Editing Polaroid Corporation (section)

== Other ventures ==

==={{visible anchor|Polaroid Floppy disks}} (diskettes)===
[[File:5 25-QD-Diskette.jpg|thumb|upright|Polaroid {{frac|5|1|4}}-inch floppy disk]]
In 1985, Polaroid had its own brand of {{frac|5|1|4}}-inch [[floppy disk]]s,<ref name=PoLoFlopDis.NYT0485>{{cite news
|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/04/23/science/peripherals-double-play-in-baseball-software.html
|title=Double-Play in baseball software
|quote=box of Polaroid-PerfectData diskettes
|author=Peter H. Lewis
|date=April 23, 1985
|access-date=August 31, 2020
|archive-date=November 28, 2017
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171128121954/http://www.nytimes.com/1985/04/23/science/peripherals-double-play-in-baseball-software.html
|url-status=live
}}</ref> and also a [[data recovery]] service.<ref name=PoLoidFlops.NYT85>{{cite news
|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/21/business/what-s-new-in-computer-repair-recovering-data-from-damaged-disks.html
|title=What's new in computer repair: recovering data from damaged disks
|author=Kendail J. Wils
|date=July 21, 1985
|access-date=August 31, 2020
|archive-date=November 26, 2017
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171126035410/http://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/21/business/what-s-new-in-computer-repair-recovering-data-from-damaged-disks.html
|url-status=live
}}</ref> In 1987, ''The New York Times'' described it as a major brand.<ref>(alphabetically) {{cite news
|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/15/science/personal-computers-holiday-hardware.html
|title=Holiday Hardware
|quote=Fuji, Maxell, Polaroid, Sony, 3M and Verbatim
|author=Peter H. Lewis
|date=December 15, 1987
|access-date=August 31, 2020
|archive-date=October 21, 2021
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021171352/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/15/science/personal-computers-holiday-hardware.html
|url-status=live
}}</ref> In 1985, ''The New York Times'' listed it a notch lower in an almost reverse alphabetical list,''<ref name=PoLoidFlops.NYT1988>Verbatim dropped, BASF added: {{cite news
|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/10/business/the-executive-computer-difficulties-in-choosing-diskettes.html
|title=Difficulties in Choosing Diskettes
|quote=3M, Sony, Maxell, Polaroid, Fuji and BASF
|author=Peter H. Lewis
|date=July 10, 1988
|access-date=August 31, 2020
|archive-date=September 22, 2021
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922204445/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/10/business/the-executive-computer-difficulties-in-choosing-diskettes.html
|url-status=live
}}</ref>'' and noted "remember that those companies established their reputations by selling other products, not diskettes."

By mid 1991, they stopped selling floppy disks.<ref>{{cite news
|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/11/business/at-polaroid-more-than-snapshots.html
|title=At Polaroid, More Than Snapshots
|author=Glenn Rifkin
|date=June 11, 1991
|access-date=August 31, 2020
|archive-date=August 28, 2020
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828051518/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/11/business/at-polaroid-more-than-snapshots.html
|url-status=live
}}</ref> The packaging used both ''Polaroid'' and ''PerfectData'' brands<ref>{{cite news
   |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]
   |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/23/business/advertising-polaroid-shuffles-agencies.html
   |title=Advertising: Polaroid Shuffles Agencies
   |author=Philip H. Dougherty
   |date=July 23, 1984
   |access-date=August 31, 2020
   |archive-date=May 24, 2015
   |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524155351/http://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/23/business/advertising-polaroid-shuffles-agencies.html
   |url-status=live
   }}</ref><ref name=PoLoFlopDis.NYT0485/><ref>{{cite news
|newspaper=[[The Los Angeles Times]]
|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-10-01-fi-19442-story.html
|title=PerfectData Drops Sale of Floppy Disks, Cites Downturn in Industry
|author=James Bates
|date=October 1, 1985
|access-date=2020-08-31
|archive-date=2022-08-07
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807234404/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-10-01-fi-19442-story.html
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

