The Consumer Electronics Association’s report “Digital Imaging Trends in 2003-2004” contains some interesting observations on the the digital camera market in America.

“The resolution race that defined the early growth of the digital camera market is dying down and pricing is beginning to flatten for the various megapixel camera categories. The tech-savvy consumer understands that a 3-megapixel camera delivers far better resolution for enlargement than do the 1- and 2-megapixel cameras, and they are willing to pay for the better output. Two out of five consumers are willing to pay the premium, according to PMA.”

Website: Consumer Electronics Association - Digital Imaging Trends in 2003-2004

Archos Press Release 02/07/04

ARCHOS UNVEILS THE NEW POCKET VIDEO RECORDER AV400, MAKING HOME ENTERTAINMENT PORTABLE

The Ultimate Handheld Digital Video Recorder Offers TV Recording and a Portable Home Entertainment Centre in one Pocket-Sized Device

UK - JULY, 2004 - ARCHOS, the pioneer and technology leader in pocket-sized audio and video digital media solutions for mobile consumers has introduced a new pocket-sized digital video recorder and player that offers both portable and home entertainment. The ARCHOS Pocket Video Recorder AV400 (20GB) is the industry?s first and only portable digital video recorder with television recording and scheduling capabilities, and audio, photo and data storage in one compact device.

Geared towards families, TV enthusiasts and gadget lovers, the Pocket Video Recorder AV400 experience starts in the living room where you can record television shows and movies directly from a TV, VCR, or cable/satellite receiver with a convenient one-time set-up TV Cradle. At the same time, the AV400 (20GB) takes personal entertainment enjoyment far beyond the living room, where consumers can watch videos and view photos on a large color LCD screen, listen to and record music, and transfer photos from a digital camera and data files from a PC or Macintosh.

CNET have reviewed the Archos AVCam 300, the world’s first camera and camcorder attachment for a portable audio and video player. The AVCam brings together for the first time a 3.3-megapixel camera, MPEG-4 camcorder and player, MP3 recorder and player and massive hard disk. The AV300 series and AVCam are available today at archos.com.

“If you own an Archos AV300-series portable video player, the AVCam 300 may tempt you. This camera attachment uses the player’s hard drive to store as much as 250 hours of MPEG-4 video or as many as 40,000 3.3-megapixel photos. The video it captures is quite good compared to footage from other MPEG-4 camcorders, and we love not having to worry about storage. On the downside, the 3X zoom lens makes a grinding noise and is highly erratic. Its photo quality is also subpar compared to output from dedicated 3-megapixel still cameras. But even with these problems, given its relatively low price, the AVCam 300 is well worth considering if you own a compatible Archos player.”

Website: CNET - Archos AVCam 300 Review

PNY Technologies Press Release 24/06/04

Restore precious memories with ease

Merignac - June the 24th, 2004 - PNY Technologies announces PHOTORECOVERY, the new online data recovery service specifically for Digital Media in partnership with LC Technology International.

If you have ever deleted or lost pictures or documents accidentally PHOTORECOVERY for Digital Media will put an end to your frustrations! New cameras using Flash cards such as SDCard, or CompactFlash allow images to be erased, and the space on the media reused. The media can also be bulk erased or formatted; removing any images from the storage media. Imagine images of baby?s first steps, bath time, parties, school plays and special occasions being lost forever because someone pressed the wrong button!

The technology website BIOS have reviewed the Vosonic X’S-Drive Pro VP300, which is a portable image storage device, 9-in-1 flash memory card reader/writer, MP3 player and USB 2.0 hard drive device.

“Targeted at digital photographers, the X’S-Drive Pro VP 300 is a cost-effective way to store and backup lots of high-resolution images safely. Simply insert a memory card into the device and then press ‘Copy’ - all of your files are then transferred to the X’S-Drive Pro VP 300 so you can format your memory card and start afresh.”

Website: BIOS - Vosonic X’S-Drive Pro VP300 Review

The Big Picture? weblog has published a fascinating article that considers the impact of digital cameras on both the photographer and the subject (found via Digital Photography Blog):

“I think digital cameras, phones included, are an extension of our ability to communicate with one another in the world. There are things we say with images than cannot be said with words. Images speak for how we see and feel about our lives.

Not having to wait for pictures to be processed and printed in a lab, only serves to make our experiences more in the moment and sensual in some way.”

Website: The Big Picture? - Does the digital camera change how people act in front of and behind the lens?

Apacer have quietly introduced a budget version of their popular CP100 and CP200 mobile storage devices. The CP80 Disc Steno only costs £115 in the UK - the main drawback is that it only supports the compact flash card format (although you can buy an optional 5-in-1 adapter for other card formats).

Website: ePhotoZine - Apacer launch CP80 Disc Steno

FlashFixers Press Release 29/06/04

FlashFixers Launches the PhotoSaver Service, A Professional Digital Photo Recovery Program for Photo Retailers

The program will enable retail labs to offer customers the piece-of-mind that their digital photos can be saved with ImageRecall software and professional support..

