Microsoft releases the Photo Info plug-in which allows you to add, change "metadata" properties for digital photographs from inside Windows Explorer. Photo Info can be download free of charge and runs on Windows XP and Vista. To use, simply select one or more image files, right-click and choose "Photo Info" to open the Photo Info properties editor. You can edit metadata for image files individually, or all together as a batch. It provides "hover tips" and additional sort properties for digital images in Windows Explorer...

Pentax releases firmware update version 1.10 for the K10D digital SLR. In this updates the following functions have been added: Wireless control of external flash, instant return to centre AF point by one push of button in AF select mode, change ISO setting by dial at TV/AV mode, and some extra functions for buttons and dials. Additionally, the following function has been corrected: In rare cases, vertical stripe at long time exposure, and released "B exposure" and show battery empty sign when using B mode...

Pentax has announced two new compact digital cameras. The Optio T30 is one of the thinnest digital cameras featuring a 3 inch LCD monitor. In addition, the T30 features a touch display and new functions such as Face Recognition and a high ISO Digital Shake Reduction mode. The new Optio M30 sports an ultra-slim body and features the same Digital Shake Reduction and Face Recognition functions. Both cameras will be available in March, the T30 will sell for $349.95 and the M30 will for $199.95...

BenQ today introduces two new digital cameras. The BenQ DC C610 sports a fashionable exterior with sliding front cover, and comes with a 6.0 megapixel CCD sensor and a 2.0 LCD screen. The camera uses SD cards for storage and is powered through AA size batteries. The BenQ DC E610 is a more fully featured camera with a 6.1 megapixel CCD sensor, and advanced smc Pentax lens, 3X optical zoom, and a bright 2.4" TFT LCD screen. The BenQ E610 and C610 are now available in the European market...

Sigma publishes 2 white papers describing how the Foveon image sensor captures images in the Sigma SD14 digital SLR. (Note that availability of the SD14 has been delayed until late February or early March.) In the papers a comparison with conventional image sensors is made and you will find information on how this relates to "pixel count" and how it may affect image and color resolution. The more technical version of the papers discusses the adaptation of camera test procedures to do justice to this unique image sensor...

Canon unveils three new entry-level PowerShot models, the A550 and A460 / A450 digital cameras. The new Powershot A550 is a 7.1 megapixel model with 4x optical zoom and a 2" LCD. The new Powershot A460 features 5.0 Mp resolution with a 4x optical zoom lens and a 2" LCD screen. The A450 is the same camera with a 3.2x optical zoom lens and will only be available is some countries. The cameras will be available mid-February and will carry estimated selling prices of $199.99 and $149.99, respectively...

The new Sony VAIO TP1 Living Room PC incorporates personal computing into areas of the house not typically known for having a PC, without the added network cables. With its built-in wireless LAN it can be positioned virtually anywhere in the house It comes with Click to DVD software and a multi-format DVD and CD burner to create or record up to 8.5GB of home videos, movies, music or digital photos. The VAIO TP1 supports both Memory Stick and CompactFlash cards. Availability is planned in March for about $1,600...

LG announces the KE850 mobile phone, an exclusive sleek model designed by Prada. The design, dimensions (just 12 mm), 2Mp digital camera and touch-screen user interface are features we have just seen on the recently launched Apple iPhone. Glowing icons on the face of the phone, disappearing when not in use, will give way to additional multimedia functions, including a full MP3 player. It also boasts an external memory card slot to increase the storage for images, music and film clips. Update: LG has lifted a tip of the veil...

Sony launches the Cyber-shot DSC-S700 and S650 cameras, featuring a 7.2 megapixel image sensor and housing a 2.4-inch resp. 2.0 inch LCD screen. These models are wrapped in a metal body, accept 2 standard AA batteries, and feature 3x optical zoom, blur-reduction technologies, and 24MB of internal memory for shooting without a media card. Their storage capacities can be expanded further with optional 4GB Memory Stick Duo or Memory Stick PRO Duo media cards. Availability for both models is planned for next month...

Sony extends its Cyber-shot digital camera line with the DSC-W55 and DSC-W35. These slim, compact models will sport a 7.2 megapixel image sensors and precision Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lenses. They combine traditional, eye-level viewfinders with large LCD screens for easy framing and viewing of photos. The W55 camera will make a splash in Caribbean blue, pale pink, elegant black and sleek silver with a 2.5-inch LCD screen wrapped in a metal body, and the W35 camera will shimmer in silver with a two-inch screen...