===Corporate sponsorship of motorsports===
In the 1990s, Polaroid was involved in corporate sponsorship of [[NASCAR]]. For several years, Polaroid was the principal sponsor of NASCAR's 125 mile [[Whelen Modified Tour|Featherlite Modified]] race at Watkins Glen and it was called the "Polaroid 125". The Polaroid name was also used in sponsorship in the NASCAR [[Xfinity Series|Busch Series]]. In 1992, Polaroid was the principal sponsor of female NASCAR driver Shawna Robinson's #25 Oldsmobile in the Busch Series. They continued as her principal sponsor when she moved to the other car numbers in 1993 and 1994.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet?id=robinsh01&yr=1993&series=B |title=Shawna Robinson 1993 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results |access-date=2014-02-25 |archive-date=2014-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305214144/http://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet?id=robinsh01&yr=1993&series=B |url-status=live }}</ref>

Polaroid formerly sponsored the [[Target Corporation|Target]] [[Chip Ganassi Racing|Chip Ganassi]]<ref>[http://www.chipganassiracing.com/sponsors/index.cfm?cid=1370] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414110827/http://www.chipganassiracing.com/sponsors/index.cfm?cid=1370|date=April 14, 2009}}</ref> entry of Juan Pablo Montoya's #42 Chevy Impala<ref>[http://www.jpmontoya.com/2010/index.php/en/team] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100405091650/http://www.jpmontoya.com/2010/index.php/en/team|date=April 5, 2010}}</ref> in the [[Sprint Cup Series|NASCAR Sprint Cup Series]] and entries in the [[IndyCar Series|IRL Indy Car Series]], including the car driven by Dario Franchitti.<ref>[https://sports.yahoo.com/irl/news?slug=ap-indy500]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530225622/http://sports.yahoo.com/irl/news?slug=ap-indy500|date=May 30, 2010}}</ref><ref name="INDY1">{{cite web |publisher=Indianapolis Motor Speedway |url=http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/indy500/ |title=Indy 500 |access-date=2010-05-31 |archive-date=2010-05-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100508205419/http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/indy500/ |url-status=live }}{{Page needed|date=February 2015}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=February 2015}}

The Polaroid name has also been associated with the NOPI drift series. Polaroid was the principal sponsor of the Nissan 350Z driven by Nick Bollea in the 2007 season.<ref>{{cite web |author=かんいさいばんしょでのみんじじけん (2014.10.21&nbsp;23:37) |url=http://hogandrift.com/index.html |title=簡易裁判所で取り扱っている民事事件 » Blog Archive » 支払督促を受けた場合 |work=Hogandrift.com |date=2014-10-21 |access-date=2015-05-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007052240/http://hogandrift.com/index.html |archive-date=2015-10-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://hogandrift.com/copy_of_index.html |title=Home |website=Hogan Drift |access-date=February 7, 2016 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031082045/http://hogandrift.com/copy_of_index.html |archive-date=October 31, 2007 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2007/10/29/298798.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213170536/http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2007/10/29/298798.html|date=February 13, 2009}}</ref>

