Kodak Press Release

Kodak Showcases Convergence of Digital Imaging and Mobile Lifestyles at CTIA Wireless Conference

CEO Dan Carp Delivers Keynote Address to the Wireless Industry

NEW ORLEANS, March 14—Highlighting its leadership role in mobile imaging markets around the globe, Eastman Kodak Company will showcase a range of products and services at the wireless industry’s largest international tradeshow, the 2005 Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA) wireless conference starting today in New Orleans (Booth #2313; Hall C).

Reflecting Kodak’s commitment to the wireless industry, Kodak Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Daniel A. Carp, will deliver the opening keynote address this morning (9:00 – 10:30 a.m.) to share the company’s vision for anytime, anywhere access to pictures.  With industry estimates showing that somewhere between 25 to 68 billion images will be captured with camera phones this year, Carp will call upon network operators, handset manufacturers and content and software developers to work together to make mobile imaging easy and universal for consumers.

“This convergence of digital imaging and wireless technologies provides a tremendous opportunity for all involved,” Carp said. “As part of our digital growth strategy, Kodak is leading the way by making mobile imaging accessible to millions of people around the world, enabling consumers to easily view, share and print pictures anytime, anywhere. But making photography ubiquitous requires the work of all industry participants, and Kodak is calling on the industry’s leaders industryto band together for the benefit of the consumer and the market as a whole.”

I3A Press Release

I3A Publishes Technical White Paper on Common Picture Exchange Environment — CPXE — V2.0

New Features Include Support for Transactions, Image Storage and Albums

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y, March 15, 2005 — The International Imaging Industry Association (I3A), the leading global association for the imaging industry, has published a technical White Paper covering Version 2.0 of its cutting-edge suite of specifications, CPXe, for the exchange of digital images and order information. The 30-page document, entitled “Standardized Interfaces for the Common Picture eXchange environment,” is available for download at no charge from I3A’s Web site, http://www.i3a.org/pdf/CPXeWP05_Mar11_Final.pdf.

Photoxels have published an interesting interview with Greg Morrison, who is the Digital Brand Manager for Kodak Canada.

“The latest news concerning the 4/3 System is that Kodak has signed up. Just what does this mean in terms of practical digital camera offerings?

GM: The Four Thirds System standard was designed for digital SLR cameras and lenses to maximize the performance potential of digital imaging sensors. The 4/3 System enables the design of dedicated, high-performance digital camera lens systems that are more compact than 35mm film SLR camera lens systems. This results in product advantages for users such as compact size, handling ease, and enhanced functionality.”

Website: Photoxels - Kodak Canada Interview

Pacific Digital PV1 Digital Photo Album is now available at eFrameCentral.com. The Pacific Digital PV1 has a 5.6 inch LCD screen to display your photos or videos and accepts most memory card formats.

eFrameCentral.com Press Release

eFrameCentral.com announces the availability of a new digital picture “eframe” which not only displays beautiful high-resolution pictures, but also plays music and video files. The PV1 Digital Photo Album by Pacific Digital features a bright, high resolution 5.6” TFT screen that displays both digital photos and video clips in vivid color. Users can set up slide show presentations with background music, or plug in headphones and take advantage of the PV1’s MP3 player capabilities.

Samsung Press Release

HANNOVER, Germany—(BUSINESS WIRE)—March 11, 2005—Samsung Electronics today held its European unveiling of a breathtaking array of new information, display, and telecommunications products at CeBIT 2005. The world’s largest PDP, LCD and DLP TVs are just the astounding range of technologies on display, highlighting Samsung’s 2005 portfolio of design-led, innovative products.

Samsung will be showcasing 30 innovative products and live demonstrations of DVB-H, S-DMB and T-DMB. Of the 30 phones that are being displayed, 20 new products, including the SGH-Z700 3 megapixel 3G phone, will be unveiled exclusively during CeBIT. After introducing three new 3G phones at 3 GSM World Congress in Cannes this past February, Samsung will expand its 3G portfolio with the introductions of three new 3G phones at CeBIT.

