Corel UK Press Release

Corel Wins Best Software Award at RetailVision Europe Fall 2005 - Attending Retailers and Distributors Vote Corel as Winner

Maidenhead, UK - 3 November 2005 - Corel Corporation is delighted to announce that it has won the ‘Best Product: Software’ award at RetailVision Europe’s awards ceremony. Corel® Paint Shop Pro® X was voted top in the software category by leading retailers and distributors in the European PC and consumer electronics marketplace.

Held during the RetailVision Europe Fall 2005 Event, 18 - 20 October in Dublin, Ireland, the “Best of RetailVision Europe Awards”* recognise vendors’ technology innovation and channel strategies. More than 130 attending retail channel executives from across Europe voted on the winning products from over 60 entrants.

Spy Media Press Release

Citizens and Professional Photographers Able to Seamlessly Buy and Sell News Photos Through Online Marketplace

Spymedia.com Broadens Reach of Citizen Reporters, Bringing a Global Perspective to Local and Community News

SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/—In recognition of the significant potential for citizen journalism to become part of the mainstream, Spy Media today became the first automated news photo marketplace to offer amateur and professional photographers a quick and easy way to sell their own digital photographs. Whether it’s your favorite celebrity, a political rally, local soccer game, international news or cultural event, Spy Media believes there is a market for your photographs. With a database of thousands of photographs, customers and news organizations can easily search for and purchase a variety of photographs that meet their needs, whether it’s for a personal web site, newsletter, online publication, newspaper or magazine.

Allume Systems Press Release

New Personal PHOTOSUITE Makes Organizing, Enhancing, and Sharing Photos as Easy as Taking Them!

Allume Systems’ Personal PHOTOSUITE Helps You Get the Most Out of Your Photos by Allowing You to Share, Manage, and Create Calendars, Postcards and Photo Album and More

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/—Allume Systems, Inc., a division of Smith Micro Software Inc. (NASDAQ:SMSI) , today released Personal PHOTOSUITE(TM). Personal PHOTOSUITE provides intuitive tools with powerful features for organizing the steady stream of photos familiar to every digital camera owner. Beyond simply managing photos, Personal PHOTOSUITE helps users enhance their photos, add Smart Captions(TM), then share their photos via Email, Print, the Internet, or even Video CD’s. Personal PHOTOSUITE’s Wizards will guide users through each step of creating impressive Albums, whimsical Greeting Cards, personalized Calendars, dazzling Web Pages, slide shows that sizzle, and more! Whether users choose to use their own printer or take advantage of ordering prints on line, with Personal PHOTOSUITE professional looking results are just clicks away.

CNET have reviewed the Kodak Easyshare C340, a 5 megapixel digicam with 3x optical zoom lens.

“The Kodak EasyShare C340 is a solid contender but not a trailblazer. The 5-megapixel sensor and the 3X zoom are decent features for the price, and the mostly plastic body feels sturdy and durable. Its biggest assets are easy-to-navigate menus and relatively high-quality photos. The biggest drawback is its undersized, 1.6-inch LCD screen. That might have been acceptable two years ago, but not now, when 1.8-inch screens are common on less expensive cameras. The C340 also falls short on manual controls, though given Kodak’s target audience for this model, that’s to be expected.”

Website: CNET - Kodak Easyshare C340 Review

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DIWA member LetsGoDigital have previewed the new Kodak Easyshare P880 digital camera. The Kodak Easyshare P880 is an 8 megapixel model with wide-angle 24–140 mm zoom lens and 2.5 inch LCD screen.

“The Kodak EasyShare P-880 is an interesting digital camera. It is a new concept from Kodak. Packed with all kinds of photographic settings, but priority is given to ease-of-use. Handling the new Kodak P880 is easy. Though I cannot imagine that the P880 is an interesting digital camera for anyone who labels him or herself as semi-pro or pro, it still offers quite a number of the settings you are used to having when working with an advanced camera like a DSLR. The Kodak Easy-Share P880 will be of interest to a large group of consumers, especially those who are searching for something that is somewhat more than an entry-level.”

