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Photography: 2006 TIPA Awards: Digital-Lifestyles Selections
Nikon has scooped up three prizes at the 2006 TIPA (Technical Image Press Association) awards, with Canon, Panasonic, Samsung, Ricoh, Epson, Lexar and Olympus all getting the opportunity to make tearful speeches on the podium.
Here\\’s our pick of the winners.
dSLR cameras:
Best D-SLR Entry Level award. Nikon D50
As featured in our \\’Best cameras of 2005\\’ round up, the excellent Nikon D50 boasts a 6.1 megapixel sensor and comes with many of the features of its bigger brother, the D70.
The camera handles like a dream, with its automatic exposure system and 5-point autofocus system guaranteeing perfectly exposed, pin sharp photos.
The D50 is a great stepping stone for amateurs looking to snap high quality pics without spending a fortune.
Best D-SLR Expert: Nikon D200
The Nikon D200 offers a huge resolution of 10 million pixels (3872 x 2592) in a highly responsive package.
It\\’s ready for action within 0.15 seconds, boasts a near-instantaneous shutter lag of 50 milliseconds and can fire off 5 frames-per second for at least 37 consecutive shots in Fine JPEG.
Best D-SLR Professional: Canon EOS 5D
Photo pros demands the very best, and the EOS 5D is an astonishing camera, with a full-frame 24x36mm sensor capturing 12.8 million pixels.
With that kind of resolution, images can be blown up to enormo-size without fear of pesky artifacts appearing, and the full frame sensor means that the focal lengths of Canon EF lenses remain consistent.
Digital compacts: Best Ultra Compact Digital Camera: Canon Digital Ixus 65
The steel-bodied Digital IXUS 65 features a hefty, high-res 3 inch LCD screen in a teensy weensy form factor.
With its unique Touch Control Dial, Image Inspection Tool displays and fast ISO 800 rating, this is a great, carry anywhere camera.
Best Compact Digital Camera: Fujifilm FinePix F30
We loved both the Fujifilm FinePix F30 Zoom picking up an award.
The world\\’s first digital compact camera to deliver ISO 3200 sensitivity at full resolution, the F30 can serve up sharp images in low light and comes with a slew of scene modes to get you started.
Best Superzoom Digital Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1
Billed as world\\’s smallest digital still camera with a 10x optical zoom, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1 packs a mighty punch for its size.
Equipped with Panasonic\\’s well regarded Optical Image Stabiliser feature, the TZ1 offers high quality image output with minimal wobbles and shakes.
Best Prestige Camera: Ricoh GR Digital
We loved this camera so much we went out and bought it, so it\\’s no surprise to see the Ricoh GR Digital picking up plaudits at TIPA.
Bucking the trend for whirring zooms and mile-long feature lists, the Ricoh is a slim, back-to-basics, street-shooter\\’s dream, offering full manual control over aperture and shutter speeds.
With its fixed 28mm f2.4 lens, the Ricoh is fast, feels great and is the perfect pocket camera for pros and advanced amateurs. A worthy winner!
Other category winners:
Camera related
Best Multimedia Digital Camera: Samsung Digimax i6 PMP
Best Medium Format Digital System: Hasselblad H2D-39
Best Hi-end Professional Camera System: Sinar m System
Best Consumer Lens: Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC
Best Professional Lens: AF-S VR Micro Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED
Best Digital Camera Back: Leaf Aptus 75
Printers and paper
Best Flatbed Photo Scanner: Epson Perfection V750 Pro
Best Small Format Photo Printer: Panasonic KX-PX1/PX10
Best A4 Multifunction Photo Printer: Epson Stylus Photo RX640
Best A3 Photo Printer: HP Photosmart Pro B9180
Best Large Format Printer: Canon imagePROGRAPH iPF5000
Best Independent Inkjet Paper: Innova Art FibaPrint Gloss
Best Printing Technology: Epson UltraChrome K3(TM)
Projectors and media
Best Digital Photo Projector: Panasonic PT-P1SD
Best Imaging Storage Media: Lexar LockTight System
Best Storage Back-up: Jobo Giga Vu Pro evolution
Best Photo Software: DxO Optics Pro 3.5
Colour management
Best Color Management System: ColorVision PrintFIX Pro Suite
Best Imaging Peripheral: Pantone huey
Others
Best Imaging Innovation: Olympus E-330 Live View
Best Mobile Imaging Device: Nokia N80
Best Design: KATA bags
Best Design & Photographer Monitor: NEC spectraview 2180 LED reference
TIPA
20 April, 2006
Samsung Launch Petite Projectors
It wasn’t that long ago that lugging around a projector was the first step on the painful route to a guaranteed hernia, but thanks to the wizardry of boffins and the onward march of technology, projectors are no longer the size of small houses.
