Pages-double-sided 81/2-by-11 album pages that feature pictures, captions and titles. FreeDrive's customers will access the service through a co-branded Web site featuring a fast, efficient way to order long-lasting, high-quality Kodak prints and picture gifts with direct home delivery. Created to meet the growing market demand for high-quality photographic prints from digital files, Print@Kodak makes it easier than ever to upload, print and share high-quality prints with a simple three-step order process, convenient batch uploads, low prices and a variety of delivery options. Powered by the latest Kodak technologies and industry-leading photofinishing capabilities, Print@Kodak provides consumers with an easy and convenient way to get high-quality prints from digital files. The service offers customers new opportunities to capitalize on the growing digital and Internet photography market and to deliver leading photofinishing services to consumers over the Internet and through emerging technologies such as connected frames.

11-14-2000

Kodak Personal Picture Maker 200 Printer Review Posted I just finished reviewing the new Kodak Personal Picture Maker 200 which is a very capable photo and general purpose printer. Lexmark has greatly improved this printer for Kodak since making the PPM100 model, it now has print quality rivaling the Epson and HP printers. It may not be the fastest printer but it's loaded with features. Dedicated "photo" color cartridge. CF and SM card slots for standalone printing or they can act just like a card reader to transfer images to the hard drive or an optional Iomega ZIP (100 or 250MB) USB drive. The most noticeable improvement is the addition of a 1.8-inch color LCD display for picture preview and menu operations. All in all it is a nice package for less than $300 - if you own a Windows/PC, sorry no Mac support until Q1 2001.

11-13-2000

Other Sites' Reviews Imaging-Resource just posted their Fuji 40i review and Dave's conclusion reads: "Fujifilm's combination digital camera and MP3 player definitely caught our attention. Initially, we didn't expect much from the FinePix F40i, because of its very limited exposure controls, however we were pleasantly surprised at its test performances. The camera does a wonderful job in average shooting situations, with great image quality and color. Combined with its very portable design and fun MP3 player capabilities, the F40i should be a popular new arrival on the digicam scene." DC Resource posted their Olympus C-2100 UZ review, Jeff had this to say about it: "It's hard to compare the C-2100 Ultra Zoom, since there aren't too many cameras out there with a zoom like this. As a 2.1 Megapixel camera, it's a great one -- it's basically the C-2020Z with a large zoom lens. It's also got all the necessary manual features (with the exception of white balance), movies with sound, and a great bundle. If you want to break out of the 3X optical zoom mode, the C-2100 is a great way to do it!" And over at DP Review Phil has gotten a second Canon EOS D30 second opinion from Neil Turner, Contributing Editor who used the D30 for three days of professional shooting.

11-10-2000

Nikon Teams with Zing to Launch New Photo Web Sites By Jennifer Laidlaw NEW YORK (Reuters) - Nikon Inc., the U.S. division of Japanese camera maker Nikon Corp. (7731.T), is teaming up with Internet photo services company Zing Network Inc. to launch and redesign photo Web sites in a bid to boost Nikon's online and digital presence. On Thursday, Nikon launched an online photo community site called Nikonnet (www.nikonnet.com), MicroscopyU (www.microscopyu.com), which specializes in digital imaging among other things, and relaunched its retail site Nikon Mall (www.thenikonmall.com). At the end of November it plans to relaunch its existing Nikon USA site, where people can find out about the company's new products and e-mail Nikon. It will also launch an education site early next year called Nikon School, offering online photo courses. Zing will develop the sites and provide infrastructure. Nikon and Zing officials said the aim of creating the new sites is offer a range of Internet photo services for customers, such as picture-sharing and online albums. ``Our vision really is that photos can play a very active role in connecting family and friends together,'' Mark Platshon, chairman of Zing Networks, told a conference call. The move comes as traditional camera makers and film companies have been trying to redefine themselves in a digital age through major investments in digital products and online products. For example, photography giant Eastman Kodak Co. (NYSE:EK - news) recently relaunched its Kodak.com site (http://www.kodak.com) and has various alliances and ventures with online photo companies. "We are looking at the tremendous potential of the Internet," Jerry Grossman, Nikon's vice president of Internet development and marketing at Nikon, said. While digital and online products should provide additional revenue for photography companies, analysts said it still isn't 100 percent clear whether consumers are catching on. "We are seeing the tracks being laid; the consumer adoption story has really got to be told," said Seamus McAteer, senior analyst at Jupiter Communications. But if big photography names want to stay ahead of the competition, they have to invest in the Internet. "It's something they have to do," he said. "It's a competitive imperative."

