From an article in ElectronicsWeb I learned about Cellpod, a $24.95 tripod for camera phones from Joy Innovations. The tripod doesn't attach directly to the phone but, rather, to a cellular phone's "belt clip" case.
The advertising copy says, "That standard button that hooks the phone to your belt snaps directly into the Cellpod. Many of the leather cases that people purchase to cover their phones have these 'buttons' built in.
"It takes just a few seconds to attach. When you are done there is a quick release. If you don’t use a case or belt clip, an attachable button comes in the box to allow it to work with Cellpod."
Well, we're getting there.
I've long thought there were three accessories that were basic to any camera, and I suggest these same three accessories are necessary to any "serious" camera-phone. In no particular order, these would be a tripod, a flare hood, and interchangeable lenses. At least for tripods and interchangeable lenses, we're seeing some progress.
However, for a viable market on accessories, I suspect there needs to be more uniformity among camphones. Like the computer market, and the camera market discovered (long) before that, your market for dongles and add-ons doesn't really catch until you can swap a widget from brand A to brand C. Right now, cellphones are in that wild-and-woolly market stage where even phones from the same maker don't really speak to one another (Microsoft vs. Symbian vs. Nokia System 90, 80, 60, et. al). I imagine this is why so many people are making Bluetooth headsets, as opposed to camphone tripods. (With all due respects to the CellPod, no way am I gonna stick a clip on my S710a!)
Posted by: tychocat | Thursday, March 24, 2005 at 12:39 PM