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HTC Titan II review

Brad Molen — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:30:00 EST

Titan. It's a ballistic missile and one of Saturn's moons. The word also plays a huge role in Greek mythology and in normal use refers to something of enormous power and influence. So it's understandable, then, why HTC seems to prefer it as a name for its phones. So much so, in fact, that the release of the LTE-enabled Titan II on AT&T actually marks not the second, but fourth iteration of the name: if you recall, the company once released two Windows Mobile devices called the TyTn.

We had mixed feelings as we watched the latest Titan get introduced at AT&T's Developer Summit in January. On the one hand, we were intrigued by the idea of a smartphone with a monstrous 16-megapixel camera, as well as LTE -- something the world previously hadn't seen on a Windows Phone device. But the announcement also took place a mere two months after its predecessor launched on AT&T's network, which gave us the sinking feeling Ma Bell's new strategy was to crank out a plethora of refreshed phones boasting only a couple of new features (see: the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket). So what of this sequel we have before us? Will it come out victorious like Remember the Titans or a disaster like Titanic? Is it worth it to new customers to shun the free Nokia Lumia 900 and shell out $200 for this guy instead? Follow us down the page and we'll fill you in.

Gallery: HTC Titan II review

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HTC Titan II review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung's latest 8MP cameraphone sensor has backside illumination, zero shutter lag (Update: specs)

Richard Lawler — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 01:22:00 EST

Samsung hasn't shown off all of its new tech at MWC 2012 yet, but one more early announcement is a new "premium" cameraphone sensor, the 8MP S5K3H7. Its new 1.4um CMOS shown above features backside illumination (BSI) technology for better quality in low light -- just like the iPhone 4/4S camera and HTC's just-announced ImageChip -- as well as the promise of zero shutter lag and 30fps 1080p video all while using less power than previous generations. There's no word yet on which phones will include the new imaging chip, but it should go into mass production in the next couple of months.

Update: Looking for more numbers? The English PR is out now and confirms a slim form factor 8.5mm x 8.5mm camera module with 5.5mm height dimension capable of 120fps 720p or 240fps slow motion video recording. Check the data yourself in the press release after the break.

Continue reading Samsung's latest 8MP cameraphone sensor has backside illumination, zero shutter lag (Update: specs)

Samsung's latest 8MP cameraphone sensor has backside illumination, zero shutter lag (Update: specs) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 01:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung unveils WB750 camera, with long zoom for all your paparazzi needs

Jesse Hicks — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 05:00:00 EST

Sometimes a photographer needs to get really, really close to his or her subject. And sometimes that requires a little help from a friend. Samsung has just that situation in mind with its new WB750, which features an 18x optical zoom with 24x Smart Zoom -- that's the longest zoom in the company's compact portfolio. The camera also sports a 12.5 megapixel CMOS sensor with Sammie's proprietary BSI (Back Side Illuminated) technology, and a redesigned image sensor, lens, and image processor. In addition to still photos, it also shoots 1080p HD video; a dual capture function allows you to shoot video alongside 10 megapixel pictures. Or, if you'd rather, you can take up to 10 frames per second in high-speed continuous mode. Pricing and availability have not yet been announced, but we have our fingers crossed it arrives before our next safari. See more pictures in the gallery below, and check out the full PR after the break.

Gallery: Samsung WB750

Continue reading Samsung unveils WB750 camera, with long zoom for all your paparazzi needs

Samsung unveils WB750 camera, with long zoom for all your paparazzi needs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OmniVision's new 12MP CMOS sensor shoots RAW pics and 1080/60p video, looks for smartphone home

Vlad Savov — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:03:00 EST

So what if Apple looks set to abandon OmniVision in favor of Sony with its next round of portable device cameras? The company that currently provides the none-too-shabby 5 megapixel imager inside the iPhone 4 has just announced a new 12 megapixel sensor and it's a bit of a beast. The OV12825 pairs the goodness of backside illumination with the ability to shoot RAW stills and 1080p video at a bodacious 60fps. Funnily enough, neither feature is a novelty for OmniVision, which has already given the world the option to shoot RAW and to crank Full HD video at 60fps, but nobody has yet been willing to maximize the previous sensors' capabilities. Now that we're finally seeing efficient dual-core solutions making it to smartphones, maybe the time has come? After all, there's gotta be something else to look forward to after 1080/30p, right? OmniVision is offering samples to interested companies right now and expects volume production in the second quarter of the year. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading OmniVision's new 12MP CMOS sensor shoots RAW pics and 1080/60p video, looks for smartphone home

