Comparing Pocket Camcorders and Mobile Phone Cameras

Pocket Camcorders are small video cameras that are designed to be used to record video and sometimes still images/photos quickly and are often packaged in small sizes often the size of a pack of cigarettes, a good example is the Flip Mino HD and the Sony bloggie Touch.

Pocket Camcorders were designed from the ground up to cut the time and size of camcorders to give consumers the ability to record almost instant video and still images without the lag associated with bulky camcorders of the last century. As a segment, pocket camcorders use the same technology and camera lens often found on both mobile phones and larger cameras while adding some of new features such as editing software integration and social networking.

Size Matters: today more than ever size matters to a lot of people. Gadgets are getting thinner and smaller, everything from TVs to computers (netbooks, tablets) and everything else in between. There is a reason for this, more consumers are becoming mobile and love the prospect of mobility thus the need for smaller gadgets with lighter weight which will still operate and function like larger gadgets. The technology is available to do this and today even the pocket camcorder can record broadcast quality video using camera body that is smaller than a pack of cigarettes.

Easy as 1,2,3: Taking photos has always been simple, point, focus, shoot. Video was for a long time more complex than this requiring lag time, recording media and other tools to make a simple video. Pocket camcorders have finally brought simplicity back. In fact without any training, almost anyone can record and create a video using a pocket camcorder.

Instant ideas: Life happens quickly, and memories are now created in seconds. Prior to the introduction of pocket camcorders, it was impossible to start recording a video in 3 seconds. Camcorders had lengthy start up times and were not ideal for the average consumer to use; that is until the pocket camcorder was introduced.

Today a lot of camcorders have shrunk in size and are following the same design patterns of pocket camcorders, and this is driving the price of camcorders such lower than before making them affordable to everyday video makers.

Interesting Facts about HDTV

HDTV stands for High-Definition Television. HD has been around for some time, first used on the analogue broadcasting platform. Today HD is used on the digital platform and is widely being adopted by a number of broadcasters, electronics companies and media regulators. There are a number of interesting facts about HD:
HD has its roots dating way back to the beginning of TV: HD has a long history having been first developed and implemented in the early 1940s. It was implemented in different resolutions and platforms, the most notable resolution was between 480p and 576p. At the time, most consumers this offered superior quality and yet there were still ground to be conquered.
Digital HDTV does more than Analogue HDTV in the same bandwidth: One of the underlying feature of digital HDTV is that it can broadcast up to 16 more channels than analogue using the same bandwidth, in some instances using even less. Also because the signal is delivered using computer code, it is processed and displayed in optimal format by the HDTV instead of the broadcaster. This is a big leap from analogue.
HDTV can multitask: This means you can watch more channels and do more on the same feed of HDTV than you can with analogue. Not only can you watch more channels, HDTV brings enhanced features, subtitles, language changes, picture resolution adjustments and others. Some HDTVs even allow you to connect to the internet while watching TV.
HDTV is bigger: Todays’ HDTVs have more screen space than Analogue HDTVs which were limited to 42 inches on the CRT platform. With LCD/LED HDTVs, that number can jump to as many as 90 inches. The viewing experience is also more detailed, requiring a closer viewing ratio as compared to analogue, creating more realism than ever before.
HDTV is cheaper and environment: Compared to CRT HDTVs which affect the environment, LCD/LED HDTVs are environmentally friendly. They are also cheaper to make and use less materials than older generation HDTVs.
HDTVs are future proof: Aside from the hype about 3D, buying an HDTV today can fool proof you for years to come as the industry evolves. It may take up to 6 years for Full HD resolution to become commonplace in the broadcasting/media platforms.

Los Angeles Times ：US trade agency judge rejects Kodak's digital-imaging patent complaint against Apple, RIM

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — Eastman Kodak Co. lost a crucial opening round Monday in a high-stakes patent dispute over whether iPhones and BlackBerry camera phones infringe on its digital-imaging technology.

The U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington said in a preliminary ruling that Apple Inc.'s iPhones and Research in Motion Ltd.'s camera-enabled BlackBerry models do not violate Kodak's 2001 patent covering ways to preview digital images.

The federal agency's six commissioners can choose by a May 23 deadline to either alter the initial determination by Paul Luckern, its chief administrative law judge, or let it stand.


While the ruling appears to undermine Kodak's chances of negotiating royalty-paying deals with the two smart-phone makers, the Rochester-based picture-taking pioneer still expects to prevail.

The judge's recommendation "represents a preliminary step in a process that we are extremely confident will conclude in Kodak's favor," said Laura Quatela, Kodak's chief intellectual property officer.

"We fully expect the ITC commission will ultimately rule that the patent claim at issue is valid and infringed by Apple and RIM," Quatela added in a statement.

Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple declined to comment. There was no immediate comment from RIM

After failed negotiations with Apple and Canada-based RIM, Kodak filed its complaint a year ago with the commission, which oversees U.S. trade disputes. Kodak also filed two lawsuits against Apple in federal court in Rochester but did not specify damages it was seeking.

