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Casio will soon be showering us with four new models from its EXILIM Zoom digital camera series as they have announced the release of the Exilim Zoom EX-Z300, EX-Z250, EX-285 and EX-Z19c. Casio is claiming that all four models are high-profile digital cameras and as such come with high-resolution CCD. True enough, the EX-Z300 comes with a 10.1-megapixel CCD sensor, while the other three all has 9.1-megapixel CCD sensors.

But aside from the cameras resolution, all four EXILIM models also boast of decent features that could possible convince you to buy anyone of them. For instance, both the EX-Z300 and EX-Z250 features Casio’s EXILIM Engine 3.0 which according to Casio produces beautiful image quality even when capturing night scenes. A notable feature of the EXILIM Engine 3.0 is the Makeup function where users can adjust various settings to enhance the subject’s face even before the users press on the shutter buttons. Other features of these two cameras include a 3-inch LCD screen, HD movie capture and playback and a 29mm wide angle lens with 4x optical zoom.

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Casio has released a new digital photo printer called the PCP-1200. Featuring a 7-inch wide touch screen display, the PCP-1200 also allows printing text on post card size prints thanks to its keyboard which you can use to input the text you want to print. If you’re wondering what’s so good about this feature, well this would be pretty useful if you need to print post cards and simple invitation cards in a hurry.

This digital photo printer also allows users to print photos directly from digital cameras, mobile phones and various media formats including CF, Memory Stick PRO, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo, xD Picture Card, SDHC/SD memory cards and MMC. It also comes with an optional memory card adapter to allow direct printing of photos stored in miniSDHC/SD and microSD/SDHC memory card media.

Other stuff you can create using the PCP-1200 include funny cards, birthday cards, greeting cards and various fun print stuff using its 60 stamps theme feature. The PCP-1200 digital photo printer is available now in Japan and retails for around $500. No word yet if this will be released in the international market though.

Via [FarEastGizmos]

This is where we call out by names the actions and companies that seem odd, out of touch or just plain straight up smokin crack.  Technology is an odd realm where PR speak doesn’t hold a lot of water if the 1s and 0s don’t line up.  This week sees posturing, positioning and flat out insanity.  Here is what caught my eye this week:

iPhone 3G stock - Apple seems to be going to the Nintendo Wii’s model of avoiding any price deterioration: keep the darn thing out of stock.  Almost 3 weeks after launch and still lines in most stores to pick one up; if they even have the stock.  This doesn’t seem to be settling down; and it is looking like a huge customer grab for AT&T.  Amazing, either demand is just huge or Apple is playing with the supply figures.  Either way, crack is involved.

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This new Casio GzOne is a definite guy’s guy phone, for those men who love to climb rocks and do other extreme sports.  I mean, look at it, you can dip it in water, for crying out loud!  Fortunately, it has a shock, dust, and water resistant frame. 

Its features are many, including a 1.3-megapixel camera as well as a microSD memory SD slot.  Other features include V CAST Music and a music player.  For the supreme outdoorsman, there are some other cool features including a GPS, digital compass, as well as an LED lantern. 

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Casio has added a new ultra-thin point-and-shoot in their Exilim lineup, the EX-Z150. Measuring a mere 20.1 mm in thickness, Casio said that the EX-Z150 is the world’s slimmest digital camera touting a wide-angle 28 mm 4x optical zoom lens.

But that is not to say that the EX-Z150 falls short in terms of features. On the contrary, this snapper is loaded with high-end features such as an 8.1 megapixel CCD resolution, CCD-shift anti-shake function, face detection technology, 3-inch high resolution LCD monitor, support for various media card formats including SD/SDHC, MultiMediaCard, Multi MediaCard plus, video recording in AVI and MPEG formats, 64-1600 ISO sensitivity and its Li-ion battery can take up to 280 still images per full charging time.

This new Exilim is available in silver, black, red, pink and green colors.

Read [Casio Press Release]

Just in time for your summer trip to the beach this year, Casio will be rolling out the new EX-Z9 EXilim Zoom digital camera. It offers to shoot photos at up to 8.1-megapixels, has 3x optical zoom, 23 Best Shot Modes and face detection technology. It looks pretty on the outside, with its slim and vibrant outer casing, but does the same beauty extend to its innards?

Other features include a large 2.6-inch wide LCD display, Anti Shake DSP to reduce photo blurring from shaky hands, auto focus and macro mode, as well as support for SD, SDHC, MMC, and MMC plus memory cards to augment the 18MB of built-in memory.

