Kodak: New digicams, software By
Mike Tomkins
(Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 15:09 EDT)
Eastman Kodak Co. has today announced two new digital camera models that both offer wireless connectivity - the EasyShare V610 with built-in Bluetooth, and the Easyshare-One / 6 MP with optional 802.11b WiFi.
The Kodak EasyShare-One / 6 MP is a fairly straightforward update of the existing EasyShare-One model that was announced in January 2005. Where the original EasyShare-One featured a CCD imager with an effective resolution of four megapixels, the Kodak 6 MP updates this (as one might expect) to a six effective megapixel CCD imager. A couple of other differences between the two cameras likely relate to the change in sensor - a reduction in the burst-mode framerate from two frames per second to 1.5, and an increase in the longest shutter speed on offer from four seconds to twelve. Finally, the new model complies with the recommendations of "WISPr", an abbreviation of Wireless Internet Service Provider Roaming, intending to increase the number of hotspots with which the camera can connect. Impressively, pricing has been cut in half from the EasyShare-One's US$599 list price at launch, to just US$299 list for the EasyShare-One / 6 MP (neither figure including the $99 cost of the optional SDIO WiFi card). Other features of the Kodak EasyShare-One / 6 MP are largely similar to the original model. The standout feature is the ability to transfer images wirelessly - either across the Internet to Kodak's EasyShare Gallery, to friends and family via email directly from the camera, or to a compatible printer with WiFi receiver for immediate printing. The Kodak EasyShare-One / 6 MP features a Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon 36 - 108mm equivalent 3x optical zoom lens, and a swivelling panel dominates the camera's rear, filled with a large 3" LCD display. The display itself also features a touch screen (operated with an included stylus), and the panel it is mounted on can be swivelled to face inside the camera when closed for extra protection of the LCD. The camera will also feature a VGA 30 frames-per-second video mode, as well as Kodak's Favorites feature which allows downsized versions of up to 1,500 favorite images to be stored in the camera's internal memory to show friends and family at a later date. It also features two Secure Digital card slots, one of which will be occupied by an 802.11b Wireless LAN card - the other being available to store images. The camera also features 256MB internal memory, in which the Favorites images are stored at a resolution suitable for 4" x 6" printing, with unlimited albums (synched with your PC) and the ability to browse favorites by date. Of thise 256MB, 185MB is available to store images in. The camera is compatible with 802.11b wireless LANs, including those using WEP encryption, or those requiring acceptance of terms and conditions before use (as is common with public wireless LANs). Customers purchasing the camera are entitled to "premium" post-sale service including assistance with wireless setup and operation, and priority handling of inquiries. Kodak also simultaneously announced a new version of its flagship consumer digital imaging application. Kodak EasyShare Software v6.0 overhauls the user interface and increases performance, and will be available to download free of charge next month. A separate news item covering the launch of the EasyShare V610 is available on our news page. Kodak EasyShare-One / 6 MP | | General | Camera Type | Compact | Manufacturer | Kodak | Model Number | EasyShare-One / 6 MP | Dimensions | 4.1 x 2.5 x 1.0" 103.0 x 63.0 x 26.0mm | Weight | 224.0 g 7.8 oz | Planned Price | $299.00 | Planned Availability | Jun 2006 | Warranty | 1 years | Image Capture | Sensor Type | CCD 6.40 megapixels (total) 6.10 megapixels (effective) | Aspect Ratio | 4:3, 3:2 | Image Dimensions | 2832 x 2128 (6.0 megapixels)2832 x 1888 (5.3 megapixels)2304 x 1728 (4.0 megapixels)2048 x 1536 (3.1 megapixels)1200 x 900 (1.1 megapixels) | Capture Speed | Standard: 0.8 frames per second Continuous: 1.5 frames per second for 3 frames | Image Preview / Review | Viewfinder | No | LCD | 3.0", 230,000 pixels | Playback Zoom | 8.0x max | Lens | Lens Type | Schneider-Kreuznach 3x optical zoom | Image Stabilization | No | Focal Length | 6.0 - 18.0mm (actual) 36 - 108mm (35mm equivalent) | Aperture Range | f/2.8 or f/4.7 (wide), f/4.8 or f/8.1 (tele) | Focusing System | TTL imager AF (multi-zone, center spot) | Focusing Range | Normal: 24" - infinity (60 cm - infinity) Macro: 4.1" - 29" (10 cm - 70 cm) | Exposure | ISO Sensitivity | Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400 | Shutter Speed | 12 - 1/1448 second | Exposure Modes | Program | Metering Modes | multi-pattern, center-weighted, center spot | Exposure Compensation | +/- 2.0EV in 1/3EV increments | White Balance | Image Sensor - auto, daylight, tungsten, fluorescent | Internal Flash | Modes: auto, red-eye, fill, off | Creative | Scene Modes | auto, portrait, sports, landscape, close-up, night portrait, night landscape, snow, beach, text, fireworks, flower, museum/polite, self-portrait, party, children, backlight | Digital Zoom | 3.3x in 0.3x steps | Self Timer | Yes, 2 to 30 seconds | Movie Format | QuickTime MOV (MPEG-4) with audio 640x480 Max. frame-rate: 30 frames per second Max. clip length: 4,800 seconds (640x480) | Storage | Recording Medium | SD/MMC, Built-in | File Format | JPEG (EXIF 2.21) | Connectivity | Video | Yes, NTSC / PAL switchable | Computer | USB 1.1, USB 2.0 Full (LOW) Speed | Other | SDIO Wi-Fi 802.11b (optional), Camera Dock (optional), DC In | Power | Battery Type | Lithium Ion rechargeable | Battery Form Factor | Proprietary KLIC-5000 | Product Bundle | Software | Kodak EasyShare software | Battery / Charger | Proprietary KLIC-5000 Lithium Ion rechargeable battery and charger | Flash Memory | 256.0MB built-in memory | Other | Internal Microphone | Yes | Internal Speaker | Yes | Tripod Mount | Yes | More Photos | | | |
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Original Source Press Release:
Kodak Marks the Fifth Anniversary of Revolutionary EASYSHARE System with a New Wave of Imaging Technologies For the Future Dual lens BLUETOOTH Technology-Enabled Camera Launched, Facial Recognition, Context Sorting and Auto Albuming Among Future Kodak Innovations Demonstrated NEW YORK, April 25 — Eastman Kodak Company today unveiled the next advances in imaging innovation while marking the fifth anniversary of its first ground-breaking EASYSHARE consumer digital camera and docking system. Ranging from the market’s first dual lens BLUETOOTH enabled 6 megapixel, 10X optical zoom pocketsize digital camera to facial recognition and auto albuming software, Kodak’s line-up of innovations offer consumers new ways to radically enhance their imaging experience. “Kodak continues to innovate to make the complex simple—delivering new technologies that enrich the consumer experience,” said Pierre Schaeffer, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Kodak’s Consumer Digital Group. “Today we’re unveiling the next innovations in consumer digital photography that will allow people to take, share and archive pictures in ways they never thought possible.” Since the launch of EasyShare in 2001, Kodak’s innovative technology has driven it to a number one market share position in the U.S. in digital cameras, home snapshot printers, desktop imaging software applications, online photo sharing services and retail kiosks, according to industry sources. Today, Kodak introduces new products and future technologies that continue to build on the company’s hallmark ease of use, imaging innovations, and strategic partnerships to unleash the power of pictures. New Wireless Camera, Software Among Introductions The KODAK EASYSHARE V610 dual lens digital camera is the world’s smallest 10X optical zoom camera at less than an inch thick. (38 – 380 mm equiv.) Using precision-crafted KODAK RETINA Dual Lens technology, the sleek, pocket-size V610 camera combines two SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH C-VARIOGON all-glass, non-protruding prism lenses to deliver such a long zoom range — a first for a camera so small (just 4.4 x 2.2 x 0.9 inches). The innovative 6-megapixel EASYSHARE V610 camera is able to capture extremely close, high quality pictures of distant subjects without the obtrusiveness of a larger camera due to anti-blur technology. The EASYSHARE V610 model is one of the first digital cameras to incorporate BLUETOOTH wireless technology, making it simpler to instantly share pictures with people nearby. Pictures can be sent to any