Microsoft launches digital photos service, Apple doesn't

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Tim Gaden30 January 2007, 4:55 AM

It's not every day that Microsoft can do something that Apple can't. In fact it hardly every happens. But today it has.


It's not every day that Microsoft can do something that Apple can't. In fact it hardly every happens. But today it has.

Microsoft and Kodak have teamed up to offer online digital photo editing and printing. The new Vista Photo Gallery features an integrated Print@Kodak service.

Users can edit their images in the Photo Gallery, upload them to Kodak for printing and choose to get the prints sent back my mail or to pick them up from a local Kodak agent.

The service costs the same amount as the normal Kodak online printing service, accessed over the web.

Now, as the Apple guy always says to the PC guy in the new Apple ads, with Apple it's all so easy. It just works.

Select and edit the photos you want to get printed in iPhoto, press the "Order prints" button and ...

What's that? Every other country in the world is supported except mine?

We asked Apple Australia why Vista could do something that Mac OS X can't. We rang them up and put them on the spot.

Apple told us, "It requires a whole backend system. And that system hasn't been set up."


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Anonymous:

we always seem to be behind the rest of the world and it always seems that Apple don't give a stuff. The response you got was very typical of the responses I've got. Short, sharp, unapologetic, uncaring. Like somehow it is our fault that the system hasn't been set up or something.

29 February 2008, 8:29 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

raindog:

I don't get it what is it that Vista Photo Gallery can do that no other OS can? Online editing? Why would you need it?
when you look at it closely you can do everything mentioned easily from OS-X, Linux or XP. In fact you can get your choice of print vendor and not be limited to only the vender that has done the sweetheart deal for OS integration. Only reason an online solution would not work cross multiple platforms is because it was designed not to.
Edit photos and sending them to be published , nothing that cant be done already.

29 February 2008, 8:29 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Anonymous:

Prehaps Apple headoffice should be given a wake up call on how apple australia deals with its customers. I like Iphoto and we all know how long it took for Itunes store to open in Australia. If they can sort out Music rights I am sure it would not be as hard to sort out a photo/print service.




29 February 2008, 8:29 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

entropy:

It is not Apple, but Apple Australia that causes all the bad press regarding service, after sales and couldn't be stuffed giving Australian mac users the same options as across the pacific, and imposes an 'Apple Australia Tax' on things like laptops.

Apple Australia is nothing more than a glorified importer. Why can't Apple cut it out altogether. Can't it use the free trade agreement to remove these middleman parasites?

29 February 2008, 8:29 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Anonymous:

Apple sets pricing and service globally from Cupertino. Thats it, no mysterious policy in Australia to cripple local customers. Unfortunately its a small market for Apple Inc, and despite Apple Australia's best efforts there are some things they can't persuade HQ to give them. Get over it.

29 February 2008, 8:37 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

macman:

So... what you're saying is that Microsoft have released a photo printing sevice via the internet...?

Why did I buy that Kodak PhotoDock so as I could print my own pictures straight off my Microsoft Windows operating system then?

How ridiculous.

Even with this 'great new printing service', Microsoft continues to be my source of a giggle every now and then. How do they still continue to get it so wrong, over and over again?

29 February 2008, 8:31 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

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