Tomy unveils world\'s first digital camera and printer. Image: Tomy.While perhaps more widely known for its range of toys and games, Japanese gadget specialist Tomy is making a play for the digital camera market after unveiling its new all-in-one Xiao TIP-521 photography and printing device. While a little larger than most digital cameras, the Xiao (which, somewhat ironically, means 'small' in Japanese), carries its extra bulk so that happy snappers not satisfied with memory stick storage, can quickly and easily print out their captured images while on the move. Delivering the same basic mobile functionality as an old Polaroid camera, the new Xiao is, of course, more befitting of the digital age and offers up 5.0 mega pixels of performance, a 2.48-inch LCD display screen, data support via SD/SDHC memory cards, 16MBs of internal memory, and a 4x digital zoom. Arriving as the world's first digital camera with on-board printing technology, the Xiao also allows users to take advantage of included editing features prior to submitting their snaps for instant full-colour printing in a 2-inch by 3-inch format. Available in colour choices of black, green and magenta, complete prints require around 45 seconds for processing delivery, and the versatile Xiao is even capable of printing images received from other digital cameras and mobile devices. The Xiao uses thermal print technology developed by ZINK Imaging, which sees heat application creating the final photos through tiny coloured crystals embedded into special print paper. ZINK Imaging's technology has also been utilised in the Polaroid PoGo, which is a free-standing mini printer released earlier in the year that connects to digital cameras and mobile phones by USB or through wireless Bluetooth. Although offering clear and convenient benefits to those impatient photography buffs eager to have their prints in an instant, the little Xiao doesn't come with a particularly small price and is expected to retail for around 240 GBP. Further to that initial outlay, 20 sheets of print paper cost 6 GBP per pack. The Xiao will launch first in Japan before arriving in international markets before the end of 2009's first quarter.
Tomy unveils world\'s first digital camera and printer. Image: Tomy.
While perhaps more widely known for its range of toys and games, Japanese gadget specialist Tomy is making a play for the digital camera market after unveiling its new all-in-one Xiao TIP-521 photography and printing device.
While a little larger than most digital cameras, the Xiao (which, somewhat ironically, means 'small' in Japanese), carries its extra bulk so that happy snappers not satisfied with memory stick storage, can quickly and easily print out their captured images while on the move.
Delivering the same basic mobile functionality as an old Polaroid camera, the new Xiao is, of course, more befitting of the digital age and offers up 5.0 mega pixels of performance, a 2.48-inch LCD display screen, data support via SD/SDHC memory cards, 16MBs of internal memory, and a 4x digital zoom.
Arriving as the world's first digital camera with on-board printing technology, the Xiao also allows users to take advantage of included editing features prior to submitting their snaps for instant full-colour printing in a 2-inch by 3-inch format.
Available in colour choices of black, green and magenta, complete prints require around 45 seconds for processing delivery, and the versatile Xiao is even capable of printing images received from other digital cameras and mobile devices.
The Xiao uses thermal print technology developed by ZINK Imaging, which sees heat application creating the final photos through tiny coloured crystals embedded into special print paper.
ZINK Imaging's technology has also been utilised in the Polaroid PoGo, which is a free-standing mini printer released earlier in the year that connects to digital cameras and mobile phones by USB or through wireless Bluetooth.
Although offering clear and convenient benefits to those impatient photography buffs eager to have their prints in an instant, the little Xiao doesn't come with a particularly small price and is expected to retail for around 240 GBP. Further to that initial outlay, 20 sheets of print paper cost 6 GBP per pack.
The Xiao will launch first in Japan before arriving in international markets before the end of 2009's first quarter.
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