Reiter's Camera Phone Report

Not camera phone-related: IBM/Lenovo Repair computers are down

This has nothing to do with camera phones, but it's so funny (or perhaps sad) that I had to mention it.

I just called IBM/Lenovo's customer service about the status of my ThinkPad Tablet PC that's in for repair.  I was told to call back later this evening because...."Our computers are down."

This is IBM/Lenovo?  This is where I have sent my ThinkPad to be repaired?  Your computers are down?!

I said the same thing to the customer support person on the phone and she began chuckling and said, "Don't make me laugh."  I guess she thought it was kind of funny, too!

Yes, what's down is only the software that indicates the status of my ThinkPad, not the actual computers at the repair center.  At least I think that's the case.

Such is life.

ZDNet examines Apple patent application with possible iPod camera functions

George Ou at ZDNet writes a lengthy article about an Apple Computer U.S. patent application that seems to imply camera functionality in an iPod. 

The patent application focuses on touch screen technology.  But by examining in detail the patent application and the accompanying illustrations, Ou infers that it refers to -- possibly -- camera functionality as well as music capabilities.

iPodcam?

He writes that "since so much space in the Application is devoted to ways that such systems as digital photography and music can be combined on one device makes one wonder if what we are seeing here is actually a design for an iPod with a digital camera.

"This functionality has been referred to elsewhere on the Web, but not with the detail and depictions I offer now....

"This new art seems to point to:  An iPodcam with touch-screen capability that would enable the user to switch back and forth between music-player and camera modes."

Patent illustrations

Ou looks at the illustrations (see above) in Apple's touch screen patent application and explains, "The best way to understand what is going on in Figs. 17 B & C is to read this sentence from the Patent application:  'In this example the user controls available for viewing photos include  contrast, brightness, zoom, and move.'

"Looking more and more like a camera.  But not if you don't want it to be."

Other rumors

Other articles on the Web, that I previously mentioned, say Apple is developing an iPod with a 3.2 megapixel camera.  None of this information has been confirmed publicly by anyone from Apple. 

[Sent via TypePad wireless e-mail with RIM BlackBerry 8700g]

ABI says 75 percent camera phones in Japan, 52 percent in South Korea

ABI Research says camera phones and mobile television-enabled phones are helping to drive the growth of cellular handsets in Japan and South Korea, according to the firm's press release.

Based on its current research report ABI says camera phones in 2006 comprise about 75 percent of cellular phones in Japan and 52 percent in South Korea.

Andy Bae, an ABI senior analyst in Seoul, says in the press release, "Two megapixel camera phones with autofocus and zoom functions have started to outpace 1.3 megapixel models in Japan and South Korea.   Two and three megapixel phones will be mainstream by 2008.

"Five (and greater) megapixel models will dominate after 2010."

U.S. market

In the United States, I know, the overwhelming majority of camera phones on the street are VGA.   The sooner VGA dies, the better, as I've written many times before.

The 1.3 megapixel handsets will become mainstream in the U.S. in 2007.   So far, unfortunately, we're not seeing many two megapixel camera phones and only one 3.2 megapixel camera phone (from Verizon Wireless).

Frankly, I'm surprised we haven't seen more higher resolution -- two megapixels and better -- camera phones from Sprint.

GSM's advantage

In Asia a fair number of CDMA vendors, such as LG and Samsung, offer higher resolution camera phones.   In the U.S., though, there's a greater range of two megapixel camera phones for GSM networks from Nokia and Sony Ericsson. 

Nokia and Sony Ericsson camera phones produce some of the best photos.

Also, GSM's SIM card feature enables subscribers to purchase advanced, unlocked phones -- albeit at high prices -- for use over the network even if the cellular operator doesn't offer them.

Mobile TV growth

The research firm says almost 14 percent of cellular phones in South Korea support the mobile television protocol DMB (Digital Mobile Broadcast).  Electronics manufacturers are emphasizing T-DMB rather than S-SMB, ABI says. 

Bae notes that GSM HSDPA and CDMA 1xEV-DO Revision A in Japan and South Korea have "spurred mobile vendors to develop premium and high-end handsets to support video call and music track download services."

[Sent via TypePad wireless e-mail with RIM BlackBerry 8700g]

Germany's Schneider Kreuznach provides lenses for LG camera phones

German lens manufacturer Schneider Kreuznach is providing lenses for LG's camera phones, according to an article in The Korea Herald.

Schneider already provides lenses for LG's new "Shine" camera phone "and will continue to use Schneider's for premium handsets in local and overseas markets," the article says.

As many of you know, Nokia incorporates Carl Zeiss lenses in some of its higher-end camera phones, as I've written previously.

[Sent via TypePad wireless e-mail with RIM BlackBerry 8700g]

Camera phone photos used in Washington State bestiality case

I wasn't sure whether to post this but if camera phone photos can help punish this guy, perhaps it's worth mentioning.

The wife of a 26-year-old Washington State man took two camera phone photos of her husband having intercourse with the family's four-year-old female pit bull before the wife called 911, according to an article in The Seattle Times. 

The man is the first person to be charged with animal cruelty under the state's new bestiality law.  It's a felony offense.

Could the wife have used a digital camera to take the photos?  Of course.  But perhaps the camera phone was handy and it was important to take the photo of her husband in the act. 

