One core - a variety of order methods

The Multi Order Channel Architecture (MOCA), part of the Photo2Lab Software Suite, allows Photo Labs and Retail Chains to support their products, marketing strategies, and order options centrally, thus serving all target groups equally, regardless of the ordering channel.

This novel system is based on the popular Qt framework from Nokia and the Google Frameworks and, over the course of 2010, will encompass all products, from photo prints, posters, and canvas to photo gifts to print products such as Photobooks and Photo books on Photo Paper, Cards, and Photo Calendars. Licensed content templates and user management will also be supported. Thus, the new solution unites all functions and product worlds which the Photo2Lab Software Suite supports today on a variety of platforms in a uniform technology.

The company will present the new architecture, using the example of a Desktop Client and a novel Web-based Ordering Solution for Photo Books, at the PMA, the international convention and trade show of the US Photo Marketing Association, from February 21 to 23, 2010 in Anaheim, California.

Social media and cooperative solution

This architecture offers many advantages over the stand-alone solutions usually found in the market. Not only is the support of products, templates, and content centrally handled for all order methods, there is also free exchange of data between the various platforms.

Thus, consumers can begin designing a photo album on their desktop as a project, upload it, and then share it with friends online, who can all work on the album together. Likewise, the finished album can be copied and partly changed by every invited user, so that the group work leads to a personalized photo album. This provides new options for gaining customers and increasing the revenue for every album created.

Designed album pages or complete Photobooks can also be made accessible to friends, who can add individual pages to their own Photobooks. Social media communities such as Twitter or Facebook are therefore integrated as a matter of course.

You can find more information at the PMA 2010, Anaheim, California, Booth C-1909-3.

Since 2008, online photo orders, with digital pictures printed on traditional photo paper, have surpassed the volume of analog photos in many labs. Even during the financial crisis of 2009, the development of the digital photo market was clearly positive for ECCE TERRAM customers, and 2010 promises to be another successful year for digital photo products. Customer demand for unique mementos and personalized photo gifts remains high. Very few software companies can call upon such a vast wealth of experience and knowledge providing complete e-commerce packages for the printing market – solutions for consumers, printers, and photo labs, as well as unique applications for online and in-store needs.

The Internet specialist ECCE TERRAM will present the new versions of its modules at PMA, the international convention and trade show of the US Photo Marketing Association, from February 21 - 23, 2010 in Anaheim, California.

Get in touch with your customers

ECCE TERRAM will introduce the latest version of its Desktop Client, Version 4.8. As with previous versions, the operating systems Windows – including Windows 7 – Mac OS X and Linux are supported. Since January 2009, the Desktop Client is the world's first Desktop Client software to support Multi-touch systems, such as the innovative HP TouchSmart systems.

The current version will introduce additional features for creation of Photo Books and Photo Calendars, including new methods for the automatic layout of Photo Books, as well as new features that enable users to adapt the Software to their specific needs -- making it suitable for beginners and professionals.

The freedom of configuration for labs and retail customers is still present and has been further extended. The adaptation of optics and functions to specific target groups is an essential core element of the Photo2Lab solution's philosophy.

Photo2Lab Software Suite, interface between customers and production

The Photo2Lab Software Suite consists of the complete range of essential components for Digital Photo Labs, Commercial Labs, Business Printers and Retail Chains. Components such as those used in ordering systems for PC/Mac, online ordering systems, kiosk systems and solutions for mobile use via fully developed Middleware for the handling of Orders, Payment, and control of one or more Fulfillment Centers, and Order Tracking.

At the PMA 2010, an initial version of the lab control software Lab Transfer Server will be introduced, demonstrating the processing management systems used in print labs and the features used to control popular printing systems such as the HP Indigo.

Visit us at the PMA 2010, Anaheim, California, Booth C-1909-3

About Photolab

The Photo2Lab Software Suite offers a complete solution, from ordering through to processing in commercial labs. It includes software applications for Windows, Mac, and Linux, web applications, applications for CD processing or the iPhone. The modern connection protocol TRON is freely available and is supported by a variety of third parties. These provide solutions for, among other things, set-top boxes or kiosk terminals. Along with order processing, aspects such as payment, promotion, and adaptation options for affiliates and partners are taken into consideration as part of a white brand solution. The products can be used to handle anything from photo prints to hardback photo albums, thus offering unique flexibility and openness with the goal of reducing costs and reaching new target groups for the solution customers.

In 2009, Photo2Lab installations handled orders with over 200 million digital photos, 400,000 photo albums and photo calendars.

Photo2Lab

ECCE TERRAM is announcing the launch of its Photo2Lab solutions in New Zealand (April 2008) and Australia (May 2008) with lab partners and dedicated local server in. The ECCE TERRAM Photo2Lab solution is unique in allowing photo services to receive and allocate print orders to their own photo printers, to third party central labs, to photo gift specialists or to channel orders on a case by case basis. Photo processing web solutions from large central labs have been developed for them to create an unbreakable tie between shops or portals and the supplying photo lab. Large central labs are building a dominant position, weakening smaller photo service’s negotiation power. ECCE TERRAM’s Photo2Lab is ready to plug into different photo labs, guaranteeing photo stores and web portals independence from dominant labs. With solutions developed using Web 2.0 technologies like SOAP, WSDL, Ajax etc. ECCE TERRAM offers a diverse range of components for photo portals, including support for ICC Profiles for professional colour management demands.

