New Kodak mc3 Offers Digital Video, Music and Pictures In One Package

The new Kodak mc3 is the first portable unit that combines digital video with virtually unlimited recording, an MP3 player and a digital still camera together for less than $300. Unveiled for the first time at DEMO 2001, a high technology conference in Phoenix, the Kodak mc3’s unique combination of today’s most popular mobile features will appeal to active, Internet-savvy individuals who want to connect with their friends through video, music and pictures. And, it works with both Macintosh and Microsoft Windows computer platforms.
“The mc3 offers an entertaining and simple way to create movies and share them with friends. It brings multimedia sharing to a single, fun, easy-to-use unit,” said Willy Shih, president of Kodak’s Digital and Applied Imaging group. “It’s about much more than capturing images or listening to music. The mc3 provides flexibility, mobility and versatility - it’s much more than the sum of its parts.” “Kodak’s new mc3 is a great example of a trend-setting device aimed at consumers,” Jim Forbes, co-producer of Demo and executive producer of Demo Letter. “Consumers - especially those who use the Internet in their everyday lives - will respond to the product’s virtually unlimited video recording and music playback capacity which is only dependent on the size of their memory card. The ability to capture digital video and pictures along with MP3 files and easily create digital movies that can be viewed over the Internet or your television clearly makes this a breakthrough product.”

Kodak designed the mc3 specially to produce files that can be transmitted simply and quickly via email. Thanks to its full-color reflective LCD screen, users can preview and review their video and pictures easily and accurately, even in bright sunlight. With Arcsoft Video Impressions software for video editing and albuming, users can combine their video, pictures and music to create unique multimedia movies or music videos. The mc3 can record more than 20 minutes of non-stop video in Quick Time format on a 64 MB CompactFlash card (or 20 seconds of video for each MB of removable memory recording at 10 fps. At a higher frame rate (20 fps), it can record 4 seconds of video for each MB of memory.)

The Kodak mc3 is a fully functional MP3 player. With the included Real Jukebox software, users can convert music from CDs to MP3 format and play up to 1.5 hours of music with a 64MB memory card. A USB cable, also included, provides for fast uploading of music and downloading of video and still picture files. The Kodak mc3 is the company’s first product to incorporate it’s own CMOS image sensor technology. The KAC-0310 CMOS sensor applies Kodak’s vast array of imaging expertise, enabling the mc3 to capture outstanding images under all lighting conditions with excellent color quality. In addition, Kodak’s CMOS sensor offers very low power consumption that greatly extends usable battery life. The sensor captures full-color still pictures in VGA resolution, producing modest file sizes, maximizing image storage and minimizing upload and transmission time of pictures via the Internet. An mc3 equipped with a 64 MB memory card can hold over 600 still images.

The mc3 ships with Arcsoft Photo Impressions software for photo editing and albuming. A built-in microphone and speaker simplify capturing and playing back video. The unit also has an audio/Video-out port for playing music on a home or car stereo or through headphones, or to play back video with audio on a TV or VCR. There’s even a slide show function for sharing still pictures on a television. Weighing only 5.5 oz (without batteries) and measuring a scant 2.6 x 4.1-inches, the mc3 fits easily into a small pocket or backpack. The mc3 was designed for single hand operation and is powered by three AAA batteries (included), and the unit is fully upgradeable for future Internet music formats.

A dock with USB connection is also available for a suggested retail price of $24.95. The dock automatically detects the mc3, launches the software, and downloads all of the files in seconds. To help users get the most from their Kodak mc3, the company has set up a special sitelet, mcXchange, on www.kodak.com. There, Web surfers will find an mc3 demo, examples of creative projects made possible by the device, and a free mc3 Real Player “skin” that changes the on-screen appearance of the Real Player.

The Kodak mc3 comes in a number of configurations, based on the size of its replaceable memory. With 16 MB memory, the unit’s suggested retail price is $229; with 64 MB memory, $299. Optional accessories are available including memory cards, a carrying holster, video/audio cable and rechargeable batteries with charger. Both the mc3 and the accessories will be available on www.kodak.com and in retail stores in March.

Source: Kodak