You are here: Home / 2010 / Archives for May 2010

Olympus offers virtual reality camera test drive

May 23, 2010 By

Noting “the importance of getting the product in the hands of the consumer,” Olympus is promoting its PEN E-PL1 camera with a virtual 3D product experience.

The camera is simulated.

The June print issue of Wired and the July print issue of Popular Photography will ship with card shaped like the actual size camera. Hold the camera card in front of a webcam, Olympus says, and “a dynamic 3D online product experience is launched where you can see yourself, interact with the camera and simulate product features.”

The simulation offers “a rich and interactive experience,” Olympus says. “It’s as close to having the camera in your hands as you can get – without actually having it in your hands.”

More information is here.

Filed Under: Cameras Tagged With:

iStockphoto Plugs in to Microsoft PowerPoint and Word

May 23, 2010 By

Online stock image provider iStockphoto says its new free plug-in puts more than six million photos and illustrations at the fingertips of Microsoft Office users.

Users can access iStockphoto images from within PowerPoint and Word, where they can select, preview, purchase and insert images directly into their documents.

“The availability of this plug-in is great for presenters,” the company says, “and even better for their intended audiences.”

iStockphoto is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Getty Images.

Filed Under: Mobile & Internet Tagged With:

Pixamba manages microstock photography

May 23, 2010 By

Pixamba says its asset management service helps microstock photography users manage their portfolio of licensed stock images.

“Pixamba Media Management Service helps users to index, store, search, tag, retrieve and back up their images,” the company says, “whether purchased from photo stock agencies or edited in-house.”

It provides real-time visibility of each individual stock image, including when and how it was used and the up-to-date status of respective legal rights for further use.

The service has entry price of $5 per account, with 3GB of storage.

“We believe that we are the first to market to provide a digital asset management system that puts the stock photography consumers in full control of their archives of licensed images,” the company adds.

Filed Under: Mobile & Internet Tagged With:

OmniVision claims smallest 1080p HD camera module

May 23, 2010 By

OmniVision Technologies claims the first 1/6-inch, native 1080p high-definition CMOS image sensor.

The OV2720 is designed for notebook, netbook, webcam and video conferencing applications.

It is based on OmniVision’s 1.4 micron OmniBSI backside illumination technology – which the company says yields best-in-class low light sensitivity of 680-mV/lux-sec, while enabling extremely thin modules with a z-height of 3.5 mm. Also, the OV2720 can use binning to further increase its low-light performance to double that of similar-sized VGA sensors.

The chip is currently sampling, with mass production in June.

Filed Under: Components Tagged With: ,

Aptina boosts sensitivity in mobile sensors

May 23, 2010 By

Aptina claims its third generation A-Pix technology delivers low-light sensitivity and vibrant colors as a result of improvements in quantum efficiency and reduced crosstalk within the 1.4-micron pixel.

“A-Pix makes it possible for mobile phone cameras to capture quality images to compete with digital still cameras,” the company says, “and enables a new class of hybrid camera that combines digital still image capture with advanced high-performance HD video.”

Despite industry trends toward higher resolution and smaller pixels in many imaging applications, there are also a growing number of applications requiring larger pixels with their superior low-light image quality, the company says. Applications such as HD video in digital still and video cameras, mobile phone cameras, PC’s and surveillance will require the excellent image quality enabled by larger pixel sizes, such as such as 1.4- and 1.75-micron.

Aptina maintain its front-side illumination sensors have other advantages over newer BSI chips, and compares the two formats here.

Two products are sampling with the new tech:

The 3-megapixel MT9T113 is a system-on-chip with integrated autofocus voice coil motor driver – the first 1/5-inch sensor with AF capability, Aptina says.

The 5-megapixel MT9P017 is ¼-inch optical format image sensor that captures 1080p HD video.

Mass production is scheduled for Q3 2010.

Filed Under: Components Tagged With:

CameraBag adds custom filters, batch processing

May 23, 2010 By

Nevercenter calls its CameraBag photo filter tool “a love letter to the analog era.”

The image editing software emulates “photography’s most beloved and iconic cameras, film, and processing techniques,” the company says. Filters can be layered and combined, and a Reprocess button “subtly varies the results each time it’s pressed.”