11-10-2000

ShortCourses Latest Camera Books Good friend Dennis Curtin is currently working on new ShortCourses Camera Books and just finished the one for the Olympus C-2100 Ultra Zoom, the Canon G1 book will be out by next week. The EOS D30 book will be out around Nov 21st or so. He is also working on an Olympus E-10 book that should be ready by mid December. These books cover the "ins and outs" of using digital cameras better and more concisively than the manufacturer's user manuals and are a lot easier to read. Dennis already has books available for most popular digicams including: Canon S10, S20, Digital ELPH (IXUS), Epson PhotoPC 850Z, Nikon Coolpix 950 and 990, Olympus C-2000, C-2020, C-2500, C-3000 and C-3030 Zoom. And when you're not reading one of his books then go visit his web site, ShortCourses.com is loaded with information about digital photography.

11-9-2000

Ulead Releases PhotoExplorer v7.0 Pro Ulead has just announced the release of PhotoExplorer v7.0 Pro, the complete solution for the digital photography enthusiast. Photo Explorer combines easy-to-use tools for acquiring, viewing, organizing, adjusting and sharing digital images and video clips. Runs under Windows 95/98/NT 4.0, Windows 2000 or Windows Me. From a simple and powerful interface you can: Acquire digital images from digital cameras, scanners or memory card readers Capture video clips from 1394 DV camcorders, PC cameras or video capture cards View images, hear audio and play video clips through an easy-to-use browser Make common adjustments and conversions to images and video clips Share images and video clips through printing, slide shows, e-mail and the web. PhotoExplorer v7.0 Pro can be download over the web for $24.95, retail boxed version is $29.95 and registered owners of Ulead Photo Explorer 4.x, 5.0, 6.x Retail Version, Ulead PhotoImpact 3.x, 4, 4.2, 5, 6 or Ulead WebRazor Pro 1.0 or 2.0 can upgrade for just $9.95.