Exeter, NH -June 29 2004- FlashFixers, today, announces the launch of the PhotoSaver Service, a professional digital photo recovery program for camera stores, photo retail outlets, and computer stores. PhotoSaver benefits include an ImageRecall 2 commercial license, 24/7 technical email and phone support, upgrades to the latest version, and Free Recovery Service if the software fails to recover all the data. In addition, member companies will also receive discounts on additional copies of ImageRecall, educational marketing materials, and priority recovery service for their customers.

Transcend Press Release 28/06/04

Taipei, Taiwan, June 28, 2004 /Various Agencies—- With high-resolution digital cameras and other multimedia appliances pushing the need for higher capacity flash memory cards, Transcend has proudly stepped up to the challenge. Transcend Information, Inc. a world leader in flash memory cards, has increased the capacity of their Ultra Performance 45X CompactFlash (CF) Cards to an eye-popping 4 gigabytes (GB), the highest capacity of any CF card in the world. Designed for cameras that use the FAT32 format, Canon, Nikon, Olympus, and Sony high-resolution digital cameras are verified to be 100% compatible.

Sandisk Press Release 24/06/04

DISTRIBUTION OF SANDISK SHOOT & STORE FLASH MEMORY CARDS GROWS TO MORE THAN 10,000 RETAIL OUTLETS IN THE U.S.

Rite Aid, Kmart And Other Stores Now Carry the Inexpensive Cards in Their Photo Departments

Sunnyvale, CA, June 24, 2004 - SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) today announced that it has passed the 10,000-store threshold in its rapidly expanding efforts to offer inexpensive Shoot & Store flash memory cards to consumers in places where they shop frequently. Rite Aid and Kmart are among the latest retailers to begin selling the line, joining hundreds of other drug and grocery storefronts.

Rite Aid Category Manager Steve Lund said that sales of Shoot & Store cards have been “very encouraging. They are part of our strategy to build consumer awareness of Rite Aid as a one-stop center for digital cameras, flash memory cards and print processing.” At Kmart, the line expands the retailer’s ongoing commitment to digital photography products. Also adding the cards are several major supermarket chains.

According to a report by the NEAsia Online website, sales of digital cameras by the six major Japanese digital camera manufacturers are predicted to reach 61.5 million units by the end of fiscal year 2004. This is a 52% year-on-year increase on the 40.45 million units that were sold for 2003. Canon seems to be doing particularly well:

“When looking at the numbers by manufacturer, Canon Inc stands out with its excellent results. The company had originally announced forecasts for the calendar year 2004 in its financial results published in January 2004, but in April revised that upward by 0.2 million units to the forecast to total 15.2 million units. For 2003, Canon’s year-on-year growth rate was 100%, and for 2004 it expects a growth of 76.7%. For both years, it has had the highest growth rate among the major six companies.”

Website: NEAsia Online

Luminous Landscape have published a First Look at the 22-megapixel Phase One P25 medium format digital back.

“The Phase One H25 has become something of a benchmark for studio-based professional photographers during the nine months or so since introduction. There is something about Phase One’s ability to extract shadow detail and produce extremely clean raw files that seems to me to be just a step ahead of what is seen from other backs. When you add to this their world-class Capture One software, you have a first rate package.

Now along comes the P25, providing all of the above but in a self-contained package that can fit in the palm of ones hand and that functions on location as simply and transparently as a film magazine. Given this combination of characteristics it’s hard not to wax poetic.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - Phase One P25 First Look

A-Digital-Eye have published an enthusiastic review of the Expodisc, which is a filter that goes in front of the lens and is used to set a custom white balance for your digital camera. Prices vary from $79.95 to $159.95 (plus shipping) depending on the filter size.

“Most new digital cameras manufactured today now have a custom white balance setting. Instead of using a grey card or a white sheet of paper to set your custom white balance, simply use the ExpoDisc on your lens aimed at the light source to set the custom white balance. The ExpoDisc has prismatic lens on front to collect light from 180 degrees, allowing it to collect light from all around.”

Website: A-Digital-Eye - Expodisc Review

Website: Expodisc

Foveon Press Release 21/06/04

FOVEON INTRODUCES THE FIRST SMALL FORMAT FULL-COLOR IMAGE SENSOR

4.5 Megapixel Direct Image Sensor Brings Revolutionary Patented Foveon X3O Full-Color Technology to Medical & Science Applications

Captures Color Like Film in 3 Layers

Santa Clara, CA, June 21, 2004 - Foveon Inc., a technology leader of award-winning high-quality digital camera image sensors, announced today the availability of the Foveon F19 sensor (FO18-50-F19), a 1/1.8-inch 4.5 Megapixel CMOS direct image sensor that incorporates Foveon?s breakthrough X3 technology to directly capture color in three layers, just like film.  The company also announced that the F19 image sensor has been designed into the HanVision HVDUO-5M digital camera for industrial, scientific, medical, and communications applications.

Fujifilm UK Press Release 21/06/04

Fujifilm today introduces the ultimate in smart travel accessories. The Fujifilm World Adaptor allows you to use your portable electrical appliances in more than 150 countries around the world, and is compact and easy to pack away in any bag or rucksack. Whether you’re charging your laptop or digital camera in Europe, or using your hairdryer in Hong Kong, this all-in-one unit eliminates the need for country-specific adaptors.

