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Tokyo, Japan — Sony Corporation on Thursday, Jan 31, announced the development of a 35mm full size (diagonal:43.3mm/Type 2.7) 24.81 effective megapixel, ultra-high speed high image quality CMOS image sensor designed to meet the increasing requirement for rapid image capture and advanced picture quality within digital SLR cameras.

The newly developed CMOS image sensor combines unique circuit design technology with Sony’s advanced fabrication expertise, such as advanced planarization for minimizing fluctuation, to realize 35mm, full size, 24.81 effective megapixel resolution. Sony’s “Column-Parallel A/D Conversion Technique” also provides each column within the sensor with its own A/D converter, minimizing image degradation caused by the noise that arises during analog processing while at the same time delivering an extremely high signal conversion speed.

The enhanced image quality generated by the sensor’s 24.81 effective megapixel resolution, wide range of graduation expression achieved by its full size broad dynamic range, and the low noise, high resolution, ultra-responsive performance provided by Sony’s Column-Parallel A/D Conversion technique enable it to meet the ever-increasing requirements within high performance digital SLR cameras.

Sony will target for mass production of this CMOS image sensor within this year.

Major Features
1, High picture quality in 35mm full size image sensor with 24.81M effective pixels

2, “Column-Parallel A/D Conversion method” achieves high S/N and high-speed imaging

- CDS/PGA(24dB)Circuit (PGA: Programmable Gain Amplifier)
- 12bit-AD Converter on chip
- Diversified readout mode
- All-pixel scan mode 6.3 frame/s (12bit)
- Window readout

3, High-speed digital output (12 channel parallel LVDS output)

More at Sony.

TOKYO, Japan — On Thursday, Dec 20, Canon announced the achievement of a new camera-manufacturing milestone as combined production of the company’s EOS-series film and digital single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras passed the 30-million mark.

Additionally, production of EOS Digital-series SLR cameras has passed the 10-million unit threshold.

The achievement coincides with Canon’s 70th anniversary and the 20th anniversary of the launch of its EOS line of SLR cameras. Shipment of EOS cameras began in 1987 from Canon’s Fukushima Plant (now Fukushima Canon), with production later moving to Canon, Taiwan and the company’s current main production base at Oita Canon.

In 1997, the 10th anniversary of the series, production reached 10 million units, and in 2003 it passed the 20-million mark. And now, a mere four years later, Canon reached the 30-million level.

In March of 1987, Canon’s 50th anniversary, the company introduced the EOS 650 AF SLR camera, the first model of the EOS series. The EOS 650 incorporated the world’s first fully electronic mount system, achieving complete electronic control not only between the lens and body but throughout the entire camera system, representing a new generation of AF SLR cameras.

In 2000, Canon formally ushered in the age of the digital SLR camera with the introduction of the EOS D30, equipped with the company’s proprietary CMOS sensor. In addition to developing in-house such key components as CMOS sensors and the high-performance DIGIC digital image processor, Canon offers an extensive lineup of EF lenses.

This year, commemorating the 20th year of the EOS series, Canon has further bolstered its digital SLR camera lineup with the launch of the top-of-the-line EOS-1D Mark III and EOS-1Ds Mark III, featuring a fully revamped camera system, as well as the EOS 40D. More at Canon.

On Wednesday, Dec 12, Google Mobile released new iPhone interface for Picasa. After you go to Picasa on your iPhone and log in, you can quickly see all your albums that you’ve uploaded to Picasa Web.

If you click on any of the albums, you can get a full view of your picture with comments from your friends. Or you can click on Slideshow, sit back and watch the pictures scroll. You can also search for photos in your album or through community photos. Finally, you can view your friends’ albums through favorites.

If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch go to http://picasaweb.google.com and check it out. More at Google Mobile Blog.

Dec 05, ‘07 — LA Times is reporting on the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday, Dec 04, reaffirming its earlier support for the socially redeeming value of searching the Internet for nudie pictures.

LA Times further writes, “The San Francisco court, in reviewing a case it initially considered in May, reiterated its finding that Google could display tiny versions of photographs by Perfect 10 Inc., a Beverly Hills-based adult publisher, in search results, even when those images were copyrighted.

The court said, Google met that test. The justices ruled that a larger public interest in searching for information — or, in this case, images of partially clad women — amounted to a “transformative use” that trumped Perfect 10’s copyright claims.

The court overturned part of a ruling by the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, which had found that Google’s thumbnail-sized images of Perfect 10’s nude models constituted infringement. The lower court imposed an injunction barring the use of the images, but the appeals court invalidated that decision.” More at LA Times.

SAN FRANCISCO & SEATTLE –BUSINESS WIRE– — Dec 04, ‘07 — Flickr, one of the world’s leading online photo-sharing communities, today announced a partnership with Picnik, a ground breaking online photo-editing application, to fully-integrate Picnik’s comprehensive photo-editing tools within Flickr.

