San Diego, CA -- January 30th, 2002 -- Idruna Software Inc., an innovative provider of desktop and mobile graphics software is pleased to announce the launch of Pocket Phojo, the first handheld photo editing and wireless transmission solution specifically designed for photojournalists. Instead of requiring a bulky laptop to get photos to the press agencies, photojournalists can now fit all of the tools they need in their pocket. For situations such as rapidly breaking stories, or in locations where laptops are impractical, this represents a breakthrough in the time required to get a photo from the camera to the photo desk.

"We are privileged to have been able to work with several highly respected photojournalists in tailoring Pocket Phojo to the unique and demanding needs of the photojournalist in the field." said Paul Nolan, CEO of Idruna. "We feel that our handheld solution is poised to completely replace the laptop in this market, not only greatly reducing the amount of equipment the already burdened photojournalist requires, but making the whole process of getting images from the front lines to the front page quicker and easier."

"With Pocket Phojo I'm able to have a photo ready to send in less time than it takes to boot up my laptop." said Ed Betz, a well known NY based photojournalist. "Because of it's small size, I can take it anywhere and transmit images from the sidelines while the game is still in play, which gives me an edge over my competition who have to wait until the end of the period or risk missing some of the action."

"Even in scrum of photographers, all it needs is a five minute break in the action, and my images can be transmitting, which is crucial for the immediacy of the web." said John Cornell, past President of the NPPA. "Once transmitting, I can put the device back in my pocket and continue to cover the event."

Pocket Phojo is available either with the required hardware included, or as a standalone software license. It runs on the Compaq iPAQ 3800 series Pocket PCs, comparable in speed to a Pentium class laptop, yet less than 10oz in weight, and utilizes the latest Microsoft Windows Powered Pocket PC 2002 Operating System.

How it Works
A photo can get from camera to photo desk in five quick and easy steps:

1. The photojournalist shoots photos using their professional digital camera, then ejects the CompactFlash card used to store the digital photos and inserts it into the Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC. The photos can then be loaded into the Pocket Phojo software.
2. Once loaded, all of the standard image editing functions photojournalists need are just a tap away. The photos can be cropped if needed, then sized to the standard width, height, and dots per inch settings.
3. A histogram is available to graphically check that highlights and shadow detail are correct, and images can be viewed at 100% and higher to ensure sharpness. If needed, advanced color correction and unsharp mask filters can be used to fix any problems with the image.
4. Next, the industry standard IPTC caption information such as headline and category are added to the image, which is then embedded into the resulting jpeg file. To speed up the process of entering the required information, preset settings are available so fields can be filled in once and then recalled en-mass at the press of a button.
5. Finally, the file is transmitted to the photo database. The supplied cable connects the iPAQ Pocket PC to the photojournalist's cell phone, and the built-in "Send via FTP" option in Pocket Phojo is used to upload the jpeg image file to the photo department's server, where it is integrated into their database and made available for use. Photos can also be sent via email if needed.