Actiontec Introduces the First Wireless Digital Media Player With Eight-In-One Reader for Portable Memory Cards

LAS VEGAS—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Jan. 8, 2004—Brings Digital Music, Movie & Photos from PCs and Memory Cards to TVs and Stereos Without Wires  

Actiontec Electronics today announced the Actiontec Wireless Digital Media Player with Built-in Card Reader, the first product in its class that enables consumers to play digital images and music on their TVs and stereos from any of the eight major portable memory card formats used in digital cameras, digital camcorders and MP3 players. The VCR-sized appliance also wirelessly links computers to home entertainment centers for big-screen and big-speaker enjoyment of PC-based content ranging from downloaded music and movies to Internet radio.

With the player’s built-in card reader, users can insert any CompactFlash Type I or Type II, IBM Microdrive, MS Pro, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, MultiMedia or Secure Digital card into the machine, and the contents will play on the designated TV or stereo. As a result, digital home movies, digital camera photos and other images stored on the cards can be shared with friends and family from the comfort of the couch without first downloading them to a PC, and portable music files can be heard on the biggest sound system in the house.

In addition, digital music files housed on a PC can be played on the family stereo in their full audio glory without transferring them to CD, and Internet radio can be piped through the home stereo system instead of trapped in minuscule computer speakers. Users can also watch digital video from a family vacation or a child’s birthday party on the TV screen without converting it to videotape, view downloaded Internet movies without sitting in front of their PCs, and surf the Web using the television as their monitor.

Western Digital Corp. Press Release 08/01/04

Western Digital’s Media Center combines external hard drive with media readers

Western Digital Corp., Lake Forrest, Calif., USA, introduced its Media Center storage peripheral, combining a 250 GB WD Caviar SE hard drive, an 8-in-1 memory card reader, USB 2.0 hub and the company’s Dual-option Backup feature in one external storage device. Western Digital says its Media Center is the only storage peripheral that provides consumers with all-in-one functionality and an easier way to download and store files from a variety of digital accessories.

Western Digital’s Dual-option Backup system gives consumers the option to back up data either automatically or on-demand. Using an easy set-up wizard, users can schedule a recurring backup; a button glows blue to confirm that files will be backed up automatically. The Media Center and new external drives with Dual-option Backup are also capable of backing up data from multiple sources for consumers who have a number of drives and/or PCs and notebooks.

Combining external storage with a built-in card reader for space-saving convenience and easier downloading at the touch of a button, the Media Center is compatible with 8 major media card formats, including CompactFlash Type I and II, IBM Microdrive, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, MultiMedia Card and SD Card.

  Western Digital’s Media Center and new USB/FireWire external hard drives with Dual-option Backup are expected to be available this month through Western Digital’s retailers, distributors and the company’s online store. Suggested retail price for Western Digital’s Media Center 250 GB is US$399; suggested retail price for external USB 2.0/FireWire hard drives with Dual-option Backup 250 GB is US$349.

Kodak Defines the Future of Digital Picture Sharing at 2004 International Consumer Electronics Show

World’s Picture Leader Unveils New Mobile Imaging Enhancements, Digital Cameras and Concepts for Anytime, Anywhere Picture Sharing

Eastman Kodak Company today unveiled its vision for how consumers will take and interact with digital pictures, a day in the not-so-distant future when integrated, omnipresent digital imaging systems give people the ability to capture and share their life through pictures whenever or wherever they wish.

The demonstration at the 2004 International Consumer Electronics Show represents another advancement of the company’s digitally oriented strategy, announced in September. The products and services on display reinforce Kodak’s leadership in the increasingly popular digital imaging market.

Building upon the company’s renowned photography heritage and digital imaging innovations, Kodak is making picture sharing an anytime, anywhere activity. Kodak’s combined products and services provide the world’s only complete connection between picture taking, storing, organizing, sharing and printing—so that people can easily do more with their photos. The roster of new products, services, and concepts showcased at the 2004 International Consumer Electronics Show (LVCC South Halls 3&4/Booth 22600) includes mobile imaging enhancements, digital cameras, wireless kiosks, television-based Ofoto access via WINDOWS Media Center, and NUVUE organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays.

