FaceDetection
Latest
Samsung ST10 combines digicam and PMP, practically snaps pics for you
Also making the rounds this week is Sammy's ST10, the 9 megapixel companion to the newly announced TL100. In addition to the rather ho-hum face detection we see so often these days, this claims to be the first camera with facial recognition: it keeps track of your favorite faces, prioritizing them when focusing in the future. Also included is a 3-inch touchscreen LCD, integrated MP3 player, Digital Image Stabilization, Smart Scene Recognition and more. This bad boy will be available from February 2009, priced at £179 (roughly $270).
AgfaPhoto DC-1338sT touch screen digital camera
Let's hope Agfa brings more to Photokina than the 1338sT, because otherwise it's going to be a pretty lonely booth. The 10 megapixel camera isn't quite the top of the line, even with the 3-inch touchscreen: smile detection, face tracking, and a low-res YouTube video mode aren't exactly huge selling points -- especially for €179 ($265). The non-touchscreen DC-1338i version has been available in the States for a while now, so the morbidly curious can expect to see this bad boy at a Walgreens sometime in the future.
NEC's ad system pumps out spots based on gender, age
For better or worse, targeted advertising isn't going anywhere. Seemingly, it's not getting any more discrete, either. NEC's Digital Signage Solution combines a camera, a large display and a FeliCa contactless IC card reader / writer in order to dole out advertisements that cater to certain demographics. The system includes the innate ability to determine "gender, generation and other attributes" of a person in order to serve up advertisements that will cause him / her to spend some dough. From there, the individual can scan their phone in order to access related content on their mobile internet browser. That's all and fine and dandy we suppose, but how on Earth do you convince busy citizens to stop by and have a look at an otherwise uninteresting flat-panel?[Image courtesy of NEC]
Samsung launches 10.2-megapixel L210 point-and-shoot
Now isn't this bugger just as cute as a button? Even if red isn't your hue of choice, Samsung's L210 point-and-shoot comes in black and silver motifs too, and while the 10.2-megapixel sensor is probably a bit much for a shooter this size, we suppose Sammy's just following the trend. Aside from the pocket-friendly design and 3x optical zoom lens, you'll also find a 2.5-inch LCD monitor, red eye correction, optical and digital image stabilization, face detection, an SVGA movie mode and ten whole megabytes of internal storage. Should that fill up on you during your outing (we know, chances are slim), you can slam an SD / SDHC / MMC card in for additional space. Not too terribly shabby for $199.95, yeah?[Via Gadgets-Weblog] %Gallery-19294%
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX500 features touchscreen, 720p movie mode
If Panasonic's Lumix DMC-FX500 skipped out on PMA in order to get fitted with a touchscreen LCD monitor and HD recording capabilities, we'd say it was certainly a smart move. This well-spec'd shooter sports a pocket-friendly design, a 10.1-megapixel sensor, a 25-millimeter ultra-wide-angle lens, 3-inch touchscreen, 5x optical zoom and a swank movie mode capable of logging clips at 1,280 x 720 at 30fps. For those worried about said feature chewing through their SD / SDHC card (or the 50MB of built-in memory), WVGA (848 x 480) and VGA (640 x 480) video modes are available as well. You'll also find such niceties as optical image stabilization, red-eye correction, face detection and Auto Focus tracking for good measure. Drooling yet? Chew on the choice of black or silver and get your $399.95 ready to drop come May.[Via PCMag]
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
FujiFilm's FinePix F45fd: an F40fd in Argos clothing
Attention Argos shoppers, their "only available at Argos" exclusive on the FujiFilm FinePix F45fd is not all that exclusive. Spec for spec, the F45fd is none other than the F40fd rolled up special for the on-line UK and Republic of Ireland retailer. Your 200 Quid ($407) takes home an 8.3 megapixel CCD, 3x optical zoom, 2.5-inch LCD, 300 shot battery, ISO 2000 sensitivity, and storage on xD or SD cards. Not bad but no reason to get uppity with your mates about an "exclusive." [Via LetsGoDigital, thanks David]
Fujifilm's IS Pro DSLR lends a hand in forensics
Fujifilm has been lending a helping hand in the realm of investigative photography for quite some time, and the firm's latest picks up where the S3 Pro UVIR and IS-1 left off. Featuring Fujifilm's Super CCD Pro and Real Photo Processor Pro technology to see light from the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared portions of the spectrum, this 12.3-megapixel gem also sports face detection, password protected lockouts, optional "rubber body armor," CF / Microdrive slots, RAW support, and a live image preview LCD to boot. Moreover, it's fully compatible with Nikon F mount lenses and iTTL flash systems, which should ease the burden of switching costs if you've already sunk way too much into Nikon accessories. No word just yet on how much coinage this will demand, but look for it to land in precincts (okay, store shelves too) next month.
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]
Lexus LS600hL's face detection camera, warning system get spied
Face detection on your average digicam may not seem that special, but strapping the feature atop your steering column can certainly make for a more enjoyable (and safer) driving experience. Lexus' new LS600hL sports a Driver Monitoring System, which places a detection device in front of the driver's seat that keeps a close eye on the orientation of the his / her face, and if it sees that you're peering off at the continually changing MINI billboard or checking out the overhead wind energy producer, it kicks into action. The system will send audible and visual alerts at first in an attempt to get your attention back, and can eventually "apply the brakes on its own" if the previous warnings prove futile. Moreover, it can reportedly "reprogram the steering ratio and amplify the intensity and quickness of the steering response" to keep motorists safe, but there's no word on whether or not a retinal scanner add-on will be available to automatically adjust user preferences depending on which driver hops in the seat. Click on through for another snapshot.
