Filed under: Ask Engadget, Digital Cameras
You’ve got questions, and well, the rest of you have answers. That’s right, it’s time for Ask Engadget. You hit us up at ask at engadget dawt com with the questions you’d like your Engadget-reading peers to take on, and we’ll let them sort it out in our comments. On the last Ask Engadget, which was admittedly a little while ago, Drew asked what the best Bluetooth mouse was available now.This week Eric wants to know:
I’m trying to find a truly simple videoconferencing solution to connect my elderly parent with me. I’m looking for something that, with a single button press (no mouse action, no clicking — launch and configure from a keyboard shortcut even), will:
- Establish a video call from point A to at least two other locations, simultaneously.
- Use a sufficiently large screen and high-enough frame rate that facial expressions are visible to an older person without their glasses
- Full-duplex audio
- The ability to initiate a call from my location that auto-answers theirs, such that I appear on-screen without any intervention
There are obviously a lot of solutions out there for videoconferencing, but how many are really simple enough for someone not at all technically inclined on the other end? We’d be tempted to recommend the ill-fated Ojo, but we’re sure you guys have some tricks up your sleeves.
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Kurzweil set to unveil portable reader for the blind
Filed under: Digital Cameras, Misc. Gadgets, Handhelds
Even though we’ve seen a ton of products designed to aid the visually-impaired in their daily lives, technology still has a long way to go before disabled folks are able to enjoy a completely unrestricted lifestyle, which is why inventor/visionary Ray Kurzweil has spent the last quarter-century building devices that make reading easier for the blind. His latest invention, called the K-NFB, is basically a five megapixel digital camera attached to the back of a Windows Mobile 5.0-powered PDA, which is loaded with software that uses optical character recognition and text-to-speech technology to read aloud the words contained in user-captured photos. Once it’s called into action, the $4,860 device supplies the operator with an initial “situation report” that attempts to describe whatever’s in the camera’s field of vision; if the report indicates that the desired text is within range, owners can then choose to snap a photo and listen to the resulting translation. Although the K-NFB is scheduled to be released soon by the UK’s Sight & Sound, several technical issues — most importantly, the software’s difficulty in understanding inverted (white-on-black) text — still have to be ironed out before it’s available to the public.
[Thanks, Megan]
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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S500
The new Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S500 digital camera is so entry-level that Sony didn’t even bother to announce it properly. Expected to ship on or before August 4th, 2006 for $179.95, available to pre-order now on SonyStyle.
Sony joins S500 club with new 6 megapixel shooter
Filed under: Digital Cameras
Even though Sony already had a budget-oriented 6 megapixel Cybershot, it looks like they’ve been jonesing for a S500-titled model like all the cool manufacturers have. We are a bit proud of those creative minds at Sony for breaking the general “name predicts megapixel” mould and sticking a 6 megapixel CCD in their DSC-S500, but there really isn’t a lot else going on here that we didn’t see in this camera’s predecessor, the S600. In fact, the S500 has less included memory (24MB instead of 32MB) lower-res video (QVGA instead of VGA) and a smaller ISO range (80-400 instead of 80-1000) than the S600. Still, the new 3x zoom camera does manage a half-inch larger 2.5-inch LCD, and is a bit thinner than the S600. No word on price, or if Sony is planning on selling these two side-by-side, but we’re sure Sony’s naming committee is high-fiving each other right now for sneaking this one through.
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Fujifilm Finepix F470 Digital Camera Review
Hidden in the secret innermost recesses of the digital camera world is a tiny group that likes very compact cameras – cameras so small that they weigh in at one ounce (or less) for each megapixel of resolution. The diminutive Fujifilm Finepix F470 could be the poster child for this club — it weighs 5.5 ounces (with battery, memory card, and wrist strap) and produces 6 megapixel images. Fuji’s newest compact digital camera relies on a usability driven design, point & shoot ease of use, and very basic controls/menus to make capturing striking photos dead simple.
U.K. uses license plate scanners to crack down on illegal drivers
Filed under: Digital Cameras, Transportation
U.K. streets are about to get a bit less welcoming for anyone driving illegally as soon as a planned fleet of vans packing license plate scanners hit the roads. The vans, operated by the NCP car-parking group, will be on the hunt for vehicles belonging to owners who haven’t paid their car taxes, and will follow a zero-tolerance policy, clamping and impounding cars on sight, and crushing them if the driver doesn’t cough up the 80 release fee within seven days. Ouch, couldn’t they just sell ‘em? At least then the owner can buy back his or her car for thousands of pounds more than the release fee, but for thousands of pounds less than what a new vehicle would set them back. Deets on the specific system being used don’t seem to have been made available, but it sounds similar to the so-bad-it’s-good-named Mobile Plate Hunter 900 put to use last year in California to catch stolen cars.
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Prototype device detects, disables digital cameras
Filed under: Digital Cameras
Proving once again that “outdated technology” still has its place among today’s high-tech products, old-school film cameras may soon be the only shooters not rendered ineffective in the face of a new device that promises to identify and disable their digital counterparts in secure environments. Currently still in the prototype phase, the device developed by researchers at the Georgia Tech College of Computing’s Interactive and Intelligent Computing Division uses its own set of digital cameras along with a scanning laser to inspect a given area for telltale signs of CCD imagers (shape, size, reflectivity), and subsequently shoots out concentrated beams of light to overwhelm the sensors of offending gadgets. Although the device is still unable to accurately detect camcorders whose CCDs are set farther back from the lens than regular still cameras, once that obstacle is overcome, this technology is expected to be deployed by governments and businesses as an anti-espionage technique or in movie theaters as a way of combating piracy. See, you thought you were ahead of the game with your ten megapixel cameraphone, but it’s actually the spies and pirates equipped with those old medium-format Pentaxes who will soon rise to the top of their respective professions.
