Archive for December, 2007
Lights, camera, action for iTunes
Times Online, UK
Dan Sabbagh: Analysis
Apple’s success in wooing Twentieth Century Fox finally gives the electronics giant hope that it can win over the movie business, which has looked at iTunes’s stranglehold over digital music with nothing short of alarm.
Meanwhile, Warner Music confirms that it has abandoned copy protection for digital music, ultimately because of pressure from Steve Jobs, the Apple chief executive - exactly the kind of leverage that the studios are so nervous of.
Until now Apple has been able to persuade only Disney to sell and rent programmes online, in agreements mainly encompassing Disney television hits such as Lost and Desperate Housewives. But given that Jobs is on the Disney board, after selling Pixar, his animation studio, to the House of Mouse, it was not surprising.
The motivation of Fox, owned by News Corporation, parent company of The Times, has not yet been spelt out, but the film studio’s obvious hope is to create a new pay-per-view window. But it is also a recognition that Apple remains the clear leader when it comes to developing compelling portable consumer electronics.
Although video iPods will struggle to sell films and television if there is nothing to watch, it is also hard to imagine that any other technology company can match Apple’s design flair. Plus a tie-up with Microsoft, the obvious alternative, is hardly reassuring for the studios, either - the Redmond-based group has a long history of dominance itself. This is not to say that Hollywood doesn’t have cards of its own, as it embraces Apple. Music companies are smaller and weaker than the studios, which are all part of large conglomerates. Jobs could pick off the crisis-stricken EMI and make it abandon copy protection, gradually forcing the others to follow suit.
Plus, people watch films on the largest screen in the house, not, usually, on small iPods. IPods can be hooked up to the television, but there are other ways of getting pay-per-view films to the box in the corner of the living room, too. In that arena Apple should face competition from traditional pay TV.
Yet bringing in Apple inevitably will lead to some change in the balance of power between Silicon Valley and Hollywood. Tinseltown needs to work with the technologists, but in doing so it cedes some control over standards. If Jobs’s track record means anything, at some point he will try to exploit it. The battle will make for interesting watching.
December 28th, 2007
Did you get a digital camera for Christmas?
SooToday.com
By David Helwig
SooToday.com
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Did Santa bring you a digital camera?
Cool! Now you send a holiday greetings message to SooToday.com readers everywhere!
Realizing that this website is as close as many former Saultites will get to home this season, SooToday.com is continuing its popular holiday tradition of publishing photos and updates from expatriate readers.
If you’re a former Saultite now living 200 or more kilometres away, you’re on our International Most-Wanted List.
Here’s our special holiday invitation:
*****************************
E-mail us a good-quality digital image of you and yours, together with an 800-word-or-less update on where you are and how you’re doing.
Materials can be submitted to SooToday.com anytime between now and January 1.
We’ll publish these on SooToday.com as part of our regular holiday news coverage, and as long as it takes into the New Year to finish the job.
The photo is an essential part of the package.
E-mail it to us as a .jpg attachment, together with your text message.
All submissions should be sent to helwig@sootoday.com
Of course this is all free!
You don’t think we’d try to get rich by exploiting homesick Saultbies, do you?
December 26th, 2007
Canon Produces 30 Millionth EOS-series SLR Camera
FOX News
TOKYO, Dec 20, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Canon Inc. today announced the achievement of a new camera-manufacturing milestone as combined production of the company’s EOS-series film and digital single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras passed the 30-million mark. Additionally, production of EOS Digital-series SLR cameras has passed the 10-million unit threshold.
The achievement coincides with Canon’s 70th anniversary and the 20th anniversary of the launch of its EOS line of SLR cameras. Shipment of EOS cameras began in 1987 from Canon Inc.’s Fukushima Plant (now Fukushima Canon Inc.), with production later moving to Canon Inc., Taiwan and the company’s current main production base at Oita Canon Inc. In 1997, the 10th anniversary of the series, production reached 10 million units, and in 2003 it passed the 20-million mark. And now, a mere four years later, Canon reached the 30-million level.
