Logitech brings SMaL digicam to market!
By
Mike Tomkins
(Friday, April 19, 2002 - 18:04 EDT)
Tiny digital camera coming to the US marketplace - with a very different style...
Last month we told you the long-awaited SMaL UltraPocket digital camera was reaching Japanese shores under a FujiFilm brandname. Now, the camera is coming to the USA as well - albeit with a quite different look...
Logitech announced its latest camera design on Wednesday, and inside lurks the workings of the UltraPocket. At about 0.5" (13mm), the Logitech Pocket Digital Camera is about twice as thick as the SMaL reference design, but has an integrated sliding cover to protect the lens and viewfinder from dust and scratches - and even at 13mm this is a very thin camera.
The Logitech design uses the same proprietary CMOS image sensor and ASIC as the UltraPocket, but doubles the onboard RAM from 8 to 16MB, and provides an interpolated resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixels from the 640 x 480 pixel imager. (This is something most users will want to disable immediately, since chances are you can do the interpolation better on your PC and not waste any valuable memory). As with the UltraPocket, the camera uses USB connectivity for transferring images to a PC, and features SMaL's proprietary AutoBrite technology to capture better images in high-contrast scenes.
The Logitech Pocket Digital Camera will cost $129.95 when it ships, and will come with a two year warranty. Availability has not yet been announced.
 | Logitech's Pocket Digital Camera.
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Source:
Logitech Inc. / SMaL Camera Technologies Inc.
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Original Source Press Release:
| Logitech Pocket Digital Camera Offers Ultimate Portability. Fits in Your Pocket So You Never Miss a Moment Fremont, CA - April 17, 2002 - Logitech (NASDAQ:LOGI) (Switzerland:LOGN, LOGZ) today introduced an innovative credit card size digital camera, Logitech® Pocket Digital™. With a unique, thin design and sturdy brushed aluminum surface, Logitech Pocket Digital offers a sleek way to capture and share digital pictures. The product will be available May 2002 in leading retail outlets and online for a list price of $129.95.
"Logitech Pocket Digital is for people who want to capture spontaneous moments, but don't want to carry a bulky camera. Because the product is only the size of a credit card, you can take it along anywhere you go," said Bruce Friedricks, director of product marketing for Logitech's Video Business Unit. "What's more, it looks great."
Although it measures a scant � inch thick, Logitech Pocket Digital can hold up to 52 images at up to 1.3 Megapixel resolution. The innovative Autobrite™ image processing feature ensures that the camera can effectively capture images containing a mix of bright and dim areas. It has a built-in lithium polymer battery that automatically recharges through the USB cable each time the camera connects to the PC during picture download, offering users less hassle and less clutter during battery recharge. Pocket Digital also features a protective sliding lens and viewfinder cover.
This camera will ship with Logitech's Pocket Digital 5.0 software, which includes: - MGI® Photosuite® 4 SE, offering image editing and easy emailing of pictures;
- Autobrite™ image processing technology for wide dynamic range;
- and single click download for easy and instant image transfer.
About Logitech: Founded in 1981, Logitech designs, manufactures and markets personal interface products that provide people with easy access to the digital world. The Company's product family includes Internet video cameras, mice and trackballs, keyboards, audio and telephony products, interactive gaming devices and 3D controllers. With operational headquarters through its U.S. subsidiary in Fremont, California, and regional headquarters through local subsidiaries in Switzerland, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Logitech International is a Swiss public company traded in Switzerland on the Swiss Stock Exchange under the symbols LOGN and LOGZ, and in the U.S. on the Nasdaq National Market System (LOGI). The company has manufacturing facilities in Asia and offices in major cities in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
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Logitech, the Logitech logo and other Logitech marks are owned by Logitech and may be registered. Autobrite is a trademark of SMaL Camera Technologies of Cambridge, MA, USA (www.SMaLcamera.com). All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. For more information on Logitech and its products, visit the company's web site at www.logitech.com.
SMAL CAMERA TECHNOLOGIES ANNOUNCES A TECHNOLOGY RELATIONSHIP WITH LOGITECH FOR ULTRA-SLIM CAMERA
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, USA - April 19, 2002 - SMaL Camera Technologies, Inc. announced today its technology relationship with Logitech (NASDAQ:LOGI) (Switzerland:LOGN, LOGZ) for the release of the Logitech® Pocket Digital™ camera, based on SMaL's Ultra-Pocket™ digital camera design and technology.
SMaL introduced the credit card-sized Ultra-Pocket at the 2001 International Consumer Electronics Show, where it was awarded "Best of Show" for digital imaging. Logitech announced earlier this week its Pocket Digital camera, based on the technology of the Ultra-Pocket. Logitech will market and distribute the Logitech Pocket Digital through major retail outlets and online in US and Europe. The product is scheduled for availability in May 2002 for a US list price of $129.95.
As part of the companies' relationship, SMaL supplied Logitech with the reference design and major components, including SMaL's proprietary CMOS image sensor and ASIC. Logitech combined this cutting-edge technology with its signature industrial design and user friendly interface to create a unique camera that is ultra-portable.
"As digital photography becomes more mainstream, consumers worldwide are looking for the convenience of an ultra-portable digital camera that is also affordable, easy to use, and high quality," says Romney Williams, Executive Director of Business Development, SMaL Camera Technologies. Maurizio Arienzo, President and CEO, SMaL Camera Technologies, adds, "We partnered with Logitech because of its ability to far exceed consumers' expectations. It is clear why Logitech is a world leader in personal interface products."
"SMaL delivers a unique set of technologies that complement our own business focus," said Bruce Friedricks, director of product marketing for Logitech's Video Business Unit. "Logitech believes that the compact digital camera market will see significant growth over the next few years, as consumers perceive the convenience of products that are ready to capture spontaneous moments anytime and anyplace."
The sleek credit card size of Logitech Pocket Digital is made possible by SMaL's ultra-low power imager chip set, its optics, and its 0.8mm thin, lithium polymer battery. SMaL's color CMOS image sensor consumes six times less power than typical imagers of comparable resolution. SMaL's USB-rechargeable battery overcomes the significant complaints about the cost and inconvenience of frequently replacing batteries used in standard digital cameras. Not only does the battery automatically recharge itself while images are downloaded to the PC, but it also allows the user to capture hundreds of images between each recharge. The chip set also features SMaL's proprietary Autobrite™ technology, which greatly enhances the dynamic range and automatically adjusts the exposure for optimum image quality so that details in both the bright or dim areas are clear.
About SMaL Camera Technologies
SMaL develops electronic imaging solutions for a variety of business and consumer markets, including: unique digital still cameras, security and surveillance, automotive, and handheld devices (such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants, and toys). SMaL's expertise is in silicon imager design, image processing, and the integration of these disciplines into high quality, low cost electronic cameras and their applications. SMaL has proprietary technologies that provide elegant solutions to key issues in electronic imaging, such as adaptive dynamic range, picture quality, and low power consumption. SMaL was co-founded and launched in 1999 by leading electronic imaging experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). SMaL Camera Technologies, a privately held venture-backed company, is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. For more information on SMaL Camera Technologies and its products, visit the company's web site at www.SMaLcamera.com.
Autobrite™ and Ultra-Pocket™ are Trademarks of SMaL Camera Technologies, Inc. Logitech, the Logitech logo and other Logitech marks are owned by Logitech and may be registered. For more information on Logitech and its products, visit the company's web site at www.logitech.com.
� 2002 SMaL Camera Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved.
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