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Kodak's EasyShare-One digital camera. Courtesy of Eastman Kodak Co., with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Kodak announces wireless-ready digicam (UPDATED)
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(Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 15:35 EST)

In its third new digital camera announcement of the day, Eastman Kodak Co. has launched its new EasyShare-One digital camera - a model with the interesting ability to share images wirelessly.

The EasyShare-One isn't the first digital camera to do so - we've seen solutions using both 802.11b wireless LAN and BlueTooth technology in the past from manufacturers such as Ricoh (whose RDC-i700 could accept a wireless LAN card) and Concord Camera (the Eye-Q Go Wireless featuring Bluetooth), for example. What the EasyShare-One would be is the first time such a camera has been aimed towards consumers and sold by one of the most recognizable names in the photographic industry.

The EasyShare-One is a 4.0 effective megapixel camera with a Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon 36 - 108mm equivalent 3x optical zoom lens, and features a swivelling panel that dominates the camera's rear, filled with a large 3" LCD display. The display itself also features a touch screen (operated with an included stylus), and the panel it is mounted on can be swivelled to face inside the camera when closed for extra protection of the LCD. The camera will also feature a VGA 30 frames-per-second video mode, as well as Kodak's Favorites feature which allows downsized versions of up to 1,500 favorite images to be stored in the camera's internal memory to show friends and family at a later date. It also features two Secure Digital card slots, one of which will be occupied by an 802.11b Wireless LAN card - the other being available to store images. The camera also features 256MB internal memory, in which the Favorites images are stored at a resolution suitable for 4" x 6" printing, with unlimited albums (synched with your PC) and the ability to browse favorites by date.

The camera will be compatible with 802.11b wireless LANs, and will see a firmware update in Q3 2005 to extend support for LANs using WEP encryption, or those requiring acceptance of terms and conditions before use (as is common with public wireless LANs). The EasyShare-One will be able to wirelessly upload photos and video to Kodak's Ofoto image sharing service, which is today being renamed the "Kodak EasyShare Gallery". It will also be able to wirelessly print photos when used with the Kodak EasyShare Printer Dock Plus, in combination with an optional Kodak Wi-Fi card for the dock.

The Kodak EasyShare-One will go on sale in June 2005, with pricing set at $599 without a Wi-Fi card. Customers purchasing the camera will apparently also be entitled to "premium" post-sale service including assistance with wireless setup and operation, and priority handling of inquiries. Pricing for the optional Wi-Fi card for the dock has not yet been announced, but we believe will be in the region of $100 extra when bundled with the camera.

