Kodak -- Engadget

Kodak posts

Kodak ending KODACHROME run after 74 years, still can't get that Paul Simon song out of its head

by Paul Miller, posted Jun 22nd 2009 at 11:35AM

Kodachroooome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama don't take my Kodachrome away

Kodak estimates supplies of existing stock will run out sometime in early fall. Don't forget to hum that cool acoustic guitar riff in between the verses. You're welcome.

Continue reading Kodak ending KODACHROME run after 74 years, still can't get that Paul Simon song out of its head

Kodak tries to make digiframes fun again with EasyShare S730

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 22nd 2009 at 10:43AM

We can't fault 'em for trying, but at the end of the day Kodak's EasyShare S730 is just another vanilla digital photo frame. Oh sure, it sports an updated Quick Touch border, a collage mode for displaying several shots at once, video and music support, a rechargeable battery for cord-free operation and 1GB of memory, but there's no WiFi, OLED or pixie dust to speak of. We will say, however, that the included Picture Finder feature -- which enables users to select a photo that pops up in order to find more from the same era -- is fairly nifty, but it's not spectacular enough in and of itself to justify the $139 price tag. If you disagree, you can pick one up in the US and Canada this September, while Europeans can snag one this month for €149.

Engadget Labs: The best point-and-shoot camera for under $400

by Tim Stevens, posted May 19th 2009 at 1:30PM

The summer looms, and so too does the summer vacation season. Despite the economy there are visions of great trips brewing in the backs of peoples' minds, visions that will soon turn into (hopefully) great memories -- and (hopefully) great pictures. Some folks wouldn't dream of going on those trips without an SLR slung 'round their neck or hanging at the hip, but then there are plenty of others who'd much prefer something a little more pocketable. Even for aspiring photographers there are times when lugging around five pounds of glass just isn't going to work.

There are dozens and dozens of cameras intended for casual shooters all the time or serious shooters some of the time, with models suitable for pockets of every shape and size -- and for wallets of equally varying dimensions. So, let's take a look at some of this summer's greatest, and see which comes out ahead, shall we?

Gallery: Engadget compact cam summer shootout

Continue reading Engadget Labs: The best point-and-shoot camera for under $400

Nanocrystal breakthrough promises more versatile lasers, world peace

by Darren Murph, posted May 11th 2009 at 8:02AM

For the longest while, scientists have been flummoxed by the incessant coruscating emitted by individual molecules; no matter their methods, they could never quite seem to overcome a troubling optical quirk known sensibly as "blinking." Thanks to a brilliant crew at the University of Rochester, however, we now understand the basic physics behind the phenomenon, and together with a team from Eastman Kodak, a nanocrystal has been created that can constantly emit light. In theory, the discovery could lead to "dramatically less expensive and more versatile lasers, brighter LED lighting, and biological markers that track how a drug interacts with a cell at a level never before possible." Indeed, one could envision that future displays could be crafted by painting a grid of differently sized nanocrystals onto a flat surface, making even OLED TVs look chubby in comparison. Now, if only we had a good feeling that such a device was destined for a CES in our lifetime...

Kodak EasyShare Z980 unboxing and impressions

by Paul Miller, posted Mar 26th 2009 at 4:05PM

While Kodak's new Zx1 might be a tad more exciting, Kodak is also keeping at the EasyShare thing with its new Z980 zoomer. We've gotten to spend some time with the camera, and while we appreciate the price, the size and the endless zoom, we're overall none too impressed. Check out our full impressions after the break.

Continue reading Kodak EasyShare Z980 unboxing and impressions

Kodak Zx1 unboxing and impressions

by Paul Miller, posted Mar 26th 2009 at 11:01AM

While videophiles might shudder to think it, Pure Digital's crappy Flip, the little YouTubecam that could, has changed a lot about how a lot of folks approach video capture -- $590 million worth of change, according to Cisco. Kodak jumped into the market last year with one of the earliest HD models, the $179 Zi6. Now they've followed up with the Zx1, a $149 "rugged" camera for, um, ruggedness. They're aiming the camera at outdoor types, but with a smaller form factor, better build, lower price, HDMI output, and 60fps 720p recording (the original maxes out at 30fps 720p), about the only thing you'll be missing from the Zi6 is a macro mode. So, specs aside, how does the Zx1 perform? Find out after the break.

