Eastman Kodak Company today unveiled the next advances in imaging innovation while marking the fifth anniversary of its first ground-breaking EASYSHARE consumer digital camera and docking system. Ranging from the market's first dual lens BLUETOOTH(R) enabled 6-megapixel, 10X optical zoom pocketsize digital camera to facial recognition and auto albuming software, Kodak's line-up of innovations offer consumers new ways to radically enhance their imaging experience.

"Kodak continues to innovate to make the complex simple - delivering new technologies that enrich the consumer experience," said Pierre Schaeffer, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Kodak's Consumer Digital Group. "Today we're unveiling the next innovations in consumer digital photography that will allow people to take, share and archive pictures in ways they never thought possible."

Since the launch of EasyShare in 2001, Kodak's innovative technology has driven it to a number one market share position in the U.S. in digital cameras, home snapshot printers, desktop imaging software applications, online photo sharing services and retail kiosks, according to industry sources. Today, Kodak introduces new products and future technologies that continue to build on the company's hallmark ease of use, imaging innovations, and strategic partnerships to unleash the power of pictures.

New Software Among Introductions

The KODAK EASYSHARE V610 dual lens digital camera is the world's smallest 10X optical zoom camera at less than an inch thick. (38-380 mm equiv.) Using precision-crafted KODAK RETINA Dual Lens technology, the sleek, pocketsize V610 camera combines two SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH C-VARIOGON all-glass, non-protruding prism lenses to deliver such a long zoom range - a first for a camera so small (just 4.4 x 2.2 x 0.9 inches). The innovative 6-megapixel EASYSHARE V610 camera is able to capture extremely close, high quality pictures of distant subjects without the obtrusiveness of a larger camera due to anti-blur technology.

The EASYSHARE V610 model is one of the first digital cameras to incorporate BLUETOOTH wireless technology, making it simpler to instantly share pictures with people nearby. Pictures can be sent to any BLUETOOTH technology-enabled device up to 30 feet away - as well as be received on the camera's high-resolution 2.8-inch LCD screen (230,000 pixels). The KODAK EASYSHARE V610 zoom digital camera will be available in Canada beginning June for CDN$549.95 (MSRP).

The new Version 6.0 of KODAK EASYSHARE Software is also announced today. With more than 30 million copies in use worldwide, the free software provides an effortless way for people to organize, print, share and get creative with their ever-growing picture collections. Version 6.0, available in MAC and PC, comes with a new user interface to enhance the consumer experience and increase performance. It also includes a photo card-printing feature that turns pictures into invitations, announcements and more. The new KODAK EASYSHARE Software V6.0 will be available for free download beginning in May at www.kodak.ca.

The new integrated KODAK EASYSHARE Gallery web site (www.kodakgallery.com) will make it easier than ever for consumers to access their entire collection of digital images so they can print, share and create great photo keepsakes. This combination of the best features of KODAK EASYSHARE Gallery and KODAK Mobile Service will simplify the process for consumers to send photos from their KODAK EASYSHARE Gallery accounts to their camera phones, to save as wallpaper and to send photos from their phones to their online collections for safe keeping. Once online, these pictures can be shared with family and friends, made into Photo Greeting Cards, Photo Books calendars, mini books, mugs, collages and much more.

Out of the Labs and Into the Future

Continuing its commitment to digital innovation, Kodak unveiled today a host of digital technologies that will transform the consumer digital experience within the next few years. For example, facial recognition software will automatically sort through thousands of photos to find pictures of friends or family. Context sorting and auto-albuming will make archiving one-button simple, and KONGA sharing software will enable instant sharing of images between family and friends as interactive as instant messaging in a KONGA-like line.

About Eastman Kodak Company

Kodak is the world's foremost imaging innovator, providing leading products and services to the photographic, graphic communications and healthcare markets. With sales of $14.3 billion in 2005, the company is committed to a digitally oriented growth strategy focused on helping people better use meaningful images and information in their life and work. Consumers use Kodak's system of digital and traditional image capture products and services to take, print and share their pictures anytime, anywhere; businesses effectively communicate with customers worldwide using Kodak solutions for prepress, conventional and digital printing and document imaging; creative professionals rely on Kodak technology to uniquely tell their story through moving or still images; and leading healthcare organizations rely on Kodak's innovative products, services and customized workflow solutions to help improve patient care and maximize efficiency and information sharing within and across their enterprise. More information about Kodak (NYSE: EK) is available at www.kodak.com.

Kodak, EasyShare, EasyShare-one and Retina are trademarks of Eastman Kodak Company. Schneider-Kreuznach and C-Variogon are trademarks of Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbH used under license by Eastman Kodak Company. The Bluetooth wordmark is owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such mark by Kodak is under license.

For further information: Leslie Whitelaw, Ketchum Public Relations, Tel: (416) 642-5248, leslie.whitelaw@ketchum.com

Source: newswire