BLUETOOTH technology-enabled device up to 30 feet away—as well as be received on the camera’s high resolution 2.8-inch LCD screen (230,000 pixels). The KODAK EASYSHARE V610 zoom digital camera will be available worldwide in May and will have an MSRP of US$449 in the U.S. Also introduced today is the next generation of the award-winning EASYSHARE-ONE, the world’s first Wi-Fi consumer digital camera, and the only camera in the world from which people can e-mail pictures. The new KODAK EASYSHARE-ONE 6 MP digital camera combines the power of taking, sharing, organizing, and printing pictures into a single, highly innovative product. Its new WISPr (Wireless Internet Service Provider recommendation) protocol increases the number of hot spot locations to connect anytime, anywhere, wirelessly. The EASYSHARE-ONE 6 MP camera will be available in the U.S. beginning this summer for US$299 (MSRP). The Wi-Fi card is an optional accessory US$99. The new Version 6.0 of KODAK EASYSHARE Software is also announced today. With more than 30 million copies in use worldwide, the free software provides an effortless way for people to organize, print, share and get creative with their ever-growing picture collections. Version 6.0, available in MAC and PC, comes with a new user interface to enhance the consumer experience and increase performance. It also includes a photo card printing feature that turns pictures into invitations, announcements and more. The new KODAK EASYSHARE Software V6.0 will be available for free download beginning in May at www.kodak.com/go/easyshare. The new integrated KODAK EASYSHARE Gallery web site (www.kodakgallery.com) will make it easier than ever for consumers to access their entire collection of digital images so they can print, share and create great photo keepsakes. This combination of the best features of KODAK EASYSHARE Gallery and KODAK Mobile Service will simplify the process for consumers to send photos from their KODAK EASYSHARE Gallery accounts to their camera phones, to save as wallpaper and to send photos from their phones to their online collections for safe keeping. Once online, these pictures can be shared with family and friends, made into Photo Greeting Cards, Photo Books calendars, mini books, mugs, collages and much more. Out of the Labs and Into the Future Continuing its commitment to digital innovation, Kodak unveiled today a host of digital technologies that will transform the consumer digital experience within the next few years. For example, facial recognition software will automatically sort through thousands of photos to find pictures of friends or family. Context sorting and auto-albuming will make archiving one-button simple, and KONGA sharing software will enable instant sharing of images between family and friends as interactive as instant messaging in a KONGA-like line. About Eastman Kodak Company Kodak is the world’s foremost imaging innovator, providing leading products and services to the photographic, graphic communications and healthcare markets. With sales of $14.3 billion in 2005, the company is committed to a digitally oriented growth strategy focused on helping people better use meaningful images and information in their life and work. Consumers use Kodak’s system of digital and traditional image capture products and services to take, print and share their pictures anytime, anywhere; businesses effectively communicate with customers worldwide using Kodak solutions for prepress, conventional and digital printing and document imaging; creative professionals rely on Kodak technology to uniquely tell their story through moving or still images; and leading healthcare organizations rely on Kodak’s innovative products, services and customized workflow solutions to help improve patient care and maximize efficiency and information sharing within and across their enterprise. More information about Kodak (NYSE: EK) is available at www.kodak.com. # Kodak, EasyShare, EasyShare-one and Retina are trademarks of Eastman Kodak Company. Schneider-Kreuznach and C-Variogon are trademarks of Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbH used under license by Eastman Kodak Company. The Bluetooth wordmark is owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such mark by Kodak is under license. 2006 |
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