Mike Slocombe

Kodak’s New Easyshare Printers Claim Half Price Prints
Kodak has today announced a new range of All-In-One Inkjet printers promising to reduce the cost of home printing by using pigment based inks and special paper.
The company is claiming that their new printers will be able to output “Kodak lab-quality” photos at home using premium, pigment-based inks for up to half the price of their competitors.
Boldly claiming that their new range will change the inkjet market forever, Kodak boss Antonio M. Perez insists that his company is, “changing the rules in this industry,” giving consumers, “the freedom to print documents and photos frequently, easily and affordably with exceptional quality that lasts a lifetime under typical home display conditions.”
(We can’t help notice the king size caveat about, “typical home display conditions” contained therein. What on earth are they, we wonder?!).
Kodak’s new range starts at $150, with the top of the range 5500 model offering a scanner, document feeder, fax and LCD display for $300.
The inks will cost $15 for the colour cartridge (good for over 100 4×6 prints) and $10 for the black cartridge (which keeps on rocking for 300 pages).
The Kodak Easyshare range
The Kodak Easyshare 5100 All-in-One Printer ($150), offers print, scan and copy capabilities, and can print and copy up to 32 pages per minute in black and 22 pages per minute in colour
Based on the same specs as the 5100, the Kodak Easyshare 5300 All-in-One Printer ($200) bolts on a 3-inch colour LCD display and memory card slots for direct photo printing.
The top of the range Kodak Easyshare 5500 All-in-One Printer ($300) ramps up the feature set, offering all the features of the 5300, plus fax functionality, a 2.4-inch colour LCD display, an automatic document feeder and a duplexer attachment.
The printers will start to appear in US stores from March onwards, with the 5500 shipping in May 2007.
Kodak
6 February, 2007
Viacom Gets Tough With YouTube
Media giants Viacom International have finally lost patience with YouTube and demanded that they remove more than 100,000 of their video clips that have been posted up without permission.
The company – whose holdings include Paramount Pictures, MTV Networks, DreamWorks and Comedy Central – have calculated that YouTube has served up over 1.2 billion streams of its copyrighted video content.
As a result, Viacom have got out their big pointy DMCA stick and accused Google-owned YouTube of knowingly profiting from material stolen from them, as well as repeatedly breaking promises to filter out copyrighted works.
In a statement, a clearly miffed Viacom said: “Virtually every other distributor has acknowledged the fair value of entertainment content and has taken deliberate steps to concluding agreements with content providers.”
“YouTube and Google retain all of the revenue generated from this practice, without extending fair compensation to the people who have expended all of the effort and cost to create it.”
Google have said that they’ll get the material down tout de suite, although not without adding a valedictory grumble, commenting, “It is unfortunate that Viacom will no longer be able to benefit from YouTube’s passionate audience which has helped to promote many of Viacom’s shows.”
Removing Viacom’s rich portfolio of popular clips may certainly result in loss of revenue for YouTube, but some media analysts reckon it could be a lose-lose situation all round, as both parties risk naffing off consumers.
Viacom has said that although it’s still down with the idea of distributing clips online via YouTube, it’ll only do so via, “a fair and authorised distribution model.”
6 February, 2007
Apple Tells Vista Upgraders To Wait
Apple has warned Windows-based iTunes users to hold back from upgrading to Microsoft Vista, because the software may not work properly with their iPods.
Citing several issues – including problems with synchronising data and playing purchased files – Apple says that they should have an updated version of iTunes for Vista “in the next few weeks”.
Compatibility issues and suggested workarounds for those crazy folks who dived headlong into an early install of Vista are listed in a support document on Apple’s site.
The problems included poor animation speeds, an inability to play back music and video purchased from the iTunes store and data in media, contacts and calendars not synchronising.
More worryingly, the notice posted on Apple’s web site warned that iPods may be corrupted when they are unplugged from a Vista system using the ‘Safely Remove Hardware’ feature in the Windows taskbar.
In response, Adam Anderson, a spokesman for Microsoft’s Windows division, said they didn’t think that iTunes users should stop using their shiny new copy of Vista.
He added that Microsoft has employed a team of techies to work with Apple to iron out the problems, adding that they will keep at it “until they have the program running to the quality level they’re shooting for.” [insert your own Microsoft joke here].
Apple support
5 February, 2007
Mobile Data Services Set To Rake It In
High speed mobile phones and new gadgets are set to send revenue from mobile entertainment services soaring over the next five years, according to market research firm Informa Telecoms & Media.
Boffins at Informa expect the market for delivering content and services on mobiles to rise from $89.3billion in 2006 to $150billion by 2011.
Mobile music – already the biggest earner – will continue to whip up the biggest wedge of wonga, although its market share is expected to dip from 40 per cent in 2006 to 36 per cent in 2011 in the face of newer consumer technologies like mobile TV and video service.
“Advanced mobile content and services have been slow to take off, but this should not be confused with the deepening relationship that we have with our mobile phones,” commented report author Daniel Winterbottom, senior analyst at Informa Telecoms & Media.
