Kodak Press Release

T-Mobile USA Enables KODAK EASYSHARE-ONE Digital Camera Owners to Share Pictures ‘On the Go’ at More than 5,000 T-Mobile HotSpot Locations Nationwide

People Can Quickly and Conveniently Share Digital Pictures Directly from New Wi-Fi Enabled Camera

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 5—Eastman Kodak Company and T-Mobile USA Inc., which operates the largest carrier owned Wi-Fi (802.11b) wireless broadband network in the United States, today announced an agreement to simplify online picture sharing using Wi-Fi outside of the home or office. Owners of the new KODAK EASYSHARE-ONE digital camera will have integrated access to T-Mobile HotSpot service, available at more than 5,000 convenient locations across the U.S.

All EASYSHARE-ONE camera purchasers will initially receive a free, camera-specific T-Mobile HotSpot trial (terms to be determined). T-Mobile HotSpot subscription plans will be available for the EASYSHARE-ONE camera beginning later this year (pricing and other terms to be determined).

SanDisk Corporation Press Release

Sunnyvale, CA, Jan 4, 2005 — SanDisk Corporation announced today that its Charitable Fund has donated $200,000 to eight different organizations that are working in relief efforts to aid the victims of the Southeast Asia earthquake and tsunami. The funds were allocated through the Community Foundation Silicon Valley.

“The need to respond quickly to a crisis such as this tsunami disaster reinforced for us the effectiveness of our corporate philosophy for organized charitable contributions and our use of the Community Foundation as an effective vehicle,” said Judy Bruner, SanDisk executive vice president of administration and chief financial officer. “Having made donations on a regular basis to the SanDisk Fund at the foundation, SanDisk was able to quickly request that donations be made from the fund to multiple charitable organizations. We were able to rely on a trusted entity—the Community Foundation Silicon Valley—to ensure that the funds were quickly and properly distributed.”

Japan Today has a very interesting interview (in English) with Fujio Mitarai, president of Canon Corp.

”Do you think the digital camera market is saturated?
Sales of digital cameras more than doubled in 2003 and 2004. Research shows that 70% of families in Japan have a digital camera. Some digital camera manufacturers have excessive stocks of products.

Canon’s sales of digital cameras increased 70% in 2004. We are still doing unusually well. It is a reasonable view to suggest that market is about to mature. However, I can still see room for growth.”

Website: Japan Today - Unstoppable Canon

More than 110,000 people have lost their lives in East Africa and South Asia in the aftermath of the earthquake and resulting tsunamis on December 26. The American Red Cross reports that emergency assessment and first-aid teams were on the ground quickly and are already working with local groups to support relief efforts. If you would like to help, you can make a financial donation to the American Red Cross using the Amazon Honor System. One hundred percent of donations made will go to the American Red Cross disaster relief efforts.

Some Kodak-related news that I missed just before Christmas - further evidence that the photography-giant is back on track as they announce plans to build a new factory dedicated to photo printer supplies:

“Rochester’s largest company plans to spend $45 million on a new factory at Kodak Park that will produce supplies for turning digital images into high-quality photographic prints. The new digital media plant — the largest single capital investment at Kodak Park in at least five years — comes as digital photographers increasingly look to convert their pixels into pictures on paper.

Workers at the plant will manufacture a special dye-transfer ribbon for printers found in stores, homes and commercial photo studios dedicated to digital imaging. The ribbon will go into Kodak’s pioneering line of PictureMaker kiosks, the company’s EasyShare PrinterDock and related products.”

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle - Kodak to build $45M plant

Pro Image Press Release

Pro Image Online.com is a fresh stock house based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that is seeking new photographers from around the world to supply
the growing increase in the online image sales field. Owner PJ Smith realizes that stock image sales might not be the first method of marketing that a professional might think of but it is a well designed site that profiles a small but highly targeted number of images. 

While it is getting easier to get that perfect image through digital, there is the problem of actually being able to sell all of those thousands of new images you’re going to get over the next couple of years.  To say nothing of what is usable in your back image files.

Some industry news for you, as Sony announces plans to invest heavily in semiconductors and CMOS image sensors:

“Sony Corp announced Tuesday that it plans to invest a total of some 60 billion yen (US$575 million) to build two new facilities for the fabrication of semiconductor components for flat-panel televisions and other digital equipment at its subsidiary Sony Semiconductor Kyushu Co.”

