DIMA winners from PMA

The DIMA digital camera shoot-out event at the recent PMA show results are in and the winning digital cameras were selected from 9 categories, 7 point-and-shoot digital cameras and 2 digital SLRs. This year we have seen only 3 winners in 6 point-and-shoot categories:

- $100 to $199 category: HP Photosmart M22

- $200 to $299 category: Pentax Optio W10

- $300 to $399 category: HP Photosmart R717

Service Advisory for Fuji S2 / S3 Pro cameras with Nikon 18-200mm VR lens

Fuji has issued a Service Advisory for a problem that may arise if you use your FinePix S3 Pro/S2 Pro with the Nikon AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor ED 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6G lens. When the zoom is set to the wide-angle position, if you attempt to focus using AF (Auto Focus) when the distance scale is set to infinity (∞), the camera may very occasionally fail to focus on close-up subjects.

FUJI US SERVICE ADVISORY

Notice of an Upgrade Service for the FinePix S3 Pro/S2 Pro. For customers using the camera with a Nikon AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor ED 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6G lens

Thank you for always using FinePix products.

This notice is to inform you that the problem described below may arise if you use your FinePix S3 Pro/S2 Pro with the Nikon AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor ED 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6G lens.

Problem:

When the zoom is set to the wide-angle position, if you attempt to focus using AF (Auto Focus) when the distance scale is set to infinity (∞), the camera may very occasionally fail to focus on close- up subjects. This problem is due to a partial incompatibility in AF control at short distances between the Nikon AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor ED 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6G lens and the FinePix S3 Pro and S2 Pro.

Accordingly, to provide full compatibility with the above lens, an upgrade service is being implemented for the FinePix S3 Pro and S2 Pro. Note that this upgrade is NOT required by anyone NOT using the Nikon AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor ED 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6G lens.

Scope of Upgrade Application:

FinePix S3 Pro
This upgrade applies only to cameras with serial numbers (on the bottom of the camera body) lower than the following numbers:
61L10001, 61W10001, 61010001, 61Q10001, 61A10001
This upgrade does not apply to cameras with serial numbers outside the above range.

FinePix S2 Pro
Applies to all serial numbers.


NIKON PRESS RELEASE

To users of the AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED lens and Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro/S2 Pro digital-SLR cameras

We would like to take this opportunity to inform our valued customers of an issue that may affect the AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED lens when used with Fujifilm Nikon F-mount-equipped FinePix S3 Pro and S2 Pro digital-SLR cameras.

Performance Indications
In some rare cases, the camera is unable to acquire accurate focus on near subjects when shooting at wide-angle positions and autofocusing at infinity. This issue is caused by incompatibilities in AF control at short distances between the new Nikon AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED and Digital SLR cameras manufactured by Fujifilm.

Resolution
To resolve this issue, the firmware on Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro/S2 Pro digital-SLR cameras must be updated. This issue cannot be resolved with adjustment of the AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED lens. See the Fujifilm Worldwide web site for instructions on updating camera firmware.

Thank you for choosing Nikon as an important part of your imaging system.

Canon updates DPP, other digital SLR software

Canon has posted updaters or installers for several of its digital SLR software applications.

Available for download are Digital Photo Professional (DPP) 2.1, EOS Utility 1.0, CameraWindow DSLR 5.3R2 (Windows), ZoomBrowser EX 5.6.0 (Windows) and ImageBrowser 5.6.1a (Mac).

The software can be accessed on the Canon USA download site through several different paths.
Specifically, through the Drivers / Software link on the Canon EOS-1D Mark II N page.

Sony DSC-T7 snares iF Gold Award

At the awards ceremony for the iF product design award 2006, held at CeBIT 2006, Sony was a runaway winner scooping 14 iF product design awards, including the prestigious iF gold awards for its Sony DSC-T7. Selected from 1,952 products, entered from 37 countries worldwide, the International Forum Design awarded the coveted iF seal of design excellence to the following Sony products within the category Consumer Electronics/Telecommunications. The Sony T7 which won an iF gold award is measures only 9.8 mm deep at the thinnest point. The shooting-mode settings can easily be controlled using only the left hand, as the relevant buttons are all located on the left-hand side of the camera's rear face.

To win an iF product design award in such diverse categories is a tremendous recognition,” commented Fumitaka Kikutani, Director, Sony Design Centre Europe. “Design is a very strong driver in Sony product evolution. Through our global network of Sony Design Centres, we maintain a design ethos that drives our business forward.” "The Sony T7 is very compact, and yet it is neither too slim nor too small to hold comfortably in your hands,” remarked judge Ehlén Johansson from MEJK Design in Malmö. “The lens closes very elegantly and the shutter release reacts extremely quickly."

Samsung aiming to be among top three global digital camera brands in 2007

Samsung aiming to be among top three global digital camera brands in 2007

Kevin Hsu, Taipei; Adam Hwang, DigiTimes.com [Friday 10 March 2006]

Samsung Techwin, Samsung’s subsidiary maker of optical and digital imaging products, aims to have Samsung as one top three global digital camera brands next year, according to the company’s Asia marketing director James K Jin at a joint press conference with Taiwan-based Chicony Electronics on March 9.

With Chicony as the new Taiwan sales agent of Samsung digital cameras, the joint press conference announced the launch of Samsung’s Digimax i6, claimed to be the world’s first digital camera equipped with PMP (portable multimedia player) functions. The model has a recommended retail price of NT$13,900 (US$428) and Samsung Techwin will offer additional models in the Taiwan market to attain a total target sales volume of 120,000 units this year.