If proof were needed of these amazing shrinking devices, Toshiba have announced the launch date of their TDP-FF1A Pocket LED Projector, first reported here in September.
The bijou little fella measures up at just 140x102x57mm and weighs in at a backpack-untroubling 565g – around 115g lighter than their Pocket Imager SP-300M (see below).
The contrast ratio is 1500:1, with the projector revealing the limitations of its diminutive proportions by only supporting resolutions up to 800×600.
The TDP-FF1A (try saying that with a mouthful of tea) also comes with a handy USB port to let photographers directly display their photos straight off the camera.
For added portability, the device takes a 250g battery pack which delivers a claimed battery life of 2 hours.
The TDP-FF1A will go on sale January 2006, priced around €700 (£475, $842) – noticeably €300 down from its original announced price.
Samsung Pocket Imager SP-P300M projector.
Also shown off at the September IFA 2005 in Berlin was Samsung’s neat Pocket Imager SP-P300M projector.
Even smaller than the TDP-FF1A, the SP-P300M (P300) measures 128x85x53 mm, weighs a lightweight 680g and looks well cool.
The attractive LED projector sports a contrast ratio is 1000:1 with an impressively high claimed bulb life of 10,000 hours.
An optional battery can keep the Pocket Imager doing its projecting thing for a claimed for 2.5 hours.
Samsung will be showing off the P300 at CES 2006 in Las Vegas, 5th-8th of January 2006 and the unit is expected to retail for about $1,060 (£507, €899).
These so-called “pocket sized” projectors look set to be all the rage in the new year, with both Epson and Mitsubishi also developing rival models.
Samsung
15 December, 2005
BBC Launches Online Film Network Showcase
Not satisfied with its already-almighty online presence, the BBC has launched the Film Network – a growing interactive showcase for new British filmmakers, broadcasting three new short films in broadband quality every week.
Around a third of the content on Film Network has been submitted directly and selected by the in-house team, with the remainder coming via partnerships with film organisations or curated programmes of shorts from distributors, festivals and competitions.
Film makers can get feedback from viewers via site tools which allow wannabe critics to comment on and rate films, with filmmakers able to create online profiles and exchange tips, advice and ideas.
The Website aims to expose new talent and create a platform for some great films that are rarely seen elsewhere.
The Film Network was first trialled by the BBC in early 2005, and quickly found favour with the public, notching up an impressive 1,200 viewings per week for its most popular films.
Suitably buoyed up by the positive response, the full service has launched today, with 50 high-quality shorts being made available, including the eagerly anticipated online premier of Joe Penhall’s The Undertaker, starring lovely Welsh boy Rhys Ifans, who also featured in the schmaltzy, hankerchiefs-at-the-ready box office monster, Notting Hill.
It seems that maybe the launch is going a little too well, with the server reporting “too busy” errors this afternoon.
Viewers keen to grab a slice of the free film action will first have to register on the site.
The shorts are streamed in Windows Media or Real Video formats which means that you won’t be able to keep a copy on your home PC or transfer them to a video iPod or handheld video player (unless, of course, you employ a streaming media recorder!).
