Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!wuarchive!udel!mmdf From: bkahn-ut@kodak.com Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Kodak Photo CD (long) Message-ID: <30976@nigel.ee.udel.edu> Date: 19 Sep 90 14:34:42 GMT Sender: mmdf@ee.udel.edu Lines: 200 Date: 09/19/90 09:52:13 To: AMIGA --KODAKR >From: Bruce E. Kahn, Ultra Technologies, M.C. 00501, K-NET 23-87315 Subject: Kodak Photo CD (long) The following is a press release that was released yesterday about a CD system to record scanned photographic (conventional) images onto a CD player. While not directly related to the Amiga, I thought that it might be of interest to the amiga community, particularly concerning the recent interest in CD applications. What I find incredible, is that your friendly neighborhood photographic processor will be able to put a whole roll of film onto a CD (compatible with audio systems) for < $20! What kind of CD could this be? A WORM drive? Note: I work for Kodak but do not have any involvement in this project, and any opinions expressed are my own. Kodak Announces New Photo CD System -- 9/17/90 Author: Andree Mastrosimone, Employee Communica Dated: 90/09/17 21:23 The following was released at 10:00pm, ET on Sept. 17, 1990: KODAK PHOTO CD SYSTEM PUTS SNAPSHOTS ON COMPACT DISCS FOR TV VIEWING (KODAK, PHILIPS NOTE PHOTO CDs WILL PLAY ON CD INTERACTIVE AND ON CD ROM XA SYSTEMS) Eastman Kodak Company today announced a new photographic system -- jointly developed with Philips -- that can scan 35 mm images and write them on compact discs. These pictures can then be played back on television with new Kodak Photo CD players manufactured by Philips. Kodak called its announcement "a turning point in the history of photography." Kodak said the system offers quality far superior to that of current electronic still photography systems. Officials noted Photo CD will yield opportunities for other Kodak businesses as well as consumer photography. The Kodak system includes: o A new category of CD players made by Philips. Users will be able to enjoy either high resolution television display or digital quality CD sound from their Photo CD players. o Blank recordable Photo CDs made by Kodak, each capable of holding up to 100 images. o A photofinishing workstation consisting of a scanner developed and manufactured by Kodak, a computer made by Sun Microsystems, and a Photo CD discwriter made by Philips. o Thermal printers and paper made by Kodak. The system will become available in 1992. Consumers will take their film to photofinishers for developing and receive standard prints as they do today. On request, the photofinishers will use the workstations to "read" processed 35 mm negatives and slides. They will "write" digitized pictures onto Photo CDs. Consumers will receive a gold-colored compact disc containing all the exposures on the roll. The Photo CD will be packaged in an attractive "jewel case" box--similar to those containing audio CDs. The case will contain an index print cover sheet, with a grid that displays miniature pictures of all images on the Photo| CD, each with a number showing its sequential position on the roll and on the disc. Very high quality prints may be made directly from the Photo CDs with Kodak thermal printers. Color, sharpness, and granularity are similar to those of prints made on photographic paper from original negatives. The first Kodak Photo CD player is expected to start at a list price under $500. Photo CD service will be offered through traditional photofinishing outlets worldwide. Photofinishers will establish prices, but, since Photo CDs will not be sold to consumers until 1992, prices are difficult to estimate. Kodak said a disc containing 24 pictures could be priced "comfortably below $20." Kodak Photo CD players will have features and audio performance equal to today's CD players. Kodak and Philips officials said models could include such picture oriented features as random access viewing, zooming and panning, editing and others. Specific models and features will be described at the time of availability in 1992. SILVER AND SILICON: THE FUTURE OF MEMORIES According to Kodak chairman and chief executive officer, Kay Whitmore, the Photo CD system provides "a path to the future of memories." "Photo CD combines the best aspects of silver-halide and silicon technologies," Whitmore stressed. "This is the answer for consumers who have wanted both the astonishing quality of 35 mm photography and the convenience of digital storage, display and manipulation. Users can enjoy traditional photographic quality, and view their pictures on TV." The timing of today's announcement, nearly two years before availability, is deliberate. "We want to allow photographic, electronic, computer and software companies time to prepare for the emerging market we foresee for high resolution digital still images," Whitmore said. "This technology will provide the focal point for Kodak's electronic imaging strategy." CUSTOMER BENEFITS The new system's advantages for users are numerous. o Users can enjoy pictures on television, alone or with others. o The Photo CD player fits easily into the home entertainment center, and it plays audio CDs as well as Photo CDs. o Disc "albums" can be created from any 35 mm original: color negatives, black-and-white negatives, and slides. Customized video scrapbooks can be created on any theme or subject. o Users can obtain high quality prints from the Photo CD itself, thus allowing use of the Photo CD as an "electronic picture file." o Users can get high quality images for TV display from their 35 mm cameras without investing in new cameras. o Since Photo CDs can contain up to 100 images, they can be returned to the photofinisher to add new ones. o The Photo CDs will also produce high quality photographic display on Philips' new Compact Disc Interactive (CD-I) players. Images on the Photo CD are compatible with all TV systems worldwide. Image quality exceeds all HDTV standards under consideration in the TV industry. PHOTO CD ON INTERACTIVE COMPACT DISC Philips announced that in 1991 the first Interactive Compact Disc players from Philips and other manufacturers will be introduced in the United States and Japan. Europe will follow in 1992. These players will have the ability to play the Photo CDs as well. PHOTO QUALITY ON PCs Kodak and Philips announced the Photo CDs will be playable on virtually any personal computer worldwide equipped with CD ROM XA disc drives. (ROM is an acronym for "read only memory," a standard commonly used to record text and images. XA refers to "extended architecture" that permits audio and video to be included). This will give professional and commercial customers easy access to photo quality images in computer formats. Scott G. McNealy, president and CEO of Sun Microsystems, a leading Unix workstation manufacturer, sees numerous business opportunities for Photo CD. "Photo CD is a leading-edge technology that will support a new wave of multimedia applications that are expected to dominate the next phase of computing" said McNealy. "The fact that our workstation is integral to Photo CD suggests the degree to which computers are already affecting commercial markets. Sun customers in industries like transportation, insurance and medical imaging should find that Photo CD brings another level of simplicity to their tasks." LONG-RANGE GROWTH PREDICTED "We wanted to do it right," Whitmore said. "We wanted to set standards for electronic imaging that would ensure the quality people have come to expect from Kodak." Whitmore added that Kodak's Photo CD will go beyond the home entertainment domain. "While Photo CD was conceived and developed by the Consumer Imaging Division, with close cooperation from Philips' interactive media systems group, both the photographic and information sectors will capitalize on this innovation," he said. "For more than 150 years, photography has enabled people to capture their happiest moments," Whitmore noted. "Photo CD suddenly offers a new means to manage those memories. And many of the 250 million 35 mm cameras used in the world are employed in the service of every imaginable vocation and avocation. We can imagine dozens of applications that will benefit our business. Photo|CD thus represents something of a golden key. We expect to be surprised and delighted by the doors it will open for a long time to come." # ~