Photo Lab Software Solutions

Together the Photo Lab Software processing components build flexible, state-of-the-art solutions. These range from order processing using online stores, point-of-sale terminals and offline software clients for Windows, Macintosh and Linux using an open protocol connecting to any photo lab or printer. The DPS middleware processes the orders using a central user database, which allows splitting orders to cover production requirements (e.g. mixed orders for standard prints, posters and gift items). Lab plug-ins built the third layer in ECCE TERRAM’s ‘Photo2Lab’ solution. The lab plug-ins currently support for example DPL, Allcop, ORWO, CeWeColor, DWM and Frontline. Increasingly specialists from the growing sector of photo book, calendar and gift item printing, like Ifuse, Snapmania are being supported by ECCE TERRAM.

ECCE adds ICC Profiles to its Middleware

At PMA ECCE Terram is adding ICC Profiles to its Middleware as an option for photo labs catering for professional photographers. These solutions allow to indicate image optimization for individual image files and make re-ordering prints easier. In addition, the ECCE Photo Suite offline client will integrate the HDX4 Photo Manager. It serves to optimise the pictures per mouse click before uploading them to the Internet, in order to bring out the best of the photographs. This is important because large photo labs find it increasingly costly to correct or optimise images in photo albums and calendars. The Managing Director of the developer ECCE TERRAM, Frank Simon states: "Among our customers are ORWO, Farbglanz Imaging, Pixelnet, Focus, TV Spielfilm, Kodak and many more. We are proud that in the past year 132 million image prints have been processed through the installed base of ECCE middleware solutions."

ECCE Photo Suite adds Photo Book and Calendar Editor Modules at PMA

ECCE TERRAM created the new generation of offline photo ordering clients (Windows, MacOS and Linux) with a modular structure. New modules for photo book and calendar design are being released during the PMA Trade Fair. A new postcard module which handles franking and mailing directly to the cards recipient will also be revealed during the PMA. The applications are brandable through graphics, logos and colors and are used by labs and services of different sizes, from large central labs like ORWO and DPL, book and gift printers to mini labs. Catering for European and international businesses ECCE TERRAM’s applications are easy to localize and are available in several European languages.

ECCE TERRAM practices these values with its solutions shown at PMA Booth No.: K 191-1 from January 31st to February 2nd, 2008.

Photo Lab Software Solutions

Together the Photo Lab Software processing components build flexible, state-of-the-art solutions. These range from order processing using online stores, point-of-sale terminals and offline software clients for Windows, Macintosh and Linux using an open protocol connecting to any photo lab or printer. The DPS middleware processes the orders using a central user database, which allows splitting orders to cover production requirements (e.g. mixed orders for standard prints, posters and gift items). Lab plug-ins built the third layer in ECCE TERRAM’s ‘Photo2Lab’ solution. The lab plug-ins currently support for example DPL, Allcop, ORWO, CeWeColor, DWM and Frontline. Increasingly specialists from the growing sector of photo book, calendar and gift item printing, like Ifuse, Snapmania are being supported by ECCE TERRAM.

ECCE adds ICC Profiles to its Middleware

At PMA ECCE Terram is adding ICC Profiles to its Middleware as an option for photo labs catering for professional photographers. These solutions allow to indicate image optimization for individual image files and make re-ordering prints easier. In addition, the ECCE Photo Suite offline client will integrate the HDX4 Photo Manager. It serves to optimise the pictures per mouse click before uploading them to the Internet, in order to bring out the best of the photographs. This is important because large photo labs find it increasingly costly to correct or optimise images in photo albums and calendars. The Managing Director of the developer ECCE TERRAM, Frank Simon states: "Among our customers are ORWO, Farbglanz Imaging, Pixelnet, Focus, TV Spielfilm, Kodak and many more. We are proud that in the past year 132 million image prints have been processed through the installed base of ECCE middleware solutions."

ECCE Photo Suite adds Photo Book and Calendar Editor Modules at PMA

ECCE TERRAM created the new generation of offline photo ordering clients (Windows, MacOS and Linux) with a modular structure. New modules for photo book and calendar design are being released during the PMA Trade Fair. A new postcard module which handles franking and mailing directly to the cards recipient will also be revealed during the PMA. The applications are brandable through graphics, logos and colors and are used by labs and services of different sizes, from large central labs like ORWO and DPL, book and gift printers to mini labs. Catering for European and international businesses ECCE TERRAM’s applications are easy to localize and are available in several European languages.

Multi Lingual Solutions with Source Code License

With Photo2Lab's ready made solutions, any store or website can become an independent online photo service. ECCE TERRAM founder Frank Simon points out: “ECCE TERRAM endeavors with Photo2Lab software to allow photo services to allocate production orders, moving the control over the process from the large central labs back to the photo service. When you start your photo service make sure that you own your customer data and route to lab. ECCE Terram licensing model is unique in offering a source code license option.”