Pretec Electronics Corp. Press Release 08/01/04

LAS VEGAS—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Jan. 8, 2004—Pretec Electronics Corp., the 2nd company in the world offering CompactFlash memory card (CF) card since 1995, is demonstrating the world’s highest capacity 1GB MultiMediaCard (MMC) with write speed about 300% faster than the leading brand in the market today, at CES Pretec Booth # 71016 here at Las Vegas Convention Center.

DV-4200, the world’s 1st 2 mega-pixel DSC and MPEG4 tapeless digital camcorder with 30fps TV quality (http://www.pretec.com/PR/PR%20DV4200%20final.pdf), released by Pretec last year at PMA, bundled with 64MB MMC/SD card, can record up to 20 minutes of VHS quality video in MPEG4 format; with Pretec 1GB MMC card, consumers can record more than 5 hours of MPEG4 video, sufficient for even pro-users. The rugged, small size, reliable, fast and high capacity Pretec 1GB MMC, combined with very low power consumption nature, makes it perfect to be used as the preferred storage device for the ever-increasing IA devices such as MP3 players, DSC, digital camcorders, mobile phones and other portable devices.

The open and membership-driven standard, no royalties, and easily available specification policy makes MMC one of the fastest growing small form factor memory card in the industry. Compatible with most Secure Digital (SD) slots used by mobile phones, digital cameras, and other portable digital devices, MMC is the most popular memory card in the world today. With version 4.0 coming soon from MMCA (http://www.mmca.org/), the new generation MMC 4.0 will have the capability to be up to 800% faster than the current version of MMC.

Pretec has been consistently demonstrated the highest capacity CF card in the world from 64MB (10/1998) to 6GB (3/2003), with higher capacity to be announced soon. Pretec 1GB MMC is sampling to customers now, and will be available to the retail channels by the end of Q1/2004. The new generation of Pretec MMC 4.0 card will have dual voltage feature (3V/1.8V) and the transfer speed is expected to be at least 200% faster than the highest speed of any SD card today; engineering samples are scheduled to be demonstrated by Q2/2004.

About Pretec
Pretec(TM) Electronics Corp. (http://www.pretec.com) offers a complete spectrum of small form factor memory cards and card readers such as ATA/CF card, IDE & Mini-IDE Flash Drive (MIDE(TM)), SmartMedia(TM), MultiMedia Card(TM), and SD Card for the digital imaging, mobile computing, and Military/Industrial Control markets; and is the creator of Innovative CompactI/O(TM) cards for PocketPC(TM), digital cameras and many IA devices. Pretec has consistently demonstrated the highest capacity CF cards in the world; such as 80MB, 128MB, 160MB, 320MB, 640MB, 1.5GB, 2GB, 3GB, and 6GB CF card at various locations around the world for the past five years.

*Note: MIDE(TM), CompactI/O(TM), CompactModem(TM), and CompactLAN(TM) are trademarks of Pretec Electronics Corp. PocketPC(TM) is trademark of Microsoft Corp. All other trademarks mentioned herein are recognized as the property of their respective holders.

Toshiba Press Release 08/01/04

IRVINE, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Jan. 7, 2004—Company Develops Industry’s First 0.85-Inch HDD to Power Mobile Phones and Portable Consumer Electronics

Toshiba Storage Device Division (SDD), the industry pioneer in small form factor storage, today announced the development of a 0.85-inch hard disk drive (HDD), the first drive to deliver multi-gigabyte storage in a sub-one-inch form factor. Expected to be available in 2GB and 4GB capacities, Toshiba will start sampling the new drive in summer 2004, with mass production to begin in late 2004.