DCViews have just reviewed the SmartDisk FlashTrax portable storage device.

“After working with the SmartDisk FlashTrax for some time we have to admit that it really is a very comfortable unit to use. If you regularly take lots of images and need a portable storage medium, the FlashTrax could be just the thing for you. Copying memory cards or transferring images to a computer is very easy indeed and requires no technical knowledge at all. FlashTrax allows you to store, view and play all sorts of media files, all in one palm-sized portable device. The fact that it doubles up as a (desktop) MP3 player and provides you with entertaining music while you are working on your photo files, makes this device even more attractive.”

Website: DCViews - SmartDisk FlashTrax Review

Sony Press Release

Hanover, 9 March 2005 - Sony Recording Media and Energy Europe announced at CeBIT 2005 two new high-powered members to the Memory Stick™ media family with its 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo™ (High Speed) media, the largest capacity media available in the Duo format, and the 1GB Memory Stick PRO Duo™, which is easily recognizable by its bold new black colouring.

The new 1GB and 2GB media are the perfect solution for users who need large-capacity storage for their digital content, such as high-resolution digital photos and video clips.

“With these new higher capacity media, users will get the most out of their digital devices without compromising quality or having to worry about how much memory their content is consuming,” commented Olivier Schwartz, European Marketing Manager in charge of the Memory Stick business.

Pretec C-Flash memory card is introduced at the CeBIT show in Hannover, Germany. The Pretec C-Flash format is one third the size of a RS-MMC or miniSD card. The Pretec C-Flash cards will be available in a capacity of 1GB by Q2 of 2005.

Pretec Press Release

PRETEC Introduces C-Flash Next Generation Super Small Flash Memory Card

HANOVER, Germany—(BUSINESS WIRE)—March 10, 2005—PRETEC Electronics Corp., creator of the smallest USB flash drive in the world since 2002, is introducing today a new generation of flash memory card and module, C-Flash, at CeBIT 2005 (Hall 23, D30) in Hanover.

With physical size of 17mm x 12mm x 1.0mm, about 1/3 the volume of RS-MMC or miniSD, C-Flash is one of the smallest form factor flash memory cards in the world. Taking advantage of the built-in smart card (SIM card) support, multimedia mobile phones utilizing C-Flash will require a smaller footprint for the memory card allowing for new designs not previously possible with existing memory card formats. Multiple interface functions such as MMC/SD and USB make C-Flash the most versatile flash memory card in the world. Supporting the most popular high capacity flash IC today such as those from Micron, Renesas, Samsung and Toshiba, C-Flash supports the widest range of flash sources for any small form factor card (Table 1).

Sandisk Cruzer Profile flash storage drive is introduced at CeBIT. The Sandisk Cruzer Profile is a USB 2.0 hi-speed flash storage drive with fingerprint identification technology. The Sandisk Cruzer Profile will ship in April for $199.99 for the 1Gb version and $99.99 for the 512Mb version.

Sandisk Press Release

SANDISK INTRODUCES CRUZER PROFILE, A SECURE USB FLASH STORAGE DRIVE WITH FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION

New Device Offers High-Level Protection For Your Data

HANNOVER, GERMANY, MARCH 10, 2005 – SanDisk® Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) today introduced the Cruzer® Profile, a portable, hi-speed USB 2.0 flash memory storage drive with added personal security capability to safeguard data, images, presentations and other personal information.* Fingerprint identification technology embedded in the device helps restrict access to only the designated user(s) of the Cruzer Profile. The Cruzer Profile was introduced at the annual CeBIT Show where SanDisk is demonstrating products in Hall 1, Stand 4E6.

The stylish, compact Cruzer Profile, about the size of a pack of gum (dimensions: 60mm long, 24mm wide and 14mm in height), will be sold in 512 megabyte (MB) and one gigabyte (GB)** capacities, and includes dual LED’s. One LED indicates USB functionality and data transfer and the second one provides proper status during enrollment and authentication of the biometric fingerprint.