11-9-2000

NikonNet.com - Nikon’s New "Brick to Click" Portal Thing Over-inflated valuations, e-tailer euthanasia, built to flip, these are just a few of the many negative buzzwords associated with the current e-commerce meltdown. Let’s face it, many VCs in their over-exuberance, failed to rationalize that some of these models could actually be viable as online businesses and now we know that the Internet is not the correct channel for all businesses. Travel, music, books, electronics and photo- sharing/finishing are good "fits" for the Web. Pet food sales are not. The online sharing and photofinishing sector is not immune to the effects of the larger e-commerce meltdown and this grossly over-populated sector is on the precipice of a major shake out as well. What’s interesting is that notable VCs such as Jim Clark (VC to Shutterfly) not only pull the plug on sites with suspect revenue models, but also are demanding the return of unspent capital. Now the greatest fear of every CEO in this sector is appearing on an e-obituary site. One might think that it’s risky for Nikon, the flagship brand in the imaging industry to launch their portal NikonNet, into this maelstrom where Internet pure-plays are dominant. Further, what’s NikonNet’s differentiation compared to other top tiered community sites? Over the past year, top tier pure play photo-sharing and fulfillment sites have burned through capital at an average rate of about $20 M exclusively on customer acquisition and brand-building, not counting operational costs. To-date investment in this sector has been about $1.2 billion and almost all of this has been spent on non-intellectual capital expenditures. By comparison, Nikon doesn’t have to acquire customers or build their brand from the ground up. Nikon has the potential of channeling over 1.5 million loyal customers that are digital camera, film camera and scanner buyers, in 2001 alone. And that’s not counting the installed base of current Nikon product owners. And Nikon as a device vendor has another advantage in being able to control in-the-box promotions and point of purchase messaging, which can drive new customers to the NikonNet community. Further, NikonNet’s success will not be measured on the same matrices as the pure plays sites, which are based on page views versus cost of customer acquisition. It will be measured on the value it provides existing Nikon product users and the opportunities that can be derived from this loyal base. In 1999 an unsolicited online survey revealed some very interesting data regarding Nikon’s brand. Among Internet users who were also professional digital camera users, not surprisingly, Nikon was the most recognized brand among all brands of digital camera vendors. What came as a complete surprise was that the data also revealed that Nikon was the most recognized brand among all brands for novice and amateur digital camera and Internet users. Nikon’s model with NikonNet could be called a "brick and click", meaning Nikon is using the Internet as an extension of its existing business for further penetration into businesses and homes, essentially exploiting another channel by building a community. Further, Nikon can enrich the user experience for its cameras and scanners by linking them to NikonNet and eventually sending data out to these devices from the datacenter. The goal among all photo-sharing sites is to acquire customers as cheaply as possible and to keep them loyal. Fulfillment is really the only sure path to revenue and profits and with this in mind, the real goal should be to acquire the customer’s images, not just the customer. A sub strata way of thinking about a community like NikonNet is the opportunities that can be derived from the amount of images coming from Nikon's new products and installed base from the old Nikon product users. According to George Colony of Forrester Research "The Dot Coms can be beaten. Traditional companies have cowered in the shadow of "new economy" wealth and "we get it" hubris. But a hard look reveals this to be so much hot air. A dedicated, focused, visionary, technology-driven, multichannel campaign will kill a Hollow.Com every time. The Hollow.Com CEO won't have the patience for a sustained battle: "Hey, Kleiner Perkins is calling with the next 'new' new idea. I'm not going to hang here and slug it out; I've got another IPO to do." Like Sony’s ImageStation, we think NikonNet is the new breed of community that customers know will be around after the fall-out, a brand they can depend on for a long time to come. Ron Tussy Principal Analyst Imerge Consulting Group LLC

11-9-2000

QPict for Mac OS X Released Malmo, Sweden -- 9 November 2000 -- Rune Lindman today announced the release of QPict Media Organizer for Mac OS X. Unlock the power of Mac OS X with this brand new version of QPict Media Organizer. Use QPict as your central MultiMedia access point where you can organize and view images, full screen video, listen to MP3 files or even watch live streamed audio and video. QPict for Mac OS X is adapted to the spectacular Aqua appearance and is redesigned to take advantage of the new efficient virtual memory manager in Mac OS X. QPict Media Organizer is a powerful and easy to use Multimedia browser and viewer (also called Media Asset Management). The design goals for QPict was to create a tool that is easy to use and operates fast while still being able to perform advanced tasks. With its uncluttered interface QPict is designed to meet the needs from any kind of user from home enthusiasts to professionals. With QPict you have one place to view all your Multimedia files and fonts. With the slideshow option you can create beautiful presentations. QPict can view all common media file formats including images, movie clips, streaming video & audio, fonts, VR, 3D. With QPict it's very easy to browse through thousands of image files. You can either view and select the items to trash in the thumbnail view or view each image and press backspace for the ones you want to trash. You can create index for all you files and group them as you like no matter where they are located, on CD-ROM, your hard disk or even on the Internet! You can add ANPA (ITPC) annotation (PhotoShop compatible) to each file. All these fields can be searched (33 different search criteria) with the advanced multithreaded search engine. With QPict you can add Keywords, Categories, Captions and 28 other fields to thousands of media files in one simple operation. With QPict you have a advanced way to upload and download files without the need of an dedicated ftp application. This way you can distribute an index to your customers or colleges without the need to distribute all the media files.

11-9-2000

Sony Sees Bigger Digital Camera Shipments In 01/02 TOKYO, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Japanese consumer electronics giant Sony Corp said on Wednesday its shipments of digital still cameras in the year starting next April will continue rising after a steep 114 percent climb in 2000/01. Sony, a leading maker of digital appliances, expects its shipments of digital still cameras this business year to rise to three million units from an actual 1.4 million last year, in line with strong global demand, a company spokesman said. Sony did not give a forecast for shipment volume in 2001/02. Sony will build new manufacturing facilities next year at its existing television manufacturing subsidiary in Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture, western Japan, to boost output of digital still cameras, the spokesman said. It now makes digital still cameras at two subsidiaries in Aichi and Gifu prefectures in western Japan. Global demand for digital still cameras is expected to reach or exceed 20 million units in 2001/02 from an estimated 12 million this year and compared with an actual six million last year, industry sources said. Digital cameras and digital video cameras are a main source of profit for Sony. Sony's shipments of digital video cameras in 2000/01 will rise to 5.5 million units from an actual 4.5 million a year earlier and foresees higher shipment in 2001/02, the spokesman said, without giving an estimated of volume for 2001/02.

