Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/01/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]A hoot+ACE- Love it+ACE- A bright spot in an otherwise drab day+ACE- Dna dwpost+AEA-msn.com - -----Original Message----- From: Khoffberg +ADw-khoffberg+AEA-email.msn.com+AD4- To: 'LUG' +ADw-leica-users+AEA-mejac.palo-alto.ca.us+AD4- Date: Friday, January 22, 1999 12:31 AM Subject: +AFs-Leica+AF0- If Bill Gates bought Leica +AD4- +AD4-Redmond. In a move that is sure to shock the photography world, it was +AD4-announced today that Bill Gates has bought Leica. Or more accurately, his +AD4-wife did. +AD4- +AD4AIg-Well, Bill always said he wanted a Leica,+ACI- said Melinda French, Bills wife. +AD4AIg-I went to the Internet and I guess I clicked the wrong button on my +AD4-browser. Somehow I got on e-trade instead of e-bay. It seemed a bit high +AD4-for a camera, but then, I'd always heard Leicas were pricey. I just didn't +AD4-realize I'd bought the whole company. Oh well, it wasn't really that +AD4-expensive.+ACI- +AD4- +AD4-A clearly delighted Gates has already begun to hatch plans for his new +AD4-acquisition. +ACI-It's a perfect fit,+ACI- says Gates. +ACI-Corbis already own the +AD4-electronic rights to most of the great Leica photographers, why not the +AD4-cameras as well?+ACI- +AD4- +AD4-Separately, a Microsoft spokesperson announced a series of new product +AD4-initiatives for the new Microsoft division. First on the list is the +AD4-sometimes troubled electronics of the flagship R8. The newly updated R2000 +AD4-will feature a new GUI interface built on Windows CE. The back of the +AD4-camera will be replaced with a touch screen that will be nose-activated +AD4-allowing the operator to select from among 28 custom programmed functions, +AD4-including an internet browser. Release date is unconfirmed but is thought +AD4-to be +ACI-sometime late next year.+ACI- +AD4- +AD4-In a bold bid to cease the high-ground in software standards for handling +AD4-analog images, Microsoft also announced a revised set of protocols called +AD4-ElmaritNT 2.8 which will feature new .apo and .asph extensions. +AD4- +AD4-Microsoft also announced a long awaited update to the long in the tooth M6. +AD4AIg-Users clearly want more functionality in their photo gear. Why should they +AD4-have to act as their own integrator?+ACI- The new M2000 will feature a fully +AD4-integrated metering, autofocus, auto film advance, and web browser that will +AD4-allow instant access to the internet from any urban location. In an effort +AD4-to create a true global standard, lens choices will be limited to 50mm +AD4-although third party providers are sure to rush additional offerings to +AD4-market. +AD4- +AD4-Separately, Sun Microsystems launched their new photography initiative +AD4-called Jaba. Said Sun CEO Scott McNeally, +ACI-The camera is dead. The network +AD4-is the camera.+ACI- +AD4- +AD4-Kevin Hoffberg +AD4- +AD4-