But before you jump on that claim, pointing to the Eye-Fi as a pre-existing WiFi-enabled SD card, the FlashAir works a bit differently. Whereas the Eye-Fi could only transmit files from a camera directly to a computer or smartphone, the FlashAir can do the same but also receive and transfer peer-to-peer.

The FlashAir lets users transfer photos and other data to and from computers and smartphones over WiFi, but also can transfer wirelessly to and from other digital cameras that are FlashAir compliant. The 8GB Class 6 card will be sampled starting November but will not begin sales until February 2012. Also, no pricing information has been announced yet.

The card will be shown off during IFA 2011, where there’s been a deluge of exciting announcements this morning, including the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7, the Galaxy Note, and the Toshiba AT200. More cool gadgets are sure to come throughout this week so stay tuned here on SlashGear as we’re in Berlin covering the event from September 2-7.

The company also reckons it’ll last longer, too, thanks to a proprietary Power Core Controller which distributes data across the flash memory. There’s also UHS Speed Class 1 video support, promising the 10MB/sec minimum sustained write speeds necessary for recording HD 1080p videos or 3D content.

Water, temperature, shock, vibration, x-ray and magnet proof, the SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC UHS-I card will come in 8GB to 32GB capacities. It’s available now, priced between $109.99 and $349.99.

Press Release:

SanDisk Announces SDHC Card Featuring UHS-I Technology—Ideal for Capturing High-Resolution Photos and Full HD Videos

SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC UHS-I Card Offers Photography Enthusiasts the Performance, Reliability and Durability They Need to Shoot Like the Pros

MILPITAS, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), the global leader in flash memory cards, today introduced the SanDisk Extreme® Pro™ SDHC™ UHS-I card. The card features Ultra High Speed (UHS) technology from the newly released SD 3.0 specification and achieves up to 45MB/sec* read and write performance with long-term reliability by distributing data rapidly and efficiently using SanDisk’s proprietary Power Core™ Controller.

“SanDisk has a long history of developing fast, highly reliable cards for photography enthusiasts and professionals,” said Susan Park, director, retail product marketing, SanDisk. “Our new SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC card lets consumers take their skills to the next level by capturing high-resolution still images, fast-moving action shots and HD videos of the highest quality.”

Designed for the latest cameras

As DSLRs offer increasingly sophisticated features such as high megapixel continuous burst shooting and high-definition (HD) video capture, photographers need advanced memory cards capable of unlocking their cameras’ full potential. The card achieves high performance and efficient power consumption in UHS-enabled cameras such as the Nikon D7000.

Performance

The SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC card’s write speed of up to 45 MB/sec delivers improved shot to shot performance of RAW images using continuous burst mode. The card also adheres to the new UHS Speed Class 1 video class rating, offering 10MB/sec* minimum sustained write speed capable of recording HD 1080p videos or even 3D content**. In addition, the card’s fast read speeds of up to 45 MB/sec let users avoid lengthy wait times when transferring content from the card to a computer.

SanDisk develops its flash controllers and memory chips together, allowing the company to perfectly match and fine-tune the two technologies throughout the testing process. The SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC card uses an intelligent Power Core controller to achieve its speed. The controller’s data prediction and binary caching features allow for improved overall performance.

Reliability

Featuring an automatic error-code correction (ECC) engine, the SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC card offers long-term reliability that comes from the brand trusted by professional photographers. Advanced wear leveling extends card endurance by distributing data evenly throughout the card. For added protection, the card includes one year of RescuePRO® media recovery software, which lets photographers recover their images in case of accidental deletion.

Durability

Designed to withstand the most extreme conditions, the new card offers photographers peace of mind knowing that their photos are stored on one of the most rugged cards in the world. Able to withstand punishment, the SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC card is water proof, temperature proof, shock and vibration proof, x-ray and magnet proof***. The card is backed by a lifetime limited warranty.****

Availability and Pricing

The card is shipping to major retailers worldwide and is available immediately at www.sandisk.com. The card comes in 8GB1 to 32GB capacities carrying suggested retail prices ranging from $109.99 to $349.99.

The SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-I SDHC card is fully compatible with any camera, card reader or other device that supports SDHC cards. The SanDisk Extreme Pro ExpressCard™ Adapter, designed for high performance SDHC and SDXC UHS-I cards, is available at www.sandisk.com for $49.99.

The company says that they’ve seen plenty of adoption with their previously released HyperX MAX 3.0 external drive, along with their DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 external drive, and believe that they can further that success with heavy adoption of USB 3.0 in 2011. They will be releasing several USB 3.0 Flash drives, which includes the company’s fastest drive they’ve released yet.

The DataTraveler HyperX 3.0 will fall into the HyperXperience family of products, and be the company’s flagship device for the beginning of the year. Kingston will also release a USB 3.0 Flash drive that’s aimed specifically for the entry-level, leveraging the speed of USB 3.0 and the low price range. Check out the full press release below for more information.

Press Release

Kingston Digital Announces USB 3.0 Product Roadmap for 2011

· USB 3.0 Flash Drives Aimed at Enthusiasts, Prosumers and Consumers
· Family to Include High Performance and Smaller, Lower Cost Solutions to

Meet All Consumer Needs

International CES 2011, Las Vegas, NV & Fountain Valley, CA — January 5, 2011– Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, is boosting support for USB 3.0 in 2011 by revealing its roadmap at International CES 2011. Kingston® will develop a comprehensive suite of USB 3.0 Flash drive solutions to meet the needs of users of all levels as the technology becomes more widely accepted.

“We have already seen the successful adoption of our DataTraveler® Ultimate 3.0 and HyperX® MAX 3.0 External drive amongst early adopters demanding faster data transfer rates in portable form factors,” said Andrew Ewing, Flash drive business manager, Kingston. “As USB 3.0 technology grows and more platforms and computers support the USB 3.0 standard, we recognize the need to develop different solutions to address various target markets and help drive adoption.”

For enthusiasts and power users, Kingston will release its fastest USB 3.0 drive to date. The DataTraveler HyperX 3.0 will serve as the flagship model and be part of the HyperXperience™ line, a family of high-performance Kingston Flash products that will include SSDs, USBs and cards, to complement HyperX enthusiast memory modules.

In September 2010, Kingston released the DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 (DTU30), its first USB 3.0 Flash drive using a SATA bridge chip to attain high data transfer rates. As single-chip controllers become available, Kingston will release a second generation of the DTU30, available in 16-, 32- and 64GB capacities. Single-chip controllers allow for better USB 3.0 compatibility and speed. Users will benefit from increased performance and lower costs in the next generation DTU30.

As more PCs ship with USB 3.0 capability later this year, particularly in late Q2/early Q3, Kingston will also launch an entry-level Flash drive to go with these systems. It will be aimed squarely at consumers with a lower capacity and price point to help drive mainstream adoption.

For more information visit www.kingston.com.

About Kingston Digital, Inc.

Kingston Digital, Inc. (“KDI”) is the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the world’s largest independent manufacturer of memory products. Established in 2008, KDI is headquartered in Fountain Valley, California, USA. For more information, please visit www.kingston.com or call 800-337-8410.
___________________

Kingston Digital Announces SDHC UHS-I UltimateXX

· Data Transfer Rate up to 60MB/sec. Read and 35MB/Sec. Write
· Designed to SD Association UHS-I Speed Class Specifications
· Available in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB Capacities

International CES 2011 Las Vegas, NV and Fountain Valley, CA — January 5, 2011 — Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced the SDHC UHS-I UltimateXX memory cards. The highest speed class available today, the UltimateXX meets standards set by the Secure Digital Association for next-level performance in SD card technology.

Shipping later this month, Kingston’s UltimateXX memory cards are ideal for the serious photographer or videographer. Photographers will appreciate the ability to easily capture sequential shots that were once a challenge due to the speed limitations of memory. The UltimateXX also makes it easy to capture HD video. The performance of SDHC UHS-I memory card is optimized when paired with a UHS-I device, although the card is backwards compatible with Class 4, 6 and 10 equipment.

“Kingston is pleased to be one of the first manufacturers to offer SDHC UHS-I memory cards to our customers,” said Mike Kuppinger, Flash card product manager, Kingston®. “Being a member of the SD Association enhances our ability to bring new technology to market. As the devices that support SDHC UHS-I become prevalent, our UltimateXX cards are at the ready.”

Kingston’s UltimateXX line meets the SD Association standards for the UHS-I speed class with speeds up to 60MB/sec. read and 35MB/sec. write. At this performance level, the write speed of SDHC UHS-I memory cards is more than three times as fast as SDHC Class 10 cards. The UltimateXX product line will offer capacities of 8GB, 16GB and 32GB.

Kingston SDHC UHS-1 UltimateXX Features and Specifications:

· Performance: 233x – up to 60MB/sec. read, and 35MB/sec. write
· Fast: ultra high-speed bus I (UHS-I)
· Compliant: with the SD Card Association specification version 3.01
· Secure: built-in write-protect switch prevents accidental data loss
· Compatible: with SDHC and SDXC host devices, not compatible with standard SD-enabled devices/readers

· Reliable: lifetime warranty
· Simple: as easy as plug-and-play
· Capacities*: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB
· Dimensions: 0.94″ x 1.25″ x 0.08″ (24mm x 32mm x 2.1mm)
· Weight: 0.09oz (2.5g)
· Storage Temperatures: -40° F to 185° F (-40° C to 85° C)
· Operating Temperatures: -13° F to 185° F (-25° C to 85° C)
· Voltage: 3.3V
· File Format: FAT32

* Some of the listed capacity on a Flash storage device is used for formatting and other functions and thus is not available for data storage. As such, the actual available capacity for data storage is less than what is listed on the products. For more information, go to Kingston’s Flash Guide at kingston.com/flash_memory_guide.

Both of these fine items can be found on GeekStuff4U and I’m sure your everloving nerd friends would just LOVE to have them for a holiday gift – bank on it. The MR-C27 multicard is [here] and the MR-SMC06 seems to be sold out or just gone for the moment, but that link’ll find it for you when it’s back up.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

While the title may give it away, the V5020u digital camcorder will provide motion detection, as well as image stabilization. There’s also a 10X zoom, and you’ll be able to see what you’re recording courtesy of the two-inch LCD screen. There’s a 5MP sensor, an SDHC memory card slot, and you can record video in the H.264 video format.

Not only that, but you can hook up the recorder to your HDTV thanks to the HDMI port. You even get a carrying pouch that will come in the box. It will retail for $159 when it hits shelves some time in October.

[via ChipChick]

As with the latest Eye-Fi cards, the Toshiba technology would support both JPEG and RAW images, and they reckon their more advanced individual control over which imags were transferred “minimizes power consumption compared with [the] current solution.”  Best of all, the rather unwieldy name is only a temporary thing and likely to change – we’d like to proffer RAWsquirt as an alternative – as more companies (hopefully) jump on board.

[via PhotographyBLOG]

Press Release:

Toshiba and Trek Establish Forum to Promote SD Cards Embedding Wireless Communication Functions

Tokyo—Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO-6502) today announced the launch of an industry forum to promote a new SD card that integrates Wi-Fi wireless communication with data storage capabilities. The forum, the “Standard Promotion Forum for Memory Cards Embedding Wireless LAN”* has been founded by Toshiba and Singapore-based Trek 2000 International Ltd..

In recent years, as digital cameras have achieved huge rates of market penetration, the need for quick and easy way to share photographs has grown. The new card offers an innovative solution that brings new capabilities to the already very popular SDHC format.

The card is designed to bring Wi-Fi functionality to digital still cameras that have an SDHC slot. Once in a camera, a card can recognize and communicate with the same type of card in another camera (on a one-to-one basis), and users can exchange photographs quickly and easily. It also allows users to upload and download photographs to and from a server without any need for a cable connection or transfers of the memory card.

The new card is compliant with the SD memory card standard, supports IEEE 802.11b/g and has an 8-gigabyte capacity. It can transfer both JPEG and RAW images, the two most widely used digital formats.

Toshiba and Trek will invite the participation of digital camera manufacturers and other interested parties in promoting the card, and in exchanges of technical information toward establishing standard specifications and expanding the use of the card.

Toshiba is a market leader in the development and manufacture of NAND flash memory, which is indispensable for today’s personal digital devices. The company seeks to enhance and expand its memory business by proposing new applications for NAND flash memories.
Features of SD card embedding wireless communication functions

1. The ability to send and receive image data among digital still cameras equipped with an SDHC slot and the card.
2. Upload and downloads of digital photographs between a digital still camera equipped with an SDHC slot and the card, and in a Wi-Fi environment, and a server.
3. User management of image transmission and reception minimizes power consumption compared with current solution.

Card key specifications
Wireless LAN Standard: IEEE 802.11 b/g
SD card capacity: 8-gigabytes
Applicable formats: JPEG, RAW

Outline of The Forum
Name: Standard Promotion Forum for Memory Cards Embedding Wireless LAN*
Co-Lead Companies: Toshiba Corporation and Trek 2000 International Ltd.
Established: June 29, 2010

* Standard Promotion Forum for Memory Cards Embedding Wireless LAN is a provisional name and may be subject to change.

The device is a SDHC Class 6 memory card that features Content Protection for Recordable Media and ECC to help ensure that the video is protected when recording. That is important if the video you are recording is something you want to keep.

The SDHC card is offered in 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB capacities. The 32GB card can record up to 320 minutes of video in fine mode or 480 minutes in normal mode. Pricing is unannounced at this time.

Introduced about a decade ago, the multi-media card (MMC) based SD card has evolved from Standard 1.1 (SD), 2.0 (SDHC) to 3.0 (SDXC) slowly but surely, with capacity and speed improving from 2GB with a minimum sustained read/write speed of 2.2 MB/s to a whooping 2TB of storage space at a maximum transfer speed of 104 MB/s. While we have not seen such cards on the market with that capability, Version 4.0 is already in development and intends to reveal the full potential of SDXC, tripling data throughput up to 300MB/s.