11-8-2000

Epson's Latest Printers Win/Lose Big Time Finally we see a fact-based and very informative article about the problems with the Epson Stylus Photo 870, 875DC and 1270 printers from the folks at Byte.com. Check out David Em's 11/6/00 article titled "Epson's Latest Printers Win/Lose Big Time" to get the whole scoop. Here's a snippet from that article: "In my article Epson Inks Fade Too Fast on Some Papers in Byte.com, October 2, 2000 I wrote about the orange color shift some users are experiencing with Epson's new line of desktop inkjet printers. The story generated considerable reader response. Most readers appreciated my bringing their attention to the problem, but a few felt I didn't go far enough in my criticism of Epson. A couple even accused me of being in collusion with Epson to cover up the seriousness of the situation. In the conclusion to the article, I stated that if Epson was not correct in its representations about the causes of the orange shift and how to fix it, it would have a public-relations nightmare on its hands. That nightmare is now here." Be sure to follow the first hyperlink and read the current article, it is full of solid, factual information about the problems with these printers. Just goes to show you that you really can't believe all that you read on the net or in printed magazines given PC Mag's recent Editor's choice Award for the Epson 870 printer.

11-7-2000

New Nature & Wildlife Forum Rob Galbraith hosts a new "Nature and Wildlife" forum moderated by Uwe Steinmueller. Now there are great forums about the leading digital SLRs, photojournalism and nature/wildlife available at one site with moderators who use these cameras on a daily basis. Uwe has also been busy at his own site, Digital Outback Photo, and has recently been putting the new Nikkor AF VR ED 80-400 f/4.5-5.6 D lens through its paces on his D1. You can read all about it right here.

11-7-2000

Special Report: PhotoPlus Expo East Thanks to Keith Krebs, Editor of the POV Image Service, we have just posted a Report on PhotoPlus Expo East trade show that was just held in New York this past week. No new product announcements that haven't already been covered but lots to see and report on so check it out. Our friends over at the Imaging-Resource also posted their PhotoPlus 2000 report along with some pictures from the show.

11-6-2000

Sprint and FlashPoint Partner to Enable Wireless Digital Imaging Kansas City, MO and San Jose, CA - November 6, 2000 - Sprint PCS and FlashPoint Technology, today announced a partnership that will result in an innovative service enabling Sprint PCS enterprise customers to wirelessly send images to the Internet via the Sprint PCS nationwide network. FlashPoint's Photivity end-to-end digital imaging platform will provide a solution for business customers to send images from the point of capture to the Internet, using a digital camera connected to a Sprint PCS Internet-ready Phone. Photivity is a powerful, flexible platform that provides the underlying technology for the future of digital imaging. It allows partners and developers to create customized business and consumer applications designed to specifical ly meet their end customers' needs. Integrating this platform with the Sprint PCS network makes it possible for business customers to transmit images, along with embedded information about the image, from remote locations to colleagues and corporate enterprises anywhere in the world. Images can be sent directly from a digital camera to a Sprint PCS hosted Web account where the photos can be stored, viewed and manipulated. It also allows customers to send e-mail directly from the camera so that colleagues and clients can be invited to view, make comments, evaluate and approve images on the hosted site, creating a dynamically shared photo album that bolsters and enhances workflow. Wireless imaging has broad appeal with potential applications in several industries including real estate, insurance, construction, architectural, engineering, law enforcement and media. "Sprint PCS is an ideal partner for FlashPoint's Photivity platform," said FlashPoint President Stephen Saylor. "As the leader in mobile wireless data services, Sprint PCS is able to use our platform to offer a powerful wireless imaging solution to their business customers. The Photivity platform was created as the underlying technology and industry standard for the future of imaging." Sprint PCS will be engaged in customer trials throughout the rest of the year with commercial availability expected in early 2001.