In March of 1987, Canon’s 50th anniversary, the company introduced the EOS 650 AF SLR camera, the first model of the EOS series. The EOS 650 incorporated the world’s first fully electronic mount system, achieving complete electronic control not only between the lens and body but throughout the entire camera system, representing a new generation of AF SLR cameras. Standing for “Electro Optical System” while also carrying the name of the Greek goddess of the dawn, the EOS series marked the dawn of an impressive range of innovative technologies and new heights of technological development.
Designed to realize Canon’s key concepts of high speed and ease-of-use, EOS cameras garnered high acclaim from a wide range of users. In 1989 the company introduced the top-of-the-line EOS-1 professional model, and in 1992 the EOS 5 QD (EOS A2/EOS A2E or EOS 5 in regions outside Japan), equipped with Eye-Controlled Focus, a groundbreaking AF function that allowed users to select a desired focusing point just by looking at it. The following year, in 1993, Canon succeeded in expanding the company’s user base with the compact, lightweight EOS Kiss (EOS Rebel XS or EOS 500). In 2000, Canon formally ushered in the age of the digital SLR camera with the introduction of the EOS D30, equipped with the company’s proprietary CMOS sensor. In addition to developing in-house such key components as CMOS sensors and the high-performance DIGIC digital image processor, Canon offers an extensive lineup of EF lenses and has launched cameras aiming to fulfill the company’s new key concepts of high speed, ease-of-use, and high image quality. This year, commemorating the 20th year of the EOS series, Canon has further bolstered its digital SLR camera lineup with the launch of the top-of-the-line EOS-1D Mark III and EOS-1Ds Mark III, featuring a fully revamped camera system, as well as the EOS 40D, which has won praise from a wide range of users, from first-time SLR camera owners to advanced amateurs.
Canon, through continued technological innovation with the EOS series, and by strengthening its marketing activities to deliver enhanced product quality and services, will continue its efforts to deliver all-around user satisfaction with an even more attractive lineup of products, contributing to new directions in the future of photographic expression.
This is a copy of a release issued in Japanese by Canon Inc. in Tokyo on December 20, 2007.
About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), a top patent holder of technology, ranking third overall in the U.S. in 2006+, with global revenues of $34.9 billion, is listed as one of Fortune’s Most Admired Companies in America and is on the 2007 BusinessWeek list of “Top 100 Brands.” To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company’s RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/pressroom.
+ IFI Patent Intelligence Press Release, January 2007
All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE: Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Editorial:
Canon U.S.A., Inc
Len Musmeci, 516-328-4884
lmusmeci@cusa.canon.com
or
Kevin McCarthy, 516-328-5950
kmccarthy@cusa.canon.com
or
For sales info/customer support:
1-800-OK-CANON
ccenter@cits.canon.com
or
Canon U.S.A. Web Site:
http://www.usa.canon.com
Copyright Business Wire 2007
December 21st, 2007
Kodak EasyShare P712 Digital Camera Reviews
Unbeatable.co.uk News, UK
I bought the P712 9 months ago and have found it to be an excellent camera. It is extreamly feature rich and once all the features and settings are understood it takes excellent pictures. There is a large selection of acceseries available for the camera on the kodak website including external flash guns, various filters and bateries chargers etc.
The only down side is that their are that many features that you realy need to take your time and learn them all. For example streight from the box i was taking photo’’s of landscapes and finding the sky was always washed out. Once i had gone through the settings and discovered i could alter the colour and sharpness levels the photo’’s turned out much better. I can highly recomend this camera as the ideal camera to buy before working your way up to a Digital SLR.
Pros
fast autofocus completly customisable in menus Fits nicely into hand wide range of filters etc available long battery life profesional results.
December 19th, 2007
Digital Photo Shopping Guide, Part 2
PC World
More annual recommendations from Dave, including digital cameras, snapshot printers, and photo books.
Dave Johnson
Having a hard time shopping for the digital photographer in your life? No worries: I have some gift suggestions for you.
Last week I kicked off my annual holiday guide. Let’s wrap up with a few more shopping ideas.
A Compact Digital Camera
Give the gift of digital photography to someone you love. My dad started me on a lifelong photographic hobby when he let me start shooting with his SLR as a teen. (That was a long time ago, before inexpensive, compact digital cameras.)
