Extensis has announced Portfolio Server 8.5, a significant upgrade in its Portfolio
Server digital asset management (DAM) product. The Portfolio Server upgrade provides
industrial-strength workflow features to organize and exchange digital files utilizing
visual catalogs and embedded metadata. Portfolio Server is a multi-channel system
that makes it fast and easy to find and share valuable creative assets within
the creative workgroup, across the organization and externally with global partners.
The Portfolio 8.5 product family includes Portfolio Server, Portfolio Client,
Portfolio Express, Portfolio NetPublish and SQL Connect modules, as well as a
Single-User version of Portfolio.
Portfolio Server 8.5 includes new features to automate metadata-driven organization,
tracking, and distribution of digital assets. Additionally, this release includes
Portfolio Project Sync, designed to allow creative users a seamless interface
with familiar Adobe Creative Suite applications. Creative users simultaneously
benefit from Portfolio Server's ability to provide access to other users through
the Portfolio Client, Portfolio Express and websites created with Portfolio NetPublish,
Portfolio Server 8.5 provides unique access points for both internal and external
users.
Portfolio Server 8.5 comes with Project Sync and includes several enhancements,
including improved XMP and file format support, greater performance and stability,
as well as additional features that help automate management of complex metadata.
Portfolio NetPublish 8.5 also includes a number of new features, including advanced
logging for reporting user traffic as well as visual watermarking functionality,
for images, to prevent unauthorized use.
Pricing and Availability
Portfolio Server 8.5 for workgroups will be available for download and purchase
in Summer 2007. Portfolio Server 8.5 and all client components will be available
free of charge for existing customers with Annual Service Agreements (ASA). Pricing
for all other versions, including upgrades, will be announced prior to product
availability in summer 2007.
French, German and Japanese language versions of Portfolio will also be available
in summer, 2007.
Portfolio 8.5 will support Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP2 or Vista, Pentium class processor
at 1GHz or faster, 512MB RAM, 500 MB Hard Drive space, Network Interface for server
connection, Apple QuickTime version 7 or higher. Portfolio 8.5 will also support
Mac OS X 10.4.4 or higher, G4, G5 or Intel Core Processor at 1GHz, 512 MB RAM,
500MB Hard Drive space, Network Interface for server connection, Apple QuickTime
version 7 or higher.
Tamron Podcasts--including four brand new titles--are currently available
at no cost by going to www.tamron.com, clicking on lenses, and going to the
learning center podcast list. You can download any or all of these instructional
videos directly to your computer and review them in full detail with great sound,
or take them along and view them on the smaller screen of your video-enabled
iPod or other portable device.
Extensis has announced Portfolio Server 8.5, a significant upgrade in its Portfolio
Server digital asset management (DAM) product. The Portfolio Server upgrade provides
industrial-strength workflow features to organize and exchange digital files utilizing
visual catalogs and embedded metadata. Portfolio Server is a multi-channel system
that makes it fast and easy to find and share valuable creative assets within
the creative workgroup, across the organization and externally with global partners.
The Portfolio 8.5 product family includes Portfolio Server, Portfolio Client,
Portfolio Express, Portfolio NetPublish and SQL Connect modules, as well as a
Single-User version of Portfolio.
Portfolio Server 8.5 includes new features to automate metadata-driven organization,
tracking, and distribution of digital assets. Additionally, this release includes
Portfolio Project Sync, designed to allow creative users a seamless interface
with familiar Adobe Creative Suite applications. Creative users simultaneously
benefit from Portfolio Server's ability to provide access to other users through
the Portfolio Client, Portfolio Express and websites created with Portfolio NetPublish,
Portfolio Server 8.5 provides unique access points for both internal and external
users.
Portfolio Server 8.5 comes with Project Sync and includes several enhancements,
including improved XMP and file format support, greater performance and stability,
as well as additional features that help automate management of complex metadata.
Portfolio NetPublish 8.5 also includes a number of new features, including advanced
logging for reporting user traffic as well as visual watermarking functionality,
for images, to prevent unauthorized use.
Pricing and Availability
Portfolio Server 8.5 for workgroups will be available for download and
purchase in Summer 2007. Portfolio Server 8.5 and all client components will be
available free of charge for existing customers with Annual Service Agreements
(ASA). Pricing for all other versions, including upgrades, will be announced prior
to product availability in summer 2007.
French, German and Japanese language versions of Portfolio will also be available
in summer, 2007.
Portfolio 8.5 will support Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP2 or Vista, Pentium class processor
at 1GHz or faster, 512MB RAM, 500 MB Hard Drive space, Network Interface for server
connection, Apple QuickTime version 7 or higher. Portfolio 8.5 will also support
Mac OS X 10.4.4 or higher, G4, G5 or Intel Core Processor at 1GHz, 512 MB RAM,
500MB Hard Drive space, Network Interface for server connection, Apple QuickTime
version 7 or higher.
Jostens is pleased to announce the winners of its nationally acclaimed annual
Jostens Photo Contest, co-sponsored Wolfe's Camera. This annual competition
recognizes the outstanding achievements of the best student photographers from
across the country.
