REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 3, 2000 — Microsoft Corp. today announced it has formed an alliance with Fuji Photo Film USA Inc. to make digital imaging even more accessible for consumers. As part of the alliance, Fujifilm will incorporate Microsoft® Picture It!® Express 2000 photo-editing software into every new Fujicolor CD.
Jon Schwarz, worldwide product manager for Consumer Publishing and Imaging at Microsoft, stated that the digital imaging industry has experienced great success because early adopters embraced digital imaging technologies, but the consumer portion of the market has been growing at a slower pace.
“Consumers are interested in digital imaging, but they still think it is hard to do or that it requires expensive equipment,”
Schwarz said.
“That’s why we are excited to be working with Fujifilm on its new Fujicolor CD.”
The new Fujicolor CD makes it easier and more affordable for consumers to get their photos into their PC and try their hand at digital imaging. With the Fujicolor CD, consumers no longer have to buy digital cameras or install and operate scanners just to load their pictures onto their PC. Instead, they can visit their local Fujifilm retailing partner, check off a box on the order envelope, and get their pictures back on a CD.
Because every Fujicolor CD now includes Microsoft Picture It! Express 2000, consumers can edit, enhance and then share their photos immediately with friends and family. Picture It! Express 2000 features basic tools for improving photos, making it easy for users to correct red-eye, adjust color and brightness, remove dust and scratches, crop, sharpen, and even turn color photos into black and white.
In addition, Picture It! Express 2000 makes it simple for consumers to share their photos in print or by e-mail. Picture It! Express 2000 walks users through the process of sending photos by e-mail, automatically compresses the photos into one attachment, and uses compression to reduce the file size.
Schwarz emphasized that Microsoft is committed to making digital imaging accessible for consumers.
“Picture It! Express 2000 provides a simple introduction to digital imaging,”
he said.
“After users experience how easy and fun photo-editing can be, they may want to create photo projects to share with their friends and family. To that end, we have included with every Fujicolor CD a $10 mail-in rebate coupon for customers who acquire the full retail version of Picture It! 2000.”
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Picture It! 2000 is the fourth version of Microsoft’s award-winning photo-editing software and, according to PC Data Inc., has been the No. 1 best-selling consumer photo-editing application at retail since its initial launch in October 1996. DigitalFocus recently awarded Picture It! 2000 the Excellence in Digital Imaging Award for consumer image-editing software. According to Chris O’Malley of DigitalFocus, Picture It! 2000 epitomizes the balance of features and fun that most consumers want in an image-editing program.
“In a crowded field of worthy products, Picture It! 2000 distinguishes itself with push-button ease, lots of projects and new Web features,”
O’Malley said.
Picture It! 2000 is the only consumer photo-editing software product that features a new Mini Lab, which allows users to fix multiple photos at the same time. With two CD-ROMs filled with high-quality photo backgrounds and project templates, and a new Web Posting Wizard, Picture It!
2000 makes it easy to create, edit and enhance a wide range of photo projects, including Web albums, Web pages, Web collages, wallpaper, cards, calendars, funny money, magazine covers, trading cards, flyers, business cards, collages and photo albums. Picture It! 2000 is available for an estimated retail price of $54.95. Customers can visit http://www.microsoft.com/pictureit/ for more information.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software – any time, any place and on any device.
*Rebate valid in the 50 United States, District of Columbia and Canada only with qualifying proofs of purchase. Expires Sept. 30, 2000. Limit one rebate per address. Not to be combined with other Microsoft offers or rebates (except for the Picture It! 2000 in-box $20 rebate offer). Microsoft and Picture It! are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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