• alternative phonographs, was: Rise and Fall of Unix

    From danny burstein@dannyb@panix.com to alt.folklore.computers on Thu Jul 10 15:50:44 2025
    From Newsgroup: alt.folklore.computers

    In <9bRbQ.268488$sKi9.79563@fx14.iad> scott@alfter.diespammersdie.us (Scott Alfter) writes:

    In article <md6n3pFgaflU8@mid.individual.net>,
    Bob Eager <news0009@eager.cx> wrote:
    Don't forget the ACT Sirius. A DOS machine, that crammed more data onto a >>diskette buy using a variable speed drive (5 speeds, I think).

    Apple used the same trick with its 3.5" floppy drives to fit 800K onto a
    disk that was only good for 720K elsewhere.

    1975ish Superscope, whhich was in the midst of its breakup
    with Sony, and was coming up with its own line of products,
    sent our store promo materials for an upcoming phonograph
    player which... varied the rotational velocity (and keeping
    the same linear velocity).

    This let the outer tracks of a record hold more material,
    and thus extending the playing time.

    (It never got past a couple of demo units, if even that)
    --
    _____________________________________________________
    Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key
    dannyb@panix.com
    [to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded]
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  • From Bob Eager@news0009@eager.cx to alt.folklore.computers on Thu Jul 10 16:38:38 2025
    From Newsgroup: alt.folklore.computers

    On Thu, 10 Jul 2025 15:50:44 +0000, danny burstein wrote:

    1975ish Superscope, whhich was in the midst of its breakup with Sony,
    and was coming up with its own line of products,
    sent our store promo materials for an upcoming phonograph player
    which...
    varied the rotational velocity (and keeping the same linear velocity).

    This let the outer tracks of a record hold more material,
    and thus extending the playing time.

    (It never got past a couple of demo units, if even that)

    But later adopted for the CD, of course.
    --
    Using UNIX since v6 (1975)...

    Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
    http://www.mirrorservice.org
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  • From Lawrence D'Oliveiro@ldo@nz.invalid to alt.folklore.computers on Thu Jul 10 22:05:52 2025
    From Newsgroup: alt.folklore.computers

    On Thu, 10 Jul 2025 15:50:44 -0000 (UTC), danny burstein wrote:

    In <9bRbQ.268488$sKi9.79563@fx14.iad> scott@alfter.diespammersdie.us
    (Scott Alfter) writes:

    In article <md6n3pFgaflU8@mid.individual.net>,
    Bob Eager <news0009@eager.cx> wrote:

    Don't forget the ACT Sirius. A DOS machine, that crammed more data
    onto a diskette buy using a variable speed drive (5 speeds, I
    think).

    Apple used the same trick with its 3.5" floppy drives to fit 800K
    onto a disk that was only good for 720K elsewhere.

    1975ish Superscope, whhich was in the midst of its breakup with
    Sony, and was coming up with its own line of products, sent our
    store promo materials for an upcoming phonograph player which...
    varied the rotational velocity (and keeping the same linear
    velocity).

    AKA rCLCLV moderCY, as popularized (if you can call it that) in
    laserdiscs.
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  • From Jason Howe@jason@tatooine.smbfc.net to alt.folklore.computers on Sat Jul 19 16:01:42 2025
    From Newsgroup: alt.folklore.computers

    On Fri, 18 Jul 2025 23:59:39 -0000 (UTC), danny burstein <dannyb@panix.com> wrote:
    If I'm remembering my collection of units correctly,
    some of the more featured (and expensive!) LaserDisc players
    had internal memory storage so yes, you could freeze frame
    both types of disk.


    That sounds right.

    What I always wanted was for the dual sided players to do a read-ahead buffer or
    something for seemless side changes. That's a lot though considering the 30+ seconds it can take a player to "flip".

    Thinking about it, I guess the better option would be two independent laser assemblies, so the side B laser could pick up when side A was over. Then you could do away with the roller coaster rails for the laser to move around the disk.

    --
    Jason
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