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FujiXerox shows off color e-ink display with writing capabilities
We've only seen a couple prototype color e-ink displays here and there, but this latest version from FujiXerox seems like its the furthest along in terms of refresh rate and usability. The A6 sized panel is made of three polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal layers, but it's still flexible, at just .4mm thick. No hard specs, really, but Tech-On says refresh time is less than one second -- just quick enough to make this viable for the next-gen Kindle, eh?[Via Tech-On!]
Fuji Television demonstrates visible light communications system
It's not like visible light communications is the new kid on the block or anything, but Fuji Television was busy showcasing a new flavor of the technology at Inter BEE 2007 that could assist deaf / hearing impaired individuals when watching TV. In the demonstration, a LED-backlit LCD TV displayed content while simultaneously beaming out information sans wires to a nearby PDA; the handheld was able to receive the textual data and display words to accompany the on-screen action. Not surprisingly, the communications system was developed by NEC, and it even supported selective distribution in order to transmit the correct information to the appropriate individual. No mention was made of an expected commercialization date, but feel free to check out a couple more shots of the setup after the break.
Sony, Fuji, and Maxell fined $110M for videotape cartel
The EU just lashed Sony, Fuji, and Maxell with fines totaling €75 million ($110 million) on grounds of fixing the price of professional videotapes. The 3-way Japanese cartel controlling 85% of the professional videotape market was found guilty of artificially controlling prices on Betacam SP and Digital Betacam -- the two most popular professional videotape formats in use between 1999 and 2002. According to the EU commission, they "organized three successful rounds of price increases and endeavored to stabilize prices whenever an increase was not possible." Such naughty, naughty billionaires now reaping what they've sown.
Fuji Xerox touts language-translating photocopier
Fuji Xerox has come up with some unique copying systems before, and it looks like its latest photocopier is no exception, with it promising to take a Japanese document and spit out a English, Chinese, or Korean translation on the fly (or vice versa). That's done by networking the printer to a dedicated translation server which, if similar systems are any indication, could well result in some unintentionally hilarious copies. What's more, the device also promises to preserve the original layout of the documents copied, with it apparently making use of some special algorithms to distinguish between text, lines and images. It's just a prototype at the moment, however, so there's no indication as to when or if we might see a commercial version.[Via Crave]
Fujifilm introduces LabelFlash media to US
Yamaha and Fujifilm introduced their LightScribe competitor Labelflash nearly two years ago, but aside from random appearances in laptops and a firmware-flashed cameo in the Mac Pro, no manufacturer apart from NEC has supported the technology here in the States. That might be slowly changing, as Fuji announced today that it will finally start selling Labelflash media in the US market. The company is initially just offering 16x DVD-R media, but will expand the line in time. We've always been Sharpie people ourselves -- no burned disc lasts longer than a week around here anyway -- but Labelflash apparently looks better than Lightscribe, for those of you that demand the pro style.
$170,000 Japanese-style Roomba takes home the gold
It seems that automated floor-suckers are getting all the attention of late, as we've had users parading their Roombas around with all sorts of unorthodox methods, teaching them to bust a move, and now how to pose for the cameras. While already recognized in one Tokyo ceremony, the Fuji Heavy Industries and Sumitomo-created vacuum has officially taken the gold in the Robot of the Year competition hosted by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. Due to its purported ability to replace "two live human beings" and clean out an area of "3,000 square meters in four hours on a single charge," the jumbo-sized Roomba wannabe can help those towering skyscrapers stay clean in a bustling world. Additionally, it can maneuver up and down floors, in and out of elevators, and around crowded workspaces with ease, but we're not exactly sure how many decibels of noise this thing cranks out while taking care of business. Nevertheless, the co-founders are selling the device for a whopping ¥20 million ($168, 011), but still claim that it will more than pay for itself after a decade or so -- you know, since it doesn't beg for health insurance or anything.[Via Plastic Bamboo]
Fujifilm's six megapixel F20 thrives at night
Besides the S6000fd that we just brought you, Fujifilm has another six megapixel shooter slated to hit stores in September, though this model is more at home in a pocket than a camera bag. Being touted as the little brother to the company's already-compact F30, the new F20 sports many of the same features as its big bro -- besides the 6.3 megapixel CCD, they both share a 3x optical zoom and 2.5-inch LCD -- with the major differences being size, display resolution, and battery capacity. Also like the F30, this model is designed to perform in low-light conditions that would prove difficult for other compact cameras which don't share its relatively high maximum sensitivity of ISO 2000. The other nice touches here center around the flash: it automatically adjusts its intensity based on ambient lighting, and is part of the innovative "Natural Light & Flash" feature that snaps two consecutive shots -- one with flash and one without -- to provide users with a so-called "photographic safety net." No word yet on pricing, but since you can pick up the F30 for under $400, we imagine that this model will be available for around the same cost.
Fuji's six megapixel Finepix F470 reviewed
When it comes to ultracompact digital cameras, they don't get much more pocketable than the Fujifilm Finepix F470 we first spotted at CES, which at 122-grams, is one of the lightest six megapixel shooters you can buy, Yet according to Digital Camera Review, the diminutive F470 is also an excellent performer, with almost insignificant startup times and shutter lag, low to acceptable noise levels up to ISO 400, and most importantly, accurate color and white balance -- save for some purple fringing on shots captured at full 3x zoom. You're also getting a 2.5-inch LCD, VGA video at 30fps, and 16MB of onboard memory, plus, the few downsides here don't sound all that bad: below average life from the included rechargeable battery, only six steps on the optical zoom, and an Exposure Compensation setting that doesn't auto-reset are the only gripes this reviewer had. Oh, that and the fact that you'll have to shell out for an xD card along with your purchase, because chances are you don't already have one, and Fuji doesn't include one in the box.
Fuji camera adds gaming features
As they continue to jam bigger screens, faster processors, and better controls into digital cameras, it only makes sense they would throw some games into the things. The 5.1-megapixel Fujifilm FinePix V10 comes with four "surprisingly addictive retro arcade-style games" including a shmup, a Breakout clone, and a maze game. For an added twist, the camera can incorporate your own pictures into the games. It might be the first time a manufacturer is shipping a camera with games built-in, but it's not the first camera to run games. Check out the totally awesome Mamed project, running Mame on any Digita OS enabled digital camera. [Via BoingBoing]