Adobe Press Release

Adobe Labs Delivers Early Access to Emerging Technologies - New Web Site Provides Customers and Developers Early Access to Next-Generation Adobe Software Innovations

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Jan. 5, 2006 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced the launch of Adobe Labs, which builds on the initial success of Macromedia Labs to deliver next-generation products and technologies to Adobe’s extended community of developers and customers.

Originally introduced in October 2005 by Macromedia, Adobe Labs will provide an unprecedented opportunity for developers and technology enthusiasts to experience, evaluate, and share feedback about new and emerging Adobe innovations, technologies, and products before they go to market. In return, Adobe will benefit from insightful feedback and the opportunity to make adjustments to product strategy before shipping. Earlier this week an update to Flash® Pro 8 software was made available on Adobe Labs, http://labs.adobe.com , for building mobile applications with Flash Lite™ 2 software. This along with Alpha versions of the Flex™ product line and Flash Player 8.5 are the beginning of an ever-expanding roster that will evolve as Alpha and Beta versions of new software become available. Since the first Labs release in September, developers have posted suggestions, feature requests, and questions in public forums. Much of this input is actively being incorporated into upcoming releases.

DxO Press Release

Paris, France, December 12, 2005 – DxO Labs today announces the DxO Image Masters photography showcase is now online: www.dxo.com/en/photo/image_masters/default.php

The electronic gallery features photographs by professionals and rising stars from around the world. The gallery is dynamic in nature and will be evolving over time.

DxO Image Masters allows visitors a privileged ‘behind the scenes ’ experience of original, unedited images and enhancement provided by DxO Optics Pro as each photographer fulfills his or her vision of the final photo. A sample of each photographer’s work is featured along with his or her biography and thoughts on digital photography and DxO Optics Pro.

Panoramio is a photo-sharing community where you can locate your photos using Google Maps. Every photo is linked with the place where it was taken, both physically and in your memory, and in this way Panoramio helps to link photos and places. With Panoramio you never forget where you took your photos and don’t need to explain to your friends where did you were. Best of all, the service is completely free!

Website: Panoramio

DropShots.com Press Release

DropShots.com Releases Its Innovative Service to Help Families Stay Connected and Share Life Experiences

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 14 /PRNewswire/—DropShots.com announces its service to help friends and families stay connected through photos, videos, and conversations. DropShots is the result of a three year study out of University of California, San Diego on how to improve human interaction and strengthen the emotional bonds between people via advanced technology. Once a prototype under the name of JussPress.com, DropShots is the commercialization of this service now available to the general public. Already, DropShots hosts over 1.5 million photos and 100,000 video clips, and by word of mouth alone is growing at a monthly rate of over 35 percent.

Nikonians Press Release

New Podcast Show with Regular Photography News

The worldwide community Nikonians introduces “The Image Doctors”, a new bimonthly talk radio program.

(PRWEB) December 11, 2005—Nikonians (www.nikonians.org) is pleased to announce the debut of a new “talk radio” program which recently joined its podcast lineup. “The Image Doctors” is a 30-minute talk show centered on all aspects of photography and the Nikonians community. Hosted by the photographers Jason Odell and Rick Walker, “The Image Doctors” brings a new dimension to the Nikonians experience every two weeks.

Phanfare, Inc. Press Release

Company now offers a single lifetime subscription to its ad-free online sharing service –storing photos and videos for life

Metuchen, NJ (December 6, 2005) – Online photo and video sharing service Phanfare, Inc. announces a new single-payment lifetime membership program for consumers that offers personalized Internet album hosting, sharing (up to 8GB per month) and archiving of all member photos and videos for life. Lifetime memberships are now available directly or as an electronic or printed gift certificate presented in an attractive red box with a bow – perfect for gift giving this holiday season. Complete details including upgrade costs for existing members, are available at the Phanfare Web site: (http://www.phanfare.com)

SnapJot Press Release

New SnapJot Community Scrapbooking Service Lets Groups and Families Pool Digital Media, Share Memories and Make Group Albums, DVDs

SAN FRANCISCO—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Dec. 5, 2005—Groups now have a community scrapbooking service designed just for them. SnapJot (www.snapjot.com) is a free, secure web service where groups can easily pool their digital pictures, video clips and commentary to make a collaborative album or DVD around their shared experiences.