So far, devices supporting the standard are limited and only one DSLR is known to support it, the Canon EOS Rebel T2i. Though SanDisk has recently shipped a slower-speed Ultra II SDXC 64GB, the speed is fairly basic at 15MB/s. However, Toshiba showcased its first SDXC memory card at CES 2010 earlier this year with read and write speeds of up to 60MB/s and 35MB/s respectively. With video recording on DSLRs becoming increasingly popular – and not requiring much faster – write-speeds – SDXC is an interesting prospect both in terms of capacity and ability to boost performance when needed.

If you have prior experience with SDHC, you’ve probably guessed that backward compatibility for the SD format can be a hassle. Unlike CompactFlash, where cards supporting improved standards are often backward compatible, SD can be more reluctant to play along. Your host devices must support the newer standard, and it’s often been our experience that mismatching such standards could cause permanent damage to the storage card.

SDHC read and write performances

For this review, we repeated the same tests previously performed on the CompactFlash cards to record time consumed to write data onto the same camera and computer – Canon’s EOS 1D Mark IV and a Mac Pro with a 1TB Western Digital Black Caviar HDD – with six Class-10 SDHC candidates from SanDisk, PhotoFast and Lexar Media.

The SDHC reader used to calculate read speed was the SanDisk ImageMate All-In-One media reader with an advertised maximum speed of 30 MB/s read and 27 MB/s write respectively.

• Lexar Professional 133x 8GB SDHC, Class 10, minimum sustain write speed of 20MB/s, $60
• PhotoFast 4GB SLC SDHC, Class 10, minimum sustain write speed of 22MB/s, $69**
• PhotoFast 32GB MLC SDHC, Class 10, minimum sustain write speed of 18MB/s, $179
• SanDisk Extreme 8GB SDHC, Class 10, maximum write speed of 30MB/s, $50
• SanDisk Extreme 16GB SDHC, Class 10, maximum write speed of 30MB/s, $99
• SanDisk Extreme 32GB SDHC, Class 10, maximum write speed of 30MB/s, $190

Pricing based on Amazon online.
**Manufacturer pricing.

From our last test, we’ve seen that top-tier CompactFlash cards could reach 58MB/s on the Mark IV; disappointingly, though, the camera performed around 3 times slower with the SDHC cards. Results are fairly consistently among the cards, data generally being written at 20MB/s with the exception of the 32GB PhotoFast, which trailed around 5MB/s behind the pack.

Oddly, while read benchmarks are normally significantly faster than write rates, the SDHCs on test performed just slightly faster than their write speeds. Again, no significant performance differences were observed among the cards.

As we found in our last review a UDMA card can help in clearing out the DSLR’s frame buffer, managing up to 30-31 frames before hitting the wall. Take the 32GB version of SanDisk’s Extreme Pro CF and Extreme SDHC 30MB/s for comparison. The former held 31 frames and took 10.33 seconds to clear; the latter only managed 27 frames but took as much as 25.17 seconds to clear. To put the numbers into perspective, it extends buffer depth by adding four frames more in continuous burst mode and writes 2.5x faster to clear the queues onto the card and be ready for the next burst.

In addition, if you’re accustomed to formatting your memory card before you start shooting – as you should, allowing your camera to initialize the file system and help prevent write errors – you would have to wait longer with the SDHC cards. The Mark IV camera formatted the SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash in 1.4 seconds but took up to 5.1 seconds on the Extreme SDHC card.

If your priority is camera performance, taking uninterrupted still images of action sequences, you would want to stick with UDMA enabled CompactFlash, preferably a mode 6 card. Our tests show that, right now, DSLRs and card reader compliant with the UDMA standard write and read data far better than with SDHC. Having fast media storage allows for quicker image access, both for capture as well as when formatting. However, with HD video recording increasingly a standard feature for today’s DSLRs, video cinematographers would probably prefer the largest media available, such the upcoming SDXC cards with an outrageous 2TB on offer. Take the Mark IV video recording rate for example: at 5.5MB/s Full HD recording, it would fill a 64GB card in 192 minutes. That’s fine for short interviews, but you’d probably need to pack a few cards to record, say, a short-feature film. Still, for now at least, CompactFlash is ahead of the memory card competition in term of raw performance.

The slimline S20 is probably the most distinctive (and, ironically, the cheapest), with a 4x digital zoom and 5-megapixel still capacity; it also gets a 3-inch fold-out display and supports up to 32GB SDHC memory cards.  Next up is the more traditionally-shaped H30, using its extra bulk to accommodate a 5x optical zoom and a 10-megapixel sensor.  It has a 3-inch touchscreen and also uses SDHC memory.

Finally, the CAMILEO X100 has a 10x optical zoom, 3-inch touchscreen and 10-megapixel sensor, and can record at 1080p / 30fps and 1080i / 60fps.  There are also slow-motion and other recording modes.  All three models will arrive on April 19th, with the S20 priced at $179.99, the H30 at $249.99 and the X100 at $349.99.

Press Release:

Action! Toshiba Rolls into the U.S. Digital Camcorder Market with the CAMILEO

New Product Line Meets Growing Consumer Trend for Full HD Camcorders

IRVINE, Calif. –(Business Wire)– Apr 06, 2010 Toshiba’s Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced its entry into the U.S. digital camcorder market with the introduction of its CAMILEO™ line. From the pocket-sized S20 to the compact touch-screen H30 and X100, the lightweight, Full HD resolution CAMILEO line is designed for the modern, mobile and digital lifestyle. Prices start at $179.99 MSRP1.

According to IDC, the traditional camcorder market is shifting to HD, as nearly 45 percent of all units shipped in 2009 were HD models and is expected to hit 60 percent in 2010. The easy-to-use CAMILEO line supports 1080p Full HD resolution allowing consumers to capture and edit high-quality video, take still camera photos and view them directly on their computer or TV2.

“The CAMILEO line is a very natural extension of our consumer electronics offerings in the U.S. and provides the quality consumers expect from the Toshiba brand,” said Ron Smith, vice president of marketing, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. “The line is meeting a growing consumer demand for affordable HD camcorders that make sharing memories with friends and family easy and fun.”

Along with delivering 1080p Full HD resolution, key features of the CAMILEO line include a 3-inch LCD monitor, YouTube™ hotkey for instant uploading to the Internet, as well as the ability to take standard SD/SDHC memory cards up to 32GB, giving users up to 12 hours3 of video at the lowest setting. In addition, users can watch the videos on a big-screen HD TV and charge the camcorders with the included HDMI™ and USB 2.0 cables.

Product line specific features:

CAMILEO S20: At two-thirds of an inch thin and 3.5 ounces, the S20 fits easily into any pocket. It has 4x digital zoom4 and takes 5 megapixel digital still photos. ($179.99 MSRP1)
CAMILEO H30: The compact and lightweight H30 is 8 ounces, has a 3-inch LCD touch-screen, 5x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom5, and takes 10 megapixel digital still photos. ($249.99 MSRP1)
CAMILEO X100: The high-end X100 is 9.5 ounces, has a 3-inch LCD touch-screen, 10x optical and digital zoom, as well as takes 10 megapixel digital still photos. ($399.99 MSRP1)
Pricing and Availability

The CAMILEO line is now available for pre-order at toshibadirect.com starting at $179.99 MSRP1 and will be available for purchase at a variety of major consumer electronics and computer stores nationwide on April 19, 2010.

Detailed product information is available at CAMILEO.toshiba.com

There’s a 4.3-inch LCD preview display, two XLR audio inputs and the ability to record in native Apple Final Cut .mov format for easier editing.  Still, none of this comes cheap: expect to pay $11,995 for the JVC GY-HM790 ProHD (complete with a Canon 14x HD ENG lens) when it arrives this Summer, or more again for the upcoming low-light version.

Press Release:

JVC TO INTRODUCE GY-HM790 PROHD CAMCORDER AT NAB 2010

WAYNE, NJ, April 5, 2010 – JVC Professional Products, a division of JVC U.S.A., will introduce the new flagship of its ProHD camcorder line, the GY-HM790, at the 2010 NAB Show in Las Vegas, Nev., April 12-15 (Booth C4314). With an innovative modular design and a full complement of accessories, the new camera supports multicore or fiber-based production. Plus, as a shoulder-mount camcorder, it delivers outstanding ENG and sports production performance with more features than ever.

The GY-HM790 features three 1/3-inch CCDs, which allow a lighter, more compact form factor for better maneuverability in the field and more flexibility with robotic camera control systems in the studio. It produces 1920×1080 images and can record in 1080i, 720p, and even SD (480i) for operations that have not yet made the move to HD. The camera records at 35 Mbps (HQ mode/variable bit rate) or 19 Mbps/25 Mbps (SP mode/constant bit rate). The camera ships with a Canon 14x zoom lens or without lens, as accommodates a variety of lenses with its 1/3-inch bayonet lens mount.
Adopting the successful tapeless workflow introduced in the GY-HM700 camcorder, the GY-HM790 features a dual card slot design that records to low-cost, non-proprietary SDHC Class 6 or 10 solid-state media cards. JVC’s native file recording technology allows recording in ready-to-edit file formats for Apple Final Cut Pro (.mov) and other major NLE systems (.mp4) that are compatible with Sony XDCAM EX™ workflow.
An optional ASI output module provides a direct feed from the camera to a satellite uplink or microwave transmitter via BNC – no “black box” interfaces required – for live HD video from the field. Other ENG features on the GY-HM790 include an analog SD pool feed input, 4.3-inch LCD screen, and a high-resolution, 1.2 megapixel LCOS viewfinder. Two XLR inputs with phantom power offer uncompressed LPCM audio recording with manual level controls.
“The excellent image quality of the GY-HM790, coupled with its versatility for both studio and ENG use, makes it an attractive camcorder for broadcasters in any DMA,” said Craig Yanagi, manager of marketing and brand strategy. “Plus, our optional ASI module makes it easier than ever to produce true HD reports from the field. The GY-HM790 does more than shoot great pictures, it literally changes the way live news reports can be produced.”
With its HD/SD-SDI port, the GY-HM790 provides an uncompressed 4:2:2 full HD signal for live monitoring, and a FireWire port provides output of SD signals or the HDV transport stream, so footage can be backed up economically with an HDD recorder. An optional SxS media recorder module attaches directly to the camcorder and allows simultaneous recording to SDHC cards and SxS media.
The new GY-HM790 also builds on the studio capabilities of JVC’s popular GY-HD250 camera with its improved picture quality and cleaner studio integration. Its redesigned studio adapter sled incorporates a modular approach to multicore or fiber connectivity for a cleaner interface. Modules connect directly to the camera without external cabling, so they can be used either with the studio sled or handheld. Plus, JVC’s modular approach allows the creation of additional modules to accommodate future technologies.
Other new features for studio or multi-camera use include built-in time code in/out and genlock. JVC also offers a full complement of accessories, including a remote camera control unit, remote shader panel, 8.4-inch studio viewfinder, and multi-input special effects generators.
The GY-HM790 will be available this summer with an MSRP starting at $11,995, including the Canon 14x HD ENG lens.
A specially configured low light version of the camera, the GY-HM790LL, has JVC’s patented LoLux function that provides ENG users with image capture in an extremely low light environment. The LoLux version will be available to broadcast direct customers beginning in the Fall of 2010.

Both of the new cards are Class 10, but promise read performance of 22MB/sec and 18MB/sec write performance, which is higher than Class 10 specs call for. The Class 10 SDHC cards will come in 16GB and 32GB capacities. The cards meet Class 10 specs dictating a minimum 10MB/sec data transfer rate.

Both cards are complaint with SD Association specification version 3.00. The 16GB SDHC card will sell for $129 and the 32GB SDHC card will sell for $245. Both of these cards will be great for HD video cameras with the performance and capacity they offer.

There’s also a time lapse recording mode – with options ranging from every second to every 80 seconds – together with auto-record, which only begins shooting when movement is detected.  In addition there’s face detection and a connected preview system – Face Flow Thumbnail – which splits clip timelines up by the individuals featuring in each.

Recordings begun on one media type can be seamlessly continued onto the other, and JVC throw in a copy of their easy-upload app for Windows which promises to make sharing clips on YouTube more straightforward.

Press Release:

JVC ADDS A NEW HIGH DEFINITION MEMORY CAMERA TO EVERIO LINE

New GZ-HM340 features 16GB of internal memory.

WAYNE, NJ, February 2, 2010 – JVC has added a new high definition camera to its recently-announced 2010 Everio line, giving the series three HD models priced under $500. The new Everio GZ-HM340 features 16GB of internal flash memory plus an SD/SDHC card slot.

The GZ-HM340 includes all of the new features and improvements found throughout the 2010 Everio line, including advancements in low light capabilities and image stabilization, while convenience is enhanced with a new auto recording feature and time lapse recording.

For a steadier picture, JVC this year introduced Advanced Image Stabilizer (A.I.S) that ensures steady images even while walking, and is especially effective when shooting bright scenes from full wide to 5x zoom. Available on all models, Advanced Image Stabilizer uses a wide-angle image sampling area that is four times larger than that of conventional systems. A.I.S delivers powerful compensation for camera shake.

Time-Lapse recording is a sophisticated but easy-to-use feature for time-lapse shooting in one- to 80-second intervals, enabling hours-long segments to be reduced to seconds, such as the continuous recording of changing sky patterns spanning an entire day.

Auto record, a new feature, automatically initiates recording when a person or other moving subject enters the picture and the luminance changes, a great convenience for home surveillance, monitoring a baby, recording wildlife, taking group shots (instead of using a self-timer) and more.