Website: LetsGoDigital - Kodak Easyshare P880 Preview

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TrustedReviews have just reviewed the Lexmark P315 portable photo printer.

“Print quality was not great, using the fresh, type 33 cartridge supplied with the printer. Colours looked washed out and there was a noticeable lack of red. We tried cleaning the heads a few times, but with little improvement – we could see breaks in the stripes of cyan and magenta. Swapping for a new type 35 cartridge, again supplied by Lexmark, improved things, but the colours were still not as vivid as from, for example, an HP Photosmart 375.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Lexmark P315 Printer Review

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Wacom Press Release

Wacom Presents World’s First Wide-Format Pen Tablet - New Intuos3 6x11 is Designed for Use with Widescreen Displays and Dual Monitors

Vancouver, WA, Nov. 1, 2005 – Wacom Technology Corporation’s new Intuos3 6x11 pen tablet is specifically designed for photographers, designers and artists who are using multiple monitors or a widescreen display like the 23” Apple® Cinema HD display. The Intuos3 6x11 features an active area with an aspect ratio (height-towidth) that is a great match to the screen aspect ratio of either a widescreen display or two standard displays used together. This provides optimal pen control and efficient use of the entire tablet.

“With as much as 50% of the creative community soon using either widescreens or dual monitors, we’re confident that the Intuos3 6x11 is going to be very popular,” said Michael Marcum, Wacom’s Director of Product Management. “The Intuos3 6x11 is really a demonstration of the importance we place on identifying emerging customer needs and providing products in a timely way to meet those needs.”

The 80Gb Epson P-4000 has now been announced in the UK, priced at £499.99.

Epson UK Press Release

Epson’s® P-4000 Multimedia Storage Viewer is the essential portable device for photographers on the move

With its 3.8” Photo Fine high definition colour display, impressive 80GB storage and wide RAW support, the P-4000 is one of the most advanced photographic storage devices on the market.

1st November 2005: The Epson P-4000 Multimedia Storage Viewer is the new addition to Epson’s award winning Multimedia Storage Viewer range.  It is the ideal tool for professional and semi-professional photographers, featuring an incredible 80GB storage capacity for image backup as well as Epson’s market leading Photo Fine screen. Presented in a sleek and resilient aluminium casing the Epson P-4000 is a truly stylish and portable device that should be in every photographer’s camera bag.

The Epson Stylus Photo R240 is announced. The Epson R240 has a 1.5” colour LCD preview screen, minimum droplet size of 2pl and can print a 10x15cm photo in 47 seconds. The Epson Stylus Photo R240 has an RRP of £99 including VAT.

Epson UK Press Release

For easy and fun photo printing at home, use the new Epson® Stylus Photo R240 Series

The new Epson Stylus R240 Series makes creating lab quality photos at home quick, easy and affordable.

1st November 2005: Epson introduces the Stylus Photo R240 Series, a stylish home photo printer specifically designed for novice digital camera users. Featuring a colour preview display for ease of use, high quality photographs can be created more quickly and cost-effectively than at the photo-lab.

The Epson Stylus Photo R240 Series features an intuitive interface and colour LCD preview screen, enabling you to navigate the printer’s features easily. The screen and interface work together to allow you to select, view and then print your photos with ease. Photos can be printed direct from a memory card, via PictBridge or with a USB enabled digital camera, so there is no need for a PC.

Kodak Press Release

KODAK One Galleries Open in New York and San Francisco During the Month of November

NEW YORK & SAN FRANCISCO—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Nov. 1, 2005—Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE: EK):

—Experience the New KODAK EASYSHARE-ONE Wireless Digital Camera
—Enjoy Exhibits and Free Classes from Kodak Experts and Pro Photographers
—Digitize Your Printed Photos with Kodak Innovation

Eastman Kodak Company today opened hands-on digital photography galleries in New York (102 Wooster St.) and San Francisco (1823 Union St.), showcasing the new EASYSHARE-ONE zoom digital camera—the world’s first Wi-Fi consumer digital camera. The One Galleries are open November 1 through November 27 for people to experience and celebrate Kodak’s innovative approach to digital photography, as well as the work of some of the world’s leading professional photographers.