Safe and simple to use, the Fujifilm World Adaptor allows you to connect to international power outlets, wherever you’re travelling.  It also incorporates a built-in safety fuse and has been approved by the Consumer Electronics Association, making it one of the safest adapters on the market.

Perfect for the frequent traveller, the compact design and multi-lingual packaging ensures the adaptor is particularly user-friendly.

What’s more, the Fujifilm World Adaptor is so reliable that it comes with a lifetime warranty.

Available from July 2004, the Fujifilm World Adaptor will be available from electrical and photographic retailers throughout the UK.

Another new niche digital, the Livecam is a digital 360 degree camera, capable of creating 70 megapixels panoramas.

“Sizes of Livecam files can be scaled up or down depending on available bandwidth, 4mb recommended for a full res panorama and 100 kb for an internet panorama. The camera is capable of shooting panoramas of up to 80mb. The included software’s open-source, so the Livecam portal can be embedded in websites or further developed.”

Thanks to Sanj for the link.

Website: The Inquirer - New livecam can handle 70 megapixels

Website: Livecam

FujiFilm UK Press Release 18/06/04

Music and images on the move with Fujifilm’s USB memory card reader and MP3 player

18 June 2004

Fujifilm’s extensive range of digital accessories is soon to expand with the arrival of the xD-MP3, a combined USB memory card reader, pen drive and MP3 player based on the company’s xD-Picture Card(tm) memory card format. 

At just under ?40, this smart little gadget can be used to store, transport and transfer all types of digital files, while the built-in MP3 player allows you to listen to music on the move. Simply plug the USB drive into your PC or Mac, and transfer your files in one easy step.

With memory provided by an xD-Picture Card(tm) (capacities available from 16MB to 512MB), this wearable device comes complete with headphones, AAA battery and Roxio software (Windows 98, Me, NT4.0, 2000, XP), which gives you the flexibility to copy, play and burn digital music to CD/DVD, as well as convert music tracks to and from MP3 format for use on the xD-MP3.

The Fujifilm xD-MP3 is available now at an SRP of ?39.99 including VAT.

HP Press Release 17/06/04

HP to teach eBay marketplace users how to easily capture, share and print high-quality digital photos

PALO ALTO, Calif., June 17, 2004
————————————————————————————————————————

HP today announced that it will provide digital photography content and products to the eBay community, sharing expert tips and techniques with the nearly 105 million registered eBay users.

To back this effort, HP will develop the HP Digital Photography Zone area on eBay.com (www.hp.com/go/ebay), which is designed to provide a total digital photography educational experience. The Zone will highlight how digital photography solutions can make it simpler and easier for consumers to capture, share, manage and print digital images at home for their eBay business, as well as their personal use.

Approximately 59 percent of eBay users own a digital camera and the digital images they take are often a vital part of the online buying and selling process. Buyers frequently prefer to see a picture of the product they are considering before making a purchase.

“Together with eBay, HP is leading the charge in delivering a simple and rewarding photography experience for consumers,” said Kathy Stromberg, vice president, Consumer Segment Marketing - Americas, HP. “The HP Digital Photography Zone is an incredible channel to share our digital photography expertise with these consumers and the millions of others who are online and already living in the digital world. Our classes, as well as the innovation of our products and solutions, will empower eBay users to make their postings - and all their digital images - stand out.”

TheTechLounge has just published the final part of its “Beyond Megapixels” series of articles, which examines current digital photography hardware and gives the author’s views of what is to come in the near-future.

“The average photographer will be relying on the automatic systems of the camera to provide the correct focus, metering and white balance when taking a picture. In difficult or tricky shooting situations, the photographer may choose to manually adjust these settings. Before delving into the specifics of these variables, it is important to first make certain that a camera has the ability to manually control these settings. When you are first purchasing your shiny new camera, you may not think that you?ll ever venture beyond the automatic settings of the camera, but as you become more and more addicted to digital photography there is a great chance that you?ll find yourself wanting more control over the shot.”

Website: TheTechLounge - Beyond Megapixels - Part I

Website: TheTechLounge - Beyond Megapixels - Part II

Website: TheTechLounge - Beyond Megapixels - Part III

Samsung Press Release

THE DIGIMAX I-PACK RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM ION BATTERY - ANOTHER WORLD’S FIRST FROM SAMSUNG CAMERA

Samsung is proud to announce the world’s first rechargeable Lithium-Ion CR-series battery pack. Known as the Digimax Battery I-Pack, it can replace two conventional AA cells or a single CR-V3 battery in today’s digital cameras while providing the high voltage and low temperature performance they demand. The I-Pack is compatible with numerous cameras yet is specifically designed as a power source for the Digimax series of digital cameras, including the V50, V5, 530, V40, V4, 430, 401, 370, V3, 250 and 202.

“No matter what kind of electronic devices consumers use today, the need for a reliable, long-lasting power source is universal,” said Gary Sutton, Sales manager for Samsung Camera. “With the introduction of the new I-Pack rechargeable battery, we’ve delivered an ideal power solution for the majority of the cameras within the Digimax line.”