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Well, thanks to horrible connectivity in the wing that held the Casio press conference, this update is not brought to you live.  Here is what you missed:

Casio is updating their line with 5 new models.  Here is a quick peek:

EX-F1: Coming this spring, Casio looks to the F1 to change the world of photography.  60 fps, a mode that pre records (saves) before you press the shutter release allowing you to capture the right moment, just not the one you pressed.  12x optical zoom.  6mp cmos sensor.  The faster FPS means 60 images per second so you can get the right moment. 

More on the pre-record: Sometimes the action is too fast.  With the F1, you can dial back to get the moment you really wanted, not just the one you ended up with. The F1 features full resolution HD,
1080i.  High speed movie capture, great for sports both for professionals and amateurs.  Price will be just less than $1000.

EX S10: The thinnest and lightest camera 10mp, 2.7” LCD, 3x optical.  You Tube Compatibility.  Itunes video compatibility for transferring video to iPod a new concept that Casio partnered with Apple on.  Simply drag and drop video into iPod or iPhone.
Auto shutter enhances picture sharpness and shoots automatically when there is no subject moving or camera shake.  This model also features smile detection and self portrait mode ensuring you are in the picture when you try to take a pic of yourself . iTunes

All new cameras are one button video record.  No menus or dials to fiddle with.  Pre record video feature.  Casio touts their high contrast LCDs for the best looking LCDs in even the brightest of sun.

EXILIM Zoom EX-Z80 — a smaller 8.1 megapixel version of the S10 but without the Super Clear LCD.  Very compact and fashionable.

EXILIM Zoom EX-Z200 and EX-Z100 — two 10.1 megapixel models featuring a wide-angle 28 mm lens with 4X optical zoom with wide angle and telephoto.  Both feature the Super Clear LCDs.

Company site: [Casio]

Measuring 98.3 x 61 x 15.1 mm and weighing only 110 g, Sony’s XDV-100 is an AM/FM radio and TV tuner combo with a 2.8 in. QCGA color screen. From the photos it looks like it includes earbuds and a docking station (likely to charge an internal battery, but I’m guessing), features a thumb scroll wheel for menu and maybe station control and cel phone style signal bars to indicate channel signal strength. No word on the price but it won’t much matter to us US uers since uses the 1SEG standard, making it useful only in Japan.

I seem to recall that most US pocket TVs (Casio, for example) also included radio tuning capabilities. Of course they don’t include Sony’s kick-butt screens. BTW: Where’s that dern PSP TV tuner, Sony!?

Read [Akihabara News]

Watches for your wrist, perhaps becoming obsolete due to the ubiquity of cell phones with clocks, are still cool. Reason: James Bond doesn’t fish a cell phone out of his pocket in order to tell the time. He has an expensive watch, probably with some sort of explosive built into it. Also, if James Bond does it, it’s cool. Personally, I prefer telling time on my $40 Timex rather than my $300+ Motorola RAZR, but that’s just me, and I’m weird like that.  John over at CrunchGear compiled a list of geeky watches to look out for this holiday season.  Take a look at the list below and hit the read link for more.

2006’s craziest & sexiest geek watches:

• Tissot T-Watch - $375
• TokyoFlash PIMP - $190
• Nooka ZubZot - $125
• Tissot PR-50 - $150
• Casio PAW1200-V Pathfinder Triple Sensor - $169
• Seiko Orange Monster - $200
• D.Freemont Sapphire Power Reserve Diver - $975
• Yes Zulu Watch - $795
• Omega Seamaster Professional 300M 2225.80.00 Chrono Diver - $2,686
• Einstein Relativity Watch - $29.95

Read [CrunchGear]

Early last week, Casio introduced the EX-S770, a super-slim relative of the Exilim digital camera family.  The camera takes 7.2 megapixel still-pics and can record in MPEG-4 format.  It has an oversized 2.8 inch LCD screen and is still only 3.72” x 2.38” x .68”.  Not too bad...this is about the same size as a 60 GB iPod, which measures 4.1” x 2.4” x .55”.

The EXILIM Card EX-S770 is available in silver, blazing red, and graphite blue.  All look great and the card-sized dimensions add to the attractiveness of the camera.  In September, the EX-S770 will be available at a suggested retail price of $379.99.

Via [Digital Photography Review]
Read [Casio]