Website: Asia Times - Sony to invest US$575m to boost chip production

Microsoft Corp. Press Release

Collaboration Offers Windows XP Users Fast, Easy Pickup of Digital Prints At More Than 5,000 Retail Locations, With Some in as Little as One Hour

REDMOND, Wash. - Dec. 14, 2004 - In the midst of the busy holiday photo-processing season, Microsoft Corp. today announced that it has teamed with Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. Inc. to connect millions of digital photographers with retailers for easy and convenient printing of digital pictures. Beginning this week, Fujifilm’s Get The Picture Online service is accessible directly through the Windows® XP Online Print Wizard, MSN® Photos and Microsoft® Digital Image Suite. This will enable consumers to order professionally processed digital prints directly from a Windows XP-based PC for pickup in as little as an hour at participating Fujifilm retail photo centers, including those at Sam’s Club, Ritz Camera Centers Inc. and Wolf Camera Inc.

After an unsuccessful attempt to sell their digital photography products in Japan a couple of years ago, Kodak are trying again with the quiet launch of 2 new cameras and the EasyShare Printer Dock. Apparently Kodak now see Japan as a major objective: “What happens in Japan eventually happens in the rest of the world,” Mr Kojima says. “Unless we can win against Japanese products, Kodak’s digital camera business will have a gloomy future.” Six camera manufacturers, including Olympus and Nikon, have agreed to support Kodak’s IMAGELINK Print System in their products.

Website: FT.com - Kodak set for gamble on re-entry to Japan

PMA Press Release 14/12/04

JACKSON, Mich.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Dec. 14, 2004—Consumers are benefiting this holiday season from the digital imaging expertise provided by the Photo Marketing Association International(R) Expert Photo Center (EPC) program, which retailers use to communicate their high level of trained expertise to customers.

When consumers shop at one of the certified PMA Expert Photo Centers throughout the United States, they are assured of receiving knowledgeable customer service. The EPC facility must be an active PMA member, have a Certified Photographic Consultant (CPC) or Society of Photo Finishing Engineers (SPFE) member on staff during all hours the retail firm is open, and be a Qualified Digital Processing Center (QDPC).

Eastman Kodak Company Press Release 13/12/04

Kodak Selects Touchpoint’s Catapult Platform to Support Global Retail Picture Printing and Sharing Network

Retailers, consumers to benefit as Kodak strengthens its digital services at retail with TouchPoint’s remote management software

ROCHESTER, N.Y. December 13, 2004 - Eastman Kodak Company has licensed TouchPoint Solutions, Inc.‘s CATAPULT platform as a primary component of its retail digital photo-printing infrastructure. The agreement will see the installation of TouchPoint’s remote management software, CATAPULT, on thousands of new and existing KODAK Picture Maker kiosks, digital mini-labs and other retail photo equipment worldwide.

The UK website Photo-i recently launched a new feature called Eye to Eye, in which they will meet various manufacturers and ask the questions that you want answered. The minutes of their first meeting with Canon are now online.

“Many people have asked about the new BCI-7 series of ink tanks. These new cartridges boast greater print longevity (up to 100 years is the claim). I am told that these are for the Japanese market only. When I pushed question further, Canon could not comment on future product availability or developments. My own guess, and I stress this is my own view, is that yes these will be available, probably early in the new year. It would be folly for Canon not to launch this hot product world-wide. I suspect that there must be a mountain of un-sold BCI-6 ink tanks to dispense with first.”

Website: Photo-i - Eye to Eye with Canon

Another month, another round of Kodak job cuts (or so it seems). I’m not sure if this is part of Kodak’s original restructuring plan that they announced aeons ago, but the Toronto, Canada manufacturing facility will close by mid-2005, affecting 360 employees.

“The Company said in a prepared press release that it is consolidating many different types of functions and operations at sites around the world, in order to “maintain competitiveness in the face of fundamental changes in the imaging market driven by the rising popularity of digital photography.” Kodak manages its manufacturing plants as worldwide assets, and makes decisions based on global capacity requirements.”

Website: marketnews.ca - Kodak Canada To Close Toronto Manufacturing Operations

Thanks to Sanj for the link.

Matsushita Electric Corporation Press Release 09/12/04

Renaming Is Part Of Global Brand Strengthening

Secaucus, NJ (December 9, 2004) ― The Panasonic brand is about to go corporate.  Matsushita Electric Corporation of America, the North American headquarters of Osaka, Japan-based Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC), will soon formally take on its best known brand name as its corporate name.  As of January 1, the company will be known as Panasonic Corporation of North America. 

“Panasonic is the name that customers and channel partners have known us by for years,” said company chairman Yoshi Yamada.  “We want to take advantage of the tremendous brand equity and good will that research tells us is built into the Panasonic name, so it makes great sense to call our company Panasonic.  In addition, we are also in the midst of a huge transformation of our company’s systems and organization.  By putting the Panasonic name on the revitalized company, we want to underline the dynamic change going on within the organization.”

