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cameraphone posts

Casio Exilim CA003 and CA004 uncloaked in KDDI au's winter lineup

by Ross Miller posted Oct 19th 2009 at 6:02AM

KDDI au's unleashing its winter lineup, and among them sits Casio's latest cameras phone, the 12.17 megapixel Exilim CA003 and 8 megapixel CA004. The higher-tier former boasts a 28mm wide angle lens with 3x optical zoom and autofocus, and a 3.3-inch WVGA OLED screen. It'll also shoot a quick burst of 20 pics per second when you need to capture the exact moment and aren't exactly sure when that is. Other amenities include microSDHC card slot, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM radio, and a handful of color options. Not wanting all that horsepower? The CA004 has smaller resolution shots, support up to 2GB microSD, and a 3.1-inch WVGA OLED screen, but is otherwise touting the same features. Akihabara News has some hands-on shots of the beaut you might wanna check out, unless you're the type who gets violently jealous by phones that aren't hitting American soil.

[Via Engadget Japan]

Read - KDDI au lineup
Read - CA003 / CA004 hands-on

TI's OMAP-DM5x coprocessors promise 20MP cameraphones, 720p recording and freedom from heartache

by Darren Murph posted Oct 16th 2009 at 9:26AM

Another season, another Texas Instruments coprocessor for us to wonder about. For what feels like ages now, TI has been pumping out silicon that promises to bring high-def recording capabilities to cellphones, but by and large, most everything has been stuck at VGA or below. Oh sure, we've seen our first batch of 12 megapixel cameraphones, but it's not like those things are replacing DSLRs en masse. Bitterness aside, the OMAP-DM525 coprocessor is supposedly capable of bringing 20 megapixel imaging to handsets along with 720p video recording, while the OMAP-DM515 hits the ceiling at 12 megapixels. Of course, the DM525 won't actually be ready for volume production until sometime next year, but here's hoping a sample or two slips out at CES.

[Via LetsGoDigital]

Samsung's 12 megapixel SCH-W880 made official

by Vladislav Savov posted Sep 29th 2009 at 4:36AM

We might still have debates over whether the SCH-W880 represents a cameraphone or our newly minted category of phonecamera, but there's no doubt about this: the Samsung AMOLED 12M is now official and coming to (at least) Korea in October. The specs align closely to yesterday's info, with a 3x optical zoom, 720p video recording, dedicated camera controls, and a 800 x 480 3.3-inch AMOLED display grabbing the headlines. Touch AF makes use of the touchscreen to let you choose focus areas, while image stabilization and Smart Auto modes fill out the software side of the camera. That leaves us with scant little info on the actual phone, but you could probably fill those specs in yourself by now, right?

[Via Samsung Hub]

Gallery: Samsung SCH-W880

Show full PR text

The World's First 12-megapixel Camera Phone with an Optical Zoom Is Launched in Korea

Following the launch of Pixon12, the first 12 megapixel camera phone in June, Samsung astonishes the world with the 12 megapixel camera phone featuring Optical Zoom.

Seoul, Korea, September 29th, 2009 – Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a leading mobile phone provider, today announced the launch of the 'Samsung AMOLED 12M' (Model Name: SCH-W880), the world's first 12-megapixel camera phone with an optical zoom up to 3 times. The phone is going to be sold in Korean market from early October.

The 'Samsung AMOLED 12M' is incorporated with the latest camera technology and display technology – the world's first 12-megapixel camera with an optical zoom and the world's most advanced WVGA (800 x 480) AMOLED full touch screen.

As a response to one of the most demanding mobile consumers in Korea, the 'Samsung AMOLED 12M' comes packed with a host of functions which enable consumers to easily capture, browse and share their images on the move – all on a brilliant full-touch 3.3-inch WVGA AMOLED screen.

