Konica Minolta Wins Prestigious Good Design Awards 2013 for Eleven Models

– All Submissions Accepted in Recognition of Intuitive and Comfortable Operation & Workflow –

Konica Minolta is pleased to announce that the company has been awarded Good Design Awards 2013 by Japan Institute of Design Promotion (JDP) for as many as eleven models total: five models of the “bizhub” series color MFP (multi-functional peripheral); two models of the “bizhub PRESS” series digital printing system for production print market; “AeroDR Portable Solution” mobile digital X-ray diagnostic imaging system; and “Unitea α” digital X-ray diagnostic imaging system for clinics. The awarded models of the “bizhub” series and “bizhub PRESS” series are mainstay products in the company’s Business Technology Business.

Konica Minolta’s Design Center has been working on a wide range of design development, under its vision and mission of contributing to the businesses, the brand value enhancement, and the growth of the company through uninterrupted creation of design with greater values for society and customers. Winning the prestigious Good Design Awards for four series of products has been made possible through the Design Center’s commitment to bring to life what customers truly value, such as intuitive and comfortable operability, and to establish high-grade design that enhances Konica Minolta’s brand integrity. All these efforts are based on the vision and mission of the Design Center. As a result, all submissions of the eleven models to this year’s selection have won the awards.

The five models of “bizhub” color MFP have evolved and developed the black-and-white main body design, which gained high appreciation among office customers, and further improved intuitive user interface to strengthen operability of document processing. The two models of “bizhub PRESS” digital printing system nicely fit into the production site and come with solid, strong and reliable outer design, as well as the new control panel that supports comfortable workflow for operators.

In designing products for the healthcare field, Konica Minolta has a set of priorities aimed at “design to improve diagnosis quality” and “design to bring better communications between patients and doctors.” “AeroDR Portable Solution” and “Unitea α” are designed to enable healthcare providers to take advantage of improved look and feel, whether working in patients’ rooms, examination rooms, operation rooms or emergency rooms. At the same time, those products look friendly in the patients’ eyes.

Konica Minolta is proud of this recognition and intends to continue working on development of design that delivers excellent experience of Konica Minolta brand to customers.

Color MFP “bizhub” Series

Models
bizhub C554e/C454e/C364e/C284e/C224e

Comments from the screening committee of JDP

High evaluation has been given to the interface, particularly the design of display and control panel, that works well in both small and large offices. The display and control panel succeeded the “INFO-Palette” to handle a large number of functions required for MFPs, has bigger and easer-to-see preview display for document print processing, introduces multi-window [design] and touch operations such as drag and drop, and aims at further comfort and higher productivity through intuitive operation. Additionally, the audio has been improved to enable users to select sound to confirm operation, as well as alarm sound.

Digital Printing System “bizhub PRESS” Series

Models
bizhub PRESS C1070/C1060

Comments from the screening committee of JDP

In addition to the intuitive touch-operation control panel, the systems provide professional operators with mouse operation for controlling fuller lists or tables and setting up greater details. Complex and professional settings have been well combined with simpler and intuitive ones.
The systems have been designed in such a compact size that equipment layout can be optimized in a limited space of the workplace. Additionally, they are also compatible with options from preceding models: for instance, operators can use the tops of options on both ends of the print unit as work space. Those merits have been highly evaluated. Furthermore, the systems are environmentally considerate by reducing power consumption during use through low-temperature toner fixing system and reducing end-of-life carbon emissions with the use of biomass material.

AeroDR Portable Solution

Models
AeroDR /AeroDR UF Unit/CS-7Portable

Comments from the screening committee of JDP

The AeroDR Portable Solution easily upgrades existing porbatle analog X-ray units into digital X-ray units without modifications or overall replacement. It takes on particular significance for early detection of disease and wider availability of early treatment that hospitals, operation rooms and emergency rooms are able to perform digital X-ray on patients easily without a huge initial cost. The DR casette has a very light-weight and robust design, with clear identification of front and back as practical consideration to usability on site. The UF Unit (Portable Retrofit Unit) is thoughtfully made for good portability and easy storage in a visiting car. The tablet PC is designed for use at bedside with unified interface design so that operators will not hesitate what to do. In addition, the clear color coordination among each unit has been highly evaluated for its design integration as a system.

Digital X-ray Diagnostic Imaging System for Clinics

Models
Unitea α/AeroDR

Comments from the screening committee of JDP

While medical institutions are rapidly adopting information technology, they also face many challenges in data integration among multiple devices and systems. By not only managing diagnostic images but also integrating electronic health record, this system works as advanced all-in-one solution that can centrally manage data of patients.
Making progress as the X-ray diagnostic imaging migrates from analog to digital, Konica Minolta’s DR system has constituted achievements in advancing diagnostic accuracy and enhancing productivity with higher image quality, reducing exposure risk of patients and growing efficiency in space. In addition, it has been highly evaluated for offering a complete service as an X-ray diagnostic solution by collaborating with integrated application. The screening committee has also lauded Konica Minolta’s tireless efforts to rise to new challenges such as proposals of new values in using tablet devices, while maintaining existing user-interface protocols with emphasis on operability.

Under the communication message “Giving Shape to Ideas,” Konica Minolta understands the problems the customers have from their point of view and creates new values by bringing the ideas into shape. Going forward, the company will continue to create innovative products, services and solutions that bring joy, give surprise and stir emotions for businesses and everyday lives across the world.