11-6-2000

Sony Introduces Dedicated DPP-SV55 Photo Printer Sony Corp., Tokyo, Japan, is launching its new DPP-SV55 Digital Photo Printer, which will be available next month for about $350. According to a Sony spokesperson, users can view and select photos to print without using a PC. An on-screen display helps consumers navigate and view their images on a television monitor to select photos for printing, cropping and rotating images. The DPP-SV55 printer creates continuous tone pictures with color richness the company claims rivals traditional photo 1prints. Using layers of color dye, the printer creates up to 16.7 million colors. Super Coat 2, a Sony laminate, is applied in either matte or glossy finish during the printing process, protecting photos from color-shift and fading. Sony claims pictures produced with the DPP-SV55 have similar picture permanence to traditional film-based photo processing. The DPP-SV55 printer comes with a slot for Type II PC cards, so photos stored on SmartMedia and CompactFlash may be processed using a PC card adapter.

11-6-2000

Rob Galbraith Posts D30 Review If you were wondering how the Canon D30 stood up to the likes of the Nikon D1 or other pro cameras as a photojournalist's tool then check out Rob Galbraith's EOS D30 review. Rob is a working photojournalist and knows what it takes to satisfy the demanding requirements of his profession. There are also fourteen sample photos that can be viewed at full resolution. Overall Rob is impressed with the color and lack of noise in D30 images and had this to say: "After 10 days of steady D30 shooting, however, a clearer picture of the D30 is emerging: D30 colour is nothing short of stunning in most situations, and both single and multiple 550EX flash photography is markedly more reliable than with the DCS 520/D2000. Serious sports shooters, however, will find the camera's autofocus system, and perhaps shutter lag and buffer operation too, hinders the making of good peak action sports photos. The D30 is ready to go for all sorts of news jobs. In fact, a typical newspaper photographer's daily diet is made up of large quantities of static or slow moving assignments, for which the D30 is a perfectly good match. But if you need one camera to do that and cover peak action sports, and you're wedded to the Canon platform, the Kodak DCS 520 or, presumably, Canon's upcoming pro digital SLR, will be a better choice."

11-6-2000

UMAX Debuts Mega-Pixel AstraCam 1800 At Under $200 FREMONT, Calif., November 6, 2000 - UMAX Technologies, Inc. has significantly raised the bar for affordable mega-pixel digital cameras with the debut of its AstraCam 1800. This exceptional value in digital imaging brings high-quality 1.3-million pixel resolution and true CCD clarity to the general consumer "point and shoot" market. AstraCam 1800 Features: Captures 1280 x 960-pixel JPEG images that can be reproduced with photo quality on prints up to 5 x 7". Software interpolation to 1600 x 1200 dpi. Images are stored on a reusable 4MB SmartMedia card. Efficient power management system for extended battery life. "Plug and go" USB hookup. NTSC video-out, view photos on television set. 3-mode automatic flash. Automatic white balance Bundled software includes Adobe PhotoDeluxe Home Edition (full version), a step-by-step program for creating calendars, greeting cards and brochures; NewSoft Mr. Photo desktop management system; UMAX VistaShuttle (PC only) for creating electronic greeting cards; and UMAX PhotoStudio TWAIN camera interface. Compatible with Windows 98, 2000, ME or Mac OS 8.6 or above, the camera is now available for a suggested retail price of $199.

11-5-2000

Enroute Drops QuickStitch and PowerStitch, Moves Into Immersive Video The following message can be found on the Enroute web site: "Enroute, Inc. has made a strategic decision to concentrate its efforts in the emerging immersive video market with our FirstPersonTM products and discontinue sales and development of our still imaging products QuickStitchTM, QuickStitch 360 and PowerStitchTM. Effective November 1, 2000, Enroute will begin selling out its product inventory. Sales of both physical and electronic products will cease with the purchase of the last physical product, or on January 24, 2001, whichever comes first. All products purchased during this time will be supported with our full 90-day warranty as outlined in our Software License Agreement. Please contact our toll-free support line at 1-800-656-5426. The innovations and discoveries made over the past three years in our ongoing effort to develop new products for digital imaging has led us to the creation of our groundbreaking FirstPerson technology and products. Each of us at Enroute looks forward to focusing on this exciting new market and delivering FirstPerson formatted content into every home."

