Adobe Press Release 22/11/04

Adobe Announces Call for Entries for 2005 Adobe Design Achievement Awards  
 
Premier Student Awards Program Expands to Ten Countries and Nine Competition Categories

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Nov. 22, 2004 - Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced a call for entries in its Fifth Annual Adobe Design Achievement Awards, which this year expands to ten countries and nine competition categories. The awards honor the most talented and promising student graphic designers, photographers, illustrators, animators, digital filmmakers and computer artists from the world’s top design, film and broadcast institutions.

For the first time students from Australia, Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand and Switzerland are invited to participate. They will join entrants from the United States, Canada and United Kingdom in submitting projects in nine categories including environmental graphics, digital illustration, digital photography/imaging, interactive design, print design, self-expression and time-based media. Two newly inaugurated categories - animation and broadcast design - broaden the scope of this year’s video submissions.

Kodak executive Willy Shih has just announced his resignation. Not that interesting at first, but more so when you learn that Shih was largely responsible for turning around the fortunes of the struggling manufacturer and making Kodak one of the leading digital camera companies today.

“Shih came to Kodak in 1997 at a time when the company was struggling to find its footing in consumer digital photography. Over the course of the next six years, he helped organize and create a business that now does $1 billion in sales of digital cameras, printers, paper and related accessories. The year he arrived, Kodak lost more than $400 million in digital imaging; the consumer digital business is now profitable.”

Website: Democrat and Chronicle - Kodak’s digital pioneer to leave

Kodak has caught up with Sony in the USA digital camera market, according to an IDC report. selling only 10,000 less units than Sony’s 1 million during the third quarter of the current financial year. Canon was third with 800,000 sales.

“The investments that Kodak has made in digital imaging are really starting to pay off,” Chute said. “They’re not just the low-cost guys now; they’re starting to get higher marks for product quality. And Kodak is much more aggressive in pursuing a proliferation strategy with partners like Dell.”

Website: CNET News - Kodak catches up with Sony in camera sales

DP-Now editor Ian Burley has let me know about a rather unique event, the Olympus-sponsored Fashion Acts charity auction, which is selling photos taken by celebrities on Ebay next week.

“The annual Fashion Acts fund raiser to support AIDS/HIV charities kicked off this year with the auction, last night, of 42 framed photos snapped by a selection of celebs from Carole Vorderman to David Bailey. A further 42 photos will be auctioned publicly on eBay, starting from next Tuesday, 23rd November. If you want to own a unique photo taken by someone famous, this is your chance!”

Website: DPNow - Unique photos by celebrities auctioned for charity

Reuters has an interesting report on falling profits in the digital camera industry, particularly at the entry-level end of the market, as prices are slashed to remain competitive. Bad news for the manufacturers, good news for us consumers.

“Even makers with hit products have fallen on hard times. Nikon Corp. is making money on a new digital SLR launched in March, but still expects profits in its camera division to fall as prices of compact models slide.

“We expect prices to keep falling. But we are shifting our product line-up towards the high end,” said Nikon Chief Financial Officer Kenji Enya.

The problem with that strategy is that every digital camera company is doing the same thing: avoid the low-end of the market where price competition has made margins razor-thin.”

Website: Reuters - Profits fading in digital camera industry

Epson Japan Press Release 19/11/04

Epson Sets New Record with World’s Largest Digital Imaging Photo and Graphics Contest

- TOKYO, Japan, November 19, 2004 - Seiko Epson Corporation (“Epson”) today announced the final selection of winners in the 2004 Color Imaging Contest, an Epson-sponsored event for digitally output photographs and graphic works. Held since 1994, the contest is a way for Epson to help promote new forms of expression via digital printing and help create a rich, fun digital culture. Last fiscal year there were a total of 45,668 entries, making it the largest* worldwide contest restricted to digitally printed photos and graphics.

InfoTrends/CAP Ventures Press Release 17/11/04

Online Photo Service Usage Continues to Grow, According to Report from InfoTrends/CAP Ventures

(Weymouth, MA) November, 17 2004… This year, 26% of Internet users have had photos posted to an online photo service, up from 19% in 2003, according to a recent survey conducted by InfoTrends/CAP Ventures. There are currently over 825 million photos stored at online photo services, and sharing and printing activity continues to increase.

A new print method is introducing more users to the online space. It involves uploading photos to an online site, and picking up the prints at a local retail store. Just a few consumers are using this approach today, but it will help raise awareness of online photo services in general as retailers market their online-to-retail services to their regular customers.

