MediaStreet Press Release

eMotion DV9 is a 5 Megapixel Digital Still Camera, Digital Video Camcorder, Video Playback Unit, MP3 Player and Voice Recorder - Panasonic Video CCD Sensor and Olympus 3x Optical Zoom Lens Ensure Quality Stills and Video in All-in-One Capture Device

Deer Park, NY – September 13, 2006 – MediaStreet Inc., a leading independent manufacturer of archival-quality inks with matched inkjet media and other innovative digital solutions for the photographic, arts and consumer electronics industries, is introducing one of the most innovative multifunctional digital capture and playback devices in the industry.  The new eMotion DV9 Twister-Cam gives consumers the best of several worlds by incorporating into a single ultra-compact unit a high-quality 5 megapixel digital still camera and a 1/2.5-inch CCD video chip for creating great videos.  The palm-sized unit also functions as an MP3 audio player, MPEG-4 video playback device, voice recorder, mass storage device and PC cam.  The eMotion DV9 Twister-Cam will be available nationwide in September with suggested retail price of $279.00.

CIPA Press Release

September 12, 2006 - In August 2006 the Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA, President: Michio Kariya) reviewed the January 31, 2006 forecast of 2006-2008 shipments of various types of cameras and related goods. Total shipment of digital cameras increased by a strong 20.3% in volume from the previous year during the first 7 months of 2006. Domestic shipment of digital cameras with built-in lenses increased 7.9%, and export of digital cameras with built-in lenses increased 22.5%. As a result, though the estimation at the beginning of the year predicted that the total shipment of digital cameras in 2006 would rise 4.0% from the previous year, a total of 72.97 million digital cameras are now forecast to be shipped in 2006, up 12.7% from the previous year.

Pro-View Press Release

The New Pro-View Wireless Remote Display - the DSLR accessory no serious photographer should be without.

The Pro-View Wireless Remote Display (WRD) brings an innovative new technology to photographers using DSLR and SLR cameras. The Pro-View Wireless Remote Display (WRD) uses a micro-color video camera and a 2.4 GHz transmitter in a custom enclosure that slips on the camera in place of the eye cup. You are now ready to see the view through your lens on your remote hand-held color display.  A focus adjusting knob allows for precise focusing on any camera. The Pro-View WRD allows the photographer the freedom to be much more creative in camera placement.  New perspectives can be attained with precise composition; no more point and hope shots. With the Pro-View WRD, you see what your camera sees by viewing the live view on a hand-held color display.  You can position your camera high or low and comfortably view and frame your picture.

Hitachi Press Release

Hitachi Storage Breakthrough Signals Bright Future on Hard Drive’s 50th-Birthday; New Perpendicular Recording Data Density Demo Promises 2-Terabyte Hard Drive by Decade End; Hitachi Plans 1-Terabyte Drive for 2007

SAN JOSE, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Sept. 13, 2006—Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi) has much more to celebrate than the birth of the hard drive, which happened 50 years ago today in San Jose, California. The company is also celebrating an areal density(1) achievement of 345 gigabits per square inch (Gbits/sq. in.) using perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) technology. This areal density, demonstrated in laboratory testing, represents an increase of more than two-and-a-half times the areal density of today’s highest-capacity products. By 2009, Hitachi predicts that 345 Gbits/sq. in. would result in a two-terabyte (TB) 3.5-inch desktop drive, a 400-gigabyte (GB) 2.5-inch notebook drive or a 200-GB 1.8-inch drive(2). In the first half of 2007, Hitachi expects to bring hard drive areal density half way to the 345 Gbits/sq. in. mark with a 1-TB 3.5-inch product.