Gallery: Kodak Zx1 unboxing and impressions

Continue reading Kodak Zx1 unboxing and impressions

Sprint looking to wholesale bandwidth to connected gadget makers

by Darren Murph, posted Mar 24th 2009 at 4:57PM

So, what's a flagging cellular operator to do once it has succumbed to the grim realization that no one wants to sign up for your service and you've already collected the dough from selling off nearly all of your towers? Go wholesale, of course! Unbeknownst to most, all of the Kindle downloads on Amazon's white-hot e-reader go through Sprint's network, and given just how successful that little venture has been, the carrier is hoping to expand its revenues from wholesaling bandwidth (which currently sits at just 3 percent of its total) by inking similar deals with connected gadget makers. From internet-connected vehicles to GPS systems to cameras, the options are darn near limitless, and with so much free capacity on Sprint's network, it might as well find companies to use it. 'Course, it's not like Sprint's the only one out there trying to carve these kinds of deals into stone, but it's definitely the one that needs to do it most immediately.

LG teams with Kodak for future OLED devices

by Darren Murph, posted Mar 19th 2009 at 3:58PM

Details are still sparse, but Wired has it that LG Electronics has just inked a deal with OLED mainstay Kodak in order to use the latter's technology in all sorts of future devices. For those unaware, Kodak's actually been dabbling in OLED for ages now, though it rarely offers up dedicated products in order to take credit. Reportedly, LG could bake Kodak's OLED magic into devices such as mobile phones, televisions and digital photo frames, though we suspect LG has a few other out-of-the-box widgets planned as well. As much as we love the idea of an OLED watch phone, what we're really clamoring for is a big screen Scarlet with an OLED panel. Let's make it happen, alright folks?

[Via OLED-Display]

Kodak introduces EasyShare Z915 with 10x zoomer

by Darren Murph, posted Mar 3rd 2009 at 12:01AM

While a smattering of other camera outfits decided to out most of their new point-and-shoot models a few weeks prior to PMA, Kodak has kept with tradition by breaking their new kid out here in Vegas. The EasyShare Z915 is a markedly standard 10 megapixel shooter, boasting a 10x image stabilized optical zoom lens, the company's own Smart Capture feature to automatically snag the best shots, support for AA batteries, a 2.5-inch rear LCD and an SD / SDHC card slot. It'll be available in red, blue, black and gray this April for a completely respectable $199.95. Trouble is, you'll probably forget this thing even exists by then. Full release is after the break.

Gallery: Kodak introduces EasyShare Z915 with 10x zoomer

Continue reading Kodak introduces EasyShare Z915 with 10x zoomer

Engadget's recession antidote: win a Kodak Zi6 pocket HD camcorder!

by Laura June, posted Feb 27th 2009 at 12:00PM

This whole global economic crisis, and its resulting massive loss of jobs got us thinking. We here at Engadget didn't want to stand helplessly by, announcing every new round of misery without giving anything back -- so we decided to take the opportunity to spread a little positivity. We'll be handing out a new gadget every day (except for weekends) to lucky readers until we run out of stuff / companies stop sending things. Today we've got a Kodak Zi6 pocket HD camcorder. Read the rules below (no skimming -- we're omniscient and can tell when you've skimmed) and get commenting!

Special thanks to Kodak for providing the gear!

The rules:

Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, but if you want to share your proposal for "fixing" the world economy, that'd be sweet too.
You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine.
Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one Kodak Zi6. Approximate retail value is $179.
If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
Entries can be submitted until Friday, February 27th, 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
Full rules can be found here.

Continue reading Engadget's recession antidote: win a Kodak Zi6 pocket HD camcorder!