The new version 1.5 lets users create, save, and share custom filters by layering and modifying existing filters. Batch processing allows a filter to be applied to a folder of images simultaneously.

The Mac and Windows software is $19 at here.

Filed Under: Industry Tagged With:

Sanyo shortens projector distance

May 23, 2010 By

Sanyo claims the world’s shortest projection distance for an 80-inch image: just 32cm.

The company credits the short distance to a newly developed ultra short-focus mirror projection optical unit.

The PDG-DWL2500J is also about half the size of the previous model, Sanyo says.

The WXGA-resolution unit will also project 3D in the frame sequential display format that rapidly alternates between left-eye and right-eye images, and is viewable with active shutter 3D glasses.

Pricing was not announced, but is reported to be almost $5,000.

Sanyo's small projector also has the shortest throw distance – how close it can be placed to the screen or wall it projects on.

Filed Under: Industry Tagged With: , ,

Panasonic activates Skype-enabled TVs

May 23, 2010 By

In January, Panasonic announced upcoming TVs with Skype video connectivity built in. Those TVs are now available, and the Skype service is activated to allow voice and video calls – albeit with a camera sold separately for $170.

Panasonic says the camera has four unidirectional microphones, echo canceling system, and audio processing for collecting voices in the living room environment. The camera also features beam-forming technology to record clear audio over typical TV viewing distances of 3-4 meters.

The companies says Skype on Viera TVs provides a larger screen, high definition video at up to 1280 by 720 resolution, with a maximum frame rate of 22 frames per second.

Skype reports more than 560 million registered users.

Filed Under: Industry, Mobile & Internet Tagged With: , ,

Sony Claims Smallest Interchangeable Lens Camera

May 19, 2010 By

Providing details on its mirror-free cameras first announced in March at PMA 2010, Sony claims its upcoming Alpha NEX-5 will be the smallest and lightest interchangeable lens digital camera in its class, with a “tough yet light-weight” magnesium body.

Working without the traditional mirror in a single-lens reflex camera, the NEX-5 is 24.2mm thick, delivering SLR-quality imaging “with the convenience of interchangeable lenses in a sleek new design that slips easily into a bag or pocket,” Sony says.

All told, the NEX-5 measures 4.4 by 2.4 by 1.6 inches.

The new model has a 14 megapixel resolution, and captures 1080i video with stereo sound. The camera has a 3-inch tilting LCD.

Other mirror-less ILCs are now available from Olympus and Panasonic in the Micro Four Thirds design, and Samsung with its own form factor, the NX10. As noted by the Imaging Resource, the back focus distance of Sony’s SLRs is 40mm. Samsung’s NX10 reduces that to 25.5mm; the Micro Four Thirds to 20mm; and Sony’s NEX-5 has a distance of just 18mm, allowing for an even thinner camera. Also, its APS-C sensor is 60 percent larger a Micro Four Thirds sensor.

Sony says its E-mount lens system is backwards-compatible with previous Alpha SLR lenses, albeit with an optional adaptor. Unlike Sony’s full-sized SLRs, the NEX-5 does not have in-camera stabilization that works with any lens; some new optics for NEX cameras will have IS, but that is a bit pricier on a per-lens basis.

Sony also touts its new “elegant, uncluttered user interface” with such features as a control dial preview of depth of focus changes.

The camera will also feature Sony’s Sweep Panorama function: “Just press the shutter button and sweep the camera horizontally or vertically,” Sony says. “A high-speed burst of frames is stitched together automatically to create detail-packed 23 megapixel panoramas with a 226 degree effective angle of view.”

It also has automatic HDR: a burst of three images at different exposure values are combined in the camera for a single high dynamic range image with extended highlights, more mid tones and shadow detail.

The NEX-5 goes on sale in July for $650 with a 16mm f/2.8 lens; other options include an 18-55mm zoom.

The mostly similar NEX-3 camera is slightly larger, provides only 720p video, and is $100 less than the NEX5.

“The cameras are perfect for point-and-shoot users looking to advance from snapshots to creative photography,” Sony says, “as well as existing SLR users searching for a no-compromise compact alternative.”