Samsung UK Press Release

Samsung Embarks on a Nationwide Imaging Roadshow

Shoppers will have a world of technology at their fingertips with Samsung’s nationwide Imaging Roadshow, running through to 5 December 2005. Designed to showcase stylish and high-spec digital cameras, mobile phones and photo-printers, the roadshow will be offering promotions across the Samsung product ranges including free memory cards to purchasers of specific digital cameras.

Ahead of Christmas, the Samsung Imaging Roadshow is visiting shopping centres across the country including Bluewater in Kent, Meadowhall in Sheffield, Centre MK in Milton Keynes and London’s Brent Cross.

A large number of websites have previewed the new 10.2 megapixel Nikon D200 digital SLR camera. Here they are in no particular order…

Website: LetsGoDigital

Website: Quesabesde

Website: Quesabesde - Nikon Interview

Website: DPReview

Website: Rob Galbraith

Website: Popular Photography

Microsoft Press Release

Microsoft and Pinnacle Systems Unveil Ultimate Holiday Gift for Digital Photo and Video Fans

New Software Package, Digital Image Suite PLUS, Addresses Rising Consumer Trend in Editing, Organizing and Sharing Digital Photos and Videos

REDMOND, Wash., and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Nov. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/—Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) and Pinnacle Systems Inc. today introduced Microsoft(R) Digital Image Suite PLUS, a complete set of intuitive digital photo- and video-organization and editing tools that combines Digital Image Suite 2006 with Pinnacle Studio(TM) version 10 in a single, affordable package. With comprehensive and easy-to-use tools, Digital Image Suite PLUS
offers consumers at any skill level everything they need to enhance, preserve, organize and share their growing libraries of digital photos and video clips for years to come. The new software package is available today in most retail outlets where Microsoft and Pinnacle products are sold.

InfoTrends/CAP Ventures Press Release

InfoTrends/CAP Ventures’ Study Shows that Retailers Are Driving Future Online Photo Service Growth

(Weymouth, MA) November, 01 2005… InfoTrends/CAP Ventures’ latest online photo services report finds that 29% of U.S. Internet users are now online photo service members, representing an increase of 12% over 2004. Pureplay online photo services, or dot-coms, currently dominate the market in terms of market share and total print volume. 78% of online photo service members belong to a pureplay site like Kodak EasyShare Gallery, while just 14% are members of a retail online photo service like Walmart.com. Today, pureplay online photo services members are more motivated to share their digital photos, while retail online users are more motivated to print. Nevertheless, changing market dynamics could shake up the status quo of the online photo services market.

DIWA member Steves Digicams have published their review of the Konica Minolta Z6, which updates the popular Z5 and features a 6 megapixel sensor, 12x zoom lens and 2 inch LCD screen.

“The overall image quality of the Z6’s 6-megapixel Fine mode wasn’t what we had expected. While the majority of our images were sharp, there was very noticeable noise present in areas of contrast, giving images a grainy look. There were also moderate traces of Chromatic Aberrations, but this is typical of ultra-zoom cameras. Our outdoor samples had good color saturation with good exposure in most cases, however in instances of harsh sunlight it did tend to over-expose the entire shot.”

Website: Steves Digicams - Konica Minolta Z6 Review

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Hungarian website Index Digicam have posted their review of the new 7 megapixel Samsung Digimax V700.

