---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash SUN UNVEILS LOW-COST NETWORKED VIDEO CAPTURE SOLUTION SunFLASH Vol 25 #16 January 1991 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- DALLAS --January 22, 1991-- Sun Microsystems today announced at UniForum `91 that for the first time, desktop SPARCstation(TM) users can now easily capture and share still frame video images across a UNIX(R) network using Sun's new VideoPix(TM). It includes a postcard-sized add-in board and software that lets up to four users easily capture, manipulate, store and share color or black and white images from a variety of video sources. "Today's users want many forms of information to be available to the entire workgroup, not just to a single user," said Anil Gadre, vice president, systems product marketing. "VideoPix uses our robust networking technologies, allowing high-quality images to be shared across a local or wide area network, further reducing the cost-per-seat for video capture." VideoPix is a cost-effective solution for a variety of business applications. For example, it can be used to create a database of images for company directories, real estate listings, parts catalogs or insurance records. In the case of an insurance claims agent, an image of a client's damaged car could be captured from a video camera and sent along with the claim form and medical records -- all online -- to another location on the network for inspection and processing. VideoPix lets users crop, resize, remove motion blur and adjust brightness and contrast of video images. With the OPEN LOOK(R) graphical interface, designed by Sun and AT&T, image capture is easy. Featuring pull-down menus and point-and-click mouse controls, OPEN LOOK allows users to "drag and drop" images with the mouse. Another advantage of VideoPix is the inclusion of software libraries so that developers can integrate video image capture into applications. The new product consists of an SBus board and software. SBus is a high-performance I/O interconnect found in Sun's desktop SPARCstations that is also licensed to the industry. The video board contains standard RCA and S-Video jacks that can be connected to input devices such as a video still camera, camcorder, television, video disc player or video cassette recorder. With VideoPix, users can capture 8- or 24-bit color or grayscale images, integrating them into applications such as desktop publishing or multimedia mail. The product accepts input based on worldwide standards, NTSC/PAL Composite or S-Video and utilizes the emerging industry-standard Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) compression algorithm, reducing storage requirements by up to 20 times. These images can be saved in SunRaster, PostScript(R), Encapsulated PostScript or TIFF file formats. In addition, VideoPix is supported by Sun's NeWSprint(TM) printing software, which allows the captured image to be printed anywhere on the network. Images captured with VideoPix can be used to enrich presentations and training materials. When combined with SunVision(TM) visualization and image processing software, VideoPix is ideal for medical imaging, GIS/remote sensing and computer-integrated manufacturing. VideoPix can be installed in a single-width SBus slot on desktop SPARCstations and SBus-equipped SPARCservers(TM) running OpenWindows(TM) 2.0. The board, software, libraries, documentation and a single user license is available in February. Documentation and additional right-to-use licenses may also be purchased. The product will be available worldwide through all Sun sales channels. Sun Microsystems, Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., is a leading worldwide supplier of network-based distributed computing systems, including professional workstations, servers and UNIX operating system and productivity software. ### SPARC is a registered trademark of SPARC International, Inc. SPARCstation and SPARCserver are trademarks of SPARC International, Inc., licensed exclusively to Sun Microsystems, Inc. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based on an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. VideoPix, NeWSprint, SunVision and OpenWindows are trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. UNIX and OPEN LOOK are registered trademarks of UNIX System Laboratories, Inc. PostScript is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems, Inc. All other products or services mentioned in this document are identified by the trademarks or service marks of their respective companies or organizations. For reader inquiries, telephone 1-800-821-4643 outside California. Inside California, call 1-800-821-4642. PR contact Leiann Lee (415) 336-0597 Marketing contact Jennifer Overholt (415) 336-1534 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For information send mail to info-sunflash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Subscription requests should be sent to sunflash-request@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Archives are on solar.nova.edu and paris.cs.miami.edu. All prices, availability, and other statements relating to Sun or third party products are valid in the U.S. only. Please contact your local Sales Representative for details of pricing and product availability in your region. Descriptions of, or references to products or publications within SunFlash does not imply an endorsement of that product or publication by Sun Microsystems. John McLaughlin, SunFlash editor, flash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. (305) 776-7770.