05/25, 2:42pm
720p video taken with Project Glass shows off capabilities
The first video taken with Google's Project Glass wearable computing device has shown up on the Internet. The video is part of a collection of media, all produced with Project Glass, that was posted to a Google+ Photography Conference album. The 15-second clip, in a manner somewhat reminiscent of a first-person video game, shows Project Glass' view as the wearer jumps and somersaults on a trampoline.
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05/25, 6:53am
AUO starts mass production of AMOLED panels
Taiwanese display giant AU Optronics is set to ship its first AMOLED mobile display panels to Sony and HTC in June, according to Digitimes. Currently, Samsung display division dominates the manufacture of AMOLED panels. However, AU Optronics yield rates are only at 20 percent on average at this early stage in its implementation of the technology, meaning that it will still be some time before it poses a serious competitive threat to Samsung.
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05/24, 5:17pm
Utility takes inspiration from Instagram
Facebook has launched its own camera app for the iPhone (free, App Store), complementing the social network's existing iOS utilities. Following on the heels of the company's recent Instagram buyout, Facebook Camera provides a photo editor that can be used to crop shots or apply various filters.
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05/24, 1:56pm
May bring new display tech to future products
Just two months after Foxconn bought a 10 percent stake in Sharp, the two companies have announced a collaboration on a plant in Chengdu, China that will be used to build iPhone displays and potentially displays for other products. Foxconn will build the plant, and Sharp will assist by supplying technology, which may be used to further expand its ability to produce displays using its IGZO formulation, along with possible poly-silicon LCD screens.
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05/22, 5:46pm
Adds six new support camera models
Apple late today has issued Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 3.13, adding support for six new and recent camera models now on the market. The new update adds support for models from Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic and Sony. Still missing from the list of supported cameras (among other models) is the Fujifilm X-S1, a high-end "superzoom" camera we reviewed in late March. The new update requires OS X 10.6.8 or later.
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05/22, 1:50pm
CrumplePop intros ColorKit Suite
AKVIS has announced that full CS6 support has been added to five of its plug-ins, Retoucher 5.5, Coloriage 8.5, HDRFactory 2.5, NatureArt 4.5, and MakeUp 2.5. Support has also been integrated for the upcoming Photoshop Elements 11, and a number of bugs have been resolved in the standalone versions of each app. Upgrades are free for existing users, while full licenses range in price from $39 to $87.
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05/22, 7:41am
Pentax K-30 debuts, offers numerous enhancements
Pentax has taken the wraps off its K-r successor, the K-30. Pentax says that the K-30 is resistant to dust, rain and temperature extremes as low as 14 degrees Farenheit (most cameras typically claim normal operation down to 32 degrees). The new dSLR also utilizes a glass prism optical finder with a 100 percent field of view, usually reserved for more expensive models.
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05/21, 6:12pm
Judgment undermines worth of Kodak patent portfolio
The US International Trade Commission has ruled that a patent involved in Kodak's lawsuit against Apple and Research in Motion is invalid, according to AppleInsider. In particular an administrative law judge has quashed the 6,292,218 patent, Method for Live View Display and Digital Camera Using Same, on the basis of claim 15 in the document. Kodak will reportedly appeal the decision to the full commission, a necessary step if it intends to continue suing Apple and RIM for infringing the patent.
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05/18, 10:04pm
Patent application shows advanced technique
A recent patent award reveals plans for further improvement in iOS cameras, allowing for two or more different zones of an image to be selected for focus and other settings, with the camera selecting a compromise point automatically if there is too much difference in the selected zones. The patent application also suggests that future iPhones might incorporate a dedicated image processor for photos and video.
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05/17, 12:25pm
NLT shows 3.1-inch HxDP prototype for advanced, glasses-free 3D
NEC LCD Technologies (NLT) has demonstrated a new prototype display that has six viewpoints and creates a 3D image to the naked eye. It uses low-temperature polycrystalline silicon and new HxDP (Horizontally times Density Pixels) technology to retain full resolution, however, unlike LCD displays that achieve a glasses-free 3D effect, Tech-On reported. It has six viewpoints and is just 3.1 inches in size, sporting a 427x240 resolution.
