Nikon adds NiMH battery option for the L100

It seems Nikon has realized the Coolpix L100's lack of support for rechargeable NiMH batteries wasn't the greenest move (or maybe it was a secret plan all along). The digital camera manufacturer announced Tuesday an eventual firmware update to correct the situation.

I get the convenience of AA batteries in pocket cameras, but the L100 requires four of them and only supports alkaline and lithium-ion disposable batteries, approximately good for 350 and 900 shots, respectively. The NiMH option will get you around 600 shots before you need to charge up.

According to Nikon, the firmware update will be available in summer 2009, making this budget point-and-shoot megazoom a more attractive option. Of course, this doesn't improve its merely OK photo quality or the fact that you can't control ISO. But for some, that comes second to having a 15x zoom lens and AA batteries as a power source.

Being released simultaneously with the firmware update are a four pack of Nikon AA NiMH batteries (EN-MH2-B4) and a charger/battery combo set.

Via Crave CNET

Latest Jobo photo frame slim in design, features

I really liked the last Jobo frame I reviewed, but it was just a little short on features in comparison with other models in its price and size range. It looks as if the company's latest model is no different.

The 8-inch Jobo Plano 8 has an 800 x 600-pixel resolution LCD with a 400:1 contrast ratio and measures 21.3 x 16.5 x 2.3cm. There are slots for SD, SDHC, MMC, MemoryStick, and xD cards (not CompactFlash, though), and a USB port for connecting external storage. There is no internal memory, but you do get a wall-mounting kit and a remote control.

It supports JPEG files only, so no MP3 or Motion JPEG support. Not that it matters since there are no speakers for audio either. However, if the controls and menu system are like its other frames, it'll be easy to setup and use.

The Jobo Plano 8 will be available in late June with an AC adapter, remote control, and manual for about $129. The 7- and 10.4-inch models will be available for $99 and $179, respectively.

Via Crave CNET

For Olympus, the proof is in the videos

It's always nice when a company is willing to put up its products against its marketing claims. In this case, the strengths of Olympus' Tough series of digital cameras.

Earlier this year, Olympus stopped designating its series of shock- and waterproof cameras with a mere SW and started calling them Tough, since the cameras were also dustproof, crushproof, and freezeproof. To prove just how much punishment they can take, it turned over a bunch of Tough-series cameras to some kids and let them have at 'em in a series of tests, which Olympus made videos of and posted to YouTube.

The "best of" video is above while the nine individual trials--including Tricycleproof and Icecreamproof--are after the break.
Read more »

Jobo's new 7-inch photo frame includes a remote

You know it's bad when the most exciting thing about a product is that it comes with a remote control. However, to be fair to Jobo AG and its PDJ077 digital photo frame, most sub-US$100 7-inch displays don't include a remote. Or support for CF cards for that matter. The PDJ077 has both.

The LCD also features an 800 x 480 resolution with a contrast ratio of 400:1 and user-adjustable brightness. The frame has slots for CF, SD/SDHC, MMC, and MS cards as well as a full-size USB 2.0 port for use with external drives. Another USB port lets you run a cable from the frame to your computer so you can use the PDJ077 as a card reader.

Left out is internal memory, and file support is JPEG only (read: No video playback). But you do get that remote, which the company says controls everything. So that's something.

Via CNET Crave

Kodak announces world's first US$999 digital frame

Sorry, it's the "world's first consumer-available wireless picture frame featuring innovative Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) technology" actually. That's right, it's a 7.6-inch, backlight-free, OLED-panel digital picture frame with built-in wireless for just less than US$1,000.

On the upside (yes, I consider a US$999 price tag a downside), Kodak's Wi-Fi technology allows you to access pictures, video, and music stored on PCs throughout your home, as well as connect to online photo- and video-sharing sites (like Kodak Gallery, and Kodak partners Flickr and FrameChannel), and Internet content portals for news, weather, sports and other stuff. So that's cool. And it has 2GB of built-in internal memory, too.

I don't know for sure if the frame has to stay attached to the front of the base or not (I'm guessing that's where the frame's power supply, speakers, built-in memory-card reader, and USB port live). I'm hoping not, 'cause on first impression from this picture that base is ugly and kinda kills the whole ultra-thinness of the frame for me.

The OLED Wireless Frame will be available at Kodak.com beginning in the 2008 holiday season, with additional online and retail distribution to be announced. Though if you're giving this as a gift, you're loaded, out of gift ideas, or both. If this is you, would you please put me on your shopping list?

Via Crave CNET

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