Epson UK first announced this before Christmas - now it’s the turn of Epson America to introduce the Epson Perfection 4990 Photo Scanner series.

Epson America Press Release

EPSON PERFECTION™ 4990 SCANNER SERIES FEATURES GREATER DYNAMIC RANGE AND LARGER TRANSPARENCY UNIT FOR GREATER PRODUCTIVITY AND PERFORMANCE

New Models Combine the High Resolution and DMax of a Dedicated Film Scanner with the Versatility of a Flatbed Scanner to Deliver Outstanding Results

LONG BEACH, Calif.—Jan. 12, 2004 – Epson America Inc.’s newest flatbed scanners offer enhanced productivity and performance for photographers, graphic designers and other professionals by offering a higher DMax for greater dynamic range and a larger transparency unit than its predecessor models.

The EPSON Perfection™ 4990 PHOTO and EPSON Perfection 4990 PRO scanners both have a versatile built-in 8”x10” transparency unit (TPU) with a moving carriage and lamp optimized for film scans for quality rarely seen in a consumer-level scanner. The TPU is almost 50% larger than the predecessor models. It includes film holders that support eight 35mm mounted slides, four 35mm film strips up to 24 frames, three to six medium format frames or two 4” x 5” frames. It also has an 8” x 10” guide for transparencies and proof sheets without film holders, allowing for a larger volume of negative scanning.

Linspire, Inc. Press Release

Lphoto 2.0 Improves Photo Management on Desktop Linux With DVD and Flash Options

Linspire, Inc. Announces Major Upgrade to Open Source Digital Photo Software

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/—Linspire, Inc. today announced a new version of Lphoto, the complete desktop Linux solution for digital photo management. Besides convenient tools to import, re-touch, manage, and share digital photos quickly and easily, Lphoto 2.0 includes advanced features like album-to-CD and album-to-DVD functionality and options to create MP3 soundtracks on custom DVD slide shows. The photo manager is available for several popular Linux versions, including Linspire, MandrakeSoft, Xandros, Debian, SuSE, and Knoppix. Further details on Lphoto plus screen shots and a flash demo can be viewed at www.lphoto.com.

EDGE Tech Corp Press Release

EDGE Tech Corp Introduces Digital Picture Frame Plus MP3 Player; New Digital Picture Frame Product Now Shipping

DALLAS, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/—EDGE Tech Corp, a leading supplier of DRAM and Flash memory upgrades, portable computing products, storage devices, and other experience-enhancing technology solutions announced today the launch of its Digital Picture Frame plus MP3 Player. This product is the latest addition to the company’s growing digital media product line.

The Digital Picture Frame plus MP3 Player by EDGE is now available at the company’s reseller and distribution partners, as well as the EDGE Tech Corp online store at http://www.edgetechcorp.com/ . The picture frame is compatible with most digital cameras that store JPEG images and motion files. Using the built-in digital media card slots, users simply place their flash memory cards in the appropriate slot located on the back of the frame and view photos stored on the card. The device also has a slide show option to automatically display and rotate the pictures onscreen as well as the added ability to play MP3 background music through the built-in speakers on the frame. The picture frame supports up to 12 Mega Pixel image files and has a 5.6” TFT active matrix LCD screen. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $199.99 after mail-in rebate.

The following press release only has a tenuous link to photography, in that a new cameraphone with 1.3 megapixels is hardly going to set the world on fire. What is interesting is the way in which the Samsung SCH-S310 mobile phone is controlled by the user - apparently it detects 3-dimensional movement, so that “the user can “write” the number “three” in the air. The mobile phone can read this movement and then dial “3.” Shaking the phone twice will conclude a call or delete spam messages.” Imagine millions of people all drawing madly in the air with their hands…George Orwell never predicted that!

Samsung Press Release

The Samsung SCH-S310 mobile phone, the world’s first “3D movement recognition” mobile phone. (Photo: Business Wire)

SEOUL, South Korea—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Jan. 12, 2005—Samsung Electronics

—The world’s first movement recognition mobile phone is unveiled; a new starting point for mobile phone technology.

—Ultra-precision technology calculates spatial movement in three dimensions.

Samsung Electronics unveiled the world’s first “3D movement recognition” mobile phone (model: SCH-S310). ‘Accelerometer’ is built in to accurately calculate and ascertain movement in three dimensional space and then carry out commands according to those calculations.

Sophisticated sensing technology calculates the direction in which the mobile phone is moving as well as its speed of movement. The capability extends beyond the identification of the general locus to include precise recognition of small and rapid movements as well as alphanumeric symbols.