2 Gigabyte SanDisk Cruzer Titanium flash storage drive is introduced at CeBIT. The SanDisk Cruzer Titanium is a USB 2.0 hi-speed flash storage drive made from an advanced Titanium alloy. The SanDisk Cruzer Titanium will ship in April for $249.99.

Sandisk Press Release

SANDISK DOUBLES THE CAPACITY AND STRENGTHENS ITS CRUZER TITANIUM LINE WITH LIQUIDMETAL’S ADVANCED TITANIUM ALLOY

2-Gigabyte SanDisk Cruzer Titanium Offers Extraordinary Mechanical Strength, Style and Encryption Software to Safeguard Important Data

HANNOVER, GERMANY, MARCH 10, 2005 – SanDisk® Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) today announced the addition of a 2-gigabyte (GB)* Cruzer® Titanium to its award-winning line of portable flash drives. Cruzer Titanium is a sleek, USB 2.0 hi-speed flash storage drive that is virtually indestructible and designed to physically protect the valuable data of business and power users. The announcement was made at the annual CeBIT Show where SanDisk is demonstrating products in Hall 1, Stand 4E6.

Cruzer Titanium will be manufactured using an advanced Titanium alloy from Liquidmetal® Technologies, commonly used for aerospace, medical devices, sporting goods and other applications that require lightweight strength and the ability to withstand extremes of temperature. This unique alloy is approximately 2.5 times the strength of titanium.** . Its superior strength, hardness, high corrosion and wear resistance make it ideal for the Cruzer Titanium.

Sandisk 1 gigabyte XD-Picture Card is introduced at CeBIT. The Sandisk 1 Gb XD Card is aimed at owners of Olympus and Fuji digital camera owners. The Sandisk 1Gb XD-Picture card will ship in April for $139.99 in the U.S.

Sandisk Press Release

New High- Megapixel Olympus And Fuji Cameras Spark Demand For High-Capacity xD-Picture Cards

HANNOVER, GERMANY, MARCH 10, 2005 – SanDisk® Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) today doubled the capacity of its xD-Picture Card™ and introduced a one gigabyte (GB)* version (Type M) of the popular flash memory card. The announcement was made at the annual CeBIT show where SanDisk is demonstrating products in Hall 1, Stand 4E6.

The announcement follows the introduction last month of 10 new, four megapixel and higher digital cameras by Olympus and Fuji that are fully compatible with the 1GB xD-Picture Card.

Susan Park, SanDisk’s xD product marketing manager, said, “These new Olympus and Fuji digital cameras are all in the four-to-seven megapixel range, and consumers who buy them are going to benefit significantly by using high capacity flash storage cards. Higher megapixel cameras and video recording features typically require higher data storage capacities. Our new 1GB xD-Picture Card will ensure that consumers can take plenty of pictures each time they use their camera and not worry about running out of memory capacity.”

Sony Hi-MD Walkman now features the new “Hi-MD PHOTO” format. The top-of-the-range MZ-DH10P Hi-MD Walkman comes with a full 1.5” TFT colour LCD, 1.3-megapixel CMOS camera and a 4 x digital zoom. price and availablity of the MZ-DH10P to be announced.

Sony Europe Press Release

Berlin, 2 March 2005 - Sony continues to reinvent the MiniDisc format with a range of competitively priced new Hi-MD WALKMAN. The new line-up introduces the “Hi-MD PHOTO” format in a model that features digital still camera function in addition to music playback. And all the new models deliver direct MP3 playback in addition to high quality sound ATRAC3plus, and LinearPCM (Pulse Code Modulation). Strikingly re-imagined forms place the new Hi-MD at the leading edge of contemporary design with features such as full colour LCD and large Organic EL (electroluminescence) display.