This year, there are a lot of great choices. Models that range from 8 to 12 megapixels mean you don’t have to compromise on resolution, so large prints will look good. And these cameras are tiny. When they weigh just 4, 5, or 6 ounces, you will barely know a camera’s in your pocket–so there’s no excuse not to carry it everywhere.
Take a look at our recent roundup of top compact cameras for gift ideas that start at $200. These cameras can work well as a first camera for a budding photographer or a go-everywhere snap-shooter for someone who already has a bigger model, like a digital SLR.
Buy My Book!
Looking for a beginner’s guide to digital photography? Let me humbly recommend my own book, How to Do Everything with Your Digital Camera, 4th Edition, available on Amazon.com for about $18. It shows you how to improve your exposure, composition, and lighting, and also gives you editing tips. It’s the sort of book that I bet Leonardo Di Vinci would recommend, if he’d had a digital camera and an Italian translation of my book.
And since I’m such a bad self-promoter (as evidenced by the fact that I write about my book only once a year), let me point out that I also have a number of other technology books–and even an interactive kids’ book. Go to my Web site for the whole list, and buy several copies of each. Give them to friends, family, and random strangers.
If you’re looking for a book on the intricacies of Adobe Photoshop Elements, then check out The Photoshop Elements 6 Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskowski ($30 on Amazon.com). This great little book covers all the details–like setting up a digital workflow, tweaking your photos, and eliminating flaws likje digital noise–using the latest version of Photoshop Elements.
Finally, if you’re shopping for someone who is fascinated by how digital photography works, then check out the aptly named How Digital Photography Works, by Ron White (about $20 on Amazon.com). This is a gorgeous, full-color encyclopedia-like paperback that explains the physics and engineering behind digital cameras, lighting and exposure, photo editing, and more.
Calibrate Your Loved One’s Monitor
Here’s a question that commonly appears in my inbox: How do I make the colors on my computer screen more accurate, and how do I get them to match my printer? The answer: use a monitor calibration tool. And while that might be a bit decadent to buy one any other time of year, it’s a great gift idea.
A color calibration tool is easy to use. Typically, you mount it on your monitor and run a program that measures the display’s output. It then sets a color profile on your PC. You’ll generally want to pull the tool out of storage and run it every few months to keep your monitor’s settings from drifting.
There are a few great alternatives out there. One of the most popular is Datacolor’s family of Spyders, like the Spyder2express, which I found at PC World Shopping for $55.
Another interesting alternative is the Pantone Huey, which you leave connected to your PC. It constantly adjusts your monitor settings in response to the ambient light. I found it at PC World Shopping for $67.
Photo Printers
In the past, photo printers have been too pricey to give as gifts, but this holiday season, you can find a wide assortment of printers designed to print 4-by-6-inch snapshots for little more than $100. Even better: The ongoing cost of consumables–the price per page for paper and ink–is in the same neighborhood as buying prints at an online photo printing Web site. For some smart gift ideas, check out PC World’s recent roundup of photo printers.
Hot Pic of the Week
Get published, get famous! Each week, we select our favorite reader-submitted photo based on creativity, originality, and technique. Every month, the best of the weekly winners gets a prize valued at between $15 and $50.
Here’s how to enter: Send us your photograph in JPEG format, at a resolution no higher than 640 by 480 pixels. Entries at higher resolutions will be immediately disqualified. If necessary, use an image editing program to reduce the file size of your image before e-mailing it to us. Include the title of your photo along with a short description and how you photographed it. Don’t forget to send your name, e-mail address, and postal address. Before entering, please read the full description of the contest rules and regulations.
This week’s Hot Pic: “Roadside Attraction,” by David Lykes Keenan, Austin, Texas
David writes: “This colorful scene appeared on the side of Interstate 35 between Austin and Waco. I took the picture with a Ricoh GR-D digital camera and then processed it in Photoshop CS2 (I did a slight perspective shift, minor color and contrast adjustments, and added some high-pass filter sharpening).”
