05/31, 11:30pm
iPhone 3.0 images leaked?
Chinese blog UMPCFever has posted what appear to be photographs of the new iPhone interface with features such as camera auto-focus, a magnetometer and voice recording. The blogger responsible for the shots says he was given the iPhone prototype from his American friend, who supposedly asked the blogger to only "take fuzzy snapshots" because it is not yet official. The blogger did not take photographs of the iPhone's physical design, believing that it would be unlikely the final product would look the same.
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05/20, 10:00pm
TV-IP512WN camera released
TRENDnet has announced its newest addition to the Wireless IPView Camera Series, the Wireless N IP Camera, also known as the TV-IP512WN. The camera is intended for security purposes, allowing two-way audio and video streaming over the internet. The TV-IP512WN features 300MBps wireless N technology, improving the bandwidth and giving the camera a wide range of capabilities.
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05/06, 1:00pm
DealNN: hard drives
Featured deals from DealNN include hard drives, printers, cameras and more. First up is the re-designed SanDisk 8GB Cruzer USB flash drive for $24.99. That's $15 off the list price of $39.99 and includes FREE shipping. The newly re-designed SanDisk Cruzer USB flash drive features a retractable USB port and is backed by a lifetime limited warranty from SanDisk.
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11/28, 3:45pm
digital camera deals
A variety of digital cameras are currently featured at DealNN with special Black Friday pricing. CircuitCity.com has reduced the price on the Samsung 8.1MP digital camera -blue from $99.99 to $79.99. TigerDirect.com has reduced the price on the Canon HD camcorder from $899.99 to $559.99, that's an instant savings of $340. Until 11/30/08 Newegg.com is offering the Kodak EasyShare 9.2MP digital camera (model no. C913) for $96.99, that's $15 off the original price of $111.99. TigerDirect.com has cut the price on the Canon PowerShot SD2200 8.0MP digital camera from $199.99 to $169.99, an instant savings of $30. RadioShack.com is offering the Samsung 10.0MP digital camera -red for $149.99. On November 28th save $50 for a final price of $99.99.
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10/31, 6:55pm
DealNN: memory upgrades
Today's deals at DealNN include a range of products from bargain priced RAM and printers to digital cameras. First up is the Kingston ValuRAM 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 SDRAM memory module kit priced at $34.99 after mail in rebate at Buy.com. Next up is the refurbished Epson Stylus CX4450 all-in-one color printer for $29, a price cut of $20 off the original price of $49.99 at J&R.com. The refurbished Kodak EasyShare C613 6.2MP digital camera is available at TIgerDirect.com for $59. For one day only (10/31/08) Newegg.com is offering the Griffin Amplifi 2.1 sound system for iPod for $78, a savings of 48% off their regular price of $149.99. Lastly, Apple's online store has the refurbished AirPort Express base station with 802.11n and AirTunes for $79.
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10/08, 11:20pm
LG KC780 adds 8MP camera
LG on Thursday unveiled the KC780, confirming earlier reports of the slim slider phone with a built-in 8 Megapixel camera and 2.4 inch widescreen LCD. LG advertises a Schneider-Kreuznach lens, which it says enhances clarity and sharpness of images. Also present in the camera are face and smile detection features, which puts the focus of the image on people's faces. The camera can also be configured to fire when a subject smiles, while a Beauty Mode removes subtle blemishes from a subject's face.
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09/23, 12:40am
RED Scarlet camera redux
Premium camera manufacturer RED recently announced informally it is scrapping current plans for the Scarlet camera, and will reveal a new rethought version, still in 2009. A company rep, Jim, announced that the changes to the platform are taking place due to changes in the marketplace, and RED is looking to position the camera differently overall. Jim hints that the changes are "measurable," and equates the announcement to product development.
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09/03, 12:50am
Samsung mini DSLR coming
Following almost a month behind Olympus' and Panasonic's Micro Four Thirds camera system announcement, Samsung unveiled plans for a similar system with interchangeable lenses and its internally-manufactured 14MP APS-C sensor. Amateur Photographer reveals that Samsung's project is allegedly dissimilar from the Micro Four Thirds system, with the company claiming to have been working on this system for some time.
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08/27, 1:00am
Nikon D90 unveiled
Nikon brought rumors to a head Wednesday with an official release of the D90, confirming the 12.3 megapixel camera, and its accompanying AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm lens with VR function. The camera also introduces an alleged world-first for DSLR cameras, offering users the ability to shoot D-Movie video footage in resolutions up to 720p, with an included HDMI-out port for simplified viewing. Nikon notes that the larger DX-format sensor will allow for lower-noise video than a conventional camcorder.