Digital files created with the new Everio cameras can be easily shared in a variety of popular formats with the enhanced Everio MediaBrowser software for Windows®, which now provides automatic conversion of HD and SD videos for immediate sharing on YouTube™, including both down-conversion and up-conversion. Files can also be directly exported to iTunes® and synced with an iPod® or iPhone®, or burned to DVD, all with just a few mouse clicks using the Everio MediaBrowser application.

Like all 2010 HD Everio cameras, the new GZ-HM340 features a KONICA MINOLTA HD LENS, currently one of the world’s smallest and slimmest HD lenses. In the GZ-HM340 it offers a 20x optical zoom.

Everio high-definition models automatically switch between two internal media for continuous, uninterrupted recordings. Users can shoot seamless, drop-out-free recordings using dual SD cards or flash memory. HD-model enhancements also include Face Flow Thumbnail, which displays thumbnails from a particular section of a video by automatically selecting and zooming into human faces.

The 2010 Everio series features an all new, slim design that’s fashionable, easy to carry and comfortable to hold. Portability has been further enhanced with a redesigned grip belt that now works in two handy ways, as a conventional handle-style grip when both ends are snapped in place or as a strap when one end of the belt is released.

The new Everio GZ-HM340 is available later this month for $499.95.

Features:
16GB Internal Flash Memory and SD/SDHC card slot
1/5.8″ 1.37 Megapixel CMOS Sensor
20x Optical Zoom (KONICA MINOLTA HD LENS
Advanced Image Stabilizer
Time-Lapse REC & Auto REC
One Touch Upload to YouTube™* (HD Compatible)
Seamless Recording over two media
Face Detection & Face Flow Thumbnail
Laser Touch Operation
2-Way Grip Belt
Everio MediaBrowser
Color: Black

About JVC U.S.A.
JVC U.S.A., headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey, is a division of JVC Americas Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Victor Company of Japan Ltd. JVC distributes a complete line of video and audio equipment for the consumer and professional markets. For further product information, visit JVC’s Web site at http://www.jvc.com or call 1-800-526-5308.

One step down and you get to the H-series, namely the Samsung H200, H203, H204 and H205, which start with naught but an SD/SDHC slot and then move up through 8GB, 16GB and 32GB of SSD respectively.  They also get a 20x optical zoom, 2.7-inch touchscreen control, 1080 Full HD recording and 4.7-megapixel stills, along with an integrated HDMI connector for easy hook-up.

Next comes the Samsung F-series, the F40, F43 and F44, with SD/SDHC, 8GB or 16GB respectively, 52x optical zoom and face-detection.  Unfortunately you won’t be recording Full HD with these, as they’re limited to 720 x 480 video and paltry 1.9-megapixel stills.  Similarly disappointing are Samsung’s new 25-degree active-angle lens camcorders, the SMX-C20, SMX-C24 and HMX-M20, which take 2-megapixel stills and record the same 720 x 480 standard-definition footage.  All have a 2.7-inch LCD and SD/SDHC slot, but the C24 also gets 16GB of flash memory.

All but the S-series will arrive by the end of Q1 2010; the S-series will drop in Spring 2010.  No word on prices as yet.

Press Release:

SAMSUNG ADDS WI-FI CONNECTIVITY TO S-SERIES CAMCORDERS

New S-Series Camcorders are the World’s First to Offer Built-In Wi-Fi and DLNA Connectivity

Las Vegas, NV (January 6, 2010) – Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a market leader and award‑winning innovator in consumer electronics, today introduced its new S-Series of full‑HD digital camcorders, the world’s first to include built-in Wi-Fi and DLNA connectivity. Comprising three new models, the HMX-S10, HMX-S15 and HMX-S16, the new S‑Series are also the highest‑performing full-HD camcorders in Samsung’s history. All three new camcorders incorporate Samsung’s proprietary new Victoria Engine processor and a cutting-edge 1/2.3‑inch BSI (Back Side Illumination) CMOS imaging sensor which combine to yield outstanding image quality and low-light performance. The HMX-S10, HMX-S15 and HMX-S16 will be on display during the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show, January 7-10, 2010, in the Samsung booth #11026 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“The ability to effortlessly share memories and content with others is becoming more important for consumers,” said Mr. SangRyong Kim, Senior Vice President of Camcorder Team, Samsung Electronics. “Now, for the very first time consumers can record and immediately share content with others without having to worry about fumbling for wires or cables with Samsung’s new S-Series camcorders. From the point of capture to display, the S-Series camcorders take the video recording experience to a whole new level.”

Wi-Fi & DLNA Connectivity
The new Samsung HMX-S15 and HMX-S16 are the world’s first to offer both built-in Wi‑Fi and DLNA connectivity. The HMX-S15 and HMX-S16 feature Samsung AllShare, which allows consumers to easily access, manage and share content including their full-HD videos across other DLNA certified devices. With the integrated Wi-Fi connectivity, consumers can now forego having to connect any cables to enjoy their HD video or digital still images in amazing clarity on their HDTV or computer. Consumers can also take advantage of built-in HDMI connectivity to view their content on devices that may not be DLNA certified simply by connecting to the source via an HDMI cable.

Powerful Schneider Optics and 3.5-inch Touch-Screen LCDs
Samsung’s S-Series incorporate world renowned Schneider optics. Each S-Series camcorder boasts a powerful Schneider Kreuznach Varioplan-HD lens with Samsung’s 18x Intelli‑Zoom. Significantly more reliable than a standard digital zoom which negatively affects the quality of the image, Samsung’s new Intelli-Zoom allows users to go beyond the camcorders’ 15x optical zooms without sacrificing image quality. The S-Series’ Kreuznach Varioplan-HD lenses are also paired with Optical Stabilization to help reduce image blur and shaky video, which can be especially helpful when using the camcorders’ full optical zooms. The Samsung S‑Series camcorders also enhance the user experience with large 3.5-inch wide touch-screen LCDs which house a 3D graphic user interface (GUI). The ultra-bright, swiveling, WVGA LCDs and GUI not only offer fascinating visual effects but grant users uncomplicated, intuitive and easy access to all of the camcorders’ advanced functions.

Innovative New Video Processor and CMOS Sensor
Samsung’s full-HD S-Series camcorders are highlighted by a revolutionary new BSI CMOS imaging sensor designed to absorb more light than other conventional sensors and deliver unprecedented low-light performance. The new BSI CMOS sensor is further enhanced by Samsung’s proprietary new Victoria Engine video processor designed specifically to optimize performance of HD camcorders. Samsung’s new Victoria Engine video processor offers a 3D noise reduction filter that efficiently suppresses noise while preserving details and edges resulting in crisp video and still image quality. The Victoria Engine also expands the range of color expression and improves video quality with the help of other video processing modules such as contrast, white tone and color tone enhancement. Amazingly, despite all of its advanced features, the Victoria Engine draws a minimal amount of power thanks to 45 nano chip fabrication technology, drastically extending the camcorders’ battery life to more than two hours.

Samsung’s SSD Technology
Samsung’s S-Series camcorders utilize internal Solid State Drives (SSD), which offer a substantial advantage over Hard Disk Drives (HDD) in digital camcorders. First introduced in Samsung’s full-HD H-Series camcorders, SSD technology provides consumers with better performance and greater durability than other forms of internal memory. In comparison to HDD, Samsung’s SSD technology is more lightweight and compact, operates silently with very low heat emission, and features no moving parts, which significantly reduces overall power consumption and enhances reliability. The absence of moving parts makes SSD technology more durable and resistant to shock and vibrations, which pose a considerable threat to the performance of HDD‑based digital camcorders. Additionally, Samsung’s SSD technology is faster than HDD, including quicker boot-up and read/write speeds which is required for the amount of data recorded in full‑HD resolution. Samsung’s HMX-S16 offers an internal 64GB SSD while the HMX‑S15 offers an internal 32GB SSD. Both camcorders also allow consumers to expand memory capacity using an SD/SDHC memory card. The HMX‑S10 does not feature internal SSD memory and requires the use of a SD/SDHC memory card.

Unique Features
The S-Series camcorders offer a variety of unique features such as a flash to help capture 10 mega-pixel digital still images, storyboard printing and the ability to shoot in super‑slow motion with speeds of 300 fps at a resolution of 368×208 and 600 fps at a resolution of 192×112. The S‑Series camcorders also are equipped with high-definition time lapse recording, which gives consumers the ability to truly experiment with their creativity. When shooting in the time lapse recording mode, the camcorder will record a single image at an interval pre-selected by the user, either one, three, five, 10, 15, or 30 seconds, and will save each image as one single movie file.

Press Release:

SAMSUNG ALLOWS USERS TO CAPTURE DIVERSE IMAGES WITH NEW ULTRA‑ZOOM CAMCORDERS

New SMX-F40, SMX-F43, and SMX-F44 Offer Extended Battery Life and 65x Intelli-Zoom

Las Vegas, NV (January 6, 2010) – Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a market leader and award‑winning innovator in consumer electronics, today extended its popular F-Series of compact digital camcorders with the addition of three new ultra-zoom, YouTube™ compatible models, the SMX-F40, SMX-F43, and SMX-F44. Building on the success of the company’s highly‑popular SMX‑F34 camcorder, the next-generation F-Series offers users additional features and functionality, including extended battery life and Samsung’s 65x Intelli‑Zoom. With the new Samsung SMX-F40, SMX-F43 and SMX-F44, consumers will be able to go the distance and never miss a moment of the action. The SMX-F40, SMX-F43 and SMX-F44 will be on display during the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show, January 7-10, 2010, in the Samsung booth #11026 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“In designing the new models in the F-Series of camcorders, we started by taking everything that was great about their predecessors and making it even better,” said Mr. SangRyong Kim, Senior Vice President of Camcorder Team, Samsung Electronics. “We then went on to add a host of new features and functionalities that make the camcorders even more intuitive and easy to use. The F-Series can truly be used by anyone, anywhere and at any time.”

Capture Every Moment of the Action
Preserving every special memory is easy, thanks to the extended battery life and built-in memory of the SMX-F43 and SMX-F44. The camcorders provide users with over four hours and 10 minutes of battery life on a single charge. When combined with the use of H.264 compression, consumers can store up to six hours and 20 minutes of video per every 16GB of internal memory.

Impressive Video Quality
Showcasing further innovation, Samsung’s three new F-Series camcorders offer an incredible 65x Intelli-Zoom lens (52x optical zoom), which allows users to bring distant images into focus and zoom closer to the action from further away. Samsung’s Intelli-Zoom is significantly more reliable than a standard digital zoom, allowing users to go beyond the camcorders’ 52x optical zooms without sacrificing image quality. The F-Series camcorders also provide enhanced image quality, thanks to their high-performance 1/6″ CCD sensors. These over-sized sensors set the SMX-F40, SMX-F43, and SMX-F44 apart from other camcorders in their class and enable users to enjoy higher-quality video.

Smart Features for Shooting, Editing, and Sharing
The SMX-F40, SMX-F43 and SMX-F44 come equipped with Samsung’s play-edit-sharing program called intelli‑studio 2.0. The on-board intelli-studio software provides unprecedented freedom and flexibility, allowing users to view, edit and upload content to the web from any PC anywhere in the world. Connecting to a computer via the supplied USB cable not only enables users to edit and play a video without having to install supporting software, but also automatically charges the camcorder as well. The built-in intelli-studio software also helps simplify the way users upload and share their footage using today’s popular video sharing and social networking web sites.

Users can be confident that their videos won’t be washed out, too dark or out of focus with the help of the F-Series camcorders’ Smart Auto feature. Smart Auto analyzes key elements of a scene’s composition such as color, brightness, motion and subject and then automatically selects the appropriate scene mode which will produce the best results possible. The SMX-F40, SMX-F43 and SMX-F44 offer eight different scene modes including night, white, indoor, macro, landscape, portrait, night portrait, and auto. Samsung’s three new F-Series camcorders also come equipped with face detection which automatically recognizes up to five faces and adjusts settings to ensure that each is properly within focus.

Samsung also enhances the video recording experience for end-users thanks to unique features such as time lapse recording and animated thumbnails. Time lapse recording allows users to program the camcorder to record at a pre-set interval of one image every one, three, five, 10, 15 or 30 seconds. Time lapse recording is especially useful for condensing extremely long events, such as rolling clouds on a sunny day, into a short, easy‑to-view video.

Samsung’s animated thumbnail feature simplifies the way users search for video clips on the SMX-F40, SMX-F43 and SMX-F44. Each video clip saved on the camcorder is represented by a small thumbnail on the LCD screen. When scrolling through one’s videos, each thumbnail will provide a short playback of the video file when highlighted by the user allowing them to quickly preview each clip without having to view the entire shot.

The F-Series camcorders also feature a dedicated Photo mode which allows consumers to use the camcorder as a digital camera, snapping 1.9 mega-pixel still images with 1600×1200 resolution.

Press Release:

SAMSUNG INTRODUCES FOUR NEW H-SERIES FULL-HD CAMCORDERS

New H-Series Camcorders Deliver Advanced Features and Competitive Pricing

Las Vegas, NV (January 6, 2010) – Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a market leader and award‑winning innovator in consumer electronics, today introduced four new full-HD digital camcorders, the HMX-H200, HMX-203, HMX-H204 and HMX-H205. Each of these new camcorders boasts an impressive list of advanced features, offering unparalleled value to consumers looking to experience high-quality, full-HD video recording at a competitive price. The HMX-H200, HMX-203, HMX-H204 and HMX-H205 will be on display during the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show, January 7-10, 2010, in the Samsung booth #11026 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“Consumers want the ability to capture family events – birthday parties, football games, graduations, and more – with the utmost detail and clarity, but full-HD video recording has come at a price premium in the past,” said Mr. SangRyong Kim, Senior Vice President of Camcorder Team, Samsung Electronics. “Samsung’s H-Series camcorders give consumers the ability to capture life in full-HD with a wealth of functionality, features, and performance, all at an affordable price.”

