Digital Images Take Many Forms at Ezonics

By George Walsh, Hacienda Network Staff Writer

Photography and imaging have changed dramatically in the past few decades. We've gone from thinking that photo booths were magical to having the ability to snap pictures with our cell phones and watch movies that are stored on tiny plastic discs. In moving imaging into the digital age, Ezonics, located at 5870 Stoneridge Drive, has been a major player. Founded in 1998, Ezonics makes high-tech consumer products focused primarily on digital cameras and other digital imaging products. Ezonics first captured the top market share spot among video conferencing cameras in 1999 and has continually introduced products that the company says "make high technology as EZ as 1-2-3." The company has been in Hacienda for the past four years and currently has 12 employees working on site.

"We manufacture our digital cameras and web cameras in Tapei and China," says Jason Loeffler, sales manager for Ezonics. "One of our most popular products is a binocular camera that's a digital camera and binocular in one," he says. The company's EZBino CAM II is an 8X magnification binocular with an integrated digital camera that features automatic exposure and focus-free settings "We also have a solid market share in the area of web cameras. We ship 30,000 to 40,000 per month in the U.S. market alone. Right now, we're trying to expand the digital camera side of our business." One of Ezonics' more compelling digital camera products is the Pixie, which is one of the world's smallest digital cameras. The Pixie is about three and a half inches square, weighs less than 30 grams, runs on a single AAA battery, and is intended to be small enough to fit on a keychain.

The latest of Ezonics' products are the AirDrive Pro and AirLink wireless networking products. The devices allow you to connect to a computer network or the Internet without being tethered to the wall by a cable connection. AirDrive Pro is a device that combines wireless networking with the capability to store files, presentations, photos, or other data. AirLink is a device for users who only need wireless networking capabilities without the storage. AirDrive Pro and AirLink can be used both indoors and out, anywhere a wireless network is available, whether it's in the home, office, or a wireless-enabled airport, caf?, or hotel. Both devices make use of the universal serial bus (USB) industry-standard means of connecting peripherals to a computer, meaning that virtually every laptop and desktop unit made in the last few years provides for this type of connection. Both also support 802.11b wireless networking (currently the most widely used standard).

In addition to Ezonics' extensive digital camera and wireless networking product lines, the company also produces a number of other interesting products. These include a digital golf scope/range finder, a line of portable and home DVD players, a home theater system, and a line of imaging software. "We have products come out just about every month," Loeffler says. "Most of them are targeted at the consumer market and are also very affordable." All of Ezonics' products can be perused and purchased directly via the company's online web store at www.shopezonics.com.

Photo: Ezonics founder and CEO Ping Liu stands with some of his company's extensive product line, which includes a variety of digital cameras as well as wireless networking products and even home theater systems.

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