Co-founder and CEO Steve Douty got the inspiration for SnapJot when he became frustrated with how difficult it was to gather photos from the parents of his son’s little league team. “Everybody uses a different method for sharing photos,” says Douty. “Instead of individuals broadcasting their photos through photo printing services or email, I wanted to create a single, private place for groups to collect full-resolution photos, video clips and commentary about their important experiences.”

Snaps Magazine showcases the work of more than 20 photographers, who have submitted images based on a particular theme. Still going strong and now onto its 8th issue, the latest theme is Whatever You Want (keep it somewhat clean though). If you feel suitably inspired, you can submit up to 5 of your own photographs by 1st January 2006. Well worth checking out - thanks to Clay Jackson for letting me know.

Website: Snaps Magazine

Camera Labs, a new digital camera review website, has launched today.

Camera Labs is a new website featuring unbiased reviews of digital cameras and lenses, along with workshops and the latest news and views of the photography world. Whether you’re upgrading your camera, considering a new lens, or joining the world of digital photography, Camera Labs is here to help you make the right choice.

Camera Labs is edited by Gordon Laing, a British technology writer and former Editor of Personal Computer World magazine in the UK. Gordon is a Personal Computer columnist and regular contributor to PC Advisor, PC Pro, Active Home, MacUser and Computeractive magazines in the UK. He holds a degree in Physics from the University of Kent, specialises in digital imaging and has been a photographer for over two decades.

Website: Camera Labs

Snapfish Press Release

PALO ALTO, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Dec. 1, 2005—HP’s (NYSE:HPQ)(Nasdaq:HPQ) Snapfish today announced that it is powering a new online photo service for Publix, one of the largest volume U.S. supermarkets.

The new service, available at www.publix.com/photo, enables Publix customers to upload digital photos to the site for free online photo sharing and editing, unlimited online storage and wireless imaging services.

Additionally, Publix customers can order professionally developed digital camera prints for as low as 10 cents each, film developing for $2.99 per roll and more than 90 photo products, including calendars, mugs and mouse pads. The first 20 prints are free for new users to both Publix and Snapfish.

Mike Johnston of Sunday Morning Photographer fame has finally seen the light and started his own blog. There isn’t too much content there at the moment, but anyone who enjoys Mike’s writing style (and I’m one of them) should check back regularly. Here’s a brief extract to whet your appetite.

“And as for cameras, K-M’s Anti-Shake in the body is such a wonderful feature that its absence pretty much rules out any camera that doesn’t have it. With every new Wunderkamera that comes around, from the Sony R-1 to the Nikon D200, I find myself thinking, “If only it had anti-shake….”

Website: The Online Photographer

Thanks to Terry Chay for letting me know about Mike’s new venture.

Fujifilm UK Press Release

Fujifilm today announces the launch of an RSS newsfeed service on its UK web site, to simplify and improve communications with the media and Fujifilm customers.  Users will now be able to have information about Fujifilm’s latest products and services delivered directly to their desktops, without having to search through the web site or rely on news alerts via email.  The RSS newsfeed is available at http://www.fujifilm.co.uk/presscentre

Fujifilm is the first photography company to offer RSS (or Really Simple Syndication).  The service works by feeding all the news from users’ chosen sites into a web-based desktop interface such as MyYahoo, or a software-based news reader such as FeedDemon or Newsfire.  This enables subscribers to keep up-to-date with all the latest news quickly and in real-time, 24 hours a day.

Adobe UK Press Release

Adobe Announces Call for Entries to 2006 Adobe Design Achievement Awards - Premier Global Student Competition Expands to 24 Countries

London, — Nov. 30, 2005 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced its call for entries to the sixth annual Adobe Design Achievement Awards. The premier student design competition recognises the world’s most talented and promising student graphic designers, photographers, illustrators, animators, digital filmmakers and computer artists from the top design, film, and broadcast institutions. This year’s competition will extend the program’s scope to 24 participating countries.

“The Adobe Design Achievement Awards celebrates student creativity and reinforces Adobe’s continued commitment to design education,” said Melissa Dyrdahl, senior vice president of corporate marketing and communications at Adobe. “It is truly inspiring to see how this event dissolves boundaries between cultures and unleashes great talents through the convergence of technology and creative arts.”

BitShelter Press Release

PhotoShelter Integrates PayPal Payment Processing to Allow Photographers to Sell Directly from Their Online Image Archives

NEW YORK—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Nov. 28, 2005—Digital storage platform provider BitShelter LLC today announced the immediate availability of PayPal payment processing within PhotoShelter (www.PhotoShelter.com), their online image archiving service and marketplace.