This Week’s Runner-Up: “Irondequoit Creek Turbulence,” by Charles Vaughn, Spencerport, New York
Charles writes: “Here is a picture I took while practicing depth-of-field shots for my first photography class. We had just talked about how to make moving water have a cotton-candy effect. I used a Nikon D70S camera on a tripod.”
See all the Hot Pic of the Week photos online.
Have a digital photo question? Send me your comments, questions, and suggestions about the newsletter itself. And be sure to sign up to have the Digital Focus Newsletter e-mailed to you each week.
December 18th, 2007
BenQ Digital Camera Has Seriously High ISO Sensitivity
Gizmodo Australia, Australia
The X835 digital camera from BenQ has an 8MP sensor, packs in a 3x optical zoom and can handle sensitivities of up to ISO 2000 during still image capture. The ISO sensitivity during video capture is set at a maximum of 6400. The addition of such functionality comes at a price;
the noise in the captured images will probably be enough to cause an avalanche in the Alps from an 800 kilometre distance.
Most standard cameras have sensitivities of less than ISO 1600; an increase in the value allows better utilisation of ambient light, foregoing the necessity for a flash in lower light conditions. The camera will also have a 2.5-inch LCD, 16MB internal memory and an SD/SDHC slot, with support for up to 4GB cards. Price and shipping dates are not available, but the camera will ship in red and black colours when it eventually does. [Macnn]
December 17th, 2007
SHOPPING FOR . . .A digital camera
Newsday, NY
As told to Laurie Squire
The expert: Scott Gries, Getty Images photographer. Some of his recent projects include a shoot for TLC’s new show “Fashionably Late,” several MTV productions, as well as a trip to Gibraltar for The History Channel. An archive of photos is at gettyimages.com.
What I want: Small enough to fit in my pocket. After lugging 50 pounds of photo gear with me every day, the last thing I want on my day off is to have to carry heavy equipment!
I must have: Strong rechargeable batteries. And a wide lens (as a rule, I don’t leave the house without a lens that is at least 28-mm wide, forcing me to get close to my subject, which makes the picture that much more intimate).
What I hate: Testing out a digital camera in a store is far from a real life situation . . . unless, of course, every picture you plan on taking is in fluorescent light!
Savvy shopper: Buy a spare battery and always keep it on hand - the displays on the back of digital cameras use a lot of power, and you don’t want to miss a shot because you were at the drugstore buying AAs. Disposable batteries aren’t so great for the environment either - think green. Research cameras before you make a purchase; an excellent site for learning about cameras and comparing models is dpreview.com. Plus, this research will let you know what prices you can haggle the salespeople down to.
My pick: Canon Powershot G9 has a nice wide lens, superb construction and produces amazing quality photos for a point-and-shoot ($450 at B&H).
Next best thing: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX55, a great, easy-to-use, ultra-compact camera. Small enough to fit in your pants’ front pocket and still has a giant 3-inch monitor that makes composing a breeze ($350 at B&H).
December 17th, 2007
Digital Video Expo Is AV Geek’s Wet Dream
By Dave Bullock
12.12.07 | 3:30 PM
Wired News
LOS ANGELES — From editors to video bloggers and pornographers, attendees at last week’s DV Expo 2007 found a show floor full of gizmos and software to take their productions to the next level.
Hundreds of digital-video-tech manufacturers demo’d their latest wares to potential buyers. If you’ve tried to take your cat’s video LOLblog to the next level, or if you want to sink your teeth into high-quality, prosumer production, check out the latest DV tech offered at the show.
Left: Panasonic’s AG-HMC70 is a low-cost, solid-state, shoulder-mounted HD camera. Sporting an array of pro features — balanced audio inputs (bottom), HDMI outputs, AVCHD codec and an adjustable eyepiece — this new camera will be quite a deal when it’s released at around $1,200.
Photo: Dave Bullock
December 13th, 2007
Welcome to ZDNet’s digital cameras blog
ZDNet Blogs
Some of you might remember me from my days running reviews at CNET and ZDNet. Or you might have caught me doing speed reviews of tech gadgets on CNN Headline News (in three minutes or less!), which I did for years. Suffice it to say, I’ve been immersed in personal technology in one way or another for the past 20 years, and I’m a bona fide gadget geek. Here, I’ll be focusing on my favorite piece of tech gear, the digital camera.