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05/17, 6:26am
Sony launches Alpha SLT-A37 with translucent lens
In more new Alpha camera news from Sony, the company has added the Alpha SLT-A37 to its line-up, which is also joined by a new telephoto lens. The camera uses Sony’s proprietary translucent mirror technology to deliver faster shooting, non-stop phase detection auto-focus and continuous live image preview even when shooting in 1080p video. To help keep action shots focused, it uses a precision 3-cross 15-point autofocus system.
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05/17, 1:30am
1080p, with 120-degree field of vision
In an industry first, peripheral maker Genius announced a 1080p 120-degree ultra wide angle USB2 web camera. The Widecam F100 shoots video for web chats in 1080p and is compatible with Skype, FaceTime, Logitech Vid HD, Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo Messenger. An integrated stereo microphone rounds out the features of the new camera.
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05/17, 1:17am
Sony intros NEX-F3 with upgraded specs
Following a series of leaks, Sony has made the NEX-F3 official. As with the NEX-7 the NEX-F3 includes an in-built pop-up flash, while retaining the option to attach a professional quality flash. In a first for the NEX line, it includes a 180-swivel LCD display allowing for easy self-portrait taking.
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05/16, 11:40pm
Likely purchased for Android development team
Even though the IPO roadshow is ongoing and large acquisitions are generally unwise during that period, Facebook has purchased Lightbox. Lightbox is a predominantly Android photo sharing startup with many similarities to the recently acquired Instagram. Facebook is closing Lightbox, and likely going to use staff developers for Android development. No terms of the deal have been formally announced.
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05/16, 1:11pm
LG, Sharp, Japan Display again named as builders
Sources for Reuters are supporting Wall Street Journal claims that Apple is using 4-inch displays for the next iPhone, and has already begun to place orders for the new parts. As with the earlier report, Reuters says that LG Display, Sharp, and Japan Display are handling production, which is allegedly in early stages; full production orders could begin in June. iPhone assembly could start as soon as August, if Apple follows normal patterns. One source comments that it's still uncertain what share of display production each supplier will have.
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05/16, 12:59pm
Russian-funded company to look to licensing, technology partnerships
E-paper and device maker Plastic Logic revealed on Wednesday that it will stop plans to release a branded e-book reader using its own advanced e-paper display, SlashGear revealed. Instead, the company will turn its attention to developing license and technology partnerships in order to get its rugged plastic displays into devices made by other companies. As part of the announcement, the US development facility will be shut down, though a research and development center is expected to open in Russia.
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05/15, 4:00pm
Feature may be near-exclusive focus of Air refresh
Apple will also announce Retina display-equipped MacBook Airs at this year's WWDC, supply chain sources for 9to5Mac say. The company is already believed to be preparing news of Retina MacBook Pros and iMacs, and an Air would complete the lineup of Macs with built-in displays. 9to5 claims that unlike the Pro, though, the Air's update will be almost entirely about the display, rather than incorporating any major design changes.
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05/15, 12:59pm
New rumors have Sony, Panasonic discussing OLED panel tie-up
Sony and Panasonic are rumored to be in talks on teaming up to produce OLED panels for HDTVs, the Wall Street Journal revealed on Tuesday. This will help the two companies share the hefty production costs related to the manufacturing of the advanced panels. The negotiations are still in the early stage, the unnamed sources said, and may end up falling apart altogether or see other potential partners jump onboard the partnership.
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05/15, 12:27pm
Apple again switches sides on Mac graphics
Two new reports may reinforce claims that Apple is switching back to NVIDIA GPUs for the new MacBook Pro. The Verge cites a "trusted source" as saying Apple is migrating away from AMD video. ABC News is echoing the same view from its own sources, but further suggesting that Apple will use the GeForce GT 650M.
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05/15, 10:51am
KDDI Smart TV Box will run on Android 4.0, connect to cloud service
Japanese hardware maker KDDI announced this week it will begin consumer testing of a new Smart TV Box this summer. The device will run on Android 4.0 and connect to HDTVs and enable sharing of content between Android smartphones and tablets. Other details are scarce, though some form of web access is more than likely.