11-5-2000

Tetra U/W Digicam Housing Shipping After much work, Light & Motion's Tetra Digital Still Housing for the Olympus 3030 digital camera is ready to go. Shipping started on Oct 25 and orders will be filled in the order that they were placed. If you haven't seen the new Tetra housing, check it out at Light & Motion's site.

11-4-2000

Qimage Pro v10.0 Now Available Qimage Pro v10.0  is now available for download.   In case you've never heard of it, it's a really fantastic Windows printing program that has grown to be so much more.   If you have a digicam and you want the best possible prints then it would be wise to download the trial version of Qimage Pro and see what it can do for you.  This major release has many new features and a lot of improvements: Posters: Don't be limited by the size of your paper! Print a dozen images on one page, or cover an entire wall with a single photo. Qimage Pro v10.0 can not only arrange multiple prints on one page, but also allows printing a single image across multiple pages. You can even print wallets, 5x7's, 8x10's and posters in the same print session if you like. There are no limits! Dark frame subtraction: As part of the Qimage Pro batch filter, you can now subtract dark frames from your long exposure shots. And that's not all! Point the filter to a folder that contains ALL your dark frames (one for each shutter speed above 1 second for example) and Qimage Pro will automatically select the correct dark frame to subtract from your originals based on the EXIF info! That means that you need only take a single shot for each long shutter speed on your camera (there are normally less than ten) and store them in a folder. Then, when you take long exposure pics with your camera, simply batch up all your images and it won't matter what shutter speed you used. New print engine: Qimage Pro v10.0 has an all new print engine that prints more efficiently and has higher compatibility with a wide range of printers. No more fussing with options to try to figure out what print combinations your print driver needs. As a result, the "Print Prescaling" option has been removed. New 32 bit code: All code has been recompiled and retested under the latest version of our 32 bit compiler. With the new compiler and new print engine, we anticipate less problems with memory and more room for you to perform those memory intensive filtering and printing operations. More information about your prints: No need to wonder what resolution your prints will be. Just look at the queue. In addition to identifying print DPI, you can also get an indication of how much memory will be passed to your print driver. The new information goes hand-in-hand with poster printing because Qimage Pro won't stop you from trying to print a 30 inch by 20 inch poster at 300 dpi (if you have your poster resolution set that high). And much, much, more. Read all the version 10.0 update news.

11-2-2000

Kodak Unveils New PalmPix Camera for Popular Palm m100 Handheld ROCHESTER, N.Y., Nov. 2 - Owners of Palm m100 handheld computers can now join other Palm handheld users in capturing and sharing digital images with their organizers. Following the success of the original Kodak PalmPix Camera, Eastman Kodak Company today introduces a new model that quickly and affordably turns the Palm m100 handheld into a digital camera. By simply attaching the new camera to their handheld, owners of Palm m100 handheld computers can take digital pictures, "beam" them via infrared to other handheld users and transfer them in seconds via a HotSync® operation to a computer where they can be manipulated, emailed or stored. Although pictures from the Kodak PalmPix Camera are full-color, they are viewed on the m100 LCD screen (2.0- x 2.0-inches) as grayscale images. To transfer images, users use the Palm handheld’s HotSync cable. Once on a personal computer, the pictures are stored as standard JPEG or bitmap files (JPEG or PICT for Macintosh). They can be accessed as full-color VGA (640 x 480) pictures then manipulated, emailed, printed and saved. The new PalmPix Camera is so small and ultra-lightweight (1.6 ounces without batteries) it can be easily carried anywhere a Palm handheld goes. The camera features a fixed focus lens with a 36-inch to infinity focus range, 2X digital zoom and auto white balance. Until images are transferred to a computer, they are stored in the Palm handheld computer as VGA files requiring approximately 100K of memory per image. Included in the box is one Kodak AAA alkaline battery, a user’s manual, and software for the user interface and host. The PalmPix is compatible with Windows 95, 95B, 98, 98SE, NT 4.0, Windows 2000 and Macintosh 7.5.5 to 9.0.4 inclusive. Custom carrying cases, rechargeable AAA batteries and chargers are available separately. www.amazon.com is now taking pre-orders for the Kodak PalmPix Camera for the Palm m100 handheld with fulfillment in mid-December. The Kodak PalmPix Camera for the Palm m100 will also be available online at www.kodak.com/go/shop beginning in mid-December for $99.95 and at major computer retailers in early 2001.