Eighty-four winners were selected from more than 5,000 entries. The 2007 Grand
Prize Award was conferred upon Shannon Soule, a student at Westlake High School
in Austin, Texas. Her unique photograph, which she titled "The Kick-off
Symbol."
Submissions are judged on composition, artistic merit, and technical qualities,
as well the ability to convey a compelling story. In addition to a Grand Prize
winner, awards are conferred in seven categories: Academics, Student Life/Activities,
School Spirit, Athletes in Action, Life in the Hallway, Open, and Jr. High/Middle
School.
"This photography competition recognizes the sophisticated, high quality
photography being produced by students in schools all across the country,"
said Gary Lundgren, Jostens senior program manager/education. "Our contest
provides a forum for them to showcase their work and to be honored for their
unique talents. Competition is steep. Receiving this honor is quite an accomplishment."
In addition to Soule's Grand Prize photograph, the winning photographs
in each of the other seven categories are featured on the Jostens.com Website
at http://www.jostens.com/yearbook/show_contest.asp.
They will also be featured in the 2008 issue of the Jostens Gotcha Covered Look
Book, a popular annual resource utilized by yearbook advisers and staffs seeking
creative ideas, trends and inspiration.
Leica Camera AG has announced that it will provide a free firmware update for
the LEICA DIGILUX 3 on its website www.leica-camera.com.
The new firmware for the LEICA DIGILUX 3 optimizes the functionality of the
camera across many applications. This will include additional exposure functions
and will, for the first time, offer a "Mode 3" for optical stabilization.
Mode 3 will further compensate and correct longitudinal camera movement. This
mode is ideal for panning, a method of taking photographs where the camera follows
a moving object.
Version 2.0 will also include a new mode that facilitates the viewing of the
LCD monitor during use of the LiveView function. This setting will assist the
photographer when the camera is held in a position close to ground level. Further
improvements include the "Auto Review" setting, a Replay Zoom, easier
accessibility to the ISO setting in Auto Exposure (AE) mode, as well as further
improvements to camera operation and user interface.
Detailed information on the firmware update for the LEICA DIGILUX 3 will be
available at www.leica-camera.com in the Photography/D-System/Digilux 3 section
beginning in mid June 2007.
Digital Spectrum Solutions Inc. (www.DSIcentral.com)
has announced that its new wireless MemoryFrame 8104 Premium is now available.
This next-generation digital-picture frame is capable of sharing content over
the Internet and integrates easily with home media servers. It integrates the
new multimedia features of Microsoft Windows Vista and fully supports capabilities
such as Windows Media Connect and Windows Connect Now. It also fully supports
the features and capabilities of Windows XP used in conjunction with Windows
Media Player 11.
Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:EK) has introduced a new image sensor technology
that is said to provides a significant increase in sensitivity to light when
compared to current sensor designs. With this new technology, users will realize
a 2x to 4x increase in sensitivity (from one to two photographic stops), which
will improve performance when taking pictures under low light and reduce motion
blur when imaging moving subjects. In addition, this technology enables the
design of smaller pixels (leading to higher resolutions in a given optical format)
while retaining imaging performance.
This breakthrough advances an existing Kodak technology that has become a standard
in digital imaging. Today, the design of almost all color image sensors is based
on the "Bayer Pattern," an arrangement of red, green, and blue pixels
that was first developed by Kodak Scientist Dr. Bryce Bayer in 1976. In this
design, half of the pixels on the sensor are used to collect green light, with
the remaining pixels split evenly between sensitivity to red and blue light.
After exposure, software reconstructs a full color signal for each pixel in
the final image.
Kodak's new proprietary technology builds on the existing Bayer Pattern
by adding panchromatic, or "clear" pixels to the red, green, and
blue pixels already on the sensor. Since these pixels are sensitive to all wavelengths
of visible light, they collect a significantly higher proportion of the light
striking the sensor. The remaining red, green, and blue pixels are then used
to record the color information of the scene.
To reconstruct a full color image, Kodak has also developed new software algorithms
specifically designed to work with the raw data generated from these new image
sensors. These sophisticated algorithms use the more sensitive panchromatic
pixels to act as the luminance channel of the final image, and derive chrominance
information from the color pixels on the sensor. Leveraging over 30 years of
Kodak image science, these new algorithms support the increased sensitivity
provided by these new pixel patterns, while retaining the overall image quality
and color fidelity required by customers.
Kodak is beginning to work with a number of leading companies to implement this
new technology in system-wide solutions and to streamline the design-in process.
Kodak is developing CMOS sensors using this technology for consumer markets
such as digital still cameras and camera phones. As the technology is appropriate
for use with both CCD and CMOS image sensors, however, its use can be expanded
across Kodak's full portfolio of image sensors, including products targeted
to applied imaging markets such as industrial and scientific imaging. The first
Kodak sensor to use this technology is expected to be available for sampling
in the first quarter of 2008.
For more information on Kodak's entire image sensor product line, please
visit www.kodak.com/go/imagers.