ECCE TERRAM practices these values with its solutions shown at PMA Booth No.: K 191-1 from January 31st to February 2nd, 2008.

A distinctive feature of the HDX4-modules is that they can help to turn any snapshot into a really professional photograph – it only takes a mouse click. So far, photographers rather used trial and error to adjust brightness, contrast and colours; now the software can detect imperfections of pictures and corrects them without need for further user intervention. Frank Simon of ECCE TERRAM: "Thanks to the HDX4-functions, dark pictures with low contrast and matt colours are definitely a thing of the past. Suddenly, the sky prints perfectly blue and details, which were in the shade become visible again."

Photo2lab Software Suite on the PMA in Las Vegas

Among the companies having licensed the HDX4 Photo SDK is the German company ECCE TERRAM Internet Services. Photo2lab Software Suite has been especially developed for digital photo services, which want to digitise all procedures from the order to printing in the laboratory.

Part of this suite is the eccePhoto Offline-Client, which enables the customer to select his own pictures that are to be ordered as prints or to be used as fun products or for the creation of photo albums or calendars. Integrated into the Offline-Client is the HDX4 Photo Manager. It serves to optimise the pictures per mouse click before uploading them to the Internet, in order to bring out the best of the photographs. This is important because large photo laboratories cannot carry out later modifications of photo albums and calendars – in contrast to prints – without large effort. The Managing Director of the developer ECCE TERRAM, Frank Simon states: "Among our customers are ORWO, Farbglanz Imaging, Pixelnet, Focus, TV Spielfilm, Kodak and many more."

ECCE TERRAM Internet Services presents its Photo2lab Software Suite with the integrated HDX4 Photo Manager on the worldwide most important photo trade fair PMA, which takes place in Las Vegas from 31 January to 2 February 2008. It can be found on stand K191-1 (ECCE TERRAM GmbH, LVCC, 2nd floor).

Homepage HDX4: www.hdx4.com

Homepage HDX4 SDK: www.hdx4.com/...

Homepage ECCE TERRAM: www.ecce-terram.com

Homepage PMA fair: www.pmai.org/...

Information about the manufacturer

Mr. Markus Unger (Press relations officer)

HDX4 GmbH, Essener Str. 20, 44139 Dortmund, Germany

E-Mail: info@hdx4.com, Web: www.hdx4.com

Phone: +49 (0)1805 / 36435626

Fax: +49 (0) 700 / 36435626

The "Wisdom of Crowds" is considered to outperform expert knowledge in dimensions like topicality as well as width, depth and references of knowledge. A principle of prediction markets, as of any electronic exchange, is that those who buy cheap and sell at a higher price benefit.

Empirical evidence suggests that prediction markets are at least as accurate in forecasting events as other instruments used by polling institutes on similar demographic groups. This concept, part of a field of study called collective intelligence, is the ideal tool for market and event forecasts. "The partnership with "Financial Times Deutschland" will give this forecasting method new dynamics. Our company is honoured to partner with such a highly regarded broadsheet”, states Frank Simon, Managing Director of ECCE TERRAM.

The closer a participants forecast matches the real event, the more rises the value of the virtual account. This stimulates forward strategies and therefore using quality information and experience in these virtual investments is paramount. The FTD-strategy bourse also rewards closely matching expectations when dealing with rate fluctuation and diligence.

"Due to the positive experience gained with the prediction market for the German General Elections in 2005 and the prediction market for the (soccer) FIFA World Cup 2006 we decided to provide our users continuously with the opportunity to participate with their knowledge and experience in forecasting events of interest", says Dr Anton Notz, Head of Electronic Media at the “Financial Times Deutschland”.

Electronic Stock Markets (ESM)

The prediction market is based on the “Electronic Stock Market Technology” (ESM) developed by ECCE TERRAM Internet Services GmbH. It is based on theses by Friedrich von Hayek, who in 1974 was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics. From Professor von Hayek’s findings it derives, that more accurate prediction of future events can be made, if people trade shares about them with the opportunity to derive a profit. Frank Simon, Managing Director of ECCE TERRAM: “ESMs in the form of prediction markets provide surprisingly accurate results for opinion research and serve as a prognostics instrument to generate forecasts”. The user’s interest in trading shares and the chance for personal gain as well as the opportunity to create accurate forecasts bind the user into the online service and increase traffic to the website. The technology starts from a base different to traditional opinion research. Interviews, polls and e-votes use questions like “how would you vote?” The Electronic Stock Markets ask “what do you expect the outcome to be?” Traders therefore buy and sell based on their expectation of the outcome. These reflect in the prices, at which shares trade. The system can then, based on the share price, calculate forecasts.

ECCE TERRAM has used prediction markets already in the run up to the German federal elections of 1998 with great success, achieving the second best forecast after Allensbach, one of Germany’s leading public opinion poll institutes. In recent years ECCE TERRAM has organised more than two dozen prediction markets on a great variety of events.