8-megapixel
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Nokia busts out its own 8 megapixel slider: the N86
Whoa, Nelly! While Samsung is strutting its 8 megapixel Memoir and Sony Ericsson is letting us all in on the forthcoming 12 megapixel Idou, Nokia is getting even with its 8 megapixel N86. Amazingly, we saw that the suits in Espoo had this thing on the brain way back in 2007, but not until today have we seen a real live product. The N-series slider boasts a Carl Zeiss lens, AutoFocus, dual-LED flash and Symbian S60, not to mention a 2.6-inch OLED display, 8GB of internal memory, a 3.5 millimeter headphone jack, microUSB connector and Share on Ovi integration. We're left in the dark when it comes to pricing and availability, but we're hoping to hear more really, really soon. More shots are waiting in the read link.Update: The full specs sheets have just leaked, yum!
Video: Samsung Memoir hands-on
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-44774%
Samsung Memoir hitting T-Mobile USA on February 25 for $249.99
At this point, it's tough to say the Memoir wasn't official with a straight face, but Samsung and T-Mobile have jointly disclosed all (er, most) of the remaining details that were so sorely missing here at Mobile World Congress. The 8 megapixel handset will boast a Xenon flash, CMOS auto focus and 16x digital zoom, not to mention a full touchscreen and a sophisticated camera menu that enables users to adjust the brightness and flash, change the default destination of images, select a timer and zoom in or out. Moreover, the video recording and TV-out features should provide even more joy in the lives of multimedia lovers, and the blink detection, face detection, anti-shake and geotagging inclusions should shake off any remaining pundits who say there's not a "real camera" in here. As anticipated, the phone will launch exclusively on T-Mobile USA in just ten days (February 25, if you're too excited for math), though there's still no mention of a price. Procrastinate much?Update: Boom, pricing -- $249.99 on a two-year contract with a $50 mail-in rebate. Not the cheapest thing we've ever seen, but you get what you pay for, yeah?%Gallery-44761%
Nokia shows off sample image from mysterious 8 megapixel phone
This one won't be a mystery for too much longer but, for now at least, Nokia is more than happy to tease out its latest high-end cameraphone right up until the official announcement at MWC. What we do know is that the above picture was taken with said cameraphone, and that the EXIF data revealed a couple more details in addition to its 8 megapixel nature. The most notable of those is that the phone will apparently come equipped with a Carl Zeiss lens which, judging from the sample image, certainly seems to be capable of producing some decent results. Hit up the read link to check out the full resolution version, and keep an eye on our MWC coverage for further details as we get 'em.
Samsung's ES10 point-and-shoot makes vanilla sound exciting
Everybody needs to start somewhere, and Samsung is hoping that those new to that whole picture taking scene will think about getting their feet wet with the company's upcoming ES10 plain-Jane 8.1 megapixel shooter. It features a 3X zoom, 2.5-inch LCD, and a few of the fancy features that you expect on a pocket cam these days, like face detection and beauty shot. Available in black, white, and the preciously generic silver pictured above, it's even less exciting than the unassuming SL models introduced at CES. No word on price or release dates, but we're predicting cheap.
T-Mobile's Samsung Memoir does a peep show?
Given the healthy body of evidence that T-Mobile USA's picking itself up a little slice of 8 megapixel heaven courtesy of Samsung, we have no particularly compelling reason to doubt that this teaser shot -- posted on TmoNews' forums -- is legit. The portion of the phone that we see here more or less matches the spy shots posted last year, the UI matches the TouchWiz-driven setup we'd expect for a touchscreen Sammy in this range, and the grotesquely thick body betrays the mess of optics stuffed out back. Yeah, it might give you a little bit more pocket bulge than you were hoping for, but if you're desperately seeking that rare intersection of insane cameraphone specs and T-Mobile 3G, this is probably the ticket in 2009. Only question is, how long into 2009 do we have to wait?[Thanks, Brendan S.]
