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Casio digicam gets overrun by Hello Kitty
Hopefully your retinas aren't burning, but we can definitely understand if you need to take a few minutes and resume reading later after viewing the image above. An almost unlawful amount of cuteness has mauled this otherwise average Casio EXILIM digital camera, which just so happens to boast a 9 megapixel sensor, 2.6-inch rear LCD monitor, 41.2MB of internal storage space, an SDHC card slot, 3x optical zoom lens, a video recording mode and a borderline sickening amount of crystals, pink and Hello Kitty. Those who don't mind blinding their guests each time they attempt to snap a shot can grab one now for ¥47,250 ($513), but you can probably guess what our recommendation would be.[Via Topix]
Casio Exilim NX9250 phone spotted in Verizon livery
We had an inkling that Casio and Verizon were up to something when we caught an Exilim-branded phone working its way through the FCC, and it looks like that hunch was right-on -- check out this hot snap of an Exilim NX9250 that just turned up. We're told that the chubby-looking handset features a 5.1 megapixel camera (right, Exilim) and "possibly" a WVGA screen, and those hinges suggest a swivel-flip design -- too bad it doesn't look as slick as that W63CA we were secretly hoping for. We'll see what this one looks like all dolled up -- we've got a feeling we'll find out soon enough. One more shot after the break.
Casio ready to look beyond G'zOne for US market with Exilim?
If you want a Casio and you're in the US, you've had one option over the past couple years -- the rugged but low-function G'zOne line -- and you could have it on any carrier you liked, as long as it was Verizon. The Verizon thing might still be the case, but we're encouraged to see an Exilim-branded device pass through the FCC with CDMA and EV-DO Rev. A that isn't one of the known Japanese domestic market models. Slapping "Exilim" on a phone is Casio's way of saying that they're stuffing some serious photographic power into the thing, so we can probably expect a 5-megapixel (or higher) sensor, presumably with autofocus and all the trimmings. Thanks, FCC; as usual, you guys are our Santa 52 weeks a year.[Via Phone Scoop]
KDDI au's fall / winter 2008 lineup
As Japan's CDMA big dog, KDDI au holds a unique spot in the market -- but if you think that means they're light on offerings against the more popular HSPA models supported by NTT DoCoMo and Softbank, you'd be dead wrong. The carrier's latest lineup includes a monster camera-cum-phone-cum-camera from Casio, an AQUOS-branded Sharp that's just about big enough to replace your television (not really though), and updates of older models that are still high-tech enough to make most of us look like neanderthals. Hitachi Wooo W63HIt looks like pretty much any other Japanese flip, but the W63H probably has just about the most gorgeous screen we'll never see. Why? Turns out this sucker packs 3.1 inches of wide VGA OLED bliss, which explains why it's using the same Wooo branding as Hitachi's line of HDTVs. The phone is also capable of smoothing out one-seg's standard 15fps frame rate to 30fps, features a 5-megapixel camera, and has 600MB of storage space on board. It's available in Garnet Orange (pictured), Sapphire Black, and Opal White. Casio EXILIM W63CALet's jump right into the big guns, shall we? The W63CA matches the W63H's 3.1-inch WVGA OLED display, but ups the imaging ante with a massive 8.1-megapixel (well, 8.09-megapixel, technically) camera that features face-detecting autofocus -- and it's still 1.5mm thinner than the W53CA it replaces. At 17.4mm, it's not setting any records, granted -- but every little bit helps. This one can be had in Shine Pink, Ice White, Titanium Gold, and Metal Green. Sharp AQUOS W64SHIf 3.1 inches isn't quite enough screen for you, step right on up to the AQUOS-branded W64SH from Sharp, offering a full 3.5-inches of wide VGA action with a high-contrast LED backlight -- all told, the largest display ever offered on a KDDI phone. You still make off with a 5.2-megapixel camera, 740MB of onboard memory, and global roaming capability, too. Earth Green, Mars Red, and Galaxy Black (get the theme?) are your color options here. Toshiba W65TIf you tend to roll with the slider crowd and the mighty W64SH is just a little more phone than you need, we might recommend the W65T, Toshiba's entry with a 3.2-megapixel cam, 2.8-inch OLED display (REGZA branded, natch), and a motion sensor that doubles as a pedometer / calorie counter. It can be had in Live Pink, Fresh