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Despite finally getting around to telling us about its online plans today, Sony spectacularly failed to mention in its press release that not only will its online gaming trial be broadband-only, but that the rest of the service will be broadband-only too, unlike its US offering where a narrowband service is supported too.

Sony Computer Entertainment UK's David Wilson confirmed the move: “In Europe the service will be broadband only. The American arm took a different route, we know, but in Europe the service will be a broadband service.”

We realise this may annoy the many of you who are unable to get broadband services in your area even if you wanted to, but as any online PC gamer will testify, narrowband and lag-free gaming are not things that you readily associate with one another. We’re guessing this is a case of Sony Europe learning from the experiences from across the Atlantic.

News source: Eurogamer

U.S. shipments of digital cameras in 2002 jumped over 50 percent to 10 million units, led by Sony Corp (news - web sites). (6758.T), Olympus Optical Co Ltd. (7733.T) and Kodak, according to research firm International Data Corp. (IDC)

But printing digital photos -- which otherwise are viewed on a computer screen or the camera's display -- casts a wider economic impact than just camera sales. The printing process generates revenues for paper and ink producers, makers of home printers, photo kiosks, and photofinishing labs, as well as driving customers to retailers such as CVS or Wal-Mart.

At the PMA conference, Sony, Kodak, Canon Inc. (7751.T) and others promoted new desktop printers that plug directly into the camera and immediately print snapshots, eliminating the need for a personal computer.

In addition, No. 2 film maker Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd. (4901.T) introduced a faster model of its Frontier processing system, which represents some 70 percent of U.S. digital mini-labs that are used by retailers and drug stores to develop snapshots.

MAKING DIGITAL EASIER
One out of every five U.S. households now own digital cameras, thanks in part to discounted pricing and heavy marketing during the holiday season, but the industry still grapples with the technical complexities.

"The market does have to reach out to those that don't own a PC, There is also that hurdle that if they are not tech-savvy or comfortable with computers, they might not be comfortable with a direct printer for the home either," said Michele Slaughter, director of digital photography trends service, at researcher Infotrends.

Consumers generally adore the choices allowed by digital cameras -- such as the ability to delete shots they don't like -- but aren't always prepared for the rash of buttons that are unlock special features, such as displaying previously taken shots, or adjusting the flash.

"All these cameras have to have a certain feature set because the sales channel demand that it has to have it, -- you must have optical zoom, video or more megapixels -- when the user only uses the camera to capture still images and doesn't fool around with, for example 'auto white balance'," said Chris Chute, imaging analyst at International Data Corp.

Indeed, many of the models shown at PMA are more powerful than those seen on store shelves last year. Sony's latest line starts at three megapixels, a measure of image resolution, where introductory models last year were one- and two-megapixels.

FILM: NOT DEAD YET
Despite the glamour around digital cameras, film remains a global staple, with some 3 billion rolls sold every year, providing a steady stream of cash for Kodak and Fuji. Sales of one-time use cameras, which essentially are rolls equipped with a simple lens and wrapped in a plastic case, are seen rising 9 percent in 2003.

"Film sales last year declined, but it's difficult to determine if the decline is because of the economy, or the decrease in travel, or the inroads in digital," said Fuji spokesman Tom Shea. "We think it may be all of the above. Still, there are lot of people who are shooting film."