Thursday, January 19, 2006

DHS Declares Bali Aiport Unsafe. January 19, 2006 [Cryptome] The KGB's endorsement is a bit vague, though. It could mean, "This airport is almost as oppressive and Soviet-like as we want it to be, but not quite. The security checkpoint gropers sexually assaulted 1% fewer women than required by our quota." But it could also mean, "This airport was completely unwilling to oppress people, and when we complained they started talking about something called the 'Bill of Rights' that they seemed to think we should know about." Maybe they should have a rating system, where an airport that completely meets their standards gets five hammer-and-sickles, while an airport that completely disregards all of them gets none. comment () trackback ()  10:47:55 AM     Link: Konica-Minolta withdrawing from cameras. When it rains, it pours.... Konica-Minolta has just announced its withdrawal from the camera and photography business -- including digital photography. They are transferring most of their camera assets (including their digital Maxxum SLR series) to Sony. It's not surprising given that they lost JPY7,300 million on revenue of JPY117,000 in FY2005 in their camera business. Cameras: In camera business, we have reached an agreement with Sony Corporation(Sony), having numerous image sensor technologies such as CCD and CMOS, to jointly develop digital SLR cameras in July 2005. In order to continue to have our customers use Maxxum/Dynax lenses, and to maximize possibilities of the optical, mechanical and electronics technologies accumulated through development of SLR cameras in the years to come, we came to the conclusion that it was best to transfer assets concerning camera business to Sony. Since then, we have been negotiating with Sony, and as a result, we have reached an agreement with Sony to transfer a portion of assets regarding digital SLR camera system to Sony*1. In this relation, we have decided to withdraw from camera business*2, such as film cameras and digital cameras, within Konica Minolta Group as of March 31, 2006. Sony is planning to develop digital SLR cameras compatible with Maxxum/Dynax lens mount system, so that the current Maxxum/Dynax users will be able to continue to use them with Sony’s digital SLR cameras. In addition, we will consign camera service operations for Konica Minolta, Konica,Minolta brand cameras and related equipment to Sony. Photography: In today’s shrinking photographic market represented by color film and color paper, we have been considering to scale back and to continue photo business at an appropriate size; however, when we foresee the photographic market, it is quite difficult to maintain profitability in this field, and we have decided to withdraw from photo business. As schemed below, we will, as much as possible, avoid causing any inconvenience in providing products to our worldwide customers in the course of withdrawal. Konica was Japan's oldest camera and photographic supply company. Minolta was one of the stars of the postwar camera boom. It will be sad to see both leave the market. In other news, Pentax is merging with Samsung. [Photoethnography.com] Years ago, when I was deciding what SLR to buy, Minolta was one of the possibilities, along with Nikon and Canon. Minolta had a reputation for making the best cameras, but their lenses were nothing special, and there were far fewer of them than for the other two systems. I later bought a Dimage A1 digital camera as a backup for my (at the time) only film camera, but I later replaced it with additional film cameras and haven't touched it in at least a year. comment () trackback ()  10:19:54 AM

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