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08/21, 11:45pm
Canon leaks 50D details
Canon's Chinese branch has leaked details for the EOS 50D, the latest in the company's sport and high-speed photography camera line, offering user anti-shake technology in the camera hardware, among other features. The new model is based around 15.4 Megapixel DIGIC 4 sensor, but experiences a miniscule drop in framerate (6.3 frames per second, versus a former 6.5). Light sensitivity should also be enhanced, running from ISO 100 to an extremely high ISO 12800, while the 50D's buffer is able to store up to 16 RAW images, or 60 JPEGs.
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07/07, 4:05pm
Casio EX-F1 firmware V1.10
Casio America announced today it will make its Firmware Ver. 1.10 available on July 8 for its EXILIM Pro EX-F1 digital camera. Among the features unlocked by the update will be a unique Prerecord Movie function that will enable video recordings to start five seconds before users press the record button. The Prerecord function will work with all of the camera's movie modes, including 30 fps Standard, 300, 600 and 1200 fps High Speed and High Definition modes. Casio did not reveal how the Prerecord Movie function works.
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06/26, 4:25pm
AVerMedia's NVR with Wi-Fi
AVerMedia today announced the launch of its EB1704HB WiFi-4 NVR instant network video recorder, meant for use in homes and small businesses. The package includes the Network Video Recorder main unit, a wireless router and four wireless IP cameras that are ready to set-up, with no configuration needed. Because there are no wires, apart from the power cords, AverMedia claims a 10-minute set up time. The system features motion-detecting sensors that trigger recording to make efficient use of hard drive space.
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06/17, 4:35pm
F. Look: Flip Video Mino
The growing popularity of video sharing sites like YouTube has encouraged people to post their own videos for others to view and pass around. However, capturing and sharing videos has often been cumbersome using ordinary camcorders. Not only must you master the multitude of options on a typical feature-laden camera, but you must also lug it around whenever you want to capture a scene. Since carrying a full-fledged camcorder is impractical most of the time, one option may be Pure Digital’s Flip Video Mino.
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06/03, 7:45pm
Digital Foci framer
In brief: We have posted a review of Incipio Leather iPod and camera cases, Digital Foci offers Custom Framer Program, Robosoft to develop for 3G iPhone, HTML snippets set for Typinator debuts ... We have posted a review of Incipio Leather iPod and camera cases. The camera case, unlike most portable camera cases, has no frills, fuss or pockets. It is simply a hard leather box with a fold-over lid. The case clips onto your belt or pocket with an attached black hard plastic clip. The top flap secures with a magnet. This is a quick shot solution, i.e. the camera is always at your fingertips to whip out with one top flip and pull. The case does have a cut out on top through which you can thread the strap, but I never used it because it adds another step to camera removal. When out on a shoot, I often carry more than one camera and it’s convenient to attach one securely to my belt.
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05/22, 10:55am
Sharp's ultra-thin 5MP cam
Sharp on Wednesday announced it will soon ship the thinnest auto-focus, 5-megapixel CMOS camera module ever made. Despite its ultra-small size, the camera features a signal-to-noise ratio that is 1.6 times greater than the best current model, which results in higher-quality images. At just over a quarter-inch thick, the module utilizes a flat-screen lens and high-density design for its auto-focusing CMOS sensor.
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05/22, 12:35am
Nikon D3H samples revealed
(Updated with accuracy challenge) A video from an alleged insider shows sample images from the as-of-yet unannounced Nikon D3H, which illustrate the overall scale of precision the camera could provide. With an advertised boosted ISO rating of 51,200 (25 to 12,800 native), it would indicate that Nikon is making great strides in reducing sensor noise. The video claims that the photographs were shot with a second generation prototype under various lighting conditions.
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05/12, 1:10pm
Google Vidnik for YouTube
Google on Thursday unveiled Vidnik, a new application designed to allow Mac users to create and upload YouTube videos using a built-in iSight, Firewire or USB camera. Vidnik is a free, open source application that can record, edit, and label videos, and then directly upload them to a YouTube account for public viewing. Use of the app is reportedly quite simple, offering all interface control in a single window, with large, familiar buttons and controls.
