GIVE US YOUR SUGGESTIONS & FEEDBACK ABOUT THE SITE
We will send you an E-mail every time there is a new article in your favorite section. Sign-Up For ALERTS.

Digital Photography

Do you think it takes a souped-up personal computer with powerful reserves of memory and speed to enjoy digital photography at home?  Good news. That was once true, but it isn’t anymore.

Thanks to a steady stream of innovative new products it's getting even easier for you to view, edit, e-mail and print your pictures -- from the comfort of your couch. This article will introduce you to DVD players that can display pictures as well as movies; printers that connect directly to digital cameras; and futuristic portable "media players" that will hold all your images, video and other content in conveniently compact and portable packages.

Many believe that these "home imaging" appliances will make digital photography less time consuming and intimidating for average snapshooters. So if you’re thinking of switching to a digital camera, now might be a good time. Here’s a rundown on a few of the more interesting new products.  As the industry develops, there will undoubtedly be more: A market research firm recently predicted annual sales of 5.5 million "home imaging" appliances by 2007. Keep watch. 

One of the drawbacks of digital photography to date has been the investment of time it requires. It simply takes a long time to get a print out of your digital camera. You have to take the picture, load it to your computer, launch your imaging software, find the image, adjust it, then wait minutes or more for it to print.

The Printer Dock eliminates all those middle steps. Using a Kodak EasyShare digital camera, you can now get a print in as little as 90 seconds.  The Printer Dock is essentially a printer with a plug that fits into Kodak’s EasyShare digital cameras. After you take a picture, you can "tag" it for printing. Once connected to the PrinterDock, all you have to do is push a single button to lay ink to paper. What you get 90 seconds later is a durable print that is resistant to spills and bright sunlight. Note that 90 seconds is how long it takes for a single print. Multiple prints would natually take much longer.

You can choose to print the latest picture, all tagged images, all your images or an index print.  The dock gives you other choices. You can choose your printable images on the camera’s LCD screen, on the dock, on your TV or on your computer.  The printer dock will carry a suggested retail price of $199 and will be available in May. Paper and ink packages will range from $14.99 for 20 sheets to $39.99 for 80 prints.

>>Click Here for a Demo

Next to digital cameras, DVD players are arguably the world’s best selling electronic devices. But these days they’re being used for more than just movies.
Several affordable and popular DVD players now also have the capability to read and play back digital images from CD-ROMs.

Here’s an example: The web site for APEX Digital Inc. of Ontario, Calif. lists eight DVD players that can accommodate picture-filled CDs.  A quick time-out for a technical matter: ANY CD will work as long as the pictures are saved in "jpeg" format.  Make sure you choose the right format if you’re burning your own CDs.

You don’t have to do it yourself, however. Picture CDs are available if you still take pictures on film. You order them from your local retailer when you drop your film off for developing. Both Kodak and Fuji have picture CD products.
Kodak’s CD can be ordered at retailers such as Target Stores, Kmarts, Eckerds and others; Fuji will do the work if you develop at Wal-Mart, Ritz Camera Centers or other photo retailers. If you go this route, no need to sweat the details on file formats. The retailer will do the work for you.

You’ll have to become adept at manipulating your remote control to see your images. The arrow keys are used to switch from image to image and to change special effects. Future services may include e-mailing pictures from the TV.

>>Clicke Here for more info...

Cable TV operators are getting in on the act with the development of smart cable boxes that do more than switch channels. One intriguing example is the Moxi Digital Media Center, which was announced in January.

The media center is a do-everything box: It will manage your cable TV choices, record programs in with a "personal video recorder" such as TiVo, store digital music, browse web sites, send instant messages and -- most importantly -- pictures.  It does this by integrating DVD and CD players as well as including a slot for digital camera memory cards. Kodak, Fuji and many others sell memory cards in addition to their Picture CD-ROMs. 

Like the DVD model, consumers would see their photos using the remote control. Unlike the DVD, though, consumers can send pictures to print from the media center to a home printer. This is for advanced users who happen to be able to navigate the intricacies of a home wireless network.

>>Click Here for more info...

New to Canon's line for 2003, are the i450 Color Bubble Jet Printer and the i470D Photo Printer. Both printers will deliver beautiful photos and sharp text using Canon features and technology formerly only found on higher priced Canon printers. Printing times of up to 18 pages per minute (ppm) in black and 12 ppm in color.   

Printing photos at home is easy with Bubble Jet Direct printing and true borderless photo capabilities featured on the i450 and i470D. Bubble Jet Direct printing on both allow consumers to print photos with or without the computer by connecting select Canon digital cameras or camcorders directly to the printer and using the print functions built into the camera.

Print functions on the camera or camcorder include cropping, date stamping and selecting multiple print sizes. Edge to edge printing in 4" x 6", 5" x 7" and 8.5" x 11" sizes combined with Canon's Photo Paper Pro or Photo Paper Plus Glossy media deliver excellent photo quality from digital images.

Additionally, the i470D Photo Printer will include two features not found on the i450 - built-in print operation panel with the all-new Canon Photo Viewer software and built-in slots for removable memory cards including CompactFlash™, Memory Stick®, Microdrive™, SmartMedia™, SD Card™ and MultimediaCard™.

Click Here for more info...

If you’re more comfortable with one function per box, then consider the SanDisk Digital Photo Viewer. This is a device that sits on top of your TV set like your DVD and VCR players and cable boxes, but is dedicated only to photos.

The Digital Photo Viewer plugs into the back of the TV set like those other devices. You take pictures with your digital camera, then take out the digital memory card and slide it into the photo viewer. Navigate between pictures using your remote control.

>>Click Here for more info...

A futuristic approach to hassle free digital imaging is on the way thanks to Microsoft Corp.  The world’s largest software company has developed a device software platform code named "Media2Go" that will be used in building portable media players that provide the consumers the ability to enjoy their digital video, music, and pictures anywhere at any time.

The devices aren’t quite on the market yet, but they’re coming. Microsoft has licensed five companies to make hardware for the Media2Go software. They are top names: Samsung Electronics, Sanyo, ViewSonic, iRiver and Creative Labs.  Prototypes of the device have had a 4-inch screen, 20 gigabyte hard drive and cords to connect to the PC.

>>Click Here for more info...

Whichever of these devices seem the most appealing to you, the best advice is to understand how much technology you can stand and maintain your curiosity. Tell retail store personnel your tech level and what you’re looking for, and they’ll direct you to the right product.

^ Back to top

* Your Name:
* Email address:
	(Enter the code shown)
	(Your e-mail address will not show on the site and is used so that we can contact you back if needed)
* Your Comment about this article::
	Include me in the TGP Monthly Newsletter