Nokia's new N95 series enables you to do much more than just make calls. The device delivers photos, video and music at your fingertips. You can connect with the whole world instantly through its wireless LAN and quadband GSM, send e-mails, surf the Net and find your way with its GPS navigator. The N95 brings mobile photography to higher art with its 5 Mp sensor (2592 x 1944 pixels), a Carl Zeiss Tessar lens, 10-50 cm macro focus range, mechanical shutter speeds of 1/1000~1/3 second, and an integrated LED flash...

Fujifilm unveils two high-speed digital printers for professional photographers, the ASK-4000 & ASK-2000 digital photo printers. These printers allow wedding and studio photographers to quickly provide customers with 4x6 inch prints in 8 seconds and 8x10 inch prints in 40 seconds. By simply connecting the printers to a laptop onsite at client events, this eliminates the need and expense of organizing, printing and mailing photos in the days following an event. Both printers feature color-correction software for lab-quality prints...

Sony announces that it will enter the CompactFlash memory card market. Sony's recent entry in the digital SLR market, with the Sony A100 digital camera, has been the trigger for Sony to expand their memory card offerings beyond their traditional Memory Sticks. The first Sony CompactFlash memory cards will be available later this spring. The initial line-up will include CF Type I cards with 66x and 133x transfer speeds and capacities between 1GB and 4GB. The products will be branded as part of Sony's A100 camera system...

Zoran, a California based provider of solutions for the digital imaging market has been showing various products at the recent CES. It is evident that the electronic heart of many modern digital cameras is based on the same circuitry and is no longer the discriminating factor. Cameras from Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, Samsung, Sony and others using are using the same processors. So when you're shopping for a digital camera, you may focus on other factors, such as camera design and - most important - the camera lens...

Panasonic will launch a new rechargeable battery series this spring. The Panasonic Infinium batteries stay charged for much longer when not in use, just like a non rechargeable battery. This offers two main convenient benefits. They stay for 365 days on standby, and after six months of storage, up to 80% of the battery power is still present. They are ready to use, buy them, open them and use them immediately. The Infinium battery will be available in AA and AAA sizes. The retail price for a 4-pack is $10.99...

Polaroid has announced the CGA-02540 Media Backup Photo Edition. The new device is a one step solution for protecting all your digital photos. Simply plug the media backup device into your computer's USB port and let the media backup do the rest. The media backup device automatically searches, copies and stores your digital photos! No need to download software or hook up lots of cables, it's all automatic! The unit features a 40G hard drive which stores up to 40,000 digital photos. The launch is scheduled for the first quarter...

Apple launches Apple TV, an easy to use and fun way to wirelessly play all your favorite iTunes content from your Mac or PC on your widescreen TV. Apple TV has a 40GB hard drive to store up to 50 hours of video, 9,000 songs or a combination of each and is capable of delivering high-definition (720p) output. Apple TV also can bring you photo slideshows with up to 25,000 photos at your fingertips. Apple TV, including the Remote, will be shipping in February for a suggested retail price of US $299...

HP launches the sleek, stylish, space saving TouchSmart IQ770 PC, the industry's first all-in-one PC based on Microsoft Windows Vista. Featuring a 19" widescreen (1440 x 900) with an adjustable touch-screen display, Vista remote control and personal video recorder with HD and SD TV programming, the HP TouchSmart PC enables "walk-up computing" the ability to quickly and easily have touch access to digital content. You can upload, manage, edit and print your digital memories with HP Photosmart Touch...

Apple introduces the iPhone, combining three products - a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and a breakthrough Internet communications device with desktop-class email, web browsing, searching and maps - into one small and lightweight handheld multimedia device which even includes a 2Mp digital camera. The iPhone introduces an entirely new user interface based on a large multi-touch display and pioneering new software, letting users control iPhone with just their fingers...

SanDisk introduces its first widescreen portable media player, the "Sansa View". While the Sansa View is a pocket-able player it features a large 4" widescreen display. The Sansa View has 8 GB of internal flash memory to store up to 33 video hours or 2,000 songs or thousands of photos. Its flash memory expansion slot allows for additional memory capacity. Retailing for $299 MSRP, the 8GB Sansa View is expected to be available in the U.S. in the 1st quarter, with Canada and Europe to follow in the 2nd quarter...