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HP mulling a bid to acquire Kodak?
It doesn't feel like this one has too sturdy a leg to stand on just yet, but according to Financial Times, Hewlett-Packard may be (once again) looking to acquire Kodak. Reportedly, the rationale is that combining the strengths of the two would "create a global imaging powerhouse." Additionally, it was noted that Kodak is "trimmer and in better financial shape largely because of steps taken by CEO Antonio Perez, a 25-year HP veteran recruited in 2003 and CEO since 2005." As expected, spokespeople from both outfits declined comment, but we wouldn't be surprised if this here acquisition was at least on someone's table.
Motorola's 2008 lineup leaked in Amsterdam
Like blurry future product shots do ya? Well, these rank with the best. Four new handsets were accidentally on purpose shown to Mobile Phone Helpdesk today in Amsterdam during a discussion with Motorola. Kicking things off is the device code-named "SKARVEN;" a ZOOM-series kick-slider which might feature an 8 megapixel camera and 2.8-inch screen. The TEXEL is another ROKR musicphone due in February or March of 2008. It features a morphing keypad like that found on the ROKR E8 which allows the keypad icons and functions to change in support of music or cellphone modes. The X PIXL is a Kodak-Motorola mashup which should bring a 5 megapixel camera to market under a Motorola Z12 product name. Rounding things out is the entry-level GENGHIS QWERTY device for non-business types. While there's not much to call home about, at least none of these future looking devices looks like another played-out RAZR.[Via Unwired View]
Hands-on with Kodak's new EasyShare lineup
Kodak has had some trouble producing true winners with its EasyShare lineup, but while we can't guarantee that the new V1253, V1233 and Z812 IS cameras will get the job done, they're at least a step in the right direction. The V models are slim and attractive, while the HD prowess of all three cameras is certainly a winner. We just wish Kodak would stop making us feel so bad about not wanting to buy into their whole printing ecosystem if we were ever to pick one of these up.%Gallery-6776%
Kodak get official with EasyShare cameras, launches new frame and HDTV dock
Not that anyone was impatiently refreshing Engadget in anticipation of this news, but Kodak just made their trio of leaked EasyShare cameras official. We mean really, really, super official with pricing and dates as opposed to the information gleaned off their site courtesy of Google's cache. The $300 V1253, $250 V1233, and $300 Z812 IS are all available now. They're also launching their $100 Easyshare HDTV dock with remote control for a quick and dirty TV hookup along with a 10-inch SV1011 digital picture frame with 800 x 480 resolution for $200. See, you don't know everything.
Kodak's new trio of EasyShare cams courtesy of Google cache
We're expecting an announcement any time now, but Google cache has already revealed some inadvertently posted product pages for a trio of new Kodak EasyShare shooters. The Z812 IS (pictured, top-left) is an 8.2 megapixel cam with 12x Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon zoom lens which doubles-up as a chubby 720p / 30fps video recorder. It's also said to feature a 0.23-second click-to-capture capability while packing optical image stabilization to help manage the shake and noise from that biggie zoom and reported ISO 3200 sensitivity. The V1253 (pictured, bottom) and V1233 then, are both 12 megapixel shooters that offer the same 720p video recording as the super zoom. The V1253 packs a 3.1-inch LCD to the 2.5-incher found on the V1233. Both lack any kind of optical image stabilization, however. Now come on Kodak, make 'em official with dates and pricing.[Via LetsGoDigital] Read -- Z812 (via Google cache) Read -- V1233 (via Google cache)Read -- V1253 (via Google cache)
Kodak sues Matsushita over patent infringement
Kodak, a name pretty much synonymous with the word "camera" in the past, and "crap" more recently, sued Japanese manufacturer Masushita (primary owner of Panasonic, amongst others), alleging the company infringed upon its digital camera patents. In documents filed in Texas, Kodak claims that the company violated patents for an "electronic camera utilizing image compression and digital storage," and "an apparatus and method for previewing motion images using a series of lower resolution still images." According to a Kodak spokesman, the company has tried to resolved the dispute "for a number of years," but the results haven't been up to snuff for the photography giant. Interestingly, Kodak has all but announced that it plans to bolster its earnings by milking kickbacks from the licensing of its intellectual property during its lengthy transition from a traditional photography company to a digital one. If the past is any indication, Matsushita can just crack the wallet right now.
Seven-inch digital photo frame shootout
Hot on the heels of the SSD shootout comes a five-man competition stocked with some of the most prolific digital photo frames on the market, and now that prices on these bad boys are dipping down from the stratosphere, there's a good chance you'd like to know which would look best in your den. Thankfully, GearDigest has taken the task upon itself to pit Kodak's EasyShare SV710, Pandigital's 7-inch Photo Frame, Philips' 7FF1CM1, Smartpart's Portable Picture And Video Player, and Westinghouse's DPF-702 against each other to see who's really the champ. After hours of viewing countless relatives and vacations of yesteryear, the group found that the obvious assumptions of "you get what you pay for" proved completely true. The four frames not labeled by Philips all featured a similar 16:9 display with a paltry 480 x 234 resolution, and while a few offered niceties not found elsewhere (Kodak's PictBridge, for instance), all of the devices were decent at best in terms of image quality -- and they all ranged from $119 to $129.95 in price. Handily snagging the gold was the $199 7FF1CM1, which upped the ante with a 720 x 480 panel and proved worthwhile if you actually want your photos to shine. But hey, it's still your dough, so do your duty and dive into the full review below before swaying one way or another.[Via DigitalMediaThoughts]
Kodak stuffs CMOS sensor into EasyShare C513 point-and-shoot
Here's one straight out of left field. While we were all anxiously affixed on Sony and Canon waiting for either to kick out a CMOS-packin' point-and-shoot camera, along comes Kodak to shake things up. Apparently, those five-megapixel CMOS sensors it had been working on are ready to rock, as the firm's EasyShare C513 includes one along with a 3x optical zoom, 2.4-inch LCD monitor, digital image stabilization, video capture, and in-camera editing functions. Best of all, this entry-level device is priced at just $99, and while this pioneering unit is slated to hit shelves next month, we've got a sneaking suspicious the flood gates are about to bust wide open with CMOS-stuffed pocket cams.
Kodak demolishes building, cameras still kinda suck
Kodak seems pretty friggin proud of the fact that they imploded an old facility Saturday for no other reason than to "highlight" its EasyShare All-in-One printer line -- which is both odd and fine, but certainly they could have used the occasion to introduce some cameras that aren't, well, kind of sucky? (See, we're still waiting for it to make good on that one video.) Either way, we're most disappointed by the fact that Kodak didn't seem to find any irony in a photography company blowing something up. Thank you, thank you, we'll be here all week.
Kodak color-filter technology could redefine low-light shooting
We already knew that Kodak was up to something good when it began to phase out low-end digicams and refocus on developing new technologies, and now it seems like we've got one more innovation from its laboratory to look forward to. Reportedly, Kodak has developed a "color-filter technology that at least doubles the sensitivity to light of the image sensor in every digital camera." Bold words, we know, but even Chris McNiffe, general manager of the photography company's image sensor business, went so far as to say that this very invention would enable a "2x-4x improvement in light sensitivity." The company also suggested that a variety of camera manufacturers could expect samples of said technology during the first quarter of next year, and while consumer rollouts weren't detailed, we do know that this magical concoction will hit P&S cameras first with cameraphones to get equipped shortly thereafter.