Filed Under: Cameras, Spotlight Tagged With: , ,

Sony: 3D Panorama Coming

May 19, 2010 By

A part of its NEX camera announcement, Sony reports a “3D Sweep Panorama” feature will debut in July with a firmware update to the new models.

“With 3D Sweep Panorama mode, these cameras can shoot 3D panoramic still images with a single lens,” the company says. “The high-speed burst of frames is stitched together using innovative processing techniques to automatically create detail-packed 3D panoramas. These files can be enjoyed in stunning 3D on compatible 3D televisions.”

Filed Under: Cameras, Spotlight Tagged With: , ,

Sony developing interchangeable lens HD camcorder

May 19, 2010 By

Sony is developing a high definition camcorder with technologies similar to those in its newly announced interchangeable lens cameras.

Due in fall 2010, the new camcorder also has the APS-sized CMOS sensor, and will be compatible with Sony’s E mount interchangeable lenses.

Filed Under: Cameras, Spotlight Tagged With: ,

“House” -calls SLR video

May 19, 2010 By

The first network television prime-time drama shot entirely on an SLR camera: “House,” captured with a 22-megapixel Canon EOS 5D Mark II SLR.

Canon notes “this crowning achievement … is an industry-first. This milestone marks a paradigm shift in the way professional cinematographers and filmmakers capture HD video.”

USA Today quotes cinematographer Gale Tattersall as saying the Canon video “looked absolutely stunning.” For the episode, he switched from 35mm film Arriflex cameras to three Canon SLRs, and used a RedRock Micro rig.

The 5Ds get great results in low light, allowing the photographer to shoot at high ISOs, USA Today reports: Tattersall says he was at 640 ISO for most of the scenes, which take place in an abandoned building. “It was like having 50 film stocks in your back pocket at the switch of a dial,” he says. “You control the depth of field by wheeling the ISO around.”

The season finale aired Monday, May 17 (8:00-9:01 PM ET/PT) on Fox.

Filed Under: Spotlight Tagged With: ,

World’s Largest Image: 45-gigapixel Panorama

May 19, 2010 By

A 45-gigapixel image would fill 1200 billboards if printed.

The panorama of Dubai is now the largest digital photo, according to GigaPan, superceding a 26-gigapixel image of Paris which had set the record earlier this year.

Photographer Gerald Donovan made his panorama of Dubai using the GigaPan Epic Pro robotic camera mount, and a Canon 7D camera. He captured 4,250 pictures over a three and a half-hour time frame, which were stitched together. The shot, he says, was a test, “exploring the limits of the hardware and software out there.”

GigaPan says the detailed image lets anyone visit Dubai without leaving their living room. “The tallest building in the world is at the center of the image, a perfect complement to the largest panorama in the world.”

Filed Under: Mobile & Internet Tagged With: ,

Canon Compact Provides Creative Controls

May 19, 2010 By

Canon’s latest PowerShot point-and-shoot camera features aperture and shutter controls “allowing for enhanced flexibility and creative control,” the company says, “making this camera great for shooters who are interested in getting even more out of their photography.”

The SD4000 IS has a bright f/2.0 lens and a 10-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor that together enhance image quality in low-light situations, Canon says. “The f/2.0 lens allows more light to enter, permitting higher shutter speeds, for further reducing the effect of camera shake and increasing image sharpness and quality.”

The camera captures 8.4 stills per second, HD video, and “super slow motion” video at 240 frames-per-second.

It has a 3-inch LCD and a 3.8x optical zoom lens, and sells for $350.

Filed Under: Cameras Tagged With:

Poynt Offers iPhone Augmented Reality

May 19, 2010 By

Multiplied Media says its Poynt360 iPhone application overlays search results with the real-world environment as viewed through the iPhone’s camera, providing augmented local search.

Poynt is a free location-aware application that connects iPhone users to local businesses, people, restaurants and movie theaters.

With the new 360 degrees tab, users can point the iPhone camera at the ground to view compass-like arrows pointing them to what is nearby, or use a “heads-up display” where they can view the iPhone at eye level to view tags that are placed over locations around them.

From the tags, users can perform actions such as placing a call, browsing a website or mapping directions.

