Marc Levoy, a Stanford professor of computer science and electrical engineering, is the son, grandson, and great-grandson of opticians. Holding the Frankencamera, which is programmable and can be connected to the Internet, is graduate student Andrew Adams.
(Credit: L.A. Cicero/Stanford University)Photo scientists at Stanford University's Computer Graphics Laboratory have conceived of what is probably the world's first open-source camera. Their contraption, dubbed the Frankencamera, consists of a Nokia N95 mobile phone camera module; a circuit board; a couple of lenses from Canon; and Linux for all the open-source goodness.
The current prototype of the Frankencamera is constructed from off-the-shelf parts.
(Credit: Stanford University)The current prototype of the Frankencamera is constructed from off-the-shelf parts, in some cases borrowed from dead cameras. Its creators say it's ugly--thus the name.
Now, you may be wondering what the big deal is about having an open-source operating system on cameras. Well, it means programmers can create algorithms to process images differently or even better than what brands such as Canon and Nikon are currently offering.
An open-source platform will also give savvy users a wide range of customization options. For instance, photojournalists can program their dSLRs to activate certain settings when a particular lens or accessory is attached.
For now, the scientists have tweaked their Frankencamera to snap high dynamic range pictures, but they are trying to make their snapper churn out better-quality videos by using high-resolution pictures. In a year, they hope to distribute the platform at minimal cost to computational photography researchers and courses worldwide. Check out the video for more details.
(Source: Crave Asia)
Nokia N95
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)Q: I guess I'm missing something, because I don't really see the overwhelming appeal of the Nokia N95. Yes, it has all the radios that we all want, but it's SO big. Also, it has Symbian, which seems about as common as a unicorn.
With its different interface and high price, why do so many editors love it so much? I would expect the iPhone or a BlackBerry model or a Treo model to be ranked higher than the N95 as a smartphone. Wouldn't you call the N95 a feature-phone rather than a smartphone? -- George, via e-mail
A: Hi George. You bring up a number of good points, but before anything else, let me first tell you how we, at CNET, define a smartphone. To us, a smartphone is a mobile phone running a third-party operating system, which includes Windows Mobile, Palm, BlackBerry, Symbian, and now Apple. There may be varying opinions on this, and in fact, even Nokia calls its N series devices "multimedia computers" rather than smartphones. We use this distinction because with the number of advanced cell phones these days, any handset with a boatload of features could loosely be defined as a "smart" phone.
Again, you make some valid points, George. Of the mobile operating systems, Symbian is probably the least known in the United States. This is in part because for whatever reason, U.S. carriers have been pretty reluctant to pick up these smartphones so they're not readily available for purchase, and if you do, you're most likely paying an exorbitant price for an unlocked version of the phone.
So why would anyone ever buy an Nokia N95 and why do editors love it so much? For one thing, just because Symbian isn't well-known doesn't mean it's not a good operating system. I've found the OS to be intuitive, responsive, and very robust in what it offers as far as productivity and multimedia tools. As for the N95 specifically, the chassis is admittedly a bit clunky, but the dual-slider design is useful and the display is gorgeous. Also, you have to remember when the Nokia N95 first debuted in 2006, it had a heap of features all in one device--a 5-megapixel camera (still a rarity now), integrated GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, dedicated multimedia controls--whereas its competitors only offered bits and pieces. There have been various iterations of the N95 since then and the smartphone has only become better with more features (U.S. 3G support, more memory, and so forth) and better perfomance. The N95 is certainly not for everyone, particularly with its high price tag. However, if you can afford it, you will certainly get a powerful and well-rounded smartphone.
It's everything from the Crave blog with Brian Tong and guest hostess Bonnie Cha. This week they gab about a new futuristic ride, USB bling bling, the Nokia N95 8GB, a Buddha phone, and an Allen Iverson Zune to stay away from.
Not too shabby a door prize.
