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List:       gphoto-devel
Subject:    New standard (Re: [gphoto-devel] Re: gPhoto2 licensing clarification)
From:       Ole Aamot <oka () math ! uio ! no>
Date:       2000-08-27 10:23:11
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Richard Stallman <rms@santafe.edu> writes:

> Right now we mostly fail to use it.  The problem is that most of the
> 20 million users agree, more or less, with the Open Source Movement:
> non-free software is annoying but acceptable.  And they tend to think
> of the drivers as a small matter.  So they choose what hardware to buy
> independent of this issue, and then use non-free drivers if necessary.
> As a result, the market pressure we actually apply is far less than
> what we ought to be capable of.

I recently saw Lexmark announcing drivers for their inkjet printers.
They have been quoted on various places for being the first company 
to provide an (binary) "inkjet driver for Linux".  I thought Alladin
Enterprises was the first?

Sales of printers and digital cameras are connected these days.

> Ole, could you report on the situation for us?  Of the important camera
> makers, which have cooperated, and which have refused?

We maintain <URL:http://www.gphoto.org/supporting.html>.

Kodak and Canon are two of the most profiled vendors today.

Canon Inc. hasn't been co-operative in the past, but the protocol was
reverse-engineered and documented thanks to the efforts of Wolfgang
G. Reissnegger, Werner Almesberger, Philippe Marzouk, Mikael Nyström,
and Edouard Lafargue.

Eastman Kodak, Inc. have co-operated, their developer relation group 
provide full specs for (if not all, most of) their models, after one
sign up at <URL:http:/www.kodak.com/country/US/en/developers/>.

Kodak also work with Photographic & Imaging Manufacturer Association
(PIMA) on establishing the Picture Transfer Protocol (PIMA 15740) as
the standard.

From <URL:http://www.pima.net/News/ptp.htm>:

   Photographic & Imaging
   Manufacturers Association

   Picture Transfer Protocol Standard Approved
   
   For release at 8 am EST on August 22, 2000

   New Standard Makes Connecting Digital Cameras Easy
   
   Picture Transfer Protocol to Work Across Platforms

   Harrison, N.Y., August 22, 2000 --  The Photographic Imaging
   Manufacturers Association (PIMA) announced today the approval of a new
   standard to simplify digital photography.  This picture transfer
   protocol (PTP) enables digital cameras to talk to computers, printers,
   and other devices using a common language.
   
   "PTP makes it easy to get pictures from a digital camera, and into a
   computer or printer", said Thomas J. Dufficy, PIMA Executive Vice
   President. "The PIMA-sponsored group, led by imaging and computer
   experts from Kodak and Microsoft, developed the standard.  The team
   also includes experts from Agilent Technologies, Apple Computer,
   FlashPoint Technology, Hewlett-Packard, Polaroid, Questra Consulting,
   Zing (FotoNation), and many others."
   
   PTP eliminates the need for camera-specific drivers for computer
   operating systems and other devices.  In their place, it provides one
   simple protocol with the flexibility to support devices such as
   digital cameras, photo printers, set-top boxes, and handheld devices.
   With a PTP-enabled platform and a PTP-enabled camera, users can plug
   in their digital camera and quickly view and use the images on their
   personal computer or printer without having to install software.   PTP
   supports common device controls, such as taking a picture, so that the
   user could take advantage of the PC/camera combination in new and
   different ways - again, without requiring any additional software.
   
   In addition, the PTP standard is "transport independent", meaning it
   can operate over many different physical media, including existing
   USB, IEEE 1394, and IrDA interfaces, as well as new Radio Frequency
   (RF) interfaces such as Bluetooth. The new standard provides all the
   details needed to use PTP with USB, the most popular interface on new
   digital cameras.  Detailed implementations for other interfaces will
   be developed.
   
   The PTP standard is formally known as PIMA15740: 2000, Photography -
   Electronic still picture imaging - Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP) for
   Digital Still Photography Devices  The specification and other
   information can be downloaded free of charge from the PIMA website,
   <URL:http://www.pima.net/ptp/>
   
   The first PTP-enabled products are now being introduced to market.
   Kodak's recently announced DC4800 zoom camera supports the PTP
   standard.  Other digital camera makers are expected to introduce new
   PTP cameras soon.  Microsoft Corp.'s soon to be available Windows
   Millennium Edition (Windows Me) consumer operating system is the first
   operating system platform to natively support PTP.   Other PTP
   devices, such as direct connect printers and set-top boxes, are
   expected to be introduced in the future.
   
   "The combination of digital cameras and PCs empowers people to express
   creativity in new ways," said Carl Stork, general manager Windows
   Hardware Strategy and Business Development at Microsoft. "PTP is
   important because it lets users just `Plug and Play' with their
   camera.  And, because PTP is a standard, it can greatly reduce
   device-specific software development requirements for both hardware
   and software companies, yet it is capable enough to allow for many
   potential areas of innovation."
   
   "PTP makes it simple to connect digital cameras to computers,
   printers, set-top boxes, and other devices" said Phil Gerskovich,
   Kodak vice president and chief operating officer, Digital and Applied
   Imaging.  "Kodak's DC4800 is the first of many new digital cameras
   that will support the PTP standard."
   
   "This is a big step forward in making digital photography easy for the
   consumer" said Lisa Walker, President of the Digital Imaging Group
   (DIG).  "The DIG is interested in working with PIMA to promote
   standards such as PTP, which advance our mutual goal of accelerating
   the growth of digital imaging".
   
   The PIMA trade association, founded in 1946, represents manufacturers
   of conventional and digital photography products.   PIMA has sponsored
   digital photography standards development since 1992.

   Press contacts:
   
   Jim Peyton, PIMA, phone (914) 698-7603, e-mail: jimpeyton@pima.net
   Joe Runde, Kodak, phone (716) 477-5204, e-mail: joseph.runde@kodak.com
   Stacy Breyfogle, Microsoft, e-mail: staceybr@exchange.microsoft.com

-- Ole

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