I wrote a note to the head guy, as follows, and you might want to do the same. I couldn't find an email address, and (of course) he's not on facebook or linkedin, so I guessed as follows and sent out a bunch of them, listed below the letter. You might do the same. You never know; after all, he did change his name to Joe when he came to America, so he might be more accessible than one might guess.
Mr. Yoroku Adachi
President & CEO
Canon USA
Dear Sir,
I recently purchased a PowerShot SD1300 IS digital camera. I want to load onto my camera and use the (far superior) CHDK free software from
http://chdk.setepontos.com. They've made versions of it for earlier Canon models, but there is no CHDK for the SD1300/Ixus105 because, like all Canon's new models this year, it has not been possible to get a "firmware dump." Your company has changed your encryption method, and your cameras are now "closed."
Why is Canon not embracing the wisdom of making its cameras into a "platform"?
Apple has achieved huge shareholder value by making iPod/iPhone/iPad a platform. But let's be realistic; Canon will never have the leverage to build a closed platform with a big App Store. Your viable choices appear to be:
1) Ignore the camera platform opportunity altogether, perhaps out of paranoia about your IP. Yes intellectual property is precious, but it's also rapidly perishable in this fast-moving world.
2) keep your platform closed, and perhaps pocket a few dollars from a few ISV's who might developing software for your cameras (of standards similar to yours, presumably).
3) open up. Your cameras are great!. But, with respect, your software is mediocre in my opinion. Expert reviewers agree. Opening up might be a low-cost way to improve that situation, but more importantly...
If you "open up," you'll enjoy the loyalty of influential communities of "power users" who will develop, trade and maybe even sell software that makes the cameras all that they could be. And your company may acquire -- at very low cost -- some novel technology and software talent that I believe you could use.
Camera purchases are largely "influencer-mediated," not "brand-mediated." Yes, there is some brand loyalty, but today Canon competes with similarly-sized brands such as Nikon, each of whom releases dozens of overlapping models.
Most buyers look to expert friends or to online reviews (and not to Ashton Kutcher) when making a final purchasing decision.
Younger buyers -- the ones with the most disposable income -- are particularly skeptical of brands. Ask yourself why the hottest motorcycles e.g. Ducati don't even put logos or names on their bikes (check your parking lot). Influencer-mediated purchases.
If I were Canon I'd be doing anything I could to keep influencers happy. In digital cameras, that means keeping power users happy.
Please release the firmware information for my SD1300 camera (for my sake). And, please make it a practice to do so with every new camera (for Canon's sake).
Sincerely yours,
(myself)
these were the addresses I dreamed up; we'll see what does or doesn't bounce.
[moderator edit: list of email addresses censored]