Sharp's SH1810C brings Japanese specs to China
When we say "854 x 480 display and an 8-megapixel camera," what's the first thought that comes to mind? "Japan," of course, and history would certain lend credence to that knee-jerk word association. Sharp's expanding its high-spec horizons just a tad, though, with the SH1810C -- a 3-inch wide VGA beast with a penchant for high-res snapshots that's actually going to end up gracing Chinese markets, not Japanese ones. We guess we understand the argument that Asian character sets make WVGA displays an easier sell, but come on now -- we're sure we can find a perfectly great use for 'em.[Via 3GWeek]
Samsung's S8300 slider packs AMOLED display, 8-megapixel camera
If Samsung's Soul had your innermost emotions shakin', wait until you wrap your retinas around this. The S8300, which is said to be an upgrade from the aforementioned mobile -- will reportedly come stacked with 7.2Mbps HSDPA connectivity, a 2.8-inch AMOLED touchscreen, 8-megapixel camera, inbuilt GPS, an FM radio with RDS, 60MB of onboard memory, DivX playback and an "anti-scratch / anti-fingerprint coated duraluminium chassis." There are no promises that it'll be ready for a CES showcase, though we're hearing that a MWC launch is expected in a worst case scenario. Lots more images are hiding in the read link.
Blurry pics of T-Mobile branded Samsung "Memoir" cameraphone emerge
We love nothing better than a good blurry photo around here to add a little dose of vague confusion to the rumor mill. These two artistically hazy snaps are purported to be of a US-bound T-Mobile Samsung Behold-style phone with an 8-megapixel camera. Tmo News is also reporting that it's going to run on Touchwiz, the same UI as the Behold, and that it's called the Memoir. We don't have any other details for now, but we'll let you know as soon as we see a fuzzy scan of a semi-redacted press release.
Casio's 8.1 megapixel W63CA with 480 x 800 pixel OLED flips out in Japan
We had a chance to gaze through the wireframe of this 8.1 megapixel Casio W63CA Exilim cellphone back in August courtesy of the FCC's finest. Now check it in high-gloss, plastic flesh. The latest Japanese super-phone squeezes 480 x 800 pixel into a 3.1-inch OLED display. Let that sink in for a second... the very same 384,000 pixels on a display smaller than the 3.8-inch LCD heralded by the Touch HD. The camera features a wide-angle lens, 9-point auto focus, face detection, anti-shake, and a YouTube video mode that records VGA video at 30fps to microSD. All this in a Japanese-only flip measuring 110 x 50 x 17.4 ~ 22-mm when it launches in early November. Color options after the break.[Via Impress]
Sharp's SH-01A 8 megapixel flip packs a 28-mm wide angle lens and Dolby Pro Logic II
Sure, the US has fancy-pants capacitive touchscreen phones out the wazoo, but Japan's superphones still dominate when boiled down to a base, spec-for-spec comparison. Take this new Sharp SH-01A clamshell for example, just revealed by the FCC. It sports a 28mm wide-angle lens with 8 megapixel CCD sensor and, according to rumor, Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound for your microSD stored media. Remember, FCC testing doesn't mean it'll be sold between the left and right coasts -- this flip is likely just being certified for US roaming whenever it's finally announced for NTT DoCoMo in Japan.
LG's KC780 8 megapixel cameraphone likes your smile, not your pimples
LG, a major player in the cameraphone megapixel wars, is aiming to knock out the competition via a one-two punch of the KC920 Renoir and the newly official KC780. That latter phone still lacks a cute nickname, but now has a few official specs to go along with its resolution. Just 13.9mm thick, it sports a 2.4-inch LCD on the front and an unsurprisingly Schneider-Kreuznach certified lens on the back, the latter augmented by some advanced "face-enhancing features" like smile detection and Beauty Mode to digitally smooth blemishes. It should perform decently in low light, courtesy of an ISO 1600 shooting mode and built-in image stabilization; good things both because we don't expect that tiny flash will brighten any room. The phone records videos at 640 x 480, and interestingly, it can act as a wireless Bluetooth webcam for a PC. Price is unconfirmed, but European release is coming next month ahead of a worldwide launch "later."[Via Engadget Spanish]
LG's 8-megapixel Renoir handset gets previewed, handled
We were already warned that the megapixel race was headed to the mobile realm, and as if you needed any more proof, here we are looking down the lens of LG's 8-megapixel Renoir. Clearly aimed at Samsung's recently unveiled Pixon, this touchscreen-based handset found itself in the loving arms of CNET's UK branch. During the limited time editors spent with it, they found the interface to be eerily similar to that found on the Viewty and the camera to be a real winner. As expected, the not-a-3.5mm headphone jack was none too pleasing to critics, but we did overhear the T-Mobile G1 voicing its support of the port. Anywho, tap the read link for the full preview / hands-on shots.[Thanks, T.I.]