LaCie Press Release

PORTLAND, OR (September 2006) – LaCie today announced increased capacities for its LaCie Hard Drives Design by FA Porsche. New drives reach a phenomenal 500GB in a small, sleek case created exclusively for LaCie by the renowned agency Porsche Design GmbH. Exhibiting world-class style and elite performance, LaCie Hard Drives Design by FA Porsche allow people to easily add massive storage to a desktop computer. New USB drives are shipping now, and FireWire drives ship in October. LaCie Senior Product Manager Olivier Mirloup said, “LaCie’s awarded FA Porsche-designed hard drives are quiet, easy to carry and stack, and now have some of the largest capacities available at a low price per gigabyte. These drives are the fastest, easiest way to add storage to your computer, making room for lots of additional video, audio and music files. And our 1-Click Backup Software simplifies data protection.”

The Canon Inc. website has issued a warning to consumers about a recent online offer for its digital camera products that appears to be too good to be true. Canon’s statement is as follows:

“Please be aware that there has been a fraudulent online promotional offer suggesting that Canon digital camera products can be purchased for unreasonably low prices directly from Canon. This may include the Canon logo, company name and/or product images. This is in no way associated with Canon Inc. or any Canon Group companies.”

Epson and Panasonic Press Release

6 September 2006 - As 16:9 ratio has become the international standard of HDTV, a new photo culture is emerging, raising the demand for true 16:9 format cameras, printers and photo paper.  At the forefront are Epson and Panasonic with new products to meet the needs of photographers who want to shoot, view and print in 16:9 format which brings wider breadth and deeper perspective into the picture.  Panasonic has introduced its LUMIX LX2 digital camera to feature a 16:9 CCD sensor and LCD screen.  Epson is launching Premium Glossy Photo Paper 16:9 (101.60mm x 180.60mm).  It features a smooth, bright white resin-coated layer for a vibrant high-gloss finish and is compatible with a range of Epson printers including the new Epson Stylus Photo R360 and Stylus Photo RX560. As an introductory offer Epson and Panasonic are joining together to provide a trial sample of the new 16:9 Premium Glossy Photo Paper with every purchase of the Panasonic DMC-LX2.

LaCie Press Release

LaCie Expands SAFE Biometric Hard Drive Range With Enhanced Security Features and Desktop Editions

PORTLAND, OR (September 2006) – LaCie today announced it has expanded its range of LaCie SAFE Hard Drives to include a desktop edition with enhanced security features. LaCie now offers a full range of secure desktop and mobile hard drives with biometric access control designed to protect confidential data from unauthorized use. The new LaCie SAFE Hard Drive comes in capacities of 160GB, 320GB or 500GB with a universal Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface for use on PC and/or Mac. Enhanced security features include an internal drive lock and an external port for attaching an optional chain lock. “We’ve grown our SAFE range to accommodate the demand for larger capacity biometric hard drives for office or home use,” says Marie Renouard, LaCie Product Manager. “The LaCie SAFE Hard Drives offers three levels of security for your private files, whether you need to back up personal financial documents or protect intellectual property. You can rest easy knowing that your data will be kept private in the LaCie SAFE.”

Toshiba Press Release

TOKYO—Toshiba Corporation today announced that it would launch two new series of SD Cards offering high level data transfer rates and read-write performance. The “high-speed series” will offer a maximum data transfer rate of 5-megabytes (MB) a second, while the “ultra high-speed series” will push transfer rates to as high as 20MB per second, double the rate of any other Toshiba-brand SD Cards. Both series will be rolled out this autumn; initially in Japan in October, and globally in November. In May this year, the SD Card Association introduced the SD Speed Class, defining three minimum data transfer rates for next generation SD Cards: Class 2 supports a minimum data transfer rate of 2MB a second; Class 4 supports 4MB a second; and Class 6 6MB a second. Toshiba is first in the industry to announce the launch of Class 6 products.

The Archos 404 is priced at $299.99 while the Archos 604 is $349.99, both available in early September.

