Kodak and it's Easyshare software

[thecoalman]

My mother purchased herself a Kodak Easyshare Z730. First thing I did was go and try and find some reviews before she opened it. Most of the reviews I found were good on a few different sites so that's good. The only thing that I came across is the cost of printing a image with the Easyshare dock which she also purchased was quite expensive, about 60 cents a piece. The same sized prints can be purchased from the local drugstore for about 20 cents.

With a new piece of hardware the first thing I do is visit the manufacturers website to get the latest version of the software. I never install directly from the disc supplied, very few are the latest versions.


The first issue that I come across is that you need to register to download software, even if you only want the driver for the camera. Matter of fact there is no driver only download, you need to download the entire package, at least that is how it appears. Foregoing that for the moment I search through the drivers in the windows to manually and can't find one for this particular model. That leaves me the disc with the older version. Whether or not Windows will be able to access this cam simply by plugging it in I haven't tested.

The disc installation has a custom install with the following choices.

1. Camera connection , driver only
2. 8 in 1 card reader ? not needed
3 6 in 1 card reader ? not needed
4. Easy Share software, for editing, emailing etc. Not needed but probably nice for someone who wants some of the features it supplies.
5. Software updater ? what does it update?

I install everything except the card readers, and reboot as prompted. As expected once I get into windows the updater attempts to connect to the internet but so does the easyshare software? Perhaps it needs to for the update. I allow it. It apparently doesn't do anything because I don't get any prompt for updates. I reinsert the disc and go to modify the installation. The dialog box indicates everything is installed and except the card reader software. The Easyshare software now has a upgrade option next to it, I select that hoping to get the latest version. I click next and it installs the card readers which were not selected, there's no indication that it actually installed anything such as the upgrade I selected.

After opening and closing the easyshare software I get a dialog box indicating a updated version has been downloaded and click to install, apparently it did download something. I install and get some new dialog boxes the first one is account setup with three choices none of which allow to not sign up. The closest is "not now sign up later". I close the window out and Easyshare launches. I'm pleased to see that it did in fact update the software, I now have V5.1 still not the latest version though.

I relaunch the disc and go to modify installation, it now informs me everthing is up to date which it is not. I uninstall the automatic update feature and the card readers and reboot. The update feature is using 3MB of memory, I don't need something using 3mb constantly for no reason. Also note that Easyshare itself is now running as a background task and on reboot still attempts to connect to the internet with the internet update feature off. As mentioned it launches itself on startup using 4mb of memory, there is NO option to turn this off in the preferences. You have manually exit from the taskbar.

I set up a fresh new e-mail account so I can get the latest update because apparently it's impossible to get it without registering. The registration screen requires not only an email account but also you home address and other personal information, additionally cookies need to be enabled to register.... for what? I only want the damn file.

Here's the last three things Kodak lists as what they use cookies for:

(3) to help us understand the size of our audience and traffic patterns; and (4) to deliver information to you specific to your interests.

In other words it's a tracking cookie.

I enable cookies for the kodak site but deny cookies for Hitbox.com which also wants to put a cookie on my computer. A company that uses a data mining cookie.

I fill out the form and uncheck this:

* Send me e-mail from Kodak about consumer products, offers and services.

The asterik indicates this:

* Note: You still may receive e-mail from Kodak based on choices you make on other sites shared with our business partners. In addition, you may still receive e-mail from the KODAK EASYSHARE Gallery Team (formerly Ofoto) based upon choices you make on www.kodakgallery.com.

Additionally there privacy policy is very vague and if you read into essentially the only thing they promise is to not sell your information. They are more than willing to admit about giving it away to though....

Your personally identifiable information will not be rented or sold to any third party. Kodak may share your personal information as follows:
Companies who work on our behalf: We contract with other companies to perform business support functions on our behalf, which may involve limited access to your personal information. We require these companies to use the information only to provide the contracted services; they are prohibited from transferring the information to another party except as needed to provide those services. Some examples of these business support functions include order fulfillment, coupon fulfillment, award and rebate fulfillments, customer survey execution; and information systems management. We also may make aggregate non-personal information available to select service providers.
Kodak's subsidiaries and joint ventures: A subsidiary or a joint venture is an organization in which Kodak owns at least a 50% interest. If Kodak shares your information with a subsidiary or joint venture partner, Kodak will require that they not transfer your information to another party for marketing purposes or use your information contrary to your expressed choices. If you have indicated that you do not want to receive any marketing information from Kodak, we will not share your information with our subsidiary or joint venture partner for their marketing purposes.
Co-branded and Partner Pages: Kodak may share information with partner companies who jointly present special offers or promotions on co-branded pages within our site. You will be notified of this sharing when you are asked to furnish personal data on such a page. The partner's use of any information you submit will be governed by the partner's own privacy notice, which you can review before submitting your information.
Business Transfers: Kodak reserves the right to transfer your personal information in connection with the sale or transfer of all or a portion of our business or assets. If the business is sold or transferred, Kodak will give you an opportunity to tell us not to transfer your personal information. In some cases, this may mean that the new organization will not be able to continue providing to you the services or products that Kodak provided.
Law Enforcement: Kodak may disclose personal information to third parties without your consent for any of the following reasons: to comply with any law, regulation or court order, to cooperate with Government investigations, to help prevent fraud or to enforce or protect the rights of Kodak or its subsidiaries.
With Your Consent: In all other cases, Kodak will obtain your express consent before sharing your information with third parties. For example, Kodak may conduct a joint offer or contest with a third party and you will be asked whether your personal information should be shared with that third party.

