For more on digitAl photogrAphy, visit http://www.shortCourses.Com 55
wireleSS ConneCtionS
One of the latest trends is using wireless connections between your camera
and you computer or printers, and between your camera and a network so
you can immediately share your photos using e-mail, photosharing sites, or
photo blogs. There are three basic approaches:- Infrared connects line-of-sight devices where the infrared beam isn’t
blocked. - WiFi connects to wireless printers, kiosks and WiFi networks like those in
home networks and public hot spots. It is built into a few cameras and can be
purchased separately for others. Camera phones often send photos over the
operator’s network but you are at their mercy when it comes to pricing. Luck-
ily, some camera phones also let you connect to WiFi networks so you can cut
your transfer costs. These cameras adhere to the Digital Living Network Al-
liance (DLNA) standard, which works with WiFi 802.11b/g networking. This
allows them to communicate with each other as well as a WiFi network and
other entertainment devices in the home. - Bluetooth is inexplicably named after Herald Bluetooth a 10th Century
Danish king. It is relatively slow, much slower than WiFi. Initially developed
to replace all of the cables hanging off your desktop, Bluetooth is finding a
home in photography because it uses very little power, preserving battery life,
and unlike infrared technology, Bluetooth devices don’t have to be in line of
sight contact with each other in order to transfer data. Photo kiosks are often
equipped with Bluetooth so you can beam your photos to the printer. With
both digital cameras and camera phones equipped with Bluetooth you can
even take pictures with the camera and send them with the camera phone.
There are also PC Card and USB adapters that let you use Bluetooth to wire-
lessly transfer images from your phone to your computer.
USB cables have a
standard plug at the
computer end but those
on the camera end
aren’t standardized—a
source of endless
frustration for those
with more than one
camera. Luckily there
are adapter kits like this
one from http://www.wiredco.
com.
The Kodak EasyShare
One’s WiFi compatibility
lets you post images
on a Web site or e-mail
them using a home
network or public hot
spot. Photo courtesy of
Kodak at http://www.kodak.
com.A Nikon camera with
WiFi connectability.Sandisk makes an SD
card that folds to reveal
a USB connector so
it can be plugged in
without using a slot or
card reader.trAnsFerring imAges