xiao TIP-521: Tomy releases 5 megapixel camera with built-in printer

Japanese toymaker Takara Tomy today unveiled a new digital camera that features a built-in printer [JP] and is ailmed at women in their 20s and 30s as well as families. The company says it will soon release more products that are based on the same technology.

The so-called xiao TIP-521 comes with the following specs:
- 5 megapixels
- 4x digital zoom
- 2.48-inch LCD screen
- infrared port and support of SD/SDHC memory cards
- thermal line printer with an OK resolution of 313dpi (size of the prints: 2×3 inches)
- size: 149.5mm x 74.5mm x 25mm
- weight: 294 grams

The xiao (“small” in Chinese) will be sold in Japan starting November 28 for $320. 20 sheets of printing paper will cost $8. Takara Tomy expects a sales volume of 100,000 units per year in this country. American customers will likely get the xiao TIP-521 in April or May 2009.

This seems to be a good idea but to me, the camera looks a little bulky.

Credit to DigInfo Japan for providing CrunchGear with the video above (taken at Takara Tomy’s press conference in Toky today) first.