Archos Press Release

ARCHOS Introduces 404 and 604 Large-Screen Portable Media Players; Perfectly Designed for Portable Video, New Products Feature Large Screens, Playback of All Standard Video Formats in Full DVD Resolution, TV Recording and Video Download Services Support

DENVER—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Aug. 24, 2006—ARCHOS, Inc., a global consumer electronics manufacturer and inventor of the portable video player, introduced today the latest in portable media players with the ARCHOS 404 and 604 models. The new products are a part of the Generation 4 line of portable media players, announced separately today. The first available in the line, the ARCHOS 404 and 604, play back all standard video formats(1), offer extreme portability and feature the most brilliant, award-winning screens in the industry. The new products will support movie downloads from the popular online video services and recording of content directly from the TV or DVD player(2). The new ARCHOS 404 and 604 are priced at $299.99 and $349.99, respectively, with retail availability in early September.

Now you can obtain a degree in digital photography at the School of Visual Arts in New York, USA.

School of Visual Arts Press Release

On July 19, 2006, School of Visual Arts (SVA) was authorized by the New York State Education Department to offer a Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Digital Photography beginning in the fall of 2007. The new one-year degree program addresses the technical needs of experienced photographers who are looking to advance their skills in digital image capture, management and high-quality output, or make a career change into the field of digital photography. The program will be chaired by Katrin Eismann, who is currently on the faculty of the BFA Computer Art Department and the MFA Photography, Video and Related Media Department at SVA. Eismann is a computer artist, author and educator specializing in digital photography.

JOBO AG Press Release

Gummersbach, Germany (August 15, 2006) –  JOBO AG announces today that the JOBO GIGA Vu Pro evolution digital image storage and viewing device has been awarded the prestigious 2006-2007 European Image Tank award from the European Imaging & Sound Association (EISA). In choosing the JOBO GIGA Vu PRO evolution, the EISA judges said, “The JOBO Giga Vu Pro Evolution is a fascinating hard-disk back-up device that works very fast and very simply. The image quality of its large built-in LCD screen is excellent. The device has many useful functions like the possibility to view RAW images, a black-and-white viewing mode, and dust detection. All for a very reasonable price in different capacity options from 40GB to 120GB.”

IntellaSys Press Release

New OnSpec(TM) Controller Sets Speed Record Managing CompactFlash Data; xSil251 Memory Controller Enables 9MB/s Faster Data Transfers Than Any Other USB 2.0 Options

CUPERTINO, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Aug. 15, 2006—IntellaSys Corporation today launched its new OnSpec(TM) xSil251 memory controller citing independent test results that conclude it to be faster than any other options for enabling memory data transfers for UDMA CompactFlash (CF)/Microdrive or IDE Hard Disk Drive via USB 2.0 interface. The xSil251 launch has been timed to meet the growing OEM demand for a speedy controller on two fronts, first to support new media such as CF Cards in both PIO 6 and UDMA 4 modes, and secondly to provide a low-cost, easy-to-use USB 2.0 option for controlling external IDE Hard Drives singly or two of them as one.

Samsung Press Release

Samsung Electronics Develops World’s First 3-inch LCD Screen of VGA Quality for Digital Still Cameras

SEOUL, South Korea—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Aug. 10, 2006—Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world’s largest provider of thin-film transistor, liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels, announced today that it has developed the first three-inch LCD panel with VGA (640 x 480 pixels) resolution that directly meets industry interface standards for digital still cameras. Executive Vice President Yun Jin-hyuk of Samsung Electronics said, “Our new LCD panel will make viewing of digital pictures distinctly more impressive on camera screens, personal multi-media players and other products requiring high-image resolution and low-power consumption.”

Kingston Technology Press Release

Kingston Enters Personal Media Player Market with Introduction of K-PEX - Built-in 1 GB/2 GB Memory and miniSD Memory Slot Provide High Storage Capacities for Music, Video and Photos

Fountain Valley, CA – August 2, 2006 – - Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced its new line of Personal Media Players (PMPs). With its highly stylized design and ultra-slim form factor, K-PEX (Kingston Personal Entertainment experience) allows users to watch videos, listen to music, play video games and store/view photographs. The Kingston K-PEX is currently available in the North America, Latin America and Asia/Pacific Rim. With the launch of K-PEX, Kingston is leveraging its 18-year leadership position in the memory module market to bring new Portable Media Player technologies to market.

