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Kodak says it might have to cease operations [updated]

cnn.com

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Re: Kodak says it might have to cease operations [updated]

#4

Post by moomin »

It’s sad to see. As I understand it, digital photography forced camera companies to decide if they were principally about film or about photos and imaging. The competition in the image space was brutal, which phones winning the mass market by a huge margin. Those that quietly moved into recondite but valuable areas of technical specialisation did much better, but they’re not camera companies anymore.

Re: Kodak says it might have to cease operations [updated]

#5

Post by kotaKat »

physicsguy wrote: post #2

It's not really the same company it was... just a name now.

There’s a bunch of Kodaks.

* Eastman Kodak

* Kodak Alaris

* at least four separate Kodak licensees or more all also making photographic products among other plastic sludge: https://www.engadget.com/general/a-tale-of-four-kodaks-17304...

Re: Kodak says it might have to cease operations [updated]

#6

Post by mastry »

> Kodak aims to conjure up cash by ceasing payments for its retirement pension plan.

I assume this means payments to retirees. It's a good reminder that (if you can help it) you should not rely 100% on any external source (including the government) for your retirement income.

Re: Kodak says it might have to cease operations [updated]

#7

Post by seanhunter »

moomin wrote: post #4

It’s sad to see. As I understand it, digital photography forced camera companies to decide if they were principally about film or about photos and imaging. The competition in the image space was brutal, which phones winning the mass market by a huge margin. Those that quietly moved into recondite but valuable areas of technical specialisation did much better, but they’re not camera companies anymore.

Kodak give the world the first digital camera[1]. It took mismanagement on a gargantuan scale for them to fail in this manner.

[1] https://www.kodak.com/en/company/page/photography-history/

Re: Kodak says it might have to cease operations [updated]

#8

Post by dtagames »

moomin wrote: post #4

It’s sad to see. As I understand it, digital photography forced camera companies to decide if they were principally about film or about photos and imaging. The competition in the image space was brutal, which phones winning the mass market by a huge margin. Those that quietly moved into recondite but valuable areas of technical specialisation did much better, but they’re not camera companies anymore.

Kodak itself was the first to demonstrate a digital camera in 1975.[0] There is no one else to blame for any decisions.

[0] https://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/kodak-engineer-ha...

Re: Kodak says it might have to cease operations [updated]

#10

Post by compsciphd »

kotaKat wrote: post #5
physicsguy wrote: post #2

It's not really the same company it was... just a name now.

There’s a bunch of Kodaks. * Eastman Kodak * Kodak Alaris * at least four separate Kodak licensees or more all also making photographic products among other plastic sludge: https://www.engadget.com/general/a-tale-of-four-kodaks-17304...

kodak spun off Eastman Chemical decades ago (my dad owned some of their stock and held it to their bankruptcy).

But looking at it, kodak shareholders were given 1 share of Eastman chemical for every 4 shares of Kodak they had. Eastman chemical has split once since then. Eastman chemical is now $60. Kodak ended 1993 (the new company was created jan 1 1994 I believe) at $56 a share.

So that would imply that eastman chemical, that was viewed as 1/5th the value of the combined company in 1994 is now the value of the parent that was left over then (and no longer really exists).

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