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05/14, 2:49pm
Me.com email to continue after MobileMe's end
Apple will announce several new iCloud feature upgrades at June's WWDC, claim sources for the Wall Street Journal. One of the highlights is expected to be photo sharing. While users can currently sync photos via Photo Stream, these are only accessible under the same Apple ID. The sharing feature would not only allow people to make photosets public, but to make comments on others' collections.
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05/14, 12:35pm
ASUS writer can play back Blu-ray 3D discs, burns to BDXL media
After posting a mysterious teaser photo of a new product, ASUS has gone ahead and released all the specs of its latest, chic BDXL burner, the SBW-06C2X-U. Apart from the ability to write at 6x speeds to Blu-ray discs and the 100GB BD-R(TL) or 128GB BD-R(QL) media at 4x speeds, the external drive can also play back Blu-ray 3D content. It sits on a metal stand that can hold the drive in either a horizontal or vertical orientation.
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05/14, 11:50am
GoPro Dive housing now available for pre-order
GoPro has just announced that its Dive Housing is now available for pre-order. Compatible with all GoPro HD cameras, the housing is waterproof up to 197 feet (60m). The flat glass lens is said to offer sharpness and no vignetting effect.
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05/14, 11:04am
Canon looks to move to fully-automated camera production by 2015
Electronics maker Canon will transition to the manufacturing of its digital cameras entirely by robots rather than human workers, company spokesperson Jun Misumi told SeattlePI. Such a move would reduce costs and isn't relegated to just Canon, as other Japanese companies are moving towards the same. Canon is aiming to have the process fully automated by as soon as 2015, though this is the best case scenario and no specific dates were revealed.
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05/13, 10:36am
Eight security matters need patching
After facing backlash and scrutiny following an announcement that it wasn't going to fix critical security bugs in the two-year-old version Creative Suite 5 or the year-old v5.5, Adobe security response team detailed plans to fix the problems on Saturday. On May 8, Adobe's security note explaining the vulnerabilities said that the only fixes for the bugs was upgrading to the newly released Adobe Creative Suite 6 or being careful with image sources, a move that would essentially force users to upgrade immediately.
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05/11, 11:07am
Nintendo will no longer sell Aqua Blue 3DS
The 3D TV clip service for the 3DS console Nintendo launched last June in Japan will be discontinued on June 20, making its run just under a year. Called Itsu no Ma ni Terebi, it translates to SpotPass TV, and features short, two-minute 3D clips from eight shows. The service was brought out in collaboration with Fuji TV. Nintendo will continue to offer 3D videos intermittently through its Nintendo Video Channel.
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05/11, 5:58am
Samsung says PenTile AMOLED displays offer long-life
The launch of Samsung’s Galaxy S III was met with a muted reception from some sections of the tech community. While its quad-core Exynos processor has been shown to be very fast, some have criticized its extensive use of plastic materials and some its size. However, one detail in its specifications that probably caused the most consternation is its use of a Super AMOLED PenTile pixel array instead of the Super AMOLED Plus technology found on its predecessor, the Galaxy S II which includes a true RGB array without sharing subpixels.
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05/10, 6:18pm
Cameras available now, accessories to follow
Boutique German camera manufacturer Leica boosted their product line with the addition of two cameras to the venerable line today. The newly released V-Lux 40 replaces the V-Lux 30, while the X2 is the newest in the X-line of compact cameras. Both cameras are available immediately at all Leica dealers, including the Washington DC Leica store.
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05/10, 4:44pm
41-megapixel cameraphone now coming to North America
Nokia has for some time now been showing off the capabilities of its PureView 808, a 41-megapixel smartphone with considerable photo and video capturing prowess. The phone has been available for pre-order in a number of countries, and Nokia has talked up the phone's impending launch worldwide, with the exception of the United States and Canada. Now, in an interview with PC Magazine, Nokia's US president Chris Weber has revealed that the PureView 808 will indeed be coming to American shores, but details on its arrival remain sketchy.
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05/10, 12:39pm
Auto Hop will skip commercials but only on recorded programs
Dish's Hopper and Joey DVR hubs have just been upgraded with a new feature called Auto Hop. It lets users automatically skip commercials on recorded shows with the press of a single button, though there are some restrictions. For example, only primetime HD programs on ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC are supported, and they need to start at 1:00AM.
