Hitachi MPEG1 MAC video camera....................
Only $2399. For $200-400 you could buy MVP. Hitachi makes the MPEG1 codec. IMHO Hitachi is the top semiconductor company in Japan, technically speaking.
It looks to me that the camera does not use tape. Instead it uses a 260MB flash memory card to store up to 20 minutes of MPEG1 video or 3000 JPEG images. Cool.
Hitachi debuts Mac compatibility for its revolutionary MPEG Digital Camera
Business Wire - July 30, 1997 15:34
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 30, 1997--
-- Apple Computer introduces updated MPEG extension for QuickTime(TM) 2.5 -- Products demonstrated at MACWORLD show (Hitachi Booth #1530 and Apple Booth #1000
Hitachi Home Electronics (America), Inc., a subsidiary of Hitachi America, Ltd., has announced the compatibility of its acclaimed MPEG digital camera with Apple Macintosh computers.
Using Apple Computer's new MPEG extension for QuickTime 2.5 MPEG video and audio captured using the Hitachi MPEG1A camera can now be viewed on Macintosh computers. The MPEG1A and QuickTime products will be demonstrated at MACWORLD in Boston Aug. 6-9 (Hitachi Booth #1530 and Apple's Booth #1000).
File transfer between the camera and the Mac is made possible with a special Hitachi SCSI adapter, model MP-ADS1A. The adapter is available with the revised QuickTime MPEG extension from Hitachi for a suggested retail price of $299.95. This package includes PreStage(TM), which enables files to be captured and transferred to a Mac. Files can also be transferred to a Mac Power Book by using the camera's PCMCIA storage card.
The current copy of QuickTime 2.5 for Macintosh can be downloaded at no charge from the QuickTime Web site at www.QuickTime.apple.com. Hitachi camera owners can get the updated MPEG extension at no charge from Hitachi at www.mpegcam.net. Apple's QuickTime supports playback, editing and integration of MPEG video files on PowerPC, and Mac OS System 7 and System 8.
Hitachi's MPEG1A, the world's first MPEG camera, is capable of recording 20 minutes of MPEG-1 video, 3,000 JPEG still photos, or 1,000 stills with 10 seconds of audio for each still. Suggested retail, including 260 MB PCMCIA card, is $2,399.95.
The MPEG1A has a high compression ratio enabling large capacity on the PCMCIA card and boasts high resolution for picture quality. The camera is smaller than a conventional camcorder and all of its functions, such as real-time compression, full motion video and playback, are handled by a single chip -- the MPEG1 encoder/decoder (CODEC) LSI, developed by Hitachi Ltd. An AV output allows easy connection from the MPEG camera to TV for big-screen viewing.
"The interest and excitement generated by the introduction of the MPEG1A caused a great demand for a version that could be used with the Mac," said Tom Itoh, president of Hitachi, Home Electronics (America). "The Hitachi MPEG camera brings ease and cost efficiency to both professional Web designers and multimedia developers, many of whom rely heavily on the Mac's power and flexibility to produce, edit and view high-quality movies. Previously, a user interested in producing video would have needed a separate video camera, video capture board and computer. This was expensive and produced minimal quality."
"Hitachi's addition of the QuickTime MPEG extension gives Hitachi MPEG users full editing access to the creative capabilities of PowerPC-based Macintoshes," said Mitchell Weinstock, QuickTime product manager. "This will be especially beneficial to real estate brokers, multimedia producers and publishers who are taking advantage of the Hitachi MPEG camera's ability to quickly capture, load and distribute video to a wide variety of sources."
The need for an MPEG camera that provides versatile digital editing has been fueled by several factors, including increasingly powerful computers and the explosive growth on the Internet. The new MPEG camera will allow Mac users to perform such applications as adding full motion pictures to Internet home pages and in-house video training on company Intranets.
Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized innovator in the information industry and leader in multimedia technologies, creates powerful solutions based on easy-to-use personal computers, servers, peripherals, software, handheld computers and Internet content. Headquartered in Cupertino, Calif., Apple develops, manufactures, licenses and markets solutions, products, technologies and services for business, education, consumer, entertainment, scientific and engineering and government customers in more than 140 countries.
Hitachi Home Electronics (America), Inc., a subsidiary of Hitachi America, Ltd., develops and markets a variety of consumer electronics and commercial multimedia products, including handheld computers and products for image capture and information access/multimedia.
Hitachi America, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., Japan, markets and manufactures a broad range of electronics, computer systems and products, and semiconductors, and provides industrial equipment and services throughout North America.
Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is the world's leading global electronics company, with fiscal 1996 consolidated sales (ending March 31, 1997) of $68.7 billion. The company manufactures and markets a wide range of products, including computers, semiconductors, consumers products, and power and industrial equipment.
NOTE TO EDITORS: To access photos for use in printed publications please visit Crescent Communications' web site at www.crescomm.com, click on "For Press Only" and follow the instructions online. If you have any difficulties accessing the photos please contact Crescent at 770/698-8650.
CONTACT: Hitachi Home Electronics (America)
Lee Woodring, ext. 5617
Benny Wei, ext. 5824
800/241-6558
or
Crescent Communications
Gregg Echols, ext. 116
770/698-8650
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