“Hard disk drive technology has migrated from the computer to digital music players to mobile phones and other portable gadgets that require meaningful storage capacities in a pocket-size form factor,” said Amy Dalphy, manager, HDD business unit, Toshiba SDD. “Toshiba continues to lead and enable the market by expanding storage possibilities with gigabytes of capacity packed into a tiny hard disk drive that fits on your fingertip.”

Measuring only a quarter of the size of Toshiba’s 1.8-inch drive, the 0.85-inch HDD is expected to boost the functionality of a new generation of products, including mobile phones, digital audio players, PDAs, digital still cameras, camcorders and external storage devices. Toshiba initially plans to introduce capacities of 2GB and 4GB, and anticipates achievement of even higher densities in the 0.85-inch form factor.

GS Magicstor Inc. Press Release 07/01/04

LAS VEGAS—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Jan. 7, 2004—GS Magicstor Inc. today introduced its new series of 1” Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) with storage capacities up to 4.8GB, the largest capacity available in the 1” form factor. This exciting new product launch affirms GS Magicstor’s leading position as a global pioneer in 1” HDD technology.

“By using the same, current technologies available for the high-volume hard drive production, the Magicstor 1” HDD is able to meet today’s increasing demands for high-capacity handheld electronic devices such as the Digital Cameras, PDAs, laptops, MP3 players, handheld digital video players, and other portable consumer electronics,” said David Wu, CEO of GS Magicstor Inc.

Available in capacities from 2.2GB to 4.8GB, Magicstor’s 1” HDDs feature multi industry-standard interfaces, such as CFII, USB and IDE/ATA, providing both general users and OEM/ODM manufacturers with dynamic new application opportunities.

“The Magicstor 1” family has successfully created cost-effective storage solutions for products with revolutionary features and functions, we are very excited about the new opportunities for low cost USB portable storage products,” added David Wu.

Building the success of its flagship 1” HDD at 2004 International CES, Magicstor is announcing the developing of a 0.8” HDD for the cell phone and audio/visual products industry. Smaller than the 1” HDD currently produced by GS Magicstor and by Hitachi Global Storage Technology, and less than half the size of the 1.8” hard drive, Magicstor’s 0.8” HDD is set to revolutionize new consumer electronic products.

GS Magicstor Inc. is the premier member of China’s official Industrial Development Project in Guiyang, Guizhou, which is emerging as the world’s leading areas of multi-national research and production of next-generation HDD technology. GS Magicstor is producing 1 inch hard drives for both the China internal market and the world market of Digital Consumer Electronic products.

Epson Press Release 06/01/04

Epson Unveils Industry’s First Widescreen HDTV LCD Projection Televisions with Integrated Digital Photo Center

[Business Wire] Business Wire via NewsEdge Corporation : LONG BEACH, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Jan. 6, 2004—Livingstation(tm) Converges Epson’s Renowned LCD Technology with Advanced Digital Photo Capabilities for Unique Home Entertainment Experience

Epson America Inc. expands its presence in the home entertainment market with its introduction of two Epson Livingstation HDTV LCD projection televisions—the EPSON Livingstation LS47P1 and EPSON Livingstation LS57P1. Home entertainment enthusiasts can take advantage of superior image quality and true digital output with its 720p resolution, thanks to Epson’s patented LCD technology. Additionally, with Epson’s proprietary Photo On Demand(tm) capability, users can now view, print and store their digital photos from an easy-to-use universal remote control.

Epson is a recognized industry leader in LCD technology and the Livingstation capitalizes on this expertise and delivers a dramatic and vivid cinematic experience to the consumer in two screen sizes, 47 and 57 inches. With three LCD panels, 1280 x 720 native resolution and a 16:9 native aspect ratio, the Livingstation’s wide screen produces unparalleled image quality. Additionally, the Livingstation has one of the thinnest profiles of any rear projection television currently available, measuring only 14.9 inches deep for the 47-inch model and 16.3 inches deep for the 57-inch model.

Shipping in March 2004, the estimated retail prices for the 47- and 57-inch models are $3,499 and $3,999, respectively.