Multiplied Media is headquartered in Calgary, AB, Canada.

Filed Under: Mobile & Internet Tagged With: ,

Skype Offers Group Video Calling

May 19, 2010 By

Voice over IP provider Skype is previewing group video calling for up to 5 people.

“You’ll be able to bring the whole family together for a chat, for lunch, or even for a birthday,” the company says. “You’ll be able to spend quality time with your best friends, planning a trip, or even hosting a book club. And you’ll be able to meet with colleagues from across the world without leaving your desk.”

The new function is now in a Windows-only beta test, but Skype plans to release an updated official version later this year.

“To get the best experience possible, you’ll need a fast, uncongested Internet connection and a reasonably new computer,” the company adds, “but we’ve developed group video calling to work on a wide variety of connection types and hardware.”

Pricing for the new premium features is not yet set.

Filed Under: Mobile & Internet Tagged With: ,

Sharp phone camera sees in 3D

May 19, 2010 By

Sharp reports it has developed a 3D camera module.

“Embedding this camera module in mobile devices such as digital cameras, mobile phones, and smartphones will contribute to the development of a wide range of new, innovative communications tools,” the company says.

The camera captures 720p high-definition video in 3D: two views taken using two cameras that simultaneously capture separate images for the right and left eyes.

A 3D camera requires peripheral circuitry to apply image processing to the two images, to adjust color or to correct positioning between the images from the two cameras, the company says. Sharp incorporates color synchronizing processing to adjust color and brightness, timing synchronizing processing to synchronize the timing of the video signals, and optical axis control processing to correct positioning.

Sharp says it will start shipping samples in July. Mass production of these modules will begin within 2010.

Filed Under: Components Tagged With: , ,

Texas Instruments improves smart HD surveillance

May 19, 2010 By

Texas Instruments says its DaVinci DMVA2 video processor is the first megapixel IP camera SoC with smart analytics for intelligent video surveillance streaming at up to 1080p.

In March, the company announced the predecessor DMVA1, which supports 720p; the DMVA2 SoC offers three times the video performance, and adds TI’s Smart Codec Technology, which provides up to five times the bit rate reduction for improved video quality and network bandwidth.

Video surveillance and security customers can easily utilize integrated smart analytics, TI says, with such functions as people counting, trip zone, intelligent motion detection, camera tamper detection and streaming metadata analytics.

TI claims its integrated, single chip DMVA2 SoC reduces eBOM cost by one-third and board space by one-half, making video analytics possible in a broader range of surveillance applications. Also, the on-chip, fifth generation ISP solution allows for video stabilization, face detection, face recognition, noise filtering, auto white balance, auto focus, auto exposure and edge enhancement, as well as other video quality enhancements

The DMVA2 video security camera SoC will begin sampling in 2Q 2010; the camera reference design is $795.

More information is here.

Filed Under: Components Tagged With: ,

HTC Sues Apple

May 19, 2010 By

Mobile phone manufacturer HTC counter-sued Apple, saying the iPhone violates five patents.

HTC asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to prevent Apple mobile devices from being imported from overseas manufacturing for U.S. sales.

Previously, Nokia sued Apple; Apple countered, and then sued HTC over Google’s Android operating system.

[Technolgizer’s Harry McCracken posted an “extremely unlikely but perversely satisfying potential scenario: All three companies win all their lawsuits, preventing all of them from selling any products whatsoever and driving them all out of business.”]

Filed Under: Industry, Mobile & Internet Tagged With: , ,

Personalized Augmented Reality

May 10, 2010 By

Iryss says its Tagwhat is the first mobile augmented reality distribution system “where anyone, not just developers, can create their own AR content and share with their friends anywhere in the world, in seconds, for free.”

Tagwhat fuses mobile augmented reality and location-based social networking services, the company says. The free application “aims to place users right inside their own personalized global canvas where they can discover, explore and share what matters with friends and followers.”

When peering through a phone’s camera view, geo-contextual tags from pre-selected friends and community members are visible. “Walk down the street and Tagwhat reveals a wealth of relevant information, discussions, and deals,” the company says, “such as a coupon for a nearby establishment, a discussion thread for a meet-up with friends, and a restaurant review about a sushi place around the corner.”