Flickr members worldwide will now have access to Picnik’s extensive editing features such as resize, crop, change exposure, and red-eye removal, along with Picnik’s special effects such as color boost, black and white, sepia, frames, shapes, text and soften, all within the Flickr site.

Picnik editing tools are now available on the Edit Photo tab within Flickr for editing individual photos or a batch of photos. After transforming their photos, members can add the edited photos to their Flickr account or, if they are a Flickr Pro member, overwrite the original.

Additionally, Flickr Pro members will benefit from Picnik’s “Perfect Memory” feature which allows you to undo or redo any edit or special effect all the way back to the original version of the picture.

The new Picnik editing tools will be available to Flickr members in eight languages including: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Korean and traditional Chinese. More at Yahoo!

Taipei, Taiwan — Nov 26, ‘07 –Jimmy Hsu of DigiTimes reports on Samsung Electronics, in a bid to promote sales of its digital cameras at the annual IT Month fair to take place in Taipei in early December, offering a 4GB SD memory card as a gift along with the sale of Samsung digital cameras, citing retail channels in the Taiwan market.

He further writes, “Price competition that has been ongoing for up to two years in the Taiwan market has reduced sales margins for digital cameras to a low level of $15.5-24.7 (NT$500-800), and vendors have started to opt for offering gifts instead of further price cuts, the sources indicated.

Memory cards are the most common promotional gifts offered alongside digital cameras, usually a 1GB SD card for an entry-level model and a 2GB SD card for a mid-range or high-end model, the sources noted. However, Samsung will take the initiative in offering 4GB SD cards and it is uncertain whether main competitors, including Canon, Sony, Panasonic, Nikon and Casio, will follow suit, the sources pointed out.” More at DigiTimes.

REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 12, 2007 — Tomorrow, consumers ready for a richer, more connected and more personal entertainment experience will have the first opportunity to get their hands on sleek new Zune players, redesigned Zune software, and new online services including the Zune Marketplace and Zune Social, an online music community. The players — along with dozens of accessories — will be available at retailers across the United States, while the new Zune software will be available for free download at Zune.

For the first time, consumers also will have the option to customize their Zune player with laser-engraved designs and personal text through a new Web store called Zune Originals. Customers will be able to purchase a Zune player directly from Microsoft at ZuneOriginals.net and choose from a collection of laser-engraved artwork designed exclusively for Zune by 18 internationally recognized artists.

Zune Entertainment Experience Expands

Together with the original Zune 30GB, the new models and customization options make it easier for consumers to find the size, color, design and price that best suits them. Three new Zune models will be on store shelves tomorrow: the black Zune 80GB, which has a bright 3.2-inch screen and comes with premium in-ear noise-isolating headphones (ERP $249.99), and the slim, ultra-portable Zune 4GB (ERP $149.99) and the Zune 8GB (ERP $199.99), both available in pink, green, black and red. Existing Zune owners will receive all new software features via a free and easy upgrade, available Nov 13.

Zune is set apart from its competitors by having all the following features:

More at Microsoft.

REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 6, 2007 — Microsoft today launched Windows Live, a new set of personal Internet services and software, which encompasses more than 20 services, including Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Photo Gallery and Windows Live OneCare Family Safety.

A free and fun upgrade for the online and Windows experiences, the new Windows Live was launched today at Windows Live and at events in New York and Los Angeles. To celebrate the launch, Microsoft is partnering with the children’s nonprofit Operation Smile to encourage people to share smiles through Windows Live to help Operation Smile make a difference in the lives of children around the world.

Windows Live Features:

Communicate. Stay close and connected how you want, wherever you are.

Share. A simpler way to share your photos and express yourself online.

Access Anywhere. Connect easily and share information you want.

Safety. Enjoy a worry-free computing experience with built-in safety features.

Nov 02, ‘07 — Stephen Shankland of CNET’s News.com is reporting on Microsoft’s HD photo is getting a nod, from Joint Photographic Expert Group (JPEG), to become “a higher-end sequel to the ubiquitous JPEG image standard”.

He further writes, “The multiple countries participating in the Joint Photographic Experts Group, which created the JPEG standard, have approved an effort to make Microsoft’s HD Photo format a standard called JPEG XR, said Bill Crow, who has led Microsoft’s HD Photo effort and who just took over the company’s Microsoft Live Labs Seadragon imaging project. XR stands for “extended range,” a reference to the format’s ability to show a wider and finer range of tonal gradations and a richer color palette.

“The country vote is done, and it passed,” Crow said. “That means the International JPEG committee has decided to go ahead and create the standard. Now it’s just a process of doing that work,” a process that will begin later this month in a meeting in Kobe, Japan.

The move is an important step in the transformation of the photo format from an in-house technology called Windows Media Photo to a neutral format more likely to be palatable to companies that don’t want to be beholden to Microsoft.” More at News.com, Wikipedia.