Rob Galbraith has published a comprehensive article that compares the PC and Mac platforms in terms of processing speed. Which is faster for RAW file processing, image editing and photo cataloging? Find out in Rob’s test…

“We set out to see whether, as 2004 gets underway, the computing landscape has changed for pro digital photographers, at least in the area of processing performance. To that end, we gathered four of the fastest Mac and PC desktop computers available, loaded them up with pro digital photography software and got to work. The results of our efforts are on the pages ahead.”

Website: Rob Galbraith - PC vs Mac

Cornice Press Release 05/01/04

Cornice Introduces New 2.0-Gigabyte Storage Element, Advancing Low-Cost Data Storage for Electronics

LONGMONT, Colo.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Jan. 5, 2004—
Storage Innovator Targets Video, Multi-function, and GPS Applications With New Device That Holds 33% More Data Than the Previous Product Generation  

Cornice Inc., an innovator in compact, high-capacity storage, today introduced the 2.0-gigabyte Cornice Storage Element—a storage device for use in consumer electronics, portable devices, and other applications that demand large amounts of reliable, inexpensive storage in a small space and at the lowest cost.

The 2.0-gigabyte Storage Element will allow electronics device manufacturers to build new pocket-able products that store more music, video, and pictures, as well as more office productivity files such as presentations and word processing documents. With the additional storage relative to the previous generation of the Storage Element, increasingly compelling, cost-competitive video capture and playback devices can be developed that are able to store more than three hours of VHS-quality video. Other applications include continent-inclusive GPS devices, multi-function handheld computers, and other emerging product types.

By carrying out a fundamental re-evaluation of how portable storage devices should be designed and manufactured, Cornice achieved the industry’s lowest cost for high-capacity portable storage. By re-examining the mechanics and electronics of storage devices, Cornice was able to create an inexpensive storage solution that is compact, durable, and optimized for portable electronics.

Epson USA Press Release 05/01/04

THE EPSON P-1000 PHOTO VIEWER IS THE ULTIMATE DIGITAL CAMERA COMPANION

New Portable Photo Viewing and Storage Device Boasts Beautiful 3.8’’ LCD Panel Designed by a World Leader in LCD Technology

LONG BEACH, Calif., January 5, 2004   Digital photographers will welcome the arrival of the EPSON P-1000, a new device for viewing, storing and sharing photos that incorporates a high quality Epson 3.8” LCD screen for the best image quality.  Digital photography is evolving and changing as are many photographers’ needs.  Epson is helping to address these changing needs with the EPSON P-1000 photo viewer.  This device gives photographers the ability to view details of their images with an LCD screen that sets it apart from any other product of its kind.  Epson is a leading producer of LCD modules and has incorporated this technology expertise into devices such as AV projectors, digital cameras, cellular telephones and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs).  With Epson’s introduction of the first LCD digital quartz watch over 30 years ago, to recently becoming the world leader in cellular telephone LCD displays, the EPSON P-1000 is a logical extension of this long heritage of LCD technology.

In addition to its high-resolution screen, the sleek and sophisticated looking EPSON P-1000 has a 10 GB hard drive and can print directly to select Epson printers.  This convenient product enables photographers to simply take their CompactFlash memory card out of their digital camera, pop it into the EPSON P-1000 and download and print the images with ease. 

“The Epson P-1000 is a breakthrough product for Epson that sets the bar extremely high for other portable devices of its kind,” said Daniel Oey, senior product manager, digital input products, Epson. “The screen resolution is simply amazing and allows photographers to see the details of their images clearly and easily without having to download them and view them on a computer screen.  Whether shooting for work or play, this is a convenient viewing and storage solution for a variety of people.” 

A-Digital-Eye have posted another comparison test of sample images from 5 different digital cameras, all taken within a short time of each other. The Sony DSC T1, Canon Digital Rebel, Sony F828, Minolta Dimage A1, and the Sigma SD10 are all included in the test, with the images taken standing in the same location within 10 minutes of each other, and in the cameras Auto/Program mode.

