Kodak going private? A bank CEO thinks it’s a good idea News 

Kodak going private? A bank CEO thinks it’s a good idea

GaryPageau
The Buffalo Times reports M&T Bank CEO Rene Jones is widely rumored to be considering a not-so-hostile acquisition of Rochester-based Eastman Kodak Co. in a plan that would take the firm private. According to the article, the Buffalo-based financial institution is considering the play due relieve the long-traded public company from the pressures of quarterly reports, allowing it the breathing room to... Read More
Photo-Me International takeover bid collapses Acquisitions News 

Photo-Me International takeover bid collapses

GaryPageau
The takeover bid for Photo-Me International after a takeover bid lapsed, according to the Times. Tibergest PTE, the investment vehicle owned by CEO Serge Crasnianski, tabled an offer in January after it increased its stake in the photo booth operator to 36.5 percent, triggering a mandatory bid by bringing its holding above 30 percent. At the time, Tibergest said, the... Read More
RICOH announces limited-edition Ricoh GR IIIx Urban kit News 

RICOH announces limited-edition Ricoh GR IIIx Urban kit

GaryPageau ,
Ricoh Imaging Americas Corp. announced the $1,099.95 RICOH GR IIIx Urban Edition Special Limited Kit, featuring the RICOH GR IIIx high-end digital compact camera, with a metallic gray finish and navy-blue ring around the lens barrel. It also includes exclusive, specially designed accessories: a leather hand strap and a metallic hot shoe cover. The kit will be available in limited... Read More
Lensbaby Optic Swap System brings back Soft Focus News 

Lensbaby Optic Swap System brings back Soft Focus

GaryPageau
Lensbaby launched a new and improved Soft Focus II, priced at $179. This long-awaited successor to the sought-after original Soft Focus optic adds a 12-blade manually adjustable internal aperture to its unique and versatile drop-in magnetic aperture system. The 12-blade internal aperture controls the strength of the soft-focus effect while Imagon-style multi-hole apertures maintain the ability to change the balance... Read More
Canon U.S.A. announces an online version of PosterArtist News 

Canon U.S.A. announces an online version of PosterArtist

GaryPageau ,
  Canon U.S.A., Inc. announced the launch of an online version of PosterArtist. This free online application provides two main paths at the top of the page to access the poster-creation process, providing the end-user choices to select from various applications based on the desired format, while also maintaining the option to choose from a variety of pre-designed templates. These... Read More
Photobook.ai develops mobile apps for Orwonet GmbH New Products News 

Photobook.ai develops mobile apps for Orwonet GmbH

GaryPageau ,
Photobook.ai announces they have been chosen to deliver and maintain the photo print and personalization apps for ORWO Net AG, one of Europe’s largest white-label full-service print fulfillment companies.  ORWONet fulfills for some of Europe’s largest retail chains with thousands of stores and millions of users. Pixelnet Fotos for iOS and Android apps are based on photobook.ai’s aiBook3 white-label platform... Read More
SmallRig introduces the “Black Mamba” series ecosystem for Panasonic LUMIX GH6 New Products 

SmallRig introduces the “Black Mamba” series ecosystem for Panasonic LUMIX GH6

GaryPageau
SmallRig has released a complete accessory ecosystem – the “Black Mamba” Series for content creators – to get the most out of the new LUMIX GH6 camera, Panasonic’s latest high-end Micro Four Thirds video camera. The SmallRig “Black Mamba” Series Ecosystem includes a full cage, a handheld kit, a 12mm/15mm single rod clamp for attaching a follow focus, a sunhood,... Read More
Smartphoto Group reports full-year 2021 revenues up but profits tighten News 

Smartphoto Group reports full-year 2021 revenues up but profits tighten

GaryPageau
Belgium-based Smartphoto Group reported in 2021 an increase in revenue to 63.1 million euro compared to 61.4 million euro in 2020. This growth in revenue is the combination of the organic evolution and the one-month contribution of Nayan. The strict lockdown measures in 2020 resulted in exceptionally strong sales of books and prints in the spring and of gifts in... Read More
MyHeritage introduces animated family history videos from old photos New Products 

MyHeritage introduces animated family history videos from old photos

GaryPageau , ,
Genealogy site MyHeritage continues its foray into using digital technology to bring old photos to life with LiveStory, a continuation of its Deep Nostalgia offering. Like Deep Nostalgia, LiveStory animates still photos to animate photos but take the experience even further by adding narration by the animated face. The technology is licensed by MyHeritage from D-ID, a company specializing in video reenactment... Read More
Best Buy reports 4Q sales decreased 2.3% but FY2022 showed growth News 

Best Buy reports 4Q sales decreased 2.3% but FY2022 showed growth

GaryPageau
Best Buy Co. Inc. announced results for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 29, 2022, with Q4 comparable sales decreasing 2.3% compared to 12.6% growth in Q4 2021. “Our teams showed remarkable execution and dedication to serving our customers throughout the important gift-giving season,” said Corie Barry, Best Buy CEO. “In Q4, we drove improvement in year-over-year customer satisfaction metrics across... Read More
Imaging fashion app leader Perfect Corp. to list on NASDAQ News 

Imaging fashion app leader Perfect Corp. to list on NASDAQ

GaryPageau ,
Perfect Corp. has entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger with Provident Acquisition Corp., a publicly-traded special purpose company, that sets the enterprise value of Perfect Corp. at US$1.02 billion. The business combination is expected to provide Perfect Corp. with up to US$335 million in gross proceeds, including US$50 million from concurrent PIPE transaction, US$55 million from the... Read More
Vivid-Pix launches Memory Station at RootsTech 2022 New Products 

Vivid-Pix launches Memory Station at RootsTech 2022

GaryPageau ,
Vivid-Pix announced at RootsTech, the world’s largest family history conference, the Vivid-Pix  Memory Station one-click scanner/software bundle, marketed as an easy way to digitize, restore, and save precious print images at home, library, or communities. The Vivid-Pix Memory Station is available immediately through www.vivid-pix.com, for $599.99. The bundle is comprised of a ScanSnap SV600 Scanner  and Vivid-Pix’s RESTORE software for Mac and... Read More
PIV: German photo market still struggling Market research 

PIV: German photo market still struggling

GaryPageau , ,
Frankfurt-based Photo Industry Association (PIV) reports the German photo and imaging market continues to decline in the second year of the pandemic. Rising average prices, the prospect of new product launches and recurring photo events should nevertheless give the industry a positive impetus this year. Photo products also remain popular with consumers. Market figures published by the PIV and GfK show a... Read More
Photo-Me share purchase triggers takeover rule News 

Photo-Me share purchase triggers takeover rule

GaryPageau
Photo-Me International PLC said Serge Crasnianski, its CEO, has published a document with full terms and conditions for a mandatory takeover offer by the CEO’s company Tibergest Pte Ltd., according to Alliance News. The offer for the Surrey-based operator of instant-service equipment has become open for acceptances until March 8. In mid-January, Tibergest agreed to buy 29.1 million Photo-Me shares... Read More