Wacom Announces Bamboo 2nd Generation Tablets

Wacom Co. Ltd., has announced that Bamboo second generation will be available from October 3rd, 2009. The new consumer interactive tablet merges multi-touch functionality with pen tablet technology in a single device, providing a whole new interface for computer users. Bamboo ushers in a more intuitive, simple and inspiring way to work with computers.  Name of new models: Bamboo, Bamboo Touch, Bamboo Fun, and regional models of each global sales base.

Available date of new models : Beginning of October 2009. (October 3rd, 2009 in Japan)

Main features of new models : Merging pen and touch technology into one device brings the best of both worlds, making it even easier, quicker and more fun to use a computer. With Bamboo second generation, a simple tap with a finger on the digital pad will select an icon, open a menu or start an application.

In addition, a gesture using two fingers enables users to simply rotate an image or document, flip through a digital photo album or presentation, scroll through a blog or an Excel spread sheet and zoom in and out of a photo or map.

Bamboo is aimed at consumers who use computers as part of their digital lifestyle to communicate, share and create content. It enables anyone to be creative. It is the perfect tool for self-expression and personalization when producing everyday documents, presentations and blogs, or when communicating with friends, colleagues and family through social networking tools.

Bamboo Pen & Touch

Bamboo offers pen and multi-touch input in a single device and is ideal for consumers in the home office or workplace. It can be used to customize emails, letters, spreadsheets, presentations and documents with signatures, notes, doodles and scribbles. In addition, it simplifies navigating around the computer and the Internet.

Bamboo Touch

Bamboo Touch provides touch input only functions, the above mentioned intuitive, simple and inspiring experiences.

Bamboo Fun Pen & Touch

Bamboo Fun also combining pen and multi-touch input. It is a versatile device ideal for consumers who are keen to develop their creative skills. Users can easily produce more natural and authentic-looking paintings, sketches and drawings as well as retouch, improve, manage and share digital photographs.  Find out more at wacom.com.

official Wacom press release

Canon DSLR Remote Pro for Mac

Mac users, you can now control your Canon DSLR from a computer. Breeze Systems announce the immediate availability of DSLR Remote Pro for Mac 1.0; Mac OS X based software to control Canon DSLR cameras from an Intel Mac. Breeze Systems' highly regarded software has been used to control Canon cameras on Windows PCs since 2001. DSLR Remote Pro for Mac is the first full release of similar software for the Mac community. DSLR Remote Pro for Mac supports both current and older Canon cameras including the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, 1D Mark III, 1Ds Mark II, 1D Mark IIN, 1D Mark II, 5D Mark II, 5D, 50D, 40D, 30D, 20D, 1000D/Rebel XS, 500D/Rebel T1i, 450D/Rebel XSi, 400D/Rebel XTi and 350D/Rebel XT.

DSLR Remote Pro for Mac - Introductory Price US $75 until October 31, 2009

Adorama Commander Bag: Affordable And Portable

Camera bags are the bane of us all, and believe the perfect ‘all purpose’ bag doesn’t even exist. However I may have come close. My previous acquisitions have either been too large, too expensive (for me), or not practical enough. Now I’m sure many could find the perfect bag if money wasn’t an issue, but I’m not wired that way, at least when it comes to justifying a camera bag purchase. What I’ve wanted for a while now is a practical bag I can use every day to carry my basic gear (DSLR, two lenses, hot shoe flash unit and accessories) along with a laptop and business necessities. Most available options are just too expensive and too bulky.

Recently, however, I stumbled across an option that was so affordable; it was worth taking a gamble on. Adorama.com an online retailer and image processing site has provided me with several pieces of equipment in the past at reasonable prices. Their service is excellent, and catalog extensive. While I don’t want to shill for Adorama, I can say my past experiences with them have been positive. Adorama recently reduced the price of their ‘house brand’ camera bag called the “Commander” to a whopping $29.95 apparently due to overstock. This is a compact, water-resistant nylon bag that is available in gray and black.

When it arrived I was able to transfer almost everything in my cumbersome backpack to the Commander. It is compact, so some sacrifices had to be made, however, not in regard to the camera equipment. There is a compartment for a laptop, the center compartment comes divided into three sections and can be adjusted using Velcro panels, and a large zippered pocket. It’s deep enough for my camera body with attached Minolta 70-200mm f4 Telephoto lens. The front compartment has several pouches, pockets and zippered sections for accessories and business items. There are additional zippered pockets on the front and back for notebooks, documents, magazines, etc., and even a mesh water bottle pocket on the side. It’s been very useful on a day-to-day basis and allows me to keep my basic camera gear close. It’s built well and everything is accessible.

