Cameraphones with 12-Megapixels Coming Soon Says Sony

November 13, 2008 · Filed Under Sony, cellphones · Comment

Mobile phone cameras are set to get more powerful as the race to see who can deliver the most megapixels is on.

Sony has said it will commercialize a new image sensor that could deliver up to 12.25-megapixel resolution.

The latest sensor is designed to meet the increasing demand for better cameras inside mobile phones, says Sony.

The company also announced that it will produce two additional sensors, a type 1/3.2 CMOS image sensor with 8.11 effective megapixel resolution and a type 1/4 sensor with 5.15 effective megapixel resolution. (Complete explanation of sensor types is here.)

Sony said it will also produce compact lenses to make it easier for the cameras to be integrated with phones. The company will make two modules, a type 1/3.2 lens module with the 12.25 MP resolution sensor and a type 1/3.2 lens module with 8.11 MP resolution sensor. The modules have lens and auto focus functions and are the industry’s smallest and thinnest, says Sony.

Miniaturization of mobile phone camera technology has become important as phones are getting smaller. But the process of shrinking the components challenges the image quality and camera sensitivity.

Sony says its new image sensors can improve sensitivity levels and offer a high signal-to-noise ratio, even while the number of pixels increases.

Sony rival Samsung has already released a 10-megapixel camera phone in Korea. By comparison Apple has a 2-megapixel camera for the iPhone, while the latest BlackBerry Storm touchscreen phone to be released on Verizon Wireless later this month will have a 3.2-megapixel camera.

Complete Specifications for the Sony Sensors

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Tags: cameraphone, megapixel, Sony

Sony is auctioning off a batch of Bond themed VAIO TTs

October 24, 2008 · Filed Under Sony · Comment

Real secret agents don’t tend to advertise the fact on their laptops, you know

Are you a big Bond fan? Are you on the lookout for a lightweight, ultra-portable laptop with all the horsepower of a full sized model? And are you prepared to pay way over the odds on an already expensive bit of kit because it has a three digit number on it? That’s good - Sony has just what you’re looking for.

Sony’s holding an auction on eBay where you can win one of a hundred, limited edition James Bond Quantum of Solace VAIO TT series laptops. This isn’t Sony being greedy either - all the proceeds will be going to the 1% for the planet charity.

One lucky winner will get the 007/100 model and that means they a special engraved 007 gun logo and a matching leather case.

Each of the VAIO TT series, Bond branded or otherwise, sports Intel Centrino 2 processor, 64GB SSD, and an 11.1″ widescreen XBRITE LCD.

Bidding had reached over $1,000 at the time of writing and is probably set to go a lot higher by the time it closes on the 21st November. The competition is only available to the US, which we’re a tad miffed about seeing as BRITAIN INVENTED BOND and we think that means we should get first dibs on any Bond related goodies. But at least that gives you almost a month to organise a safe house in the States to have the thing sent to if you win.