Users tag any location, place or thing for friends to discover. Each marker is an interactive social object, and can include links to email, phone, SMS, photos, URL’s, cross-posting to Twitter, Facebook, and more. As a result, the company says, “friends are able to easily interact and share information with one another with the added benefit of location and AR.”

Also, among the first “channels” of AR content is one that pops up relevant information from Wikipedia.

Businesses e-commerce and information delivery uses are also in the works.

Iryss is based in Boulder, Colorado.

Filed Under: Spotlight Tagged With:

Long-distance 3D Posters Aimed at Advertising

May 10, 2010 By

New optical technology may yield large-scale 3D images that can be viewed from across a street, without special glasses

Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques, IPM, in Freiburg says its displays are similar to lenticular images, which use grooved plastic sheets to produce a 3D effect – but the new technique features an array of 250,000 lenses, each two millimeters in diameter. The greater precision yields a longer viewing distance, Fraunhofer claims: whereas lenticular images are clearly viewable only at arm’s length, “the new displays can be seen even from the other side of the street.”

Software modifies image data for each lens, resulting in 30,000 different viewing angles: the viewer sees one image that continuously changes with the viewing angle.

Fraunhofer claims a one-square meter display’s data volume corresponds to more than a full-length feature film – which is pretty astounding if accurate.

While as yet only one prototype exists, Fraunhofer says advertising posters are due later this year, and may measure up to five meters long.

Fraunhofer worked with RealEyes and the University of Kiel on the system.

Filed Under: Spotlight Tagged With: ,

Ricoh Zooms New Module

May 10, 2010 By

Ricoh announced a third camera module for its GXR camera system, this one boasting long-zoom optics.

The GXR body holds only the LCD, flash, microphone and speaker, and other minor elements. It costs about $550.

A lens, sensor, and primary image processor are all sold separately in distinct modules. Previous the company announced 3x zoom and fixed 50mm modules.

The new P10 has the equivalent of a 28-300mm lens, and a 10 megapixel sensor.

More info is online.

Filed Under: Cameras Tagged With:

Small Surveillance: 3-in-1 Micro-camera

May 10, 2010 By

How’s this for low-cost and unobtrusive surveillance: a one inch camera for just $130?

Billed as “your all-in-one surveillance solution,” the Brickhouse Security micro-camera captures 1,280-by-960 video or five megapixel stills.

It features motion or noise detection to start recording, and measures .2 by 1.14 by .4 inches.

Filed Under: Cameras Tagged With:

Total Traffic Network Expands Network with Earthcam

May 10, 2010 By

Total Traffic Network partnered with webcam services provider EarthCam to add 25 cameras in six cities to its proprietary national network.

EarthCam’s network camera systems support multiple wireless transmission services, the company says, allowing the cameras to accommodate the varying infrastructures throughout the country. “EarthCam’s expertise and ability to integrate smart, cost efficient technology has allowed us to not only expand into new markets, but also retrofit cameras in other markets.”

New systems will be installed in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Tampa and Washington, DC, along with upgrades to an existing network in Baltimore.

Broadcaster Clear Channel Radio’s TTN delivers real time traffic data directly to vehicles, using its own network of reporters, traffic cameras, helicopters and airplanes. TTN reports more than 125 million users, through partnerships with automotive manufacturers and navigation device makers.

Filed Under: Mobile & Internet Tagged With:

Google’s Goggles Translate Text

May 10, 2010 By

Google combined its Goggles camera phone app with the engine behind its Google Translate web service to translate words on signs, menus, and more.

To use the app, Google says, “Point your phone at a word or phrase. Use the region of interest button to draw a box around specific words; press the shutter button – Goggles will recognize the text, and give you the option to translate; press the translation button to select the source and destination language.” [Google will even detect the source language.]

Current languages supported include English, French, Italian, German and Spanish.

An Android app, Goggles augmented reality/ visual search tool v1.1 adds a larger database of recognized objects, improved user interface, and the ability to initiate visual searches using images in your phone’s gallery, the company says. Point your phone at a building in Paris, for example, and you are connected to search results without typing or clicking.

Filed Under: Mobile & Internet Tagged With: ,
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »