Ericsson of Sony Ericsson fame appears to be taking a new approach to towards the future of its cell phones. Instead of dreaming up new options in a never-ending quest to outdo the ‘cell phone Jones’s’, they seem more intent on improving the features already available.
Plans for 2012 are grandiose indeed, including first and foremost the inclusion of improved integrated cameras. Instead of opting for the more conventional 2 mega-pixels and even the 5-8 range, which is already pushing the envelope, they plan on having cameras equipped with 12 to 20 mega-pixels! While 12 may well be an acceptable goal, 20 is reaching quite high.
HD video recording is already a feature of digital imaging and adding this to the list of functionality for camera phones is well within reach. But Ericsson is determined to push the functionality aspect so that it equals that of the high-end camcorders of today. This would require a lot more storage for these phones. Ericsson is also focused on creating an extra speedy 1GHz processor and LTE100+ Mbps mobile broadband connection. It is hoped that along with these innovations which are known battery hogs, Ericsson is also thinking about power concerns as well.
Netflix recently made the move and offered a set top box (The Netflix Player) to stream their content. Now Kodak, a company that has been synonymous with photography as long as I can remember, is jumping in. My initial reaction: this thing will fail like the Microsoft web box you connected to your TV – that was Microsoft right? The Kodak Theatre HD Player (not a good name) will allow users to view photos from a variety of sources including the Kodak Gallery, as well as Flickr and many other popular photo sharing services (it connects to your homes network by WiFi or Ethernet). Additionally, users will be able to access streaming content from You Tube and perhaps (not confirmed or denied) sites of a similar ilk. The box will be operated via the included remote control and get as good as 720p, not 1080i.
The Kodak Theatre HD Player hit stores September 2008 and cost $300. You can preorder it from Amazon today.
So Polaroid gets out of the instant pic biz and goes kid photo friendly, WTF? The Pixie cameras capture 3-megapixel photos (there’s also a video camera line), sport a 2.4″LCD, has a fixed focus lens and include games played via a directional pad and ‘a’ ‘b’ buttons. Notably, there’s also two viewfinders; probably for kids that can’t manage ‘depth of field’ using one eye. …Continue reading: Polaroid Gets Into Kids Photography
Why depend on the analog when you can have digital. Probably the adage photographer Ben Long follows. He managed to hack his iPhone (i.e. Jailbreak) and install an app called iLevel to take balanced and even photographs. This was his alternative solution to running to the store to purchase an analog version.
One of the inherent problems with digital photos is keeping tracking of them. Ideally the camera would figure out whose in the scene and tag accordingly. For now, our best bet is a GPS logger, such as the Holux M-241 (resembles a Kodak analog film roll). Just slip the device in your pocket and turn it to on. Once it acquires coordinates it will capture its location (up to 130,000 way points) in preset intervals with time stamp. Once the photos are uploaded you simply need to match the time stamps and bingo, you’ve got tagged pictures. Sure it still doesn’t tell you who (wink) or what you were doing, but at least they’ll be more manageable then ‘pic-10102′. The M-241 also works as a Bluetooth GPS dongle enabling compatible devices to become full blown GPS units.
Putting aside the fact that you might look like the tourist from hell, the Digital Camera Mask does offer a convenient and easy solution to snapping pics of the family snorkeling expedition. Built in to the mask is a 3 or 5 megapixel camera. and a cross hair for dead eye accuracy (probably not, but one can only hope). Expect to get close ups because this thing has a 5 foot shooting distance. The on board memory (16mb) will achieve a few photos, but fortunately there’s a microSD slot to increase memory capacity; you can even record VGA quality video. Requires the ever allusive AAA batteries and plugs in via USB.
Olympus introduced the world’s smallest Digital SLR camera on the market today. Measuring just 5.1-inches by 3.6-inches by 2.1-inches and weighing a mere 13.4oz, the E-420 looks more point and shoot then power house SLR. Included in the package is a 2.7″ LCD screen, a 10-megapixel Live-MOS sensor, and optionally ships with a f2.8 lens. Expect it late April ‘08 for $599 with the lens or $499 for just the body.
February 25th, 2008 2:36 PM | by Christen da Costa
Boasting over 13 megapixels, a 3x zoom, and a titanium scratch resistant body, Sony’s newest camera, the DSC-W300, is a serious contender in the heavy weight division. Included in the package is an ultra sensitive image sensor at up to 6400 ISO (I think my Canon does 1600 max), 2.7″ LCD, intelligent scene recognizer, smile shutter (the camera will wait until everyone smiles), and a whole lot more. Measures 3.7 x 2.3 x 1.1in so it’s not the slimmest of all compacts, but the trade off in pixels and features are there.
Should be available here in the next few months for $350.
February 22nd, 2008 9:48 PM | by Christen da Costa
Adobe is entering into the hardware market with a camera lens that can capture a single shot at a variety of angles. Later the photographer, via software (probably Photoshop), can manipulate depth of field, and no doubt a whole slew of other options Adobe has yet to reveal. Only if they had one of these things on the ‘grassy knoll’. Check the video above.
February 14th, 2008 4:06 PM | by Christen da Costa
Usually you need some sort of external casing (aka $200 accessory) to achieve a waterproof and shock resistant camera. Olympus’ new digi still camera, the u1030SW (the SW stands for Shock/Waterproof), promises to offer all that and 10 megapixels of shooting power. According to Akihabranews, it can survive a 6’ fall, take a 200lb man’s ass (that should read ‘sitting’ not a ‘wide angle lens’) and be submerged into up to 30’ of water. No word on price or availability.
