LG KC780 strives for world's thinnest 8 megapixel camera phone

Spotted on Gizmodo, LG's KC780, rumored to be the world's thinnest 8 megapixel camera phone.

CTIA Announces Camera-Phone Barcode Scanning White Paper

CTIA announced today the release of the "Camera-Phone Based Barcode Scanning White Paper," on behalf of its Carrier Code Scanning Action Team.

Utilizing industry-wide input from the nation's leading carriers, the White Paper's purpose is to help define, develop, and promote a multi-layer, open ecosystem for camera-phone 2D barcode scanning in the U.S. market.

[via MarketWatch]

9 Megapixel Module for Cameraphones Launched

Germany based Digital Imaging Systems (DIS) has announced the launch of a 9 Megapixel camera module for mobile phones.

Its new camera modules provide rich features such as auto-focus, high quality lenses, mechanical shutter and ND-filter with integrated actuators and an easy to access platform software, enabling high-end digital still camera (DSC) quality in mobile phones.

[via Cellular News. More in Press release]

CBS Turns iPhones Into Newsgathering Devices

Consumers equipped with Apple’s popular iPhone mobile device now have the ability to be “personal broadcasters” by uploading photos and video to CBS Mobile’s EyeMobile Web site, CBS announced Monday, by downloading a new, free software application. Broadcasting & Cable reports.

"The EyeMobile iPhone application was created by Seattle-based social-networking specialists TreemoLabs and offers the full functionality of CBSEyeMobile.com, which launched earlier this year, CBS said."

Chinavasion Projector Phone

Chinavasion is now offering a cell phone equipped with its own built-in projector.

[via Uberphones]

Kashmir's mobile phone chroniclers

... As the mainly Muslim Kashmir valley erupted into protests last month after a row over transfer of land in the region snowballed into a movement for freedom from India, armies of mobile-phone toting youngsters began trawling the city to record the events. The BBC reports.

The images and recordings of those momentous events have been swapped between friends, or put up on popular video sharing sites.

One of those, YouTube, spits out nearly 250 results when a search is done for "Srinagar protest" and many of these clips have been put up by youngsters from the valley. "

[via Smart Mobs]

KTF to Release 'Seo Tai-ji Phone'

A phone named after Korean top musician Seo Tae-ji is coming out. KTF announced its plans to launch a music phone and a video phone made in collaboration with Seo next month, reports Digital Chosunilbo.

"There have been phones named after celebrities, but this is the first time a star actually participated in the making of contents such as video clips, alarm tone, fonts, and ringtones. Seo composed the ringtones and the sound that comes out when turning the phone on and off and made an alarm tone featuring his voice. Images of Seo are also on display.

The phone features unreleased clips of a music video of Seo’s new single “Bermuda Triangle.” Despite being sold as limited edition, the company expects sales of at least 30,000 units. "

New York offers RFID-embedded driver's licenses

The State of New York has started offering driver's licenses embedded with RFID chips, or enhanced driver's licenses (EDLs). The news comes on the heels of New York becoming the second state to offer identification that can be shown at the border in lieu of a U.S. passport (which is also RFID-embedded).

[Crave via engadget]

YouTube co-founder on YouTube Future: On any screen

YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley wrote a post this morning about the future of online video and YouTube specifically. TechCrunch reports.

"Hurley notes that 13 hours worth of videos are uploaded every minute to YouTube.

... Hurley’s vision of the future, though, pretty much describes the world as it is today. You can watch YouTube on your TiVo, iPhone, or PC. But if you read between the lines, he does hint that mobile might be the next really big step for YouTube:"

"Our goal is to allow every person on the planet to participate by making the upload process as simple as placing a phone call. This new video content will be available on any screen - in your your living room, or on your device in your pocket. YouTube and other sites will bring together all the diverse media which matters to you, from videos of family and friends to news, music, sports, cooking and much, much more."

Nokia patents new photo scribbling software

Nokia has filed a paent for a new system for adding notes to photos using a built-in keypad or touchscreen.

The system would mean that once you take a photo, you’d be able to flip it over and use a stylus (or a qwerty) to scribble some details on the back, just like a real photograph.

[New Scientist via Pocket-Picks]

Cellcom offers free mobile air time for watching ads

Mobile phone operator Cellcom on Sunday launched a new advertising model in Israel enabling subscribers to accumulate free air time in exchange for watching commercials. Reuters reports.

"Cellcom, Israel's largest mobile phone operator with 3.1 million subscribers at the end of June, will award customers up to 45 minutes per month of free air time for watching the commercials. At the end, viewers will have to answer one or two advertiser questions to prove they paid attention.

... Major advertisers such as Coca-Cola, Nokia and Sony have already signed contracts to advertise on Cellcom, he said.