I download the file, the original download size was indicated as 22mb the file is only 600k. I run it and what do you know I'm back to the identical setup screen that came on disc. This time though upgrades are available for everything, I select the upgrades for everything I want and run it. Somehow this setup has magic powers and it successfully installs the newest versions for everything I selected. ???? Of course now they have my personal info....

I get the same nag screen about an account again? Didn't I just set up an account where there is no selection for don't bother me again? This one is apparently for there online gallery you can use to upload files.

I reboot, easyshare is still launching on startup. I open up task manager and the previous 4mb it was using has now jumped to 32MB. I open and close Easyshare and the amount drops back to 4mb??????? There's still no option to turn it off on startup.

Surprisingly the fresh email account is empty at the moment...

So what's the big deal... The big deal is I'm tired of crap bloated software that comes with most devices, especially if I have to register to get it. I paid for the damn thing I should be able to get it without registering. the drivers for my Canon were easily downloaded, also note it was a driver only... If it was my camera I would have just installed the drivers from the disc alone and been done with it. One particular thing that really pisses me off is the fact that the software launches on startup and there's no visible way to stop it. 32MB isn't much but when you pile that on top of all the shit scanners, printers and just about every other device you install adds it becomes quite a bit. Then people wonder why there computer runs like shit.

On a side note from a brief look at the images they look pretty good, even inside. The Easyshare software looks to be pretty good too for someone who is not familiar with using basic windows functions to manage files.

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Edit: The Easyshare software adds a link to the startup folder. That's the last place I thought to look because most software doesn't add it there but but burys the option somehere in there preferences menu.... Anyhow it's not launching on startup now.

[vhelp]

My Kodak Easyshare sw is version 4.04.177 (from the cd disk)

I dislike going straight for the default options to D/L (via their
route) in a first-time installation. IMHO, you should *NEVER* do
this. Why ? well, because sometimes there are things that needs
to take place first, like proper and *complete* driver installs
and camera sensitiviy/acknowledgement. These are preliminary
steps. You are only asking for trouble going over this step, as
in your case.

I had trouble [WIN98] with mine for a moment (read my updates) but I
do suffer from black-outs, where your dig camera drivers dissapear, and
you have to re-install them from the cd. I did this once already, and
now, I think I have to do it again, because my pc is not responding to my
dig camera when I turn it on to U/L images to pc.

(Imagine if I went the same way you do, and have to connect to the
internet every time - pfew)


REFERENCES:

** Camera - Digital Still Camera Suggestions..

-vhelp 3694

[thecoalman]

because sometimes there are things that needs
to take place first, like proper and *complete* driver installs
and camera sensitiviy/acknowledgement. These are preliminary
steps.

Everthing worked fine except the glitch where the original setup screen didn't properly determine there was updates available, it's not really an issue with installing. The problem is that they leave you little choice but supplying them info, you could lie but it's ridiculous that you can't simply go to the Kodak site, find the driver and install it........ I watched the setup screen and it looked like the driver file was as big as the setup file... I mean cmon just give me the damn file I want.

I mean WTF is it so hard to supply a simple file? I had a worse experience with a HP scanner. You didn't have to register but there was only one downlaod available.......... 220 MB's.... Shall I say that again? WTF requires 220 MB's to run a scanner? It was a single file yet, no problem for me I have cable but what if you're on dial-up... what's that about 20 hours download time? You know it's going to time out or be corrupted...

220 MB's just so you can get what probably amounts to a few MB's for the driver.

[vhelp]

Yes, I know how you feel. I don't like those kinds of "locks" they
employ, just to tally their numbers for the *bigger* pie. Anyways.

I just don't do it. I install what's on the cd and make do. If
the device is working (as in my case) i leave it alone and be happy.
I'm not gonna go searching for a updated driver just because my sys
like to spit it out, as I indicated earlier. AT this stage of my
dig camera, I don't know if i'm going to keep it for good, or not.
Another factor (you overlooked) in your move to allow the D/L latest
driver route. What if she does not like (want) it. Then, all the
trouble you went through was almost for nothing.

fwiw.., my installation wanted to go through the same as your's. But I
selected no. Because I don't need the extra hassel in a first-time
experience, and as I mentioned above, I don't know if I'll keep mine
for good or not.

-vhelp 3695

[bigmicka]

i have seen many Kodak cameras were i work, i even own one myself. my first recomendation whenever i see one of them is "Dont install Easyshare" you will find that it kills the computer, has on every install of it i have ever done.

get a third party image editor and a card reader, put the card in, do your magic and thats it.

easyshare sucks the big one.

mic

[Silvas]

My Easyshare is recognized by Windows and uses the Windows Scanner and Camera Wizard to download the pics without the Kodak software being installed. No problems whatsoever.