The interesting part is that sending an email gives you the option to re-size the image before sending it (down to one-eighth of the original size). When you consider the massive resolution of today's digital cameras (the DC265 has a 1536 x 1024 resolution), resizing before emailing is a fantastic idea!

Examining the photos closely after they've been resized demonstrates the quality of the resizing algorithm. The photos aren't blurry or distorted. The question is, why didn't they incorporate this capability into the main part of the program? If I want to update a Web site from my location using the camera, but want to use a more web-friendly image (i.e., 320x240), I have to email the images to myself to get the proper size. It works, but it's hardly ideal!

Options are also plentiful with the program, allowing you to choose how images are sent via email -- either POP3 or ActiveSynch. It also comes with a preset color palette, which apparently is better than the built-in Windows CE palette. I'm at a disadvantage here because the Clio is only an 8-bit device (256 colors), so everything looks quite bad in terms of photographic quality. It's hard to gauge the effectiveness of the Image Expert palette, because it's not meant for an 8-bit color device.

Annotating images
The ink tools are very powerful, allowing you to effectively add comments and sketches to any image. In Figure C, you can see how I took a photo of the TV nook in my under-construction condo, made some measurements, and made note of them directly on the image.

FIGURE C


The ink tools are very powerful, allowing you to effectively add comments and sketches to any image. Roll over picture for a larger image.

As you can see in Figure D, you can use multiple pen colors and sizes. Artistic talent not included (evidently)!

FIGURE D


You can use multiple pen colors and sizes. Roll over picture for a larger image.

Once the ink has been applied and you're satisfied with your additions, you "merge" them into the image, as shown in Figure E.

FIGURE E


Once the ink has been applied and you're satisfied with your additions, you "merge" them into the image. Roll over picture for a larger image.

The applications for people like realtors, construction workers, and generally anyone who needs to combine digital imagery with hand-drawn notes are endless!

Conclusion
Overall, the software is good at what it does. It's not meant for editing or retouching, but hopefully in version 3.0 we'll see things like an integrated resizing option, and something like cropping would be tremendously helpful.

Despite a few drawbacks, I'm satisfied with my first foray into the Windows CE/digital photography realm. As the speed and color depth of Windows CE devices increases, they'll become more and more useful companion devices. As Windows CE software grows, we'll see more competitors running against Sierra's offering, and since competition breeds innovation, the software will become more useful.

Now all I need is a flawless wireless solution and PhotoImpact (a Photoshop-like image editing tool that currently runs on Windows 95/98) for Windows CE, and I can be a Webmaster from a park bench.

David Gewirtz is the author of How To Save Jobs and Where Have All The Emails Gone? For more than 20 years, he has analyzed current, historical, and emerging issues relating to technology, competitiveness, and policy. David is the Editor-in-Chief of the ZATZ magazines, is the Cyberterrorism Advisor for the International Association for Counterterrorism and Security Professionals, and is a member of the instructional faculty at the University of California, Berkeley extension. He can be reached at david@zatz.com and you can follow him at http://www.twitter.com/DavidGewirtz.