I was invited to the Wacom Bamboo Launch Event. There was no indication on what products that they are launching. Only a hand gesture. I guessed it has to be the Bamboo series. I was correct 🙂 . Anyway, the launched is supposed to be done simultaneously across the World. With the advantage of Singapore Time-Zone, we were able to attend the event many hours ahead of US. Click Here and Here for the Press Release of Wacom Bamboo. BTW, the new Bamboo has multi-touch capability and is cleverly integrated with the Pen.
The event is held at Grand Park City Hall Hotel, Ballroom 2 at 12:30pm. Heard that it was the same place that the first Bamboo was launched 2 years ago. Anyway, due to the F1 road closure, it was a nightmare to reach there at lunch time hour.
We were greeted with a large LCD Wacom tablet to sign in our names. The signature Bamboo was all over the place.
Along the walkway and inside the ballroom, there are many units of Bamboo to try on.
The event started with Mr. Nagasawa, MD of Wacom Singapore Pte Ltd, who gave us an overview of Wacom. I was quite surprised that the Wacom tablet has been around for 27 years already.
Next up is Mr. Komiyama, Executive Director of Global Marketing and Sales Division Wacom Co., Ltd. He talks about the previous Bamboo that was launched 2 years ago and how technology has evolved and the direction of Wacom.
The Wacom Bamboo was finally revealed in a symbolic ceremony of unwrapping it to the media.
Taking out the Bamboo Fun from the box.
Close up of Mr. Komiyama and Mr. Nagasawa.
Next, Mr. CM Choo, the Marketing Manager of Wacom Singapore, giving us a deeper view of the Wacom Bamboo and the highlights of the latest technology that is incorporated into this new Bamboo.
BTW, I have to add this in. Chester from i-Digitall, brought along the iPod Nano 5th Generation to record the event. Read the review here.
We were shown how Wacom Bamboo started (in 2007) and how it has progress with technology.
What is interesting is he also talked about Windows 7 which support multi-touch and iPhone which has capacitive touch screen. So, I believe Wacom who also manufacture LCD tablet may be able to work with computer vendors to has a “slice” of Wacom inside them.
Here are some highlights of the Bamboo’s Touch. Basically, the touch function works like iPhone screen.
Introduction of the new family, Wacom Bamboo Fun, Bamboo, Bamboo Touch and Bamboo Pen (without multi-touch).
And here is the retail price and comparison chart.
Notice that the pressure level has increased from 512 to the current 1024. Adobe Photoshop Elements 6/7 are included for Bamboo Fun and Bamboo. And Bamboo Fun comes with another software, the Corel Painter Essentials 4. I am thinking that this may be the reason the price is so much difference as compared to Bamboo.
Wacom also demonstrated live how Bamboo can make our life easier. Below you can see a demo of multi-touch.
Demonstration of scrolling gestures.
Wacom is trying to create awareness in the social media. They invited two bloggers, Jolin and Lionel, to demonstrate how Bamboo can be used in the blogging experience.
The event ended with the above demo. We went ahead to try out the demo units. I must say that Wacom tablet is really one of the best around. I have always wanted to buy a Wacom tablet. Now, with multi-touch, I think it is a MUST HAVE for me. The pressure sensing is very sensitive and if you are a comic artist, you should get the Bamboo. It is like drawing on a piece of paper.
I think blogging and taking pictures can be a lot more fun with Bamboo around. you can initial the pictures as a watermark on your blog. And with the multi-touch, playing with Google Earth is so much fun now. If you have the chance, you should try it.
That is it for the coverage of Wacom event. Hope that you like it.
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