Ricoh Caplio R6 adds face detection to the R5
T'is the season for new cameras, and Japan's Ricoh is getting in on the fun with the launch of its latest R-series Caplio, the R6. An evolutionary as opposed to revolutionary enhancement to the R5, the R6 offers the same 7.24 megapixel CCD, 7.1x optical zoom, and vibration correction as its predecessor, but throws down a slightly larger display (2.7 inches versus 2.5 inches), redesigned, slimmer body, the new hotness of face detection technology, and perhaps most exciting of all, a "distinctive strap attachment." Other nice features include VGA video at 30fps, maximum ISO of 1600, SDHC support, and a long-life battery that promises 330 shots under whatever weird conditions they test these sort of things. Available now, the R6 is priced at £230 including VAT, so figure us non-Brits will be shelling out somewhere in the neighborhood of $370.
Sony's DSC-H7 / DSC-H9 CyberShots get official, pack 15x optical zoom
If you're here for surprises, you're not apt to leave satisfied, but if you're interested in a few extra deets on Sony's latest duo of megazoom digicams, this is the spot. Set to replace the DSC-H2 and DSC-H5 just about one year after their respective releases, Sony once again did a horrendous job keeping the DSC-H7 and DSC-H9 on the low, but we're not complaining or anything. Anyways, future H7 / H9 owners can look forward to a Carl Zeiss 15x optical zoom lens, 8.1-megapixel sensor, face detection technology, HDTV output, the ability to shoot up to 1/4000 of a second, Bionz processing engine (seen in the Alpha lineup), Super Steady Shot optical image stabilization, up to ISO 3200, and red-eye reduction. The H9 steps it up ever so slightly by adding a three-inch flip-up LCD (compared to the H7's 2.5-inch rendition) and Sony's own NightShot technology, which purportedly allows photographers to snap legible shots even in dark alleys. Notably, neither camera sports any kind of movie mode whatsoever, and those hoping to shoot in RAW will also be sorely disappointed, but if you're fine with those two oversights and the massive zoom tickles your stalking instincts, both cameras will be landing in April for $400 (DSC-H7) / $480 (DSC-H9). %Gallery-1827%
Crime fighting system converts lip motions into spoken word
If you think text-to-speech or video-texting is hot stuff, researchers at the University of East Anglia have something that just might cool your excitement. Kicking off a three-year project, the team is setting out to "collect data for lip-reading and use it to create machines that automatically convert videos of lip-motions into text." By building a vast database of lip movements that can be read and spat out in verbally, the gurus hope to fight crime by being able to pick out potentially threatening phrases that security cameras pick up. The university is teaming up with the Centre for Vision, Speech, and Signal Processing at Surrey University in order to get the technology wrapped into cameras just about everywhere, from mobile phones to vehicle dash boards. Admittedly, we're not exactly keen on yet another Big Brother agenda gaining traction, but if this stuff stays in the right hands, you loud-mouthed criminals better start crafting your own unique language over the next few years.
Fujifilm's Z5fd compact digicam arrives in pink
If there's ever a good time to locate a pink-clad gizmo to fit in with the surrounding holiday, that would be now. You latecomers or forgetful ones should greatly appreciate Fujifilm's pretty-in-pink Z5fd digital camera, which sports a six-megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom, 2.5-inch monitor, face-finding abilities, and built-in image stabilization to boot. Moreover, you'll find 26MB of internal memory in case you don't have the cash to spring for an xD card right away, and the dual shot mode, iFlash, and 30fps movie mode should come in handy capturing the night out on the town. Possibly the best feature of this digicam (aside from the color) is its immediate availability, but you should probably scrounge up that $219.99 and make a run for it to beat the hordes of others having the same idea.[Via ChipChick]
Fujifilm slaps US release date, price on Z5fd / FinePix S5 Pro
Fujifilm is apparently in the mood for spewing out much-anticipated launch details today, as both its face finding portable and S5 Pro DSLR are getting tagged with a US release date and price. The Z5fd has added the "face detection" moniker since we last saw it, but keeps the same 6.3-megapixel sensor, metal enclosure, trio of color schemes, 2.5-inch LCD monitor, i-Flash (flash that adapts to the environment), and "Blog Mode," which will automatically resize your photos for easy web posting while maintaining the original biggie. On the DSLR side, the FinePix S5 Pro is getting all official too, touting a 12.3-megapixel Super CCD SR Pro sensor, the company's own RP Processor Pro for "smoother tonality," ISO up to 3200, film simulation mode, and the obligatory face finding technology to boot. So if you're looking for a pocket-friendly digicam to come your way next March, the Z5fd will be landing for $229, while the upscale S5 Pro would make a lovely Valentine's Day gift if you're down with the $1,999 pricetag.Read - Fujifilm's Z5fdRead - Fujifilm's FinePix S5 Pro