LG KC780 strives for world's thinnest 8 megapixel camera phone
An official-looking promo shot of the rumored LG KC780 has surfaced, along supposed confirmation and some details: this will be the slimmest 8 megapixel camera phone to date, offering quad-band GSM support and limited touchscreen functionality. There's still no word on 3G support, no price and no date -- but you'll know more when we do. Promise.
LG already prepping a midrange 8-megapixel phone?
Our minds are still positively blown at the mere thought of stuffing eight megapixels of picture-snapping power behind some mediocre optics and wrapping it up in a GSM radio, but LG appears to already be looking forward to a time when this kind of thing is par for the course. iDNES.cz has a tiny, blurry shot of a supposed KC780 slider, which tosses out the KC910 Renoir's high style for a homelier look that we can only assume fortells a lower asking price. You get a mere 140MB of integrated storage here -- not bloody much for a phone that's snapping eight millions pixels at a shot -- and iDNES says it's "not clear" yet whether 3G will even be supported, though we'll apparently see image stabilization and face detection in the cam. Low end? High end? What's it gonna be, LG?
Samsung spits out second 8-megapixel mobile, christens it "Pixon"
Hot on the INNOV8's trails comes another 8-megapixel phone out of Samsung's frighteningly fast-paced labs, this one dubbed M8800 Pixon (is it just us, or does that sound like a great name for an alien life form?). They're really mixing it up here, too -- unlike the S60-based INNOV8, the Pixon packs a full-on 400 x 240 touchscreen and settles for Samsung's proprietary non-smartphone platform. The OS seems to be the only place it's settling, though, since we've got triband HSDPA, GPS, an FM radio, microSD expansion -- and, oh yeah, there's the little matter of that whopping cam with face detection, geotagging, and WVGA video recording. Sadly there's no WiFi on board, but it'd be just a little less useful than normal without an honest-to-goodness smartphone OS as your playground -- and at least you've got global 3G on your side. It looks like we can expect shipments of this one sometime in November for €550 (about $805).[Via GSMArena]
Casio's 8 megapixel Exilim W63CA cellphone gets FCC approved
First off, the chance of this Japanese super-phone coming to the US or anywhere else outside of Nippon is slim. FCC approval or not, it's likely only being tested for global roaming. However, as slim is its chances are, they've improved dramatically now that Japan's government is behind a push to promote its twisty, folding phones abroad. This Exilim-branded Casio / Hitachi mashup sports an 8 megapixel camera and with any luck, it's using that new Omnivision sensor meant to revolutionize cameraphones. As followup to the W53CA, this 3G W63CA flip will no doubt feature the same high-resolution, 800 x 480 pixel swiveling display of its cousin. With autumn nearing, we expect to see the W63A announced any day in a typical shotgun blast of seasonal phones from KDDI.
OmniVision claims 8 megapixel OmniBSI sensor turns cellphone imaging world "upside down"
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]
K-Touch's 8 megapixel C280 cameraphone flaunts Canon image processing
Remember when Samsung was pumping out cameraphones with increasingly ridiculous megapixel counts? At the moment, phones top-out at about 5 megapixels. Until this, the 8 megapixel C280 with 3x optical zoom and claimed 1600 ISO support (right) from the previously unheard of K-Touch. Ironically, it might very well be using a CMOS sensor from Samsung. Perhaps more interesting though is the fact that it'll be using Canon's own DIGIC III image processing when it hits the Chinese market.
Samsung announces world's thinnest 8 megapixel cellphone module
Measuring just 8.5-mm thin, you're looking at what Samsung claims to be the slimmest CMOS camera module of its kind. The 8 megapixel module is expected to supplant the 5 megapixel job found in todays top-end cameraphones sometime in the second half of the year. Fortunately, this isn't just a case of megapixel marketing as the module also features anti-shake, a 1-cm macro, and face tracking technology. It also packs a smile shutter feature to snap that picture just as soon as a smile, or vinegar, is detected.