The BBC will be offering a wide selection of content – comedies, animations, dramas and experimental videos – with three new films being added every week.
It should be noted that the BBC Film Network is not part of the currently in-trials Interactive Media Player (iMP) service which we reported on in May 2005.
BBC Film Network
2 November, 2005
UltraMon Review: Multi-Monitor Utility (5/5 Stars)
Following on from his review of the Viewsonic VP191s, Mike covers a software utility that works your two screen setup hard.
It wasn’t long ago that fancy twin monitor sets ups were the sole preserve of hotshot traders, high-flying graphics pros and, err, security guards, but recent price crashes have seen flat-screen multi-screen set ups becoming more affordable.
Although XP comes with basic twin monitor support as standard, keeping track of all your open applications over two (or more) screens can soon become a pain.
Under XP, arranging windows on each of the different displays involves dragging and dropping them all over the place, and with the taskbar only appearing on the primary monitor, things can soon get confusing.
Ultramon is a smarty-pants application that helps sort out your desktop chaos, making it a breeze to work with multiple displays.
With support for more than ten monitors, UltraMon adds a raft of user-configurable tools to help users get a manly grip on their acres of screen real estate.
The program adds a taskbar to each monitor, and only shows applications from the monitor it is on – so you won’t have to rummage around a single taskbar any more.
If you drag an application to a different monitor, its taskbar button will be moved to the corresponding taskbar. Neat.
Moving programs around the screen is also made easier with the addition of two new buttons to the title bar.
These little fellas let you quickly shunt programs across to other screens with a single click, or maximise a single window across the entire desktop.
Shortcuts can be configured for moving and maximizing windows, with UltraMon’s full range of options available by right clicking on the icon in the taskbar.
Amongst its multifarious options, you can create shortcuts that open programs on a specific monitor or at a specific position, or even configure the program to change the display settings before launching an application and then restoring them when the program is closed.
These settings can also be configured by opening the properties of an existing Windows shortcut and fiddling about in the new tabs added by UltraMon.
Keyboard shortcuts can be set up for moving and maximising screens, with ‘display profiles’ letting you quickly change the settings of one or more monitors for each user.
The program also lets you stretch desktop wallpapers and screen savers across multiple screens or set a different picture and screen saver for each screen, which can look way cool!
After running UltraMon for just a few minutes we realised that we could never go back to the clunky, fiddly ways of Windows, so for anyone look to get the best out of their multi-screen set-up, we can thoroughly recommend the program.
Score: 5/5
UltraMon
Cost: $39.95 (~£22~€33)
23 September, 2005
Commodore Is Back With GPS Multimedia Player
Mention the name “Commodore” to old skool gamers of a certain age, and you might see a tear welling up in their eyes as they recall long, blissful hours playing Frontier Elite, Sensible Soccer and Lemmings on the legendary gaming platform.
After suffering a crushing fall from grace in the mid 1990s, Commodore’s new owners (Yeahronimo Media Ventures) have re-launched the brand, and announced a cutting-edge multimedia GPS Videpod.
Codenamed ‘The Navigator Combo’, the Windows CE-based handheld comes with a 30GB hard drive (preloaded with maps), a big 3.6in touch-screen display and an integrated GPS receiver, all packed into a refreshingly chunky case.
As well as providing satellite navigation, the portable media centre can also play back music in MP3 and WMA format and video in MPEG-4 and DivX formats.
Music tracks can be downloaded from online music stores like Napster and Virgin Digital, or from their very own Commodore Music Store.
Videos can also be downloaded from the Internet or transferred from PCs via USB 2.0, or stored on SD memory cards.
The new handheld forms part of a series of new products announced by Commodore at the Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) in Berlin.
The company has entered into a partnership with SupportPlus Europe, for the distribution and sales of Commodore products in Europe.
The two companies presented a wide range of shiny new consumer electronic products for consumers and the retail market, including MP3/MP4-players, C64 gaming joysticks, multimedia download dispensers and home media centers.
