3 interesting quotes from a new Q&A with Nikon's president
Link: http://www.nikon.com/about/ir/management/message/index.htm
From the below, it sounds like Nikon has developed technology that will change, in some significant manner, the way we take photographs--kind of hard to tell whether the change relates to the functionality of new-generation DSLRs or some other heretofore unseen imaging device.
As a plus, it looks like this functionality has to do with the actual capture of an image, and not just the projection of a captured image by an camera onto a wall. As a minus (at least for me), this does not sound like some new way to get less noise with higher ISO.
It also looks like the technology already exists and Nikon is hindered by one or more of its other departments in getting distribution rolling.
To my eyes (based upon the comments below and at the web page I linked), Nikon's president made some pretty hefty statements and he will look really bad if he does not follow through on those promises...hopefully in a hurry. Hard to tell if Nikon is going to hurry up and get the product out, or if its president is admitting to a slow and flawed development process without a quick fix in sight.
Finally, maybe Nikon is looking to buy up a competitor, instead of getting gobbled up itself.
"Nikon has consistently manufactured and provided products incorporating advanced technology. To establish a solid business foundation, we need to bolster business functions across the board, including marketing, sales and service. Specifically, the efficiency of business processes needs to be raised to the same level as technology development processes. We also need to improve the speed of those processes, and forge close links between them. This speed is an extremely important point in terms of surviving amid fierce competition in a constantly changing market. If we do not bring out products that meet market needs in a timely manner, we lose more than just opportunities for sales. We also run the risk of excess inventory, and ultimately that this would result in a deterioration in earnings. Unfortunately, at the present time not every one of our business processes is functioning at an optimal level, and there is still ample room for improvement."
"The Imaging Company is focusing on the development of the new generation of digital cameras. This is not simply about making digital SLR cameras smaller and lighter. It includes offering image capture devices that allow for new forms of photography."
it is possible that the Imaging Company will also look to M&A in its bid to become a comprehensive imaging manufacturer, considering that the boundaries for the uses of digital imaging are disappearing.
