Ricoh announces three HD PENTAX-FA limited edition prime lenses News 

Ricoh announces three HD PENTAX-FA limited edition prime lenses

GaryPageau ,
Ricoh Imaging Americas Corp. announced three HD PENTAX-FA Limited interchangeable prime lenses for PENTAX K-mount SLR cameras. They feature the latest HD coating and a round-shaped diaphragm for a natural bokeh effect. All three lenses are available black or silver and feature the distinguished qualities of the HD FA Limited Lens series including outstanding description of texture, fine reproduction of... Read More
Historic retailer Fry’s Electronics calls it quits News 

Historic retailer Fry’s Electronics calls it quits

GaryPageau
Fry’s Electronics, one of the leading U.S. big-box electronics retailers, called it quits today after 36 years. With 31 stores across nine states, the chain was considered a go-to destination for high-tech gadgets and electronics. The company cited the cause as “a result of changes in the retail industry and the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.” The full text... Read More
NRF forecasts retail sales to exceed $4.33 trillion in 2021 as vaccine rollout expands Market research Marketing 

NRF forecasts retail sales to exceed $4.33 trillion in 2021 as vaccine rollout expands

GaryPageau
The National Retail Federation issued its annual forecast, anticipating retail sales will grow between 6.5 percent and 8.2 percent to more than $4.33 trillion in 2021 as more individuals get vaccinated and the economy reopens. “Despite the continuing health and economic challenges COVID-19 presents, we are very optimistic that healthy consumer fundamentals, pent-up demand and widespread distribution of the vaccine... Read More
Sony Electronics launches FX3 full-frame camera New Products 

Sony Electronics launches FX3 full-frame camera

GaryPageau ,
Sony Electronics Inc. announced the FX3 (model ILME-FX3) camera, combining Sony’s digital cinema technology with advanced imaging features from Alpha brand mirrorless cameras. According to the company, the FX3 delivers a “cinematic look” and professional operability and reliability in a camera that is accessible to beginning creators, as well as used alongside Sony’s VENICE, FX9, and FX6 cameras. The FX3... Read More
Corel announces VideoStudio Ultimate 2021 New Products 

Corel announces VideoStudio Ultimate 2021

GaryPageau , ,
Corel debuted VideoStudio Ultimate 2021 featuring a streamlined movie-making experience. New creative features including instant project templates, face-tracking AR Stickers, and enhancements to the split screen template editor. “VideoStudio Ultimate has long been known for its unique combination of power and simplicity that makes it easy for users to create personalized and compelling projects that are uniquely their own,” said... Read More
Fotomerchant acquires eCommerce platform SimplePhoto Acquisitions 

Fotomerchant acquires eCommerce platform SimplePhoto

GaryPageau ,
Sydney-based Fotomerchant, the workflow platform for volume studios, announced it acquired SimplePhoto, the long-running eCommerce platform for the photography market. This marks the first acquisition for Fotomerchant as it continues its expansion into global markets, the company said. The announcement said the combined decades of experience, development experience, and service/support teams will “drive the volume industry forward through innovation and... Read More
CEWE plans to raise dividend for 12th consecutive year Earnings reports 

CEWE plans to raise dividend for 12th consecutive year

GaryPageau 1 Comment
The Board of Management of CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA resolved to propose to the Supervisory Board, on the basis of the preliminary unaudited figures for the 2020 financial year, to raise the dividend to 2.30 euros per eligible share, up from 2.00 euros. CEWE concluded the 2020 financial year sales increased to 727.3 million euros from 720.4 million euros... Read More
District Photo announces top management change News People on the Move 

District Photo announces top management change

GaryPageau , ,
District Photo Inc. (DPI), the Beltsville, Maryland-based personalized photo print leader, announced Chris Hughes, current CEO of the Harrier Group LLC, will become president March 1. Harrier Group is the U.K. subsidiary of District, known for its Truprint brand (which later became Snapfish). Hughes will also lead the company’s Australian subsidiary, Prima Printing. Neil D. Cohen, the longtime CEO who... Read More
Shutterfly settles Illinois biometric privacy suit News 

Shutterfly settles Illinois biometric privacy suit

GaryPageau 1 Comment
Law360 reports Shutterfly has reached a preliminary agreement to settle a biometric privacy lawsuit filed against it under Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). The parties reached the agreement over damages for alleged biometric data collection, storage, and processing without the required consent of the data subjects after private mediation; settlement terms were not disclosed. One of two named plaintiffs... Read More
NRF: January retail sales are strong, due to stimulus funds and holiday sales momentum Market research 

NRF: January retail sales are strong, due to stimulus funds and holiday sales momentum

GaryPageau
Retail sales grew sharply in January as government stimulus checks provided a boost and momentum from 2020’s record holiday season carried over into the new year, said the National Retail Federation (NRF). “January’s retail sales numbers reflect a very strong start for consumers and retailers as we look ahead to a critical year curbing the global pandemic and strengthening our... Read More
Dead Pixels Society podcast: Talking cameras, smartphones and photowalks with Jefferson Graham Podcasts 

Dead Pixels Society podcast: Talking cameras, smartphones and photowalks with Jefferson Graham

GaryPageau , , , , , ,
Gary Pageau of the Dead Pixels Society talks with Jefferson Graham, photographer, journalist, musician, and former USA Today tech columnist, as he launches his new website, The Best Photowalk.  Graham talks about the switch from film to digital, what camera makers are doing wrong, why Google Photos is the turkey of the year, which photobook service is his favorite (and his least favorite) and much more. Read More
Panasonic debuts LUMIX S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 MACRO O.I.S. New Products 

Panasonic debuts LUMIX S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 MACRO O.I.S.

GaryPageau ,
Panasonic introduced the interchangeable telephoto zoom lens, the LUMIX S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 MACRO O.I.S. (S-R70300), based on the L-Mount system. The LUMIX S 70-300mm boasts high-speed, high-precision AF and Dual Image Stabilizer (IS) for use in a wide-range of situations including sports, animals, portraits and vehicles, the company said. The lens is constructed of 17 lens elements in 11 groups,... Read More
Vivid-Pix acquires Reunions Magazine Acquisitions 

Vivid-Pix acquires Reunions Magazine

GaryPageau ,
Vivid-Pix, the provider of AI-powered image restoration software, has acquired Reunions magazine, a leading publication for reunion planning and celebration. From its beginnings as a print magazine and expanding online, Reunions magazine provides education, resources, and event sharing – pre-, during-, and post- the reunion event, according to the announcement. Reunions magazine will be updated and expanded for easy access... Read More
PhotoRepairPro offering direct-to-consumer photo restoration New Products News 

PhotoRepairPro offering direct-to-consumer photo restoration

GaryPageau
PhotoRepairPro, the longtime provider of photo restoration services for warehouse clubs, chain retailers and photo retailers, announced a  new service direct-to-consumers. PhotoRepairPro.com will offer its proven, professional-quality photo restoration services worldwide for one flat rate price of $39.99. The price includes online proof to view the repaired photo, JPEG download link sent by email within seven business days, two 5×7 glossy... Read More