Three new software products from DxO Labs

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Below are three of today's press releases from DxO Labs announcing DxO Optics Pro v3.5 software, DxO Optics Pro Starter Edition, and unrestricted access to all DxO Lens Modules for users of DxO Optics Pro software.

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DXO LABS ANNOUNCES DXO OPTICS PRO STARTER EDITION FOR HIGH-END DIGITAL CAMERAS

DxO Labs brings award-winning DxO Optics Pro technology to advanced digicam users at an irresistible price

New York, NY, USA, October 4, 2005 – DxO Labs announced today DxO Optics Pro Starter Edition, a new version of its flagship application specifically designed for advanced digicams – cameras also sometimes referred to as “ZLR”, “SuperZoom” or “Bridge” cameras.

Based on the award-winning image enhancement technology acclaimed by Digital SLR users, this new addition to the DxO Optics Pro family will support advanced digital cameras such as: Sony DSC-H1, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1, Canon PowerShot Pro S2 IS, Kodak P880, Olympus SP-500, Fuji Fine Pix S9500, Nikon Coolpix 8800, Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z6, Panasonic DMC-FZ30, Samsung Digimax Pro815, Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2, Sony F-828, and others.

“In response to the explosive growth in household penetration of digital cameras, DxO Labs is pleased to make its award-winning DxO Optics Pro software available to an even broader group of consumers,” said Luc Marin, vice president of the Photography Business Unit at DxO Labs. “Now users of this very popular type of digital camera will also benefit from the automatic image enhancement of DxO Optics Pro software.”

Powerful Automatic Image Enhancement
DxO Optics Pro Starter Edition automatically improves the images from supported cameras in the following areas:
• Optimization of exposure and dynamic range thanks to DxO Lighting Engine which automatically reveals shadow details, improves backlit images, and gives images more “pop”!
• Removal of Image Noise achieving a 2-stop gain thanks to DxO Noise Engine – making it possible to shoot in low-light situations without the inconvenience of digital noise.
• Removal of optical defaults such as lens distortion, vignetting, chromatic aberrations, purple fringing thanks to DxO Optics Engine.

These DxO Optics Pro image enhancement technologies have been designed with three key goals: perceptible and genuine image enhancement, ability to work entirely automatically, and complete robustness so as to never degrade image quality.
→ For more information, refer to DxO Lighting, DxO Noise, and DxO Optics Engine press fact sheets.

DxO Optics Pro Starter Edition: The camera performance upgrade
DxO Optics Pro Starter Edition’s state-of-the art image improvements are based on DxO Labs’ patented technology for modeling true camera performance. Each supported camera and its lens are studied in great detail, and thousands of highly controlled test images are shot. A mathematical model of the camera’s performance is then produced which can be used to “reverse” or eliminate image imperfections. Because it eliminates these image imperfections, DxO Optics Pro Starter Edition can be thought of as a “camera upgrade”.

A fully automated workflow
Another unique benefit of DxO Optics Pro Starter Edition is its automated workflow. The user simply drops images into the program and presses “Start” to improve the images, leaving DxO Optics Pro to do all the complex image enhancement tasks automatically. This has several important benefits:
• Virtually no learning curve; optimal results are achieved from the first use of the program.
• Much less time is spent in front of the computer tweaking images, leaving more time to do other things such as shooting more pictures!
Availability and pricing
The first release of DxO Optics Pro Starter Edition is planned to be available for Windows and Macintosh in November 2005. The first version of DxO Optics Pro Starter Edition will process JPEG images. DxO Optics Pro Starter Edition will be priced at €64/US$79 (excluding VAT and sales taxes).

About DxO Labs and its DxO Technology
DxO Labs is a software company developing image generation and enhancement technologies. We provide reliable off-the-shelf solutions for serious amateurs and professional photographers, photography journalists and experts as well as companies in the imaging business such as digital camera or cameraphone vendors, mobile operators, and printing or photofinishing professionals.
The company's patented DxO technologies, the DxO Technology Foundations, are the result of state-of-the-art academic mathematical research. The DxO Technology Foundations comprise a set of software components to generate images or correct major imaging defects, such as color, contrast, blur, various optics faults, JPEG artifacts, etc.

For more information, visit DxO Labs online at www.dxo.com

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DXO OPTICS PRO V3.5 ANNOUNCED WITH ENHANCED DXO OPTICS ENGINE, INCREASED PROCESSING SPEED AND UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO DXO LENS MODULES

Free upgrade to DxO Lab’s flagship application delivers even greater value for all demanding Digital SLR photographers

New York, NY, USA, October 4, 2005 – DxO Labs announced today an upgrade to its flagship application DxO Optics Pro. DxO Optics Pro v3.5 is a free upgrade from version 3.0 that further consolidates DxO Optics Pro’s position as the leading automatic image enhancement tool for demanding photographers in several key areas and includes DxO Optics Engine version 2.

DxO Optics Engine Version 2
DxO Labs’ award-winning optical quality improvement algorithms are at the heart of the value provided by DxO Optics Pro. Unlike manual or simplistic solutions, DxO Optics Engine takes into account all relevant parameters to automatically enhance the optical performance of the camera and lens.