Kodak EasyShare-One
Kodak's EasyShare-One digital camera. Courtesy of Eastman Kodak Co., with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
CCD resolution 4.23 megapixel (2408x1758 pixels)
Image resolution 4.0 megapixel (2304x1728 pixels)
Picture quality
4.0MP – best (print, enlargement)
3.5MP – best (optimized ratio for 4" x 6" prints, 3:2)
2.1MP – better (small prints)
1.1MP – good (e-mail)
Lens
3.0X optical zoom, 6.0-18.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 36-108 mm)
3.3X advanced digital zoom
10X total zoom
Auto-focus TTL auto-focus with selectable modes: multi-zone, center-spot
Focus range
wide: 60 cm (24 in.) to infinity
tele: 60 cm (24 in.) to infinity
LCD 3.0 in. (7.6 cm) high-resolution (230K pixel) indoor/outdoor display with polarizer and touchscreen with stylus
Aperture f/2.9 or f/4.7 (wide), f/4.9 or f/8.1 (tele)
Shutter speed 4-1/1400 sec.
ISO equivalent automatic, (80-160); manual (80, 100, 200, 400)
White balance auto, daylight, tungsten, fluorescent
Built-in flash auto, red-eye, fill, off
Flash range
wide – 0.6-3.1 m (2-10.2 ft.)
tele – 0.6-2.1 m (2-6.9 ft.)
Self-timer user selectable, 2-30 seconds
Scene modes auto, portrait, close-up, self-portrait, museum/manner, night portrait, sport, children, snow, beach, party, landscape, flower, backlight, night landscape and fireworks
Close-up mode
wide – 10-70 cm (4-27 in.)
tele – 43-70 cm (17-27 in.)
Burst mode 2 fps, up to 6 images
Color modes high color, standard color, low color, black and white, sepia
Exposure metering automatic: TTL-AE; selectable: multi-pattern, center-weighted, center spot
Exposure compensation +/-2.0 EV in 0.3 EV step increments
Exposure control programmed AE
Click to capture <0.5 sec (wide)
Shot to shot <1.5 sec
Video mode continuous MPEG-4 video with audio capture, playback on camera
Video resolution VGA (640x480 pixels) at 30 fps
Video length up to 80 min. limited by capacity of external memory card
Zoom during video 3x optical zoom
Selectable sound themes Yes
Auto picture rotation Yes
Dedicated buttons power, delete, menu, Share, flash setting, back, info, capture/review mode
Review modes slide show, protect, share/print, multi-up, image storage, copy, picture info, favorites, view by date, view by album
On camera assistant Yes
Video out NTSC, PAL (user-selectable)
Software Kodak EasyShare software
Dock compatibility Kodak EasyShare printer dock series 3, Kodak EasyShare camera dock series 3 Kodak EasyShare printer dock plus**, Image Link print system compatible
Storage 256 MB internal memory, SD/MMC card expansion slot
Wireless SDIO Wi-Fi 802.11b
Power options Kodak rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery KLIC-5000, DC-in jack on side of camera for 5V adapter, via the Kodak EasyShare dock for 5V adapter, via the Kodak EasyShare dock
Image recording format Still: JPEG/EXIF v2.21, Video: Quicktime MOV
Interface USB compliant, Kodak EasyShare series 3 docks, audio/video connectors
Lens protection built-in lens barrier
Tripod mount 1/4 in. standard
Weight without batteries: 225 g (7.9 oz.)
Dimensions WxHxD: 103x63x26 mm (4.1x2.5x1.0 in.)
Warranty one year
Package Contents
Kodak EasyShare-one S143 zoom digital camera with built-in lens cover
Wrist strap
Kodak EasyShare Li-Ion rechargeable battery and charger
Stylus
Audio/video cable
USB cable
Kodak EasyShare software
Getting Started kit
Custom camera insert for optional Kodak EasyShare printer dock and camera dock series 3
More Photos
Kodak's EasyShare-One digital camera. Courtesy of Eastman Kodak Co., with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
Kodak's EasyShare-One digital camera. Courtesy of Eastman Kodak Co., with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
Kodak's EasyShare-One digital camera. Courtesy of Eastman Kodak Co., with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
Kodak's SDIO Wi-Fi card. Courtesy of Eastman Kodak Co., with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
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UPDATED 2005-01-05 19:10ET: Item revised and full specifications added, along with further product photos.

Original Source Press Release:

Kodak Redefines the Digital Camera; New EASYSHARE-ONE Camera Puts Sharing First

First-of-its-Kind Innovation Expands Picture-Sharing Possibilities with Storage for 1,500 Pictures; Wireless Connections for Instant Picture E-Mail and Printing

LAS VEGAS, January 5 ? Eastman Kodak Company today unveiled KODAK EASYSHARE-ONE, a new digital camera designed as much for sharing pictures as for taking them. Kodak is showing the innovative camera for the first time at the 2005 International Consumer Electronics Show (Booth #31400; LVCC South Hall, Second Floor).

The EASYSHARE-ONE camera gives people extraordinary control over how and when they share pictures, whether on the LCD screen, online, or as prints. The camera is truly first-of-a-kind, with the ability to hold up to 1,500 favorite pictures for instant display on its crystal-clear, high-resolution, 3-inch touch screen display; direct picture e-mailing and online album viewing via a wireless connection to KODAK EASYSHARE Gallery (formerly Ofoto); and the capability to take high quality still pictures and video. No other digital camera gives people such extensive ability to take, organize, share and print their pictures.

“The EASYSHARE-ONE redefines what is possible with a digital camera. We’re changing the digital photography experience from point-and-shoot to point-and-share,” said Greg Westbrook, vice president, Eastman Kodak Company. “We have combined the power of digital picture taking, intelligent organization, the freedom of wireless, and sophisticated picture sharing into a single innovative product.”

“This is so much more than just another camera introduction. It’s about giving people the ability to instantly share a picture while they’re still in the moment ? whether with a person by their side, or a person across the globe ? simply, quickly, and elegantly.”

