DigitaOS

Last updated
Digita Operating Environment
DigitaOS logo.jpg
Developer Flashpoint Technology, Inc
Written in C
Working stateDiscontinued
Source modelClosed-source
Initial releaseMay 20, 1998;27 years ago (1998-05-20)
Final release 1.5 / November 18, 1999;25 years ago (1999-11-18) [1]
Marketing target Digital cameras
Official website digitadev.com at the Wayback Machine (archived 2001-08-14)

DigitaOS was a short lived digital camera operating system created by Flashpoint Technology and used on various Kodak, Pentax, Minolta, and HP cameras in the late 1990s. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

History

DigitaOS debuted with the Kodak DC220 and DC260 on 20 May 1998; [5] both cameras were equipped with PowerPC 800 processors and USB interfaces. [6] In total, it was released on 11 camera models [7] before it was abandoned in 2001. [8] DigitaOS was notable for its ability to run third-party software, [9] a concept that was not again realized until the release of various Android based digital cameras in the early 2010s. [10] [11]

DigitaOS applications were programmed either as JIT compiled scripts using "Digita Script", [12] [13] which ran on the cameras, [14] or AOT compiled programs written in C [15] using an official SDK. [16] The operating system abstracted away most camera functionality and hardware platform differences, allowing software to be compatible with most DigitaOS cameras. [17] Additionally, DigitaOS handled the GUI presented to the user and basic camera functionality. [17]

DigitaOS was intended to extend the features of the camera. Examples of functions provided by scripts included in-camera image database and document generation, in-camera image editing, and custom logo / watermark and/or date imprinting. Printers with DigitaOS could resize photographs without connecting to a computer. [14] Digita File allowed the user to rename and copy image and system files on the camera, while Digita Presents was able to output a slideshow with audio and transition effects. [18]

Because of its ability to run third-party software, several games were ported to it. The most notable of these being DOOM [19] and MAME. [20]

Cameras using DigitaOS

DigitaOS cameras, clockwise from top right: Minolta Dimage EX, Kodak DC290, Kodak DC265 Various Digita-Enabled Digicams.jpg
DigitaOS cameras, clockwise from top right: Minolta Dimâge EX, Kodak DC290, Kodak DC265

References

  1. ↑ "DigitaOS memorial page". lisas.de. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  2. ↑ "digitacamera.com: home". 2001-02-02. Archived from the original on 2001-02-02. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  3. ↑ "DIGITA OS". mesh.brown.edu. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  4. 1 2 "Pentax to release a range of digital cameras?". DPReview. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  5. ↑ "Kodak DC220: Digital Photography Review". www.dpreview.com. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  6. ↑ Brown, Bruce (October 6, 1998). "First Looks: An OS to Smile For". PC Mag. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  7. 1 2 "MAMED! - Camera Info". 2007-12-15. Archived from the original on 2007-12-15. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  8. ↑ OUT!, Froyo Tam 💽 Ferrite Core DX (2019-07-06). "DigitaOS was abandoned after 2001, with digicams reaching their end of life after just 1 year. The promise of upgradeable digicams quickly burst. The millennium vision of smart devices came to pass, but it wasn't until a decade later the vision was fully realized with Android". @FroyoTam. Archived from the original on 2020-05-18. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  9. ↑ "Global smartphones reaching peak sales point". The Dead Pixels Society. 2019-06-07. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  10. ↑ "Did you know: Android was originally designed for digital cameras not phones". Android Authority. 2020-05-02. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  11. ↑ "Samsung announces EK-GC100 Galaxy Camera with Android Jelly Bean, massive 4.8-inch display, 21x zoom, WiFi and 4G connectivity (hands-on)". Engadget. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  12. ↑ Flashpoint Technology (1999-11-08). "Script Guide Digita™ Operating Environment" (PDF). DigitaOS memorial page. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2003-06-26. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  13. ↑ Flashpoint Technology (1999-12-07). "Script Reference Digita™ Operating Environment" (PDF). DigitaOS memorial page. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2003-06-26. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  14. 1 2 Kay, Russell (April 17, 2000). "Apps Provide Lure For New Digicams". ComputerWorld. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  15. ↑ "Dr. Dobb's | Good stuff for serious developers: Programming Tools, Code, C++, Java, HTML5, Cloud, Mobile, Testing". Dr. Dobb's. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  16. ↑ "DigitaDev.com for Digita application developers". 2001-08-14. Archived from the original on 2001-08-14. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  17. 1 2 Vidales, Carlos E.; Farrelly, Eugene M. "The Digita OS: An Extensible Imaging Platform". Dr. Dobb's. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  18. ↑ Brown, Bruce; Brown, Marge (May 23, 2000). "Do More with a Digital Camera". PC Magazine. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  19. ↑ DOOM on a Digital Camera from 1998! , retrieved 2020-05-13
  20. ↑ "MAMED!". 2009-02-19. Archived from the original on 2009-02-19. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  21. ↑ "HP and Pentax announce two new Digital Cameras". DPReview. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.