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Face Detection
Pentax gets colorful with Korejanai K-x D-SLR
By Paul Ridden
21:56 October 28, 2009 PDT
Black may not be the new black in the world of digital SLR cameras. Last month Pentax announced its intention to add a splash of color by offering its new K-x camera in white, red and blue as well as black. Now the company has announced a very colorful limited edition K-x based on the design of the popular Korejanai robot. Read More
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 does 12.1 megapixel stills, 720p HD video, and recognizes your family
By Alan Brandon
20:20 September 10, 2009 PDT
The Lumix DMC-FZ38 is an incremental update to Panasonic’s line of compact super-zoom cameras. Based on the FZ28, the new FZ38 boasts 12.1 megapixels, an 18x wide zoom, and 720p HD video with stereo audio and the AVCHD Lite recording format. And, remarkably, it can also recognize your family and friends. Read More
Sony Party-shot snaps pictures while you party
By Alan Brandon
20:15 August 10, 2009 PDT
You’re throwing a big party, and you want it be a night to remember. You’ve invited some cool friends, stocked up on good beer, and have the stereo cranked up to 11. Only one thing could make this shindig any better – a robot photographer! Well fear not, Sony’s got your back with the new Party-shot robotic camera dock that automatically pans, tilts, and takes snapshots while you go for the cheese dip. Read More
New technique reduces processing power needed for facial recognition
By Darren Quick
18:08 July 14, 2009 PDT
The human brain has an amazing capacity for recognizing patterns, particularly faces. While we are able to differentiate different faces with apparent ease, computer facial recognition systems have a much harder time of it, relying on powerful computers and complex models to accurately identify the majority of differences between faces. This has held facial recognition systems back from being widely adopted, but now researchers at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) have developed a technique that significantly reduces the amount of computer power required without compromising accuracy. Read More
Pentax announces tough new compact - the Optio W80
By Paul Ridden
07:03 June 30, 2009 PDT
Whether you're the rugged outdoor type or just accident prone, Pentax is aiming to make your life a little easier with the release of the Optio W80 compact digital camera. The Optio W80 is dustproof, waterproof to 16 feet, has an operational temperature range starting at a chilly -10 degrees Celsius and can withstand a drop from 3.3 feet. Read More
Panasonic releases 'two of the world’s lightest HD camcorders'
By Darren Quick
00:46 June 15, 2009 PDT
At just 0.5 lbs each, Panasonic's two new high definition (HD) camcorders are almost half the weight of the company's first AVCHD offering released in 2006 which tipped the scales at just under a pound. While a pound may not sound like much anyway, any weight loss in a device that may need to be carried at eye level for extended periods of time is good news for tired arms everywhere. Read More
Genius G-Shot HD520 easy on the pocket in more ways than one
By Darren Quick
20:59 May 3, 2009 PDT
If you’re in the market for a camcorder that isn’t too hard on the pocket when it comes to both size and cost, then the Genius G-Shot HD520 could be just the thing for you. Capable of capturing 11-megapixel still images or 5-megapixel video in MPEG-4/H.264 format, the camcorder has a pistol-grip form that is compact enough to slip into a pocket and carries a comfortable USD$149 price tag that is sure to appeal in these economically uncertain times. Read More
High-tech tap sets temperature using facial recognition
06:38 April 22, 2009 PDT
Once a new technology hits the deck we are constantly surprised by the different scenarios in which it gets applied, so I guess that means we should have seen this one coming. iHouse has unveiled a new concept product which brings facial recognition into the home bathroom. Dubbed the SmartFaucet, this indulgent piece of plumbing recognizes you when you stand in front of it and delivers water flow and temperature to suit your individual tastes, all while checking your email on the inbuilt touch-screen. Read More
GE G3WP Waterproof compact camera announced
17:13 March 4, 2009 PST
General Imaging, the licensee for GE digital cameras, has launched its first-ever waterproof model at PMA 2009 - the G3WP. The 12.2 megapixel compact is waterproof to 10 feet, has a 4x optical zoom, Image Stabilization and a 2.7-inch LCD screen that automatically adjusts to changes in ambient light. Read More
The Pentax X70 joins the Compact Megazoom class of 2009
By Mike Hanlon
14:28 March 3, 2009 PST
Joining the megazoom compact class of 2009, already featuring the 26x Olympus SP590, 24x Nikon CoolPix P90, 24x Kodak Z980 and newly announced 20x Sony Cyber-shot HX1 is the 24x Pentax X70. Now they all have small bodies, optical zooms that run from wide angle to super-telephoto (26mm to 624mm equivalent in this case) and more than enough pixels (12 MPX in this case), the technology is being shoehorned in (high-speed burst mode that captures 11 images per second, face recognition and more) to enable camera klutzes to produce near pro quality at the ridiculously reasonable cost of USD400. It ships next month. Read More