The management of YNMO and SupportPlus anticipate gross revenues from the Commodore Products in the European market to exceed 162 Million Euros within 3 years.
“In the ’80s and ’90s the name Commodore represented successful, innovative and technically first-class products,” said Ben van Wijhe, CEO of YNMO.
Building up to the required mutual backslap, he added, “Therefore the management of Yeahronimo and SupportPlus believe it is an obligation, when using the Commodore name, to continue offering the electronics consumer with products that have a high-quality and are attractive in price. SupportPlus already has showed they are an excellent partner in the historic re-launch of Commodore.”
www.commodoreshop.com
www.commodoreworld.com
Commodore/Amiga history
20 September, 2005
VP-MS15 Miniket Digital Camera Unveiled by Samsung
Samsung have unveiled their sleek, credit-card sized Miniket VP-MS15 digital camera at the Berlin IFA show.
It may be smaller than a cold ant’s nether regions, but Samsung have managed to pack in a 5.25 mega-pixel CCD sensor, 3x optical zoom and a large 115K 2.5″ LCD display.
With the factory humming to the tune of convergence, Samsung have wedged in an MP3 player, voice recorder and a high quality video recorder capable of capturing high quality VGA clips (640 x 480 @ 30 fps) assisted by the built-in DIS (digital image stabiliser).
The camera comes with 512 MB of memory on board with a miniSD slot offering up offering up to 1GB of additional storage space – enough to store 250 songs or 17 hours of recording via the microphone.
Unlike many other digital cameras, users can zoom in and out to their heart’s desire while shooting video and Samsung’s little box of tricks is also capable of outputting video at a resolution of 720 x 576 pixels at 25fps via the AV out port.
Connecting the Miniket via USB 2.0 also lets it be used as a Webcam or a ‘portable hard drive’.
Conveniently, the VP- MS15 can also be charged via a USB connection, saving the hassle of carting along a power cable or optional charger when on the move.
“Samsung is always looking to combine stunning design with high functionality,” said Byoungyoul Yu, Senior Vice President of the Digital Video Division at Samsung Electronics.
“We are bringing to market multi-functional products that change consumers’ perceptions over the limitations of a digital device. The VP- MS15 allows consumers to carry one business card-sized device whether they wish to record high quality digital video, digital photos or MP3s.”
Samsung have also released two identical-looking smaller brothers to the MS15; the VP-MS11, with 128MB of onboard memory. and the VP-MS10 with 64MB.
The Samsung VP-MS15 digital camera will be launched in Korea on October, followed by a European debut the following month with a recommended retail price of €399 (~$500 ~£271).
Much as we love these do-it-all gadgets – especially when they’re smaller than a shy dot and kitted out in a smooth black finish – we wonder why someone looking for this kind of convergence wouldn’t just shell out for a smartphone instead….
Samsung
Photos courtesy of Let’s Go Digital
6 September, 2005
Samsung Unleash A Monster 19″ Notebook
Thanks to Samsung’s PR for getting in touch with us to clarify facts on this story.
Samsung will be debuting the world’s first 19″ notebook, the Samsung M70, on 2 September at the IFA Consumer Electronics Show in Berlin.
Despite sporting a multiplex-threatening 1680 x 1050 TFT display, the 19″ monster is no slouch in the speed stakes, with Samsung claiming a 10m/s response time, 600:1 contrast ratio and a “brightness and depth of shade not known in previous notebooks of 280cd/m.”
Samsung insist that it’s not just about size though, and to prove it they’ve added a clever removable screen widget.
This lets users detach the laptop’s screen and place it in a dock to give the appearance of a conventional desktop.
Anyone who has spent hours slumped over a laptop screen should welcome this innovation as the screen dock affords a far more comfortable viewing position – and there’s also a handy DVI interface on the docking station for external appliances too.
Powering the monster screen will be a Nvidia chipset, with the laptop promising to have the “fastest mobile processor” onboard (most likely an Intel).