=== Discontinuation and relaunch of Polaroid film ===
On February 8, 2008, Polaroid (under the control of [[Tom Peters|Thomas J. Petters]] of [[Petters Group Worldwide]]) announced that the company has decided to gradually cease production and withdraw from analog instant film products completely in 2008.<ref name="polaroid_notification">{{cite web|url=http://www.polaroid.com/ifilm/en/index.html |title=Notification of Polaroid Instant Film Availability |date=2008-02-18 |work=Polaroid Corporation |access-date=2009-06-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090607014550/http://www.polaroid.com/ifilm/en/index.html |archive-date=June 7, 2009 }}</ref> Since March 2010, instant film materials for vintage Polaroid cameras have again become available on the market, developed and manufactured by a group called The [[Polaroid Originals|Impossible Project]], at the former Polaroid production plant in [[Enschede]], [[Netherlands]].<ref name="Guardian1">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2010/apr/05/polaroid-impossible-project-instant-photography|title=The Polaroid revival|date=5 April 2010|work=The Guardian|publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited|location=London|author=[[Sean O'Hagan (journalist)|Sean O'Hagan]]|access-date=8 December 2011|archive-date=3 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203154119/http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2010/apr/05/polaroid-impossible-project-instant-photography|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="impossible">{{cite web|url=https://shop.the-impossible-project.com/shop/film|title=Shop for Film {{!}} Impossible. Analog Instant Film and Cameras|author=Impossible b.v.|access-date=30 July 2015|work=Impossible B.V.|archive-date=27 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150727143556/https://shop.the-impossible-project.com/shop/film|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Austrian photographer Florian Kaps, the owner of the largest online vendor for [[Polaroid SX-70|SX-70]] films and organizer of the web-based instant photo gallery Polanoid.net, had bought the approximately 500,000 film packages that were on stock. He teamed with André Bosman, a former head of film production in the large Polaroid film factory at Enschede, designed a plan to redesign the SX-70/600 film system in collaboration with [[Ilford Photo]], and convinced the Polaroid owners to participate. Plans for a relaunch under the Impossible label were announced in January 2009.<ref name="dugan">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/smile-polaroid-is-saved-1418929.html|title=Smile! Polaroid is saved|last=Dugan|first=Emily|date=2009-01-18|work=The Independent|access-date=2009-06-20|location=London|archive-date=2009-03-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318194214/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/smile-polaroid-is-saved-1418929.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Buildings in the Enschede plant, which had produced 30 million film packs in 2007 and 24 million in the first half of 2008, were leased to the company created by Kaps, who by May 2009 had raised $2.6 million from friends and family<ref name="dougherty">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/technology/26polaroid.html |title=Polaroid Lovers Try to Revive Its Instant Film |last=Dougherty |first=Carter |date=2009-05-25 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=2009-06-20 |archive-date=2012-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120809003822/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/technology/26polaroid.html |url-status=live }}</ref> for what he had named The Impossible Project.<ref name="robertson">{{cite news |url=https://nationalpost.com/related/topics/story.html?id=1361555 |title=Can one man save Polaroid? |last=Robertson |first=Justin |date=2009-03-06 |work=National Post |access-date=2009-06-20 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

On March 22, 2010, Impossible announced the release of two monochromatic films, PX100 and PX600, compatible with SX-70 and 600 type cameras, respectively.<ref name="bjp">{{cite news|url=http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=873885 |title=Impossible relaunches Polaroid's instant films, ends three years of speculations |date=2010-03-22 |work=British Journal of Photography |access-date=2010-03-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325003856/http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=873885 |archive-date=March 25, 2010 }}</ref> Color films were initially released in 2010 for SX-70 type cameras, followed in 2011 with the release of much improved color films for Polaroid 600, SX-70 and Spectra Cameras.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://petapixel.com/2011/05/05/impossible-launches-new-color-instant-film-for-polaroid-lovers/|title=Impossible Launches New Color Instant Film for Polaroid Lovers|website=petapixel.com|date=5 May 2011|access-date=2019-10-22|archive-date=2019-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022174645/https://petapixel.com/2011/05/05/impossible-launches-new-color-instant-film-for-polaroid-lovers/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Then Impossible had originally announced a new camera that was going to be styled after older Polaroid models to coincide with the new film. The camera was due to come out before Christmas 2010, but the deadline passed with no new information on the camera.{{Citation needed|date=February 2015}} In April 2016, Impossible released the Impossible I-1; however, it was not styled after older Polaroid cameras. It was the first camera to use I-type Film and was backwards compatible with 600 Film due to I-type film being 600 film without a battery. After rebranding to Polaroid Originals, the company released another camera in September 2017 called the OneStep 2. This camera was modeled after the original [[Polaroid OneStep|OneStep]] with new features as originally planned, though the OneStep 2 uses the same type of film as the Impossible I-1 unlike the OneStep that used SX-70 Film.

On April 28, 2012, the documentary "Time Zero: The Last Year of Polaroid Film", directed by Grant Hamilton, was released in the U.S. It covers the rise, fall, and grass-roots revival of Polaroid's instant film technology.<ref>{{cite web|title=Time Zero Movie|url=http://timezeromovie.com/|website=Time Zero Movie|access-date=April 3, 2015|archive-date=April 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407033833/http://timezeromovie.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Mobile printers ===
In summer 2008 Polaroid released the PoGo, an instant photo printer producing {{convert|2|x|3|in}} prints. It uses the [[Zink (technology)|Zink]] ("zero ink") technology which is similar to [[dye sublimation]] but has the dye crystals embedded in the photo paper itself.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://zink.com/ |title=Home Page &#124; ZINK Imaging |work=Zink.com |date=2013-01-27 |access-date=2015-05-09 |archive-date=2015-04-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410113729/https://www.zink.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Models CZA-10011B and CZA-20011B exist (which Polaroid claim to be identical).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.polaroid.com/faqs/photo-printer-faqs/what-is-the-difference-between-a-cza-10011-cza-20011-and-a-pogo-printer |access-date=12 February 2014 |publisher=PLR Ecommerce |title=What is the difference between a CZA-10011, CZA-20011 and a PoGo Printer? |quote=PoGo printer is the common name for the original Polaroid Instant Mobile printer which produces 2*3 instant prints.  CZA-10011 and CZA-20011 are model numbers for the PoGo Printer and differ only in their packaging. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117102828/http://www.polaroid.com/faqs/photo-printer-faqs/what-is-the-difference-between-a-cza-10011-cza-20011-and-a-pogo-printer |archive-date=January 17, 2014 }}</ref>