All four new H-Series camcorders feature Samsung’s revolutionary new BSI CMOS imaging sensor. Designed to absorb more light than other conventional sensors and deliver unprecedented low-light performance, the BSI CMOS sensor sets new standards for performance and image quality, particularly among entry-level camcorders.

Solid State Drives
Samsung’s new H-Series camcorders offer high-performance internal memory that utilizes Samsung’s Solid State Drives (SSD), which offer a substantial advantage over the use of Hard Disk Drives (HDD) in a digital camcorder. SSD technology provides consumers with higher performing and more durable internal memory. In comparison to HDD, Samsung’s SSD technology is more lightweight and compact, operates silently with very low heat emission, and features no moving parts, which significantly reduces overall power consumption and enhances reliability. The lower power consumption of the H-Series’ SSD technology translates into an impressive battery life of approximately two hours.

No moving parts also make SSD technology more durable and resistant to shock and vibrations, which pose a considerable threat to the performance of HDD based digital camcorders. Additionally, Samsung’s SSD technology is faster than HDD, including quicker boot‑up and read/write speeds which are required for the amount of data recorded in full-HD resolution. The internal SSD configurations available on Samsung’s new H-Series full-HD camcorders include a 32GB SSD in the HMX-H205, a 16GB SSD in the HMX-H204, and an 8GB SSD in the HMX-H203. Each camcorder’s memory capacity can also be expanded using an SD/SDHC memory card. The HMX‑H200 does not feature internal SSD memory and requires the use of a SD/SDHC memory card.

Powerful Optics and Touch-Screen LCD
Samsung’s new H-Series full-HD camcorders feature an impressive 37mm wide‑angle lens, which offers consumers a versatile 20x optical zoom. Unlike other camcorders offering a typical angle of view of 40~50mm, the H-Series’ 37mm wide-angle Samsung lens allows users to fit more of their desired scene into the frame, making the camcorder ideal for recording large groups of family or friends, breathtaking landscapes or even capturing all the action at sporting events.

The H-Series’ lenses are further enhanced with Optical Image Stabilization to help reduce image blur and shaky video, which can be especially helpful when using the camcorders’ full optical zooms. Samsung’s Smart Optical Image Stabilization is superior to image stabilizing technologies found in other camcorders, as it reduces shake and blur across a wider portion of the image frame and produces higher quality images as a result. A 2.7-inch wide, swiveling, touch-screen LCD boasts a 230K-pixel resolution and adds to the user experience by giving consumers uncomplicated and easy access to all of the camcorders’ various controls and settings.

Unique Features
The new HMX-H205, HMX-H204, HMX-H203 and HMX-H200 are also loaded with a range of unique features such as the ability to capture high-quality 4.7 mega-pixel digital still images, Smart Auto mode, which automatically selects the appropriate scene mode which will produce the best results possible for the user’s shooting scenario, as well as time lapse recording, an innovative setting which will give end-users the ability to take their creativity to a whole new level. When using the camcorders’ time lapse mode, consumers can program the new H-Series camcorders to record a single image at intervals of one, three or five seconds, and then save each image as one single movie file (720p resolution).

Press Release:

SAMSUNG ANNOUNCES THREE NEW STYLISH, ERGONOMIC CAMCORDERS

New SMX-C20, SMX-C24 and HMX-M20 Allow Consumers to Shoot and Share in Style

Las Vegas, NV (January 6, 2010) – Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a market leader and award‑winning innovator in consumer electronics, today announced three new stylish, ergonomically-designed compact digital camcorders which come fully equipped with an array of useful features. The SMX-C20, SMX-C24 and HMX-M20 all feature the same built-in 25‑degree Active Angle Lens that was the hallmark design feature of their predecessors — the SMX-C10 and HMX-R10. Samsung’s innovative Active Angle Lens allows consumers to hold the camera more naturally, and has earned Samsung design awards and accolades from all over the world since first appearing in the SMX-C10 and HMX-R10 last year. The SMX-C20, SMX-C24 and HMX‑M20 will be on display during the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show, January 7-10, 2010, in the Samsung booth #11026 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“The SMX-C20, SMX-C24, and HMX-M20 are ideal for a wide-range of consumers, said Mr. SangRyong Kim, Senior Vice President of Camcorder Team, Samsung Electronics. “These camcorders appeal to consumers’ demand for simplicity and features in a camcorder that allow them to get great results with minimal effort. Additionally, with Samsung’s Active Angle Lens as well as head-turning ToC design, consumers are able to look good and enjoy an added level of comfort while recording video.”

Record in Style and Comfort
The new SMX-C20, SMX-C24 and HMX-M20 add a level of style and beauty to shooting home videos. Both SMX models offer Samsung’s signature ToC design, which features a hint of color that is naturally blended into the deep black body of the camcorders to create an attractive crystalline appearance. To make shooting home videos more comfortable, all three of the new models boast Samsung’s Active Angle Lens design. Unlike traditional camcorders that force users to hold their arm up at a 90-degree angle while recording video, the Active Angle Lens design, exclusive to Samsung, allows users to hold the camcorder in a more relaxed and natural position due to the fact that the lens is angled downward by 25‑degrees. This more natural recording position reduces the overall stress on the wrist and elbow and also removes the LCD screen from the user’s line of sight, enabling them to always keep an eye on their subject while recording.

Record High-Quality Video & Digital Still Images
Whether it’s documenting an unforgettable vacation or simply capturing the day‑to‑day antics of family and friends, Samsung’s new SMX-C20, SMX‑C24 and HMX-M20 give you access to the highest-quality video and still images. The SMX-C20 and SMX-C24 offer remarkable standard definition video recording at a resolution of 720×480. In addition, both camcorders offer the ability to quickly and easily capture still images at a resolution of two mega‑pixels.

For those who want even higher-resolution or wish to enjoy the best possible results for viewing their content on their HDTV, the HMX-M20 offers full-HD, 1080/60p video recording. The HMX-M20 also utilizes Samsung’s Back Side Illumination (BSI) CMOS imaging sensor, which was created specifically to absorb more light than other conventional sensors and delivers unprecedented low-light performance. The HMX-M20 also boasts an 8x optical zoom / 12x intelli‑zoom and the ability to capture still images in stunning 12 mega-pixel resolution, further setting it apart from other camcorders in terms of image quality, versatility and ease of use.

All three camcorders utilize H.264 compression, which allows you to record longer than camcorders using the typical MPEG2 format. The new Samsung SMX-C20 and SMX‑C24 also come with impressive 10x optical zooms and all three models are paired with Hyper Image Stabilization. Ideal for recording events from a great distance, the camcorders’ impressive optical zooms allow you to get in close to the action no matter how far away you may be. Access to such a powerful optical zoom can come in handy for any number of scenarios, ranging from recording your child’s soccer game from the sidelines to the sights and sounds of a trip to the city. Additionally, Samsung’s Hyper Image Stabilization gives you the ability to capture clear and stable video as it counteracts the negative effects of a shaky hand while recording, which can lead to blurry footage.

Samsung also provides different memory options for recording footage with the new SMX-C20, SMX‑C24 and HMX-M20. With the SMX-C24, users can take advantage of 16GB of built-in flash memory. Users can also expand the camcorder’s memory capacity using the SD/SDHC memory card slot. The SMX-C20 and HMX-M20 do not feature internal memory and require the use of SD/SDHC media cards.

Smart Features for Editing and Sharing
The SMX-C20, SMX-C24 and HMX-M20 come equipped with Samsung’s play-edit-sharing program called intelli‑studio. The built-in intelli-studio software gives users the ability to connect the camcorder to any computer via USB and edit and play their video without having to install supporting software. The built-in intelli-studio software also helps simplify the way users upload and share their footage using today’s popular video‑sharing Web sites. For added convenience, a one-touch “upload” button, available directly on the camcorders, provides a direct connection to YouTube™, taking the hassle and confusion out of uploading footage. In addition, the SMX‑C20, SMX-C24, and HMX-M20 also provide options for basic on-camera editing, including the ability to merge and split video files. This can be done directly on the camcorders using their 230K-pixel, swiveling 2.7-inch wide LCD screens.

Samsung also enhances the video recording experience for end-users thanks to several unique features, including time lapse recording, animated thumbnails and a versatile charging system. Time lapse recording allows users to program the camcorder to record at a pre-set interval of one image every one, three, five, 10, 15 or 30 seconds. Time lapse recording is especially useful for condensing extremely long events, such as rolling clouds on a sunny day, into a short, easy‑to-view video.

Samsung’s animated thumbnail feature simplifies the way users search for video clips on the SMX-C20, SMX-C24, and HMX-M20. Each video clip saved on the camcorder is represented by a small thumbnail on the LCD screen. When scrolling through one’s videos, each thumbnail will provide a short playback of the video file when highlighted by the user allowing them to quickly preview each clip without having to view the entire shot. The camcorders also feature a versatile charging system. Users can either recharge the battery by connecting the camcorder to the supplied AC adapter or via USB while the camcorder is connected to a computer.

That’s because they’re water-proof, shock-proof and magnet-proof, which means you could drop them into sea water filled with high-powered magnets attached to 1.6 ton weights and not have to worry about data loss.  In fact Samsung reckon they’ll last ten years, which is longer than a lot of marriages.  No word on how much the cards cost, but they’ll drop in Europe first before availability spreads.

Press Release:

Samsung memory card features for consumers include:

Water-proof* – Innovative Epoxy Moulding Compound technology helps withstand over 24 hours in sea water.

Shock-proof – Survives high pressure, including the crush of a 1.6-ton automobile.

Magnet-proof – Resists over 13 times the magnetic force of home theater speakers.

Fast & superb data recovery – Free proprietary software assists with up to 3 times faster recovery.

Up to 10 years’ data retention – Capable of storing priceless data for longer without a refresh.

*Not applicable for Samsung Compact Flash Cards.

Samsung Now Offers Consumer Memory Cards

Global leader in memory components links up with Kondor to launch its first branded memory cards – storage designed to ensure that data is safe from everyday hazards

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced the general availability of its premium Samsung memory cards for sale to the UK market. The global leader in memory components also announced a partnership with Kondor for the distribution of the premium memory cards to consumers in the UK market. While the local distribution partner will focus on the channel, Samsung is driving the strategy behind consumer marketing, communication and brand management.

“The creation of new premium memory cards under the Samsung brand are a perfect fit for our existing portfolio of consumer products,” commented Rob Haycock Managing Director at Kondor “We believe that the partnership will be a great success for us and our clients”.

“The market for memory cards continues to grow in leaps and bounds as consumers push for added storage in smart phones and other mobile devices,” said Stefanie Summerfield – Head of Business Development, Samsung Semiconductor.

“Our well-established leadership in the digital memory card space provides an ideal footing from which to launch premium memory cards that can match rapidly evolving, high-end premium devices such as smart phones and high-performance digital still cameras,” Stefanie explained. “Our cards also provide consumers with more of the outstanding reliability that they have come to expect from Samsung semiconductor products.”

Today’s consumer electronics market is fast evolving to include more and more multifunctional, content-oriented applications and devices. Samsung already has a strong branded presence in these consumer markets, a presence that will provide a lot of synergy for the new card products.

The NAND flash-memory retail market is estimated to already have reached $12 billion in revenues annually worldwide. As a result of continued dramatic growth in the mobile phone market, digital memory card demand is projected to more than double between 2008 and 2011. According to iSuppli, by 2011 more than 61 percent of mobile phones will include a card slot for additional flash card storage, compared to 51 percent of mobile phones with card slots in 2008.

In previous years, Samsung manufactured “white-label” digital memory cards for a variety of leading electronics companies and memory card companies. The company’s new line, aimed at the discerning consumer, is designed to ensure that valuable data is not lost, Samsung memory cards are shock-resistant, water-resistant and protected from damage caused by magnetic interference.

In addition, Samsung memory cards feature a modern brushed silver metallic design or a natural beige epoxy compound casing, and full compatibility with devices that have memory card slots. Most of the premium Plus memory cards can read data at 17MB/s (megabytes per second), though the CF cards provide read speeds of up to 45MB/s.

Samsung’s new premium “Plus” memory cards, which comply with the Secure Digital class 6 ratings for performance, are available in SD, microSD and Compact Flash (CF) formats with densities of 4-gigabytes (GBs) and 8GBs, with a 16GB density for an SD Plus card.

The new Samsung memory cards are currently available in France, Germany and UK, with other select countries likely to follow at a later date.

The ENT ET-M43A is what it’s officially called, and unfortunately we don’t have a catchy nickname for it yet, but we’ll get right on that. Specs wise, this thing is packing a 624MHz Intel XScale PXA300 processor, paired with WiFi a/b/g, an SDHC card slot for expanding that memory you probably desperately need, and USB 2.0 connectivity. There’s a physical QWERTY keyboard, but as the images show us, there’s obviously a soft sort as well, just in case you want to take it easy on that sliding action.

There isn’t any 3G connectivity though, so if that’s something you need in your day-to-day, this MID isn’t going to get lucky enough to get your hands on it. Though, there was something strange about this device, and even now it’s somewhat disheartening. Right there, in the image right above this, you can see at the bottom left of the keyboard that infamous “flag” key, that shows up on nearly every Windows Mobile device out there. So, was this thing originally optimized for the WinMo platform, or does that thing have some kind of significance within this MID’s Android OS? No word on that as of yet. But, we’re sure we’ll find out soon enough.

[via Gadget Mix]

Monday’s here and we’ve got another week ahead of us. And today’s already been pretty busy, considering Apple’s gone and outed the official release date of their upcoming OS, and even Nokia got some netbook action unveiled. And while I’m sure someone at Sanyo cares about all of that, we’re sure they’re thinking you should be more excited about a small camcorder that’s capable of recording at 720p. And, if that’s not all, there’s something else that might entice you to grab this little camera.