Website: A-Digital-Eye - Digital Camera Comparison Test #2

eFrameCentral.com Press Release

eFrameCentral.com Slashes Price of PhotoPort TV 100, Enabling Anyone to Create Photo Presentations on TV Screens [Business Wire]

Business Wire via NewsEdge Corporation : WARWICK, R.I.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Dec. 30, 2003—eFrameCentral.com announces a new close-out price on Visioneer PhotoPort TV 100, a complete solution enabling anyone to create personalized photo presentations from their own digital image collections—directly on the screens of their televisions. Regularly $175.00, the PhotoPort TV 100 is now available for only $29.99.

The PhotoPort TV 100 gives users instant access to their digital pictures without waiting for a computer to boot-up, attaching cables from the camera to a PC, transferring pictures, searching through cryptic file names, or loading an image editing program. The solution comes with a viewer, remote, and wireless keyboard with dedicated keys to easily create photo albums and personalize pictures.

To turn a photo collection into a customized and beautifully designed digital presentation, users simply attach the PhotoPort to their TV’s Video-in connector, insert the memory card from their camera into the PhotoPort, and design the photo album using the wireless keyboard. Users can crop, resize and rotate pictures, then add colorful backgrounds, borders and entertaining captions. When finished, the presentation can be viewed or recorded on VHS or DVD to share with friends.

About eFrameCentral.com
eFrameCentral.com is the leading online resource for eFrame digital photo frames, providing new and better ways for digital camera owners to store and share pictures. For more information, please visit the company’s Web site at www.styluscentral.com or email [email protected].

A-Digital-Eye have posted sample images from 6 different digital cameras, all taken within a short time of each other. The Nikon D100, Canon Digital Rebel, Sigma SD10, Minolta DiMAGE A1, Fuji S7000, Sony F828 are all included in the test.

“The images were all taken within about 10 mins of each other standing at the same location, and shooting towards the same center point, with the zoom adjusted to be about as close as we could get them under all the circumstances.  The images were shot in each camera’s Program mode, and at the lowest set ISO for each camera.”

Website: A-Digital-Eye - Digital Camera Comparison Test

A new NE Asia Online article claims that the video photography option of digital cameras will rival the quality found in dedicated digital video cameras by 2006. Cameras like the Fuji Finepix M603 have tried to combine the best of both worlds by offering still and moving digital photography in one package, but at present top-end models only offer 310,000 pixels per frame at 30 frames per second (fps). Apparently that is all set to change in the next few years:

“Manufacturers have been facing numerous problems in trying to achieve higher image quality and ease-of-use within these limits, and the results of their efforts will hit the streets in 2004. The new digital cameras released then are expected to rival video cameras in terms of image quality and recording time.

But digital camera manufacturers are not likely to stop there: a look at developments in constituent technology shows that the video photography functions are going to continue to evolve. One of the most likely developments is video photography with more than a million pixels per frame in recording. Technically, it is possible that digital cameras could be out by 2006 capable of taking still images with several million pixels/frame, and video at 1.3 million pixels per frame (super extended graphics array, or SXGA format). Above the million pixels/frame threshold, this type of video photography is called megapixel video.”

Website: NE Asia Online - Video from Digital Cameras to Reach 1.3M-Pixels/Frame

PMA Newsline International Release 19/12/03

SD Memory Card sales surpass CompactFlash Card sales in October

The SD Memory Card has passed the CompactFlash Card, to take the top position in market share among memory cards, according to the most recent sales data available from The NPD Group. The SD Memory Card captured the number one position with 30 percent of the U.S. flash memory market in October against 28.8 percent for the CompactFlash Card. In third place was Memory Stick, with a 22 percent market share. Panasonic is a co-developer of SD Memory cards along with Toshiba and SanDisk.

  Joseph Unsworth, analyst - Semiconductor Memories for Gartner Inc., noted: “The recent success of the SD Card in the retail channel is in line with my expectations of the SD Card becoming the leading flash card format. The SD Card is well-positioned in terms of performance, cost, and industry support across many applications and that is why I expect the SD card to have the largest share of revenue of all of the flash card formats in 2004.”