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05/10, 10:28am
Samsung shows production-ready 55-inch ES9500 OLED
Samsung is showing off production-ready models of its 55-inch OLED HDTV flagship introduced at CES. The ES9500 set is on display at the 2012 World's Fair in Korea and it will retail for more than 10 million won in its home market (over $9,000), according to the Associated Press. For that kind of money, buyers will get OLED technology and an upgradable dual-core CPU.
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05/10, 8:14am
Fujifilm XP170 is waterproof, dust, drop and temperature proof
Fuji has taken the wraps off its new waterproof FinePix XP170 with wireless image transfer capabilities. The new point and shoot camera is waterproof to 10 meters, is built to support drops of up to 2 meters and can also operate in temperatures down to -10 degrees Celcius. It can also share photos wirelessly to iOS and Android devices using the free Fujifilm Photo Receiver companion app.
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05/09, 10:00pm
USAF can keep drone footage for 90 days
Domestic surveillance is typically the purview of the FBI, and proscribed for the Air Force, the rest of the US military, and the CIA; but a new policy document out from the Secretary of the Air Force opens something of a loophole. According to the policy statement, the Air Force can retain domestic surveillance footage inadvertently captured by spy drones for up to 90 days while it determines whether or not the footage contains information upon which the Air Force is authorized to act.
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05/09, 4:28pm
Barcode 2.0 plug-in launched
Quark has announced that all customers using QuarkXPress version 3 or later can now upgrade to QuarkXPress 9 for $349. QuarkXPress 9, which is regularly priced at $849, is a page layout and design tool that can help developers create content to be published on digital devices. In order to upgrade customers must have a valid, registered, and activated serial number, however those who are unable to locate their serial number may be able to upgrade by providing proof of purchase or completing an online missing serial number form.
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05/09, 3:35pm
123D Make Intro turns 3D models into 2D build plans
Autodesk has released 123D Catch, a new app for the iPad. The software is used to turn 2D photos into 3D models; in reality, a person uploads photos taken or stored on an iPad to the Autodesk Cloud, where the actual conversion happens. Up to 40 photos can be uploaded, and push notifications tell users when a render is finished.
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05/09, 2:43pm
Samsung teases pair of 1080p LED monitors with MHL support
Samsung is believed to be the first company to launch two computer monitors that support Mobile High Definition Link (MHL) technology. The technology made its mainstream debut on the Galaxy S II smartphone, which is also made by Samsung. It involves the ability to send HDMI signals over a microUSB connection, though it requires a separate power source.
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05/09, 11:47am
New 1080p IPS LED monitor will cost $240 in June
At its press event in China, HP showed off an upcoming HD monitor, the 23-inch 2311xi. It uses In-Plane Switching technology for the LED backlight to make the colors sharper and the viewing angles wider. Connections are generous and include a VGA, DVI-D and HDCP-compliant HDMI inputs.
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05/08, 2:10am
Leverages Aviary editor, 35M user base
Twitpic, a widely-used service for posting photos and videos on Twitter, took a step towards direct competition with Instagram, which was recently acquired by Facebook. It has released a free app for iPhone and iPod Touch includes basic editing tools, filters and a comments section. Users can also see daily popular content and photos or videos from people the user follows.
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05/07, 5:56am
LG Internet-enabled TVs with Google TV inbound
In line with an earlier rumor, LG has announced its plan to start shipping TVs to the US pre-installed with the latest iteration of Google TV running on its in-house L9 ARM-based processors. It’s next-generation of smart TVs are expected to arrive the week beginning May 21 and carry with them the South Korean company’s hopes of grabbing increased market share from Samsung, Sony and Vizio. First previewed at CES 2012, the company has not yet specified details about which models it will ship or pricing details at this juncture.
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05/07, 5:08am
Adobe starts shipping Creative Suite CS6 for Mac and PC
Adobe has started shipping its eagerly anticipated Creative Suite CS6 for both Mac and PC. Its alternative version of CS6 in the cloud known as Creative Cloud will launch on May 11, offering users the ability to access the entire suite of apps for a monthly access fee. Revamped applications now available for purchase include Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Premiere Pro, After Effects and Flash Professional in four suite versions. Apps also remain available for purchase individually.