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05/05, 4:55pm
Crative Vado leaked
While there has been no official word from Creative Labs itself, a product page on JR.com lists a Vado video camcorder from the company. In terms of specifications, the ultra-affordable video camera is nearly identical to the Pure Digital Technologies Flip range of video cameras. The Creative Labs VF0570-P Vado pocket camcorder will feature a 2GB storage capacity capable of holding approximately 2 hours of VGA (640x480) video, and up to 2 hours of life from its rechargeable AA batteries.
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04/29, 9:35pm
Denoise 1.0 for Mac OS X
Banana Bee has released Denoise 1.0, an easy-to-use, noise and grain suppression utility for Mac OS X. Designed from the ground up for OS X, Denoise removes noise and grain from photographs. Users can simply drag an image from the Finder or iPhoto and Denoise will dutifully do its magic, and save the result. Image noise, a random fluctuation of pixel values in an image, can originate in film grain or in electronic noise in the scanner or digital camera sensor and circuitry. In addition, the company notes, that in low light, or at high ISO speed settings, digital cameras tend to produce images with more apparent image noise and that noise removal can result in loss of some image detail. However, advanced noise-reduction algorithms can distinguish between the image detail and unwanted noise, and alter an image in noisy areas without loss of quality.
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04/22, 9:45am
Ricoh G600 outdoor camera
Ricoh on Tuesday announced its newest digital camera, the G600, which is water- and dust-resistant. The camera is meant for outdoor sports use and as such, is rugged enough to withstand a near five-foot drop. To earn a MIL Standard 810F rating, the 5x optical zoom lens is all internal so it never protrudes from the body, making it invulnerable to damage when dropped. The 10-megapixel G600 is otherwise optimized for harsh conditions, with big buttons that can be operated with gloved hands and a rating for use in temperatures ranging from 14F to 104F. The new camera is also able to shoot movies and take photos at under up to 3.3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes.
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04/18, 10:05am
Sanyo Xacti CA9 camera
Sanyo on Friday unveiled the newest addition to its Xacti underwater digital camera line with the CA8. The camera is rated for underwater use at a maximum depth of nearly five feet and one hour safely and will shoot 60fps MPEG-4 video at 640x480-pixel resolution or 3264x2448-pixel photos via its 8-megapixel CMOS sensor. Sanyo's pixel-interpolation technology allows bumping up the photos to an equivalent 12 megapixels. Two dedicated buttons -- one for video record, the other for still image capture -- make it easier for the CA8 to capture images, although at a reduced 2MP size, while filming.
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04/11, 7:45pm
Samsung full-frame DSLR
Samsung has given indications that it will release a full-frame CMOS-based digital SLR camera, targeted towards professional users. The alleged camera is currently in the design stage, so a solid release schedule is not currently available. Amateur Photographer technical writer Barney Britton attended an industry event in Seoul where Kyong-Kook Shin, assistant manager for Samsung's digital camera marketing division said photographers could look forward to a full-frame DSLR with a Pentax lens mount in the future.
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04/03, 5:05pm
Speck cases
Speck has released SeeThru Hard Shells for the MacBook Air and iMac 20" Widescreen. The SeeThru Hard Shell case for MacBook Air is a 2-piece snap-on hard plastic case. It allows unrestricted access to all ports, keyboard, screen and camera. It's made of optically-clear and shatter proof polycarbonate plastic and features an accent-less design. The case is available in clear, smoke, red, bronze, and pink for $50. The SeeThru Hard Shell cover for Apple's 20" Widescreen iMac is a one-piece hard plastic cover. The case is totally removable and does not cover the screen and camera. Available colors include red, aqua, black and pink. It's also priced at $50.