First though, we should mention that while Sanyo has brought its previous Xacti camcorders here to the States, this model, the Xacti CG11, will release first in Japan, but there isn’t any reason to think it won’t come here soon. Stats wise, the CG11 is promoting that 720p record rate, but obviously that’s not revolutionary or anything. What makes the CG11 stand out though, is its on board built-in recognition of Eye-Fi cards. This gives users the ability to transfer the recorded videos has taken, and share them with YouTube and other online video sites without having to plug anything in. And compared to the previous CG10 model, the CG11 also acquires a mini-HDMI port to preview your stuff on a bigger screen, at full resolution.

The CG11 takes JPEG images at 10-megapixels, and offers a 5X optical zoom. It has video capture at H.264. And memory is the pretty standard SDHC cards. For those lucky enough to be in Japan to get their paws on this thing, it starts shipping September 11th, and will cost about $317 locally. You probably won’t have to wait very long to get your hands on this here in the States though, so be a little patient if you want some 720p, Eye-Fi sharing goodness.

[via Impress]

There’s also face detection and improved autofocus, the latter now supporting continuous AF along with pre-AF.  The existing 80 to 1,600 ISO range, 3-inch LCD preview display and automatic macro mode remain, as does a “high-contrast” black & white mode.

The CX2 comes with 88MB of internal memory and an SD/SDHC card slot, and will land in Japan on September 11th in black, silver and pink/grey versions.  It’s priced at £299.99 ($496).

Press Release:

10.7 optical zoom (28 ~ 300mm) with about 5 frames / compact digital camera that achieves high-speed continuous shooting of the second ”CX2″ Release

August 20, 2009

Ricoh Corporation (Executive President: Kondou Shirou), 10.7 × optical (28 ~ 300mm) the thickness 29.4mm wide-angle and high magnification zoom with compact body, about the number of recorded pixels Still image up to 5 frames / digital camera is the second high-speed continuous shooting, “CX2″ developed, and new releases.

Product Name CX2
Body Color Black / Silver / TSUTON (Pink x Gray)
Retail Price Open Price
Release Date September 11, 2009
Monthly volume 50,000 units
※ As accessories, RICHAJABURUBATTERI, battery charger, AV cable, USB cable, CD-ROM (software), including straps.

New “CX2″ will, “CX1″ (2009 Release 3) of the popular image processing engine “SUMUSUIMEJINGUENJIN IV”, and image processing capabilities to expand high-speed CMOS image quality and dynamic range of sensors mounted while inheritance, (1) open up the possibility of optical作画from wide angle to telephoto zoom with 10.7 times, (2) The record number of pixels in the scene want to take 5 frames / second high speed continuous shooting function, (3) AF-friendly features “pre-AF” “continuous AF” and with the ability to strengthen and expand the area of shooting.
The scene mode to “high-contrast black and white mode” and “MINICHUARAIZUMODO” In addition to new and creative shooting modes to meet the desire and ability to detect faces in Easy mode, to automatically DAINAMIKKURENJIDABURUSHOTTOMODO To determine the effect of expansion in the “AUTO” and realize the power of conventional models and added features. By improving the capabilities to enjoy comfortable shooting, “使ITAKU become daily tools” as a more advanced camera.

1. 29.4mm thick optical freely taken from wide angle to telephoto in a compact body of 10.7 times zoom (28 ~ 300mm) with
Ricoh’s unique “RITORAKUTINGURENZUSHISUTEMU” Newly developed optical zoom lens provides high magnification by the Sumi Hiroshi 10.7 times the thickness of both the mobile and 29.4mm operation was mounted on the body.
Wide-angle 28mm ~ telephoto 300mm high magnification zoom lens, and a vast landscape, shooting wide from distance in the room and not the subject, to a powerful telephoto shooting wide.
Was equipped with a zoom feature to change the zoom and keep high-speed zoom lever.

Two. Advanced high-speed continuous shooting function that takes a missing scene wants
Improved high-speed continuous shooting mode, continuous shooting. About the number of recorded pixels Still image up to 5 frames / high-speed continuous shooting is now available in seconds.
※ continuous shooting speed will vary by state and type of card or card and shooting conditions.
To record a series of images just before the shutter release button “M plus continuous shooting” mode that can shoot up to record the number of pixels. With a minimum of about shooting a scene with three seconds to 15 cards (5 frames / second) continuous shooting “M plus continuous shooting (9M)”, about 30 pictures per second (30 frames / second) continuous shooting. ” plus continuous shooting M (2M) “You can choose from two modes.
※ “M plus continuous shooting (9M)” image size is N3456 (9M) is fixed.
※ “M plus continuous shooting (2M)” image size is N1728 (2M) is fixed.
※ MP a continuous image file (an image file format to a multiple of two) and record.
From the moment the shutter button押SHI切TTA about 120 pictures a second (120 frames / s), or 120 copies in about two seconds (60 frames / s) ultra-high speed continuous shooting is possible.
※ The image size is N640 (VGA) is fixed.
※ MP a continuous image file (an image file format to a multiple of two) and record.

Three. Image processing engine “SUMUSUIMEJINGUENJIN IV” and high-definition CMOS sensor, can shoot high-quality
Image processing engine “SUMUSUIMEJINGUENJIN IV” High-speed processing with CMOS image sensors. You can shoot high quality images with low noise and high-definition.
Circuit with a dedicated image processing engine “output pixel interpolation algorithm”, and to reduce the large difference between white and light-dark scene, and recreate the beauty of the remains seen.
Images can be recorded near the impression in the eyes of people saw “DAINAMIKKURENJIDABURUSHOTTOMODO” to set the exposure difference between the best automatic camera “AUTO” added. 12EV maximum equivalent to the effect of dynamic range expansion, and easy to enjoy.
Light and flash light and flash when shooting scenes with a mixture of sun and shade (such as fluorescent lights) and a mixture of scenes, in the conventional OTOHOWAITOBARANSU impressive people I saw in the eyes of the person shooting the scene in response to difficult To reproduce a color close to “multi-pattern OTOHOWAITOBARANSU” features.

Four. Mode with a new willingness to respond to creative photography
Taken to highlight the contrast of black and white mode than the normal “high-contrast black and white mode” feature. Taking or using super-sensitive film in film cameras, such as the sensitization process, you can record images ZARATSUITA impression.
Taken part to blur the images of heaven and earth “MINICHUARAIZUMODO” chip. The actual scene, you can record sound like a picture taken and reproduced in miniature.
Regardless of the configuration flash, AF assist light will turn off the sound action “manner mode” feature. This is useful when shooting in museums and museums.

Five. Function automatically detects faces in easy shooting mode to enjoy shooting with simple operations
If it detects human faces to the camera, face each other automatically to the focus, exposure and record the images to optimize the white balance. Compared to conventional, the number of detection and improved detection rate.
※ faces a maximum of eight subjects to detect.
When the subject of close range shooting, it automatically switches to macro mode, and enjoy macro shooting without having to worry about the hassle of switching modes.

Six. Reliably and quickly focus on the subject “Pre-AF”, “continuous AF” function
To operate the camera to focus automatically without pressing the shutter button halfway, “Pre-AF” was mounted. To adjust the focus depending on the movement of the subject, allowing quick response to the shooting.
To detect movement of the subject while pressing the shutter button halfway, the focus will automatically work with the movement of the subject “continuous AF” was mounted.

7. 92 high-definition 3.0-million dot LCD monitor with VGA
Wide viewing angle, high contrast large, with high-resolution LCD monitor. Fluorine coated to prevent dirt, hard-coat anti-scratch, anti-reflective AR (ANCHIRIFUREKUSHON) gives the court, with the harder dirt and scratches, ensures a high visibility in strong sunlight outdoors.
sRGB color gamut of 100% by a broad, enabling display vivid images with high reproducibility.
8. “使ITAKU become daily tools” with the concept of functionality
The wide-angle (*) 1cm to 28cm in the telephoto and the macro shooting function that can approach the subject. (*) In the 35mm equivalent focal length 31mm
Familiar to them, we have adopted the easy-grip shape.
Level features using electron acceleration sensor.
Blurred IMEJISENSASHIFUTO correction function to reduce the system’s hands blurred.
A guide to help you decide the grid pattern with three variations of the shooting.
Clip features images that can quickly display the image to see in the image. The conventional 3 files, 20 files were to be registered.

Product Name Model Retail Price Price includes tax
RICHAJABURUBATTERI DB-70 5,500 5,775 yen
Battery Charger BJ-7 4,000 yen 4,200 yen
Soft Case (Black) SC-90BK 3,500 3,675 yen
Soft case (brown) SC-90BN 3,500 3,675 yen
Lanyard ST-2 2,000 yen 2,100 yen
Cable Switches CA-1 2,800 yen 2,940 yen
AC Adapters AC-4c 5,500 5,775 yen

※ Focal length of all in this news release is equivalent 35mm format camera.
※ Digital camera “dynamic range” is a range of brightness that can be processed by the camera.
※ Described in this release “MP files”, CIPA-normalized “MARUCHIPIKUCHAFOMATTO” based on “Extended MP files”. (MPO is the extension)
CX2 images captured by the MP file, extracts a specific frame in the camera, the individual can be saved as JPEG images.

The change will mean that Wii gamers have more capacity for downloaded content, together with quicker access.  Activision will be offering various single-track and album downloads for use with Guitar Hero 5, including supporting background downloads, as well as the ability to import content bought for Guitar Hero: World Tour and Guitar Hero: Smash Hits (albeit with a small royalty fee imposed).

Best of all, this is not just a Guitar Hero 5 feature but something that, moving forward, Nintendo will be supporting for all games.  Rather than introduce an external hard-drive, as has been regularly hinted at, it seems the company is looking to instead use high-capacity (and falling cost) solid-state memory in the form of SDHC cards.

The new card will also be accompanied by two new SDHC memory cards, offering 16GB and 32GB capacity, boasting the same transfer speeds and reaching the market at the same time.  No word on pricing as yet. 

Press Release:

Toshiba to Launch World’s First 64GB SDXC Card

TOKYO and IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 3 /PRNewswire/ — Toshiba Corporation, a leading innovator in NAND flash memory technologies and solutions, and Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (TAEC), a North American subsidiary, today announced the launch of the world’s first 64GB(1) SDXC Memory Card(2) capable of operating at the world’s fastest data transfer rate(3) for reading and writing to a flash memory card. The new card is compliant with the new SD Memory Standard, Ver. 3.00, UHS104. Toshiba also extended its industry leadership in memory card solutions by unveiling 32GB and 16GB SDHC Memory Cards compliant with the world’s fastest data transfer rate. Samples of the new SDXC Memory Cards will be available this November, and samples of the new SDHC Memory Cards will be available in December.

The new SDXC and SDHC Memory Cards are the world’s first memory cards compliant with the SD Memory Card Standard Version 3.00, UHS104, which brings a new level of ultra-fast read and write speeds to NAND flash based memory cards: a maximum write speed of 35MB(4) per second, and a read speed of 60MB per second. The combination of large storage capacities and increased data transfer rates will meet the needs of a wide range of consumer electronics applications such as digital still cameras and digital camcorders that require high bandwidth data communication. For example, digital SLR cameras will be able to shoot longer continuous bursts in the highest quality RAW format. Similarly, with these cards, it will be possible to download a 2.4GB video in only 70 seconds.

The SDXC card is the next-generation standard defined by the SD Association in January 2009. The new standard applies to cards with capacities over 32GB and up to 2TB, compared to the SDHC standard, which applies to cards with capacities over 2GB and up to 32GB.

The high level specifications and wide range of memory cards announced by Toshiba will further open the way for developers to bring applications to future generations of consumer products. By further enhancing its SD Memory Card lineups with larger capacity and a higher data transfer rate, Toshiba will continue to meet market demand and to lead the NAND flash memory market.

Key Features

(1) SDXC Memory Card realizes the 64GB capacity, the largest capacity yet available in the market.

(2) Supports UHS104, a new ultra high speed interface in the new SD Memory Card Standard Ver. 3.00, which provides 104MB per second bus speed on the SD interface, and realizes maximum write speed of 35MB per sec., with a read speed of 60MB per sec.

(3) UHS104 provides the conventional SD interfaces: 3.3V DS (25MHz)/ HS (50MHz) and new SDHC Memory Cards with UHS104 are interoperable with existing SDHC host devices.

(4) Integrates highly secure CPRM copy protection technology.

Connectivity includes HDMI 1.3a, component and composite outputs, together with ethernet and an SD/SDHC card slot which – if 1GB or larger – enables BonusView extras to run.  It’ll also play back AVCHD footage stored on that memory card, making it ideal to accompany the many home camcorders that support the format.

Obviously there’s DVD and CD support and a remote control, and the player will upscale DVD content to 1080p.  The Onkyo DV-BD507 is available now, with a typically eye-widening MRSP of $449.

Press Release:

Onkyo Debuts Blu-ray Disc Player with BD-Live Interactive and AVCHD Compatibility

Upper Saddle River, NJ (7/28/09) — Onkyo has introduced a new, state-of-the-art, BD-Live interactive Blu-ray Disc Player, model DV-BD507. This full-featured player delivers outstanding high definition 1080p video playback and high resolution multichannel audio over a HDMI 1.3a. It has all the capabilities once could expect from a Blu-ray player, plus the high performance and build-quality consumers have come to expect from Onkyo products.

The Onkyo DV-BD507 plays Blu-ray discs with their full high definition 1080p resolution, including compatibility with the Deep Color and x.v. Color specifications of HDMI 1.3a. It is also capable of playing standard DVD’s and CD’s, with internal scaling of all video sources to 1080p. It can also process AVCHD video clips stored on a SD or SDHC card or DVD-R/RW.

The Onkyo DV-BD507 also features BD-Live (Profile 2.0) for enhanced interactivity through the internet, making additional and updated content available instantly. When used with an optional 1 GB (or greater) SD/SDHC card, the player includes BonusView features to allow for picture-in-picture capabilities while viewing the main feature.