"Samsung has led the camera phone market introducing the very many first of its kind camera phone – the first 5-megapixel (SCH-V7800, June 2005), the first 7-megapixel with an optical zoom(SCH-V770, July 2005), the first 10-megapxel (SCH-B600, October 2006), and recently, the first 12-megapixel camera phone for global market(Samsung Pixon12, June 2009). The Samsung AMOLED 12M is a living proof of our continuous commitment to introduce the most up-to-date technology to enrich users' mobile experience." said Executive Vice President JK Shin, Head of Mobile Communication Division in Samsung Electronics.

The Samsung AMOLED 12M enables users to take perfect pictures quickly and easily, thanks to the Dedicated Camera Power Key which also provides a real digital camera-alike look and grip feeling. Samsung AMOLED 12M features fast image saving for next shot, so users can move to next shot within around 2 seconds. The phone also provides high quality video recording (1280 x 720) which offers 30 frames per second.

The phone provides the best photo quality by adopting innovative camera features. With Touch Auto-Focus (AF) tracking, users can simply select focus point with the touch of a finger, after which the AF function will automatically follow the object, keeping it in focus even as it moves across the screen. Moreover, Smart Auto feature allows users to capture the perfect images as the camera automatically changes the scene and mode based on its object, background and lighting. Images taken on the Samsung AMOLED 12M are worth showing off to friends and loved ones as they boast digital camera quality thanks to the phone camera's superb lens and Xenon flash.

Samsung's SCH-W880 12 megapixel phonecamera with 3x optical zoom

by Thomas Ricker posted Sep 28th 2009 at 8:01AM

In a welcome reversal of trends, Samsung just stuffed a 3G cellphone into a 12 megapixel camera making this M8920 / SCH-W880 more of a camera than most 12 megapixel cameraphones can claim. While this presumed follow-up to Samsung's Pixon 12 (M8910) isn't official, the announcement looks imminent based on the leaked collateral above and the spyshots that emerged over the weekend. What's impressive here is that extending 3x optical zoom -- something carried over from the SCH-B600 -- and dedicated camera controls like a mode dial, shutter and zoom, and big 3.3-inch WVGA AMOLED display. Rounding out the specs are HD (720p presumably) video, HSDPA data, WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, microSD slot, and DMB mobile television; that latter spec making this Korea-only whenever it does launch. See her in the wild after the break.

[Via HDBlog.IT]

Continue reading Samsung's SCH-W880 12 megapixel phonecamera with 3x optical zoom

DIY cameraphone macro lens requires one old DVD player, zero tech savvy

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Aug 25th 2009 at 6:35PM

You know, we wish we could say that there was more to this DIY cameraphone macro hack than tearing the lens out of an old DVD player and duct taping it over that of the cameraphone -- but there really isn't. And you know what? That's OK. Some of the best mods are simple -- so long as they work. And this one seems to work quite well, at least judging by the "before and after" shots after the break. And if you hit the read link, there's even more where those came from. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have an old optical disc drive to smash open.

[Via Make]

Continue reading DIY cameraphone macro lens requires one old DVD player, zero tech savvy

Altek crams a dozen megapixels of wishful thinking into T8680 cameraphone

by Tim Stevens posted Aug 4th 2009 at 9:27AM

There once was a time when a 12 megapixel cameraphone would have been laughed at, and, though many are still smirking (guilty), they're now a reality -- a reality that Altek wants desperately to be a part of with its T8680 handset. Its face looks rather like a PMP with a 3-inch WQVGA LCD, but on the back is the standard sort of 3x pop-out zoom that you'd expect on a compact shooter, sitting next to a tiny xenon flash. It'll capture unnecessarily high resolution images while being crippled to VGA video, play back MP3 and AAC files, and tune into the Weekly Top 40 over FM. Yes, it'll even make calls, but with only tri-band GSM/EDGE support don't expect to e-mail those gigantic pictures directly from the phone. The T8680 is expected to hit Chinese retailers in about a month for 3000 yuan (about $440), and probably won't be making much of an appearance elsewhere.