Samsung launches AMOLED screened compact digital camera
By Matt Kennedy
23:46 February 25, 2009 PST
Samsung Electronics seem to be busy beavers of late, with new products landing on the shelves all over the place. The latest releases, just in time for PMA09, are the TL320 and HZ15W, the former featuring a hi-tech, hi-res three-inch AMOLED screen and the latter, a class beating 10x optical zoom. Read More
Olympus announces lightweight E-620 Digital SLR Camera
04:21 February 25, 2009 PST
Olympus has extended its digital SLR range with the unveiling of the E-620. The new addition will sit in the middle of the company's SLR line-up led by the flagship E-3 and extending through to the compact E-420. The E-620 is pitched as an "all-in-one" model that combines some of the best elements of the higher end units - like the flip-out rotating screen - with a high-degree of portability. Read More
Nikon boosts COOLPIX digital camera line-up
03:25 February 3, 2009 PST
In an announcement that seems hot on the heels of Nikon's last major COOLPIX update (though five months is a long time in the digital era), the company has released details of eight new cameras due to hit shelves soon. The four Style Series, one Performance Series and three Life Series cameras all share NIKKOR lenses and EXPEED™ digital image processing along with new features such as Blink proofing, "Enhanced Face-priority Auto Focus", which can detect up to 12 faces-per-image, and an automatic scene selection function. Read More
Tough new compact among Panasonic's 2009 camcorder offerings
21:04 January 26, 2009 PST
Designed to keep up when your weekend exploits get a little rough, Panasonic's new SDR-SW21 compact camcorder is dustproof, waterproof up to 6.5 feet (in both fresh and salt water) and shockproof enough to sustain a 4-foot drop. Due for release in April at a price of around the USD$400 mark, the SDR-SW21 records to SD/SDHC Memory Cards and includes a 0.6 second quick-start recording feature. Read More
Samsung announces Pixon 8MP touch-screen camera phone
01:22 September 30, 2008 PDT
Samsung is looking to satisfy consumers who want more than a second string performance from their mobile phone camera with the announcement of a new full-touch screen, 8-megapixel unit dubbed the Pixon. The slimline (13.8mm) design does look more like a camera than a phone and incorporates a number of features usually found only in the stand-alone camera realm such as face detection, shake-reduction and geo-tagging. The unit's 3.2 inch, 240x400 touch screen also enhances its photo browsing capability and with auto-focus, dual power LED Flash, a music player, FM Radio, Bluetooth connectivity and video recording at 30 fps (720 x 480) including slow motion playback, it looks to be another useful example of convergence in the mobile handset market. Read More
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR shoots full HD video
02:33 September 22, 2008 PDT
Only a few short weeks ago we heralded Nikon's HD video ready D90 as a landmark "first of many all-in-one imaging devices" that pack the combination of processing technology and quality lenses necessary for capturing BOTH still images and video of the highest standards... and we haven't needed to wait long for the next mouth-watering installment. Canon's EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR camera not only features a full frame (24 x 36mm), 21.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, low noise, extended sensitivity range, improved performance in tricky light conditions, two different file size options for shooting in RAW format and a host of other impressive specs, it also captures HD video at an unprecedented 1920 x 1080 resolution at 30 fps. Read More
Sony HDR-CX12 Camcorder automatically snaps smiling faces
19:27 June 26, 2008 PDT
Billed as the world's first high-definition camcorder with both "Smile Shutter" and face detection technologies, Sony's HDR-CX12 Memory Stick Handycam camcorder automatically takes a 10 megapixel still photo when it encounters a smiling face - even when in standby mode. Due for release in August at an estimated price point of USD$900, the compact 2.8" x 5.3" x 2.8" camera records full 1920 x 1080 HD video onto Memory Stick PRO Duo™ and Memory Stick PRO Duo (Mark2) media cards and boasts a Carl Zeiss 12x optical zoom lens, a built-in zoom microphone with Dolby Digital 5.1-channel surround and image stabilization. Read More
Bioscrypt unveils new VisionAccess face reader
By Kyle Sherer
18:08 May 18, 2008 PDT
May 19, 2008 Bioscrypt has launched its next generation VisionAccess 3D face reader. Using the entire facial surface structure of a person’s face, the reader can authenticate users in less than one second, even in complete darkness. Read More
The first commercial Brain Computer Interface
By Mike Hanlon
17:30 February 21, 2008 PST