Kodak designed the EASYSHARE-ONE camera specifically for sharing. It incorporates multiple benefits that avid picture sharers could only dream of until now, including:

  • Online and e-mail picture sharing without a computer, using a direct, wireless connection to the KODAK EASYSHARE Gallery service (formerly known as Ofoto). By connecting to the Gallery through a compatible home network or public hotspot*, people can upload the pictures and videos for near instantaneous electronic sharing with friends around the world.
  • On-the-spot sharing of up to 1,500 favorite pictures, synchronized with a person’s PC-based picture collection, thanks to a huge, 3-inch, high resolution, rotating LCD touch screen that’s protected when not in use, plus a generous 256 megabytes of internal memory. In addition, when connected wirelessly to the KODAK EASYSHARE Gallery, EASYSHARE-ONE owners can also view thousands more of their pictures stored online, including albums shared by their friends and family.
  • Significantly enhanced ease-of-use for picture sharing and taking, including the ability to create on-camera albums in which to store pictures, intuitive menu options with touch screen selection, automatic organization of pictures by date taken, and even richer, graphical scene modes to help get the best possible picture in a variety of outdoor and indoor environments.
  • One-touch, wireless picture printing when used with the KODAK EASYSHARE Printer Dock Plus (optional KODAK Wi-Fi card required).
  • Pictures with professional-quality color and sharpness, with the use of a renowned SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH VARIOGON 3X optical zoom lens (36 – 108 mm equivalent), a 4-megapixel sensor, and the exclusive KODAK Color Science image processing chip.
  • TV-quality video taking and sharing, with built-in 30 frames-per-second motion and sound recording, plus the ability to share those videos via the KODAK EASYSHARE Gallery.
  • Premium post-sale service from Kodak, providing EASYSHARE-ONE model owners with priority inquiry handling, assistance with the camera’s wireless setup and operation, and other benefits made available to only these customers.

The EASYSHARE-ONE camera will begin reaching select retailers this June, with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of US$599. The optional KODAK Wi-Fi card will be available separately.

Like all new EASYSHARE digital cameras, the EASYSHARE-ONE is compatible with the new IMAGELINK print system. By placing the camera on an EASYSHARE printer dock or other photo printers compatible with the IMAGELINK system, people can print their pictures in as little as 90 seconds at the touch of a button. And, with the EASYSHARE printer docks, people have the built-in convenience of rapid camera battery recharging and one-touch picture transfer to a connected computer.

The award-winning KODAK EASYSHARE consumer digital photography system — consisting of cameras, software, printer docks and camera docks, inkjet and thermal papers, and accessories — makes it simple for anyone to take, organize, share, and print high quality digital pictures. In the J.D. Power and Associates 2004 Digital Camera Satisfaction StudySM evaluating performance, connectivity, cost and appearance, KODAK EASYSHARE cameras in the US$200-399 and US$400-599 price ranges ranked Highest in Customer Satisfaction.

More information on the KODAK EASYSHARE system is available at www.kodak.com/go/EasyShare.

About Eastman Kodak Company and infoimaging
Kodak is the leader in helping people take, share, print and view images – for memories, for information, for entertainment. The company is a major participant in infoimaging, a $385 billion industry composed of devices (digital cameras and flat-panel displays), infrastructure (online networks and delivery systems for images) and services & media (software, film and paper enabling people to access, analyze and print images). With sales of $12.9 billion in 2003, the company comprises several businesses: Health, supplying the healthcare industry with traditional and digital image capture and output products and services; Graphic Communications Group, offering on-demand color printing and networking publishing systems consisting of three wholly owned subsidiaries: Encad, Inc., NexPress Solutions, and Kodak Versamark; Commercial Imaging, offering image capture, output and storage products and services to businesses and government; Display & Components, which designs and manufactures state-of-the-art organic light-emitting diode displays as well as other specialty materials, and delivers imaging sensors to original equipment manufacturers; and Digital & Film Imaging Systems, providing consumers, professionals and cinematographers with digital and traditional products and services.

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* At launch, the KODAK EASYSHARE-ONE camera will be compatible with most in-home and public WiFi networks that support 802.11b technology. A firmware update to permit direct connections via hotspots that require WEP key authentication or acceptance of terms and conditions is planned for Q3 2005.

Disclaimer: J.D. Power and Associates 2004 Digital Camera Satisfaction StudySM. Study based on 4,260 responses from consumers who purchased a digital camera between November 2003 and June 2004. www.jdpower.com.

Kodak, EasyShare-One, Ofoto and ImageLink are trademarks of Eastman Kodak Company. Schneider-Kreuznach and Variogon are trademarks of Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbH used under license by Eastman Kodak Company

2005

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