White, Splash Blue, or Jet Black. Kyocera W65KEven the especially uninteresting phones in the lineup manage to stay interesting by doing things like, say, varying the style of the keypad between colors. Depending on whether you choose the W65K in Clair White, Fleur Pink, or Luxe Silver, you'll get a different texture of shell and a totally different look to the keypad -- techy for white, stylish for pink, and sans for silver. Oh, and the whole package is waterproof, which seems to be a popular differentiator on a few models in Japan. Otherwise, though, you're getting stuck with a 2-megapixel camera and a mere 100MB of memory, so you'd better seriously take advantage of that waterproofness with an occasional toilet or bathtub accident. And if you're curious just how waterproof it is, well, "the unit will retain its functionality as a phone even if blasted with water projected at all angles through 6.3mm nozzles at a flow rate of approximately 12.5 liters/minute for more than 3 minutes from a distance of approximately 3 meters." So there you have it. Sony Ericsson W64SIt kinda irks us that Sony Ericsson can make beautiful CDMA devices for Japan but won't bother to ship a few to the US, where CDMA carriers have been Sony Ericsson-less for years -- but that's just the way the cookie crumbles, we suppose. The W64S offers a 3.2-megapixel camera, 2.7-inch display, GSM global roaming, and "30 different patterns of illumination" on the stylized face. Grab it in Diamond Pink, Snow White, Lattice Black, or Mist Blue. Panasonic W62PKDDI pulls no punches with the W62P -- it's a "fashion accessory" more than it is a monster of Japanese technology, but for some buyers, we're sure that's quite alright. Panasonic's latest flip clocks in at just 12.9mm and offers a 2-megapixel cam, 2.9-inch primary display, and automatic opening with the push of a button (a feature we'd like to see on more flips around the world, actually). It comes in your choice of Candide Pink, Charmant Gold, and Intelligent Purple. Toshiba W64TBorrowing cues from the W62P, the W64T is billed as a "cosmetic phone that sparkles with elegance." Translation: "more show than go." The funky face is accompanied by a 3.2-megapixel cam, 2.8-inch WQVGA display, and the usual array of features like one-seg tuning, navigation, Osaifu-Keitai for NFC payments, and downloadable fonts. Scoop this one up in Shining Pink, Shining Turquoise, or -- you guessed it -- Shining White. Sony Ericsson Full Change reThis is the same re that we saw from the summer collection, they've just added more colors to the palette. Sony Ericsson's fashion-friendly flip is now available in Glossy White, Clean Green, Blooming Pink, Active Orange, Sleek Silver, Deep Red, Lustrous Blue, Silky Lavender (pictured), Mat Black, and Luminous Gold, plus a special James Bond Quantum of Solace edition to tie into the movie's release, which Sony sponsors.
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. [Via Impress]
Casio launches Exilim EX-FH20: 40fps burst rate, 1000fps movies
Remember Casio's wicked EX-F1? Yeah? Let us formally introduce you to someone else you may dig, the Exilim EX-FH20. Boasting a 9.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, a 20x optical zoom lens and a remarkable burst mode that enables up to 40 7.1-megapixel images to be recorded in burst of anywhere between 1 and 40fps. Better still, it can capture high-speed movies at up 1,000fps, and there's also an anti-shake feature, high-speed night scene setting for those "after dark" moments and a standard movie mode that records at 720p (30fps). Those anxious to get their hands on such awesomeness will be politely asked to wait until next month when it goes on sale for £399 ($713).[Via Pocket-lint, thanks Jeremy]
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.
Casio intros the blemish-zapping EX-Z300 digicam with a slew of likeminded friends
Casio, clearly not wanting to be left behind in the compact digicam market, has introduced what might be described as a treasure-trove of cameraifical excellence. Heading up this line of unstoppable goodness is the £229.99 ($429) EX-Z300, a 10-megapixel shooter that carries the company's in-camera touch-up mode called "Make-up" which allows you to clone away "blemishes" or "people you hate to look at." The electronics-maker is also introducing the £129.99 ($242), 9.3-megapixel EXILIM Card EX-Z19, the £149.99 ($280) 9.1MP EXILM Zoom EX-Z85, and a slightly less robust version of the EX-Z300 called the EXILM Zoom EX-Z250 -- at £199.99 ($373) -- also with a 9.1MP sensor. Exciting stuff, right? Right.