LG and Samsung sue Kodak after Kodak sues Samsung and LG

by Donald Melanson, posted Feb 23rd 2009 at 7:54PM

LG, Samsung and Kodak have already gotten themselves into quite a legal tangle, but things have really come full circle in the last few days, with both Samsung and LG filing suits at the International Trade Commission over some alleged patent infringment on Kodak's part. This, of course, follows Kodak's complaints that both Samsung and LG were infringing on its patents, which the ITC is now apparently investigating in full. As you might expect, however, details on the patents involved, and any other specifics, are fairly light all around, but Kodak did manage to get a shot in at Samsung, saying that its latest filing is just a "retaliatory tactic and we intend to vigorously contest Samsung's claims." No word of a squabble between Samsung and LG just yet, though the two aren't without their past tensions.

Read - Reuters, "LG Electronics asks for patent suit against Kodak"
Read - Reuters, "Samsung asks US to ban Kodak camera imports"

Engadget's recession antidote: win a Kodak M820 digital photo frame!

by Laura June, posted Feb 10th 2009 at 12:00PM

Yup, all 'round the globe, economies are taking a hit, and people are losing jobs, houses, investments -- including that news we just heard about Verizon sales reps getting pink slips all over the US of A. So we here at Engadget are committed to trying to counter-attack a little bit of that suffering by handing out a new gadget every day (except for weekends) to lucky readers until we run out of stuff / companies stop sending things. Today we've got a Kodak EasyShare M820 digital photo frame to offer up. Read the rules below (no skimming -- we're omniscient and can tell when you've skimmed) and get commenting!

Special thanks to Kodak for providing the gear!

The rules:

Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, but if you want to share your proposal for "fixing" the world economy, that'd be sweet too.
You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine.
Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one Kodak M820 digital photo frame. Approximate value is $180.
Entries can be submitted until Tuesday, February 10th, 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
Full rules can be found here.

Recession Roundup: volume... oh nevermind

by Laura June, posted Jan 29th 2009 at 7:39PM

We like to spread good vibes around here, so believe us, we're getting pretty tired of this global economic collapse. However, there's more bad news to dole out. Kodak's reported a 24 percent sales drop and announced it's cutting up to 4,500 workers this year, while Toshiba posted its first loss in seven years, and announced cuts that would bring their expenditures down 80 percent from the current year. Finally, although this was previously predicted, Sony's announced that its profits were down a staggering 95 percent last quarter -- its first-ever third quarter loss posting. The Federation is not going to be pleased.

Read - Kodak posts loss, to cut up to 4,500 jobs
Read - Toshiba reports Q3 loss
Read - Sony's quarterly net profits tumble 95 percent

Kodak Easyshare C180 bursts onto the scene, no one seems overly excited

by Laura June, posted Jan 27th 2009 at 2:36PM

Kodak's just announced they're rolling out a new entry-level point and shoot for your photography-loving self, friend or next door neighbor. The EasyShare C180's going to have a 10.2 megapixel sensor and a 3X optical zoom lens, a 2.4-inch display. The little camera will be available in silver, blue, red and pink sometime this August, and it's going to cost you about $120. Eh, thanks, but we'll probably just wait for the Lego cam.

[Via Lets Go Digital]

Engadget Podcast 130 - 01.23.2009: Angry rant edition

by Trent Wolbe, posted Jan 23rd 2009 at 7:33PM

It is happening again. Once more, the smooth, sultry sounds of Josh, Paul, and Nilay have come to whisk you away to that magical super-land known as the Engadget Podcast. This week, you can hear the editors sound off on a variety of scintillating subjects, including President Obama's BlackBerry, Apple's legal threats, Kodak's new home entertainment ventures, and the (presumed) new HTC G2. So crank up the iTunes visualizer and prepare to be freaked out.

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Paul Miller, Nilay Patel
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Song: Never Gonna Give You Up

00:01:10 - Engadget's Netflix HD streaming shootout
00:18:18 - Kodak's Theatre HD Player with gyro-based Pointer Remote unboxed and reviewed
00:29:25 - HTC's G2 "Sapphire 2.0" caught slumming in the wilds
00:40:03 - Apple on smartphone competition: "if others rip off our intellectual property, we will go after them."
00:54:19 - Confirmed: Obama gets his BlackBerry, no Sectera Edge in sight
01:01:43 - Best Buy Advice

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