While it displays Adorama branding in the form of a large white logo on the lower, right corner of the bag facing, it is a fairly unassuming, generic looking bag, which is a plus in my opinion. Adorama is being a bit misleading in its product description however. Luckily for me I use a small form factor 13.3” laptop. While Adorama claims the Commander bag will support a 15” laptop, I’m not sure what the PR department was smoking at the time they made that claim. How they expect a 15” laptop to fit in a bag with dimensions of 12.5” x 12.5” x 7” is a mystery. I’m not sure what 15” laptop model is only 12.5” inches wide, but that would be the only model(s) that would fit in this bag. Mine barely does.

That being said, it turned out to be the perfect bag for cross-country air travel, as it was put to the test recently on a trip from Arizona to Rhode Island. When I arrived at the security station, all I had to do was remove my laptop, since it has to be in a separate bin, and sent the bag with camera equipment, accessories, doohickies, and all through the scanner. It couldn’t have been simpler. The Commander fits perfectly under an airplane seat and is quite accessible once the plane takes off. It was also quite comfortable on my walkabout around “beautiful downtown Woonsocket”. Not bad for 30 bucks.

Walking Around Woonsocket, RI

I was recently in Woonsocket, Rhode Island (should have never taken that left at Albuquerque) and found myself walking around the streets of “beautiful downtown Woonsocket”. No, it doesn’t sound right to me either. Actually the weather was very pleasant and I took advantage of the cloudy and 75 degree conditions. Since I wanted to pack lightly for my flight across the country, I left my favorite lens behind, the Sigma 70mm f2.8 EX DG Macro, and packed the Sony A100 kit lens instead; the quite capable Sony 18-70mm f3.5-5.6 AF.

The light zoom provided good results and the in-camera image stabilization of Sony DSLR gave me the additional stops I needed to hand-hold since I didn’t pack a tripod. I was actually in Rhode Island for business and didn’t even know whether I would get the opportunity to do a walkabout with the DSLR, and hate checking in baggage, so I wasn’t about to haul anything extra. Since the opportunity to shoot did occur, I thought I’d ignore all advice about creating HDR images and not use a tripod when bracketing exposures. Call me a rebel, or call me reckless, viewing the results is evidence that in-camera stabilization along with careful hand-holding can produce adequate HDR images; that and using the latest 3.2.3 version of Photomatix Pro from HDRSoft.

I’m happy with the results considering I only spent an hour walking around the historic buildings and streets of this small New England town. View the Woonsocket gallery.

Five New Digital Camera Reviews Posted

New digital camera reviews posted in the Recent Digital Camera Reviews section.

• Nikon Coolpix S620
• Olympus SP-590 UZ
• Panasonic Lumix ZS1
• Samsung SL420
• Sigma DP2

Self-Publish Your Own Photo Book

Joe Farace of Shutterbug.com has posted an informative article explaining easy ways to self-publish your own photo book.

Read entire article.

Google Releases Picasa 3.5

Google releases version 3.5 of its popular Picasa imaging and organization software. Picasa now has name tags, based on the same technology that powers name tags on Picasa Web Albums. With name tags, you can organize your photos based on what matters most: the people in them. In this new version, you can also more easily geotag photos using Google Maps, plus import photos from your camera and upload them to Picasa Web Albums in one step.

Download directly from Google.

Adobe Releases Photoshop Elements 8

Adobe has announced the release of Photoshop Elements 8. Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 software combines power and simplicity so you can make your photos look extraordinary, share your life stories in unique print creations and web experiences, and easily manage and protect all your photos and video clips. Automatically create perfectly lit shots that show every detail using new Photomerge capabilities — just one of the many great new editing options in Photoshop Elements 8.

Easily bring all your photos and video clips together in one convenient place, and then dive in to a full range of creative activities and share virtually everywhere.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 Plus includes the award-winning software, 20GB of online storage, and ongoing deliveries of exclusive tutorials, artwork, and templates delivered regularly to your desktop. Adobe is currently offering the basic version for $79.99 and Elements 8 Plus for $119 after $20 mail-in rebate.  Purchase both Elements 8 and Elements 8 Premier for $119 after $30 mail-in rebate.

Find out more at adobe.com