In 2009, the CZA-05300B PoGo, a 5 megapixel digital camera integrated with a Zink printer, was released.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}

In 2011, the company released the Polaroid GL10 Instant Mobile Printer producing 3 by 4 inch prints.<ref name=Gaga>Staff, Voxy. "[http://www.voxy.co.nz/technology/lady-gaga-launches-mobile-printer/5/101310 Lady Gaga Launches Mobile Printer] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416082852/http://www.voxy.co.nz/technology/lady-gaga-launches-mobile-printer/5/101310 |date=April 16, 2016 }}." September 14, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2011.</ref> The printer, designed by Polaroid and [[Lady Gaga]], allows people to print directly from a mobile phone or digital camera.<ref name=Gaga /> This product is the first product in the new Polaroid Grey Label line.<ref name=Gaga />

=== Digital photography ===
Polaroid released a line of cameras without printers including the t1035, a 10-megapixel digital camera.<ref>[http://store.polaroid.com/media/document/t1035_manual_EN20090715.pdf Polaroid t1035 digital camera]{{dead link|date=January 2016}}</ref>

In January 2012, Polaroid announced a new "smart camera", entitled the Polaroid SC1630 smart camera, which is powered by [[Google Android]]. The SC1630 is a combination of a camera and a [[portable media player]], that allows users to take photos with a built-in 16 MP HD camera, download apps from [[Google Play]], check their email, and browse the web. The built-in camera allows 3X optical zoom. Other features on the media player include [[Wi-Fi]], [[touch screen]], [[geotagging]], smart albums, and 32&nbsp;GB of storage via a micro [[SD card]].<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.polaroid.com/en/press/2012/1/10/polaroid-announces-sc1630-smart-camera |title=Polaroid Announces the Sc1630 Smart Camera Powered by Android |website=Polaroid |access-date=March 3, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315133351/http://www.polaroid.com/en/press/2012/1/10/polaroid-announces-sc1630-smart-camera |archive-date=March 15, 2012 }}</ref>

In September 2014 Polaroid introduced a $99 [[action camera]] named the "Polaroid Cube", marketed as an alternative to cameras such as the GoPro Hero (which retails for $129), specifically for casual, light users of action camcorders.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Alvarez|first1=Edgar|title=IRL: The Polaroid Cube is a tiny camera that leaves you wanting more|date=January 2015 |url=https://www.engadget.com/2015/01/01/irl-polaroid-cube/|access-date=April 3, 2015|archive-date=April 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406195329/http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/01/irl-polaroid-cube/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015 [[GoPro]] released the similar GoPro HERO4 Session.

=== Wideblue ===

In March 2006, the specialist design and development department in Polaroid's [[Vale of Leven]] plant in Scotland was bought out by its management team. Known as Wideblue the company specializes in helping small technology based companies develop products and manufacturing processes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wide-blue.com/pages/talentscot.htm|title=Wideblue in Management Buy-out|last=talentscotland|website=www.wide-blue.com|access-date=2016-03-30|archive-date=2016-04-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409040931/http://www.wide-blue.com/pages/talentscot.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2014 Wideblue was hired to design the Impossible Project mass market instant camera.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/business/13151945.Wideblue_hired_to_design_new_mass_market_instant_camera/|title=Wideblue hired to design new mass-market instant camera|website=Herald Scotland|date=24 March 2014 |access-date=2016-03-30|archive-date=2016-04-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413185502/http://www.heraldscotland.com/business/13151945.Wideblue_hired_to_design_new_mass_market_instant_camera/|url-status=live}}</ref>