The Blink
II digital camera has a lot going for it. It's cute. It's small.
It's cheap. And surprisingly, it's not Mac compatible. Maybe I'm just
used to every digital camera on the market being plug-n-play with OS
X. Make no mistake, the Blink II is a "toy camera". The picture
quality isn't great, but it's a lot of fun and small enough to wear
as a necklace.
The company
that makes the Blink II camera is SiPix. All they need to do is write
a few lines of code so iPhoto will recognize their products. I've contacted
them about this, but they don't think there's any market for it.
I think the Macintosh community can prove them wrong. Here's some contact
info for SiPix and ways you can let them know that Mac users aren't
second-class citizens anymore.
Please help the
cause. Tell SiPix they should make the Blink II and
all their cameras compatible with the Macintosh OS.
Use
the SiPix
Technical Support web form. Don't select "Mac OS"
as your Operating System. If you do, you'll get a generic message
that says "We do not currently offer Macintosh-compatible
solutions." and no one will actually read your message.
If
you are feeling extra pissed, you can call their North American tech
support hotline 510.651.9199 or the European number 00800 800 74749.
People
have tried to use some of the new tools and code available now that
the Mac OS is based on BSD Unix. Check out this link, especially if
you are Unix savvy. http://www.mkaz.com/ebeab/osx_blink.html
Here's
some sample emails people have sent to the SiPix support staff.
Feel
free to copy and paste or modify these. If you have a good one,
send
it to us.
"Help.
My husband bought me the Blink II digital camera for Christmas.
It was a nice little stocking stuffer. But I was amazed to discover
that it's not Macintosh compatible!!!!! Why is this? Because you
are a European company? Macintosh computers are very popular here
in the United States. If you plan to sell your products here,
please make them work with the Apple platform. I want it to work
on my iMac. Thank you." ~Laura
"Dear
SiPix, I recently purchased your Blink II digital camera from
Amazon.com. I was very excited until i plugged the camera into
my Apple PowerBook. I thought the camera was broken at first.
Then I realized that my problem was much worse. You aren't a Macintosh
compatible company? Why? This is astonishing! The Macintosh platform
is a trail-blazer for the digital photography industry. Please
add Macintosh support to your products ASAP!" ~Greg
"Hello.
I just got back from a holiday vacation in Europe. I wanted a
fun toy camera so purchased your Blink II camera at a local store
near Germany. I'm home in the USA now and want to see my pictures.
But your camera won't work with my Macintosh G4 computer. I've
tried plugging and unplugging the camera several times. My wife
and I have 3 other digital cameras that all work fine. I have
a Canon PowerShot, Sony Mavica and a Minolta Dimage X. Your Blink
II camera is the only one that won't work. Any ideas?" ~Fred
"Dear
Mr. Grossmann, While shopping this holiday season, your SiPix
StyleCam Blink II Digital Camera was high on my priority list
until I learned that it was only compatible with the Windows
operating system. Should you ever decide to support the Macintosh,
you have another sale here! Have a wonderful New Years!" ~Stephen
S
"I
have been using SiPix BlinkII daily for a few weeks now,
with an IBM ThinkPad and using Windows 2000, ever since I had warranty
repairs completed, thank you very much. [ the shutter switch stopped
functioning in the first week].
Now, every time I pull out my camera, I pray it doesn't malfunction again, since
I love the convenience and the size of the SiPix; but your hardware support policy
is frustrating.
I had to argue for warranty repairs when the mechanism failed ; since I was told
SiPix isn't doing repairs on the dumped cameras, regardless that I paid the full
price.
I also was troubled to learn my $54 camera was earlier this year being dumped
on the market for $12, and that the BlinkII was being undervalued and unsupported
by SiPix. I
was also extremely shocked to discover that my BlinkII digital camera
wasn't Macintosh compatible. Every USB digital camera I've
ever seen has been plug-n-play with any Macintosh computer
running OS X. Apple practically reinvented digital photography.
All the major electronics and photography companies adopted Apple's
FireWire technology overnight. And Apple continues to trail-blaze
with products like iPhoto and iMovie.I can't understand why SiPix
will not support the BlinkII; this is really a lovely device.
Every time I pull it out, people 'ooh' and 'ahh', call me "James
Bond, Sir"; ask questions, and then they ask me to email
them the 'spy' pictures.
I love my SiPix, and hope it turns out to be a better investment
than your company seems to think it will be.
Here's hoping you will either add the Apple -Mac USB recognition
code, or
make the hack possible by opening the appropriate section of
code to the community. Hoping to remain a satisfied customer."
~ Leo
Honestly
I was extremely surprised to find out that a digital camera wasn't Macintosh
compatible. Every USB digital camera I've ever seen has been plug-n-play
with any Macintosh computer running OS X. Apple practically reinvented
digital photography. All the major electronics and photography companies
adopted Apple's FireWire technology overnight. And Apple continues to
trail-blaze with products like iPhoto, iMovie, Final
Cut Pro, iDVD
and DVD
Studio Pro. What will it take to get SiPix make their cameras work
in iPhoto? If you took the time to send an email to SiPix, we thank
you!
This item is
available for purchase from Amazon.com
SiPix Imaging, Inc. is a world leader in electronic paper and display innovation. The company offers custom display module manufacturing to enable system designers to rapidly get to the market and achieve a strong return on investment.
For more information, check out: http://www.sipix.com/
OtterBox
for iPod Mini On
the run, in the car, or at the gym, our iPods have gone with
us to the ends of the earth... except places near water. But
thanks to the OtterBox Mini you can now safely take your
iPod Mini near or even underwater.
