This looks like a great idea for anyone who uses a compact digicam without a hotshoe, but would like a better flash unit than the tiny one that is built into their camera.

Metx Press Release

Metz mecablitz 28 CS-2 digital - Optimized for compact digital cameras: 

Firing flashes with perception

How often have you been disappointed about dark photos merely because the flash integrated in your camera was not powerful enough? And have you ever wanted a handy compact flash unit that can be used separately from the camera? Well Metz offers the perfect solution with the mecablitz 28 CS-2 digital - optimally adapted in performance and size to compact digital cameras! To this must be added the fun factor with the ingenious EASY mode. For the very first time the flash shot taken can be directly influenced with the instant correction keys (+/-)! This means simply release the shutter, check the result on the camera’s monitor, and correct with the keys should this prove to be necessary. With this slave model the flash power can be boosted without any undesirable side-effects. The power is generated by normal alkaline size-AAA batteries or the equally inexpensive rechargeable AAA batteries.

Eager to learn
This is unique: A flash unit that learns on its own! The Metz mecablitz 28 CS-2 digital flash unit adapts itself optimally to the camera on account of its learning function. This ensures that this compact slave flash unit can always be fired by the flash integrated in the camera, even if it operates with a metering pre-flash. This exemplary ?co-operation? is achieved by test flash firing in slave mode. If the red indicator signal light (= ok button) flashes then this means that the flash unit has learnt a ?new light lesson?. For all subsequent shots the Metz mecablitz 28 CS-2 digital will automatically use this value. Moreover, the delay period between the measuring pre-flash and the main flash can be set at any time between 0 and 255 ms. With cameras that do not operate with a pre-flash function it is possible to use the slave mode 1 (with simultaneous triggering). Yet it is always possible to return to the initial functions with the help of a special reset function. And then there is the ingenious concept of the folding side bracket to mount the camera!

Convenient instant correction in EASY mode Operation of the Metz mecablitz 28 CS-2 digital is unbelievably easy. The flash shot taken can be directly influenced with the plus/minus keys (+/-). Procedure: Take a flash shot with your digital camera ? check the result on the camera?s monitor ? and decide with the plus/minus keys whether the shot should be brighter or darker ? An instant correction measure for all those who are not concerned with detailed values but rather good results.