Apple PowerCD (1993)
A CD-ROM, Photo CD and audio player documented by Apple in 1993. It connects to Macintosh by SCSI and television by video, with a remote and adapter or battery power.

© Marcin Wichary · CC BY 2.0 ↗
Specs
| Memory | 256 KB buffer |
| Ports | 50-pin SCSI · video/audio · headphones |
| Extras | CD-ROM · Photo CD · audio CD |
Documented in 1993
August 1993 AppleFacts includes PowerCD and the consulted brochure is dated July 1993. These original sources establish 1993; no exact launch date is used without its contemporary announcement.
Apple promoted three products in one: CD-ROM drive, Photo CD player and audio-CD player. This describes functions, not an independently established world first.
Connections and formats
AppleFacts specifies a 256 KB buffer, 50-pin SCSI, video/audio output, stereo sound output and headphones. The 2.1 MB-per-second figure is SCSI burst rate, not sustained disc reading.
Apple distinguished NTSC and PAL television versions. The brochure requires System 6.0.7 or later and at least 1 MB in the Macintosh; that RAM belongs to the computer, not PowerCD.
Power and photograph
The July brochure specifies the supplied adapter or eight AA batteries, not included, for the player. The remote used two AAA batteries: these supplies must not be confused. Photo CD images could be viewed on television without Macintosh playback.
Marcin Wichary photographed PowerCD with its remote in 2005. CC BY 2.0, without new changes. PowerCD is visible, not its NTSC/PAL variant or proof of operation. Not a launch photo.