The 130-year-old company has amassed more than 1,000 digital-imaging patents, and almost all of today's digital cameras rely on that technology.

Kodak scored major patent-litigation triumphs against South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc. last winter. After a yearlong tussle, the commission ruled that cell phones made by Samsung and LG Electronics infringed the same image-preview camera patent. Kodak negotiated a one-time, $550 million royalty-paying deal with Samsung and a $414 million deal with LG Electronics.

Kodak is leaning heavily on royalties from digital-camera inventions as it battles to remake itself into a powerhouse in digital photography and inkjet printing. It has licensed digital-imaging technology to about 30 companies, including mobile-device makers such as Motorola Inc. and Nokia Corp.

Patent cases can take years to resolve, and agreements over licensing and royalty payments often emerge. But the trade commission, which can order Customs to block imports of products made with contested technology, is seen as a fast-track mediator that typically resolves disputes in 12 to 15 months.

Shares of Kodak fell 31 cents, or 6 percent, to $4.91 in after-hours trading Monday.

Source from http://www.latimes.com/business/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-us-kodak-patent-dispute,0,4990404.story

Understanding Interlace Scanning vs Progressive Scanning

Watching TV is a past-time that a lot of people and has been around for a very long time. For some the recent introduction of HDTV has brought a new era to TV viewing. In fact some consumer reports have suggested that since the introduction of HD Televisions, more consumers have purchased and began watching TV.
Originally used on analogue platforms, HDTV was able to produce picture resolutions of up to 480p or 480 lines progressively. There were some TVs that were capable of producing up to 576p which at the time was considered true HD. Most HD Televisions use progressive scan technology to process picture resolutions, it is also known P-Scan.

A brief history
P-Scan or progressive scan has been used for a number of picture displays including all LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) monitors, most CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors and most HDTVs. Other types of displays including SD (standard definition) TVs use interlaced scanning technology.
Major Differences between Interlaced & Progressive Scanning:
Both interlaced scanning and progressive scanning use different methods to scan and reproduce pictures and images on the HDTVs. This is often identified by the letters I for Interlaced Scanning and p for Progressive Scanning. For example 1080i and 1080p, although having similar resolutions, the actual quality of the picture resolution will be different because of a number of things that make the two scanning technologies different.

Interlaced scanning was used with most analogue and standard definition TVs that were based on the CRT platform. Although the benefits of interlaced scanning may appear to be more attractive, there are a number of disadvantages and reasons why the technology has not being adapted worldwide. Most HDTVs support progressive scanning, there are few that support interlaced scanning. Most film production companies produce their content in 24p. It is easier to use progressive scanning because it makes reproduction of recorded content easier as compared to interlaced scanning which needs to be displayed on a deinterlacing display.

Also interlaced scanning requires that video is uncompressed whereas most digital broadcasting and technology compresses video to maintain and fit to bandwidth requirements. DVDs use progressive scanning.

Most HD TVs use progressive scanning and are able to display top quality images but for those with a desire to experience uncompressed video, interlaced HDTV displays are available and these two can display both progressive and interlaced content. The main reason interlaced HDTVs are not mainstream is because of the technologies that have been adopted by major media companies.

Choosing the Right Pocket Camcorder

For the consumer who needs an easy to use and quick camera option, mini camcorders or mini cameras as they are called are well known and popular. With the introduction of the Flip mini camcorder’s success in the market, there were big name camera makers jumping ship and joining the band wagon to develop mini camcorders pop culture, it is no surprise that one big name digital camera maker, Sony developed its own unique line of mini camcorders dubbed the Sony bloggie that has had considerable success in the mini camcorder market. There are many other big name camera makers including, Kodak, Panasonic, Samsung and others also have their own range of mini camcorders.

With the world becoming more personalized and the need for people to share information in ‘real-time’, these camcorders have found a rather untapped segment of consumers and producers who would not often rely on video camera technology of this size to record and share information. These mini camcorders have a considerable number of advantages over larger sized camcorders and are quite appealing for their size and speed. Among the many differential features, each manufacturer tries to integrate into their unique line of camcorders, there are some more common place features such as built in or bundled video editing software, the ability to upload and share video on the web, fast camera shutter starting times and for most HD recording capabilities. With a feature list like this, it can be easy to assume that mini camcorders such as Sony bloggie are perfect replacements for larger size video camcorders but they are not. Mini camcorders also have their disadvantages ranging from issues such as battery life, camera lens focus options and video storage capacity.

In making mini camcorders, a lot of features normally found on larger camcorders have to be compromised in order to create the perfect weight, size and price. The price is often an indicator of what kind of features to expect. Although these mini camcorders are not designed to be used professionally, there are some producers who have produced top quality video using mini camcorders. While their use and potential can sometimes be limited, a mini camcorder is still a worthwhile alternative to more large sized camcorders and is in a niche of its own.

Romantic Fishes

Romantic fishes in the HD Camera.Maybe this is love, so simple but romantic and happy.