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03/24, 2:20pm
MacLoggerDX
- CardRaider 2.0.2 ($20) utility for recovering photos and movies from digital camera memory cards. Recovered images can be sent directly to iPhoto. It can even find photos and movies on damaged or reformatted media cards that don't show up in the Finder. In addition to JPEG files, CardRaider will detect and recover professional "raw" formats, as well as MPEG, AVI, and QuickTime Movie files.The new version adds support for recovering additional pro formats including Hasselblad H3D (3FR), Epson Raw (ERF), Leica Raw, and Mimiya Raw (MEF). It also fixes an issue with recovering some Kodak Raw (KDC) formats. [Download - 2MB]
- NetFinder 3.1 ($25) website and general file management and automation tool for remote servers and local files. It supports a number of protocols including FTP, FTP SSL/TLS, SFTP, WebDAV to name a few. QuickLook support for viewing files in NetFinder. Hit the space key to toggle. 10.5 only. [Download - 8.1MB]
- MacLoggerDX 4.3.4 ($95) logs into your favorite Telnet or TNC DXCluster and as DX Spots are received, tunes your radio to the spot, looks up the call and displays the DX station on the real time grey line Map with distance and bearing from your station. The new release adds a Kenwood TS-60 Driver and Icom IC-718 S-Meter, Audio and Squelch support.[Download - 12.8MB]
- Colorspace 1.9 ($30) universal color picker for web developers and designers. The application can be hidden in the task bar (requires Java 1.6) and lets you pick colors from anywhere on your screen. The new release has a context.js script rewrite, tray icon responds to single click (requires Java 1.6), some changes to the shutdown system, Mac OS X Quit no longer cancels system restart. [Download - 4.8MB]
- DX Toolbox 3.3.0 ($25) radio propagation / conditions analysis and forecasting tool for amateur radio operators, shortwave listeners, and other radio enthusiasts. This version adds: HTTP Proxy support for those behind a firewall, a graph of the Planetary Kp Index. Can now copy the Grayline map to the clipboard. Automatic setting of the UTC offset. Updated for the new Space Environment Center URL which affects data for the Proton and Electron Flux graphs. [Download - 5MB]
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03/13, 7:15pm
Huckleberry 3
Ecamm Network has announced the Huckleberry 3 MacBook mirror. Consisting of two acrylic mirrors and two durable mounting brackets, Huckleberry attaches to your screen to reflect the built-in camera's field of view. Instead of filming yourself, it will now film what's in front of you. The new Huckleberry 3 features an enhanced design, fits both MacBook and MacBook Pro and comes with Ecamm's iGlasses software to flip and rotate the video image. The Huckleberry costs $29 and ships worldwide.
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03/05, 8:35pm
AVerVision CP300 camera
AVerMedia Technologies today began shipping its new AVerVision CP300 Interactive Portable Document Camera. The CP300 offers new network sharing capability, where users can access live images and control a document camera in any classroom or location on a school campus. "The ability to connect all document cameras in one campus together through the existing Local Area Network now provides the ability for multiple classrooms, or even the entire school to view and share live document camera lessons and demonstrations," the company said. Users can control annotation, image capture, video recording, zoom, and more by each classroom accessing the demonstration on the network. AVerMedia's CP300 is available for $800.
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01/04, 4:50pm
Xias products for CES
Xias today unveiled several new products that it will display at CES 2008, including two digital photo frames, two cameras, USB memory sticks, and an MP3 player with an accompanying digital download service. The PF-821WF and PF-1021WF are an eight- and 10-inch digital frame, respectively; both models feature a display resolution of 800 by 600. Up to 12 images can be displayed simultaneously, and images sit in a floating, swiveling base. Seven digital media formats are supported, which can be uploaded to the frames from either of the two bult-in memory card slots. Four different play modes are supported – full-screen browse, slideshow, thumbnail browse, and zoom in/out – while viewing time can be adjusted in both browse and slideshow modes. While pricing was not announced, Xias will ship the frames during the second quarter of 2008.
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01/02, 2:00pm
Hydra to ship at Macworld
Creaceed today unveiled Hydra, a new application that aims to ease the process of creating HDR photographs on Mac systems. Hydra is designed to give human eye perception to photography by creating high dynamic range (HDR) images from a series of regular photographs, either from DSLRs or traditional point-and-shoot cameras. Hydra is priced at $60, but will be available for an introductory price of $40 until the end of January after the application begins shipping during Macworld on January 14th. Hydra requires Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard to run.
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12/24, 7:05pm
CardRaider 2 for digicams
Ecamm Network today unveiled CardRaider 2.0, an update to its utility for recovering data from digital camera memory cards, adding the ability to restore movie data as well as photos. The application is designed to retrieve images and movies that were either accidentally deleted or lost, and features a one-click scan and recover mode. Once the data has been recovered, it can be directly sent to iPhoto. The update is available for free to existing users, while new copies of the software are available for $20, with a free demo located on Ecamm's website.
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12/11, 7:45pm
FixMyMovie.com service
MotionDSP today unveiled H.264 support on FixMyMovie.com, its free online one-click video touchup service. Originally designed for military applications, FixMyMovie.com allows users to upload video footage from digital cameras, mobile phones, or webcams and remove pixelation errors, and the service also supports up-sampling – taking low resolution video and retrieving high definition content from it. MotionDSP opted to support H.264, as the format is quickly becoming the standard for broadcasting high quality HD footage.
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