Connectivity
Software (7.5)
The G1 comes with a CD-ROM with ArcSoft PhotoImpression, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and QuickTime software. I installed PhotoImpression version 6 on my computer in not much time at all. It isn’t a very flowery program: it doesn’t have huge icons or colorful backgrounds. It aims for function instead. On the top are a few small and simple icons with text that access functions such as Get Photos, Edit, Slide Show, Creativity, E-mail, Print, and Archive.
On the left side are three ways to find photos: folder, calendar, and search. Below this search box is a place in the window that displays detailed explanations on how to navigate or hide folders.
Like other photo software, browsing is done on the main portion of the window as thumbnails or a list – although there is no Preview/Filmstrip mode like in many programs. The size of the thumbnails can be changed with a sliding bar on the upper right corner of the window.
There are three ways to edit pictures, all available from the Edit icon on the top of the window. There is an Easy-Fix Wizard that asks, “What fixes would you like to make to this photo?” Responses are simple. For example, “Sharpen it,” “Fix Red-Eye,” and “Straighten it.” There are seven quick fixes.
The second way to fix photos is with the Photo Editing Tools option. This has a decent palette of tools from the basic sharpening and color balancing to smudging and blurring and all kinds of selection tools.
The third option to fix photos is listed in the Edit submenu but might cost some cash to actually use. It’s a link to the ArcSoft PhotoStudio Darkroom that can be downloaded from the company’s website. It adds features like batch processing, vignette, and purple fringe correction, among others. A free trial can be downloaded, but it will eventually cost you.
There are also links throughout the menu to other programs. ArcSoft’s Scrapbook Creator and Panorama Maker software are linked through the Creativity icon. There are also options to add frames, edges, text, and clip art.
Overall, the GE G1’s software is very impressive. Most digital cameras include primitive browsing and organization software, but have only enough editing features to count on one hand. The included PhotoImpression software provides everything from smudging tools to text inclusion, and the detailed explanations provided make it easy to use.
Jacks, ports, plugs (5.5)
There is a single port on the bottom of the camera covered by a tiny rubber flap. Beside the flap is a very small divot meant for fingernails to pry it open. However, the divot is so small that it isn’t very functional. It takes a lot of finagling to actually pry the cover open. There is a single jack that connects to the included USB 2.0 and A/V-out cables. The USB mode can be set to PC, PC (PTP), and Printer via the Setup menu. There is also an option to choose the video function to output in NTSC or PAL standard.
Direct Print Options (6.0)
From the Playback menu, users can select images to attach to print orders. The DPOF option allows users to choose all images at once or scroll through them one by one and add them to the print order that way. Each image can be printed 0-9 times. The GE G1 sports a DPOF version 1.1 system and is ExifPrint and PictBridge compatible. Users have to access the USB mode from the Setup menu before connecting to printers to ensure it is properly recognized by the camera and the print order is transferred. This isn’t hard, but adds an extra step many cameras don’t have.
Battery (4.75)
The GE G1 digital camera runs on an included GB-20 lithium-ion battery. The battery isn’t very powerful. It packs 3.7 volts and 750 mAh and gets only 200 shots per charge. Included with the box is a charger that consists of a platform and a cable that connects it to the wall. Good to know: the camera “forgets” your settings and returns to all of its defaults. For instance, I turned off the loud and annoying beeping noise in the menus and the flourish that sounds when the camera is turned on, but both of those features returned once I popped the battery back in after charging.
Memory (3.75)
The G1 has 26MB of internal memory, but that’s enough only for six pictures at full resolution. Beneath the camera is a plastic door that opens to reveal a card slot for SD and SDHC media. Up to 4GB cards are supported. In the setup menu, the G1 has an option that allows users to copy images from the internal memory to the card, but this cannot be reversed – you can’t copy images from the card to the internal memory. This is too bad. Many cameras have that option so that users’ favorite images can be stored on the camera at all times.
Other features (4.5)
Panoramic Stitching – The Panorama mode is located directly on the mode dial. It allows users to snap three pictures either right to left or left to right, selectable by pushing the Func/OK button and the right and left portions of the multi-selector. The GE G1 aids in lining up the three pictures by showing a somewhat translucent sliver of the previous taken image on one side of the screen. Once the three pictures are taken, they are automatically stitched together in the camera. It does this quite well, and most images wouldn’t need any further post-production adjustment if lined up carefully, but in some of my pictures the white balance varied from image to image and looked odd when all stitched together. Most digital cameras that have a Panorama mode allow users to snap images and even aid in lining them up, but don’t actually do the stitching work themselves. Most cameras just include software for computers that can stitch them once the images are uploaded. Canon and Olympus digital cameras stitch only with software (and Olympus requires their specially branded xD-Picture card as well). Some Kodak EasyShare digital cameras have an in-camera stitching process similar to the GE G1’s. The G1’s total panoramic image size comes out to 3888 x 1046 pixels, so while it isn’t big enough to enlarge to a huge poster, it would make an interesting and oddly-shaped postcard.