Capturing the Moment (and More) via Cellphone Video

The New York Times writes up how early adopters are now using their mobile phones to send live video broadcasts. They’re streaming scenes from their daily lives — like trips to the mall, weddings, a new puppy’s antics or even a breaking news story that they happen upon.

"People have moved on from texting,” said Carla Thompson, senior analyst at the Guidewire Group, a marketing research firm in San Francisco. “Just typing in what you are doing is no longer enough. That’s why the field of live video streaming is burgeoning.”

Once they have the right phones and plans, users can aim their built-in cameras, press a few buttons and, with the right software, be broadcasting within seconds. Their videos can be seen on blogs, on social networking sites like Facebook or, among other places, on the Web sites of companies that provide the software and services for streaming, like kyte or Qik.

Viewers can respond immediately to videos, typing messages on their keyboards, for instance, and sending them along to a live session. The typed chat appears instantly at the bottom of viewers’ screens."

Back online Sunday

Thursday is a Geneva holiday. Off for a few days. Back on Sunday.

NYC's 911 system upgraded to accept photos, video

New York City is touting a new weapon in its war on crime: cell phone cameras. News.com reports.

"Crime tipsters in New York City can now send photos and video from computers and Web-enabled cell phones and PDAs to the city's 911 and non-emergency hot lines to report crimes and quality-of-life issues such as potholes, officials announced Tuesday.

While many cities' emergency systems are equipped to accept text messages, this is believed to be the first system that also is able to process photos and video.

When 911 callers tell police operators that photos or video related to their complaint is available, a detective with the New York Police Department's Real Time Crime Center will call back to receive the images. "

Mobile Marketing through image recognition

Kooaba allows you to access and search for digital content from your mobile phone thanks to image recognition.

Instead of tedious typing and browsing, kooaba's search results are accessed by sending a picture as query. With this, you can literally "click" on real-world objects such as movie posters, linked articles in newspapers or magazines, and in the near future even on tourist sights...

Kooaba is one of the leading providers of image recognition solutions for mobile phones. Founded in 2006 as a spin-off of the ETH Zurich, kooaba links the real world with mobile content. Well-known European companies (like easyjet, EMI Music) use the innovative technology of kooaba. 

Image Fulgurator

Image Fulgurator is a camera-looking device that is used to smuggle visual information into other people's photographs.

The Fulgurator can be used anywhere where there's a another camera nearby that is being used with a flash. It operates via a reactive flash projection that enables an image to be projected on a surface the exact same moment when someone else is photographing it.

The intervention takes a few milliseconds and will most likely leave the targeted photographer puzzled as the motif he/she just photographed will suddenly contain an extra visual layer, somewhat like a watermark.

Image Fulgurator is a project by the artist Julius von Bismarck, who just recieved a Golden Nica Award at Ars Electronica for his work.

[via Guerilla Innovation]

BBC iPlayer comes to Nokia

Nokia and BBC have announced a partnership deal that will allow users to watch the iPlayer on the Finns' mobile phones. Techradar reports.

"From 1 October this year Nokia N96 owners will be able to watch all the programming over 3G or Wi-Fi.

... The iPlayer will be available via an application downloaded to the phone, though will come pre-loaded on most N96s."

Self portrait created using thousands of Nokia devices

Imagine sitting down in front of your computer and manually and meticulously stitching together thousands of photos of Nokia devices together to create a self portrait... then thank the stars you don't have to because there's software out there that does all the grunt work (even if you were somehow in anyway inclined to do so). Find out more about the guy responsible right here...

[via cobersations.nokia]

National Geographic launches new mobile division

National Geographic is launching a new mobile division to further develop its mobile content and games business.

Next month, the organization will launch a WAP site for all of its news, images, music and videos that will be tied to company’s magazines and TV network.

[via mocoNews.net]

High quality video similar to TV on Japanese Handset

Japan’s national TV station NHK has started today a mobile web video site, NHK Street. available to Japanese subscribers.

NHK Street allows subscribers to view video in high quality on their handsets, similar to TV broadcasts.

Images will be transmitted at a maximum of 30fps, supposedly the highest in the mobile industry.

Based on the new technology Media Cast Movie, NHK will offer full-length broadcasts instead of short clips."

[via Fareastgizmos]

Projector Cell Phone

Spotted on GearLive, The Projector Phone.

CW's Shows Go Mobile

The CW offering includes full episodes and short clips of all its series. AdWeek reports.

"CW TV offering includes full episodes and short clips of all its shows, including America's Next Top Model and Gossip Girl. Episodes run between two to five minutes

The only exception is Smallville, due to a contractual syndication agreement that precludes the network from incorporating it into the lineup."