“Over time, users will warm to other data services as well. The mobile web is a prime example: WAP failed to take off when it was first launched, but five years on, more and more users have become comfortable with accessing news or other information on their mobile phones,” he added.
The analysts also predict that the market for mobile entertainment services, including games, gambling and naughty adult content, will more than double during the same period, increasing from $18.84 billion in 2006 to a bumper US$38.12 billion in 2011.
User-generated content is also expected to grow, with Informa predicting that revenue from user-generated services will hit $13.17 billion by 2011.
Full of enthusiasm for the future, Daniel Winterbottom enthused: “The arrival of the mobile web on the mobile handset over in 2007 and beyond will see users embracing the same content they take for granted on their PCs.
[Via]
5 February, 2007
Sony Ericsson W51S Mobile Phone
Sony Ericsson in Japan is launching the snazzy new W51S phone which comes in a striking clamshell package.
The no-fuss, flip out design is pleasantly understated, featuring a textured matt black front with just three icons for notifying the user of an incoming email, call or alarm/reminder.
The Organic Light Emitting Device (OLED) icons look rather dandy to our weary eyes, although work-shirkers probably won’t like not being able to see who’s actually calling before flipping open the phone and getting an irate boss on the line.
Once opened, the phone sports a 2.7-inch display with a 16:9 widescreen which (apparently) employs RealityMAX technology to “enhance picture quality.”
Also bundled on board the phone is a 2-megapixel camera backed up by a fairly healthy 120MB of internal memory and IrDA. As ever, Sony are persisting with their love of all things Memory Stuck, burdening the W51S with a Pro Duo expansion slot.
The W51S measures up at 105 × 48 × 19.3 mm, with talk time quoted at 210 minutes, with a standby time of 270 hours. For the security conscious, there’s also a feature letting users remotely lock and delete data on the handset over the web (Palm Treo users have been able to do this for years via excellent software like Warden)
The phone will be available in black, silver or pink, but there’s been ne’er a whisper from the Sony head honchos about pricing, release dates or even if this funky number will be getting it into the greasy paws of Britlanders.
[ From MobileWhack ]
5 February, 2007
Blowfly Alarm Clock
Are you always late for work? Does your alarm clock fail to wake you up in the morning? Have you developed a reflex action that bashes the ‘alarm off’ button while you carry on counting sheep?
Hard core slumberers and die hard alarm ‘snooze button’ activators fed up with always being late may find the Flying Alarm Clock the answer to their problems.
Like most bedside alarm clocks, there’s a big LCD display and buttons for setting the time and alarm.
Unlike regular alarm clocks however, there’s no snooze button to be found and – as you can see – there’s a rather curious contraption sitting on top of the clock.
When it’s time for you to get out of your jimjams, this totally daft clock launches a flying propeller that hovers around the room, making strange buzzing noises while the clock’s alarm sounds.
The only way to shut the thing up is to get out of bed and put the propeller back on the clock – by which time you should be wide awake (or have your neighbours hammering through your walls in rage).
The clock is a commercial development of an idea that won a prize in the Taiwan International Design competition in 2005 and has just appeared for sale on a Danish website for around £27.
blowflyalarmclock.net
[Via]
1 February, 2007
PC World Says Farewell To Floppy Disks
Electronics giant PC World has announced that it is to stop selling floppy disks once the current stocks run out.
First introduced by IBM way back in 1969 as a big flapping thing, the floppy disk hit mainstream consumers after Sony released the familiar 3.5 inch format in 1981.
From then on, floppy disk became the de facto storage standard right up to the late 90s as its feeble storage capacity (1.44MB) failed to compete with an onslaught of cheap memory storage formats including memory cards, USB keys, rewritable CDs and removable hard drives all capable of holding gigabytes of data.
PC World also commented that the increased availability of broadband and wireless internet connections has more or less consigned small-scale removable storage devices into the technology dustbin.
In decline since the late 1990s, the floppy once ruled supreme, shifting more than two billion units in 1998 – a figure now down to a measly 700 million last year.
Of course, you’ll still be able to pick up floppy disks elsewhere for now, but the end is surely nigh for this long serving piece of technology.
Although we’re tempted to get a bit misty eyed at the fall of the trusty floppy, we still can’t quite forget the long nights spent feeding our Amiga 1200 (and later our PC) masses of floppies containing programs spanned over several disks only to hear the grinding sound of doom right at the end.
Although we certainly got familiar with the “Non-system disk or disk error – Replace and press any key” error message over the years too, we’ll still miss the things – and they were always a satisfying shape to throw around the office when the network went down too.
So farewell, dear floppy. You served us well.
Floppy Disk
Via
31 January, 2007
Casio Announces EXILIM Zoom EX-Z1050 and EX-Z75
Casio has knocked out two additions to its pocket pleasing, ultra-slim Exilim Zoom range in the shape of the 10.1-megapixel EX-Z1050 and the 7.2 million pixel Exilim Zoom EX-Z75 cameras.
EXILIM Zoom EX-Z1050
The EX-Z1050 follows on from the EX-Z1000 and nudges in at a tad lighter and smaller, measuring up at 91.1 x 57.2 x 24.2 mm and weighing 125g.