About Good Design Award

The Good Design Award is a sole comprehensive design evaluation and commendation system in Japan since 1957. For more than 55 years, the Good Design Award has been given to outstanding designs for the creation of culture for the new era in the pursuit of prosperous lives and industrial development. Approximately 38,000 Good Design Awards have been given in continuing these efforts, with submissions from a number of companies and institutions from inside and outside of Japan every year. “G Mark,” the symbol of the award, has been recognized widely as a mark representing good design.

For additional information about Konica Minolta products, please visit: www.konicaminolta.com

Nokia World reveals phablets and tablets in Abu Dhabi

Nokia has unveiled its first phablets – extra-large phones – as well as its first tablet computer.

The Windows Phone handsets introduce the ability to change which objects in a photo are in focus after it is taken.

The Windows RT tablet has a 4G data chip, unlike Microsoft’s recently unveiled Surface 2.

Nokia World in Abu Dhabi is likely to be remembered as the Finnish firm’s last major event before it completes the sale of its hardware unit.

Microsoft agreed to buy the business for 5.4bn euros ($7.4bn; £4.6bn) in a deal which the companies have said should be finalised by early 2014.

Nokia’s former chief executive Stephen Elop, who resigned to become head of the company’s devices and services division until his transfer to Microsoft, admitted to the BBC that choosing Windows Phone rather than Android as an operating system had presented the company with “a very difficult challenge.”

“It’s been hard. It’s a very difficult challenge; it’s a very competitive environment, but we’re pleased with the fact that we’re building momentum,” he said.

‘Jarred’

One analyst said the sale should aid the US firm’s efforts to promote its mobile platforms against the market leaders, Google Android and Apple iOS.

“For the last two years Microsoft and Nokia’s marketing efforts have jarred against each other at times – having one big effort should be better than two smaller ones,” said Martin Garner, from the consultancy CCS Insight.

“Microsoft can also spend a lot more marketing the devices than Nokia could. That does seem to be a key criteria – both Samsung and Apple’s spends are very high indeed.”

Microsoft’s share of the handset and tablet markets is growing but from a relatively low level, according to market research firm Gartner.

Windows Phone took a 3.3% share of smartphone sales in the April-to-June quarter, said the firm, with Nokia proving the most popular brand.

Nokia decided to make a Windows RT tablet despite other firms deciding to ditch the platform

It also forecast that about 1.7% of all tablets shipped over 2013 as a whole would be powered by either Windows RT or the full Windows 8 operating system.

Big phones

Nokia showed off two phablets at the UAE launch. Both the Lumia 1520 and Lumia 1320 feature 6in (15.2cm) displays, allowing extra rows of apps to be displayed on their home screens than possible on smaller models.

The firm said that the extra space would also make it easier to use the phones’ touchscreen keyboards, suggesting this would appeal to business users who used productivity software.

A new Beamer app will allow the phones to stream the contents of their screens onto to a web browser on a separate display. It works by sending data via Nokia’s computer servers.

Another new app – Refocus – lets owners determine which parts of a photograph are in focus and which are blurred after it is taken. The phones achieve this by taking a series of images in quick succession at different focus lengths rather than replicating the light field effect captured by a Lytro camera.

The new phablets are Nokia’s first handsets to offer its new Refocus app

Blackberry is among the other companies to have recently launched a phablet, but one expert said doubts about the Canadian firm’s future meant that its existing users might be tempted to switch.

“There’s definitely a chance for Nokia to gain ground, of course everyone else is interested in that space too,” said Mr Garner.

“It’s not a slam dunk, but Microsoft is as well placed as others – better in some respects.”

First tablet

The Lumia 2520 becomes the only Windows RT tablet made by a manufacturer other than Microsoft.

Dell, Asus, Lenovo, Acer and Samsung had all initially backed the platform only to later change tack.

The operating system runs on an ARM-based chip allowing it to offer superior battery life to the full Windows 8 system running on tablets powered by x86 processors, but it does not support as many programs.

Microsoft’s newly released Surface 2 tablet will compete against Nokia’s rival Windows RT computer

Nokia’s tablet is slightly more compact than Microsoft’s version and also distinguishes itself by supporting an optional 4G Sim card.

However, bearing in mind Microsoft has already taken a $900m writedown after weak sales of its original Surface RT tablet, one analyst questioned whether the firm would want to produce two competing models.

“I don’t think that having two devices in that space makes a lot of sense,” said Carolina Milanesi, consumer devices analyst at Gartner.

“I believe Microsoft may keep the Nokia model on as a cheaper consumer-targeted device focused on media consumption and gaming in order to capture more market share, and also keep on the more expensive Intel-based Surface Pro – but it will phase out the Surface 2 RT model.”

More Ashas

Nokia also added three models to its Asha range of low-end handsets targeted at emerging markets and shoppers on a budget. They run Nokia’s proprietary Series 40 OS rather than Windows Phone.

Nokia’s former chief executive, Stephen Elop, has rejoined Microsoft where he will lead its handsets division

The most expensive of the devices, the Asha 530, now supports 3G data in addition to 2G, allowing faster internet access.

“It’s important for Nokia and Microsoft to connect the next billion people,” said Mr Elop, suggesting that Microsoft would find Asha’s popularity a convenient way to promote other services such as its Skydrive cloud storage product.

But one market watcher questioned Asha’s future.

“There’s still quite a lot of demand for Asha in developing markets where the phones offer brand-value against other low-cost mass-market handsets,” said Chris Green from the Davies Murphy Group consultancy.

“So, there’s no sense to killing the business while it remains highly profitable.

“But will it be a core focus? Absolutely not. It will be a distraction and Microsoft will be keen to migrate users to the Windows Phone platform.”

 

First published @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24608498