Software:DigitaOS

From HandWiki
Digita Operating Environment
DigitaOS logo.jpg
DeveloperFlashpoint Technology, Inc
Written inC
Working stateDiscontinued
Source modelClosed-source
Initial releaseMay 20, 1998; 26 years ago (1998-05-20)
2001 (2001)|Final release|Latest release}}1.5 / November 18, 1999; 25 years ago (1999-11-18)[1]
Marketing targetDigital cameras

DigitaOS was a short lived digital camera operating system created by Flashpoint Technology and used on various Kodak, Pentax, and HP cameras in the late 1990s.[2][3][4] DigitaOS debuted with the Kodak DC220 on 20 May 1998,[5] and was released on a total of 11 camera models[6] before it was abandoned in 2001.[7] DigitaOS was notable for its ability to run third-party software,[8] a concept that was not again realized until the release of various Android based digital cameras in the early 2010s.[9][10]

DigitaOS applications were programmed either as JIT compiled scripts using "Digita Script",[11][12] or AOT compiled programs written in C[13] using an official SDK.[14] The operating system abstracted away most camera functionality and hardware platform differences, allowing software to be compatible with most DigitaOS cameras.[15] Additionally, DigitaOS handled the GUI presented to the user and basic camera functionality.[15]

Because of its ability to run third-party software, several games were ported to it. The most notable of these being DOOM[16] and MAME.[17]

Cameras using DigitaOS

  • Kodak DC220
  • Kodak DC260
  • Kodak DC265
  • Kodak DC290
  • Minolta Dimage 1500 EX
  • Minolta 1500 3D
  • HP C500 Photosmart
  • HP C618 Photosmart
  • HP C912 Photosmart
  • PENTAX EI-200
  • PENTAX EI-2000[6][18][4]

References

  1. "DigitaOS memorial page". http://lisas.de/digita/. 
  2. "digitacamera.com: home". 2001-02-02. http://www.digitacamera.com/. 
  3. "DIGITA OS". http://mesh.brown.edu/en193s08-2003/refs/digita.html. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Pentax to release a range of digital cameras?". https://www.dpreview.com/articles/1835430953/flashpntpentax. 
  5. "Kodak DC220: Digital Photography Review". https://www.dpreview.com/products/kodak/compacts/kodak_dc220. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 "MAMED! - Camera Info". 2007-12-15. http://digita.mame.net/reviews.htm. 
  7. 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." (in en). https://twitter.com/FroyoTam/status/1147594168606191618. 
  8. "Global smartphones reaching peak sales point" (in en-US). 2019-06-07. https://thedeadpixelssociety.com/as-digital-camera-struggle-global-smartphones-reaching-peak-sales-point/. 
  9. "Did you know: Android was originally designed for digital cameras not phones" (in en-US). 2020-05-02. https://www.androidauthority.com/android-history-digital-cameras-1111795/. 
  10. "Samsung announces EK-GC100 Galaxy Camera with Android Jelly Bean, massive 4.8-inch display, 21x zoom, WiFi and 4G connectivity (hands-on)" (in en). https://www.engadget.com/2012-08-29-samsung-ek-gc100-galaxy-camera-hands-on.html. 
  11. Flashpoint Technology (1999-11-08). "Script Guide Digita™ Operating Environment". http://lisas.de/digita/Script%20Guide.PDF. 
  12. Flashpoint Technology (1999-12-07). "Script Reference Digita™ Operating Environment". http://lisas.de/digita/Script%20Reference.PDF. 
  13. "Dr. Dobb's | Good stuff for serious developers: Programming Tools, Code, C++, Java, HTML5, Cloud, Mobile, Testing". http://www.drdobbs.com/embedded-systems/sourcecode/the-digita-os-an-extensible-imaging-pl/30202222. 
  14. "DigitaDev.com for Digita application developers". 2001-08-14. http://www.digitadev.com:80/home.emm. 
  15. 15.0 15.1 Vidales, Carlos E.; Farrelly, Eugene M.. "The Digita OS: An Extensible Imaging Platform". http://www.drdobbs.com/embedded-systems/the-digita-os-an-extensible-imaging-pl/184404353. 
  16. (in en) DOOM on a Digital Camera from 1998!, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gCZZkBATSc, retrieved 2020-05-13 
  17. "MAMED!". 2009-02-19. http://digita.mame.net:80/. 
  18. "HP and Pentax announce two new Digital Cameras". https://www.dpreview.com/articles/4302985751/hpdigicams.