Gizmodo: imagery

Skyla Memoir Digital Photo Frame Has In-Built Photo Scanner

Kit Eaton — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:45:12 EST

Looks like digital photo frames are beginning to move from nice-to-haves to actually quite useful: Skyla's Memoir photo frame has an in-built 600dpi scanner so it'll digitize your hardcopy photo archive for you. It's got a 1GB memory, apparently good for about 200 4 x 6-inch prints (the maximum size the scanner can take). Plus it's a respectable 800 x 600-pixel 4:3 ratio screen, and has two USB ports so you can sync the frame to your PC and plug in flash drives and the like. Not too shabby at all for $220 when it comes out in December. [GearLog via OhGizmo]

Digital Photo Bauble Lets You Spice-Up Christmas Trees With Inappropriate Pics

Kit Eaton — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST

This is a 21st Century Christmas tree bauble: There's a 1.4-inch screen in there, powered by AAA batteries and 8MB of USB-accessed storage, and it's capable of showing slideshows of your pictures. Out now for around $12 each. Which is cheap enough that you could have a bunch of them on the tree, among the innocent tinsel and candy canes, set to display the kind of photos that'd really freak out the mother-in-law when she visits. [Chinavision via 7Gadgets]

Awesome Mod Adds 3D Animated Imaging to Viewmaster Toy

Kit Eaton — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:30:13 EST

I was never jealous of my friends who had those Viewmaster slide-viewer toys when I was a kid—they just seemed kinda boring, but I would have been jealous if the toy was as clever as this mod. This guy's taken the toy and added an Arduino-driven display unit, accelerometers and a Bluetooth connection to a PC so that it generates animated color-based chromadepth 3D imagery. There's even push-button control of the imagery, which reacts when you shake it. Waaaaay better than clicking through boring 20 3D-ish static cartoon frames, though the psychological effects its psychedelicness may cause hasn't been tested. [MickeyMann via Makezine]

Epson Adds Moviemate 55 to Projector Lineup, 3LCD Tech, Built-in DVD

Kit Eaton — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:59:00 EDT

Epson's just added to its Moviemate lineup of digital projectors with the 55 model. It uses a three-chip 3LCD system for high image quality, a new E-TORL lamp that can blaze up to 1,200 lumens, and has a built-in stereo speakers and DVD player. That's where its interesting though, since that player is just standard progressive-scan 480p, and nowhere does Epson make reference to the projector's resolution. It may indeed be able to throw a "16:9 widescreen 60-inch image from only six feet away" but this might not interest you if you're after HD imagery. Still it weighs just eight pounds and costs $699, so that might let Epson off. Due in October. Press release below.

LONG BEACH, Calif., Aug. 26, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) (PRIME NEWSWIRE) — Building upon its leadership position in the projector industry, Epson America Inc. today announced the Epson MovieMate(tm) 55, the latest model to join the industry's top-selling line of combo projectors(1). By combining a high-quality projector, a CD/DVD player and stereo speakers in one portable unit, Epson MovieMate 55 gives consumers an affordable, easy-to-use and convenient solution for home entertainment in the living room, on a vacation, and even outdoors.

Within moments, Epson MovieMate 55 allows consumers to view their favorite movies in larger-than-life sizes — up to eight times larger than on a 40-inch widescreen TV — by simply plugging the unit into an electrical outlet. Featuring a new brighter lamp and Dolby(r) Digital audio, MovieMate 55 delivers instant home cinema on-the-go. Consumers can enjoy watching DVDs and playing video games when connected to Nintendo(r) Wii(tm), Sony(r) PlayStation(r) 3 and Microsoft(r) Xbox 360(r) videogame consoles. They can also play music from MP3 players and videos from an Apple(r) iPod(tm) on the big screen. For even more versatility, MovieMate 55 plays photo slideshows from photo CDs and USB flash drives and can connect to a PC or Mac to show content from the computer. With 3-chip 3LCD technology and E-TORL(r) lamp, consumers will experience brighter, natural colors that pop off the screen.

"Epson is the world's number one selling brand of projectors(2) because Epson listens closely to its customers' needs," said Rajeev Mishra, director, Projector Marketing and Development, Epson America. "Epson MovieMate projectors can transform any space into a home theater environment. Anyone can enjoy the simple setup, transport and operation of these easy to use and portable projectors."

More about the Epson MovieMate 55

Weighing only 8.3 pounds, the Epson MovieMate 55 features a sleek, compact design with a built-in handle and cushioned carrying case for portable convenience. Additional features and benefits include:

* Projecting a 16:9 widescreen 60-inch image from only six feet
away or a 120-inch image from just 12 feet away

* Built-in progressive scan standard definition (480p) DVD/CD
player

* Great sound quality using two built-in 8 watt 5.1 Dolby Digital
DTS(r) speakers

* Compatible with Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PS3, and
Apple iPod

* Integrates a new, brighter E-TORL lamp with up to 1,200 lumens to
project light more efficiently, maximizing brightness and
uniformity across the entire screen throughout the lamp's life
— White light output: 1,200 lumens
— Color light output: 1,200 lumens

About 3LCD Technology

3LCD is the world's leading projection technology, delivering unbelievably bright and natural color, amazing detail and road-tested reliability. Using an advanced, 3-chip optical engine, 3LCD offers full-time color for brilliant quality images without the possibility of color break-up. 3LCD is based on LCD technology, which is used by leading manufacturers worldwide for the ultimate viewing experience in flat panel TVs and projectors. To find out why more users choose 3LCD than all other projection technologies combined and to get the latest list of leading companies offering 3LCD technology in their products, visit the 3LCD website at http://www.3LCD.com.

Availability and Support

The Epson MovieMate 55 will be available in October through national resellers for an estimated street price of $699. The projector also comes with the service and support only Epson can offer, including a two-year limited warranty with toll-free access to PrivateLine(sm), Epson's priority technical support, and free overnight exchange with ExtraCare(sm) Home Service.

Photo Tourism 3D-Photo Browser Knocks Spots Off Plain-Old Slideshows

Kit Eaton — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:47:00 EDT

This video, shown at SIGGRAPH, demos a re-invention of how to navigate collections of photos. It's the work of a team from the University of Washington and Microsoft Research, using advanced processing to magically create 3D-like environments to explore photos of places and things. The amazing results will, inevitably, invoke a "that's like Minority Report" sensation in you. Currently the team sees the system as useful for photo tourism, using "community photos" from a source like Flickr. But with each of us snapping photos all the time on our digital cams, I'd like to think it's the way you may browse your photo collection in the future. [Phototourism via Crunchgear]