Casio's EXILIM EX-Z150 makes the 3-inch LCD ordinary
It wasn't too long ago that you'd find a 3-inch LCD only on the backside of flagship, point-and-shoot cameras. Casio's new EX-Z150 features that biggie LCD plus CCD-shift image stabilization, a 28-mm wide angle lens, 4x optical zoom, an 8.1 megapixel 1/2.5-inch CCD, and face detection all from a camera that sits somewhere well south of the top of the EXILIM Zoom-series. And since this is the age of self-immolation by video humiliation, the EX-Z150 also features a YouTube capture mode -- branded marketing-speak for saying that it shoots 640 x 480 at 30fps for up to 10 minutes at a time. All this in a slim, 20.1-mm package tapering down to 18.9-mm. No date, price, or availability announced yet but we expect to hear more shortly. [Via Fareastgizmos]
Casio's Exilim EX-Z200 gets reviewed
Casio's Exilim EX-Z200, which broke cover at CES earlier this year, has been taken in to review by the shutterbugs over at PhotographyBLOG. Sporting a 10-megapixel sensor, 4x optical zoom and a 28-millimeter wide-angle lens, this pocket-friendly point-and-shoot proved to be a love / hate affair in its finest form. Despite being loaded with features and relatively easy to operate, the Z200 still delivered subpar image quality; more specifically, noise and smearing of fine details were quite evident even at ISO 200, purple fringing was obvious in high-contrast scenes and the painfully slow shutter speed left critics woefully underwhelmed. Overall, the digicam seemed to stumble in the areas that matter most, and with the plethora of alternatives out there, it sounds as if your hard-earned dollars could be better used elsewhere.[Thanks, Mark]
LG's 5.1 megapixel OZ: a Casio W53CA hides behind the curtain
Well lookie here, LG just announced a followup to its LH2300 Touch Web phone. This one's for the twisty-fold clamshell fans -- a design which makes it look positively Japanese superphone-like. In fact, we're pretty sure it's just the Casio W53CA with LG branding and new Hello UI for Korean consumption. Interesting given that Korea certainly isn't lacking in mega-spec'd phones. Anyway, given the Exilim underpinnings it's no surprise to find a 5.1 megapixel CMOS sensor, 28-mm lens, color correction, 9-point auto focus, and built-in anti-shake technology bunged into the backside. The LCD measures 2.8-inches (down from the LH2300's 3-inch LCD) yet still manages the same 800 x 480 pixel resolution for DMB television and landscape or portrait web browsing. Inside the little 18.9-mm thin handset you'll find 4GB NAND / 1GB SDRAM and microSD expansion for all your snaps and VGA / 30fps video. Coming to a 3G, CDMA network near you in April... just long as you live in South Korea or Japan.%Gallery-19108%
Casio's EX-F1 camera with 60fps burst and 1200fps video -- March 28th
Oh great lorf of frames per second shooters. Casio's Exilim Pro EX-F1 just snagged a ship date. It'll cost you ¥130,000 (tax inclusive) when it hits on March 28th in Japan. Still, we expect many people will be swayed by this 6 megapixel novelty with the ability to burst at 60fps while shooting up to 1200fps video. Still no US or European release where it's expected to pop for $999 (pre tax), but it can't be long now. [Via I4U]
Casio unveils 8.1-megapixel EXILIM Zoom EX-Z9
While Casio -- along with most everyone else -- took the time to roll out a gamut of shooters at CES, the EXILIM Zoom EX-Z9 is sashaying in fashionably late. This 8.1-megapixel camera sports a 2.6-inch LCD monitor, face detection technology, anti-shake DSP, a 3x optical zoom, 18.6MB (and not byte more) of built-in storage, an SD / SDHC / MMC expansion slot, a video mode capable of capturing at 848 x 480 pixels and a rechargeable Li-ion for good measure. You'll also find a USB / AV output socket and 23 "Best Shot" modes for those who just love choices, but the hard part will be deciding which of the four colors (pink, silver, black and orange) is really worth your $159.99. %Gallery-17832%
Casio intros a handful of new compact cams that play nice with iTunes
It's not all crazy high-speed prosumer hybrid cameras for Casio today, as the company also dropped a few new Exilim point-and-shoots. All the new cams shoot video in iPod / iPhone-friendly H.264, and Casio's really playing up that fact -- even showing a slide about it during their press conference. The new Exilim Card EX-S10 (pictured) manages to pack a full 10 megapixels, 3X optical zoom, a 2.7-inch LCD, and stereo microphones into its 1-inch thick frame -- which means we're a little curious as to how noisy that sensor is, since it can't be very big. We'll find out soon enough, as the $249 cam should hit next month.The Exilim Zoom line is also getting a little bigger, with the addition of the 8.1 megapixel EX-Z80, new colors for the venerable EX-Z100 and the new 10.1 megapixel EX-Z200. The Z80 features a 3X optical zoom, face detection and an intelligent focusing system that locks in the correct focus, while the Z200 rocks a 4X optical zoom and wide angle lens -- down to 28mm. Both the S10 and EX-Z200 should hit in March, for $249 and $329, respectively. Check photos of all these, and Casio's random "Works with iTunes!" slide, after the break.
