JPEG Compression Breakthrough Debuts With StuffIt Deluxe 9 From Allume Systems

CreativePro Staff

Allume Systems, Inc., an IMSI company (BULLETIN BOARD: IMSI) , today announced that StuffIt Deluxe(R) 9.0 for Windows will ship in the current quarter. StuffIt Deluxe® will be the first product to incorporate Allume’s revolutionary new image technology that allows StuffIt to compress JPEG images up to 30% without any loss of quality.
While existing archive solutions, such as zip, are unable to compress already-compressed JPEG images, StuffIt’s new patent pending technology is able to replace the lossless component of the JPEG file format with a more efficient method. And just as important is there is no loss in image quality. StuffIt Deluxe also includes important enhancements to the way in which images are stored; as JPEG’s are added to the archive, StuffIt generates decompress the file and stores thumbnail data so that users can quickly access previews of archived pictures without having to decompress the image.
“This new photo compression technology makes StuffIt a perfect companion for any digital lifestyle,” said Matthew Covington, Senior Product Manager at Allume Systems. “Whether you take photos for a living or just for fun, it’s now easier than ever to share and store your pictures. With our breakthough image compression technology you can send more photos via email and fit more photos on CDs, DVDs; or any other type of storage media — all without having to compromise the quality of the image.”
Besides the new image compression technology, Allume announced other new features scheduled for the release:

• NEW! ZipMagic® — StuffIt Deluxe 9 will include a brand new, Windows XP-compatible version of it’s patented Zip Magic technology. ZipMagic is a device driver that provides transparent access to zip archives from Windows Explorer and any application. Zip Magic allows users to work with items stored in zip archives exactly as they would work with items stored in a regular directory; users can open documents located in Zip archives from the “Open” dialog of their favorite application, make changes and save the document back to the archive, all without having to decompress the file.
• NEW! Integrated CD and DVD burning — StuffIt now includes built-in CD and DVD burning technology so that users can create archives and burn those archives to CDs and DVDs with a single simple step. The smart-segmenting feature included in the StuffIt X (.sitx) files format means that archives too large to fit on a single CD or DVD will automatically be created in multiple sections and burned across multiple disks. Combined with StuffIt’s disk index technology, users can also create a searchable catalog of any CDs they burn with StuffIt so that they can later be browsed and searched even when they have been put away for storage and are not in the computer.
• NEW! Virus Protection — StuffIt now includes new ways to protect yourself from receiving viruses by opening files you expand from archives. StuffIt now works with your existing virus scanning software (including solutions from McAfee, Symatec, Computer Associates and Trend Micro) to scan all files automatically when they are expanded from an archive.

Additionally StuffIt Deluxe provides a number of features that emphasize the data management aspect of archiving:

• File Access — StuffIt provides a number of tools designed to improved access to already compress data; ArchiveSearch(TM) allows users to search the contents of archives stored locally and on accessible servers, and StuffIt Disk Index extends this coverage to include files stored on removable backup media.
• Backup — StuffIt provides users with the tools necessary to automate archive tasks, even allowing scheduled incremental backups directly to CD, DVD, or remote FTP server.
• Integration — StuffIt Deluxe includes tools that allow the user to access compression commands directly from Windows contextual menu. It provides direct access to StuffIt from Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Internet Connectivity — StuffIt Deluxe provides a number of built in connectivity options that make transferring archives over the Internet easy. StuffIt includes both a built in FTP and email client, allowing most file transfer tasks to be completed from with-in StuffIt’s easy to use Wizards.

StuffIt exclusively features the StuffIt X archive file format which demonstrates Allume’s leadership and continued innovation in the data compression industry. The ability to losslessly compress already-compressed JPEG images is only one of the technologies StuffIt X provides users looking for the smallest possible archives. StuffIt X incorporates a number of built in encryption technologies, and supports key lengths up to 512bits. And StuffIt X’s unique redundancy technology that allows missing data to be recovered in the event that an archive is damaged due to disk or transfer errors. Overall StuffIt X archives provide users with a highly secure wrapper that can be used to both compress and secure information being transferred over the network, or across the internet, or archived for long term storage.
Pricing and Availability
StuffIt Deluxe 9.0 for Windows sells for $39.99, while StuffIt Standard Edition 9.0 for Windows costs $24.99. Both products are available online from https://www.stuffit.com/ or from retail outlets. Users of any previous version of StuffIt Deluxe can upgrade for only $14.99. For more information on upgrades and other pricing visit: https://www.allume.com/store/upgrades.html add the stuffit.com.
System Requirements
Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP, or 2003 Server; at least 64MB of installed RAM; 40MB hard disk space. ZipMagic requires Windows 2000 or Windows XP.
Allume Systems, Inc: Everyday Solutions™
Founded in 1988, Allume Systems, Inc., an IMSI company, develops and publishes award-winning software solutions for Windows and Macintosh. Allume’s leading brands are StuffIt®, Internet Cleanup™ and Spring Cleaningreg}. Formerly known as Aladdin Systems, Allume Systems enables people and businesses to communicate and manage their ideas and information. Allume’s software offers a range of solutions, empowering users in the areas of information access, removal, recovery, security, productivity and Internet distribution.
Allume Systems is located at 245 Westridge Drive, Watsonville, CA 95076, USA; telephone: 831-761-6200; fax: 831-761-6206. Internet: https://www.allume.com/ or https://stuffit.com/ .
About IMSI
Founded in 1982, IMSI’s flagship product TurboCAD(R) and DesignCAD{tmt} make it a leader in the precision design market. The company’s online properties focus on the sale of content and services to the architectural, engineering and construction market through its stock house plans site at Houseplans.com, https://www.houseplans.com/ and https://www.homeplanfinder.com/ and the online CAD symbol site, https://www.cadsymbols.com/ . IMSI on the Net: https://www.imsisoft.com/ .