11-2-2000

Nikon Coolpix 990 Used to Create the World's Largest Single Digital Image MELVILLE, NY, November 2, 2000 - If you're visiting Times Square during the Thanksgiving holiday season, be sure to look up when you reach 1650 Broadway at 50th Street. You can't miss the spine-tingling spectacle of a man-eating, 65-foot Tyrannosaurus Rex from Universal Studio's Jurassic Park wearing a ferocious grin and towering over crowds of tourists. But the life-size creature is not just another pretty face plastered on a billboard. Nikon Inc., the leader in digital imaging technology, has created what it believes to be the "World's Largest Single Image Taken With a Digital Camera." Nikon announced the unveiling of the multi-megapixel dinosaur image today at a press briefing held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in New York City. "We wanted to challenge the performance of the Coolpix 990 and its technologies," said Bill Giordano, National Marketing Manager for consumer digital products at Nikon. "If we were able to create a 65-foot T-Rex, imagine what your 8x10's will look like at home." Transforming a 3-foot studio model into a 65-foot creature in a realistic setting did require some creative thinking on the part of Nikon and award-winning photographer, Joe McNally. McNally directed the creation of a complete jungle setting, built to scale by set designers Tribal Scenery, at a private studio near the Universal lot in Los Angeles. Steven Spielberg's Dreamworks Productions and Amblin Entertainment provided a personal make-up artist for the dinosaur. Using Nikon's Coolpix 990 digital camera and high speed Lexar Compact Flash, McNally took a series of shots, downloading the images to a computer as he went along, to check the composition, dramatic effect and lighting. "We had about five people standing around the computer screen, scrutinizing the dinosaur for color, sharpness and detail. And I'm talking about people who take their images very seriously," said McNally. "The Coolpix 990 went through one of the most rigorous performance tests of its career, and it passed with flying colors." Once McNally, Nikon and Amblin were satisfied with the results, Altamira, Nikon's partner in the project, and the inventors of the proprietary "Genuine Fractals" technology, set to work scaling up the image to its final 65-foot by 43-foot dimension. "We've all seen digital images where the bigger you go, the fuzzier the image gets," said Bob Goldstein, President of Altamira.. "Not so with this image. When you compare the quality of the final 65-foot version to the original digital file, there's virtually no difference. Nikon's great image quality combined with Altamira's powerful scaling software created this spectacular image" Nikon and Altamira chose New York-based Ivyhill to print the dinosaur image on a vinyl mesh weighing 350 pounds. The life-size, single image of the dinosaur is pieced together in five panels, and will take seven installers eight hours to hang. Nikon's "World's Largest Single Digital Image" will be hanging in Times Square throughout the month of November.

11-2-2000

A-Digital-Eye Reviews nik Sharpener & nik Sharpener Pro As we are learning with cameras like the Nikon D1 and Canon D30, the manufacturers have wisely decided to give us an unsharpened "raw" image option. This gives the user a lot of latitude to do all sorts of post-capture processing on these images without blowing out highlights or having to deal with an image that has already been (over)sharpened in-camera. There are several good PhotoShop filters out there, one is Quantum Mechanic by CameraBits and another is nik Sharpener. The difference is that QM reduces noise, sharpens and contrast enhances, nik Sharpener does that plus it profiles the image for a particular printer at its output resolution. The folks at A-Digital-Eye have just posted their nik Sharpener Pro review detailing what makes this a valuable tool in your graphics arsenal if you use one of the prosumer cameras.

