3 May 2007

By: Robert Ursache, Gadgets Editor
Sony's New Compact Printers Lose the "PC-Middleman"
The dye-sublimation printers can output a high resolution 4" x 6" print in only 45 seconds
Sony recently announced the launch of the snappily named DPP-FP90 and DPP-FP70 printers. Before you go after one of these two models, here's what makes them different Sony DPP-FP90 digital from some digital printers: you will no longer need your PC in order to print your photos. photo printer Both come with a multi-slot that can "handle" 24 kinds of memory cards. The two printers Picture Courtesy of Aving feature Sony's image proprietary high-speed, high-quality and high-cost image processing engine dubbed Bionz which can support 48M high resolution image quality. The printers can output a high resolution 4" x 6 " ( 10 x 15 cm, postcard size) print in only 45 seconds. Sony said that's 5 times faster than the existing products. The print speed reaches up to 0.8 min/page-photo.On the lower end, the DPP-FP70 boasts a 2.5 inch LCD, a user-friendly interface with buttons that let you view photos before you push the print button. The chief ingredient must be the one-button auto touch-up that can save a bad shot by helping to correct red-eye exposure and focus.The bulkier DPP-FP90 digital photo printer (pictured) features a 3.6 inch color LCD and presents the same features. Both come with media slots for most current flash media card formats. Other features include superimposing notes on photos and a special coating option that maintains color integrity. There's even a handle that lets you grab the printer and take it wherever, whenever. The new portable dye-sublimation printers will be available only in Korea (at least for now). There's no info on the price.We are just a few, but there are many of you, Softpedia users, out there. That's why we thought it would be a good idea to create an email address for you to help us a little in finding gadgets we missed. Interesting links are bound to be posted with recognition going mainly to those who submit. Th
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Sony Home Photo Printer DPP-FP90 & DPP-FP70
Hong Kong, March 1, 2007 Sony Corporation of Hong Kong Limited today launched two new home photo printers, the DPP-FP90 and DPP-FP70. Both new models are easy-to-use home photo printers with superb functionality, premium quality and stylish design. Featuring a 3.6-inch, tilt-adjustable Clear Photo LCD and a 2.5-inch TFT LCD with fixed viewing angle respectively, the DPP-FP90 and DPP-FP70 can enlarge images of up to 5 times of the original sizes for focus and colour checks. Thanks to the high-performance Bionz Imaging Processing Engine, the DPP-FP90 and DPP-FP70 can process image data at approximately 5 times faster than conventional photo printers, with a resolution of up to 48 mega pixels. Moreover, the Sony TruFast printing technology produces high-resolution print-outs at a remarkable rate of one 4x6 print per 45 seconds. Both the DPP-FP90 and DPP-FP70 utilise refined Sony Dye Sublimation Technology which applies layers of colour dye to create continuous tone images and realise 256 gradations in each of three colours to get rich colour and smooth gradations without any grainy look. In addition, the printing process is completed by Super Coat 2, a unique Sony lamination. This amazing final touch not only protects photos from colour shift and fading but also makes the print resistant to water, heat and fingerprints. The two new photo printers are also highly powerful in post-editing. The new auto touch-up function automatically corrects defects such as red eye, backlight and out-focus. The Face Detection technology integrated into the auto touch-up function will automatically track human faces for the Dynamic Range Optimiser to restore natural face colours. In addition to conventional filter functions (sepia, monochrome, paint and fisheye), the DPP-FP90 and DPP-FP70 also come with Cross-filter and Partial colour filter for greater editing enjoyment.
The DPP-FP90 and DPP-FP70 photo printers support 24 kinds of memory cards and can be connected to cameras with PictBridge compatibility. Furthermore, USB memory or HDD supporting mass storage class can also be connected to the two printers via USB connection. In addition to an index print capable of showcasing up to 70 images on one index, the DPPFP90 and DPP-FP70 also provide a wide range of creative printing functions. The 9 templates for calendar production are fun to play with while the layout print function allows users to configure composite images into 2, 4, 9, 13 or 16 photos per print page. Moreover, the newly added ID photo and superimpose functions offer exciting editing effects. Simply setting height and width, the ID photo function will automatically lay out an image for multiple reproductions conforming to 4x6 paper size and generate pictures with user ID. Using the superimpose mode, users can add template messages configured in the printer or messages and illustrations done by hand to create customised messages, greetings and invitations. The Sony DPP-FP90 and DPP-FP70 photo printers will be available from end of March 2007. For customer enquiries, please contact Sony 24-hour customer service hotline at (852) 23452966. ###
Specifications sheet for Sony Home Photo Printers DPP-FP90 and DPP-FP70
Specifications Printing Technology Colour Resolution Resolution
Dye Sublimation (Y/M/C/O) 256 levels x 3 colours 300x300 dpi (Equivalent to 3 colour ink-jet 4800 x 4800 dpi *1) (Equivalent to 6color ink-jet 3810 x 3810 dpi *2) (*1) when using 16 x 16 matrix, 300 x 16 = 4800 dpi (*2) when using 12.7 x 12.7matrix, 300 x 12.7 = 3810 dpi JPEG DCF Ver2.0 compatible, Exif Ver2.21 compatible, JFIF* * Baseline JPEG with 4:4:4, 4:2:2, or 4:2:0 formats TIFF BMP Maximum pixels available to print Exif Ver2.21 compatible 1, 4, 8, 16, 24, 32bit Windows format Up to 8,000 x 6,000 (48 mega pixels)