Digital cameras have come a long way since the first one I got to see up close and personal back in 1998 (that 1-megapixel, swivel-headed wonder, the Nikon Coolpix 900). The sheer number of new camera releases just this year is enough to boggle the mind, with close to 20 cameras from Canon alone, most of them with at least 8 megapixels. The purpose of this blog is not to do a thorough review of every new digital camera that comes on the market—there are plenty of camera experts out there who will put new models through rigorous lab-based tests and then some. What I’ll try to do here is filter through the chaff, bringing you the highlights in a digestible way, and give you a real-world look at what’s available. I’ll provide hands-on looks on some key products, and point you to other products you might not find otherwise. But the beauty of a blog is its organic nature, so I’d love to hear from you about what you’d like to see in this space (by e-mail or by TalkBack).
December 12th, 2007
High-tech gift ideas for the whole family
HiTechMommy.com founder shares her tips to keep loved ones connected
MSNBC
TODAY
updated 4:19 p.m. ET Dec. 10, 2007
This holiday season can be more high-tech than ever. Catherine Schwartz, eBay’s gadget and toy director and founder of HiTechMommy.com shares with us her coolest picks for everyone on your gift-giving list.
Gifts for moms
Panasonic’s HDC-SD5 Video Camera, $999 — Help mom ditch her bug old camcorder and re-define her as hi tech with this HighDef camcorder from Panasonic. This is the world’s smallest of its kind and shoots stunning high definition video so you can see every smudge of icing on that little one year old face. Keeping track of these memories now comes in the form of an SD card (yeah, like that card inside your digital camera) and can easily be transferred to computer or DVD with the help of the next item on Mom’s list. A couple of cool features on this camera are the pre-record function, which, when active, pre records a 3 second lead anytime you hit recorded making it close to impossible to miss a goal, image stabilization, touch screen buttons and a 10x optical zoom.
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Sony Camera to DVD Burner, $229 — Moms are all about preserving the memories; that’s why they’re the ones with piles of old VHS and mini DV tapes in the closet. This gadget allows mom to hook up any device and burn, baby burn her way out of the piles and into the next generation of media storage, DVD. The possibilities with this device are practically endless thanks to a card reader for 5 different card types and hookups capable of handling VCRs, mini DV based camcorders, still digital cameras, and cable boxes (although often content is protected against burning). The 2.5’ LCD on the front of the device allows you to see exactly what’s recording onto the disk whether it’s video or still images. There’s little room for mistakes and lots of room to burn with this one.
Gifts for dads
Epson MovieMate 72, $1,600 — If you’re looking for a way to help dad create the ultimate HD home theater experience, an HD projector screen is the way to go. The Epson MovieMate 72 is great because it’s portable, although it does need power, and can be adjusted to project up to a 22 foot image on any surface! This projector is quiet, although the speakers boom, it gives off superb definition from its built-in DVD player, as well as offering outputs to use with your X-Box 360, Wii, PS3, Tivo or even an iPod. If you’re looking for the right screen, Epson can rock one for you that’s easy to assemble and comes with a quality stand. For more of an adventurous take, head outdoors, try the XL Theater blow-up screen complete with outdoor speakers!
Digital Image Wallet, $50 — This is a great way for Dad to keep his whole family close at hand and looking cool. This lovely leather wallet comes with a digital picture frame insert that holds up to 40 images of the family. Simply hit the power button and a slide show will begin. Adding images is easy with the universal USB connection format.
Gifts for sister
Custom Colors, $549 or Send In Yours, $149 — Yeah, you’ve all seen the iPhone, but have you ever seen it look so fashionable? High-end designers like Louis Vuitton and Kate Spade have done us fashionista sisters a huge favor by creating these fab looking carriers and jackets for the hottest device ever made. If you’re still looking to get noticed but bling ain’t your thing, try a true customization by completely coloring the iPhone, or any other gadget you love, via the company Colorware. These guys let you send in your device or create your own from their site that will be custom dipped with any combination of over 30 different brilliant colors. Building custom colored gadgets from them saves you a little cash as apposed to buying on your own then sending in and the coating they use helps keep your gadget protected and covers up old scratches. The best part is, besides being the envy of anyone who sees your phone, on their site you can choose a device then select the different colors to see if you’re feelin’ the combo or not. I’m creating a very 80’s rock ‘n roll black and purple phone. Jealous?