[Via GSM Arena]

Samsung's 12 megapixel M8910 Pixon12 cellphone tries to make your camera obsolete

by Tim Stevens posted Jun 26th 2009 at 6:58AM

Samsung's 12 megapixel M8910 Pixion12 cellphone tries to make your camera obsolete

Yes, folks, that day you've been so eagerly awaiting is nearly here. Soon you won't have to suffer the agony of pixel envy on your cellphones thanks to Samsung's M8910 Pixon12 and its whopping 12 megapixel sensor, capturing light through a 28mm wide-angle lens like that in the Nokia N86 (which has a miserly eight megapixels on tap). Sammy's handset has been put through its paces ahead of release, stacked up against the likes of a Canon A620 and a 350D SLR. The phone does quite well, producing images as good or better than its compact competition, but we're not quite sure we agree with the assessment that it "can reach the detail resolved by a true DSLR" -- at least, not in this batch of images. We want to believe, though, we really do; those SLRs are heavy, and we're not a particularly strong bunch.

Samsung's Pixon 12: a dozen megapixels of cameraphone nonsense in June

by Thomas Ricker posted Jun 1st 2009 at 2:35AM

After failing to show at the Mobile World Congress event in February, Samsung's rumored 12 megapixel cameraphone has finally arrived. Meet the Pixon 12 and its 3.1-inch AMOLED touchscreen with a Sammy promise of fast shutter speeds and quick browsing. As a camera, the Pixon 12 (M8910) brings a dedicated shutter button, touch auto-focus (wherever you touch becomes the focal point) that locks in to track moving subjects, Smart Auto mode that adjusts to conditions, and a 28-mm wide angle lens. The unit also saves images relatively quickly (for a cameraphone) so that you can fire off the next shot within 2 seconds. Just remember, more megapixels do not make for better photos especially when jammed tightly into a sensor small enough for a cellphone. And 12 megapixels translates to files ranging from 2MB to 18MB and beyond depending on the compression used (Samsung doesn't say). So ask yourself: is it really worth the storage space and the associated delays when uploading images to Samsung's Share Pix service (with Facebook, Picasa, Flickr integration) over the Pixon 12's built-in WiFi and HSUPA data? No rush, you've got time to decide -- Pixon 12 will be hitting Europe in late June, other regions sometime in August. One more pic after the break.

Update: Full specs just came in: 150MB of on-board storage (up to 16GB MicroSD expansion); quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, HSPA 900/2100MHz; Xenon + Power LED flash; 720 x 480 pixel videos at 30fps; internal GPS, and FM radio with RDS.

Continue reading Samsung's Pixon 12: a dozen megapixels of cameraphone nonsense in June

Sharp Aquos Shot 933SH and Miruno 934SH handsets get handled

by Tim Stevens posted May 19th 2009 at 9:11AM

It's debatable whether anyone really needs a 10 megapixel cameraphone with a maximum ISO setting of 12800, but plenty of people (ourselves included) really want one, so we're coveting these new pics of Sharp's Aquos 933SH, which also sports a 3.3-inch VGA LCD, 16GB of internal storage, and a "cheese focus" setting that guarantees that your friends' faces and not their fondues will be in focus at your next party. Also handled by Akihabara News is the Miruno 934SH, another high-end model with a more feminine marketing angle that somehow gets by with just eight megapixels on tap, but adds in all sorts of fun (and vaguely demeaning) applications, like a palm reader and a kitchen timer, and is even waterproof so that bath time doesn't have to interrupt gab time. Unsurprisingly there's still no mention of an American release, so don't give up that bathroom speakerphone just yet.

Read - Aquos Shot 933SH Hands-on
Read - Miruno 934SH Hands-on

Samsung's MEMS shutter could massively improve high megapixel cameraphones

by Darren Murph posted May 15th 2009 at 7:05PM

We won't go so far as to say that SE and LG are waiting for this here technology to go commercial -- after all, we're still years (at best) away from that -- but considering that the ninth iteration of your favorite smartphone is likely destined to boast a 453 megapixel camera, we're thrilled to see someone working to make those captures worth looking at. Over in Japan, Sammy is teasing a new MEMS shutter that measures just 2.2 millimeters in diameter and would essentially allow cameraphones to grab blur-free images even with ultra-high megapixel sensors. Feel free to dive into the read link if you're into technobabble; otherwise, just be sure to pay attention in around a decade when this stuff actually has a bearing on your life.

