News

Epson America, Inc. has introduced the Epson PowerLite S4 -- a multi-purpose
3LCD projector in the sub-$700 category. Designed for on-the-go presenters, classroom
instructors and home users, the Epson PowerLite S4 projects presentations and
virtually all other forms of video content in up to 1,800 ANSI lumens of brightness
and SVGA (800 x 600) native resolution. Priced at $699 (estimated street price),
this 5.7-pound projector is easily transportable and features Epson technologies
that are designed to make setup and shut-down procedures as quick and trouble-free
as possible.

The Epson PowerLite S4 is designed to help reduce pre-presentation jitters and
stress on end users with unique, time-saving setup and shutdown features. The
projector's power-on verification tone gives presenters immediate assurance
that their projector is running the moment they press the on/off button, and just
four seconds later, the projector already begins to display an image. In addition,
the Epson PowerLite S4 automatically recognizes and adapts to video signals coming
from virtually all types of computers and video devices. And upon conclusion of
a presentation, Epson's Instant Off feature saves presenters even more time
and reduces further hassles by enabling them to turn off, unplug and pack up the
projector immediately and safely without a cool-down period.

The Epson PowerLite S4's 170-watt lamp produces 1,800 ANSI lumens of brightness
for vibrant, clear viewing of big screen images, even in well-lit rooms. It also
offers seven selectable color modes that are pre-programmed and optimized to enhance
image quality when connected to various video devices. Depending on the selected
application, users can choose color modes such as presentation, theater, gaming,
and even a photo mode with black-and-white enhancement levels to show off highlights
in photographs.

Epson 3LCD technology is a solid-state optical engine that works without a moving
color wheel, resulting in accurate color registration, detailed video and data
images that are crisp and rainbow-free.

The Epson PowerLite S4 is now available through national retailers, pro audio/visual
dealers, mail order, and PC resellers. Epson's PowerLite projectors come
with a two-year limited warranty that includes three elite technical support services
-- two-year Epson PrivateLine availability, two-year Road Service Program
and two-year International Warranty. Through the PrivateLine, projector owners
can directly access an expedited support telephone line by using a phone card
that is included with the product.

www.epson.com...

News

Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006

Shutterbug Staff | Jul 11, 2005 | 0 comments

Microsoft Corp. has launched Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006, a package of
easy-to-use tools designed to help consumers organize, enhance and share their
rising number of digital memories. The new digital imaging software helps consumers,
from the novice to the sophisticated photographer, easily find their favorite
snapshots and video clips and do more with them in just a few clicks. Digital
Image Suite 2006 includes intuitive tools such as the Hierarchical Keywords and
Hover Thumbnail, offering a more personalized, easy way to manage photos and video.
In addition, the software includes filters and a tone adjuster in the Black &
White Effects feature.

Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006 makes it easy to find, view and organize photos
and videos with the following new tools:

Hierarchical Keywords and Labels provide stacked tags that consumers can use to
organize, sort through and find their images in the way that best suits them.

Hover Thumbnail enlarges thumbnail images whenever a mouse hovers above them,
making it easy to view the image, along with details such as date taken, file
type and size, resolution, and assigned Labels.

Video support offers consumers the option to view and organize their videos in
the same place as their photos. They can easily assign a 5-Star Rating, add Keywords
and captions, or mark videos with customizable Flags representing a variety of
actions such as For Review or To Share.

RAW Support for Canon and Nikon cameras allows consumers to view and organize
images shot in RAW category of formats, a high-quality photo format captured by
many models of digital cameras. In addition, consumers can save the RAW format
as a JPEG or TIF file for easy editing of the image.

To help consumers explore their creative side and visually express themselves,
Microsoft Digital Image Suite offers new and enhanced tools, including:

Black & White Effects makes it easy to transform color photos into contrast-rich
black-and-white images by using a variety of preset filters, altering color tone
or manipulating each of the color channels.

Intuitive Crop intelligently analyzes the composition of a photo, such as faces
in portraits or family photos, when a consumer clicks on the Crop task and suggests
a way to crop the photo that will properly frame the subject(s) and create the
best possible image.

Photo Story 3.1 allows anyone to create a photo show with voice narration, customizable
pans and zooms, and music. This year Microsoft has added the ability to make quick
edits (red-eye removal, apply black-and-white filter), create an original soundtrack,
and burn a CD with high-resolution VCD files, perfect for playing back on a TV.

Sharing Disc allows consumers to easily burn photo CDs to share with friends and
family, without disrupting detailed photo archive settings.

Device Sync Support makes it easy to share photos and videos with mobile devices
such as the Portable Media Center, Pocket PCs and Smartphones through synching
with Windows Media Player. Consumers can simply flag the desired images, and the
next time the mobile device syncs with the PC, the photos will automatically transmit.

Microsoft's 2006 line of digital imaging products, including Digital Image
Suite 2006 and Digital Image Standard 2006, is available today. Microsoft Digital
Image Suite 2006 offers more robust organization and editing features for an estimated
retail price of $99.95 with a $30 mail-in rebate open to all consumers and an
additional $10 digital camera mail-in rebate (if consumers purchase any digital
camera within 30 days of acquiring the software). In addition, Digital Image Standard
2006, designed for first-time digital photographers, is available for an estimated
retail price of $49.95.

www.microsoft.com
...