(Credit: Nokia)
As far as giveaways go, CTIA 2008 in Las Vegas was unremarkable. There were copious logo pens, bite-size candy bars, and the usual business card raffles that offer you a chance to win this headphone set or that laptop bag in exchange for license to spam you with product updates. I picked up a cheesy no-slip cell phone gel pad for the car dashboard from LogMeIn and a petite cup of chocolate gelato from Yahoo. CNET smartphone reviewer Bonnie Cha snagged a cute little two-inch mouse, perfect for traveling. Oh, and I also got a Nokia N95. I just didn't know it yet.
Um, about those fish bowl raffles...somehow my business card fell in (I swear, I didn't put it there), and somehow it was pulled back out. Right place, right time. Assuming there was no mix-up at the PR office, and no interception in the mail room, I would soon be the proud owner of one of the best pieces of swag a mobile apps reviewer could expect to get from a wireless conference where neither Apple nor Google effectively existed.
With a five-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, an open, app-friendly operating system, and an awesome media player, it's a pretty sweet prize, especially when it comes with a price tag in the $500 range. I mean, what could possibly be better than a Nokia N95? Oh, yeah. Being able to keep it. According to CNET's judicious policy, I'm rightly compelled to decline the win, and let some other lucky attendee have their chance. That's OK. I'd rather hold out for the Nokia N96 anyhow.
The Sony Ericsson Z750 was announced last year, but has not yet been released
(Credit: Sony Ericsson)Ah spring time; when romance, flowers, and new cell phone rumors bloom. A leaked "confirmation" to Engadget reveals a slew of upcoming phones to AT&T's lineup, and the lineup is a doozy. Not only do we get even further information that the LG Vu with MediaFLO is in the works, but we also hear that the Sony Ericsson Z750, the Motorola W760 Hurricane, a new Pantech Breeze flip phone, the Motorola Z9 slider, and last but certainly not least, the Nokia N95 for the North American market may finally be in AT&T's fold. It's all hearsay to us at the moment, but if this is true, AT&T customers may have more than a 3G iPhone to get excited about this year.
The Nokia N96 makes calls
(Credit: Nokia)It's no surprise that at GSMA we're seeing a lot of cool things. Since the show is geared toward the worldwide market (Europe in particular), the phones on display are a lot more exciting than the usual sort we see at home. But on the other hand, there's no guarantee that any of the devices will come to North America. Drool as we may, we're also green with envy.
Take, for example, the Nokia N96. As a slicker, stronger update to the already powerful Nokia N95, the N96 has just about every feature you could want in a cell phone. Besides making calls (hopefully it does that well), the N96 offers a 5-megapixel camera with a list of offerings that rival a standalone shooter. You'll find a Carl Zeiss lens, a flash, and a VGA camcorder that plays and records clips at 30 frames per second. On the whole it's more powerful than the 5-megapixel Nokia 6220, which the company also announced in Barcelona. The N96 has an impressive 16GB of internal storage. It also has a microSD slot that can accommodate cards up to 2GB. Nokia promises that you'll be able to watch 40 hours of video using the internal storage alone. Of course, you'll need to charge the battery during your video marathon; video playback is capped at 4 hours of viewing time because of battery life.
And it plays video
(Credit: Nokia)Other features include a digital music player, a 3.5mm headset jack, an FM radio, support for podcasts and Internet radio, e-mail, text and multimedia messaging, USB 2.0, stereo Bluetooth, and a GPS receiver with maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. The N96's design is similar to the N95, but also different. While it retains its predecessor's designated music controls and slider design, its black and silver scheme, and cleaner lines give it an overall sleeker look. That is an accomplishment considering that at 4.05 inches tall by 2.16 inches wide by 0.71 inches thick, and weighing 4.41 ounces, the N96 is actually a bit bigger than the N95. The N96 is quadband (GSM 850/900/1800/1900), and it supports both the 900 and 2100 3G bands. The N96 is set to be released in the third quarter of this year, and will require a serious amount of cash. Without carrier subsidies, buyers can expect to pay 550 euros (about $780).