The Onkyo DV-BD507 is currently available at a suggested retail price of $449.

Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning product that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company’s philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687.

The onboard software – loaded by plugging in the Zi8′s flick-out USB connector - includes YouTube and Facebook uploads, together with basic editing functionality.  Footage is recorded to SD/SDHC card, with up to 32GB cards supported for up to 10 hours of video.  The preview display is 2.5-inches, and there’s an external microphone jack and HDMI connection.

As well as video, the Kodak Zi8 captures 5-megapixel 16:9 stills, and the company are claiming improved low-light performance too.  It will land – in aqua, raspberry and black – from September 2009, priced at $179.95.

Press Release:

KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera brings sleek style and high-performance to pocket video

Easily shoot and share high-quality 1080p HD video

Rochester, NY, July 29, 2009 – Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:EK) today announced an exciting new addition to its popular line of Digital Video Cameras – the KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, featuring a sleek design, high-quality full 1080p High Definition video capture, and built-in electronic image stabilisation.

“Images and video have tremendous power to help us stay connected to family and friends,” says Phil Scott, Worldwide Director of Marketing, Digital Capture and Devices and Vice President, Consumer Digital Group. “The KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera makes it easy to spontaneously capture HD video – of heartwarming moments, of ‘can you believe that?’ moments, and of just plain laugh-out-loud moments – and then quickly and easily share them.”

The slim and stylish KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera is designed to meet these needs at the touch of a button — no lens cap, dials to turn or settings to adjust. The new camera’s range of advanced features includes:
• Full HD 1080p video capture wherever you go;
• Built-in electronic image stabilisation for sharper videos and reduced blurring;
• Vivid 2.5″ colour LCD;
• Flexible swing-out USB arm for fast uploading, sharing, and charging;
• 5 MP 16:9 widescreen HD still pictures;
• Easy upload to Facebook and YouTube;
• Compatible with PC and Mac operating systems;
• Record up to 10 hours of HD video* with the expandable SD/SDHC card slot that can hold up to 32 GB;
• Capture family and friends in their best light with smart face tracking technology;
• See more details and accurate colours in low light;
• External microphone jack;
• In-box HDMI cable;
• Record from a distance or playback on your TV conveniently with optional KODAK Pocket Video remote control;
• Grab attention and define your style with the ultra compact design, stunning looks, and a range of colours.

Uploading to Facebook and YouTube
The KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera provides one-button upload to Facebook, the premiere social networking and sharing website. Content can also be quickly and easily uploaded to YouTube, the world’s most popular online video community. The built-in software on the camera allows seamless upload of your video and pictures from the same desktop interface used for video editing and movie creation.

Accessories
A range of accessories are available for the KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, including:
• KODAK SDHC Memory Cards, available in 4, 8, and 16GB capacities customised for optimal video capture;
• KODAK Pocket Video Remote control;
• KODAK KLIC-7004 Lithium Ion batteries;
• KODAK Flexi-tripod;
• KODAK Adventure Mount for helmet, handlebars and more;
• KODAK cases, camera bags and neck straps.

Pricing and Availability
The KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera will be available in aqua, raspberry and black** from September, 2009, and retail for US$179.95 MSRP.

*Record approximately 20 minutes per 1GB at HD 30fps.
** colour availability may vary.

[via Gizmodo Australia]

A-DATA

The company also give the card a product lifetime warranty.  No word on pricing, however, and nor can we find it for sale anywhere online.  We’ll update once we’ve heard back from A-DATA themselves.

Update: No pricing details as yet, but the SDHC card should be on sale in the US in August 2009.

Press Release:

A-DATA Unveils the Industry-leading Turbo Series SDHC Class 10 Memory Card

Taipei, Taiwan – July 22, 2009 – After the exciting release of its 600X CF card at Computex 2009, A-DATA Technology Co. Ltd, the worldwide leader in DRAM module and Flash application products announced today another industry-leading memory card – Turbo series SDHC Class 10 memory card. It supports the new SD Association’s new Class 10 specification with a dramatic performance improvement in recording cameras on the market today. With high transfer rate of Class 10, the card enables digital camera users to easily capture sequential shots that used to be hard to catch due to the limitation of memory card speed.

Seize the important moment by taking every single move sequentially

Have you ever experienced the disappointment of missing an irreplaceable moment such as the first step of your child simply because your digital camera could not keep up with the act? Some consider DSLR the solution to the problem, yet the daunting price of DSLR makes it less accessible for entry-level users. With A-DATA Turbo series SDHC Class 10 performing at a transfer rate up to 22MBps on devices supporting SD v3.0, one could seize these important moments by recording every single move.

Enjoy complete satisfaction with HI-RES video shoot

Besides the revolutionary improvement on sequential photo taking, the high transfer rate of Class 10 also makes video recording possible at high resolution. No more diminished satisfaction caused by insufficient quality of video shoot with Turbo series SDHC 10. Users of digital cameras can now take high quality video at HD 1920×1080 resolution, which is impossible with the previous generation of SDHC.

Available in 16GB, the Turbo series SDHC Class 10 memory card enables digital camera users to record every memorable image and comes with a product lifetime warranty.

About A-DATA
A-DATA Technology, the world’s 2nd largest vendor of DRAM Modules (iSuppli, May 2009), 4th largest of USB Flash Drives (Gartner, May 2009), and the Top 20 global brand in Taiwan, provides complete memory solutions, including DRAM Modules, USB Flash Drives, Memory Cards, Solid State Drives and Portable Hard Drives. Committed to constant innovation, A-DATA delivers first-rate quality and industry-leading product performance to worldwide customers. Widely known for its distinctive design, A-DATA products are internationally recognized by Germany’s iF Design Award, Reddot Award, CES Best of Innovations Award, Japan’s Good Design Award, Best Choice of Computex Award, and Taiwan Excellence Gold Award. For more information, please visit our website at www.adata-group.com

The iVIS HD S11 has a 1/2.6-inch CMOS capable of up to 8-megapixel stills, while the iVIS HF21 gets a 1/4-inch CMOS and up to 4-megapixel stills.  Each has optical stabilization, an optical zoom (10x in the HF S11; 15x in the HF21) and face-detection, together with a 2.7-inch wide-aspect LCD preview screen.

Connectivity includes USB, a proprietary AV port, headphones and microphone-input, and there’s an optional underwater kit for the HF21.  Both will go on sale in Japan come August, though there’s no word on pricing as yet.

Still, you get a 65x “Intelli-Zoom” (52x optical zoom) and optical image stabilization, together with an HDMI output for direct connection to a TV or display.  There’s also Schneider Optics and the same Intelli-Studio onboard editing suite as the U10, that boots up whenever you connect to a PC via USB.  From there you can make basic tweaks and upload to YouTube. 

The K40 has an SDHC card slot while the K45 has a 32GB SSD, good for up to 20hrs and 40 minutes of recording.  Both can shoot 800 x 600 stills and do time-lapse recording, and will hit the market in August 2009.  The Samsung SMX-K40 will be priced at $329.99 while the SMX-K45 will be $499.99. 

Press Release:

SAMSUNG ANNOUNCES NEW CAMCORDERS THAT PUT HD VIDEO RECORDING AND VIEWING IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND

Ultra Compact HMX-U10 Camcorder takes full-HD Video and 10 MP Stills;

K-Series featuring the SMX-K40 and SMX-K45 offer near full-HD Upscaling and HDMI Connectivity

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J. – July 14, 2009 – Samsung Electronics America Inc. today introduced new camcorders that make recording and viewing video in HD easy. The HMX-U10 is an ultra compact camcorder that records in full-HD and takes 10 mega-pixel still photos. It also allows users to easily share content online with its one-touch “upload” button to YouTubeTM. The SMX-K40 and SMX-K45 record video in standard definition but then upscale the footage to near full-HD when viewing through an HDMI output (cable sold separately). These new models join Samsung’s second-half camcorder lineup for 2009, which includes the recently introduced SMX-C14 and SMX-C10.

“We want to make it easy for everyone, from the young family of four to the tech-savvy professional, to record and view HD footage,” said Reid Sullivan, senior vice president of Audio/Video and Digital Imaging Marketing at Samsung Electronics America. “The addition of the HMX-U10 and the K-Series adds strength to an already impressive lineup of Samsung camcorders and offers a digital video recording solution for every consumer segment.”

HMX-U10

The HMX-U10 is the ideal solution for the consumer looking for ultimate portability and ease-of-use in an HD camcorder. The HMX-U10 offers full-HD video recording with 1920×1080 resolution. The HMX-U10’s 1/2.3 inch CMOS sensor also gives consumers the ability to capture impressive 10 mega-pixel digital still images, all which can be reviewed on the camcorder’s clear, two-inch LCD screen. At 56mm x 103mm x 15.5mm, and weighing just 95g including the battery, the HMX-U10 is ultra-compact with an ergonomic design that breaks free of the traditional look and feel of pocket-sized camcorders. Its sleek frame is accentuated by a wave-design that angles the body of the camcorder at seven degrees, allowing users to grip the camcorder more comfortably, reducing any related stress on the wrist or arm. This same ergonomic design philosophy is also found in the SMX-C14 and SMX-C10 camcorders, which feature Samsung’s unique Active Angle Lens.

K-Series: SMX-K40 and SMX-K45

With the new K-Series, consumers can enjoy near full-HD quality video for the price of a standard definition camcorder. The SMX-K40 and SMX-K45 record exceptional standard definition video at a resolution of 720×480, and then can be played back on an HDTV in near full-HD quality thanks to advanced upscaling technology and HDMI connectivity. With a built-in HDMI output on the camera and HDMI cable (sold separately), consumers connect the camcorder directly to their HDTV for near full-HD playback.

The SMX-K40 and SMX-K45 also offer one of Samsung’s most powerful zoom lenses. Consumers have a 65x Intelli-Zoom at their fingertips which drastically enhances their ability to capture any moment they see no matter how far away they may be. Significantly more reliable than a standard digital zoom which negatively affects the quality of the image, Samsung’s new Intelli-Zoom allows users to go beyond the camcorder’s 52x optical zoom. The K-Series also features Samsung’s advanced Optical Image Stabilizer, ensuring that video will be shake-free, whether zoomed out or using the camcorder at it’s full 65x Intelli-Zoom. Furthermore, the camcorder’s world-class Schneider-KREUZNACH lens delivers the quality and performance needed to help capture the most impressive video possible.

The SMX-K45 offers an internal 32GB Solid State Drive (SSD), providing up to 20 hours and 40 minutes of recording time depending on the recording mode. Samsung’s renowned SSD technology offers a substantial advantage over the use of Hard Disk Drives (HDD) in a digital camcorder. SSD is more energy efficient, produces very low heat emission, and is faster and more durable than HDD because there are no moving parts. The SMX-K40 does not have internal storage and requires the use the of a SD/SDHC card.

Unique Features

The new HMX-U10 and K-Series follow in the footsteps of the newly introduced SMX-C14 and SMX-C10 and boast several unique features which differentiate them from the competition and make video recording even more enjoyable for consumers. Such features include Samsung’s built-in intelli-studio software, animated thumbnails, and a versatile charging system.

No longer do consumers need to worry about being near their home computer in order to edit or share their video. The HMX-U10 and the K-Series all feature Samsung’s play-edit-sharing program called intelli-studio. The camcorders’ built-in intelli-studio program allows consumers to turn any computer into a mobile studio, giving them the ability to edit and play their video without having to install supporting software. Sharing is also simplified using intelli-studio as the program takes the hassle out of uploading content to popular video-sharing Web sites. For example, a one-touch “upload” button, available directly on the HMX-U10, provides a direct connection to YouTube™, further reducing the number of steps needed to upload footage. In addition, the camcorders also allow basic on-camera editing, including the ability to split video files.

Samsung’s animated thumbnail feature simplifies the way users search for video clips. Each video clip saved on the camcorder is represented by a small thumbnail on the LCD screen. When scrolling through one’s videos, each thumbnail will provide a short playback of the video file when highlighted by the user. The HMX-U10, and SMX-K40 and SMX-K45 also feature a versatile charging system. Users can either recharge the battery by connecting the camcorder to the supplied AC adapter or via USB while the camcorder is connected to a computer.

Intended to take on the Flip UltraHD, which we reviewed back in May, the HMX-U10 records to SDHC card and uses the H.264 video codec.  Around the back there’s a 2-inch LCD for framing and reviewing, together with basic controls; the 1/2.3-inch CMOS lens is fixed focus and seemingly lacks any sort of zoom.

Plugging the camcorder into a PC kick starts Samsung’s Intelli-Share app, which allows for basic editing and one-touch YouTube uploads.  The Samsung HMX-U10 will go on sale this September in the US, priced at $200. 

Press Release:

SAMSUNG’S NEW EASY SHARE CAMCORDER MAKES FULL-HD VIDEO RECORDING AND 10 MEGA-PIXEL STILLS FIT IN ANY POCKET

Ultra-Compact HMX-U10 Pocket Camcorder takes full-HD video and 10 mega-pixel stills for fast and easy sharing.

14 July 2009 – Samsung, leaders in innovation and digital imaging, today extended its family of Full HD digital camcorders to make recording and viewing video in HD easier than ever.

The HMX-U10 is an ultra compact camcorder that records in full-HD and also allows users to take 10 mega-pixel still photos. A one-touch “upload” button provides a direct connection to YouTube™ for fast and easy video sharing.

Full-HD video recording
The HMX-U10 is the ideal solution if you’re looking for ultimate portability and ease‑of‑use in a full HD camcorder. The HMX-U10 offers full-HD video recording with 1920×1080 resolution. The HMX-U10’s 1/2.3 inch CMOS sensor gives the ability to capture impressive 10 mega-pixel digital still images, all of which can be reviewed on the camcorder’s clear, two-inch LCD screen.