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05/04, 8:29pm
Researchers turn Kinect, plastic tube into 3D telepresence tool
Researchers at the Human Media Lab at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario have developed a hologram-like teleconferencing model that uses Microsoft's Kinect system to enable live, 3D teleconferencing. In a manner reminiscent of Star Wars' hologram messages, users are able to get a three-dimensional view of their conferencing partner.
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05/04, 8:22pm
Retro looks and visual emphasis on tap
Two different companies have announced new plug-ins for Final Cut Pro X and related products that offer, respectively, rich historical photographic film stock looks and an easy way to call attention to specific items on-screen. Digital Film Tools is offering its Film Stocks plug-in for both Final Cut Pro X and Motion 5, and also offers a version that works on photos as well as other video editors. Ripple Training's Callouts are available through FxFactory.
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05/04, 4:08pm
Swivl-it loses some features, $50 from the price
Swivl, maker of the self-titled mount for smartphones with digital cameras that pans to follow a speaker during a voice conference, has introduced a basic version of the gadget, Swivl-it. Unlike the $179 full-blown version, the $129 model doesn't have a digital wireless microphone included and is missing one motor that allows for vertical adjustment. Users can still tilt it by hand, however, but it won't adjust itself as they get up or sit down.
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05/04, 10:55am
Company violated OSM rules in original iPhoto release
Apple rectified missing credit to the OpenStreetMap Foundation with its most recent update of iPhoto for iOS, reports say. When the app was originally released in March, Apple left out attribution, despite it being a necessary condition of using OSM mapping data. The Foundation highlighted the problem in same blog post it used to point out Apple's adoption of OSM data.
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05/04, 8:40am
Company recommends temporary fix pending real solution
Less than two weeks after Nikon acknowledged problems with a batch of camera batteries, the company has confirmed that some D4 and D800 cameras also face reliability issues. Some users have reported that the DSLRs may lock up during usage, interrupting shooting sessions and forcing users to reset the camera by removing and reinserting the battery.
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05/03, 2:44pm
Future Apple touchscreens may form shapes, textures
A newly-discovered USPTO patent from Apple reveals some interesting technology that could grace future iPhones and iPads. Unlike some of the company's older haptic feedback patents, this one takes things a little further by introducing variable textures and other feedback translating to a user's finger. The patent, called Methods and Systems for Providing Haptic Control, talks of a stacked haptic element set-up.
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05/03, 11:30am
EchoStar DVR has 500GB capacity, Freeview+ support
EchoStar has taken the wraps off what it calls the world's slimmest DVR. The HDT-610R is just over half an inch tall (14mm exactly) and houses a 500GB hard drive along with two tuners, allowing recording one shows while watching another. There is Freeview+ support that gives subscription-free access to 50 SD digital channels and four HD ones.
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05/03, 8:25am
Pop Video pico projector lands for $99, with qHD
Pop Video has started taking pre-orders for its iPhone pico projector. The $99 is shipped by Crucial.com on behalf of well-known semi-conductor maker Micron Technology. The pint-sized device offers a qHD (960x540) resolution and, as the video embedded below shows, the device easily slots into the 30-pin iPhone dock but will work best only in darkened conditions. The device will work for up two hours on a single charge and is supplemented by an iPhone app (Free, iTunes) that offers additional functionality.
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05/02, 4:22pm
Interface changes smooth out regular tasks
Avid has released an important update to the iPad version of Studio. The app handles basic- to mid-level video editing tasks. Version 1.1 lets users record voiceovers directly to the timeline, and adds 14 new transitions, plus a variety of interface enhancements. New swiping gestures, for example, can be used to advance frame-by-frame or 10-by-10, and enter mark-in and mark-out points.
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05/02, 4:07pm
Nikon's $700 D3200 kit now available at Best Buy
As promised, Nikon's latest D3200 DSLR camera is now shipping over at Best Buy in black, with the red version still listed as coming soon. The $700 bundle includes an 18-55 kit lens and the $60 WU-1a wireless adapter isn't yet available, but Best Buy does allow customers to pre-order it. The accessory will let users send photos wirelessly to their smartphones or tablets on the go.
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