OmniVision's new 12MP CMOS sensor shoots RAW pics and 1080/60p video, looks for smartphone home originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony CEO casually mentions he's supplying cameras to Apple

Sean Hollister — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 14:26:00 EST

We were tempted to call it an April Fools' joke, but it seems the story's true: Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer reportedly let slip that his company is producing cameras for the next batch of iPhones and iPads during a public interview with the Wall Street Journal. Traditionally, Apple's sourced its sensors from OmniVision, including the delightfully backside-illuminated 5 megapixel CMOS unit you'll find in the iPhone 4, but since Sony too has BSI tech and OmniVision has reportedly encountered delays, your next portable Apple product might house a Sony Exmor R sensor like the one we admired on the Xperia Arc. Mind you, that may not end up actually happening, because of the context in which Sir Howard revealed the news -- according to 9 to 5 Mac, he said that the factory producing sensors for Apple was affected by the Japanese tsunami. Oh well.

Sony CEO casually mentions he's supplying cameras to Apple originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 02 Apr 2011 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ricoh CX3 gets back-illuminated CMOS sensor, much geek lust

Vlad Savov — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:01:00 EST

Just like clockwork, here's Ricoh -- six months after its last CX series refresh -- with a new superzoom point-and-shooter to tempt us into breaking open those piggy banks. The package on offer is compelling: there's a new 10 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, an enhanced noise reduction algorithm borrowed from the GR Digital III, and a 3-inch 920k-dot LCD, while the 10.7x optical zoom lens (28-300mm in 35mm equivalence) is carried over from the CX2. 720p video recording -- fast becoming a standard feature in compact cameras -- is present and accounted for, with recording in 16:9 ratio available to the ubiquitous Motion JPEG format. The CX3 is arriving this month, with early prices of AU$499 ($441 in US currency) matching the cost of the current generation.

Ricoh CX3 gets back-illuminated CMOS sensor, much geek lust originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Germany advises its citizens to say 'nein' to Internet Explorer

Ross Miller — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:33:00 EST

Autsch! In light of the recent attacks on Google China and Microsoft's revelation that an Internet Explorer security flaw served as an impetus in the assault, Germany's Federal Office for Information Security has released a warning to its population: avoid IE. Specifically, the report calls out the latest three versions -- 6, 7, and 8 -- but let's face it, those older versions should be avoided on grounds of usability alone. Boy, bet the Bonn-based agency is happy about that Windows 7 web browser ballot screen, eh?

Germany advises its citizens to say 'nein' to Internet Explorer originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung's camcorders and one big dummy camera at CES

Richard Lai — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:24:00 EST

Right after seeing the ultra-slim TVs we went to the other end of Samsung's CES booth for its camcorder lineup. As expected, we saw the previously-announced S series SSD models, the F series with 52x optical zoom and the stylish C series, but we also spotted what appears to be a refresh of the HMX-U10 camcorder brick. Admittedly, we were more interested in this dummy gigantic TL225 camera, and it wasn't even new.

Gallery: Samsung camcorder lineup at CES 2010

Samsung's camcorders and one big dummy camera at CES originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung overhauls camcorder line, has something for everyone

Vlad Savov — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:01:00 EST

Keeping up the torrent of digital imaging announcements, Samsung has now updated pretty much every cam in its range, and we've picked out the highlights for you:

The C20, C24 and M20 are a trio of ultra-stylish handhelds, carrying on the C-series lineage, which regrettably means a scant 720 x 480 resolution to go with your Touch of Color. The less fashion-conscious M20 gets a CMOS sensor that stretches all the way up to 1920 x 1280/60p, while all three share Samsung's famed Active Angle Lens.
The F40, F43 and F44 bring a super duper 52x optical zoom, but again record at a disappointing 720 x 480. Really Samsung?
The H200, H203, H204, and H205 offer 1080/60i credentials and HDMI output, augmented by SSD choices (up to 32GB) on the higher models and 20x optical zoom. Optical image stabilization and a 2.7-inch touchscreen LCD make these appealing, particularly if you expand the internal storage with a few jumbo-sized SDHC cards.
The S10, S15 and S16 collectively occupy Samsung's top tier, sporting a backside illuminated 10 megapixel CMOS sensor outputting 1080/60i video. Built-in SSD storage stretches up to 64GB, and there's also a 15x optical zoom, WiFi connectivity, and a 3.5-inch touchscreen running a 3D GUI.

