Near Field Communications (NFC) allows a mobile phone to be used as a credit card by swiping the phone over a plate on a vending machine for example. Of course any machine that accepts it will need to be modified to accept payment via this method. As the mobile phone over the last few years has become more popular and converged with other devices such as cameras, radio, video players and web browsing it makes sense that the wallet also be combined with it since you carry your phone around most places you go.
Search Results for: camera
Near Field Communications – Your Mobile Phone as a Credit Card
May 4, 2007 by Leave a Comment
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-S800
May 2, 2007 by Leave a Comment
The DSC-S800 is Sonys latest Cyber-Shot camera which features an 8.1 megapixel CCD and a 2.5 inch TFT LCD. The lens is quite powerful as it is a 6x optical zoom. Speed of the camera is rated up to ISO 1250 which allows you to capture fast moving action quite well. As well as the 6x optical zoom the camera has 12x digital zoom with macro mode. Overall it seems to be a well balanced camera with features for most situations. One more picture after the jump.
YouTube Camcorder – The Pure Digital Flip Video
May 2, 2007 by Leave a Comment
A camcorder has been created to make uploading your home made videos to YouTube easier for the less net savvy people. The camera is a small white device which can fit in the palm of your hand and features a USB connector. The basic idea behind it is that you record a video, plug it in to your PC and the video is automatically uploaded to YouTube. 1 more picture and pricing after the jump.
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Motion Sensing Devices
April 29, 2007 by Leave a Comment
Motion sensors or accelerometers are little devices that fit inside electronic devices which allow the device to know when it is moved and which way it is tilted and at what speed it moved. With these sensors a computer or similar device can get a whole new dimension in the way it is controlled. One of the more popular devices to use this technology is the Nintendo Wii. The Wii has a controller which has accelerometers inside and this allows your actions to be converted in to movement on the screen. Take the bowling game for example, you hold down a button, pull your arm back and move your arm forwards as though you were bowling the ball. Twisting your wrist allows for spin to be added to the ball. Accelerometers are cool and becoming more popular in devices.
As well as being in gaming controllers you can find accelerometers in cameras, phones and laptop computers. The iPhone from Apple which is due out soon features a sensor which when the phone is turned on its side the image follows rotating it in to landscape mode. As well as being able to follow the movement there, the phone can also sense when it is lifted up to your ear when on a call and it then switches the screen off to save battery power.
The Apple PowerBook is also another device to feature sensors in allowing for all sorts of different applications to make use of them. Some of the more simple ideas are controls for your music. You tap the laptop to the left to skip back, tap it to the right to jump forwards and tilt it to play.
For such a tiny device the accelerometer is a great device which is appearing more in mobile phones and gaming devices. Although in some cases they do not do much they are still cool little devices which can add a new dimension to your device and well worth looking out for.
Tiny HD Camcorder from Sony
April 28, 2007 by Leave a Comment
Sony who the kings of making things small have been working on a new Camcorder named the Handycam HDR-CX6EK. This is a HD (high definition) camera and weighs just 370g without the battery. The lens is by Carl Zeiss and is capable of a nice 10x optical zoom. To store all this data it uses Sonys own format which is the Memory Stick DUO which currently maxes out at 8GB. With the 8GB stick you can still store 1 hour of 1080i video and up to 3 hours on the lowest quality. The camcorder can also be used as a camera and it snaps shots at 6.1 mega pixels.
As well as being small and powerful the camera does have some other cool features. It has Face Index which detects faces and can highlight faces with in a picture which we assume can automatically zoom or follow around.
The camcorder will cost around $1200+ when launched in July and no date is set for a UK launch yet.
Via: Gizmodo
Playstation 3 EyeToy
April 26, 2007 by 3 Comments
For those who have used a Sony EyeToy you will either love it or probably hate it. I happen to think they are cool and a great laugh on the multi player games as it ads a different dimension to games. The EyeToy is now coming to the Sony PS3 and the specs have also been boosted a little to match. The camera is USB 2.0 and can capture 120 frames per second at 320 x 240 and 60 FPS at 640 x 480. This isnt bad at all for the camera and should allow for some nice interactivity with games. As well as having a nice frame rate the camera also has digital zoom and also has the ability to capture images with either a 56 or 75 degree field of view.
One last feature that we know about is that it is supposed to work in lower light conditions which is handy to have as light can kill the eyetoys ability to capture movement if it’s way out. Unfortunatly no prices yet, but it should be out later on this year.
