Panasonic cameras offer auto auto auto mode

Some subset of photographers would like a compact camera with lots of higher-end features and manual controls. But a vastly larger quantity want their cameras to take photos with the correct focus, exposure, white balance and other factors without having to do more than press the shutter button.

Which is why Panasonic's three newest cameras, the Lumix FX-33, FX-55 and FZ18 are notable. For one thing, Panasonic is catching up with competitors such as Fujifilm and Canon by introducing face detection, which lets the camera guess more intelligently about what the photographer is trying to shoot and adjust settings accordingly. But more novel is what Panasonic calls Intelligent Scene Selector.

Intelligent Scene Selector, if switched on, replaces a common set of broad parameters that otherwise must be manually activated. It lets the camera take its best guess about whether the scene is one of five modes: Portrait, landscape scenery, macro close-up, night scenery and night portrait, said Alex Fried, Panasonic's National Marketing Manager for Imaging in North America. And when the camera is in portrait modes, it uses the face-detection technology for further refinement.

"All that takes place without touching a button," Fried said. "Consumers don't utilize scene modes to their fullest capability. A lot don't go that deep into the manual or into the menus."

All three of the new cameras feature the face detection and automatic scene selection as well as two earlier technologies, Panasonic's Mega OIS, which shifts the image sensor to counteract camera shake, and Intelligent ISO, which increases the camera's sensitivity to try to deal with moving subjects. Boosting ISO lets the camera use a shorter exposure to freeze action better, but it produces more off-color speckles called image noise.

Collectively, Panasonic calls the four features Intelligent Auto Mode. I suppose camera makers can be excused for attaching official names to their features, and now metafeatures, in the effort to distinguish their models from the herd. But I fear it causes brand exhaustion among camera buyers.

As my comrade Will Greenwald noted, the three new cameras are 8-megapixel models due in September and sporting zoom ranges that begin at a nice 28mm wide angle. The FX33 and FX55 are smaller, with 3.6x zoom lenses and LCDs measuring 2.5 inches and 3 inches, respectively. The FZ18 has a huge 18x zoom range, a notch longer than the predecessor FZ8, which began at 35mm and spanned a 12x zoom range. And for control freaks, it offers manual control and raw image support, Fried said.

 See more of the latest cameras for this fall

Via CNET Crave

+336+ SMS Mirror

Disney may have invented the first one-of-a-kind talking mirror for Snow White. And happily ever after, we've seen tech magic conjure up TV mirrors, interactive mirrors, and projection mirrors to see how you look in the clothes. Now designer Robert Stadler of the French design group Radi Designers has decided to mirror the other efforts. Only his is a mirror that can receive SMS messages from phones. The messages appear as luminous text running on the surface which is visible close up. It's fortunate there are just 20 pieces available worldwide, so you'll never have to agonize over whether to plonk down US$10,000 to feed your SMS addiction.

See bigger image here

Via Coolest Gadgets

Price: US$10,000, limited edition of 20
Availability: Found here
Device: Dual-purpose mirror
Specs: 27.5 x 21.6 inches

Canon PIXMA MP145: A pretty AIO

The MP145 is Canon's new AIO with the looks. Its white-and-black façade is a refreshing departure from the boxy grey/beige printer boxes we are used to. The MP145 can print out a borderless 4R (4 x 6-inch) print within a minute and offers print speeds of 20ppm (monochrome) and 15ppm (color). Pricing and availability details were not available at press time.

HP Photosmart A626: See better on your printer

While it's not as critical on a printer as it is in a camera, HP is touting a new compact photo printer with what it calls the largest built-in 4.8-inch touchscreen--the A626. The Palo Alto printing giant also launched the lower-end A526 in the same announcement.

Editors' note: Both printers will be available in Asia by early August.

Leveraging on its touchscreen, the A626 allows users to add graffiti to a photo before it is printed as well as apply preloaded graphics, frames and album pages onto the picture. The touchscreen also promises to make in-printer photo editing an easier task. Edited pictures can be either saved into memory cards or printed out directly.

While we appreciate the convenience, we trust that the A626's vaunted abilities will be more of a hit at parties and with non-computer users.

For the sake of portability, there is a carrying handle and the option to insert an internal battery for both the A626 and A526.

More images of new HP printers:

Nokia releases software update for N95

Tearing your hair out because your N95 takes forever to get a GPS location fix? Nokia's not going into the hair industry, but at least you don't have to worry about a balding head now.

The Finnish company has just announced a software update for the Nokia N95 and the new release will add Assisted GPS (AGPS) feature to the handset. This, according to Nokia, will reduce the time to first fix. AGPS operates in combination with a technical framework that allows third parties, such as telco operators, to reduce the initial time needed for the device to calculate its current position and is especially useful in urban areas. The feature was first sported on the 6110 Navigator.

Editors' note: July 27, 2007--According to the latest update from Nokia, the firmware will be available only after August. Users can either follow the same link below to download the patch or go to any Nokia Care center in the region to get the fix.

Users can now download the update via Nokia's Web site here.

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