Kodak's four slim shooters: the M753, M853, M873, M883
More from Kodak in the form of these four from Kodak's M series of ultracompact shooters. The 7 megapixel M753, 8 megapixel M853 (pictured), and 8 megapixel M873 each sport 2.5-inch LCDs while the 8 megapixel M883 dials it up to a 3-incher. The top-end M883 offers face detection technology, a full metal chassis, and ISO 3200 sensitivity. All the cameras feature a panorama stitching mode and MPEG-4 video capture which maxes out with a 640 x 480 resolution at just 15fps. The $149 M753 hits in June, the $179 M853 and $199 M873 in August, and $229 M883 in September -- each available in several colors. More photos as we get 'em. [Via Photography Blog]
Kodak's new Zooms: the 12 megapixel Z1275 and ZD710 with 10x zoom
Egads, Kodak just busted out two new members of their Zoom series: the 12 megapixel Z1275 and 7 megapixel ZD710. That's right, 12 freakin' megapixels packed into a tiny 1/1.72-inch CCD -- thanks a lot Sharp. The Z1275 brings a 5x Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon optical zoom lens and 2.5-inch LCD powered by 2x AA batteries. As for that "HD" on the front? Well, that's due its ability to record 1280 x 720 video in MPEG-4 format. Meanwhile, the ZD710 cranks the zoom up to 10X while dialing the LCD back to 2-inches. Both shooters lack any kind of optical or mechanical image stabilization which, amongst other shortcomings keeps the price down to $249 when they ship starting August 2007.[Via Photography Blog]
Kodak 'phasing out' low-end digicams, creating 5MP sensor for cameraphone
During the same 24 hours that BenQ called it quits on the digital camera market, Kodak has reportedly had similar thoughts when eying its low-end camera lineup. According to CNET, Kodak President Antonio Perez shared that the firm would be "abandoning the low-end of the digital camera business" at the JPMorgan Technology Conference in Boston. He also added that while the company "wasn't making much money" in that segment, it was developing its own five-megapixel CMOS sensor to be used in a (presumably mid-range) Kodak-branded digicam. More interesting, however, was the addition that this very sensor would also make its way into "several Motorola cell phones by the end of the year." Unsurprisingly, Mr. Perez was fairly tight-lipped about any further details on the deal, but it's about time we saw something more advanced than a grainy 1.3-megapixel shooter built into mainstream handsets.
Kodak 1881 concept cam takes discreet snaps, is not discreet
Apparently designed so Flava Flav could secretly record his travels back in time, the "1881" concept designer Lindsey Pickett showed at a recent Kodak design exhibition is a bold new entry in the uber-competitive non-existent camera / locket space.The foldable cam takes snaps just by squeezing the case, or you can crack it open and line things up on the dual LCD screens. Pickett also tried to capture some of that old-school photo locket vibe by setting those the screens to auto-play the internal memory when opened, which'll keep you entertained during the frequent rest breaks you'll have to take while lugging this thing around on your neck. No specs to be had, since the 1881 is just a concept, but first Kodak and Pickett need to figure out how to build a camera smaller than a manhole cover.[Via Techie Diva]
Kodak's cheap inkjet claims all talk?
We were pretty stoked to hear Kodak was planning on running full tilt at the current status quo of "loss leader" printer tactics, that has unwitting consumers picking up inkjet printers for a dime, and spending a fortune on printing supplies. Unfortunately, it looks like Kodak hasn't come upon any magical printing techniques to pull this off yet, since its new printers didn't do so good up against the likes of Epson, HP and Canon. Kodak is marketing its printers as capable of producing 10 cent prints, which would indeed be a great deal. Tests show that an $18 pack of paper and ink results in about 165 borderless prints, about 11.5 cents per print. Unfortunately, the prints were basically "draft" quality, maybe fine for certain budget-minded consumers, but hardly comparable to "lab quality" photos. To boost the quality you'll need pricier Kodak paper, which ends up at about 35 cents per print, and renders the whole exercise pointless. The testers recommend the $150 Epson Stylus Photo RX580, for super good prints and great speed. Might want to leave that $200 Kodak EasyShare 5300 on the shelf for the time being.
