Impact Awards

Article Abstract:

Winners of an annual award for the best hardware and software products are discussed. Categories include digital cameras, scanners, monitors and image-editing software. Among the top products are cameras from HP and Canon, Umax Technologies' PowerLook 2500 flatbed scanner, and Cezanne's CCD Flatbed Scanner high-end prepress scanning tool. Hitachi wins for its 19-inch CRT monitors, and the PowerPC G3 microprocessor earns an award for speeding up the Mac platform. Software winners include Adobe Photoshop, CorelDraw, Macromedia Flash 3, Macromedia Fireworks and Inso MediaBank. Some awards are for technologies rather than specific products; the XML markup language is likely to revolutionize Web-enabled documents, and Adobe's Portable Job Ticket Format, while not yet mature, is a powerful standard for holding together PDF workflows. Iterated Systems' new Sting image format uses fractal image compression to provide lossless encoding of scanned images; among the first implementations is Altamira's Genuine Fractals Photoshop plug-in.

United States, Microcomputers, System design, Systems analysis, Achievements and awards, Desktop publishing, Image scanner, Image scanners, Draw software, Drawing software, Color monitors, Color monitor, Industry event, Special events, Desktop publishing technology

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Multiread format may ease CD-R translation woes

Article Abstract:

The Optical Storage Technology Association (OSTA) has convinced 80% of optical-storage device makers to support its Multiread specification, which specifies that all recordable-CD devices should be capable of reading all four basic CD formats, including audio CD, read-only CD-ROM, recordable CD-R and rewritable CD-RW. To ensure compatibility between diverse CD technologies, Multiread specifies that all drives must automatically raise the lower reflectivity of rewritable media; must support both fixed and variable packet writing; and must accommodate various laser wavelengths, ranging from 635 nanometers for DVD to 780 nanometers for CD. Eventually, OSTA hopes that the Multiread specification will be extended to cover read-only DVD-ROM as well as recordable DVD devices. Ricoh, Philips and MDI have launched Multiread-compliant drives for fall of 1997. HP is administering the MultiRead logo-licensing program.

Magnetic and Optical Recording Media Manufacturing, Electronic components, not elsewhere classified, Optical Discs, Standards, Standard, Standardization, Computer peripherals industry, Hewlett-Packard Co., HWP, Licensing agreements, Optical disks (Storage media), Optical disks, Optical Storage Technology Association

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Master your media: A complete guide to digital asset management

Article Abstract:

Digital asset management (DAM) applications are becoming increasingly popular as a way to impose order on the chaotic world of file formats. Image catalogers are intended for the lone user and sell for $20 to $200. Catalogers often make Internet integration easy, are efficient and have a knack for tracking potential intellectual property rights. Workgroup editions, intended for small companies, cost from $2,000 to $15,000 and can share catalogs and metadata. Enterprise editions cost upwards of $25,000 and manage the assets of entire corporations. At a steep price - around $4,000/month - digital service providers cover the customer's overhead and perform the work.

Usage, Multimedia asset management software, Graphics file format, Graphics file formats

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