The Computer-Human Interface has a new heavyweight contender technology - brain computer interface technology pioneer Emotiv Systems will have its EPOC neuroheadset to market before Christmas 2008. The lightweight US$300 EPOC is worn on the head but does not restrict movement in any way as it is wireless. The set detects conscious thoughts, expressions and non-conscious emotions based on electrical signals around the brain. It opens up a plethora of new applications which can be controlled with our thoughts, expressions and emotions, including for example, the prospect of live animation using the unit’s facial recognition sensors to mimic a gameplayer's facial expressions in an animated avatar. Read More
OMRON incorporates “smile measurement” into facial recognition software
23:24 October 10, 2007 PDT
October 11, 2007 Facial recognition specialist OMROM has unveiled what is essentially a “smile detector” – a piece of software capable of objectively measuring smiles and giving them a percentage rating. On the surface it sounds like a novel idea, but there are some interesting practical applications for this technology ranging from market research to consumer electronics, where for example, cameras could be equipped with the ability to ensure that everyone in frame is smiling before a photograph is taken. Read More
Canon expand PowerShot digital camera range
06:40 August 20, 2007 PDT
August 20, 2007 Canon has added the 10X optical zoom, 8.0 megapixel SX100 IS to its PowerShot range. The launch of the PowerShot SX100 coincides with two further updates to the line-up – the 12.1 megapixel PowerShot A720 (which replaces the A710) and the PowerShot A650 (which replaces the A640 and A630). Read More
Shoot, share, crop and export with the new fashion-conscious Fuji
By Loz Blain
July 27, 2007 While their 12-megapixel F50fd pushes the boundaries of compact camera resolution, Fujifilm’s concurrent release, the 7.2 megapixel FinePix Z10fd, takes aim at a different demographic altogether. The Z10fd is marketed as a “fashion” camera for the tech-savvy blogger generation. Featuring Fuji’s nifty Face Detection technology, automatic redeye removal, in-camera cropping and image resizing for web use, Infrared image transfer to other IR-equipped devices, plus a range of colours so lairy they’ll give older folk migraines, the Z10fd looks to be a solid mid-range addition to the Fujifilm lineup. Read More
Fujifilm announce 12-megapixel compact digital camera
July 27, 2007 Just when it looked like the headlong rush towards more MegaPixels had slowed down in favor of greater optical zoom capabilities in the compact camera arena, Fujifilm has announced the upcoming release of the F50fd - a compact unit that boasts a staggering 12 MegaPixel image resolution and crams in a raft of cutting edge features including Dual Image Stabilization, enhanced Face Detection and improved automated flash capabilities that include a two shot flash mode which takes two shots in quick succession in low light - one with flash one without - to ensure optimum results with minimum effort and takes full advantage of its extremely sensitive ISO levels of up to 6400 (1600 at full resolution). The F50fd is among four new additions to the FinePix F series due for release in September and will retail for around US$300 - compare this to the more than $10K outlay required to purchase a 1.3 megapixel camera like the Kodak DCS-100 in the early 1990's and it's clear just how very far the industry has come in less than two decades. Read More
High Definition camcorder breakthrough from Sony
June 21, 2007 New benchmarks in portability and storage capacity mark the latest High-Definition (HD) camcorder line-up from Sony. The palm-sized CX7K is the world's lightest and most compact HD Handycam to date and the first to record high definition videos to Memory Stick media. The only slightly bulkier hard disk drive based Handycam SR Series now offers an unprecedented 100GB of storage space – enough to record 38 hours of 1080i HD content. Significant improvements have also been made to navigation via the on-board touch-screen including an impressive “Face Index” search feature that uses facial recognition technology to quickly pinpoint images of people within a scene without having to scroll through the entire recording. Read More
Canon’s TX1 PowerShot – 7.1 MPX, 10x optical zoom, Image Stabilizer and VGA movies at 30 fps
By Mike Hanlon
February 22, 2007 Canon has announced the latest state-of-the-art compact digital still and video camera - the 7.1 megapixel PowerShot TX1 offers 10x optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer and can shoot VGA (640 x 480 pixels) movies at 30 fps (in a traditional 4:3 aspect ratio) and can capture high-resolution still images while recording movies, helping to ensure that milestone memories are preserved for picture frames, photo albums and e-mail sharing as well as for video viewing. The TX1 features an enhanced Canon DiG!C III image processor with innovative technology including in-camera red-eye correction and improved Face Detection with Flash Exposure. The enhanced DiG!C III processor enables in-camera red-eye correction with the touch of a button. Available next month, the US$500 TX1 is the size of a deck of playing cards, making it ideal as a permanent companion. Read More
Terotech
- November 21, 2009 @ 19:38 UTC