SanDisk Press Release

Worldwide Launch of Highest Capacity, Fingernail-Size Memory Card Includes Exclusive U.S. Rollout in Verizon Wireless Stores For Chocolate By LG Mobile Phone

MILPITAS, CA, JULY 31, 2006 – SanDisk® Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) today introduced a 2-gigabyte (GB)* microSD™ card – the largest capacity of the world’s smallest removable flash memory card – to meet demand for a new generation of MP3 music phones, including the forthcoming Verizon Wireless Chocolate by LG mobile phone. Using the SanDisk microSD card, the Verizon Wireless phone can store up to 1,000 digital songs downloaded from the company’s V CAST music service.**  The card, which is sold with an adapter that enables it to fit into a standard-size SD™ slot of other devices, will debut in the U.S. exclusively at 1,900 Verizon Wireless stores for the next 60 days.  Internationally, it will be sold by a variety of mobile retailers.

MediaGear Press Release

MediaGear Launches the New HD2GO, a Digital Photo Storage and Viewer Unit That Also Plays Music and Videos on a Large 3.6 Inch LCD Color Display

SANTA ANA, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—July 26, 2006—MediaGear today introduced its newest product offering, the HD2GO, which is a high-featured photo storage/viewer that also plays color video and stereo music files. “The HD2GO is exciting news to the digital photography market anxious for a stepped-up model which is comparable in features to much higher priced devices available today from other manufacturers,” noted Tom Wang, Sales Director at MediaGear. “The HD2GO’s 3.6 large screen true color LCD display is the most impressive feature. The HD2GO can store over 10,000 digital photos and up to 25 hours of video. The unit can easily display these photos or videos on a clear bright color screen that will ‘wow’ your friends and family.”

Digital Foci Press Release

Digital Foci Ships Picture Porter Elite - Portable Digital Photo Album with Large 3.6” LCD - 40GB & 80GB Portable Hard Drive Securely Saves Photos on the Road - Prints Photos without a Computer – Plays MP3s, Records Voice & Video!

Los Angeles, California, July 26, 2006– Digital Foci, Inc. today announced that it is shipping the highly anticipated Picture Porter Elite 40GB and 80GB portable digital photo albums with built-in hard drive and memory card reader.  Featuring a large 3.6” LCD for easy viewing, Picture Porter Elite lets you instantly and securely save and view digital photos and video on its hard drive wherever you go, so you can keep snapping away and stop worrying about limited memory card space on your digital camera.

HP Press Release

PALO ALTO, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—July 17, 2006—HP (NYSE:HPQ) (Nasdaq:HPQ) today announced that its researchers have developed a miniature wireless data chip that could provide broad access to digital content in the physical world. With no equal in terms of its combination of size, memory capacity and data access speed, the tiny chip could be stuck on or embedded in almost any object and make available information and content now found mostly on electronic devices or the Internet. Some of the potential applications include storing medical records on a hospital patient’s wristband; providing audio-visual supplements to postcards and photos; helping fight counterfeiting in the pharmaceutical industry; adding security to identity cards and passports; and supplying additional information for printed documents.

Fujifilm USA Press Release

Valhalla, NY, June 12, 2006 - The advanced Face Detection Technology system built into Fujifilm’s new FinePix S6000fd digital camera is based on the Image Intelligence technology found in Fujifilm’s Frontier Digital Lab Systems, used by photofinishers to produce large volumes of top-quality photo prints. Face Detection is a selectable option the camera user can turn on whenever human subjects are the focal point of a picture. Once Face Detection is activated, it automatically identifies faces in the scene and prioritizes them—in as little as 0.05 seconds. It simultaneously displays a green rectangle around the top-priority face, and a white one around other faces before the picture is taken. Using this information, the FinePix S6000fd is able to focus more precisely on the main subjects and execute the best possible exposure. The end result is sharper, more natural looking people pictures. Since Face Detection is an integral part of Fujifilm’s Real Photo Technology system, it also is linked to Fujifilm’s i-Flash intelligent flash system, for the proper exposure of flash pictures taken indoors and in low light.