Website: Index Digicam - Samsung Digimax V700 Review

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The Nikon D200 digital SLR camera is announced today. The Nikon D200 is a 10.2 megapixel DSLR with a 2.5 inch LCD screen and 11-area auto-focus system. Other highlights of the D200 include a magnesium alloy body, 5 frames per second continuous mode and 3D Color Matrix Metering II. The Nikon D200 will cost £1299.99 / €1940 / $1849 body only and will be available at the end of December. Two kits are also available - the D200 and 18-70mm lens is £1499.99 / €2240, and the D200 and 17-55mm lens is £2299.99 / €3435.

Nikon UK Press Release

Nikon launches the D200 Bridging the gap between professionals and enthusiasts

Nikon launches its powerful, feature-packed D200 digital SLR camera, delivering a high-precision, high-performance package and creating a new class of camera between entry-level and professional digital SLRs.

The Nikon D200 combines the solid look and feel and advanced camera operation of Nikon’s D2 professional series with the approved user-friendliness and stunning image quality that are the hallmarks of all Nikon digital SLRs.

The D200 has been crafted to connect a range of newly developed Nikon technologies with advanced features inherited from the Nikon D2x, ensuring an ultimate shooting experience with exceptional and versatile imaging performance, high speed and an instant response. The result is a blend of superb features, high quality components and fantastic results.

The AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED lens is announced today. The Nikon 18-200mm lens offers a 18-200mm focal range (11.1x zoom) which is equivalent to a 27-300 mm lens in 35mm format. Available at the end of December 2005, the Nikkor 18-200mm VR lens will cost £549.99 / €821.

Nikon UK Press Release

New DX Zoom-Nikkor lens from Nikon features enhanced Vibration Reduction system

Nikon UK is pleased to announce the versatile AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED.

Compact, lightweight and packed with an array of advanced features, the AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor lens offers 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED focal range length and 11.1x zoom coupled with Nikon ED glass, Silent Wave Motor and enhanced Vibration Reduction (VR II).

The VR II feature enables significantly sharper handheld images at slower shutter speeds and in a wider range of lighting conditions than previous models. Equipped with the new lens, users can take pictures at shutter speeds up to four times slower than is possible with a non-VR lens.

The Nikon Wireless Remote Speedlight SB-R200 and Nikon Wireless Speedlight Commander SU-800 are announced today. Available at the end of December 2005, the SB-R200 will cost £169.99 / €255 and the SU-800 price is to be confirmed. Two macro kits are also available (details below). Macro Set A is £549.99 / €820 and Macro Set B is £379.99 / €565.

Nikon UK Press Release

Nikon expands the Creative Lighting System with the launch of the SB-R200 Remote Speedlight and SU-800 Commander Unit

Nikon UK is pleased to announce the introduction of the Wireless Remote Speedlight SB-R200 and Wireless Speedlight Commander SU-800.

Designed to make macro lighting easy whilst also expanding the creative potential for general multiple- flash photography, the new equipment was designed with the co-operation of specialist macro photographers from the wildlife and medical sectors.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T9 compact digital camera is announced today. The Sony Cybershot T9 offers a 3x Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar optical zoom lens, 6 megapixels, an optical image stabilizer, highest ISO speed of 640 and a 2.5 inch LCD screen. All of this fits into the DSC-T9’s slim one inch wide body. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T9 camera will be available in January 2006 for about $450 / £330.

Sony Press Release

SONY ENHANCES PICTURE QUALITY AND PHOTO SHARING WITH NEXT-GENERATION T-SERIES DIGITAL STILL CAMERA

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 1, 2005 — Sony is stepping up the picture quality of ultra-slim digital still cameras with the introduction of its new Cyber-shot® DSC-T9 model, the first in this category to offer both Super Steady Shot® optical image stabilization and high light sensitivity.

With these Sony technologies, the new six-megapixel DSC-T9 delivers more detailed images with significantly less blur and graininess than typical point-and-shoot cameras. Optical image stabilization reduces image blur from hand movement, while high light sensitivity helps to lessen blurriness resulting from low-light conditions. The end effect is better-focused, expressive images that look more like the way you see them, imitating the human eye.