Staples Press Release 17/11/04

Staples makes imaging easy for the many consumers purchasing digital cameras this holiday season. Already a trusted source for photo paper, ink and printers, Staples will launch a new holiday advertising campaign on Sunday, November 21 that highlights the retailer as a destination for digital cameras for the whole family

The holiday campaign is the first creative by Staples’ recently selected agency of record McCann Erickson, and includes television and radio spots leveraging Staples signature empathetic humor to demonstrate that there is a digital camera for everyone on your holiday shopping list. The 30-second television commercial features a family preparing for the holidays and decorating the tree. Grandma gathers the family around for a photo and - click - snaps a stapler just like a camera. Grandma shakes her head as the announcer says, “Come on, take the hint. Staples has the digital cameras everyone wants this year.” The spot also features Staples’ expanded digital camera selection, camera accessories and trained associates.

Kodak has announced that it is cutting 500 conventional film-related jobs in the UK. A total of 5 photo-finishing labs, a head office and a call center in the U.K will all be closed by October 2005. Kodak shares rose following the announcement.

Website: Bloomberg.com - Eastman Kodak to Cut 500 Film-Processing Jobs in U.K.

Kodak Press Release

New KODAK Online Store Makes Holiday Shopping Easy as a Snap and Quick as a Flash

The KODAK Online Store is officially open providing consumers with an invaluable resource this holiday shopping season at www.kodak.com/go/shop.

The new online store will provide consumers with three options to locate and buy their desired Kodak digital photography products or accessories: “Buy Kodak Direct”, “Shop Online Retailers”, or “Find a Store” nearest them. The site will be updated daily helping consumers find in-stock Kodak products at participating retailers.

Epson UK Press Release 15/11/04

EPSON DEBUTS ITS NEW DIGITAL IMAGING SOLUTIONS AT MACEXPO 2004 - STAND 440

19th- 22nd November 2003 - EPSON’s first UK viewing of the EPSON F-3200 multi-format film scanner, EPSON PhotoPC P-2000 portable multimedia storage viewer and EPSON L-500V digital camera will take place at MacExpo 2004.

The EPSON F-3200 is aimed at professionals and experienced amateur photographers who want to scan their film quickly without sacrificing quality.  A multi-format dedicated film scanner, it allows professionals and experienced amateurs to quickly scan reflective prints of up to 4” x 6” in addition to 35mm film through to 5” x 4” sheet film.  It is the first film scanner to support a built-in memory card reader, so users can scan direct to memory cards for additional ease of use.

Compatible with either a Mac or PC, the Epson F-3200 is also ideal for those wanting to digitise their film archive or who shoot in film whilst requiring the capability to create digital images for manipulation and printing.  Featuring advanced software the F-3200 enables photographers to scan 35mm and medium format film in batches and at the same time remove dust and scratches from images. The built-in LCD screen allows photographers to preview scanned images quickly and easily. 

Nikon seem to have ended a recent downward financial turn, as they have announced a tripling of profits for the first half of the current fiscal year.

“Demand for liquid-crystal displays, especially in Asia, is fueling higher sales of equipment to make the chips that drive the devices. Digital cameras such as the company’s D70, which features detachable lenses, also helped boost profit, the company said.”

Website: Bloomberg.com - Nikon Profit Triples on Chip Equipment, Camera Sales

JP Service Solutions Press Release 15/11/04

JP Service Solutions is a division of Johnsons Photopia Ltd., whose history in the photographic industry can be traced back 250 years. Johnsons Photopia has been associated for many years with the leading brands in the UK analogue and digital marketplaces - including Agfa, Mamiya, Ricoh and Kyocera, and continues today as one of the largest, independent distributors of photographic equipment.

JP Service Solutions (JPSS) has evolved into a separate division within Johnsons Photopia Ltd. to provide a real solution to the need for a repair and refurbishment process to manufacturers and OEM partners alike.

Drawing on an exceptional level of in-house expertise, built up over years of supplying, supporting and servicing photographic products, has allowed JPSS to define and fine tune the workflow associated with returned and faulty goods. These processes now incorporate returns management; refurbishment; parts farming; warehouse repacking and faulty unit repair/replacement; extensive in-depth escalated technical support; product warranty provision and Pan-European reverse logistics. Each process is modular dependant upon the customer’s requirements.

Ricoh EPMMC UK Press Release 12/11/04

Ricoh EPMMC UK is proud to announce the appointment of Sangers Group Ltd. to distribute Ricoh’s award-winning range of digital cameras and media products. The Personal MultiMedia Centre of Ricoh Europe B.V. is based in the UK and Germany and is one of the leading suppliers of DVD+RW/+R, drives, DVD media and digital cameras in the Pan-European market.

Simon Blackburn, Managing Director of the Sangers Group remarked: “The Sangers Group has a long history of dealing with leading manufacturers of premium brands across a number of markets. Ricoh has a very strong pedigree in 35mm camera production and - more recently - in the digital camera market place. We, therefore, feel that now is the right time to go into partnership with Ricoh, and are looking forward to working with them in the coming months.”

The Digital Journalist has just published a great report on the Photokina photography show that was held last month in Cologne, Germany.

“In the first four months of this year manufacturers have brought 210 new digital camera models onto the market, according to Photokina sources. By year’s end, 600 more digicam novelties are expected by marketing experts.