[Via Dvorak Uncensored]
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June 2006 Prize Giveaway
PhotographyBLOG has teamed up with muvee to give you the chance of experiencing the fastest, easiest, most fun way to transform your videos and pictures into slick productions… in seconds!
Casio introduces 7.2 megapixel Exilim EX-Z70
Filed under: Digital Cameras
So Casio’s just announced that it’s taking the six megapixel Exilim EX-Z60 and bumping the resolution up to 7.2 megapixels in a new model whose name you can probably guess, while at the same time managing to make it just a little more pocket-friendly by shaving a few millimeters off the depth. Besides those extra million or so pixels, though, the Exilim EX-Z70’s specs remain nearly identical to its sibling’s, so the 2.5-inch LCD, 3x optical zoom, and digital image stabilization will come as little surprise. Retailing for around $425, a black version of this 118-gram point-and-shooter will be available at the beginning of July, while a silver edition will hit the streets about a month later. Keep reading to get a view from the back, though if you’re familiar with Z60, you’ll have seen it all before…
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Three more digital cameras from Acer
Filed under: Digital Cameras
Since they don’t release these products in the US, you might not know that Acer’s got quite the little digital camera business going on overseas, and now they’ve announced three more new models to join the 8.28 megapixel CP 8660 we spotted earlier. If you were hoping for some of the retro styling or compelling features we saw on the CP-8660, though, you’ll probably be disappointed, as there’s not much noteworthy about the 5.05 megapixel CE 5430 and 6.36 megapixel CE 6430 point-and-shoots or the 5.05 megapixel CL 5300 (pictured), other than the fact that this latter model seems to be Acer’s first foray into ultracompacts. Both new members of the CE line feature those standard 3x optical zooms that have become so tiresome along with 2.36-inch TFT LCDs (no viewfinder here), while the 5300 sports a 2.0-inch LCD and seemingly no optical zoom. Rounding out the ho-hum specs for all three devices are a USB 1.1 connection, SD slot, PictBridge support, and that old standby, QVGA video capture (thankfully it’s at least 30fps), although so far pricing remains a mystery. Keep reading to check out the two new CE models, although we should warn you that they look like a thousand other cameras you’ve seen before…
Read- CL 5300
Read- CE 5430
Read- CE 6430
CE 5430
CE 6430
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Gary s Parries 25/06/06
Introducing this week’s Gary’s Parries column. Everything you always wanted to know about digital cameras, but were afraid to ask. This week s Gary s Parries topics are: 1. 100 Megapixels In Your Pocket 2. I Saw The Light
Sweet shots of Samsung’s SGH-A990
Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras
We were getting a little sick of hearing Samsung SGH-A990 whispers here and there (and FCC filing thrown in for good measure), which is why we’re rather thankful a little bird dropped off these sweet shots of Verizon’s forthcoming handset — one of the first Stateside (let alone from VZW) we’ve seen to feature a swiveling display. If our expectations are to be fulfilled, this hot little number won’t only have EV-DO, but will drop with a QVGA display, MicroSD, Bluetooth, and a fat 3.2 megapixel camera. Expect more details as we get ‘em, but for now click on to see some more shots of what may well be many a feature phone users’ next device.
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Fuji’s six megapixel Finepix F470 reviewed
Filed under: Digital Cameras
When it comes to ultracompact digital cameras, they don’t get much more pocketable than the Fujifilm Finepix F470 we first spotted at CES, which at 122-grams, is one of the lightest six megapixel shooters you can buy, Yet according to Digital Camera Review, the diminutive F470 is also an excellent performer, with almost insignificant startup times and shutter lag, low to acceptable noise levels up to ISO 400, and most importantly, accurate color and white balance — save for some purple fringing on shots captured at full 3x zoom. You’re also getting a 2.5-inch LCD, VGA video at 30fps, and 16MB of onboard memory, plus, the few downsides here don’t sound all that bad: below average life from the included rechargeable battery, only six steps on the optical zoom, and an Exposure Compensation setting that doesn’t auto-reset are the only gripes this reviewer had. Oh, that and the fact that you’ll have to shell out for an xD card along with your purchase, because chances are you don’t already have one, and Fuji doesn’t include one in the box.
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Casio Exilim EX-Z1000 Digital Camera First Thoughts
While we’re polishing up our full review of the Casio Exilim EX-Z1000, we wanted to give you a little preview of things to come. Announced at the end of April, the Z1000 features a 10 megapixel imaging sensor. Yes, you read that right. The full resolution images are 3648 x 2736 pixels.
Digital Camera and Tech Deals for 6/8/2006 – 6/11/2006
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Andy Rouse Interview (Part Two)
Andy Rouse is one of the best wildlife photographers in the world. His work appears in a multitude of different media and in every possible visual form. He is the author of 12 books, including the best selling DSLR Handbook, and he has presented his own TV series. Andy is known for his ability to get up close and personal to both dangerous and shy animals, and is respected for being a traditional wildlife photographer who has maintained his ethics in a very commercial world. In the second installment of a two-part interview, we ask Andy about the secrets of his digital workflow