Casio's Exilim EX-Z8 shooter loosed somewhere in the world
We'll have to take their word for it, but LetsGoDigital assures us that Casio has a new Exilim Zoom-series shooter, the EX-Z8. Its 8.1 megapixels are helped along by the Exilim Engine 2.0 processing and anti-shake DSP. Rounding things out are a 2.6-inch LCD, 3x zoom, face-detection tech, and a YouTube-mode for capturing H.264 compressed video in formats ideal for sharing. Pretty standard stuff these days in the land of compact shooters.
Casio brings world's fastest 60fps, 6 megapixel camera/camcorder to IFA
Ok, here we go. Casio has a world's first prototype shooter at IFA sporting what must be Sony's 60fps 1/1.8-inch CMOS sensor. Right, bursting sixty 6 megapixel frames per second for what should be a resolution in the ballpark of 2921 x 2184. It'll even go 300fps if you want to scale things back to VGA video. The prototype features a 12x optical zoom and 2.8-inch LCD in a beefy piece of kit measuring in at 127.5 x 79.5 x 130.0-mm / 650-grams. What's also notable is what's missing from the specs: the storage utilized by this cam. A pretty serious omission when you think about the transfer speeds required to move (and store) that much data.%Gallery-6634%[Via Impress]
Casio's EX-Z1080 and EX-V8 compact YouTube shooters
Casio just hit us with pair of new face detecting, YouTube-ready Exilim cameras. The EX-Z1080 is little more than their 10 megapixel EX-Z1050 with a bit of their new H.264, YouTube Capture Mode sprinkled in. The EX-V8 then, bumps the ho humly reviewed EX-V7 into 8.1 megapixel territory while maintaining the 7x zoom and CCD-shift image stabilization while slapping some YouTube branding and trickery atop its existing H.264 video capabilities. Both cams will pop in September with the V8 hitting for $330 and the Z1080 demanding a cool $280. Click on through for a picture of the Z1080 in a lovely shade of purple-nurple.Read -- EX-V8Read -- EX-Z1080
Casio's EX-Z75 Breast Cancer Awareness Month special edition
Casio, a company well known for its small electronics, but probably not so well known for its philanthropic interests, will soon be releasing a special edition of its EXILIM digital camera in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The limited-edition pink EX-Z75 is a 7.3 megapixel digital compact, with a 2.6-inch widescreen LCD, 3x optical zoom, Anti-Shake DSP for controlling your nervous hands, and something the company calls "eBay mode," presumably for when you decide to put your old camera on the auction block. A bundle including the camera, a case embossed with the National Breast Cancer Foundation's signature pink ribbon, and a similarly styled lanyard will go on sale in October for $179.99.
Casio Exilim EX-S880, EX-Z77 boast YouTube capture mode
Look out YouTube fanatics, your next digital camera has arrived. Casio's latest pair of Exilims don't deviate much from their predecessors, but a recent agreement with YouTube has enabled the duo to boast a "unique YouTube capture mode," as well as bundle in software "to provide ideal settings for recording, storing, and uploading video." The 8.1-megapixel Exilim Card EX-S880 ($299.99) touts a 2.8-inch monitor, SD / SDHC support, and comes in black or red motifs, while the 7.2-megapixel Exilim Zoom EX-Z77 ($229.99) trims down with a 2.6-inch LCD but arrives in four varying colors. Both cameras' YouTube capture mode records in 640 x 480 H.264, and provides "two step" access to get your clips from the flash card to the web. Look for the video-savvy pair to land in retail outlets next month.%Gallery-4690%
Casio's 12 megapixel Exilim Zoom EX-Z1200
Pfff, 10 megapixels is for sissies. Casio, like Panasonic earlier today, just pumped out their own 12.1 megapixel shooter, the Exilim Zoom EX-Z1200. A 1/1.7-inch CCD and 3x zoom lens will be responsible for collecting the photons while the Exilim Engine 2.0 processing attempts to make sense of it all. Casio's flagship compact also delivers CCD-shift image stabilization and range of blur-reduction technologies bent on making the most of that ISO 1600 sensivity -- if reviews of its EX-Z1000 cuz are anything to go by then that's probably not saying much. Face detection and motion analysis technologies enable the camera to lock focus onto a subject's face and then track it as the person moves. Rounding things out are a decent 2.8-inch wide LCD, SDHC card support, a lazy 3 shot per second burst mode, and H.264 video recordings at a maximum 848 x 480 resolution and just 20fps. No price listed, but it had better slide in for less than the superior spec'd DMC-FX100 if they hope to compete. [Via Digital Photography Review]