“Hi-MD is now more versatile than ever,” comments Gregory Kukolj, General Manager for Personal Audio Europe at Sony, “Users can take pictures and enjoy music on the Hi-MD PHOTO compatible WALKMAN. The new developments on a format that’s removable, durable, and enables direct archiving through ‘plug and play’, make it the ideal media for users to build a library of their music, pictures or data on discs with a maximum capacity of 1GB. And its low cost and accessibility makes it easy to share favourite content with friends. As for the choice of true audio CD quality or MP3 – and plenty in-between – nothing else offers that.”

Wacom Cintiq 21UX is an interactive pen display based on a 21” LCD display. I saw the Cintiq 21UX demoed at Focus on Imaging last week and it did look like a great way to edit your images in Photoshop. The Cintiq 21UX has an estimated street price of $2499.

Wacom Press Release

New 21.3” Wacom® Cintiq® is World’s First Interactive Pen Display with a Seamless Surface, ExpressKeys™, and Zoom/Scroll Touch Strips

Other Key Features Important to Photographers, Designers, and Artists Include 1,024 Levels of Pressure Sensitivity, Pen Tilt Sensitivity, and High-end LCD Color Accuracy

VANCOUVER, WA., Feb. 15, 2005 — Wacom Technology Corporation today announced its eagerly anticipated Cintiq 21UX interactive pen display that allows users to work with a pen directly on a 21.3” color-accurate LCD. The Cintiq 21UX offers “more” of everything that makes using a Wacom Cintiq such a natural way to work: more screen area, more pressure sensitivity, more pen control, more resolution, more comfort, more productivity. At a estimated street price of $2499 the Cintiq 21UX delivers more of everything with no price increase over the previous generation. The Cintiq 21UX will begin shipping in March, but customers can register at www.cintiq.com now to be at the head of the line for units.

Just Show Me How Press Release

The Just Show Me How Professional Seminar Series Sells Out in the First Four Cities of its Ten City Tour

NEW YORK, March 7, 2005 – It was standing room only in New York, Chicago, Seattle and Los Angeles - the first four stops of the Just Show Me How Professional seminar tour, where attendees learned a variety of tools and techniques that address digital workflow issues of the professional photographer.  Only six cities remain on this popular ten city tour, so only a limited number of attendees will get to benefit from this valuable information.  The remaining cities are:

Dallas, TX:            March 13th
Boston, MA:            April 3rd
Washington, DC:      April 10th      
San Diego, CA:        April 17th
San Francisco, CA:  May 1st
Orlando, FL:          May 15th

Hama Mobile DataSafe III is announced before CeBIT 2005. The Mobile DataSafe III allows you to copy the contents of your memory cards onto blank CDs or DVDs. The Mobile DataSafe III will be available in March - price to be announced.

Hama Press Release

Just recently available on card – now already on DVD

Hama will present a king among the portable burners at this year’s CeBIT: the Mobile DataSafe III. Equipped with a DVD burner, the big brother of DataSafe II is even more flexible. It burns the data of the most common memory card types on DVD-R/-RW, DVD+R/+RW and CD-R/-RW, even without a computer thanks to the powerful battery.

It is also a mobile DVD, MP3 and media player for JPEG, MPEG 1 and 2 formats and is a USB 2.0 multi-card reader as well. Once connected to your computer via USB, DataSafe III is immediately recognized as an external DVD burner and card reader.

Konica Minolta Press Release

Mahwah, NJ (March 1, 2005) – Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc. announces that the Maxxum 7D and DiMAGE A200 digital cameras won 2005 DIMA Digital Camera Shoot-Out awards as announced during the PMA 2005 Convention and Trade Show in Orlando, Florida. The Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D won the Prosumer/Professional Digital SLR category and the Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200 (pictured) won the Prosumer/Professional $600 to $999 category.

Ten digital cameras were named winners in their category out of 35 digital camera entries from 13 manufacturers. The 9th annual Digital Camera Shoot-Out took place on Saturday, February 19, 2005 at the DIMA Annual Conference in Orlando, FL, which proceeded the annual PMA 2005 Convention.