A total of 1,524 products worldwide, carrying 134 of the world’s foremost brand names, currently use the SD Memory Card. The format is further supported by the more than 650 members of the SD Card Association, a consortium working to set industry standards and promote the acceptance of SD Memory Cards in a wide variety of applications.

Fuji Japan have announced further details and pricing for its 20.8 megapixel SuperCCD based digital camera back, which was first announced in February 2003. The new back, which fits the Fujifilm GX680 camera, will cost 2,380,000 Yen (roughly ?12,506 GBP). It will be available in Japan from the end of January 2004. According to Imaging Resource, Fuji USA currently have no plans to release the product.

Website: Imaging Resource

Website: DPReview

Toshiba are set to launch the smallest ever hard-drive at next month’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The 0.85 inch is about the same size as an American quarter and is destined to find its way into MP3 players, set-top boxes, mobile phones and other electronic goods. Its capacity is expected to be between 2GB and 3GB. According to the website NE Asia Online, “at present, it has no plan to use it as an exchange medium such as a CompactFlash card”, so this may well be one for the future as far as digital cameras are concerned.

Website: CNET News

Website: NE Asia Online

MacDevCenter.com posted an interesting article last week which looks at the possibilities offered by using the Belkin Media Reader and the Apple iPod. Apparently allocating 10 GBs of the iPod’s hard disc for images is enough storage space for well over 7,000 pictures taken with a Canon S400 digital camera.

“Apple has done a good job of letting the world know that you can store thousands of songs in your pocket. Now they can add the claim for thousands of pictures too. For the digital photographer on the go, the iPod can be a valuable addition to the camera bag. It entertains while stuck in airports between flight connections, stores your appointments so you know where to be and when, wakes you up if you oversleep, and stores an entire trip’s worth of photos.”

Website: MacDevCenter.com - iPod as Digital Photographer’s Best Friend

FotoInside Press Release 18/12/03

CAMBRIDGE, England, December 18 /PRNewswire/—- FotoInside is celebrating Milestone with special offers

The market for real photo paper prints from individual digital image files uploaded over the internet is exploding. FotoInside Limited of Cambridge (www.fotoinside.co.uk) is preparing to celebrate with its providing photo lab current year’s 50 millionth photo print from files uploaded online and delivered within Europe. FotoInside expects this milestone to be taken in December. The European market for sublimation print from digital image files has grown by 353.2% in 2003.

FotoInside’s online photo processing serves a growing number of digital camera users, because desktop printing is expensive, frustrating, time consuming, disappointing and never quite as rewarding as the sound of professionally processed prints being posted through your letterbox.

Processing digital photos from the comfort of your home with guaranteed lasting colours starts from 10p ordering 25 prints or more visiting www.fotoinside.co.uk.

To celebrate the 50m online photo prints FotoInside has secured a special offer for ashampoo’s brand new Photo Illuminator v2. When registering for the http://www.fotoinside.co.uk/illuminator/ (January 2003) promotion readers get a voucher for 5 free prints (reduced postage at GBP0.95) and a GBP20 discount on “Illuminator”. Offer lasts until the end of March.

I missed this interesting but perhaps ultimately pointless article which was mentioned on Slashdot a few days ago, until Ed Krimen emailed me - thanks Ed :-) Would Ansel Adams Have Gone Digital? Personally I very much doubt it, but Richard LoPinto, vice president for SLR camera systems at Nikon Inc, thinks he would have loved digital cameras.

LoPinto is quoted as saying “He shot with a large-format camera and had the patience to stand around waiting for hours for the perfect shot, but he also used our Nikon FM series cameras,” LoPinto continued. “I would like to speculate, and it’s purely my personal opinion, that were he with us today he would be really taken by the technology and would be at the forefront.”

Anyway, I’ll let you read the full article here and make up your own minds:

Website: Fortune.com - Would Ansel Adams Have Gone Digital?

Website: Slashdot