Most of these new shooters will be landing in February and March, with the S-series joining them later in the spring. Slide past the break for galleries of all the models and more info.

Gallery: Samsung S-series

Continue reading Samsung overhauls camcorder line, has something for everyone

Samsung overhauls camcorder line, has something for everyone originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba launches 14.6 megapixel CMOS sensor with backside illumination for cellphones

Tim Stevens — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:34:00 EST

Backside illumination may sound like something a proctologist would use in a poorly-lit examining room, but it's actually a re-imagining of the CMOS sensor that brings the photodiodes closer to the action, thus delivering brighter images from smaller packaging. OmniVision and Sony both have their takes on the tech and now Toshiba is putting it into a 14.6 megapixel sensor for cellphones and compact cameras. The company claims light absorption is boosted by 40%, resulting in bright pictures despite the high-density 1/2.3-inch sensor. Early production will begin before the end of the year but manufacturing lines won't start firing en masse until sometime next summer, meaning yet another dark and murky winter of dark and murky pictures.

Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras

Toshiba launches 14.6 megapixel CMOS sensor with backside illumination for cellphones originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony announces own backside illuminated CMOS -- take that OmniVision

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:58:00 EST

Well, there you have it: the BSI gauntlet has been officially thrown. Sony just announced its own backside-illuminated CMOS sensor meant to rival OmniVision's achievement. Sony's sensor features 1.75 micron pixels totalling 5 effective megapixels capable of 60fps and offers low noise at twice the sensitivity of traditional sensors at the same pixel size. That's a signal to noise ratio of +8dB (+6dB sensitivity, -2dB noise), nerds. Nice Sony, but OmniVision's 8 megapixel sensor targeting cameraphones (Sony's is apparently targeting digital cameras and camcorders) brings the pixels down to 1.4 microns (with 0.9 micron pixels on the roadmap) albeit with an undisclosed SNR. Regardless, we look forward to seeing our friends' chemically-spiked club shots in excruciatingly slovenly detail later this year.

BSI, learn it -- it's shaping up to do for imaging what perpendicular did for magnetic storage.

[Via FarEastGizmos]

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Sony announces own backside illuminated CMOS -- take that OmniVision originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OmniVision claims 8 megapixel OmniBSI sensor turns cellphone imaging world "upside down"

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 27 May 2008 03:19:00 EST

Digital Camera 101: As manufacturers continue pushing the Megapixel Myth by stuffing more and more pixels onto rapidly shrinking sensors, the outcome is poor performance on top of poorly lit images of increasingly low quality. Now OmniVision, the largest CMOS image sensor manufacturer today, says they've solved the pixel size problem though backside illumination (BSI) technology. In essence, BSI helps maximize photon collection by circumventing obstructive metal and dielectric layers on the top-side of the sensor die. The result is improved light absorption, thinner overall camera modules, and increased sensitivity and F stops with reduced crosstalk. However, as EETimes' crack staff of Electrical Engineering super-nerds point out, BSI is not a new technology. In fact, several manufacturers lay claim to BSI patents. However, OmniVision seems to be the first to take the tech to mass production for consumers. To prove it, they'll release an 8 megapixel OmniBSI CameraChip sensor brimming with the new tech for sample in June. Couple it with a decent cameraphone lens and image processing circuitry and we might be in for a treat.

[Via EETimes]

Filed under: Multimedia

OmniVision claims 8 megapixel OmniBSI sensor turns cellphone imaging world "upside down" originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 May 2008 03:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OmniVision claims 8 megapixel OmniBSI sensor turns cellphone imaging world "upside down"

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 27 May 2008 03:19:00 EST

[Via EETimes]

Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras

OmniVision claims 8 megapixel OmniBSI sensor turns cellphone imaging world "upside down" originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 May 2008 03:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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