MediaStreet Inc is introducing its new "15-inch eMotion Digital Picture
Frame." The announcement comes on the heels of the company's recent
introduction of a Bluetooth-enabled digital frame, and soon to be announced
WiFi Frame. The new 15-inch eMotion frame provides an extremely high resolution
(1024 x 768), 15-inch (4:3 aspect ratio) Digital TFT LCD panel for clear, sharp
picture quality.
Online video and photo sharing service Phanfare (www.phanfare.com) has announced
a special offer for current customers of Yahoo! Photos. Yahoo! Photos recently
informed their customers that their photos stored at Yahoo! Photos will be deleted
at the end of the summer. In response, Phanfare is offering Yahoo! Photos customers
the opportunity to move and save their photos from Yahoo! Photos to their own
Phanfare Web sites, known for family-friendly, private, secure, advertising-free
albums. As an added bonus, current Yahoo! Photos customers will get six months
free service when they move their photos to Phanfare.
Mamiya Digital announced an exciting new product - the Mamiya ZD 645AFD II Digital
System. The System consists of the Mamiya 645AFD II Medium Format Camera with
80mm f/2.8 AF lens and the newly- introduced Mamiya ZD 22 Megapixel Digital
Back. At a retail price of $9,999, the digital system marks a new era in the
high-end digital market.
Kingston Technology Company, Inc. has announced that world-class nature and
wildlife photographer John Hyde will be the next participant to share how he
uses Kingston Flash memory on the company's `Look Who's Using
Kingston' microsite. Hyde discusses how he captures the majestic beauty
of Alaska's national parks and the wildlife, including native Alaskan
wolves, birds and orcas. Hyde also offers insightful tips on how consumers can
take their own beautiful photos during visits to national parks and other outdoor
venues.
Epson America, Inc. has announced the Epson PowerLite S5 multimedia projector,
offering SVGA resolution and 2,000 ANSI lumens at an attractive price point
of $649 (estimated street price.) The PowerLite S5 weighs 5.8 pounds and offers
a range of features including HDTV support, to accommodate business or educational
needs during the day as well as home entertainment needs such as movies and
gaming in the evening.
The PowerLite S5 is said to be the ideal solution for a range of industries
and applications. Sales professionals can deliver powerful presentations in
almost any lighting condition with 2,000 ANSI lumens. And, with Epson's
latest generation of high aperture 3LCD (three-chip) technology for sharp, more
intense images, users are able to project with vivid color reproduction and
detail. For added versatility, the projector features a high brightness "Game"
Mode and can be plugged directly into a gaming console for an enhanced gaming
experience.
ReaSoft Development has announced the release of ReaConverter 5.0, which allows
users to convert images, as well as edit them, creating the high quality photos
and drafts.
Aluratek, Inc. has announced a new lineup of a high resolution Digital Photo
Frame with built-in memory that comes in three different models. The 10.5-inch
frames are available in traditional brown and black modernistic style. Both
10.5-inch models feature 256MB built-in memory and video resolutions of 1024
x 768 . In addition to allowing users to conveniently view and print quality
pictures by directly inserting their camera's or camcorder's digital
media card or USB thumb drive, the built-in 256MB flash media also lets them
transfer favorite digital files directly from their computer--quickly and
easily, without any software.
From the beaches of the eastern seaboard to the Great Plains, and from the wetlands
of the south, to the towering sequoias of the west, America and its pristine parks
have always been hailed as top destination sites for photography enthusiasts and
their families. Canon U.S.A., Inc. and the American Park Network continue to help
define the relationship between photography and the great outdoors with the introduction
of a free photography workshop program on select dates throughout the summer in
Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Parks. These programs will be
artfully hosted and instructed by a select few of the world renowned Canon Explorer
of Light photographers including Adam Jones and Lewis Kemper, along with other
Canon-selected photographers such as Rob and Ann Simpson. What's more, the
Canon Photography in the Parks Photo Contest returns this year to offer photographers
the chance to display their work and win prizes in the categories of landscape
and wildlife photography in the parks.
From June 1st to September 29th, photographic enthusiasts are encouraged to submit
their favorite photographs from an American park to the Canon Digital Learning
Center. Winning photographs in the categories of landscape and wildlife will win
a trip to the participating parks of their choice, along with a full suite of
Canon photographic equipment. By logging onto the Canon Digital Learning Center
at www.usa.canon.com/dlc,
potential winners will not only have the opportunity to submit their photos, but
can also peruse the Web site to explore the various educational resources that
Canon has to offer for novices and advanced photographers alike.
With the help of the Canon Explorer of Light program, park visitors will have
the opportunity to participate in free daily guided visual photographic journeys.
Additionally, Canon will loan participants top-tier digital camera equipment to
capture those awe-inspiring sights at no additional cost. Aspiring photographers
will learn the tips and tricks to taking great outdoor photos and experience hands-on
training using some of the same equipment that professional photographers use.
Evening programs are also offered, providing visitors the rare opportunity to
spend time with the Explorers of Light, view stunning imagery, ask questions,
and receive prints and a CD of their own photos.