y announced plans on Friday to add the DPP-SV88 "Home Photolab" to its successful line of photo-quality printers in January. This will expand the current line of Sony models including the DPP-SV55 and DPP-SV77 that offer high-quality prints and use-friendly operation. Equipped with a CD-RW drive, the DPP-SV88 enables digital photo archiving and printing via CD-R or CD-RW without a computer. Photos on a CD or Memory Stick can also be viewed on a TV screen. According to a Sony spokesperson, the multimedia device will be priced at DM 999 ($475).

The new photo printer can be operated in combination with a standard home TV using on-screen menus and a remote control handset. Integrated Video and S-Video jacks also make the DPP-SV88 printer an ideal tool for creative filmmakers. Using these video inputs, still shots can be captured from home videos and printed. According to Sony, the DPP-SV88 uses a sublimation process to produce non-fading, thermo-stable matt or glossy photos with up to 16.7 million colors. The DPP-SV88 prints 10 x 15 cm format photos in just 90 seconds. The printer can be connected to a computer via USB port and is compatible with all standard operating systems.