Umax Film Scanner Umax Technologies has announced the PowerLook 270 film scanner, which offers an optical resolution of 2700 dpi. This scanner features an auto-loading mechanism and auto-focusing technology, allowing you to preview multiple frames with just a click of the mouse. It’s compatible with a wide range of black-and-white and color-film formats. The PowerLook 270 also has an optimized preset scan setting to support 20 popular film standards. It also includes versions of LaserSoft Imaging’s SilverFast Ai 6.0 and Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0. Umax Technologies, Inc., 10460 Brockwood Rd., Dallas, TX 75238; 214/739-1915. www.umax.com. Updated Image-Editing Software from Ulead Ulead Systems has announced PhotoImpact 10, the newest version of its PC image-editing suite. This software enables you to enhance digital photos, create graphics and produce Web pages. PhotoImpact 10 offers new tools and layouts to make it easier for beginning photo enthusiasts to utilize its features, while providing more-advanced users with sophisticated effects. For beginners, PhotoImpact 10 provides a welcome screen to give quick access to tasks like scanning, getting photos from a digital camera, or making photo corrections. For more-advanced users, this software offers design features such as an enhanced Lasso tool, an Object Extraction Wizard, and a new Touchup tool. Ulead Systems, 800/858-5323. www.ulead.com. Nikon’s Photo Storage Viewer Nikon’s new compact and lightweight Coolwalker weighs approximately 12 ounces, and is capable of storing 30GB of digital photos. You can either view your images on Coolwalker’s 2.5-inch color LCD, or connect this device to a TV and see your photos on the big screen. Data transfers are smooth and quick, and Coolwalker is compatible with JPEG and other popular file formats. Nikon, Inc., 1300 Walt Whitman Rd., Melville, NY 11747; 800/645-6687. www.nikonusa.com. Photo Backpacks from Tamrac Tamrac has redesigned its Expedition Series photo backpacks to include features such as “Wing” accessory pockets that allow quick access to your accessories, and a memory and battery management system, which uses red flags to identify available memory cards and batteries. Dual-Foam Comfort Pads on the back of the pack cushion heavy loads and offer carrying comfort, and a QuickClip tripod attachment system with a tripod foot pocket accommodates a tripod that’s centered and balanced on the pack. Water-resistant zippers protect equipment and accessories, and the pack also provides foam-padded protection and easy access to several SLRs, lenses, flash and accessories. Tamrac, Inc., 9240 Jordan Ave., Chatsworth, CA 91311; 818/407-9500. www.tamrac.com. New Canon Printer Canon’s new PIXMA iP90 mobile printer offers a compact, high-speed solution for printing digital images. This printer offers an optional Bluetooth adapter for wireless transmission of information, and a sleek body that’s small enough to be easily transported. It features a print head with 1088 total nozzles, which allows for high-speed printing over wide areas in a single pass, and a maximum color resolution of 4800x1200 dpi. The PictBridge port gives you the option to print high-quality photos without a computer from PictBridge-compatible digital cameras. The PIXMA iP90 mobile printer includes Easy-PhotoPrint software for Windows or Mac, which offers Vivid Photo for vibrant colors and Photo Noise Reduction to decrease noise from digital images. Canon U.S.A., One Canon Plaza, Lake Success, NY 11042; 516/488-6700. www.usa.canon.com. Photo Compression Software from Winferno The most efficient way to send large photo files is to compress or “zip” them before e-mailing. SnapZip software allows you to quickly zip and e-mail any photo format, and is fully compatible with other compression programs. This software allows you to zip and e-mail photos with one mouse click. With SnapZip, zipping large files reduces the size of the file an average of three to four times. Even multiple photos can be saved in one zipped file and then easily e-mailed. SnapZip can also be used to back up files. Winferno Software, P.O. Box 51607, Boston, MA 02205. www.winferno.com. Maha High-Capacity Batteries The PowerEx 2400mAh AA batteries offer ultra high capacity and can be recharged many times for a long life. These batteries are specifically designed for the high-drain applications of digital cameras. A battery carrying case is included, which will hold four AA or AAA batteries. Maha Energy Corp., 1647 Yeager Ave., La Verne, CA 91750; 800/376-9992. www.mahaenergy.com. Contax Digital Camera Kyocera Optics has added the Contax U4R to its line of digital cameras. This four-megapixel model offers a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* 5.8–17.4mm f/2.8–4.7 lens (equivalent to approximately 38–115mm in 35mm format). Carl Zeiss’ special multi-layer T* coating reduces flare and ghosting, which results in crisp, sharp images. You can use 28mm filters via the included filter adapter. The U4R includes RTUNE’s high-speed Image Processing Technology, which enables you to capture continuous shots at a quick 3.3 frames per second, up to full capacity of a memory card at the highest resolution. This camera starts up in less than 0.9 second and has a shutter lag time of approximately 0.07 second. Other features include eight scene modes, an Easy-Charge USB Cradle, PictBridge technology support, video with audio capture, and a nine-point Multi Auto Focus function. Kyocera Optics Inc., 2301-200 Cottontail Ln., Somerset, NJ 08873; 800/526-0266. www.kyoceraimaging.com.