The integration of PayPal payment processing adds an additional secure e-commerce payment gateway option for their subscribers.

“Making it easy for photographers to collect money from their clients is important,” says Grover Sanschagrin, VP of Sales & Marketing for PhotoShelter. “PayPal is an excellent, trusted, easy-to-use solution for those who don’t wish to use a standard credit card merchant account.”

If you get tired of eating turkey with all the trimmings, then why not take a look at these free online photography magazines? Photoblogs Magazine is an online publication created specifically to showcase the work of photobloggers from around the world, whilst Pbase Magazine is a a ‘tri-monthly’ magazine made by regular PBase users. Both are well worth a look.

Website: Pbase Magazine

Website: Photoblogs Magazine

Safe Snaps Press Release

Safesnaps.com makes safe photo storage a snap - Digital archive service gives users sense of security, easy access

London, England (Nov. 22, 2005) – Unix kernel veterans recently launched a new digital photo archive service for individuals who need to know their snapshots are secure. Safe Snaps (www.safesnaps.com) stores pictures, allows for easy retrieval by subscribers and can backup work on demand.

Off-site photo backup is the gold standard in today’s computer industry. Safe Snaps’ founders want to ensure all photo users the same level of protection without breaking the bank.

“We started the business to fill what we perceived to be a hole in the market for safe, off-site and secure digital photo archival,” said Rod Harrison, Safe Snaps CEO. “None of the other companies around offer the same level of service for a remotely similar price.”

Pentax USA Press Release

PENTAX WEBSITE TARGETS SLR USERS - REBATES UNTIL 2006

GOLDEN, Co (November 18, 2005)…Shopping for a digital SLR system?  Now, you can shop right from your desktop at www.PentaxSLR.com , a microsite dedicated to the growing family of PENTAX digital SLR systems including small, lightweight bodies, superior optical lenses, powerful flashes and nifty accessories.  The site also offers FAQs, Specs, Rebates, and other information about building a digital SLR system.  Visitors may link from the site to their favorite on-line retail sources to finalize purchase decisions.

“Digital SLR buyers are looking for educational resources, and our microsite is important for anyone looking to build or add on to an existing PENTAX system,” said Ned Bunnell, director of marketing, PENTAX Imaging Company. 

Aptly named THE NEW CLASSIC, the microsite touches on the solid PENTAX legacy and devotion to SLR users.  Since its first SLR introduction in 1952, PENTAX has remained devoted to delivering the most lightweight and compact SLR products including the PENTAX K1000, one of the most popular 35mm SLRs ever manufactured.  PENTAX Imaging Company will acknowledge the 30th anniversary of the PENTAX K1000 in 2006.  PENTAX shipped a fourth digital SLR body, the *ist DS2, in November 2005.

Solutions Expo Press Release

If you’re a professional photographer and you want to stay ahead in the world of digital photography then Nikon’s Solutions Expo is for you. This FREE two-day conference led exhibition, features the experts behind the newest products in a series of major presentations and interactive seminars from Nikon and its partners.

Nikon’s new D200 digital SLR goes on sale on December 15th -  but you can see it first at Solutions Expo. 10.2 megapixels, new 11-area AF system, D2X processing engine all for an exceptional body only price of just £1299.99

Shutterfly Press Release

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — (November 14, 2005) — As families across the country plan to share their favorite memory on a photo holiday card, Shutterfly, the leading independent online photo service, today announced Save the Children Greeting Cards. Save the Children is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to making positive change in the lives of disadvantaged children worldwide. Shutterfly will donate ten percent of revenue derived from Save the Children card purchases to the organization. For more information on Shutterfly’s Save the Children cards, please visit www.shutterfly.com/savethechildrencards

“Save the Children is delighted to partner with Shutterfly this holiday season to support many underserved children,” said Lori Redmer, Save the Children’s Associate Vice President, Global Corporate Partnerships. “By simply selecting one of the Save the Children designs, Shutterfly customers not only create a personal holiday card, but also help support our mission of creating lasting change for children in need here in the United States and around the world.”

Bonusprint Press Release

Bonusprint launches online image gallery - Share memories, organise photos and order prints across the globe

Bonusprint has launched its web album service, allowing users to share images with friends and relatives all around the world.

To upload photos to the web album, customers need to go to www.bonusprint.co.uk and set up a free account. It is quick and simple to upload photos from your digital camera or mobile camera-phone to the site using the smart upload function. 300Mb of space is provided free of charge and customers can upgrade to get extra storage space for £9.99 per annum for a total of 1GB.