Via: TechEBlog
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Olympus SP 550UZ with 18x Optical Zoom
April 21, 2007 by Leave a Comment
The type of zoom your digital camera can make a huge difference to the type and quality of photos that you take. A lot of digital cameras tend to have 3x – 6x optical zoom and then XX times digital zoom. Having a higher optical zoom capability allows for some seriously cool close up shots of objects even further away. However, when you get in to digital zoom ranges then the image is then being built by the CPU rather then what actually hits the CCD in the back of the camera. Olympus has now created the 18x Optical zoom which it classes as the ultra-zoom range. Combined with digital zoom is allows for up to 100x the zoom rate. It is named the SP-550UZ and can take pictures at high speed at ISO5000. With this cameras lens you can take wide-angle shots with a focal distance of 28mm*1 up to telephoto at 504mm. As well as those ranges, macro photography as close as 1cm can be done. Overall the Olympus SP 550UZ looks like a camera worth looking out for.
With having such powerful zoom features this often brings a shaky effect in to cameras when held due to the slightest movement making the camera jump. This camera has dual shake proof technology which works with a CCD-shift image stabilisation system and a sensitivity of ISO1600 which dramatically reduces the problem. Although it’s best to use a tripod for the ideal shot, the dual shake proof technology can allow the pictures to be clear when a tripod is not an option.
Other features of the camera are high speed continuous shooting which allows for 15 framers per second so that the best shot can be taken. A unique (unique to me) feature is also a pre capture mode with which the camera can store images immediately before the photo is finished being taken.
Via: Photo.Blorge
Infiniti Around View Monitor
April 19, 2007 by Leave a Comment
For those of you who struggle to park your car then the Infiniti Around View Monitor is for you. It features 4 cameras around your car with 1 in the front, 1 at the back and 1 on each side. By stitching the images together you get a full view on a screen in your car so that you can see exactly where you are reversing to. The camera at the front will catch your attention as it is hidden until used and moves outwards by motor.
No details yet although you can check out the Youtube video below with a brief demonstration of the software.
Very Cool Collapsible Webcam
April 17, 2007 by Leave a Comment
This Webcam is an excellent idea that has been created. As can be seen in the picture above, the camera is collapsible and folds up to make it easier for transporting. The camera will fit on a laptop or work as a stand alone camera. It has 4 bright LEDs built in and the camera works at 300k pixels. Resolution runs at 640 x 480 and video can be captured at 30 frames per second.
When folded up the camera is just a fraction of the size. As well as being used as a webcam this camera can be used as a security camera too catching motion and recording to your computer.
Via: Coolest-Gadgets
Pantech SKY IM-R200 Slider with LCD Slider
April 17, 2007 by Leave a Comment
The IM-R200 built by Pantech is a unique slider phone. In this case the slider is an LCD keypad which hasnt been seen before on a phone that I remember. Appart from the fancy slider the phone has a 2 mega pixel camera, QVGA screen, 116MB memory which can be increased via microSD and plenty of audio options which are standard on most phones these days.
Unfortunatly this phone will more then likely not leave South Korea. If the LCD slider is for you then its better you move over there.
Via: Engadget
Sony Ericsson W660i
April 16, 2007 by Leave a Comment
The W660i is a Walman phone introduced by Sony Ericsson. The phone is a 3G phone and benefits from higher speed transfers of data as well as the ability to make video calls. With it being in the W range (meaning Walkman) its boasting feature is music. The walkman range make excellent MP3 players. The software which runs the music side is Walkman Player 2.0.
As well as being a great phone for music the W660i has a 2 megapixel camera built in. Unfortunatly I think 2 megapixel is old now with 3.2 being popular as well as 5 megapixels on phones such as the Nokia N95. The screen runs at 176×220 pixels (TFT) and capable of 262k colours. The phone doesnt have too much memory (just 16MB) but there is support for Sonys Memory Stick Micro M2 card.
Via: TechEBlog
LG SV80
April 7, 2007 by Leave a Comment
LG has a stash of cool phones on offer and the SV80 is another LG which is about to hit the market. It has been described as being in the shape of a banana and they are not too far off with that shape. The SV80 is a little different to most of LGs offerings. It doesnt look quite as sleek as the rest. It is white and has orange markings down the side. There isnt much else to describe except its a slider and I do not believe it is a 3G phone due to the lack of a camera facing you.
If you want to see more pictures of this phone then you can check via the link below.
Via: IntoMobile
