PhotoNews

May 20, 2009--Pandigital today launched its second-generation PhotoLink One-Touch Print Scanner and the new PhotoLink Slide & Negative Scanner.

Pandigital is the number one provider of digital photo frames in North America with more than 20 percent market share for 2008, according to Parks Associates’ report, "Digital Photo Frames: 2009 Annual Global Market Analysis and Forecast."

"While the bulk of today's photos are taken by digital cameras, there are still millions of print photos in boxes, bags and photo albums that deserve to be digitized and preserved for the future," said Dean Finnegan, CEO, Pandigital. "The PhotoLink Print Scanner is literally the easiest way possible to turn print photos into digital images. Plus, with the new PhotoLink Slide & Negative Scanner, customers can finally enjoy and preserve the precious family memories shared on these older formats that are cumbersome to handle and view." Read more

May 18, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony is making it easy for first-time digital SLR buyers to step up from point-and-shoot digital still cameras with the introduction today of three new easy-to-use a (alpha) cameras (models DSLR-A380, DSLR-A330 and DSLR-A230), four new lenses, a flash and accessories.

Uniquely Matched to Customers' Needs

The new cameras are designed to overcome challenges faced by many customers taking their first steps in DSLR photography. Without compromising performance and versatility, the new models are smaller, lighter, easier to use and offer innovative expansion options not found in other systems.

"Our new alpha cameras, lenses and accessories make it easier for new users to get the great photos they expect without the steep learning curve that DSLRs have traditionally required," said Kristen Elder, senior manager for the alpha business at Sony Electronics Inc. "By overcoming the obstacles, we've made it much easier for newcomers to take great pictures with DSLRs."Read more

May 15, 2009 – As springtime rolls in, Canon is encouraging Americans to visit their national parks and photograph their beauty with its fourth annual Canon Photography In The Parks Photo Contest*. The contest invites photography enthusiasts, from May 15th to September 30th, 2009, to enter by submitting their "Inspirational Nature Images," the theme for this year's contest. Photos taken at any park or monument in America can be entered through the Canon Digital Learning Center Web site at: www.usa.canon.com/parks. New this year, Canon will have two contest divisions for photographers between the ages of 13 and 17, and a separate division for adults ages 18 and older. This will enhance the contest experience by allowing aspiring teen photographers to compete amongst their peers.

"Through our Photography in the Parks Photo Contest, we have seen a great number of awe-inspiring outdoor images submitted from around the country. It is during these beautiful spring and summer months that we all should take the time to go outside and enjoy all that nature has to offer," stated Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Canon U.S.A. "As an environmentally conscious organization, we encourage everyone to enjoy the beauty of nature, and work to protect it."

After entering their photos through the Canon Digital Learning Center, potential contest winners will have the opportunity to forward an e-postcard of their submitted images to friends and family as a fun way to share their photographs. Winning photographers from the Photography in the Parks Photo Contest will receive some of Canon's hottest photographic equipment. Along with some of Canon's hottest equipment, the Grand Prize winner will receive a trip to a National Park. Read more

Canon Live Learning Inspires Attendees to Develop Their Personal Creative Vision

May 12, 2009 - Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today announced the launch of Canon Live Learning, a new on-site education program targeted towards photographers who currently use or are interested in Canon's popular line of EOS photographic products. Canon Live Learning (CLL) will offer high-quality classes and workshops conducted by a number of the industry's leading professional photographers, Canon's Explorers of Light. CLL attendees will learn how to get the most out of their gear while also having the opportunity to try out Canon's latest line of EOS products.

"Through the Canon Live Learning program we are hoping to empower and inspire our customers to further enhance their skills and passion for the art of imaging," said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. "Canon Live Learning adds value to the experience of owning and using Canon photographic products."Read more

May 6, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Panasonic today announced pricing for the highly-anticipated LUMIX DMC-GH1, the new Micro Four Thirds digital camera with Full-High Definition (HD) video recording ability, which will be available in early June for a suggested retail price of $1499.95. The LUMIX DMC-GH1 includes the LUMIX G VARIO 14-140mm/F4.0-5.8 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S. lens as part of the kit. The new lens, designed to support HD movie recording, features a silent motor and continuous auto focusing (AF) capability -- a differentiator from traditional DSLRs.

In the U.S., the LUMIX GH1 will be available in black and has advanced photography features, such as the ability to record AVCHD 1080p/24p High Definition video, yet is easy enough for entry-level users to understand and take beautiful photos and videos. With Panasonic's iA (Intelligent Auto) mode* -- a user-friendly setting made popular in the LUMIX line of digital point-and-shoot camera products, both entry-level and more experienced DSLR users can enjoy a complete suite of technologies that allow beautiful photo-taking and engage automatically -- no setting adjustments needed.Read more

Weighing under 6-ozs and priced under $150, the Genius G-Shot HD520 offers 11-megapixel stills and HD video with H.264 compression format for exceptional quality output to today’s high-resolution flat panel TVs

April 28, 2009 -- Genius, a brand division of KYE Systems Corp., has announced a new compact, pocket-size high-definition digital video camera that excels at capturing both high-resolution stills (at 11-megapixels) and high-definition video (at 5-megapixel in MPEG-4/H.264 format) and is light enough (under 6-ozs) and portable enough to allow users to capture activities anytime, anywhere. This easy-to-use camcorder is ideal for summer time outings, dads-n-grads, moms on-the-go or anyone looking to capture life's moments in brilliant color and detail. Launched today, the G-Shot HD520 is both Windows (Vista/XP/2000) and Mac (OS10 or higher) compatible and designed with an ultra-bright 2.5" LTPS LCD screen that can rotate up to 270-degrees to allow users to shoot videos from any angle or position.

The G-Shot HD520 comes equipped with Face Detection to track and detect faces accurately as well as Electronic Image Stabilizers (EIS) to detect and correct hand-shaking when shooting photos. The handheld camcorder has a built-in memory of 32MB and supports additional HCSD memory up to 8GB. The G-Shot easily outputs to today's high-resolution flat-panel televisions using the included HDMI cable for theatre-like viewing or video and photos can be easily uploaded to a computer for digital editing, archiving or sharing with friends. Read more

April 20, 2009 -- Today at the 2009 NAB Show, Adobe Systems Incorporated is highlighting advances in video and dynamic media software technologies that improve the creation and delivery of content across personal computers, televisions and mobile devices. The show sees the company debut Adobe Flash Platform for the Digital Home, an optimized implementation of Flash technology that brings HD video, interactive applications and services, new user interfaces and online content to Internet-connected televisions, set-top boxes, Blu-ray players and other devices (see separate press release).

Adobe also unveiled a software framework, code-named Strobe, that will help establish an open industry standard for media players and accelerate the creation and delivery of high-quality video and interactive experiences for Web audiences (see separate press release).

In addition, NAB 2009 sees the company preview Adobe Story, a new online and offline software application for collaborative scriptwriting, aimed at the film and broadcast markets. Currently in the early stages of development, Adobe Story ties into the pre-production phase of video workflows and will be integrated with other Adobe products, as part of the Creative Suite product family. Read more

"Strobe" to Simplify Delivery of Custom Online Media Players for Content Owners

April 20, 2009 — Today at the 2009 NAB Show, Adobe Systems Incorporated announced a new software framework for building media players that extends the capabilities of the Adobe Flash Platform. Code-named "Strobe," the framework will help establish an open industry standard for media players and offer production-ready software components to streamline the development of custom media players, reducing the time content publishers spend creating their own playback technologies. The framework will enable developers using Flash technologies to quickly and easily add rich functionality—such as advertising, user measurement and tracking, and social network integration—into new custom players that can be branded for individual content owners.

"With Strobe, we're delivering an open framework that enables media companies to focus on their core competency, creating great content that people want to see, instead of developing their own video players from scratch," said Jim Guerard, vice president and general manager of Dynamic Media at Adobe. "Adobe is committed to driving Web innovation and now with Strobe, we are helping to create an open framework for media players, enabling developers and media companies to focus on developing, delivering, and monetizing content so they can extend their online media efforts."Read more

April 20, 2009 — At the 2009 NAB Show, Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced the extension of the Adobe Flash Platform to connected digital home devices with an optimized implementation of Flash technology that delivers high definition (HD) video and rich applications to Internet-connected televisions, set-top boxes, Blu-ray players and other devices in the digital living room. Major System on Chips (SoC) vendors, OEMs, cable operators and content providers including Atlantic Records, Broadcom, Comcast, Disney Interactive Media Group, Intel, Netflix, STMicroelectronics, The New York Times Company, NXP Semiconductors, Sigma Designs, and others announced support for the optimized Flash technology today. The Adobe Flash Platform for the Digital Home is available immediately to OEMs and the first devices and SoC platforms with support for the optimized Flash technology are expected to ship in the second half of 2009.

The Adobe Flash Platform for the Digital Home now enables the delivery of HD Web videos to digital home devices via the Flash Video (FLV) file format. Consumers will be able to enjoy rich, interactive viewing experiences and amazing new ways to engage with HD content on televisions. Flash technology-based applications will allow users to quickly switch between television programming and Web content outside the Web browser. With the optimized implementation of Flash technology, content providers are able to extend their reach to millions of connected digital home devices, and cable operators and device manufacturers are able to develop new services and powerful user interfaces that deliver immersive experiences. A preview of Adobe Flash technology for digital home devices is being shown in the Adobe booth (SL3320, South Hall) and during Adobe's NAB Super Session today.Read more

2008 Grand Prize Winner
El Capitan and the Merced River
Yosemite National Park, CA
Photograph by Doug Steakley

April 16, 2009 – National Geographic magazine has long-represented the "Ultimate" in photography for professional and amateur photographers. Now, through the second annual "Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest," photographers from coast-to-coast will again have the chance to have their photograph grace the pages of the magazine in an ad for Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries. The winner will also be awarded a trip of a lifetime – a National Geographic Expedition for two to the Galapagos Islands.

Beginning today through Tuesday, June 30, aspiring photographers can visit nationalgeographic.com/lithium to enter a photo in one of six thematic categories: animals/wildlife, nature, travel, people and cultures, weather and inspiration/Keep Going®. Whether you are a digital photography novice, a proud picture-taking mom or a long-time photo enthusiast, all skill levels are encouraged to enter.

"You don't have to be a professional or have professional equipment to take the perfect photo," said National Geographic photographer and contest judge Jim Richardson. "I've seen a lot of great pictures that were taken with perfectly ordinary digital cameras, just because the photographer happened to be in the right place at the right moment." Read more