Hmmmm…I’m not sure that western technology meets remote Pacific tribe is a great idea, more like a vulgar one to me. Still. HP are getting in on the act by provising cameras and printer to self-style adventurer Richard Bangs. In Engadget’s words:

“The Huli Wigmen of Papua New Guinea probably don’t realize it yet, but they’re about to be visited by Richard Bangs, an “adventurer” and travel promoter who was able to get HP to give him some digital cameras and a photo printer in order to prove once and for all that HP’s digital imaging products are so easy to use that even an isolated tribesperson unfamiliar with the ins and outs of modern civilization could use them to take digital photos and start their own photoblog.”

Website: Engadget - HP sending digital cameras to Papua New Guinea to steal souls of isolated tribespeople

Website: The Seattle Times - Digital world set to invade no-tech culture

American Society of Media Photographers Press Release 03/12/04

December 3, 2004 - The American Society of Media Photographers has published a statement that is highly critical of Conde Nast’s newest contract for freelance photographers. Although that contract ostensibly allows photographers to retain their copyrights, it comes very close to assigning all the rights to Conde Nast - not just for the images that are selected for publication, but also for the outtakes.

In particular, the contract gives Conde Nast an exclusive on all the images taken as part of the assignment. The exclusive lasts for 90 days from first publication - or, for a cover story, a full year. Unpublished images, however, remain embargoed indefinitely.

Ampex Corporation Press Release 29/11/04

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Nov. 29, 2004 - Ampex Corporation (OTCBB:AEXCA) today announced that it has reached a settlement with Sony Corporation (NYSE:SNE) whereby Ampex will withdraw the patent litigation it initiated in July 2004 in the International Trade Commission (ITC) and in the Federal District Court for the District of Delaware relating to digital still cameras manufactured and sold by Sony.

Under the terms of the settlement, Sony will be licensed under several Ampex patents to manufacture and sell various products, including digital video tape recorders and digital still cameras. In return for a payment of $40.0 million, Sony will be permitted to use Ampex patents in any of its products for the period through April 2006. After that time, the licenses provide for running royalties based on sales of products including digital video tape recorders and digital still cameras to the extent that they utilize Ampex patents. The licenses provide that their terms are confidential.

How2Share Technologies Press Release 29/11/04

Victoria Based How2Share Technologies Selected as Finalist on Red Herring’s Most Innovative Company List

Creators of PiXPO image sharing software chosen from field of 1,200 companies

Victoria, British Columbia November 2 8, 2004 How2Share Technologies Inc., creators of PiXPO image sharing software, have been chosen by the Red Herring editorial team as finalist for Red Herring?s list of the 100 Most Innovative Companies - a list established to honor the top companies in North America that have made significant breakthroughs in technology over the past year.  The Victoria based digital imaging company was selected as finalist for the prestigious list from a competitive field of over 1,200 entries by the new Red Herring magazine based in the Silicon Valley, California.

Women In Photography International Press Release 26/11/04

Women In Photography International, Virtual Call for Entries Deadline, December 1st. A Special Tribute to Photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson by Women Photographers at womeninphotography.org.

Women In Photography International (WIPI) soars to new heights during 2004. The #1 resource for women photographers worldwide, ends the year focused on achievement and success with a special call for entries in honor of renown French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004). Top jurors, PRIZES, Epson L-410 digital camera, online gallery presentations and top photo magazine subscriptions.

(PRWEB) November 26, 2004—Women In Photography International (WIPI) soars to new heights during 2004. The #1 resource for women photographers worldwide, ends the year focused on achievement and success with a special call for entries in honor of renowned French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004).

WIPI?s final deadline for their virtual photo submission for “Decisive Moments,” is December 1st, PST. Cartier-Bresson defined this moment as “the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well as of a precise organization of forms which gave that event its proper expression.” The juried exhibition will be online from January 10 - March 1, 2005 at www.WomenInPhotography.org. As well as award prizes the Best of Show winner will receive an Epson L-410 digital camera. PRO and Amateur prizes include an online photo gallery.

Lexmark UK Press Release 23/11/04

Research Opens the Shutters on Picture Practices of the ‘Heat Generation’

The Brits have become a nation of paparazzi, constantly on the lookout for a striking picture opportunity, and taking and appearing in more shots than ever before, according to research released today by printer manufacturer Lexmark International.

Yet whilst the explosion in digital photography means we?re now likely to star in a picture for friends or family at least twice a week, we’re vainer than ever when it comes to the results, with men serial offenders in the vanity stakes.

Lexmark commissioned the study to mark the launch of their new range of photo printers which makes it easier than ever before to ‘touch up’ and print your pictures at home.