Read my Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200 Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200

Write a Review of the Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200

Lyra Research Press Release

Lyra Research Projects Worldwide Digital Camera Shipments Will Exceed 100 Million Units in 2008

In 2004 Europe surpassed the United States in unit shipments

Coinciding with this year’s Photo Marketing Association (PMA) show in Orlando, FL, Lyra Research’s Digital Photography Advisory Service has issued its worldwide digital camera forecast. Digital still camera shipments surpassed 63 million units worldwide in 2004, up more than 35 percent compared with 2003. Worldwide digital still camera shipments will surpass 100 million units in 2008.

In 2004, for the first time ever, Europe became the largest market in terms of unit shipments, taking the top spot from the United States, which is now second in terms of shipments. Japan is the third-largest market.

Seagate 6 Gigabyte hard drive is now shipping. The new Seagate 6Gb harddrive can store up to 3000 songs and features RunOn and G-Force technology. Price and availability of the 1 inch 6 Gb Seagate hard-drive are to be announced; 5GB and 2.5GB versions are also available.

Seagate Press Release

Seagate Ships 6GB 1-Inch Hard Drive, Highest Capacity in the Industry

ST1 Series Now the Most Widely Adopted 1-Inch Hard Drive for Handheld Music Players

SINGAPORE, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/—Seagate (NYSE:STX) , the world’s leading maker of consumer electronics hard drives, announced today it is shipping the industry’s highest capacity 1-inch hard drive, a new 6GB model of its popular 1-inch ST1 Series hard drive for handheld applications. Seagate began shipping this industry-leading 6GB drive in December 2004. The 6GB Seagate ST1 Series can hold up to 150 hours—or 3,000 songs—of high-quality music files (128 kbps), providing breakthrough value and storage capacity for small music players, PDAs and handheld entertainment devices.

Hitachi 6 Gigabyte Microdrive is now shipping. The new Hitachi Microdrive can store 1500-3000 songs, 6,000 pictures (1 MB each) or 8 hours of MPEG-4 video. The 1 inch 6 Gb Hitachi Microdrive will cost $299 USD, with the 4 Gb version costing $199.

Hitachi Press Release

Hitachi Ramps 6-Gigabyte Microdrive to High Volume; Company Sweetens Arrival of Higher-Capacity One-Inch Hard Drive with Significant Price Reduction

SAN JOSE, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Feb. 23, 2005—Users of miniature MP3 players and other storage-demanding handheld consumer electronics can rejoice today as Hitachi Global Storage Technologies begins shipping its 6 gigabyte(a) (GB) one-inch hard drive in high volume. As the leader in one-inch hard drives, Hitachi is raising the stakes by making available the new Microdrive 3K6 with a suggested retail price reduction of up to 60 percent.

Apple iPod Photo 30Gb model is introduced today. The 30Gb iPod Photo will cost $349, holds up to 25,000 digital photos and is available now. As well as announcing the iPod Photo 30Gb, Apple have also sprung a surprise by launching the iPod Camera Connector, a $29 device that allows you to import photos from your digital camera. The iPod Camera Connector sounds very much like something that should have been incorporated into the iPod Photo in the first place, but it’s still good news for everyone who has bought or will be buying an Apple iPod Photo. The iPod Camera Connector will be available in March.

Apple Press Release

Apple(R) today updated its iPod(R) photo lineup by introducing a new slim 30GB model, holding up to 7,500 songs, for just $349 and a new 60GB model, holding up to 15,000 songs, for $449. Designed to take your entire music and photo libraries with you wherever you go, both iPod photo models feature a stunning high-resolution color screen for displaying photos and enhancing the entire iPod music experience. Both models hold up to 25,000 digital photos and will feature the ability to import photos from your digital camera via the new iPod Camera Connector for instant viewing and slide show playback on iPod photo.