The Torch Wicked Lasers named their new flashlight the TORCH... and for good reason. The "TORCH" is technically a flashlight. It looks like a flashlight. Operates like a flashlight. But this is no ordinary flashlight. The TORCH is so bright that its beam can ignite flammable objects as fast as fire.
Flip Mino Camcorder The super-portable, super-simple Flip Mino makes it easy to capture and share high-quality video anywhere and everywhere. And thanks to its flip-out USB arm and intuitive, built-in software, Mino lets you view, edit and upload your videos to popular video-sharing sites instantly.
Apogee Duet What if you could find a relatively inexpensive interface that could easily convert that analog signal to a higher quality digital output for all your apps? Well, the sleek, portable aluminum-cased Apogee Duet may just be the answer.
Radius Atomic Bass
Earbuds If you're looking for an inexpensive, lightweight pair of earbuds with fantastic bass, then Radius' Atomic Bass earbuds are the earbuds of your dreams.
JL421 Badonkadonk Land Cruiser You The JL421 Badonkadonk Land Cruiser (ba-donk-a-donk) is a custom made tank that looks like it was modeled after Jabba the Hut's Sail Barge from Return of the Jedi. Nicknamed the "Donk," the JL421 Land Cruiser made its debut in 2002 at the Burning Man festival in Nevada.
Nintendo Wii Nunchuck Controller Is a weak arm or physical stamina keeping you from taking your Nintendo Wii gaming experience to the next level? Perhaps you should look into getting the Nintendo Wii Nunchuck Controller. This accessory adds even more innovation to the next generation of gaming and does it all with less physical movement.
JBL
Creature II Speaker System What’s
the point of downloading your favorite songs on iTunes if they sound
like crap on your computer’s built-in speakers? The sound quality
and volume these little babies emit, much to the chagrin of my neighbors,
is truly phenomenal.
Apple TV Review You may have heard of that new Apple product, I believe it's called the, uhh, Apple TV. I understand that newspapers, other blogs, and your Aunt have already reviewed this thing, but I thought I'd add my two cents.
Mod
Your iPod Are
you a victim of the iPod's blossoming popularity? Feel like just another
pair of white headphones in the crowd? Maybe it's time you got
an iPod Mod.
H20
iPod Mini Case
H20 Audio has created a waterproof and impact
resistant case so that we can take our iPod Minis anywhere we
want… including the ocean free.
Digital
Picture Frames Why
give someone a single still framed picture when you can give them
an entire slide show? Most Digital Picture Frames can playback a
series of digital photos and videos on high-resolution screens.
JBL
Encounter Speakers In
a world of boring shelf speakers that are as fascinating
as the wires that connect them, the JBL Encounter draws people
towards it with its innovative tongue-in-cheek design and
then lavishes them with deep warm sound.
Wicked
Lasers Review What makes a Wicked Laser "wicked"? How impressive
is a military grade laser imported from China? Let's test it and find
out...
iTrip
LCD
Play your music through any FM radio: in your car, at work, at a party, wherever
the mood strikes you--so long as there's a radio handy.
news, reviews and how to's
SiPix Imaging, Inc. is a world leader in electronic paper and display innovation. The company offers custom display module manufacturing to enable system designers to rapidly get to the market and achieve a strong return on investment. 
Radius Atomic Bass Earbuds
JBL
Encounter Speakers
Otterbox
for iPod Video
On
the run, in the car, or at the gym, our iPods have gone with
us to the ends of the earth... except places near water. But
thanks to the OtterBox Mini you can now safely take your
iPod Mini near or even underwater.
Wicked Lasers named their new flashlight the TORCH... and for good reason. The "TORCH" is technically a flashlight. It looks like a flashlight. Operates like a flashlight. But this is no ordinary flashlight. The TORCH is so bright that its beam can ignite flammable objects as fast as fire. 
The super-portable, super-simple Flip Mino makes it easy to capture and share high-quality video anywhere and everywhere. And thanks to its flip-out USB arm and intuitive, built-in software, Mino lets you view, edit and upload your videos to popular video-sharing sites instantly.
What if you could find a relatively inexpensive interface that could easily convert that analog signal to a higher quality digital output for all your apps? Well, the sleek, portable aluminum-cased Apogee Duet may just be the answer.
If you're looking for an inexpensive, lightweight pair of earbuds with fantastic bass, then Radius' Atomic Bass earbuds are the earbuds of your dreams.
Is a weak arm or physical stamina keeping you from taking your Nintendo Wii gaming experience to the next level? Perhaps you should look into getting the Nintendo Wii Nunchuck Controller. This accessory adds even more innovation to the next generation of gaming and does it all with less physical movement.
What’s
the point of downloading your favorite songs on iTunes if they sound
like crap on your computer’s built-in speakers? The sound quality
and volume these little babies emit, much to the chagrin of my neighbors,
is truly phenomenal.
You may have heard of that new Apple product, I believe it's called the, uhh, Apple TV. I understand that newspapers, other blogs, and your Aunt have already reviewed this thing, but I thought I'd add my two cents.
Are
you a victim of the iPod's blossoming popularity? Feel like just another
pair of white headphones in the crowd? Maybe it's time you got
an iPod Mod.
H20 Audio has created a waterproof and impact
resistant case so that we can take our iPod Minis anywhere we
want… including the ocean free.
Why
give someone a single still framed picture when you can give them
an entire slide show? Most Digital Picture Frames can playback a
series of digital photos and videos on high-resolution screens.