The new version of DxO Optics Engine included in DxO Optics Pro v3.5 brings even greater value to demanding photographers worldwide:
• DxO Optics Engine v2 includes expanded capabilities for removing unwanted color fringes in the image. Previously limited to removing Lateral Chromatic Aberrations, DxO Optics Engine v2 now automatically processes a much greater range of color fringes, including fringes known under the term of “purple fringing”.
• DxO Optics Engine v2 can preserve up to 40% more image surface when eliminating geometric distortion.
• DxO Optics Engine v2 now also enables user-defined cropping for a more efficient workflow.
• DxO Optics Engine v2 provides an increased level of image detail level through improvements to DxO Optics Engine Lens Softness removal capabilities.
→ For more information, refer to DxO Optics Engine v2 press fact sheet.

Increased processing speed by up to 100% on multi-processor computers
Users of the current version already know that DxO Optics Pro is extremely efficient at grouping many key imaging tasks in an automatic workflow: RAW conversion, noise removal, optical corrections, exposure optimization, etc.

DxO Optics Pro v3.5 goes further by taking advantage of computers with multiple processors (Macintosh or Windows) to increase image batch processing speed. Initial tests have shown that DxO Optics Pro v3.5 can achieve a 100% processing time gain compared to version 3.0.

DxO Optics Pro v3.5 also includes user interface improvements to make image selection and viewing easier, faster and more efficient.
→ For more information, refer to DxO “Processing speed” press fact sheet and benchmark tests.

Unrestricted access to DxO Lens Modules
The license fee for DxO Optics Pro now includes unrestricted access to all DxO Lens Modules for a given set of supported camera bodies. DxO Optics Pro Standard Edition supports advanced amateur Digital SLRs, while DxO Optics Pro Elite Edition also includes support for professional Digital SLRs.
There are now more than 240 DxO Lens Modules available. The full list is available on www.dxo.com/modules
→ For more information, refer to separate press release “DxO Labs announces unrestricted access to all DxO Lens Modules.”

Availability and pricing
DxO Optics Pro v3.5 is scheduled to be available early in November 2005 on both Windows and Macintosh platforms. The upgrade is free-of-charge for registered users of version 3.0.
• DxO Optics Pro v3.5 Standard Edition for advanced amateur Digital SLRs €124 / US$149
• DxO Optics Pro v3.5 Elite Edition including support for professional Digital SLRs €249 / US$299
Licensing fee includes unrestricted access to DxO Lens Modules (more than 240 available).
Quoted prices are excluding VAT/Sales Tax. System requirements can be found on www.dxo.com

About DxO Labs and its DxO Technology
DxO Labs is a software company developing image generation and enhancement technologies. We provide reliable off-the-shelf solutions for serious amateurs and professional photographers, photography journalists and experts as well as companies in the imaging business such as digital camera or cameraphone vendors, mobile operators, and printing or photofinishing professionals.
The company's patented DxO technologies, the DxO Technology Foundations, are the result of state-of-the-art academic mathematical research. The DxO Technology Foundations comprise a set of software components to generate images or correct major imaging defects, such as color, contrast, blur, various optics faults, JPEG artifacts, etc.

For more information, visit DxO Labs online at www.dxo.com

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DXO LABS ANNOUNCES UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO ALL DXO LENS MODULES FOR USERS OF DXO OPTICS PRO SOFTWARE

New DxO Optics Pro licensing structure provides unbeatable value for demanding photographers

New York, NY, USA, October 4, 2005 – DxO Labs announced today that the license fee for its flagship product DxO Optics Pro software will now allow unrestricted access to all compatible DxO Lens Modules thus providing a greatly simplified user experience and increased value for demanding photographers.

“We have been experiencing tremendous growth and demand from Digital SLR users worldwide over the last few months. Our new licensing arrangement allows us to respond more efficiently to the wave of opportunity presented by the ever increasing popularity of Digital SLRs. The new model is a win-win deal for our users and for us,” said Luc Marin, vice president of the Photography Business Unit at DxO Labs.

A simpler licensing model to benefit all users
Previously, DxO Optics Pro was licensed with one compatible DxO Lens Module, with further Lens Modules available and priced separately. As of October 4, 2005 DxO Optics Pro users have immediate access to all compatible DxO Lens Modules with no further purchase necessary. There are currently more than 240 DxO Lens Modules available.

DxO Optics Pro is still offered in two separate editions supporting different camera ranges.
• DxO Optics Pro Standard Edition for advanced amateur Digital SLRs. Currently includes support for 12 cameras and 190 DxO Lens Modules. Priced at €124/US$149.
• DxO Optics Pro Elite Edition including support for professional Digital SLRs. Currently includes support for 15 cameras and 245 DxO Lens Modules. Priced at €249/US$299.
The price of DxO Optics Pro Standard Edition is unchanged; the price of DxO Optics Pro Elite Edition has been adjusted to reflect the increased DxO Lens Module usage by this category of photographer. Quoted prices are excluding VAT/Sales tax.
→ For more information, refer to DxO Optics Licensing FAQ sheet.

About DxO Labs and its DxO Technology
DxO Labs is a software company developing image generation and enhancement technologies. We provide reliable off-the-shelf solutions for serious amateurs and professional photographers, photography journalists and experts as well as companies in the imaging business such as digital camera or cameraphone vendors, mobile operators, and printing or photofinishing professionals.
The company's patented DxO technologies, the DxO Technology Foundations, are the result of state-of-the-art academic mathematical research. The DxO Technology Foundations comprise a set of software components to generate images or correct major imaging defects, such as color, contrast, blur, various optics faults, JPEG artifacts, etc.

For more information, visit DxO Labs online at www.dxo.com