Ultra-compact design
At 56mm x 103mm x 15.5mm, and weighing just 95g including the battery, the HMX-U10 is ultra-compact with an ergonomic design that breaks free of the traditional look and feel of pocket-sized camcorders. Its sleek frame is accentuated by a wave-design that angles the body of the camcorder at seven degrees, allowing users to grip the camcorder more comfortably, reducing stress on the wrist or arm. This same ergonomic design philosophy is also found in the HMX-R10 and SMX-C10 camcorders, which both feature Samsung’s unique Active Angle Lens.

Unique features
The new HMX-U10 follows in the footsteps of the newly introduced SMX-C10 and boasts several unique features to make video recording even more enjoyable, including Samsung’s built-in intelli-studio software, animated thumbnails, and a versatile charging system.

The HMX-U10 features Samsung’s play-edit-sharing program called intelli‑studio so you can edit or share your video without access to a PC. When you do connect, the camcorder’s built-in intelli-studio program allows you to turn any computer into a mobile studio, giving you the ability to edit and play your video without having to install supporting software.

Sharing is also simplified as the intelli-studio program takes the hassle out of uploading content to popular video‑sharing websites. A one-touch “upload” button, available on the HMX-U10, provides a direct connection to YouTube™, so footage can be online within seconds of shooting. In addition, the camcorders also allow basic on-camera editing, including the ability to split video files.

The animated thumbnail feature simplifies searching for video clips. Every video clip is represented by a small thumbnail on the LCD screen which provides a short playback when highlighted by the user.

“The addition of the HMX-U10 adds strength to an already impressive line-up of Samsung camcorders and offers a digital video recording solution for everyone” said Steve Mitchell, General Manager Marketing, Samsung Digital Imaging Division.

The HMX-U10 Camcorder will be available from leading high street and online retailers from September 2009.

Customers requiring further information should call 0845 726 7864 or visit samsungcamcorder.co.uk/

Specifications are subject to change.
* HDMI cable sold separately

The other item revealed today is the 32GB Platinum II SDHC card. It also makes use of the 34 nanometer tech and can transfer data at up to 60X. Supposedly, it can write at 9MB/sec and can hold 12 hours of HD footage. It could even be used for holding RAW files.

You can get both of these new Lexar offerings starting today. The 16GB microSDHC card costs $99.99 while the 32GB Platinum II SDHC card costs $139.99.

This card is capable of holding about 160 minutes of video at 1080p and up to 2,500 RAW images. Accompanying 4GB, 8GB and 16GB version of this SDHC are available now with the 32GB available starting in August.

The “Extreme” line can withstand low and high temperatures ranging from minus 13 F up to 185 F. While we don’t knowing the pricing for the new 32GB model, you can take a guess based on the pricing of the rest of the line, with the 4GB costing $70, the 8GB costing $120 and the 16GB priced at $200.

The Eye-Fi Pro 4GB now includes “Selective Transfer”, which allows users to choose which photos and/or videos are uploaded.  This bypasses the issue with the older cards where every shot was transferred; according to Eye-Fi all users will now be able to use Selective Transfer, not just those with the Pro 4GB.  Images are selected by locking them through the camera’s own menus.

Meanwhile the Pro 4GB also supports RAW images, making it more appealing to pro-photographers, which like the JPEG images can be geotagged automatically.  WiFi ad-hoc connections directly between the camera and a computer can be used for peer-to-peer transfer, too.

Users also get access to more than 10,000 Wayport hotspots, together with any open WiFi hotspots they may come across, and the system supports in excess of 25 online photo/video sharing sites.  Of course, media is also stored locally in the card’s own storage too.  The Eye-Fi Pro 4GB is available now, priced at $149.

Press Release:

EYE-FI UNVEILS 4GB WIRELESS MEMORY CARD WITH RAW IMAGE SUPPORT

The Eye-Fi Pro Card Supports Transfers without the Need for a Router or Internet; Users Can Now Select What Uploads

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 10, 2009 — Eye-Fi Inc. today unveiled the Eye-Fi Pro, a new wireless SDHC memory card for digital cameras that allows professionals and photo enthusiasts to automatically upload images straight from their camera to their computer and the Web. Available today, the Eye-Fi Pro includes RAW image support and peer-to-peer connectivity for a direct connection between the camera and a computer, no router or Internet connection required (also known as ad hoc).
Eye-Fi also announced today that all Eye-Fi card users can now select which photos or videos they want to wirelessly transfer from their camera to their computer or the Web, using the new Selective Transfer feature.
“People are engaged in photography at a deeper level than ever before. They have moved from being casual photographers to passionate enthusiasts, shooting in RAW for more extensive editing, adding geotags for a richer experience or using an online gallery to share their work,” said Jef Holove, CEO of Eye-Fi. “These people are looking for tools that advance the art of photography and make it more efficient – and the Eye-Fi Pro does both.”

About the Eye-Fi Pro
The Eye-Fi Pro lets users wirelessly upload more file types, including JPEG and RAW images and videos. The Eye-Fi Pro also allows users to create an ad hoc connection through their computer or other mobile device to wirelessly upload media files while away from a wireless router.
“The Eye-Fi Pro has streamlined my workflow. It lets me quickly upload files in the background while I continue my photo shoots. My clients can choose their best shots in near real time,” said Jeff Sockwell, an Eye-Fi Pro beta user and professional photographer who used Eye-Fi in a portrait session with more than 150 dance students. “I also have assurance that photos are automatically saved both on my computer and my Eye-Fi Pro.”
Like the Eye-Fi Explore Video, the new Eye-Fi Pro will automatically upload images and videos direct to more than 25 online photo and video sharing sites. It also lets users upload away from home at more than 10,000 Wayport and open hotspots, and will automatically geotag photos with information about where the images were taken. The Eye-Fi Pro is now available at Amazon.com and www.eye.fi for an MSRP of $149.

Selective Transfer
Also announced today is Eye-Fi’s newest feature, Selective Transfer, that gives users more control over which photos and videos to upload. Using the standard “protect” or “lock” feature in any camera’s menu, users can select which files to wirelessly upload. Any “protected” photo or video will automatically be uploaded, and all photos and videos will remain on the memory card until the user manually deletes them. Selective Transfer is free and available now for all Eye-Fi card users through the Eye-Fi Manager.

At the Leading Edge of Camera Technology – Eye-Fi Connected cameras
In effort to meet prosumers’ increasing camera feature set demands and widen wireless adoption, manufacturers are offering Eye-Fi card recognition and optimization. The Eye-Fi Connected camera features range from power setting optimization to on-camera notifications while photos and videos are wirelessly uploaded. These new cameras include Nikon’s latest model, the D5000 (which follows in the footstep of the already Eye-Fi Connected D60 and D90), as well as the entire spring line-up of Casio cameras, including the Casio EX-S12, Casio EX-S5, Casio EX-FS10, Casio EX-FC100 and Casio EX-Z29.
Eye-Fi’s complete line-up of wireless SD and SDHC memory cards range in price from $49-$149 and are available at www.eye.fi, in store at Apple Retail Stores and Best Buy locations, and at major online retailers such as Amazon.com, Walmart.com and Costco.com.
Eye-Fi has received numerous product awards including Popular Science’s “Best of What’s New” for 2008 and PC World’s “The 100 Best Products of 2008.”
For more information, please visit www.eye.fi, or follow Eye-Fi on Twitter @EyeFiCard.

About Eye-Fi
Founded in 2005, Eye-Fi is dedicated to building products and services that help consumers navigate, nurture and share their visual memories. Eye-Fi’s patent-pending technology works with Wi-Fi networks to automatically send photos and videos from a digital camera to online, in-home and retail destinations. Headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., the company’s investors include LMS Capital, Opus Capital, Shasta Ventures and TransLink Capital. More information is available at www.eye.fi.

The NV Classic’s media player will happily churn through your MP3, WAV, OGG and WMA audio files and MPEG1/4, WMV9 and Xvid videos, together with displaying JPEG and BMP images.  Storage is via SDHC card, with iriver supplying two as standard: the first a 4GB card for your media, the second a mapping card for use with the NV Classic’s PND functionality.  That seems a bit of an unnecessary fuss to us; we’d have preferred some internal memory for at least the map data.

Still, you also get a DMB tuner and on-screen control of channel presets for TV and radio, and there are twin 1.5W speakers and a car-kit.  It’ll apparently be the equivalent of $264 when it lands in Korea; no word on availability outside of there as yet.

[via Generation MP3]

The Panasonic HDC-TM350 has a 3MOS 10.6-megapixel sensor and 5.1 channel audio recording, together with line-in and microphone sockets.  It has a 12x zoom, while the HDC-TM30 has a larger 16x zoom but a mere 2.1-megapixel sensor.  Still, it’s just 227g, making it the lightest camcorder with 32GB of internal storage.

There’s a title for the HDC-TM350, too, as it’s the world’s largest capacity Full HD camcorder; in fact with 64GB it can record a 16 hours of 1080p24 footage without even needing to turn to the SDHC slot.  Other features include a quick-start mode, subject tracking and pre-record.  No word on price for either model, but they’re expected to land in Japan on June 25th.

[via Akihabara]

Both can record Full-HD 1920 x 1080 footage with Panasonic’s iA (“Intelligent Auto”) function, which automatically selects between scene modes and OIS settings, exposure and face detection, and Intelligent Contrast Control to suit the shooting environment.  There’s also AF/AE Tracking, which can ensure a moving subject is kept in focus.

Up to 32GB SDHC cards are supported, which in the case of the TM10 gives a total of 40GB capacity.  Each camcorder supports pre-recording (where three seconds of footage are buffered before the record button is actually pressed) and one-connection burning with Panasonic’s USB DVD burner.  The Panasonic HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10 will be available in the UK in June, priced at £499.99 ($774) and £529.99 ($820) respectively.

Press Release:

Introducing the World’s Lightest* Full-HD Compact Camcorders – the Panasonic HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10

Continuing to push the boundaries, Panasonic is pleased to announce the release of 2 new camcorders. Weighing a mere 227g the HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10 are the world’s lightest1 full high definition camcorders – making them the perfect companion to capture those special moments. Don’t let the size fool you – these camcorders are packed full of technology – including an impressive 16x optical zoom, touch screen control, iA with AF tracking and Advanced O.I.S (Optical Image Stabiliser) assuring clear zooming by minimising the hand-shake that often spoils zoom shots. Pretty smart indeed!

The SD10 and TM10 differ only by their recording format – the SD10 records to SD/SDHC Memory Card, while the TM10 offers 8GB built in memory and SD/SDHC Memory Card recording for the ultimate convenience. Whatever your preferred media – Panasonic’s new additions are sure to please.

*For AVCHD format full-HD camcorders, as of May 19, 2009

The World’s Lightest Compact Camcorders
Weighing less than 230 g, the HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10 are the world’s lightest1 full high definition camcorders – so offer fatigue-free use even for long shooting sessions. Their compact size lets them fit into the palm of the hand, for anywhere, anytime recording of high-quality, 1920 × 1080 full-HD images. These compact camcorders can be easily slipped into a handbag or a pocket, ready to capture video images with snapshot ease.

Zoom in
Featuring a high-powered 16x optical zoom, the SD10 and TM10 clearly capture distant subjects, while the Advanced O.I.S. minimises blurring. This stabilization function is essential for preserving full-HD image quality when zooming, where hand-shake increases proportionally to the level of magnification. Advanced O.I.S., which detects and corrects for hand-shake around 4,000 times per second, combines with the 16x optical zoom to produce clear, stable zoom shots. The new Active mode also extends the hand-shake correction range, reducing the kind of hand-shake that often occurs when shooting while walking, to ensure crisp, clear images.

Point and Shoot with AF/AE Tracking
The HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10 feature the iA (Intelligent Auto)** function, which automatically sets the most suitable Scene mode according to the shooting conditions. These include Advanced O.I.S., which compensates for hand-shake to eliminate blurring; Face Detection, which adjusts the exposure so faces are captured perfectly; Intelligent Contrast Control, which helps ensure proper contrast; and Intelligent Scene Selector, which determines the shooting conditions and automatically selects the Scene setting that will provide optimal results.

Both camcorders are also equipped with AF/AE Tracking, which automatically tracks a moving subject for consistently beautiful results. AF/AE Tracking, which was very popular in previous models, differs from normal auto settings in that, once the user touches a selected subject on the touch-screen – the subject can be at the centre of the screen or at an edge – and locks onto the subject, AF/AE Tracking maintains the focus and exposure even if the subject moves or turns to one side. This records the subject with the optimal AF/AE (Auto focus/Auto exposure) settings.

The HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10 lead the way for future camcorders, both in image quality and compact convenience. They are great not only for recording special occasions like vacations and weddings, but for capturing everyday situations in breathtaking, full-HD images. They represent a whole new breed of camcorders that give users the freedom to enjoy more active shooting styles.

**The functions included in iA may not be applied when conditions do not call for them.

SD Card – The Perfect Partner
As the image quality and data volume continue to increase in camcorders, users are demanding more compact, larger capacity recording media. This has led the SDHC/SD Memory Card to become a de facto standard, thanks to its large capacity of up to 32 GB and its tiny, postage stamp size. In addition to bringing significant advantages to smaller and lighter camcorders, the SDHC/SD Memory Card also differs from a hard-disk drive because it has no transport mechanism, making it highly shock resistant and enabling faster recording starts. The SDHC/SD Memory Card’s high environmental resistance also eliminates concerns about damage to data from dust and water splashes. Because the card can be removed from the camcorder and carried around, it is easy to share data with friends and family. It is also an optimal bridge media for PCs.