Kodak Press Release

UNICEF Ambassador Sir Roger Moore joins KODAK to celebrate $1million dollars raised for children

Geneva, Monday 10 January 2005 – UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Sir Roger Moore KBE, joined Chairman of Eastman Kodak SA Etienne Bourgeois in Geneva today to mark the $1 million milestone in the corporate partnership between Kodak and UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund.  The impressive target was reached as Kodak’s 2004 ‘One Million Smiles’ appeal reached $150,000, largely due to the support of Kodak customers and employees, bringing the total donation to $1 million over four years.

This is quite an old link, but a useful one none-the-less. Rangefinder Magazine cast thier critical eye over the image management software Extensis Portfolio 7.

“I have found Portfolio quite robust and easy to learn. I was able to use the software right out of the box and only needed the reference manual on several occasions. There were no crashes. Only once did I feel it was missing a capability: When opening the original file for editing (in the Preferences the program can be configured to launch an image editor by double-clicking rather than using the menu command), there was no place to select which editor to launch, so Portfolio uses the default editor.”

Thanks to Kurt Skeels for sending me the link!

Website: Rangefinder Magazine - Extensis Portfolio 7 Review

eSoft Imaging Press Release

eSoft Imaging has released FotoBalloon 2.0, a user-friendly image editor that lets you add floating annotations to your pictures. Captions, notes, and comments are inserted in the form of info-balloons, without degradation of the quality of the original image and without any attached files. Once included invisibly in each image, you can easily display your comments in a variety of ways.

In Auto Mode, the program displays your information balloons sequentially. It delivers a slide show, and leaves each balloon on the screen for the appropriate length of time, depending upon the amount of information in the balloon.

Thanks to Sanj for the link.

Olympus Press Release

Olympus Announces Release Date & Specifications of Zuiko Digital ED7-14mm F4.0 Lens

* The information contained in this news release applies only to the Japanese market.

Olympus Imaging Corporation (President: Hiroshi Komiya) is pleased to announce the release date and specifications of the ZUIKO DIGITAL ED7-14mm (14-28mm) F4.0 Olympus E-System interchangeable lens that was announced on September 28, 2004. Details are shown below. 

Note: Figures in parentheses ( ) indicate equivalent focal length for a 35mm camera lens.

Release Date
The beginning of March 2005

FujiFilm obviously drank a little too much at Christmas, as they have started a competition where you can win a digital camera every day from January 11th-17th. You do have to live in the United States though (which rules me out - damn it!). Visit the link below now for the chance to win one of the five models on offer, including the Finepix 5100 (pictured).

Website: Win a FujiFilm Digital Camera

The Spanish website Quesabesde have reviewed the new Sony DSC-P93, a 5-megapixel digital camera with a 3x optical zoom.

Website: Quesabesde - Sony DSC-P93 Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Sony DSC-P93

The Spanish website Quesabesde have just reviewed the 5 megapixel Canon PowerShot A95.

Website: Quesabesde - Canon PowerShot A95 Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Canon PowerShot A95

Imaging Resource have posted their review of the 7 megapixel Pentax Optio750Z.

“A very small macro area with great detail. Underexposure with the flash, but good detail still visible. The Pentax Optio 750Z performed very well in the macro category, capturing a minimum area of only 1.61 x 1.21 inches (41 x 31 millimeters). Resolution was very high, and a lot of fine detail was present in the dollar bill. Details were soft on the coins and brooch due to the shallow depth of field from the very short subject distance. A moderately high level of image noise interfered with detail definition slightly, but results were still pretty good.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Pentax Optio750Z Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Pentax Optio750Z

Nikon have just announced the price and availability of the D2X, their new professional digital SLR camera which delivers 12.4 effective megapixels for both high-precision and high-speed performance.

Nikon Press Release

NIKON ANNOUNCES PRICING AND AVAILABILITY FOR D2X DIGITAL SLR CAMERA AND AF-S VR NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED-IF LENS
Nikon Inc. is pleased to announce pricing and availability for its highly anticipated D2X professional digital SLR camera. The camera will begin shipping on February 25, 2005 with a suggested street price of $4999.95 (MSRP $6299.95).

Designed as a truly versatile workhorse camera for many professional disciplines, the 12.4 million-pixel D2X blends for the first time the high levels of resolution commercial clients demand with superb image quality, color consistency and class-leading speed. The D2X can comfortably shoot full resolution 12.4 million pixel images at 5 frames per second (up to 21 consecutive JPEGS and 15 NEFs), and when the situation demands yet faster frame rates, the D2X has a unique 6.8 megapixel ‘High Speed Cropped Image’ mode that boosts the shooting rate to 8 frames per second (up to 35 consecutive JPEGs or 26 NEFs) by cropping the number of pixels used on the sensor to create the image.