On Sale Now: $389.99 - $614.99
View the latest prices for Nokia N96 (unlocked)
Nokia 6220 Classic
(Credit: Nokia)Nokia already has the N95, so its no stranger to high-resolution camera phones. But now it's aiming to take that functionality to a broader audience with the Nokia 6220 Classic. Announced today at the GSMA World Congress in Barcelona, the 6220 takes is a somewhat scaled down version of the N95. Not only does it use Nokia's Series 60 user interface instead of Symbian, but also it sports a minimalist candy bar design (4.25 inches tall by 1.8 inches wide by 0.59 inches thick; it weighs 3.2 grams). It will be available in purple, or basic black.
That design simplicity doesn't stop the 6220's camera from being its star attraction. In addition to the 5-megapixel resolution, it offers a Xenon flash, a 20x digital zoom, a Carl Zeiss optics lens, and auto-focus. The video recorder can shoot and play clips at 30 frames per second at a 640x480 resolution. With 120MB of internal memory, you'll have plenty of room for storing your pictures, and videos; however, if you need more space, the 6220 also can accommodate a 8GB microSD card. When you're finished with your work, you can upload photos directly to Ovi, Flickr, or VOX. You can also play videos on your television set using a TV out cable.
Say cheese!
(Credit: Nokia)Other features on the 6220 include stereo Bluetooth 2.0, a Web browser, e-mail (with attachments), a digital music player, a FM radio, text and multimedia messaging, and personal organizer applications. The 2.5mm headset is a mixed bag; though its better than a proprietary port, we would prefer a 3.5mm headset. Also, while the phone is quadband, it currently only supports the European 3G bands. Release of the 6220 is set for the third quarter of this year. At 325 euros ($471), it will put a crimp in your wallet, but it's still far cheaper than the N95's $700 price tag.
On Sale Now: $215.00
View the latest prices for Nokia 6220 Classic - silver (unlocked)
Nokia announced a new feature to its Ovi service at GSMA. Besides the existing Nokia Music Store and the N-Gage gaming service, Ovi now allows you to upload photos from your camera phone or a PC to an online community. Similar to services like Flickr, Ovi will allow users to interact with each other and share shots. Ovi will support more than 100 media types, and users will be offered unlimited storage and unlimited bandwidth for uploads. The only catch is that you'll need a Series 60, third-edition Nokia phone. Check out the Ovi Web site for more details.
Reuters and the Nokia Research Center have announced that they are working on a joint project to enable journalists to file and publish stories and multimedia news content from handheld devices instead of computers. Called Reuters Mobile Journalism, the initiative relies upon connecting peripherals to Nokia's high-end N95 device--a Bluetooth-enabled keyboard, a small tripod for video interviews, and a microphone that can plug into the mobile handset--as well as software to make it easier to put together text, images and streaming media.
The Nokia N95
(Credit: Nokia)"By running on handheld devices, rather than on bulkier laptop computers, the mobile journalism application enables us to create complete stories and file them for distribution, without leaving the scene," Nic Fulton, chief scientist of Reuters Media, said in a statement from the two companies. "This saves us time and benefits our audience by ensuring that they receive high quality news that is absolutely up-to-date."
It would also, of course, require that the reporter in question be equipped with an N95 handset.
Over the summer, Reuters ran trials of mobile journalism in situations as varied as the U.S. presidential primary campaign events, the Edinburgh TV festival and New York Fashion Week, where stories were filed from the field. Currently, the plan is to make the finished product available to professional journalists, but a number of university students will be used for a trial run to see how the "toolkit" fits into the ever-growing citizen journalism niche.
(Credit:
Amosu)
If more tech companies were as aggressive as Amosu, we probably wouldn't have nearly as many product launch delays as we do today. The U.K.-based bling meister--which promises to customize pretty much anything in "diamonds, gold or white gold"--has done it again with a diamond encrusted Nokia N95.
And unlike so many "special editions" that number in the tens or even hundreds of thousands, the diamond N95 is limited to just 10 handsets. The specs indicate why: It's made of 18-karat solid gold and festooned with 325 diamonds totaling 3.30 carats--for about $24,500. Amosu generously allows buyers to choose the color of the stones and whether they want white or yellow gold. The phone also comes with a one-year complimentary international concierge service.
Before you gag on the photo, remember that it can always be worse. It could have a leopard-skin design or cost as much as the Vertu's $310,000 "Signature Cobra."