Twin Memory Recording – Relay Recording (HDC-TM10)
The HDC-TM10 records full-HD images onto the built-in memory or an SDHC/SD Memory Card (optional), and features a Relay Recording function. When the built-in memory being used to record images becomes full, this function automatically switches the recording media to the SDHC/SD Memory Card to provide uninterrupted recording. When the TM10 with an 8-GB built-in memory is mounted with a 32-GB SDHC Memory Card, it has a total storage capacity of 40 GB to allow extended recording without interruption. Video data that is recorded by being split onto the two media types can easily be merged inside the camcorder after shooting and saved to an SDHC/SD Memory Card*** . When using a PC/DVD burner, the data can also be automatically merged and saved onto a DVD**** . This allows important scenes to be seamlessly viewed.

***The SDHC/SD Memory Card must have memory space available that is larger than the data in the built-in memory to be merged.
****Automatic merging is possible only when data is saved in AVCHD format.

Designed for you
Both models feature a touch-screen that allows icons displayed on the LCD to be easily operated by touching them with a fingertip. The touch-screen lets users operate a variety of functions intuitively without taking their eyes off of the subject on the LCD.

The frequently used Record and Zoom buttons are also positioned under the LCD. This is convenient when shooting at a low angle, which is difficult using normal grip style controls, and when rotating the LCD to take self-portraits. The Zoom buttons also let the user adjust the zoom slowly, for highly accurate framing that’s difficult to do with the high-speed zoom lever on the camcorder body.

Save your special moments
Most people use their camcorders for three main purposes: to shoot, play, and archive video recordings. Panasonic believes simplicity is the key! All you need to do is connect the camcorder via USB cable to a VW-BN1 DVD Burner (optional), press a single button and the recorded video clips from an SDHC/SD Memory Card, built in memory or hard disk are copied to a DVD disc (DVD-RAM/-RW/-R/-R DL0. What could be simpler! No PC in sight! You can even select AVCHD for HD playback on a large screen TV using a Blu-ray Disc™ player or DVD burner. Or choose MPEG-2 for easy playback using a DVD player. This makes video archiving and playback much more convenient.

Pre-Rec function – how did we manage without?
With many camcorders it is easy to miss capturing a critical moment. For example, to capture a goal being scored in a football match, the Record button has to be pressed every time a player attempts to shoot. The problem, of course, is that very few shots actually result in goals, but each one has to be recorded just in case. The Pre-Rec function eliminates this problem. When the Pre-Rec function is on, the camcorder cleverly records three seconds of images into an internal buffer memory. Then, when the Record button is actually pressed, the three seconds immediately prior are added at the beginning of the clip being recorded. This captures the player in the act of kicking the ball even if the Record button isn’t pressed until after he made the goal. So now all you need to do is practice shooting that goal!

SD Networking with VIERA and Blu-ray Disc™ Player
Both of the new camcorders are compatible with the VIERA Image Viewer function. This lets the user play videos on a large screen by simply inserting a recorded SDHC/SD Memory Card into the SD card slot of a Panasonic VIERA***** TV. It provides instant playback of video clips recorded in the AVCHD format in full-HD quality. Similarly, video recordings can be easily played by using a Panasonic Blu-ray Disc™ player.

Highly specified, easy to use and effortlessly portable, Panasonic’s HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10 – the world’s lightest camcorders are available from June.

*****P54Z1/P46Z1, P50V10/P42V10, P46G15/P42G15/P50G10/P46G10/P42G10, P50S10/P46S10/P42S10, L37V10/L32V10, L37G15/L37G10/L32G10, L42S10/L37S10/L32S10, L32X15 (JPEG format still images can be viewed with other SD card slot-equipped models).

[via Pocket-lint]

Full gallery of the new DSLRs after the cut

Each has a 2.7-inch LCD preview screen, which on the α380 and α330 can be tilted up or down.  Those models also have Quick Autofocus Live View, meaning shots can be framed on the LCD as well as the optical viewfinder.  All three have a new Sony GUI, on-screen help and an HDMI output for hooking up the cameras to an HDTV.

Up for pre-order today, the Alphas will come in two different packages.  The first, bundling the Alpha 230, 330 and 380 with a SAL-1855 standard zoom lens, is priced at $550, $650 and $850 respectively.  The second package, adding a telephoto SAL-55200 lens, increases those prices by $200 each.  First deliveries are expected in July 2009.

Press Release:

SONY INTRODUCES THREE MAINSTREAM ALPHA CAMERAS DESIGNED FOR FIRST-TIME DIGITAL SLR BUYERS

SAN DIEGO, May 17, 2009 – Sony is making it easy for first-time digital SLR buyers to step up from point-and-shoot digital still cameras with the introduction today of three new easy-to-use α (alpha) cameras (models DSLR-A380, DSLR-A330 and DSLR-A230), four new lenses, a flash and accessories.

Uniquely Matched to Customers’ Needs

The new cameras are designed to overcome challenges faced by many customers taking their first steps in DSLR photography. Without compromising performance and versatility, the new models are smaller, lighter, easier to use and offer innovative expansion options not found in other systems.

“Our new alpha cameras, lenses and accessories make it easier for new users to get the great photos they expect without the steep learning curve that DSLRs have traditionally required,” said Kristen Elder, senior manager for the alpha business at Sony Electronics Inc. “By overcoming the obstacles, we’ve made it much easier for newcomers to take great pictures with DSLRs.”

Light and Compact

The 10.2 megapixel α230 camera is the lightest, most compact alpha DSLR camera body ever at 15.9 ounces. The 10.2 megapixel α330 and the 14.2 megapixel α380 cameras are also smaller and lighter than their predecessor models (the DSLR-A300 and DSLR-A350, respectively). These cameras are also more compact and feature an intuitive control layout that allows for easy single-handed operation.

SteadyShot INSIDE™ in-camera image stabilization is built into each camera body, so every α-mount lens benefits from the ability to minimize blur due to camera shake.

Quick AF Live View System

Both the α380 and α330 cameras offer Sony’s Quick Autofocus (AF) Live View technology, so you can frame photos on the camera’s LCD screen as well as in the optical viewfinder. Through the use of a dedicated image sensor, Quick AF Live View maintains the rapid response of a DSLR, while avoiding the focus delay common to other live view systems.

The new cameras feature a 2.7-inch (diagonally) Clear Photo LCD™ screen that is easy to view even in bright sunlight. Additionally, the LCD on the α380 and α330 models can be tilted up or down, making it easy to frame your subject from high or low positions, otherwise difficult to see using an eye-level viewfinder. The range of adjustment has been increased from their predecessors, making it even easier to get shots from difficult angles.

By combining Quick AF Live View and an adjustable LCD, users can frame the scene without holding the camera in front of their face, allowing parents, for example, to maintain eye-contact when photographing their children for more natural expressions.

An HDMI™ terminal gives you the option of connecting your camera to a compatible HDTV and playing back your images in high definition quality (HDMI cable required, sold separately). Additionally, BRAVIA® Sync™ works with compatible Sony® BRAVIA HDTVs to let you control camera playback using the television’s remote (HDMI cable and BRAVIA Sync capable HDTV required, sold separately).

The new cameras include dedicated slots for high-capacity Memory Stick PRO Duo™, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo™ and SD/SDHC media (sold separately).

Built-in Help Guide

The α380, α330 and α230 models are Sony’s first DSLR cameras to feature a graphical user interface (GUI) with built-in on-screen Help Guide.

The Help Guide offers clear, concise explanations of various modes and settings, while the Graphic Display helps you understand the relationship between aperture and shutter speed, as well as the effect each has on photographic results.

Systems, Lenses and Flash

Making it easier for first-time DSLR users to get started, the new Sony cameras come in camera-and-lens packages. In addition to the two new standard zoom and telephoto lenses that are offered with the camera bodies, the company introduced new portrait and macro lenses. These purpose-built lenses make it much easier to obtain professional-looking, creative results.

Optimized for use with APS-C sized image sensors, these lenses feature a Smooth Autofocus Motor (SAM) that enables in-lens auto focus (AF) drive for smooth, quiet operation, and high optical performance in a compact size.

The DT 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 standard zoom lens (model SAL-1855) incorporates aspherical and Extra-low Dispersion (ED) elements to provide an all purpose lens with outstanding image quality. The DT 55-200mm F/4-5.6 telephoto zoom lens (model SAL-55200/2) features an ED glass element and helps bring distant subjects closer, ideal for capturing sports. Both the SAL-1855 and SAL-55200 lenses are available separately, or packaged as kits with the new cameras.

To make the benefits of portrait and macro photography easier and more accessible, Sony is introducing a DT 50mm F/1.8 portrait lens (model SAL-50F18) and DT 30mm F/2.8 (model SAL-30M28) macro lens. The wide aperture SAL-50F18 lens helps users capture beautiful portraits with gently defocused backgrounds while the SAL-30M28 macro lens captures intricate close-ups. Both techniques are difficult to achieve with standard lenses.

To help users take better shots with flash, Sony offers an affordable, compact external flash unit (model HVL-F20AM) that is simple to operate. Unlike a camera’s built-in flash, this external flash provides higher output (Guide Number 20), and enables users to bounce light off the ceiling to eliminate harsh shadows and achieve more even illumination when shooting indoors.

Pricing and Availability

Pre-orders will begin on May 18, 2009 at www.sonystyle.com/retail and at selected retailers nationwide. The cameras and a range of accessories will be available in July at Sony Style® retail stores (www.sonystyle.com/retail), at military base exchanges and at authorized dealers nationwide.

The α380L, α330L and α230L will cost about $850, $650 and $550, respectively. The L series one-lens kit comes with the SAL-1855 standard zoom lens.

The α380Y, α330Y and α230Y will cost about $1050, $850 and $750, respectively. The Y series two-lens kit comes with both the SAL-1855 standard zoom and SAL-55200 telephoto zoom lenses.

The SAL-1855 standard zoom lens will cost about $200.
The SAL-55200 telephoto zoom lens will cost about $230.
The SAL-50F18 portrait lens will cost about $150.
The HVL-F20AM flash will cost about $130.

Storing video to SDHC memory cards, the HMX-R10 also has a 5x optical zoom together with an optical image stabilizer.  We didn’t have much luck with the latter feature at PMA, but Samsung tell us it makes a significant difference to video quality.  There’s also a 2.7-inch touchscreen for controlling the camcorder, and Samsung’s distinctive angled grip.

The Samsung HMX-R10 is available to preorder in both silver and black, with each model priced at $499.99.  That’s fifty bucks cheaper than Samsung’s MRSP at PMA, which you really can’t argue with.

[via GadgetReview]

As well as uploading photos and video, the card will also geotag images.  This doesn’t use an actual GPS receiver, but by attempting to triangulate WiFi connectivity nearby; it’s not an exact science, and of course if there’s no connection then there’s no location data.  Eye-Fi also include a year’s worth of Wayport hotspot service, though only one of the four Brent tried would actually let him upload.  That was predominantly because the other three had login pages that his camera couldn’t get past.

Still, the general opinion is good, although a period of downtime for the Eye-Fi servers does prompt a few concerns about whether the service will always be available when you want it.  At $99.99 it’s a lot more expensive than a basic 4GB SDHC, but if you regularly share photos and video then it’s likely worth a look.

[via Zatz Not Funny]

The hardware changes are subtle, and only really obvious when both speakers are sat together.  Taller, so as to fit in the card slot and PMP hardware, the X-mini Happy gets a new multi-functional volume control: pressing down toggles play/pause, holding down powers on/off, and sliding left/right skips tracks.  To actually adjust volume you have to hold down and slide; there’s a handy dedicated mute button, too.

Underneath there’s the same short 3.5mm audio cable, while up top XM-I have redesigned the tweeter guard so as to better avoid damage to the cone.  You’ll be able to string together multiple X-mini Happy units together, too, using the “modular buddy jack”; battery life is expected to amount to 11hrs speaker use, or 6hrs PMP use.

The XM-I X-mini Happy is expected to launch globally come Q3; no price has been suggested as yet.

[Thanks Yutaka!]

Essentially a Class 6 SDHC card, the Transcend new “Video SDHC Video cards” are available from 4GB, 8GB to 16GB capacities, offering up to 2 hours and 40 minutes of Full 1080P HD video recording at the speed of 13Mbps compression rate. Same card, new label.

The announcement only covers the new cards’ capacities and the length of movie recording at different compress rates. Pricing is not mentioning anywhere from the press release.

That means you can not only use the cord to charge up or synchronize your cellphone, smartphone or PMP, but you can also slap in an SD card (or an SDHC card, or a microSD card with the adapter you get bundled with just about every new microSD chip) and save a precious USB port on your computer.  The card does stick out some way, so it’s obviously not intended for permanent data storage, but for grabbing images from a digital camera it could be very useful.

Best of all is the price: a mere $12.  We imagine Brando are already cooking up a version with a multiformat card reader, though of course that could add to the bulk.

[via Pocket-lint]

As far as technical specs go, the Zx1 captures video in 720p at 60 fps and features on-board editing, direct uploading to various video sharing sites and up to 32 GB (10 hrs) of storage via SDHC card.  The display is 2 inches and the unit itself is entirely weather-resistant.  It seems built to take a little bit of punishment, perfect for those who fear damaging a more expensive,  more vulnerable camcorder.

There’s no solid release date for the Zi6 yet, but that might change once the device is actually showcased at CES.  The camcorder is expected to cost around $150.

[via T3]

Besides waterproof; the Elecom is Class-6 standard, meaning it offers real-time recording directly to the card with a guaranteed minimum write speed of 6MB/sec and a data transfer rate of up to 15MB/sec.

Elecom waterproof SDHC is available in 4GB and 8GB capacity. Mum’s the word on pricing information but it is slated to ship in December.

The SD-F08G is an 8GB card, while the SD-F16G stores 16GB.  The former is scheduled to go into mass production in December this year, while the 16GB card won’t start churning out of factories until April 2009.

No prices or specific availability details have been given for any of the new cards.  However given that SanDisk recently announced their own 16GB microSDHC card for $99.99 we’d expect to see Toshiba’s fall in around that mark too.