Despite the added complexity and enormous screen size, Samsung have claimed that the laptop will weigh no more than their current 17-inch notebook so it should be vaguely portable (if you work out at the gym).
The Notebook M70 will be available sometime in October 2005 although there’s been no announcement about price or availability.
Samsung
31 August, 2005
X-Fi Sound Blaster Series Launched
So what’s the deal here?
Creative Technology Ltd, the people with over 250 million Sound Blaster sound cards sold to date, have just announced, what they claim, is a major step upwards in audio fidelity.
They have introduced the Sound Blaster X-Fi line of sound cards. Powered by the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audioprocessor, the Sound Blaster X-Fi cards introduce Xtreme Fidelity, an entirely new audio standard for music, movies and games.
As I am currently encoding a radio library (old tapes), I was intrigued by the press-release claim “With Sound Blaster X-Fi’s 24-bit Crystalizer and CMSS-3D technologies, all your MP3 music and CD music can sound even better than the original studio recording”
It goes on: “Sound Blaster X-Fi heralds the beginning of a new epoch in audio, where X-Fi enabled audio products will eventually and completely replace the old hi-fi equipment in the home,
Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro features professional-quality digital-to-analog converters (DACs) with 116dB SNR, plus an I/O module with a comprehensive selection of connectivity for audio creation with easy-to-use control knobs for the X-Fi 24-bit Crystalizer, X-Fi CMSS- 3D (Creative Multi-Speaker Surround), 3DMIDI, and EAX.
The Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro also features 64MB of on-board X-RAM — audio memory dedicated to higher gaming audio quality and performance, in addition to a built-in pre-amp for direct recording, and high-impedance inputs for electric guitars. The “top of the line” Sound Blaster X-Fi solution, the Elite Pro includes all of the standard features, application software, power and performance capabilities of the entire family of Sound Blaster X-Fi cards (described below in product launch-ese), in one solution.
Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS : Yes that is a “1” not an “i”. Designed to meet the performance demands of the world’s best-known professional gamer, Johnathan “Fatal1ty” Wendel, the Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS sound card provides stunning 109dB SNR audio quality, accelerates gaming performance and includes 64MB of on-board X-RAM for high performance gaming. With support for EAX ADVANCED HD 5.0, the latest version of the EAX Environmental Audio standard, the Sound Blaster X-FiFatal1ty FPS card utilizes X-Fi CMSS 3D technology for stunning audio realismover headphones in LAN gaming. The Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS features a convenient front-facing internal drive bay for easy connectivity, plus the X-Fi IR remote to easily access and control all digital entertainment, and to control the X-Fi 24-bit Crystalizer, X-Fi CMSS 3D, 3DMIDI and EAX.
Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum : The ideally versatile sound card to suit all digital entertainment experiences, the Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum sound card includes an internal drive bay with additional, convenient front-facing input/output connectivityfor headphone listening, PC gaming and audio creation. Delivering 109dB SNR audio quality, the Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum includes the X-Fi IR remote, for easy access to the Entertainment Center software console, which enables access to music, movies and picture slide shows through a slick, streamlined interface. The Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum also includes all of the standard features, application software, power and performance capabilities of the Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music.
Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic. The Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic sound card harnesses the full power of the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor to upgrade any existing library of MP3 or any music files to the Xtreme Fidelity audio standard. With the X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity 24-bit Crystalizer, MP3 music and movies are converted to Xtreme Fidelity, which deliver an experience beyond the original CD or DVD recordings. With the included Creative MediaSource 3 software suite, users can easily SuperRip all their digital music permanently toXtreme Fidelity. In addition, MediaSource 3 also allows users to further enhance their music content with single-click access to rich features like X-Fi CMSS-3D, Smart Cross-Fade and Smart Volume Management. The Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music sound card plays back audio with rich 109dB SNR quality. Optimized Modes for Peak X-Fi Performance
Pricing and Availability: The Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro, priced at US$399.99, the Sound BlasterX-Fi Fatal1ty FPS, priced at US$279.99, the Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum, priced at US$199.99 and the Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic, priced atUS$129.99, will be available this month in the US (August 22nd shipping), probably in September in Europe.