LG's GC900 Viewty II gets Smart, gets official

by Tim Stevens posted Apr 15th 2009 at 7:58AM

Put away your smudgycams and break out your wallets, LG's Viewty II has been given the full studio photo treatment as part of an unveiling at LG's official blog. Dubbed the Smart, the GC900 is just 12.4 mm thick (under a half-inch), packing a 3-inch touchscreen on its face and of course that 8 megapixel camera on the back, confirmed to be able to capture video at 720 x 480 and geotag photos using the integrated A-GPS receiver. WLAN and HSDPA are also confirmed, but that's about all the info LG is setting in stone at the moment -- not that we didn't already know everything about it.

Update: Oops! Looks like LG pulled the information -- good thing you looked here first.

[Via Phone Arena]

Gallery: LG GC900 Smart

8MP camera module with physical shutter peeped at MWC

by Laura June posted Feb 21st 2009 at 2:03AM

Hanging around on show quietly amongst the glitz and glamor of MWC was this little guy -- an 8MP prototype by camera manufacturer Jabil for mobile phones which boasts a physical shutter. The module is 10 x 10 x 8mm in size, and also boasts an autofocus feature. The company is currently shopping around for manufacturers that might want to pack the module into their phones. We'll keep our eyes on this one -- because we'd definitely like to see it on some devices.

LG affirms that 12 megapixel cameraphone is in the works

by Darren Murph posted Feb 20th 2009 at 9:04AM

Here at MWC, the only cellphone maker to actually come forward with proof of a 12 megapixel phone was Sony Ericsson. Still, you know that everyone else is apt to follow suit as quickly as possible, and it seems that LG will be one of the first. In fact, said company "absolutely" has a 12 megapixeler in the works. That's according to Jeremy Newing, LG Mobile's head of marketing in the UK, who also proclaimed that the KS360 would be LG's first Android phone. In his words: "We'll very much be releasing a 12MP cameraphone. However, it's important that people realize when taking 12MP images, they'll be using huge amounts of data, and it will be more difficult to do things like send such files." Honestly, we're a bit tired of the megapixel race -- get an optical zoom onto a slim cellphone, and then we'll talk.

[Thanks, Jimb]

Video: Samsung Memoir hands-on

by Darren Murph posted Feb 15th 2009 at 2:45PM

Samsung's long-awaited Memoir has already had its 8 megapixel shooter shown up by Sony Ericsson's 12 megapixel Idou, though the former has one huge leg-up over the latter: the Memoir is shipping to T-Mobile USA in ten days, while the Idou doesn't even have an official name yet. We were able to stop by and see this spectacle live and in-person at Mobile World Congress, and we've got the images and video to prove it. Feel free to peruse the media at your leisure, we're open late tonight.

Gallery: Samsung Memoir hands-on

Sony Ericsson gets official with "Idou" 12 megapixel mobile

by Darren Murph posted Feb 15th 2009 at 1:49PM

We didn't doubt it for a second (okay, maybe one second), but Sony's so-called Idou is for real. Though, we wouldn't go memorizing that name or anything, 'cause SE has plans to change it to something more commercial before summer. At any rate, the touchscreen-heavy handset -- which will run Symbian Foundation at launch -- does indeed sport a 12.1 megapixel shooter (which was hinted at last November), which sort of makes the also-just-official Samsung Memoir seem a bit dated already. It's funny too, as the only dozen megapixeler we were actually expecting at this show was from Samsung. We're still waiting on the minutiae, but we do know that it will pack a 3.5-inch panel (640 x 320 resolution; no word on capacitive or resistive) and "full media consumption," a phrase we're still struggling to digest. More as we get it!