A new company that we are working hard at launching. A hint: freshcrop.com

I’d like to introduce our newest partner HTCI in Clearwater, FL. The company has been a leader in the computer forensic community through training and providing cutting edge forensic tools. They will be offering our full line of products at their online store forensicstore.com as well as through their forensic training classes.

Let’s face it…you will lose your digital photos at some point. Unfortunately, it may be at the worse time. I routinely get desperate phone calls from a newlywed couple that just lost their honeymoon pictures from the beach or a contractor that lost important photos from a client’s site. LUCKILY, there are some things that you can do to prevent data loss and recover your lost digital photos. Here are my top 10 tips for photo recovery that I have expanded on from a previous list:

1.  The Golden Rule – back up your digital photos frequently.  You can backup to a hard drive, an online service, using a kiosk to burn to a DVD or even to another digital media device.

2. After data loss, immediately stop using your digital media. The worse thing you can do is to continue taking new pictures…potentially overwriting your lost photos.

3. Do NOT attempt to format or initialize your media. Even if your camera is telling you to format, resist the instructions. Performing a format may write over your lost data. Some camera models will even completely wipe the digital media!

4.  Do NOT try to open your device. This is the checking-under-the-hood syndrome.  The inside of your digital media is extremely sensitive. There is no need to open the device as there are no moving parts.

5. Do NOT expose your digital media to extreme temperatures. Most digital media is rated at 32° F to 140° F (0° C to 60° C) during operation or -4° F to 185° F (-20° C to 85° C) during storage. Any extreme conditions can cause permanent damage and lost photos.

6. Keep your media card away from magnets!  Similar to credit cards, magnets can quickly scramble the data on your media card.

7. Store your digital media in your camera or a padded case. Shock damage to your digital media can quickly ruin your vacation!!

8.  Use photo recovery software or services to get your files back. A good quality, highly-rated software or service should be able to quickly retrieve your files.

9.  After your files have been recovered perform a wipe to the media card.  This will completely clean the card from old, fragmented data giving you a fresh start. Next, initialize the media card in your camera to take new photos.

10. Be cautious! Understanding your camera’s functions goes a long way towards preventing data loss. Read up on the format/initialize functions and how to properly delete single frames versus entire card deletion.

I hope these tips help! Data loss is not fun…using the proper precautions, your digital photos should be secured and enjoyed for the future.

Here at MediaRECOVER we routinely hear horror stories about customers mishandling their data.  Generally, it goes like this – we accidentally deleted x amount of pictures from our secure digital card and then took 125 new pictures.  Can we get the old pictures back? The answer is always a hopeful “maybe”.

The premise behind data recovery software is that once a file is deleted by a camera or computer the camera/computer sees the space occupied by the file as “empty”.  The picture data still occupies that space until a new picture is taken and fills that “empty” space.  Data recovery software can then go in at a low level and pull off that picture data from the “empty” space.

Therefore here are some tips that we hope everyone follows when using their secure digital media.

Tips

• Please backup!!
• After a data loss please, please, please stop using your secure digital card! This helps prevent further data loss.
• DO NOT write any files to the media.
• Use recovery software or send your secure digital card to an expert recovery service.
• Do not subject the secure digital card to extreme temperatures.

Bonus Tip

• X-Ray scans at airports do not damage media cards.

I am excited to announce that we will release a new version of MediaRECOVER for Mac November 5th, 2007! The new release will provide additional support for the new Mac OS X Leopard (10.5) operating system.  The current version runs great on the new OS, with the update fixing small minor bugs.

Nice review article from the British magazine iCreate (you can pick the issue up at any Barnes and Noble). 4 out of 5 stars…not bad!

Kingston Technology Boosts CF Ultimate Card Write Speed to 266X

Faster CompactFlash Ultimate Cards Now Include MediaRECOVER Data Recovery Software

Kingston CompactFlash(R) Ultimate memory cards now perform at write speeds of 266X and have an added feature of free MediaRECOVER(R) data recovery software that helps restore lost, deleted or corrupted image files. (Photo: Business Wire)

July 23rd, 2007

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced it is increasing the write speed of its popular line of CompactFlash® Ultimate memory cards to 266X – twice the minimum sustained write speed previously available in the Ultimate line. Kingston® CF Ultimate cards will also have an added feature of free MediaRECOVER® data recovery software that serves as a recovery tool to help restore lost, deleted or corrupted image files.

“Photographers using digital SLR cameras are looking for faster card write speeds to capture life’s moments as they happen without interruption,” said Mark Akoubian, Flash memory product manager, Kingston. “Kingston’s new CompactFlash Ultimate 266X memory cards maximize a digital camera’s performance, delivering the speed and capacity necessary to complete even the most challenging assignments.”

“MediaRECOVER allows photographers to focus on what matters most – creating great images,” said Korey Bachelder, president, MediaRECOVER. “Our recovery solution is easy to use and gives photographers added peace of mind. MediaRECOVER’s partnership with Kingston is a win-win for us and consumers.”

The MediaRECOVER software is available as a download from Kingston’s Web site to aid in the reclamation of lost, deleted or corrupted files and is compatible with either Windows or Mac operating systems.

Available in 2, 4 and 8GB capacities, Kingston’s CompactFlash Ultimate cards offer room to capture and store high volumes of images in RAW, JPEG, TIFF and other large file formats. As with all Kingston Flash memory cards, CompactFlash Ultimate cards are backed by a lifetime warranty and 24/7 live technical support.

For more detailed information visit the Kingston Web site at: www.kingston.com/flash.