11-2-2000

Fujifilm Adds The Microdrive To Its Line Of Digital Imaging Accessories PHOTOPLUS EXPO EAST 2000, NEW YORK, NY, November 2, 2000 - Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. today announced the addition of a Fujifilm-branded 1GB Microdrive removable storage device to its existing line of digital imaging accessories. The Microdrive can be used with Fujifilm's new FinePix S1 Pro, the first digital SLR to incorporate Fujifilm's new Super CCD sensor. Capable of recording images at three, high resolution settings (3040 x 2016, 2304 x 1536 and 1440 x 960) and in three different file formats (TIFF-RBG, TIFF-YC and JPEG), the S1 Pro offers two built-in storage options: Fujifilm's traditional SmartMedia system and CompactFlash Type II, which is compatible with the Microdrive. With low cost-per-megabyte in a convenient small form, the Microdrive provides high-capacity data storage for various portable electronic devices such as digital cameras, MP3 players and personal digital assistants. The Microdrive can also be paired with a PC card adapter and various USB readers for use with desktop and laptop computers. Now available, the 1GB Fujifilm-branded Microdrive is available at traditional Fujifilm accessory outlets for a suggested list price of $499. For more information on Fujifilm's Microdrive and other digital imaging accessories, please visit Fujifilm at PhotoPlus Expo East 2000 Booth #1401, the company's Web site at www.fujifilm.com or call 1-800-378-FUJI.

11-2-2000

Rack & Roll Paper Holder for Epson and other Printers Tired of waiting for that roll paper holder from Epson that nobody ever seems to have in stock?  You're not alone... Reader Clarence Jones from across the Bay decided to take matters in his own hands so to speak and built his own. He has put together a "ready to assemble" kit for $30 plus handling. Besides doing what the Epson holder does, his (using the supplied adapters) can handle roll paper: Up to 13 inches wide on one-inch cores Up to 17 inches wide on two- and three-inch cores Details on page 3 of my Epson 1270 review

11-1-2000

Nikon USA Increases Coolpix 950 Rebate to $150, Offer Good Thru 12/31 How do you make one of the best two-megapixel digicams an even better buy?  Nikon USA has increased the Coolpix 950 rebate to $150 from Nov 1 to Dec 31, 2000. Go out and find the best deal you can on a new Coolpix 950 camera, download and fill out the rebate form, send it along with the proof of purchase and UPC barcode to Nikon NY and you get a check for $150! The Coolpix 800 is still available with a $75 rebate thru 12/31/00. Rebates valid for buyers in U.S.A., Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands only.

11-1-2000

Sharp announces 1/1.8" CCD sensor with 4 Million Pixels From the folks at digitalkamera.de comes word of Sharp's new CCD imager. Japanese electronics concern Sharp has just announced for November of this year the first examples of a new 1/1.8" CCD sensor (including chip) with a total of 4.2 million light- sensitive elements. Since the CCD sensor is of standard size (the same size as 3.34 megapixel sensors of already available digital cameras), only the electronics will have to be adapted for the next generation of cameras. The Sharp CCD sensor with the "melodious" product name RJ21R3BAOPT physically has 4.2 million square pixels (2,530 x 1,659 pixels), of which around 4 million (2,452 x 1,634 pixels) are effectively usable. The signal-to-noise ratio is -88 dB. Since the CCD sensor --despite higher resolution--has the same physical size (1/1.8") as 3.34 megapixel CCDs currently in use in digital cameras, it will be unnecessary to recalculate the optics, among other things. Consequently, digital camera manufacturers could cheaply and simply produce new 4 megapixel digital cameras based on current models.

11-1-2000

Imaging-Resource Posts Canon G1 Review Our good friends over at the Imaging-Resource have posted their Canon PowerShot G1 review and Dave had this to say about it: "Its compact size, excellent exposure controls, and unique rotating LCD monitor, make the Canon PowerShot G1 a great option for novice consumers who want a camera with room to grow, and the RAW data file format and RemoteCapture computer-control capabilities should also entice more advanced digicam consumers. Overall, the G1 produces excellent image quality, good color balance, and is accompanied by a robust software package. Clearly, one of the strongest performers in the three megapixel arena: Canon's going to sell a lot of these!" Want a second opinion? Read our Canon G1 review too!

Oct 2000 News

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