Milan, Italy – 27 October 2007 — Today, for the very first time, The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, the most famous, most discussed and most controversial work of art of all time, declared a World Heritage work of art and registered at the UNESCO worldwide sites, can be seen by all, in all its details, on the website: haltadefinizione.

The online visualisation system of the highest definition photograph ever in the world (16 billion pixels) will in fact let viewers enlarge and observe any portion of the painting, giving them a clear view of sections down to as little as one millimetre square.

The project started at the beginning of 2007, as a result of the meeting between the Ministry of Cultural Assets and Activities - Milan Landscape and Architectural Assets Office, De Agostini and HAL9000, a worldwide leader in the high-definition photography sector. This photographic technique has two benefits: on one hand, it is a unique instrument of its kind for “monitoring” the state of the painting and, on the other hand, it allows anyone on the Internet, from any part of the world, to observe all the parts and details of the work. Thanks to this technology, HAL9000 can also create large high-quality fine art prints of The Last Supper which offer an overall and detailed visual perception never possible before.

The photograph of The Last Supper, one of the most delicate and protected works in the world, is the result of many months of work and research, during which specific lighting and photography techniques were developed. The protection of the painting was, right from the start, the main concern of the HAL9000 technicians and the Architectural Assets Office; the photography system designed and implemented by HAL9000 was subject to technical inspection at the Environmental Control and Physics Laboratory at the Central Restoration Institute in Rome, which decided the system was totally suitable in accordance with current standards for the safeguarding
of artistic works.

This first and unique, official photographic record of The Last Supper is presented today, in the ‘Bramante’ Sacristy in the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. The presentation involves talks by Arch. Alberto Artioli, Supervisor of the Milan Landscape and Architectural Assets Office, Prof. Pietro Marani, President of the Da Vinci Research Institute and Professor of Modern Art History at the Polytechnic of Milan, as well as HAL9000, the company which took the photographs of the work. The Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities, Francesco Rutelli, is attending the press conference.

The project was made possible thanks to the assistance of various partners: AMD, an American multinational which provided the high-tech processing technology; Clauss, a German company which provided the high-precision orientation structure, De Agostini, who provided web and communication support; I-Net, who provided high-speed Internet access, and Nikon, for high-tech state-of-the-art photographic equipment.

More at Haltadefinizione

Austin, TX–(BUSINESS WIRE)–October 27, ‘07–Call it Cleavage-gate. When photos of Hillary Clinton’s cleavage peeking out of a revealing V-neck made the news, there’s no doubt she would have liked a do-over.

Fortunately, that image do-over can now be achieved-after the fact. Whether retouching Hillary’s cleavage, Fred Thompson’s facial creases, or the dark circles under Giuliani’s eyes, the ability to go back and improve an image is now available to candidates for president and candidates for Mom of the Year alike.

Hillary’s birthday is this weekend, and what woman entering her sixties wouldn’t want to appear a bit more youthful, a little more rested? Fotofix.com, a new online photo enhancement service, gave a little help to Hillary, and is now bringing professionally styled photos to the people, so that anyone can visually correct unsightly scars, deep wrinkles, uneven skin tone or red eye.

The process has about a 24-hour turnaround-with customers posting photos directly to the site or sending them via email or a cell phone. The photos are then altered at low or no cost to the consumer.

Harnessing the talents of a team of professional photographers and artists, Fotofix.com can glamorize an online profile image, improve a dating picture or even remove an old girlfriend from the frame-something the other Clinton could have certainly employed during his presidency.

Fotofix.com can’t guarantee it will increase votes, but it can guarantee an improved, more polished image-something the candidates, no matter their political persuasion, can all support. Fotofix.com was launched on Friday, Oct 26, ‘07.

The secret of celebrity beauty is now available to you! Everyone wants to look beautiful. Fotofix can help! Says Fotofix.com

AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–October 26, ‘07–Fotofix.com is a new online photo enhancement service giving the general public the ability to upload snapshots and, after a brief wait, receive retouched, magazine-quality photos.

Now anyone can enjoy the celebrity treatment, partaking of the alteration top models and stars take advantage of to improve and enhance their images. Fotofix.com provides high-quality digital enhancements like skin smoothing, complexion evening, body slimming, and tooth whitening.

Fotofix.com showcases an individual’s natural style and features to best advantage using the latest airbrush and retouching techniques. Colors become more vibrant and photo imperfections disappear. Best of all, it’s affordable.

A team of professionally trained photographers and artists work on the photos, ensuring the best quality available in online photo touch-ups. Fotofix.com gives people the power to envision themselves with different hair or eye colors, relocated to new backgrounds or to have poor photo color rebalanced.

The process has a 24-hour turnaround — with customers posting photos directly to the site or sending them via email or a cell phone. The photos are then altered at low or no cost to the consumer.