Digital Home Thoughts: Kodak Introduces World's Thinnest 5x Optical Zoom Digital Camera and Larger PULSE Digital Frame

"Eastman Kodak Company today introduced the new KODAK EASYSHARE M590 Digital Camera, the ultimate social networking accessory for people who love to share their pictures. With Kodak's exclusive Share Button, consumers can tag pictures and videos directly on the camera for effortless uploading to popular social networking sites including FACEBOOK, KODAK Gallery, FLICKR, ORKUT and YOUTUBE. Pictures can also be tagged to email and to send to any KODAK PULSE Digital Frame. The new KODAK EASYSHARE M590 Digital Camera is the world's thinnest* 5X optical zoom digital camera. On top of its sleek, modern and stylish design, the camera also boasts advanced features including Kodak's Face Recognition feature that makes it simple for consumers to find and share the pictures they want, and Kodak's Smart Capture feature that helps them take better pictures automatically."

The KODAK EASYSHARE M590 (boy, WHAT'S with ALL the CAPS?) is an impressive 0.6 inches thin, and with 5x optical zoom (35mm to 175mm equivalent), that's quite slender. I'm less impressed with the 14 megapixel resolution - it seems Kodak is still playing the megapixel race, using a 1/2.3 inch CCD sensor. I'm also surprised to see a camera using microSD cards - I've never seen a laptop with a microSD card slot reader, so this means consumers will have to use a microSD to SD card adaptor...and that's just one more thing that can get misplaced. Are SD cards really so large that KODAK needed to move to the tiny microSD cards to get the camera this thin? Perhaps, but it's still a shame. On the plus side, the M590 has 720p h.264 video at 30fps, some smart tagging abilities for automatic upload to Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, and other sites when you connect the camera to your desktop PC, and ISO support up to 6400. I shudder to think how bad ISO 6400 would look on a sensor this small, but that's just the sensor-size-snob in me speaking up. Sometimes what matters is getting the photo, not how noise-free it is.

I wonder if that's the answer to the memory card question - perhaps KODAK's research tells them that most of their customers never take the memory card out of the camera, instead connecting the camera to their computer? This camera supports USB charging, just like the el-cheapo EASYSHARE camera that I bought last year, which makes connecting to a computer a recharging rather than discharging experience. I really want to see more USB charging featured on digital cameras - it's so much easier to pack a single cable than a separate battery charger.

The remainder of the press release, along with

"We are thrilled to see how consumers have embraced Kodak's Share Button, sharing close to 8 million pictures using the Share Button over the past few months alone," said Phil Scott, Vice President of Marketing, Digital Capture and Devices, Kodak. "With the new KODAK EASYSHARE M590 Digital Camera, we are continuing our commitment to bring to market innovative, intuitive and stylish products that make it fun and easy for today's socially savvy crowd to share all their favorite moments."

Kodak's Share Button gives consumers the ability to share pictures to multiple destinations at once; when they connect the camera to their computer, their pictures are automatically sent to the tagged destinations, saving valuable time and effort.

KODAK M590 Digital Camera Features:

• Share Button for easy upload to KODAK Gallery, FACEBOOK, FLICKR, ORKUT, and YOUTUBE sites, as well as email
• World's thinnest* 5X optical zoom digital camera (uses SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH VARIOGON lens)
• Built-in image stabilization
• Kodak's Face Recognition feature
• Kodak's Smart Capture feature
• 2.7-inch bright LCD with KODAK Color Science technology
• Li-Ion rechargeable batteries and in-camera charging
• HD picture and video capture
• Uses MICROSD/MICROSDHC Card

The KODAK EASYSHARE M590 Digital Camera will be available this fall for US $199.95 MSRP in silver, red, purple and blue at major retailers and Kodak.com.

New 10-inch KODAK PULSE Digital Frame

Kodak is also introducing a larger size for its popular and award-wining KODAK PULSE Digital Frame. The new 10-inch PULSE Digital Frame will be available this fall for US $199.95 MSRP at major retailers and Kodak.com. With all the features of Kodak's current 7-inch PULSE Digital Frame, including Wi-Fi connectivity and a customizable email address, the 10-inch PULSE Frame is the perfect gift for the holiday season. The KODAK PULSE Digital Frame makes it easy for consumers to keep their frames fresh with new pictures and share with family and friends. Pictures can be emailed directly to the PULSE Frame from mobile phones, computers and any device with email capability. It also connects to FACEBOOK and KODAK Gallery photo albums, offers easy set-up with no software to install, and has an intuitive touchscreen interface.

With the KODAK PULSE Digital Frame, there is always something new to look forward to.

* World's thinnest 5X optical zoom digital camera as of July, 2010

** Colors and availability may vary by region.