Bolted on to the lightweight aluminum clad camera is a wide aspect (14:9) 2.6-inch LCD screen and a 38-114mm (35mm equiv) 3x optical zoom, backed by a sensitivity boost up to ISO 800.
Onboard there’s Casio’s EXILIM Engine 2.0 offering new motion analysis technology, with the camera able to rattle off a claimed 7 shots per second until the memory tank hits full.
There’s no proper optical stabilization, but the camera comes with built in “Blur-reduction technologies.” In other words, the camera hikes up the ISO whenever it detects a moving object or low light.
There’s also an Auto Tracking AF function for following moving subjects, and a Super Life Battery allowing up to 370 shots per charge.
The Casio EXILIM Zoom EX-Z1050 will be available in silver, black and gold in the UK (with prettier colours available elsewhere, by the look of things) and comes with a suggested retail price of £229.99.
EXILIM Zoom EX-Z75
The cheaper 7.2 million pixel Exilim Zoom EX-Z75 looks to be a minor upgrade to last year’s EX-Z70 and adds the same wide aspect (14:9) 2.6-inch screen and more user friendly features.
The attractive point’n’shooter comes with a 3x optical zoom, an ‘Easy Mode’ for dorks baffled by buttons and digital Anti Shake DSP to keep things steady.
The EXILIM Zoom EX-Z75 can expect to have a £179.99 price label stuck on it when it hits the UK in February 2007, and will be available in silver, blue and girly pink.
31 January, 2007
Samsung Secrete A Slew Of Stylish Snappers
Although we’re yet to be really knocked out by the image quality, we’ve been impressed by Samsung’s enthusiasm to break the mould with innovative digicam designs.
Hot off the factory presses are three new all-black models, all with distinctive and stylish looks.
Samsung L74 Wide
The L74 Wide comes with a handy 28mm wideangle 3.6x optical zoom, seven megapixel CCD, and 3.0″ Touch Screen LCD, backed by 450 MB of internal memory and MPEG-4 SVGA video recording.
Samsung’s Face Recognition AF & AE is included, with the touch screen LCD offering Samsung’s original Flash GUI (Graphic User Interface) and proprietary ASR image stabilisation system helping keep things sharp in low light.
Aimed at travellers, the L74 Wide has a trick up its sleeve with the inclusion of an onboard Tour Guide providing travel information covering 4,500 regions in 30 countries.
The $350 L74 Wide should be available in North America in Spring 2007.
Samsung NV11
Knocking out for fifty bucks more, the NV11 comes with a ten megapixel sensor, 5x Schneider optical zoom and a 2.7″ LCD monitor.
Like its younger bro’, the point & shooter comes with Samsung’s Face Recognition technology, ASR image stabilisation , MPEG-4 video (VGA) with ISO sensitivity zipping up to the giddy heights of 1600.
The NV11 comes with Samsung’s unique Smart Touch user interface, which lets you navigate through menus by sliding your pinkie across horizontal and vertical rows of control buttons
The NV11 should be nuzzling up on shop shelves in America in Spring 2007.
Samsung i7
Also announced was the rather curious Samsung i7 which sports a rotating 3.0-inch LCD display, which can be spun through 180 degrees.
The i7 packs a 7.2 megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom, Advanced Shake Reduction (ASR) technology, SVGA video, face recognition ISO 1600 and even an integrated MP3 player with simulated SRS 3D sound.
The camera also comes with the Tour Guide stuff, with the ability to download further information directly from the internet, plus 512 MB of internal memory provided.
The multimedia-tastic Samsung i7 is set to retail for £249.99 and should be available in the UK from mid-March 2007.
Samsung
30 January, 2007
Mobile Internet Use Grows
Mobile phone users are increasingly getting jiggy with the wee buttons on their handset as new figures show mobile Internet access soaring.
According to the Mobile Data Association, UK mobile owners accessed the Internet nearly 16 million times throughout December 2006, adding up to a thumping rise of one million unique sessions over the previous month.
These latest figures mean that mobile users have accessed the web 45.6 million times in the past three months.
Although the figures suggest we’re rapidly turning into perma-connected, perambulating Internet fiends, Thomas Husson, a mobile analyst at Jupiter Research was quick to suggest that much of the recent increase could be down to Christmas gift-giving.
Ol’ Tommy also reckoned that mobile data was “far from being mainstream,” although he expected an increase in data use as more people got their grubby mitts on internet-capable mobile phones, backed by better user experiences, user education, and cheaper prices.
Ready to rustle up a risotto of facts was Nick Lane, principal analyst at Informa Telecoms and Media, who calculated that there’ll be 797.6 million mobile phone subscriptions worldwide capable of web browsing by the end of 2007 (that adds up to 25% of all mobile phones, fact fans).
“The continued advancement of handsets means people are beginning to spend more time familiarising themselves with new services,” Lane added.
News, sport and weather updates are currently the big hitters for mobile users, although recent surveys have shown an increasing demand for location-aware services like maps and local services.
[via]
30 January, 2007