[Sent via TypePad wireless e-mail with RIM BlackBerry 8700g]

CAP-XX says its LED flash is brighter than most Xenons

CAP-XX, a manufacturer of supercapacitors, says in its press release that its "LED BriteFlash" is brighter and smaller than most Xenon flashes and "can offload demands from the battery and handle all mobile-phone functions that need peak power -- wireless voice and data, GPS readings, digital video, music and TV -- improving talk time, battery life and audio quality."

Figuring light energy

CAP-XX says:

"The key to clear pictures is Light Energy -- the total amount of light that fills a camera's pixels during image-capture time.

"On the other hand, Light Power refers to the intensity of a flash.   Light power, along wi th flash exposure time is used to calculate Light Energy:   light power (lux) x flash exposure time (secs) = Light Energy (lux.secs).

"Ten to fifteen lux.secs of Light Energy is ideal for high-resolution pictures.

"Xenon flash has excellent light power, but a very short flash exposure time.

"An LED flash, powered by a supercapacitor, delivers lower light power over a longer flash exposure time for total Light Energy that exceeds or equals most Xenon flashes."

Not perfect

The company's camera phone flash product doesn't solve all problems, though.   The release says, "A supercapacitor-powered LED flash delivers lower power over longer time for total Light Energy that exceeds or equals most Xenon flashes.

"This solution is capable of higher-quality still shots, but not action shots, in low light.   A designer can use image-stabilization software to correct for hand movement that may cause blurry photos. 

"Xenon, with its short exposure time, is superior for capturing fast-moving action shots in low light."

Light, power, action

Hmmm.   If CAP-XX admits its flash requires image stabilization software for "action shots," that's obviously a drawback.  Camera phone "shake" is a major cause of blurred photos, with or without a flash.

Camera phones are more prone to movement than digital camera because they usually are lighter and not often held with two hands and steadied.   Also, the "shutter lag" in camera phones means many users move the phone before the photo is taken and saved, also causing blurring.   

There are significant improvements in image stabilization software for digital cameras and I assume camera phone vendors can take advantage of these developments.   

However, I'm certainly not an expert on the physics of flash technology. 

Future products

CAP-XX says its product will begin showing up in camera phones at the end of 2007 or 2008.

[Sent via TypePad wireless e-mail with RIM BlackBerry 8700g]

Cingular transmitted 138 million MMS, 10 billion SMS in third quarter 2006

Just a little tidbit from Cingular Wireless' third quarter 2006 results: It had 28 million active data customers and transmitted 138 million MMS and 10 billion SMS messages.

Cingular is the largest cellular operator in the United States, with 58.7 million subscribers.

[Sent via TypePad wireless e-mail with RIM BlackBerry 8700g]

"It's Your Life" snowboarding show filmed with Nokia N90 camera phones

Nokia is one of the sponsors of "It's Your Life," a video series about snowboarding (see below), according to an article in TransWorldSnowboarding.

The article says, "Produced by Max Jenke of Endeavor Snowboards and Derek Heidt of Oakley, 'It’s Your Life' intimately documents the aspirations of five professional snowboarders and their friends.

"The rawness of personal journals and footage filmed exclusively on Nokia camera phones combined with vivid narration, an amazing soundtrack, and first class snowboarding combine to make a unique viewing experience."

Episodes

The first episode was available on October 15 and subsequent episodes will be available every two weeks on the Web site.  The site also offers a chance to win a Nokia N90 camera phone and receive updates.

"It's Your Life" is presented by Endeavor Snowboards, Oakley, Nokia, Snowboard.com, Whistler/Blackcomb, and Heavywater Studios.

[Sent via TypePad wireless e-mail with RIM BlackBerry 8700g]

In-Stat says camera phones comprise 70 percent of all digital cameras in 2005

The research firm In-Stat says camera phones comprised 70 percent of all digital cameras shipped in 2005, and the overwhelming majority of them incorporated CMOS sensors, not CCDs, according to the firm's report, "Image Sensors 2006: CMOS Sensors Outship CCDs" press release.

"Because of the strength of the camera phone market, overall area CMOS image sensor shipments exceeded area CCD shipments by nearly a factor of three in 2005.  This gap will continue to widen through 2010," In-Stat says.

In-Stat says digital still cameras are the second largest market for image sensors and more than 70 million were shipped in 2005.

CMOS, CCD devices

Brian O'Rourke, an In-Stat analyst, says in the press release, "CMOS will continue to flourish, due to its popularity in camera phones, Web cameras, and toy cameras.  CCDs will continue to thrive in markets such as digital still cameras, camcorders, and security cameras."

Check out "The Creative Life" for quality of N93 videos

Are you interested in the video quality from Nokia's N93 GSM camera phone?

Check out James Burland's "The Creative Life" weblog where he's posted lots of N93 videos showing his family and friends out and about in the U.K. (see below).  Thanks James for the heads up!

Although the N93 doesn't offer the quality of Robert Scoble's $3,000 or $4,000 video camera (I forgot what Robert said it cost), especially in low light/night situations, it's not designed for that.  Overall, the videos look just fine for family outings and citizen journalism.

The N93 shoots videos at 30 frames per second and takes photos at 3.2 megapixels.  No cellular operator in the United States offers the N93, although you may purchase an unlocked phone in the U.S. from Nokia for a mere $699.99.

More N93 info.?

If you're interested in more information about the N93, take a look at the N93 WOM World weblog that has lots of interesting articles and links to other good information (see below).