It’s probably a fact that your internet “dates” could turn up in a slightly higher resolution, don’t you think? Well maybe it’s time to turn on the Clique Communications’ Clique Hue HD flexible webcam, which will broadcast or capture any variety of web-related video “activities” at the cushy resolution of 1280 x 1024 (but at a measly 10 FPS), or you can knock it down to 1024 x 768 for a decent 30 FPS situation. If you’re just interested in still-framing it, this little dude can rock resolutions up to 2560 x 2048, although apparently it all happens via software trickery, which means your lovely date may still look somewhat… um, messed up.

If we’ve learned anything from Hollywood’s recent penchant for pairing muscle-bound leading lads with toddlers, it’s that taking care of tykes ain’t easy.

But if you think changing diapers is the hard part, just try getting one to smile on demand.

We’ve already shown you how to get adults to smile, so here’s a quick tip for the little humans in your life.

1) Acquire PEZ dispenser. 2) Carefully cut away at the bottom with an exacto until it’ll slide into your camera’s hot shoe. 3) Train camera at unsuspecting child. 4) Capture a rare moment of unexpected joy.

Mix and match dispensers for variety, and take a gander at the how-to pics by Federico Sartorio for the details. [via reader sarah lee]

Tell us your favorite way to get kids to smile!

In the Forum…Share your best photo of something green, tell us what music gets you snapping, talk about the NYC photo ban, and more…

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So in addition to their newest PMP cam, Samsung also loosed three updates to their NV (as in eNVy, yuk yuk) line-up of digital cameras. On the mostly meaningless megapixel scale, we’re looking at the 8 megapixel NV8, 10 megapixel NV15, and 12 megapixel NV12. All the new NV cams feature Samsung’s “Smart Touch” softkeys surrounding a 2.5-inch LCD, Schneider optics with a 3x optical zoom, likely useless ISO 3200 max sensitivity with ASR image stabilization, face detection technology, SDHC expansion, and VGA video at 30fps. The NV20 and NV15 both hit the US in the Fall for $399 and $299, respectively, while the NV8 is TBD on all accounts.
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Here ya go, another 8 megapixel shooter only this time, it’s Samsung doing the honors. The new 0.8-inch thin i85 brings the PMP action like their i7 without the swiveling novelty of that rear LCD. Instead, the brushed aluminum, i85’s 3-inch LCD remains fixed with the sound provided by the built-in stereo SRS 3D speakers or 2.5-mm headphone jack. Unfortunately, the i85 supports WAV and MP3 audio and MPEG, AVI, MOV, WMV and ASF video files only after conversion via bundled software. Rounding out the specs are a 5x optical NV zoom lens, Samsung ASR image stabilization, ISO 1600 sensitivity, 256MB of onboard memory with SDHC expansion, and a maximum shutter speed of 1/2,000 sec. Available this Fall for $349, list.
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Panasonic just announced the availability of their HDC-SX5 and HDC-SD5 3CCD AVCHD camcorders for the the North American and European markets. Just for the sake of confusion, these appear to be the exact same cameras already announced for Japan under the HDC-DX3 and HDC-SD3 models. As such, we’re still looking at 1920 x 1080 recordings direct to SDHC cards (the SD5) or to 8-cm DVDs (the SX5) with built-in optical image stabilization. The only real news then is the date: September 2007 for an undisclosed price though likely around $1,200 (including tax) like their Japanese brethren.

www.jossphoto.com

“After rain” © Josephine

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As if you weren’t already inundated with digital picture frames on this beautiful Friday, here’s yet another to chew on. Manufactured by Siren (you know, part of iriver), the DF150 ups the ante on the DF100 by expanding the screen real estate from five-inches to 5.6-inches and by increasing the onboard memory from 32MB to half a gigabyte. Additionally, you’ll find an obligatory USB 2.0 port alongside memory slots to handle SD, MMC, miniSD, CF, and Memory Stick formats, and you can even change out the outer frame thanks to the wood and acyclic covers that are bundled in. Expect this sucka to land in Japan next week for ¥14,800 ($123).

[Via FarEastGizmos, image courtesy of Impress]

While a standalone digital photo frame is certainly a novel item to have around the crib, integrating it into a pocket cam for easy portability just sounds so much more useful. Thankfully, a crafty concept designer by the name of Jin Woo Han has created the perfect mishmash of the aforementioned devices, and while we’ve no idea if the Samsung SS 700 will ever get legit, you can’t fault a guy (or gal) for hoping. The 7.2-megapixel camera boasts a sleek, stylish design, but the standout feature is the sliding rear display that doubles as a digiframe. Heck, there’s even a built-in kickstand for extended viewing. Check it out in detail after the break.

[Via LetsGoDigital]

Continue reading Conceptual Samsung SS 700 camera packs integrated digiframe

Kodak, a name pretty much synonymous with the word “camera” in the past, and “crap” more recently, sued Japanese manufacturer Masushita (primary owner of Panasonic, amongst others), alleging the company infringed upon its digital camera patents. In documents filed in Texas, Kodak claims that the company violated patents for an “electronic camera utilizing image compression and digital storage,” and “an apparatus and method for previewing motion images using a series of lower resolution still images.” According to a Kodak spokesman, the company has tried to resolved the dispute “for a number of years,” but the results haven’t been up to snuff for the photography giant. Interestingly, Kodak has all but announced that it plans to bolster its earnings by milking kickbacks from the licensing of its intellectual property during its lengthy transition from a traditional photography company to a digital one. If the past is any indication, Matsushita can just crack the wallet right now.

After all these years, Motorola still hasn’t given up its fetish for sticky keypads. It is quite surprising since we have seen some supremely stylish phones like the V3i from the same stables. And when you look at the i335, you are surely going to have a feeling of déjà vu. Yes, this is a lot like most of its predecessors in design and looks. And to carry on the legacy, its keypad retains the irritating leathery feel.

The thin i335 has been designed specifically for Nextel. From the looks of it, this phone is targeted at the mid-end and lower segments, amply evidenced by a conspicuous lack of a camera, a decent LCD screen and connectivity of any sort. However, grapevine has it that the phone would be better looking than other models designed for Nextel.

The phone’s price has not been announced yet. Nevertheless, there is little doubt that the phone would be priced for light pockets, one aspect Motorola has always got right.


Via: gizmodo