I hope to test the Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic by the end of the month. Watch this space! Wonder if the card gets hot with all those components on it?
Jonathon Marks is a highly-experienced radio reporter, expert on the next stages of the media, an all-round good egg and friend of Digital-Lifestyles. One of his publications is What Caught My Eye – Broadcast & Podcast Gadgets
Sound Blaster X-Fi
11 August, 2005
Half Of UK Children Have Shopped Online
New research from UK High Street bank Halifax reveals that over half of children between the ages of seven to sixteen years old have bought something over the Internet.
Boys are particularly keen on Web shopping with over 60% saying that they’ve bought items over the Internet.
The bank’s survey found that some 53% of young people are Internet shoppers (up 10% from 43% in 2004) with Scottish lads and lassies coming out as the keenest Web shoppers, with 80% buying items over the internet.
The East Midlands region came bottom of the Internet shopping league with only 36% of young people in the area shopping online.
Boys continue to buy more goods over the Internet than girls, with this year’s figures – 60% boys compared to just 46% of girls – continuing last year’s trend where the figures were 50% and 37% respectively.
Not surprisingly, age plays a big part in who gets to shop online with less than a third of seven to eleven year olds (29%) clicking and buying compared to almost three quarters of twelve to sixteen year olds (73%).
More than half of all kids interviewed believed that Internet shopping is, like, waaaaaay better to shopping on the high street with 61% finding it easier to buy online rather than in shops for certain items.
Music, DVDs and electronic equipment are the biggest attractions online with kids spending their hard-earned ~~extortion racket earnings~~, ~~petty theft cash~~, pocket money on CDs (45%), computer games/equipment (45%) and DVDs/videos (43%).
Halifax
11 July, 2005
LC-65GE1 AQUOS: Sharp’s 65″ ‘World’s Biggest’ LCD TV Sells In Japan
First shown off at the CEATEC show in Japan last year, Sharp has announced that it will be launching its gargantuan 65inch LCD set in August this year – the biggest in the world.
The digital leviathan, snappily named the LC-65GE1 AQUOS, features a full-spec high-definition LCD panel with a room filling 1,920 H x 1,080 V pixel resolution capable of displaying digital content in Hi-Vision, the Japanese 1080i HDTV format.
The house-challenging Sharp TV features a 4 wave length back light to improve on the colour display quality with the built-in speakers powered by a 1-bit digital amplifier.
Coming in two tasteful finishes – Titanium and Piano Black – the wall-mountable leviathan serves up a feast of connectivity options, including HDMI, DVI, FireWire (IEEE-1394) and a CableCard slot.
Monster LCD screens are prone to suffer from ‘smearing’, which results in onscreen artifacts being displayed by fast moving objects, but Sharp claims that its QS (Quick Shoot) Technology improves moving video responsiveness, making it perfect for watching high-speed full-motion video and fast moving footage (like a Cardiff City strike. Sort of).
The company are big on waving their green credentials around with gusto, and were quick to point out that the LC-65GE1 has a power consumption of ‘only’ 619 W.
This is less than PDP televisions of the same 65V-inch class, but it’s hardly likely to impress Greenpeace activists.
The monitor also uses materials which can apparently be recycled, although we’re not sure what you could make out of them.
As is often the case lust-spawning objects, there’s a double whammy of a sting for anyone fancying installing one of these monolithic beasts in their Hackney bedsit.
The first killer blow is the price: a thumping great 1,680,000 Yen (~£8,565 ~US$15,570), with the knock out punch being price and availability: the company is only manufacturing 300 units a month and you’ll only be able to buy it in Japan.
The Sharp Aquos LC-65GE1 goes on sale in Japan on 1st August.
Sharp press release (in Japanese)
3 June, 2005

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