The state of Keitai

A very interesting post on anti-mega via Smart Mobs on the state of Keitai in Japan, "busting out with new features, bad, mad and crazy".

The whole article is a must-read with pictures illustrating some new fascinating features.

Excerpts:

"Japan led the introduction of camera phones (especially j-phone, now Vodafone). Resolution has now increased to over 1.3 megapixels (2mp is coming very soon). The flip format means some phones have two cameras, often at different resolutions, and also with different focus - the inside one is perfect for portraits, the outside good for landscapes. The latest cameras have proper auto-focus and high quality lenses. Image editing, storing, organizing and sending functionality is well developed.

For the late night picturetaker, several handsets offer a picture light (like a wimpy flash), and a few let you colour the light, rather like the Lomo Coloursplash.

There are some innovations in interaction as well. Sony have incorporated a signature scroll wheel into new phones, but other manufacturers have their own - 360° control is growing in popularity, with the wonderfully named Neuropointer, and the Roll Navi trackball.

One phone has a fingerprint reader for added security."

Another article recently published in The Guardian describes UK journalist Ashley Norris travels as part of a group visiting South Korea and consumer electronics company LG. How wide is the technological breach between the two countries? Way Wide.

emily | 12:03 PM | Reports |
The Permanent Link to this page is: http://www.textually.org/picturephoning/archives/2003/12/002465.htm