Mimoco USB Storage Bots, $50-100 — Sister, you’re never alone when you’ve got this little device with you, and you’re never without your files either! These little bots connect to your computer’s USB drive to keep any school work, pix, music, or any type of files safe and sound. When you first connect the device to your PC, you’ll see they come pre-loaded with games, animations, and a funky magazine for your playing pleasure. Keep them warm, and on your key chain with the optional zip-up hoodie that’s so cute you could just die! They come in 512 mb, 1 gig, 2 gigs, and 4 gigs.
Gifts for brother
DELL XPS Revolutionary Desktop, $2,500 — Although I picked this item for brother, it’s really a computer the whole family can enjoy for years to come. The Dell XPS One has taken on the iMac with its all inclusive form that eliminates the need for a computer tower. Its elements are concealed within the fat, 20 inch monitor and wireless keyboard. This machine is commanding in style and packs the punch of any desktop out there with a core 2 duo processor, HD TV Tuner (now you can finally watch local news in HD from your PC!), stereo speakers, a Blu-Ray player, and these really cool intelligent buttons that light up and vibrate with motion detection. Want more? The monitor has a built in web cam with face recognition technology, a media card reader, and tons of cool software that rivals Apple’s iLife suite. Lastly, the wireless keyboard has a built in trackball, multimedia keys, and works up to 10 feet away. This computer will be current for years to come.
Rock Band, $170 — Unleash the rocker inside you as you jam out with the imitation guitar, drums or microphone that come in the Rock Band bundle. Each instrument has on screen patterns that need to be followed and they get increasingly harder as you get better. The drummer pounds away, the guitarist strums and the singer belts out the lyrics all with the goal of making money and becoming famous! The funniest thing about this game is when you play with actual musicians. They get so into it but really don’t end up with any sort of advantage and it’s hilarious. The tunes included are what make this game so elite. They boast titles from Rush, The Clash, KISS, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Metallica, and my brother’s favorite, “Are you Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet. You can download more tunes in the years to come making this a game that’s here to stay.
Gifts for grandparents
Sony Digital Book Reader, $299 — My grandfather loves to read and read he does all the time, in fact, but lately his limited vision and shorter attention span have hindered him from fully enjoying one of his favorite past times. Enter the Sony Reader Digital Book. This device holds over 160 books on its internal memory, hundreds more on memory cards. So if he gets bored of a title and doesn’t want to lug around 20 different books, all he has to do is skip around until he finds one he likes better. Also, by increasing the font size on the screen he can see the words much clearer in any lighting situation. The reader is extremely easy to load books onto thanks to the amazingly thorough Connect eBook Store. On the site there are thousands of titles within about 20 different categories to choose from. The device can also display word documents, .pdf files, and other text files. The battery life lasts for more than 7,000 continuous page turns making it perfect for long trips.
Ceiva Digital Picture Frame, $130-200 — Of course there’s nothing grandparents love then their grandchildren. Now that I have a son, I totally get it.. they can simply hand them off when they’re hard to deal with. Anyway, next to having the little ones close by comes their love of current pictures. This digital picture frame allows my mom to display hundreds of pictures of baby Jack in one frame! Getting images on the display is simple and multidimensional. The quickest way is to either send or dedicate a memory card, the device accepts all of the major players, to grandma that she can simply insert into the slot and, poof, there’s Jack! The coolest way to update the Ceiva is to send pictures right to the frame from via the web. The frame has a phone jack and can dial out to ceiva.com, at no charge, in the middle of the night to receive pictures that have been sent to it by loved ones. Additionally, thanks to built in wi-fi, you can send pix right to the frame from our computer within the network. Lastly, I can be super savvy and use the cell phone picture function allowing me to send pix right from my mobile to my Nana. The frame is capable of sounds and videos if you really want to impress your folks.
December 11th, 2007
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