Jason Dunn
09-04-2007, 10:57 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/PictureMate/pmHome.jsp' target='_blank'>http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/PictureMate/pmHome.jsp</a><br /><br /></div>Epson has released two new Picturemate products, the Dash and the Zoom. Each printer cranks out images at an impressive 5760 x 1440 dpi, and features in-printer adjustments for fixing red eye, cropping, and boasts 18 different photo layout options. The products are almost identical, but the Zoom has a built-in CD burner allowing you to both load images from a CD and to burn images to a CD from a memory card. Ultimately products such as these are designed for people who want to print their images without the complexity of a computer, or for those who want to print their photos on-site. There have been a few occasions where I've wanted to do something like this, but they've been few and far between. I received a small HP printer similar to these products, and I've used it exactly zero times - but part of that is my own fault for forgetting I even have it. Any Digital Media Thoughts users have and use a product like this one?<br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/PictureMate+Zoom+with+CD+OPK.jpg" /><br />Full press release below.<br /><br />"LONG BEACH, Calif. – Sept. 4, 2007 – For people who want a quick and easy way to print stacks of durable, professional quality photos, Epson America Inc. is launching its newest line of compact photo printers. PictureMate Dash and PictureMate Zoom are perfect companions to any digital camera, enabling consumers to easily print professional quality 4”x6” photos at home or on the go, day or night, with or without a computer. <br /><br />A PictureMate model has been the best-selling dedicated 4”x6” photo printer at retail for the last three years. This line is designed for the Chief Memory Officer™ (CMO) of the family who wants long-lasting, durable photos to document not only life’s milestones but also the “ministones.” Using Epson’s exclusive archival printing technology with vibrant color and crisp detail, PictureMate transforms digital images into beautiful, long-lasting prints that resist fading generations longer and have better image quality than traditional lab or kiosk prints. PictureMate prints last up to 96 years in a glass frame and over 200 years in an album and are even smudge, scratch and water resistant1. In fact, no other small format printer offers such remarkable durability.<br /><!><br />Both PictureMate Dash and PictureMate Zoom produce borderless 4”x6” prints in as fast as 37 seconds2 – a truly unbeatable speed that is more than 17 percent faster than the previous generation and also faster than all other small format printers3 without compromising quality. This means consumers can get stacks of photos in minutes at their convenience without ever having to leave home or wait for the lab. Both models feature a large built-in premium photo viewer with a 3.6” total viewing area that makes it even easier to select and print photos and can also be used as a digital picture frame to watch a slideshow of photos. The printers also have easy-to-use options for cropping and editing photos using the viewer and menu button. <br /><br />Getting the best prints possible is automatic with PictureMate. With Epson’s industry leading Auto Photo Correction, PictureMate Dash and PictureMate Zoom automatically adjust photos to correct improperly lit images. It’s like having a trained lab technician inside the printer to fine-tune photos. Additionally users can remove red eye or enhance colors using these printers without a computer and preview all changes immediately to see the results before printing. <br /><br />PictureMate Dash and PictureMate Zoom enable users to automatically resize photos the way they want, offering 18 layout options – including five new portrait package layouts – and three color options, all without a computer. Layouts include true BorderFree® 4”x6” photos, photos with classic borders, traditional wallet-size, mini wallets, digital size, U.S. passport photos, jumbo wallet-size, 2”x2”, 3”x3”, CD index and portrait packages (4, 6, 10, or 12 photos to a page). The color options include color, black-and-white or sepia tones. <br /><br />Epson’s exclusive Print by Date option is an innovative way to select and print photos taken on particular dates, which is useful for sorting through large capacity memory cards. Users can print all photos, selected photos or a range of photos. <br /><br />PictureMate Dash and PictureMate Zoom’s built-in memory card slots support all popular memory card types and can also be used as a card reader to transfer files to and from a computer or a USB flash drive. The printers also support wireless printing from cell phone cameras and PDAs with the optional Epson Bluetooth Photo Print Adapter, as well as printing from USB flash drives, PictBridge-enabled cameras, and DPOF (Digital Print Order Format).<br /><br />“If consumers are in the market for a compact photo printer or just want a simple way to get their photos out of their digital camera, PictureMate is it,” said Kristi Fox, associate product manager, PictureMate, Epson. “With PictureMate, it’s easier and faster than ever to get beautiful family photos which last as much as two to four times longer than photos from a lab or kiosk and outlast prints from other dedicated 4”x6” printers. You won’t believe what amazing quality photos these cute little machines are capable of printing.” <br /><br />PictureMate Zoom is the ultimate photo archiving solution with the ability to save photos onto a CD hassle-free all without a computer through a built-in CD burner. This feature enables users to back up photos from their memory cards or copy friends’ memory cards to CDs and instantly share them with family and friends, simply by pressing the “Save to CD” button on the control panel. PictureMate also makes it easy to catalog those archived photos with the ability to print a CD proofsheet that can be inserted into a CD jewel case. Users can also print photos previously burned on a CD or DVD.<br /><br />PictureMate makes it convenient and affordable to print photos with the PictureMate Print Pack, which contains everything needed to print about 150 glossy or about 100 matte photos satisfaction guaranteed.4<br /><br />Optional Accessories<br />PictureMate can be taken on-the-go with the waterproof carrying case available on Epson’s website for an estimated price of $34.99. For even greater portability, the optional battery is available for an estimated price of $49.99 and supports printing up to 140 photos or six hours standby time with PictureMate Dash and 120 photos or four hours standby time with PictureMate Zoom and automatically recharges with AC5. For printing photos directly from a cell phone, PDA, or laptop computer, the Bluetooth Adapter is available for an estimated price of $39.99. The PictureMate Print Pack is available for estimated prices of $39.99 for the 150-print glossy photo pack and $34.99 for the 100-print matte photo pack. <br /><br />Pricing and Availability <br />PictureMate Dash and PictureMate Zoom are now shipping and will be available for estimated street prices of $99.99 and $199.99, respectively, in major computer, office, mass merchant, and electronic superstores and can also be purchased through mail order, PC manufacturers, the Internet, and Epson’s own retail site, <a href="www.epsonstore.com">www.epsonstore.com</a>. <br />In conjunction with the launch of PictureMate Dash and PictureMate Zoom, Epson has also launched a new microsite that includes a video overview, a virtual tour demonstrating key product features and a convenient accessories finder. This site can be found at <a href="www.myPictureMate.com">www.myPictureMate.com</a>. Product information is also available by calling 1-800-GO-EPSON (1-800-463-7766).<br /><br />About Epson America Inc.<br />Epson offers an extensive array of award-winning digital imaging products for the consumer, business, photography, and graphic arts markets. The company is also a leading supplier of value-added point-of-sale (POS) printers and transaction terminals for the retail market. Founded in 1975, Epson America Inc. is the U.S. affiliate of Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, a global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality technology products that meet customer demands for increased functionality, compactness, systems integration and energy efficiency. Epson America Inc. is headquartered in Long Beach, Calif."