The FotoShow is an attractive concept but its being held back by stubborn proprietary loyalty.
Technology companies often take extraordinary risks when launching new products on to the market and Iomega's new FotoShow Digital Image Centre certainly ranks up there with the bravest of them. A self-contained Zip drive and Digital display device, the FotoShow lets you enjoy the results of your digital photography on your living room TV rather than your computer. The FotoShow intends to ride the wave of enthusiasm for digital imaging devices that have recently become affordable for the mainstream market. However, due a few thoughtless decisions on the part of Iomega the FotoShow will, in al likelihood, only be remembered as a novel intermediary technology.
The FotoShow Digital Image Centre connects to a TV via a composite video (RCA) port and a USB equipped computer via the USB port. When connected to a TV the FotoShow acts as a slideshow device and simple photo editing capabilities via its built-in PictureIQ software; when connected to a computer it behaves like a regular Zip drive letting you store files to disk in the conventional manner. The unit also accepts images directly through CompactFlash and SmartMedia slots.
The concept behind the FotoShow may seem attractive for its ability to by-pass the "complexity and expense" of the computer, but there are some serious weaknesses to it as a selling point. First of all, the digital camera consumer has probably already accepted the computer as a necessary part of owning a digital camera and has purchased one with computer applications in mind (otherwise they more likely to stick to their old 35mm SLR and use a scanner when the need arises).
And the problems don't end there; the choice of Zip media as the media behind the FotoShow is, if not thoughtless, a prime example of stubborn proprietary loyalty. Many film laboratories now offer services for transferring your analogue snaps to CD in digital format for a modest additional fee and CD burners are now becoming more affordable for the mainstream computer enthusiast. Furthermore, DVD/VCD players that have the capability to view images stored on this media are likely replace the family VCR in the near future. It'll be much safer to assume that your friends have one of these in the living room for you to share your holiday snaps than another FotoShow DIC.
Unless you have a preference (or need) for the Zip format you're better off finding a functional equivalent that accepts CD-R media and given that the FotoShow retails for AU$679 that shouldn't be too difficult -- a slightly higher specification DVD player readily springs to mind.
Iomega Fotoshow
Company:Iomega
Ph:1800 466 342
Price:AU$679