Check the Latest Prices for the Nikon D2X

Mobile Imaging and Printing Consortium Press Release

Mobile Imaging and Printing Consortium Publishes Initial Guidelines for Consumer Printing of Camera Phone Images

- SAN DIEGO, United States, January 10, 2005 -

The Mobile Imaging and Printing Consortium (MIPC), an industry group developing solutions and implementation guidelines for printing images captured with camera phones, today announced their first set of guidelines for the mobile and printing industry.

January 10, 2005 San Diego, California – The Mobile Imaging and Printing Consortium (MIPC), an industry group developing solutions and implementation guidelines for printing images captured with camera phones, today announced their first set of guidelines for the mobile and printing industry.

This first set of the MIPC Implementation Guidelines sets a common standard which all mobile and printer manufacturers can follow and implement into their products. The guidelines leverage existing connectivity technology standards and solutions, such as Bluetooth™ wireless technology, printing from memory cards and PictBridge. As a result, consumers can expect seamless interoperability between a broad base of mobile phones and printers. Any products that follow the MIPC technical guidelines will work with each other in that applicable technology.

Steves Digicams have just reviewed the of the Jobo Digital Giga Vu PRO portable storage device.

“Using a SanDisk 1.0GB Extreme CF card I copied 292 files (a mix of JPEG, RAW and BMP) totalling 1020MB in 12:42. The Verify operation took another 13:05. These times were for the default copy and verify method with preview enabled. Using the “Fast” option disables the preview function and yielded a copy time of 12:12, not exactly what I would call “faster.” You can set the Giga Vu PRO to automatically verify after copy and turn itself off for unattended operations. What was very impressive was the copy to the host computer speed - I copied one of the backup folders with 960MB of files in it in just 60 seconds!”

Website: Steves Digicams - Jobo Digital Giga Vu PRO Review

CNET has just posted a review of the entry-level Olympus D-395 Zoom digital camera.

“The 3.2 megapixel Olympus Camedia D-395 offers a nice set of basic features at a very affordable price. However, its 33mm lens (35mm-camera equivalent) limits its versatility. It doesn’t cost much more to get a camera with a 3X zoom lens, a feature that most people will find is worth paying a little extra for. “

Website: CNET - Olympus D-395 Review

Check the Latest Prices for the Olympus D-395

Apogee Photo have published a new article all about the depth of field preview function, which means that only SLR camera owners need apply. Is that small button that makes the viewfinder go dark actually worth using after all?

“Landscape photographers are very opinionated when discussing the camera’s depth-of-field preview button.  Professionals applaud its virtues.  However, many amateurs say it’s a waste of time.  As opinions go, there is no middle ground.  People either love the depth-of-field preview, or they hate it.  This article will explain how the depth of field preview operates, its problems, and a few tips for making it work well for you.”

Website: Depth of Field Preview: Friend or Foe

PCWorld have a look-back at last week’s CES show, choosing their favourite gadgets and also the ones that are not so hot.

“From the all-in-one department comes a nifty battery charger—yes, I said battery charger. No kidding, in March Lenmar will ship a $139.95 device that will “speed charge” all your batteries including camera, camcorder, and AA/AAA batteries. It also has adapters to charge cell phones, PDAs, or anything else that can be recharged through a USB port.”

Website: PCWorld - CES 2005: Picks and Pans

InfoTrends/CAP Ventures Press Release

InfoTrends/CAP Ventures Releases Worldwide Mobile Imaging Study Results; Study Projects Nearly 900 Million Camera Phone Shipments Worldwide by 2009

WEYMOUTH, Mass.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Jan. 10, 2005—InfoTrends/CAP Ventures projects that worldwide camera phone shipments will grow from 178 million units in 2004 to over 860 million units in 2009. By 2009, camera phones are expected to account for 89% of all mobile phone handsets shipped.

Primary drivers behind this explosion are improvements in imaging functions (i.e. image sensors, zoom, auto focus); rapid declines in prices for this functionality; higher-speed wireless bandwidth; and easier-to-use handsets, services, and peripherals.

SoundPix Press Release

Macworld San Francisco 2005 Booth #2628

SAN FRANCISCO—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Jan. 11, 2005—SoundPix Inc., a leading developer of audio-imaging software solutions for handheld and desktop computers, digital cameras and web serving environments, announced today its first product for the Mac market, SoundPix(R) Plus Mac. SoundPix Plus Mac features a simple and familiar user interface to enable users to instantly capture and share sound-enhanced pictures, or “soundpix.” SoundPix will demonstrate this technology and software at MacWorld in Microspot’s booth, #2628.