Compatible data formats

Print Speed
Memory Card PictBridge PC
Approx. 45 seconds * Approx. 56 seconds * Approx. 50 seconds *
*When printing a photo taken by DSC-N2 (10.1M pixels, file size: 4.22 MB), under printer setting as follows: Borderless, No time stamp, AutoFinePrint 4: ON (Photo). Printing time is rounded up to the next whole number. Paper Tray Capacity LCD Display LCD total dot number 20 sheets (Max) DPP-FP90 3.6 Clear Photo LCD (free angle) DPP-FP70 2.5 TFT LCD (fixed angle) DPP-FP90: 230,400 dot (320RGB x 240) DPP-FP70: 115,200 dot (480RGB x 240) Yes (Bright or Dark) Yes Yes
LCD backlight Bionz Imaging Processing Engine SuperCoat2

Interface/Jacks

Direct Media Slots
MemoryStick PRO (MemoryStick, MemoryStick Duo), SD card (SD/mini SD), CF card Memory Stick, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO, Memory Stick PRO Duo, HighSpeed Memory Stick, HighSpeed Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Micro (M2) (with optional adaptor), MagicGate Memory Stick, MagicGate Memory Stick Duo, SD card, mini SD card, micro SD card (with optional adaptor), SDHC card, mini SDHC card, micro SDHC card (with optional adaptor), MMC, RS-MMC (with optional adaptor), MMC 4.0, Compact Flash Type I, Compact Flash Type II, Microdrive (MicroVault), xD-picture card (with optional adaptor), xD-picture card Type M (with optional adaptor), xD-picture card Type H (with optional adaptor)

Compatible memory card

USB for External connection USB for PC Connection IrDA Power Consumption Power Application Software Print Driver System Requirement PC AC
USB (Type A, 2.0 full speed) for PictBridge, DPPA-BT1 (availability depends on region) and USB Mass Storage Class Device USB (Type B, 2.0 full speed)
No Approx. 80W (MAX) 100-240V(50/60Hz) Yes(Picture Motion Browser) Yes IBM PC/AT or compatible* * NEC PC-98 series computers and compatible models are not guaranteed. * Macintosh operation PC is not supported
PentiumIII 500MHz or higher (Pentium III 800MHz or higher is recommended) 128MB or higher (256MB or higher is recommended) 200MB or more (Depends on Windowssystem, additional HDD space may be required. Additional HDD space is required for picture data storage.)

Hard disk space

Display
High (16bit) color or more (800x600 dot or more)

CD-ROM drive USB port

* To connect to the computer, you need an optional USB cable. (Type A-B, less than 3m)

Other features

- Auto Touch-up (Exposure correction, Focus correction, Red-eye correction) - Creative Print(ID Photo, Superimpose, Calendar, Layout) - Edit Function (Enlarge(up to 200%), Reduction (up to 60%), Rotate, Brightness (-16 to +16, 32 level), Saturation(-16 to +16, 32 level) , Tint(-16 to +16, 32 level) , Sharpness(-16 to +16, 32 level, Red-eye correction. - Border print, Borderless print, Date print - Thumbnail display(DPP-FPpics / DPP-FPpics) - Auto Fine Print 4 - Slide Show DPP-FP90: Size (W x H x D): Approx. 180 x 66 x 137mm (including handle: Approx. 180 x 66 x 149mm) Weight: Approx. 1.2kg (without paper tray, ink ribbon, AC adaptor) DPP-FP70: Size (W x H x D): Approx. 180 x 63 x 137mm (including LCD projecting parts and a handle: Approx. 180 x 72 x 149mm) Weight: Approx. 1.1kg (without paper tray, ink ribbon, AC adaptor)

Body Size / Weight