Shipping 4.5 million Samsung branded digital cameras for a global market share of about 5% last year, Samsung Techwin expects delivery volume to increase to 8.4 million units this year and further to 12 million for a global share of 12% in 2007, Jin pointed out.

In line with the goal, Samsung Techwin is minimizing production costs by increasing own production, mainly at its factory in China, from 40% of its total output in 2005 to 75% this year, Jin indicated. Aside from imported CCD image sensors and DSPs (digital signal processors), lens kits, batteries and other key components of digital cameras are all or mostly produced by Samsung Techwin and other subsidiaries of Samsung, Jin said.

Micron Acquires Lexar

Micron News Release: Micron Technology, Inc. and Lexar Media, Inc., today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for Micron to acquire Lexar in a stock-for-stock merger. Under terms of the agreement, each outstanding common share of Lexar will receive 0.5625 shares of Micron stock. Micron anticipates issuing shares in exchange for 81.6 million Lexar shares outstanding. Additional Micron shares will be issued upon the exercise of assumed stock options.

The acquisition will strengthen Micron’s position in the NAND flash business and enable the company to deliver innovative NAND flash solutions from design, development and manufacturing to marketing and sales of products to worldwide consumers and device manufacturers. The merger is designed to combine Micron’s technology and manufacturing leadership in NAND flash memory with Lexar’s leadership in NAND controller and system design technology, brand recognition and retail channel strength to create a vertically integrated entity fully focused on the NAND business.

“With this acquisition, Micron will have a complete package of NAND memory solutions for our customers,” said Steve Appleton, Micron chairman, CEO and president. “Together with our NAND designs, technology, manufacturing capability and distribution channels, Micron is in a strong position to serve the flash storage requirements of consumer electronics and enterprise customers.”

“Through this acquisition, we expect to better align Lexar’s cost structure with business conditions and increase our development and go-to-market scale in order to compete more effectively,” said Eric Stang, Lexar chairman, CEO and president. “By merging with Micron, Lexar can achieve significant cost synergies and become better positioned to satisfy customer needs and establish faster growth, especially in new emerging mobile handset and solid- state computing businesses. We view this as an exciting opportunity for our company and its shareholders.”

The transaction is subject to regulatory review, Lexar stockholder approval and other customary closing conditions. Completion of the merger is expected by the end of the third calendar quarter. Upon closing, Lexar, as a continuing entity, will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Micron, and Lexar's stock will cease trading on the NASDAQ stock market.

Lexar is a leading marketer and manufacturer of NAND flash memory products including memory cards, USB flash drives, card readers and ATA controller technology for the digital photography, consumer electronics, industrial and communications markets. The company holds over 94 issued or allowed controller and system patents, and licenses its technology to companies including Olympus Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SanDisk Corporation and Sony Corporation. Lexar sells its memory cards worldwide and through an exclusive agreement, also sells memory cards under the Kodak brand. Headquartered in Fremont, Calif., Lexar has operations in countries around the world. More information is available at www.lexar.com.

Micron Technology, Inc., is one of the world's leading providers of advanced semiconductor solutions. Through its worldwide operations, Micron manufactures and markets DRAMs, NAND flash memory, CMOS image sensors, other semiconductor components, and memory modules for use in leading-edge computing, consumer, networking, and mobile products. Micron's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the MU symbol. To learn more about Micron Technology, Inc., visit www.micron.com .

Micron and the Micron orbit logo are trademarks of Micron Technology, Inc. Lexar and the Lexar logo are trademarks of Lexar Media, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties concerning Micron's proposed acquisition of Lexar Media, Inc., Micron's expected financial performance, as well as Micron's strategic and operational plans. Actual events or results may differ materially from those described in this press release due to a number of risks and uncertainties. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the possibility that the transaction will not close or that the closing may be delayed; the reaction of customers of Micron and Lexar to the transaction; Micron's ability to successfully integrate Lexar's operations and employees; and general economic conditions. In addition, please refer to the documents that Micron and Lexar file with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. The filings by each of Micron and Lexar identify and address other important factors that could cause their respective financial and operational results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements set forth in this press release. Micron and Lexar are under no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform to actual results.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERGER AND WHERE TO FIND IT

Micron and Lexar intend to file with the SEC a prospectus/proxy statement and other relevant materials in connection with the proposed acquisition of Lexar by Micron pursuant to the terms of an Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Micron, March 2006 Merger Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Micron, and Lexar. The prospectus/proxy statement will be mailed to the stockholders of Lexar. Investors and security holders of Lexar are urged to read the prospectus/proxy statement and the other relevant materials when they become available because they will contain important information about Micron, Lexar and the proposed merger. The prospectus/proxy statement and other relevant materials (when they become available), and any other documents filed by Micron or Lexar with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Micron by contacting Micron Investor Relations, Kipp Bedard, 208-368-4465. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Lexar by contacting Lexar Investor Relations, Diane Carlini, (510) 580-5604. Investors and security holders of Lexar are urged to read the prospectus/proxy statement and the other relevant materials when they become available before making any voting or investment decision with respect to the proposed merger.

Micron, Steven Appleton, Micron's Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, and certain of Micron's other executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of Lexar stockholders in connection with the proposed merger. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of Mr. Appleton and certain of Micron's other executive officers in the solicitation by reading the prospectus/proxy statement when it becomes available.

Lexar, Eric Stang, Lexar's Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, and Lexar's other directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of Lexar stockholders in connection with the proposed merger. Such individuals may have interests in the proposed merger, including as a result of holding options or shares of Lexar common stock. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of Mr. Stang and Lexar's other directors and executive officers in the solicitation by reading the prospectus/proxy statement when it becomes available.