About MediaRECOVER, LLC

MediaRECOVER, LLC is a leading data recovery and security solution provider creating innovative and award-winning products for corporations, organizations and individuals. The company began as a provider of digital photo recovery services and software. Increasingly, vital information is stored on computer media. To manage this data MediaRECOVER provides leading technology products for file recovery, disk wiping and restoration. The company’s products are distributed worldwide via retail, e-commerce and a direct sales force. Founded in 2001, the privately held company is located in Chandler, AZ.

About Kingston Technology Company, Inc.

Kingston Technology Company, Inc. is the world’s largest independent manufacturer of memory products. Kingston designs, manufactures and distributes memory products for desktops, laptops, servers and printers, and Flash memory products for PDAs, mobile phones, digital cameras, and MP3 players. Through its global network of subsidiaries and affiliates, Kingston has manufacturing facilities in California, Malaysia, Taiwan and China, and sales representatives in the United States, Europe, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, India, Taiwan, China and Latin America. For more information, please call 800-337-8410 or visit www.kingston.com.

Editor’s Note: For additional information, evaluation units or executive interviews, please contact David Leong, Kingston Technology Company, Inc., 17600 Newhope Street, Fountain Valley, CA USA 92708, 714-438-1817 (voice). Press images can be found in Kingston’s press room at kingston.com/press/default.asp

Kingston and the Kingston logo are registered trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation. All rights reserved. All other marks may be the property of their respective titleholders.

Contacts

Media Contact:
Kingston Technology Company, Inc.
David Leong, 714-438-1817
david_leong@kingston.com
or
Agency Contact:
Synergy Communications
Scott Heath, 951-735-3686
scottheath@pr-synergy.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 12, 2007

LC TECHNOLOGY CLAIMS AGAINST MEDIARECOVER WERE BROUGHT “WITHOUT ANY LEGAL BASIS”

JUDGE VINDICATES MediaRECOVER IN IMAGE RECOVERY SOFTWARE DISPUTE

TAMPA, Florida– July 12, 2007 – After a four-year legal battle that ended in a full trial on the evidence, a federal judge found LC Technologies’ infringement suit against MediaRECOVER was “without any legal basis.” On the counterclaims filed by MediaRECOVER, the federal judge found that Clearwater, Florida-based LC Technologies and its president, David Zimmerman liable for defamation and tortuous interference, and that Zimmerman engaged in unfair competition “by issuing a false and defamatory press release about its competitor.”

“I feel a great deal of satisfaction that this case was resolved favorably and that LC Technologies and David Zimmerman were held accountable for their actions,” said Korey Bachelder, president of MediaRECOVER. “This case can now set a precedent that filing lawsuits and public relations campaigns to eliminate your competition is unacceptable, un-American and unlawful.”

MediaRECOVER was awarded damages after the judge concluded that LC Technologies engaged in unfair competition, and both LC Technologies and company

President David Zimmerman were liable for defamation per se and tortuous interference with business relationships. LC Technologies will also have to pay MediaRECOVER its attorney fees and expenses pursuant to Florida’s unfair competition statute.

CASE BACKGROUND:

In October 2003, LC Technologies International filed suit against MediaRECOVER alleging infringement of their software code. In addition to filing the lawsuit, David Zimmerman, chief executive officer of LC Technologies, launched a public relations campaign against MediaRECOVER claiming it had sued for copyright infringement and MediaRECOVER had pirated LC Technologies software code. Zimmerman personally caused the press release to be communicated publicly and directly to MediaRECOVER’s clients and potential clients. The court order, filed July 3, 2007, in Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, found the press release was “grossly inaccurate,” and “LC Technologies and David Zimmerman’s libelous statements impugned MediaRECOVER’s business reputation and the integrity of its intellectual property.”

“I’ve always worked to ensure that this business is run with the highest quality and integrity,” said Bachelder. MediaRECOVER’s attorney Justin E. LaVan said “I am pleased that the court has cleared any blame and doubt about MediaRECOVER’s software code and reputation—which is vital—and struck down LC Technologies and Zimmerman’s unlawful business practices.” LaVan added, “This case is a message to all business owners that unfair and illegal tactics to gain market share will not be tolerated.” Justin E. LaVan and George A. LaMarca of the Des Moines firm LaMarca & Landry, P.C., represented MediaRECOVER in its long legal battle.

MediaRECOVER, LLC, founded in 2001, is the leading provider of easy-to-use data recovery software and services for digital camera media and hard drives. The company is headquartered in Chandler, Arizona.

###

Contact:
Korey Bachelder, President
MediaRECOVER, LLC.
Phone: 408.802.0624

We just donated $75,000.00 in new software to a great organization StRUT. Arizona Students Recycling Used Technology is a program run by Motorola in Phoenix. They will use our software to put real-world technology training to work for Arizona’s students and educators. I encourage everyone to take a look at their website and donate if possible.

Wanted to make an announcement that we will be releasing a brand new MediaRECOVER version 4.0 at the end of the week. We have spent many hours, day and night working on this great new version. Enhancements include:

• Greatly improved hard drive support
• A new recovery method added for faster and more accurate recovery of hard drives
• Now supports nearly any file type, not just photos. Added over 250 new file types
• Included support for over 200 high-end digital camera RAW formats
• Improved support for corrupted media
• Multiple bug fixes, v4.0 works much more smoothly than before
• Improved UI, cleaner interface

Screenshots of Advanced Scan:

Screenshots of Scan:

I hope you like the new software! Please comment and let us know what you like or dislike about the software.