Market projections at Photokina indicate that the digital photo boom will peak in 2008 and that only thereafter may the markets be saturated.”

Website: The Digital Journalist - Photokina: Photography’s Carnival, Part 1

Olympus have announced that they are planning to produce more digital cameras themselves, rather than outsource to other companies like Sanyo, in a bid to turn aorund a recent decline in profits (found via DigiCamReview.co.uk).

“Japanese precision equipment maker Olympus Corp said on Tuesday it will boost in-house production of digital cameras to 50 percent in one or two years to help nurse its loss-making camera division back to health.

Olympus currently outsources 60 per cent of its digital camera production to other firms including Sanyo Electric Co, giving it less flexibility to adapt to market changes than rivals such as Canon Inc, which produces all its cameras in-house.”

Website: Hindustan Times - Olympus to hike in-house digital camera output

Casio USA Press Release 10/11/04

CASIO HONORED WITH THREE CES INNOVATIONS 2005 DESIGN AND ENGINEERING AWARDS

DOVER, NJ - November 10, 2004 - Casio, Inc., a leading innovator in digital cameras and timepieces, has been selected to receive CES Innovations 2005 Design and Engineering Awards for three of its products.  Casio’s award-winning products include the EXILIM CARD EX-S100 and EXILIM PRO EX-P700 digital cameras, and the ANA-DIGI Atomic Solar G-Shock GW1200BA-1AV timepiece.

These prestigious annual awards are announced each year in advance of the Consumer Electronics show. The award-winning products will be featured as part of a special display in the Grand Lobby of the Las Vegas Convention Center during the 2005 International CES in Las Vegas, January 6-9, 2005.

Check the Latest Prices for the Casio EXILIM PRO EX-P700

Check the Latest Prices for the Casio EXILIM Card EX-S100

O’Reilly Press Release 09/11/04

The Many Dimensions of Mac OS X Explored at the 2004 O’Reilly Mac OS X Conference

Sebastopol, CA—Mac developers, system administrators, digital musicians, and users were treated to a thorough exploration of Mac OS X’s past, present, and future at the third O’Reilly Mac OS X Conference, which took place in Santa Clara, CA from October 25-28. Over 500 attendees filled sessions examining the many aspects and applications of Mac OS X: a Tiger preview, digital forensics, Podcasting, AppleScript, GarageBand, Mac hacks for the home, Mac OS X in a Unix environment, creating digital music, and much more.

In addition to tracks devoted to the needs of programmers and sys admins, two new tracks debuted at this year’s conference. The Insanely Great Mac track focused on cool and useful applications in mobile computing, home automation, creative networking, and digital media. The Digital Audio track, for musicians and tech gurus, explored fine tuning Macs for peak performance, designing workflows to manage huge amounts of content, how to work with professional applications, and how to get new music in front of audiences. “We added a digital audio track to this conference because we believe there are opportunities for developers in this arena,” noted conference program chair Derrick Story. “At the moment, the iPod and ITMS are grabbing the headlines. But a more complete understanding of the audio process—from how it’s created, managed, distributed, and consumed—can lead to further innovation in this area.”

Canon USA Press Release 08/11/04

CANON INKS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH WIMBLEDON CHAMPION AND POP-CULTURE ICON MARIA SHARAPOVA

‘Substance and Style’ Play Center Court as Canon Embarks on Multi-Year, Integrated Relationship with Teenage Global Superstar

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Nov. 8, 2004 - Canon today announced a global marketing relationship with Wimbledon Champion and pop-culture icon Maria Sharapova. The multi-year relationship will include global advertising, retail promotions and events.

Sharapova’s winning record on the court as well as her style, presence and elegance off it make her a natural global representative for Canon. From sleek digital cameras to reliable office products and everything in between, Canon products deliver a championship performance every time, just like the 17-year-old tennis phenom. Sharapova’s grueling travel schedule - up to 30 weeks each year - is more manageable with Canon products by her side, enabling her to capture and share her experiences with family and friends around the world.

“Maria Sharapova’s combination of style and substance is a natural fit for Canon,” said Debra Epstein, vice president and general manager of corporate communications at Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ). “Her powerful game and approachable personality represent a perfect match for the Canon brand, and we are thrilled about the partnership. Canon and Maria Sharapova embody excellence, elegance and a winning team for our company, our retailers, and our global customers.”

Olympus have just announced a significant drop in profits during the first half of the current financial year, blaming lower digital camera prices for the 57% decrease in net income. (found via Digital Photography Blog

“The average price for digital cameras fell 18 percent during the second half, Hideo Yamada, an Olympus managing director, said at a news conference in Tokyo. Olympus last month lowered its digital camera shipment forecast for this business year to 9.5 million units from previous estimate of 11 million.”

Website: Bloomberg.com - Olympus 1st-Half Profit Drops on Lower Camera Prices