Fade resistance test takes a look at photo printers / paper
Although we've already seen that truly fade-free inkjet prints just aren't really attainable with modern technology, a thorough (albeit unscientific) review of some six photo printers and seven types of photo paper literally showcased how close we can come. The test consisted of hanging the prints on a window facing the sun for 11 solid months, whilst the control photographs stayed under wraps to use for comparison. In what was easily the worst performer of the bunch, Samsung's SSP-2040 (pictured above) was nothing short of dreadful, while Kodak's EasyShare PP-500 and Canon's Selphy DS810 delivered only marginally better results. Epson's Picture Mate 100 did a fair job of wowing the critics after looking at the previous attempts, but the real winners came when HP's PhotoSmart 385 and PhotoSmart Express kiosk stepped up to the plate. Of course, results were judged with mere eyes, but the folks at PixInfo couldn't tell a difference between the original and the sun-blasted copy on either of these machines, and while it does sound a bit too good to be true, make sure you click on through for the stunning proof. Still, it's doubtful that any of these devices can produce shots that last for decades on end without any hint of fading or discoloration, but if you're looking for the best money can buy this day in age, be sure and hit the read link for the full skinny.
Forget weather-proof memory cards, let's try "nuke-able"
The folks at e-Fotografija have had enough of SDHC speed tests, and wanted to take things to the next level. After some extreme temperature tests (ranging from -30°C to +85°C) which seemed to do little to knock the cards out of commission -- though Kodak card did have to return to room temperature before restarting, while the industrial-grade ATP card kept right on humming -- the cards were blasted with Gamma radiation to really get the measure of the things. Sadly, no strange half-man, half-SD card creatures were created in the process, and in fact, high doses of radiation did absolutely nothing to impact the cards, meaning the relatively weak level of airport X-ray radiation should do nothing to your stash of pictures stored on these sturdy memory cards. Tune in next weak, when we'll find out if SD cards can pass through the core of the earth unscathed.[Via PhotographyBLOG]
Kodak's new EasyShare C613 and C763 keep it slim and cheap
Kodak's hitting all the budget-friendly sweet spots today. Alongside those "fancy" Z712 IS and Z885 shooters, these new C613 and C763 (pictured) EasyShare cameras are positively barebones, with $120 and $180 pricetags, respectively. Luckily, Kodak didn't do away with specs entirely: the C613 sports a 6.2 megapixel CCD and 3X zoom, while the C763 bumps it up to 7.1 megapixels. The screens are particularly impressive for the prices, at 2.4-inch and 2.5-inches. ISO, in about the 800 range, naturally isn't as notable as that of the Z series we saw earlier, and there's no optical image stabilization to keep your pics blur-free, but the combination of low price, small size and beefy megapixels should garner this pair a bit of success when they drop in April. Peep the C613 after the break.Read - C613Read - C763
Kodak EasyShare Z885 and Z712 IS
These two new additions to Kodak's EasyShare line are targeted to consumers who seek a user-friendly interface, wallet-friendly prices, and of course, a good photo. The 8.1-megapixel Z885 packs in 5x optical zoom, up to 8000 ISO, 2.5-inch indoor / outdoor display, and 10 automatic smart scene modes for a modest price of $199.95. If you're lookin' to go wannabe-DSLR and have an extra $100 to spare, the 7.1-megapixel Z712 IS will deliver a 2.5-inch display, 10x optical zoom, image stabilization, and 0.26-second click-to-capture speed. These newbies have yet to prove their worth, but we can at least appreciate that they won't stab you in your pockets and they're pretty straightforward -- no fancy-pants extras to get in the way. The Z712 IS will be available in April with the Z885 coming out sometime in May.Read - Kodak EasyShare Z885Read - Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS
Kodak launches image printing service for cellphone cameras
Although there are more and more embedded cameras in cellphones these days with PictBridge compatibility for local printing at your friendly CVS or Kmart, Kodak wants you to send them that nicer digital picture from that 2 megapixel shooter for processing and printing. Kodak is one of the first to say that the increasing image quality of digicams in cellphones is opening up a new market, although we've been waiting for a while, you know. Kodak's partnership with Exclaim will allow its "Mobile Link" service -- which Kodak describes as very near to its Easyshare system -- to find its way to CDMA handsets with Brew compatibility. In the U.S., you'll most likely be stuck with Verizon Wireless, the largest CDMA carrier with that combination. For all others, you're out of luck for now. We do find it strange that both Verizon and Sprint are referenced in the announcement when Sprint's phones use Java and not Brew. The price for Kodak's service will be $4 per month.
